(The following are excerpts from the article
"Mold Damage Claim Tips" from United Policy Holders. For the complete article clink the link below)
INSURANCE CLAIM TIPS FOR MOLD DAMAGE Traditionally, mold damage has been covered where it results from a covered peril, such as a broken pipe, a storm, or fire suppression efforts, but not where it occurs gradually over time due to wear and tear. However, public awareness and scientific knowledge of the health hazards of mold have increased dramatically. Techniques for cleaning up mold have become more sophisticated and expensive. As a result, insurers are panicking, refusing to cover mold claims under existing policies and rewriting their policy forms to exclude all coverage for mold, regardless of origin. This in turn is creating a national crisis. UP believes that a combination of governmental regulation, proper underwriting and competitive forces in the private insurance marketplace will remedy the situation.
Meanwhile, here's what to do if you think your property may have a mold condition:
1. Take mold contamination seriously.
2. Learn about mold contamination, health effects and remediation from a reliable source.
3. Review your policy carefully. Understand your coverage’s.
4. Call your insurance agent and report a suspected claim immediately. put everything in writing.
5. Protect all property from any further damage, but do not make permanent repairs, and do not dispose of any damaged property until after it has been inspected.
6. Photograph, videotape and inventory all damaged property. document your loss as thoroughly as you can, and don’t exaggerate, guess or speculate about the loss or the value of any particular piece of property.
7. Understand your rights. Learn your state’s laws that regulate how insurance claims are supposed to be handled.
8. You must cooperate within reason with your insurance company’s investigation and handling of your claim, but do not give a recorded statement, a sworn statement or a sworn "proof of loss" form until you are sure you understand your rights, your insurance coverage and the full extent of your claim.
9. Never sign a release, waiver, indemnity or "hold harmless" agreement without proper legal advice.
10. Get a second opinion. Don’t accept a lowball offer
11. Thoroughly investigate the qualifications, license, and references of your insurance company’s "approved" contractor before agreeing to hire them to do the repairs
12. Get professional help if you need it.
13. Make sure you know all the deadlines that may cut off your right to file a lawsuit.
14. Report all unfair claim handling to your department of insurance or insurance regulator.
http://unitedpolicyholders.org/claimtips/tip_mold.html # # # Pure Air Control Services 1-800-422-7873 
