Insurance Claims in Lexington, KY
What Are Insurance Claims?
Filing an insurance claim in Lexington, Kentucky 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 Lexington, Kentucky 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.
SafeHome ranked Kentucky 9th among the worst states for climate change. In fact, Kentucky and Arkansas were the only landlocked states to rank in the top ten. Specifically, Lexington property owners should be prepared for wildfires, inland flooding, extreme heat, and drought. Furthermore, 33.7% of Kentucky’s population lives in areas of elevated wildfire risk. Wildfire is typically covered in most policies, but flooding is not. However, Lexington homeowners can purchase flood coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program.
How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Lexington, Kentucky
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 the Kentucky General Assembly, an insurer must acknowledge the receipt of a claim within 15 days. This rule applies unless payment is made within that period of time. Be aware, notification given to an agent of an insurer is considered notification to the insurer. Additionally, the insurer must supply the necessary claim forms, instructions, and assistance within the 15 days. Furthermore, the insurer must offer any payment due within 30 days of receipt of the proof-of-loss.
Despite these protections, insurance companies sometimes do act in bad faith during the claims process. Specifically, an insurer may unnecessarily delay the process, or offer to pay less than a fair value. However, these actions are violations of the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act and the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act. If you suspect your insurer is acting in bad faith, you should consult with an experienced Lexington insurance 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?
If you are in an accident in Lexington, stay at the scene and call 911 for medical assistance. Once you and your car are safely out of the way of traffic, you must notify the Lexington Police Department. Additionally, Kentucky law requires you to file a Civilian Collision Report with the Kentucky State Police within 10 days of certain accidents. Specifically, this report is required if the accident involves at least $500 in property damage.
Your next call should be to your insurance company. Since Kentucky is a no-fault state, your insurance pays for your own medical bills after an accident, regardless of fault. However, this also means that you can only sue the at-fault driver if you have incurred more than $1,000 in medical expenses or sustained permanent injury. It is advisable to consult with an experienced Lexington attorney to determine your best course of action for compensation.
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 Lexington.
Health Insurance Claims
Lexington, Kentucky 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 Lexington, Kentucky?
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.
When you need a trip to the ER, the last thing you need to worry about is whether your insurance will cover the trip. According to Consumer Reports, a Lexington, KY woman received a $4,300 ER bill that Anthem refused to cover. The woman had gone to the ER in the middle of the night because she thought she was having a stroke. She was diagnosed with an ear infection, so Anthem claimed this wasn’t a true emergency. This is because Anthem now rejects claims based on your final diagnosis, instead of the symptoms that prompt you to go to the ER. In fact, since this policy has been in place in Kentucky, there have been at least 1,000 ER claim denials by Anthem.
Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Lexington, Kentucky.
If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Lexington 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 Kentucky 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!
