It is not uncommon for individuals to avoid filing a home insurance claim. Something happens, but they do not want to file a claim. They worry the act of filing a claim will increase their premiums. This is not always the case. What can you do to prevent these problems?
You have insurance for a reason. Filing a claim can help you utilize this benefit to recover the losses you feel.
Do Claims Increase Insurance Costs?
It is true that claims can raise the cost of your home insurance policy. However, this happens in situations where the insurance company is paying out on a routine basis for these claims. Most of the time, a single claim will not lead to a significant increase in your premium. It is unlikely to happen if:
- You have no history of filing numerous home insurance claims
- You have a low to moderate priced claim
- You can prove the incident occurred and you could not avoid it
Your agent can work closely with you. He or she will help you determine if you have coverage. If so the agent will also give you insight into the outcome. This includes whether filing the claim will raise your rates. Keep in mind, you should trust your agent. If you do not, it may be time to make a switch.
Should You File a Home Insurance Claim?
There is another factor to consider. You need to determine if filing a claim makes sense to you. Most home insurance policies have a deductible. This is the amount you must pay first before the insurer pays the remaining amount of your claim. Most homeowners will have a $1,000 deductible (this can be higher or lower). If your claim is under this amount, filing a claim will not yield a payment to you. If your loss is higher than this, it may be wise to file a claim.
Your home insurance is there to protect you. It goes without saying insurers do not want you to file numerous claims unless they are valid. The more claims you file, the higher the risk to your insurer you are. Statistics say individuals who file multiple claims are likely to continue to do so. As a result, your insurer is likely to raise your rate. For most property owners, this does not happen. You do not have to worry about increasing costs. Just remember, responsibility and scrutiny goes a long way towards security.