Citizens depopulation: what the letter means and what to do
Got this letter? It means a private company wants to take over your Citizens policy. Here is what the letter says, the one rule that decides if you can stay, and what to do before your deadline.
Want to look at other companies too? See the Florida home insurance companies.
Facts checked Oct 9, 2026 against Citizens' and the state's own pages.
How fast Citizens is shrinking, and who is taking new policies: the Florida home insurance market, on one page.
Wondering which companies are leaving? Insurance companies leaving Florida, with dates and sources.
Not sure which letter you have? See your deadline and what to do next.
Most Citizens home policies need flood insurance by 2027: Florida flood insurance and who sells it.
What the letter means
By law, Citizens must move policies to private companies when it can. It calls this its Depopulation Program. Source: Citizens, Depopulation
Each company must first be approved by the state's insurance regulator (OIR). Then it picks the Citizens policies it wants to take over. Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Take-Out Companies
If a company picks your policy, Citizens mails you a packet. It lists each offer and its estimated price for next year. It shows what Citizens expects your next renewal to cost, too. It has a coverage worksheet for each offer. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
The 20% rule, in plain words
Compare each offer to the Citizens renewal price in your packet. If any offer costs no more than 20% above the Citizens price, you can't stay with Citizens. You must pick one of the offers. This has been Florida law since December 2022. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
Say Citizens expects your renewal to cost $2,000. 20% more is $2,400. An offer of $2,350 means you can't stay. If every offer is above $2,400, you may stay, but you have to say so.
Staying is never automatic. If you are allowed to stay and want to, you must register that choice by the date on your Offer Form. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
What happens if you don't respond
Citizens picks for you. It moves your policy to the company with the lowest estimated price. This happens even if you were allowed to stay. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
Once a company takes over your policy, the move is final. There is no longer a 30-day window to go back to Citizens. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
Deadlines
Your deadline is the date printed on your Offer Form. There is no single date for everyone. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
Takeover dates on the letters now going out to home policies: Nov 17, 2026. For business policies: Nov 24, 2026. Source: Citizens, Depopulation Resources (current offers)
If you pick a company, your policy moves to it on the date in your letter, in most cases. Citizens then mails you a notice and a certificate of the move. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
Pick the companies on your letter
Check the companies named on your letter to see them side by side. These are the companies in Citizens' current offers for home policies.
Pick at least two to see them side by side.
| What to compare | American Integrity | Manatee | Mangrove | One Alliance Formerly Universal North America Insurance Company | Security First | Slide | Southern Oak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed in Florida, approved for takeouts | Yes OIR order 403122-26-CO | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes OIR order 403123-26-CO |
| Takeover dates | Nov 17 | Nov 17 | Nov 17 | Nov 17 | Nov 17 | Nov 17 | Nov 17 |
| Backed by FIGA | Yes | Not available | Not available | Not available | Yes | Yes | Not available |
| Financial rating | A (Exceptional) from Demotech, checked Oct 7, 2026 | Not available | Not available | Not available | A (Exceptional) from Demotech, checked Oct 7, 2026 | A (Exceptional) from Demotech, checked Oct 7, 2026 | Not available |
| Complaint index | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Roof rule | Roof under 15 years old? Age alone can't stop your policy | Not available | Not available | Not available | Roof under 15 years old? Age alone can't stop your policy | Roof under 15 years old? Age alone can't stop your policy | Not available |
| Claims phone | File a claim (866) 277-9871 | Not available | Not available | Not available | File a claim (877) 333-9992 | File a claim (866) 230-3758 | Not available |
Sources: Citizens, Depopulation Resources (current offers) and Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Take-Out Companies. "Not available" means we don't have that company's data yet.
Takeout offer, assumption, depopulation: three words for one thing
You may see all three words on your letter or in the news. Depopulation is the program. A takeout offer is one company's offer to take your policy. The assumption is the move itself, on the date the new company takes over. Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Take-Out Companies
Questions to ask your agent
Your agent can line the offers up with you. Bring the packet and ask these questions.
- Is any offer within 20% of my Citizens price? Which ones?
- What does each offer cover that Citizens doesn't, and the other way around?
- How much would I pay out of pocket for a hurricane claim, and for other claims?
- How does each company handle claims, and how strong is it with money?
- What could my price be at the next renewal with this company?
- If I stay with Citizens, what could a storm assessment cost me?
One cost of staying: if Citizens runs short of money to pay claims after a big storm, it can charge its customers an extra fee. This is called an assessment. People with a private company can owe a much smaller one. Source: Citizens, Depopulation
A licensed Florida agent can go through your packet with you, line by line, before your deadline.
Questions people ask about Citizens depopulation
What is a Citizens depopulation letter?
It is the packet Citizens mails when a private company wants your policy. It lists each offer and its price next to the Citizens price, with a date to choose by. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
What is a Citizens takeout offer?
It is a private company's offer to take over your Citizens policy. The state must approve the company first. Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Take-Out Companies
Can I opt out of Citizens depopulation?
Only if every offer costs more than 20% above your Citizens renewal price. Then you may stay, but you must register that choice by the date on your Offer Form. Business policies on property that isn't a home can't opt out. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
What is the Citizens 20 percent rule?
If a private offer costs no more than 20% above what Citizens expects your renewal to cost, you can't stay with Citizens. Florida law has said so since December 2022. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
What happens if I ignore the letter?
Citizens moves your policy to the company with the lowest estimated price, even if you were allowed to stay. Once the move happens, it is final. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
How did I get selected for takeout?
A private company picked your policy. The state gives each company an order that sets how many policies it may take, and when. Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Take-Out Companies
Can I go back to Citizens after my policy is taken out?
Not by undoing the move. Citizens no longer has a 30-day window to return, so once your policy is assumed, the move is final. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
If I stay with Citizens, will I get more takeout offers?
You may. To stay with Citizens, you must answer each new offer. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
How do I register my choice?
Use the choice page on Citizens' website with the code on your Offer Form. Your agent can also help you choose. Source: Citizens, Personal Lines Depopulation Program
Which companies are taking over Citizens policies?
In Citizens' current offers for home policies: American Integrity, Manatee, Mangrove, One Alliance (formerly Universal North America), Security First, Slide and Southern Oak. Source: Citizens, Depopulation Resources (current offers)