Press Release
Office Orders Three Entities to Cease & Desist the Unauthorized and Unlicensed Sale of Insurance in Florida
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has issued cease and desist orders to three entities for engaging in the unauthorized and unlicensed sale of insurance in the state of Florida. The three entities include:
Arkidus Home Protection (AHP), Miami, Florida – Ordered to cease and desist from operating an unlicensed home warranty service. AHP offers plans via its website, http://theahp.net. The plan offers coverage for common household appliances and systems. AHP has never been granted a certificate of authority to transact insurance or a license to sell home warranties in the state of Florida.
International Pacific Assurance Associates (IPAA), Temecula, California – Ordered to cease and desist from engaging in the unlicensed business of a surety insurance company. IPAA has offered for sale and sold payment bonds for non-federal construction projects in the state of Florida, in violation of the Florida Insurance Code. IPAA has never been granted a certificate of authority or license to sell insurance as a surety, or in any other capacity, in the state of Florida. In addition, IPAA has not registered with the Florida Secretary of State to do business in Florida.
Dental Care Alliance (DCA), LLC d/b/a Dentrite Dental Services, Sarasota, Florida – Ordered to cease and desist from engaging in the unlicensed business of a discount medical plan organization. DCA offers its Dentrite discount dental plan via its website, www.dentrite.com. Dentrite’s plan’s participating providers include 4 dental practices which are located at a combined 25 locations in various cities throughout Florida. DCA has never been granted a license to operate in Florida as a discount medical plan organization. This is the second time that DCA has been sanctioned by the Office for engaging in the unlawful transaction of discount medical plans in the state of Florida.
In all three cases, the Office conducted investigations and determined the companies were unlawfully offering insurance products and services without being licensed in Florida. Each of these entities has 21 days to respond to their respective Order.
Consumers are reminded to always research companies before purchasing insurance. The Office has an online “company search” tool that allows consumers to determine whether a company is authorized to sell insurance products in Florida. For consumer inquiries or complaints regarding any of the entities mentioned above, contact the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Consumer Services toll-free in Florida at (877) 693-5236 or by email.