‘Why Nigerians Abandon Insurance Claims’

Ebere Nwoji

Insurance expert and former Chairman Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Mr Gus Wiggle, has listed reasons Nigerians don’t file in claims from insurance policies they purchased saying it ranges from fear of rejection of their claim request, lack of knowledge of procedures for filing their claims and ignorance of the actual documentation that might be required by the insurance company. 

He also noted the fact that some see it as time wasting filing claims which value was not much and would therefore not want to waste time filing such claim.

He said another reason the insureds don’t file or follow up their claim was due to passive notion that insurance companies don’t pay claims and therefore don’t want to waste their time.

 “This lack of motivation can lead to procrastination and ultimately abandonment of the claim, ”he said.

Wiggle who is presently consultant Claims Advocacy Group, said this has spelt the need for involvement of insurance brokers in insurance policy contract.

“I have always advocated for the use of brokers/agents whenever you want to buy insurance. I am not sure you can buy any stock in the capital market with a stockbroker who still charge you for the services rendered but not so in insurance, “he said. 

He also informed that there are now claims intermediaries that assist to process claims even if you have a broker to help process these claim.

He advocated the use of brokers/agents whenever people want to buy insurance.