An insurance contract between the insurance company and the insured is one of trust. The moment of truth in this relationship appears when there is a claim by the insured (in the case of a non life policy) or by the dependents (in the case of a life insurance claim). Till that moment comes, everything is hunky dory- premiums are being paid regularly by the clients, and the company is only too happy receiving them. However, the moment a claim appears, an insurance company proceeds to evaluate the claim closely, as every claim paid out is an expense for the company, hurting profitability. Thus, there is a basic conflict here: the insured wants the maximum claim to be paid, while the insurer would like to reduce the claims outflow to the extent possible.
From a customer’s point of view, it is very important to study the claims settlement history of a life insurance or a general assurance company before deciding to purchase an insurance policy from that company. During the sales process, the sales representatives will be all sugar and honey so that the prospective customer signs up. But the fact of the matter is that if the insurer you are considering has a bad history of claims settlement, there is a high probability that you will face a claim rejection or reduction when the time comes for you to file a claim. Continue reading ‘Claim Settlement Record of Insurance Companies’ »