TAMPA — A Plant City couple in their 70s thought their homeowners insurance would protect them if disaster struck.

Then an upstairs toilet malfunctioned while they were traveling, causing catastrophic water damage throughout their home.

Debra and Marcus Stokes soon discovered that the State Farm policy they renewed in April included an endorsement limiting water-damage coverage to $10,000. That amount is nowhere near enough to restore their home or replace their belongings. Consumer advocates and attorneys who represent homeowners in insurance disputes say the Stokes’ experience highlights a growing concern: water-damage endorsements with low coverage limits are appearing on homeowners policies for both older and newer homes. Nicole Vinson, an attorney who specializes in representing homeowners in disputes with insurance companies, says a $10,000 water-damage cap should not be allowed.

“The 10K Cap should be eliminated. This shouldn’t be something that they allow,” Vinson said. “Mortgage companies should say this should be forbidden because it’s not enough coverage to do anything with.”

Vinson said a $10,000 limit can leave homeowners in a position that is effectively the same as having no meaningful coverage at all.

The water-damage limitation is also part of what Vinson describes as a broader trend of changes to homeowners insurance policies that can reduce the protection consumers receive without necessarily reducing what they pay.

“The problem is what we’re seeing is when you open the package of insurance, it’s a lot like when you’re shopping and you open the bag of chicken,” Vinson said. “There’s not as much chicken in the package, but you just paid the same price.”

Vinson urges Florida homeowners to spend time reviewing their complete insurance policies rather than relying solely on summary documents provided by their agents.

She acknowledged that reading an insurance policy can be tedious, but said homeowners need to understand exactly what is covered before disaster strikes.

As for the Stokes, State Farm has since provided the couple with a copy of a letter and an email notifying them about the endorsement. The couple says they do not recall receiving either notification.

A State Farm spokeperson provided this statement:

"To protect customer privacy, we cannot discuss the details of an individual policy or claim. We understand that situations like this can be difficult for customers.

Insurance policies may change at renewal based on factors such as the property, available coverage and changing risk conditions. When a change is made, State Farm provides updated policy documents and required notices explaining the new terms, limits or endorsements.

Customers are encouraged to review their renewal materials and contact their State Farm agent with questions or to discuss available coverage options. Claims are evaluated according to the policy in effect at the time of the loss.

Endorsements like this are intended to better align coverage with risk and help keep premiums affordable for Florida customers.

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