3 Critical Steps to Improve the Claims Process

Posted on

May 4th, 2018

by

cycle-2019530_1280Improving the claims management process does more than improve customer satisfaction. It also improves employee efficiency, which allows insurance agents to close more claims on a faster timeline. Whether adjusters have years of experience and are learning new technology or they are new professionals that are used to automated software systems, any insurance agent can benefit from the steps outlined below.

Improving Workflow Processes

Many insurance companies toss around the term best practices, but what they usually mean is common practices. While there are rarely 100% right or wrong answers, agents should incorporate the following into their workflow:

  1. Work outside the claims box. Falling for the idea that all simple fender benders, bicycle incidents, etc. are the same can result in expensive errors. Assuming one accident will play out as a previous similar accident is foolhardy. Agents should approach each claim with a renewed outlook to make sure they do not miss any important details.
  2. Assess and address leaks in the workflow. The saying if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it does not apply in the insurance industry. While a claims process may be working on some level, major inefficiencies (or several minor ones) can add to the amount of time it takes to close the claim. Longer claims processes make for unhappy customers and cost more money in the long run. For example, most claims have an abundance of documents. By assessing how agents collect and file these documents, insurance companies can discover inefficiencies. Once they see the problem, insurers can implement a new process to streamline documentation.
  3. Don’t underestimate processing details. No one stage of the claims management process is more important than another. To put it another way, agents shouldn’t take shortcuts during perceived less important stages of the claim. From pre-claim to post-claim processing, agents need to give the claim their due diligence. This means adjusters need to collaborate and communicate with other relevant agents as well as the customer for a timely resolution with a positive outcome.

Even the best claims management process needs frequent review to ensure it is as efficient as possible. If your claims management process is lacking, Actec can help. Our Full-Cycle Claim and Incident Reporting Solutions can address inefficiencies and improve claims procedures from start to finish. Contact us to learn more.