While Hurricane Isaias battered Florida and Alabama, Southeast Texas homeowners may not be off the hook. Board Certified insurance trial lawyer Hunter Klein, with Green, Klein, Wood and Jones law firm says residents in the Houston area could see higher out-of-pocket costs when their next policy period rolls around.
“The out-of-pocket expense, your deductibles, are going up, which effectively reduces what you’re owed by the insurance company in the event you have to file a claim,” Klein said.
One Sugar Land homeowner knows that reality all too well. Fadi Ashour discovered his deductible topped $17,000 when it came time to replace his roof — a figure so high he chose to pay the $19,000 replacement cost entirely out of pocket.
“A disaster that happens in Florida can really affect what I’m paying here in Texas. It makes kind of sense, but not too much sense in my opinion, because why should I have to pay for this?” Ashour said.
“It’s just like financially unfeasible to make a claim,” Ashour added.
Klein says many homeowners focus on their premium but overlook another critical number.
“Everybody keeps an eye on what their premium cost is, but what they’re not paying as much attention to is how much money are you going to get back from the insurance company if you have a claim,” he said.
What homeowners can do now
Klein, who is licensed in insurance law in both Texas and Florida, urges homeowners to inspect their property before their next renewal. Documenting the condition of a home ahead of time gives insurance adjusters a clear before-and-after picture if a claim ever needs to be filed.
Klein also stresses the importance of knowing the details of a policy.
“The other thing I tell people is know your coverages, know what your policy gives you, know what it doesn’t, so that you can sort of plan,” he said.
As deductibles rise and coverage levels shrink, being proactive may be the best protection homeowners have against an uncertain future.
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