Why public adjusters are essential: My story

2-4-26

By Tom Long, Veteran
I’ve lived in Pennsylvania for 45 years, served two tours in Iraq with the Army National Guard, and today I’m a 100% disabled veteran. When severe wind damaged my roof, I quickly realized I couldn’t manage the insurance claim alone. A public adjuster stepped in — and it made all the difference.
Once the shingles came off, hidden damage appeared: rotted plywood, leaks, and structural issues I never would have seen. Living with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury, I didn’t have the capacity to handle the paperwork, documentation, or back‑and‑forth with the insurer. My public adjuster became my advocate.
I called my insurance company twice, but no one came out. I couldn’t afford repairs on my own or risk more damage. The public adjuster moved the claim forward immediately. He handled every call, every contractor, every detail. Without him, I might have accepted a low offer just to end the stress. Instead, my home was fully repaired, and supplemental issues — even in my kitchen — were addressed properly.
In my work with the Help for Our Heroes program, I’ve seen public adjusters save families from disaster. A fire claim that an insurer valued at $60,000 was ultimately settled for the rightful $360,000. A soldier’s family denied coverage for “pre‑existing damage” had their home fully repaired thanks to a public adjuster. These outcomes don’t happen without professional advocacy.
Now, lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 1074 and House Bill 1972, which add new requirements and cap public adjuster fees. Supporters say it’s about consumer protection, but for people like me, it could limit access to the very advocates who make recovery possible.
If lawmakers want public adjusters to remain accessible to all consumers — especially disabled veterans, seniors, and families with limited means — then the fee cap matters. A 20% cap, not 15%, is what keeps adjusters able to serve smaller claims and vulnerable homeowners. If the goal is true consumer protection, the cap should be raised to 20% so no Pennsylvanian is left without help.
Public adjusters are essential. They provide expertise, fairness, and peace of mind when people need it most. We can’t do it alone, and we shouldn’t have to. Lawmakers should remember that when debating SB 1074 and HB 1972.