Thursday, March 28, 2024

Is Mold Removal Covered By Insurance

Do You Need Mold Remediation Insurance

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Anyone can experience a household mold problem. Mold typically grows in damp places, so you can help prevent mold growth by repairing any leaky pipes, leaky window frames, or leaks in your roof right way. Make sure you have adequate ventilation in your bathroom when you shower turn on a fan or open a window if necessary. If your basement feels damp or has a musty odor, use a dehumidifier. While these preventative measures can help prevent a mold problem from developing, they are not a guarantee that it wont happen. Buying insurance for mold remediation is the only way to make sure youre protected if a problem does occur. Keep in mind that mold remediation can cost $15,000 or more, depending on the severity of the problem.

If you live in an area with a lot of heavy storms, your home may be more likely than average to suffer storm damage. If heavy winds or a falling tree limb damage your roof, for instance, during a storm, youre going to end up with water damage. Mold may result. If you live in such an area, you may want to seriously consider purchasing mold remediation insurance. Youll have to weigh the risks of a mold problem against the cost of the insurance.

What Insurance Companies Cover Mold Damage

Many insurance companies provide similar coverage for mold damage, removal and remediation, but it mustve occurred suddenly, accidentally and due to a covered peril. Its best to consult your insurance agent to see if your current policy protects against mold.

If you dont have a policy that covers mold, you can use Clovereds online quoting tool to get a policy that provides adequate protection for mold damage, removal and remediation. You just need to answer a few questions and you can have a new policy in minutes.

We partner with the nation’s top homeowners insurance companies so you can get a custom policy at an affordable price.

Is Mold Removal Covered By Home Insurance

Homeowners insurance companies in Florida cover some instances of mold removal. However, these companies are very particular about the claims they approve for mold remediation. They only provide compensation for mold damage caused by a covered peril. So, the answer to the question: is mold removal covered by home insurance, depends on the situation.

United Water Restoration Group, a company that handles mold removal and mold remediation services, would like to discuss the various situations where mold may or may not be covered by your insurance.

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When It Is Not Covered

Your insurer expects you to keep up with necessary maintenance of your home. So if you file a claim resulting from basic neglect of your home, mold damage would not be covered. For example, if you have a leaky window that never got fixed and resulted in rainwater accumulating in your home and leading to mold, unfortunately, this would not be covered. Side note: you dont want to have windows that do not properly seal, trust us.

Does Insurance Cover Mold From Water Damage

Insurance

The most common scenarios of mold growth typically involve water damage in the home. If the water damage was caused by a covered peril, such as a burst pipe or a natural disaster allowing rain to pour inside your home, your homeowners insurance would likely cover the mold damage, removal and remediation.

However, if the mold was formed due to a flood or water entering the foundation of your home, your homeowners insurance wouldnt cover any mold damage, removal or remediation. Homeowners insurance doesnt cover flooding, so youd need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy to get coverage.

When You Are Covered For Mold Damage, Removal and Remediation

If your insurance company deems the mold was caused by one of these covered perils, it will pay up to the policys mold insurance claims maximum to repair any damage the mold caused and to remove said mold from your home.

  • Your air conditioning unit malfunctions and begins leaking water into the walls of your home, causing mold to build up in the walls and the need for repairs and removal.
  • A fire rips through your kitchen and firefighters are called to hose it down, resulting in mold buildup during the repair process.
  • Your water heater explodes and spews water throughout the surrounding walls, causing mold to grow.
  • When Youre Not Covered For Mold Damage, Removal and Remediation

  • A faucet that has been leaking for quite some time and has now seeped into the walls behind the sink, causing mold to grow throughout.
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    Does Renters Insurance Cover Mold

    Typically, renters insurance does not cover mold. For any company that does provide such coverage, it again depends on whether the mold was caused by an event covered by your renters policy or if it is due to negligence. So if the roof of your rental home is weighed down by ice, and water begins to seep in as the ice melts, any resulting mold may be covered.

    However, if the kitchen sink has been leaking for weeks and you did nothing to keep the area below the sink dry, it is unlikely growing mold would be covered by your policy for two reasons: The mold was not due to a covered peril and you could have mitigated the problem.

    Can I Remove Mold Myself If Insurance Doesnt Cover It

    Just as there are many instances in which your homeowners insurance will cover the cost of mold removal, there are just as many cases in which they wont. If the mold isnt caused by one or more of the 16 named perils, then insurance cannot help.

    Thats also true if your neglect caused the mold. For instance, if you have a bathroom without ventilation and youve been meaning to install a vent fan for years, but the room gets moldy, you cant expect insurance to pay you anything.

