Are Your New Adjusters Making These Mistakes?

Posted on

September 3rd, 2019

There is a steep learning curve for new adjusters just as there is for anyone entering into a new career track. Insurance adjusting has a broad appeal due to how easy it is to enter the industry and how lucrative it can be straightaway. Once an adjust passes their state license exam, they’re good to get started. They also know they won’t get paid until they close their claims. This usually results in the mentality to close as many claims as possible. However, several hurdles impede an adjuster’s ability to close claims rapidly and these challenges can result in mistakes.

Insufficient Preparation for Estimate Writing

The vast majority of claims work is spent writing estimates. With hurricane season in full force, new insurance adjusters can expect several claims to come their way in the next few months. However, while they’ll be juggling several claims, which means a good deal of money is at stake, they’ll also be struggling to get a handle on accurate estimate writing.

Programs exist to assist with this, but learning them takes time that veteran adjusters won’t have when natural disasters strike. New insurance adjusters need to learn the ropes of estimate writing and understand the basics well in advance of known busy seasons for insurance claims. This will reduce how long it takes the new adjuster to close claims, meaning faster payouts.

Disorganized Processes and Procedures

New adjusters will need a systematic, step-by-step process for how they work claims. Failing to do so will often leave new adjusters bouncing from task to task, missing small details, or forgetting certain steps. Small mistakes can result in kicked back claims, which take up valuable time to untangle and resolve. Organization is key in keeping details straight and having airtight procedures for working claims can ensure they process smoothly from start to finish.

Actec understands the challenges involved in processing claims. Customer tensions are high and adjusters need to process claims quickly to keep everyone happy. Contact us to learn how we can help improve your claims life cycle from first notice of loss (FNOL) to closing the claim.

Claim Reporting and Claim Management: Streamlining the Process

Posted on

August 3rd, 2019

Andrew

shutterstock_138016598 - Copy Improving claims management efficiency is a multi-pronged effort. It isn’t enough to streamline processes or hire the best people. Insurers also need to upgrade their technology and enhance communication efforts. By making the necessary changes, efficient insurance providers can gain an edge on the competition. Clients value swift claims resolutions with few hiccups. By processing claims swiftly and accurately, insurers can improve customer satisfaction, increase revenue, and lower costs.

Start with the People

Insurance agents are the first people customers will interact with during a claim. Finding the best candidate relies on several factors. These include:

At the very least, employees should have stellar qualifications. Unqualified employees can cause delays and make expensive errors.
Employees need to have the right attitude to manage claims and interact with customers. When a customer calls in to report an incident or to get an update on an open claim, they are likely to be in an emotional state. Employees need to be able to interact with customers in a pleasant, calming, and professional way.

Implement Good Processes and Technology

Establishing a solid claims process can help eliminate redundancy and unnecessary steps. The following is an example of a good workflow:

Create the claim
Verify the claim
Request corrections if necessary; verify again
Provide an expert review
Based on the review, reject and close the claim or resolve the claim
If the claim is to go to resolution, seek final approval from superiors
Close the claim

Insurers that implement a solid claims management process can then focus on improving the technology side of the claim. They can automate certain processes to streamline the entire experience. Today’s customers expect a certain level of speed and care that outdated legacy systems cannot provide.

Communication Is Key

Many customers report dissatisfaction with their experience because the claim took much longer than expected to resolve. While insurance providers cannot speed up certain processes, they can manage customers’ expectations. By utilizing effective communication, insurance agents can keep customers abreast of where the claim is in the process and how long it will take to reach a resolution.
If your insurance company is struggling with inefficient claims processes, Actec can help. Our Full-Cycle Claim and Incident Reporting Solutions provide improvements to first notice of loss (FNOL) and claims management. To learn more, contact us today.

6 Common Mistakes Adjusters Make and How to Prevent Them

Posted on

July 22nd, 2019

Andrew

Mistakes happen, but they don’t have to happen often nor should they. Whether it’s a bad judgment call or a simple oversight, mistakes add up to much bigger issues down the line. The following are some of the most common errors that auditors encounter when reviewing claims:

Failing to perform a thorough investigation. With multiple claims to juggle, it’s possible for a detail or two to slip through the cracks. However, missing important information such as the nature of the claim or the severity of injuries can lead to prolonged claims due to incongruous settlement offers. On the flip side, assuming injuries are extreme based on face value can result in overpayment as well.
Failing to read medical reports. Not keeping up with medical reports can lead to poor control over medical treatments. Insurers may pay out for unnecessary treatments or erroneously withhold payments for medical care. Reading the medical reports thoroughly can help adjusters stay on top of those claims details.
Failing to close claims in a timely manner. While some factors are out of adjusters’ hands, auditors have found many mistakes result from adjusters mismanaging their time. This prolongs claims and ultimately costs the insurer more money.
Failing to keep proper documentation. Not only does this irritate customers, but it also costs time as well as money to re-confirm details multiple times. Taking detailed notes on all incoming documents/information expedites the claims process.
Failing to maintain good contact with the claimant. Keeping the insured in the loop helps boost customer satisfaction, but it also helps keep insurers up to date on any new developments. Insured customers don’t always think to contact their insurer for every claim related event/situation after the initial incident.
Failing to maintain claim continuity. Handing claims off from one adjuster to another without a specific reason (i.e. more appropriate field of expertise) can cause errors during the exchange and confusion for the customer.

For every mistake that occurs during a claim, the cost of the claim increases. Insurers can’t afford repeat mistakes, especially when the majority of them are easy to avoid. To that end, implementing a full-cycle claim management system can help dramatically. Contact the experts at Actec to learn more.

Enhancing Claim Intake, Management, and Closing Efficiency

Posted on

July 8th, 2019

Andrew

Closing a claim is an insurance adjuster’s primary goal for any file that crosses his or her desk. The insurance industry expects no less, either. Insurers and policyholders alike want a claim assigned, investigated, and closed as fast as possible. When claims linger, customers grow frustrated and retention rates decline.

Owner vs. Employee Mentality

However, many adjusters seem to struggle with closing claims rapidly. One reason is that some adjusters have an employee mentality over an ownership mentality. There are several legitimate reasons that can stall a claim such as an insured client not providing information or an outside service such as an auto repair facility not communicating well. Adjusters with an employee mentality will wait for the information to come to them. Adjusters that take ownership of their claims will seek out that information for faster claims resolution.

Give up the Myth of Multitasking

A common trend on job applications is to include “excellent multitasking skills.” However, multitasking as an adjuster can lead to errors as well as bring workflow to a halt. For example, when adjusters try to gather data following first notice of loss (FNOL) for multiple claims at once, they run the risk of mixing up claims or recording incorrect information. This will require more time later on to undo the mistakes in order to close the claim.

Instead, adjusters should give single-tasking a try, which is focusing on bringing one task to completion before moving onto the next without distractions. This means:

Turning off message notifications on computers and on cellphones
Avoiding checking emails while working on a claim
Turning off podcasts, webinars, and anything else that requires the adjuster to be an active listener
Putting up Do Not Disturb signs around workspaces to ensure no interruptions

Making these two changes can do wonders for improving insurance adjusters’ workflow and time to resolution for claims. Of course, a vital aspect of ensuring that claims process in a timely manner is excellent FNOL intake. FNOL represents the single greatest opportunity to secure a customer’s satisfaction as well give the claim a favorable start. Contact the experts at Actec to learn how we can improve your claims process.

Tips to Improve the Claims Process and Retain Customers

Posted on

June 13th, 2019

Andrew

smart devices While gaining new customers is vital to an insurance company’s success, retaining existing customers is more so. This is because it costs significantly more money to acquire a new customer than it does to retain one. If an insurer is experiencing a high volume of customer turnover, they may need to examine their claims process. The claim cycle is a vital part of the customer’s experience. By streamlining how customers file claims, insurers can improve customer satisfaction and retention.

Meet Customer Communication Expectations

Today’s customers want technological solutions to their insurance needs. This means an insurance company should offer communications through several channels including a website, a mobile app, and traditional methods of communication (e-mail, print, etc.). To remain competitive, insurers need to upgrade their system to allow customers to complete a variety of tasks from their phones or tablets. Some examples include:

First notice of loss (FNOL)
Updating policy information
Requesting information about new or existing policies
Communicating about open claims

Customers want a variety of electronic communication options. Insurance companies that fail to meet these expectations will lose their customers to more technologically advanced competitors.

Prompt and Accurate Claims Processing

Customers dislike complicated or lengthy claims processes. Improving communications and minimizing the amount of back and forth required to close a claim go a long way toward improving customer satisfaction. For example, if an insurance agent provides the wrong information or requests information from the customer several times, that customer will be unhappy with his or her experience. If this occurs every time the customer tries to make a claim, they will eventually find a new insurance provider.
Implementing an effective claims processing system can help insurance companies address any issues with how they resolve claims. Actec’s Full-Cycle Claim and Incident Reporting Solutions allows insurers to customize their entire claims process including FNOL intake, managing client and customer-specific questions and scripts, and much more. To learn more about improving how your company manages claims, contact us today.

