ORLANDO, Fla. — People are picking up debris after Hurricane Milton, including those whose homes and cars were damaged.
Do you have questions about disaster insurance?
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis answers common questions about hurricane insurance.
We’ve gathered the following nine tips from the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance and Consumer Services.
Read: Action 9: Beware of Storm Chasers
1. If you have never filed an insurance claim before, please follow these steps:
2. If you want to know if you are insured, please contact your insurance agent or insurance company.
Did you pay your insurance? Flood, hurricane/wind insurance, and auto insurance are usually included in separate insurance policies.
Read: AdventHealth partners with WFTV and CMG radio stations to provide free cell phone charging stations
3. Have your insurance company inspect the damage before calling for repairs.
4. If your home suffers water or wind damage and you have both types of insurance, file a claim with each type of insurance.
5. If your car is damaged in a storm, file a regular claim with your auto insurance company.
6. Regular homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover flood damage, but please contact your insurance company if you have any questions.
Read: Attorney General warns residents about disaster-related scams after Hurricane Milton
7. A public adjuster is an insurance professional you can hire to assist with your claim.
8. If someone doesn’t show you their Florida license, pressures you to do something, or asks you to pay upfront, beware of a scam. Don’t sign anything. To report fraud, call DFS’ Insurance Fraud Hotline at 1-800-378-0445.
9. If you sign the contract and make a mistake before speaking to your insurance company, you can cancel the contract.
A roofing contract can be canceled within 10 days of the contract signing date or start date, whichever is shorter. A public adjuster contract can be canceled within 30 days from the date of loss or 10 days from the date the loss occurred. A contract will be concluded, whichever is longer.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. Click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2024 Cox Media Group
