{"id":5669,"date":"2020-01-15T07:40:50","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T13:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/?p=5669"},"modified":"2020-01-15T08:06:35","modified_gmt":"2020-01-15T14:06:35","slug":"is-skunk-spray-covered-by-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.noyeshallallen.com\/blog\/is-skunk-spray-covered-by-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Skunk Spray Covered by Insurance?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Portland, Maine woman recently had an unwelcome guest. A skunk snuck into her home and sprayed 4 times<\/a> inside before police could remove it. What a mess! The home and everything in it must be deodorized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Home Insurance Cover Skunk Spray?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Will home insurance cover the cost to remove the smell? It depends on whether you bought “off the shelf” coverage or upgraded. It also depends whether your insurance company uses the latest edition of the coverage form (spoiler alert: in this case, the latest is NOT the best). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skunk Spray Damage Coverage in Basic Homeowners Policies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common home insurance form is the ISO HO 00 03. Many Maine insurance companies use it. It’s tried and tested over decades. Insurance people call it “HO-3”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insurance Services Office (ISO) updates the form periodically. Each insurer decides which edition to use. In Maine, some insurers still use the 1991 version. Many use the 2000 edition. A few have adopted the 2011 edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the 2011 edition, “off the shelf” HO-3 policies covered <\/strong>skunk spray damage to buildings<\/strong>. Damage to contents<\/strong> was not covered<\/strong> by the basic policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2011 edition excludes “discharge or release of secretions by any animals”. Even building damage is no longer covered<\/strong> for skunk spray in the 2011 form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which Homeowners Policy Edition do You Have?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your insurance policy should list coverage forms. The first two letters<\/strong> are the coverage type – “HO” for homeowners. The next four digits<\/strong> are the form number. Basic homeowners are 00 03. Condo policies are 00 06. Renters policies are 00 04. The final four digits<\/strong> are the month and year of the edition. For example, HO 00 03 05 11 is the 2011 edition of the basic homeowners policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can You Buy Extra Insurance for Skunk Damage?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We recommend “open perils<\/a>” coverage for contents<\/strong>. That covers skunk spray damage on the pre-2011 forms. Ask your agent if you’re eligible for that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, we know of no way to add skunk spray coverage to the 2011 edition of the policy. The exclusion in the 2011 form denies coverage for skunk spray to both building or contents. You can’t buy it back. That stinks (sorry, we couldn’t help it). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if a Skunk Sprayed My Vehicle?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You may have purchased “other than collision” coverage on your auto insurance policy. Some people call this “comprehensive” coverage. Most common auto insurance policies in Maine cover damage by animals. That includes skunk spray. So, if a skunk gets into your car and sprays, you probably have coverage. As long as you purchased “other than collision” coverage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action Items:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n