--- title: "Citizens Insurance [Updated 2026]" description: "Citizens provides coverage for residential and commercial property when owners can't find coverage on the open market, or if their premiums are significantly higher than coverage through Citizens. Citizens also provides Wind-Only Policies for certain areas of the state that have difficulty securing coverage due to hail and wind storms." canonical: "https://www.coveragecat.com/reviews/citizens" last-updated: "2026-08-13" --- # Citizens Insurance [Updated 2026] 1. [Introduction to Citizens Insurance](#introduction) 2. [What Kinds of Insurance Does Citizens Offer?](#typesof) 3. [Does Citizens Sell Homeowners Insurance?](#sellprimary) 4. [Does Citizens Sell Liability Insurance? ](#sellsecondary) 5. [How Does Citizens Insurance Work?](#howdoesitwork) 6. [Pros and Cons of Citizens Insurance ](#proscons) 7. [Get Customer Support Or File A Claim For Citizens Insurance](#support) 8. [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq) ### Introduction to Citizens Property Insurance Citizens Property Insurance was created as a not-for-profit government entity in 2002 by the Florida Legislature. The organization formed through the merger of two predecessor entities: the Florida Residential Property and Casualty Joint Underwriting Association and the Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association [(Wikipedia, "Citizens Property Insurance Corporation", 2025)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_Property_Insurance_Corporation). While Citizens prices their policies high to prevent competition with the open market, many private insurers have left the Florida property market in recent years, which significantly raised the number of Citizens policyholders. However, the Florida insurance market has stabilized through recent legislative reforms. After reaching a peak of 1.42 million policies in October 2023, Citizens now holds approximately 336,000 policies as of early 2026, representing a 76% decline from the peak [(Florida Voice News, "Citizens homeowners insurance rates to drop statewide in 2026", 2026)](https://flvoicenews.com/citizens-homeowners-insurance-rates-to-drop-statewide-in-2026/). This reduction stems from successful depopulation efforts and Florida's tort reforms that reduced litigation pressure on insurers. For the first time since 2015, Citizens received approval for statewide rate reductions beginning in Spring 2026 [(citizensfla.com, "Citizens Recommends Rate Cuts for Most Policyholders - Public", 2026)](https://www.citizensfla.com/-/20251210-citizens-recommends-rate-cuts-for-most-policyholders). These decreases mark a significant shift for the last resort insurer. ### Citizens Insurance Rating Summary | Rating Source | Score/Grade | Details | |--------------|-------------|---------| | AM Best Financial Strength | A (Strong) | Strong financial standing for private Citizens entities under Hanover Group | | NAIC Complaint Index | 4.28 | Significantly higher than industry benchmark of 1.0 | | Customer Reviews (Average) | 2.9 out of 5 | Based on 2,148 reviews across multiple platforms | | BBB Rating | 2 stars | Based on customer complaints and reviews | | Consumer Affairs | 1.7 stars | Lower rating reflects claims dissatisfaction | ### What kinds of insurance does Citizens Property Insurance offer? Citizens Property Insurance provides a variety of Personal Residential policies that cover single-family homes, duplexes, condos, rental properties, mobile and manufactured homes, and provides coverage for renters. Depending on the type of property, whether you own or rent it, and other factors you might need to consider different policy types. ### Insurance policies available through Citizens - **Homeowners (HO-3):** Designed for owner-occupied, detached, single-family homes and duplexes. * **Modified Homeowners (HO-8):** Designed for homes that don't qualify for an HO-3 policy and provide much more limited coverage. * **Dwelling Fire (DP-3):** Available for tenant-occupied properties and properties that don't qualify for an HO-3 or HO-8, such as seasonal or secondary residences. * **Dwelling Fire (DP-1):** Similar to the DP-3, but offers much more limited coverage. * **Condo Unit Owners (HO-6):** Available to condominium owners who live in their unit, and does not cover the exterior of their building. * **Mobile Homeowners (MHO-3):** Covers owner-occupied mobile and manufactured homes. * **Mobile Dwelling Fire (MDP-1):** Covers tenant-occupied mobile and manufactured homes, or owner-occupied homes that do not qualify for an MHO-3 policy. * **Renters Contents (HO-4):** Available to tenants/renters of single-family homes, multi-unit buildings, apartments, or condominium units. * **Mobile Home Renters Contents (MHO-4):** Available to tenants/renters of mobile or manufactured homes. Citizens also offers Wind-only policies in certain areas of the state when private insurance companies aren't willing to provide this coverage and customers meet certain eligibility requirements. Eligible customers may purchase the following types of wind-only policies: * Homeowners (HW-2) * Tenant/Renters Contents (HW-4) * Condominium Unit Owners (HW-6) * Dwelling (DW-2) * Mobile Homes (MW-2) * Mobile Home Dwelling (MD-1) ### Does Citizens Property Insurance Sell Homeowners Insurance? Yes, Citizens Property Insurance sells home insurance policies, but they provide less coverage and have more restrictions than a traditional HO-3 (homeowners), or HO-6 (condo) policy. Citizens homeowners insurance is designed specifically for Florida residents who cannot secure coverage