As the Kerala floods subside, people are slowly trying to put their lives back together.
With the floods in Kerala receding, people are leaving the shelters they were housed in, to return to their homes. In one case, the occupants of a shelter left it so clean that it was tough to believe anyone had even stayed there!
As people try to pick up the pieces of their lives, it may be comforting to know that insurance can help soften the financial blow. According to Economic Times, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has asked insurers to streamline claim processes so that people don’t face further hardships. Moreover, IRDAI is keeping a close watch on claim settlements and progress reports for the state of Kerala.
If you are a native of God’s Own Country and need support to overcome your losses, here’s how you can claim life, motor and car insurance.
Inform the insurer:- Do this either in writing, or call their toll-free number. You can also do this through your agent, by filling out an application or submitting it in writing, along with an acknowledgement copy. If your papers are missing, call the toll-free number of the insurance company, and inform them of the losses suffered.
GiveIndia and The Better India have come together to help Rebuild Kerala by supporting 41,000 affected families. You too can be a part of this movement and help us raise funds for the NGOs working to rehabilitate these families. If all of us come together with a small monthly contribution, we can make a real and meaningful difference in helping restore normalcy to those who need our help the most.
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A claim can be filed with the insurance company for any item insured, and the three most common are motor, life and home insurance.
Home Insurance:- You don’t need to file an FIR, as the home insurance policy covers losses to the structure of the house and its contents due to any natural or man-made disasters, including floods and inundation.
Register your claim with the name of the policyholder and provide other details like PAN, date of birth, etc., and show the insurance firm the extent of the damage, as well as any explanations or evidence to substantiate the claim.
Tarun Mathur, Chief Business Officer, PolicyBazaar, tells the Economic Times that the company will then send an assessor to the check the damage, and accordingly, a sum will be decided.
Life Insurance:- In case of natural disasters, the rule of a missing person under the Indian Evidence Act, in which the claim can be settled only after seven years, does not apply. According to PTI, certificates from authorised government officials or receipts of government ex-gratia will be accepted by LIC as alternate proof of death.
Furthermore, in deserving cases, the agent-issued certificate will also suffice, subject to certain conditions. LIC has also omitted claim investigations, irrespective of policy duration and has waived off late fee on the premium due.
Several insurance companies have set up special help desks for the purpose, and one of them, the DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance, has listed the following documents required to process a claim:
1. A Municipal Death Certificate, or death certificate by any government authority, like the local Kerala government, or Armed Forces, government hospitals or police authority.
2. A duly filled Death Claim Form.
3. Claimant ID, residence proof and bank account details to ensure claims are paid to the right beneficiary.
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Motor Insurance:-Be mindful not to start the engine of a car stuck in a waterlogged location. Car insurance policies cover damages to the engine, but if you start the engine when the car is stuck in water, the policies won’t cover the incident. Mathur advises that basic details like name, phone number, vehicle number, registration number, etc should be accessible to share with the insurer when the need arises.
(Edited by Shruti Singhal)
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