Florida’s largest home insurance company is shedding policies, and this week, many Southwest Florida homeowners received letters that they need to look elsewhere for coverage.

If you have Citizens Insurance and received a letter from them, it’s so important you respond, or you could end up forced with a new company paying hundreds or more a year.

Citizens expect to get rid of more than 200,000 policies, and they’re sending out letters telling some policyholders they have no choice but to go with someone else, even if it means paying up to 20% more.

Other policyholders are receiving a letter quoting a price from Citizens and a higher than 20% quote from a private insurer. If policyholders don’t respond by the deadline that they wish to remain with Citizens, they can still be forced into a private insurance company, even if it means paying hundreds more per year.

Mary Lou Simon is a Citizens policyholder and said that if her rates rise much higher, she may be forced to leave the state.

“I moved here two and half years ago, and I was not expecting this when I moved here, so I did not calculate this into expenses. So now, with everything happening, I may end up being forced out already, and I’ve only been here two and a half years,” Simon said.

A concern that insurance agent Doug Nellans has been hearing a lot lately.

“There are some indications that the cost of homeowners insurance is getting to the point where they have to question whether or not they can continue to live in the State of Florida, yes,” Nellans said.

Citizens Insurance is continuing to depopulate. Last month they were down to 1.3 million, and despite getting rid of claims, they’re now up over 1.4 million.

“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster for Citizens,” Nellans said.

Nellans is with the Insurancenter of Fort Myers and said several hundred of his clients are impacted by the depopulation.

Citizens said Tuesday it’s important to get rid of policies so that they truly can be the insurer of last resort.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m a single mom,” Simon said.

Anyone not comfortable with the quote they’re being given is advised to contact an insurance expert to shop for quotes.