Short answer: According to Fla. Stat. 627.7015, Florida runs a nonbinding mediation program through the Department of Financial Services for disputed first-party property claims on personal lines and commercial residential policies. The insurer pays for the conference and must tell you about your right to mediate. If you sign a settlement there, you have 3 business days to rescind it unless you have already cashed the check.
What does Fla. Stat. 627.7015 do?
Fla. Stat. 627.7015 creates an "alternative procedure for resolution of disputed property insurance claims," better known as Florida's mediation program. It is a nonbinding process, administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), that lets a policyholder and insurer meet with a neutral mediator to try to settle a disputed first-party property claim without going straight to appraisal or a lawsuit. The statute was most recently amended in 2023 (ch. 2023-144).
Key takeaway: this is a low-cost, insurer-funded off-ramp for a stalled or disputed claim, and using it does not waive your other rights.
Which claims qualify for DFS mediation?
The program is available for first-party claims under personal lines and commercial residential property insurance policies. That covers most homeowners, condo-unit, and residential landlord policies. It does not extend to commercial (non-residential) coverages, motor vehicle insurance, or liability coverage disputes.
The insurer also has a duty to tell you the program exists. Under 627.7015, at the time a policy is issued or renewed, or at the time you file a first-party claim within the scope of the section, the insurer shall notify the policyholder of the right to participate in the DFS mediation program.
Who pays for the mediation conference?
The insurer does. The statute requires the insurer to bear all of the cost of conducting the mediation conferences, except as otherwise provided in the section. The main exception is practical: a policyholder who fails to appear can be charged the cost of rescheduling and the mediator's fee for the missed session. So as long as you show up, mediation costs you nothing.
Is the 627.7015 mediation binding?
No. Mediation under 627.7015 is nonbinding. If you and the insurer reach a written settlement at the conference, you are not locked in immediately: you have 3 business days to rescind that settlement. The one catch is that the rescission right disappears once you have cashed or deposited a check or draft disbursed for the claim, so do not deposit the funds until you are sure you want to keep the deal.
What are the cost, settlement, and eligibility rules at a glance?
| Feature | What Fla. Stat. 627.7015 says |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) |
| Who pays | The insurer bears all of the cost of the mediation conference |
| Binding? | Nonbinding; a signed written settlement can be rescinded within 3 business days |
| Rescission cutoff | You lose the 3-business-day window once you cash or deposit the claim check |
| Minimum dispute | Does not apply when the amount in controversy is less than $500 (unless both sides agree to mediate a smaller amount) |
| Most recent amendment | ch. 2023-144 (2023) |
Key takeaway: because the insurer funds the session and any deal is reversible for 3 business days, the downside of trying mediation is low.
When does 627.7015 mediation NOT apply?
Three main situations fall outside the program:
- Small disputes. The program does not apply when the amount in controversy is less than $500, unless the parties agree to mediate a dispute involving a lesser amount.
- Suspected fraud. Claims where the insurer has a reasonable basis to suspect fraud are excluded (subsection 9).
- No coverage on agreed facts. If, based on agreed-upon facts as to the cause of loss, there is simply no coverage under the policy, the dispute is not eligible.
What happens if the insurer ignores the mediation rules?
Subsection 7 gives the rule real teeth. If the insurer fails to notify you of the right to mediate, or requests mediation and then fails to attend, you are not required to submit to or participate in any contractual loss appraisal process as a precondition to filing suit for breach of contract. In plain terms: a carrier that skips its mediation obligations cannot later force you into the policy's appraisal clause before you go to court.
How does Ocean Point handle DFS mediation?
We use 627.7015 mediation as a strategic tool, not a formality. Ocean Point Claims is a licensed Florida public adjusting firm (DFS firm license W829547) with 21 years of experience and more than 500 mediations behind us. Our primary public adjuster, Eli Goins (license P159790), prepares the claim file, damage documentation, and estimate before the conference so the number on the table is defensible, then represents your position at the table. We are members of FAPIA. Because the insurer funds the conference and any settlement carries a 3-business-day rescission window, mediation is often a low-risk way to test whether a fair number is reachable before escalating to appraisal or litigation.
Who this is for, and should you request mediation?
DFS mediation fits a disputed or underpaid personal lines or commercial residential claim where the gap between you and the carrier is real money (at least $500) and the dispute is about value, not a clean coverage denial or a fraud allegation. It is not the right tool for a sub-$500 dispute or a claim that has no coverage on the agreed facts. Because it is insurer-funded, nonbinding, and reversible for 3 business days, there is little downside to trying it when the facts support you.
Bottom line: if your property claim is stuck on the dollar amount, 627.7015 mediation is a cheap, low-risk shot at a fair settlement, and we can prepare and represent the claim so you walk in with leverage.