Claims Underwriter Jobs

Claims underwriter jobs decide whether applications for insurance cover (risks) should be accepted and on what terms. Claims underwriter jobs assess a risk according to the likelihood of a claim being made by weighing up a number of factors and asking for detailed information from prospective clients (policy holders).   The aim is to minimise losses for their company and help to make a profit.

Claims Underwriter jobs may:

• offer cover on standard terms
• impose additional conditions or charges
• exclude a part of the risk (for example, in the case of some pre-existing medical conditions)
• re-insure a portion of the risk with another insurer

Insurance is divided into two main sectors, typical work activities:

• general insurance - covers personal (motor, household, etc), commercial (insuring businesses and organisations against damage to premises, injury to people at work, etc) and re-insurance (accepting a risk or part of a risk from another insurer)
• life insurance - properly known as 'assurance', offers cover for illness, injury and death.

Most claims underwriter jobs specialise in one type of insurance.

Claims underwriter jobs aily activities will vary according to the type of insurance offered by the company, but may include:

• studying various insurance proposals
• gathering and assessing background information
• calculating possible risk and deciding how much individuals or organisations should pay for insurance (the premium)
• deciding whether the risk should be shared with a re-insurer
• computing results for appropriate premiums using actuarial information, other statistics and own judgement
• visiting brokers or potential customers and preparing quotes
• liaising with specialists, such as surveyors or doctors, for risk assessment
• gathering information and various types of reports (medical records) from specialists
• negotiating terms with policyholders or their brokers
• ensuring that premiums are competitive
• specifying conditions to be imposed on different types of policies, for example asking that a property owner install a burglar alarm
• negotiating with brokers and drawing up contracts
• writing policies