Claims Management - Chad Wetherbee Portfolio

ClaimsAgent – AI Assistant for Insurance Claims Management System

This project streamlined insurance claims processing by leveraging AI to improve decision-making, accuracy, and communication. This resulted in more efficient workflows for claims adjusters, reduced operational costs, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Client: ClaimsAgent
Platforms: Web (SaaS)
Role: Lead Product Designer & Manager
Design Team: 2 UX Designers
Client Team: Stakeholders, Engineering Team, Data Scientists, AI/ML Engineers and SMEs
Time Frame: 4 Months

**View the final designs and project outcomes by scrolling to the bottom of the screen.

Context

Claims adjusters are the primary users of the insurance claims management system, responsible for managing insurance claims filed by customers.

Review Insurance Claims: Evaluate claims to determine fault, verify coverage, and calculate settlement amounts.
Oversee Case Resolution: Oversee critical tasks such as gathering documentation, finalizing decisions, and ensuring all required actions are completed efficiently.
Maintain Clear Communication: Keep claimants informed with timely updates and transparent explanations throughout the claims process.

Problem

Current software application

Claims Adjusters Impact:

Overly Complex Workflows: Inefficient workflows made claim processing overly complex, leading to delays and frustration.
Fragmented Systems: Limited access to decision-support tools made it difficult to determine fault, verify coverage, and calculate settlements accurately.
Inefficient Communication: Inefficient tools caused delays, reducing customer satisfaction.
Lack of Tailored Solutions: Existing systems failed to address adjusters’ specific workflows and challenges, creating inefficiencies and dissatisfaction.

Business Impact:

High Operational Costs: Inefficient workflows and fragmented systems increased operational costs.
Inconsistent Evaluations: Limited decision-support tools led to error-prone claim evaluations.
Delayed Resolutions: Ineffective communication tools caused delays in claim resolutions, frustrating both adjusters and customers.
Prolonged Onboarding: Insufficient training resources for new employees extended onboarding periods, reducing productivity and compounding inefficiencies.

Objective

Streamline Claims Processing: Simplify workflows and automate repetitive tasks to improve operational efficiency and reduce processing time and costs.
Leverage AI for Decision Support: Improve liability assessments and settlement accuracy through AI-powered tools, ensuring consistent and informed decisions.
Empower Adjusters: Provide tailored tools and resources to enhance productivity, reduce mental strain, and improve job satisfaction.
Enhance Customer Communication: Facilitate clear and timely communication through automated features, reducing delays and elevating customer satisfaction.
Facilitate Seamless Onboarding: Provide training resources to accelerate AI adaptation and reduce downtime for new users.

1. EMPATHIZE

Tasks:

Reviewed Stakeholder requirements
Educated on Insurance industry
Conducted interviews with Claims Adjusters and Stakeholders
Shadowed Claims Adjusters
Performed product evaluation of current claims software

Reviewed Stakeholder Requirements

Key Findings:

Operational Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction: Create a system that boosts efficiency, streamlines communication, and enhances satisfaction while reducing operational costs.
Enhanced System Capabilities: Focus on developing a user-friendly interface that supports adjusters of all tech levels, integrates seamlessly with existing systems, and utilizes AI to increase accuracy and reduce claims processing time.
Compliance and Security: Prioritize meeting industry regulations and ensuring the protection of sensitive data within the system’s framework.

Educated on Insurance Industry

Key Findings:

Claims Processing Techniques: Learned about various methods and best practices for efficiently handling and processing insurance claims, including steps for evaluating and verifying claim information.
Regulatory Compliance: Gained an understanding of the regulatory framework governing the insurance industry, ensuring that the system meets all legal requirements and standards.
Technological Integration: Explored how advanced technologies, such as AI and automation, are being integrated into insurance operations to streamline workflows and improve accuracy.
Customer Satisfaction Metrics: Studied the key metrics used to measure customer satisfaction in the insurance sector, emphasizing the importance of timely communication and transparent claim resolutions.

Conducted Interviews & Shadowed Claims Adjusters

Claims Adjusters

Workflow Streamlining: Simplify workflows by reducing manual data entry and repetitive tasks.
Decision Support Tools: Provide AI-driven liability recommendations and cost estimations to aid informed decision-making.
Communication Tools: Enable clear, consistent communication with claimants and stakeholders throughout the process.
Usability and Training: Offer a user-friendly interface that minimizes training time and maximizes focus on core tasks.

Stakeholders

Operational Efficiency: Streamline operations to cut costs and boost productivity in claims management.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all processes align with industry regulations and legal standards.
Customer Satisfaction: Enhance satisfaction through timely, transparent claim resolutions.
Data-Driven Insights: Leverage analytics to identify claim trends and inform strategic decisions.

“The biggest challenge I face is keeping track of all the details across multiple cases. A tool that organizes everything in one place would save so much time and reduce the risk of errors.”

