Core systems

European insurers need to be become more cost-efficient to counter stagnating premiums.

A global panel of consultants and senior executives, some of whom work with insurance industry clients, say that building the project manager’s (PM) influence, accelerating new leadership and communication skills, and increased use of informal learning approaches such as social media and experiential training are among key themes for 2011 project management professionals. The global panel of experts was assembled by ESI International, a subsidiary of Informa plc that delivers consulting and education services, to identify top trends for 2011.

Best-in-class, high ROI ERP implementations do not always cost more if well managed, Aberdeen research finds.

U.S. carriers comprise only 20% of A.M. Best's annual list of largest insurers ranked by total assets, and just 36% when ordered by net written premiums.

State Auto Insurance Cos. and Guidewire Software today announced that State Auto selected Guidewire ClaimCenter as its claims management system. State Auto will deploy ClaimCenter for all of its lines of business.

Under the rule, ONC will select one organization to accredit entities wishing to become a health IT certification body.

Registration for Medicaid MU programs in 11 states started this week.

Moody's rates Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp., Fitch affirms Northwestern Mutual Life, S&P removes State Auto from it CreditWatch list.

A combination of regulatory, political, and economic factors are set to create an uncertain environment for U.S. health care insurers, Moody's Investors Service says, leading to a continuation of the negative outlook for the industry.

The memorandum of understanding marks the first formal coordination effort between states and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Legacy replacement, mobile applications and better use of analytics are among the issues confronting insurers.

National health insurer Aetna this week announced its formal acquisition of Medicity, a health information exchange technology company from Salt Lake City. The move is seen by many as a proactive approach to meeting health care reform requirements.

Of particular interest for many in 2011 will be mobile, social media and PFM that make for more efficient customer service.

While opinions on how to fix them vary, nobody would dispute that the problems surrounding the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are legion.

Wall Street validates 2010 as a stellar year for insurance shares.

Anecdotal data from new research released by the National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc. (NCCI) confirms that work-related injuries are far more costly if the injured worker is obese.

Oversight of the Dodd-Frank Act has become the prevailing theme for lawmakers as they discuss their agendas, but will substantive changes occur?

Insurance companies worldwide have suffered less than banks since the collapse of the subprime market in the United States in late 2007, Celent says. However, they have been impacted by the volatility of international markets and the uncertainty linked to the slow recovery of economies in industrialized countries. European insurers, in particular, have reacted to the changing environment successfully, implementing actions to adapt to the current changes and gain operational efficiency, according to the analyst/consulting firm.

Providence Mutual Launches Agent Portal

The insurance industry faces some headwinds entering 2011 – the most prominent of which is a persistent soft market.