This topic covers coverages outside the main homeowners and auto policies: flood, earthquake, watercraft, personal floaters, the umbrella, and the residual and surplus lines markets. The national guide explains the forms. In Florida, the state questions focus on private flood, Citizens' flood requirement, the Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and surplus lines.

The national concepts in brief

• Flood is excluded from homeowners forms. It is written by the National Flood Insurance Program or private insurers.
• Floaters schedule valuables individually. A personal umbrella adds excess liability over auto and homeowners limits.

Flood insurance in Florida (627.715)

• Definition of flood: a general and temporary inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land, or of two or more properties, one of which is the policyholder's.
• Admitted insurers may write private residential flood on a standard, preferred, customized, flexible or supplemental basis, or as excess flood.
• Flood deductibles and limits must appear prominently on the declarations page.
• Leaving the NFIP: an applicant who drops subsidized NFIP coverage signs a notice warning that the full-risk rate may apply if he returns (627.715(8)).
• The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund reimburses insurers for part of their residential hurricane losses. It does not reimburse flood losses (215.555).

Citizens and flood (627.351(6)(aa))

• Citizens does not sell flood insurance.
• Policyholders in FEMA special flood hazard areas must already have flood coverage from another source to stay eligible.
• Phase-in for other properties: flood is required at $600,000 of dwelling value in 2024, $500,000 in 2025 and $400,000 in 2026. From January 1, 2027, it applies to all personal residential policies that include wind.
• Exempt: Citizens policies that exclude wind, and condo unit owner policies.

Surplus lines (626.914 to 626.932)

• Exporting means placing coverage on a Florida risk with an eligible unauthorized insurer under the Surplus Lines Law.
• Disclosure: since July 1, 2025, the insured acknowledges in writing that:
  • admitted coverage may be available
  • FIGA doesn't protect surplus lines insureds
  • the rates and forms aren't approved by Florida
• Pricing: exported coverage can't be priced below the rate most admitted insurers charge.
• What the policy must say: no FIGA protection, and rates and forms not approved by any Florida regulatory agency (626.924).
• Fees and tax:
  • the surplus lines agent and the retail agent may each charge a reasonable fee, itemized before purchase
  • surplus lines tax is 4.94%, collected by the surplus lines agent
• The Florida Surplus Lines Service Office processes filings.

Exam traps

• In Florida, "flood" means inundation of 2+ acres or 2+ properties.
• Citizens doesn't sell flood. The required-flood threshold is $400,000 in 2026, and covers all residential wind policies from 2027.
• The FHCF reimburses hurricane losses, never flood.
• Surplus lines tax is 4.94%.