Angry Homeowners Insurance Didn't Improve With My Safe Florida's Program As Promise

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Boynton Beach, Fla. – A Boynton Beach resident is extremely frustrated with the My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program after failing to see the promised savings on his home insurance premium.

Michael LaFroscia, a local homeowner, shared his experience with WPTV, noting that while the program provided $4,200 for new shutters costing $6,300, it didn’t result in any insurance premium reduction. The reason given by the insurance company was that LaFroscia had not replaced his garage door.

“They denied us any discount because we didn't get the garage door done,” LaFroscia said. He explained that at the time, the MSFH program did not allow for garage door replacements in Palm Beach County. Consequently, he spent $2,100 of his own money on the shutters but continues to pay a $7,000 annual insurance premium.

“I didn't save any money on insurance, I didn't get my house completely hurricane protected, and the contractors made their money, the inspectors made their money—the homeowner gets knocked over the head,” LaFroscia lamented.

The MSFH program is intended to reduce insurance costs through home hardening improvements, but insurance experts suggest it doesn’t always deliver on that promise. Many insurers require complete home hardening, including upgrades to all doors, windows, and roofs, for premium discounts.

Jeff Brandes of the Florida Policy Project and a former state senator criticized the program, calling it “political theater.” He pointed out the lack of data supporting the program's efficacy, stating, “Nobody has actually studied the efficacy of the program at all, there is no data that shows the program is effective.”

In contrast, Melissa Burt DeVriese, president of Security First Insurance, highlighted the potential savings for homeowners who fully upgrade their homes. She told WPTV reporter Matt Sczesny, “What we found is consumers on average, of course every house is a little different, they will save 39% if they fully migrated their homes.”

Despite the mixed reviews, the MSFH program continues to aim at helping Floridians make their homes more resilient against hurricanes while offering the potential for insurance savings. For homeowners like LaFroscia, however, the benefits remain elusive.