    With limited options, youre thinking that perhaps youllremove the mold yourself. This is inadvisable if the mold is anything more than surface-level. In that case, youll need a bit of bleach.

    For extensive mold damage, however, its worth going to the professionals, even if it’s going to be expensive. Living with mold is dangerous. Those with allergies or asthma can have their symptoms exacerbated. Even if youre otherwise healthy, breathing in mold is not good for you.

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    How To File An Insurance Claim For Mold

    Once you spot mold in your home and youre positive your homeowners insurance will cover it, its time to make a claim. You should leave the mold undisturbed. Take photos of the mold, but otherwise, stay out of that room. Close the door so no one else in your family goes in there either.

    Contact your insurance agent once you discover the mold. An insurance adjuster will come out to the property soon to review the situation and determine how much remediation will cost. If you have photos of the room from before the mold damage, that can help the insurance provider as well, but it isnt necessary.

    Does Home Insurance Cover Mold Damage

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    Possibly. It depends on the peril or event that caused the mold in the first place and whether your policy covers it, according to Jim Hickey, head of personal lines at World Insurance Associates. Some examples of commonly covered perils are fire, lightning, wind, or hail.

    If its not a covered peril and its long-term wear and tear or a result of a damp, moist area that causes mold to occur over time, that would likely not be covered, he said.

    Insurance companies also typically have sub-limits for mold claims, even if the mold occurs because of a named peril in the policy. That can limit reimbursement to as little as $1,000 for some policies. If you want additional coverage, you can typically purchase an endorsement or rider, but it may be costly if you live in an area prone to mold damage.

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    What To Do If Your Claim Is Denied

    The first thing you should do is consider whether the insurance company may have made a mistake in denying your claim. You always have the ability to file an appeal, either directly to the insurance carrier or the states department of banking and insurance, if you feel its a legitimate loss thats been denied, said Hickey.

    If you dont have mold coverage or your appeal is denied youll want to hire a professional to remediate the mold before it gets worse. If you have difficulty financing mold removal that wasnt covered by insurance, consider a home equity loan or home equity line of credit . Some mold remediators also work with lenders to offer financing directly. And your family could qualify for state or federal loans or grants. For example, the Section 504 Home Repair program provides loans and grants to qualified low-income families.

    Finally, you should make sure that mold damage doesnt become an issue in the future. That means making sure that you have the right coverage in place and taking proactive steps to prevent mold. It comes down to being aware of moisture, says Hoffman. Cleaning up spills right away, using exhaust fans, and maintaining your appliances and air conditioning system can all help you avoid common causes of mold.

    When It Is Covered

    Sudden mold-related incidents specified on your policy may be covered. These are called sudden and accidental incidents. Lets use an example. If a fire in your home is put out with hose-water which caused dampness and mold within your home, this would be covered. Another covered scenario is if your water heater bursts and floods your home, causing mold in the aftermath.

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    What To Do If Your Mold Claim Is Denied

    If your homeowners insurance company denies your mold claim, you may want to get a licensed contractor to offer a second opinion on what caused the damage. You could also attempt to appeal the denial with your insurance company if it has a specified appeals process. If not, your state insurance commissioner may be able to offer help on what you can do to get the claim approved or to file a complaint about denial.

    What If My Claim Is Denied

    Is Mold Remediation Covered by Insurance?

    The most likely reasons mold claims are denied are because they are caused by an uncovered peril, or are found to be caused by owner negligence. If you have direct proof of the cause, its best to submit that information when filing your initial claim this will help prevent any miscommunication or misunderstanding.

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    When Mold Damage Is Not Covered

    Mold damage will not be covered in the following cases under standard homeowners insurance :

    1. Mold damage that cannot be linked to any covered damage: If the mold growth source cannot be associated with any damage covered by insurance, an insurer will likely not cover for mold damage. Damage that is not sudden or accidental

    If the damage is not accidental or sudden, your home insurance will not cover such mold damage. A preventative issue such as a foundation leak is not a covered peril.

    2. Damage from Poor maintenance or negligence: Insurance companies expect that home and property owners maintain and take good care of their property and all appliances. This means that a mold growth that occurs from poor maintenance or bad handling of your roof, plumbing or HVAC, or other appliances are not covered.

    3. Flood: Mold as a result of water damage caused by a flood is not covered by standard homeowners insurance policy. Usually, such damage requires a different flood insurance policy.

    4. Pollutants

    5. Long term wear and tear: Home insurance will not cover mold damage that results from wear and tear. A good example is mold growth caused by a 15-year-old leaking roof. Insurance companies expect you to be proactive about fixing such an issue before it leads to more damage like mold.

    6. Sump pump overflow: It is vital to keep your sump pump in good shape as mold damage that results from a sump pump damage or overflow will not be covered by insurance.

