HARTride 2012
August 6th, 2007, 03:22 AM
Citizens insurance making changes in sinkhole coverage
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Bay News 9
HERNANDO COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The threat of sinkholes is part of life for many homeowners in the Bay area.
For them, sinkhole insurance is common, especially in Hernando and Pasco counties where 80-90 percent of sinkhole claims have been made the past three years.
Marlene Vogt is a homeowner in Spring Hill.
"I personally wouldn't take the sinkhole coverage," Vogt said.
For homeowners like Vogt, who are insured with Citizens Property Insurance, saying no to sinkhole insurance will soon be an option.
Citizens said catastrophic ground collapses will still be covered even if homeowners opt out of the sinkhole coverage.
Vogt said that's the route she'll take.
"If it was going to sink it would have," Vogt said. "I just don't feel this particular area is a sinkhole. There are plenty of areas that are sinkholes."
Michele Genualdi is also a homeowner in Hernando County and she has a different view.
"It doesn't make any sense because the lenders that you have to get a mortgage from won't allow you to do that," Genualdi said. "You have to have full coverage in order to have a mortgage."
It's an option insurance officials said should be discussed thoroughly with a Citizens agent before any final decisions are made.
Citizens officials said this is a pilot program and if everything goes according to plan they hope to set up the sinkhole coverage option in other Florida counties.
Citizens officials said customers will be notified about the change when they get their renewal information.
Call Citizens customer care hotline at (877) 227-3492 with questions.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/8/5/278047.html?title=Citizens+insurance+making+changes+in+sinkhole+coverage
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Bay News 9
HERNANDO COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The threat of sinkholes is part of life for many homeowners in the Bay area.
For them, sinkhole insurance is common, especially in Hernando and Pasco counties where 80-90 percent of sinkhole claims have been made the past three years.
Marlene Vogt is a homeowner in Spring Hill.
"I personally wouldn't take the sinkhole coverage," Vogt said.
For homeowners like Vogt, who are insured with Citizens Property Insurance, saying no to sinkhole insurance will soon be an option.
Citizens said catastrophic ground collapses will still be covered even if homeowners opt out of the sinkhole coverage.
Vogt said that's the route she'll take.
"If it was going to sink it would have," Vogt said. "I just don't feel this particular area is a sinkhole. There are plenty of areas that are sinkholes."
Michele Genualdi is also a homeowner in Hernando County and she has a different view.
"It doesn't make any sense because the lenders that you have to get a mortgage from won't allow you to do that," Genualdi said. "You have to have full coverage in order to have a mortgage."
It's an option insurance officials said should be discussed thoroughly with a Citizens agent before any final decisions are made.
Citizens officials said this is a pilot program and if everything goes according to plan they hope to set up the sinkhole coverage option in other Florida counties.
Citizens officials said customers will be notified about the change when they get their renewal information.
Call Citizens customer care hotline at (877) 227-3492 with questions.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/8/5/278047.html?title=Citizens+insurance+making+changes+in+sinkhole+coverage