Insurance-Canada.ca Newsletter: Issue 2002-45; November 12, 2002

Issue 2002-45: November 12, 2002

This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry, and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information mostly about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.

Claims

HB Group Goes Live with Enhanced Version of Castek ClaimsPath (Formerly InsuroCity).

Castek Inc. announces that HB Group Insurance Management, Ltd. has gone live with an enhanced version of its online claims communication system, ClaimsPath (formerly InsuroCity). Implemented in June 2001 to manage auto physical damage claims, HB Group examiners access ClaimsPath via the Internet to now manage claims for all lines of P&C business, including auto, property, and liability. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/announce/ClaimsPathHB200211.php

Independent Local Firms Working In International Unity: I-ENG-A.

The Investigative Engineers Association (I-ENG-A) presents to the insurance industry and claims litigation clients a diverse, experienced and cost-efficient group of professional investigative engineering firms that can provide claims support and assist in the control of soaring claims settlement costs. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/announce/I-ENG-A200211.php

Policy Management

IBC Uninsured Vehicles (UV) Project Update -- Legislation Introduced October 30, 2002.

On October 30, 2002, Bill 198, Keeping the Promise for a Strong Economy Act, was introduced in the Ontario Legislature. The Bill contains important amendments to the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act and Highway Traffic Act to assist in the implementation of the Uninsured Vehicles (UV) Project. The government has committed to passing legislation by December 12, 2002. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/poladmin/canada/IBCUV200211.php

Managing Relationships and Customer Service

Standard Life continues to expand online services for Group Life & Health plan administrators.

As part of its ongoing commitment to simplifying plan administration for its Group Life & Health clients, Standard Life is pleased to announce the addition of the Invoice Information option to its VIP Room Web site. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/canada/StandardGrpAd200211.php

Marketing

National Life's 'Alternative Investment with Principal Guaranteed' offers equity-style returns with a 100% guarantee.

Investors searching for relief from recent losses on stock market investments will find a secure haven in National Life's Alternative Investment with Principal Guaranteed (AIPG), a fixed term product available until December 20, 2002. The AIPG combines the safety of GICs and the potential for equity-like returns by offering a 100% guarantee and returns that are independent of stock market fluctuations. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/market/canada/NatLifeAIPG200211.php

Business and eBusiness

Business Process Outsourcing: A Primer for Canadian Life Insurers - GeniSystems.ca Seminar.

Breakfast Seminar November 27, 2002 at The Boulevard Club. As insurance companies struggle to become world class organizations, enlightened executives are coming to the conclusion that incremental gains, brought about by "tinkering" with the internal management of business processes, will not get them there. Many are looking outside their organizations to see how business process outsourcing (BPO) can help. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/announce/GeniSysSem200211.php

MIB Deploys REST Technology for XML Web Service.

MIB Group, Inc. announced today the availability of a set of Web services that extend in-house IT business solutions to clients by providing software functionality directly via the Web versus a standalone application. Included are MIB's Security Alert Entity Look-up Utility and Security Alert ID Look-up Utility, both research companions to MIB's Security Alert Services (SAS) compliance solution for the USA PATRIOT Act (OFAC) and OSFI Canadian regulations. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/canada/MIBWebServ200211.php

Distribution

Investors Group, Great-West Life and London Life sign agreement with National Bank of Canada to distribute banking products and services.

Under the agreement, Investors Group, Great-West Life and London Life will offer their 3.2 million individual clients banking products and services developed by National Bank. The range of products will include investment loans, lines of credit, deposit accounts and credit cards. The banking products will be distributed through more than 7,000 consultants and advisors across the country, under branding that is unique to the distributors. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/GWLNatBank200211.php

kasina Report Names Top 10 European Intermediary Web sites.

kasina, an e-business strategy consulting firm for the financial services industry, today announced the release of its newest white paper, "European Intermediary Web site Trends and Best Practices." Along with offering strategic analysis and insight regarding current and future developments impacting intermediary Web sites in Europe, the report also identifies and reviews the "Top 10" European intermediary sites. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/other/kasinaEurope200211.php

CSIO Insurance Portal Status Update

Week ending November 8: Property Quick Quotes and Property Full Quotes are now in Pilot-Production on the Portal; Economical, including their Waterloo and Perth companies, went live this past week for Auto and Property by connecting their internal rating system directly to the Portal. Dominion and Chieftan are now in pilot-production as well, with rates delivered by the ISI system.

For Ontario Property, Dominion is User Acceptance testing, ING's rates are in systems test, CGU and Traders' are being loaded and others' rates have been received. The first Ont. Property rates delivered through the ISI function could go live around the first of December.

All three brokers who are registered are now in production.

Keal Technology's testing of Signassure continues well; other BMS vendors may commence testing soon.

Careers, Skills and Community

Clarica seeks proposals from Canadian charities that give children access to community benefits.

Clarica, a Sun Life Financial company, is inviting Canadian charities to submit proposals outlining innovative programs designed to give children access to community benefits they might otherwise miss out on because of money, health, special needs or other factors. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/humanres/community/ClaricaGrants200211.php

Products

Transamerica Life Canada provides access to the world's best health care when quality and timing are critical.

Transamerica Life Canada announced the launch of the first global medical care insurance with no deductibles and unrestricted access to treatment options for a critical illness outside of Canada. Through a partnership with Best Doctors, Inc., a leader in connecting people to the best medical care, Canadians can now enjoy access to medical advice, medical specialists and choice in treatment options from around the globe. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/business/canada/transamerica200211.php

Maritime Life simplifies its universal life approach with Universal Solutions(TM).

Maritime Life introduces Universal Solutions, a universal life insurance product that offers enhanced flexibility and choice to customers while retaining the existing features and benefits found in Maritime Life's current suite of universal life products.

Consumer Information

IBC brochure lists Canada's top stolen vehicles.

For the third straight year, the Hyundai Tiburon (2-door) has the distinction of holding onto the top spot of the Insurance Bureau of Canada's (IBC) list of the country's top ten stolen vehicles. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/consinfoauto/IBCStolen200211.php

Child seat information and ratings available on icbc.com.

Families who are in the market for a new child car seat can now find current, comprehensive information online at www.icbc.com. ICBC's "Buying A Better Child Seat" and "Doing It Up Right" brochures have been combined to become "Buying and Installing A Child Seat," which includes 'ease of use' ratings. "Making this material available online allows parents to check icbc.com for current data. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/consinfoauto/ICBCChildSeat200211.php

from Doug:

A couple of days after last week's comment on still green leaves on trees, a colder snap and some rain brought most of those leaves straight down. A busy day then for many of us on a warm Saturday catching up on the fall yard work.

The weekend and Monday were a time to reflect and remember; having been listed in the category of "stored safely, but I don't know where" since my parents' household move last June, Father found his medals last week just in time. They will go with him on a visit to the Hamilton Warplane Museum this week.