Why does my policy have more than one deductible?

A policy commonly carries a flat deductible for most claims and a separate percentage-based wind and hail deductible in storm-exposed states like Georgia.

Does my own insurance cover me when I stay in an Airbnb or VRBO?

The host's short-term rental policy protects the host, not you. As an Airbnb or VRBO guest, your own homeowners or renters insurance usually covers your belongings and personal liability away from home, within policy limits, while travel insurance covers trip-specific risks neither the host nor your home policy will.

Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?

No. Standard homeowners policies exclude all flood damage regardless of cause.

What does uninsured motorist coverage do?

If you are hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough insurance, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays your medical bills.

When do we use Selective for flood coverage versus NFIP?

Selective private flood wins for Zone X and moderate AE properties where it beats NFIP on price and offers higher limits with ALE coverage.

What can the Alabama DOI do about my complaint?

All FAQs

Quick answer: The Alabama Department of Insurance can investigate the insurer, require it to respond, and take corrective or disciplinary action when a company breaks Alabama's rules. It cannot order the insurer to pay you damages or act as your lawyer.

Filing a complaint with the Alabama Department of Insurance sets a real process in motion, though it is worth understanding exactly what that process can and cannot deliver.

What powers does the Department have?

It can investigate the insurer's conduct against Alabama's claims-handling regulations, require the company to respond in writing, and take corrective or disciplinary action, including regulatory penalties, when a company breaks Alabama's rules.

Will the Department force the insurer to pay my claim?

No. The Department cannot order the insurer to pay you damages, and it cannot act as your lawyer or represent your individual interests in the dispute. Its role is regulatory oversight of the insurer's conduct, not resolving your specific dollar amount.

So what is the practical value of filing a complaint?

A complaint creates an official record and can prompt a compliance review that a Montgomery policyholder acting alone could not trigger on their own. A pattern of complaints against one insurer is also exactly the kind of signal that leads to broader regulatory scrutiny.

What if I need the disputed money itself, not just a regulatory review?

An internal appeal to the insurer, or, where the denial appears to lack any reasonable basis, a bad-faith claim handled by an attorney, are the paths that can actually recover money. See how to file a complaint to start the regulatory side.