13+ years writing insurance and personal finance content
Insurance, lending, and retirement expert
Jacqueline has contributed content, and her personal finance passion, to dozens of noteworthy financial brands, including Credit Karma, Bankrate, and MagnifyMoney.
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Claim denials can occur for a few reasons, including if you filed a claim for damage from an uncovered peril, your policy lapsed due to unpaid insurance premiums, you missed the filing deadline, or you failed to provide sufficient documentation.
You pay money each month to protect your home with a homeowners insurance policy, so it’s disappointing to experience a claim rejection. If you think your insurance company shouldn’t have denied your claim, you have a few options.
Here’s what you need to know about how to dispute a home insurance claim denial.
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How to dispute a denied home insurance claim
If you submit a home insurance claim and the insurer denies it, you don’t necessarily need to give up. You may want to dispute the denied claim if you believe it’s eligible for coverage under your policy.
The dispute process may feel intimidating at first glance, but the following steps break down the fairly simple process.
Review the denial letter. Read the denial letter carefully to get a clear picture of the insurer’s reason for rejecting the claim. For example, your insurer may specify in the formal letter that they denied your claim due to a policy exclusion, missed deadline, or filing error. If you still believe a mistake occurred, proceed with the dispute process.
Contact your insurance agent. It’s a good idea to connect with your insurance agent or claims insurance adjuster to discuss the denial in more detail. Insurance agents can provide more insight into the decision and clarify any misunderstandings.
Request a written explanation. If the reasons for rejection are unclear in the denial letter, formally request a detailed, written explanation from your insurance company. This new written explanation should provide the exact policy language that led to the decision to deny your claim.
File an appeal. Most insurance companies have their own unique appeals process you need to follow to formally contest the denial.
Submit additional documentation. If you have more evidence to support your claim — such as photos, receipts, or estimated cost of repairs — submit it to help strengthen your case.
Hire a professional appraiser. A licensed appraiser or a public adjuster can provide an independent evaluation of the type of damage, which may help counter the insurer’s assessment.
Consider mediation or arbitration. If you want to escalate the issue, you may be able to resolve the dispute through mediation or arbitration. Both processes are less formal and quicker alternatives to litigation.
File a formal complaint. If you truly believe the homeowners insurance company wronged you with its denial, you can file a complaint with your state insurance department.
Consult with an attorney. If all other steps fail, consult with a lawyer who specializes in insurance claims to determine whether legal action is appropriate.
Though it’s frustrating, your insurer may deny your insurance claim for a few pretty common reasons. Knowing what these reasons are can help you avoid future mishaps.
These are some common reasons for claim rejections:
Insufficient documentation
To help avoid an unfair denial, make sure you submit proper and thorough documentation to your home insurance company during your initial claim, including photos, receipts, detailed descriptions of the damage, and any other supporting documents. Missing or incorrect information can lead to a denial because insurers need solid proof to process claims.
Policy exclusions
Before filing a claim, reread your homeowners insurance policy to confirm what your covered perils are. Most policies contain specific exclusions that detail what they don’t cover, such as floods or earthquakes. If you don’t understand your policy terms, ask an insurance agent for help.[1]
Negligence or lack of maintenance
A homeowners insurance company may deny your claim if the damage resulted from neglect or failure to maintain the property.
Disputed damage assessment
If you have a disagreement with the insurer about the extent or cause of the damage, it may lead to denial.
Missed filing or insurance payment deadlines
Don’t delay filing a claim after an incident occurs. Missing a claim deadline can result in an automatic denial.
Suspected fraud
If an insurer has good reason to suspect your claim is fraudulent in any way — such as exaggerating the loss or misrepresenting facts — you don’t just risk a denied claim. You also risk having your policy canceled. Never file a claim in bad faith; only file legitimate claims.
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How to avoid insurance claim denial in the future
If you recently experienced a denied homeowners insurance claim, you likely don’t want to repeat that rejection in the future. To avoid running into a similar situation again, you can better your chances of claim approval the next time around.
To start, keep up with all home maintenance projects. That way, if you need to file a claim for damage your policy should cover in the future, the insurance company can’t try to deny your claim due to your negligence.
It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with your homeowners insurance policy so you have a clear understanding of when you should and shouldn’t file a claim. If you ever need to file a claim, do so quickly and make sure you follow all necessary steps to file it properly.
For example, if theft occurs, start by filing a police report because you’ll need it for your claim. If water damage is the reason for your claim, take photos of your ruined belongings before cleaning up the mess.[2]
Disputing a claim denial FAQs
If you’re considering disputing a claim denial, the following information can help answer your remaining questions and help you prepare.
What happens if your insurer denies your homeowners insurance claim?
If your homeowners insurer denies a claim, you can either choose to move forward and cover replacement or repair costs on your own or you can file a dispute. It’s worth it to dispute the rejection if you believe you have a strong case, even though your appeal may not be successful.
How can you successfully appeal an insurance denial?
Successfully appealing an insurance denial requires organization and attention to detail. To appeal a claim properly, you need to gather all relevant documentation and consider hiring an independent appraiser to make a report of the property damage.
Can you dispute a denied claim?
Yes. You can dispute a denied insurance claim. You can chat with your insurance agent about what that process will look like and what they need from you to approve the claim.
How do you disagree with an insurance claim?
To disagree with an insurance claim, you’ll need to follow the insurer’s dispute process — whatever that may look like. Generally, you’ll need to resubmit your claim with all proper documentation and any new relevant details, like a report from an appraiser.
How long do you have to file a claim?
All homeowners insurance companies set their own claim filing timelines, but it’s always a good idea to file a claim as quickly as possible so you don’t accidentally miss any important deadlines.
Double-check your policy details to determine how long you have to file a claim. The home insurance company’s decision to approve or reject your claim will depend on whether your policy covers the damage and if you submitted the claim in a timely manner.
How long does the dispute process take?
It depends. You can ask your insurance agent how long you should expect the process to take, though no standard timeline for homeowners insurance claim disputes exists. It’ll likely vary by insurer and each specific case.
If your insurer denies your claim, will your insurance rates still increase?
In most cases, insurance companies can’t increase your premiums for an insurance claim they rejected.[3] But if you have reason to believe the homeowners insurance company will deny your claim, it’s best not to file it.
During college, Jacqueline DeMarco interned at a retirement plan advisory firm and was tasked with creating a presentation on the importance of financial wellness. During her research into how money can affect our health, relationships and career, Jacqueline realized just how important financial education is. Jacqueline is a contributor for Insurify and has worked with more than a dozen financial brands, including LendingTree, Capital One, Credit Karma, Fundera, Chime, Bankrate, Student Loan Hero, ValuePenguin, SoFi, and Northwestern Mutual, providing thoughtful content to give readers insight into complex topics that they likely didn’t learn in school.
Jacqueline has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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