Florida Property Insurance Crisis Persists, Survey Finds Homeowners Struggling A new survey of 1,511 Florida property insurance policyholders reveals most see no improvement in the market, with rising premiums and dropped coverage despite state reforms. Brandon Reich and his husband have paid for most of the repairs to their Fort Myers home, damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022, after their insurer blamed the damage on flood waters for which they were not covered. This personal story reflects a broader crisis uncovered by a landmark survey of 1,511 Florida property insurance policyholders conducted by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel, and the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab. The survey, the first of its kind statewide, found that despite claims by state leaders that Florida’s property insurance crisis is resolved, homeowners report surging premiums, high rates of being dropped by insurers, and deep dissatisfaction with their coverage. Overall, 55% see no signs the insurance market is improving, and 26% believe it is getting worse. Survey Results Show Widespread DissatisfactionThe survey results highlight a stark disconnect between policyholders’ experiences and the promises made by Governor Ron DeSantis, Republican legislators, and insurance industry leaders. Most homeowners, regardless of political affiliation, say the state’s 2022-23 property insurance overhaul has primarily benefited the insurance industry, not consumers. Nearly half of respondents reported premium hikes totaling 50% or more over the past five years. Nearly three-quarters say increases continued into the last year, even though state leaders promised premiums would start to go down.Of policyholders who changed insurers over the last five years, 47% said they were forced to do so because they were dropped, either by a private insurer or state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. By comparison, just 9% of homeowners nationwide who changed insurers over the last five years said they were dropped, according to a 2025 Consumer Reports survey. Sean Freeder, associate professor of political science at the University of North Florida, who oversaw the survey, called that gap “absolutely insane.”These findings are echoed in follow-up interviews with respondents. Patrick Shea, a St. Augustine homeowner who was dropped by his private insurer and ended up on state-owned Citizens, said, “All I can see is it’s helped the insurance companies. It really hasn’t helped the availability of insurance for homeowners. Or prices.” Dan Caudill, owner of a Royal Palm Beach home whose annual premium increased by $1,300 this year to $5,700, added, “God knows we need help, that’s for sure. I don’t know if it’s going to be the Legislature or if it’s going to be the insurance companies but somebody’s going to have to give us a break somewhere.” Caudill also paid $10,000 out of pocket to replace his roof because his insurer would not cover the full cost.State Reforms Yield Mixed Outcomes for HomeownersState leaders have pointed to certain successes. Five years after complaining they were on the brink of collapse in Florida’s hurricane-driven environment, nearly 90% of property insurance companies operating in the state were profitable last year. The state’s litigation reforms have slashed Florida’s nation-leading proportion of claims-based lawsuits by over 30%, and 20 new insurers have joined the market, increasing competition. However, skepticism about these developments runs deep among homeowners.Even as the GOP agenda has moved on to property tax reform, with a tax-slashing measure on the November ballot, survey respondents by a 63-36 margin say property insurance remains the bigger problem. A previously suppressed state study conducted in 2021 and 2022, uncovered by the news organizations’ reporting, indicates that dozens of Florida property insurers earned profits they did not publicly disclose as lawmakers considered their need for relief. Yet little has been done to improve transparency.Hidden Practices and Lagging Payouts Compound CrisisThe survey and subsequent reporting reveal additional issues. Insurers have quietly cut back what policies cover, leaving homeowners paying more for significantly less protection. A wave of new customer-owned Florida insurance companies, making up more than half of recent entries to the market, funnel hefty management fees and high interest payments to private investors while shifting risks to policyholders. Premiums have increased faster than inflation since the reforms, even as actual payouts to policyholders lagged behind those rising costs.These findings underscore the challenges facing Florida homeowners. Despite state efforts to stabilize the market, many continue to struggle with affordability and adequacy of coverage. The survey results suggest that for many, the promised relief has yet to materialize, and the gap between industry outcomes and consumer experiences remains wide.