NAIC Proposes Claims Adjuster Registration for Homeland Security Needs

December 9, 2004

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) said it supports the concept of registration of insurance staff claims adjusters specifically to respond to the needs of the Department of Homeland Security.

The proposal was discussed by the Producer Licensing Working Group at the winter meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) this week.

"Staff claims adjusters are insurance company employees and normally are not, nor should they be, registered or licensed by insurance department or other governmental agencies. PCI wanted clarification that the working group was not looking to license or register these adjusters for any other purpose than for the needs of Homeland Security," said Mike Koziol, PCI assistant vice president and counsel, industry and regulatory affairs.

In the event of a major terrorist attack or natural catastrophe it is important to have claims adjusters that can access the disaster scene as quickly as possible. The need to identify claims adjusters that have clearance to enter a dangerous site is an important safety concern for Homeland Security, as well as in the case of a natural disaster, according to discussions by the working group.

"PCI looks forward to assisting the working group in examining the needs of Homeland Security in regard to registering adjusters when necessary and in developing streamlined, uniform registration applications in the event of a major catastrophe relevant to Homeland Security issues," Koziol told the working group.