Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty announced todaythat he has denied property insurance rate hike requests from TheHartford Financial Services Group that ranged from nearly 30percent to more than 226 percent.

According to the commissioner, the filings submitted were notactuarially justified and lacked supporting information.

Mr. McCarty's announcement said his Office of InsuranceRegulation has sent Notices of Intent to deny the rate filings,because the proposed rate increase was not commensurate with thesavings obtained when the legislature made low-cost reinsuranceavailable to carriers through the Florida Hurricane CatastropheFund.

The filings related to savings from reinsurance are referred toas true-up filings. The deadline for all insurers' true-up filingsis Sept. 30. Mr. McCarty's office will continue to review each oneto ensure they are complete and reflect the policyholder savingsordered by the legislature, the announcement said.

Hartford had requested a statewide average rate increase of 29.5percent for its homeowners business, a 46.4 percent rate increasefor its AARP homeowners program, a 50.5 percent rate increase forits dwelling fire business, a 100 percent increase for its AARPdwelling fire program, a 146.3 percent rate increase for apartmentbuilding coverage under its Spectrum program, a 210.8 percent rateincrease for apartment building coverage under its Property Choiceprogram, a 121.7 percent rate increase for condominium buildingcoverage under its Spectrum program, and a 225.9 percent increasefor condominium building coverage under its Property Choiceprogram.

"I am committed to ensuring that insurance companies doingbusiness in Florida are offering policyholders the best ratespossible," said Mr. McCarty. "The rates proposed by The Hartfordare not in line with this objective."

The decision to deny the rate increases followed an Aug. 16public hearing in which the office questioned various aspects ofthe rate filings.

A spokesman for Mr. McCarty, Jonathon Kees, said The Hartfordand other insurers that have had rate requests rejected can seek anadministrative hearing or amend their filings and resubmit them. Hesaid a number of insurers have withdrawn rate increase requests andothers have been denied.

In response to Commissioner McCarty's action The Hartford saidit is reviewing it to determine the company's next steps. "Webelieve that our proposed changes are actuarially justified. Thefilings we submitted pass on to consumers all of the savings fromthe Temporary Increase in Catastrophe Limits legislation."

The commissioner has the authority to hold a public hearing toquestion a company about its filing pursuant to Florida law. Aschedule of upcoming public rate hearings and the televisionschedule to see them are located on the office's Web site athttp://www.floir.com/pcfr/RateHearings.htm.