Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has appointed former state Comptroller Bob Milligan as the state's Insurance Consumer Advocate and announced a new initiative to grant Milligan more tools to respond to consumers' complaints. Milligan served in the Marine Corp for 35 years, rising to the rank of a three-star lieutenant general. He served as the state's comptroller from 1994 to 2004 when, as part of the reorganization of the state Cabinet, the comptroller's office was combined with the former Department of Insurance to form the CFO position. Milligan is a highly regarded official who is known as putting public policy above political considerations.

“I'm so honored that General Milligan has agreed to return to public service as Florida's Insurance Consumer Advocate,” said Sink. “He will be a strong advocate for the people and is a role model of integrity, honesty, and accountability in government.”

“Together CFO Sink and I will also be searching for new insurance solutions that will increase competition, stabilize the market, and offer consumers more choices,” said Milligan.

Sink and Milligan are moving quickly to bolster the power of the insurance advocate and streamline access to the office. They have instituted a new web site (www.fldfs.com/ica/) that provides a direct link between consumers and regulators. Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chair Bill Posey (R-Rockledge), also has filed a bill (SB 1884) that would implement a three-prong agenda to give the consumer advocate greater say over insurance issues. Working with Sink and Milligan, Posey's bill follows three main recommendations:

The insurance consumer advocate will be proactive in finding solutions in other insurance lines. One potential area that needs attention is the access to and affordability of health insurance. More than three million Floridians lack health insurance and the state ranks among the bottom when it comes to insuring children. A strong consumer advocate will be empowered to bring solutions and ideas from other states.

The insurance consumer advocate will be proactive in ferreting out bad business practices that hurt consumers. The Department of Financial Services operates a consumer helpline that receives 500,000 financial and insurance-related inquiries annually. The consumer advocate will respond quickly to these real term concerns and complaints received from consumers. By identifying bad business practices, the consumer advocate will have the authority to call attention to the insurance companies and agents who operate in bad faith, use unfair trade practices, or employ deceptive or misleading sales tactics. Under Posey's bill, the consumer advocate would have the authority subpoena witnesses.

The insurance consumer advocate also will have a greater say in overseeing the rate-making process to ensure that insurance companies are not seeking unfair and unjustifiable rate increases. In order to be effective, the consumer advocate will have the legal authority to examine the same information filed with the Office of Insurance Regulation.

Special Reports /

Milligan Appointed State Consumer Advocate

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