Automated claim mediation system and associated methods
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for automatically settling an insurance claim made by a claimant and an insurer comprising:
- (a) receiving claims data electronically from each of a claimant and an insurer, the claims data comprising an initial settlement offer and a confidential best offer for damage to an insured item and using a processor to compare the received respective initial settlement offers and the confidential best offers;
(b) if the confidential best offers of the claimant and the insurer overlap, automatically calculating a settlement amount within a range between the initial settlement offers and the confidential best offers of the claimant and the insurer;
(c) electronically transmitting the settlement amount to the claimant and the insurer;
(d) if the confidential best offers of the claimant and the insurer do not overlap, using the processor to calculate from a breakdown of a plurality of elements comprising the damaged item, each element having associated therewith an initial settlement offer and a confidential best offer, if the confidential best offers for an element overlap;
(e) if the confidential offers for the element overlap, using the processor, automatically calculating a first element settlement amount within a range between the initial settlement offers and the confidential best offers for the element;
(f) electronically transmitting the first element settlement amount to the claimant and the insurer and remaining elements for which the confidential offers do not overlap;
(g) receiving from at least one of the claimant and the insurer a revised offer for at least one of the remaining elements;
(h) if the revised offer overlaps with the confidential best offer of the other of the claimant and the insurer, using the processor, automatically calculating a second element settlement amount within a range between the revised offer and the confidential best offer of the other of the claimant and the insured for the element; and
(i) electronically transmitting the second element settlement amount to the claimant and the insurer.
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Abstract
An improved claim mediation process includes an automated feature permitting a software package to act as the mediator based upon a predetermined rule set. Open offers are made by both sides, but kept secret from the opposing party are criteria by which the offer can be adjusted and still be acceptable to that party. The system takes into account the open offers and the confidential adjustment criteria and, if possible according to the predetermined rule set, calculates and displays a settlement amount.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for automatically settling an insurance claim made by a claimant and an insurer comprising:
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(a) receiving claims data electronically from each of a claimant and an insurer, the claims data comprising an initial settlement offer and a confidential best offer for damage to an insured item and using a processor to compare the received respective initial settlement offers and the confidential best offers; (b) if the confidential best offers of the claimant and the insurer overlap, automatically calculating a settlement amount within a range between the initial settlement offers and the confidential best offers of the claimant and the insurer; (c) electronically transmitting the settlement amount to the claimant and the insurer; (d) if the confidential best offers of the claimant and the insurer do not overlap, using the processor to calculate from a breakdown of a plurality of elements comprising the damaged item, each element having associated therewith an initial settlement offer and a confidential best offer, if the confidential best offers for an element overlap; (e) if the confidential offers for the element overlap, using the processor, automatically calculating a first element settlement amount within a range between the initial settlement offers and the confidential best offers for the element; (f) electronically transmitting the first element settlement amount to the claimant and the insurer and remaining elements for which the confidential offers do not overlap; (g) receiving from at least one of the claimant and the insurer a revised offer for at least one of the remaining elements; (h) if the revised offer overlaps with the confidential best offer of the other of the claimant and the insurer, using the processor, automatically calculating a second element settlement amount within a range between the revised offer and the confidential best offer of the other of the claimant and the insured for the element; and (i) electronically transmitting the second element settlement amount to the claimant and the insurer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for automatically settling an insurance claim made by a claimant and an insurer comprising:
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a host processor having means for interfacing with a network, the network accessible by a claimant computer and an insured computer; a software package resident on the host processor comprising code segments adapted for; (a) receiving claims data from the claimant and insurer computers, the claims data comprising an initial settlement offer and a confidential best offer for damage to an insured item; (b) if the confidential best offers of the claimant and the insurer overlap, automatically calculating a settlement amount within a range between the initial settlement offers and the confidential best offers of the claimant and the insurer; (c) displaying the settlement amount to the claimant and the insurer via the claimant and insurer computers; (d) if the confidential best offers of the claimant and the insurer do not overlap, calculating from a breakdown of a plurality of elements comprising the damaged item, each element having associated therewith an initial settlement offer and a confidential best offer, if the confidential best offers for an element overlap; (e) if the confidential offers for the element overlap, automatically calculating a first element settlement amount within a range between the initial settlement offers and the confidential best offers for the element; (f) displaying via the claimant and insurer computers the first element settlement amount to the claimant and the insurer and remaining elements for which the confidential offers do not overlap; (g) receiving from at least one of the claimant and the insurer computers a revised offer for at least one of the remaining elements; (h) if the revised offer overlaps with the confidential best offer of the other of the claimant and the insurer, automatically calculating a second element settlement amount within a range between the revised offer and the confidential best offer of the other of the claimant and the insured for the element; and (i) displaying via the claimant and insurer computers the second element settlement amount to the claimant and the insurer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification