LANSDALE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In April 2018, the California State Fund let InsurCard know that a Bill (SENATE BILL No. 880) had been introduced in the California Legislature to allow debit cards as a method of payment for Workers Compensation (WC) claims. The bill would establish a 5-year pilot program at the State Fund. If the pilot was successful, the program would then be expanded beyond the State Fund to other companies.
Bob Mendte, InsurCard’s President, was surprised to hear this news and noted, “We have been using debit cards for WC claim payments in California for nine years. In 2008, InsurCard received detailed written approval from the Workers Compensation Director and has offered the debit card in California since that time.”
InsurCard then contacted the current Workers Compensation Director, George Parisotto, and the Bill’s sponsor to make sure they were aware of InsurCard’s work and extensive experience in the State. Before they met in May, the Director’s staff had reviewed InsurCard’s credentials and the fact that its approvals had been confirmed by the State on several occasions beginning in 2008.
The Director affirmed that InsurCard’s prior approvals would continue to be honored and he recognized that no complaints have been received by the State in the nine years InsurCard has offered its debit card for WC. InsurCard will continue to offer the program in California, one of the 44 states where it does business.
After InsurCard met with the State, the California Legislature changed the bill to allow all payors to use debit cards when the Bill takes effect in January 2019.
About InsurCard:
InsurCard is a leading provider of prepaid card programs for payment of Workers Compensation benefits. Partnering with specialists in insurance operations, systems and prepaid cards, InsurCard’s prepaid card programs are designed to meet the stringent requirements of the insurance industry.
InsurCard’s “Total Payment Solution” pays Workers Comp benefits to both claimants and healthcare providers with two network-branded cards: a personalized, reloadable plastic prepaid card for Workers Compensation indemnity payments to injured workers; and a virtual prepaid card for payments directly to healthcare providers. Both products have been praised by the industry for making electronic payments simpler, faster and secure.
InsurCard’s Instant-Issue Property card program lets adjusters deliver benefits to policyholders instantly and is used for property, auto, liability and catastrophe claims. The program is built on an existing, tested platform, ready to deliver in just a few weeks. For information, visit www.insurcard.com.