Summary for:
Insurance Policy Processing Clerks
Description:
Process applications for, changes to, reinstatement of, and cancellation of insurance policies. Duties include reviewing insurance applications to ensure that all questions have been answered, compiling data on insurance policy changes, changing policy records to conform to insured party's specifications, compiling data on lapsed insurance policies to determine automatic reinstatement according to company policies, canceling insurance policies as requested by agents, and verifying the accuracy of insurance company records.
Sample of reported job titles:
Sample of reported job titles: Account Manager, Insurance Analyst, Agency Service Coordinator, Commercial Customer Service Representative, Customer Service Agent, Data Entry Clerk, Data Entry Operator, Personal Lines Customer Service Representative, Underwriting Assistant
Tasks:
- Modify, update, and process existing policies and claims to reflect any change in beneficiary, amount of coverage, or type of insurance.
- Process and record new insurance policies and claims.
- Review and verify data, such as age, name, address, and principal sum and value of property on insurance applications and policies.
- Organize and work with detailed office or warehouse records, maintaining files for each policyholder, including policies that are to be reinstated or cancelled.
- Examine letters from policyholders or agents, original insurance applications, and other company documents to determine if changes are needed and effects of changes.
- Correspond with insured or agent to obtain information or inform them account status or changes.
- Transcribe data to worksheets and enter data into computer for use in preparing documents and adjusting accounts.
- Notify insurance agent and accounting department of policy cancellation.
- Interview clients and take their calls to provide customer service and obtain information on claims.
- Compare information from application to criteria for policy reinstatement and approve reinstatement when criteria are met.
Knowledge:
| Customer and Personal Service ó Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Clerical ó Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology. |
| English Language ó Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
| Computers and Electronics ó Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
Skills:
| Active Listening ó Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Speaking ó Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Reading Comprehension ó Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. |
| Critical Thinking ó Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
| Active Learning ó Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Mathematics ó Using mathematics to solve problems. |
| Complex Problem Solving ó identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Coordination ó Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
| Time Management ó Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
| Service Orientation ó Actively looking for ways to help people. |
Abilities:
| Written Comprehension ó The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
| Information Ordering ó The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
| Near Vision ó The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
| Problem Sensitivity ó The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. |
| Speech Clarity ó The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
| Written Expression ó The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
| Oral Comprehension ó The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
| Oral Expression ó The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
| Speech Recognition ó The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
| Deductive Reasoning ó The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
Work Activities:
| Getting Information ó Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Interacting With Computers ó Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates ó Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge ó Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work ó Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Making Decisions and Solving Problems ó Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards ó Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Communicating with Persons Outside Organization ó Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Performing for or Working Directly with the Public ó Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. |
| Processing Information ó Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
Work Experience:
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.
Work Examples:
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.
Education Requirements:
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Work Style:
| Attention to Detail ó Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. |
| Integrity ó Job requires being honest and ethical. |
| Cooperation ó Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
| Dependability ó Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
| Achievement/Effort ó Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. |
| Initiative ó Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. |
| Concern for Others ó Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
| Stress Tolerance ó Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. |
| Self Control ó Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
| Adaptability/Flexibility ó Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
Work Values:
| Support ó Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
| Relationships ó Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
| Independence ó Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
Median Wage 2008:
$15.91 hourly, $33,100 annual
Estimated Employment Total 2008:
254,000 employees
Projected Growth 2008:
Little or no change (-2% to 2%)
Projected Need 2008:
31,000 additional employees
