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Associate In Claims (AIC) – Never Looked Better For Work Comp Adjusters

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Associate In Claims (AIC) Designation Recommended For Work Comp Adjusters

The Associate in Claims Designation (AIC) is highly recommended for quite a few old and new reasons.  One of the areas to consider is advances in technology.

Technological Advancement

Picture of workers people associate in claims insurance
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The level of technology in claims adjusting will likely advance very quickly over the next few years.   Work Comp adjusters may possibly be replaced by new technology that would set reserves, process medical bills, etc.   The word analytics shows up every day in the WC press.   If your competitor is a software program, the analytics cannot replace an experienced adjuster who has been exposed to more Property and Casualty lines than just Workers Compensation.

ThE AIC designation teaches much more than just WC.  Subrogation is one of the key areas where adjusters who are very specialized need to understand the claim processes beyond processing a WC claim.

Job Market Tightening

Even though the outlook is fair to good for adjusters,  the insurance process lags behind approximately two to three years.  The new administration may spike job growth.  However, the employers have to first hire and then train employees.  The job market for WC adjusters will likely become worse before it improves in 3 – 5 years.

Basic Competitive Forces

Man Associate In Claims Signing
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If an adjuster is up for an advancement to a Senior Adjuster or Supervisory position, there will likely be a high level of competition.  If you have an Associate in Claims designation, it shows that you are dedicated to the profession and wish to stay in the insurance arena, if not in claims, for the future.   Anything that will put you ahead of the competition is great.

Insurance companies will very likely look to the general job market.  There are no guarantees of internal promotions.  Promotions may come from outside the carrier or TPA.

Subrogation

This area should be covered again even though it was mentioned earlier.  Subrogation can be a tough area for a Workers Comp specialist.  Even a one day training class may not make an adjuster proficient in subrogation.  One adjuster recently remarked that his company had a subrogation unit so he did not worry about the subject.

Hand Presenting Associate In Claims Funds
StockUnlimited

My response was – How do you know what files to send to the subro unit?

The AIC lends itself to giving the adjuster enough exposure to at least keeping an eye on any type of claims where a third party is responsible.  If you, as an adjuster, can recover subrogation funds, then you have become indispensable to your organization.

Subrogation funds can be left on the table, so to speak, if you are not pursuing a third party that is at least partially responsible for the occurrence of an incident.

Final Word

There are no final words with me (inside joke).   The highlights of an AIC will be covered tomorrow – even how to make it much easier and less time consuming to obtain your Associate in Claims. 

Also Read: What Is A Guaranteed Cost Program In Workers Compensation?

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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

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