Have you ever been involved in a car accident or motorcycle accident only to find out the exclusions in your insurance policy won’t cover the damage to your vehicle? Are you currently searching for a new homeowner’s insurance policy but worried you might encounter a similar issue?
Although this type of insurance is supposed to provide you with important financial protection for your property, each policy contains exclusions and limitations that significantly impact the amount of coverage you will have when you need it most.
Homeowners Insurance Coverage
A standard homeowners insurance policy offers two types of coverage:
- Coverage for repairs or replacement of property caused by covered perils
- Personal liability coverage for people injured on your property
Homeowners Insurance Exclusions
Most homeowner insurance policies may exclude:
Intentional Damage
A common homeowners insurance exclusion is damage intentionally caused by the policyholder. If you set fire to your house or vandalize it, your insurance company will not cover the damages.
Dog Bite Coverage
Some homeowners insurance policies exclude coverage for dog bites. So, if your dog bites someone and they sue you, your regular policy will not cover the damages if there is an exclusion. You can purchase a separate policy to cover your dog, or some companies offer riders that will add this coverage to your existing policy.
Mold Damage
Mold damage is another common exclusion from homeowners insurance policies. If your home floods and mold begins to grow, your insurer will not cover the cost of remediation if there is an exclusion. You may be able to purchase a rider to add this coverage to your policy.
Flood Damage
This exclusion applies to major flooding and water seepage through the cracks in your foundation. Unfortunately, the only way to protect against flood damage is to purchase a separate flood insurance policy through a private insurer or the National Flood insurance program.
Earthquake Damage
If you live in an area susceptible to earthquakes, you will need to purchase an additional coverage policy to be protected.
Home-Based Businesses
Your home policy will likely have liability insurance for persons injured at your home. However, that coverage may not extend to your home-based business. If a client slips and falls while visiting your home office, your insurance most likely will not cover their medical expenses or other expenses.
Other Homeowners Exclusions
Here are some other common home insurance exclusions:
- Animal coverage
- Swimming pools
- Inflatables/bounce houses
- Trampolines
- Carports
- Porches
- Screened sunrooms
- Pool enclosures
- Awnings
- Dock and boat lift
Unfortunately, many of the items listed above are usually the first to be damaged when a storm or another type of natural disaster occurs. The language of a homeowner’s insurance policy can be confusing if you are not a legal professional. These agreements often disguise the events, causes, and disasters that won’t be covered under the policy by using complicated legal terms intended to confuse the policyholder.