INSURANCE CRISIS - OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR JEB BUSH

E-mail: jeb.bush@myflorida.com

Honorable Governor Jeb Bush:

I am sending this e-mail to you, and posting it on my blog at http://ercian.blogspot.com/. The home insurance crisis has reached such levels that it calls for action on your part as Governor of the state of Florida.

On August 15, 2006, El Nuevo Herald, the Spanish division of the Miami Herald, published a couple of reader’s comments under Perspectivas complaining about the abusive increases in home insurance coverage. Rightfully so, one signed by Juan Estajen called for you and the state legislature to find a solution to the situation, one that may include forcing companies that insure automobiles in our state to also insure our homes. Another one was from Luisa Pérez, a retired woman of modest means who feels not only abused, but also disrespected. Her insurance premium went from $3,200 to $7,710 a year.

Now, please allow me to tell you about my mother’s situation. She is an 86 years old widow receiving a little over $600.00 a month from Social Security. Her savings are down to about two thousand dollars. The new insurance policy from State Farm just arrived. The premium went from $1990 (more or less. I do not remember the exact figure) to $5,486. The property taxes amounting to another $2000 or so will arrive shortly. How is she going to meet those obligations? Will she lose her house? Were they in vain, all the sacrifices her and my father made?

Where is the Insurance commissioner in all this? How could he have approved such huge increases? There is no excuse whatsoever for allowing this crisis to happen. Right or wrong, it gives the average citizen the impression our public officials and the insurance companies are on very friendly terms.

Regardless of your accomplishments as a Governor, if you do not fix this situation, your tenure in office will be a catastrophic period for the people of the state, and your reputation tarnished. Please act and act now. My mother’s bill is due early November. If you have to appeal to the federal government, do so with all the force required. Let them know how bad it is down here. Please let me know what steps you are taking to resolve this situation.

Yours truly, Joseph Marchante

E-mail address:jmarchante@ercian.org

I am the author of the book “Ercian Testament.” I publish it free at http://www.ercian.org/