Insurers say most Melissa motor claims settled

Nearly one year after Hurricane Melissa devastated sections of Jamaica, the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) says 90 per cent of motor vehicle insurance claims arising from the disaster have been fully settled and paid, making it the best-performing category of claims linked to the storm.

The update comes against the backdrop of repeated criticism from Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who has argued that slow insurance payouts have hampered recovery efforts for households and businesses affected by the hurricane.

“I want to challenge the private insurers to speed up the payments on the claims. That is an important part of the recovery from Hurricane Melissa,” the prime minister said in June. More recently, Holness argued that delayed settlements were slowing the country’s overall recovery, warning that legitimate claims were taking too long to reach payment.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued Friday, the IAJ said while most motor claims have been resolved, insurers are intensifying efforts to bring remaining Hurricane Melissa claims to a conclusion.

The association reported that 90 per cent of motor claims have been settled, compared with 77 per cent of Jamaican dollar-denominated claims, 54 per cent of non-motor claims and 49 per cent of US dollar-denominated claims.

Rosemarie Henry, president of the IAJ, said insurers recognise that outstanding claims continue to place pressure on policyholders and pledged greater attention to unresolved cases.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that the remaining claims receive the attention they require and that policyholders are kept informed throughout the process. Insurance is fundamentally about being there when people and businesses experience loss, and we understand the importance of delivering on that promise,” Henry said.

The association said member companies are reviewing unresolved claims, improving communication with policyholders and working to remove bottlenecks that continue to delay settlements.

“Our immediate focus is on working with our members to accelerate outstanding claims and move as many as possible through to final settlement and payment,” said IAJ executive director Everton McFarlane.