When collecting death claim data, it’s important that claim professionals understand what happens to that information before it is collected.  

It is fundamentally important for the claim department to communicate with other departments and individuals who utilize death claim data to ensure everyone understands the type of data being collected. What’s the difference between the underlying cause of death and the manner of death? Who completes these sections? How would confusion between the two data sets affect the claim? This report highlights the importance of training claims staff on the operational terms in death claims so they can collect reliable data for investigations. 

This report provides five case studies that illustrate how claim examiners can confirm that they’ve pulled reliable data provided on a death certificate or other document. Several problems arise in each case that could stump even the most seasoned examiners. Should an examiner recognize these situations, this report provides some alternative approaches when there are gaps and errors found in cause-of-death data. The case studies also highlight some possible reasons for these errors in death certificates and how to evaluate contestable claims with ambiguous documentation. 

Documentation in death claims can stump even claims staff. With a little more training and understanding on collecting data from death documentation, claims staff can ensures its utility and reliability and better appreciate the impact of the data they collect on a death claim investigation.