How can insurance companies refuse to pay because it was an "Act of God"?

I guess it would depend on what kind of insurance, which company, and what the provisions of the policy were. It used to be that you got house insurance and it covered everything. Then they discovered they could make the hazards more a la carte. I know where I’m at, we get hurricanes. But flood insurance isn’t covered unless you get it added onto your policy. Ditto that for wind…many companies won’t cover wind damage and make you get it from the state underwriters. They also have different coverage for damage from “named” storms…just another way to jack up the prices.

But something like your car may not be covered for “Acts of God”. You driving down the road and getting hit by lightning might not be covered for instance.

The point is @seawulf575, how can they deny claims based on superstition?
If you reach hard enough, everything could be an Act of God. Or Zeus. Or whatever.

My homeowner’s insurance did this to us. In the course of three years, a drunk driver crashed through my fence, a tree crushed my other fence after being hit by lightening, and a city-wide flood wrecked my basement. They paid for the first two but declared the last an act of god, would not pay and then dropped us as clients stating we were too high risk.

Shit Cookieman. Smells like a law suit to me.

@Dutchess_III I think you’re just trying to push a point about God. The term “Act of God” is just a short way of saying something that is caused by nature, beyond our control. If someone rams into you on the freeway, that isn’t an act of God, that is some idiot behind the wheel. Some things, like storms are acts of God, but we know they are coming. They always do. So they are usually excluded from “Act of God” in insurance terms. But as I pointed out, they (the insurance companies) are always trying to split things out.

Also known as “_Force majeure , (it) is a French term that means “superior force” and refers to an event or circumstance that prevents someone from fulfilling their obligations. It’s often used in contracts as a clause that relieves parties from liability when an unexpected event occurs.“_ Google AI

It includes floods, wars and earthquakes. The insurance contract, maybe in small print, probably says Force majeure relieves the insurance company from paying.

That’s the reason I’ve paid big bucks for tree maintenance and removal.

Yeah, it’s just a phrase we use for wild shit.

^^^ Best answer!

Why don’t they call hailstorms an act of God?

^That’s weather. Depending on your coverage.~

So are floods!

^Nope. God pushes the water onto our cities, because of our “tolerance” of homosexuality, and taking prayer out of schools.
Act of God.
God sends fire, and brimstone.
Not hail.
Not someone driving a car through your house…

OIC.

A few years ago, a guy was jogging on a local beach, when a plane making an emergency landing hit him in the back of the head. Killing him. He never saw it coming.

That’s an act of God!

That’s crazy @MrGrimm888! But still not an act of God. Some humans somewhere screwed up.

According to the “Legal information Institute”: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/act_of_god An act of God refers to a severe, unanticipated natural event for which no human is responsible. Despite its facial religious connections, the usefulness of the term means “act of God” is frequently used in otherwise secular statutory and case law.

Insurance policies have been excluding such events since the beginning of insurance.

Your question, as asked, is absurd too. What are you trying to ask?

You are too kind @SnipSnip.