Dear Agent,
The two-year deadline is approaching for increased cost of construction (ICC) Hurricane Harvey claims:
September 1, 2019. ICC coverage is provided through a policy endorsement.
TWIA is committed to working with affected policyholders. Please read below to learn more about the deadline and if your clients may eventually qualify for an extension of the two-year ICC claim deadline.
The TWIA ICC endorsement requires the policyholder incur the costs before payment by TWIA. It allows two years from the date of loss for the costs for reconstruction and repairs to be completed. For Harvey losses, the ICC deadline is September 1, 2019.
We are here to help. Please contact TWIA as soon as possible if you think your client will be negatively impacted by the ICC deadline and will need to know what to expect.
The best way to contact the TWIA Claims Examiner assigned to your client’s claim is to visit www.twia.org, log into Claims Center, locate their Harvey claim, and send a message to the Claims Examiner. You may also reach us via email at claims@twia.org or call us at (800) 788-8247. |
When can policyholders request an extension of the ICC deadline?
TWIA will not accept requests for an extension at this time. However, between August 1, 2019, and September 1, 2019, TWIA will be contacting all policyholders with open ICC claims to determine if an extension is warranted.
How long is an extension, if approved?
TWIA may extend the deadline by as much as six months, but not more.
How will TWIA determine if an extension is warranted?
TWIA will determine this extension on a claim-by-claim basis. To qualify, the policyholder must have the ICC endorsement and be actively working to complete repairs in a timely manner and with construction that best safeguards their property against future storm damage. At a minimum, this could mean the policyholder has:
- hired and contracted with contractors,
- put money down on the reconstruction or repair process, and/or
- begun work on reconstruction or repairs.
What is TWIA committed to doing?
TWIA will continue to make regular, proactive calls to our ICC claim policyholders with open ICC claims to check in on their recovery process and to see if they need any help or information.
In addition, our Claims and Underwriting departments will be coordinating with one another to make sure we’re factoring in the status of the reconstruction or repairs to prevent any confusion or miscommunication over eligibility and insurability requirements.
What can agents do to help their clients?
Please contact TWIA as soon as possible if you believe your client will be negatively impacted by the deadline and need to know what to expect.
Agents can also help expedite the ICC claim process by uploading information to Claims Center, including:
- detailed, itemized estimates and invoices that break out and specifically show item-by-item the code upgrade (ICC) costs and amounts to be incurred or already incurred by the policyholder,
- contractor contracts or invoices,
- other documents on the status of repairs,
- photographs of and/or statements about repairs, and/or
- information about the specific building codes that apply to the upgrade.
What about the deadline to request recoverable depreciation?
Generally, policyholders with depreciation withheld (RCC claims) have more time (545 days after receipt of their last claim acceptance letter for the building damage).
The same general information and guidelines above for ICC claims also apply to RCC claims. TWIA will continue to monitor and follow up on the open RCC claims. Where the policyholder is up against the RCC deadline, TWIA will allow for extensions of up to six months on a claim-by-claim basis.
Where can agents and policyholders go with questions?
The best way to contact the TWIA Claims Examiner assigned to a claim is to visit www.twia.org, log into Claims Center, locate their Harvey claim, and send a message to the Claims Examiner.
You or the policyholder may also email TWIA at claims@twia.org or call us at (800) 788-8247.
Sincerely,
Texas Windstorm Insurance Association |