mobile-logo

General

Business Featured General Insurance Press Release

SALT LAKE CITY – LenderDock Inc., the leading provider of online Property and Casualty Insurance policy verification and automated lienholder process management services, announced a new partnership with North Carolina Farm Bureau.

“We are proud to be working with North Carolina Farm Bureau. They are a carrier that continues to focus on improving how they serve its customers and partners. Their commitment to efficiencies and operational effectiveness is to be admired,” said Frank Eubank, LenderDock’s CEO.

NC Farm Bureau has partnered with LenderDock to provide additional tools for their clients. The first tool, Correxions™, automates the process of updating policy information by allowing lenders to submit corrections directly to the carrier. This enables carriers or providers to process the updates efficiently according to their own procedures.

The second tool, Verifi™, is a real-time insurance policy verification system designed for trackers and servicers. With Verifi™, phone calls for policy verification are a thing of the past, making the process faster and more efficient.

Finally, LenderDocs™ provides electronic and real-time access to critical policy-related documents such as Evidence of Insurability (EOI), Certificates, and others to financial third parties. This helps streamline the process of obtaining and sharing these documents, making it easier for business partners to manage policy information.

About North Carolina Farm Bureau

The North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation was formed in 1936 as a non-profit general farm organization to serve farmers and provide a unified voice for the interests and needs of the farming community. Today, North Carolina Farm Bureau serves as an advocate for our members at the local, state, national, and international levels – providing educational, economic, public affairs, marketing, and various other services to our members.

Over the years, the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation has grown into the largest general farm organization in the state with more than 500,000 member families.

About LenderDock Inc.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, LenderDock Inc. is the leading provider of online Property and Casualty Insurance policy verification and automated lien holder process management services. The policy verification-as-a-service (VaaS) platform offers banks, lenders, and financial third parties the ability to digitally verify and correct home and auto policy-related data in real-time.

May 2, 2023
Automation Business Featured General Insurance

There is currently a significant rise in inflation across the world due to various factors, including disrupted supply chains, increased consumer demand, lack of available labor, the effects of the global pandemic, a few natural disasters, and war. This has been identified as the most severe inflation witnessed in over two decades, according to experts.

Our discussion will focus on how the insurance industry is impacted by high inflation rates and how industry leaders can use technology to lessen these effects. While all industries are affected by inflation, we will concentrate specifically on the insurance industry.

The influence of inflation on the insurance sector

Although often thought of as immune to economic downturns, the insurance industry is not impervious to market shifts such as inflation. Inflation can lead to an increase in claim costs, a phenomenon known as social inflation. This means that during times of high inflation, insurance companies may find it challenging to fulfill their main responsibility of settling claims.

The insurance industry adopts a method called “hardening the market” to prevent bankruptcy in response to inflation. Presently, the insurance industry is facing prolonged hard market circumstances due to factors such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in climate and weather-related catastrophes.

What does the term ‘hard market’ mean in the insurance industry?

In the insurance industry, a situation called a hard market occurs when the demand for insurance rises, but there are fewer insurance products available. This causes customers to face higher premiums, tougher underwriting standards, and limited risk coverage opportunities. Consequently, during a hard market, customers may have to pay more for insurance renewals and might be left with fewer choices for covering risks.

What is the impact of a hard market on important insurance industry participants?

The insurance industry is being affected by a hard market, which is impacting everyone involved in the distribution process. This includes clients, agents, carriers, and underwriters who all need to adjust their approach to the insurance business. Hard market conditions have significant real-world consequences.

The begins with underwriters who implement rigorous standards and policies to minimize losses. This results in market hardening, leading to an increase in insurance rates and potentially making it unfeasible for carriers to offer certain types of coverage.

Insurance customers are relying more on their agents to help them find coverage that fits their needs and budget as coverage options become more limited. Additionally, carriers that offer certain coverages can raise their rates without fear of losing customers to competitors because of the lack of options.

Utilizing technology solutions for adapting to a challenging market environment

During a challenging market, policyholders rely heavily on their agents to find the best coverage for their unique risks. Therefore, it’s crucial for agents to connect clients with appropriate insurance carriers. To stay valuable to both clients and carriers, agents should leverage technological advancements to automate processes, reduce risks, and improve data collection.

Streamline operations with automation

Insurance agencies and carriers are looking for ways to manage costs and protect their profits due to inflation. They can do this by using tech solutions that employ automation to simplify operations and make producer workflows more efficient.

Digital solutions can help agencies and carriers cut down on operational costs by getting rid of manual tasks such as form filling and license renewal tracking. This can result in a more efficient bottom line while also allowing agents and support staff to concentrate on helping clients and building stronger relationships. Ultimately, this helps insurance customers during a challenging market.

Assistance in mitigating risks

In an insurance hard market, companies are less willing to assume risk, so they focus on risk prevention. To help their clients prevent risks, insurance companies can use predictive technologies and advanced tools for product and service visualization to evaluate possible risks in the present and future.