Ericka Willby

Senior Claims Adjuster

Performed a Product Evaluation of the Current System

This system is used by Claims Adjusters to manage insurance claims processing and fraud detection. Adjusters manually extract and organize key details such as names, case IDs, addresses, and dates from emails and attachments. This process is time-consuming, prone to errors, and requires significant effort, slowing down claims processing and decision-making.

2. CONCEPTUALIZE

Tasks:

Developed User Personas
Defined AI-Driven Features
Created User Flows with AI Integration
Developed Wireframes

Developed User Personas

Key Findings:

Improved Accuracy: Tools that enhance precision in liability assessments, ensuring confidence in decision-making.
Streamlined Processes: A system that reduces inefficiencies, simplifies workflows, and minimizes cognitive load.
Effective Communication: Features that facilitate clear and seamless communication with claimants and internal teams.
Robust Training and Support: Reliable resources to help less experienced adjusters adopt AI-driven tools effectively.

Defined AI-Driven Features

The AI system in the insurance claims processing framework is designed to optimize every facet of claim resolution, integrating advanced capabilities for accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.

Key Features:

Analysis & Liability Recommendations: Conducts comprehensive analysis of key evidence like recorded statements, claim documentation and jurisdictional laws. Offering precise liability recommendations.
Contextual Analysis & Compliance: Analyzes document contexts and cross-references data to ensure legal compliance and identify potential fraud, establishing claim accuracy.
Automated Communications & Insights: Simplifies communication by automatically sending settlement emails and providing adjusters with insights into liability and outcomes.
Efficient Payment & Services Coordination: Enhances efficiency by streamlining payments, accurately estimating repair costs, sourcing affordable parts, and arranging rental cars, all aimed at improving the claimant experience.
Machine Learning for Improved Accuracy: Uses machine learning to continually refine its processes, boosting the system’s accuracy and decision-making with ongoing adjuster input and claim data.

Created User Flows with AI Integration Features

Developed Wireframes

3. DESIGN

Tasks:

Developed Prototype
Conducted User Testing
Built High-Fidelity Designs
Created Design System

Developed Prototype & Conducted User Testing

Key Findings:

Positive Feedback on AI-Driven Insights: Adjusters appreciated the accuracy and usefulness of the AI-generated liability recommendations and cost estimations, which significantly aided their decision-making process.
Streamlined Workflow: Users found the system’s streamlined workflow and intuitive interface made it easier to manage and process claims efficiently, reducing the overall time spent on each claim.
Improved Communication Tools: The automated communication features were well-received, as they simplified the process of sending clear and consistent emails to claimants, enhancing communication and transparency.
Need for Enhanced Training Resources: Some adjusters indicated that they required more comprehensive training materials to fully utilize the system’s advanced AI features, highlighting a need for better onboarding support.
Adjustments for Data Presentation: Feedback suggested that the presentation of some data could be clearer, prompting design adjustments to improve the readability and accessibility of key information on the interface.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are based on 3 months of user data collected from Claims Adjusters and company analytics.

Claims Adjuster Impact:

31% Enhanced Claims Efficiency: Streamlined workflows reduced the time required to process each claim, improving overall adjuster productivity.
79% Improved Communication: Automated features ensured clear and timely interactions with claimants, elevating customer satisfaction.
23% Improved Accuracy: AI-driven tools enhanced liability assessments and cost estimations, reducing errors significantly.
Onboarding Tools: Simplified the learning process, enabling adjusters to quickly adapt to the system and focus on their tasks.

Business Impact:

79% User Satisfaction: High satisfaction rates reflected the system’s ability to improve communication with claimants and enhance adjusters’ daily workflows.
47% Improved Usability: The intuitive design and streamlined workflows significantly reduced cognitive load, enabling adjusters to focus on high-priority tasks.
27% Increase in Productivity: Adjusters handled more claims per week, thanks to efficiency improvements and a smoother claims process.
Onboarding Tools: Training resources minimized downtime for new users, leading to faster operational readiness and higher productivity.

KNOWLEDGE GAINED

Leveraging AI for Operational Efficiency: AI can improve decision-making and streamline tasks. In future projects, I’ll focus on user-friendly AI integrations to boost efficiency while minimizing friction.
Feedback Loops are Key to Improvement: Regular user feedback drives meaningful design improvements. I plan to use structured feedback systems in future projects to keep solutions relevant.
Balancing Automation with Human Insight: AI and automation bring great benefits, but human input remains essential for nuanced decisions. I will design systems that pair automation with critical human oversight.
Change Management is Critical: Introducing new systems requires careful planning to ensure adoption and reduce resistance. I’ll integrate strong change management strategies in future initiatives.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Systems must evolve with user needs and external changes. I’ll design flexible solutions that adapt effectively over time.