Homeowners insurance coverage for COVID-19 cleanup

Coverage Q&A: Does insurance cover the costs to sanitize the insured's home after it was exposed to the coronavirus?

By FC&S Editors | April 22, 2020 at 06:00 AM

COVID-19 virus illustration. (Photo: Andrii Vodolazhskyi/Shutterstock) COVID-19 virus illustration. (Photo: Andrii Vodolazhskyi/Shutterstock)

FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation has been following the insurance issues with COVID-19 from the beginning. Join us on Wednesday, April 29, at 2 p.m. ET for a demonstration of FC&S, its COVID-19 coverage and all its other features. FC&S experts will walk attendees through the content on FC&S, including contract analysis, subscriber questions and answers, and coverage discussions. Register for the free demonstration here

Editor's Note: As we have seen, COVID-19 is generating a lot of questions regarding insurance coverage and how it works under different circumstances. This week's question pertains to possible insurance coverage for home sanitation costs. 

Question: A few weeks back, there was a question regarding insurance coverage for the costs of sanitizing an office if a person infected with COVID-19 entered the premise. A client asked me the same question but concerning a personal HO3 and HO5 policy.

Recommended For You

If a person infected with the coronavirus enters the insured's home, would cleanup costs be covered under the policy? 

— Michigan Subscriber

Analysis: Physical damage is not just an issue for commercial property policies but also homeowners insurance policies. While there can be similar wording between the two types of policies, for example, the definition of pollutants, there also are many differences in policy language and how coverage is applied.

Answer: To learn the answer to this week's coverage Q&A, please log into your FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation account.

Related:

  • To learn more about FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation, visit our website.
  • Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter, FC&S Coverage Insider, to stay up-to-date on insurance coverage issues.
  • Discover our resources on commercial lines and personal lines on the NU Resource Center.
  • Get 10% off your subscription to FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation just for being a PC360 reader! Complete the free trial form or call 214-356-9145 to learn more or get started today.

 

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

By Elana Ashanti Jefferson | April 24, 2025

What are the lessons for energy insurance pros from the Keystone Pipeline's reported maintenance issues?

Latest Keystone Pipeline spill piques broker’s interest

By Joe Toppe | April 24, 2025

FBI: Fraud costs U.S. families $400 to $700 annually in increased premiums to cover the expense.

Insurance fraud ranks second for costliest white-collar crimes

By Alexandre Rajbhandari | April 23, 2025

Tariffs have damaged the country’s image and raised the odds of a recession, Evan Greenberg said.

Chubb CEO calls for U.S. policy coherence to stop tariff confusion
Preparing for the Storm: The Insurers Guide to Roof Risk link

Guide

Sponsored by ZestyAI

Traditional roof risk assessment falls short. Ballooning combined ratios demand better methods. This guide reveals how AI and new data sources provide significant lift over traditional models for hail and wind risk.

Enhancing Subrogation and Recovery: A Smarter Approach for Insurers link

Guide

Sponsored by Verisk

Recovering funds from at-fault parties in auto claims is crucial for insurers, yet subrogation challenges like incomplete data and manual processes slow the process. This guide reveals how claims professionals can streamline subrogation, reduce administrative costs, and maximize recoveries with a more efficient approach. Get the insights you need to speed up claims resolution and improve financial outcomes.

Driving Efficiency and Growth With Intelligent Information Management link

White Paper

Sponsored by Laserfiche

Rising customer expectations, more restrictive regulations, and increased competition are pushing insurers to modernize information management to boost productivity and efficiency. Discover how Intelligent Information Management (IIM) transforms insurance operations--addressing key challenges and delivering measurable ROI by streamlining processes, reducing costs, and enhancing customer experiences.