CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State residents affected by recent severe weather may be able to claim the loss of spoiled food under their home insurance coverage.
Food spoilage due to power outages is covered under some insurance plans.
Policies related to food spoilage differ from plan to plan because companies are not mandated to cover it, said Kathy Beck, director of the Consumer Service Division of the state Insurance Commission.
"First, [homeowners] should read their policy to see if they have coverage," Beck said.
"Some may and some may not, or there may be special language [about the coverage]."
For instance, Beck said, insurance policies could specify that there must be damage to the house that causes power outages.
Homeowners' insurance polices do not likely cover food spoilage when refrigerators and freezers come unplugged by accident, she said.
Next, a homeowner should estimate how much money the spoiled food cost and compare it to how much the insurance deductible is, she said.
If the claim for food spoilage is less than a customer's deductible amount, it may be best to only claim food spoilage if the customer can also claim storm damage to the home.
Homeowners should also check with their agents to be sure that by filing a food spoilage claim, they won't miss out on discounts on insurance for customers who have never filed a claim.
There's no need to keep the spoiled food to show an insurance agent, but Beck recommends taking photos of it.
"Usually anything I would claim I'd take photographs of it to show what was lost," Beck said.
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