Distribution

The Hartford Financial Services Group has made it easier for agents to obtain a personal lines standard auto quote in minutes -- even as their customers wait for the answers. A major proponent of single entry multiple carrier interface (SEMCI) for personal lines business, The Hartford is one of the first carriers to implement this technology breakthrough that allows agents to connect directly with their carriers through AMS-Rackley's new SETWrite rating platform to obtain an accurate rate.

Corporation's Human Resources & Investor Solutions (HR&IS) business today announced that it has developed a fully integrated Health Savings Account (HSA) solution that will be offered both through alliance relationships with insurance companies and health care plan providers, and to its corporate customers nationwide.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., Hartford, Conn., and AMS Services Inc. have teamed up to enable agents to submit applications for the four key middle market lines of business--property, general liability, auto and workers' compensation--directly to The Hartford from their AMS agency management system."As one of the industry's leading agency management vendors whose system is used by many of our top agents, we're pleased to align with AMS in the use of ACORD XML standards to make it easier for middle market agents to do business with The Hartford," says Gary Thompson, senior vice president of The Hartford's Middle Market and Specialty Practices unit.

SAN DIEGO, CA---Assurex Global, the world's largest privately held risk management, commercial insurance and employee benefits broker group, is launching new software to enhance communication and information-sharing among its independent broker partners and commercial clients around the world. The software was introduced here at the Risk and Insurance Management Society's annual conference.

Data standardization within the reinsurance industry comes a step closer as London-based ri3k announces a special release of its reinsurance hub. Called InSynch, it enables users to create LMP-compliant slips, and has ACORD certification for contract placement messages covering all treaty types and classes.The LMP Office has approved the ri3k contract structure, which will be used for June renewals onward for tradable electronic slips on ri3k’s system. In accordance with the LMP slip requirements, ri3k has introduced mandatory field names, separated into the correct LMP categories. These categories are risk details, subscription agreement, information and fiscal/regulatory.

Prudential Financial Inc., Newark, N.J., has launched a new online disability claim submission application for employees of group disability clients. The new functionality also lets employees handle many aspects of their claims using a highly secure and confidential online process."Continuing to provide our clients and their employees with the secure tools they need to effectively manage disability issues is of paramount importance to us," says Al Hemond, vice president of disability risk management for Prudential's group insurance business. "Online employee claim submission supports our strategy of providing claims management services that are responsive to the varying needs of claimants."

SunGard Sherwood Systems, an operating unit of SunGard today announced that Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, one of the largest property and casualty insurers in Canada, has licensed SunGard's FrontTier solution to replace its existing legacy policy, billing, workflow and claims systems.

Prudential Financial Inc., Newark, N.J., has introduced an automatic, online licensing application for brokers seeking appointment to sell the company’s insurance and annuity products. The electronic data collection tool, called Online Confidential Data Sheet (CDS), was developed by Indianapolis-based BISYS Education and Licensing Services for Prudential. The Online CDS streamlines the traditional, paper-based appointment process and greatly improves brokers’ speed to market."Prudential’s new electronic application is on the cutting edge in several respects," says George Hanley, senior vice president, chief compliance officer. "The Online CDS makes Prudential easier for brokers to do business with, while taking the company to the next generation of appointment processing and online records management. All are important advantages in today’s environment."

IVANS Inc., Old Greenwich, Conn., has added new features to Transformation Station, which make it easier for carriers and agents to communicate in real-time. The features include the ability to send and receive attachments, receive alerts regarding activities such as claim actions or cancellations, streamline endorsement processing and conduct Web site navigation and sign-on. Transformation Station is an Internet-managed data exchange using Web services and ACORD XML to enable real-time transactions between insurance carriers and independent agents and brokers."The Web services based, real-time model allows us to provide our agency, company and vendor partners with new, innovative types of transactions that will have a positive impact on agency-carrier workflows," says Janice Sheffield, divisional vice president for IVANS. Transformation Station is currently growing at a rate of 28% per month in transactions, and growing to the level of what it took 10 years for batch transactions to reach.

SIMSBURY, Conn. -- The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. today announced that Internet-based self- service reporting is now available nationwide to its group life and disability insurance customers, providing them immediate online access to standard reports that help them monitor and manage their group benefits plans.