Usually, home insurance will cover mold, fungus, or spores if they were the result of a specific problem covered by your policy. Insurers also don't cover any mold growth that comes from damage that occurred before the policy began or before you bought your home. So what do you do when you find mold and how do you know if your home insurance policy covers mold damage? Below, our experts answer all your questions and offer their tips for addressing this annoying growth once it appears in your home or condominium, as well as for preventing it from returning. The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers flood insurance through its National Flood Insurance Program, but coverage may exclude damage caused.
Homeowners insurance policies detail a list of “covered hazards”, that is, cases of damage to the home by who can file a claim. Home insurance companies generally reject claims when the investigation determines that negligence caused the damage. Now, most states allow home insurance companies to exclude mold from coverage, except when the mold was the result of a problem covered by the policy. If mold is not listed as an exclusion in your home insurance policy and the provider denies your claim, you can appeal the judgment to the insurer.
When you take out a homeowners insurance policy, your insurer will describe the above-mentioned hazards covered by your policy. If you think the insurer treated you unfairly, you can also file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance or the Better Business Bureau. Let's say you decide not to buy a separate flood insurance policy, and then your home is flooded due to a storm or other natural disaster. You can purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, but unfortunately it doesn't cover mold damage either.
While you may think that your home insurance policy will protect you from everything, sadly that's not always true. If you have a flood insurance policy and your home is flooded due to heavy rain, a hurricane, or other act of nature, your policy may extend to mold removal and necessary repairs due to a flood.
