SNEK POLICY
Insurance Claims Need Deadlines
Insurance customers have deadlines. Insurers should have them too.
Reasonable timelines
Insurers should have reasonable deadlines to acknowledge claims, request necessary information, make decisions, and issue payment after approval.
Extensions require reasons
Complex claims may justify more time, but extensions should require a real explanation. Repeated unreasonable delay should trigger interest, regulatory consequences, or other remedies.
READ THE FULL POLICY
Why SNEK thinks this
Insurance protection is often needed precisely when a person is least able to absorb delay. An insurer should not be able to avoid a decision indefinitely while bills, repairs, medical needs, or lost income accumulate. SNEK wants deadlines that force claims to move while still allowing genuinely complex investigations.
How it would work
Insurers should acknowledge claims promptly, request necessary information within defined periods, and make decisions within reasonable deadlines that vary with the type and complexity of the claim. When more time is genuinely necessary, the insurer should explain why, identify what remains unresolved, and provide a new expected decision date. Undisputed portions of a claim should not be withheld merely because another portion remains contested.
Where we’re flexible or still working it out
Catastrophes, fraud investigations, complex liability disputes, and incomplete information can require additional time. The rule should allow extensions for documented reasons rather than imposing one impossible deadline on every claim. Repeated unexplained delay should carry consequences.
Related SNEK policies
A Policyholder Bill of Rights • Tell People What Healthcare Costs