Is Asbestos Removal Covered by Insurance?

As a homeowner, there is no more sinking feeling than discovering the presence of asbestos in your house.

Whether it’s in floor tile, insulation, wallboard or piping, asbestos was a very popular material used in homebuilding for about 50 years. So chances are if you live in a house built between the 1930s and early 1980s you may have some form of asbestos in your home.

When you hear the word “asbestos” what immediately comes to mind? Is it Mesothelioma? Because prolonged exposure to asbestos can lead to this deadly form of cancer.

Upon discovering asbestos in their homes, most homeowners’ first and most natural reaction is to take steps to have it removed as soon as humanly possible.  That’s a wise move.

However, you may also begin to consider the cost of this work and whether it’s something you can handle on your own. The answer to whether asbestos removal is a DIY project is a resounding no. Asbestos removal is a highly specialized field that requires continuous training and special licensing to perform.

We understand the temptation to do it yourself because anytime you call a professional into your home costs can quickly add up. After realizing this is a job best left to the pros, you may then start to ask yourself another very popular question:

Will My Insurance Company Cover Asbestos Removal?

Unfortunately, in our experience, the vast majority of homeowners insurance policies do not cover the cost of asbestos inspection and removal.  Most policies have an exclusion for pollution, which prevents you from being reimbursed for cleaning up pollutants, including asbestos.

This isn’t to say that asbestos removal has never been covered by a homeowners insurance policy. If your home is damaged during a natural disaster like flooding or a tornado that causes the exposure of asbestos-laden materials like floor tiling or roofing material, your policy may cover the cleanup and repair of that damage.

How to Avoid Paying for Asbestos Removal

Paying for the inspection and removal of asbestos from your home is likely not something you have prepared yourself for as a homeowner. So, if you’ve lived in your home for years and you discover asbestos, there’s not much you can do to avoid the cost of removal.

However, if you’re purchasing a new home, we highly recommend a qualified home inspector thoroughly inspect the home for asbestos. If an inspector should find suspected asbestos, we would encourage another a more detailed inspection from asbestos professionals to determine the full scope of work to remove it.

From there, if you plan to purchase the home, you can work with the home seller to include the cost of inspection and removal into the final purchase price of the home.

About Asbestos Project Management

Asbestos Project Management is a local family owned asbestos inspection and removal company based in Plainfield, IL. We are fully licensed and insured and have been working with Chicago property owners since our founding in 1984.

Our staff is fully trained and certified in OSHA, IEPA & IDPH to ensure the health and safety of your family. We are fast, reliable and knowledgeable. If you suspect asbestos in your home or commercial property, contact us today to schedule an inspection.