1. Make sure agents and brokers are licensed to do business in Florida with their Licensee Search tool. See if the Florida Department of Financial Services has taken a regulatory enforcement (disciplinary) action against them on the "Purchasing Insurance" website. This is particularly important when choosing a health care broker, or agent, because the stakes are so high.
2. Check ratings services. Companies are rated on their ability to pay a claim you make. There are several companies that rate insurance companies and their grades can help you choose one. In general, insurance companies are rated from A++ (the most reliable and stable) to E (less reliable and stable). There are several ratings services, but some charge for use. Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s are free, but you will need to register for an account. Both companies also offer news and information on a variety of financial topics. One more thing to remember: Each rating service sets their own rating guidelines and criteria. That means a company could earn an A+ with one service and a B with another.
3. Use the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Complaint Comparison tool to see how many consumers have filed complaints against your prospective insurer. The complaint comparison shows the number of consumer complaints logged for each insurance company during the last twelve months and provides company size comparisons by (1) Policies in force for Homeowners’ insurance; and (2) Premiums written in Florida for individual and commercial automobile insurance.

If you ever want to file a complaint about an insurance company, go to the Florida Department of Financial Services' website, "File an Insurance Complaint: We Are Here for You."