Recently I was discussing bad faith and notice procedures with attorney Phil Loree Jr., an expert on reinsurance and arbitration issues and author of the the Loree Reinsurance and Arbitration Forum blog. I thought this was a timely conversation as it reinforced the concepts regarding procedures and the potential risks when they are not in…
Insurance Market Conduct examinations are a regular part of the insurance business. Besides the stress of the exam itself, being cited for violations can result in costly fines. Regardless, many citations can be avoided. Every year, insurance compliance solutions provider Walters Kluwer releases its annual study of top ten reasons insurance companies are found to…
The East Coast snow storm is a great reminder to be prepared for disasters and other reasons why your office would have to close. Do you have the plans in place to manage the next event? Does your claims system give you the ability to manage claims remotely? Can you manage claims remotely for an extended period of time?
Claim handling is just as much an art as it is a science. Synthesizing facts and investigating losses requires, not only following process and procedures, but also the ability to look at new ways of solving established problems. Following best practices is of course an effective way to achieve consistently good claims results. Regardless, the…
In response to my post, medical malpractice report shows increased severity despite lower frequency, I received a number of LinkedIn comments that I felt offered an interesting perspective on this topic. I have included some of that discussion below. Additionally below, I review the news that the Illinois Supreme Court has struck down that state’s…
If you are an insurance company or self-insured, and make payments on liability or workers’ compensation claims, be aware that the Federal Government has filed a lawsuit signaling their intent to be aggressive in seeking reimbursement. As reported in Business Insurance, this “case breaks new ground because CMS simultaneously named insurers, settlement beneficiaries and plaintiffs attorneys all in one lawsuit.” This case should alert all that if you make a payment on an injury claim, and fail to let the Government know about money they should be collecting, they will come after you.
Files should speak for themselves. A recent California decision is yet another example of what can happen if you don’t document your files and maintain procedures. In this case – it cost $5.83 million.
Improved producer carrier relationships can be a competitive advantage to help increase profitability in tough economic times. According to the survey, a key differentiator for carriers to attract more business from their producers is in the areas of claims handling and technology. Most modern claims systems can create automated customized reports. Producers should be able to ask for specific reports and have them electronically scheduled for delivery. Better reporting will go a long way to improving relationships, and can only help increase profitability and enhance service to the policy holders.
The Insurance Information Institute has just released a comprehensive look at Medical Malpractice outlining recent developments and industry trends (read more at Medical Malpractice: The Topic). This article breaks down the industry by looking at, among other things, market conditions and national developments. Key highlights include Damage caps can save $54 Billion in medical costs…
Increased profits come from efficient claims operations: Take a look at that annual reports of the top performing insurance companies and you will see a similar message from their CEO’s. Expense management and efficiency is a principal driver of profitability.In a tight market do less with more without sacrificing quality and significantly customer service is the edge needed to be a top performer. The claims department is the perfect place to lower costs and improve the customer experience at the same time. Here are 5 key areas that should be looked at for cost savings.