Hurricane Ian is considered to be the most destructive natural disaster to occur in the United States.
It took place in September 2022, and by December 2022, millions of insurance claims had already been filed, with 30% of those claims being denied, and the underpayment of claims had begun.
Why Would Slide Insurance Deny Your Claim?
Slide Insurance provides many different types of insurance policies required by mortgage companies to protect your personal and business property from damage. The coverage your Slide policy offers can be found on the declarations page of your paperwork.
You may think that your current policy covers the damage you have received, but there are instances in which claims can be denied.
For example, insurance companies in Florida do not cover flooding — this is the jurisdiction of the National Flood Insurance Program.
Other reasons your Hurricane Ian claim might be denied include the following:
- Your property damage may fall under the ‘exclusions’ portions of your insurance policy.
- The damage occurred outside of the dates of your policy term.
- It has been determined there was improper mitigation when possible.
- You may not have enough proof of the damage, or more proof may be required.
Policyholders should understand that your insurance company cannot deny your claim without providing a valid reason. It is illegal for your insurance company to wrongfully deny a claim, which can lead to legal action against the insurance company.
If you believe your insurance company has been responsible for wrongful insurance claims denials, contact the attorneys of Florin|Roebig today.
About Insurance Companies During Hurricane Ian
In 2022, Hurricane Ian caused massive amounts of damage across the state of Florida. Understandably, insured Floridians filed claims with their insurance companies for damage to their homes and businesses.
As a result, insurance companies, such as Slide Insurance, were overwhelmed with the number of claims that came pouring in. Slide Insurance reports around $36.5 million in damages from tropical storms, such as Hurricane Ian, in 2022.
Insurance carriers in Florida expect their losses to be over $1 billion collectively. With so many claims, insurance companies may be tempted to wrongfully deny or underpay claims in order to save money.
Your Rights As A Florida Home Or Property Owner
The Florida state legislature passed a Homeowner’s Bill of Rights for insured Floridians that protects them from unscrupulous insurance companies who may try to underpay or deny their claims.
If you are concerned that your insurance company may be acting fraudulently or in bad faith, you should consider filing a complaint against them with the Florida Division of Consumer Services. This is the department responsible for overseeing complaints against insurance providers.
For example, if your Hurricane Ian insurance claim is denied or the amount they give you does not cover the cost to replace or repair damage, you could file a complaint with the Florida Division of Consumer Services.
What To Do If Your Slide Insurance Company Hurricane Damage Claim Is Denied
If you are dealing with a denied claim, you may be frustrated and overwhelmed. However, if you believe that your property insurance claim was wrongfully denied or grossly underpaid, you have options available to you.
1. Get An Insurance Claim Review
The first step you need to take if your insurance claim is denied is to file a request for an official review of your claim. Once your request has been received, it will be assigned to an insurance agent who may contact you for further information.
The time frame for completing the claims process begins on the date of loss. If your insurance claim is time-sensitive, your insurance provider is legally required to speed up the claims process.
2. Contact HHS For An External Review
If your insurance company fails to reverse their denial of your claim or to appropriately reimburse your property damage, your next option is to contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at (800) 866-6205 or floridahealth.gov.
The HHS is responsible not only for health insurance and healthcare, it is responsible for the safety and well-being of all of Florida’s residents.
The HHS will then send you a form that you will need to complete with the required information and return to them quickly. Florida insurance law states that policyholders have 60 days from the date on the letter of denial to file their paperwork.
Missing the deadline could result in a denial of an external review.
3. Start A Bad-Faith Insurance Lawsuit
Insurance companies are required by Florida law to make good faith attempts to fulfill their policyholder’s insurance claims, including the claims filed for Hurricane Ian damage.
During times when they are overwhelmed with claims, insurance companies often cut corners to save money. If you believe that Slide Insurance has acted in bad faith, contact the law offices of Florin|Roebig to help you file a bad-faith insurance lawsuit.
Hiring an insurance attorney provides a better opportunity for getting a reversal of your denial and added compensation as a punishment for your insurance company.
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What To Do If Slide Insurance Underpays Your Claim
You may have filed your Hurricane Ian damage claim and received a payment from your insurance company that was a lot less than what you submitted. If this has happened to you, there are steps you can take to reverse this low payment.
1. Ask Your Insurance Adjuster For A Second Review
You will first need to contact the insurance adjuster who was assigned to your case. This person is not the insurance agent who handles your account.
The insurance adjuster is responsible for personally investigating damage to personal and business properties.
There is a possibility that the adjuster’s calculations could have been wrong, or they may have missed something. You can ask the adjuster to take a second look at your claim, though you may need to provide extra evidence, such as pictures.
2. Contact The Florida Office Of Insurance Regulation
If your request for a second look at your insurance claim has not resulted in a corrected payment or they have denied your claim, you still have options. You can now file a complaint with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation by calling (877) 693-5236.
After looking into the complaint, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will contact your insurance company if they find the complaint to be valid. They will try to resolve the problem with your insurance provider without involving you.
3. Find A Florida Insurance Claims Attorney
If your dispute cannot be closed by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, hiring an attorney from the Law Offices of Florin|Roebig should be your next step. Your insurance attorney may decide to go after your insurance company for breach of contract.
Your insurance coverage should cover the damage according to their replacement policy as long as you are up-to-date with your premium and have no remaining payments to make.
If your deductible has been met, and your damage is valid, your insurance company should pay for the damages. Hiring a Florida insurance claims attorney can help make sure your insurance company properly compensates you.
Benefits Of Florida Insurance Claims Attorneys
It can be very overwhelming and frustrating to deal with an insurance company that has denied or grossly underpaid your Hurricane Ian damage. The appeals process is often complex and can leave policyholders discouraged about their prospects.
Hiring a Florida insurance claims attorney can be beneficial for many reasons, including alleviating the stress that often comes with these claims cases.
The benefits of hiring a Florida insurance claims attorney can include the following:
- Insurance attorneys are very knowledgeable about critical filing deadlines.
- Florida insurance attorneys have experience working with insurance companies.
- They are knowledgeable and have experience in Florida’s laws about business and residential property insurance claims.
- Many attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t have to pay them unless you win your case.
If you feel that your insurance claim has been wrongfully denied, hiring an attorney can be beneficial. Contact the law office of Florin|Roebig today for a free case evaluation.
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Get Compensated For A Denied Or Underpaid Property Damage Claim In Florida
If you or someone you love are looking for help with a denied or severely underpaid Hurricane Ian insurance claim, contact the board-certified insurance attorneys at Florin|Roebig.
The Law Offices of Florin|Roebig has been assisting people with their underpaid and denied insurance claims since 1985. They successfully fight for unpaid and denied property damage due to hurricanes and tropical storms, with over $1 billion awarded to their clients.
If you need assistance with your denied or underpaid insurance claim, call Florin|Roebig today.
