Insurance Policy Claim Tips - Faster Approval

8/22/2017 (Permalink)

Insurance Policy Claim Tips - Faster Approval

Reading up on your current insurance policy and being aware of a few key tips can make your recovery time and costs easier when the unexpected occurs - natural disaster, fire or flood.

Here are four tips to a help make your insurance claim smoother:

1. Insurance is about the Contract, not about Feelings

It is important for you or someone attached to the insurance has a solid understanding of all current insurance policies. This is crucial because once the loss occurs, everything that happens from an insurance perspective is dictated by the policy and nothing else matters. To put it another way, insurance is not about feelings but about the contract.

To keep you in your home or your business operating, you need to get the claims process moving. Have a thorough understanding of what your policy covers regarding repairs. If not, you might be paying for unexpected expenses and/or run into costly delays.

As an example, most insurance companies have a policy that puts the responsibility of securing the loss to prevent further damage on the owner. If you are unaware of this policy and more damage occurs, you may end up having to cover the bill yourself. This scenario is not uncommon. As an example, if wind damages your roof and you do not cover the roof before it rains; all water damage could end up being your responsibility to pay for.

2. Organized and Detailed Record Keeping

Secure your insurance records in a fire and water proof box and know where to find it; this way when disaster happens whether you are around or not they can be found. As a result, the claim can continue to move forward; getting you the much-needed insurance checks sooner.

Claims from insurance companies are based on details - receipts, photos, estimates.  It’s important to remember that for insurance adjusters, details are everything. Gather as much information as you can from contractors that come and do estimates, the more you are informed the better.

3. Maintain a Central Point of Contact

Sometimes it is not always possible, but ideally you want a limited number of contacts for contractors and your insurance company to deal with. Most of the time your insurance company will be working directly with the contracted party doing the work, so it is important to have a limited number for them to have to contact to get approvals from and send updates to.

Mitigate confusion and miscommunication through a select number of contacts.  Everything will move faster.Make sure you speak with your insurance company and see if your Point of Contact will be able to respond for you on all parts of the claim and if not know what parts of the claim you will have to handle.

4. Disaster Recovery Service Provider - Plan Ahead

You maintain freedom of choice.  This last tip is very important because when a loss occurs, you may need to act quickly. As stated in the “Understand Your Policy” section it is your obligation to secure your property after a disaster. Knowing who to call ahead of time will make things less stressful and can potentially save you money in the long run. Not sure who to call? You can always contact your Insurance Agent and ask them who their preferred contractors are in North Shasta County, CA.

Never forget, you get to choose who you work with not your insurance. SERVPRO Of North Shasta, Trinity, and Greater Tehama Counties is always here 24/7 and 365 days of the year for all you Water, Fire, Mold, and Trauma Losses!