When you work with an insurance company, you want to be certain that you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
To make sure you are, check out these 5 Questions to Ask Before Working with an Insurance Company
You never know how much extra cash this could save you!
1) What type of insurance do I need?
The most common types of insurance are life, health, car, and home. If you have a lot of assets that would be difficult to replace should they be lost or damaged, you may want to consider insuring them as well.
Insurance companies ask different questions in order for them to assess your risk level and what type of coverage is best for you.
One company might require more information than another before providing a quote, so make sure you understand the process and know what information they need before filling out the form.
Some things they might ask about include: that would be difficult to replace should they be lost or damaged, you may want to consider insuring them as well.
Insurance companies ask different questions in order for them to assess your risk level and what type of coverage is best for you.
2) What is the process for filing a claim?
For the most part, filing a claim is relatively easy. You should be able to file your claim online if you have the information available, or you can call your company and request a form in the mail.
Once you have filed your claim, it is important that you provide them with as much information as possible about what happened so they can process it quickly and make a decision on how to proceed.
Do I need to fill out any forms?
What type of documentation do I need to submit along with my claim?- How long will my claim take to process?
What are the steps for reimbursement for expenses incurred as a result of my accident/incident?
Who will handle my case while it is being processed? – Is there anything else I should know before proceeding with this case?
3) How much does the policy cost?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to insurance, so you should ask plenty of questions before you sign on the dotted line.
Be sure to find out how much the policy costs and what your deductible is, as this will impact the overall cost of the plan.
Will you be able to get a discount for paying in full year? What are the company’s hours of operation?
Who do I contact if I have a claim? How long is my coverage good for? Are there other ways to purchase the coverage? Are there any exclusions or pre-existing conditions that would make me ineligible for coverage?
What type of care does the company offer and where can I use it? Do they offer family plans and what are the associated costs? Once I’m enrolled, am I guaranteed coverage for every moment from now until whenever my plan expires?
If not, how often do I need to pay for coverage? Is there anything else I need to know about before signing up for the plan?
4) What is the policy’s coverage limit?
This is the maximum amount you will be paid for a covered claim. If your policy limits are set high enough, you may never need to file a claim at all!
But if you do have a big expense, it’s important that your policy limit is high enough so that you are not paying out of pocket.
How much does the company pay when I don’t follow directions?:
A lot of companies offer no fault coverage.
What this means is that even if you make a mistake and cause the loss, they’ll still cover the cost up to the limit of their policy.
Some policies also allow you to collect from the other person’s insurance provider as well.
This is a great option for people who aren’t sure how reliable they might be or want protection in case something unexpected happens (e.g., my dog eats my homework).
If there was ever an accident and I was liable for damages but had no insurance, I would be responsible for paying everything myself.
It would probably take years before I could afford to pay off the debt and then get back on my feet again.
5) Are there any exclusions in the policy?
Exclusions vary by insurance company, but typically include pre-existing conditions and cancer.
Be sure to ask about these exclusions before signing up for a plan.
If the policy does not offer coverage for your pre-existing condition, you may want to explore other options.
Some companies will cover certain types of cancer treatments if you sign up within a specified time frame from diagnosis.
However, most policies do not provide any coverage for pregnancy or organ transplants.
It is important to fully understand the restrictions before choosing a plan that meets your needs.
If so, what’s the max out-of-pocket payment?:
For example, someone with a plan that covers $3 million in medical costs could still have to pay $100k out of pocket depending on how much he/she uses his/her benefits each year.
In addition, some plans don’t count preventative care (e.g., regular checkups) towards their deductible requirements.
Once you know how much the annual maximum is, it might make sense to consider a higher deductible as well as co-pays for common services like prescription drugs and visits to the doctor since this will likely save money over time.
What are some examples of additional cost I need to keep in mind when comparing plans?