Florida Encourages Insurance Agents to Use Translated Policy Forms

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Fla. Encourages Agents to Use Translated Policy Forms
April 19, 2006

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has issued a formal notice to
all insurance companies licensed in Florida, reminding them that the use
of approved translated policy forms is acceptable and encouraged.
Florida's population is growing at record rates and the Hispanic component
of that growth is significant. Spanish is spoken in 35 percent of the
homes in Florida and recent figures estimate the state's Hispanic
population at over 3.3 million. "We are reminding companies that it is
acceptable to use policy forms translated into Spanish and approved by our
office," Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said. "With so many
Floridians speaking Spanish as a primary language or exclusively, it is
imperative that they fully understand the provisions of their insurance
policy."

The office will soon add to its website the names and contact information
of insurers that currently offer policy forms in Spanish, so consumers can
find companies that meet their needs.

Find this article at:
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2006/04/19/67421.htm