Graduate Development Program - Claims

A Career in Claims

If you haven't thought of insurance as a career option, consider this: if you are in a car accident or your home is damaged by fire, you need a claims representative who will help you through your loss, treat you with respect and get you the payment you are owed. As a claims representative, you will make a difference in people's lives at some of their most difficult moments.

A career in claims involves:

• Using insurance expertise to investigate the loss, determine which coverage applies and what payments are owed
• Interacting with people on a daily basis, as the face of our company
• Empowered decision making
• Delivering on the promises we make as a company to our customers

Day in the Life of a Claims Representative

8:00 A.M. Check voice messages received since the office closed the previous day. Pull any faxes that arrived overnight. Check e-mail for any information sent on claims I am handling since yesterday.

8:30 A.M. Print off invoices and enter work notes into the claims system.

8:40 A.M. Review claims system diary and begin work on any of the tasks that can be worked on at this time.

8:45 A.M. Return phone calls received since 5 p.m. yesterday.

9:00 A.M. Receive two new losses assigned to me via the computer system. Review the policy coverages and then contact all parties involved with the losses. On some claims that may be one person and on others it could be multiple parties involved.

9:15 A.M. The first loss is an auto claim, so I contact the customer and arrange for their vehicle to be inspected at a body shop by an auto physical damage specialist. I set up a rental vehicle for the customer, then contact the other party involved in the loss and do the same for them.

9:40 A.M. The second loss involved wind damage to the customer's home. I contact the customer, who already has an estimate for repairs. I ask them to fax me the estimate.

10:00 A.M. Return four phone calls received while calling on new claims.

10:30 A.M. Receive fax for repairs to home for new claim received. Call the contractor to review damages, scope and pricing. Request a check for payment of the loss.

11:00 A.M. Assist with phone calls and mail for another adjuster who is out of the office today.

11:30 A.M. Finish processing the morning mail and check for any new information faxed into the office.

12:00 P.M. Lunch

1:00 P.M. Check and return voicemails received during lunch.

1:30 P.M. Review open files and work on the remainder of things to do, including plans of action and file organization.

3:00 P.M. Receive and process another new claim. Review the coverages, contact all parties and complete the appropriate investigation based on the facts of loss.

3:30 P.M. Return voicemails.

4:00 P.M. Organize and finish work on new claims. Make sure everything that was to be faxed and mailed for the day has been completed. Prepare and organize for the following day.

5:00 P.M. Time to head home!