Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
Overview
Insurance claims and policy processing clerks help people navigate the insurance world by handling new policies, processing claims, and making sure all paperwork is accurate and complete. You'll spend your day interviewing clients over the phone, using computer systems to enter and retrieve data, and reviewing applications to catch any errors or missing information. This job requires strong attention to detail, good communication skills, and comfort with technology, as you'll work with specialized insurance software and databases. Many clerks work in modern office environments with opportunities for hybrid or remote work, and you can often enter this field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training.
Did you know?
Insurance processors must continuously update their technical skills as automation and AI increasingly handle routine processing tasks, requiring workers to focus on complex cases and system management.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$48,204.12 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top Skill
Writing
Key Responsibilities
- Calculate premiums, refunds, commissions, adjustments, or new reserve requirements, using insurance rate standards.
- Organize or work with detailed office or warehouse records, using computers to enter, access, search or retrieve data.
- Process and record new insurance policies and claims.
- Notify insurance agent and accounting department of policy cancellation.
- Compose business correspondence for supervisors, managers, and professionals.
- Correspond with insured or agent to obtain information or to inform them of account status or changes.
- Review insurance policy to determine coverage.
- Transcribe data to worksheets, and enter data into computer for use in preparing documents and adjusting accounts.
- Compare information from application to criteria for policy reinstatement, and approve reinstatement when criteria are met.
- Examine letters from policyholders or agents, original insurance applications, and other company documents to determine if changes are needed and effects of changes.
- Contact insured or other involved persons to obtain missing information.
- Enter insurance- and claims-related information into database systems.
- Transmit claims for payment or further investigation.
- Interview clients and take their calls to provide customer service and obtain information on claims.
- Process, prepare, and submit business or government forms, such as submitting applications for coverage to insurance carriers.
- Post or attach information to claim file.
- Pay small claims.
- Collect initial premiums and issue receipts.
- Review and verify data, such as age, name, address, and principal sum and value of property, on insurance applications and policies.
- Provide customer service, such as limited instructions on proceeding with claims or referrals to auto repair facilities or local contractors.
- Organize or work with detailed office or warehouse records, maintaining files for each policyholder, including policies that are to be reinstated or cancelled.
- Prepare insurance claim forms or related documents, and review them for completeness.
- Modify, update, or process existing policies and claims to reflect any change in beneficiary, amount of coverage, or type of insurance.
- Calculate amount of claim.
- Obtain computer printout of policy cancellations, or retrieve cancellation cards from file.
Career Considerations
Technology Adaptation
Insurance processors must continuously update their technical skills as automation and AI increasingly handle routine processing tasks, requiring workers to focus on complex cases and system management.
State Regulatory Knowledge
Understanding varying state insurance regulations and compliance requirements is essential since insurance laws differ significantly across US states.
Career Advancement Pathways
Processors can advance to roles in underwriting, claims adjusting, or management by gaining specialized knowledge and pursuing industry certifications.