Customer experience

San Jose, Calif. — ISCS Inc., a Web-based policy administration solutions provider, opened a new office in Missoula, Mont. in January 2008.

Mashup applications, which enable divergent data sources, business processes and applications to be combined and streamlined, are on the rise and poised to change the insurance IT landscape.

Cleveland — Cleveland Clinic is collaborating with Google to pilot features and services of a new health offering. The recently announced Google Health electronic system, not yet publicly available, will assist providers by helping patients gain control of their medical records, which stands to benefit health insurers. Customers will have access their own health records online, enabling them to schedule appointments and refill prescriptions as well as interact with multiple physicians and health care service providers on their own—reducing reliance on an insurers’ customer service departments.

Hartford, Conn. – The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) is urging Connecticut lawmakers to reject legislation (SB 288) that would prevent consumers from learning about the full range of their auto body repair options, increase repair costs and, ultimately, force motorists to pay higher premiums.

After years of insurers pushing ePrescribing adoption, recent survey results show physicians may be more amenable to the idea.

Studying the competition and creating a better policyholder experience will go a long way toward building customer loyalty.

Washington — American consumers want more from their health care system than they're currently getting—greater online connection to health care providers and medical records, customized insurance coverage and wider access to emerging innovations such as retail clinics, a new survey from Deloitte Development LLC reveals.

Ronald Katz, the well-known telecom technology inventor, is calling the shots with several large insurers—but for how long?

Dallas — Republic Companies Inc. acquired Four Corners Insurance Services Inc., a general agency based in Phoenix, Ariz. Four Corners specializes in non-standard auto insurance coverages produced through independent insurance agents in Arizona, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Washington, D.C. Philo Smith Capital Corp. served as Four Corners' broker in this transaction.

Mobile units enable insurers to provide immediate lines of aid to those affected by recent tornadoes.