Insurance professionals can use technology solutions to accurately predict risks for different types of coverage. This is particularly important in a difficult insurance market to ensure the survival of an insurance carrier. For example, advanced weather forecasting software can help agents understand their clients’ flood insurance needs and digital twins can replicate important equipment to give insurers a complete picture of potential issues and maintenance requirements before they become a problem.

Earning a client’s trust as a producer involves helping them reduce risk during a tough market where insurance options are limited. Additionally, agents who understand their client’s risk well can establish better relationships with underwriters, giving them an advantage because underwriters are less likely to insure higher-risk proposals.

Enhance the process of gathering information

In challenging market conditions, it’s important for agents to build a good relationship with their carrier partners. While looking for higher commission carriers may be helpful during a market downturn, it’s no longer a useful strategy when the market is on the rise.

When the client needs specific coverage that only a limited number of carriers provide, it’s important for agents to have several dependable carriers to work with. To strengthen the relationship between producers and carriers, agencies can utilize data collection tools that ease the workload for carriers.

Agencies are advised to find a technological solution that can improve the accuracy of their data and simplify their data collection process. By using technology, agents can provide carriers with higher-quality data in a shorter amount of time. This will ultimately lead to increased satisfaction for both carriers and agents, allowing them to focus more on delivering excellent service to their clients.

Advancing ahead

The insurance market experiences cycles, indicating changes in market conditions over a period. A hard market, which is currently challenging due to unstable inflation rates and carriers’ reluctance to take risks, will eventually become easier once inflation stabilizes and carriers become more willing to take risks. During this time, agencies and producers can improve their relationships with clients and carriers to benefit from the existing hard market.

Investing in technology during a hard market can lead insurance professionals to experience better workflow efficiency and greater value to clients, even as the market becomes softer. Additionally, agencies, carriers, or MGAs that perform strongly in a hard market are likely to continue seeing positive outcomes in a soft market.

April 28, 2023
Automation Business Featured General Insurance

The industries of health insurance and employee benefits are experiencing a shift in attitude that is like other industries. Consumers now expect more when it comes to researching, selecting, and acquiring products because of advanced digital experiences offered by companies like Amazon and Netflix.

Due to the pandemic, employers must now provide competitive benefit programs to attract and retain top employees. This has led everyone involved in the industry – including brokers, agents, insurers, benefits providers, and technology platforms – to work remotely and discover better ways to remain relevant. The insurance industry must adapt due to demographic, social, and technological shifts, which present both opportunities and risks.

Although the healthcare industry is a lucrative market worth billions of dollars, it tends to be sluggish in integrating new technologies. Health insurance brokers face challenges in managing data and processes across multiple parties, including carriers, brokers, employers, and clients. For instance, when initiating a new plan, data must be gathered from diverse sources and entered into the system manually. This task is time-consuming and may result in inaccuracies. Processing claims, checking eligibility, and communicating with carrier partners and customers usually involves exchanging several emails, which can lead to inefficiency.

The process of enrolling a group of employees with a carrier can take a while. It involves various steps like requesting a proposal, comparing quotes, providing plan consulting, and receiving routine service. However, exchanging a large amount of data in PDF files via email can make this process more difficult. This may result in mistakes, delays, and problems with ensuring quality control.

A better approach

The healthcare industry is struggling with old and costly systems that are hard to update or replace. Additionally, regulatory requirements must be followed. Implementing new solutions improperly could lead to serious financial and reputational harm. Compared to other industries, the healthcare industry is less flexible, which means that it does not innovate or advance as quickly to meet the demands of consumers.

APIs can help health insurance brokers to integrate different systems and simplify their procedures, leading to savings in time and money, increased precision, and enhanced communication. APIs provide a set of protocols that enable various software applications to communicate effectively. As a result, the customer experience is improved. APIs facilitate easy data exchange between different systems, eliminating manual data entry and reducing the chances of errors. By using APIs, health insurance brokers can link their systems with those of their carrier partners, leading to seamless transfer of data and automating a range of procedures.

APIs can be beneficial for health insurance brokers in many ways. One advantage is that they can eliminate the need for manual data entry and emails, thereby saving brokers a considerable amount of time. This time savings could equate to thousands of hours annually, allowing brokers to focus on valuable tasks such as building customer relationships, improving service, and expanding their business. Additionally, APIs can speed up setting up new plans and checking eligibility, enabling brokers to provide efficient and fast service to meet customer needs.

Using APIs can prevent errors that may happen during manual data entry, like missing data, typos, or incorrect information. Such errors can cause legal problems, delays, and extra expenses. By contrast, APIs enable immediate data transfer and automatic data validation, guaranteeing that the information remains accurate and current. This greatly improves customer service quality and reduces the possibility of errors.

APIs can improve communication efficiency, particularly for health insurance brokers who can communicate in real time with their carrier partners and customers. This enables a prompt response time, as APIs can quickly transmit information such as claims details to the partner’s system. This facilitates faster and more efficient claim handling, leading to reduced waiting times for customers to receive reimbursement.

