Consumer Alert: Filing Accurate Claims

Commissioner Miller is reminding consumers about the importance of citing accurate information when filling out insurance forms. No matter your intentions, providing incorrect information on an insurance claim or other form can cost you.

It’s important to be honest with your insurance company from day one. If you are filling out an application for auto insurance and fail to report recent accidents or tickets to try to get a better rate, this is fraud, and it will likely catch up with you. You should also verify information, like dates of traffic tickets, the number of miles you drive each year, and details about the make of your vehicle before entering information on an application.

Once you have been approved, inaccurate information can still count against you when filing a claim, as it can cause you to not have the coverage you are expecting, or void your insurance altogether. This is why it’s important to accurately evaluate the value of your home, know the cost of the trim package on your car, and keep a detailed home inventory.

It’s also important to inform your insurance company about things like home security systems, driver safety courses, and your teen driver’s good grades to make sure that you get any discounts that are available to you.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has more information on insurance fraud on their website.