Digital Platforms

A new survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) finds that many small business owners lack confidence in determining the health insurance that best fits their employees’ needs.

The Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule on Aug. 19, 2009, establishing standards for notification of breaches of unsecured protected health information (PHI).

When I penned my recent rant on the inadvisability (at least at present) of SaaS for core systems in insurance, little did I know I would hear from some enthusiastic fans eager to sing the virtues of SaaS.

In the Twitter era, the ability of information or misinformation to spread rapidly poses operational risks for businesses, a new survey from Hartford, Conn.-based Travelers Cos. Inc. finds.

Oldwick, N.J.-based A.M. Best Co. has withdrawn several of its rating classifications for a raft of health insurance companies, saying it can no longer justify the ratings based solely on publicly available data.

What was positive in theory back in 1986 became a dark reality for health insurance policyholders. When the U.S. government first enacted the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) legislation to help provide the unemployed with access for up to 18 months of continued medical insurance coverage, the premiums passed along to the unemployed were not discounted; in reality, they carried a 2% additional administrative fee. There were fewer unemployed then; compared to today’s unemployment rate of 9.7%, the average unemployment rate in 1986 was a paltry 7.0%, reports the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Former New York State Insurance Commissioner was highly visible proponent of state regulation of insurance.

Insurers are interested in technologies that use GPS systems to monitor a car’s speed and force-quit the driver’s text messaging applications.

Drop in California's workers' compensation spending slows growth in national spending in 2007, study reports.

Nearly 60% of North American insurers plan on maintaining a budget at least consistent with 2008 spending, according to Forrester research.

State insurance commissioners suggest that reforms require everyone to purchase health insurance, much as states already require the purchase of auto insurance, but via the use of federal funding where appropriate.

Ameriprise and Markel affirmed, Carolina Casualty upgraded and Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual downgraded. Find out what other insurers are affected by recent actions.

Insurers may benefit from a national electronic data interchange network, which one vendor says already exists.

As bipartisan support of legislation to solve the health care crisis seems more elusive every day, the Obama administration is reconsidering its options.

International footprint across five continents reflects financial industry’s need for tighter control of financial transactions under difficult market conditions, company says.

Celent investigates insurers' tactical responses to the recession, finding the streamlining of processes to be their No. 1 focus.

Once considered standard point solutions, rating engines are now being incorporated into larger enterprise systems, giving insurers pause to rethink how they process new business.

While legacy systems may still hold value for insurers, observers cite numerous reasons for putting this technology out to pasture.

A month after resigning his position, Eric Dinallo announced his intention to succeed Andrew Cuomo, provided he doesn't seek re-election.

The provider of enterprise financial management software has seen revenues that have doubled in each of the past two years.

Life and annuity carriers can now join P&C carriers on WikonnecT, CSC’s business-to-business social networking site.

Insurers are scrambling for ways to save money, but pulling all sales in-house and abandoning independent agents is not the answer.

The company expects the facility provide comprehensive, flexible and individually tailored coverages for major corporate clients.

The company will provide coverage to 65,000 state employees.

Association says pending claims bills could drive up premiums.

Farmers Insurance Group and Zurich in North America take to the road to help customers prepare for catastrophes.

Letter asks health insurers to provide compensation information.

Professional v10.0 designed to provide enhanced data access, and includes a new user interface and Open Source support.

Despite the dismissal, AIG may still face a class-action lawsuit regarding other potential claims.

Numerous public opinion polls show dissatisfaction with insurers; health carriers hit hard, P&C has room for improvement.

A Bureau of Labor report tallies the smallest number of deaths since the study began.

AIG's new CEO tells Bloomberg why he took the job.

New report says convenience is king when dealing with carriers.

A study of 49 European life insurers reveals different perspectives on policy admin systems based along geographic lines.

In the end, it comes down to risks vs. benefits, and right now the risks are a bit too scary.

Rule falls under HIPAA umbrella, effects breach of more than 500 individuals.

Authors of a new book say insurance premiums should accurately reflect the risk, but low-income policyholders should receive “insurance stamp” subsidies.

There is a silver lining for insurers in the latest economic doom and gloom predictions.

Recent poll results show 58% of people surveyed believe the health insurance industry as a whole is doing a bad job.

The irony is that mainframes probably have more users now than in their heyday, insurers included.

The best way to achieve change comes not from a boardroom of executives following a structured process, but with inspired leadership.

Progressive, Nationwide, Marsh & McLennan and Hanover are among the insurers that received ratings updates.

A report says insurers will allocate more funds to policy administration, business intelligence and claims technologies in the coming year.

Do insurers need to adjust underwriting to address the findings that elderly drivers are more prone to side-impact crashes?

Insurers should attempt to increase customer penetration and retention as a means of expanding market share.

After 10 months on the block, new CEO decides to retain the group, saying he wants to build a "world-class financial advisory business."

The insurer is fined $200,000 for failing to adopt and maintain procedures for the prompt investigation and settlement of consumers’ claims.

A new report suggests that customers who rely on electronic billing and payment services are more loyal, and may be more inclined to purchase additional insurance products.

Tech solutions have been a Godsend for the insurance industry, but sometimes, common business acumen can trump the most potent technology.

As forces from the political right and left continue to clash, the goal to make health care insurance the keystone of its larger reform efforts now seems less critical to legislation a struggling administration is trying to pass.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) currently is weighing all the options, but no ruling is expected until December.

AHIP says that some physicians who decline participation in insurance networks are over-charging patients.