Can my new insurance company see my old claims?

Asked by: Justen Will  |  Last update: November 26, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (45 votes)

Home insurance claims stay on your record between five and seven years. 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.

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.

Are insurance claims discoverable?

The California Supreme Court opened the door to the discovery of other claim files in Colonial Life & Accident Co. v. Superior Court. (9) There, the insured sought the names ofother insureds whose claims were assigned to a particular adjuster to look for a pattern in the way the claims were handled.

What information do insurance companies have access to?

An insurer can only access your medical records if you give your permission for them to do so. If you agree to let them go through your medical history, they'll contact your doctor and will look at your records over the last five to ten years.

Are insurance claims confidential?

In every state, the federal HIPAA Privacy Rule requires health care providers and health insurers to protect patients' privacy. The rule includes two special protections that restrict disclosure of protected health infor- mation (PHI) and provide for confidential communications.

My insurance company denied my claim! Now what?

15 related questions found

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.

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 my insurance company see my medical records?

The answer varies depending on the state. In California, the retention period can be anywhere from two to ten years, depending on the type of procedure or healthcare provider. However, an insurance claim medical report should only look as far back as the injury in question.

What are insurance companies not allowed to ask you?

If you're applying for health insurance, pregnancy status or plans to have children shouldn't come into the conversation. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition, and insurers cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums due to it.

Do insurance companies have access to bank records?

When companies apply for coverage, insurers often request bank statements to assess their financial stability and risk management capabilities. Bank statements reveal vital indicators such as consistent income, savings, and debts, enabling insurers to make informed decisions about coverage and premiums.

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.

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 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 does an accident stay on your record for insurance?

In California, accidents typically stay on your driving record for a period of three years from the date of the accident. During this time, the accident will be considered a public record and, therefore, accessible by insurance companies, potential employers, and law enforcement agencies.

Do I have to tell new insurance about an accident?

When you get a car insurance quote, you are typically asked to disclose any recent accidents or traffic violations you previously had. A pending or open claim with your current insurer could jeopardize your ability to get coverage with a new company until that claim is resolved.

Do insurance companies have access to accident reports?

Whether it's through police reports, the other driver filing a claim, or even witness statements, insurance companies have many ways to find out about accidents.

What should I not tell my insurance company?

The insurance adjuster doesn't need to hear your entire life story. Sharing personal anecdotes or irrelevant experiences might even hurt your claim. Stick to the facts and avoid extra details about your family, job history, prior injuries, or unrelated accidents.

What do Insurance companies fear the most?

It's simple: Insurance companies' legal teams hate having to go before juries. Naturally, it's up to juries to apply the law in a fair and even-handed manner. However, it never helps insurance companies to be seen as the villains who are trying to get one over on people in genuine need.

Do insurance companies share information about claims?

Insurance companies will often provide the reports, with the policyholder's authorization, to assist police in completing their official accident report and determining fault. However, without consent from the insured driver or owner of the vehicle, an insurance company cannot release the claim details or report.

Can insurance companies see your insurance history?

In regards to your insurance claims, though, insurance companies can see a CLUE report (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) that tracks seven years of claims information, such as the type of claim and the payout that was made.

What information can insurance companies access?

The Power of Integrated Information Management for Insurance Companies. Insurance companies have records for just about everything — customer information and policy details, rates and underwriting procedures, marketing material, and licensing records. The list goes on, and on… and on.

Do insurance companies talk to each other after an accident?

Ideally, a representative from your own insurance company will speak to the other driver's insurer. But this doesn't always happen, especially if the accident was a minor one. So, communicating information about the accident may fall to you.

What triggers an insurance investigation?

Inconsistencies and delayed claims can trigger alarm bells, leading the insurance company to closely scrutinize the legitimacy of your case. The duration of your recovery is not only critical for calculating the compensation but also for evaluating the credibility of your claim.

How long do insurance claims stay on your record?

In California, most accidents and minor violations stay on your driving record for three years.