Insurance companies have 90 days to make a decision on a homeowners claim in Florida and 20 days after a decision to issue payment.

What is Homeowners Insurance?

Homeowners insurance provides coverage to a home or dwelling if it is damaged in a variety of circumstances. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, and storms are often covered by homeowners insurance, although flood damage may need to be purchased separately. Homeowners Insurance may also protect the contents of a house from this damage as well as loss due to theft.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation states that homeowners insurance policies reportedly involve the following components:

• • Coverage A Dwelling
  • Coverage B Other Structures
  • Coverage C Personal Property
  • Coverage D Loss of Use/Additional Living Expenses
  • Coverage E Personal Liability
  • Coverage F Medical Payments to Others
  • Additional Coverages
  • Exclusions

Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation notes that these policies can cover houses, or they can cover other structures.

If a structure covered by homeowners insurance is damaged, consumers can file a claim with their insurance provider.

How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Settle a Homeowners Claim in Florida?

Under Florida’s Homeowner Claim Bill of Rights, consumers have numerous rights when it comes to their homeowner insurance claims.

After someone files a homeowners claim in Florida, the insurer reportedly has 30 days to send the consumer a confirmation that the claim is either covered in full, in part, or still under investigation if they have requested this confirmation in writing.

Additionally, within 90 days of filing a claim, consumers should reportedly receive full payment, payment of the undisputed portion of a claim, or written confirmation that the claim has been denied.

More recently, insurance companies have been criticized for allegedly failing to meet deadlines for pending homeowners claims in Florida following Hurricane Michael.

Hurricane Michael prompted nearly 150,000 homeowners insurance claims after hitting the Florida Panhandle in 2018, but thousands of these claims remain open. Hurricanes are usually accompanied by strong winds, lots of rain, and property damage, weather occurrences that comprise the perfect storm for homeowners’ insurance claims.

As of Sept. 27, more than 17,000 Hurricane Michael claims are reportedly still open. Regulators and lawmakers have criticized insurers for failing to resolve the claims over a year after the storm. According to the Insurance Journal, regulators are calling on insurance providers to do their part in helping consumers rebuild with the assistance of a homeowners claim in Florida.

“As we mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Michael, OIR recognizes the tremendous work that still needs to be done to close insurance claims and allow Florida’s Panhandle residents and business owners to rebuild and recover from this devastating storm,” Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier said in a statement.

Altmaier has reportedly said that he is prioritizing getting these claims closed as soon as he can and is reviewing claim practices for violating the law. Consumers can contact the CFO Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236 if they are having problems during the insurance process.

“We are committed to making consumers whole to the fullest extent of the law,” Altmaier said.

Florida Property Damage Insurance Claim Help

If you live in Florida and your home or business was damaged, enlisting the help of an experienced property damage attorney may make a difference in the outcome of your claim. 

Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a free case evaluation by a Florida property damage lawyer. 

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