It comes as no surprise to employees or business owners that healthcare costs are on the rise. Many have felt the pinch of premium increases, higher deductibles, and soaring prescription drug prices. Unfortunately, those changes also serve to increase the total cost of Workers’ Compensation (WC) claims, making mitigating WC claim costs and controlling losses a primary concern for companies as claims get pricier and severity increases (source 2).

Commercial trucking often serves as a trusted barometer for the U.S. economy. In 2020, America’s truckers carried 10.23 billion tons of freight and generated $732.3 billion in revenue (source 1).

After largely stalling for nearly two years due to the Covid pandemic, the pace of claims litigation is beginning to pick up. At the same time, the number of new claims is likely to rise as businesses begin to rebound. Claims administrators, however, face a changed claims landscape. Across the United States, courts are moving toward more creative operations, although at varying speeds and with different goals. For instance, in New York State, the court appearances are still virtual and will likely remain that way; California courts are resuming in-person appearances and trials at mid-year. But every jurisdiction can be different, with varying restrictions on access. Some local courts prefer to remain virtual, and some opt for a hybrid approach. This necessitates a highly flexible approach to claims administration going forward with the ability to adapt to all scenarios. Nimble and proactive claims administrators that have shown they can perform well in all-virtual, hybrid, and traditional in-person settings will be best placed to handle this new normal.

After a $14M property loss, CRC Group’s Claims Advocacy team successfully negotiated a settlement of a dispute over the business interruption portion of a claim, allowing the parties to move forward and close the claim. In doing so, the team helped the parties avoid litigation and repair their fraying relationship.

When an insurance carrier denied coverage and defense to a condo association just two weeks before a status hearing in a slip-and-fall case, the retail agent turned to CRC Group’s Claims Advocacy Team for help. Despite the time constraints, CRC was able to review the claim, advocate for coverage, and convince the carrier to rescind its denial—all in time for the Insured to receive a defense at the hearing.