    7. War and earthquakes

    Filing Your Mold Insurance Claim

    Contact your insurance agent for specific instructions on how to file your mold insurance claim. Its important to follow the instructions exactly and to do so in a timely manner, because otherwise your claim may not be paid even if your policy covers mold removal. In addition, you should report any water damage to your insurance company as soon as it occurs, because you never know if water damage will lead to the development of a mold problem later on. If you discover a mold problem has developed a couple months down the road, youll want a record of the event that likely caused the problem.

    Most insurance companies work closely with disaster relief companies. If your home suffers water damage the insurance company will get them to your house quickly to dry it out before any mold can start growing.

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    What Does Mold Cause Thats Covered By Home Insurance

    Before signing your home insurance policy, its best to do your research on the types of mold growth covered by your insurer. This way, youll know what to expect when the time does come to file a claim and pay your deductible for mold damage in your home.

    What mold coverage your home insurance policy includes is mostly dependent on your covered perils. While every policy is different, youll most likely be covered from the following things that could cause mold:

    • Frozen, damaged, leaking or burst pipes
    • Mold buildup from putting out a fire
    • Water and steam overflow or discharge within a:
    • Plumbing system
    • Heating and air conditioning unit
    • Automatic fire protection sprinkler system
    • Household appliance
  • Weight of snow, ice and sleet
  • The above is by no means an exhaustive or guaranteed list, so you should make sure to read your policy carefully to determine what perils youre protected from. Once you have that list, you can better understand when youll be able to file mold claims.

    Another issue worth noting for mold coverage is that most insurers require that damage be from a sudden and accidental issue. Basically, this means that the issue that causes the mold needs to happen suddenly and without fault for it to be covered. Mold caused by neglect or homeowner negligence falls into the uncovered category.

    Mold Coverage: The Finer Details

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    Claiming mold damage on your insurance policy means doing your homework in at least 3 ways, which are detailed here.

    Not only do you want to know how much damage repair your policy will cover , youll want to check with your homeowners insurance company if youll be responsible to pay two deductibles one for regular damage and one for mold repair if that is their mold policy.

    Finally, you also need to have separate flood insurance if you dont want to pay for mold remediation because a flood damaged your home.

    1. Know how much coverage you have and if you can increase it. You should check your policy for the mold removal and remediation cap, or the amount of money that your insurance company is willing to pay for mold remediation. Because mold treatment can garner a hefty tab, insurance companies reduce their risk by building a cap into the policy. For example, policies will list a maximum limit of $1,000 to $10,000 per claim for mold removal.

    Ask your insurer about endorsements to improve your mold coverage. They cost more, but theyre worth it if youre in a humidity-prone environment.

    Also, if you file a claim for mold coverage and it is denied, get a contractor to inspect your mold infestation and offer a second opinion to assist with your appeal of the denial. Contact your state insurance commissioner for help with filing a complaint about denial.

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    What Do You Do If Your Mold Claim Is Denied

    If mold isnt listed as an exclusion in your homeowners insurance policy and the provider denies your claim, you can appeal the ruling with the insurer. If you believe the insurer has treated you unfairly, you may also file a complaint with your states department of insurance or the Better Business Bureau. Unfortunately, if your home insurance policy lists mold damage as an exclusion, youll likely have no recourse if the insurer denies a mold damage claim.

    Home Insurance Covers Some Mold Removal

    Your homeowners insurance may cover some mold remediation services. A mold remediation technician can help you review your insurance policy to find out if youll receive compensation. Mold cleanup crews also focus on keeping the costs low for mold removal by:

    • Working quickly to get rid of mold
    • Doing the job properly the first time

    Turn to United Water Restoration Group to get help if you suspect youve got a mold infestation at 430-5838. Well help you find out if mold removal is covered by your home insurance. We help property owners inOrmond Beach, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, Daytona Beach, Florida, Orlando, Florida, Tampa, Florida, Melbourne, Florida, and many other locations around Florida!

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    Is Mold Removal Covered By Homeowners Insurance

    Ryker Bingham | Oct 20, 2021

    The mold that took over your home wasnt visible as it was growing behind a wall, but the odorous stench and breathing issues youve had since are certainly attributed to it. Once the wall was deconstructed, you realized your mold issue was more serious than you thought. Ismold remediation covered by insurance?

    If the mold was caused by a named peril under your homeowners insurance policy, then your insurance could pay for mold removal. Should the mold be attributed to any other source, youd have to pay for remediation yourself.

    Before you call your insurance representative, you might want to keep reading. This article will provide important information on how your homeowners insurance policy could help cover mold remediation & whether it’s safe to remove mold yourself.

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