Are insurance claims discoverable?

Asked by: Miss Estelle Orn MD  |  Last update: April 13, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (66 votes)

Claims files are not discoverable when the insurer is not a party to the action unless maintenance of claims files is shown to be part of the insured's regular course of business.

Is an insurance claim file discoverable?

California Courts have recognized for years that insurance claims manuals are discoverable and admissible at trial. (See, e.g., Glenfed Development Corp v. Superior Court (1997) 53 Cal.

Can other insurance see claims?

Yes. There are specialty consumer reporting agencies that collect and report information about the insurance claims you have made on your property and casualty insurance policies, such as your homeowners and auto policies. They may also collect and report on your driving record.

Can insurance find out about claims?

Insurers use the CUE database to check if any incidents have occurred with different vehicles so if you fail to tell your insurer, they can usually find out anyway. The price will usually rise at renewal, or when you're buying a new policy, rather than at the moment you make a claim.

Are insurance claims confidential?

California Insurance Code Sections 791 - 791.27, the Insurance Information and Privacy Protection Act (IIPPA), provide protections for one's personally identifiable information, which is generally provided to an agent, broker or insurance company in order to apply for insurance or submit a claim.

A Video Explaining the Discoverability of Insurance Claims Files

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Can insurance companies see your claim history?

Every insurer scopes out your recent claims history as well as the claims history for the home when you switch insurance companies or purchase a new policy. This helps them price your policy.

Are insurance claims public knowledge?

Yes, insurance claims are public record, but not everyone can see them.

Can your company see your insurance claims?

The short answer is generally no. In most cases, your employer cannot view the specific details of your health insurance claims.

How do I find out if someone filed an insurance claim?

In almost all situations, you'll know if a claim is made on your car insurance by another driver. You'll have exchanged details with them at the scene and your insurance provider will contact you about any subsequent claims.

Can my parents see my insurance claims?

Your insurance company may share information about your claims with your parents. Unfortunately, we have no control over the information disclosed by your insurance company.

Can insurance companies see if you've had an accident?

Insurance companies can see pretty much everything related to your driving history on your driving record. This includes accidents, all traffic violations such as speeding tickets or crossing red lights, DUIs/DWIs, and more.

What information do insurance companies have access to?

Insurance companies often request your medical information to assess claims and determine coverage. They may access various records, including treatment histories, diagnostic reports, and medication lists. Knowing which records are accessible helps protect your privacy and ensure your information is used appropriately.

How many claims before home insurance drops you?

However, two claims in a five year period can cause your home insurance premiums to rise. Over two claims in the same period may affect your ability to find coverage and even lead to a cancelled policy. This also depends on what type of claims are being filed.

What type of information is discoverable?

You use discovery to find out things like: What the other side plans to say about an issue in your case. What facts or witnesses support their side. What facts or witnesses support your side.

Is insurance coverage discoverable?

California law expressly provides for discovery of information about the evidence and contents of any insurance agreement under which a carrier may be liable to satisfy all or part of a potential judgement or to indemnify or reimburse payments made to satisfy the judgment.

Is there an insurance claim database?

Most home and car insurance companies regularly submit claims information to the CLUE database, which is maintained by LexisNexis. For instance, when a homeowner files an insurance claim for an incident like fire damage or criminal activity, most insurance reports are entered into the CLUE database.

Can other insurance companies see your claims?

The new insurance company is likely to find out about the accident, but that will come from your driving reports when you buy your policy.

What to do if someone is lying about an insurance claim?

Go directly to the insurer you think is being defrauded. Some companies have systems in place for reporting fraud. If the company doesn't have a reporting system or fraud hotline, call or write the company headquarters.

What happens if someone claims you hit their car?

If someone falsely claims you hit their car, don't let them get away with it. 72% of alleged fraud victims say their auto insurance premiums increased as a result of a false claim. So, it is important you exercise your rights with an auto accident attorney.

Can my employer see my prescriptions?

According to the ADA, employers are not allowed to ask potential new hires about their prescription drug history before they offer a job to the applicant. Speaking in generalities, employers can ask the applicants if they will be able to fulfill all the stated job duties in the job opening description.

How do insurance companies check claims?

The Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE), is the central database of motor, home, personal injury and industrial illness incidents reported by insurers which may give rise to a claim. This data is held for 6 years from the date the claim was closed.

Does your employer know if you go to therapy?

Under normal circumstances, a psychologists' therapy client enjoys a right to confidentiality such that it is illegal (as well as unethical) for a psychologist to share information about your therapy with outsiders.

Can you look up insurance claims?

The good news is you don't have to rely solely on a seller's transparency to learn about all of a home's insurance claims. Insurance claim records are available from insurance providers who use a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) database.

Are insurance claims privileged?

If litigation proceeds, the client often relies on information in the insurer's claims files. If a conflict must be resolved between insurer and insured, claims files are not considered privileged because they are treated as belonging to both parties.

How long do claims stay on an insurance record?

For minor accidents, the record retention period typically spans three years from the date of the accident. Notably, if you were not deemed at fault, it is illegal for insurance companies to increase your premiums in California.