The Chronicle: Issue 2014-18, May 6, 2014


What's Going Through The Intersection of Insurance and Technology?

Brokers: It's not Paranoia, They Are Out to Get You
Two recent announcements suggest that on-line retailer competition for consumers' mind and wallet share is trending towards insurance. They are using the most potent weapon in the consumer market arsenal: Data. And they are targeting one of the central value points of independent distributors: Choice. There is a glimmer of hope, interestingly offered by a facilitator from the retail takeover movement. Warning: it would be a radical shift for existing practitioners.

UBI and Brokers: Ticket to Ride or Highway to Hell?
By all accounts, telematics-enabled usage-based insurance (UBI) is making steady progress in the Canadian insurance market. In spite of active leadership by several broker associations, there does not seem to be consensus among front-line brokers as to what role they should, or could, play with new product and service models driven by UBI. We're wondering how long brokers can refrain from making some fundamental decisions about this new approach to automobile insurance – and what the consequences will be.

The Intersection: Insurance-Canada.ca Blog
The Intersection

an Insurance-Canada.ca Blog


Technology

Collision avoidance systems can decrease accidents , according to preliminary research findings
Using SAS software, Ron Actuarial Intelligence shows that collision avoidance systems can decrease accidents 40 percent, improve safety, reduce insurance premiums for customers, and increase revenues for insurance companies.

CGI signs contract with Desjardins Group as part of State Farm acquisition
CGI has announced the signing of a 21-month contract with Desjardins Group. The contract is being awarded as part of the acquisition project, announced last January, involving the Canadian property and casualty and life insurance operations of State Farm, the largest mutual property insurance company in the United States.

Business of Insurance

Frank Cowan Company: Quote and bind select select specialty insurance products in 10 minutes with Instant Quote
Frank Cowan Company's online rating tool, Instant Quote, is now available across Canada for small non-complex schools, daycares and community services. Instant Quote helps brokers to easily generate a quote and binder in under 10 minutes with very few steps.

Guy Carpenter report shows insurance industry continuing to release reserves through 2014
Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, the leading global risk and reinsurance specialist and member of Marsh & McLennan Companies, has has updated their analysis of the reserve cycle by examining accident year data for eleven lines of business based on 2013 annual statutory statements.

Policy Management

Exigen suite of insurance core systems enters IBM Cloud marketplace
Exigen Insurance Solutions has announced a partnership with IBM that brings the power of the Exigen Suite™ of insurance core systems for policy administration, billing and claims to the IBM Cloud marketplace. Starting April 29, 2014, IBM clients can learn about and gain access to a virtual pattern of the Exigen Suite that operates on the IBM PureApplication Service on SoftLayer.

Consumer Information

Springtime, Sports, and Insurance
The winter this year has been a long one, and cold. Now that Spring is here – or seems to be, some days – many Canadians who may not have not been involved in outdoor sports during the winter start to become more active. Due to the cost of diagnosis and treatment in specialty areas such as sports medicine, it is wise to at least consider athletes' health insurance, whether as casual or as extremely active and competitive participants.

Distribution

BrokerLink acquires Anthony Clark Insurance Brokers Ltd
BrokerLink, one of Canada's largest property and casualty insurance brokerages, have announced the acquisition of the ownership position held by Anthony Clark International Insurance Brokers Ltd in Anthony Clark Insurance Brokers Ltd (ACI).

Pets and Animals

Insurance for Fido and Felix?
Pet insurance exists for the same reason as auto, home, and life insurance – namely, to protect against sudden and potentially large financial expense. Pets, like people, can have accidents or suffer illnesses which require treatment. Treatment can be expensive. Pet insurance can help to make this expense affordable.

In The Community

The Co-operators partner with Canadian Co-operative Association for international volunteering program
The Canadian Co-operative Association and The Co-operators have announced a new partnership on a pilot program offering international volunteering opportunities to Co-operators employees. The volunteer placements will allow employees to work for three weeks in co-operatives in the developing world.


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