Florida's Struggling Property Insurance Market Braces For Milton. Storm May Cause Up To $100 Billion In Insured Losses.

Hurricane Milton, a powerful storm packing 160 mph winds, is threatening Florida’s already fragile property insurance market. Analysts estimate insured losses could reach as high as $100 billion. Florida residents are left seeking coverage as national insurers retreat, and smaller providers fail or deny claims. Since 2003, forty-one Florida insurers have gone bankrupt, and in 2023, the state’s largest providers rejected nearly 50% of claims. Citizens Property Insurance, a state-run nonprofit, offers coverage but may impose surcharges if it runs out of funds. Insurance costs in Florida, already the highest in the U.S., are likely to rise further as Milton approaches.