Biggert-Waters Reform Act of 2012
Many insured’s have been hearing about the dramatic increase in premiums on their flood policy. We wanted to give you some information regarding the Biggert-Waters Reform Act and how it will affect flood premium rates per the National Flood Insurance Program.
Provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 require the NFIP to raise insurance rates for some older properties in high-risk areas to reflect true flood risk.
Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somersfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The affected properties are among those built before the community joined the NFIP and adopted its first Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). Communities began joining the NFIP in the late 1960s. To find out when your community joined, contact your local floodplain manager. Properties built before that date and not improved since are known as "pre-FIRM."
Many of the pre-FIRM properties in high-risk areas do not meet current standards for construction and elevation, and they have been receiving subsidized rates that do not reflect their actual risk. The subsidized rates are being eliminated in some cases, as noted in the chart below. Some current policyholders and all future policyholders owning pre-FIRM properties in high-risk areas will pay rates based on their full risk of flood damage. However, most NFIP-insured properties (80 percent or more) are not affected by the changes.
Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somersfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
How Properties and Policies are affected by subsidy changes
For These Pre-FIRM Properties With Newly Issued PoliciesSubsidized Rates Are EliminatedRecently purchased pre-FIRM buildings in high-risk areasPolicies for newly purchased pre-FIRM buildings are issued at full-risk rates. Policies that were issued at subsidized rates for pre-FIRM buildings purchased on or after 7/6/2012 renew at full-risk rates starting 10/1/2013.Policies issued for the first time on buildings in high-risk areasNew policies are issued at full-risk rates. Pre-FIRM subsidized policies first in effect on or after 7/6/2012 renew at full-risk rates starting 10/1/2013.Policies re-issued after a lapse on pre-FIRM buildings in high-risk areasPolicies are reinstated at full-risk rates. Lapsed policies reinstated on or after 10/4/2012 and before 10/1/2013 will renew at full-risk rates.For These Pre-FIRM Properties Paying Subsidized Rates
Subsidized Rates Are Moving to Full-Risk Rates
Non-primary residences (secondary or vacation homes or rental properties) in high-risk areas
25% annual increases at policy renewal for severely or repetitively flooded properties of 1 to 4 residences until premiums reach full-risk rates for policies in effect before 7/6/2012. If a pre-FIRM property is sold, the new owner pays full-risk rates.
For Other Property Types
Subsidized Rates Do Not Apply or Can Continue
Pre-FIRM primary residences in high-risk areasSubsidized rates continue when policies are in effect before 7/6/2012 until or unless:- Property is substantially improved;
- Property of one to four residences incurs severe, repetitive losses or receives insurance payments that exceed the property's value
- Property is sold (the new owner pays full-risk rates); or
- Policy is allowed to lapse.
For any questions regarding your policy feel free to give our office a call. We are always available to answer your questions.
Source Info: www.floodsmart.gov
Penny Hanley & Howley Insurance
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