Windstorm vs. flood
Homeowners policies generally exclude flood. After a hurricane, the file needs evidence separating wind damage from storm surge or rising water.
SUREClaim guide · independent
Texas public adjusters · SURE claims
SURE denied or underpaid your claim?
SURE denied your claim or paid less than the repair cost? Many Texas policyholders know it by the SageSure name on their bills and claim portal. We review Texas property claims for free: the decision, the policy and the damage, and tell you plainly what we see.
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Disclaimer: AF Claims is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by SURE (SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange), serviced by SageSure. Carrier names are used only to identify the insurer. Every claim is different; results are not guaranteed.
About SURE
SURE (SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange) is a Texas-domiciled reciprocal exchange, owned by its policyholders and managed by an attorney-in-fact. Its policies are underwritten, serviced and claims-handled through SageSure, a managing general underwriter. A sister exchange, Elevate Reciprocal Exchange, is sold exclusively through Goosehead Insurance.
TDI lists the group as “Iron Family Holdings Group,” the 10th-largest homeowners insurance group in Texas by 2024 premium. That is a holding-company name, not a brand homeowners see: SURE appears in the same group in rate-bureau filings, and Forza Insurance Holdings, which owns the attorneys-in-fact for SURE and Elevate, describes them as its Texas-domiciled exchanges. At company level, SURE is 15th in Texas.
Why SURE claims get denied or underpaid
Common reasons Texas homeowners, especially along the coast, report for denied or reduced claims, with any carrier (general patterns, not SURE’s or SageSure’s internal policy):
Named-storm or wind deductible
Coastal policies often carry a percentage deductible for named storms or wind. Make sure every damaged item is in the estimate before judging whether the loss clears it.
Wind-driven rain and interior damage
Interior water after a storm is often disputed unless the file shows how the water got in. Document the opening and the path.
Wear and tear vs. storm damage
Older roofs are often blamed on age. Dated storm reports, photos and a close inspection can separate storm damage from wear.
Mold and dry-out limits
Many policies cap mold remediation. Prompt drying and documentation of the covered water loss help keep the claim within coverage.
Tip: Check who insures your home, not just who services it
SageSure services policies for several insurers. Your declarations page names the insurer, SURE or another company, and that is who your claim is against.
What to do after a SURE denial or low offer
- 1
Get the decision and the reasons in writing
A Texas insurer must accept or reject a claim in writing within 15 business days after it receives everything it asked for, or within 45 days if it notifies you why it needs more time. A rejection must state the reasons (Tex. Ins. Code § 542.056).
- 2
Know the other prompt-payment deadlines
Acknowledgment and information requests within 15 days of notice (§ 542.055); payment within 5 business days after the insurer says it will pay (§ 542.057). After a commissioner-declared weather catastrophe, deadlines get 15 more days (§ 542.059).
- 3
Read the exact policy language cited
Find the exclusion or condition the letter relies on, plus your deductibles (often a percentage for wind and hail) and any cosmetic-damage or roof endorsements.
- 4
Use the policy’s appraisal clause
Appraisal is for disputes about the amount of the loss, not coverage. Each side hires an appraiser, and an umpire decides differences; TDI describes the umpire’s decision as binding.
- 5
Mind the complaint and pre-suit steps
You can complain to TDI in writing. According to TDI, if the damage was caused by a disaster, you must notify the insurer in writing at least 61 days before suing. Coastal wind claims under TWIA have a 1-year filing deadline.
More on Texas claims: Texas public adjusters
Real results
Claims we’ve handled in Texas
Real claims our clients authorized us to share, with their exact numbers. Our case records don’t name the insurance company, so these are not presented as SURE claims.
HailInitial payment $967.33$125,000final recoveryLauraDallas, TexasRead the case →CommercialInitial payment $40,382.43$450,000final recoveryJoe & LuisHouston, TexasRead the case →
Every insurance claim is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See all results →
SURE claim FAQ
My bills say SageSure. Is SageSure my insurer?
SageSure is a managing general underwriter that handles underwriting, customer service and claims for its partner insurers. The insurer on your declarations page, such as SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange, is the company that issued the policy.
Is a reciprocal exchange claim handled differently?
Your rights come from your policy and Texas law, the same as with any insurer. The Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act deadlines in Tex. Ins. Code ch. 542 apply to insurers generally.
How long does a Texas insurer have to accept or reject my claim?
Under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act, an insurer generally must acknowledge a claim within 15 days (Tex. Ins. Code § 542.055) and accept or reject it in writing within 15 business days after receiving everything it asked for, or up to 45 days if it tells you why it needs more time (§ 542.056). Once it agrees to pay, payment is due within 5 business days (§ 542.057). After a weather catastrophe declared by the commissioner, these deadlines get 15 more days (§ 542.059).
Can you guarantee the insurer will change its decision?
No. No one can honestly guarantee an outcome. We review the file, tell you what we see, and represent you if it makes sense to work together. Every claim is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does the review cost?
The claim review is free, and asking questions doesn’t hire us. If it makes sense to work together, the fee and services are explained in a written agreement before you sign.
General information, not legal advice. Policies and state laws differ, and laws change.
Sources
- SageSure, SURE Homeowners Insurance (SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange)
- SageSure, Elevate Reciprocal Exchange
- North Carolina Rate Bureau, Minutes of the 46th Annual Meeting (Oct. 24, 2023), member list showing SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange under Iron Family Holdings Group
- American Coastal Insurance Corporation, press release on the sale of Interboro Insurance Company to Forza Insurance Holdings, LLC (describes Forza’s holdings: SURE and Elevate)
- Texas Department of Insurance, Texas homeowners insurance market overview: insurance groups with the highest market share, 2024 direct written premium
- Texas Department of Insurance, Top 40 list of insurers in Texas: Homeowners (company level)
- Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 542, Subchapter B (Prompt Payment of Claims), §§ 542.055–542.060
- Texas Department of Insurance, Home insurance guide (claims deadlines, appraisal, complaints; updated June 1, 2026)
Sources checked September 27, 2026.
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Disclaimer: AF Claims is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by SURE (SureChoice Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange), serviced by SageSure. Carrier names are used only to identify the insurer. Every claim is different; results are not guaranteed.
American Financial Claims is a licensed public adjusting firm, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. Office: Brickell Arch, 1395 Brickell Ave, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. Every insurance claim is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.