At what point is a claim considered to have been made according to most insurance policies?

A claim is considered to have been made when notice is received and recorded by any insured or the insurer. This definition revolves around the idea that the act of making a claim is primarily tied to the communication of the claim rather than the formalities surrounding it, such as filing documents or receiving acknowledgment from the insurer.

When the notice is provided to either the insurer or the insured, it establishes a record that a claim has been initiated, regardless of the subsequent steps in the claims process. This emphasizes the importance of documentation and communication in the claims procedure, as it signals the start of the claims handling and investigation processes.

Other options do touch on relevant aspects of the claims process, such as filing and acknowledgment, but they do not signify the official moment a claim is considered made. For instance, simply filing a claim may not lead to recognition that a claim exists until the insurer documents and acknowledges it. Similarly, the completion of documentation or acknowledgment alone doesn't indicate that a claim is officially made without the initial notice being recorded. Thus, recognizing the claim at the point of notice aligns best with the practices outlined in most insurance policies.