Reap the Benefits: How to Claim What You Can from Insurance
Monday, August 27, 2018, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
The primary reason to purchase many types of insurance is to protect yourself against financial losses.
There are many types of coverage that you can purchase, such as health, life, auto and home. Filing a claim is generally a necessary step in order to take advantage of insurance benefits.
Unfortunately, some insurance companies may fight back against your claim or may dispute the amount of your claim. This can be financially devastating in some cases.
These are some important tips to follow to maximize the benefits that you receive from the claims process.
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Understand Your Coverage
Before you spend time and energy filing a claim, take time to review relevant details in your policy. You may assume that a policy covers specific items, but a closer look may reveal that this is not actually the case. When you understand your coverage inclusions and exclusions, you can more confidently file a claim based on realistic expectations.
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Document the Damage
It is easy to file a claim and to assume that the insurance company will handle the rest, but you should always take the additional step of documenting the damage yourself. For example, take your own pictures of home or car damage. If possible, put a time stamp on the images. It is also great if you have “before” pictures. These pictures may document the condition and general value of the property that has been damaged. Periodically, take pictures of your car, your home, and your home’s contents so that you are prepared to fight for insurance benefits that you may otherwise be entitled to.
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Be Clear
When you file some types of claims, you are required to give a statement about what happened. Before you file a claim, gather all of the details in front of you. This may include contact information for other parties involved, police reports, damage repair quotes and more. You should also have your pictures available, and you ideally should send these images directly to the person who is handling your claim. This way, your images will be included in the insurance company’s file.
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Seek Legal Guidance
Even when you take these steps, there may be instances when a claim is not settled in a fair or satisfactory manner. Legal assistance may be necessary in this case. You can consult with social security disability lawyer services to learn more about your options and to begin taking action against the insurance company.
When you purchase insurance, you expect to enjoy benefits from it through claims. However, when insurance companies push back on a claim, the benefit of holding that insurance policy is diminished. More than that, you may stand to lose a considerable amount of money. Use these tips to enjoy a beneficial outcome from the claims process.
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Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan also enjoys researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
