Insurance Claims in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
What Are Insurance Claims?
Filing an insurance claim in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota 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.
According to Minnesota’s Department of Administration, the state’s inland location removes it from the threat of hurricanes or tidal waves. Additionally, Minnesota is in the lowest risk seismic category, which virtually eliminates the threat of earthquakes. However, Twin Cities homeowners still face property damage from wind, floods, fire, and snow and ice. Be aware, most homeowner policies do not cover flooding. If you live in the Twin Cities, you may want to consider purchasing coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program.
How to File a Property Insurance Claim in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
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
Minnesota statute provides for the regulation of insurance claims practices in the Twin Cities and across the state. For example, an insurer must acknowledge receipt of the claim, and provide all necessary claim forms and instructions within 10 business days. As well, an insurer must respond to all communications from a claimant about a claim within 10 days.
Once the claim is received, the insurer must complete the investigation and accept or deny the claim within 30 days. If the insurer needs more time, they must notify the claimant of the reasons within the specified time period. Finally, once the claim is settled, the insurer must make payment within 5 days. Failure to comply with any of these time limits is considered an unfair claims practice.
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 involved in an accident in Minneapolis-St. Paul, you should stay at the scene and call 911 for medical assistance. The Minnesota Department of Commerce recommends moving your car out of traffic into a safe location. Next, you should exchange information with the other drivers, including insurance company name and policy number. You should be courteous, but do not admit fault. Instead, take pictures to document damage and write down details of what happened. Remember to call your insurance company right away, since most policies require prompt notification of claim.
Since 2021, Twin Cities drivers no longer have to file car accident reports. Under new state legislation, a driver must call law enforcement for any accident that involves injuries, or damages of $1,000 or more. The responding police officer will file the crash report.
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Health Insurance Claims
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota?
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.
According to KSTP News, Minnesotans are facing challenges trying to get coverage for prescribed treatments. Specifically, health insurance companies are repeatedly denying coverage to patients who are seeking treatment for mental health-related disorders. For example, insurers may deem the prescribed treatment for anorexia or drug addiction as not medically necessary. However, in some cases, the Minnesota Department of Commerce can overturn an insurer’s decision through an external review. In other cases, the claimants must turn to the courts to attempt to obtain compensation.
Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.
If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Minneapolis-St. Paul 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 Minnesota 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!
