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Understanding Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Claims on Mold
When you have allergies, your health is vulnerable to molds. So if mold is in your home, what help can you expect from your insurance company in getting rid of it?
To start, you should know that no two insurance policies are the same. They use different language to describe coverage—if that coverage includes mold and if so, for how much.
Does this Mean to Expect No Help From Homeowners Insurance if You Have Mold?
The answer is, it depends on your circumstances. Like…
- The type of insurance policy you have
- The company that wrote the policy
- The conditions that led to the mold
- Your insurance company’s attitude
Health Facts On the Effects of Mold
When you suffer from allergies, mold spores cause symptoms like:
- Wheezing and breathing difficulty
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Burning and watering eyes
- Dry, hacking cough
- Sore throat
- Nose and throat irritation
- Shortness of breath
- Skin irritation
According to the CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) and the National Center for Environmental Heath, MYCROTOXINS in your home can “cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss.”
But let’s be fair. Not all molds are bad. Where would we be today without the penicillin mold? And at the same time, there are some people that don’t suffer symptoms from them.
Although certainly, you don’t want high levels of toxic mold in your home or business.
The Position Many Insurance Companies Take on Covering Mold Abatement
Many companies avoid paying for mold remediation because of the expense. The average mold abatement costs from $5,000 to $50,000 and takes weeks to resolve. So they turn a blind eye to it.
Some companies will say it was your negligence that allowed the problem to occur and fester. And since you failed to mitigate damages as specified by your insurance policy, the claim is denied. They look to the fine print of your policy to avoid paying and try to blame you for not being prudent and expeditious.
It falls on you to prove that mold is present and that removing it should be covered by your insurance.
That means assembling a team of experts such as:
- Licensed industrial hygienist
- Licensed mold, remediation company
- Licensed general contractor
- Inventory specialist, and possibly more
Worth the effort? Depends on the value you place on your family’s health. What I can say is should you need and want it, I have that team of experts.
What’s the Future for Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage of Mold?
Only time will tell. But insurance companies are now lobbying to limit the coverage.
Some insurance carriers already limit certain coverages to $10,000 in claims. Which, as you know, can be well short of what it actually costs to fix the problem.
If you live in West Palm Beach, here’s what you should do to protect yourself… Call Advocate Claims at 561-962-0065. We have years of experience reading and understanding insurance policies. We’ll review your policy and provide a no obligation, free consultation.
We’re only paid if we recover money for you.
Remember. The bigger the claim, the more you need a licensed Public Adjuster on your side.