How Long Does the Home Insurance Claims Process Take?

Once you submit a home insurance claim, you are likely feeling anxious to hear back on your claim fairly quickly. If your insurance company is like most insurance companies, it may take some time before you will receive a response. Luckily, Florida law requires insurance companies to respond to you in a reasonable amount of time.

Generally, there are three important timeframes Florida insurance companies must follow under law:

• 14 days: When you first notify your insurance carrier about the damage to your property, if you do not speak to a live representative at that time, the company has to acknowledge of your reported claim within 14 days, or two weeks. This same 14-day timeframe also applies to any subsequent and nonspecific communications, such as inquiries for updates.

• 30 days: Once the insurer receives your “proof of loss” statement, the insurer has 30 days to notify you of your claim’s status. Basically, this is proof and calculations that show how much you believe you need to recover from the damages. The insurer should start its investigation within 10 days of receiving your Proof of Loss.

• 90 days: Within 90 days after an insurer receives notice of your claim, the insurance company must notify you of denial or acceptance of your claim. Interest begins to accrue from the date the insurer receives notice of your claim. The 90 day timeframe also applies if you make a supplemental claim.

Extended Deadlines

While the Florida deadlines apply to most insurance policies, you need to review your policy to see if it provides for a different time frame. Generally, the time frame provided in your policy controls. If your insurance company is taking longer than the provided time frame, they may not be handling your claim in good faith in an effort to delay your coverage. If you suspect that you have not received timely responses from your insurance company, be persistent, and let your insurance company know that you understand your rights.