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Woman's Insurance Dropped For Filing Too Many Claims

Insurance Company Cancels Policy After Hail Damage Claim

POSTED: 6:20 pm MST November 17, 2009
UPDATED: 11:31 am MST November 18, 2009

Colorado's storms can be a big pain for homeowners, but some said dealing with insurance claims is even worse.

A hail storm pounded Parker in July and left Corinne Hogg with a $6,000 bill to repair her roof.

State Farm Insurance denied her claim. Then, in October, the company sent her a letter saying it would no longer insure her after the end of the year.

"I was pretty surprised, especially since I've been with State Farm for 25 years," Hogg said. "I was kind of shocked that being a loyal customer, all of a sudden they don't want to insure me after I've been paying for all of these years."

Hogg had four previous claims since 1996, putting her in a high-risk situation. Two of Hogg's claims were for just a few hundred dollars, something insurance experts said you're usually better off paying out-of-pocket.

"People should understand though if they file a lot of claims, especially over a short period of time, that could put you at risk for losing your insurance," said Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

State Farm said it couldn't comment on this specific case. It said you shouldn't be afraid though to submit a claim if your home suffers significant damage.

It said the most important thing it looks at when determining whether to cancel a policy is the overall behavior pattern of the customer.

If you feel your claim has been denied unfairly, or you're unsure whether your insurance policy covers the damage, you can call the Colorado Division of Insurance at (303) 894-7499. Experts there will help you determine whether your insurance company acted appropriately.
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