APIs in the P&C Insurance Sector

APIs have become increasingly popular in the P&C (Property and Casualty) Insurance industry due to their ability to enable communication and data sharing between different systems and applications. Here are some ways APIs are being used in the P&C insurance industry:

1. Streamlining Claims Processing: Claims processing involves multiple parties such as insurers, adjusters, and third-party vendors. APIs can be used to automate and streamline the claims process, reducing the time and costs associated with manual processes.

2. Enhancing Customer Experience: APIs can be used to integrate insurance applications with customer-facing channels such as mobile apps, chatbots, and websites. This enables customers to access their policy information, file claims, and receive updates in real-time, enhancing their overall experience.

3. Risk Assessment: APIs can be used to collect and analyze data from various sources such as social media, weather, and IoT devices to assess risk accurately. This can help insurers identify potential claims and prevent fraudulent claims.

4. Product Development: APIs can help insurers collaborate with insurtech startups and other third-party vendors to develop innovative insurance products. This enables insurers to leverage emerging technologies and stay ahead of the competition.

5. Legacy System Modernization: APIs can be used to integrate legacy systems with new applications, making it easier for insurers to modernize their IT infrastructure and improve efficiency.

Overall, APIs have the potential to transform the P&C insurance industry by improving efficiency, enhancing customer experience, and driving innovation.

Facilitating the connection between people and technology

Although the healthcare industry has been improving with tools such as virtual reality for patients and health data apps, the pandemic has highlighted a necessity for standardization in data and customer interfaces throughout the industry. To genuinely enhance healthcare, we require a comprehensive strategy that involves data, APIs for connecting information from various organizations, and professionals who can effectively utilize the outcomes.

Using APIs is crucial for insurance brokers who want to succeed in today’s market. APIs offer modern and efficient solutions that help brokers improve their data management and streamline operations. By integrating APIs with their carrier partners, brokers can enhance service quality, improve communication accuracy, and focus on essential tasks. This ultimately creates a better customer experience and keeps the brokers competitive in a market where customers demand immediate results.

April 26, 2023
Business Featured General Insurance

The P&C industry invested heavily in digital tools with the intention of cutting costs, settling claims quickly, and maximizing customer satisfaction. However, due to inflationary pressures as well as supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, policyholders have become skeptical of these digital solutions and are increasingly favoring direct one-on-one interactions with their insurers.

An eye-opening survey from J.D. Power discovered a vast surge in policyholders consulting their insurer for guidance, while digital claims reporting usage has unexpectedly dropped for the first time in history.

Despite the $700 billion property and casualty industry investing a whopping $8 billion in digital transformation over just 18 months, research has found that only 40% of claimants had positive experiences.

According to the recently released J.D. Power 2023 U.S Property Claims Satisfaction StudySM, 2022 was an incredibly challenging year financially for homeowners’ insurance providers because of increasing severity in events, expenses, and longer processing times— all of which have severely impaired customer satisfaction and tested the capabilities of digital tools meant to facilitate quicker resolutions and more efficient outcomes.

Digital technology cannot provide personalized support

Navigating the claims process can be daunting without a human representative to provide assurance and guidance. People often feel overwhelmed when they are struggling with delays, yet need reassurance that their issue will eventually be resolved. Digital alone simply cannot offer this level of support and understanding.

The 2023 study yielded some significant discoveries, including:

Repairs are taking longer to finish than before: Claim resolution time has been extended by four days since the previous year, and a full week longer than what was reported in the 2021 survey. On average, it now takes 22 days from claim reporting to completion of repairs.

The performance of insurance companies is inconsistent: The industry has improved by 3 points on the 1,000-point scale. However, out of the 17 ranked insurers, 8 declined in customer satisfaction while 9 showed progress year over year. Those that experienced significant improvements have been able to restrict their customers from having to contact them for information– which is an essential distinction between brands with higher or lower scores.

Proactively managing client expectations is paramount: While repair cycles of three weeks or longer can make customers feel dissatisfied, insurers can ameliorate customer satisfaction during lengthier and more intricate repairs by taking a couple of simple steps, including:

• Providing different ways for customers to stay informed about their repair status

• Establishing accurate estimates for claim duration

• Curbing customer requests for information

• Ensuring swift customer service is accessible

Pushing digital options on customers that prefer a call puts an undue burden on customer satisfaction: Customers who prefer to communicate with their insurer via more traditional channels, such as phone or in-person meetings, often report lower levels of satisfaction if they’re forced to use digital platforms for key parts of the claim process.

According to the research conducted, Erie Insurance ranked first regarding property insurance claims experience with a remarkable score of 912. Following suit was Amica in second place, scoring 903, and Nationwide trailing behind at 884.

April 20, 2023
Automation Business Featured General Insurance

Insurance could play a vital role in ensuring the metaverse is secure enough for widespread business and consumer acceptance, hastening its growth into an immense industry worth trillions of dollars.

The metaverse is poised to revolutionize immersive entertainment, socialization, and collaboration. According to Citi’s recent report, the total value of this extraordinary space could reach up to an astonishing $13 trillion by 2030 while its userbase will likely expand exponentially with as many as 5 billion people partaking in it.

