Can I use a legal expenses insurance immediately after taking it out?
Legal expenses insurance is often taken out only at the time one needs it. Unfortunately, by then it is actually too late. Most insurers apply a waiting period when taking out legal expenses insurance. This means that you do not have immediate coverage the moment you take out the insurance. But does legal expenses insurance exist that you can use right away?
Legal expenses insurance can't be used right away because of waiting period
You cannot use your legal assistance insurance immediately because the insurer uses a waiting period. A waiting period means that you cannot immediately use your legal assistance insurance. The waiting period differs per insurer, you can check this in the policy conditions. Most insurers have a waiting period of 3 to 6 months.
Example: You take out legal expenses insurance on January 1. In early May, you become embroiled in a nasty dispute with your landlord. However, the policy conditions of your legal assistance insurance state that you have a waiting period of 6 months. You cannot claim your legal assistance insurance because you are still in the waiting period. If the insurer uses a waiting period of 3 months, you can use the insurance because the waiting period is already over.
Why is there a waiting period?
The reason you can't use legal expenses insurance right away is because insurers don't want to offer legal assistance for ongoing conflicts. In that case, they think you should have taken out legal expenses insurance earlier, not just when you need it. Otherwise it can happen that someone quickly takes out legal expenses insurance after his dismissal, only to cancel it again as soon as the conflict is resolved. Then you actually abuse the insurer.
The same applies to foreseen conflicts. If you could see a conflict coming in advance, you cannot claim legal expenses insurance. This still applies if the waiting period has already passed. A foreseeable conflict is, for example, an announced reorganization.
Legal expenses insurance without waiting period
There are also legal expenses insurance policies that you can use right away. A number of insurers now offer legal expenses insurance without a waiting period. After taking out the insurance, you are immediately insured in case of a conflict. Be careful though, because there are often a number of conditions attached. For example, a legal assistance insurance that you can use immediately excludes an ongoing conflict. So it still makes no sense to take out legal expenses insurance the day you are fired or become embroiled in a conflict with your landlord.
Take out legal expenses insurance through Alpina
Want to get legal expenses insurance and use it right away? You can do that through Alpina! With our online comparison tool, you can easily compare insurers. Look not only at the waiting time of an insurer, but especially at the right coverage and policy conditions. Then you know for sure that you are assured of good legal assistance the moment you need it.
After filling in some personal information, you can indicate which modules you want to turn on. Then you will get an indication of the monthly premium. Have you found the right legal expenses insurance? Then you can take out your insurance directly online! For questions you can always contact us. You can call us at 088 - 6883700 or send us a message via chat, WhatsApp or Messenger.
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