The private-sector crop insurance companies employ agents and loss adjusters who sell policies to farmers and determine the extent of losses, collect premiums and pay claims. The crop insurance companies also share in the underwriting gains and losses of the program.  In good years, the government collects a portion of the underwriting gains and in bad years the private sector absorbs a share of the losses, thus reducing taxpayer exposure. The companies employ more than 20,000 licensed agents, certified loss adjusters and company staff. Furthermore, companies invest heavily in technology, infrastructure efficiency, training programs and service improvements for farmers and ranchers. Beyond fulfilling their delivery and service obligations, insurers have contributed to improving the program by providing input and feedback on the implementation of ever-changing rules and policies. Farmers benefit from private-sector efficiency, which speeds payments when needed most, and taxpayers benefit from reduced overhead costs and strict procedures to combat waste, fraud and abuse. View a video on private sector efficiency here. For example, in 2011, farmers in Texas received $2.6 billion in indemnities due mostly to drought. Of this, more than $1.3 billion was paid by mid-September of that year. During the 2012 devastating drought, USDA Under Secretary Michael Scuse traveled across rural America and gave farmers his business cards with the instruction to call if there were any problems or concerns about crop insurance or the speed of assistance delivery. “I have yet to have a single producer call me with a complaint about crop insurance,” he said. “That is a testament to just how well agents, adjusters, the companies, and Risk Management Agency (RMA) worked together in one of the worst droughts in the history of this nation.” Source - cropinsuranceinamerica.org