Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Claims Adjuster

claim paper filling

A Claims Adjuster is a professional who investigates assigned claims and confirms coverage. They interact with clients to complete all investigations of claims. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Claims Adjusters.

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Main Responsibilities of Claims Adjuster

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Claims Adjuster:

Adjust

Adjust physical damage claims including unreported damage claims.

Analyze

Analyze complex information from different sources.

Annotate

Annotate and document your file in accordance with the company's standards and guidelines.

Anticipate

Anticipate recoveries and direct the investigation accordingly.

Apply

Apply basic communication skills to interpret callers inquiries and offers options.

Arrange

Arrange disposal of salvage arising from settled claims in accordance with departmental standards.

Assist in / Assist with

  • Assist in the development and implementation of training programs.

  • Assist with claims related phone calls and handle incoming correspondence.

  • Assist with various accounting functions as assigned.

Attend

Attend settlement meetings mediations, JDR's and trials as necessary on litigated claims.

Audit

Audit claims and create check request.

Build

Build and maintain relationships by providing timely and accurate service.

Carry out

Carry out other related tasks and projects as assigned.

Chase

Chase Recovery after the settlement of the Claim if required.

Close

Close collaboration with brokers and underwriting team.

Collaborate with

Collaborate with team members in a positive manner to quickly and effectively adjudicate claims.

Communicate

  • Communicate claim adjustments via written reports to all parties.

  • Communicate effectively with the repair facility and the policyholder.

Complete

  • Complete building inspections meeting OSHA guidelines.

  • Complete factual reports in a timely manner with company corporate standards and state regulations.

  • Complete field inspections.

  • Complete relevant education programs identified and paid for by the company.

Compose

Compose and type correspondence as required.

Conduct

Conduct a detailed review of the property and write an estimate to capture the extent of the damages.

Confirm

  • Confirm all facts to document the file as part of the overall investigation of claims.

  • Confirm claim resolution and amount of payment.

Consult

Consult police and hospital records.

Contribute to

Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Coordinate

  • Coordinate medical, income, and other necessary assessments and reviews.

  • Coordinate subrogation process in claim files.

Correct

Correct information provided in the insurance application, if necessary, prior to claim payment.

Correspondence

Correspondence and independent adjusters as needed.

Create

  • Create and implement an action plan for the resolution for each file.

  • Create and maintain relationships with outside vendor partners specific to property claims.

  • Create an environment of continuous improvement.

Determine

  • Determine and timely sets appropriate reserves within authority level.

  • Determine priority of payments and assessment & calculation of benefit entitlements.

  • Determine the uninsured loss to the client and analyze the reasons for the uninsured loss.

  • Determine whether to accept ordeny a claim based on all documentation received.

Develop

  • Develop a claim action plan necessary to advance a claim towards settlement.

  • Develop and maintain effective relationships with external lawyers.

Discuss

Discuss findings of crop loss with farmers.

Document

Document claims through active listening and use of data to summarize liability decisions.

Ensure

  • Ensure all incoming digital documentation is responded to promptly and within required timelines.

  • Ensure all phone messages are responded to promptly and within company and regulatory timelines.

  • Ensure effective vendor management including expense management.

  • Ensure electronic submission of mail into HCAI system as needed.

  • Ensure prompt and equitable settlements in-line with Intact's policies, procedures and standards.

  • Ensure reserve adequacy throughout the life of the claim file as per company guidelines.

  • Ensure Service Delivery Partners are working within prescribed standards.

  • Ensure that all allocated work is handled within the Key Performance Targets of the Department.

  • Ensure that staff development plans are in place with feedback and follow up.

  • Ensure the accurate and efficient payment of claims.

  • Ensure the accurate and efficient payment of claims as well as accurate and timely reports.

  • Ensure the quality of work of others.

Enter

Enter estimates into the computer.

Evaluate

  • Evaluate all information to determine how claim should be handled.

  • Evaluate and conclude office handled claims.

  • Evaluate and handle claim payments and resolution of claims without payments.

  • Evaluate and settle assigned claims based upon the results of the investigation.

  • Evaluate financial impact to AIG under various policy scenarios (e.g. primary.

  • Evaluate, setting and recommending reserves.

  • Evaluate the performance of others.

Excess

Excess and primary coverage.

File

File Documentation and Reporting.

Follow

Follow third-party inspection guidelines and processes as defined by the company.

Follow up

Follow up with third parties to move subrogation files to successful recovery closure.

Foster

Foster good relationships with internal and external customers and drive excellent customer service.

Gather

  • Gather and examine photographs, statements, and evidence of damages / personal injuries.

  • Gather facts in order to determine liability and coverage.

Give

Give clarity and focus to deliver business results.

