The Depopulation Choices Program for personal lines features increased policyholder choice and a simplified process. Key features include:
More Choices – You will be informed of all private-market assumption offers available to you through the Depopulation Choices Program and will be able to choose your preferred coverage option or remain with Citizens.
More Information You will receive coverage worksheets and estimated renewal premiums for all available assumption offers and your Citizens policy.
Streamlined Communications – Citizens administers all official communications.
More Agent Support – Citizens is providing enhanced information to your agent about your available offers so they can better guide you through the depopulation process and even submit your choices on your behalf.
If one or more private market companies select your policy for depopulation, you will receive a Policyholder Choice Offer letter from Citizens informing you that those companies would like to remove your policy from Citizens and assume coverage of your property. The letter includes:
Policyholder Choice Offer Form – Lists all available offers and their estimated renewal premiums, along with the estimated renewal premium for your Citizens policy. Your choice must be registered with Citizens by the date indicated on the form.
Coverage Worksheets – Provide details of all available private-market assumption offers and your Citizens policy. The worksheets will help you evaluate and make an informed decision about the best coverage option for your property.
Policyholder Choice
You have until the due date indicated in your Policyholder Choice Offer letter to register your coverage choice with Citizens either by:
Having your agent submit your choice to Citizens on your behalf
If your choice is not registered with Citizens by the date indicated in your Policyholder Choice Offer letter, Citizens will assign your policy to one of the private-market companies that offered to assume it.
Policy Assumption
Accepting a Private-Market Offer
If you chose to accept a private-market offer of coverage and register your choice online, you can enter your email to receive an email confirming your choice. If you do not enter an email or your agent registered your choice on your behalf, you will not receive a confirmation email or letter.
Once your choice is registered, your policy will be assigned to the company you selected, and, in most cases, will be assumed on the assumption date indicated in your Policyholder Choice Offer letter. If your policy is assumed, you will receive a Notice of Assumption and Nonrenewal and Certificate of Assumption from Citizens.
There no longer is a 30-day post-assumption period during which you can return to Citizens. Once an assumption occurs, the policy transfer is final.
Remaining with Citizens
If you choose to remain with Citizens and register your choice online, you can enter your email to receive an email confirming that your policy will remain with Citizens. If you do not enter an email or your agent registers your choice on your behalf, you will receive a letter confirming that your policy will remain with Citizens.
You may receive future assumption offers and must respond to all offers if you wish to remain with Citizens.
No Choice Registered
If a choice is not registered by the date indicated in your Policyholder Choice Offer letter, Citizens will assign your policy to one of the private-market companies that selected it. If your policy is assumed, you will receive a Notice of Assumption and Nonrenewal and Certificate of Assumption from Citizens.
There no longer is a 30-day post-assumption period during which you can return to Citizens. Once an assumption occurs, the policy transfer is final.
Unsuccessful Assumptions
Sometimes an assumption does not take place. This can happen for a variety of reasons. If you accept an assumption offer from a private-market company and your policy is not assumed, you will receive a letter from Citizens notifying you that your policy will remain with Citizens. You will be eligible to receive future assumption offers.
Additional Resources
Additional information and resources, including sample letters and forms, are available on the Depopulation Resources page. You also can call your agent or Citizens’ Customer Care Center at 866.411.2742.
Your agent is your best resource for information about your coverage needs. Reach out to your agent for help evaluating your coverage options and submitting your choice to Citizens.
Evaluate all available offers carefully. In many cases, the coverage offered may be more comprehensive than is available through Citizens.
Private-market policyholders can be subject to paying a much lower assessment if Citizens does not have the resources to pay claims following a major hurricane or series of storms.
Remaining with Citizens
If you wish to remain with Citizens, your choice must be registered with Citizens by the date indicated in your Policyholder Choice Offer letter. If a choice is not registered, Citizens will assign your policy to one of the private-market companies that offered to assume it.
There no longer is a 30-day post assumption period during which you can return to Citizens. Once the assumption occurs, the policy transfer is final.
If you chose to remain with Citizens, you may receive additional assumption offers. You must respond to each offer to continue to remain with Citizens.
Florida law requires that Citizens submit renewal policies to its Property Insurance Clearinghouse to determine renewal eligibility. Rejecting an assumption offer will not exempt you from the clearinghouse.