As the metaverse continues to grow and evolve, users could find themselves vulnerable to fraud, theft, and destruction. With digital relationships being so complex and abstract it can be hard to determine who is at fault when an issue arises; similarly, with virtual possessions, it may be challenging to work out what exactly was taken or damaged – as well as how much value there really was in them in the first place.

Brands and other forms of intellectual property are especially likely to be compromised, as well as an increased risk of identity theft for participants. The rapid evolution of the metaverse also renders it difficult for individuals to anticipate potential security risks and vulnerabilities in the future.

Even though insurance may significantly reduce these risks, insurers have yet to roll out special policies at a large scale to safeguard digital assets or possessions in virtual reality. There could be many underlying causes for this, but two issues are particularly critical: the lack of clarity concerning (1) regulations and (2) insurance protocols in the space. Put simply, it will prove hard for insurers to evaluate risk and offer new products until regulatory guidelines become more concrete, while they would also need to learn how to correctly underwrite products and assess claims within virtual environments.

Regulation ambiguity

To begin, it is essential for regulators to inform participants that the same financial regulations applied here will also be applicable and upheld within a metaverse. That includes adhering to KYC (know your customer) protocols, AML (anti-money laundering) protocols, as well as laws prohibiting unfair trade practices.

Even though regulation is typically lagging innovation, this could be a benefit in disguise since the too-early implementation of rules may cause more harm than good. Even so, it’s difficult to recognize the true advantages of inventive innovations until appropriate regulations are introduced and the lack thereof can leave room for deceitful activities.

Existing regulations may not be enough; some of them will need to be amended for the metaverse, while others must still be established by regulators. As we know, it can take quite a long time before all ambiguities are clarified in court proceedings. In addition, the American regulatory landscape is extremely intricate as insurance rules vary across states, and enforcing laws becomes much more difficult when digital realms span around the globe.

Methodological uncertainty

The ever-changing regulatory landscape often complicates risk modeling, but insurers may now face a unique conundrum – how to accurately assess the risks of the metaverse. With this emerging technology being so new, data and experience for designing profitable products that satisfy consumer demands are also lacking.

Creating insurance policies for the metaverse can be complex considering that insurers are still in the process of forming successful pricing models. Additionally, adjudicating claims may also prove to be difficult given the inconceivable task of establishing accurate evaluations and documentation concerning damage inflicted upon digital possessions and property. To make matters trickier, service providers will likely establish their own avatars to interact with consumers and investigate damages; although this presents an entirely new set of issues since there aren’t any regulations or protocols governing how these avatars should operate yet.

How insurtech is synergistically linked to product-metaverse

As the metaverse gains momentum, so does governmental oversight and judicial interpretation. This presents several obstacles for insurance providers seeking to offer solutions for risks presented in this space; however, insurers and insurtechs alike are keeping an eye on developments with anticipation. They understand that clarifying regulations will pave the way forward and have already started compiling data pools as well as experimenting with potential products to be ready when the opportunity strikes. This should be a cause for celebration within the industry, as their success can drive rapid advancements in the upcoming digital revolution.



April 14, 2023
Automation Business Featured General Insurance

For a long time now, tech-savvy professionals have been referring to the buzzword “fintech” – short for Financial Technology. This term encompasses Digital Transformation and its capacity to revolutionize how financial services are provided.

In short, the implications of this are far-reaching. We can expect to witness new business models and market players emerging, leading to simplified processes, and disintermediation of traditional services and products – all presenting a host of exciting opportunities for those who seize them.

The conversations remain similar when the topic of discussion is insurtech, which encompasses all digital technological advancements with respect to the insurance sector.

Fintech and insurtech are two powerful forces that work symbiotically to drive progress. By mutually reinforcing each other, they are paving the way for a brighter future together.

To comprehend the size of the fintech market, it’s important to understand that global investment amounted to $107.8 billion in only the first half of 2022 and exceeded $111.2 billion during the previous six months (the second half of 2021). This illustrates just how rapidly this sector is growing.

Transforming to the more particular arena of insurtech, we notice that at the end of 2021, a respectable market value was held at $3.85 billion, with estimations predicting an astounding 51.7% compound annual growth rate by 2030.

Historically, the insurance industry had been hindered by its lengthy and tedious processes. This is no longer true as now we have seen a complete shift in this sector’s digitization process.

This transition has established a discernible trajectory, leading from digital identification and authentication systems to the harvesting of data – arguably the most treasured asset in any organization nowadays – to forging an innovative bond with customers.

In this article, we will be examining three essential regions: digital identity and electronic signature; legally approved digital preservation; and lastly, CRM systems to CCM that are digitized yet personalized.

Unlock the power of digital identity and electronic signing

AGID (Agency for Digital Italy) describes Electronic Identification as a method of using personal authentication data electronically to distinguish one individual or business from another. This process offers users the ability to identify themselves online confidently and securely.

In summary, digital identity is the only way to ensure that an individual online user can be identified within a computer system. Furthermore, it’s also important since it gives proof of which person is conducting specific activities on the Internet at any given time.

Let’s cut to the chase: digital identity systems make it possible for insurance companies to onboard customers directly online without tedious paperwork, all while complying with relevant laws and regulations and providing maximum security.

