10 Things You Should Never Say to Your Insurers

To avoid getting your insurance coverage denied, delayed, increase in rates or your claim getting flagged for further investigation. You definitely do not want to say the ten things listed below:

1. “My son/girlfriend/boyfriend… was driving”

There are some exclusions in your car insurance policy, so you want to make sure your policy covers children and everyone in your household who will be driving your car. The names of each family member in your household must be listed on your insurance policy because they may not be covered if you did not list them on your insurance policy.

2. “Whiplash”

Whiplash is so over-abused, that it has become a favorite for people suing for damages to use when committing fraud. You want to avoid mentioning the term because it is a red flag to either deny your coverage, or to investigate your claim further.

3. “I’m Not Sure, I Think…”

So if you are not sure, it is best not to guess or lie, just say I don’t know. Guessing or flat out lying could actually work against you, in the event you were to get caught. Getting caught can hurt your credibility and possible hurt your case.

4. “In My Opinion…”

Volunteering extra information or giving your opinion, can work against you. Just stick to the facts because what you say can (and often will) later be used against you.

5. “I’m So Sorry!”

Saying sorry is an admission of guilt, so try to avoid using “I’m sorry”. Especially in car accidents, do not try to determine who is at fault or who made the mistake, leave that up to the authorities and insurance companies to figure out.

6. “It’s My Fault”

Case closed! Saying it’s my fault is admitting to being the person who caused the accident to happen. It is best to remain quiet, answer questions only when asked — keeping it simple and to the point — and say nothing that would give the impression that it was your fault. If you are not sure about how something happened or even if it was your fault, still leave it up to the authorities and insurance companies to determine whose fault it was. Watch out for the insurance adjusters, who will try to trick you by asking you the same questions in many different ways.

7. “Experimental Procedure”

The better term to use would be to say that your doctor deems the procedure medically necessary. If you use the proper medical term you may be able to get coverage because experimental procedures are usually not eligible for health coverage.

8. “Pregnant”

Most employees receive medical health insurance coverage through their employer. However, if you disclose being pregnant during the interviewing process, it could be considered a pre-existing condition for insurance benefits and could even cost you the job. The same goes for purchasing any type of additional coverage, known as a “rider”. If you try to buy a maternity benefit onto your existing plan, the fetus becomes a “pre-existing condition” and will not be covered. See how it plays out and be prepared to foot the bill if need be.

9. “I Really, Really Need the Money Right Now!”

Saying this or stressing too much the importance of receiving a check and how you really need the money, can really slow things down a bit. The payoff is to cover damages and repair for which the claim was filed, so be careful how you phrase your words and use them very carefully, because it can backfire.

10. “Flooded”

Flood is not something you want to disclose to your homeowners insurance. Saying my basement is flooded, would mean that it was caused by weather or neglect. A typical homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover many types of damage such as flood, earthquake, landslide and hurricane and much more. If you want to be covered for flood, you should get flood insurance. You should read your insurance police thoroughly, including the fine print, and all exclusion statements. Most homeowners are under the impression that all damages that their home may experience are covered under their homeowner’s policy, but that is not the case at all. Learning what is and what is not covered on your policy will give you a better understanding bout what you should and should not disclose to your insurer.