Is per claim the same as per occurrence?

Asked by: Tess Glover  |  Last update: August 10, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (39 votes)

A per claim limits is the maximum amount of money your insurance company will pay out for a single claim. It's also known as a “per occurrence limit.”

What is the difference between claims and occurrence?

A claims-made policy only covers those that occur and are reported within the policy's timeframe, unless tail coverage is also purchased. An occurrence policy provides lifetime coverage for incidents that take place during a policy period, regardless of when the claim is reported.

What does $300,000 per-occurrence mean?

Per-occurrence limits define how much a policy will pay for any one incident or claim. Aggregate limits define how much a policy will pay over the policy's duration.

Is a deductible per claim?

Note that with auto insurance or a homeowners policy, the deductible applies each time you file a claim. There are exceptions to this practice in Florida and Louisiana, where hurricane deductibles are applied once per season rather than for each storm.

Can you switch from occurrence to claims made?

Claims-Made policies provide coverage for 'claims' only when BOTH the alleged incident AND the resulting 'claim' happen during the period the policy is in force! Switching from an "Occurrence" to a "Claims Made" form is the least perilous change.

Claims Occurrence Vs Claims Made

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What is the difference between per claim and per occurrence deductible?

A per occurrence deductible is like most auto or homeowners insurance you might be familiar with; you pay the $500, and that's the max you'll pay when something happens. But if your deductible is per claim, that means a separate deductible gets applied to every claim filed in a single occurrence.

Can you make the same insurance claim twice?

On the other hand, there are times when trying to file multiple claims on the same accident would be considered “double dipping” or insurance fraud – and this is illegal. You cannot file redundant claims with more than one insurance company in an attempt to get paid twice for the same damages.

Is it better to have a $500 deductible or $1000?

Remember that filing small claims may affect how much you have to pay for insurance later. Switching from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible can save as much as 20 percent on the cost of your insurance premium payments.

Is per incident the same as per occurrence?

Incident limits, also known as per-occurrence limits, refer to the maximum amount an insurer will pay for a single claim or incident.

How to get a new roof without paying deductible?

No matter what a roofer tells you you must pay your deductible. There is no way around it and insurance will consider it insurance fraud if they do. Many homeowners try to find a way around this but there is no way around it. You can also verify this directly with your insurance provider or an attorney.

What is the per claim limit?

It's the maximum your insurer will pay for claims over the course of your policy period, generally a year. Per claim limits cap the amount paid out for each claim you file while your policy is in effect.

Does Next Insurance pay claims?

Filing a claim with NEXT insurance can be quick and easy. Once you've gathered all the available information, you just need to enter it online to open your claim. Your dedicated claims advocate will then contact you within one business day after you report your claim.

Is it better to have CSL or split limits?

A single-limit policy can provide extra protection compared to a split-limit policy, especially when medical bills are high and property damage is low, or vice versa. Because of this extra financial protection, a combined single-limit policy typically comes with a higher premium cost than a split-limit policy.

What counts as an occurrence?

An occurrence is an unscheduled absence or late arrival (Not protected by FMLA, WC, etc.). For example, arriving 30 minutes late would count as an occurrence and calling in to use sick leave, vacation, or comp time for a day would be an occurrence.

How much does tail coverage cost?

Cost of Tail Insurance Policy

On average, buying a tail costs about 2.5 times the amount of a physician's yearly medical malpractice premium. For example, a physician who pays $10,000 a year for their medical malpractice coverage could expect to pay around $25,000 for tail insurance.

What is a claim in insurance?

An insurance claim is a formal request by a policyholder to an insurance company for coverage or compensation for a covered loss or policy event. The insurance company validates the claim (or denies the claim).

Is per claim or per occurrence better?

Typically for the first five years of coverage, claims made policies tend to be less expensive than occurrence policies. But keep in mind that as your business faces more exposures, your premiums will increase; usually, after five years, the cost of a claims-made policy begins to even out with occurrence policies.

Which is better, claims made or occurrence?

A claims-made policy only covers incidents that happen and are reported within the policy's timeframe, unless a "tail" is purchased. An occurrence policy has lifetime coverage for the incidents that occur during a policy period, regardless of when the claim is reported.

What is a per claim deductible?

A per occurrence deductible applies one time, regardless of the number of claims resulting from that occurrence. A per claim deductible applies separately to each claim. Example #1: Insured contractor is fixing a plumbing leak at a residence and accidentally damages the hardwood floors.

What happens if my repairs cost less than the deductible?

What if my car repair costs less than my deductible? There may be times when your car insurance deductible is more than the cost of the damage to your vehicle. Unfortunately, in these cases, you'll need to pay for all repairs out-of-pocket. This is because insurance only pays for damages that are above your deductible.

Do I have to pay a deductible for hail damage to my roof?

Hail is typically a covered peril on standard homeowners policies, but your policy may have a separate deductible for damage caused by hail — especially if you live in an area prone to hailstorms.

Do I get my deductible back if I'm not at fault?

Yes, if you have to pay your deductible and you were not at fault, you may be able to get it back from the at-fault driver's insurance company. This is called subrogation. Your insurance company will pursue the at-fault driver's insurance company to recover the money paid for the damages, including your deductible.

How many claims until insurance drops you?

Every insurance company sets its own benchmark for triggering a cancellation, but it is more likely that you'll face cancellation or non-renewal if you've made three or more claims within a three-year period. Most cancellations occur within the first 60 days of a policy, usually due to non-compliance.

What is insurance double dipping?

Insurance claim double dipping involves collecting benefits from two or more insurance companies for the same loss. In this scam, fraudsters make identical claims for the same incident at multiple insurance companies to increase their payout.

Can I keep extra money from insurance claim?

You may be able to keep excess money as long as you're not violating your provider's rules or committing insurance fraud.