Employee Benefits
An insurance claim is a formal request from the policyholder to their insurance company asking for payment after a covered incident, such as a hospital stay, a natural disaster, theft, and more.
This payment – typically issued to the person named on the policy (or a designated beneficiary – helps pay for expenses associated with the covered incident.
In this article, we’ll discuss types of insurance claims, the general process of filing a claim, and help answer several FAQs on the topic. For specific claims information, be sure to refer to your policy or contact your insurer.
There are as many insurance claim types as there are types of insurance. Pet insurance, disability insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance all require you to submit a claim before a payout will be issued. Note that each claim type follows roughly the same claims process, but the details may vary depending on your insurance provider. Let’s jump into five specific insurance claim types as examples.
Car insurance claims may cover a variety of circumstances, including:
Homeowners insurance claims may cover a number of scenarios that relate to your home, which can include:
Renter’s insurance claims may cover incidents related to an apartment or other property you’re renting such as:
A doctor’s office, hospital, or clinic you visit typically handles health insurance claims. However, you might be responsible for personally handling a health insurance claim if your insurance provider denies it. Health insurance claims typically help cover:
Life insurance claims cover a very specific set of circumstances, all related to the policyholder’s death. In the case of the insured’s death, the insurance company makes a payment to the designated beneficiary – the person(s) selected by the policyholder to inherit the policy’s assets.
Filing an insurance claim typically involves a few basic steps:
1. Start by checking your insurance policy details to see if your policy covers the incident and if there’s a time limit for filing a claim.
2. Gather important information, such as:
Finally, you’ll need to file a claim with your insurance company. You’ll fill out a form outlining the details of the claim and then physically mail the completed paperwork back to the insurance company or submit it online.
Note that for most medical insurance claims, the medical provider’s office will most likely file the claim for you — you won’t have to contact your insurance provider.
If your insurance provider approves the claim, they’ll send you a payment. The amount you’ll receive depends on your policy, insurance company, and the extent of the incident. Payment is most often sent to you as a check, but it can also be directly deposited into an account. Your insurance company may also pay service providers (such as a hospital, auto repair shop, or contractor) directly.
This article is intended to provide general information about insurance. It does not describe any MeLife product or feature.