How Much Does Home Insurance Go Up After a Claim?

Florida homeowners already pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the country, and many feel trapped between two bad options: file a claim and risk higher rates, or pay out of pocket and hope the damage doesn’t get worse. The truth sits somewhere in the middle. Yes, your premium can go up after a homeowners insurance claim, but how much it increases depends on the type of loss, your insurer, your past claim history, and Florida’s unique rate-setting rules. And in some cases, like hurricane-related damage, insurers should not raise your premium at all.

The bigger issue then comes to this: avoiding a legitimate claim out of fear of a rate increase can cost you far more in the long run. If the damage is significant, filing a claim is reasonable: it’s what your policy is there for. What you should avoid is filing a poorly documented claim or trying to navigate an uncooperative insurer on your own. Levin Litigation helps homeowners push back against denials, delays, and bad-faith tactics, and we offer free consultations before you take your next step.

How Much Does a Homeowners Insurance Increase After Filing an Insurance Claim?

A single homeowners insurance claim can raise premiums by 10% to 40%. In Florida, which already ranks #2 in the nation for high premiums — these increases can be a substantial burden on homeowners. Because the market is distressed, insurers face heavy losses, higher reinsurance costs, and stricter underwriting standards than in most states. That means carriers scrutinize your claim history closely, and even a first claim can have an impact.

Rate changes also depend on:

• The severity of the loss. Larger payouts typically lead to bigger increases.
• The type of claim. Fire and water damage claims often cause the highest bumps; weather-related claims may not count against you.
• Your past claims. A first claim is one thing. Multiple claims in a short period can trigger steep surcharges or even nonrenewal.
• The insurer’s own guidelines. Each company evaluates risk differently, so the same claim can affect two policyholders in completely different ways.

In short, “homeowner’s insurance has increased 102% in the last three years in Florida,” according to reporting by Fox 13, thanks to the insurance environment here. However, a single claim does not automatically mean your premium will skyrocket. 

What Types of Insurance Claims Can Increase Your Premium?

Not all claims affect your rates the same way. Some losses signal ongoing risk to insurers, while others (especially large-scale weather events) are treated differently under Florida’s rules.

Claims that commonly increase premiums include:

• Water damage claims. These are among the costliest and most frequent, so insurers often raise rates after paying them out.
• Fire claims. High severity and high rebuilding costs make fire losses prime triggers for premium bumps.
• Liability claims. If someone is injured on your property and you file a liability claim, insurers may classify you as higher risk going forward.
• Multiple claims of any kind. Even small claims can affect rates if they stack up within a few years.

Claims that typically do not increase premiums include:

• Hurricane or major storm claims. Florida law and standard underwriting practices prevent insurers from penalizing policyholders for catastrophic weather events.
• Claims where the insurer determines you were not at fault. This category is narrow, but it exists in limited situations.

Because Florida insurers already operate in a volatile market, they take every opportunity to categorize claims as “preventable” or “maintenance-related.” If your adjuster tries to reframe the loss to justify raising your rate, that’s where legal help becomes critical.

How Much Does Home Insurance Go Up After a Water Damage Claim?

Water damage claims are among the most common — and expensive — losses nationwide. According to ConsumerAffairs data, the average water-damage insurance claim exceeds $12,000, and insurers frequently increase premiums after paying these claims because they view water losses as likely to recur.

In Florida, you may face a premium increase depending on severity of the damage (the national average is about 25% for a first claim), and whether the insurer believes the underlying issue was preventable. For example:

• A sudden broken pipe may cause a smaller increase.
• A long-term leak, even if unnoticed, can trigger a larger surcharge.
• Mold development can complicate the payout and the rate impact.

Because water losses are so heavily scrutinized, homeowners are often blamed for not discovering the issue sooner, a common tactic Florida insurers use to minimize payouts and justify future rate hikes. If you’ve filed, or are thinking about filing, a water-damage claim, talk to an attorney early to avoid unnecessary penalties.

How Much Does Home Insurance Go Up After a Roof Damage Claim?

Roof claims are handled differently than most losses in Florida. Insurers often argue that roof problems are caused by wear and tear, not sudden damage — a classification they use to deny claims entirely. When a roof claim is approved, insurers may still try to raise premiums by labeling the home as structurally vulnerable.

A roof damage claim can increase premiums but the percentage varies. The rate hike often depends on whether the insurer thinks:

• The roof failure was preventable,
• The roof is near the end of its lifespan, or
• A partial repair is likely to lead to more claims later.

Because roof claims are so highly contested, a Florida roof-damage insurance dispute lawyer can make a major difference. They know how insurers frame these losses, and they know how to fight back against “wear-and-tear” arguments that don’t match the facts.

How Much Does Home Insurance Go Up After a Hurricane or Storm Claim?

Under Florida law and industry standards, insurers should not raise your rates simply because you filed a hurricane or storm claim. These are catastrophic events, and policyholders cannot reasonably prevent the damage.

If a carrier attempts to increase your premium after a hurricane claim, that is often a sign of:

• Improper underwriting,
• Misclassification of the loss, or
• Bad-faith behavior.

If you suspect a post-hurricane rate hike is unfair or retaliatory, speak with one of our Florida property damage insurance lawyers immediately. Many homeowners accept these increases because they assume they’re automatic, but they are not.

How Long Do Rate Increases Last After a Claim?

Rate increases in Florida often last three to seven years, depending on the type of loss, the number of claims you made, your policy, and other factors. Some insurers apply shorter surcharges, while others stretch them out over the full period allowed by law.

Two important points:

• The surcharge usually decreases over time. The largest increase tends to occur in the first year after the claim.
• Florida insurers can keep a surcharge in place longer if you file additional claims. Multiple losses can restart or extend the penalty window.

If your premiums haven’t dropped after the expected timeframe, or if the insurer is adding new fees without explanation, it may signal improper rate-setting. Levin Litigation can review your policy and determine whether the surcharge is lawful.

Can a Denied Claim Increase My Home Insurance Rates?

Yes, in some cases. Even if your claim is denied, the fact that you reported a loss can still be logged in your insurance history. Insurers use that information to evaluate future risk, and it can result in higher premiums or nonrenewal.

If your claim was denied unfairly, you may be dealing with a double hit: repair costs and a premium increase. This is exactly the situation where you should involve a property insurance dispute attorney.

Can I Challenge a Premium Increase?

Sometimes. Insurers must justify premium increases based on approved rating factors, and they cannot punish you for certain types of claims, including hurricane damage. A premium increase may be challengeable if:

• The insurer misclassified your loss,
• The surcharge exceeds state limits,
• You were penalized for filing a legitimate catastrophic-weather claim, or
• The company retaliated after you disputed a claim or hired a lawyer.

When in doubt, ask a homeowners insurance claim attorney to review the rate change. A quick evaluation often reveals whether the increase is lawful or excessive.

Worried You Were Treated Unfairly? Contact a Florida Property Insurance Dispute Attorney Today

Insurance companies count on homeowners not knowing the rules. They assume you’ll accept a denied claim, an underpayment, or a sudden rate hike because challenging them feels overwhelming. That’s where Levin Litigation steps in.

Our team has handled thousands of property insurance disputes across Florida. Many of our attorneys previously represented insurance companies, so we understand the playbook from the inside. We help homeowners with:

• Claims that were denied, delayed, or underpaid,
• Disputes over water, roof, fire, and storm damage,
• Wrongful premium increases or policy cancellations, and
• Bad-faith practices that leave families paying out of pocket.

If something about your claim — or your premium increase — doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. Call Levin Litigation for a free consultation. We’ll review your situation, explain your rights, and help you take the next step with confidence.