Attempting to resolve problems with insurance companies can be quite a lengthy and incredibly frustrating process. For instance, you might have difficulties determining why the provider is not authorizing particular services, or the insurance company might take a long time to respond to reasonable claims and requests. No matter the issue, here are some ways you could make the problem-solving process with insurance providers less stressful and more efficient:
Anticipate potential issues
Accepting the fact that you are very likely to experience certain payment or other issues is the first step to working with insurance companies. Companies like health insurance providers in the US, for instance, tend to process millions of claims each year, meaning it’s inevitable for certain problems to arise. For that reason, you should start by keeping records of all contact you’ve had with your insurers from the very beginning, whether it’s contracts, addendums, fee schedules, or any other letters, and keep them all in a safe and easily accessible place in an effort to prepare for future issues.
Gather necessary information
If you wish to dispute an action taken by your insurance company, you need to establish why they are taking that particular position, as well as find some relevant information that assists in your claim. This means insisting on getting clear reasons from the insurance company, reviewing relevant sections of your contract, and finding any relevant documents to support your position, such as local ethics codes or accountability acts. All of these aspects will help to support your claim and lead to a stronger case.
Opt out of class actions
A class action is a form of legal proceedings in which one person brings a claim against a respondent on behalf of a wider group of people. For instance, when Australian insurance companies have been charging for unnecessary add-on insurance products, local law firms started a class action against them in an effort to compensate their customers. While class actions might generally be a good option, they are also quite time-consuming, and they tend to offer a lower payout to members compared to what they initially spent. Instead, a better option might be to opt out of a class action and pursue a claim individually or with an experienced team. Settling outside of a class action will often provide you with a quicker, fairer, and better refund.
Collect physical evidence
Regardless of the action you are taking against your insurance company, the more evidence you have, the higher the chances you will have a satisfactory outcome. To that end, it would be wise to keep documenting all correspondence you have with your insurance provider, including the date, phone number, name, and title of the people you spoke with. Apart from saving all documents from the beginning, also consider creating a paper trail by putting these communications in writing via registered letter or email. But remember to be very careful; in case you include any personal, protected, or otherwise sensitive information, you might be liable as well.
Be patient and persistent
When it comes to insurance companies, most of them seem to operate under the hopes that people will likely give up if their requests were denied the first or second time, only dealing with those who are quite persistent, and who know how to use their leverage. This should be you as well. Whether you are pursuing legal action or simply starting with emails and phone calls, patience and persistency are crucial for achieving a satisfactory outcome.
Resolving problems with insurance companies can often be an incredibly demanding and time-consuming endeavor. However, with enough physical evidence and the right team by your side, your clams can easily be resolved, leading to quick and fair results.