What insurance appraisers, examiners, and investigators do varies by the type of insurance company they work for. They must know a lot about what their company insures. For example, workers in property and casualty insurance must know housing and construction costs to properly evaluate damage from floods or fires. Workers in health insurance must be able to determine which types of treatments are medically necessary and which are questionable. Insurance appraisers typically do the following:

• Investigate, evaluate, and settle insurance claims
• Determine whether the insurance policy covers the loss claimed
• Decide the appropriate amount the insurance company should pay
• Ensure that claims are not fraudulent
• Contact claimants’ doctors or employers to get additional information on questionable claims
• Confer with legal counsel on claims when needed
• Keep claims files, such as records of settled claims and an inventory of claims requiring detailed analysis
• Negotiate settlements
• Authorize payments.

Many appraisers who work for insurance companies and independent adjusting firms are auto damage appraisers. They inspect damaged vehicles after an accident and estimate the cost of repairs. This information then goes to the adjuster, who puts the estimated cost of repairs into the settlement.