Issue 2005-46: November 15, 2005
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.
Policy and Product Management
RLI Selects ISI’s WebWriter Cargo to Launch New Marine Division.
November 11, 2005 (Toronto, Ontario/Peoria, Illinois) - Specialty insurer RLI (NYSE:RLI) has announced the selection of the WebWriter(TM) Cargo software solution from Insurance Systems Inc. (ISI) of Toronto for policy processing and certificate issuance in RLI’s new marine division.
ISO'S eLiens Unit Enhances Basic Loss-Payee and Mortgagee - Information Service With New Capability.
JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 27 - ISO's eLiens unit has enhanced its existing basic loss-payee and mortgagee-notification service with a new producer-notifications capability. Lending institutions that finance the purchase of autos, homes and other property typically require borrowers to maintain minimum levels of insurance coverage. As a lien holder or mortgagee, lenders are entitled to receive many of the same notices that are sent to policyholders.
Claims
MS/B Enhances Hurricane Support with Additional Storm Surge Databases; Research Group On-site to Evaluate Research Criteria
LOS ANGELES November 7, 2005 - Seven new storm surge databases from Marshall and Swift / Boeckh (MS/B) are now available for download by users of the IntegriClaimTM property claims estimator, which gives them the most recent storm surge data. The total component databases for Beaumont, Texas; Lake Charles and Shreveport, Louisiana; Jacksonville and Key West, Florida; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada can be accessed from MS/B's Web site,http://www.msbinfo.com.
Belron Canada Completes Acquisition of the Canadian Glass Operations of TCG International Inc.
Montreal and Vancouver, November 7, 2005 -- Belron Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Belron S.A., the vehicle glass repair and replacement company, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the assets of the Canadian glass operations of Autostock International Inc., a division of TCG International. The completion of this transaction follows regulatory clearance from the Competition Bureau.
Healthcare Providers Sign Up for New IVANS Real-Time Medicare Eligibility Transactions.
Old Greenwich, Conn. - November 8, 2005 - IVANS Inc., the leading provider of healthcare technology solutions, announced today that more than 50 providers and clearinghouses have signed up for connectivity via IVANS to perform Medicare eligibility transactions (270/271) in real-time.
Auto Injury Claims Show Cost Differences in Two Choice States in USA: Insurance Research Council.
November 3, 2005 Malvern, Pa. - A recent study of auto insurance claims showed significantly higher economic losses for personal injury protection (PIP) claims in New Jersey, compared with Pennsylvania, even among people with similar injuries. In the Insurance Research Council’s (IRC) 2002 study of auto injuries, New Jersey claimants’ reported economic losses averaged $10,198 (consisting mainly of medical expenses), 51 percent higher than those of their Pennsylvania counterparts ($6,749).
eBusiness and Technology
Information Builders Introduces Industry's First Portable Business Intelligence Solution.
New York, NY - November 4, 2005 - Information Builders, the enterprise business intelligence (BI) standard of choice for organizations around the world, today announced the industry's first truly portable business intelligence solution. WebFOCUS Active Reports enables users to leverage portable analytics capabilities to obtain critical business information whenever, wherever, and however they need it. By providing customers with the ability to manipulate and understand data through dynamic reports, regardless of their connection to a network, Information Builders continues to extend the power of business intelligence to frontline workers wherever they may be.
InSystems Writer Lets Insurers Simplify Creating State-Compliant Policies.
Markham, Ontario - October 11, 2005 -- InSystems Writer, software that lets insurers create state-specific filing documents and policy-issuance templates faster, easier and with less compliance risk, has been introduced by InSystems, the specialists in complex document and compliance automation for insurance and financial services organizations.
Ontario Hospitals Report Performance Results in SAS®.
TORONTO (October 18, 2005) - SAS, the leader in business intelligence and predictive analytics, announced today that the Hospital Report Research Collaborative (HRRC), at the University of Toronto's Department of the Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (HPME) , has used SAS® software to develop a performance and quality improvement reporting tool available to Ontario hospitals to calculate financial and clinical performance indicators.
CSIO Insurance Portal Status Update
Period ending Nov. 14, 2005:
Auto Rates from Perth Insurance Company are now live on the Portal.
Distribution
Significantly Higher Levels of Web Site Personalization Will Help Retain Advisors, Says New Study From kasina.
NEW YORK, October 20, 2005 - Asset management firms seeking to utilize Web-based tools to maintain and expand their advisor relationships should provide significantly higher levels of personalization and customization on their sites, according to a new study from kasina, LLC, a leading consultant to the financial services industry.
Marketing and the Market Place
Annual RBC Home Renovation Study: Part 2 - Past Renovators Speak Up On Experiences & Offer Advice To Prospective Renovators.
October 31, 2005 Toronto, ON - According to a new Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of RBC Financial group, 70% of Canadian homeowners have experienced a renovation in the past two years and 50% of this group would describe their renovation as "major."
Troubled National Health Systems Search for Solutions; Best Practices Identified in Global Healthcare Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Washington, DC, 7 NOV 2005 - Faced with rising costs, diminished resources and growing demands, health systems around the world are under siege and many will be unsustainable within 15 years unless fundamental change occurs. The crisis is prompting healthcare organizations and policymakers to seek urgent solutions in unlikely places - outside their own borders. In a groundbreaking report released today, PricewaterhouseCoopers Health Research Institute identifies best practices and unveils the result of surveys and interviews with 700 health leaders in 27 countries.
Business of Insurance
Industrial Alliance announces friendly transaction with Clarington.
TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2005 - Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. ("Industrial Alliance") today announced it has received the unanimous support of Clarington Corporation's ("Clarington") board and management to make an offer to acquire 100 per cent of the outstanding shares of Clarington for $14.25 per common share, representing a total transaction value of $273 million (including the assumption of on balance sheet debt). The agreement is the culmination of a process that commenced in early October when formal talks between the two firms began.
Consumer Information
Manitoba Public Insurance Announces New era of driver licencing ushers in one-stop shopping.
November 9, 2005 - A new one-stop shopping model for Manitobans’ licence and insurance needs will increase customer choice, expand hours of service and improve personal identification security, Manitoba Public Insurance announced today.
SGI introduces new payment option for Auto Fund products.
Effective Nov. 1, 2005 - SGI is offering its customers the option of using a credit card for payment of most Auto Fund transactions. Customers can now use their credit card to pay for annual or short-term renewals of vehicle registration and insurance, driver's licence renewals and other administrative fees.
Ontario Becomes National Leader in Newborn Screening.
November 2, 2005 - OTTAWA - The McGuinty government is protecting Ontario's children by establishing a state-of-the-art screening program at The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.
from Doug:
A beautiful Fall weekend provided the incentive to break away from the office tasks and enjoy some of the yard work, sun shine, and neighbourly chats. It was a welcome relief.
Now if only we could get the boys ands girls in Ottawa to spend their time and effort running the country better.....