WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Insurance claims are beginning to pile up after Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction in multiple states.
In Florida, state data shows close to 40,000 claims filed and damages totaling $434 million.
Having confidence in insurers to pay claims is something Doug Quinn is skeptical about.
"There is a lot going on in the insurance industry that nobody is talking about," Quinn said at WPTV's Coverage Collapse Town Hall in September.
WATCH BELOW: WPTV hosts live town hall on Florida's insurance crisis
Quinn is the executive director of the American Policyholder Association, an organization he founded after his home was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
"I got 4 feet of water, and my home ended up being totaled," Quinn told WPTV senior reporter Matt Sczesny. "My insurance company hired an engineering firm that created a fraudulent report to say that damage was already there."
Quinn said that practice is still happening too many times, even in Florida where two years after Hurricane Ian nearly 200,000 claims have been closed without any claims, a number that he said is too high.
Real Estate News
Will Hurricane Helene impact your next insurance bill?
"There's no segment of the market that is immune from fraud," Quinn said.
"When is the state of Florida going to start holding the insurance industry accountable for their actions," he asked during the town hall audience.
State Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City, who was on the panel for the town hall, answered quickly, saying there are currently 22 active investigations of insurers.
"I would disagree with you sir in that the insurance companies in Florida are highly regulated," Overdorf said.
Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute also sent us the following statement on the matter:
"The Florida property insurance industry is acting as a financial first responder to help its impacted customers recover from Hurricane Helene. The industry is in its best financial position in many years due to legislative reform passed in 2022 and 2023 and is well-capitalized to pay storm claims. If insurers do not follow state regulations regarding Helene claims processing, they will be held accountable by the Florida insurance commissioner and subject to sanctions."
Matt Sczesny is determined every day to help you find solutions in Florida's coverage collapse. If you have a question or comment on homeowners insurance, you can reach out to him any time.
Read WPTV's latest "Coverage Collapse" stories below:
-
Americans are taking side hustles as Trump's tariffs take hold
Americans are beginning to feel the pinch from President Donald Trump's tariffs, prompting many to find new ways to cope with rising prices.
Tariff 'tension' could mean higher prices at Black-owned salons
As the U.S. and China remain locked in a tariff dispute, the ripple effects are beginning to hit small businesses, including Black-owned beauty salons that rely on imported hair products.
The Costco Effect: How the wholesaler can impact prices at other stores
As Costco prepares to open this Friday in Stuart, WPTV has been examining all the ways the wholesale store could impact life in the area. One of those impacts could be to your wallet.
US economic volatility leads to growing pessimism, yet signs of recovery emerge
As rising pessimism grips Americans over their finances, positive developments in trade talks hint at a potential economic recovery ahead.
