Insurance Billing Solutions

One of the most frequently asked questions from Delta Kits customers has to do with insurance billing options. While most of these questions come from those new to the windshield repair business, we often find that even among industry veterans there is some confusion about the options available.

Many insurance billing options exist for the windshield repair technician, but Delta Kits has partnered with the two that stand out as the leaders in this ever changing marketplace. While the companies that we recommend as insurance billing solutions both offer ways to bill most insurance companies electronically, the similarities end there. Each of these companies offers unique services, so the more you know about them, the easier it will be to determine which one is the right fit for your business model.

The two insurance billing solution providers that we currently recommend are eDirectGlass and A.C.T. (Autoglass Claims Team, Inc.). To help you understand the benefits offered by each company, they have each provided a brief summary of their services.

Submitted by Jim Pottorff, Autoglass Claims Team, Inc.

During the last seven years, A.C.T. Autoglass Claims Team, Inc. has grown from a small group of windshield repair centers to a “team” of over a thousand individual windshield repair businesses. Membership in A.C.T. runs the gamut from individual sole proprietorships to large organizations with hundreds of locations represented. The windshield repair industry, not to be confused with auto glass replacement, has a unique relationship with the auto insurance industry in that many auto insurance companies continue to waive comprehensive coverage deductibles if their customers choose the preventive option of having their windshields repaired before crack outs occur instead of opting for the more expensive installation of a new windshield.

A.C.T. provides all or some of the back office support necessary to get established with all the different third party claims administrators contracted by the auto insurance industry as well as assisting windshield repair technicians in the field with claim initiation, coverage verification, repair authorization, electronic invoicing, claim status checking, collecting and paying claims. Within about three weeks of using A.C.T., participants frequently receive electronic deposits directly into their bank accounts as often as twice a week.

When dealing with the insurance industry, it is necessary to have all your ducks in a row, so to speak, if you want to get paid in a timely manner. A.C.T. offers two basic levels of service: Full Service and EDI-Plus. Most newcomers to the business start with A.C.T.’s Full Service Plan and then as they become more comfortable in dealing with the insurance aspect sometimes will switch to the less expensive EDI-Plus Plan. With the Full Service Plan, A.C.T. will even assist the newcomers in getting enrolled with the third party claims administrators. Also, with the Full Service Plan, A.C.T. provides a single toll free phone number no matter with whom the customer has insurance. A.C.T.’s experienced personnel know how to deal with all the little variances in each company’s claims procedures. This will make all A.C.T. participants look more professional in the eyes of their customers. Most insurance companies want to speak directly to their policyholders, so A.C.T. conducts a conference call between the customer and the claims center. A.C.T. csr’s are trained to monitor the calls and to guard against any attempts to “steer” your customers away to other service providers which is another benefit of the Full Service Plan. For the smaller insurance companies that are not able to accept electronic invoices, A.C.T. will generate customized manual invoices and submit them on your behalf, unlike most other claims services. A.C.T. charges $5.95 for preauthorized claims that do not require the 11-minute conference call and $12.95 for the ones that do require the conference call. Even after the $12.95 fee, A.C.T. pays out an average of $44 per claim. The Full Service Plan also includes customized spreadsheet reports as often as weekly.

If you don’t mind spending 10-20 minutes on the phone with the insurance companies and are comfortable with following up to check claims status when they don’t get paid in a timely manner, then the EDI Plus Plan may be for you. A.C.T. charges $3.95 for this service and will submit your invoice electronically (thereby avoiding “manual” processing fees as high as $7.50). A.C.T. will also make at least one follow-up call in case the original submission had an incorrect VIN or other error.

It is not uncommon for A.C.T. customers with the EDI Plus Plan to switch back to the Full Service Plan after dealing with all the red tape required to get a windshield repair claim paid! When you are a member of the Autoglass Claims Team, Inc, you are not in business by yourself! A.C.T. represents your interest and will only charge its’ fee if you get paid! **Delta Kits does not have a dog in the fight here, so for an honest opinion of which service will work best for your business model, please call 800-548-8332 ext 202. We will be happy provide sign up forms for either company, and walk you through the entire sign up process, including the procurement of your Safelite, Lynx, and Metryx credentials.

Submitted by Gary Hart, eDirectGlass

"Having the right windshield repair tools and training is only half of what you need to be successful in this industry; the other half is getting paid. For many of you, cash is probably king but on an increasing basis, you will be taking on more and more insurance jobs.

In almost every case, you will need to obtain authorization before performing a repair and once you have authorization, you must bill the job using software or a service provider. There are many options available that will facilitate the process of insurance billing but all come with substantial cost, be it your time or money.

Services that bill jobs on your behalf certainly remove the hassles of managing the billing process; however, you lose complete control over the payment itself not to mention losing the ability to occasionally receive "blind" assignments. Usually, you will be paid in advance but at the same time you will be paying 10% or more of the total job in fees. You still have to maintain your own accounting records so that means you end up doubling up on your work.

There are software packages that are available; however, just like the service providers, you pay fees to electronically submit these invoice plus you pay large upfront costs to purchase one.

With eDirectGlass, an Internet based billing and management system, you are in control of the entire billing process. This cost effective service cannot be matched by anyone and as you grow your business, eDirectGlass grows with you; it’s the last billing solution you’ll ever need! Why pay up to $13.00 per claim when you can spend a few minutes using eDirectGlass and potentially save hundreds on a monthly basis?

eDirectGlass allows you to work from anywhere at any time. As long as you have an Internet connection, you are in business. Some eDirectGlass customers have setup repair locations at car washes, movie theaters and popular valet service areas. In doing so, they carry a laptop computer with a broadband wireless card allowing them access to the Internet thus giving them the ability to capture the job data and submit billing right away.

Delta Kits has teamed up with eDirectGlass to provide you with an easy to use Internet based billing and management system that allows you to manage your cash and insurance jobs from one program. Check with Delta Kits for more information on this exciting program."

**Delta Kits does not have a dog in the fight here, so for an honest opinion of which service will work best for your business model, please call 800-548-8332 ext 202. We will be happy provide sign up forms for either company, and walk you through the entire sign up process, including the procurement of your Safelite, Lynx, and Metryx credentials.

-Brent Deines