With the 2025 North Atlantic Hurricane Season in full swing, the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) is urging local property owners to urgently reassess their insurance coverage before disaster strikes.

The IAJ, through the launch of its new public education campaign titled ‘Real Value. Real Coverage’, warned that only 20 per cent of Jamaica’s residential properties are insured, and of those, an estimated 95 per cent are underinsured.

It is troubling backdrop that represents a widespread gap that leaves thousands of families and businesses exposed to financial devastation in the event of hurricanes, fires, or floods.

“Every year we see the same thing — policyholders insure their homes or commercial properties based on outdated values and never revisit them,” said Rosemarie Henry, president of the IAJ. “When a hurricane hits, the insurance payout is nowhere near what’s needed to rebuild or repair. That gap can devastate lives.”

The issue is a silent crisis hiding in plain sight. In communities from St. Catherine to Montego Bay, stories of underinsurance are not uncommon. After Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and again following Hurricane Ivan in 2004, many Jamaicans learned the hard way that their policies didn’t reflect the true replacement cost of their homes. The issue is rooted in a widespread misconception: Once a property is insured, many believe it remains adequately protected indefinitely. But with inflation, material costs, and property values rising, that assumption can be dangerously flawed.

Don’t guess, get covered

“Imagine buying insurance 10 years ago, never updating the value, and today your roof is blown off in a Category Four hurricane,” added Henry. “The payout won’t cover half of what you need to rebuild. That’s the reality for too many Jamaicans.”

At the heart of the campaign is a simple call to action, ‘Don’t Guess. Get Covered.’ It starts with three critical steps — check your policy details and valuation date, get a current professional valuation, and speak with your insurer to update your coverage. These small actions could be the difference between recovery and ruin.”

For Jamaicans who are unsure about their current coverage, the IAJ urges immediate action. Insurance is not a ‘set it and forget it’ decision, it must evolve with rising inflation, construction costs, and property values.

“The hurricane season doesn’t wait for you to get ready,” Henry emphasised. “Your policy should reflect today’s reality, not yesterday’s estimate.”