The Chronicle: Issue 2012-17, April 24, 2012


The Intersection: Insurance-Canada.ca BlogWhat's Going Through The Intersection of Insurance and Technology, an Insurance-Canada.ca Blog.


Claims

ISB Seminar: Industry Insiders Divulge Expert Adjusting Tips!.
This one-day seminar on June 21, 2012, 8:00 am - 4:15 pm will show insurance adjusters and those involved in the adjusting process how to "Close Files Faster. Uncover Fraud. Protect the Reserve".

Great-West Life: New app for Apple iPhone and iPod touch mobile digital devices allows GroupNet members to submit insurance claims 'on the go'.
WINNIPEG, April 16, 2012 - Great-West Life today introduced an innovative mobile application that gives registered members of GroupNetTrademark symbol for Plan Members added service and convenience. The new app, GroupNet Mobile, provides secure mobile access to personalized coverage information, allows online submission of healthcare claims.

Traffic Injury Research Foundation and Eco-Kare International receive State Farm funding to examine wildlife-vehicle collisions in Canada.
OTTAWA, April 19, 2012 - The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) and Eco-Kare International are pleased to announce their partnership in a feasibility study to create a Canadian wildlife-vehicle collision database. Funding for this study is provided by State Farm as a primary sponsor. The study is the first step in the creation of a much-needed national clearing house on wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Consumer Information

MyCare: Two New Private Health Insurance Products for Canadians Announced by Mayo Clinic & Assured Diagnosis Inc.
April 16, 2012 - ROCHESTER, Minn., and CALGARY, Alberta - Mayo Clinic and Assured Diagnosis Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, announced today the launch of two new health insurance options that will provide more Canadians access to Mayo Clinic's expertise and care in the event of serious illness.

Policy and Product Management

LOGiQ3 Underwriting Training Program - New E-Learning Platform!
Underwriting is a profession which requires understanding and discipline. The shortage of Underwriters today, coupled with lack of time or resources to internally train, has created a shortage of quality Underwriters growing within our industry. The LOGiQ3 Underwriting Training Program addresses this shortage by teaching dedicated individuals to become skilled Underwriters.

Distribution

Brovada's NexExchange provides real-time solution to Kent & Essex.
Toronto, ON - April 18, 2012 - Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance Company has started its roll-out of Brovada's real-time inquiry solution allowing brokers to request policy, billing, and claims inquiries for all lines of business. Using both Brovada's NexExchange and NexCenter, Kent & Essex will allow their brokers to request real-time snapshots of critical policy, billing and claims information.

Applied Systems CSR24 increases service levels and customer satisfaction at Top 100 insurance broker.
University Park, Ill. - April 11, 2012 - A self-service portal powered by Applied Systems CSR24Registered trademark symbol helps maintain the highest levels of customer service and satisfaction at M3 Insurance Solutions, an independent commercial agency that ranks among the 100 largest U.S. insurance brokers.

Marketing

eMarketer: Web User Concentration in Canada Mimics Population Spread.
APRIL 16, 2012 - eMarketer estimates that Canada's online population hit 26 million in 2011 and will add another 400,000 users in 2012. Growth is slowed by the already high penetration rate, which will reach 77% this year. According to comScore's "2012 Canada Digital Future in Focus" report, during Q4 2011, 38% of internet users in the country were located in the province of Ontario, followed by Quebec (24%) and the combined prairie provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan (18%).

Technology

IBM and Varicent Software: IBM Broadens Analytics Portfolio with Aqcuisition.
ARMONK, N.Y. - 13 Apr 2012: IBM today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Varicent Software Incorporated, a leading provider of analytics software for compensation and sales performance management. Varicent is a privately held company, with headquarters in Toronto, Canada. Financial terms were not disclosed.

IBM sets the stage for the next era of computing.
ARMONK, NEW YORK, April 11, 2012 -- IBM today announced a major step forward in a new, simpler era of computing with the introduction of a new category of "expert integrated systems." This new family is the first with built-in expertise based on IBM's decades of experience running IT operations for tens of thousands of clients in 170 countries.

Our People

ILS Introduction to General Insurance program: Obtaining a Level 1 general insurance salesperson's license in British Columbia made easier.
COURTENAY, B.C. - April 12, 2012 - The ILS Introduction to General Insurance program (ILS IGI) is now available online for students across British Columbia, ILScorp, a long-time provider of insurance and financial services education and training, announced today. Recently accredited by the Insurance Council of British Columbia, this innovative program allows students to study for and obtain their Level 1 general insurance salesperson's license from a single source.

Reference and Statistics

Kanetix: Auto insurance rates decrease in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.
TORONTO, April 16, 2012 - KanetixRegistered trademark symbol announced today the results of its quarterly review of car insurance rates in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. The study showed that all three provinces saw a decrease in auto insurance rates compared to Q1 2011. Ontario saw the largest change with a 3.6 per cent decrease in rates, followed by Quebec (1.6 per cent), and Alberta (1.3 per cent).

FSCO: Auto Insurance Rates for the First Quarter of 2012.
The Government passed regulations to enact auto insurance reforms effective September 1, 2010. These reforms are designed to reduce excess assessment costs in the auto insurance system and ensure more accident benefit dollars go to treating people injured in auto accidents. Ontario drivers now have more choice when it comes to their auto insurance coverage.

Business of Insurance

New Brunswick Report shows province's insurance industry is a significant economic driver.
MONCTON, April 19, 2012 - With wages 29 per cent above the provincial average, a $781.2 million direct and supporting share of the province's GDP and a presence in urban and rural communities across the province, the insurance sector is a key component of New Brunswick's financial services sector - and has the potential to grow even stronger through cooperation of industry stakeholders and government.

Guy Carpenter Finds Reinsurance Rates Rise at April 1, 2012 Renewals.
New York, April 5, 2012 - Reinsurance rates rose as the market continues to work through the impact of the events of 2011, according to Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, the leading global risk and reinsurance specialist and a member of Marsh & McLennan Companies. In a briefing released today, Guy Carpenter reports that this year's April 1 renewals are continuing the general trends observed at January 1, 2012.

Insurance in the Community

Manulife Financial - DRIVE TO 125 - Canadians encouraged to join hearts and hands and volunteer 125,000 hours for charity.
WATERLOO, ON, April 17, 2012 - In celebration of its 125th anniversary, Manulife Financial is encouraging Canadians to collectively pledge 125,000 hours of volunteer work for causes near and dear to their hearts. Drive to 125 is a social-cause campaign promoted on the Get Volunteering Facebook page - a site managed by Manulife Financial to promote and support volunteerism.

from Doug:

It was a busy weekend. On Saturday a car load of us drove to London for a seminar by the heritage group I belong to. The main morning session related local (Woodstock to Detroit) history about the War of 1812. The afternoon workshop about social media took us to a whole different space. I guess even history needs to keep current.
A family reunion on Sunday brought a good turnout across four generations. An hour long panel discussion by five from the oldest generation allowed us to ask questions about life on the farm and in the community in the 1920's and 30's. A question posed to the panel "What innovation in your life time was the most significant [to you]?". One suggested the tractor, a second the telephone and two more, the rural electrification program. For most of us in the audience, life without electricity was hard to imagine.


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