Social Media Posts – Three Insurer Departments Look at Them
Earlier today, when I was presenting during a webinar – (check out that article here) – an audience member asked a great question. Do workers comp insurers look at social media posts? (Great Question).
I think three or more insurer departments look at website and social media posts. Let us cover each of them and why they would examine social media or websites.
Underwriters
Before underwriting your workers comp or liability risks, underwriters rarely come to an employer’s place of business. Why? I think it is a layover from the pandemic precautions and the underwriting team does not need to travel to your business locations as they have websites and social media that provide plenty of very revealing info about an employer.
When assisting companies that are changing locations or insurers, we always see the list of questions that come from the underwriters. The list of questions can be very long. The underwriters will always say – according to your website – but some of the questions seem out of place making one think – where did the find that info? Could it be social media posts? Very likely.
Claims Adjusters Look at Social Media Posts Constantly
When investigating a claim, an adjuster has to look no further than Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and others.
For example, a claims adjuster or if they assign a Private Investigator may look at Facebook social media posts that are very revealing. If an injured employee with an arm injury boasts about playing drums on Facebook or TikTok at a local bar on the weekends while drawing TTD benefits, this will lead to benefits being stopped quickly.
Premium Auditors
Now that premium auditors do not make in-person visits, where do they go for information other than what you submit to them through a portal? I had thought websites only until the question from a webinar audience member covered social media,
I always learn something when I present on Workers Comp, as I did today. Yes, social media would be a huge source of information for premium auditors.
Bottom Line on Social Media Posts and Websites
Employers should not make their websites wish lists or bragging pages as that may cost you especially when the premium auditor takes a gander about what your company does in its daily operations. Keep it accurate along with anything on social media.