The electronic signature tool is no exception to this pattern. Remotely signing documents and contracts from any type of device through digital signature solutions has become commonplace, making it essential for you to integrate these tools into your processes to improve efficiency as well as provide a more seamless customer experience.

Ensure digital longevity with secure compliance

Prior to delving into the discussion of digital preservation, it is essential to recognize the distinction between dematerialization and digitization. Dematerialization processes refer to swapping paper documents for their electronic equivalents; conversely, digitizing procedures carry an even greater level of depth.

By digitizing paper documents and analog processes, we can reduce the expenses associated with manual techniques such as postage, storage space, etc., while granting digital counterparts full legal standing. Fintech and insurtech companies are reaping numerous advantages from this shift to digital technology; not only does it save a great deal of money but also allows them to cut down on time-consuming paperwork that is often integral in the insurance industry. Digitization enables us to streamline our business operations for greater efficiency.

Imagine the time and energy it can take to find a single piece of paper amongst mountains of paperwork. Even worse, what if you only need to search for certain pieces within one document? That’s why efficiency is paramount in this situation – searching through all these documents would be so much more difficult without it.

Thanks to digitization, these challenges are no more! You can quickly and precisely locate what you’re looking for in mere moments. Best of all, consistent digital storage allows you to avoid any risks regarding damage, deterioration, or compilation errors.

Imagine the ease of accessibility to entire documents or segments when working in a digital world; this is accomplished without delay or hassle, and with minimal risks. In contrast, accomplishing such tasks through an analog form may prove slow-paced and riddled with difficulties.

Moreover, let us not forget the transparency aspect or fundamentally, the countless possibilities that can be taken advantage of by analyzing your document repository on an entirely new level. Imagine all that you could gain through intelligent data analyses of large datasets or even deeper levels of “smart data” embedded in enterprise documents.

However, digitization offers more than just fulfillment; it also provides novel opportunities for electronic filing and CRM/CCM processes that can reap great rewards.

Transitioning from Customer Relationship Management to Content-Centric Marketing

This post has delved into the realms of fintech and insurtech, particularly accentuating the delicate process of onboarding. From digital identification methods to regulatory storage within digital archiving – we have discussed numerous key components that lead us to our conclusion: this last step is perhaps the most determinative one.

Digital archiving yields one of the most useful results: a powerful CRM system that is incredibly efficient, intuitive, and can be used for exhaustive analysis. In other words, it unlocks an invaluable trove of information about your customers.

What does this signify? An unparalleled understanding of your target market.

With a greater understanding of the insured, communication between insurance companies and individuals is revolutionized. This breakthrough in Customer Relation Management (CRM) systems also has an immense influence on future CCMs (Customer Communication Management). What’s the central keyword for upcoming CCMs? Personalization.

By beginning with data-driven analysis, companies can craft personalized digital conversations with their customers. The dialogue should consider individual risk profiles and the specific characteristics, needs, and desires of those individuals. It’s essential that this data is taken seriously – within the insurance industry which has grown to become the third largest manufacturing sector yet also holds one of the highest “planned churn” rates: climbing from 19.5% in 2018 to 22.5%.

To put it simply, customer retention is the priority for businesses in this industry. Companies must strive to build a lasting relationship with their customers and develop strategies that will help them achieve this goal. With the right tools such as certification and authentication systems, electronic signature capabilities, digital preservation technology, personalized marketing tactics, and communication options at hand – companies are sure to reach their goals of keeping customers engaged.

April 12, 2023
Business Featured General Insurance

Learn the Basics of Reciprocal Insurance Exchange

Before we delve into the fundamentals of reciprocal insurance exchanges, let’s first discuss the contrast between different types of insurance company structures. Although ownership is the primary factor that distinguishes these structures from one another, this difference can have a major impact on how an insurance firm operates and who it benefits.

Despite being a novice at navigating the insurance market, you’ve likely heard of two different kinds of insurance structures – stock and mutual companies.

Stock insurance companies are owned by stockholders, of course. Whether these organizations are public or private determines who can get their hands on the stocks: they may be restricted to certain people and corporations, or open to all to purchase.

Stockholders are the backbone of insurance companies, and their contributions enable policyholders to receive coverage when filing claims, as well as cover necessary business expenses. Even though it may not seem like it, stock insurance companies are primarily run for profit to maximize returns for investors. To remain competitive and attract more policyholders, insurers owned by stockholders — such as Allstate, Progressive, and MetLife — have crafted appealing policies that build customer confidence. After all, the funding provided by their stockholders contributes to these companies’ well-earned reputation for being reliable providers of insurance. By deepening their pool of insured individuals, they can boost profits significantly.

Mutual insurance carriers are a common type of insurer, owned and operated by policyholders rather than stockholders. The idea behind such companies is that individuals or businesses with shared needs (e.g., healthcare workers or legal professionals) band together to create an organization that can fulfill those requirements more effectively. With the pooled resources from their members, mutual insurance providers can provide better service tailored towards everyone’s individual needs.

