Deadlines for Texas Windstorm Insurer Appraisal Demands Extended

The deadlines for a Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) claimant to demand appraisal of a claim for damages caused by Hurricane Harvey have been extended, the Texas Department of Insurance reports.

An extension of 30 days has been granted for Hurricane Harvey claims received on or before Oct. 24, 2017, on commercial policies with five or more structures and combined item limits of liability of at least $100,000. A 60-day extension for all of TWIA’s other Hurricane Harvey claims also has been granted.

The extension, made by Commissioner’s Order No. 2018-5463, applies to damage claims from Hurricane Harvey that occurred during the period of Aug. 25, 2017, through Aug. 31, 2017.

A TWIA policy claimant who disputes the amount TWIA will pay for a claim must demand appraisal within a deadline. With the extended deadline, a claimant under certain commercial policies will have 150 days to demand appraisal after receiving TWIA’s written notice accepting all or part of a claim arising from Hurricane Harvey.

For all other claims, claimants will have 180 days to demand appraisal after receiving TWIA’s written notice accepting all or part of a claim arising from Hurricane Harvey.

If a claimant shows TWIA good cause, TWIA may give the claimant an extra 30 days to demand appraisal. The claimant must ask for the extra 30 days not later than the 15th day after the deadline to demand appraisal ends. This extra time is in addition to the extension made by the Commissioner.

TWIA’s appraisal process and requirements are described in Insurance Code Section 2210.574 and 28 Texas Administrative Code Sections 5.4211-5.4222, and in TWIA’s policies.

Source: TDI