How your home insurance will protect you from natural disasters.
While you might assume that your homeowners insurance will protect against any danger that your home encounters, this isn’t the case. All insurance policies have limitations and exclusions, and your homeowners insurance is no different. Here’s what you need to know about your home insurance policy’s ability to protect you against natural disasters and other damage events.
Covered
First, it’s important to understand that every homeowners policy is unique and has its own coverage specifications. So, the best way to confirm what your insurance will cover is by reviewing your policy or speaking to your agent. That being said, there are some common industry trends. For instance, if you have the broad policy (HO-2) form of home insurance, your policy will likely specify coverage for the following sixteen perils:
- Lightning or Fire
- Hail or Windstorm
- Explosions
- Damage caused by an aircraft
- Theft
- Riots or civil disturbances
- Smoke damage
- Damage caused by vehicles
- Vandalism
- Falling objects
- Volcanic eruption
- Pipe freezing
- Damage from the weight of snow and ice
- Water damage from plumbing, heating, or air conditioning
- Water heater cracking, tearing, and burning
- Damage from electrical currents
If you have the more common specialty policy (HO-3) form of home insurance, you have coverage against even more perils. While broad policies specifically name the perils they will cover, special policies only name specific coverage exclusions. This means that, if you have the special policy form of home insurance, you will have coverage for every disaster and damage event unless they are specifically named and excluded in your policy.
Exclusions
Across all forms of home insurance, there are two types of disasters that are universally excluded from coverage; earthquakes and floods. The only way to insure your property against the damages and losses caused by earthquakes and floods is by securing a specialty earthquake or flood insurance policy.
This is what your homeowners insurance will cover when it comes to natural disasters and other perils. Do you have additional questions regarding your home coverage? If so, contact the experts at Pierce Insurance Group. Our dedicated team is eager to assist you with all your insurance needs today.