What Does an Insurance Adjuster Do
What Does an Insurance Adjuster Do
Becoming an insurance claims adjuster can be a complex job and is often overlooked as a profession in the insurance industry. Insurance claims adjusters play an important role in the insurance industry. Also, the need for adjusters remains consistent over time as catastrophes and accidents happen every day.
There are a few different types of insurance claims adjusters, and each would influence what the day-to-day work is like.
Company or Staff Adjuster
A Company or Staff adjuster works full-time for one insurance adjuster firm only. Generally, these positions mean that you are on salary and receive benefits from the firm. Benefits such as a pension, life and health insurance, and continuing education training. Company and staff adjusters respond to claims for the one insurance company they work for. Often, these are home and personal auto claims.
Independent Adjuster
Independent adjusters work as contractors for many insurance firms or third-party administrators. They often work with catastrophe claims and will travel to the affected areas after major weather events or emergencies.
Independent adjusters are sometimes referred to as “catastrophe claims adjusters” because they are the ones on the ground after major weather events and emergencies.
Public Adjuster
Public insurance adjusters work directly on behalf of policyholders. They help businesses or individuals file insurance claims if a proposed settlement seems unfit from an insurer. Generally, public adjusters are contract workers rather than salaried.
What Hours do Claims Adjusters Work?
The hours claims adjusters work vary. A company or staff adjuster for an insurance company may work regular 9 to 5 hours and rarely on weekends. Independent or public adjusters are more likely to work irregular hours to accommodate client schedules and do investigative work.
Independent and public adjusters, in particular, may have to work well over 40 hours a week during catastrophic events. There will also be times during the year when their workload is much less. As contract adjusters, they have more control over how much they want to work than company or staff adjusters.
While being a company or staff adjuster is a steady 40-hour-per-week job, the independent and public routes offer more flexibility. If it’s the busy season, you could work well over 40 hours per week, but you could work considerably fewer hours during less busy times.
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