Lakeland Senior AdvisorWhich agency regulates continuing care retirement communities in Florida?
The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) regulates CCRC providers under Chapter 651, Florida Statutes, and rule chapter 69O-193, issuing certificates of authority, approving contracts and reviewing finances, while AHCA licenses and inspects the assisted living and nursing care on each campus.
OIR's CCRC staff can be reached at 850-413-3153, and suspected violations of Chapter 651 can also be reported to the Department of Financial Services consumer helpline at 1-877-693-5236.
What is a certificate of authority?
It is OIR's permission for a provider to offer continuing care contracts in Florida; a new project first gets a provisional certificate of authority, which lets it take reservation deposits under escrow rules while it builds and sells units.
Both Polk County communities, Westminster Lakeland and Estates at Carpenter's, appear on OIR's October 2025 map with a full certificate of authority.
What does it mean when OIR lists a CCRC as in runoff?
A provider in runoff keeps serving the residents who already hold continuing care contracts but no longer signs new ones.
Neither Polk County community carries that mark on the October 2025 map. A campus in runoff can still rent apartments or care beds under other agreements, so always ask which kind of contract you would be signing.
How does Florida protect CCRC residents' money?
Providers must keep minimum liquid reserves calculated under s. 651.035, file annual, quarterly and in some cases monthly financial reports with OIR, and hold entrance fees and deposits in escrow under set conditions.
Each certificated community must have an elected residents' council (s. 651.081), and the governing body must meet with residents quarterly to go over income, expenses and financial trends, with a written summary of the reasons whenever a monthly fee increase is discussed (s. 651.085). Ask for the latest annual report and reserve calculation.
Does CMS rate the nursing homes inside life plan communities?
Yes, when they are Medicare-certified: CMS flags certified nursing homes located in a continuing care retirement community, and they carry their own star ratings.
Our profile of each Lakeland community lists the AHCA licenses tied to its campus and, for nursing homes, CMS's ratings.
Side by side
| OIR supervises | AHCA supervises | |
|---|---|---|
| What | Contracts, reserves and provider finances | Care quality in the licensed units |
| Tools | Certificates of authority and financial filings | Licenses, inspections and fines |
| Complaints | 850-413-3153 or DFS at 1-877-693-5236 | 1-888-419-3456 |
Built from Chapters 408, 429 and 651, Florida Statutes; Florida Administrative Code chapters 59A-36 and 65A-2; AHCA, DCF, OIR and Department of Elder Affairs publications; and the CareScout and VA rate tables cited on this page. Our editorial standards explain how each figure is checked.
