Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover Bedbugs

Your homeowners insurance will not cover the cost of bedbug extermination, which means that you will be on the hook for the cost of the treatment.

A recent survey by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) found that nearly 100 percent of pest control respondents said they had been called out to at least one bed bug infestation in 2012. Bed bugs can be found just about anywhere that people sleep. The list includes homes, hotels, college dorms, motels and even that charming bed and breakfast you visited last week. Bed bugs can be extremely destructive, difficult to get rid of and in almost all cases, not covered by your homeowners insurance.

A bedbug is a small, wingless bug that feeds on the blood of you and your family as well as any animals in the house. Once they set up camp they tend to stay within a few feet of their host. Bedbugs love linens, mattresses as well as box springs. They also inhabit curtains, and the carpet under dressers and tables. Their small size makes them hard to find, they have even been found behind wallpaper and electrical switches.

In order to get rid of these stubborn pests you will need to eradicate the adults, the juveniles as well as the eggs. Unfortunately, do it yourself solutions are often not completely effective and they require multiple applications which can be difficult and frustrating. Killing the young insects and eggs is particularly difficult. It is not always necessary to throw away linens, beds and chairs but many homeowners end up doing just that, ringing up additional and unnecessary expenses.

In most cases, calling in a professional exterminator is often the best solution. This service can be quite expensive, and unfortunately your homeowners insurance will not cover the cost of bedbug extermination, which means that you will be on the hook for the cost of the treatment.

The majority of standard homeowners policies do not cover vermin infestations. Insurers consider getting rid of pests such as rats, bedbugs or cockroaches to be part of the routine maintenance associated with home ownership. Insurers also base premiums on calculated risks and the possibilities of a bedbug infestation and the difficulty of getting rid of them are difficult to impossible to calculate.

In addition, the associated costs, for example that new bed, curtains and carpet that you installed in hopes of getting rid of the bedbugs are not covered either. This is why ridding your home of bedbugs can be financially devastating. New York magazine reported on one family that spent upwards of $70,000 ridding their Upper East Side house of bedbugs.

The best way to avoid an expensive extermination is to not bring them into the house to begin with. Here are a few tips on how to avoid infesting your home with these nasty creatures:

• When traveling, inspect your hotel room before opening your suitcase. If you find any signs of bedbugs immediately move to another hotel.
• Keep your suitcase on the suitcase rack to keep it off the floor. Keep it closed when not in use. Consider wrapping it in plastic, which will keep bedbugs out.
• When you return home, immediately wash all of your clothes in hot water before you return them to your bedroom.
• If you purchase clothes from a second hand store, experts recommend putting them in the freezer for three days and then taking them to a dry cleaner.
• Consider buying special mattress and pillow covers which protect against bedbugs.