How premature closure happens
- Initial payment issued, carrier marks "closed"
- Policyholder assumes negotiation is ongoing
- No formal release signed but claim marked closed in system
- Supplemental attempts met with "claim is closed"
What Florida law says
- Closure in carrier's system doesn't foreclose policyholder rights
- Supplemental claims within 18 months (Fla. Stat. 627.70132)
- Reopened claims within 1 year
- Appraisal invocation possible while claim is "closed"
How to respond to closure
- Don't accept the closure without a formal release
- Document remaining scope in writing
- Submit supplemental with new scope
- Cite 627.70132 supplemental window
- Escalate if carrier refuses to reopen
Reopening a closed claim
- New damage discovered (covered under ensuing-loss)
- Scope gap identified in existing damage
- Failed remediation or repair
- Code-upgrade cost emerging