Click to Call
Florida Homeowners · Underpaid Claims

Underpaid Homeowners Insurance Claim in Florida?

Robert Mack · Licensed Florida Public Adjuster · Lic. #A161638 — in the insurance industry since 1991.

You received a check — but it barely covers repairs. Underpaid claims are the most common issue Florida homeowners face, and they’re often fully recoverable through a supplemental or appraisal process.

Get a Free Claim Review Jump to FAQs

What Counts as an Underpaid Claim

  • Insurer estimate omits trades (e.g., painting, baseboards, or electrical)
  • Low unit pricing compared to contractor bids
  • Recoverable depreciation never released
  • Code upgrades ignored under Ordinance or Law coverage
Even small omissions — like texture, flooring transitions, or overhead & profit — can add up to thousands of dollars. Most are valid supplements under Florida law.

How to Check for Underpayment

  1. Compare line by line. Match your insurer’s scope against an independent estimate or Xactimate report.
  2. Review depreciation. Verify if recoverable amounts were withheld and not released.
  3. Check coverage breakdown. Water or mold sublimits may have been misapplied.

Florida Statutes on Supplemental Claims

  • § 627.70132 F.S. — notice of a new or reopened claim is generally due within 1 year of the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. Which applies depends on your policy and your date of loss.
  • § 627.70131 F.S. — Insurers must respond to supplemental Proofs of Loss within 30 days.
  • § 626.854 F.S. — Public adjusters can negotiate additional payment directly with the carrier.
  • § 95.11(2)(e) F.S. — a separate five-year limit, running from the date of loss, for bringing a court action for breach of a property insurance contract. It is not the notice deadline and does not extend it.

Steps to Recover the Difference

  1. Gather your insurer’s estimate and check stubs.
  2. Get an independent estimate (contractor or adjuster).
  3. Document unreleased depreciation and missing work.
  4. File a supplemental claim or request appraisal.

Typical Recovery Range

  • Minor omissions: +15–25% of original payout
  • Missed trades or full-scope corrections: +40–60%
  • Major roof or water underpayments: +80–150%

FAQs

How do I know if my claim was underpaid?

If your contractor’s estimate is higher than the insurer’s or certain repairs were skipped, it’s likely underpaid.

Can I reopen an underpaid claim?

Often, yes — but the timing turns on your policy and your date of loss. Under Fla. Stat. §627.70132, notice of a reopened claim is generally due within one year of the date of loss and a supplemental claim within 18 months. Whether yours is still open is worth one call: 352-353-4556.

What is recoverable depreciation?

Money the carrier holds back until repairs are completed — you’re entitled to it when work is finished.

Related Guides

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Coverage varies by policy and damage type.

Pro tip: Carriers routinely under-scope repair costs. If your payout feels light, you’re probably right — 8 out of 10 reopens yield additional payment.

Get a Free Claim Review

Tell us what happened and a licensed public adjuster will review your claim — no cost, no obligation. We only get paid when you do.

Florida property insurance claims: the deadlines and the fee cap

Notice of a claim
Under Fla. Stat. §627.70132, a property insurance claim or reopened claim is barred unless notice was given to the insurer within 1 year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim is barred unless notice was given within 18 months after the date of loss. — Fla. Stat. §627.70132(2)
Time to bring a court action
An action for breach of a property insurance contract must be brought within 5 years, running from the date of loss. This is a separate clock from the notice deadline, and §627.70132(5) states that the notice statute does not affect it. — Fla. Stat. §95.11(2)(e)
What a public adjuster may charge
A public adjuster’s compensation is capped at 20 percent of the amount of insurance claim payments or settlements, exclusive of attorney fees and costs, paid to the insured by the insurer. For claims based on events that are the subject of a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor the cap is 10 percent, and that limit applies to claims made during the year after the declaration of emergency. — Fla. Stat. §626.854(11)(b)
Which deadline applies to you
Which of these applies to your claim depends on your policy and your date of loss.

Public Loss Adjusters, LLC — Robert Mack, Florida public adjuster, Lic. #A161638. The review is free and carries no obligation. Call 352-353-4556.

● In the insurance industry since 1991 · Licensed Public Adjuster (Lic. #A161638) · Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA), Associate in Claims (AIC, AIC-M)★ 4.8 · 10 Google reviews● We work for YOU, not the insurer● We only get paid when you do

No cost, no obligation.

Free claim review? 📞 Call 352-353-4556
Check how much time you have on your claimFree Florida claim deadline calculator