Claims Magazine

Being Green Can Be Easy

cbramlet@sbmedia.com (CHRISTINA BRAMLET) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Green office initiatives can help businesses gain a recruiting advantage as well as reduce overall costs and boost employee morale.

Staying Prepared

egilkey@sbmedia.com (ERIC V. GILKEY) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Inconsistent. Dubious. Inequitable. Controversy. Inexperience. These are not the type of words we want to describe our industry’s next response to catastrophe.

Katrina Ruling Creates Uncertainty

CustomerService@sbmedia.com (SAM FRIEDMAN) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The debate over wind-versus-water homeowner claims is not quite as cut and dried thanks to a ruling last month by the Mississippi Supreme Court in a Hurricane Katrina case.

Conference Preview: ISOTECH 2009

cbramlet@sbmedia.com (CHRISTINA BRAMLET) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

ISO Senior Vice President Vincent Cialdella spoke with Claims about transforming claim processes and some of the many other timely topics slated for discussion at ISOTECH

Speaking Of: Subrogation

egilkey@sbmedia.com (ERIC V. GILKEY) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When Arbitration Forums told us that its new web-based subrogation system could save insurers up to $500 million in claim costs, we decided a little chat was in order.

Deer-Vehicle Collisions Leap 18 Percent

cbramlet@sbmedia.com (CHRISTINA BRAMLET) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Are deer exacting their smirking revenge on humans? A recent release from State Farm Insurance may have the answer.

Roadside Death Tolls Will Be Posted

cbramlet@sbmedia.com (CHRISTINA BRAMLET) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The commute for Kentucky motorists may soon prove a bit more somber.

All Aboard

claims_editor@sbmedia.com (KEVIN M. QUINLEY) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here are six tips for locating and hiring people with the ability to become successful claim professionals in your operation.

Defense Cost Reimbursement

CustomerService@sbmedia.com (DAVID D. THAMANN) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Some insureds may find it surprising that the insurer can get reimbursement from the insured for some of those legal costs expended.

Handle with Care

jpegue@ntptlaw.com (Jaymeson Pegue ) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Subrogation is really a method to reverse a loss, boost a bottom line, and — when properly evaluated and handled — a way to make a smart business decision even smarter.

Effective Claim Audits

jcampbell@englemartin.com (Jay Campbell) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How should we best think about achieving high-quality outcomes through best-practices file-handling and an effective audit process? Here is a model.

Taming Contents Claims

jmcneill@enservio.com (Jon McNeill) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To the detriment of consumers, claim adjusters, and the carriers themselves, it’s still the wild, wild West when it comes to current practices and processes for handling contents claims.

Reducing Legal Claim Costs

CustomerService@sbmedia.com (Thomas P. Baggott, Ph.D.) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Trial simulations, often wrongly referred to as focus groups, are the standard in predicting probabilities of a given outcome.

Mind Your Metals

greg.horn@mitchell.com (GREG HORN) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How are leading manufacturers able to provide customers with must-have features while achieving weight savings, improved vehicle crash worthiness, fuel economy, and reduced total greenhouse gas emissions? The answer is advanced high-strength steel.

Earthquake Damage Assessments

CustomerService@sbmedia.com (Lisa Shusto, P.E., and John Osteraas, Ph.D., P.E.) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Comprehensive guidelines specifically intended for a non-engineering audience — property owners, contractors, and insurance adjusters — have been developed for the assessment and repair of earthquake damage in residential wood-frame construction.

State Beat

mswallow@sbmedia.com (MARGUERITE SWALLOW) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Fraud around the States.

The Case for Collectivism

claims_editor@nuco.com (KEN BROWNLEE) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In last month’s column, I cited opinions from other nations about our health-care system. This month, I’m going out on a limb with a saw.

Fraud of the Week: Octofraud

mswallow@sbmedia.com (MARGUERITE SWALLOW) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It may not be surprising that insurance fraud is on the rise, but a recent investigation in Ohio has set the bar high for punishing low-life fraud suspects.

Tweet Suite Digest – Nov. 4, 2009

egilkey@sbmedia.com (ERIC V. GILKEY) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Claims Magazine is twittering every day about breaking news and timely topics — not to mention keeping readers up to date on what’s being posted on claimsmag.com.

Exclusive Q&A with Nationwide’s New President

egilkey@sbmedia.com (ERIC V. GILKEY) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Claims Magazine nabbed a quick interview with Pizzi in order to find out how his 31-year background and previous roles at Nationwide would influence his company’s claim department, the importance of the Golden Rule, and of course, the iPhone.

Smooth Transitions

dave.booth@phoenix.gov (Dave Booth) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When a procurement process in the City of Phoenix resulted in the selection of a new TPA to manage the city’s workers’ compensation claims, the transition process was a major undertaking.

Hiring and Motivating the Right People for Claims

egilkey@sbmedia.com (ERIC V. GILKEY) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Attendees at the annual National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP) conference learned that hiring the right person isn’t as arbitrary as it might seem.

Subrogation Professionals Urged to “Respect the Defense”

egilkey@sbmedia.com (ERIC V. GILKEY) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Is a product manufacturer’s defense team being called to a fire scene with real reason — or just a hope that a wallet will open?

Flu Cases to Spur Homeowners' Claims?

dhays@sbmedia.com (Daniel Hays) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Property and casualty insurers can expect to be hit by a swirl of claims arising from swine flu that include actions against homeowners and businesses, a medical malpractice defense attorney is predicting.

Integrating Medicare Compliance with Claim Management

cbramlet@sbmedia.com (CHRISTINA BRAMLET) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The current implementation of MMSEA further enhances the need for accurate claim processing and resolution. Sedgwick offers coordinated in-house services designed to ensure compliance and optimize claim management.