Insurance company denied my claim for a fried Klein meter after a surge

So I'm up in Minnesota and last week we're doing a panel upgrade on this old farmhouse, everything's going smooth until a damn power surge hits and BAM my Klein CL800 meter is toast. Filed the claim with my GL policy thinking it'd cover tools, but the insurer's like 'nah, that's equipment breakdown, get a rider for that.' Been in the trade 8 years and this is the first time I've had to deal with this crap, feels like they nickel and dime us on every little thing. Anyone else had their electrician insurance screw them over like this? Saw a similar rant in the Electricians Network FB group about surge protection not being standard.

Same here, my carrier pulled that BS last year on a busted Fluke.

Don't skimp on the tool coverage rider, or you'll eat the cost every time.

Had a claim for a dropped Milwaukee packrat, they paid but dragged their feet for months.

Insurance companies are the real shock hazard in this biz.

LOL my buddy's claim for a zapped multimeter got denied cuz he didn't have pics of the surge.

The whole system's rigged against us sparks.

Foreman made me buy my own rider after that happened to him.

This is why I self-insure my small tools, cheaper than fighting them.

Sucks man, carriers love finding loopholes on electrical gear.

Add surge to your policy NOW before the next freak event.

SharkBite for plumbing, but for insurance? Nah, go full coverage or go home.

They're all crooks, just shop around for one that actually covers sparks.

Minnesota winters already tough, don't let insurance pile on.

My claim went through after I quoted NEC 110.3 on the damage report.

Finally got a policy that includes tool floaters for $450 a year, worth every penny.

Big corps buying up policies, jacking rates and denying more claims.

Had to lawyer up once, cost more than the tool but set a precedent.

Screw em, time to unionize against these insurance vampires.

Echoing that, my last denial was for a 'wear and tear' on wires nobody touched.