A claims adjuster who provides services on a contract basis to insurance companies, self-insured firms, and governmental entities.
Depending on the nature of the claim being handled, billing can be on a time-and-expense basis, flat fee-per-claim basis, flat fee per day, or flat annual fee for all claims.
Independent adjusters are used at will, when an insurer is overloaded with claims (often due to a catastrophe), when a claim occurs in a remote locale, or when special expertise is required to adjust a claim.