If you have ever insured anything, you would know when and how to claim the insurance. The process of filing a claim for an insurance cover seems challenging, however, if one knows the appropriate steps, s/he can file his or her claim without much stress. In this article, we will explain how you may start the process of claiming for your motor, property, and medical insurances, detailing the steps and some recommendations that may facilitate the process.
- Basic Process of Filing an Insurance Claim
First of all, whether you are making an auto, home, or health insurance claim, there are some common steps that have to be followed in every claim process. These steps are:
Step 1: Collect Incident Information
The most important thing while filing a claim is that you have a complete record of the incident. If you are making an auto insurance claim, then take complete details about the accident (such as the time of the accident, location, witnesses, and details of other vehicles). If you are making a home insurance claim, then it is important to do proper documentation of damage to the house (pictures, videos, and list of damaged items). For health insurance, you need copies of medical reports, prescriptions, and hospital bills.
Step 2: Contact the Insurance Company
Also, inform your insurance company as soon as possible. In every insurance company, they will provide a toll-free number for the customers to call and make a notification for a claim. Many insurance providers nowadays also have an option for a customer to submit his or her claim by visiting their websites or mobile applications. In this case, you have to input your claim details and the company will advise you on what to do next.
Step 3: The Claim Form Completion Process
As part of the claim made to any insurance company, a claim form can be found. You need to provide your details as well as details concerning the event. It is necessary to complete the form carefully because if not, your claim may be inaccurate and thus turned down.
Step 4: Required Documents Submission
In addition to the claim form, submitting the necessary documents is equally important. For example:
Auto Insurance Claim: police report (if applicable) accompanied by accident pictures and repair costs for the vehicle.
Home Insurance Claim: damage image or video and estimates of repair costs along with its receipts for the items affected.
Health Insurance Claim: medical files, hospital statement of account, medicine prescriptions and summary of discharge.
Step 5: Assesment Claim and Payments
In case you had submitted a claim, the insuring body will evaluate it for its validity. In this case, all will be well and the paperwork submitted is sound and the insurer will grant the claim. In some instances, you may be required to wait out more time as the other party explains their position or as further information is sought.
- Filing a claim in Auto Insurance
In the event that you may need to lodge a claim on your motor insurance policy, do the following:
Step 1: Act Immediately After The Accident
Call 911, in case there are people who need medical attention.
If it is safe, take pictures of the accident scene. Take both close up and distant views of the damage.
Get details of persons who might have witnessed the accident (if there are any).
Report to the police in case the accident is serious.
Step 2: Availing The Services of The Insurance Company
Notify your respective insurer as soon as possible and state in broad terms the steps involved in making the claim.
Also, you can trigger the process of making the claim prior to the actual use of the Insurance services.
Step 3: Details and Forms Submission
Accident pictures and files such as police reports if any, together with the annexed estimates of the repairs, should be sent in with other required documents.
Step4: Claim Procedure and Resolution The insurance company may arrange for the survey of the vehicle damage. After the survey report, you shall be advised on claim approval and settlement.
- The Procedure for Lodging a Claim with House Contents Insurance
In case you wish to make a house contents insurance claim, the following procedure should be adhered to:
Step 1: Identify the scope of damage Look for the extent of damage caused inside the house. Photographic evidence and inventory are taken showing damaged items.
In case you have made any make shift repairs, document them.
Step 2: Notifying the Insurer
Establish contact with the relevant insurance body to inform of the subsequent development and to know the processes involved in making the claim.
Step 3: Completing the Claims Form and Submitting the Required Documents Thereafter, fill in the necessary claims form. The relevant authorities may also include some documentation in the form of the local natural disasters’ reports.
Step 4: Evaluating the Damages Sustained and Claim Amounts Due to the Damaged Property
The assessment will involve checking the extent of the damage sustained in the insured property. Thereafter, the compensation or the settlement sum will be given to you.
4. How to claim health insurance
Filing a health insurance claim comes with its unique steps, which relate to medical attention. Stay calm! These are the easy steps to take;
Step 1: Informing the Hospital or the Doctor
In case of hospitalization, the first step is to inform the care, and only afterwards the insurance provider. In case there are emergencies, there is also the possibility of filling the claim with the hospital.
Step 2: Gathering Necessary Medical Paperwork and Bills
You need to obtain your medical expense invoices, medication prescription records, in-hospital summary and treatments rendered details. If you are on self-treatment ledger or cashless treatment, the hospital will make the claim on your behalf automatically.
Step 3: Submission of Claim Form and Attachments
There is a need to submit the claim form and health care documents. You may do this via the online portals or mobile applications of the health insurance providers.
Step 4: Claim Processing and Payment of Claim
Your documents will be reviewed and if all checks out, you will be approved. In case treatment was cashless, the respective hospital will be paid directly.
- Smoothening Process of Insurance Claim Processing
These are some of the techniques that you can apply so as to ease the burden of making the insurance claims.
Timely Reporting: Timely insurance notification for the claim, which is very crucial.
Complete Documentation: Every single document should be presented in a neat and thorough manner.
Stay Organized: Keep all your paperwork systemic. For example, collection of accident reports, receipts for medical services among others, and estimates for repairs costs.
Follow Up: Should you feel any undue delays in regards to your claim, do not hesitate in making contacts with your insurance company.
Know Your Policy: Read the details of the insurance policy and know its extent and limits.
Summary
One may find it somewhat overbearing to lodge an insurance claim, however if the necessary procedures are observed and the relevant paperwork is submitted properly, it is almost impossible for your claim to end up taking long to be processed. It is worth noting that auto, home or health insurance claims tend to have their own requirements and processes. Thus, it is vital to know your policy and more so how the claim process works.