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Home insurance is one of those things that you buy, hoping that you’ll never need to use it. What happens if you do need to make a claim, though? While reputable insurance companies do honor the claims, quite often you need to jump through the hoops to get your fair dues. Here are some suggestions to help ease the process.

Do your homework upfront

Sure, insurance contracts are boring; and filled with pages of boiler plate. Don’t skip on this, and make sure you know what you’re paying for. Ask for clarifications on what’s included, and what’s not.

The best time to do this is when you sign up for insurance; any other time, and you don’t have leverage. Also check the riders and additional clauses; quite often, you can do quite well for yourself without the additional coverage which costs a bomb but provides little incremental benefit.

Check on contractors and services

Plumbers, electricians, builders and other contract service providers must be licensed and insured – ask them for details on the coverage, and if there’s any open liability. In some states, day care centers need to carry insurance, or inform parents if they do not have coverage. Georgia passed Juan’s law in 2004 – the bill was named for Juan Boatwright, a 14 month old child who was involved in a near-drowning accident at an uninsured day care center. Check out the details at http://www.anthonydejuan.com/

When necessary, make sure you have additional coverage. Don’t rely on luck or pre-existing coverage; unless your existing insurance covers services.

Keeping the paper trail

Keep all your insurance correspondence, payment details and any other related documents filed together – and make sure all premiums are paid on time. The most common reason for claims denial is if premiums haven’t been up to date.

When disaster strikes, make sure that all relevant documents have been obtained and submitted. Mechanics reports, police filings, receipts for repairs, photos before and after – all of these strengthen the case, and leave no loophole for refusal.

Talk the industry language, or like a lawyer

Know the rules, and how the industry operates. You need to make sure that your submission has been complete, and in line with the standard procedure for submission. Some claims have a time-limit – you need to inform the insurance company within a specified time of the occurrence, for the claim to be honored.

If the claim is refused, ask the agent for the specific provision that’s the basis for denial – this is known as estoppel. Make sure you get this in writing, so that the insurer can’t come up with a new reason later.

Follow up with the right people. The sooner you can alert a supervisor or manager, the better off you’ll be. Many insurance companies have policies that allow discretion in making payments, especially if there’s likely to be adverse publicity.

Where necessary, call in your state insurance regulator, or a consumer watchdog; while they don’t have legal enforcement capabilities, the threat of looking bad often gets a fast response.

If all else fails, consult an attorney. A legal notice works wonders, if done in time.

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