PCI Funds Adjuster Database for Fla. Insurance Dept.

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) has provided the Florida Insurance Department with the concept and funding to establish an adjuster database system, housed on the Department’s Web page, to speed up claims processing in the wake of this year’s record-breaking hurricane season.

“With property owners and insurers still digging out from the rash of hurricanes, this service should help expedite the claims process by putting adjusters where they’re needed,” said William Stander, PCI’s Tallahassee-based regional manager. “It will be especially useful when next year’s hurricane season rolls around.”

The system, which launched Tuesday, allows adjusters or adjusting firms and insurers to access the database through two separate Web sites via an assigned password. Adjusters will be able to enter current contact information and the number of available adjusters by county. Insurers can then log in and review the list of available adjusters by either county or company, and contact them as needed.

Users who request it will receive e-mail alerts when the database is updated. Accuracy is reportedly ensured by the system’s automatic exclusion of adjuster data that has not been updated in a certain time period.

Stander, who worked closely with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in designing the adjuster database, said that future enhancements would be added to the system based on user feedback on ease of use and accuracy. These could include searching adjuster availability by line of business and type of license, and automatic email alerts based on search parameters.

“We’re hoping that the growing use of the database will both simplify the claims process and improve the functions of the system,” he said. “The final design will be a product based on the needs of the users.”