5 Things Your Insurance Company May Not Want You to Know

When your home has suffered severe damage, and you have to file an insurance claim so you can rebuild and move on, you expect the thousands of dollars you have paid your insurance over the years to cover the damages; but insurance companies are in the business to make money, so you may end up fighting them to get what you deserve.

There are some things that can help you with your insurance claim that your insurance company may not want you to know, because they can retain a higher profit if you are unaware of certain things; these are some of those things.

They Do Not Want You to Hire a Public Adjuster or Attorney

One of the last things your insurance company wants is for you to hire a public adjuster or an attorney to help you navigate your claim. A public adjuster will fight for you and help push your insurance company to give you a better payout, which they do not want to do. Without the aid of a public adjuster or lawyer, you may be more willing to take the lower payment they initially offer you.

Replacement Cost

If your insurance policy covers replacement costs, they are required to pay you for the complete replacement of the damaged property. They might try to only pay you the actual cash value, but if your policy includes the replacement costs, you are entitled to the entire thing. They may try to just replace a few damaged shingles on your damaged roof, instead of replacing it, but you may be entitled to having the whole thing replaced.

They Cannot Cancel Your Policy Without a Good Reason

As long as you have had your policy for over 60 days, legally, your insurance company cannot cancel it unless you have not paid your premium, committed fraud, or lied on your application. They can choose not to renew your policy, which is usually done annually. Most states require insurance companies to provide you with at least 30 days’ notice before they decide not to renew your policy.

The Independent Adjuster is Not Your Friend

The independent adjuster is inspecting your home on behalf of your insurance company, and their job is to try to help the insurance company save as much money as possible. They may seem friendly and pleasant, but they may be trying to get you to slip up and say something that can reduce the amount the insurance company has to pay you in the end.

Asking for Recorded Statements or Medical Authorizations is a Trick

It might seem straightforward to provide your insurance company with a recorded statement or access to your medical records. The problem with a recorded statement is you may accidentally say something like “it was partially my fault,” or “I was not that badly hurt.” Having something like that recorded can give them a pass to pay less on your claim. If you give them access to your medical records, they can attempt to use them against you, by trying to twist them around and reduce the amount of money they have to pay.