Dania, FL (ContentDesk) March 25, 2004 — Healthcare Underwriters Group of Florida(HUGFL), a medical liability insurance company owned and governed by Florida doctors, has received authorization from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FOIR) to begin issuing policies to doctors.The license to operate, also called a Certificate of Authority, was granted by Florida’s Director of the Office of Insurance Regulation, Kevin M.

Carty, late yesterday. HUGFL’s licensure comes at a time when many Florida doctors are struggling to find stable and affordable medical liability insurance.”We’ve been working toward this day for over a year,” said Steven L. Salman, HUGFL’s CEO. “It’s very exciting to see doctors seize control of their future and work toward the permanent stabilization of Florida’s medical liability insurance market.”HUGFL is the only insurance company in the state that offers Florida doctors ownership,governance, and representation as a voting member.

HUGFL began over a year ago.”HUGFL was modeled after the nation’s most successful doctor-owned companies,” said Dr. Stephen Shapiro, Chairperson of the Board for HUGFL.”We made sure the company’s sole product line was physician medical liability insurance, and that our risk pool includes only well-qualifiedFlorida doctors.”Dr. Shapiro, who practices in the Palm Beach Gardens area, is one of eight of the company’s initial board members. Other board members include Scot Ackerman, M.D. (Jacksonville), Kenneth C. Andronico, D.O. (Wesley Chapel),Siva P. Bellam, M.D. (Port St. Lucie), Mario S.

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