Unlike stock insurance companies that prioritize generating profits for shareholders, mutual insurance organizations strive to minimize premiums and other associated costs for policyholders. This is possible because the policyholders are also owners of the company; they have a say in who’s chosen on the board of directors which makes decisions about management and business operations in favor of those insured. Mutual insurance companies, such as State Farm and Liberty Mutual, use profits (otherwise known in the industry as dividends) to either store them for future policyholder claims or reinvest them back into their customers annually. This way, all insured members can benefit from the success of these providers.

Reciprocal insurance exchanges or reciprocal inter-insurance exchanges are different ways to form an insurance company. Like mutual insurers, policyholders own the exchange; however, there are several characteristics that distinguish reciprocals from their counterparts. Unlike mutuals which may be based on shared interests and needs, this is not necessarily true for all reciprocals. One of the most remarkable features of reciprocal insurers is their exclusive insurance agreements. A reciprocal insurer, also known as an exchange, involves trade between subscribers where policyholders obtain protection in exchange for becoming co-owners. When one person purchases coverage from such an organization, they swap contracts with other members and at once gain assurance while turning into part proprietors.

Reciprocal insurers such as Farmers Insurance and USAA operate based on a mutual exchange; each policyholder insures the other, allowing subscribers to share resources if one becomes subject to peril. In this arrangement, all parties are not only insured but also serve as insurance providers for their counterparts.

Uncovering the Mechanics of Reciprocal Insurance

Reciprocal inter-insurance exchanges are their own form of entity, not obligated to undergo the process of incorporation, and legally distinct from their owners. In other words, they’re both customers and owners at once; meaning that reciprocals do not qualify as reciprocal insurance companies – merely an exchange between members through a contractual agreement.

Subscribers of a mutual insurance policyholder will vote to select the board of governors, which acts as an advisory committee. As subscribers both own and are served by this reciprocal exchange, it is necessary for them to appoint a third party to sign contracts and serve as their underwriters. The board of governors is responsible for selecting an attorney-in-fact (AIF) to regulate the daily operations of the exchange. This individual or corporation will have power of attorney through the inter-insurance exchange, and they are accountable for issuing policies, managing claims, and overseeing underwriting procedures. AIFs may be owned internally by a reciprocal insurer (known as proprietary reciprocals) or hired externally from a third-party entity (termed nonproprietary).

One of the most popular types of insurance exchanges is nonassessable policies, which provide subscribers with the assurance that if their operating costs exceed expectations, they will not be charged extra. (Although assessable policies exist too, in comparison to the former type are much rarer.)

More than just coverage, a subscriber’s insurance policy through a reciprocal exchange influences the amount of their premium deposit and potential annual dividends. Furthermore, should another person file an insurance claim against them, they may be subjected to losing more funds depending on how much is due in premium payments.

A key contrast between mutual insurance companies and reciprocals is the bearer of risks. In mutual companies, it is the responsibility of the insurer to manage any financial losses resulting from policyholders’ submissions for claims. Reciprocal insurance exchanges are designed to divide potential losses through risk management and indemnity among the subscribers. This form of protection benefits all those included, as it places the risk on each subscriber – if one person makes an insurance claim, then everyone else must pay for this loss via their own premium deposit.

April 4, 2023
Business Featured General Insurance

Ignoring compliance due dates or disregarding inaccurate/expired licenses can be financially damaging for insurers.

Compliance must remain a top priority for insurers not only in 2023 but always. The most recent NAIC Insurance Department Resource Report states that out of the 6,000 domestic insurers in the US, 1,474 financial and market conduct exams were carried out by state insurance departments this year – roughly 25% of all carriers! As such, regulators collected over $208 million worth of fines and penalties from these firms. To ensure you are always fully compliant with regulations it’s crucial that compliance stays at the forefront of your mind.

The crippling cost of neglecting to comply

The insurance industry lags when it comes to modernizing compliance processes. All too often, companies view compliance as an expense instead of an opportunity to optimize and improve their functions. This means they may forego software or vendor upgrades that could enhance their compliance efforts to cut costs on the balance sheet – despite not budgeting for fines or other regulatory penalties.

The insurance industry is currently facing a massive issue with non-compliance. Far too often, insurers lean on manual practices that are vulnerable to error or depend upon sporadic events such as license renewals and appointments to initiate compliance checks – usually occurring every two years. Clearly, there is no assurance of long-term monitoring and the corresponding tools required for enhanced compliance when this system is utilized.

Let’s look at the potential risk of policyholders not verifying licensure upon renewal. If an insurer does not have systems in place to verify their producer’s license status, it can lead to inaccuracies and perhaps fines during market conduct exams; even if there was no malicious intent or negligence involved on either side. The example here is of one such instance where a producer let his license lapse without being noticed by the insurer until it was too late.

Insurers often ask how much it will cost them to comply and how they can maximize the efficiency of their compliance spending. Generally, insurers figure that the total expense for things like staff, technology, and transactions associated with meeting regulations is known as the total cost of compliance. These expenditures are usually allocated in advance or under some type of control by the insurer.

Nonetheless, frequently overlooked are the costs of penalties and fines due to non-adherence. These expenses were not planned for and reflect how serious an insurer is about compliance.

