Digital Platforms

The Group of North American Insurance Companies expressed serious concerns about a new paper’s conclusions for measurement of non-life insurance liabilities in the post-claim period.

Judge approves $350 million deal to end class-action lawsuit regarding physician reimbursement.

Clearer and more concise variable annuity information for consumers could reduce the burden placed on insurers to produce lengthy documents that consumers traditionally ignore because of their complexity.

Ernst & Young survey finds that 75% of respondents are concerned with possible reprisal from employees who have left their organizations.

Survey finds liquidity issues are receiving renewed attention in wake of the financial crisis.

Seniors lobby fights efforts to send Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act back to committee

House Financial Services Committee sends two pieces of financial services reform legislation to House floor.

The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers says the bill “needs clarification regarding the role of brokers in state exchanges on several fronts," particularly defined compensation models and the role they would play as exchange navigators.

Insurance and reinsurance sectors should pay attention to emerging markets in order to stay strong through the economic recovery, say Swiss Re economists.

Annuities are considered a volatile segment, while life insurance products have remained “remarkably stable” during the economic crisis, notes Conning Research and Consulting.

After several dismal quarters, the U.S. IT job market will improve, says Robert Half International, with the most notable hiring predicted in the East North Central and South Atlantic states.

Boston-based research and advisory firm, launches a new service dedicated to the Indian financial services space.

Leahy inserts amendment into health care reform legislation.

Donations from IBM and Prima Solutions drive ACORD framework advances.

Recent deals for technology software and services

BUSINESS ANALYTICS FOR MID-SIZED INSURERS

Insurance Networking News would like to congratulate the following select number of nominees, whose innovation deserves special recognition. Watch for their stories in upcoming issues of Insurance Networking News and online at www.insurancenetworking.com.

Social network analysis can help insurers understand networks often connected to criminal behavior.

COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

INN is proud to present the 2009 INNovator Awards, recognizing key advances in the use of technology and practices in the insurance industry.

Fitch affirms State Farm and Principal Financial Group, while A.M. Best downgrades Kinsgway Financial.

While Web apps are a critical part of many insurers’ business strategies, there needs to be better, more systematic approaches to addressing potential performance issues.

Bills to extend premium subsidies still stuck in committee

Insurers would be wise to keep tabs on addressable television advertising, which uses financial and cable company data to generate targeted TV commercials.

Swiss Re says the calm hurricane season for 2009 contributes to the $26-billion decline from 2008.

Internet-related crime is a fact of life, but can we afford to simply write it off and forget about it?

Good news: Individual whole life insurance surged 12% in Q3 2009. Bad news: Total individual life insurance sales fell 11%.

The parties have agreed to release each other from all claims, including any claims by Hank Greenberg and Howard Smith against AIG for indemnification of future legal fees and expenses or settlement costs.

Insurer sought help with an enterprise-level system to support the build-out of a centralized, shared finance department.

Unique-to-Louisiana law requires insurers to continue homeowners’ coverage even if defective drywall constitutes a “material change in the risk,” as long as the homeowner reports the issue to the insurer.

Although still embroiled in controversy, the organization is quickly moving forward on the methodology regulators will follow in evaluating insurers’ risk-based capital requirements.

The move by AIG’s board to commit to a $7 million executive pay package is designed to put to rest worries about his potential departure.

A new report says recent software consolidation activity will accelerate, and insurers should protect themselves through contractual means, including demanding base code escrow and service level guarantees that survive change of control.

Online insurance quoting system designed to enable end-to-end trace and analysis of transactions to pinpoint problems as they move through application topologies across the network.

SNL Financial data shows that while reported losses fell 15.7% year-over-year, heightened declines in earned premiums written kept profitability modest.

The Healthcare Payments Automation Council is designed to provide industry stakeholders with a forum for information, networking and advocacy in health care payments automation.

Lawmakers still struggling to determine the best path to oversee systemically important financial companies.

Experts say the answer might be a hybrid cloud and on-site computing model.

Insurer Health Net says a hard drive disappeared containing the protected health information of 1.5 million covered members.

New York is the 27th state to enact anti-STOLI legislation, which is designed to protect senior citizens from stranger-originated life insurance.

A.M. Best affirms the FSR of Allstate, while Fitch Ratings upgrades ING subsidiary Lion Connecticut Holdings' guaranteed, senior unsecured debt ratings.

A lawsuit filed by Ohio Attorney General alleges Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch gave many exotic investments the highest investment-grade credit rating.

Carriers are sending more than 41,000 claims download transactions per month using IVANS communications platform.

Producers will be able to create National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) transactions out of the same message elements they are using today to communicate with each other.

Changes to the insurer's wholesaling model are a result of distributors' desires, and the opportunity to increase its sales of investment, annuity and guaranteed-income products.

Carrier fined $1.2 million over supervision of broker e-mails.

New York Life and Allianz top Beacon Research’s list despite dip in overall annuities sales.

Jackson will use technology to track key metrics and proactively address changing market conditions.

Association questions whether states will choose to “opt-out” of public option.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety releases its annual list of safest vehicles.

California authorities say mini-Madoff cost investors more than $3 million in losses.

Lawmakers scramble to keep premium subsidy that’s set to expire at year’s end.