Get the denial in writing and identify the policy language and facts the insurer relied on. Compare that explanation with your policy, photos and repair reports, then submit any evidence that challenges it. A coverage dispute or legal deadline may require an attorney rather than an estimate negotiation alone.
Have an estimate, denial or repair bill you want reviewed? Contact GB Claims at 845-456-6699.
What to do now
- Ask for the denial letter in writing if you only received a phone call. The letter should name the policy provisions and facts the insurer relied on.
- Read the cited policy language yourself, or have someone who works for you read it. The insurer’s summary and the actual wording are not always the same.
- Compare the stated reason with your evidence: photos, videos, contractor or plumber reports, receipts and your own timeline.
- Respond in writing and keep a copy of everything you send.
- Do not delay emergency repairs that prevent further damage. Document conditions first when it is safe, and keep invoices.
Evidence that challenges a denial
The useful evidence depends on the stated reason. If the insurer says the damage is old, maintenance records and dated photos matter. If it says the cause is excluded, a qualified report on the actual cause matters. If it says the damage does not match your description, a line-by-line repair estimate matters. Generic disagreement rarely moves a denial; specific documentation can.
When a denial is not an estimate problem
A public adjuster works on the scope and amount of a covered loss. If the dispute is really about whether the policy covers the loss at all, or a legal deadline is at issue, an attorney may be the right professional. We tell you honestly which situation you are in when we review a denial.
Your state’s regulator
Every state we work in has an insurance department that accepts consumer complaints and can explain your rights: NY DFS, NJ DOBI, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and the Connecticut Insurance Department. A complaint is free and creates a written record.
FAQ
Can a public adjuster help with a denied claim?
Often, yes, when the denial turns on the extent or cause of the damage. We review the denial letter and the evidence and tell you whether the claim has room to reopen. If the dispute is purely legal, we say so.
Is a denial the same as an underpaid claim?
No. A denial refuses the whole claim or a whole part of it. An underpayment accepts the claim but pays less than the repairs cost. The response is different, so the first step is identifying which one you have.
Next step
Send us the denial letter and your estimate. We will tell you what we would challenge and how. 845-456-6699. More on how we handle these on our denied and underpaid claims page: https://gbclaims.com/denied-underpaid-insurance-claim-appeal/
Have an estimate, denial or repair bill you want reviewed? Contact GB Claims at 845-456-6699 or Claims@GBclaims.com. We’re open 24 hours Sunday through Friday and closed Saturday.
GB Claims LLC is a licensed public adjuster serving New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
Sources
- Connecticut Insurance Department: homeowner disputing an insurer damage estimate
- NJ DOBI: extreme-weather insurance guidance
This page is general educational information, not legal advice or a determination of coverage under your policy. Your policy and state rules control.
Reviewed by the GB Claims claims team, licensed public adjusters in NY, NJ, PA, CT. Last reviewed: October 8, 2026.