If you own a home in Florida, your insurance coverage might be changing — and you may not even know it yet.
This summer, nearly 30,000 Citizens Property Insurance policyholders are being automatically shifted to a private insurer named Patriot Select. By October, that number could swell by another 200,000. It’s part of a broader strategy to shrink the state-run insurer and shift homeowners back into the private market.
But for many policyholders, this process is murky. Who is Patriot Select? Can you trust them to pay claims after a storm? Do you have any say in the matter?
Let’s walk through what’s happening, what’s at stake, and how to stay ahead of the changes.
Why Are So Many Citizens Policies Being Taken Over?
Let’s start with the basics.
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Florida’s state-backed “insurer of last resort.” It was created to cover homeowners who couldn’t find coverage in the private market — not to compete with it.
But after several years of rising premiums, major storms, and insurer insolvencies, the private market in Florida was facing a crisis. As a result, Citizens grew fast, too fast. At its peak, it held over 1.3 million policies, putting a burden on taxpayers and exposing the system to financial risk if a major storm were to hit.
The state’s solution? Take-outs.
Private companies — like Patriot Select — are now being approved to assume policies from Citizens. Homeowners don’t request this. It just happens. If your policy is selected, you’ll receive a notice in the mail.
The goal is to restore balance to the market by moving people back into private coverage. The risk, however, is that not all new insurers are created equal.
Bigger Picture: Florida’s Insurance Market Is Still in Flux
This latest take-out is just one wave in a much larger sea change.
Come October, Citizens is expected to shed another 200,000 policies. That means more homeowners will be moved to private insurers — many of them small, regional companies you’ve never heard of.
The intent is logical: spread risk, reduce taxpayer exposure, and encourage competition. But the execution matters. If these new carriers aren’t financially sound, Florida could face a different kind of disaster — one where companies collapse under the weight of post-storm claims, leaving homeowners stranded.
“As we see more take-out action in the market, we want to make sure these are fair deals for insureds and the people of Florida. These companies are getting something extremely valuable, thousands of policies and millions in revenue that they didn’t need to spend money on acquiring.”
— Dan “The Insurance Tiger” Tighe
This isn’t just about who holds your policy. It’s about whether they’ll hold up when it matters most.
Who Is Patriot Select — and Why Are They Getting 30,000 Policies?
Patriot Select may not be a household name, but they’ve just been cleared to take over as many as 30,000 Citizens policies — and they’ve hit the ground running.
On paper, they offer one standout feature: a flat $1,000 hurricane deductible. That’s a big deal in Florida, where hurricane deductibles often range from 2% to 5% of your home’s value. A predictable, low out-of-pocket cost could offer real relief in a disaster scenario.
But there are questions.
Patriot Select doesn’t have a rating from AM Best, the gold standard for evaluating an insurer’s financial strength. That means homeowners have no independent signal of whether this company has the capital, reinsurance, or claims infrastructure to pay out after a major event.
Adding to the uncertainty: Patriot Select is a rebrand. Under a previous name, the company faced financial issues. Supporters say it has new leadership and deserves a clean slate. Critics worry that history might repeat itself.
“The management team is very strong. Don’t look back at the history. That was a different manager structure. There were clearly problems in the past.”
— Mark Friedlander, Insurance Information Institute
In short, Patriot Select may offer a short-term benefit (the deductible) — but the long-term risk profile remains unclear.
What This Means for You Right Now
If you get a take-out notice in the mail, don’t toss it aside. This isn’t spam — it’s a critical document that could reshape your insurance coverage.
Here’s what to do:
- Read the letter in full. It will outline who’s taking over your policy and when.
- Call your insurance agent. Ask specific questions:
- Who is Patriot Select?
- How does this new policy compare to my Citizens policy?
- What happens in the event of a storm claim?
- Who is Patriot Select?
- Ask about your options. In some cases, you may be able to decline the transfer and stay with Citizens — but there’s usually a deadline.
“It’s important to ask your insurance agent for background on these companies.”
— Mark Friedlander
Remember: You didn’t choose this new company. The state did. That makes it even more important to do your due diligence.
This is especially urgent during hurricane season. You don’t want to discover gaps in coverage when you’re already filing a claim.
Stay Ahead of the Storm
The Florida property insurance market is in the middle of a high-speed realignment. For homeowners, it can feel like decisions are being made for you — not with you.
But you don’t have to be passive.
Read the notices. Ask the questions. Talk to someone you trust. And remember: what looks like a win on paper (like a low deductible) isn’t the whole story.
You have every right to demand transparency, financial stability, and a carrier that will show up when you need them most.
Need Help Understanding Your Take-Out Notice?
If your policy has been transferred to a company you’ve never heard of, or if you’re unsure how your hurricane coverage has changed, don’t wait.
Tighe P.A. is here to help.
We’ve guided thousands of Florida homeowners through claim disputes, policy confusion, and post-storm recoveries. If you have questions, we’ll get you answers.
Visit tighepa.com or call 1-855-LOSS-PRO (567-7776) for a consultation.
Relevant Resources and Citations
- Citizens Property Insurance Take-Out Info: https://www.citizensfla.com/takeout
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation: https://www.floir.com/
- AM Best Rating Center: https://www.ambest.com/ratings
- Gulf Coast News Original Article: https://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com
