Florida Hurricane & Tropical Storm Resource Center

Florida law generally requires notice of a new or reopened property insurance claim within one year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim generally must be reported within 18 months after the date of loss.

Waiting can create additional problems even when the statutory deadline has not expired. Report known damage as soon as reasonably possible and keep records of when and how you reported it.

Potentially, yes. Florida law recognizes supplemental property insurance claims, but they are subject to an 18-month notice deadline and the terms and conditions of the policy. Keep documentation of additional damage and repair costs as they become known.

Florida personal-lines residential policies commonly have a separate hurricane deductible. Depending on the policy, it may be stated as a percentage of the dwelling limit or another permitted amount.

For personal-lines residential policies subject to Florida’s hurricane-deductible statute, the hurricane deductible generally applies on an annual basis to covered hurricane losses occurring during the same calendar year. Your declarations page and policy will identify the deductible that applies to your property.

Many homeowners policies provide additional living expense coverage when a covered loss makes the home uninhabitable. Depending on the policy, this may include certain temporary housing and related additional expenses.

Keep receipts and records of what you spend. Coverage and applicable limits depend on your policy and the circumstances of the loss.

Not necessarily. Many policyholders can select their own contractor, but some policies contain managed-repair, preferred-contractor, or election-to-repair provisions that can affect how repairs are handled.

Before agreeing to a repair program or signing a contract, review the applicable policy language and the documents the insurer has provided.

Disputes over whether roof damage resulted from a storm, age, deterioration, installation issues, or another cause are common after hurricanes and severe weather.

Photographs, inspection findings, repair history, weather information, and other evidence can be important in evaluating the carrier’s conclusion. We can review the denial or coverage letter and the evidence supporting the claim to determine what the carrier relied on and what may have been overlooked.

Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flooding caused by rising surface water. Flood coverage is commonly purchased separately through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer.

Wind damage may be covered under a homeowners policy. Coverage for rain or other water entering the property depends on the policy language, the cause of the opening or intrusion, and the facts of the loss.

If a Florida property insurer is placed into liquidation, the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association may become responsible for certain eligible covered claims, subject to statutory requirements, exclusions, limits, and deadlines.

An insolvency can also affect the status of the existing insurance policy. Policyholders should pay close attention to notices concerning cancellation dates and replacement coverage.

You do not have to wait until the insurance company denies the claim.

We review claims at different stages of the process, including before an inspection, while the carrier is investigating, after a request for additional information, and after a claim has been denied, delayed, or underpaid. An early review can help identify what the policy requires, what documentation may still be needed, and whether there are problems with the way the claim is being handled.