Understanding Your Coverage and Flood Insurance
Due to current heavy rains, high winds and flood warnings from the October Nor’easter, the Insurance Department reminds consumers of the importance of reviewing your homeowner, renters, or condominium policy, and especially for the Atlantic Tropical Storm season which runs from June 1 through November 30.
To help you better understand your homeowner, renters, or condominium policy, contact your agent or insurer. To ensure you are adequately protected, review your policy with them, what is covered, and what your coverage limit, and deductibles are. Keep your policy and insurer’s contact information in a safe place should you need to contact them to file a claim.
If you still have questions, contact the Department's Consumer Affairs Division, by email at insurance@ct.gov, ask a question or file a complaint online, or call the Consumer Helpline at 800-203-3447 or 860-297-3900
Policyholders should discuss with an agent or insurance company if their current coverage is appropriate and adequate. It's important to understand how insurance policies work and what is covered, should another disaster strike.
Consumers Resources:
- Trees (Homeowners, Condominiums)
- Spoiled Food (Homeowners, Renters, Condominiums)
- Temporary Living Expenses (Homeowners, Renters, Condominiums)
- Wind Damage
- Flooding
- Business Interruption
A homeowner’s policy excludes damage caused by flooding, such as the overflow of streams, rivers and lakes, etc. Flood policies are subject to rules established by the Federal Government. Normally you cannot purchase a Flood policy immediately before or after a flood or hurricane.
Damage from flooding is excluded from homeowners, condo, and renters insurance, but separate policies can be purchased from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.
Although among all natural disasters, floods are the most common and most costly, there is a 30-day waiting period before a flood insurance policy take effect. Because of that, now is the time to review your coverage and decide if flood insurance is the right choice to protect your home.