What may happen if an insured has less than 80% of the property's value insured?

When a property is insured for less than 80% of its total value, it often results in a penalty known as underinsurance. Many insurance policies include a "coinsurance clause" that requires the insured to have a minimum level of coverage, typically 80%, to fully benefit from the policy. If the insured has only covered a portion of the property's value, then in the event of a claim, the payout may indeed be reduced in proportion to the amount of insurance carried relative to the actual value of the property. This is to encourage policyholders to insure their properties for their full value.

Thus, if a loss occurs, the insurer may calculate the claim payment based on the proportion of insurance held compared to the property’s total value, which means that the payment may be less than the actual loss incurred by the insured. Insurers use this method to ensure that policyholders maintain an adequate level of coverage to mitigate risk effectively.