Does Insurance Cover Biohazard Cleanup? What Families Should Know

Family home with a front porch, the kind of home where insurance often covers biohazard cleanup

When a family calls us after a death in the home, the question about money usually comes near the end of the call, almost apologetically. It shouldn’t feel awkward to ask. Cleanup after a trauma or an unattended death is specialized work, and wondering who pays for it is completely reasonable. So, does insurance cover biohazard cleanup? In many cases, yes. Here’s how it usually works, and what happens when it doesn’t.

What homeowners insurance usually covers

In many cases, homeowner’s insurance covers the cost of cleaning up after a trauma, homicide, suicide or accidental death. Renters insurance can apply too, and when the incident happened in a vehicle, car insurance may be the policy that responds. That’s why we bill homeowners, renters and car insurance directly whenever we can, and why most of our cases are handled through insurance.

What no one can do, including us, is tell you exactly what your policy will pay before the claim is filed. Every policy is different. Your insurance company confirms the coverage; our job is to make that process as easy as possible for you.

Person reviewing insurance claim paperwork at a table

How the claim process works when you call us

  1. You call, any time. A live operator answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In most cities our average response time is 30 minutes to an hour.
  2. We assess the scene and give you a free estimate. It comes with a no-obligation plan for the work, and everything you tell us stays confidential.
  3. We help file the claim. We work directly with your insurance representative and handle the back-and-forth, so you don’t have to manage paperwork while you’re grieving.
  4. We do the work. Every job follows the same steps, from the safety assessment through cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing, and ends with ATP testing to verify the area is properly disinfected.

You can read more about each step on our process page.

You get to choose who does the cleanup

This surprises a lot of people. If your insurance company suggests a particular company, you’re not obligated to use them. No insurance company can require you to use a specific contractor for the loss to be covered. It’s your home and your family, and you have the right to work with someone you trust.

What if insurance doesn’t cover it, or you don’t have insurance?

Sometimes a policy doesn’t respond, or the cost doesn’t reach the deductible, or there’s no policy at all. You still have options:

  • Payment plans and credit cards. We accept all major credit cards and can set up individual payment plans.
  • Financing through Wisetack. The application takes about a minute, and checking your options doesn’t affect your credit score. Details are on our financing page.
  • Crime victim compensation. In some cases, part of the cost can be paid through the state’s crime victim compensation fund.
  • Hardship help. We offer no-insurance discounts and financial hardship programs for those who qualify.

If there’s no insurance involved, 50% of the estimate is needed before work begins. Whatever your situation, we’ll go over the options with you before any work starts, so you know exactly where you stand.

Clean, empty room with fresh white walls and wood floor after professional cleanup

Questions worth asking your insurer

  • Does my policy cover biohazard or trauma cleanup, and is there a limit?
  • What is my deductible for this kind of claim?
  • Are damaged items, such as flooring or furniture, covered separately?
  • Is there anything you need from me, like photos or a police report number?

You don’t have to have these answers before you call us. We can talk with your adjuster directly.

Why this isn’t a job to take on yourself

It can be tempting to save money by cleaning up yourself, or asking family to help. But blood and bodily fluids can carry pathogens, and what’s visible is rarely all there is. Our technicians are trained, certified and follow OSHA and EPA requirements, and every job is done by Econ employees, never subcontractors. Our frequently asked questions page covers more on safety and what to expect.

We’re here when you need us

We serve families and businesses across Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Call (470) 380-3130 any time, day or night, or request a free estimate online. We’ll take care of the cleanup, and as much of the insurance side as we can, so you can focus on your family.