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Want your valid funeral cover claim paid fast? Why not do some advance planning by having the essential insurance claim documents ready so the claim can be processed quickly!
Understanding the funeral cover claim process
When an insured member on a funeral policy passes away, you should claim on the funeral cover policy as soon as possible.
Who claims on a funeral cover policy?
If the main member on a funeral policy passes away, the beneficiary named in the policy should contact the insurance company to lodge the claim. You can check your beneficiary on your policy documents, and update if necessary.
If an additional member on a policy passes away, such as a spouse, child or uncle, the main member must lodge the claim.
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Insurance claim procedure
You start your claim by contacting your insurance company, using the contact details on their website or your policy documents. Let them know your policy number and the name of the member who has passed.
Make a note of when you call and who you speak to, as well as any forms or claim documents they request, to ensure you know what you need to send to them. Also ask for contact details of your claims consultant or team, and find out how they update you on the progress of your claim, such as via phone, email, SMS or WhatsApp. Check they have the correct contact details for all methods of communication.
When your insurance company is notified of your claim, they will verify information and assess the claim, asking for supporting insurance claim documentation where necessary. When a claim is assessed as valid, the proceeds are paid into a bank account of either the beneficiary, if the main member has passed, or the main member if an additional member has passed.
Essential and supporting insurance claim documents needed
Your insurance company may ask for a number of documents and reports, depending on your policy and the cause of death. When it comes to detailed medical reports, these may not be necessary, so only obtain these if your insurer asks you to.
Essential claim documents that will be requested include:
Death certificate: This has details on the death and cause of death. Your undertaker can obtain this on your behalf from the Department Home Affairs.
ID documents: You will need a copy of the ID of both the deceased and the main member, or beneficiary if they are lodging the claim. Check with your insurance company if this needs to be certified. Keep copies of these IDs in a file, and know where the original is if you need to certify copies.
Claim form: As part of the insurance claim procedure, your insurance company may have an online claim form on their website that you can complete in advance, or you can complete online while you are talking to a consultant. If there is no claims form online, your insurance company will send you any form they need completed, or complete the form with you over the phone.
Bank confirmation letter: Your insurance company will want to make 100% sure they are paying the right person the proceeds of a valid claim and will ask for a bank confirmation letter, usually not older than 3 months, for the account the claim is to be paid into. A bank confirmation letter is a statement from your bank that the account exists, and confirms the account number and account holder.
Supporting claim documents that may be requested include:
Proof of relationship of an additional member to the main member: If an additional member passes, your insurance company may want to check that the member meets their definition of an additional member on the policy and ask for proof of relationship. This may be in the form of marriage or birth certificate, which you can keep copies of for family members. For family members such as an uncle or cousin, ask your insurance company what they would consider as proof of relationship.
Medical reports: If the deceased passed away in a hospital or as a result of an accident, your insurance company may require medical reports, including a post-mortem. However, in most cases, a death certificate is all that is required for a funeral claim. When you start the claims process, know the cause of death and ask the insurance company if they may require medical reports and who should request them. Many insurance companies are happy to deal with hospitals and doctors and ask them for reports directly. Although you may not need to ask for reports yourself, you should know the names of any attending doctors or specialists and give these to your insurance company.
Tips for a smooth claims process
Claiming doesn’t have to be complicated! You can make the process easier by:
Organising your documents: Know where your personal and policy documents are kept, online or in paper form, also know where IDs are kept as well as details of bank accounts.
Knowing how to contact your insurance company: Keep a list of your insurer’s contact details, emails and phone numbers, for claims and general queries, as well as details of their claims procedure. Also, make sure your loved ones know who your insurance company is and what policies you have! 1Life Insurance has a dedicated claims page and claims team to help and support you during the claims process.
Use online services: Where available, access and review your policy online annually and know how to update personal details online such as your email addresses and banking details. 1Life Insurance’s online policyholder services portal and WhatsApp service centre allow policyholders to access policy details safely and securely, in their own time.
1Life Insurance for fast payment of valid claims
1Life Insurance offers tailormade funeral insurance cover to suit you and your family’s needs and your budget! You can add up to 16 family members on your funeral insurance policy, and valid claims are paid within 24 business hours, often faster! And, if you buy your cover online, you will save 40% on your monthly premiums! Our claims team is ready to assist, and when you submit a claim a dedicated claims consultant is assigned to your claim to keep you updated and ensure a smooth claims process.
Be prepared
The care and support you have for your loved ones can extend long after death. Help them and keep all your documents in one place, let them know which policy you have and how they can claim, and your funeral claim can be assessed quickly.