Insurers can and must improve their claims-handling and underwriting practices in several key areas. That's the message market conduct regulators are sending to both life and health and property and casualty (p&c) insurers.

When the regulatory experts at Wolters Kluwer Financial Services reviewed and analyzed the results of last year's state market conduct exams, two criticisms were cited most frequently: p&c insurers' failure to handle claims within specified time frames and their use of unapproved forms and rates.

The Waltham, Mass.-based compliance and risk management services provider condensed the findings of its annual report to a “top 10″ list in order to create an easy reference to assist insurers seeking to minimize their compliance risk exposure. When asked to explain what may be preventing insurers from staying compliant, Kathy Donovan, senior compliance counsel of insurance at Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, had this to say:

“The regulatory landscape is getting more complex as industry requirements and laws change constantly under the direction of government and industry oversight,” she explained. “[This makes] it extremely challenging to embed regulatory requirements into claims, underwriting, and distribution processes. [However] strong regulatory change management processes and frequent self-audits are extremely effective in helping [insurers] stay on top of these changes.”

In addition to the complaints noted below, regulators criticized insurers for the manner in which they maintain complaint handling; their failure to provide requested data to market conduct examiners; and a failure to conduct business in their “own name.”

This marks the ninth year that Wolters Kluwer has compiled the report. The 10 most common compliance criticisms for p&c insurers are:

1. Failure to acknowledge, to pay, or to deny claims within specified time frames.

2. Using unapproved/unfiled forms and rates.

3. Failure to provide required compliant disclosures in claims processing.

4. Improper documentation of underwriting files.

5. Failure to maintain claims documentation.

6. Failure to process/pay total loss claims properly.

7. Failure to provide required compliant disclosures in underwriting processing.

8. Failure to adhere to producer appointment, termination and/or licensing requirements and adjuster licensing requirements.

9. Failure to issue compliant adverse action underwriting notices.

10. Failure to apply rates, rules and guidelines correctly.

Special Reports /

Regulators Share Top 10 Gripes About P&C Insurers

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