Dear Consumer:

The need for insurance is a fact of life in many situations. Knowing how our insurance policies work, in addition to having the correct type and amount of insurance, can help us recover financially when we experience such things as illnesses, car accidents, natural disasters or even death. And since the insurance industry and insurance policies often change, it’s essential to be aware of new developments.

The Florida Department of Financial Services publishes a variety of consumer guides to help you with this task. They include: Automobile Insurance, Health Insurance, Small-Business Owners’ Insurance, Life Insurance and Annuities, Insuring Your Home, Health Maintenance Organizations, Long-Term Care and Other Options for Seniors and Medicare Supplement Insurance. Each guide contains basic information, definitions of common terms and tips on selecting an insurance agent and company. Each guide also details your rights and responsibilities as an insurance consumer. You can have any of our guides sent to you by calling the Florida Department of Financial Services Consumer Helpline toll-free at 1-800-342-2762. They may also be downloaded from our Web site at www.myfloridacfo.com. For availability of Spanish versions of these guides, please check the Web site.

If you have questions after reading this guide, please call our Consumer Helpline toll-free at 1-800-342-2762 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday through Friday. The hearing impaired may use a TDD to call 1-800-640-0886 during these hours. You may also contact the service office in your area.