Crawford Predicts Full AI Claims Automation and Eight Other Industry Shifts for 2026

Crawford & Company forecasts that simple claims will move to complete automation without human adjuster involvement, while medical costs continue outpacing frequency improvements.

Crawford's new industry report makes nine specific predictions for how claims will evolve through 2026, with artificial intelligence driving the most dramatic changes.

The most significant forecast: AI will handle low-complexity claims from start to finish without any human intervention. Joel Raedeke, Crawford's senior VP of U.S. technology, expects these simple claims will "pass through all decision gates to auto-approval." This represents a major shift from current AI implementations, which typically require human oversight at multiple checkpoints.

Supporting data from Sedgwick shows AI already accelerates claim processing by 80% for some carriers, but most insurers still operate AI at limited scale. Crawford's prediction suggests this cautious approach will give way to full automation for routine claims.

The technology shift will reshape adjuster roles entirely. Instead of processing simple claims, adjusters will need "AI literacy, interpretability and judgment in direct use of AI." This means claims professionals should start building technical skills now to remain relevant.

Crawford identifies eight additional trends that will define claims operations:

The predictions paint a picture of an industry moving from gradual technology adoption to fundamental operational transformation. Companies still experimenting with AI pilots may find themselves behind competitors implementing full automation.

Claims professionals should focus on developing AI management skills rather than traditional processing expertise. The ability to interpret AI decisions and intervene when algorithms miss nuances will become the core adjuster competency.

For insurers, the message is clear: start scaling AI implementations beyond pilot programs or risk falling behind competitors who achieve the 80% processing speed improvements that full automation enables.

Read the full article: Nine Claims Trends to Watch Through the Rest of 2026

*Source: Insurance Journal | Tags: claims, artificial-intelligence, automation*