Digital distribution

Photos from INN’s Women in Insurance Leadership Forum.

The Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York State are offering access to the PIA Technology Hotline, a new member-exclusive resource to help agents navigate the myriad technology options available for their businesses.

The Hartford and Business Insurance Now teamed to extend their partnership to include the home and auto.

INN recognized 10 of the industry’s most successful female insurance leaders at the second annual Women in Insurance Leadership Forum.

A significant benefit for both sides is the ability to work jointly on product development, distribution channels and customer service.

Feeling pressure to reduce costs, IT managers eye savings in document management.

The goal of the health insurer’s marketing plan is to keep members engaged and informed.

The insurer will hire 50 people to operate a new disability management services office in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The marketing agreement allows employer groups in select markets to purchase Humana’s dental HMO as the low-cost option on a Dual Select Dental Plan, with a Sun Life plan as the high-cost option.

As insurers ponder their social networking involvement, they must consider the ramifications of this new and interesting channel.

Association says Japan Post Insurance enjoys favorable treatment in marketplace.

Marcus Cooper takes over for Mike Vaught as head of the company's national sales and strategic relationships.

Some tout social networking media as a marketing opportunity, but for many it is a substitute for family.

Previously only advising the wealthy, the company thinks its investment advisory platform will help to retain customers whose balances have dwindled during the recession.

For the fourth year in a row, INN is proud to recognize female leaders paving the way for others in the insurance industry.

Also receiving recognition this year are four leaders who have successfully driven significant project and/or process improvements within their companies.

Outline Systems, Inc. (OSI), a provider of IT solutions and services for insurance carriers and managing general agencies (MGAs), launched the latest release of ProducerOne, a comprehensive producer management system designed to facilitate sales and agency distribution channel relationships.

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.

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

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