Important Must-Knows Before you Claim your Home Insurance

Home insurance is a vital part of the homeownership journey for many Singaporeans. A home insurance cover makes sure that you as the homeowner, your family, and your property are covered in case any of the insured risks occur.

While we hope for the best, sometimes things don’t go as planned. So in such situations, your home insurance cover may just save the day. However, a homeowner should some things before claiming insurance to make most out of a home insurance cover.

There are numerous steps that Singapore residents with home insurance should follow in case you suffer a loss due to the occurrence of an insured risk.

• Immediately notify the police and your insurance company of the incident. For example, you should report a theft or robbery within 24 hours of the occurrence.
• Do not throw away any of the items damaged during the incident before consulting the insurance company and the police.
• Make sure you try and prevent more loss or damage to any household items after the incident.
• Do not admit liability if damage happens to a third party’s property. Also, avoid any negotiations or settlement without any counsel from your insurer.

Submitting a Claim

Insurance companies require their clients to submit their claims within 30 days after the occurrence of the insured risk. The claim submission process involves the following steps.

• Filling in the Claim Form

You should procure your insurer’s claim form, (you can print it from the insurance company’s website). Make sure you fill in the relevant information.

• Prepare the Necessary Documents

Ensure you have all the required documents ready. Some of those documents may include a police report, photographs documenting the damage and repair quotations.

You may also be required to submit the repairer’s assessment report, and purchase receipts for lost or damaged items.

Submit the claim form and the necessary documents once they are ready. You can either send them to the insurance company through email, post or through your insurance agent.

You may also opt to drop the document yourself to your insurance company’s nearest branch. The latter is probably the best option as it is not only faster but you will be sure that the documents get to the insurance firm.

Processing Period

Insurance companies in Singapore do not necessarily take the same amount of time to process claims. This means that the processing time for your home insurance claim might be different from one insurance firm to another. But just for reference, AIG Insurance Singapore takes about 10 working days to process home insurance claims. However, a home insurance claim may take longer if the insurance firm needs more clarification.

Also, note that most companies try to keep the insured notified about their claim via email. There are two possible outcomes once the claim review process is completed. The insurance firm can either approve or deny compensation.

Speaking of, it is best to avoid doing anything that could end up voiding the insurance cover. A void cover means the insurance company has the right to deny a claim.

Summary

Properly following the home insurance policy claim guide will smoothen the review process and even help to speed up compensation. Insurance companies also advice policyholders to make sure they employ the best measures to prevent damage, injury or loss.

Also note that insurance companies can deny compensation if the damage, injury or loss was the result of a defect that the insured refused or failed to fix.

*The advice offered in this column is intended for informational purposes only and not intended to replace or substitute for any professional, financial, legal, or other professional advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation in which you require professional help, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified adviser.