More changes from FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that it will re-examine any Hurricane Sandy-related National Flood Insurance Program claim. Policyholders must decide whether they want to be re-examined. There are some important factors to consider.

This re-examination is different from the NFIP appeal and supplemental claims process for those who are either in litigation or received flawed engineering reports as a basis for their insurance payouts. The re-examination is open to any policyholder who submitted a claim according to FEMA. It does not change a policyholder’s coverage. It will be undertaken by FEMA, not by insurance carriers.

Claimants may also be subject to duplication-of-benefits requirements. The re-examination may determine that some have been overpaid and may owe FEMA or New York Rising money.

Those who decide to be re-examined will be assigned a new policy adjuster. FEMA anticipates that the process will take less than 90 days. Claimants who are dissatisfied with the outcome can ask for a further review by neutral third party.

Those who are interested in being re-examined must have all policy information, claims and spending records, estimates for work not yet done, and proof of all payments received and recovery costs that have been reimbursed.