A home insurance claim can take several weeks or months to process and for a payout to be issued. While claim timelines vary, there are laws in place to prevent delays.
The home insurance claim time limit is not the same everywhere. In some places, state law requires insurers to pay in a "reasonable" amount of time. Other states give insurers between 10 and 30 days to acknowledge receipt of your claim and 40 days to accept or deny it. There is no federal law that stipulates a payout timeframe for renters and homeowners.
Even if two homeowners file a claim for roof damage, the circumstances surrounding each claim will differ, which could lead to a lengthier claims process for one policyholder and a speedier process for the other.
The first step in getting your claim paid promptly is to make sure you're prepared before you need to file a homeowners claim, document damage and file the claim as soon as possible.
- Depending on the laws in your state, it can take weeks or months for your insurer to issue a payout after you file an insurance claim.
- Some state laws allow insurers to take between 10 and 30 days to acknowledge receipt of your claim and 40 days to accept or deny the claim.
- The amount of damage and complexity of the claim will impact how long it takes to complete repairs and fully settle.
How long does the home insurance claim process take?
The claims process varies depending on the type of claim, but states do have laws that outline how long the insurance company has to respond. Some state laws don't specify a specific time frame for insurance payouts and only grant a "reasonable" amount of time to either deny or pay a claim.
It's important to note that an initial claim check for home insurance may not be the total claim settlement amount. In a replacement cost claim the insurer will issue a check for the depreciated value of the property being repaired or replaced. A second check to cover the remainder of the replacement cost will be issued once repairs are done and the final cost is known. This may take much longer than the timelines below, depending on the scope of the repairs.
Here are state laws regarding home insurance claims processing time.
| State | Number of days for claims processing |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 30 days |
| Alaska | 30 days |
| Arizona | 30 days |
| Arkansas | 15 days |
| California | 40 days |
| Colorado | No unreasonable delays |
| Connecticut | No unreasonable delays |
| Delaware | No unreasonable delays |
| District of Columbia | No unreasonable delays |
| Florida | 30 days |
| Georgia | No unreasonable delays |
| Hawaii | No unreasonable delays |
| Idaho | No unreasonable delays |
| Illinois | No unreasonable delays |
| Indiana | No unreasonable delays |
| Iowa | No unreasonable delays |
| Kansas | No unreasonable delays |
| Kentucky | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Maine | 30 days |
| Maryland | No unreasonable delays |
| Massachusetts | No unreasonable delays |
| Michigan | 60 days |
| Minnesota | 30-60 days |
| Mississippi | 25-35 days |
| Missouri | No unreasonable delays |
| Montana | 30 days |
| Nebraska | No unreasonable delays |
| Nevada | No unreasonable delays |
| New Hampshire | 30 days |
| New Jersey | No unreasonable delays |
| New Mexico | 45 days |
| New York | No unreasonable delays |
| North Carolina | No unreasonable delays |
| North Dakota | No unreasonable delays |
| Ohio | As soon as possible |
| Oklahoma | 60 days |
| Oregon | No unreasonable delays |
| Pennsylvania | 15 days |
| Rhode Island | No unreasonable delays |
| South Carolina | No unreasonable delays |
| South Dakota | No unreasonable delays |
| Tennessee | No unreasonable delays |
| Texas | 15 days |
| Utah | No unreasonable delays |
| Vermont | 30 days |
| Virginia | No unreasonable delays |
| Washington | No unreasonable delays |
| West Virginia | No unreasonable delays |
| Wisconsin | 30 days |
| Wyoming | 45 days |
For more information, check the website of your state's insurance department.
How to make the home insurance claim process quicker
John Huff, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration and president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), says homeowners and renters can do several things to expedite their claim:
- Keep a home inventory of your personal belongings, including pictures and receipts if possible.
- Report insurance claims promptly and make sure your insurer has current contact information for you.
- Know your rights, read your policy and comply with the reporting requirements stated in the policy. It's also prudent to know what's required by state law.
- Document your loss. Take photos of the damage before you do any cleanup or repairs. Keep a record of conversations with insurance, repair, jurisdictional government and other professionals.
- Contact the state insurance department if you have concerns or complaints.
What can delay a home insurance claim payment?
A number of things can cause a delay in insurance payments related to claims. Here are three things that can delay your claim:
- Not having the proper paperwork
- Not maintaining a good inventory of your property
- Delays in providing needed information to your insurance company
"Delays [with the claims process] can occur due to questions regarding the cause of loss, submission of incorrect or incomplete information and delayed reporting to the insurer," Huff says.
How long can a home insurance claim stay open?
Home insurance companies have no fixed time frame to settle a claim. It can take weeks, months or even years. The time it takes to close a claim varies. For instance, a burglary claim might resolve quicker than a claim for a house burned to the ground.
How long your claim will be open depends on the laws of your state, the complexity of the home insurance claim and the insurance company’s claim procedures.
Frequently asked questions: Home insurance claims
Why do insurance companies take so long to pay out?
Before paying out on a claim, the insurance company has to investigate, verify coverage and determine the cost of repairs. Some claims are more complex than others and may require a longer investigation process.
How do you report your insurance company to the insurance commissioner?
If you are unable to resolve a dispute with your insurance company or you believe it has engaged in unfair or illegal practices, you can file a complaint with your state’s insurance commissioner or department of insurance. Visit your state’s department of insurance website to find how you should file.
How do you appeal a claims decision from your insurance company?
To appeal a claim decision, you can send a letter to the insurance company with a detailed explanation as to why you believe your claim should be approved.
"Include documentation you've retained through the claim process, including statements from adjusters, correspondence with the company and property appraisals,” Huff says. “Consumers also have the right to hire an attorney and bring an action against an insurer to enforce contractual rights."