Advantages of Domestic Call Centers

Posted on

June 11th, 2019

Andrew

Call centers provide the backbone to a wide variety of custom service operations throughout the world – from tech support and insurance claims to account management and even emergency response. Yet not all regions share the same languages, cultures, and styles of communication. Support from domestic call centers has proven more efficient and effective as there are fewer communication challenges due to the aforementioned reasons.

But the advantages of leveraging local and regional talent to support your organization in its call center apparatus extend far beyond improved communication – employing call center staff in communities where your customer reside helps them to relate to one another, creating a bond of trust and empathy that can be difficult to find in the internet age. Further, labor rights and job protections in the United States are far superior to those in most of the inexpensive developing nations commonly used in call center outsourcing. This makes domestic call center staffing both practical and ethical.

When retaining call center services for your organization, think about the importance of your client relationships and brand integrity. Opting for domestic call centers says as much about your intentions as an organization as it does about the quality of the services you provide. To learn more about call center operations, outsourcing, and the advantages of domestic call centers, contact us.

What Insurers Need to Know to Keep the Pace in the Next Digital Age

Posted on

June 3rd, 2019

Andrew

The digitization of the claims process isn’t a new concept. Any insurer hoping to remain relevant knows they need to adapt and implement changes to keep up with customer expectations. Offering a mobile app is a good start, but transformative companies are revolutionizing the insurance landscape beyond this basic measure.

New insurers emerging from the FinTech sector harness the power of artificial intelligence alongside chatbots to eliminate brokers altogether. While this may seem like a radical business model, the processes of buying insurance and filing claims with these companies are simple and easy—a major lure to customers that are tired of confusing, frustrating traditional methods of filing a claim.

Implementing a Successful Digital Transformation

Insurance companies that want to keep pace with new-age providers need to address three areas to see the greatest results:

Customer experience
Efficiency
Effectiveness

With happier customers, less expensive claims processes, and more accurate management of claims, insurers can guarantee their place in the industry. To achieve those goals, they will need to make the following changes:

Offer a digital method for first notice of loss (FNOL)
Automate claims management to expedite the claim
Accelerate loss assessments and repairs through digital means such as photos, videos, and geo-locators to find local repair facilities
Automate settlements to reduce customer frustration and unnecessary delays in receiving funds

Another way insurers can lean on technology is to try to prevent claims before they occur. Claims prevention is nothing new, but sending out useful information via digital means can help ensure the information reaches the customer in a timely manner. This also allows for active participation with customers through online portals and chats.

Before making any significant changes, insurers need to consider them from the customer’s perspective. If the change doesn’t offer a noticeable improvement on the front end, it won’t likely yield an increase in customer satisfaction. Insurers should focus their efforts on optimizing back-end processes to improve services for customers instead.

Technology has transformed the way insurance companies do business and what customers expect of their provider. Failing to keep pace with these things can lead to retention problems with existing customers as well as hinder acquisition efforts for new customers. To learn more about improving FNOL, claims management, and more, contact the experts at Actec.

4 Indicators of a Successful Insurance Provider

Posted on

May 13th, 2019

Andrew

It’s common knowledge that some insurance companies perform better than others do. Expensive or premier policies, however, don’t always correlate to superior coverage or a better experience. The most effective insurers demonstrate superior efficiency, better financial outcomes, and happier customers. Identifying why those providers succeed and emulating those qualities is a good place to start for new or struggling insurers.

The following are several hallmarks of an effective insurance provider:

Outstanding management of technology. It’s not enough to invest in a high-tech upgrade every few years or so. Insurance companies need to frequently evaluate their processes and organizational structure to ensure maximum efficiency. For example, implementing a data-driven software program will fail if the company can’t share information easily due to antiquated department siloes. Identifying and rectifying pain points can ease technology transitions and improve innovation.
Strong, customer-centric mobile app. More often than not, a customer doesn’t want to call in and sort through a phone tree for a simple update on their claim. Successful insurance companies know that superior customer service is key to keeping members happy and ensuring continued growth. An easy way to achieve this is to set up a mobile app that allows customers to access files, submit claims data, and more.
Maintaining Compliance with Regulations. There are numerous regulations that apply to the insurance industry. Antiquated systems slow down the claims process, which can lead to unintentional mistakes and increase the risk of fines or penalties. High quality insurers implement up-to-date processes that allow them to remain compliant and produce accurate compliance reports.
Understanding the rapidly changing industry. Insurance is not unique in its recent transformation as technology rapidly accelerates capabilities alongside customer expectations. Almost every industry has experienced massive changes; however, insurance providers have the significant challenge of overcoming legacy systems. The outdated approaches to claims management cannot keep up with the sheer quantity of data available. This incompatibility affects responsiveness, customer satisfaction, and risk calculations. Insurance companies that want to withstand the test of time will need to keep pace with new technology as well as other factors influencing the industry.

