Silent but Deadly: What Homeowners Need to Know About Radon & Insurance

Radon gas is colorless, odorless, and natural. The soil around and underneath your home can seep in through pipes, cracks, and windows. As it accumulates, every breath you take can bring the gas in contact with your lungs. Cancer can develop if the situation persists for a long period.[1] 

Radon gas and homeowners insurance don’t interconnect. While radon is certainly dangerous when left uncontrolled, insurance companies consider it a home maintenance issue. That means they want individuals to spot it and fix it—and none of those steps are covered by your homeowners insurance plan. 

While your homeowners insurance may not help to cover the cost, your state’s health department could. In many states, these organizations will help to pay for testing and mitigation. 

Why Is Radon Dangerous? 

Any house can have a radon problem, including homes that were just built and those that are hundreds of years old.[2] The gas is so dangerous, in part, because you can’t smell or taste it. You may not know your home has radon until your health begins to fail. 

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer death after smoking tobacco.[3] Researchers say lung cancer and radon are linearly connected.[4] The more of the gas you take in, the higher your lung cancer risk. 

If you smoke and live in a home with radon, your risk of lung cancer is even higher. Experts say smokers are 25 times more at risk of radon-related lung cancer than nonsmokers.[4] 

Radon causes no other cancer or health risks, researchers say.[4] However, the damage the gas can do to your lungs is so severe that it pays to act quickly. 

Radon Gas & Homeowners Insurance: What Is & Isn’t Covered?

Homeowners insurance protects against issues that are sudden, dangerous, and far outside of your control. While radon is certainly dangerous, its presence is rarely sudden, and it’s preventable. As a result, your homeowners policy won’t cover it. 

Experts say not covering radon makes sense for insurers, as every claim would be different. Pushing the costs onto homeowners saves companies money.[5] 

This table explains what a typical insurance company will (and will not) pay for radon issues. We’ll go into detail about each item below the table. 

	Covered	Not Covered
Testing		X
Mitigation		X
Damages		X

Radon Testing & Your Homeowners Insurance 

Routine radon testing can help you spot the gas within your home long before it causes serious health problems. Most homeowners insurance policies consider this a routine-maintenance step (not a sudden crisis) and won’t pay for it. 

Radon Mitigation & Your Homeowners Insurance 

Contractors can use several methods to remove excess radon from your home, including the following:[4]

• Increasing ventilation beneath your floors
• Installing a radon sump system in your basement or under the home’s slab
• Sealing floors and walls 
• Increasing your entire home’s ventilation capacity 

A typical radon-removal project costs between $1,500 and $3,000.[6] Insurance companies typically won’t pay for these issues. 

If you buy a home with a radon problem, your insurance still won’t help you to pay for it. Some Palm Beach families discovered this when their homes became contaminated with the gas after they moved in. They had to pay for mitigation independently.[7] 

Radon Damage

Unlike water and fire, radon doesn’t enter things like fabrics or electronics. Your belongings may sit inside radon-contaminated air but still function properly. Insurance companies won’t pay to help you replace things you believe were ruined by radon. 

How to File a Radon Claim 

It’s not smart to file a claim for radon, especially since your policy won’t cover the damages. Every claim you file goes into a record that insurers share with one another. Your current company could toss your coverage when renewal time comes, and the next company may not issue a plan because of your claims history. 

How to Reduce Your Radon Risks 

If you’re struggling with radon, you should fix the problem as quickly as possible. While your insurance company may not help to pay for the following steps, other sources might. Consider contacting your state’s health department and asking about financial assistance for these radon plans.[8] 

While your homeowners insurance may not pay for radon problems, your state’s health department might. Reach out and ask about available programs in your area.

Test for Radon 

Self-test kits are available in hardware and big-box construction stores. Follow the device’s instructions to test your home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says levels lower than 4pCi/L are safe and don’t require mitigation.[1] 

Testing periodically is smart.[9] Recheck the air after major home improvement projects, including modifying your central air conditioning or heating system. 

Fix the Problem

Most homeowners need a contractor for radon mitigation issues. Follow these tips to pick the right partner:[10,11]

• Use the National Radon Proficiency Program to find certified contractors. 
• Get at least three bids for the project.
• Read each document carefully, and ask questions if you don’t understand the project’s scope, time frame, or cost. 

Test the new system after installation and ensure it’s working. If your levels remain high, reach out to the contractor for answers. Don’t stop until the levels are appropriate.

Protect Yourself From Radon 

Reading your homeowners insurance policy is critical. You should know what is and isn’t covered, so when problems hit your home, you’ll know whether your insurance policy will help you fix the damage or leave you alone with the bill. 

While radon is certainly dangerous and common, few homeowners policies pay for testing or repairs. It’s unwise to submit a claim for something that you know won’t be covered. Thankfully, fixing the issue rarely costs more than a few thousand dollars, and radon won’t hurt your possessions or your home’s structure.