5 Steps to Submitting a Claim to Your Insurance Company
If you have an insurance policy on your property, or any other type of insurance for that matter, you’re likely concerned about filing a claim if something goes wrong with your property or your possessions.
However, it’s usually in your best interest to do so in order to ensure the repairs or replacements get done as soon as possible. Here are the five steps to submitting an insurance claim to your insurer.
1) Know Your Policy
When submitting a claim to your insurance company, the first step is to know your policy and any exclusions that may be in place.
Even if you’re not sure if your claim will be covered, it’s always best to call customer service or speak with an agent just in case. Next, gather all of the necessary paperwork.
The documentation needed for your particular situation should be outlined by your carrier.
Ask for Copies: If there are documents from medical providers that were sent directly to the insurer without being provided to you (like bills), ask for copies so that you can submit them with your claim.
You’ll also need proof of purchase if the incident took place while using someone else’s property such as a car. Be thorough about what information you want them to provide and give them as much detail as possible about what happened during your injury.
If you have receipts, take pictures with your phone so that they don’t get lost or damaged. Finally, keep copies of everything for yourself! It’s better than relying on someone else’s memory when filling out forms later on.
2) Gather Documentation
Gather documentation of the incident, such as receipts for medical treatments and photographs of damaged property.
Contact your insurance company and notify them of the claim. They will likely request that you submit the documentation before they can proceed with the claim process.
You may be asked to sign an affidavit confirming that you were not at fault in causing or contributing to the incident, this is your opportunity to tell your side of the story.
Once processed, you’ll receive payment through check or direct deposit depending on which type of policy you have . If it’s been more than 30 days and you haven’t received payment, call your agent or carrier again to inquire about the status of your claim.
Make sure you have all the information on hand so they can expedite the investigation. If after 60 days, your claim has still not been processed, please contact us so we can help determine what happened to your claim.
3) Determine Who to Contact
It is important that you contact the person or company in charge of your insurance when you are trying to submit a claim.
The first step is locating your insurance policy, which can usually be found on your home or car insurance card. Once you have the name and number of the person or company in charge of your policy, it’s time to make the call.
Be sure to answer any questions about your location, the nature of your accident (if there was one), and what help you need. You should also inquire about whether there is any paperwork you will need to fill out before they’ll process your claim.
Be sure to follow all instructions provided by the agent or company representative over the phone and don’t forget to ask them for their direct line so that you can keep in touch with them going forward if needed.
Make Sure the Claims Process Goes Smoothly: Remember, submitting a claim for an accident may require some work on your part, but this does not mean that the claims process itself will be difficult.
A claims adjuster might want to schedule an inspection of your vehicle or property damage, so let them know how best to do so.
When necessary, be sure to provide evidence of items lost during the accident such as receipts or photos as requested by your insurer.
4) Prepare a Claim Letter
If you ever need to submit a claim letter, it is best to follow these five steps: Fill out the necessary information. Make sure you fill out your personal information, your insurance company’s information, and the information on what happened that caused the claim.
Send it in. Mailing or emailing your claim letter is an easy way to submit it. – Receive confirmation from your insurance company. You should receive a response within 30 days of submitting your claim.
Keep copies of all correspondence. You may need this if you have any issues with the process, so make sure to keep copies of everything you send and receive related to this issue.
Report anything unusual that happens as soon as possible! If you notice something out of the ordinary like an accident happening again, contact your insurance company right away so they can help figure out what is going on.
While preparing your letter, be sure to use a copy of the police report for reference. It is always good practice to save copies of emails about the incident for future reference.
If you are not able to get a hold of someone at your insurance company after sending in your letter, call their customer service line and ask them how long it usually takes for them to get back to customers.
5) Follow Up
Submit your claim form. Wait for the claims adjuster to contact you. Send documentation of your claim, such as receipts or photographs of damage. If requested, send proof that you purchased insurance from the company in question.
Review the settlement offer and make changes if necessary before signing it and returning it in the enclosed envelope. The only thing left to do is wait
My car has been repaired.