Handle

  • Handle all kind of Complex losses within authority limits.

  • Handle and process personal injury and various claims.

  • Handle Auto Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claims.

  • Handle claims on a good faith basis.

  • Handle phone calls and emails professionally.

Hire

Hire and manage defense and coverage counsel, and any other external resources.

Identify

  • Identify claims with potential recovery.

  • Identify subrogation opportunities and fraud potential and make appropriate.

  • Identify third parties who may have potential civil liability claims against the insured.

Implement

Implement and organize strategy for managing pending of ongoing files.

Inform

Inform manager if claim exceeds authority limits, making recommendations where appropriate.

Inspect

Inspect, scope, approve, and adjust estimates of damage, as well as determines loss amounts.

Interact with

  • Interact with attorneys and present case synopsis when required.

  • Interact with insurance carriers and healthcare providers to secure records and account balances.

  • Interact with legal representatives or rehab consultant in order to move claim forward.

Interface with

Interface with customers, agents, dealers to complete all investigations of claims.

Interpret

  • Interpret policy contacts and identify how coverage applies to a particular loss.

  • Interpret reports in order to draw accurate conclusions about proposed treatment and / or actions.

Interview

Interview customers, taking initial reports of claims and collecting all pertinent loss information.

Investigate

  • Investigate and Adjust Claims.

  • Investigate and negotiate property claims in accordance with claim procedures and guidelines.

  • Investigate and process insurance claims filed by policyholders.

  • Investigate assigned claims – confirm coverage – verify damages-determine liability.

  • Investigate, evaluate, and negotiate liability claims to ensure a positive customer experience.

  • Investigate, evaluate and settle entry-level insurance claims.

  • Investigate motor vehicle accident physical damage claims.

  • Investigate, negotiate and settle claims.

Keep

  • Keep insured / claimant / broker fully informed of the status of the claim.

  • Keep up to date on Intact's Prestige products, appraisal and investigation techniques and services.

Learn

Learn and comply with Company claim handling procedures.

Liaise with

Liaise with Finance Department and Dealer Support Team, as necessary.

Maintain

  • Maintain and controls additional living expense exposure.

  • Maintain a professional demeanor and image in accordance with Company policies and expectations.

  • Maintain a professional working relationship with the insured.

  • Maintain a valid claims adjuster license in all states that require a license.

  • Maintain confidentiality and data security.

  • Maintain control over expenses through pro-active handling techniques.

  • Maintain cost control over claims expenses.

  • Maintain expected case load.

  • Maintain professional and technical knowledge through continuing education.

  • Maintain punctual attendance in accordance with assigned work schedule.

Make

  • Make initial contact as per account guidelines.

  • Make and maintains a connection with the customer by understanding and meeting their needs.

  • Make independent decisions and self-supervises most files but recognizes when assistance is needed.

Manage

  • Manage and handle all administrative aspects of claim files.

  • Manage claims in litigation, participate in mediations, pre-trials and settlement conferences.

  • Manage diaries and tasks in the Claims System.

  • Manage phone calls and e-mails in a fast-paced environment.

Meet

Meet established benchmark measures for claims volume, quality and response times.

Mentor

Mentor and train less experienced claims and support staff as required.

Monitor

Monitor customer service queues (phone and email).

Negotiate

  • Negotiate and resolve claims effectively and efficiently.

  • Negotiate and settle claims pro-actively in accordance with Company guidelines and best practices.

  • Negotiate claim settlements with customers in accordance with business unit standard methodologies.

  • Negotiate complaints with third parties efficiently, if appropriate.

  • Negotiate fair and satisfactory settlements.

  • Negotiate prices for labour and parts.

  • Negotiate repair process with body shops.

  • Negotiate settlements with claimants and claimant's attorneys.

  • Negotiate settlements with customers and / or representatives.

  • Negotiate with claimant to settle claim.

Obtain

Obtain and validate documentation that confirms that a submitted claim is eligible for payment.

Order

Order police reports, set-up new claim files, confirmation of loss to insurer & broker.

Participate in

  • Participate hands-on in the resolution of complex claims and coverage issues.

  • Participate in case law reviews.

  • Participate in claims dispute resolution process as required.

  • Participate in Friday afternoon nerf gun wars.

Performance

Performance delivered by KPI's.

Perform

  • Perform disaster claim duty as necessary.

  • Perform other tasks and duties as assigned by the Manager.

Prepare

  • Prepare comprehensive demands and assemble support for submission to carriers.

  • Prepare estimates of damage or loss where required.

  • Prepare reports for internal and external parties.

Present

Present evidence at legal proceedings, producing products and other documents as evidence.

Process

  • Process all payments promptly within guidelines and policy / statutory requirements.