A frequent inquiry is whether insurers are doing enough to keep up with current and upcoming regulations. The insurers seem to think they are putting forth the utmost effort, but vendors have a contrasting viewpoint-they witness too many approaches at carriers that could potentially fall short due to them being manual or because certain personnel hinder progress if they depart or switch roles in their departments.

So, how can insurers combat complex regulations? The simplest solution is to work with experienced providers who are already familiar with the complexities. It’s common for insurance companies to believe that their individual difficulties require distinct changes and approaches when all insurers must comply with the same standards. Sure, there are still difficult requirements but often those complications come from within the organizations themselves.

Though hundreds of insurers continue to demand license copies from producers, the upload and storage of these documents is not an obligatory regulatory requirement. Insurers are highly encouraged to take advantage of NIPR’s Producer Database for their verification needs as it is updated daily by state insurance departments – this ensures accuracy far greater than the printed license copy that reflects a single moment in time.

With the help of software, businesses can maximize their efficiency by streamlining compliance processes from onboarding producers, and license verification to appointing. Moreover, apart from a documented audit trail for all activities conducted in the program which ensures that no crucial details are neglected when it comes to any compliance task – having an established workflow also guarantees your business is always compliant.

With numerous legacy solutions to manage compliance, insurance providers often find themselves struggling with complex logins and processes for a single purpose. Thankfully, the software can be used to enhance efficiency within the organization, ultimately reducing costs associated with compliance. Streamlining these procedures brings about many benefits that help an insurer remain profitable and productive.

Furthermore, technology can provide an abundance of ways to guarantee that compliance data remains up to date. Any reliable compliance solution should directly integrate with the producer registrar, allowing for daily updates from state insurance departments regarding producers’ licenses and appointments; thereby ensuring that your insurer’s conformity records align accurately with the states’.

In today’s world, technology has drastically altered the compliance business. Fortunately for insurers, this shift presents an outstanding opportunity to move towards efficient solutions that provide tremendous benefits. By concentrating on these perks and making a paradigm switch from traditional tactics, insurers can more effectively manage costs while avoiding costly fines – all resulting in increased efficiency with a clearer view of their operations.

March 30, 2023
Business Featured General Insurance

Although some insurtechs may experience difficulties and even fail, the majority are adjusting to guarantee success.

Contradictory Information

There are distinct reasons for the failure of insurtechs, such as plummeting share prices and unsustainable underwriting ratios of public insurtechs like Root, Lemonade, and Oscar. Private insurtech valuations have likewise dropped with other technology markets around the world. As a result of money issues, many insurance companies had to downsize their workforce significantly. With inflation continuing to be a concern and interest rates rapidly increasing, insurtech players have had no other choice but to collaborate if they want to stay ahead of the game. Due to these circumstances, it’s not surprising that this industry has been deemed fragile by even those in the know.

In 2022, the insurtech industry experienced a substantial decline in investment compared to previous years – dipping by nearly 50%, from $15.8 billion down to an unprecedented low of only $7.98 billion as reported by Gallagher Re’s Q4 analysis. Even more astonishingly, funding for the last quarter was 57% lower than that of Q3: plummeting from its high of $2.35 billion to a shocking low of one billion dollars!

While many insurtech companies remain small, there is a handful that have achieved real success. These firms boast desirable loss ratios, practical unit economics, and rapid growth rates – all hallmarks of sound businesses. By taking an unbiased look at the current landscape it becomes clear that despite different market conditions than ever before, insurtechs continue to find ways to succeed.

Investing versus Impact

It’s an interesting paradox that the progress of insurtech has recently been centered on funding and valuations, with much attention being paid to “unicorns” (companies with a value higher than $1 billion) or even some “decacorn” companies ($10 billion).

As the year 2021 progressed, many investors had become concerned about the lack of revenue and EBITDA from various insurtechs, especially when coupled with exorbitant customer acquisition costs. Realizing that cheap money and over-inflated valuations have led to a bubble in the economy, these apprehensions eventually became reality as they burst into full view. In the past, it was believed that new startups could exponentially grow and make a profit by simply obtaining more capital. Today though, real success for companies in the market relies heavily on revenue, expansion rate, customer reachability, margins, and EBITDA – especially when discussing young insurers.

Battling Through the Insurtech Maze

Making the dialogue around insurtech even more complex is its dual usage to denote two distinct types of firms:

  • Technology-driven start-ups and budding businesses are revolutionizing the insurance industry with innovative solutions.
  • Companies that have exclusively built and launched whole digital ecosystems with new technologies, selling, and servicing insurance are denoted as “pure play” businesses.

Even though the second group has not achieved as much commercial success as its counterpart, many commentators have carelessly grouped them all together under one umbrella term: insurtechs. Shockingly, this categorization includes thousands of players.

It’s essential to understand what is included in the definition of insurtech. Many people think that only digitally native companies make up this sector, but a large percentage consists of providers and facilitators who rely on existing insurance firms for support. This demonstrates how collaboration between traditional insurers and tech solutions is driving major advancements in the industry.

