Claims

Health insurer designs app enabling policyholders outside the United States to submit claims using smartphone cameras.

New app functionality designed to enable customers to view leave time and claim details on devices.

Two-year modernization initiative will overhaul all Gerber Life's lines of business.

New user interface and faster adoption lead the list of anticipated improvements.

Analysis from HealthPocket Inc., a health insurance information site for consumers, shows that health insurers have some work to do in the areas of out-of-pocket expenses and transparency. The analysis indicates that 38 percent of plans did not disclose their deductible within its annual out-of-pocket limits, concealing the full amount a person could pay if the “Summary of Benefits” was not read carefully. Once these deductibles are factored in, many plans are not compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Corporate Insight's latest report evaluates the online customer experience of more than a dozen leading insurers.

Based on data compiled between 2008 and 2012, the National Insurance Crime Bureau breaks down the models and states most prone to theft.

PCI commends Attorney General Schneiderman as insurers have been able to pay Sandy claims within an average of 20 days.

Personal and commercial P&C insurers say data capture and transformation into useful information has become a critical differentiator of performance within the marketplace, according to a new survey.

Insurer's field staff will receive tablets preloaded with RC Inspection in attempt to improve field data collection.

Head of the agriculture unit at Munich Re cites drought as the biggest cause of losses in 2012.

Vehicle repair times and satisfaction with the repair process both decline.

From 2008 to 2011, the number of questionable claims suspected of being part of an organized group or ring activity increased by 47 percent, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s “Data Analytics Forecast Report.” However, that number of questionable claims with the OGA referral reason decreased markedly in 2011 and continued to fall in in the first half of 2012.

Insurer looks to achieve greater agility for expansion with new underwriting, policy administration, billing and claims management systems.

Trillium survey finds 75 percent of claims systems should be upgraded or replaced within five years; analytics and better communication present opportunities to improve cost-effective customer satisfaction.

Industry organizations have responded enthusiastically to news that Congress has agreed to a $9.2 billion authorized increase to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is necessary to pay claims resulting from Superstorm Sandy. The bill had already passed the Senate and President Barack Obama is expected to sign it.

Severe weather-related catastrophes in United States accounted for a larger-than-normal portion of global catastrophe losses in 2012, increasing to 67 percent from an average of 32 percent, and 90 percent of global insured losses, compared to an average of 57 percent, according to Munich Re.

TriZetto Corp. has acquired Healthcare Productivity Automation, which sells a claims workflow tool to automate manual payment processes by providers and insurers. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Mobile claims applications clearly have the potential to increase customer satisfaction by offering greater speed, accuracy and transparency into processes that were previously opaque. But without proper planning, they can prove to be a double-edged sword.

The added difficulties and pressures that come with providing claims coverage through a mobile app.