Despite the high risk, Florida does not specifically require hurricane insurance. This is because hurricane insurance is not a stand-alone policy that can be purchased. It's included in a standard property insurance policy. Most standard home policies cover damage caused by hurricanes, except for flood damage and, in some areas, wind damage.
If you are suffering the consequences of a hurricane or have questions about your insurance coverage, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. Insurance policies related to natural disasters can be complex, and hurricane insurance often doesn't cover damage such as flooding on your property. At The Law Place, we know how financially draining it can be to deal with the effects of a hurricane. It's understandable that many people assume that their insurance policy covers all damage caused by a hurricane.
However, this is not usually the case. Our legal team can help you answer any questions and clarify any questions you may have regarding your insurance policy and fight to ensure that you get the compensation you need to cover the financial losses suffered after a hurricane. An all-inclusive policy means that the master policy generally deals with the inside and outside of the unit, allowing you to worry only about getting coverage for your personal belongings and some appliances. It may also be a good idea to let a property claims lawyer review your insurance policy if the insurance company refuses to comply with your agreement.
Unlike homeowners insurance, your flood insurance policy will cover damage caused by a flood after a hurricane. An insurance adjuster at your insurance company may argue that the damage suffered to the property was not caused by the hurricane, but occurred after the disaster. If you suffer wind damage from a hurricane, tropical storm, or tornado, you'll have to pay your hurricane deductible before the insurer steps in to pay for the remaining damages, if it's considered that the claim was due to one of the three common wind hazards. If you own a home or condominium in Florida, you will have a hurricane deductible that is separate from your regular policy deductible.
Therefore, if your property was damaged by more than one named hurricane during the same hurricane season, you won't have to repay your hurricane deductible when you file an insurance claim. If you want to get windstorm insurance from a private insurer, the Florida Market Assistance Plan can probably help you or the CHOICES Program of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. While all renters insurance policies in Florida cover damage caused by the hurricane to a tenant's belongings, renters insurance is not required by law. The Florida legislature began requiring this policy, which is included in insurance policies for Florida homeowners, condominiums and homeowners at the time of purchase.
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance expert with four years of direct agency experience and more than a decade creating educational content to help insurance buyers make safe and informed decisions. If a hurricane warning is issued between 24 and 48 hours before the hurricane is expected to make landfall, it may be impossible to buy additional insurance or new insurance for your home. We partner with the country's top home insurance companies so you can get a great policy at an affordable price. The amount you pay for hurricane insurance really depends on the amount of home insurance you buy, where you live, whether you also have a separate policy for wind damage or not, and how much you pay for your flood insurance coverage separately.
With a hurricane insurance deductible, insurers base the deductible on a percentage that depends on property risk. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that hurricanes will increase in intensity and that intense hurricanes will occur more frequently in the coming decades. .
