Citizen Insurance customers may have their policies switched to a smaller company without even knowing it. The state run insurer is sending letters to customers who have been chosen as good candidates for smaller insurance companies.

If a policyholder doesn’t respond to the letter, their policies are automatically switched to one of about a dozen smaller insurance companies new to Florida. Bob Lotane, a spokesman for the insurance industry, questions the reliability of some of the smaller companies.

“We also need to look harder at these companies, both at their financial background but also at their organizational ability. If the wind blows are they able to adjust claims in a speedy manner and get checks in people’s hands so they can repair their property in a timely manner.”

Citizens were created to provide insurance for homeowners who couldn’t get policies with other companies because their property is considered high risk.