AIRMIC launches claims guide.

(From InsuranceNewslink.com)

AIRMIC (the Association of Insurance and Risk Managers) has published its best practice guide, setting out the hallmarks of an excellent insurance claims service. The document, which follows more than two years of market consultation including several workshops, has two main functions: as a tool for insurance buyers; and as a reference point for insurers.

Now that it is published, the guide will form the basis of the next stage, which is to give insurers the opportunity to demonstrate how they measure up to the criteria set out in the document. The association has embarked upon a series of discussions with leading insurers about applying the guide.

The document identifies eight components that determine the quality of a claims service, and the factors that help to demonstrate that they come up to standard. The components are: Culture and Philosophy; Communications; People; Infrastructure; Claims Procedures; Data Management; Operations; Monitoring and Review.

To quote the executive summary, the objective is "a claims handling culture and service that ensures claims are managed in a consistent, yet flexible and fair manner that is transparent, accurate and ...