Core systems

A new study finds that price is a key driver among both defecting and loyal customers, but insurers may be surprised by the other priorities swaying loyalty.

Charter members BlueCross, IBM and the University of South Carolina are collaborating to merge business, academia and economic development to grow IT talent, nurture management expertise and cultivate harmonious business and organizational relationships.

A survey from Application Security Inc. finds that nearly 60% of organizations keep the majority of confidential data in databases, with 56% having had a data breach in the past year.

The controversial rule, which has a two-year grace period before taking effect, will consider indexed annuities as securities.

The rate-making amendments are conceptually flawed and discriminatory, say NAMIC representatives and advocacy partners.

Feds say scheme included falsely inflating AIG’s reported loss reserves, a key indicator of financial health to insurance industry analysts and investors.

The New York State Insurance Commissioner believes several agencies could each oversee a portion of the derivatives market.

The insurer’s liability for asbestos-related claims gets a hearing at the highest level.

Munich Re and Risk Management Solutions (RMS) seek to identify and pursue shared research priorities for new and emerging sources of risk, as well as risk areas that continue to present challenges in modeling.

Shares of the U.S. health insurer rose 7.2% after it affirmed its 2008 forecast.

A recent story from DM Review highlights the myriad uses of predictive analytics for businesses, paying special attention to the needs of the insurance industry.

Retailers and hotels ended in the top spots of Forrester’s Customer Experience Index for all categories, while medical insurers and TV service providers ended up at the bottom.

AEGON also has withdrawn its application to the Office of Thrift Supervision to gain a thrift charter, a prerequisite for participation in TARP.

New York — Massachusetts Financial Services Co. (MFS) says that, so far this year, gross sales in its bank trust channel have increased 30% from a year earlier. A company executive says he thinks the Boston investment management company will be able to match that performance in the channel next year, even while it struggles with overall losses.

The carrier hopes to achieve speed-to-market gains by being able to implement rule changes that govern certain underwriting processes in days or real time.

Implementation will start with workers’ comp lines, followed by commercial property lines.

As documented in a recent report, more than half of states score seven or lower out of 10 on key indicators that assess health emergency preparedness.

The open meeting will enable comment on proposed plan to regulate annuities as securities.

Senate Finance Committee releases draft of proposed changes to the tax code.

According to an Exigen Insurance Solutions survey, insurers cite systems technology as the biggest barrier to implementing pay-as-you-drive insurance.