Since your home is likely the biggest investment that you will ever make, it is important to make sure it is properly protected. Insurance is one of those items that you hope you will never need, but it sure is nice to have when you do. It is important that you take time to consider the value of your insurance policy and make sure that the terms and conditions of the benefits you will receive are something that you can live with. When something does happen that requires you to file an insurance claim, it is important to know just how to do that.
Know the Contact Information
When you first know that you will need to make a claim on your insurance, you will need to contact the company. This might be done by telephone, email, or via an external website. Understand what the preferred method is and then make that initial contact with the company. You will want to know how to proceed quickly with the claim, so this is an important first step.
Call in Your Claim
Many people seem to shy away from actually calling their insurance company today, but this is probably the quickest way to get a response. When you get a live agent on the phone, that individual can help personally guide you through the claims process. This is a great way to get things started quickly and get you on the path to reimbursement.
Visit with a Specialist
When you need to use your homeowner’s insurance, they will make a claim # and will put in an order with a specialist who will be in contact with you. Make the appointment with a specialist who will take a look at the damage, asses if it needs repair or replacements. They will then fix it right away or come back once they have the parts that they need. When you call your insurance they will call for a specialist that is covered under their insurance who will contact you in the following business days to make an appointment. Don’t just call a friend and think you can bill the insurance. Similarly to how health insurance coverage depends on your provider, home insurance has a list of professionals they bill directly. This specialist can also help guide you on how to replace your items and what parameters you are dealing with when doing so. Making an appointment will help to get the ball rolling.
Understand Your Co-Payment
When you go to make your claim, it is also important to know the amount of your co-payment if you have one. This will help you to know what you will be paying out of pocket. That is a major issue to deal with in the aftermath of a traumatic event impacting your home. This depends on your plan, but many have a flat rate fee of something like $65 that will cover the repair costs. The insurance will pay the rest of the covered replacement or repair. Whether it’s a $100 or $1,000 claim. Call your insurance provider to get specifics on your plan. Remember, the insurance won’t cover things that were broken before your coverage.
These are all factors that you need to be aware of when the time comes to make a claim on your insurance policy. It is important to act quickly in order to know exactly what needs to be done so you can be properly reimbursed. It is also helpful to have a contact at the insurance company that can assist with getting the necessary documentation in order to make the claims process go that much more smoothly.
