Insurance Claims in Minnesota
What Are Insurance Claims?
Filing an insurance claim in Minnesota 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 Minnesota property insurance lawyer. Your legal advocate works on your claim to ensure that you receive the benefits necessary to repair or rebuild your Minnesota 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 the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, tornadoes, lightning, hail, and flooding are the most common severe weather events in the state. Unfortunately, these can all cause significant property damage. Your best protection is to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. Keep in mind that most homeowners insurance excludes certain damage causes, such as flooding. It may be worth investing in separate flood coverage if you live in a flood-prone area.
How to File a Property Insurance Claim in 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
Once you file a claim, the insurance company will typically need to investigate to determine their coverage responsibility. This process can be frustrating, as it often takes a while and can delay your ability to make repairs. If you feel the delays are unreasonable, it may be worth a call to the Department’s Consumer Services Center.
The insurance company will assign an adjuster to come out to your property and assess the damage. In Michigan, adjusters must be building contractors with a license from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. In most cases, the company adjuster will provide a fair and accurate assessment. However, you always have the option to hire your own adjuster if you have concerns about the settlement amount.
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?
New accident reporting laws went into effect for Minnesota drivers in 2021. Under the new statutes, drivers no longer have to file an accident report. Instead, you must call the police for any accident that involves damages over $1,000 or any injuries. The responding officer will then file the necessary report.
You will also need to contact your insurance company. Minnesota is one of a few states that follows a no-fault insurance model. According to the Department of Commerce consumer guide, this means that your insurance will cover your medical expenses, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. However, fault does matter when it comes to covering vehicle damage. If the other driver is at fault, you can make a claim with their insurance for repairs to your vehicle.
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 Minnesota.
Health Insurance Claims
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 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 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.
Unfortunately, you cannot assume that just because your doctor recommends a treatment, your insurance will cover it. For example, KSTP News reports that patients experiencing mental health issues may have an especially difficult time getting their claims paid. Insurance companies sometimes refuse to pay bills for treatments of issues such as anorexia or addiction. The insurer may claim that the treatments are not medically necessary. If you think your insurance company has unfairly rejected your claim, you can contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce for an external review.
Work with an Experienced Local Insurance Lawyer in Minnesota
If your health insurance provider refuses to honor a claim, seek out a qualified Minnesota 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!
