Business
Public Insurance Adjusters Are the People's 'Good Guys'
Around the State
David BeasleyIn heated legislative battles, it’s common for one industry to be painted as the “villain.” I find it curious that in current debates regarding insurance issues, the villain role is somehow being projected upon those who advocate for you, the people of Florida.
Public insurance adjusters have played an important role in the Florida insurance industry for more than 60 years. We are licensed and appointed by the state exclusively to represent insured policyholders, helping them navigate the complex insurance claims process in order to receive full and fair compensation from their insurer.
When a homeowner’s roof is damaged, we help them secure the claim settlement they need to make repairs. When a water pipe bursts, we help them review their policies to ensure no coverages are missed and that full payment is provided. When a home is destroyed by fire, we help them document the loss according to their policy, to ensure they are fairly compensated.
Apparently, this makes us the bad guys.
We’re being blamed for driving up sinkhole insurance costs, though data provided to the state by insurance companies don’t support this allegation. The vast majority of public adjusters don’t handle sinkhole claims, and about 75 percent of claims are settled without representation by a public adjuster or attorney.
We’re being accused of filing fraudulent sinkhole claims, though the number of claims forwarded by insurers for investigation has fallen to 0.12 percent while the number of claims denied by insurers has more than doubled to 85 percent. Recent news reports have shown that most claims come from areas with previously identified sinkhole activity, that insurers have fought to delay a state database meant to track such activity, and that a state review of sinkhole claims does not factor in the impact of population growth in sinkhole-prone areas.
It has been said that our numbers have grown exponentially in Florida, when according to Department of Financial Service statistics, the opposite is true.
We’ve been told we should no longer be allowed to adjust Citizens Property Insurance claims, just one year after a legislative report showed we have a substantial positive impact on Citizens’ customers.
We’re accused of being “cost drivers,” keeping insurance companies from making a profit, while these same insurance companies are moving huge profits to less-regulated re-insurers that they own and manage.
We follow strict requirements and receive continuing education to maintain our licenses, while non-licensed individuals openly (and illegally) adjust claims.
Our job is to make sure people with valid insurance claims are treated fairly and receive the compensation they are due under the policies for which they’ve paid. We are licensed, bonded and trained to serve as the voice for policyholders. We are the only licensed insurance professionals who advocate for the insured.
If that describes a villain, would someone please tell me, who is the hero?
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David Beasley is president of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, based in Maitland, Fla.
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Comments (17)
Why...? Because the insurance company tried to rip me off and if it was not for the public adjuster they would have stolen that money.
i cant even imagine what it would be like without this pub adj.
I can only believe that the neg posts here are done by insurance lobbiest.
Nine times out of ten they send you letters saying they are unable to help you.
Chris
I called a public adjuster that was referred to me by my neighbor and when they came out, I felt really positive. They ended up getting me $43,000. I had to remove a lot of the drywall, insulation, the A/c Ductwork and even in the farthest room of my house, I had smoke. I was more than grateful to them for getting me that much. I had enough to put in a new kitchen, replace the a/c ducts and so forth.
I have had a great experience and would use the same PA. I am sorry you did not have a good experience. You should always use someone that is recommended to you. :)
Please Artwork. Most Pa's don't need to go out and solicit new claims. You guys piss policyholder's off so much they beg for our help. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves.
You claim you are trying to get us the full amount owed for the loss under our policy in order to make the repairs to our homes, but how are you getting paid again? That's right, from our settlement checks. So if I understand the process correctly, you are getting us the "full amount" but then you are taking 8% - 20% of the settlement amount. Leaving us with 92% - 80% of the amount to complete the repairs...
If you are actually getting us the full amount to do the repairs as you claim, and you are getting paid your percentage, then the only way for that to be accomplished is for the amount of the claim to be inflated. Correct me if I am wrong, but that seems like it would be driving up costs.
You are not looking out for our best interests, you are looking out for yourself.
There is no need for a Public Adjuster to inflate the claim. Most initial settlement offers have "cost savings" introduced by an inside adjuster reviewing the file. The Field Adjusters estimate and opinion is frequently questioned and "corrected" to reflect Company policy which seldom favors the policy holder.The damage is what it is. The only way a Public Adjuster gets a higher settlement is by proving the claim, line item by line item. Insurance companies simply do not over pay a claim because a Public Adjuster is involved.
Hiring a professional levels the field and produces results well worth the fee paid. If there was any unbiased fairness in the claims process, the Public Adjuster's fee would be paid by the Insurance Company as a claim expense.
Just as you said, insurance claims are negotiated settlements. Meaning that the insurance company's adjuster and the insured's contractor agree on a price and the work gets done as such. If the insured picks the contractor and they tell them what needs to be done to get the house back to normal, and the contractor gets paid an agreed price from the insurance company, than there is no problem. Your argument assumes that either the contractor the insured hires is out out to short the insured or the contractor is willing to get shorted by the insured. Which is it?
What argument were you making when you said "a Public Adjuster gets a higher settlement is by proving the claim, line item by line item?" That still only enhances my point. The public adjuster may come along and point out an under estimated "line" of a claim, but the insurance company than adjust's their estimate to concede that amount. They doesnt change the fact that you are still taking your percentage from the total payment, it just means your same percentage amount (20%) is now just a larger final payment for you, and even more the insured is out on.
Your final statement that the insurance company should pay the public adjuster is the most absurd thing on this board, and I would invite you to show me another profession with a similar structure. That's like me saying you should pay the broker hired by the person buying your home, because they assisted in the sale of your home. As the person selling the home, why would you do that?
Just my opinion.