This proposed bill would change how the National Flood Insurance Program handles claims, appeals, policy information, and oversight. It would set a 120-day deadline for initial claim decisions, with extensions for extraordinary circumstances, and create an appeals process with a similar deadline. Policyholders would have to use administrative appeals before taking legal action on disputed claims. The bill would also create a voluntary pilot to inspect properties for preexisting structural conditions, strengthen penalties for knowingly false claim materials, and require access to technical reports used in claim decisions. Other provisions would increase staffing for the Flood Insurance Advocate, establish an advisory committee, and require studies of claims practices and coverage for earth movement. The bill was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
If you have a flood insurance policy, the bill would require clearer information about coverage and an acknowledgment of certain coverage choices during the application process. You could request technical reports used in adjusting your claim and appeal a decision that denies some or all of a claim. The proposed property-inspection pilot would be voluntary for participating insurers and available upon a policyholder's request for covered policies.
The pilot would use a surcharge on covered policies to pay for investigations and inspections. The bill does not specify the surcharge amount or provide an overall estimate of expenses. No publicly available information.
The bill's stated purpose is to improve fairness and accuracy and protect taxpayers from program fraud and abuse. No publicly available information about additional proponents' views.
No publicly available information.