Actec understands the difficulty involved for insurers to juggle new technology, claims efficiency, compliance, risk, and more. If your claims management process is causing more headaches than it is closing cases, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about our full-cycle claim and incident reporting solutions.

6 Things Adjusters Need to Tell Customers During FNOL

Posted on

April 15th, 2019

Andrew

First Notice of Loss (FNOL) sets the tone for a claim and has a huge effect on customer satisfaction. If the customer has a poor experience during FNOL, it is next to impossible to turn their opinion around. When a customer calls in to report property damage or loss, they’re likely in a sensitive emotional state and will need some guidance. The following instructions can help ensure the customer has a positive property claim experience as well as expedite the process:

Secure the property to prevent additional damage. Some types of damage will only get worse the longer they are left in that state. Adjusters should encourage customers to take numerous pictures and then implement temporary solutions to prevent further damage. Not only does this help save some of the customer’s property, but it can also reduce the overall repair costs for the insurer later. The adjuster should also remind the customer to keep any receipts for items purchased to make the repairs. Of course, adjusters should only recommend this if the customer can safely access the property.
Take pictures. Field adjusters will take pictures of the damage when they arrive. However, supplying an insurer with personal pictures can help adjusters assess the extent of the damage and expedite the claim if necessary.
Retain all damaged property. While it may seem odd to hold onto damaged belongings, it helps adjusters determine the full extent of the loss. Throwing out items before an adjuster can see them can affect the total amount of compensation.
Keep all receipts. Numerous expenses can occur following a loss. Adjusters should remind customers to retain all their receipts related to dealing with the loss as they may qualify for reimbursement.
Generate a detailed list of lost property. When a loss first occurs, a customer may be able to rattle off everything they lost. As more time passes, it’s easy to forget various items, which can result in an unfair settlement. To ensure clients receive accurate compensation, have them write it all down on a list.
Notify the police if applicable. Some losses are due to theft and adjusters should instruct customers to file a police report in that event as well.

When adjusters take the time to walk customers through the above, they improve their experience as well as help expedite the claim. To learn more ways to improve FNOL and the claim cycle, contact the experts at Actec.

Leveraging Analytics to Improve Claim Accuracy and Customer Outcomes

Posted on

April 1st, 2019

Andrew

Insurers have to go through a lot of information when working a claim. They receive notes from adjusters, details from customers, and then have to compare it all against fraud analytics. With each insurance representative handling numerous claims, there isn’t enough time in the day for them to sift through every piece of data they encounter.

With data analytics, insurance companies can better track claims escalation, priority, and potential fraud. The following are several ways data analytics can improve insurance claims:

Fraud detection and prevention. Out of every ten claims that cross an insurance agent’s desk, one of them will be fraudulent. Prior to data analytics, fraud detection was limited to rules-based programming that fraudsters could easily trick. Now, insurers can use predictive analysis to apply rules, search databases, make models, and more for more accurate fraud detection.
Handling litigation. Sometimes customers dispute claims and they end up in litigation. Data analytics can pinpoint factors that typically lead to litigation, which allows insurance companies to assign those claims to more senior agents. Their skillset can allow them to settle those claims faster and at a lower expense.
Assigning claims. This isn’t limited to litigation. Agents have varying areas of expertise and ensuring claims are assigned to the best fit can be a challenge. Agents often receive claims based on very limited data. As a result, claims often end up being reassigned, which causes delays and irritates the customer. Data analytics can group loss characteristics to assign claims to the adjusters that fit best.
Improving settlement accuracy. When claims come in at a regular pace, insurance agents can give each one more attention. Following a disaster, however, settlements often get fast-tracked to help customers sooner. However, issuing blanket checks can result in exorbitant or unfair settlements. Analytics can help balance settlements by analyzing claims against claims history.

Using data analytics can help insurance companies differentiate themselves from local competition. Data can also help improve the customer’s experience, boost retention, and save money. Contact the experts at Actec to learn more about improving your claims processes.