Hurricane risk in Florida is escalating. Flood insurance is harder to get.
One month into this year's hurricane season, the couple is still paying their home insurance policy — now twice as costly — while fighting the firm in court over their claim.
The Fanchers, who have lived in their Fort Myers Beach home for almost three decades, said their home insurance provider paid them only a third of what it would cost to rebuild their home, and that adjusters repeatedly disputed their storm damage claims. In the end, the Fanchers say, they took out construction loans to be able to move back into their home.
'We have the same coverage that we had, we're paying double, and we didn't get the assistance that we needed,' Matt Fancher said.
The Fanchers' predicament is just one of many linked to the insurance crisis in hurricane-prone Florida. Rates are sky-high and expected to continue rising as catastrophe claims surge and Floridians face few insurance options and increased scrutiny during underwriting.
Since 2021, Florida has experienced four major hurricanes: Ian, Helene, Idalia and Milton, and premiums have climbed by nearly 30% statewide. Florida residents can now expect to pay almost $10,000 a year on average in premiums, making the state the most expensive place in the U.S. to buy homeowners insurance.
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