By Buchanan Maldonado, National Sales Broker, Goosehead Insurance
If you’re a Florida homeowner insured by Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) or one of the shrinking number of traditional carriers, you may have woken up to the hard reality: your policy might be flipped, transferred or dropped — and you’re left scrambling. According to a recent article in Newsweek, Citizens alone depopulated 102,083 policies in one month via its state-approved take-out program.
So what happens when you’re being pushed out of the “insurer of last resort” and the private-market carriers most people count on are saying “no thanks”? That’s where Goosehead Insurance enters the equation — as a forward-thinking partner, not just another carrier.
The Challenge: Depopulation, Rate Shock & Limited Options:
Citizens confirmed on January 31, 2025 that it held 941,156 active policies, and then on February 18 more than 100,000 of those moved to private insurers under the depopulation program.
For many homeowners, this means a major disruption: you’re being told your “safe” policy is being assumed by someone else — maybe you have to re-qualify, maybe the new carrier has less favorable terms, maybe your rate goes up significantly.
When private carriers tighten underwriting, impose higher deductibles, exclude more perils (wind, hail, mold), or simply refuse customers in certain ZIP codes — you’re stuck. And too often, the “traditional” agents and carriers don’t communicate the full implications or offer alternatives.
Why Most Carriers Don’t Want You to Know About the Alternative:
Traditional carriers have legacy constraints: large overhead, slow decision-making, limited appetite for high-risk geography like many Florida markets.
Depopulation programs shift risk to newer or more nimble carriers — the remaining carriers may grow cautiously or exit altogether.
Because of regulatory pressures and media scrutiny, most carriers want to protect their books rather than aggressively market to risk-exposed homeowners.
As a result, you might feel abandoned when your carrier says “we’re moving your policy” or “you no longer qualify.” What you don’t hear is: “Here’s a viable alternative you should consider.”
That gap — between being dropped and being left without a clear path — is exactly where Goosehead can deliver value.
How Goosehead Insurance Can Be the Solution
At Goosehead Insurance, we work differently:
Choice & Carrier Access: We have strategic partnerships and access to multiple A-rated carriers tailored for the Florida market. If one carrier says no — we don’t stop there.
Advanced Underwriting & Smart Risk Placement: We evaluate property risk, mitigation factors (hurricane-hardened features, wind mitigation credits, elevation, etc.), and leverage that to place with carriers willing to write complex risks or geographic pockets that many traditional carriers avoid.
Transparent Communication: You are informed at each step: Why you’re facing depopulation, what your options are, what the new carrier offers in terms of coverages, rate expectations, and timing.
Advocacy: When legacy carriers don’t want to take you, we bridge the gap — ensuring you’re not left uninsured or in a perilous “auto-assigned” status at the last minute.
Long-Term Relationship: Beyond just writing the policy — we assist you in mitigation, future renewals, and continuous carrier placement, so you’re not reacting every hurricane season.
What You Should Do Now & How I Can Help?
If you’re insured by Citizens or a similar agency, or you’ve received a notice from your carrier about non-renewal or policy transfer, here’s what to do immediately:
1. Don’t wait until 10 days before expiration. Contact an agent today to explore alternatives.
2. Ask for a full comparison: What your current policy covers vs proposed new carrier terms.
3. Review your mitigation credits: Wind mitigation, roof certification, or 4 Point Inspection — these can reduce premiums across many carriers.
4. Ensure you have contingency: If your policy is assumed, make sure you know who you’re switching to, when, what the rate will be.
5. Work with someone who has carrier options not just one.
As the National Sales Broker for Goosehead Insurance, I’m ready to assist you. Whether you’re being depopulated, facing a non-renewal, or simply wanting to future-proof your home insurance, let’s talk.
Call Direct:
407-378-TAGS (8247)
Or go online for a quote:
With the right partner who understands risk, carriers, in your state market — you can be ahead of the curve. At Goosehead Insurance, I’m committed to making sure you aren’t the one scrambling when policies shift. Contact me today — let’s secure your coverage, your peace of mind, and your future.
Higham, Aliss. “Florida’s Largest Insurer Cuts Over 100,000 Policies in One Month.” Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025, http://www.newsweek.com/florida-largest-insurer-cuts-100000-policies-one-month-2037019.
Buchanan Maldonado 