Illinois Department of Insurance Reminding Consumers to Review Flood Insurance Policies
As record floods and other natural disasters strike communities across the country, the Illinois Department of Insurance is
reminding Illinois homeowners and renters to review
insurance coverage to determine if flood insurance is
required.
“Heavy rains and flooding can cause severe damage and
devastate families,” said Jack Messmore, Acting
Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance.
“Since flood insurance coverage is not included in
standard homeowner or renter policies and do not take
effect for 30 days, consumers should learn about the
limits and benefits of an insurance policy well
before any damage may occur.”
The Department offers the following flood insurance
information for property owners and renters:
• Call your insurance agent or company to inquire
about the availability of flood insurance in your
area. Keep in mind that flood insurance becomes
effective 30 days after it is purchased, so the
sooner you talk to your insurance agent or company
the better.
• The average flood insurance policy costs a little
more than $400 per year for about $100,000 of
coverage. The actual cost to you will depend on where
you live and the amount of coverage you choose.
• Standard flood coverage does not typically cover
damage resulting from sewer backups or sump pump
issues. Ask your insurance agent or company if such
additional coverage is appropriate to add to your
policy.
• There are steps you can take before a disaster
strikes to make it easier to file and recover
insurance claims. For example, homeowners or renters
should take an inventory of their personal property
and make photocopies of their insurance policies,
keeping all such important papers in a secure
location away from home. Taking pictures of various
rooms and their contents is also a great way to
document the contents. A sample home inventory sheet
is available at the Department’s website or by
clicking here.
• For more information about insurance coverage in
the event of a flood or other disaster, visit the
Department’s website, www.insurance.illinois.gov, or
review the following consumer fact sheets:
? Consumer Alert on Flood Awareness, found at:
http://insurance.illinois.gov/HomeInsurance/disasters_flood.asp
? What to Do After an Insured Homeowners Loss, found
at:
http://insurance.illinois.gov/HomeInsurance/disaster.asp
For more information on the availability of flood
insurance in your area, and for additional tips on
preparing for a flood, call the National Flood
Insurance Program at (800) 638-6620 or visit NFIP’s
Web site at www.floodsmart.gov.
Consumers in need of additional information or
assistance can also visit the Department’s website at
www.insurance.illinois.gov or speak to one of our
insurance professional’s toll-free at (866) 445-5326.
More Information
The Department’s mission is to protect consumers by
providing assistance and information, by efficiently
regulating the insurance industry’s market behavior
and financial solvency, and by fostering a
competitive insurance marketplace. The Department
assists consumers with all insurance complaints,
including health, auto, life, and homeowner.
Consumers in need of information or assistance should
visit the Department’s Web site at
www.insurance.illinois.gov or call our toll-free
hotline at (866) 445-5364.