Insurance Claims in Alaska

What Are Insurance Claims?

Filing an insurance claim in Alaska can be a stressful process. Every policy is different, and insurance companies may not pay you what you deserve. In many cases, hiring an insurance claim lawyer is necessary. This page breaks down the nuances of different types of insurance claims.

What Is a Property Insurance Claim?

A homeowner’s insurance policy is an agreement to protect the home from damage under specific occurrences. When you as a policyholder suffer a loss, you should find a dedicated Alaska property insurance lawyer. Your legal advocate works on your claim to ensure that you receive the benefits necessary to repair or rebuild your Alaska property.

If the insurer denies coverage or delays, policyholders should consult a property insurance attorney about a bad faith claim. If your claim goes to court and you win, you can often recover your court costs, attorney fees, and coverage benefits. There is also the possibility of recovering more money depending on the state laws under which you file your claim.

What Types Of Damage Claims Apply to Property Insurance?

Specific geographic regions impact the design of insurance policies. For example, Florida property insurance policies have more provisions for hurricanes versus earthquakes. 

Living in Alaska means dealing with some harsh weather conditions. In addition, the area is at risk for both earthquakes and wildfires. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you have the right insurance coverage for your location and budget. According to the Alaska Division of Insurance, a homeowner’s policy typically covers damages from fires, wind, and winter storms. However, there are different levels of coverage, especially in the event of a total loss. Furthermore, most standard insurance policies do not cover damage from earthquakes or floods. If you live in areas prone to these incidents, you might consider adding separate flood insurance or earthquake insurance.

How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Alaska

After you suffer a loss, you must contact your insurer as soon as possible. Taking this step begins the insurance claim process and gets things moving along. You need to notify your insurance company in writing or over the phone. From there, your insurer appoints a claim representative.

What to Expect Afterwards

If your property sustains damages, you obviously want your insurance company to move quickly on your claim. Fortunately, the Alaska Administrative Code provides specific deadlines that your insurer must meet during the claims process. For example, the insurance company must acknowledge your claim within 10 days of receiving it. In addition, within 15 days, they must either accept, deny, or inform you that they need more time to investigate. If an investigation is necessary, the standard deadline is 30 days, absent a showing of why they need more time. Keep in mind that for all of these timelines, “days” refers to business days, not calendar days.

But, what happens if you disagree with the insurance company’s decision or settlement amount? In these situations, you typically have three options: litigation, arbitration, or filing a complaint with the Consumer Services Division of the Alaska Department of Insurance. An Alaska insurance attorney can help you choose the best option and guide you through the process. According to the Department of Insurance’s Claims Guide, it may also be helpful to hire a public adjuster. Insurance companies base their settlements on an adjuster that they hire, which can sometimes lead to bias in their favor.

What Is an Auto Insurance Claim?

Auto insurance claims involve requesting compensation from an auto insurer after an accident. Car accidents are incredibly stressful, especially if there are uncooperative responsible parties. However, your insurer’s job is to work on your behalf to secure compensation for repairs, injuries and other expenses.

What Do You Do After a Car Accident?

Your first responsibility after a car accident is to report it. In fact, under Alaska law, reporting is mandatory if there are damages over $2,000 or any injuries. If law enforcement conducts an investigation on scene, they will typically handle the reporting. However, if law enforcement does not respond to the scene or investigate, you will need to file a report yourself. Fortunately the Alaska Department of Transportation provides a reporting form that you can fill out, sign, and submit.

Your next step is to file an insurance claim. Alaska is a fault insurance state, which gives drivers more options than in a no-fault state. If you did not cause the accident, you have three choices:

• File the claim with your insurance company and let them get the money from the other driver’s insurance

• File a claim directly with the other driver’s insurance company

• Civil lawsuit against the at-fault driver

Additionally, Alaska drivers should also consider carrying uninsured motorist coverage. According to Wallethub, 15% of Alaska drivers do not have insurance. In addition, drivers in certain rural areas of the state are exempt from the state’s registration and mandatory liability insurance requirements.

Auto Claims Adjuster

Your auto insurance company will assign a claims adjuster to your claim report. Your adjuster acts as your representation in any mediation between you and all other involved parties. This insurance representative bears responsibility for investigating the claim and seeing that you receive compensation for any repairs or injuries.

Whether there are repair claims, personal injury claims, or you are dealing with someone who does not have insurance, your auto insurance adjuster should see you through the process. Your claims adjuster may recommend a garage to handle your vehicle repairs. They may also make arrangements for a rental vehicle if required. The most important thing to note is that your auto claim adjuster is your primary point of contact regarding the status of your claim in Alaska.

Health Insurance Claims

Alaska policyholders file health insurance claims when they seek reimbursement for medical services or treatments. When you obtain a medical service from a provider, your health insurance carrier should be notified directly. If there are any discrepancies in your claim, consider hiring a health insurance claim specialist attorney.

How Do You File a Health Claim in Alaska?

There are two ways to file a health insurance claim on your behalf. The first is the medical facility notifies your insurer for you. You may be able to walk out of the facility without spending anything, but that depends on your policy. The other way is to file a health insurance claim yourself. Taking this route can occur when a health provider you use is not in your provider network. The facility may still file the claim on your behalf, but you may need to file it yourself.

Many people assume that if their doctor recommends a certain treatment, their insurance will cover the costs. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If your insurance company denies coverage, in full or in part, you may wish to dispute their decision. Some policies require an internal appeal as the first step. After this, you may choose to request an external review of the benefit decision through the Alaska Division of Insurance. Alternatively, you could join the 10,000 other Alaskans who file health insurance complaints with the Alaska Attorney General’s Office. Finally, if the denial violates your policy or was made in bad faith, you may have grounds for a civil suit against your insurer.

Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Alaska

If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Alaska insurance claim attorney’s help. An insurance claim attorney can help if you have been improperly denied coverage or sent a bill for a service you never received. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Alaska state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!