The type of documentation required to file an insurance claim depends on the kind of insurance you need to use for a particular expense.

Submitting a claim to your auto insurance company may involve including an accident report, but filing a medical claim may require you to submit a bill for a surgical procedure. Before filing a claim, it is a good idea to review your policy carefully to find out what paperwork your insurance company requires you to submit. You also may want to talk to your insurance agent to find out what is required when you file a claim. Before submitting a claim, you should make copies of the documentation that you are sending. You may need to refer to it later—particularly if there is a dispute about the validity of the claim.

When submitting a claim, you will want to include paperwork showing any expenses related to the claim or any paperwork related to the incident (e.g., police report describing an auto accident). In some cases, you may even want to videotape “before” and “after” pictures. To capture “before” pictures, videotape or take photos of your property well before you need to file a claim. This also can help you create a documented inventory of your belongings.

In addition to providing specific documentation for a claim, it is important to contact your insurance company within the required period after an accident or other event that qualifies for submittal of an insurance claim. However, be careful not to file too many claims within a short period of time. Some insurance companies have been known to cancel policies in such cases—based on the rationale that a customer who submits too many claims represents a higher risk. For more information, see the Insurance Information Institute’s Web site at http://www.iii.org/media/publications/brochures/howtofile/.