Digital Platforms

As Cigna this week became one of the first insurers to announce its own online marketplace — amid countless others created by brokers, consultants and tech firms — some say the definition of this concept has become muddied.

The insurers’ strategy is an unexpected consequence as the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, kicks into gear.

A Frost & Sullivan report finds that while merger activity declined in deal volume in 2013, the average transaction value went up.

SurePower Innovation intended to lessen risk for P&C companies writing personal, commercial and specialty lines.

Most IT security practitioners are either unable or unsure of how to conduct e-discovery analysis on mobile devices, survey finds.

Insurer reaffirms its 2014 forecast citing better-than-expected Medicare membership growth.

Net income rose to $675 million, or $1.45 a share, from $581 million, or $1.24, a year earlier.

American Association for Long Term Care Insurance reports 13-percent increase in paid long-term care insurance benefits.

Industry associations offer testimony on the FIO report, largely agreeing that the industry does not require a significant overhaul, restructuring or federal oversight.

Operating profit, which excludes some investment results, was 94 cents a share.

Health plans offered through government-run insurance exchanges may be required to cover 30 percent of "essential community providers" in each county in 2015, an increase from 20 percent this year.

Gartner predicts that by 2015, 25 percent of large global organizations will have appointed CDOs.

A slew of new products and data sources emphasize the speed with which the insurance industry is changing, which could threaten “fast followers,” according to Strategy Meets Action.

Farah Foustok, CEO of the business in the region, is among those leaving.

Strategy Meets Action Founder Deb Smallwood discusses the current landscape of collaboration, opportunities and challenges that come with it and action items for insurers.Throughout January, Smallwood details each of SMAs five next-generation technologies — analytics and big data, mobile technologies, collaboration technologies, cloud computing and telematics.To find out how the research and consulting firm came to these five, click here. No. 1: Analytics and Big DataNo. 2: Mobile TechnologiesCheck back next week for next-gen technology No. 4: Cloud Computing.

Predictive modeling is recognized as a transformative ability, but one that must be tempered by maturity, patience and understanding, says the insurer’s chief enterprise business analytics scientist.

In a 67-32 vote, the Senate passed the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013; industry associations respond.

‘AutoLink’ technology intended to help manage and streamline physical damage appraisal process.

Imperial Fire & Casualty Selects Innovation Group Products

Combined ratios fall; increased scrutiny, regulatory changes and political uncertainty rank among top concerns.

Bolt Platform is expected to enable 8,000 Citizens agents to provide multiple private market quotes.

‘DriveAbility 2.0 Score’ to offer version equipped with GPS.

A series of nine massive-open-online classes now is open for enrollment and free to anyone.

Insurer uses text messaging, a new app featuring social capabilities and good-natured competition to attract new customers.

WellPoint added 500,000 new members since Obamacare enrollment began and while they are older and sicker than current members, CEO isn’t worried about the risk pool.

Fewer people are shopping for auto insurance, declining 4 percent in the 12 months ended June 2013, compared to all of 2012, according to TransUnion’s "Auto Insurance Shopping Index."

In the next three to four years, apps will no longer simply be confined to smartphones and tablets, but will impact a wider set of devices, from home appliances to cars and wearable devices, says Gartner research director.

Network technology and application/database security top the list, according to a survey from Novarica.

‘Life Waiver Tools’ to assist in the processing and adjudication of waiver-of-premium claims.

Reforms, supported by Obama administration, would increase premiums.

HB 2662, introduced for the 2014 legislative session, would authorize insurers to conduct all transactions with policyholders over the Internet.

Products intended to enable streamlined product development and improved customer services.

Risk Administration Services Selects Tropics Software Technologies

IT infrastructure managers must simultaneously capture the next rounds of efficiencies, accelerate the transition to next-generation infrastructure, reduce risks, and improve organizational execution.

Ninety-five percent of payers say publicly funded HIEs are struggling with flawed business models and are not providing meaningful connectivity.

Achmea and CZ look to the framework to reduce costs and fraud within their organizations.

Customer service rises in importance as a business driver and cost containment declines, according to Strategy Meets Action.

Higher enrollment should benefit WellPoint Inc., Humana Inc. and other managed-care insurers that rely on a large and diverse patient-mix to balance out the costs of coverage.

“We were the most disrespected brand name on the planet and now we have come back,” says Chairman Steve Miller.

Our critical next step is to enlarge and enrich the conversation and broaden it to encompass business impacts, leadership issues and succession planning for the insurance sector to ensure the future leadership and impact of this aging industry.

New business unit consolidates recently acquired Extend Health, Liazon and others to help employers deliver health benefits to employees, company says.

Strategy Meets Action Founder Deb Smallwood discusses the current landscape of mobile technologies, opportunities and challenges that come with it and action items for insurers.Throughout January, Smallwood details each of SMAs five next-generation technologies — analytics and big data, mobile technologies, collaboration technologies, cloud computing and telematics.To find out how the research and consulting firm came to these five, click here. Watch next-gen technology No. 1: Analytics and Big DataCheck back next week for next-gen technology No. 3: Collaboration.

Uncertainty over the enrollees in individual products through the exchanges and the unclear impact of the industry assessment tax are key factors in the change.

Application helps U.S. P&C insurers model their business, enabling improved management of risk and capital, company says.

Two people with knowledge of the matter say any decision could be months away.

Consumers will be exposed to new forms of access technologies and integrated service offerings, while enterprises will increasingly virtualize communications and computing operations, the firm says.

U.S. organizations think one-quarter of their data is inaccurate, which negatively impacts business intelligence, marketing and customer engagement efforts.

Shifting mobile strategies and two other trends will change the industry in 2014 and beyond, according to an Aite Group report.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services did not believe CGI Federal, its former Healthcare.gov contractor, could complete its work on the site in time, and thus selected Accenture as the new contractor with a no-bid $90 million-plus contract, according to documents.

Insurer is looking at new distribution deals, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico and Brazil.

Women-led life insurer awards $106K to 72 recipients in an effort to change their lives and transform their communities.

Barbara Koster currently serves as senior VP, CIO for Prudential.