Resources

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation – This office is responsible for regulating the insurance industry in Florida and enforcing compliance with statutes related to the business of insurance. FLOIR also monitors statewide industry markets to ensure fair rates for consumers. Go here to search for an insurance company operating in Florida and learn basic information about it.

Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services – This page can give you general information about how agents, adjusters, and insurance agencies and firms are licensed and what their qualifications for licensure are.

Insurance Information Institute – The stated mission of the I.I.I. is to improve public understanding of what insurance does and how it works. A variety of informative pamphlets, books and other publications can be accessed through their website. Keep in mind that the I.I.I. is industry-supported, and its membership is populated by insurance companies.

American Bar Association – The ABA maintains a special section of its website for lawyers who specifically practice insurance law, as well as non-lawyers interested in the field. Keep up with the latest developments in insurance law through the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS). Members may be interested in the ABA TIPS Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee or the Property Insurance Law Committee.

McCarran-Ferguson Act – McCarran-Ferguson is the federal law which governs the business of insurance. In most respects, the law leaves insurance regulation up to the individual states.

A.M. Best Company – This company is frequently regarded as the most recognized provider of insurance company ratings in the U.S. and around the world.

American Insurance Association (AIA) – This trade organization, funded by several hundred insurance companies, provides information on insurance basics, useful terms to know, and links to hundreds of government agencies dealing with the property and casualty insurance industry.

National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) – This organization represents state legislators in Washington and provides them with information on insurance regulation and the latest legislative developments, such as attempts to shift more regulatory authority from the states to the federal government.

National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Funds – What happens if your insurance company is not solvent and cannot afford to pay your claim along with countless others following a natural disaster? The state property and casualty guaranty fund – such as the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association – steps in to cover the loss to policyholders. Visit these websites to learn more about how guaranty funds work.