Supplement Request

More claims & insurance terms

• Supplement Approval

  The carrier's written acceptance of extra work and money a contractor asked for after the first estimate. Carriers often accept some items and reject others, and the accepted items should appear on a revised estimate. Get the approval in writing before starting the added work.

• Supplement Denial

  A carrier's refusal of a supplement request, in whole or in part, usually with a line-by-line reason. Denials often rest on coverage, missing documentation, or a pricing disagreement, so read the stated reason before responding. The right next step depends on the policy and the state.

• Surety Bond

  A guarantee from a bonding company that pays if a contractor fails to finish the job or fails to pay what they owe. It is not the same as insurance and does not cover the contractor's own mistakes. What it protects, and who can claim on it, depends on the state and the contract.

• Temporary Repairs

  Work done right after a loss to stop more damage, such as tarps, board-up, or a dry-in, before the permanent repair is approved. Policies generally require the owner to prevent further damage, and reasonable emergency costs are usually reimbursable. Photograph and receipt the work, since carriers often pay it separately.

• Third-Party Administrator

  A company hired to run claim handling for a carrier or an employer, such as a warranty program or a managed repair network. The person reviewing your supplement may work for the administrator, not the carrier on the policy, and their guidelines can differ. Ask who actually has authority to approve the added work.

• Total Loss Determination

  A decision that repairing the property no longer makes sense, so the claim is settled as a total loss rather than a repair. The threshold differs by policy and by state, so do not assume a fixed percentage. After the declaration, the settlement usually follows the policy limit and coverage form, not the repair estimate.

Common questions