Contacting Your Work Comp Adjuster

If you have found something questionable about your total incurred or reserves, then you may want to contact your Workers Compensation claims adjuster.

From being an adjuster many years ago and listening to adjusters' comments, there are a few simple rules that will help you in discussing reserves/total incurred when contacting your adjuster:

1. Know who your Workers Comp adjuster is for every one of your claims, even if you have a new carrier. If you do not know who this is - you need to find out.
2. Email your adjuster - calling your adjuster is OK, but they will still have to look at what you are questioning and get back with you. Do not expect immediate answers.
3. Do not say, "My reserves are too high" without specifics. We see agents do this one very often. Make sure you are updated with all the info.
4. Be very specific with your questions. Do not send the adjuster a three page email.
5. Quite often, the adjuster does not know of a claim's development that would make the file worth less $. Updating the adjuster by email on what is happening on the claim is a great idea. It is even better to scan and email or fax any info that you receive on the claim to the adjuster ASAP.
6. Never threaten the adjuster with the Insurance Commissioner. This is only as a last resort. Please remember you may have to work with this person on your claims for many years.
7. Do not immediately ask for the adjuster's supervisor. Give them time to resolve your concerns.
8. KNOW WHEN YOUR TOTAL INCURRED AND RESERVES hit your E-Mod. Calling an adjuster two weeks before your policy expiration is fruitless. See my old posts or email me at info@cutcompcosts.com on when your E-Mod is affected.
9. Self-insureds - the adjuster is spending your $ directly from your budget. Even though there are no E-Mods to be concerned with, your Workers Comp LDF's are calculated from the reserves for budgeting purposes. We sometimes hear self-insureds say that they are glad they are not in the insurance system. Actually, you are even more than the non-self- insureds.
10. If you feel that you would be in over your head, contact a claims professional - shameless plug - that is what we do every day.

Workers Comp is full of buzzwords. Please click on http://www.cutcompcosts.com/ and click on the Definitions tab for a large list of definitions or email us at info@cutcompcosts.com if you have questions on any of the terms used in this or prior posts.

Next Up - The Easiest Way to Monitor Your Claims and Lower Your Premiums