A lower-than-expected reimbursement from the insurance company is more common than you may think. The truth is, insurance companies are in the business of making money, not handing it out. Despite their cheerful advertisements, the insurance business remains highly profitable because they have mastered the art of denying, underpaying, and delaying damage claims whenever possible.
Of course, this isn’t always the case. Many insurance claim underpayments are justified, especially if the home insurance claim is lacking sufficient supporting evidence or a policy explicitly states that your type of damage is not covered. Insurance fraud is a very common crime, so it makes sense that your insurance company is cautious with the approval process. It’s also very possible that your insurance company’s damage appraisal officer made an honest mistake.
Whatever the reason behind your lower-than-expected claim settlement, there are a few reasonable steps you can take to remedy the situation.
Review Your Policy & the Claim
Before making an angry phone call to the insurance company, carefully read through your policy and compare it with the claim you have filed. Your policy clearly defines what types of damage are covered, and will clearly state the amount of coverage provided for each type of damage. Oftentimes, homeowners find that the lower payment is justified after discovering sections of the fine print that were overlooked.
After reviewing your policy and level of coverage, inspect the claim you’ve filed. Do you have quality evidence like photos, itemized receipts, and other relevant information accurately documenting the damage and value of the claim in question? If your claim is missing important information, you may need to submit an appeal to resolve the errors.
After reviewing both the policy and the claim, do you still think you have been wrongfully underpaid? If so, the next step is to call your insurance company to discuss the underpayment. Ask them about their rationale, request another claim review, or if you have new supporting evidence, you will need to submit an appeal with the new information included.
Seek a Third-Party Adjuster for Appraisals & Claim Assistance
Even with supporting evidence and a correctly filed claim, the insurance company may not raise your settlement. If this is the case, it’s time to find an insurance adjuster. Our insurance claims adjuster in Bucks County will carefully review every detail of your policy and claim, organize a documented assessment on your behalf, and handle the ongoing correspondence with your insurer.
How Can an Insurance Adjuster Increase Your Settlement?
Through accurate damage assessments, experienced claim development, and properly submitted documentation your claim is protected from deceitful appraisal tactics. It’s easy for an insurance company’s appraiser to say that your items are less valuable than they truly are; our onsite appraisals hold insurance companies accountable with assessments backed by the facts. We’re so confident in our insurance adjuster in New Jersey that unless we win your settlement, you don’t owe a penny.
