Claim
A formal request to your insurance carrier for payment after a covered loss.
A claim is the formal request you make to your insurance carrier to pay for a covered loss. The claims process typically involves: notifying the carrier (usually within hours of the incident for auto, days for home), an adjuster being assigned, documentation of the damage, an estimate or appraisal, and finally payment minus your deductible.
Auto claims are usually settled in days to weeks. Home claims can take weeks to months depending on complexity. Liability claims involving lawsuits can take years.
Filing a claim affects your premiums at renewal — a single auto at-fault accident typically raises your premium 20-40% for 3-5 years. A homeowners claim has even longer-lasting effects since carriers report to the CLUE database that all carriers consult. This is why insurance professionals often advise: only file claims that exceed your deductible by enough to be worth the future premium increase. A $750 paint scrape with a $500 deductible probably isn't worth filing.
Geneva acts as your advocate during claims, especially when you feel the carrier is offering too little. We don't represent the carrier — we represent you, and we've seen which carriers handle claims well versus which ones drag their feet. (Carrier health and complaint data on this is also tracked internally — ask your agent which carriers we recommend for claim experience.)
Related terms:Deductible·Policy
Related Geneva services:Home Insurance·Auto Insurance