What happens if you can't afford your excess?

What happens if you can't afford excess in Australia for home, car and jewellery insurance, you may not be able to claim or may have claim reduced, as excess is amount you pay first before insurer pays remainder. Excess is $500 to $1,000 for home building, $500 to $800 for car, $100 to $500 for jewellery specified, $0 for standalone specialist. If you cannot afford excess, for example $1,000 excess for $5K theft claim, insurer will deduct $1,000 from claim payment, so you receive $4K, but you must pay $1,000 to repairer or replace yourself, and if you cannot pay, repairer may not start work and insurer may not pay until excess paid. For car insurance, if you cannot afford $800 excess for $3K repair, insurer may not authorise repair, and you may need payment plan with repairer or insurer, some insurers offer excess payment plan or add excess to premium. If you cannot pay excess at all, claim may be denied or delayed, and you may need to borrow or use savings. For small claims where excess higher than claim, for example $400 damage with $500 excess, claim not worthwhile as you pay all. So if you cannot afford excess, you may not be able to claim, may need payment plan, or choose higher premium with lower excess $100 to $300 at renewal to avoid large excess, or choose $0 excess standalone jewellery insurance $150 to $300 per year for $10K ring.