Overview of ClaimContacts in ClaimCenter

The following section provides an overview of ClaimContact behavior in ClaimCenter.

Note that, in ClaimCenter, ClaimContact information is stored across multiple entities, including Contact, ClaimContact, and ClaimContactRole. The system APIs capture this information in a single resource named ClaimContact. This documentation uses the term "ClaimContact" to refer to a ClaimContact resource in the system APIs, or its corresponding information in the ClaimCenter Contact, ClaimContact, and ClaimContactRole entities.

What is a ClaimContact?

A ClaimContact is a person or organization who has a relationship with a claim. This includes people and organizations who:

  • Are covered by the relevant policy
  • Suffered a covered loss
  • Provided information relevant to the claim
  • Provided a service to address the loss

For example, suppose that Ray Newton has a personal auto policy. He informs the insurer that, while driving his Toyota, he hit Robert Farley's Honda and damaged both cars. Wilma Weeks witnessed the collision. Robert Farley's Honda was repaired at Joe's Auto Body Shop. This claim has the following ClaimContacts:

  • Ray Newton, who is covered by the personal auto policy and who suffered a loss.
  • Robert Farley, who also suffered the loss.
  • Wilma Weeks, who provided information relevant to the claim.
  • Joe's Body Shop, who provided service to address the loss.

What is a ClaimContact related to?

Claims typically have child objects. This can include:

  • A policy, which contains a copy of information from the policy that is relevant to the claim.
  • One or more incidents, which represent anything that was damaged, stolen, or otherwise representative of the loss (such as a vehicle, a property, or an injured person).
  • One or more exposures, which track a potential payment for one claimant from one coverage.
  • One or more service requests, which are requests to outside vendors to provide service that addresses the loss.

Every ClaimContact is related to the claim itself. A ClaimContact can also be related to one or more specific child objects.

For example, the claim described above might have the following child objects:

  • The personal auto policy
    • Ray Newton is related to this.
  • A vehicle incident for Ray's damaged Toyota.
    • Ray Newton is related to this.
  • An exposure to pay Ray Newton from the policy's collision damage coverage.
    • Ray Newton is related to this.
  • A vehicle incident for Robert's damaged Honda.
    • Robert Farley is related to this.
  • An exposure to pay Robert Farley from the policy's third-party property damage coverage.
    • Robert Farley is related to this.
  • A service request to repair Robert's Honda.
    • Joe's Body's Shop is related to this.

What is the nature of the relationship?

Every ClaimContact must have one or more roles with each object the ClaimContact is related to. A ClaimContact role defines the nature of a relationship between a ClaimContact and the claim.

For example, the claim described above might have these ClaimContacts with the following roles:

  • The claim itself
    • Ray Newton is the insured, the reporter, and a claimant.
    • Robert Farley is a claimant.
    • Wilma Weeks is a witness.
  • The vehicle incident for Ray's Toyota.
    • Ray Newton is the driver.
  • The vehicle incident for Robert's Honda.
    • Robert Farley is the driver.
  • The exposure to pay Ray Newton from the policy's collision coverage.
    • Ray Newton is the claimant.
  • The exposure to pay Robert Farley from the policy's third-party property damage coverage.
    • Robert Farley is the claimant.
  • The service request to repair Robert's Honda.
    • Joe's Body's Shop is the service vendor.