How fast does this service respond to your proposal and due diligence request? How thorough and candid is their response? Do they include testimonials and references you can contact?

Make sure their services are “invisible.” Demand they match your criteria for decisions and time service so producers won’t know the difference unless you tell them.

Contract with a service that is flexible in its terms. For example; shorter term, adequate escape provisions if your work flow suddenly reduces, etc.

Make sure you’ll accept virtually all of their decisions. Review the experience of their staff. Study the steps they will take to learn your philosophy and approach. Experienced underwriters should need no more than three days of training to be able to meet your needs.

Make sure they have a state-of-the-art computer system and competent IT staff. Be certain they can electronically link to your system and have a secure method for receiving and transmitting data. They should also have excellent virus and intrusion protection, and a complete backup system that keeps the process running.

Providing a variety of services indicates their depth of abilities. If they offer audits, specialty case underwriting, Life Settlements, reinsurance facultative underwriting, etc., it’s a plus.

Turnaround time should always be under 72 hours.

Ask for references and contact them.

Reaching your underwriters or their manager should always be a snap. They should guarantee to return all emergency calls within 1 hour and other calls within 3.

Meet with their CEO, chief underwriter and head of administration. Ask them specific questions that test their expertise and ability to deliver.

If necessary, they should be able to refer cases to their own medical director to speed completions, rather than returning cases to your MD.

Do they have adequate error and omissions coverage? Insist on this so you are insulated from possible liabilities.

Are they staffed to handle your volume?

Is their home office adequately staffed with underwriters, assistants and computer support? If they are, this will facilitate your site visit and allow you to better assess their capabilities.

Make sure their training is effective. Do they have a central training facility with audiovisual and electronic capabilities to link their remote underwriters into initial and ongoing training?

They should be able to compare their pricing with what it costs you to do the work in house. This will allow you to justify whether to outsource.

Are they approved by the MIB to be a branch office of an insurer?

Do they have the capability of working with national vendors to order, follow-up and receive requirements on your behalf?