How to Make Insurers Pay for Overlooked Damage
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-06-06 15:22:50.842943-04:00
Suppose you already accepted your insurer's check, but then found more damage.
Are you out of luck?
No, say Florida insurance regulators. Even after an initial insurance payment is collected, you can file supplemental insurance claims for overlooked damage or necessary building code upgrades to your home.
Your deadline?
There isn't one, but your ability to reasonably prove your home's damage was storm-related decreases with time.
Robert Lotane of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said, "Document everything. Photograph the damage and keep any receipts for incurred costs of repair."
Homeowner's claims consultant and AARP member Ricky Simms explained, "Any homeowner can apply for a supplemental claim, but insurance companies don't make this information freely available."
When hurricane Wilma damaged AARP volunteers Henry and Joyce Salomon's Broward County home and all but destroyed the residence of Joyce's 98-year-old father, Simms stepped in to help them get the funds they needed to repair their homes.
Joyce's father received nearly $155,000 in supplemental claims allowances following his initial claim of $45,000. You don't need a consultant to file a supplemental claim, but they're helpful when it comes to understanding building codes and your policy's parameters.
It's especially important to understand how building codes are changing in Florida.
Recent legislation has toughened building code requirements throughout the state, so it may not be enough to repair damage to just the way it was before the storm hit. You may actually be required to repair damage so it's stronger than it was before.
Regulators say even if you have signed a waiver releasing the insurer from liability after payment of a claim, you are entitled to file a supplemental claim when documentation shows that it is reasonable. If your insurer fails to comply, your or your claims consultant can contact the Department of Financial Services Consumer Helpline at 1-800-342-2762.
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