How Claims Answer Man works: learn, document, take control
A video course and claim toolkit that teach the homeowners insurance claim process in order, so you know what to do at each stage of your own claim.
- 31 lessons in the order a claim happens
- Printable worksheets and checklists
- Education only, no claim handling
Quick answer
How does the Claims Answer Man course work?
You watch video lessons that follow a claim from the day of the loss to the final payment, then use the matching worksheets to organize your own claim. A private dashboard remembers where you stopped, so you can learn in short sessions on a phone or computer.
Three steps: learn, document, take control
Each stage gets easier when you understand it and have records ready.
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Step 1
Learn
Each lesson covers one part of the claim, such as the inspection or depreciation, and explains every insurance term when it first comes up.
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Step 2
Document
Each lesson points to a matching toolkit item, like the claim diary or payment tracker. Fill it in while the lesson is fresh.
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Step 3
Take control
With records in hand, you can confirm calls in writing, compare estimates, ask for a supplement and track every check.
What happens after you join, and what a lesson looks like
The course is in early access. Once enrollment opens, it works like this.
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Step 1: Your account is created
You get a private login by email. Lessons play in your web browser, with nothing to install.
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Step 2: Your dashboard opens
A short welcome explains the course. You see every module, your current lesson and what is left.
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Step 3: Each lesson page has the same parts
The video, a short summary, the worksheet or checklist that goes with it, and a button to the next lesson.
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Step 4: Start where your claim is
New claim? Begin at lesson 1. Estimate in hand? Jump to the policy and estimate lessons.
What you get with the course
Made to work on your phone, wherever you’re staying right now.
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31 video lessons
Seven modules, from the first hours after damage to closing the claim.
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The claim toolkit
Claim diary, call log, photo checklist, belongings inventory, payment and living expense trackers, estimate worksheets and sample letters.
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Secure streaming video
Lessons stream inside your account. Worksheets and checklists are yours to download and print.
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Course help when you need it
Login, lesson and billing questions go to our support team. Support covers the course, not individual claims.
Who the course is for, and who it isn’t for
A good fit if you
- Own a home in the US and have a property claim after fire, storm, hail, wind, ice, water or another sudden loss.
- Feel lost in the insurance words, or have an estimate or first check you don’t understand.
- Are helping a parent or relative with their claim from another town or state.
- Want to understand the process before deciding whether anyone else should be involved.
Probably not the right fit if you
- Want someone to take over the claim for you. That’s the work of a licensed public adjuster or attorney.
- Need legal advice about a lawsuit, or about a denial you plan to challenge in court.
- Have a business, auto or health insurance claim.
- Want a promise of what your claim will pay. No honest course can give one.
Need just one quick answer? Try the free insurance claim glossary or our claim guides by type of damage. Or read the course FAQ.
When to bring in a licensed professional
Outside help may be worth it when:
- Your claim is denied over policy wording or an exclusion you don’t understand.
- A large or total loss may be more than your limits cover.
- An engineer’s report blames wear and tear or older damage, and you need your own expert.
- You receive legal papers, are asked for a sworn statement under oath, or a policy deadline to file suit is near.
- Health, work or family leaves you no time for the claim.
A licensed attorney answers legal questions. A public adjuster handles the claim for you, usually for a percentage of what is paid. Most states, but not all, license public adjusters, and the rules differ. Your state insurance department can confirm an adjuster’s license, and your state bar can confirm an attorney’s. Our state-by-state claim guides link to each department. If the amount is your main worry, first read about your options when you disagree with the insurer, including appraisal.
Questions about how the course works
Do I have to watch every lesson in order?
No. The lessons follow the order a claim usually happens, which is the easiest way to learn. But if your estimate has arrived or repairs have started, you can go straight to that stage and fill in earlier lessons later.
What happens if I stop for a few weeks and come back later?
Your place is saved. Claims often go quiet for weeks while you wait on an adjuster, a contractor or a check. When you log back in, the Continue where I left off button takes you to the exact lesson and spot where you stopped.
How much time should I set aside for the course each week?
There’s no set schedule. Many homeowners find it easiest to watch one lesson and fill in its matching worksheet in one sitting. Start with the lessons for the stage your claim is in now, because they answer today’s questions. The rest can wait for quieter weeks.
What should I have ready before my first lesson?
Your full policy, including the declarations page, your claim number if you have one, the photos you have taken, and any letters or emails from your insurer. If you can’t find your policy, ask your insurer or agent for a complete copy in writing.
Can I use the toolkit worksheets without watching the videos?
Some tools, like the claim diary and photo checklist, work well on their own. Others, like the estimate comparison worksheet, make far more sense after the lesson that explains them. The toolkit comes with the course, but the free home insurance claim checklist is open to everyone now.
Sources for this page
- NAIC: Post-Disaster Claims Guide (PDF: what a public adjuster does, state licensing, and states that do not allow public adjusters to negotiate) (opens in a new tab)
- NAIC: Find your state insurance department (license checks and complaints) (opens in a new tab)
- Insurance Information Institute: Settling insurance claims after a disaster (appraisal and checking a public adjuster with your state insurance department) (opens in a new tab)
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner: Filing a homeowner insurance claim (appraisal and public adjuster options) (opens in a new tab)
Ready to learn your claim step by step?
Join the early-access list to hear when enrollment opens. Until then, the free checklist walks you through each stage of a claim.
The course teaches the claim process. It is not legal advice, and we never review, handle or negotiate anyone’s claim. For advice on your own situation, talk with a licensed attorney or public adjuster in your state.