Why I Hate Being a Claims Adjuster and What You Can Do

Being a claims adjuster can be a thankless job, with long hours spent dealing with stressful situations and often getting blamed for things that aren't their fault.

The constant scrutiny and criticism can take a toll on one's mental health, with 75% of claims adjusters reporting feeling stressed or anxious at work.

Dealing with difficult customers is a big part of the job, and it's not uncommon for adjusters to face verbal abuse or threats.

Being a claims adjuster is a tough job, and I can see why you'd feel that way. The high-stress work environment of claims adjusters is one of the most challenging jobs in the insurance industry.

Claims can be complex and urgent, requiring adjusters to spend significant time researching, deliberating, and consulting with colleagues. This can lead to delayed decision-making and processing.

Many claims demand immediate attention due to their urgent nature, such as a major car accident involving injuries. This adds to the stress and pressure of the job.

The priority, importance, and urgency of each claim can be hard to assess when there are so many, making it even more challenging for claim handlers.

Dealing with policyholders can be a challenge for claims adjusters. They're dealing with people who are often in distress, sad, frustrated, irritated, and even angry.

Policyholders expect quick resolutions and easy claims processes, without considering the adjuster's perspective. They don't know what the adjusters are going through, and they don't care.

This emotional dynamic can be emotionally draining for adjusters, making their job even more difficult.

Dealing with Policyholders at Difficult Emotional Times can be a challenge for adjusters. Adjusters interact with policyholders who are often in distress, sad, frustrated, irritated, and even angry. Policyholders expect the claims process to be easy and resolved quickly. They don't care about the adjusters' difficulties.

Policyholders are often unaware of the adjusters' emotional toll. Adjusters are managing customer interactions that can be emotionally draining. In many cases, customers are unhappy with the service they receive at the early stages of claims, regardless of the adjusters' best effort.

Insurance companies are for-profit corporations, which means their primary concern is their bottom line, not your best interests.

They don't have a duty to work for you, unlike an attorney who is obligated to act in your favor. In fact, insurance companies have a duty of good faith, but this doesn't mean they're working for you.

Their biggest concern is paying you as little as possible, and if the claims adjustors can find a way to do so, they will.

Here are the specific obligations insurance companies do have:

Remember, an insurance agent is an agent of the insurer, not the insured, so don't make the mistake of thinking they're working for you either.

Insurance companies know their initial settlement offers are often too low, and that's a deliberate strategy to save money. They're already thinking ahead to how much they can get away with paying.

This is standard practice for insurance companies, who are often "filthy rich" corporations. They make their money by offering lowball settlements.

In many cases, insurance companies even deny valid claims to save money. This can lead to punitive damages, but it happens all the time.

Insurance companies might not come to the table with a fair settlement offer until an experienced lawyer gets involved.

Being a claims adjuster can be a high-stress job, leading to burnout. Chronic stress can cause fatigue, irritability, and a sense of detachment from work.

The constant pressure can affect job performance and personal wellbeing, and if left unmanaged, long-term health issues like anxiety, depression, and a weakened immune system can develop.

The stress factors in this job are a major contributor to burnout. An insurance claims adjuster's role is one of the most challenging jobs in the industry.

Reducing workload is key to managing stress. Advanced automation can handle repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more important things.

Here are some benefits of automation:

By leveraging advanced software and stress management strategies, claims adjusters can improve their work experience and mental health. This can result in better job performance and a healthier work-life balance.

The work environment and resources available to claims adjusters are often woefully inadequate. This can lead to significant stress and frustration.

Outdated technology is a major contributor to this problem, making it difficult for adjusters to perform their jobs effectively. This can result in poor performance and increased stress.

Insurance companies often rely on manual processing, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. This can lead to disorganized data and a scattering of information across multiple systems.

The use of multiple outdated systems is a nightmare for claims teams and adjusters, making it difficult to obtain a quick and clear view of a claim. This slows down the claims process and increases the likelihood of mistakes.

Disorganized data on multiple systems is a major stressor for claims adjusters, making it difficult to do their jobs well. This can lead to increased frustration and stress.

As a claims adjuster, you're likely no stranger to the stresses of the job. But did you know that Five Sigma, an AI-Native claims management platform, is dedicated to making your workday easier and less overwhelming?

By reducing your workload through advanced automation, you can free up time to focus on more important tasks. Five Sigma handles repetitive tasks, so you can concentrate on what really matters.

Five Sigma's platform accelerates claims processing from FNOL to settlement, reducing bottlenecks and manual interventions. This means you can settle claims faster with better accuracy, which is a huge win for you and your clients.

Five Sigma provides adjusters with smart, data-driven recommendations that make decision-making easier and faster. This is thanks to AI-driven insights that help you make informed decisions.

Having all claim and policyholders' data in one convenient location is a game-changer. Five Sigma centralizes all this information, making it easier to stay organized and reducing the chaos of juggling multiple systems.

The Five Sigma platform also includes a unified communications hub, which brings all claim-related communications into one place. This makes it easy to initiate emails, texts, calls, and video calls from within the platform.

One of the best things about Five Sigma is its cloud-based SaaS platform, which allows you to access it from anywhere, on any device. This promotes convenient remote work, giving you the flexibility to advance claims from the comfort of your home office or on the go.

By leveraging advanced software and stress management strategies, claims adjusters can improve their work experience and mental health. This can lead to better job performance and a more positive overall experience.

Interacting with policyholders can be a real challenge. You see, they're often in distress, sad, frustrated, irritated, and even angry when they submit a claim. They expect the claims process to be easy and with a quick resolution, but they don't care about what adjusters are going through.

Policyholders can be very demanding, expecting the insurer to make it right, and they don't know what adjusters are facing. Managing customer interactions can be emotionally draining for adjusters.

Policyholders often don't understand the complexities of the claims process, and they can get frustrated if things don't move quickly. In many cases, customers are not pleased with the service they get at the early stages of claims, regardless of the adjusters' best effort.