Earlier this month, 12,000 Florida homeowners got a new insurance provider—without ever shopping for one. In a move backed by state regulators and industry optimism, St. Petersburg-based Patriot Select Property and Casualty Insurance Co. assumed nearly 12,000 multi-peril homeowners policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The transfer is part of a broader effort to shrink the size and risk exposure of Florida’s state-run “insurer of last resort.”
For Florida homeowners, it’s another pivot in a market that has become synonymous with instability—and another test of whether the state’s insurance reboot can truly deliver protection when it counts.
A Strategic Exit for Citizens, A High-Stakes Debut for Patriot
Patriot Select’s announcement comes at a time of rapid change in Florida’s insurance landscape. Citizens Property Insurance Corp., created as a safety net for residents who couldn’t find coverage elsewhere, has been actively shedding policies under a state-supported “depopulation” strategy.
As of April 30, 2025, Citizens held 809,904 policies—a sharp drop from 1.18 million one year earlier, and a 36.3% reduction from its 2023 peak of 1.27 million. Patriot Select, which only launched its HO3 homeowners insurance product in recent weeks, now enters the scene with momentum—but no established claims history.
“This is a proud day for Patriot Select,” said CEO John Rollins in a company statement. “We’re committed to helping stabilize Florida’s property insurance market while providing outstanding service, meaningful coverage options and strong financial backing for the long term.”
The policies transferred from Citizens are distributed statewide, excluding Monroe County in the Florida Keys. Patriot says homeowners will generally continue working with their current insurance agents and will be offered renewal policies directly.
What This Means for Homeowners
The switch from Citizens to Patriot Select might look like a win on paper—fewer policies on the state’s books, more private capital entering the market—but for homeowners, the real test begins after a storm hits.
Unlike Citizens, a quasi-public entity with explicit legal obligations and political scrutiny, private insurers operate under shareholder mandates. While companies like Patriot Select tout strong reinsurance backing and customer service, their survival depends on profitability, not public service.
Homeowners should be aware that:
- Claims-handling standards may differ from Citizens, especially regarding speed, documentation requirements, and dispute resolution.
- Policy terms and exclusions could shift at renewal, potentially introducing new coverage gaps.
- Managed repair clauses or limits on contractor choice may appear in future policies.
- There is no guarantee of long-term presence—Florida has a history of insurer insolvencies, exits, and sudden mid-season pullouts.
A Risk Transfer, Not Risk Resolution
Patriot Select’s entry is part of a broader strategy to revive Florida’s private insurance market through incentives, reforms, and controlled policy offloads from Citizens. While the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) has praised the move as a sign of market stabilization, critics warn that it may simply be redistributing risk—without fixing the core problems.
Those problems include:
- Climate-driven losses: Florida remains uniquely exposed to hurricane activity, with increasing severity and cost.
- Skyrocketing reinsurance prices: Many carriers now face significant capital strain, forcing higher premiums or coverage cuts.
- Legislative overhaul effects: Bills like SB 2D and SB 2A, passed during Florida’s 2022 and 2023 special sessions, were designed to reduce litigation and attract carriers—but some argue they also weakened policyholder protections, particularly around attorney fees and Assignment of Benefits (AOB).
Patriot Select enters the market in this context: with political tailwinds, industry support, and a volatile track ahead.
Florida’s Insurance Whiplash
For the average homeowner, the past few years have felt like policy roulette.
Major insurers—including names like UPC, St. Johns, and FedNat—have collapsed or withdrawn, citing unsustainable losses. Rates have climbed to among the highest in the nation, and policyholders have grown used to last-minute cancellations, abbreviated renewal notices, and shrinking coverage.
This environment is what makes the Patriot Select announcement both promising and precarious. It represents fresh capacity in a market that desperately needs it. But it also resurrects questions about the durability of new entrants and the risks consumers face when they’re involuntarily transferred to an unproven company.
What to Do If Your Policy Was Transferred
If your Citizens policy was recently assumed by Patriot Select, here’s what to check right now:
- Review your renewal documents carefully: Look for differences in deductibles, coverage limits, and exclusions.
- Ask your insurance agent for a summary of key changes—don’t assume your policy stayed the same.
- Verify claim procedures and contact channels: Know where to go if you need to file quickly after a storm.
- Monitor Patriot Select’s communications: This is their debut rollout—how they handle onboarding and questions now is telling.
- Document everything: Keep a paper trail of notices, emails, and coverage terms. If a claim dispute arises later, this history matters.
Remember, just because a company is approved to operate doesn’t mean it will stay. And if your claim is delayed, denied, or undervalued, legal options may be available.
Don’t Confuse Market Recovery With Consumer Protection
The Citizens depopulation effort is being framed as a regulatory win and an insurance market recovery—but homeowners should be wary of the spin. Stability for insurers doesn’t automatically mean security for policyholders.
A true recovery means:
- Fair rates,
- Reliable coverage,
- Transparent claims handling,
- And protection you can count on when disaster strikes.
Until then, every policy shift, every startup insurer, and every industry press release deserves scrutiny.
Tighe P.A. Is Watching Closely—And Ready to Help
At Tighe P.A., we don’t just follow the headlines—we help homeowners push back when insurance companies break their promises. Dan “The Insurance Tiger” Tighe has fought for policyholders across Florida and knows what it takes to hold insurers accountable when the fine print fails.
If your new insurer isn’t living up to its claims—or if you’re unsure whether your coverage is still protecting what matters—contact our team.
You didn’t choose the change. But you can choose to protect yourself.
Relevant Resources and Citations
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) policy data and Citizens depopulation trends
- Patriot Select P&C Press Release, June 2025
- Legislative summaries: Florida SB 2D (2022), SB 2A (2022 Special Session)
- Insurance Journal coverage on carrier exits and insolvencies
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Policy Count Dashboard, April 2023–2025
