Automated Insurance Claim Status Updater via Unique Identifier

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for providing process status updates in insurance claims are inefficient, requiring multiple phone calls and extensive resource allocation for claims adjusters, leading to a time-consuming and costly process for both providers and parties involved.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that assigns a unique identifier to parties interested in a process, allowing them to access a process status updater through various communication channels, enabling real-time updates without the need for repeated inquiries, thereby reducing the burden on claims adjusters and improving user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If parties contact the provider by phone to obtain process status updates, then parties can receive information about their insurance claim, but the number of phone calls increases significantly, consuming valuable time and resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess status informationVSAvoidtime for phone calls

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated voice response system as an intermediary between parties and claims adjusters. This intermediary provides process status information through automated phone calls or web portal access, eliminating the need for parties to repeatedly contact human adjusters for status updates while ensuring accurate information delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables parties to self-service by providing them with unique identifiers and access credentials that allow them to independently query their claim status through automated phone systems or web portals without requiring human adjuster intervention, thus reducing time loss for both parties and providers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If claims adjusters manually update and respond to each party inquiry about insurance claim status, then accurate information is provided, but the administrative effort and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of status informationVSAvoidadministrative efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automated feedback mechanisms where the computer system automatically queries the claims database using unique identifiers, retrieves current status information, and communicates it back to parties through automated voice responses or web portal displays, eliminating manual information retrieval while maintaining accuracy through systematic database queries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual phone calls and human information retrieval with an automated computer-based system that uses electronic database queries and automated communication systems, significantly improving administrative efficiency while maintaining information accuracy through systematic automated processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If multiple parties involved in the same insurance claim process each make separate calls for status updates, then each party receives their information, but the total number of calls is multiplied, increasing resource consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess status information for all partiesVSAvoidnumber of phone calls

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides universal access through a single automated communication system and centralized database that serves all parties involved in an insurance claim. Each party receives a unique identifier that allows them to independently access their specific information through the same automated system, eliminating the need for separate human interactions for each party while ensuring all receive accurate information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates individualized access copies for each party through unique identifiers and credentials, allowing each party to independently query the centralized database for their specific claim information without requiring the original human adjuster to be involved in each interaction, thus reducing the total number of calls while maintaining personalized information delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8160904B1System and method to provide process status update information

Publication Date: 2012.04.17 UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)

AI summary

Disclosed are systems and methods to provide process status update information. The systems and methods provide techniques to communicate with a party about a process in which the party has an interest, provide the party with an identifier, the identifier related to the party and the process, and provide a process status updater operable to provide information about the process to the party, wherein the information about the process is provided when the party accesses the process status updater using the identifier.