Review your insurance to be ready

Source: AARP.org

Reviewing insurance coverage sounds boring.  But if you don’t do it, you may dearly wish you had.  Get out your homeowner’s policy and go over it carefully.  If there are parts that you don’t understand – and insurance policies are famously hard to understand – call your insurance agent to clarify uncertainties.  It is very important to get this review done well before a storm approaches Florida. 

Once a hurricane is nearing the state, insurers usually won’t agree to change the terms of policy or add new coverage.

Ask about:

• Coverage limits.  How much coverage do you have? 
• Deductibles.  How much will you have to pay?  To hold down monthly costs, many Florida homeowners have had to increase deductibles.  But if your home suffers very serious damage, you’ll have to pay the deductibles out of your pocket.
• Flood coverage.  Private insurance rarely covers floods.  If you live in a flood-prone area, check out the federal flood insurance protection program.
• Documentation.  What will you need to file claims?  If you haven’t carefully documented your home’s condition and your possessions before the storm, you may have a hard time getting insurers to accept your estimate of damages.
• Appeals.  How can you appeal an insurer’s settlement offer?  You may find it to your advantage to appeal an initial settlement offer from an insurer.

Related Articles:

Five Steps for a Safe Hurricane Season
Follow these five steps to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property during the Florida hurricane season. 
  
Review your insurance
It's boring. If you don't do it, you may wish you had. 
  
"Harden" your home against hurricane winds
Pick the right type of hurricane shutter to protect your home. 
  
Prepare two hurricane kits
One helps if you evacuate. The other helps when you get home. 
  
Evacuate—the smart way
Evacuate tens of miles, not hundreds of miles 
  
Provide for your pets
Make plans to take care of your pets.

Other Resources:

Florida Emergency Information
(For state & county emergency management specifics) . . www.floridadisaster.org
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Registration & housing assistance . . . . . . . . .. . . 1-800-621-3362 or www.fema.org
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Work relief and placement program . . . . . 1-800-879-6076 or www.fema.org
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
(For checking contractor’s licenses) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-532-1440 or http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/
Florida Department of Financial Services
(For claim information or insurance problems) . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . 1-800-227-8676 or http://www.fldfs.com/
Florida Attorney General’s Office (Price gouging hotline) . . . . . . 1-866-966-7226 or http://myfloridalegal.com/
Florida Consumer Hotline (General consumer problems) . . . . . . 1-800-435-7352 or www.stateofflorida.com
Florida Elder Helpline (County specific information and assistance) . . 1-800-963-5337 or http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/index.php
Free, Unrestricted 24-hour Crisis Hotline
(Provided by United Healthcare of Florida) . . .. . . . . . . . . 1-877-337-4168 or www.unitedhealthcareonline.com