If one or more private-market companies select your policy for depopulation, you will receive a Depopulation Packet from Citizens informing you that those companies would like to remove your policy from Citizens and assume coverage of your property. Some offers received will render a policy ineligible to remain with Citizens.
All policyholders will be provided with a list of all available offers and their estimated renewal premiums, along with the estimated renewal premium for the next term of their Citizens policy.
Policyholders that are presented with a choice between available offers must register their choice by the date indicated on the form.
Coverage Worksheets are provided for all available private-market assumption offers and the Citizens policy. The worksheets will help you evaluate the best coverage option.
Policyholder Choice
Commercial Residential policies that receive an offer of coverage that is not more than 20% greater than Citizens' premium are ineligible to remain with Citizens. Eligible policyholders have until the date indicated on the Offer Form to register their choice by:
Having your agent submit your choice to Citizens on your behalf
If your choice is not registered with Citizens by the date indicated on your Offer Form, Citizens will assign your policy to the private-market company that offered the lowest estimated premium.
Policy Assumption
Accepting a Private-Market Offer
If you choose 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 Offer Letter. If your policy is assumed, you will receive a Notice of Assumption and Nonrenewal and Certificate of Assumption from Citizens.
There is 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 are eligible 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.
Policy Eligibility
Senate Bill 2-A, passed in December 2022, states Personal Lines and Commercial Residential policies that receive an offer of coverage that is not more than 20% greater than Citizens’ estimated renewal premium are no longer eligible to remain with Citizens. Policies that receive an offer of coverage that renders the policy ineligible to remain with Citizens can confirm acceptance of an offer by following the same registration steps, however the option to remain with Citizens will not be available at any time.
Commercial Nonresidential Policies Only
Commercial Nonresidential policies that receive a private-market offer are ineligible to remain with Citizens. Policies that are rendered ineligible to remain with Citizens should still confirm acceptance of an offer by following the same registration steps as an eligible policy, however the option to remain with Citizens will not be available at any time.
No Choice Registered
Regardless of eligibility, if a choice is not registered by the date indicated in your Offer Form, Citizens will assign your policy to the private-market company that offered the lowest premium. 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 coverage worksheets are available on the Depopulation Resources page. You also can call Citizens’ Customer Care Center at 866.411.2742.
The Depopulation Packet you received indicates your policy’s eligibility to choose between coverage options.
Only policies that receive at least one offer of coverage that is less than 20% of Citizens’ estimated renewal premium are considered ineligible to remain with Citizens.
To submit your choice, you will need the following information:
Note: Commercial Nonresidential policies cannot elect to remain with Citizens. You either must accept the depopulation offer or rewrite coverage with another company.
Citizens systems will be undergoing extended maintenance beginning May 15, 2025, during which time Depopulation Choices cannot be submitted by Policyholders or Agents. These systems will be operational again on Monday, May 19, 2025.
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Considerations
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Be sure to consider the following information carefully when discussing the advantages of the offer with your agent.
Assessments
Citizens policyholders can be required to pay an assessment if Citizens does not have the resources to pay claims following a major hurricane or series of storms. This assessment, which would be imposed only if Citizens incurs significant losses, could be significant. Private-market policyholders can be subject to paying a much lower assessment amount.
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Tips
Depopulation Choices Policyholder Tips
Evaluating Coverage Options
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 are eligible to remain with Citizens, and wish to do so, your choice must be registered with Citizens by the date indicated on your Offer Form. If a choice is not registered, Citizens will assign your policy to the private-market company that offered the lowest estimated premium.
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 continued validation of Citizens eligibility through renewal remarketing efforts. Rejecting an offer of assumption will not exempt you from this requirement.
Policies that receive an offer of coverage that is not more than 20% greater than Citizens' premium are ineligible to remain with Citizens.
Note: Commercial Nonresidential policies cannot choose to opt-out of an assumption. You either must accept the depopulation offer or rewrite coverage with another company.
