Online Insurance Claims Adjuster Course

Estimated Length of program:
4-6 months, self-paced

Program Goal:
To prepare students to obtain an entry-level insurance claims adjuster position.

Program Outcomes

Learn everything you need to know to start a new career as an Insurance Claims Adjuster. Gain an understanding of various branches of the insurance industry, automotive, home, worker's compensation, health, and life, plus develop interpersonal skills, written communications, and practical claims adjustment skills.

Insurance Claims Adjuster Program Instructor/Course Expert

Chris Kolopanis earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Illinois College Jacksonville in the Midwest where he is from. He has worked in the banking industry in various capacities, first as a senior investment representative at Chase, an office manager at PNC Bank and finally a customer service manager at Bank of the West. Chris has 10 years of expertise in the insurance industry as a claims generalist/managed repair representative and is currently a Senior Property Adjuster for Liberty Mutual serving USCI as a SME. He has also explored entrepreneurship by owning and operating a construction company operating in Colorado, California, and currently on the east coast which includes home renovation and expansion. Chris enjoys spending time outdoors, fostering, and traveling with his wife, family, and rescue animals.

The coursework trains students to:

Apply theoretical instruction and practical skills that enable them to obtain entry-level, insurance claims adjuster positions.

Explain different types and policies of insurance: accident and health, life, property, liability, catastrophe, and automobile.

Apply communication and negotiation skills to the steps in the claims adjustment process and use proper protocol to contact policyholders and conduct investigations, as well as interview witnesses.

Relate knowledge of legal and ethical issues to claims adjustment.

Apply math and computer skills to verify bills and estimates, as well as negotiate and calculate settlements.

Write concise reports as claims adjusters.

Curriculum

Instruction Pack I: Introduction to Claims Adjusting

Instruction Pack I introduces students to careers in the field of insurance claims adjustment. Students learn the basics of insurance, including concepts and terminology. They also study the importance of strong interpersonal and communication skills as they pertain to this career. Next, students learn why basic math skills are a must-have for any claims adjuster. They apply information about percentages, decimals, and fractions to typical claims situations, such as when calculating settlements.

Instruction Pack II: The Insurance Claims Process, Life and Health Insurance

Instruction Pack II provides students with the computer skills necessary to work in the field. Students work with Microsoft® Word and Excel® and their many helpful features. This instruction pack also gives students a firm foundation of the claims adjustment process. They will also learn detailed information about life and health insurance. Students study terminology, policies, types and specific situations.

Instruction Pack III: Automobile, Property, Liability, Catastrophe and Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Instruction Pack III teaches students the basics of auto insurance, as well as both residential and commercial property insurance. Students also study different types of liability insurance and catastrophe insurance, which include protection against damages from earthquakes, fires, floods and tornados. In addition, students discover how to analyze and estimate workers’ compensation claims.

Instruction Pack IV: Ethics, Tools and Application of the Claims Process

Instruction Pack IV covers some of the common legal and ethical issues they might encounter. It also explains basic safety precautions and procedures that claims adjusters use - -from ladder safety to hazardous materials safety. Then, students apply the math skills gained previously in this course to verify bills and estimates, as well as negotiate and calculate settlements. This pack also introduces students to tools of the claims-adjuster trade. Then, students combine their knowledge of the claims adjustment process with what they learned about accident, health, life, automobile, property, liability and catastrophe insurance to work through real-world scenarios. This pack concludes with a practicum that allows students to apply everything they’ve learned about claims adjustment throughout the course.