If you’re like most average Americans, you’re probably underinsured. You pay too much for your insurance but also don’t have enough coverage to cover your own needs. And what if something happens to you—like a car accident or a serious injury? You may not have enough insurance coverage to cover the costs of your treatment and recovery.
Insurance companies are made of money, and they make more money when they pay less. But if you have an accident in the car, a house fire, or anything else that incurs a claim, a typical insurance company will only agree to pay a fraction of the actual cost to repair or rebuild your home or car. This is called an “insurance discount,” and it’s one of the hidden costs of insuring your house, car, or even your kids.
In the last couple of years, the insurance industry has been touted as being made up of ethical, trustworthy, and competitive insurance companies. Well, it’s not true. In fact, there are many insurance companies out there that are unethical and that are trying to rip off their customers. The way they do it is a bit different, however.
So, how do they do it? Let’s learn more.
Refusing Responsibility for Medical Bills.
Insurance is supposed to be a safety net that pays for all of your unplanned expenses when they happen. That is what they say, anyway. Unfortunately, many deceptive policies are created to protect insurance companies from the financial costs of paying claims. While it may benefit them, it definitely won’t be advantageous to individuals who are looking for compensation payments.
After an Auto Accident, They Offer a Deceptively Low Estimate of Cash
The major auto insurance companies are supposed to be your best friends if you’re ever in an accident and need to file a claim. The best thing they can do is quickly determine how much the accident will cost and settle the claim with you quickly. On the other hand, the worst thing they can do is be deceptive and lowball the estimate of how much you will actually receive after filing a claim.
Being Pressured to Sign Medical Authorization Forms and Other Documents
Let’s say you get sick, and your physician prescribes you a course of antibiotics. Or let’s say you’re a college student who breaks a leg and needs surgery to fix it—in either scenario, you’ll likely sign a form that allows the doctor to direct your insurer to pay for your care. You may even see a statement that reads: “Sign if you want to start receiving care immediately.”
When you buy insurance, you usually have to fill out forms to prove that you are eligible for coverage. In the past, the forms were simple and straightforward. Now, it seems like some companies are turning them into a little game of riddles. If you want to get a copy of the form to help you, you have to pay someone to get you a copy. You don’t even have to answer all the questions. It’s all about how much you pay.
Aiming to Make You Feel Scared
Insurance companies are notorious for underpaying on claims and taking advantage of customers, but you can fight back against them. But be aware, they can use scare tactics to steer you to one policy over another. By letting them do this, you run the risk of paying more than you would like for your policy.
Saying Inappropriate Words Against You.
You can’t see it, but this is the insurance company’s strategy: they’re using their lawyers to bully you instead of those lawyers using their facts and figures to prove they’re right. This is a deliberate tactic of delay, designed to make you lose your cool and send you to the police.
Insurance companies are as savvy as they are greedy. They know what you want and what you don’t want, and they’re not afraid to play dirty in the process. It’s no different than a salesperson who makes sure that you’re one of the top candidates to get their product. They do everything they can to make you buy, even if it means misleading you.
If you’re one of the unlucky people who an insurance company has ripped off, you know what it feels like, and you probably aren’t happy about it. You did your research, so you knew you were paying too much for a policy that didn’t cover everything, and you thought you had the upper hand by shopping around. We’re here to tell you that you can’t always beat the insurance companies at their own game. But you can try! Being aware of the strategies they use to rip you off can help you to proceed with a certain company with caution.