LIfe Insurance Claim Process - Everything You Need To Know!
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Claim settlement is one of the most important services that an insurance company can provide to its customers. Insurance companies have an obligation to settle claims promptly. You will need to fill a claim form and contact the financial advisor from whom you bought your policy. Submit all relevant documents such as original death certificate and policy bond to your insurer to support your claim. Most claims are settled by issuing a cheque within 7 days from the time they receive the documents. However, if your insurer is unable to deal with all or any part of your claim, you will be notified in writing.
Types of Claims
- Maturity Claim- On the date of maturity life insured is required to send maturity claim / discharge form and original policy bond well before maturity date to enable timely settlement of claim on or before due dates. Most companies offer/issue post dated cheques and/ or make payment through ECS credit on the maturity date. Incase of delay in settlement kindly refer to grievance redressal.
- Death Claim(including rider claim) - In case of death claim or rider claim the following procedure should be followed.
Follow These Four Simple Steps To File A Claim
1. Claim intimation/notification
The claimant must submit the written intimation as soon as possible to enable the insurance company to initiate the claim processing. The claim intimation should consist of basic information such as policy number, name of the insured, date of death, cause of death, place of death, name of the claimant. The claimant can also get a claim intimation/notification form from the nearest local branch office of the insurance company or their insurance advisor/agent. Alternatively, some insurance companies also provide the facility of downloading the form from their website.
2. Documents Required For Claim Processing
The claimant will be required to provide a claimant's statement, original policy document, death certificate, police FIR and post mortem exam report (for accidental death), certificate and records from the treating doctor/hospital (for death due to illness) and advance discharge form for claim processing. Based on the sum at risk, cause of death and policy duration, insurance companies may also request some additional documents.
3. Submission Of Required Documents For Claim Processing
For faster claim processing, it is essential that the claimant submits complete documentation as early as possible. A life insurer will not be able to take a decision until all the requirements are complete. Once all relevant documents, records and forms have been submitted, the life insurer can take a decision about the claim.
4. Settlement Of Claim
As per the regulation 14 (2)(i) of the IRDAI (Policy holder's Interest) Regulations, 2017, the insurer is required to settle a claim within 30 days of receipt of all documents including clarification sought by the insurer. However, the insurance company can set a practice of settling the claim even earlier. If the claim requires further investigation, the insurer has to complete its procedures expeditiously, in any case not later than 90 days from the date of receipt of claim intimation and claim shall be settled within 30 days thereafter.
Claim Intimation
In case a claim arises you should:
- Contact the respective life insurance branch office.
- Contact your insurance advisor.
- Call the respective Customer Helpline.
- Claim Requirements
Conclusion
In many cases, life insurance claims have been delayed or denied due to lack of proper documentation or simply because the proper claim process was not followed. Hence, it is recommended that the claimant should be aware of the claim process in order to have a hassle-free claim settlement process during the emotionally draining time especially while filing a death claim.
Also read- Importance And Benefits Of Life Insurance
