Home Home insurance Claims Is it legal for my home insurance company to drop my coverage after filing claim? Is it legal for my home insurance company to drop my coverage after filing claim? By Insure.com | Posted on January 10, 2011 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. It’s rare that a home insurance company would drop your coverage or increase your rates after only one claim, especially if it was for something caused by a disaster over which you had no control–an “act of God”–such as a hail storm that damaged the roof. Generally a single claim shouldn’t boost your rates, unless it removed a discount you were receiving for maintaining a clean claims history. However, there is one exception–a dog-bite related claim. Insurers may increase your rates, refuse to renew your policy or choose to exclude your dog from coverage if your pet attacks someone. Why? Dog-bite claims are expensive. In 2009, they cost $412 million and accounted for more than one-third of all home insurance liability claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The number of claims rose 4.8 percent to 16,586 in 2009 from 15,823 in 2008, and the average cost of a dog-bite claim increased to $24,840 in 2009 from $24,461 in 2008. Since 2003, the cost of dog-bite claims has increased almost 30 percent. Other than dog bites, insurance companies could increase your rates after noting a pattern of multiple claims stemming from neglect of maintenance. You’re also at risk for a rate increase if you don’t take proper steps to keep your home safe from fire, such as failing to clear brush around the perimeter of your home, and subsequently suffering major losses in a wildfire. For more, see how claims affect home insurance rates and home insurance for dog owners QuickTake Home insurance claims – How to file and what you should know Does homeowners insurance cover water leaks? Can my homeowners insurance get canceled because my house is empty? Guide to the insurance claims history report (CLUE) How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Does homeowners insurance cover storage units? How to protect your home from lightning strikes Does homeowners insurance cover mold? Are pools and hot tubs covered by homeowners insurance? Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking washing machine? How to file a successful mold claim Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage? 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