through the private market because of their property's location, condition, or claims history. ### Does Citizens Property Insurance Sell Landlord Insurance? Yes, Citizens Property Insurance sells landlord insurance for condos, single-family homes, and mobile/manufactured homes. However, Citizens excludes coverage for short-term rentals, such as AirBnBs or VRBO-rented properties. ### What does Citizens Property Insurance cover? While Citizens provides more traditional property insurance compared to other last-resort insurers, Citizens policies are more limited and provide less coverage than private insurance policies. These limitations reflect Citizens' role as a last resort option rather than a primary market competitor. ### Citizens Coverage Comparison: Key Limitations | Coverage Area | Citizens HO-3 Policy | Private Insurance HO-3 Policy | |--------------|---------------------|------------------------------| | Maximum Dwelling Coverage | $700,000 ($1M in Miami-Dade/Monroe) | Often $1M+ depending on carrier | | Personal Liability Limit | $100,000 maximum | Up to $500,000 or higher | | Extended Replacement Cost | Not available | Often available via endorsement | | Water Backup Coverage | Excluded | Available via endorsement | | Scheduled Personal Property | Not available | Available via endorsement | | Loss of Use Coverage | Significantly limited | Higher limits available | | Medical Payments | $2,000 only | Typically $5,000+ | | Policyholder Surcharge Risk | Up to 45% of premium after major event | Maximum 2% assessment (only after Citizens surcharge exhausted) | #### Citizens HO-3 Policy Provides a maximum Coverage A or Dwelling limit of $700,000, except in Miami-Dade or Monroe counties where the maximum is $1 Million. Citizens policies exclude coverages such as theft away from premises, extended replacement cost coverage, water backup or sump overflow, and scheduled personal property. They also significantly limit some coverages including loss of use, fungi and rot protection for property, and some forms of personal property (jewelry, silverware, watercraft). Liability coverage is severely limited. Customers can only purchase $100,000 in Personal Liability and $2,000 Medical Payments coverage. Animal Liability is also not available. Citizens policyholders are subject to a high assessment charge or Policyholder Surcharge (up to 45% of their premium) if a major storm or event uses up Citizens funds to pay out claims. **Private Insurance HO-3 Policy** Private insurers set coverage maximums individually, and many are willing to insure homes worth $1 Million or more. A private insurance policy has higher coverage options and more flexibility to add coverage through endorsements. Most carriers offer higher Personal Liability limits, often up to $500,000 and sometimes even higher. Florida policyholders who are not insured through Citizens can only be billed up to 2% of their premium for an assessment charge. This assessment is collected only after the Citizens Policyholder Surcharge is exhausted. ### Who is eligible for Citizens Property Insurance? Citizens Property Insurance is a last-resort insurer that won't work for every customer or property. Under Florida law, customers are only eligible for Citizens if one of the following is true: - They cannot find coverage through a Florida private insurance company. * The premiums they've been offered through private insurers are more than 20% higher than a comparable Citizens quote. If you meet this criteria, you can only purchase a policy through a [Citizens-appointed insurance broker](https://www.citizensfla.com/agent-look-up). ### Who is not eligible for Citizens Property Insurance? If you're able to secure a private insurance policy for a lower price than Citizens, or Citizens is less than 20% cheaper than your private options, you're not eligible for a Citizens policy. The best way to determine your eligibility for Citizens is to talk to a licensed Citizens Insurance Agent. If you're a current Citizens policyholder, you might also be selected for the [Citizens Depopulation Program](https://www.citizensfla.com/depoppl). This program allows private-market companies to select your Citizens policy and produce offers for coverage. Under 2022 legislation, if any of these offers are less than 20% more than your current Citizens premium, you are ineligible for a renewal of your Citizens policy [(Axios Miami, "Citizens shed 180,000 insurance policies in Southeast Florida last year", 2026)](https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/03/02/citizens-insurance-florida-miami-broward-palm-beach). In 2025 alone, Citizens depopulated 585,432 policies with $235.6 billion in exposure removed from its books [(Artemis.bm, "Florida Citizens entered 2026 with 67% less exposure, sees $3bn reinsurance / cat bond need", 2026)](https://www.artemis.bm/news/florida-citizens-entered-2026-with-67-less-exposure-sees-3bn-reinsurance-cat-bond-need/). ### How do you buy a Citizens policy? If you've shopped for insurance for a home and can't find coverage or can't find coverage you can afford, you could be a candidate for Citizens Insurance. You can only buy Citizens coverage through a licensed broker or agent. If your broker determines you're eligible for coverage, they'll help you fill out the application, choose coverage, and determine your premium estimate. If you've upgraded your home with wind-damage mitigation features such as hurricane-proof windows/doors, storm shutters, and roof improvements you can also qualify for discounts through Citizens. ### Pros And Cons of Citizens Property Insurance

