Stop Mailing Checks: How Card-Based Payouts Are Reshaping Claims

Introduction What if the biggest friction point in insurance isn't underwriting or distribution, but the moment a policyholder actually gets paid? For an industry built on the promise of financial protection, the claims payout process remains stubbornly analog, slow, and vulnerable to fraud. In this episode of the Insurtech Leadership Podcast, host Joshua Hollander sits down with Andrew Jernigan, Head of Insurance, North America at Pliant, to dissect how card-based payout infrastructure is reshaping claims operations. From single-use virtual cards that eliminate fraud vectors to tokenized wallet payouts that meet policyholders where they already transact, Jernigan makes the case that modernizing the last mile of claims isn't just an ops upgrade, it's a revenue strategy. Guest Bio Andrew Jernigan is the Head of Insurance, North America at Pliant, a card-as-a-service platform modernizing claims and benefit payouts for insurers and payers. Prior to Pliant, he was the founder and CEO of Insured Nomads, a company built to serve globally mobile professionals with embedded insurance and financial wellness products. Jernigan brings a rare combination of carrier-side operating experience and fintech product instincts to the claims payout problem. Key Topics • Card-Based Claims Payouts - How single-use and virtual cards replace checks and ACH transfers, reducing settlement time from days to seconds • Fraud Reduction Through Card Infrastructure - Why single-use cards with merchant category restrictions eliminate common payout fraud vectors • Interchange as a Revenue Lever - The economics of card-based payouts: insurers can generate interchange revenue while reducing operational costs • Tokenized Wallet Payouts - The near-term future where claims land directly in Apple Pay or Google Wallet, removing the need for physical cards entirely • Branded Payout Experience - How carrier-branded payment cards turn the claims moment into a customer experience and retention touchpoint • Implementation Simplicity - Why modern card-as-a-service platforms can integrate in weeks rather than the months-long cycles of legacy payment systems • Communication as Retention Strategy - The hidden cost of poor claims communication and why payout speed alone doesn't solve the customer experience gap Notable Quotes "Use other people's money. That's literally the best advice in payments." • Andrew Jernigan, Head of Insurance, North America, Pliant "People are tired of believing that insurance is going to be like pulling teeth. They're waiting for innovation to happen." • Andrew Jernigan "It's not just speed. It's control. A single-use card means the money can only go where it's supposed to go." • Andrew Jernigan Resources Guest: • Pliant: https://www.pliant.io/ • Andrew Jernigan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjernigan/ Host & Organization: • Joshua R. Hollander on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuarhollander/ • Horton International (USA): https://www.horton-usa.com/ • Insurtech Leadership Podcast (LinkedIn Showcase): https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/insurtech-leadership-show Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe on your favorite platform and leave a review. The Insurtech Leadership Podcast is available on YouTube, Podbean, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.