AICC ADDS SENIOR CLAIMS EXPERTISE: WELCOMING KEVIN MCKENZIE

In a self insured group, claims handling is not a back office function. It is where your money is protected or lost. That is why we want members to know about an important addition to the team behind AICC. Kevin McKenzie has joined FutureComp as a TPA Claims Specialist working directly on AICC accounts, and he brings the kind of experience that makes a real difference for a group like ours.

Kevin has spent 11 years as a senior workers compensation adjuster. He started his career in retail banking, moved through foreclosure law, and was recruited into workers compensation, where he has been ever since.

His case history covers the full range. He has managed claims for some of the largest employers in the country, including a major national online retailer and one of the largest auto parts distributors, down to small companies with a handful of employees and almost no claims. He has worked directly with the industries AICC serves, including fuel, commercial transportation, and waste disposal, so the exposures our members live with every day are the ones he already knows.

He has also handled the hard end of this work. Catastrophic claims involving death and amputation. Fraud cases that required surveillance and investigation. Jurisdiction and coverage disputes that turn on details most people would miss. This is not someone learning the business on your account.

Why this matters for a self insured group

Here is the part every AICC member should understand. In a fully insured setup, the carrier absorbs the ups and downs of claims, and you never see how any single claim was handled. A self insured group works differently. The members share the risk, and the members share the reward. When claims are managed well, the savings stay in the group and come back to members. When they are managed poorly, everyone in the group feels it.

That is why a strong claims specialist is not a nice to have. It is the engine that protects the model. Disciplined, aggressive claims management is a direct reason AICC has returned millions of dollars to its members over the life of the program. Every claim handled well protects that track record and the money behind it.

The approach that makes the difference

Kevin puts it simply. How fast you get in front of a claim usually decides how it ends. That instinct, moving early, investigating fully, and managing a claim to conclusion instead of letting it drift, is exactly what a group like AICC needs. It is the difference between a claim that closes cleanly and one that becomes a long, expensive problem for every member.

He has also said he wants to get to know how members actually run their operations, because the more he understands your business, the better he can manage a claim from the first report to the final resolution. For members, that means a claims professional who is on your side and knows your world.

“Our members trust us to protect the money they work hard to keep in the group, and claims are where that protection is won or lost. Kevin has handled everything from catastrophic injuries to fraud, for companies that look a lot like ours, and he gets in front of a claim early, which is exactly what a self insured group needs. Adding his experience is a real win for every AICC member.” — Joe Blanche, AICC Administrator

The bottom line for members

Adding Kevin is part of what keeps AICC strong. A better claims team means better outcomes on the claims that do happen, which protects the group’s results and the dividends that come back to members. If you have questions about your coverage or a claim, the AICC team is here to help.

To learn more about the AICC, please contact us today.