Article: Citizens switch brings huge rate increases: You have little choice if policy is taken over.

Byline: Kathy Bushouse

Sep. 3--Michael Burrell never asked for a new insurance policy for his Boca Raton home.

Because he lives east of Interstate 95, an area where few private property insurers are willing to tread, Burrell assumed no company other than state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. would cover the wind risk on his three-bedroom, three-bathroom home.

Then in late June, Burrell got a notice in the mail that his coverage was shifting to a different insurer. Last year, his annual premium cost $1,595. This year, it's $4,581 -- a 187 percent increase.

Staying with Citizens wasn't an option. With a private insurance ...

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