There are two kinds of roofs on Missouri homes and business structures. There are those that have storm damage and those that will have storm damage. Understandably, the various insurance companies from all over the country that sell policies in our state will offer a wide variety of coverage options that are not always fully understood by the property owners before disaster strikes.
Learning after the roof has been damaged that you have been saving pennies per year by NOT including coverage to match replacement shingles or siding, or learning that hail dents that destroy the appearance of your metal roof is not considered “damage” by your insurance company, can result in costly out of pocket expenses that you thought were covered by insurance.
The Missouri Department of Insurance has created an informational and interactive website that helps you to understand your roofing coverage for each insurance carrier. While I recommend that you visit their site, I urge you to take the time to read and understand your insurance policy, as well. Have your agent clearly explain to you, when necessary, what it does and does not provide and ask lots of questions.
Considering that when an insurance company’s claims department is on its absolute best behavior, its job is the same as any corporation that is run by a board of directors. That job is to put the monetary interests of their shareholders (not their policyholders) at the top of their priority list. Their duty to you, as a policyholder, is not fiduciary (as it is with their shareholders) but contractual. Thus, even when you are dealing with a fair and reasonable adjuster, you need to know what your contract with them says. That contract is your insurance policy.
Your insurance company is prepared and well-practiced to fight and defend their rights under that contract. How prepared are you? Don’t let the first large claim be the first time you read it. Caveat emptor.