Pros

Cons

### **Get Customer Support For Or File A Claim With Citizens Property Insurance** Citizens Property Insurance offers a claims form for policyholders to [use here](https://www.citizensfla.com/mypolicy). You can also contact them 24/7 at (866) 411-2742. Citizens insurance claims processes have been the subject of scrutiny, with some policyholders reporting extended response times and difficulty reaching adjusters. According to customer reviews, adjusters may require 24 hours to respond to initial contact attempts [(Consumer Affairs, "Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Reviews from Real Customers", 2024)](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/citizens_property_insurance_corp.html). Get an FL Homeowners Quote ### Frequently Asked Questions **Should I Buy a Citizens policy?** Buying a Citizens policy should only be your last resort after you've considered traditional homeowners policies. But if you haven't been able to find coverage for your home or haven't been able to afford private market options, Citizens could be your best option. The improving Florida insurance market means more private carriers are returning to the state, so it's worth comparing multiple quotes before defaulting to Citizens. Is Citizens good insurance? For high-risk properties where no other coverage exists, yes. For properties that can secure private coverage at competitive rates, private insurance typically offers better coverage and higher limits. **How much does a Citizens policy cost?** Like any insurance, the cost of a Citizens policy can vary significantly depending on where you live, your property, the coverage, and additional endorsements. Annual premiums through Citizens insurance typically range from $800 to $7,000 based on customer reports [Ibid.](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/citizens_property_insurance_corp.html). The best way to find out if Citizens offers your best price is to get quotes from several carriers, including Citizens through a licensed broker. [Use Coverage Cat to get fast, online home insurance quotes in Florida](https://www.coveragecat.com/intake), or [find a local Citizen-appointed broker here](https://www.citizensfla.com/agent-look-up). **Is Using Citizens Property Insurance Worth It?** Using Citizens Property Insurance is worth considering if you've exhausted all other options for obtaining property insurance and cannot find coverage through regular insurers due to high-risk factors such as location or property history. However, with Citizens no longer the state's largest insurer and market share below 10% as of 2026 [(Axios Miami, "Citizens shed 180,000 insurance policies in Southeast Florida last year", 2026)](https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/03/02/citizens-insurance-florida-miami-broward-palm-beach), more private market alternatives exist than in previous years. If you're insured by Citizens, it's important to understand the risks you're self-insuring for, such as certain exclusions and lower coverages. Some Citizens policyholders supplement their Citizens policy with [personal umbrella policies](/umbrella-insurance) that provide higher liability coverage, or watercraft policies to make their coverage more effective. To get comprehensive guidance on your home, auto, watercraft, and umbrella policies, [try Coverage Cat](https://www.coveragecat.com/intake). **What happens if Citizens doesn't have enough money to pay claims?** Citizens maintains a risk transfer program that includes approximately $3 billion in traditional reinsurance and catastrophe bonds for the 2026 hurricane season [(Artemis.bm, "Florida Citizens entered 2026 with 67% less exposure, sees $3bn reinsurance / cat bond need", 2026)](https://www.artemis.bm/news/florida-citizens-entered-2026-with-67-less-exposure-sees-3bn-reinsurance-cat-bond-need/). If these funds are exhausted, Citizens can levy assessments on policyholders up to 45% of their annual premium, and on all Florida property insurance policyholders up to 2% of their premium. **Are Citizens insurance rates going down in 2026?** Yes, Florida regulators approved rate reductions for most Citizens policyholders beginning in Spring 2026. This marks the first rate decrease since 2015 and reflects the stabilization of Florida's property insurance market through recent tort reforms [(citizensfla.com, "Citizens Recommends Rate Cuts for Most Policyholders - Public", 2026)](https://www.citizensfla.com/-/20251210-citizens-recommends-rate-cuts-for-most-policyholders). Get an FL Homeowners Quote

Reviewed by Max Cho max.webp

Licensed Insurance Broker NPN 20377411

Max Cho is the founder and CEO of Coverage Cat and a licensed insurance broker (NPN 20377411). He builds consumer tools that make finding the best coverage simple for $1–10M households. Previously at Google, Two Sigma, and Microsoft, Max holds an M.A. in Computer Science (University of Washington) and a B.A. in Cognitive Science (Yale).