This week saw severe storms in Central Pennsylvania. Many people sustained damages and losses. Some people still do not have power. Keep in mind that your homeowners insurance may cover you for losses. When your power is out does homeowners insurance kick in?
Whether homeowners insurance covers the consequences of a power outage depends in part on how the outage occurred, where you live and the fine print of your home insurance policy. Generally, the likelihood of coverage is greater if the outage is a direct result of a problem that occurred on your property, such as a lightning strike or fallen tree, than if the outage is the result of a widespread blackout, says David Colmans, executive director of the Georgia Insurance Information Service.
Home insurance companies vary in how they handle coverage for power outages, and even policies from the same company differ. Home insurance coverage also varies by state. Make sure you know what your policy covers by speaking to your insurance agent or the company.
Generally here’s how home insurance would come into play in the following scenarios:
1. Food in the freezer and refrigerator spoiled.
Standard home insurance policies generally cover food spoilage if the outage occurred as a result of direct damage to the home. Say, for example, a tree falls on your house, damages the roof and takes out the power line. Under a standard home insurance policy with Amica Insurance, the spoiled food from the power outage and the damage to the roof would be part of one claim, says Lisa St. Onge, an Amica Insurance Claims Executive Department assistant vice president. The sum of the losses would count toward the deductible. Generally there is no coverage for food spoilage under a standard policy if the outage originated off your property. However by paying a higher premium, you can obtain coverage for food spoilage through an endorsement — a policy add-on. St. Onge says an endorsement is available from Amica that would provide up to $500 in coverage for food spoilage from any type of power failure, with a deductible of $100.
Greg Brault, a spokesperson for American Family Insurance, says his company’s typical “Gold Star” homeowners policy provides up to $500 in coverage for refrigerated products. In Georgia and Washington, the limit is $1,000. The deductible does not apply.
2. You stay at a hotel until the power is restored at home.
Home insurance includes a benefit called “additional living expenses,” which pays for the cost to live somewhere else while your home is uninhabitable.
Typically this coverage kicks in if your home is badly damaged by a covered loss, such as a fire or windstorm. A widespread power outage that causes no damage — only inconvenience — wouldn’t meet the requirements for additional living expenses coverage.
3. Electronics are fried.
Damage by lightning is generally covered under standard home insurance policies, and electronics damaged by power surges that are the result of lightning strikes are covered under some policies, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Whether electronics are covered by power surges from other causes depends on the policy. St. Onge says. Some components may be covered, and some might not be covered. The best thing to do is talk to your insurance representative.
Brault says American Family home insurance generally covers common home electronics, such as televisions, stereos and DVD players for damage from power surges up to $1,200 per item. Computers and their data storage devices do not have the $1,200 per item limit, he says.
For more information on Pennsylvania insurance products and coverage, click on www.insurance.pa.gov. Consumers with questions should call 877-881-6388.
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