How Do I Check My Insurance Claim History in India?

Having a record of your past insurance claims can be very useful when applying for or renewing an insurance policy. Insurance providers often take your claims history into account when deciding on policy terms and premium rates. In India, there are a few ways for policyholders to access their insurance claim history.

Why Check Your Insurance Claim History?

Here are some key reasons you may want to check your insurance claims history in India:

• Renewing or changing policies – Your claims record helps insurers assess your risk level and determine renewal terms or new policy pricing. Reviewing your history allows you to be prepared and avoid surprises.

• Checking for errors – Sometimes claims can be incorrectly recorded or missing from your history. Reviewing the records allows you to identify and rectify any mistakes.

• Negotiating better deals – If your history shows you’ve been claim-free for long periods, you can use this to negotiate discounted premiums.

• Understanding risk factors – Analyzing your past claims helps you identify recurring issues or high-risk areas to improve risk management.

• Completing paperwork – Insurance applications often require you to provide your claims history. Checking the details in advance makes paperwork easier.

How to Check Motor Insurance Claims History in India

For motor insurance covering cars, bikes, commercial vehicles, etc., you can check your claims history in the following ways:

1. Contact Your Insurer

The easiest option is to directly contact your past and present motor insurance providers. Call their customer service or visit their website to get details on your policy claims history.

Provide them your personal and policy details and request claims reports usually spanning the past 3-5 years.

2. Visit Insurance Information Bureau

The Insurance Information Bureau of India (IIB) maintains a centralised database of motor insurance claims. Visit their website and under the ‘V-SEVA’ section, select ‘Claim Intimation’ to fill out the online form.

Provide your name, contact information, and vehicle registration number. The IIB will email your two-wheeler or four-wheeler’s comprehensive claims history report. This covers claims under all your previous motor insurance policies.

3. Check Policy Documents

Check your previous motor insurance policy documents which should provide information on claims made during the policy coverage periods. This gives you access to claims details even if policies have expired or insurers changed.

How to Check Health Insurance Claims History

For health policies, here are the main ways to retrieve your claims data:

1. Contact Your Insurer

Reach out to your current and past health insurers to request detailed reports on claims made under your policies with them. Provide your personal and policy details and they can furnish history of claims submitted.

2. Login to Insurer Website

Health insurers like HDFC Ergo, Star Health, etc. allow you to login online and access your claims history directly through their portal or mobile app. Registering on their website gives 24/7 access to your records.

3. Check Your E-Cards

Health insurance e-cards record each claim made at hospitals under your policy. Check previous e-cards which will list out patient names, treatment dates, hospitals visited and claim amounts for past claims.

4. Request from Hospital

Contact hospitals where you have received treatment covered by insurance. Provide authorisation and they can share information on past claims made under your health policies.

How to Check Other Insurance Claims History

For other insurance types like life, home, travel, etc. you can use these methods:

• Life insurance – Contact your life insurer directly or check policy documents.

• Home insurance – Request home insurers for claims reports. Check policy documents.

• Travel insurance – Retrieve details from insurer or policy records.

• Business/commercial insurance – Contact insurers for claim statements covering assets insured.

Documents Needed to Check Insurance Claims History

To obtain your insurance claims history reports, keep these documents handy:

• Policy numbers of current and past policies

• Insurance policy documents

• Contact details provided to insurers

• Identification proof like Aadhaar, PAN, driving license

• Authorisation letter, if contacting insurers on someone’s behalf

How Long Insurers Retain Claims History Data

In India, insurers generally keep motor insurance claims records for at least 3-5 years while health insurance records are stored for at least 5-7 years. Other insurance types also maintain records for 3 to 7 years after expiry.

However, insurers may provide longer histories covering even 10-15 years of lapsed policies if relevant details are still available.

Key Details in Insurance Claims History Reports

Insurance claims history reports provide useful details like:

• Policyholder name and identification numbers

• Policy numbers and coverage periods

• Claim numbers and dates of incidents

• Claim filing and settlement dates

• Claim amounts paid out

• Hospitals or repair shops where claims made

• Causes of loss/damage and claim reasons

• Claim statuses like settled, rejected, pending

How Claims History Affects Premiums

A higher claims frequency typically leads insurers to perceive you as high-risk and will result in increased premiums. Multiple paid claims in your history may get loaded through:

• Add-on covers being discontinued

• Compulsory deductibles being imposed

• Extra sub-limits added for some covers

• Co-payments being introduced

• Key exclusions added to curtail benefits

• Extra premium loadings on renewal

On the other hand, a claims-free history helps secure discounted premiums. So checking your records allows you to take steps to retain no-claim bonuses and low premium rates.

How to Rectify Errors in Claims History

If you notice incorrect details or missing claims in the history reports, here is how to fix it:

• Inform your insurer and provide supporting documents.

• Raise a formal complaint if errors persist.

• Contact the Insurance Ombudsman if insurer does not rectify inflated/false records.

• Pay pending premiums if claims rejected due to non-payment.

• Request insurers to update the Insurance Information Bureau records.

Ensure errors are fixed before policy renewal since insurers refer to records provided by the Insurance Information Bureau.

Conclusion

Checking your insurance claims history gives you valuable insights into your risk profile as per insurers and helps avoid surprises on premiums. Maintaining a positive history with low claims ensures you retain the most beneficial policy terms for all your insurance needs. Use the online facilities and contact methods outlined above to easily retrieve your insurance claims data from insurers.