New Hampshire Claims Compliance

Key regulatory requirements, correspondence deadlines, and mandated forms for New Hampshire (NH).

Quick Reference

Key Deadlines

Acknowledgment
10 business/working days
Accept/Deny
30 calendar days
Payment
5 business/working days
Status Updates
30 calendar days

Requirements

  • Mandated Forms
  • Catastrophe Rules
  • Separate P&C / Life & Health
  • Fraud Warning
  • Depreciation Notice
  • E-Delivery (no specific statutory or regulatory requirement found)

Regulatory Authority

New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID)

Phone: (800) 852-3416 or (603) 271-2261; Website: https://www.nh.gov/insurance/complaints/index.htm; Address: 21 South Fruit Street, Suite 14, Concord, NH, 03301

Bad Faith: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 417:4, XV

Key Statutes

  • N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 417
  • N.H. Admin. Code Ins 1000, Part Ins 1002
  • N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 407
Last reviewed: April 1, 2026

New Hampshire handles claims correspondence according to specific state regulations. Requirements vary depending on the line of business and specific claim circumstances.

Acknowledgment

Every claim must be acknowledged within 10 business days of receipt. The acknowledgment should identify the insurance policy and coverage at issue.

Denial

A written denial must be issued within 5 business days. The denial must reference the specific policy provisions, conditions, or exclusions relied upon.

Statutory Language

Specific fraud warning required.

LOB-Specific Requirements

Regulatory requirements for New Hampshire, grouped by line of business. Select a chip to filter.

SOL Notice In Denial Required
Yes
DOI Contact In Letters Required
Yes
Unfair Claims Practices Act RefStatutory
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 417:4, XV
Prompt Payment Statute RefStatutory
No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found for property insurance outside of general settlement rules in N.H. Admin. Code Ins 1002.05
HO Specific RequirementsStatutory
For fire insurance policies, insurers cannot enforce a 1-year suit limitation clause unless the written denial explicitly notifies the policyholder of the 12-month limitation from the date of the denial (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 407:15)
Proof Of Loss RequirementsStatutory
The standard New Hampshire fire policy requires the insured to render a proof of loss within 60 days after the loss (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 407:22)
Suit Limitation PeriodStatutory
For fire insurance policies, suit must be commenced within 12 months from the date of the written notice of the limitation (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 407:15); The 6-month deadline to file a declaratory judgment action runs from the filing of the underlying writ/complaint, not the issuance of an ROR (RSA 491:22; Binda v. Royal Ins. Co.).

New Hampshire Case Law

Published decisions that shape claim-handling and correspondence practice in New Hampshire. Pair these with the statutory deadlines above.

StatutoryCase LawReg. Bulletin

  • Acadia Ins. Co. v. McNeil

    1998

    Case Law
    Closing LettersInland / Ocean Marine

    the New Hampshire Supreme Court firmly rejected the premise that Ocean Marine insurance is universally exempt from standard property and casualty regulations . The court held that general liability rules (specifically RSA 412:2 regarding intra-family claim exclusions) apply to the liability component of an Ocean Marine insurance policy issued in New Hampshire .

  • Bell v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co

    2001

    Case Law
    Status UpdatesHomeowners

    The leading case interpreting insurer delay and communication obligations under New Hampshire law is Bell v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 146 N.H. 190 (2001) . In Bell, the insured alleged that the insurer acted in bad faith by delaying the resolution of the claim and failing to communicate promptly.

  • Binda v. Royal Ins. Co

    2000

    Case Law
    Reservation of RightsWorkers' Comp

    the New Hampshire Supreme Court analyzed the effect of an ROR letter. The Court noted that while an ROR preserves the insurer's defenses, it also serves as the formal notification to the insured that a coverage dispute exists.

  • Copadis v. Haymond

    1946

    Case Law
    Diminished ValueAuto

    remains the leading common law precedent establishing the right to recover both repair costs and residual loss of value.

  • Dumas v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co

    1971

    Case Law
    Status UpdatesWorkers' Comp

    the court held that an insurer defending an insured against a third-party claim has a duty of reasonable care in the settlement of that claim . In a third-party scenario, the insurer effectively takes control of the insured's defense, acting as a fiduciary and thereby assuming a tort duty to avoid exposing the insured to excess judgments .

Historical court cases are for reference only and may be superseded, distinguished, or abrogated.

Applicable Letter Templates

No letter templates currently found for this jurisdiction.