E.Business Briefs

Web-Enabled IllustrationTravelers Life & Annuity, Hartford, Conn., is providing to its brokers and producers the WinFlex Web illustration system from LifeLink Corp., Park City, Utah. WinFlex Web is a single entry, multiple carrier interface (SEMCI), which runs illustrations for multiple carriers' products on a single system via the Internet. Compared with the desktop version, WinFlex Web eliminates software distribution and installation difficulties and costs; ensures all producers use current software; provides valuable usage statistics; simplifies and accelerates new product introductions; enables brokers access to all approved carriers from one portal location; make bug fixes available immediately; and eliminates the need for Citrix-hosted solutions.

Guardian's Investor Site

New York-based Guardian Investor Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, has introduced its new Web site located at www.guardianinvestor.com. The site replaces parkavenueportfolio.com and the former guardianinvestor.com sites, and offers a menu of options to both individual investors and financial advisors and brokers who sell products distributed by Guardian Investor Services.

Employer Site Grows Ten-Fold

More than 10,000 employers are now taking advantage of a special Web site created exclusively for customers of Colonial Supplemental Insurance. Participation in the members-only site has grown ten-fold in the past 18 months, according to Columbia, S.C.-based Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Co., a subsidiary of UnumProvident Corp. ColonialConnect for Plan Administrators is a secure Web site that enables employers to review their bills online and pay them electronically. The site also provides access to information, service tools and forms employers need for their employees' benefits plan. The site features tips to make claims, enrollment, billing and plan administration easier; forms for claims, reinstatement or changes to coverage; and online reports and tools for plan administration.

Association Site Gets New Look

The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), Basel, Switzerland, has launched its redesigned Web site. Located at www.iaisweb.org, the site has an improved navigation and information layout; a new design; information on upcoming events; insurance supervisory principles, standards and guidance papers issued by the IAIS; and a comprehensive library of IAIS publications and insurance supervisory-related information. A search function will be made available soon.

Premier Launches E-Billing and Payment

Premier Insurance Company of Massachusetts, a subsidiary of The Travelers Indemnity Company, is giving its 230,000 automotive insurance customers the option to receive and pay their bills online. Premier customers can view and pay their insurance premium bills at www.premierins.com. Via the Premier site, Premier customers also can visit other company sites powered by CheckFree Corp., Norcross, Ga., to view bills and schedule payments with those firms.

Cigna Offers Consumer-Driven Technology

Philadelphia-based Cigna HealthCare Inc. and Choicelinx Corp. have signed a multiyear agreement to market Choicelinx's Benefits Configuration and other technologies to CIGNA HealthCare clients in New England. Choicelinx, a Manchester, N.H.-based developer of online, consumer-driven healthcare products for the insurance industry, has developed a suite of Web-based products that assist health plans and insurers address the growing demand for consumer-focused tools and benefit designs that can be configured to more specifically meet customers' needs. Choicelinx' Benefits Configuration technology enables health plans to offer benefits that can be customized online by members as they enroll in their benefits plan.

Argus Joins Insurance Pros Site

Argus Insurance Group, Yakima, Wash., has signed on as a subscriber to The Insurance Professionals Network, a Web site designed to help carriers recruit insurance professionals. Located at www.insurance-pros.net, the site is a resource used by United Fire & Casualty Insurance, NAS Surety, Farmers Insurance, Mutual Marine, Anthem Health Services, Universal Underwriters, Applied Underwriters, Tower Insurance, Secura Insurance, Washoe Health and Camico Insurance.

Group Health Rolls Out eBroker

Group Health Inc. has launched myGHI eBroker, a self-service portal-accessible through a password-secure link at www.ghi.com-that enables brokers to perform a variety of administrative services for their small groups and individuals. GHI is a statewide not-for-profit health insurer serving New Yorkers since 1937. GHI and its wholly-owned subsidiary, GHI HMO, provide health insurance and administrative services to more than 2.5 million people.

NetBank Provides Homeowners Insurance

NetBank, an Alpharetta, Ga.-based Internet bank is offering homeowners insurance through its sister company, NetInsurance Inc., a national insurance agency. NetInsurance began offering auto insurance through the bank last April. In addition to NetBank, NetBank Inc.'s other primary business units offer access to homeowners insurance through NetInsurance. The company's wholesale mortgage lenders, RBMG and Meritage Mortgage, and its retail mortgage lender, Market Street Mortgage, each have arrangements with NetInsurance to offer homeowners insurance to loan customers. NetBank currently has $2.5 billion in deposits and serves customers in all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries.

Pru Relocation Adds Internet Reporting

Prudential Relocation, a Prudential Financial Inc. business, has developed an Internet-based reporting system for its corporate clients. With the new technology, Prudential Relocation clients can access their reports via the Client Center, a Web site designed to provide them with a standard report or one that can be reformatted to fit their internal needs. The data resides in a data warehouse and is available in 12 standard report templates, which provides service, total cost and lifecycle information on both a summary and consolidated basis.

Price-A-Dental Procedure

Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna Inc. has launched an online consumer information tool called Price-A-Dental Procedure to help members better understand and plan for dental work. Price-A-Dental Procedure joins a suite of online tools offered through Aetna Navigator, Aetna's member self-service Web site with personalized benefits information and health content. Those tools include a hospital cost comparison tool, a search engine called DocFind to help members find a doctor or dentist, and cost comparison tools like Price-A-Drug and Price-A-Medical Procedure. Aetna Navigator also includes an online survey to evaluate health care providers.

Afni Enhances Site Services

Simsbury, Conn.-based idNET Inc., dba Afni Insurance Services, has introduced a new Web engine called AIS WebEngine 1.o. With the new engine, Afni has consolidated its Web site offering to a single platform and technology, and has updated its services to include personalized Web sites, whereby agencies can select from a library of classic and gold page layouts, content, color schemes and graphics to create a cost-effective, agency-personalized site that can be deployed rapidly, according to the company. A user-friendly panel enables customers to update and edit content and graphics to keep the site fresh and current. The new engine also provides for custom Web sites, with services ranging from design and content consulting and brand creation to complete Web site development. Additional services include intranet development, Web site hosting, search engine placement services, list management and online quoting applications. The company also provides Web application development services.

Visibillity Redesigns Its Site

Visibillity Inc., a Chicago-based provider of insurance-specific collaborative litigation management solutions, has launched its redesigned Web site at www.visibillity.com. The new site is more than just a source of information on Visibillity, according to the company. It is a one-stop resource for claims litigation management issues and opportunities, and the exchange of ideas, opinions and related research and articles.

NY Life Adds Vietnamese Site

Recognizing the rapidly expanding Vietnamese community in the United States, New York Life Insurance Co. has launched a Vietnamese-language site at www.newyorklifeviet.com for U.S.-based policyholders and the public in the Vietnamese community to easily access critical financial information in Vietnamese. The site provides frequently updated news and details about the company's products and services.

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