The Insurance Research Council (IRC) estimates that claim fraud and buildup added between $4.8 billion and $6.8 billion in excess payments to auto injury insurance claims closed with payment in 2007. According to IRC, the excess payments amount to between 13 percent and 18 percent of total payments under the five main private passenger auto injury coverages. Excess payments have increased from the 2002 estimate of between $4.3 billion and $5.8 billion, or between 11 and 15 percent of total payments.

The study, titled "Fraud and Buildup in Auto Injury Insurance Claims: 2008 Edition," indicated that the percentage of claims that appeared to involve fraud -- defined as specific material misrepresentation of the facts of a loss -- increased from 9 percent of bodily injury (BI) claims closed with payment in 2002 to 11 percent of closed claims in 2007. The percentage of personal injury protection (PIP) claims with apparent fraud rose slightly, from 5 percent in 2002 to 6 percent in 2007.

"Buildup," which is defined as the inflation of an otherwise legitimate claim -- such as through unnecessary medical treatments or diagnostic procedures -- represented the more common type of claim abuse, the IRC reported. Twenty percent of BI claims were believed to involve buildup in 2007, an increase from the 18 percent noted in 2002. Apparent buildup was found in 14 percent of PIP claims, up from 12 percent in 2002.

The study also examines differences in claiming behavior between claims with apparent fraud or buildup and claims without apparent fraud or buildup. Claims with apparent fraud or buildup were more likely than other claims to involve sprain and strain injuries and periods of disability. In addition, the study found that claimants in apparent fraud and buildup claims were more likely than other claimants to receive treatment from physical therapists, chiropractors, and other alternative medical providers.

"Claim abuse continues to be a significant problem," said Elizabeth Sprinkel, senior vice president of the IRC. "The excess payments attributable to fraud and buildup help drive up the costs of insurance for everyone. On the positive side, this report shows some of the ways that insurers are working to combat the problem and ensure that every claim is paid according to its merits."

Twenty-two insurers, representing 58 percent of the private passenger auto insurance market in the Unites Sates in 2006, participated in the study. The IRC closed-claim study collected detailed data about injury; medical treatment; claimed losses and total payments; claim handling techniques; and attorney involvement. In addition, it asked claim file reviewers to indicate whether specific elements of fraud or buildup appeared in claims. Because the study involves only claims that were closed with payment, it likely understates the incidence of fraud and buildup in all claims filed, the IRC cautions.

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Special Reports /

Fraud, Buildup Cause 18-Percent Spike in Auto Claim Costs

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