Issue 2010-37 -- September 14, 2010
This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry, insurance products and the marketplace. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.
Policy and Product Management
Lloyd's puts the i(Pad) into Insurance.
Mon 06 Sep 2010 - Lloyd's, the world's leading specialist insurance market, has joined with brokers Marsh, Cooper Gay and RK Harrison Group to trial the use of iPads in its underwriting room. The trial, set to commence in early September, will see the iPads used as an alternative to the traditional underwriting slips.
Claims
Auto glass claims made even easier: Manitoba Public Insurance introduces eGlassClaim.
August 26, 2010 - One call does it all for Manitobans wanting to open an auto glass claim with Manitoba Public Insurance. Effective today, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) will introduce a new Web application that will enable glass repair facilities to register claims on behalf of customers.
CDC Study Finds Annual Cost of USA Motor Vehicle Crashes Exceeds $99 Billion.
August 25, 2010 - In a one-year period, the cost of medical care and productivity losses associated with injuries from motor vehicle crashes exceeded $99 billion ? with the cost of direct medical care accounting for $17 billion, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The total annual cost amounts to nearly $500 for each licensed driver in the United States, said the study in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention.
Distribution
HUB International Acquires Sinclair Cockburn Financial Group.
Chicago September 8, 2010 - Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading insurance brokerage firm, announced today that it has acquired the shares of Sinclair Cockburn Financial Group (SCFG), a Toronto, Ontario-based insurance and financial services firm with approximately $11 million in annual revenues.
eBusiness and Technology
IBM to Ship IBM to Ship World's Fastest Microprocessor.
Armonk, N.Y. - 01 Sep 2010: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced details of the world's fastest computer chip -- the microprocessor in a new version of the IBM mainframe that begins shipping to customers on Sept. 10. This world record-breaking speed is necessary for businesses managing huge workloads, such as banks and retailers.
Pitney Bowes MapInfo Professional v10.5 Enhances Collaboration Across the Enterprise.
August 24, 2010 - Toronto - Pitney Bowes Business Insight (PBBI) announces Pitney Bowes MapInfo Professional® v10.5, the latest version of the company's flagship application for business and mapping analysis. MapInfo Professional enables organizations to capitalize on location-based data, gaining deeper insights into their customers, resources and overall operations to make better informed decisions.
Business of Insurance
Industrial Alliance Acquires Golden State Mutual Business.
QUEBEC CITY, Sept. 3 2010 - Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. ("Industrial Alliance" or "the Company") announces that it has completed today the acquisition of the in-force life policies of California-based Golden State Mutual (GSM). The transaction was carried out through the Company's wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary IA American Life Insurance Company ("IA American"), based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
New Sustainability Trends Emerging: The Co-operators Study.
GUELPH, ON, Sept. 10 2010 - Companies considered leaders in sustainability have well-developed understandings of their sustainability risks, opportunities and stakeholder concerns, and are using their influence to advance sustainability progress in society, according to a study released today. Commissioned by The Co-operators and written by Strandberg Consulting, the paper examines the evolving sustainability practices of 13 leading insurers and 4 non-insurance companies.
Marketing and the Market Place
Ownership of Individual Life Insurance Falls to 50-Year Low, LIMRA Reports.
ARLINGTON, Va., and WINDSOR, Conn., Aug. 30, 2010 - Despite the fact that most American families have less to fall back on financially than when the economic downturn began , ownership of individual life insurance has hit a 50-year low, according to a new LIMRA study.
Challenges of Cross-Channel Marketing Integration : eMarketer.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2010 - Brand engagement can happen anywhere - a fact recognized by the US senior-level marketers surveyed by integrated marketing solutions provider Alterian, 60% of whom said most customer engagement happens both online and offline. The rest of the respondents were split evenly between the two. Customers likewise indicate that they expect several touchpoints with a brand.
Managing Relationships and Customer Service
The ranking is in: Canadians recognize Grey Power as a leader in customer satisfaction.
TORONTO, Aug. 30 2010 - Grey Power, an industry leader in providing auto and home insurance to mature Canadians, achieved the highest rank among auto insurance companies in the private full-coverage segment, according to a recent customer satisfaction study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates®.
Consumer Information
Protect You Home Against Winter Fires: Allstate Tips to Prevent Fire Loss.
As autumn approaches and evenings begin to cool down, Mother Nature is signalling to homeowners that it is time to prepare their home for winter by taking measures to prevent the devastation of a house fire. Not only do fires come with a risk of injury to loved ones, but they also burn through years' worth of possessions and memories.
ICBC's drive smart tips for back to school.
As a new school year begins, ICBC and police throughout the province are asking drivers to make smart decisions: plan ahead, drive with extra caution and watch out for children. Every year in B.C., there's an average of 16,655 crashes, 5350 injuries and 36 deaths involving children.
2011 Buick Regal and 2011 Ford Fiesta Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Award.
August 30, 2010 -- The new Buick Regal earns the Institute's top safety accolade after achieving good ratings for front, side, rollover, and rear impact protection.
The Top Safety Pick designation helps car shoppers zero in on the vehicles that afford the best overall crash protection. In addition to good crash test ratings, winners must have electronic stability control, an important crash-avoidance feature, which is standard on the Regal.
I.I.I. (U.S.A.) Study Shows Dog Bite Claims Topped $400 Million in 2009; Payouts Have Grown 30% in Six Years.
NEW YORK, August 18, 2010 - Dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims paid out in 2009, costing $412 million and up 6.4 percent from 2008, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
from Doug:
Older bones are more fragile. My Mom fell mid-morning last Thursday and after most of the day in emergency, she and Dad were home again just after the dinner hour. Mom is sporting a fixed cast on her right forearm and a removable cast on her leg, ankle to mid-thigh. The Community health services were right on top of it with various pieces of equipment to help out. I have this feeling though that Mom might be a bit difficult as a patient whose mobility is now constrained. We are now hoping that Dad can cope with the help of the nurses at the seniors' residence.