Why this tool exists
Large parts of West Virginia sit over old underground coal workings. The state runs a mine subsidence insurance program with the Board of Risk and Insurance Management, and insurers that write dwelling coverage must offer a mine subsidence endorsement. That endorsement is capped — commonly described as up to $75,000 for a dwelling — and carries its own deductible. Foundation and framing repairs can exceed that cap quickly.
How the calculation works
- The subsidence limit is the lesser of your Coverage A and the cap you enter.
- The deductible is a percentage of that limit, kept between the floor and ceiling you enter.
- The most the endorsement could pay is the smaller of (repair cost − deductible) and the limit.
Default numbers are placeholders. Your endorsement controls; enter its figures.
Subsidence versus landslide
Ground movement from a slip or landslide is usually excluded by the earth-movement exclusion and is not the same as mine subsidence. Whether a loss is subsidence is a coverage question for the insurer and, if disputed, an attorney. Appraisal can value a covered subsidence loss; it cannot make an excluded loss covered. Our guide to landslide versus mine subsidence claims explains the difference.
Questions about this tool
Do I automatically have mine subsidence coverage?
Not necessarily. It is generally offered as an endorsement and may be accepted or rejected depending on the county and your choices. Check your declarations page.
Can an appraiser help if the repair exceeds the cap?
An appraiser can establish the full amount of loss, which matters when other coverages may apply, but cannot raise the endorsement’s limit.