Insurance FAQs

A deductible is the amount of the loss that you are responsible for. You can view your policy deductibles under the Policies section of your online account. Select View Policy and then navigate to the Coverages section to locate your deductibles.

Your deductible will be applied if you’re filing the claim through Amica. After all payments, and if you’re not at fault, Amica will attempt to recover your payment from the at-fault person or their insurance company. If successful, we’ll reimburse you.

Depending on the cause of loss and policy type, there may be a separate deductible that applies. This includes windshield replacement, hail or wind damage to your home, and hurricane damage to your boat. You may review these separate deductibles on the declarations page of your policy or discuss them with your claim handler.

Insurance fraud is any act committed with the intent to obtain an illegitimate gain from an insurance process. The most common methods include:

• Staged car accidents
• Fraudulent car thefts
• Inflated losses
• Fraudulent injury claims
• Application fraud

Anyone has the capacity to commit insurance fraud, including individuals or organized groups.

Some examples include staged car accidents, solicitation of provider service, parking lot schemes, “jump-in” passenger accidents or providing an incorrect address to avoid higher premiums. Insurance fraud can also involve legitimate losses that have been enhanced to increase the amount paid under a claim, such as claiming damage to personal property in a homeowners loss when that property was actually unaffected by the loss.

The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud estimates that insurance fraud steals more than $308 billion every year from American consumers. While some believe that insurance fraud only impacts insurance companies, it actually represents a significant financial impact for consumers. The FBI estimates that insurance fraud costs the average U.S. family between $400 and $700 per year in the form of increased premiums.

Amica's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is an investigative and informational resource that assists the claims, underwriting and life departments with identifying and investigating suspected fraud. Amica’s SIU also works closely with various law enforcement agencies to report suspected insurance fraud for further investigation and potential prosecution.

Amica is one of over 1,200 insurance companies that supports the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), an organization that helps identify, detect and prosecute those who commit insurance fraud. Our continued vigilance and cooperative efforts with agencies and state insurance departments help reduce the payment of fraudulent claims.

A few simple precautions can make a world of difference for you and your insurer. When an accident occurs:

Call the police. They're trained to investigate accidents and file the necessary reports.

Document the accident scene. Whenever possible, and if safety permits, take photos of the car’s damage and position after the accident. Make quick notes to yourself about the time, date and location of the accident, and anyone who was involved. Report accidents to Amica as soon as possible.

Report schemes. If someone asks you to be involved in an insurance fraud scheme, notify the Amica Special Investigations Unit or your file handler.

If you have information that may be helpful to Amica in identifying insurance fraud, please call our toll-free Fraud Hotline at 877-407-3344 (available 24 hours a day). All calls to the Amica Fraud Hotline are completely anonymous and confidential.

You have the option of receiving a check or digital payment. Digital payments are sent by email and include options such as direct deposit, PayPal and Venmo. You can set your payment preference by contacting your claim handler.

Amica has partnered with One Inc to offer you convenient and secure digital payment options. You’ll receive an email from amica@oneinc.com that includes a link to One Inc’s secure portal. Please have your claim number ready to access this portal. Once in the portal, you’ll be asked to verify yourself by phone and will then be able to select where you’d like the payment to be deposited. Once complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

Once we receive the necessary information and documentation and confirm coverage, the claim payment will generally be made within two business days. If you choose a repair shop listed within our Auto Repair Assistance Program (RAP), we can pay the shop directly for repairs (less your deductible) to help streamline the repair process for you.

Checks will be issued for all payments that include a lienholder or lender. A lender is sometimes referred to as mortgagee.

Personal injury protection (PIP) is a type of auto insurance coverage that pays for medical expenses and, in some cases, lost wages and other damages, regardless of who is at fault in an accident. PIP is often referred to as "no-fault" coverage.

Medical payments (MP), also known as MedPay, is a type of auto insurance coverage that also pays for medical expenses incurred due to an auto accident, regardless of fault. However, it typically does not cover other damages, like lost wages.

PIP usually offers broader coverage, including lost wages and rehabilitation costs, whereas MP generally covers only medical expenses. PIP is mandatory in no-fault states, whereas MP is optional in most states. PIP often has higher coverage limits compared to MP. The intricacies of PIP or MP coverage vary by state.

Specific benefits can differ based on state regulations and individual policy details. Check your specific state guidelines to find out more about your coverage options.

Uninsured/underinsured bodily injury coverage provides protection when you’re involved in an accident with a driver who either has no insurance (uninsured) or insufficient insurance (underinsured) to cover the damages. It helps pay for your medical expenses, lost wages and other damages resulting from the accident.

PIP and MP pay regardless of fault, whereas uninsured/underinsured bodily injury coverage only applies when the other driver is at fault and lacks adequate insurance. Uninsured/underinsured coverage typically addresses a broader range of damages, including pain and suffering, while PIP and MP are primarily for medical expenses and possibly lost wages (PIP).

In some states, PIP is the primary payer for auto accident injuries, meaning it pays before health insurance. In other states, your health insurance may be primary, and PIP can cover expenses not covered by health insurance. Both PIP and MP can help cover deductibles, copays and other out-of-pocket expenses that your health insurance doesn’t cover.

Check your specific state regulations to find out more about your coverage options.

PIP and MP are designed to provide immediate medical expense coverage, regardless of fault. This ensures that you can receive necessary medical treatment promptly without waiting for a fault determination or litigation against the at-fault party.

Check your specific state regulations to find out more about your coverage options.

Yes, PIP and MP can cover medical expenses for passengers in your vehicle at the time of the accident, even if they are not named on your policy. This coverage generally extends to anyone occupying your vehicle with permission. Some exclusions apply. Check your policy for state specifics.

The typical PIP or MP claims process begins with an accident resulting in the need for medical attention. From there, the injured party or representative of the injured party should notify Amica while providing all necessary documentation (medical bills and accident reports). A PIP or MP adjuster will be assigned to review the claim and may request additional information. Once the claim is approved, Amica will pay the covered expenses. Some states require direct payment to the medical provider.