Citizens operates three accounts – Coastal, Personal Lines, and Commercial Lines – which are financially independent of one another and have separate claims-paying resources and capacities. In the Personal Lines account, Citizens allocates approximately 83% of every premium dollar to pay claims, with approximately 15% reserved for paying hurricane claims. A particularly devastating storm or series of smaller storms could exhaust these reserves, leaving Citizens without enough money to pay all claims. If this happens, Florida law requires that Citizens charge assessments until any deficits are eliminated.

Assessments are charges that Citizens and non-Citizens policyholders can be required to pay, in addition to their regular policy premiums. Assessments are charged in three tiers, beginning with the Citizens Policyholder Surcharge. Each additional tier is charged only if the level before is insufficient to eliminate Citizens' deficit.

In addition to the Citizens Policyholder Surcharge, additional surcharges and assessments or other adjustments may be applied to a Citizens policy.

Assessment Tiers*

1. Citizens Policyholder Surcharge

• One-time assessment
• Citizens policyholders only
• Up to 45% of premium (15% per account)

2. Regular Assessment**

• One-time assessment
• Private-market policyholders, including, but not limited to homeowners, auto, and specialty and surplus lines policies
• Up to 2% of premium

3. Emergency Assessment

• Single- or multiyear assessment
• Citizens and private-market policyholders
• Up to 30% of premium per year until any remaining deficit is eliminated (10% per account)

* $3,000 annual premium
** Coastal Account only