JL_risklogo.png

Workers Comp Audit Stress Reducer
Use It For Your Next Premium Audit

Work Comp Predictive Models vs Gut Feelings – The Winner Is(?)

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Work Comp Predictive Models

There are so many articles on Work Comp predictive models out in the blogosphere.   Many taut their ability to see into the future.   I am not a big fan of predictive models as I have yet to see and am still waiting on one that is consistent in nature.

Graph Work Comp Predictive Models Concept
Wikimedia – Khadra A

One of the larger carriers in the nation had a predictive algorithm for setting claim reserves.   The reserves were off approximately 60% when I attempted a loss run review.   The carrier has since quit using the algorithm.

Some types of insurance can be held up to a predictive model such as automobile or property loss.   Workers comp predictive models attempt to predict how the human body heals as part of its forecasting.

The healing of the human body is such a random event.  In that same light, I came across an article that seemed to say gut feelings is actually a learned predictive algorithm learned since birth.  The article published in Inc magazine was an interesting take on how we all carry around a built in algorithm. 

A great passage from the article – “the more we experience- the more accurate our gut instincts become.”

The great Cris Carter- (former Vikings receiver) said the players that practice more seem to have more luck.

Medical Algorithms Work Comp Predictive Models Chart
Wikimedia – National Heart

If you follow the link to the article, there is a great example of how Gary Player the golfer used gut instinct as part of his luck.

Workers comp adjusters develop this “gut instinct” after 5 – 7 years of experience on which claims to question; how much medical reserves to place on a file; which claims need another medical opinion; etc.

As I have often mentioned, if I happen to come across any Work Comp predictive models or algorithms that work, I will laud it heavily- but then again I am still waiting.

I will publish a similar article on how this all fits in with a business owner next time.

©J&L Risk Management Inc Copyright Notice

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

4 Responses

  1. Your wait should be over. They work. I’ve seen the data.

    By working, it does not mean on every single account, but on a portfolio of accounts. If you are expecting the model to be perfect (“consistent”) on every account, then you will never laud the models. However, the results are amazing on a book of business.

  2. Well, if we all had the same brains, the same education and the same experiences, then our cumulative “gut feelings” mightbe the same as well. But that is simply not the case. In my experience, humans and claim professionals are not all the same. A claims professional may range from just out of orientation to those with 20 years of experience or those with 20 years of one years experience.

    Our research and that of others has shown that there are certain bio-pyscho-social risk factors, that place injured workers at much greater risk of delayed recovery. Being able to quantify that risk at time of injury enables a brand new claim professional to know he or she has a potential difficult claim on thier hands as well as the seasoned veteran. It also provides a quantitative tool to support the use of additional resources such as case management or medical peer review to prevent the claim from running off the rails…..But the more important value is in the ability to better understand how these bio-pyscho-soclai risk factors play a much larger role in the occurance and severity of a claim than the physical risks (loss control focus) of a workplace.

  3. Frank, I do agree with you partially. Predictive models do work in certain circumstances, especially on the front end – not so much in claims data analysis. Liberty Mutual seems to be developing a model from their massive database. Thanks for responding to the article.

Related...

James J Moore - Workers Comp Expert

Raleigh, NC, United States

About The Author...

James founded a Workers’ Compensation consulting firm, J&L Risk Management Consultants, Inc. in 1996. J&L’s mission is to reduce our clients’ Workers Compensation premiums by using time-tested techniques. J&L’s claims, premium, reserve and Experience Mod reviews have saved employers over $9.8 million in earned premiums over the last three years. J&L has saved numerous companies from bankruptcy proceedings as a result of insurance overpayments.

James has over 27 years of experience in insurance claims, audit, and underwriting, specializing in Workers’ Compensation. He has supervised, and managed the administration of Workers’ Compensation claims, and underwriting in over 45 states. His professional experience includes being the Director of Risk Management for the North Carolina School Boards Association. He created a very successful Workers’ Compensation Injury Rehabilitation Unit for school personnel.

James’s educational background, which centered on computer technology, culminated in earning a Masters of Business Administration (MBA); an Associate in Claims designation (AIC); and an Associate in Risk Management designation (ARM). He is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a licensed financial advisor. The NC Department of Insurance has certified him as an insurance instructor. He also possesses a Bachelors’ Degree in Actuarial Science.

LexisNexis has twice recognized his blog as one of the Top 25 Blogs on Workers’ Compensation. J&L has been listed in AM Best’s Preferred Providers Directory for Insurance Experts – Workers Compensation for over eight years. He recently won the prestigious Baucom Shine Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer contributions to the area of risk management and safety. James was recently named as an instructor for the prestigious Insurance Academy.

James is on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the North Carolina Mid-State Safety Council. He has published two manuals on Workers’ Compensation and three different claims processing manuals. He has also written and has been quoted in numerous articles on reducing Workers’ Compensation costs for public and private employers. James publishes a weekly newsletter with 7,000 readers.

He currently possess press credentials and am invited to various national Workers Compensation conferences as a reporter.

James’s articles or interviews on Workers’ Compensation have appeared in the following publications or websites:

  • Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
  • Entrepreneur Magazine
  • Bloomberg Business News
  • WorkCompCentral.com
  • Claims Magazine
  • Risk & Insurance Magazine
  • Insurance Journal
  • Workers Compensation.com
  • LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites
  • Various trade publications

Subscribe

Get the latest workers' comp news FREE!

Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.