During a disaster, your primary concern must always be your safety and the safety of your loved ones. Once the emergency has passed and you’re at a safe place like an evacuation center, you have to start thinking about what you can recover from the damage. This is where your insurance claim comes into play.
We’ll look at the steps for making an insurance claim after a disaster that you should never forget.
Document the Damage and Loss
This can vary depending on the disaster, but the key idea here is to have an inventory of what you lost. Your insurance provider will eventually send an assessor, but this could take time.
In the meantime, if you are able, get whatever documentation you can of your damaged property and the items affected by the disaster. If you can return to your property as soon as possible, then taking pictures and videos is crucial for your claim. Incident reports by authorities, like a police report during a car accident, are also very helpful.
In case of a total loss, like with mass fires and flooding, those pictures of things you bought that you and your family uploaded to social media might come in handy as proof of loss. Other documentation that might help with your insurance claim includes receipts of purchases or property deeds. If possible, don’t throw away anything, as even the wreckage can help substantiate your claims.
Keep Receipts for Eligible Expenses
Most evacuations are handled by government offices, and relief centers don’t usually require you to incur costs. In cases where you have to spend money on something due to your emergency, it is very important that you keep the receipts from such purchases, as some expenses might be covered under your policy.
Some examples of expenses include hotel stays, transportation costs such as fares or fuel, food, communication expenses, and medicines that weren’t covered by your health insurance (like if you bought painkillers or disinfectants over the counter). Anything that falls under “temporary living expenses” should have receipts.
Note, though, that you do not have an unlimited expense account. How much your insurance can reimburse, and what kind of expenses are eligible, depends on your policy. So resist the temptation to put your family up at the nearby Shangri-La or have a buffet every day, as these might not be covered by your insurance, at least not in full. Some insurance policies might also have a limited period during which they will cover or reimburse your temporary living expenses.
Contact Your Insurance Agent
This is actually one of the first things you should do once you’re safe and can think clearly enough. One of the most important people you can talk to when making disaster claims is none other than your very own agent. So as soon as possible, talk to your agent.
In case of a disaster, one of the key factors in whether you can recover anything is what’s written on your insurance contract. You might not have read or understood every part of your policy, but the one person who does (or should) is your agent. They should also know what you need to document and the documentation needed for your disaster claims, and what the limits of your temporary living expenses are.
For the duration of your claim, which can take some time, your agent is one of your most valuable resources. They can help you deal with the assessor and facilitate your insurance claim with your provider. That’s part of their job, after all.
Reliable Insurance Brokers are here to help you choose insurance suited to your needs and to assist you whenever disaster strikes and you need to evacuate. We are ready 24/7 to help you get temporary accommodations, receive the medical care you need, and go through the necessary steps in making your disaster claim.
If you need guidance with your insurance coverage or a disaster claim, contact Reliable Insurance Brokers for assistance.
Contact Information for Inquiries and Support
If you have any questions or need assistance with your insurance, feel free to reach out to us:
- Call: +63 2 8631 9285 to 86
- Mobile: +63 917 138 5120
- Email: info@reliable-insurance.ph
- Messenger: m.me/reliable.insurancebrokersph
Sources
- Virani Law (2024, July 30), Essential Insurance Steps to Follow After Evacuating for a Wildfire in Jasper. https://viranilaw.ca/essential-insurance-steps-to-follow-after-evacuating-for-a-wildfire-in-jasper/
- Insurance Information Institute (No date), Settling insurance claims after a disaster https://www.iii.org/article/settling-insurance-claims-after-a-disaster
- PBS News (2024, October 14), The basics of navigating the insurance claims process after a destructive hurricane.