Digital Platforms

Consumers want it, but will we survive it—and how do we insure it?

SourceMedia and MyPRGenie announce a partnership in which MyPRGenie will distribute its clients' press releases to SourceMedia's audience.

National Western Life Insurance, an Austin, Texas-based provider of individual universal life, whole life and term insurance plans, annuity products, and investment contracts, launched the iGO e-App for its life and annuity products on a global scale. The technology deal between National Western Life and iPipeline, an Exton, Pa.-based provider of on-demand software, makes it possible for iGo users to take advantage of intelligent fillable forms designed to simplify and accelerate the marketing, selling and processing of insurance applications.

Moody's affirms ratings of New York Life and TIAA-CREF Life Insurance; A.M. Best and S&P react to Fidelity National Financial’s merger announcements.

Unusual circumstances, geographies and risk concentrations contributed to higher-than-normal natural catastrophe losses, notes German reinsurer Munich Re, which points to the first half of 2010 as being marked by an exceptionally large number of natural catastrophes and the scale of the losses they caused.

The insurer settled its suit with the Connecticut AG regarding a lost drive in 2009 that contained the health info of 1.5 million members.

A year ago, Northeast Bancorp projected 10% annual growth in its insurance business, but instead is eking out growth of 1% to 2%.

Nationwide survey shows that 38% of drivers say they have been hit or nearly hit by a driver distracted by a cell phone.

An increase in qualified actuarial resources, and a need to move actuaries into more strategic activities, will offer insurers opportunities that were previously unavailable.

Prudential CEO to apologize to shareholders, while AIG board and CEO remain at odds.

Just ahead of midyear reinsurance treaty renewals, the June 2010 composite Property/Casualty rate index, released by Dallas-based MarketScout, an insurance exchange comprising primarily independent retail agents, measured down 3% as compared to the same time one year ago.

The new unit will support clients and prospects in the insurance, banking and mutual fund sectors.

Insurer says old enrollment forms containing sensitive information were mistakenly left in discarded file cabinet.

Sword Group’s new company, Sword Insurance, will offer CRM, BI tools and policy admin software to the property/casualty industry.

Analyst firm hailed Guidewire as a leader in billing for the first time in its 2010 report.

By sector, health insurers continue to out-pace the rest of the industry on job gains; reinsurers see largest ever jump in payroll.

Madison Mutual says the SurePower Innovation Policy Administration Suite rules-based system will help reduce time and cost by allowing for changes to be made more quickly.

Experts contend the financial reform legislation does little to ensure accountability among regulators.

Survey shows that the top drivers for use of external service providers are to reduce the operating costs of IT, and to ensure IT availability.

The Department of Health and Human Services has launched a website to enable consumers across the nation to compare and choose health insurance plans operating in their geographic region.

The bill lays out an ambitious agenda for consumer protection, but leaves the new regulator on its own for how to accomplish those goals in addition to getting itself up and running.

Insurable losses from the hurricane not to exceed $200 million, notes AIR Worldwide.

H.R. 5569, a temporary reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), will land on President Barack Obama’s desk in the coming days.

New standard reinsurance agreement slashes commissions.

GCAN Grabs ISI's WebWriter Enterprise

After launching an initiative to revamp its wealth management business, The Hartford's president of wealth management will step down at the end of July to “pursue other opportunities."

The bill was passed late Wednesday 237 to 192, and goes on to the Senate, which is not expected to act until later this month.

The bill's ultimate fate remains a cliffhanger as Senate leaders announced they would not consider it until after the holiday recess.

The distribution channels for the insurance market in Asian countries are diversifying, according to research released by Boston-based research and consulting firm Celent.

Anthem amended the number of members and applicants affected by a compromised Web site to more than double the previously announced figure.

A J.D. Power and Associates study finds that cost management is of secondary importance—behind customer service—to employers buying health insurance.

New Novarica report examines the rise of modern claims offerings.

Social media is driving sales, product and service strategies.

The boards believe the amendments would improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRS.

Standard Poor's Ratings Services issued a statement today charging that the fundamental structure of the U.K. life insurance sector is changing. Life insurers over the next few years will have to adapt their business models at both the local and European levels to accommodate changes due to economic weakness and regulatory changes, notes the rating agency. Market consolidation could accelerate and product economics could be reappraised, with renewed attention on distribution models, notes S&P.

Moody’s and S&P assign ratings to Penn Mutual's surplus notes while A.M. Best revises the Michigan Blues’ outlook, and removes Jackson National Life from under review.

In ruling, justices vote to uphold primary tenets of Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

While the House is still expected to pass the bill, it's unclear if Democrats still have enough support to enact it.

A Gartner study says the number of people globally who use a mobile phone to make payments is expected to expand to 108.6 million by the end of 2010.

The federal government wants to build a place where everyone feels safe online, but are they instead creating a tempting target for cybercriminals and other enemies?

The California health insurer notified about 230,000 members and insurance applicants that a Web site used to apply for individual health policies was compromised.

Insurers may want to keep an eye on Obopay's mobile payment gambit in Africa—the latest in its string of marketing strategies.

FM Global says the industry well capitalized to withstand potential strong storms.

INN announces the results of its fifth annual program recognizing the distinct and outstanding accomplishments and contributions of women in the insurance industry.

In letter to Senators, insurers ask for renewal of lapsed program.

SAS Analytics Pro is designed to enable insurers to access, manipulate, analyze and present information on their own.

For every agency or industry participant that appeared to gain in the bill, there also was a significant downside.

Traditional carriers beginning to catch up to direct-to-consumer players in their ability to enhance the user experience, notes a new report.

Relationship between AIG CEO and the board’s chairmen sours after the sale of the company’s AIA Group Ltd. falls through.

UltiPro's unified HCM design offers the ability for insurers to achieve holistic BI on the entire workforce.

Wide-ranging legislation creates a Federal Insurance Office with limited preemptive powers.

The resolution of issues means the bill is now complete and will return to the full House and Senate for votes next week, where it is expected to pass.