Insurance Alert: IRDAI issues guidelines for insurers on claim settlements of Cyclone Amphan victims

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) has issued guidelines to the life insurance companies for settling claims of the victims of Cyclone Amphan. “As a result of Cyclone Amphan, there are reports of loss of human lives and loss of belongings in the affected Districts of primarily the states of West Bengal and Odisha. In order to extend every possible facilitation in quick and timely settlement of life insurance claims, you are advised to take the following actions immediately in all the states affected by the cyclone,” an IRDAI circular says.

 See list of guidelines below:

1.    Nominate a senior level officer who would act as a nodal officer in the state to liaise with the state administration to facilitate identification of policyholders among the deceased due to Cyclone Amphan.

2.    Initiate immediate action to ensure that all reported claims are registered and eligible claims are settled expeditiously.

3.    With regard to claims involving loss of life, where difficulty is experienced in obtaining a death certificate due to non-recovery of body etc., the process followed in the case of Chennai floods in 2015 may be considered.

4.    A suitably simplified process/procedure including relaxations in the usual requirements wherever feasible may be considered to expedite claims settlement.

5.    Details of offices/special camps set up for the purpose may be publicized in the press, electronic media etc to enable immediate filing of claims. Details of such publicity activities may be sent to the Authority, immediately.

6.    With a view to limit the fallout of the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic and limiting direct/indirect social contact, all the Life Insurers are advised to encourage and motivate their policyholders/claimants to adopt e-modes, wherever possible for correspondence while intimating the claim and the procedure for filing all the relevant documents.

7.    If Policyholders/claimants are coming to office, Insurers should follow the government directions regarding maintaining social distancing and proper sanitisation. The staff must be duly sensitized to deal with policyholders/claimants with empathy and concern.

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8.    The State-wise Progress report on the claims settled shall be submitted to ronanki.venkatesh@irda.gov.in and life@irda.gov.in on a weekly basis every Monday before 12 PM (first such report to be received on 1st June 2020) for data up to last working day of the previous week. PMJJBY claims data need to be submitted separately while including the same in total claims.