A Florida insurer has been ordered to pay a $1 million fine after a review by the state found it violated claims handling regulations in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

A report from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) states that after a review of post-Ian claims from September 28, 2022 to February 28, 2023, it found Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company violated state insurance law in several ways, including:

• Failure to acknowledge receipt of a claim communication within 14 calendar days.
• Failure to provide the policyholder with a document containing the adjuster's name and license number.
• Failure to include the name and license number of the adjuster in subsequent communication regarding the claim.
• Failure to pay or deny a claim or a portion of that claim within 90 days after notice of an initial, reopened or supplemental property insurance claim.
• Failure to calculate the correct amount of interest owed on payment of a claim.
• Failure to pay interest when the claim payment was made 90 days after receiving notice of the claim.
• Failure to utilize property appointed adjusters.
• Failure to maintain claims experience records.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida as a category 4 storm in September 2022, bringing with it damaging winds, storm surge and historic freshwater flooding. In total, it caused more than $112 billion in damage – making it the most costly hurricane to ever hit Florida, and the third most costly to affect the United States.