6 in 10 Homeowners Don't Know They Can Appeal When Their Insurer Pays Nothing on a Claim
Nearly 60% of insured U.S. homeowners surveyed by Insuranceopedia didn’t know they could ask their insurer to reconsider or appeal a claim closed with no payment. To help, Insuranceopedia has launched its Appeals Assistant, which guides homeowners step by step through appealing an insurer's decision, from reading the letter to preparing the appeal. Its Claims Assistant helps homeowners check their coverage before they file.
Written by Bob Phillips
Key Findings
Few Homeowners Know They Can Challenge a Claim Decision
A claim closed with no payment doesn’t have to be the final word, but most homeowners surveyed didn’t know they could ask their insurer to take another look. Only two in five homeowners surveyed (40%) knew this was an option. While another review doesn’t guarantee a different outcome, homeowners who believe something was missed can question the decision rather than simply accept it.
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How Homeowners' Most Recent Claims Ended
Filing a claim doesn’t always bring the financial help homeowners expected. Among homeowners who had filed a claim, 27% received less than expected on their most recent claim, while another 5% had their claim closed with no payment. Together, that’s almost one in three claimants (32%) who received less than expected or nothing. Most claimants (61%) said they were paid in full, while 3% withdrew their claim and another 3% said it remained open.
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Why Most Homeowners Didn't Push Back
While receiving less than expected might seem like a reason to question the outcome, most homeowners in this position didn’t take that next step. Among those whose latest claim paid less than expected or closed with no payment, 72% didn’t challenge the decision. Some 30% of this group didn’t know they could, while 31% felt it wasn’t worth doing. Another 8% thought it would be too complicated or time-consuming, suggesting that awareness wasn’t the only barrier.
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What Homeowners Know Before They File
Only 25% of homeowners surveyed were very confident they could judge whether damage was covered and worth filing for. Some 67% didn’t know their exact deductible, while 60% didn’t know a claim could appear on their claims history even without payment. When repairs cost only a little more than their deductible, 49% wouldn’t file, while 26% weren’t sure.
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What Homeowners Can Do
Before filing, homeowners should check what their policy covers and how much they would need to pay themselves. If a claim pays less than expected or closes with no payment, understanding why can help them decide whether to ask their insurer to reconsider. They should also check any deadlines for requesting another review.
Why This Matters Now
The growing share of claims ending without payment is now drawing attention in Washington. On October 2, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley wrote to six major insurers, asking them to respond by October 16. Their letters cited a Wall Street Journal analysis showing that 44% of claims resolved by the five largest home insurers in 2025 closed without payment, up from 36% a decade earlier. As lawmakers press insurers for answers, Insuranceopedia’s findings highlight gaps in homeowners’ understanding of their options when a claim falls short of expectations.
"Asking your insurer to reconsider is a normal part of the claims process. Go back with specifics: your policy wording, photos and a contractor's estimate."Bob Phillips, licensed insurance agent, Insuranceopedia
"Six in ten homeowners don't know they can ask their insurer to think again. Our Appeals Assistant guides them through the appeal step by step, without giving up a share of their payout."Max Coupland, CEO, Insuranceopedia
Methodology
Using Our Data
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