  • Process file accounts and expenses for payment and submits for approval where required.

  • Process medical bills and recognizes medical management opportunities.

  • Process payments in accordance with BCAA best practices.

Provide

  • Provide a high standard of customer service and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.

  • Provide consistent technical claims training to the team to ensure consistency.

  • Provide excellent customer service to internal and external clients.

  • Provide inbound customer support by answering incoming calls promptly and courteously.

  • Provide industry-leading customer service to insureds and brokers.

  • Provide mentorship to less tenured adjusters.

  • Provide ongoing status updates to customers until file closure.

  • Provide oversight of external adjusters on outsourced claims.

Receive

  • Receive and evaluates information to determine cost of loss.

  • Receive and handle all claims which fall under the Medical Only category.

Recognize

  • Recognize the need for and obtains non-waiver as needed.

  • Recognize the need for and sends Reservation of Rights letters.

  • Recognize when assistance is needed and obtains it.

  • Recognize when to secure public documents to complete a claim file investigation.

Record

Record data and statements in report.

Report

Report key claims information to Aerospace senior management and to internal stakeholders.

Represent

Represent AIG claims expertise on external technical panels and / or industry forums.

Research

Research state laws and medical terms.

Resolve

  • Resolve internal and external customer inquiries.

  • Resolve any issues noted.

Respond to

  • Respond to customer inquiries, makes appropriate decisions and closes file as needed.

  • Respond to email and phone correspondence per department guidelines.

Review

  • Review all documentation supporting the claim, proof of ownership, and parts and replacement costs.

  • Review and compile photos, secure statements and compile expert reports.

  • Review and determine validity of any supplement requests.

  • Review and interpret available coverage, recognizing policy exclusions, and applying facts of loss.

  • Review investigation notes and determine claim value, coverage and liability for basic claims.

Scope

Scope and establish quantum of damages.

Seek

Seek assistance as needed.

Select

Select proper loss codes based on policy type.

Study

Study insurance policies, endorsements, and forms to develop foundational product knowledge.

Support

  • Support attorneys to defend the insurance carrier in case of litigation.

  • Support the preparation and compilation of monthly statistical reports.

Take

  • Take loss reports directly from insureds and / or claimants and / or their representatives.

  • Take phone calls from both, dealers and customers.

  • Take recorded statements from claimants, insured's, witnesses, etc. and prepares summaries.

  • Take recorded statements from relevant parties, as needed.

Track

Track compliance items including invoicing using the OAB system.

Travel

Travel, attend seminars and attend other training classes as required.

Treat

Treat each customer encounter with best in class customer service.

Understand

  • Understand and promote IT innovation and integration.

  • Understand the importance of developing and maintaining cooperative relationships with others.

Uphold

Uphold Service Level Agreements and best practice standards.

Use

  • Use active listening and questioning skills to understand issues and needs.

  • Use knowledge of third party and tort liability.

Utilize

  • Utilize acceptable investigation claims handling and settlement techniques that.

  • Utilize arbitration, appraisal and alternate dispute resolution as needed.

  • Utilize company Claim Bulletins, manuals and best practices.

Validate

Validate information, including but not limited to invoices and receipts.

Verify

  • Verify claims are processed following the policy and procedure established by Smart Autocare.

  • Verify repair costs are performed within industry standards.

  • Verify repair information to determine if coverage was within the limits of the service contract.

Work with

  • Work directly with multiple coworkers involved in the management and support of case files.

  • Work within defined limits and authority on assignments of minimal complexity.

Write

Write reports and compose correspondence.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Claims Adjuster:

  1. Customer Service

  2. CL - Claims

  3. MS Excel

  4. Insurance

  5. MS Word

  6. MS Office

  7. Policy Wordings

  8. Crop Insurance Regulations

  9. Fraud Investigations

  10. Read Maps

  11. Claims Settlement

  12. Consistent Policy Interpretation

  13. Insurance Contracts

  14. Analysis of Comparative Information

  15. Bodily Injury Claims

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Claims Adjuster:

  1. Written and oral communication skills

  2. Interpersonal skills

  3. Negotiation

  4. Analytical ability

  5. Organizational capacity

  6. Time-management

  7. Problem-solving attitude

  8. Bilingualism

  9. Attention to detail

  10. Leadership

  11. Decision-making skills

  12. Work independently with little direction

  13. Work with minimum supervision

  14. Investigative

  15. Empathy

  16. Organized

  17. Patience

  18. Gain support and influence others

  19. Gain trust

  20. Make decisions

  21. Sound judgment

  22. Take initiative

  23. Work within tight deadlines

  24. Work effectively under pressure

  25. Team player

  26. Positive attitude

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