Does homeowners insurance cover bedbugs infestations?

Answer

There are 2 separate sections of an insurance contract. The first is the "Property Coverages" section. The Property Coverages include coverage for the Dwelling (house structure), Other Structures (detached structures), Personal Property (house contents), and Loss of Use (inability to live in home because of a situation covered by the policy). The second section deals with liability issues. For Section 1 coverages, this will probably never be covered. Under Section 2, you will be covered if the bug infestation in your home causes bodily injury or property damage to someone else.

Let's look at the liability issues first. We're going to pretend that your neighbors 10 year old daughter came over for a sleepover with your 10 year old daughter. We're going to also pretend that during the night your neighbor's child was bitten by the bugs so badly that it caused her face and neck to swell. The next day your neighbor is understandably furious, and holds your responsible for their child's medical expenses. You are automatically covered under the "Medical Payments to Others" coverage. If the child misses two months of school and a tutor must be hired, the parents may want to hire a tutor. Your neighbor may also find it necessary to stay home with their child. In that case, they will probably sue you for lost wages and the cost of home schooling their child. This would be covered under the "Personal/Family Liability" coverage.

Now let's move on to Section 1, Property Coverages.

First answer by TobyzMama. Last edit by TobyzMama. Contributor trust: 42 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 8 [recommend question]