November 4, 2025
For carriers, the unexpected is never far away. Whether it’s a sudden surge in claims from a natural disaster, a spike in business interruption cases or an unforeseen event that stretches internal resources, the question isn’t if you’ll need to scale up, it’s when. In those moments, having a third-party administrator (TPA) partner who understands your challenges and can respond quickly is essential.
Top questions when the unexpected happens
When claims volumes rise sharply, carriers face immediate pressure. You may be asking:
- How can we maintain service quality with limited internal resources?
- Can we ramp up quickly enough to meet policyholder needs?
- Will our claims process remain consistent and compliant under stress?
- How do we avoid the overhead of hiring and training temporary staff for short-term surges?
- Can we tap into specialized expertise for complex or niche claims?
These are real concerns, and they require real solutions.
How a TPA like Sedgwick can help
Sedgwick’s TPA services are designed with carrier needs in mind. We know that flexibility, speed and reliability are critical when the unexpected strikes. Here’s how we address the challenges you may be facing:
1. Rapid, flexible staffing
When claims spike, you need more hands on deck — fast. Sedgwick maintains a core team of experienced claims professionals, supported by a network of per diem staff and vetted independent resources. Many of these experts have decades of industry experience and can be mobilized quickly for special projects or catastrophe events. This means you don’t have to worry about recruiting, onboarding or training temporary staff in a crisis.
2. Plug-and-play workflows
Our centralized intake group is trained across all contracts and programs, allowing us to onboard additional staff and have them productive within 24 hours. Whether it’s managing first notice of loss, handling incoming calls or performing quality control, our workflows are built for speed and consistency.
3. Geographic and operational redundancy
Disasters don’t respect office boundaries. Sedgwick has built redundancies into our operations, with multiple offices capable of handling claims processing, check printing and admin services. If one location is impacted, another can step in to ensure uninterrupted service for you and your policyholders.
4. Access to specialized services
When claims get complex, you may need expertise in areas like forensic accounting, field inspections or temporary housing. Sedgwick’s breadth of in-house services means you can access these resources without the hassle of finding external vendors. This streamlines the process and keeps everything under one roof.
5. Dedicated teams for your program
We understand that every carrier has unique systems, reporting requirements and financial processes. That’s why we dedicate specific teams to individual programs, ensuring deep familiarity with your needs. Our staff are cross-trained, so we can reallocate resources as needed without missing a beat.
Real-world examples: scaling up in action
When the Texas freeze hit unexpectedly, Sedgwick mobilized resources from unaffected regions, ensuring claims were processed efficiently despite local disruptions. During COVID-19, we shifted teams from transportation and cargo to property claims, handling a surge in business interruption claims with speed and expertise. These examples show how a TPA can be a true extension of your team, ready to respond when you need it most.
What does this mean for carriers?
Partnering with a TPA like Sedgwick means you can:
- Maintain service quality and compliance, even during surges.
- Avoid the overhead and risk of short-term hiring.
- Access specialized expertise for any type of claim.
- Rely on operational redundancy for business continuity.
- Focus on your core business knowing claims are in expert hands.
When the unexpected happens, you don’t have to go it alone. Sedgwick’s TPA services are built to scale up with you, providing confidence and continuity when it matters most.
Sedgwick’s scalable TPA solutions support carriers across a full spectrum of business lines, including property, auto and casualty. Our teams have extensive experience mobilizing resources for surge events ensuring uninterrupted service and expert handling no matter the type or volume of claims. This crossline capability means carriers can rely on Sedgwick for rapid, flexible support wherever and whenever it’s needed.
Learn more about how Sedgwick’s TPA solutions can support your business:
sedgwick.com/claims-administration/risk-and-recovery/
