Surety Bond

More claims & insurance terms

• 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.

• Supplement Request

  The written request for work or money the first estimate left out, backed by photos, measurements, and the supporting line items. Supplements are normal on roof claims, and carriers expect them when a scope was written from the ground. Send clear evidence per item instead of a running list of complaints.

• 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.

• Umbrella Policy

  An umbrella policy is extra liability coverage that sits above your general liability and auto limits and pays after those limits are used up. Contractors should know an umbrella usually covers liability claims, not damage to the work itself, and carriers may require proof of it before they sign a contract.

Common questions