MT Claims Adjuster study plan

Map the Montana Insurance Code structure by title and chapter, listing where adjuster licensing, unfair trade practices, and claim handling duties live

Define the roles of the Montana Commissioner of Insurance and the Montana Insurance Guaranty Association without notes

Build a personal glossary of 25 Montana-specific statutory terms (e.g., 'claimant', 'adverse benefit determination', 'insurer') with citations

List the statutory deadlines for claim acknowledgment, investigation, and payment in Montana and record each in a deadline table

Summarize every Montana statute and administrative rule governing claim handling timelines and written communications

Explain how recent legislative amendments changed adjuster duties, and note the effective date of each change

Draft a compliance checklist an adjuster could apply to a first-party property claim in Montana

Identify the penalties and administrative actions the Commissioner may impose for unfair claim settlement practices

Define the fiduciary and good-faith duties an adjuster owes to insureds and claimants, with concrete examples of each

Distinguish a coverage investigation from a liability investigation and explain why the distinction matters ethically

Analyze three conflict-of-interest scenarios and state the correct course of action for each

Describe the adjuster's duty to report suspected fraud while preserving confidentiality obligations

Apply Montana unfair trade practice statutes to a set of ten adjuster conduct scenarios, deciding whether each is a violation

Explain how the Montana Insurance Code's producer and adjuster licensing provisions apply to continuing education and license renewal

Outline the ethical limits on using recorded statements, surveillance, and medical records during claim investigation

Compare Montana's regulatory expectations with general industry ethical standards and note where they diverge

Explain the elements of a first-party property policy (coverage grants, exclusions, conditions, deductibles) and apply them to two sample losses

Differentiate actual cash value from replacement cost and calculate both for a sample dwelling loss

Describe the appraisal and alternative dispute resolution options available when a property claim is disputed

Identify common causes of loss and the exclusions that most often generate Montana claims disputes (e.g., water, wind, wildfire smoke)

Explain liability coverage concepts including negligence, comparative fault, and the duty to defend versus the duty to indemnify

Describe how third-party liability claims are investigated, reserved, and evaluated for settlement

Summarize the adjuster's role in subrogation and how recovery affects claim handling

Outline the steps for handling a total loss, including valuation, salvage, and title considerations

Integrate Montana statutory deadlines and ethical duties into a single end-to-end claim handling workflow

Practice applying the workflow to two mixed scenarios: one first-party property loss and one third-party liability claim

Identify any remaining weak points by scoring yourself against the week 2 checklist and week 4 worksheet

Review recent Montana legislative changes and update your notes where statutes have been amended

Take a timed 100-question practice exam covering all three domains and record your score by domain

Review every missed question and write the underlying rule or principle for each

Re-drill your two weakest domains using your glossary, checklist, and scenario worksheets

Consolidate all notes into a one-page final review sheet for exam day