What Does Your Policy’s Declaration Page Do For You?

Most Florida residents rely on the insurance company they work with to get their policies right. After all, they may not feel as though they have a choice in purchasing insurance in the first place, so they discuss coverage options and begin paying premiums.

However, insurance companies do make mistakes. They may omit something you thought you purchased, put in wrong numbers or make some other error that could end up costing you in the future if your insurer denies a claim.

The declaration page

If you want to double check the key information from your policy, you can look to the declaration page. It contains the following information:

• One of the first pieces of information is who the policy insures, such as the drivers included in an auto policy.
• The property, such as your home or vehicle, may be next.
• This page should show the beginning and end dates for the policy. For auto policies, this is usually a six-month date range, while homeowner policies may list a 12-month date range.
• The maximum amounts your insurer will pay in the event of a covered claim also reside on this page.
• The next bit of information covers how much your premium is for a particular policy. You should be aware that the amount listed reflects the amount owed for the duration of the policy, not your monthly payment.
• Your deductibles are on this page as well. This is the amount you pay out-of-pocket for a claim.
• The last items you will find on the declaration page are any amendments or endorsements to your policy that you requested or agreed to when you purchased the policy.

This page also ordinarily includes how you file a claim should the need arise. As you can see, the declaration page includes a great deal of information that you may need quickly. It also provides you with the first clue as to whether the insurance company made any mistakes or oversights.

If you have questions, get answers right away

If you notice something doesn’t seem right or if you have questions regarding your coverage based on what you see, you can contact your insurance company for corrections or clarifications. If at some point, you file a claim believing that the information on your declaration page is correct, but the insurer denies it, things may become more complicated.

At this point, a thorough review of the entire policy may be in order. This will tell you whether you missed any exclusions or some other information that makes the denial valid. If you still question the denial, you have the right to appeal that decision, along with the right to enlist experienced legal help in this endeavor. Contact Disability Insurance Law Group.