The deadlines (post-SB 2A)
Under the 2022 Florida property insurance reform (SB 2A):
- New claims: must be reported within 1 year of date of loss
- Reopened claims: same 1-year window
- Supplemental claims: within 18 months of date of loss
These deadlines are significantly shorter than the pre-reform windows (5 years for hurricane, 3 years for other claims). Many Florida homeowners are operating under outdated assumptions about these deadlines.
What this means
- If your loss occurred less than 1 year ago, you can still file a new claim.
- If your loss occurred 1-18 months ago, you can still file a supplemental (if a claim was originally filed) but not a brand-new claim.
- If your loss occurred more than 18 months ago, most claims are time-barred.
Common application scenarios
- Hurricane claim partially denied: supplemental claim possible within 18 months.
- Water damage claim underpaid: reopen within 1 year; supplement within 18 months.
- Roof damage discovered after a prior storm: depends on whether prior event was within 1 year and whether the scope expansion is new or additional.
Carrier tactic
Carriers sometimes decline to investigate claims outside these windows even when the policyholder has a valid argument for timely notice. Document your first notice of loss carefully: the date you first reported the loss controls, not the date you formally filed a written claim.