We recently conducted a LinkedIn poll asking adjusters to share their current stress levels.
Of those who responded to our poll, 20% reported experiencing “Moderate” stress levels, while 80% indicated their stress levels were “High.”
As an adjuster, you’re no stranger to the demanding workload of the job. And, adding ALE claims management to your already full plate can induce even more stress in your day-to-day work and personal life.
But the responsibility of ALE management doesn’t need to fall entirely on your shoulders.
When you partner with an ALE management company like Accomsure, you can reduce your laundry list of ALE claims tasks to focus solely on managing the claim. We can take on the responsibility of sourcing accommodations of like and kind, negotiating rates, and ensuring accommodations fall within policy limits.
In this article, we highlight how working with an ALE partner compares to managing ALE claims independently.
1. The Administrative Burden
Without an ALE Management Company:
Managing ALE claims without an ALE management company requires you to juggle various tasks, such as:
- Helping the policyholder understand what their policy covers and any limits.
- Finding temporary accommodations
- Ensuring policyholders are placed in housing promptly
- Negotiating accommodation contracts
- Ensuring costs fit within policy limits
- Coordinating with multiple vendors and property managers
- Handling last-minute accommodation changes or cancellations
- Tracking and managing housing-related expenses
- Communicating updates to policyholders and resolving their concerns
These time-consuming tasks can easily eat into your day, pulling you from tasks that matter most, like evaluating property damage or ensuring claims are settled accurately and in compliance with policy terms.
With an ALE Management Company:
When an ALE partner takes on the tasks above, you can focus on evaluating claims and resolving disputes rather than coordinating displacement logistics.
2. Policyholder Satisfaction
Without an ALE Management Company:
Displacement can be very stressful for policyholders. Their entire world has been turned upside down; they’re trying to keep up with work and their daily responsibilities while dealing with the reality of having no place to call home.
Should a policyholder struggle to find temporary accommodations or be unhappy with the claim process, their stress often circles back to you.
Additionally, when large-scale losses, like catastrophic events, hit, you may face overwhelming claim loads, making it tough to respond as quickly as your policyholder would like.
With an ALE Management Company:
While displaced policyholders grapple with the devastation of losing their homes, ALE management companies can step in as a primary point of contact, ensuring policyholder needs are met while reducing the noise for adjusters.
In addition to providing constant communication and listening to policyholder needs, ALE management companies work hard to find temporary accommodations that meet niche housing criteria. By finding temporary housing of like and kind that suits the policyholders’ specific needs, such as a pet-friendly rental, wheelchair-accessible bungalow, or space large enough for a family, policyholders stay satisfied.
3. Unique or Complex Cases
Without an ALE Management Company:
Without having access to a network of rental options, accommodating the housing needs of policyholders with unique and complex requirements can quickly become challenging and feel nearly impossible, especially when working within tight timelines and budget constraints.
With an ALE Management Company:
With an extensive network, ALE partners can handle the most complex cases, like securing wheelchair-accessible homes, housing for large multi-generational families, or rentals near medical facilities with pet-friendly options.
For example, Accomsure helped a BC couple with serious health issues find the perfect temporary home after a flood displaced them from their home. The policyholders were a senior couple, one of whom was undergoing chemotherapy at the BC Cancer Agency. Because of their health concerns, they had several specific requirements for their temporary housing, including:
- Exceptionally cleanliness
- Laundry facilities
- Limited stairs
- Location as close as possible to the hospital
Working with Accomsure was crucial in this case because it ensured the couple’s unique needs were met quickly and efficiently, providing them with a safe, convenient, and stress-free temporary housing solution during a very challenging time.
4. Mitigating Reputational Risks
Without an ALE Management Company:
We all know clients are quicker to leave a poor review than a good one.
If you cannot provide the level of service each policyholder expects, it can harm your reputation. When dissatisfied policyholders share their frustrations publicly, it can impact your credibility and the trust policyholders have in your service.
With an ALE Management Company:
ALE management companies help maintain the insurer’s reputation for excellent service by meeting all the policyholder’s immediate needs.
Happy policyholders are less likely to escalate complaints, ensuring your company’s brand remains protected.
5. Efficiency in Placement
Without an ALE Management Company:
When you work without an ALE management company, you can spend a lot of your valuable time trying to:
- Find suitable properties available for the specific duration
- Negotiate rates to ensure the property fits within claim limits
- Manage logistics, such as moving companies or renting furniture
These tasks can lead to moving delays, adding stress for adjusters and displaced policyholders.
With an ALE Management Company:
ALE management companies have a wide network of move-in-ready properties, making it faster to find the perfect temporary housing for your displaced policyholder.
Additionally, ALE management companies often have established relationships with landlords, property managers, and moving companies. These connections help streamline the ALE claim process, minimizing delays in price negotiations and logistical coordination.
6. Cost Management
Without an ALE Management Company:
Managing costs for temporary housing often means juggling unpredictable expenses, unvetted vendor rates, and ad hoc processes.
Adjusters may need to spend hours sourcing accommodations, negotiating prices, and keeping track of multiple invoices—all while trying to stay within policy limits. Unanticipated costs, such as pet fees, utility charges, or security deposits, can push expenses over budget, making cost control a constant challenge.
With an ALE Management Company:
An ALE partner provides cost control and efficiency by negotiating rates and streamlining expense management. They ensure housing solutions remain within the ALE policy’s coverage limits without sacrificing the policyholder’s needs or satisfaction.
For example, we recently helped an insurance company save $120,000 in claim costs.
After a fire displaced residents of a multi-unit low-income building, we negotiated discounted hotel accommodations, securing a rate of $177 lower per night. Additionally, we arranged suites with kitchens, eliminating the need to provide per diem allowances for meals.
Choose Accomsure as Your ALE Management Partner
Adjusters, if you’re interested in reducing the time-consuming and challenging aspects of ALE claims, such as sourcing accommodations or addressing policyholders’ concerns regarding their temporary housing, lean on Accomsure for support.
As Canada’s go-to ALE management company, we can help source tailored housing solutions that fit within policy limits and enhance customer satisfaction while you focus on progressing the claim.
If you’re ready for Accomsure to support you in delivering exceptional service while simplifying the claims process for everyone involved, submit a claim today.
Want to learn more about how we can support you and your displaced policyholder? Contact us.
