Insurance Claims in Houston, TX
What Are Insurance Claims?
Filing an insurance claim in Houston, Texas can be a stressful process. Every policy is different, and insurance companies may not pay you what you deserve. In some cases, hiring an insurance claim attorney 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 Houston, Texas property insurance lawyer. Your legal advocate works on your claim to ensure that you receive the benefits necessary to repair or rebuild your 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.
TGS Insurance states that property damage claims due to wind and hail make up the major claims reported in Houston. This is followed by water damage from flooding, and fire and lightning claims. There are also a large number of claims filed due to theft, vandalism, and burglary in Houston. KPRC 2 reports that a recent theft claim occurring at storage units is being denied by insurance providers in Houston.
How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Houston, Texas
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
According to WalletHub, any insurance company in the Houston area has a sum total of 35 business days to pay a legitimate claim. The company is given 15 days to acknowledge the claim and provide you with the paperwork to move forward. Then they have another 15 days to approve or deny the claim. Once the claim is approved, the company then has 5 days to pay a legitimate claim.
It is important for you to remember that this is a process, and can move slower than you may like. Companies are within their rights to extend this process by asking for further proof of damage, or further inspections. However they are not permitted to draw out the payment process. This is known as acting in “bad faith”, and is illegal according to Texas Insurance Codes. If you feel you’re being taken advantage of in this way, you should consult with an experienced Houston attorney.
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?
The Texas Department of Transportation encourages all residents of Houston to remain calm, and remain at the scene if they have been part of an auto accident. Check yourself for injuries, and check others as well. Take down as much information as you can, both from those involved and any bystanders that may be nearby.
You should give your statement to the officer from the Houston Police Department or the Texas State Police officer that arrives on the scene. Or if you prefer, you can give your statement online. Once you have finished at the scene you should immediately contact your insurance provider and alert them to the accident. Be sure to share with your provider all the information you obtained, as this will help with your claim.
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 Houston.
Health Insurance Claims
Houston, Texas 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 become 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 Houston, Texas?
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.
Community Health Choice provides an online guide for residents of Houston that are seeking to file a health insurance claim on their own behalf. This may seem daunting at the beginning, especially if you are accustomed to having a medical provider file for you. You will generally receive an itemized bill detailing the services provided for you, and the total for those services.
You should make certain of what your policy does and does not cover. For example, the Houston Recovery Center reports that many state policies are on the verge of covering mental health as part of their healthcare package. This new legislation will disallow any insurance provider from covering mental health differently than they cover physical health.
Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Houston, Texas.
If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Houston 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 Texas 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!
