Volume 2 Number 43 October 24, 2005

Many Floridians were already storm-weary before Hurricane Wilma made landfall in Florida today.    And now, early reports from emergency management officials indicate that Hurricane Wilma has inflicted damage from the Florida Keys to Naples to Orlando.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Floridians who are now dealing with flooding, downed trees, damage to their homes and widespread power outages. In the aftermath of this storm, our immediate focus is the safety of Floridians in the affected areas.  We have already dispatched more than 300 search and rescue officers to Southwest Florida and Southeast Florida. Our focus then moves to assuring disaster victims obtain emergency funding from their insurance companies for food, water, as well as alternate housing if their home is severely damaged.  Within 48 hours, we plan to have mobile response units in place in Naples, West Palm Beach and Miami to help consumers begin the recovery process.  These mobile units, staffed with our consumer specialists, will help you contact your insurance company, file an insurance claim, and answer questions about your insurance policy. Floridians can also call our storm hotline at 1-800-22-STORM.  It will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday. We are here to help.  We are ready to serve.  And together, we will work towards a successful recovery process.

GALLAGHER MOBILIZES SEARCH AND RESCUE, CONSUMER ASSISTANCE TO AREAS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE WILMA Tom Gallagher, Florida’s state fire marshal, said more than 300 search and rescue officers are now fanning out in the southwest Florida area and are heading toward southeast Florida and the Keys to assist in search and rescue. In addition, Gallagher said the Department of Financial Services’ consumer assistance specialists and mobile response units have been dispatched to set up tomorrow in Naples, West Palm Beach, and Miami to help hurricane victims begin the recovery process.  Gallagher said consumers can also obtain assistance by calling the department’s Hurricane Hotline at 1-800-22-STORM from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. “This hurricane inflicted widespread damage, and a lot of people will need immediate assistance,” said Gallagher, who oversees the department. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends and neighbors who have been hit by the storm. The primary concern is the health and safety of those who are in the affected areas; then we will work to help them get resources to repair homes and businesses.”  CONTINUED

FLORIDA SENIORS URGED TO BEWARE OF SCAMS WHEN CHOOSING NEW MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE One-Stop Shopping for Information and Resources Made Available With the start date for enrolling in the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program less than a month away, Tom Gallagher, Florida’s chief financial officer reported that his department’s consumer helpline is getting calls from Floridians looking for help signing up for the new coverage. Also, incidents of possible scams to take advantage of seniors have been reported by Medicare officials.              “I am deeply concerned that scam artists will exploit seniors interested in new options under Medicare,” said Gallagher.  “We will aggressively pursue those who attempt to rip off the elderly.  I urge Florida seniors to log onto our Senior Resource Center at www.flseniors.net and to avoid fraudulent offerings.”  Gallagher said there are approximately three million Medicare beneficiaries in Florida eligible for the new Part D coverage.  But he urged eligible seniors to seriously consider signing up for a Medicare plan unless they have existing coverage that is equal to the Medicare plan.  If an individual lacks coverage and doesn’t sign up during open enrollment, a penalty of as much as one-percent per month could be added to the monthly premium.  CONTINUED

INSURANCE AGENT LOSES LICENSE, MUST PAY $90,000 FINE Misrepresentation and forgery earned agent thousands in commissions An insurance agent who misled at least 35 customers, including several senior citizens, in the sale of annuities and forged their signatures to cover his tracks has had his license revoked and has been ordered to pay a $90,000 fine. Tom Gallagher, Florida’s chief financial officer, last week ordered Clinton Mitchell Alford’s insurance licenses revoked after a formal hearing ended with a Division of Administrative Hearings judge recommending license revocation. The action follows Alford’s arrest in August on one count of scheme to defraud, a first-degree felony, and one count of uttering a forged instrument, a third-degree felony.  He faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted on the criminal charges. “We will not tolerate anyone taking advantage of our citizens,” said Gallagher, who oversees the department.  “This individual put Floridians at severe financial risk, and one elderly victim died before he had a chance to get his money back.”  CONTINUED