Someone told me they had flood insurance but were denied, because the water was an "act of God."
What does this mean?
Total Comments: 6
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:14 am Post Subject:
Act of God is an old term that really should not be used any more. From what you mentioned it does not apply in this case as it sounds like your describing a 1st party claim and Act of god insurance claims usually refer to liability claims. Example of this... a hurricane comes through and blows a tree on your property over into my house and damages the roof. Your not legally liable in this case as you were not negligent.. it was caused by an "act of God". I don't agree with the terminology and it should not used outside of the insurance office as it makes it sound like your just ignoring the situation and it also sounds like your blaming "God".
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:57 am Post Subject:
Someone told me they had flood insurance but were denied, because the water was an "act of God."
Well, this doesn't make sense...would not all flooding be 'an act of God'? Your friend would have to be talking about homeowners ins. policy I would guess...NO standard homeowners policy will cover floods...they all exclude it...Flood insurance is purchased separately should a person want it from a flood insurance company...Now on auto policys if a person has 'comprehensive' coverage then they DO have coverage for flood...(on their autos understand...auto policys only)....It doesn't make sense though to say that they 'have' flood insurance but a flood was denied because it's an act of God...All natural desasters could be called this....As Tcope said...this is an old term that is no longer used...nor is it (to my knowledge) in any policy anymore...Whomever 'told' you this has got their terminology wrong some where....
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 02:30 pm Post Subject:
Well, this doesn't make sense...would not all flooding be 'an act of God'?
I guess God should have left the water faucet on, etc. :)
Certainly almost all floods would be caused by rain water or the like. But flood is water coming into the house from the ground.
Now that I'm reading Lori's post... I'd have to guess that the person had a homeowners or such policy and _not_ a flood policy which would result in a denial. But that does not explain the "Act of God" thing.
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 08:23 pm Post Subject:
I guess God should have left the water faucet on, etc.
Or turned it off maybe ! :wink:
But that does not explain the "Act of God" thing.
Agreed, I think there is a whole lot of mis-quoteing going on around here on this one! :roll:
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:54 pm Post Subject:
The OP doesn't state exactly what KIND of loss was denied. A lot of people think that flood insurance (TCope was right on here) will cover any kind of loss that "floods" their house. I have a feeling that we have a loss from OTHER than a true flood. Probably from a domestic heating or cooling appliance, sump pump, repeated leakage, etc. and NOT what would be considered a true flood insurance claim.
Regarding the use of the term "act of god" and associated insurance losses. Again, TCope is on target. That is nothing more than an outdated term that should be banned from use by all insurance producers, who commonly misuse the term in most cases.
Let's see...a tornado rips apart your house, a hurricane destroys your barn, ad nauseum. These are ALL "acts of god" and normally covered by the typical homeowner insurance policy. Flood is only covered through the federal governments National Flood Insurance Plan, which is able to be covered by producers through what's referred to as the "write your own" flood insurance program. That's nothing more than the fact that producers have the ability to secure flood insurance coverage through the NFIP without having to have the government draw up the insurance application.
Earthquake, another excluded loss on homeowner policies, is another example of an "act of god" but it easily insured through endorsement on a homeowner policy.
Both flood and earthquake coverage are available to the typical homeowner at extra premium. Extra premium is a misnomer- should be a LOT of extra premium!
InsTeacher 8)
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:59 pm Post Subject:
Both flood and earthquake coverage are available to the typical homeowner at extra premium. Extra premium is a misnomer- should be a LOT of extra premium!
:wink: Tell me about it...I put earthquake on my policy about 15 years ago...dirt cheap......then.............not (however) anymore...costs me about an addition 200 or so...
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:14 am Post Subject:
Act of God is an old term that really should not be used any more. From what you mentioned it does not apply in this case as it sounds like your describing a 1st party claim and Act of god insurance claims usually refer to liability claims. Example of this... a hurricane comes through and blows a tree on your property over into my house and damages the roof. Your not legally liable in this case as you were not negligent.. it was caused by an "act of God". I don't agree with the terminology and it should not used outside of the insurance office as it makes it sound like your just ignoring the situation and it also sounds like your blaming "God".
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:57 am Post Subject:
Someone told me they had flood insurance but were denied, because the water was an "act of God."
Well, this doesn't make sense...would not all flooding be 'an act of God'? Your friend would have to be talking about homeowners ins. policy I would guess...NO standard homeowners policy will cover floods...they all exclude it...Flood insurance is purchased separately should a person want it from a flood insurance company...Now on auto policys if a person has 'comprehensive' coverage then they DO have coverage for flood...(on their autos understand...auto policys only)....It doesn't make sense though to say that they 'have' flood insurance but a flood was denied because it's an act of God...All natural desasters could be called this....As Tcope said...this is an old term that is no longer used...nor is it (to my knowledge) in any policy anymore...Whomever 'told' you this has got their terminology wrong some where....Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 02:30 pm Post Subject:
Well, this doesn't make sense...would not all flooding be 'an act of God'?
I guess God should have left the water faucet on, etc. :)Certainly almost all floods would be caused by rain water or the like. But flood is water coming into the house from the ground.
Now that I'm reading Lori's post... I'd have to guess that the person had a homeowners or such policy and _not_ a flood policy which would result in a denial. But that does not explain the "Act of God" thing.
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 08:23 pm Post Subject:
I guess God should have left the water faucet on, etc.
Or turned it off maybe ! :wink:But that does not explain the "Act of God" thing.
Agreed, I think there is a whole lot of mis-quoteing going on around here on this one! :roll:Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:54 pm Post Subject:
The OP doesn't state exactly what KIND of loss was denied. A lot of people think that flood insurance (TCope was right on here) will cover any kind of loss that "floods" their house. I have a feeling that we have a loss from OTHER than a true flood. Probably from a domestic heating or cooling appliance, sump pump, repeated leakage, etc. and NOT what would be considered a true flood insurance claim.
Regarding the use of the term "act of god" and associated insurance losses. Again, TCope is on target. That is nothing more than an outdated term that should be banned from use by all insurance producers, who commonly misuse the term in most cases.
Let's see...a tornado rips apart your house, a hurricane destroys your barn, ad nauseum. These are ALL "acts of god" and normally covered by the typical homeowner insurance policy. Flood is only covered through the federal governments National Flood Insurance Plan, which is able to be covered by producers through what's referred to as the "write your own" flood insurance program. That's nothing more than the fact that producers have the ability to secure flood insurance coverage through the NFIP without having to have the government draw up the insurance application.
Earthquake, another excluded loss on homeowner policies, is another example of an "act of god" but it easily insured through endorsement on a homeowner policy.
Both flood and earthquake coverage are available to the typical homeowner at extra premium. Extra premium is a misnomer- should be a LOT of extra premium!
InsTeacher 8)
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:59 pm Post Subject:
Both flood and earthquake coverage are available to the typical homeowner at extra premium. Extra premium is a misnomer- should be a LOT of extra premium!
:wink: Tell me about it...I put earthquake on my policy about 15 years ago...dirt cheap......then.............not (however) anymore...costs me about an addition 200 or so...Add your comment