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 happens if my Georgia scheduled-item claim is denied?

All FAQs

Quick answer: Under O.C.G.A. 33-4-6 you can make a written demand for payment. If the carrier fails to pay a covered claim within 60 days and a court finds the refusal was in bad faith, it owes a penalty of up to 50 percent of the loss or $5,000, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees. You can also file a free complaint with the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire.

Georgia law sets out a specific process for challenging a denied claim on a scheduled item. Under O.C.G.A. 33-4-6, a policyholder can make a written demand for payment on the insurer. If the carrier fails to pay a covered claim within 60 days of that demand, and a court later finds the refusal was made in bad faith, the carrier owes a penalty of up to 50 percent of the loss or $5,000, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.

Bad faith in this context means the carrier had no reasonable basis to deny the claim, not simply that the carrier and the policyholder disagreed about value or cause of loss. A denial based on a documented policy exclusion, a lapsed appraisal, or a missed scheduling requirement is a coverage dispute, which is different from bad faith. The 60-day clock and penalty structure under O.C.G.A. 33-4-6 apply to the bad-faith scenario specifically.

For example, a policyholder schedules a watch, the watch is stolen, and the claim documentation, police report, and appraisal are all in order, but the carrier denies the claim without explanation and does not respond to follow-up requests. A written demand for payment starts the 60-day clock under O.C.G.A. 33-4-6. If the carrier still does not pay and a court finds the denial had no reasonable basis, the bad-faith penalty and attorney's fees apply on top of the original claim amount.

A policyholder also has a no-cost option outside of court: filing a complaint with the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which investigates consumer complaints against carriers licensed in Georgia.

Complete scheduling documentation, including a current appraisal and proof of loss, is part of what a court or the Commissioner's office reviews when evaluating whether a denial had a reasonable basis. Do I need an appraisal to schedule an item in Georgia covers appraisal requirements, and Georgia scheduled articles insurance explains what a complete scheduled-item file typically includes. Understanding whether scheduling is required at all in Georgia and how a scheduled endorsement differs from a standalone policy also affects which carrier and claims process apply.

Schedule a coverage review to review current scheduling and documentation, or see carriers available through Olive Cover for options that write scheduled property coverage in Georgia.