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Tips to Help Consumers Get Fair Insurance Treatment After Hurricane Idalia

 |  Press Release

Washington, D.C. — Today, Consumer Federation of America and United Policyholders shared resources to help consumers get their wind and flood insurance claims paid promptly, fully, and fairly in the wake of Hurricane Idalia. Policyholders are entitled to receive their claims payments to the full extent of their insurance policies, and insurers should not delay or mistreat consumers. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and other state and federal officials must hold insurers to their obligations.

“At a time of rising insurance costs, consumers need fair treatment and prompt payment of claims after Hurricane Idalia,” said Michael DeLong, Consumer Federation of America’s Research and Advocacy Associate. “After Hurricane Ian, there were many reports of insurers exploiting consumers by altering adjustments and trying to reduce payments. This must not happen again. We hope that insurance companies will be good partners in the recovery and rebuilding to come, but policyholders and regulators must stay vigilant to ensure fair treatment.”

“For home and business owners who have been devastated by Idalia, home and flood insurance funds should be the fastest and best source of recovery help,” said Amy Bach, Executive Director of United Policyholders. “Consumers need insurance companies to be fair and honest, and pay their claims in full and on time. United Policyholders and our Florida-based partners are mobilizing to deliver guidance and advocacy services aimed at making sure all available funds flow as they should. Visit United Policyholders’ Roadmap to Recovery program early and often.”

Many Idalia victims will be underinsured and uninsured for flood damage, and there will be big fights over whether the damage was caused by wind (covered in a home policy) versus flooding (excluded in a home policy). Home insurers should pay for damage from hurricane winds and falling rain.

Consumer Federation of America and United Policyholders recommend that insured property owners with damaged homes take the following steps.

  • Contact your insurance company and report your claims as soon as possible. Depending on what caused the damage to your home, your claim may be covered either by wind insurance or flood insurance, or by both. Homeowners insurance policies generally do not cover flood damage.
  • Document damage in photos and videos as thoroughly as possible, but only to the extent that it is safe to do so. Do not allow damaged items to be removed before they have been photographed and documented.
  • Keep a daily journal with records of each time you speak or meet with insurance company adjusters, repair professionals, or anyone you are considering hiring. Note their name and the data and time of the contact.
  • Maintain receipts for every cost you incur. This includes hotel and food costs when you evacuate, alternative living arrangements costs if you cannot return to your home, and anything you spend on making initial repairs to your home to prevent further damage. This may be covered under your home or private flood insurance policy. Temporary living expenses are not covered under NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) policies.
  • Check references and license status before you agree to hire or assign any of your insurance benefits to any professional. Post-disaster scams are quite common. Local help is preferable, but if it is unavailable, be careful and vet out-of-the-area pros before you sign on the dotted lines.
  • If you run into problems or are mistreated by your insurer, contact your Insurance Department or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, for flood claims). The information is below:

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
1-877-693-5236
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Consumer.services@myfloridacfo.com
File a complaint: https://apps.fldfs.com/eService/Newrequest.aspx

Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, West Tower, Suite 702
Atlanta, GA 30334
consumer@oci.ga.gov
File a complaint: https://oci.georgia.gov/file-consumer-insurance-complaint

South Carolina Department of Insurance
803-737-6180
1201 Main Street, Suite 1000
Columbia, South Carolina, 29201
consumers@doi.sc.gov
File a complaint: https://sbs.naic.org/solar-web/pages/public/onlineComplaintForm/onlineComplaintForm.jsf?state=SC&dswid=-537

Federal Emergency Management Agency
1-800-427-4661
500 C St SW, Washington, DC 20024
https://www.fema.gov/about/contact