How to make sure your insurance claim is processed quickly and efficiently

Having adequate insurance for your property and assets can serve as a much-needed safety net when disaster strikes. It’s therefore equally as important for consumers to understand how their policies are structured and what they mean, as it is for consumers to know what to do when accidents happen.

Submitting an insurance claim will set in motion a series of steps that allows insurers to validate the claim, assess the extent of the damage and initiate the appropriate pay-out. Although the speed of the claims process relies on several variables, there are a few things consumers can do to streamline the process and get their claims processed efficiently.

Shedding light on what these factors are is Youlon Naidoo, Executive Head of Claims and Procurement at MiWay Insurance:

1. Understand and review your policy
Regularly reviewing your insurance policies has many advantages. By checking your policy frequently, you can make sure that any new or upgraded assets are adequately accounted for. Furthermore, by understanding what kind of cover you have in place as well as any additions or exclusions which may apply, you can be as prepared as possible if you have to submit a claim.

For this reason, the first step in submitting a claim in the most hassle-free way is to understand your policy and the level of cover available to you.

2. Report and record
Having your policy information on hand will assist in the first step of the claims process, which involves a claims representative being assigned to your claim. Claims representatives are trained to help clients assess whether they have the right kind of cover and whether the terms and conditions of their policy have been met. Your claims representative will also provide you with a list of the required information you will need.

Some of these, amongst others, include:
- A South African Police Service (SAPS) case number when damage or loss has been incurred as a result of criminal activity.
- Photo evidence that can give insurers a clear view of what occurred. Consumers are encouraged to capture the damage or evidence from multiple angles where possible.
- Specific details on what occurred and how – this will help validators in providing an accurate and speedy assessment.

3. Have your documents ready
Validators are appointed by insurers like MiWay to assess the facts of each case, collate damage reports and contact any bystanders or authorities who can assist in providing clarity on how the incident occurred.

Once a validator has been assigned to the claim, further documents such as the service history of the vehicle may be required. Consumers are advised to store these documents in safe, secure locations where they can be accessed if and when needed.

4. Lean on your insurer
Insurers are there to help customers through such trying times and to give them the best guidance and plan of action to help get their claims processed and in the event of a valid claim, paid out quickly. It’s for this reason that claimants are encouraged to practice patience and to not get their asset repaired or replaced before they have received the outcome of their claim.

At each step of the process, insurance representatives can provide valuable advice and guidance on how to recover from the losses incurred – consumers should feel free to ask questions, share any concerns and engage with the insurer in the interests of settling the matter as quickly and efficiently as possible.