There is a general misconception that insurance claims that are “re-opened” represent insured’s who just want more money and in the worst case, are trying to game the system. This is the message that the insurance industry and their lobbyists would like to successfully spread. So far, they’ve been doing a very good job.

That self serving message serves no other purpose than to distract from the real issue. If an insurer is paying on “re-opened” claims, then it stands to reason that those claims were initially underpaid. Unless the insurance industry would have us believe that they are paying for claims that are not owed. We all know that is not the case. On a majority of these cases, underpaid claims are presented by claim professionals, hired by Florida’s insureds. These claim professionals are known as public insurance adjusters, because they work exclusively for the public. They are licensed, bonded and the best public adjusters practice their profession full time and are members of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters.

Underpaid losses sometimes receive innappropriate attention simply by virtue of the fact that they must be “re-opened”. In an article written by Paige St. John of the Pensacola News-Journal and reprinted in the Insurance Journal on June 5, 2007 the assertion made is that “Citizens seeks to reign in the lawyers and freelance adjusters it alleges are whipping up disputes”. http://www.taskforceoncitizensclaimshandling.org/NewsClip1.htm Whipping up disputes? Insured’s attempting to make repairs sometimes discover that all the losses were not addressed or they were simply underpaid. This is not tantamount to “whipping up disputes”. Insurance claims can be an entirely foreign experience to most people. Most either give up, or get help. The sad truth is that insurance companies are banking on their policyholders either making a mistake or simply giving up. The fact that these so called “re-opened claims” are being paid is evidence that they were originally underpaid.

The safest bet for any home or business owner to make sure that they don’t get underpaid for an insured loss is to hire a qualified and experienced public insurance adjuster. It is difficult for the layman to know how to find a public insurance adjuster. The public adjusting profession is no different than any other profession as to having good, competent and honest members as well as bad, incompetent and dishonest ones. Ask for references and do your research. Make sure that the public adjuster you hire has the experience to handle your claim. The only thing worse than not having access to a public insurance adjuster is having a bad one.

A qualified public insurance adjuster will be be able to provide references. They will review the insurance policy to make sure that all terms and conditions are complied with by the policy holder. The PA should be qualified at writing a complete damage estimate and be able to document the damages with video or photos. The PA will organize all supporting documentation including expert reports (engineers, accountants, electricians, etc.) to make sure that the loss is proven and that an underpaid claim is paid in full. A qualified PA will be able to provide references and will be able to keep the policy holder “in the loop” as to the status of the claim, at all times.

If you have an insurance claim, in Florida, call Florida Adjusting Services Team at 866-931-3278 or email your questions to adjuster@fastclaim.net for an immediate response. Check with the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters for an adjuster near you.