What is Additional Living Expenses (ALE)?
Insurance glossary entry on BeCovered.ai for the term "Additional Living Expenses (ALE)": Coverage for extra costs to live elsewhere while your home is uninhabitable after a covered loss. Scope: plain-language meaning for coverage discussions; confirm definitions on your policy forms.
Coverage for extra costs to live elsewhere while your home is uninhabitable after a covered loss.
Understanding Additional Living Expenses (ALE)
ALE is usually a percentage of Coverage A or a time/money cap. It covers incremental costs—restaurant meals over normal grocery spend—not mortgage principal.
Examples
- Hotel and pet boarding after house fire during repairs.
- Renting comparable home for 6 months while rebuild completes.
Common Questions About Additional Living Expenses (ALE)
Does ALE cover voluntary evacuation?
Often only if civil authority or direct damage makes home uninhabitable—mandatory evacuation endorsements vary.
ALE if flood excluded?
If flood is excluded cause, ALE may not trigger—flood policy may offer limited increased cost of compliance differently.
Related Insurance Types
Related Terms
Coverage Limit
The maximum amount your insurance company will pay for a covered claim.
Claim
A formal request to your insurance company for payment or coverage for a loss or policy event.
Exclusion
Specific situations, conditions, or types of damage that your insurance policy does not cover.
Replacement Cost
The amount needed to replace damaged or lost property with new items of similar kind and quality.