Resources for Joplin Tornado Victims

File a complaint: 800-726-7390 or online

Insurance Consumer Hotline hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

State of Missouri Resource, Recovery & Rebuilding Center
705 Illinois Ave., Building A, Suite 12
This one-stop shop directs victims to such resources as temporary housing, unemployment assistance and help in obtaining driver’s licenses and other ID cards. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Contact information for major insurance companies

What to do if your property is damaged

Dealing with health insurance

How we can help with your claim

Missouri's disaster claims process: What to expect when your home is damaged

Get a Home Inventory Checklist to help file your claim

How we can help with your insurance claim

Homeowners insurance FAQ

Understanding renter's insurance

Auto insurance FAQ

How to file a small business claim

Can't make your bank payment? Relief may be available

What to do if your property is damaged

• Contact your insurance agent or your insurance company's toll-free claims number below as soon as possible. Some insurance companies set up mobile claims units with staff in areas hit hard by storms.
• Make temporary repairs needed to prevent further damage. For example, a hole in the roof should be covered by a tarp or other material to keep rain out. Same goes for a broken car window. Otherwise, further damage will likely not be covered by insurance. Keep receipts for materials you buy so you can be reimbursed.
• Don't make permanent repairs until your insurance company has inspected the damage. If you do, your claim might be denied.
• Don't let contractors inspect your home if you're not watching. Some unscrupulous companies will cause damage to drive up the repair cost, and your insurance company will likely not cover the additional cost.
• Your insurance company should send its adjuster to your property. Make sure the adjuster has identification. Please remember that insurance companies pay the adjusters and you should not be asked for any payment.
• If you believe your insurance company has not handled your claim properly, file a complaint. We will determine whether your insurance company has followed Missouri law in processing your claim.
• Once your claim is processed, get estimates from contractors or auto repair shops known to you or recommended by someone you trust. Be suspicious of solicitors who offer to do repairs for you.
• Don't pay the whole repair bill in advance. Pay in full only when the work is completed according to your agreement.
• A "public adjuster" - a person licensed by the state - may offer to represent you in claim negotiations with your insurer. Public adjusters will seek part of your settlement as payment for their services. You are not required to hire a public adjuster to file a claim. Generally speaking, consider hiring a public adjuster only after your insurer makes a settlement offer and when you anticipate any settlement increase obtained by the public adjuster will exceed the extra cost.

Dealing with health insurance

• If you are receiving medical care and need help determining what is covered under your policy, contact your health insurance provider as soon as possible.
• Because of heavy damage to health care facilities in Joplin, you may have to go outside your network to get the care you need. Contact your insurance provider to find out what is covered, and what providers are inside and outside your network, and what out-of-pocket costs you can expect to pay.
• The damage to care facilities may also require individuals currently hospitalized to be transported to another facility. This also may trigger out-of-network costs, which your insurance provider should be able to explain to you.
• If you have lost the contact information for your health insurance provider, we are available to help locate that information. Email us or contact our Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390.

How can we help with your claim?

Because we license agents and insurers, we can help resolve many disputes about contract language and state legal requirements on coverage. On average, we help policyholders collect more than $8 million each year in claims from their insurers. For policies like homeowners, four of every 10 complainants gets additional financial relief.

Contact information for major homeowners and auto insurers in Joplin

• 21st Century (owned by Farmers): 800-435-7764. En Espanol: 877-732-5266.
  
  
• AAA (Auto Club Inter-Insurance): 800-222-7623, extension 5000.
  
  
• ACE North America Cos.: Homeowners/renters/automobile: 800-945-7461.

  Commercial claims: 800-433-0385. Email.
  Westchester Specialty Group: 800-433-0385. Email.

• Addison Insurance: 800-343-9131.

• Alfa Specialty and Alfa Vision Insurance: 877-584-7466.
  

• Allied Property and Casualty (owned by Nationwide): 800-282-1446.
  

• Allstate Insurance: 800-547-8676.
  

• AMCO (owned by Nationwide): 800-692-6326.
  
  

• American Bankers Insurance Co. of Florida: 770-763-2518.

• American Family: 800-692-6326.
  
  

• American Modern Insurance Group: 800-375-2075.

• American National Property & Casualty Insurance: 800-333-2860.
  ANPAC tips.
  
  

• American Security Insurance: 334-684-9780.

• American Standard Insurance of Wisconsin (owned by American Family): 800-692-6326.
  
  
• Auto-Owners Insurance: Please report your claim to your local independent insurance agent. To contact Auto-Owners directly, call 888-252-4626.
  
  

• Berkley Regional Insurance: 866-232-6724.
  

• Bristol West (owned by Farmers): 800-435-7764. En Espanol: 877-732-5266.
  

• Carolina Casualty Insurance: 800-874-8053 (24-hour claim number). Email.
  
  

• Chubb: 800-252-4670.
  

• CFM Insurance: 660-463-2223.
  

  Volk’s Advanti Insurance Agency at 4130 S. Main. Phone: 417-624-3072. Fax: 417-781-3325.
  

• Continental Western Insurance: 866-232-6724

• Farm Bureau (Missouri Farm Bureau): 877-322-5246.
  

• Farmers Insurance: 800-435-7764. En Espanol: 877-732-5266.
  
  
• Fire Insurance Exchange: (owned by Farmers): 800-435-7764. En Espanol: 877-732-5266.
  
  

• Fireman’s Fund Insurance: 800-347-3428.
  

• Firemen’s Insurance Co. of Washington, D.C.: 866-232-6724.
  

• Foremost Insurance (owned by Farmers): 800-527-3907.
  
  
• Geico: If have homeowners co-op policy with Travelers - 800-252-4633. If have homeowners co-op policy with another Geico partner: 888-395-1200.
  Geico auto claims: 800-841-3000.
  
  

• Hanover Insurance: 800-628-0250. Fax: 800-399-4734.
  

• The Hartford: 800-243-5860.
  
  
• Haulers Insurance: 866-665-1003. 
  
  
• Liberty Mutual Group: 800-225-2467.
  
  

• National Lloyds Insurance: 800-749-6419. Use "service center" option to report a claim.
  

• Nationwide Insurance: 800-421-3535.
  
  

• Nautilus Insurance: 800-842-8972.
  

• Progressive Insurance: 800-776-4737.
  
  
• Safeco Insurance: 800-332-3226.
  
  

• Safety National: 888-995-5300.
  

• Selective Insurance Co. of America: 800-568-9656.
  

• Shelter Insurance: 800-743-5837.
  
  
• Standard Fire Insurance (owned by Travelers): 800-252-4633.
  
  

• Standard Guaranty Insurance: 334-684-9780.
  

• StarNet Insurance: 800-848-2534.
  FinSecure division (insures financial institutions): 866-539-3995, ext. 205. Fax: 866-915-7879. E-mail: claims@finsecure.net.
  Berkley Asset Protection Underwriting Managers division (insures jewelry stores): 212-922-0659. Fax: 212-922-9362.

• State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance: 800-766-1853.

• State Farm: 800-732-5246.
  

• Swiss Re companies: 800-255-6931.
  (Westport Insurance, First Specialty Insurance, Swiss Re International SE, North American Specialty Insurance, North American Capacity Insurance, North American Elite Insurance)
  

• Travelers Insurance: 800-252-4633.
  

• Tri-State Insurance Co. of Minnesota: 866-232-6724.

• Union Insurance: 866-232-6724.

• United Fire & Casualty: 800-343-9131.
  

• USAA Insurance: 800-531-8722.
  

• Voyager Indemnity Insurance: 770-763-2518.
  

• Zurich Insurance (owned by Farmers): 800-987-3373.