The cyclone Nivar which occurred in November 2020 has caused tremendous loss to property in some parts of the country.
In light of the same, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has laid out Guidelines on Insurance Claims of Victims of Cyclone Nivar in the Calamity Affected Areas, on 2nd December, 2020 advising the General insurance companies and standalone health insurance companies to take immediate steps for quick registrations and disposal of claims on the following lines:
- Nominate a senior officer at the company level who would act as a Nodal Officer for the affected states. The Nodal Officer would be coordinating the receipt, processing, and settlement of all eligible claims. The Nodal officer should contact the designated officers of the State Govt. immediately and be in regular contact thereafter.
- Ensure that all claims are surveyed immediately and claim payments/on account payments are disbursed at the earliest and in any case not exceeding the stipulated time-line.
- Immediately engage adequate number of surveyors as required.
- Launch extensive awareness campaign duly highlighting the measures taken.
- In view of Corona Virus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Insurers shall encourage the policyholders to use electronic communication wherever possible for correspondence while intimating the claim and filing all the relevant documents. Efforts shall be made to ensure that digital processes are resorted to the extent possible for assessment of claims.
Insurers are requested to take urgent steps for expeditious settlement of claims in the cyclone hit areas and submit details of the same as advised above.
Source: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
