Digital Platforms

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.

Data from medical records may hold the key to insurers hoping to fully optimize their medical claims processing.

Association hails amendments to bill creating Federal Insurance Office.

The regulatory and macroeconomic environment is causing carriers to rebuild their capital positions and consider necessary technology strategies.

With 50% of large hospitals having experienced at least one data breach this year, health insurers should keep tabs on how their data is being stored and secured.

Trade associations pen joint letter to Barney Frank asking for an industry exclusion.

After a year making and implementing difficult IT decisions, insurers are focused on getting back to delivery in 2010.

Retirement planning fraud will be part of the purview of new, multi-agency unit.

In spite of some changes to the core operations of its sponsor, the 2009 ISOTech Business Conference ended in Orlando today with a homogeneous approach, offering education and networking opportunities, as well as several new product announcements.

Insurers should prepare for an expanded focus by regulators on risk mitigation and consumer protection in 2010, say compliance experts.

A.M. Best and Fitch announce ratings changes on senior unsecured notes for CNA and HCC, affirmed AVIVA and revised Transatlantic Holdings’ outlook to negative.

INN reports from ISOTECH 2009, where Monday’s general session speakers discussed challenges the industry faced in the past and will face in the future.

The enterprise IT services survey offers insights into insurers' IT and outsourcing decision-making in North America and Europe.

Aon, Marsh and Willis agree to support endorsement exchange based on ACORD standards.

Trade associations issue joint letter expressing concern over provisions contained in health reform bill.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and U.S. News Media Group released the fifth annual edition of America's Best Health Insurance Plans on USNews.com. Published at the start of open-enrollment season, when Americans nationwide prepare to select their health coverage, the 2009-10 Best Health Insurance Plans guide provides consumers with comprehensive rankings and important detailed information for over 600 commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health plans.

Designed to manage claims operations for group employee benefits products, the new system replaces an in-house legacy system.

The visible departure of several high-profile employees has not weakened the insurer, but instead created room for others to take bigger roles, says firm’s CFO.

Producers’ status affects unique preferences, and shapes business plans, notes Mintel Compermedia.

Putnam Investments' CEO says 401(k)s need to be improved so that their income stream does not run out too early.

Program administrators and managing general agents are interested in growing through acquisition—in other PAs/MGAs and carriers, according to a recent survey.

The patent-claim elements of Accenture’s 2007 lawsuit against Guidewire were never dismissed.

IIABA study finds that buyers foregoing savings when purchasing insurance.

Holy temblors, Batman, what will the global warming acolytes do with this one?

A study says a failure to implement service catalogs can blunt process improvements.

While legacy architectures may make things easier on IT departments, they don't necessarily ease headaches for users.