ICAP®

What You Should Know About Your Property Insurance

could save you from this.............

The INSURANCE CONSUMER ADVOCACY PROGRAM ®

"Pioneering Insurance Consumer Education"

"their experts reveal inside information that can eliminate the tricks and traps of loss adjustment" Wallace Utley, Business Today

You have just suffered a serious property loss!

Do you know what to do?

Does your policy of Insurance cover what you think it does? IF you have read it, do you know what it says? If you suffered a loss, would you know what your responsibilities are and what to do next? Should you let a contractor deal with your Insurer directly? Are you aware of the timelines associated with handling your loss? Would you know what to do if an Insurer/adjuster was not fair? What is coinsurance? Will my Insurer drop me because of my claim?

The answers to these questions often come after it is too late to address them. We all know that when it becomes necessary to make a claim on an insurance policy, we can count on the insurance adjuster to limit or eliminate liability exposure to their companies – it’s their job. Sure...they are as friendly and compassionate as they can be when they find you. They are building goodwill...for themselves.

When faced with these circumstances, many Insureds feel that they are at the mercy of the Insurer and generally, they have good reason to feel this way. The average claimant receives significantly less than that to which they are entitled. Numerous studies have suggested that Insurers underpay the average property loss by 20% - 40% Some of the worst are just that, ...worse. They have engaged in internal policies to deny losses because they know that very few policyholders will litigate.

Relative to the risk at stake, insurance, as a product, is one of the least understood yet most important purchases a property owner will ever make. Short of becoming an Insurance law or contract expert, everyone should know what is in their policy(ies) and how to enforce the same.

What is ICAP?

ICAP is a free service that is designed to define your responsibilities, help protect your rights and your investment, in the event of a catastrophic loss. ICAP advocates will explain the claims process and procedures so that you enter negotiations with company adjusters on a more level field of play. They may provide onsite inspection of qualifying property. They will review policies, provide analysis of coverage and offer advice to the insured at no cost. They will not provide legal advice.

Am I Eligible for ICAP Services?*

ICAP Insurance experts will make available, their time and resources, for persons who have suffered a loss to a principal residence only, which is covered by a Homeowners/Dwelling Policy. ICAP Services are available to homeowners in areas of "profound distress". This includes Federal and State Declared Disaster Areas due to losses by Wind, Hail, Fire, Tornado, Flood/Hurricane and Earthquake.

*Services are currently limited to losses occurring in all states East of the Mississippi River and Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas. Commercial losses may be ineligible for this program in some states. You may also be eligible for Federal and State Disaster Aid which may come in the form of low interest loans and/or grants. Commercial losses may also be eligible for Federal and State Disaster Aid and/or SBA loans or grants. Contact your local Emergency Management Agency or American Red Cross for more information on these and other services.

ICAP History:

ICAP was originally founded as a non-profit organization to support families of lesser means during catastrophic losses. The founders reasoned; the people that suffer most at the hands of insurance adjusters are generally those who are least able to deal with a serious financial loss. Since its inception in 1998, the program has been expanded to include anyone who has suffered serious damage to their principal residence including some small business. This ICAP Service expansion was borne of the fact that even the most affluent, educated and business savvy people have absolutely no idea what is in their policies or how to effectively enforce the language.

The program operates from the support of corporate and private sponsorship and gleans most of its expert direction and guidance through the volunteer efforts of many past insurance company employees and Public Adjusting companies.

ICAP has provided these no cost services in declared Federal Disaster Areas in Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Iowa, North and South Carolina and Florida. They have worked with NFIP; National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA; Federal Emergency Management Agency and American Red Cross.

ICAP advises on legislative matters involving Insurance Consumers. Most particularly; policy language simplification, Unfair Claims Practices and Bad Faith/Tort complaints.

Contact ICAP:

Tom Beck, ICAP Director, click here

or 24 Hour Toll Free: 877. 484. 6745 **.

** Please Note:

Due to technical difficulties associated with ICAP's catastrophe communications in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida, this number has been re-routed temporarily. It will only be answered live between 8 am - 5 pm Eastern. You may choose to leave a voicemail message for Mr. Beck on the general mailbox. All messages will be relayed to the appropriate field representative within 3 hours, 30 minutes of your call, between 10 am and 8 pm Central. Messages posted thereafter will be routed by 10:30 am the following day, including the weekend, should it become necessary.

We expect this problem to be resolved very soon. We regret any further inconvenience this difficulty may be causing your family.

ICAP Manager.

This site is paid for, hosted and maintained through the generous support of the following Organizations and Individuals:

ICAP Hoosier Helpers®

^®assura Catastrophic Claim Services, NA. ~ Specializing in settlement of Large and/or Disputed losses.

ABC Public Adjusters Settling Claims for Policyholders ONLY.

Property Insurance Services, Div. Value Measured Loss Claim Services

Mr. Bryan C. Jerman and Family

The Law Firm of Orfanos & Alvarado, PC.

Mr. Konstantine G. Orfanos

Mr. & Mrs. John J. Head

Mr. Roger Johnson - Elkhart Brass Firefighting Equipment

The People's Burn Foundation

"Extinguish the Need Foundation"

RTO ~ Rent to Own Leasing, Indianapolis, Indiana www.rtoindy.com

Catherine M. Goldstein Oak Park, IL.

Dr. Richard Cantonelli & Dr. Linda J. Raymer

Professional Firefighter's Union A.F.L.- C.I.O. - Thomas Hanify, President

Rita Jackson - Property Insurance Services, Div.

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