When Disaster Strikes, How Fast Should Help Arrive?
# When Disaster Strikes, How Fast Should Help Arrive?
Is the check in the mail? That’s the question countless Americans ask themselves as they stand amid the ruins of their homes or businesses after disaster strikes. For generations, the insurance industry has moved at a pace that seemed out of step with the urgency of those they serve. But that’s changing now, and changing fast.
## Are We Witnessing a Revolution in Insurance Claims?
Is digital transformation finally reaching an industry known more for tradition than innovation? The evidence suggests yes. The insurance world is undergoing a fundamental shift in how it delivers on its promises to policyholders. At the center of this change is the growing adoption of instant digital payments, replacing the well-worn path of paper checks sent through the mail.
One Inc., a fintech company specializing in insurance payments, stands at the forefront of this quiet revolution. They’re not just changing how money moves—they’re changing what it means to be made whole again after loss.
## Why Should Homeowners and Small Business Owners Care?
Is immediate financial relief important when disaster strikes? Just ask anyone who’s watched their livelihood wash away in a flood or go up in flames. For homeowners and small business owners, the timing of an insurance payout isn’t just a matter of convenience—it’s often the difference between recovery and ruin.
The traditional approach—processing a claim, cutting a check, dropping it in the mail—creates delays that ripple through lives already disrupted by loss. A check that takes days or even weeks to arrive means repairs postponed, replacements delayed, and necessary services unfulfilled. For small businesses, these delays can spell the difference between reopening or closing permanently.
Digital disbursement changes this equation entirely. Through systems connected to PayPal, Venmo, or Mastercard Send, insurance companies can now deliver funds to policyholders around the clock, any day of the year. The money doesn’t just arrive faster—it arrives when it’s needed most.
## What’s Been Holding Back This Progress?
Is complexity the enemy of speed? In insurance, that’s often been the case. The industry faces unique challenges that have slowed its digital adoption. Insurance claims aren’t simple transactions—they involve careful review, documentation, and compliance with a patchwork quilt of regulations.
Insurers must navigate the requirements of 50 different state regulators, each with their own rules and standards. This regulatory maze has historically made insurance companies cautious about embracing new payment technologies.
Yet when crisis demanded action, the industry found a way. One Inc. reports that many insurance carriers increased their digital payment capacity from a mere 15% to 75% almost overnight when circumstances required it. Their platform now serves 15 of the top insurers in the United States and continues to expand into workers’ compensation claims and back-office functions.
For injured workers and claimants, this means receiving payments through their preferred digital method rather than waiting for a check to arrive by mail. The days of anxiously checking the mailbox may soon be behind us.
## What Does This Mean for the Future of Insurance?
Is customer experience now the battlefield where insurance companies will win or lose? The evidence points that way. In an age when consumers can order groceries, book travel, and manage their finances with a few taps on a screen, an insurance company that makes claimants wait days for payment feels like a relic from another era.
The insurers that have embraced digital payments aren’t just delivering money faster—they’re delivering peace of mind. And in the insurance business, that’s the real product being sold.
Those companies that resist this digital transformation may find themselves facing a different kind of disaster—the slow erosion of their customer base as policyholders migrate to carriers that offer faster relief in times of need.
## What Comes Next?
Is this just the beginning of a broader transformation? It certainly appears so. As digital payment platforms prove their worth in property and casualty claims, they’re expanding into other insurance sectors like workers’ compensation and commercial insurance.
The road ahead isn’t without obstacles. Technical challenges remain in integrating these payment systems with existing claims infrastructure. Regulatory hurdles still need to be overcome in some jurisdictions. And many consumers will need education about how to access and use these digital payment options.
But the direction is clear. The days when disaster victims had to wait anxiously for a check to arrive are fading into history, like black and white television and rotary phones.
In a world where almost everything moves at digital speed, insurance payments are finally catching up. And for those standing in the wreckage of what once was, waiting for the means to rebuild, that change can’t come fast enough.
That’s the way it is, April 2025.
Disclaimer: General Information & Accuracy
This blog provides general information and discussions about insurance and related subjects for informational purposes only. It is not intended as professional advice, including but not limited to financial, legal, or medical advice. We strive for accuracy, but laws, regulations, information, and best practices constantly evolve, and unintentional errors can occur. Therefore, we make no warranties about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the blog content. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice tailored to your specific situation. Any reliance you place on this information is strictly at your own risk.
