The job you do today isn't the job you'll do in three years. That's not a threat. It's an opportunity.
What's disappearing: The old 85%
Manual extraction. Page-by-page reading. Copy-paste summaries. Hunting for dates across 800 pages of records. This work has always been necessary. But it's never been where expertise mattered most.
Technology is expected to automate some of the tasks that claims adjusters currently perform. Data processing speed and artificial intelligence capabilities will continue to increase, which will improve efficiency and make workers more productive (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% decline in claims adjuster positions through 2034. But that's not the full story.
What's emerging: The new 85%
As extraction becomes automated, the work that remains is higher-value:
- Complex decision-making: AI flags 50 potential issues in a file. A skilled adjuster knows which 3 actually matter for this claim.
- Clinical interpretation: AI identifies a medication change and a subsequent fall. An experienced reviewer understands the causation chain and its implications.
- Stakeholder communication: AI generates a draft summary. A case manager tailors it for the employer, the physician, and the adjudicator — each with different needs.
- Exception handling: AI processes routine claims automatically. Adjusters focus on the 15-20% that require judgement.
In traditional workflows, straight-through processing rates hover around 20-30%. With AI pre-validating claims, those rates can climb to 55-65% (Nanonets).
The capacity multiplier
This isn't about doing less. It's about doing more of what matters. One experienced IME physician with AI tools can:
- Review more cases without sacrificing quality
- Provide more thorough causation analysis
- Spend more time on complex cases that need expertise
- Reduce turnaround time for routine evaluations
The physician who adapts becomes more valuable, not less.
How OctopusLM positions you for the new 85%
We built OctopusLM to free Canadian healthcare professionals for the work that actually requires expertise.
- AI handles extraction, organization, and initial analysis
- You handle interpretation, decision-making, and communication
- Page-level citations keep you in control
- PIPEDA compliant. Enterprise-grade security.
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook 2024
Nanonets Healthcare Claims Analysis 2025