Florida Governor Hears PIP Horror Stories

A consumer insurance advocate says Florida’s motor vehicle no-fault personal injury protection insurance is riddled with fraud and becoming too costly for consumers and some insurers as well.

Robin Westcott told Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet on Tuesday that skyrocketing rate increases on the required PIP coverage for drivers has become unaffordable to many.

Scott was astounded at how much some drivers in Hialeah and central Tampa paid for PIP coverage.

Westcott said some Hialeah consumers have seen PIP rates increase from under $500 in 2008 to nearly $4,000 in 2011.

Westcott is a former executive at the Office of Insurance Regulation that has the final say on rates that are charged Florida insurance consumers. She now serves as an advocate in the Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater’s office.