A claim supplement is a claim for additional repair or replacement costs. Supplements are common in the claims process. However, if you are a policyholder unaware of your policy rights, you could walk away with hundreds or thousands of dollars that you are entitled to collect.
Claim supplements usually occur after a policyholder submits a claim, gets paid and gets the repairs or replacements completed. After some time later, additional damage was discovered.
Many people erroneously think that once the claim is closed, it cannot be reopened. Insurance companies and their adjusters usually do not rush to tell you how to submit a claim supplement. So, what to do? Let’s look at claims for car insurance and property insurance.
For any supplemental claim, you must contact your insurance company and give them your original claim number. The best way to notify the company is written Certified Mail. On the way, you will know who signed for the letter. The insurer will have to re-open the claim. You may get the same adjustment as before, but maybe not.
Supplemental claims for car insurance
A lot of supplements happen when cars are repaired. Many times, hidden damages are discovered when the body shop begins dismantling the car. So, although the insurance company may have issued payment to the body shop from the original repair review, they will issue a second check for the supplemental repairs. Happens all the time, no big deal.
However, sometimes after repair problems do not show immediately. A good example is the air conditioning system. If you have a car wreck in July, you may not notice that your heater is functioning until fall or winter. But if discovered damage that can be directly related to the original insured loss, you can submit a supplement. Simply document the damages and their cause and send the supplement to the insurance company. Any additional deductible is assessed because you have already paid it once.
Supplemental claims for property insurance
Home owners, renters or business insurance claims can find a need for a supplemental claim for some of the same reasons found in car insurance claims. Seasonal issues can bring damage related to the original loss. However, some other issues may present themselves. You may have a report from an expert that shows additional damage attributed to the original loss. Your contractor may have found hidden damage that needs to be repaired. In any case, carefully document your claim and submit it to the insurance company.
Be sure you collect all the money you are entitled to collect. Use supplemental claims when your claim requires it.
If you have experienced a property loss, whether fire, wind, flood or others, you need to know winning strategies for insurance claim. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I’ll show you how to take control of your insurance claim and add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to your statement. For more information, go to the website listed.