Is insurance coverage public information?

Asked by: Eve Turner  |  Last update: August 1, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (75 votes)

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.

Is your insurance information public?

Some insurance policy details, like the existence of a policy and the insurer's name, can be found in public records. Confidential information includes policy limits and specific coverage details, which are generally not publicly accessible.

Are insurance claims public knowledge?

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

Is insurance policy private information?

When it comes to the information shared with your insurance company, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) applies. PIPEDA requires that all personal information collected by private companies must be kept strictly confidential.

Can I look up someone's insurance policy online?

Due to privacy and regulation laws, it's generally not possible to find someone's insurance information online. If you need to obtain another party's insurance after an accident, contact your state's DMV or your insurance company.

How Does Insurance Work?

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Can you find out if someone has an insurance policy on someone?

Use NAIC, MIB Group, or NAUPA Life Policy Locators

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers a free Life Policy Locator tool to help you find out if someone had life insurance.

Are insurance policies public information?

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.

Is there a database for insurance?

All-payer claims databases (APCDs) are large State databases that include medical claims, pharmacy claims, dental claims, and eligibility and provider files collected from private and public payers. APCD data are reported directly by insurers to States, usually as part of a State mandate.

Are insurance documents 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.

Is insurance information covered under HIPAA?

We call the entities that must follow the HIPAA regulations "covered entities." Covered entities include: Health Plans, including health insurance companies, HMOs, company health plans, and certain government programs that pay for health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Are insurance policies 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.

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.

Is life insurance payout public record?

Life insurance policies may be listed in public records. The first place to check is your loved one's will. If your loved one went through a divorce, a life insurance policy may be listed as an asset in those proceedings.

Can police see your insurance details?

Yes, by scanning your license plate, police can access real-time information about your insurance status through state databases.

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.

Is it OK to share insurance information?

The California Vehicle Code mandates that drivers share this information. Refusing to do so can result in legal consequences, such as: Fines and penalties. Violating California's insurance information exchange law can lead to fines and other penalties.

Are insurance documents privileged?

Communications between an insurance company and its policyholderare not inherently protected from disclosure to third parties. Disclosure turns on the issue of which party controls the underlying litigation.

What information is considered private and confidential?

The CPRA defines sensitive information as:

Social security number, driver's license/ID card, passport number. Geolocation. Race/ethnicity, religion, philosophies, union membership. Financial account numbers, access codes, passwords, and more.

Does health insurance tell the policyholder?

As part of regular health insurance communications, your insurance company sends some of your confidential health information—like the services you received and when—to the policyholder of your health plan.

Can you find out what insurance company someone has?

The police will be able to check if the car insured by plate number, so it's important to get that information at the scene. Take a picture of it or write it down. Check with the DMV. The DMV may be able to provide you with the name of the other driver's insurance company if you can provide the plate number.

Where can I find insurance documents?

Most insurance companies offer the ability to get proof of insurance via:
  • Mobile app (supported by many major insurance companies)*
  • Card (usually received by mail)
  • Paper printout (request the form via email or find it in your company's online portal)

Can I find out if someone has a life insurance policy on me?

You might want to contact the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for their free Life Insurance Policy Locator Service, which looks for policies on the databases of many insurance companies. Another great resource could be your state's Department of Insurance (DOI).

Are insurance policy documents confidential?

For example, in California, the terms of an insurance policy are confidential and proprietary between the insurer and insured.

How do I look up an insurance policy?

In your web browser, navigate to naic.org, hover over Consumer, and click Life Insurance Policy Locator under Tools. Submit a search request by entering the deceased's information from the death certificate: Social Security number. Legal first name.

How to find someone's homeowners insurance?

If you need to find the details of someone else's homeowner's insurance company, the best approach is to contact the homeowner directly. They can provide you the name of their insurance company if you meet with an accident at their property and you need to file a claim in case of an injury at their home.