I’m hearing from quite a few insureds about how anxious and nervous they are about either not hearing from insurers requesting updates, or not receiving what I call “good news” letters. Although I’ve must have written as many as five articles regarding the chaos insurers find themselves in, insureds seem to be anxiously waiting for “business as usual”, and it isn’t going to happen.
Insurers are way too busy trying to take care of tremendous backlogs of claims right now. They are not concerned about sending you letters telling you everything is OK. While some claims handlers do find time for that, most will not.
Requests for updates are back logged as well, therefore requests may be as much as 4-6 months late or off schedule. I can understand a little why insureds would interpret “not getting an update request” as a bad thing, in most instances it’s only because the claims handler is behind with her flups (follow-ups), or doesn’t intend to update at all. In the meantime, claims insureds are going nuts with worry when “business as usual doesn’t take place.”
Let me say again, that as far as I know ALL insurance companies are struggling to “catch up”, but the problem is, they cannot go back to central control facility management because they can’t afford the fixed costs.
Insureds and claimants need to just “hang on” and provide insurers with information when they ask for it, and only what they ask for. Keep it simple, as always, since it’s been my recent experience that new claims handlers can barely speak English, or understand English enough to adjudicate Plans and policies. There’s no need to become anxious, and worried, or contact your claims handlers etc.
The insurance company isn’t going to forget about you. It’s not your job to keep them on schedule as far as updates are concerned. Hang on, and wait for the companies to get around to you. If insurers were going to deny you, you would receive a partial payment and a denial letter right away.
Insurers are in a state of administrative disorganization, and unfortunately it’s making people anxious when they don’t receive requests when they think they should receive them. As long as you continue to be paid, there isn’t anything wrong. Just hang on, until your insurers get around to you.
