Why is it not necessary for Michaela to have received a copy of her household contents policy to make a claim?

The rationale behind why it is not necessary for Michaela to have received a copy of her household contents policy to make a claim lies in the function of the policy itself. A policy serves primarily as evidence of the terms and conditions of the insurance coverage, rather than as a binding contract in the traditional sense. This means that even without the physical document in hand, Michaela can still substantiate her claim with other forms of evidence or documentation indicating her coverage.

In practice, insurers will have records of the policyholder's coverage, and claims can be processed based on those records. Consumers are generally advised to keep copies for their reference, but possession of the document is not a prerequisite for making a claim. This understanding is crucial in the insurance industry, as it facilitates the claims process and helps ensure that policyholders are not unjustly hindered due to administrative issues such as the absence of a policy document.

This information underlines the importance of communication between the insurer and the insured and emphasizes that the contractual obligations remain in place even if one party does not have the physical policy document at the time of a claim.