After a claim · Underpaid

Why is my insurance payout so low?

The check came in. It doesn't cover the damage. You're not crazy — and you're not alone. Underpayment almost always traces back to one of six specific things on your declarations page. Here they are, ranked by how often we see them.

1. Deductible math (especially % deductibles)

A 2% wind/hail deductible on a $500,000 home is $10,000 — applied per event, before anything else. Most homeowners are quoted a $1,000 'AOP' deductible and never realize the percentage version is what gets used after a storm.

2. ACV instead of RCV

If your roof, contents, or specific items are settled on actual cash value, the carrier pays today's value (depreciated by age) — not what it costs to replace. On a 15-year-old roof, that's often 30–60% less.

3. Recoverable depreciation withheld

Even on RCV claims, the first check is usually ACV. You get the depreciation back only after work is completed and receipts submitted. If you didn't know to ask for it, the carrier keeps it.

4. Sub-limits on the damaged category

Water damage, mold, jewelry, electronics, business property — all carry sub-limits that override your total contents limit. A $100,000 personal property limit can pay out $2,500 on a $30,000 watch loss.

5. An exclusion you didn't know about

Cosmetic damage exclusions, wear-and-tear, anti-concurrent causation, earth movement — each one is a written reason the carrier can deny part or all of a claim that 'should have' been covered.

6. No matching coverage

The carrier replaces only the damaged shingles or siding, not adjacent undamaged ones that no longer match. On hail claims, this routinely costs $5,000–$15,000.

Want to know which one is shrinking your payout?

Upload your declarations page and the carrier's estimate — we'll tell you which of the six is in play and what your appeal options look like.

Upload my dec page Talk to an advisor

Frequently asked

Can I dispute a low insurance payout?

Yes. Start by requesting the carrier's full estimate (Xactimate report), then compare it line-by-line with your declarations page and an independent contractor estimate. If line items are missing or pricing is below regional fair market, you file a supplement or appraisal demand.

Should I hire a public adjuster?

If your loss exceeds $25k and the gap between the payout and your independent estimate is large, a public adjuster often pays for themselves (typical fee 10–15% of recovery). Smaller claims usually aren't worth their cut.

Keep reading

After a claim