When your home or property suffers damage, waiting for your insurance company to pay your claim can be stressful and financially devastating. Florida law establishes specific deadlines that insurance companies must follow when processing and paying claims, giving you essential rights as a policyholder.

The 90-Day Rule for Claim Determination

Under Florida Statute 627.702, once you notify your insurance company of a loss, they have 90 days to make a coverage determination on your claim.

This means within 90 days, your insurer must either:

• Accept your claim and determine the amount they will pay
• Deny your claim with a written explanation
• Request additional time if factors beyond their control prevent a determination

The clock starts ticking from the date the insurance company receives notice of your claim, not from when the damage occurred. This is why reporting your claim promptly is crucial.

The 20-Day Payment Deadline

Here’s what many Florida homeowners don’t realize: once your insurance company agrees that your claim is covered and determines the payment amount, they have just 20 days to issue payment.

This 20-day deadline applies when:

• The insurer has confirmed coverage exists under your policy
• You’ve met all policy conditions and requirements
• The amount of the loss has been determined
• You’ve provided all requested documentation and proof of loss

This relatively short payment window is designed to prevent insurance companies from delaying approved claims while policyholders struggle with repair and temporary housing costs.

Initial Hurricane and Catastrophe Claims

For hurricane and catastrophe claims, insurance companies must provide an initial payment or denial within the standard 90-day period. However, Florida recognizes that catastrophic events can create exceptional circumstances.

If your insurer cannot meet the 90-day deadline due to factors beyond their control, they must:

• Provide you with written notice before the deadline expires
• Explain specifically why they need additional time
• Continue providing status updates every 30 days until they decide

Even during declared emergencies, insurance companies cannot indefinitely delay your claim without valid, documented reasons.

Requirements for Supplemental Claims

If you discover additional damage after your initial claim or disagree with the settlement amount, you can file a supplemental claim.

Insurance companies must:

• Acknowledge supplemental claims within 14 days of receipt
• Begin investigating with reasonable diligence
• Apply the same 90-day determination deadline to supplemental claims
• Pay approved supplemental amounts within 20 days of agreement

You have 18 months to file a supplemental claim in Florida from the date of loss.

Bottom Line

In Florida, your insurer cannot take endless amounts of time to process your claim.

The key deadlines are:

• 14 days to acknowledge
• 30 days to respond to proof of loss
• 90 days to make a decision
• 60 days to issue payment after settlement

If your insurance company is delaying, underpaying, or giving you the runaround, it may be time to involve Williams Law Association, P.A.’s expert Florida insurance claim attorneys.