Digital Platforms

A year ago today, as President Obama signed the landmark Affordable Care Act into law, members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) probably did not envision being in the center of a firestorm over its ultimate governance. But state regulators in Texas this week and next for the NAIC’s 2011 Spring Annual Meeting are indeed finding their industry-related activities under question from a consumers’ group.

Michael McRaith weighs in on the status of the Affordable Care Act, and its impact on insurers.

Consumers are spending $363 billion, or 14.7% more, on health care than traditionally reported, finds a Deloitte report.

Consumer-focused research shows Michigan, Louisiana and Oklahoma top the list of highest average car insurance rates.

Car manufacturers and consumer electronics giants are working together on a connectivity standard, but seem to be ignoring vehicle and data security.

Survey results show that the CIO median tenure is just more than 4 years, and there is no change in sight.

MetLife names its new CEO, while Symetra Life appoints a CIO.

Former N.Y. legislator receives one to three years for pocketing $863,000 insurance check paid out by AIG.

In many Asian countries, the burgeoning of a subset of the population—the elderly--is presenting economic challenges tied to Asian pension systems. Because the systems are not providing an adequate retirement income for this subset, there are opportunities for insurers to enter the market with solutions.

Cost, frequency of downtime primary reasons for data backup adoption, survey says.

IBM has formed a consulting practice to offer navigation
 expertise for companies looking to embrace the new technologies.

Due to “underachievement” in certain areas, the head of its P&C arm receives partial payout, while AIG chief Benmosche receives complete bonus.

Insurers release claims estimates in wake of earthquake and tsunami.

KFB using PolicyCenter to streamline front and back office processes.

Although often an elusive target by SIUs, these cases prove that greed leads to sloppy actions that leave fraudsters open to being caught.

Southern Pioneer Property and Casualty Insurance Co. will use iPartners’ Insurance Scorecard business intelligence solution. iPartners, a provider of Software as a Service business analytics solutions to the P&C insurance industry, says Insurance Scorecard will support Southern Pioneer’s growth by providing improved analytics through management dashboards and timely, easy access to the company’s policy and claims data for enhanced reporting capabilities.

System designed to be rapidly deployed to Stonegate agents writing personal auto policies.

Insurers may openly welcome Obama’s pick for FIO chief, but risks remain in the rule-making process.

Without disclosing the exact scope of the breach, RSA indicated that it is a serious and far-reaching threat.

Insurers offering retirement services are learning that attention to detail and improved communication dramatically boosts customer retention and satisfaction rates, a survey finds.

J.D. Power says health plan members are more satisfied when provider and payer are part of the same organization; ranks top 3 carriers in 17 U.S. regions.

Michael McRaith was picked by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to run the newly created office.

Appeals Court upholds dismissal of shareholder lawsuit against company directors and executives.

OnStar and other remote services provide many benefits, but also open the door to theft and vandalism.

Troubles are mounting for the health insurer over loss of several server drives containing enrollee and employee information.

Similar to New York Life and Nationwide, Allstate says it's looking to add more agents all across the country.

Modeling firm gauges total insured loss from Japanese quake to be $12-25 billion.

Emerging technologies could spark product innovations that change the way the industry serves customers. But insurers must match technologies with strategic goals.

Reduction of costs and risks drives the convergence of IT and operational technology, Gartner says.

Economic, compliance and geopolitical risks are top of mind at ERM symposium.

The 5-member panel would replace the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director, a position that is yet to be filled.

Aflac’s situation with comedian Gilbert Gottfried’s Twitter comments about the Japanese disaster has shown that insurers must develop well-defined and well-communicated social media usage policies.

In complex mobile environments, today’s information worker is adapting at a fast pace, and technology and processes must keep pace.

Agencies offer differing views on the impact insurers will bear as a result of the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

A management consulting firm that focuses on management information systems offers lessons learned in light of the recent disaster in Japan.

Aflac, Swiss Re and The Hartford are among those named to Ethisphere's annual ranking.

Despite insurers' annuity sales rising in recent months, banks have been less fortunate.

With growing uncertainty over Japan’s crisis, insurers’ stocks shaped by certain exposures.

Growth strategies, expense reduction and improving underwriting results top personal lines insurers’ priority lists, Novarica says.

The enhancements are intended to help underwriters and agents to better assess and price crime risk.

Apple plans to include NFC technology in future iPhone and iPad versions, but may disappoint insurers hoping for mobile pay capabilities in the present.

Insurers may want to keep an eye on the data centers, and cloud and other services providers affected by the temblor and tsunami.

Preemption experts say the reg reform law left preemption largely untouched despite ambiguous language that consumer advocates and others see as weakening it.

As the reality of devastation and loss of life sink in, some seek to point the finger of blame at technology.

Reinsurers expected to sustain heavy losses in wake of Japanese tragedy.

A source says the reason may be "the lack of a clear standard across the industry" for mobile payments.

Three insurers representing PCI, NAMIC and the Big I testify before Congress calling for reformation of the National Flood Insurance Program.

Transactions increased by 35%, but insurers were generally “cautious in their plays,” notes new Conning study.

Documaker’s Internet-based policy production capabilities designed to streamline processing, facilitate new business.

Based on early calculations and modeling conducted by AIR Worldwide, insured property losses from the Mw9.1 earthquake that struck Japan on Friday will range between 1.2 trillion JPY to 2.8 trillion JPY. Using today’s exchange rate of 81.85 JPY to the dollar, this translates to a range of between 15 billion USD and 35 billion USD.

Industry responds as scope of disaster comes into focus.

It is still unclear what the aftereffects will be on the insurance market following the largest earthquake in 300 years in Japan.