At first glance, the newer digital insurance companies promise to revolutionize the industry; however, it is these more established players who prove themselves to be smarter and faster. Looking back now reveals that many of those involved with insurtech were not truly ‘disruptors’ after all – they spent countless hours perfecting their operations and building robust business models above all else to provide outstanding service for customers.

Despite their high aspirations, it has become apparent that most “full stack” insurtechs have not attained the success level of their founders and investors. Selling insurance profitably is an arduous task they soon discovered. As inflation rises, these companies are typically unequipped to withstand this added strain – technology alone won’t be enough to conquer this obstacle.

Numerous other “insurtechs” have already earned tremendous success or are on the path to achieving it, because of producing profitable solutions and developing an effective marketing strategy for traditional insurance businesses. This procedure itself is incredibly intricate.

Unparalleled Insurtech Triumphs

As the rapidly expanding insurtech industry continues to grow, some of its most lucrative sectors include cyber risk/insurance, distribution, and embedded insurance. Moreover, through specialized telematics-driven connected devices and automated damage estimating capabilities we are now able to conduct virtual claims inspections as well as support digital customer interactions. Furthermore, aerial and geospatial underwriting solutions paired with e-payments for billing can also be used in predictive analytics such as fraud detection or streamlined claim workflow management.

Furthermore, the development of innovative insurtechs is on the rise through their utilization of blockchain technology and virtual/augmented reality.

Uniting Forces, Platforms, and Exchange Opportunities

In the face of a dwindling market, insurtechs are using inventive strategies to gain traction and foster growth. Three key beneficiaries of this shift in the strategy include collaborations, platforms, and insurance technology bazaars.

Insurtechs can maximize their value to customers through the development of personalized platforms, or vendor hubs. These capabilities are not only cost-efficient and quick to deploy but also save time in comparison with building them from scratch internally.

During the last twelve months, insurtechs have taken advantage of the potential collaboration opportunities with marketplaces – a digital platform where insurance companies can access multiple-point solutions and services. By leveraging these marketplace partnerships, they were able to grow their presence in the industry and establish comprehensive offerings.

Remain Attentive to Profitability

The insurtech industry has seen an exponential increase in funding over the past decade. According to Boston Consulting Group’s report, $15 billion of equity investment was allocated from 2012-2019; however, that amount doubled during 2019 alone and is expected to grow even further throughout 2020-2021.

Even though the achievements of insurtechs can no longer be merely calculated by capital received, Venture Capitalists are still some of the most well-informed investors and their judgment holds a great deal of power–especially in this current unstable economy. Therefore, we continue to take heed when they choose to make an investment.

During the first two months of 2023, Digital Insurance’s investigation discovered more than twenty insurtech funding events. These companies and their respective amounts include Ushur ($50M), Wefox ($455M), OpenEyes ($18M), Floodbase ($12M), Flock($38M), EvolutionIQ ($33.1M) Goose ($4 M), Joyn ($17 M) and BOXX ($14.4 Million).

Merger and Acquisition

For InsurTechs in need of funds but unable to secure more capital, mergers, and acquisitions can be a sound approach. Founders and investors may experience reduced ownership as an outcome, yet this ensures that staff stays employed and their concept can reach fruition while still earning from the combined business’ success. Lemonade’s takeover of Metromile is one such narrative illustrating how effective consolidation can truly be.

Plunging into the Future

The insurtech revolution has sparked a wave of innovation and pushed for meaningful change in the insurance industry, prompting major companies to set up venture capital funds to provide these inventive startups with monetary support. This investment is allowing new technologies to be developed that will help offer customers across the globe life-changing solutions.

To remain relevant and competitive in this digital age, insurers have made considerable investments toward modernizing, automating, and digitizing their core processes. This is due to the understanding that they cannot succeed by themselves anymore; instead, these companies are now taking advantage of the potential benefits brought about by teaming up with insurtechs. Nowadays it’s no longer enough to rely solely on legacy technology – businesses must be willing to innovate beyond their own walls if they wish to stay ahead.

We shouldn’t misinterpret the sluggishness of insurers to accept and implement changes as a sign that they’re not interested in transformation. It’s typical for insurance companies to take their time before seeing success from their transformation efforts; however, Insurtechs and the wider industry rely on each other, and this reliance will only become stronger as change management initiatives begin taking off.

As we look to 2023, legacy insurance carriers can capitalize on their available options such as investing in innovative technology and recruiting top talent at a reasonable cost. This will undoubtedly position them ahead of the competition and drive long-term growth.

Insurance companies and investors understand the great worth of tech-enabled startups, particularly insurtechs, due to their contributions to job creation and economic growth. To illustrate this point: recently Silicon Valley Bank obtained a guarantee from the federal government that all depositors—startups included—would not suffer any losses because of certain events. Though this was at first quite concerning for many individuals involved in these businesses, numerous insurtechs have assured customers and shareholders that ultimately no damage will be done to it.

Although some insurtechs may struggle or even fail in this challenging environment, the majority are successfully weathering the current climate and preparing for a thrilling next step of development. Even amidst these trying times, the movement is still thriving and rapidly transforming.

March 24, 2023
Automation Business Featured General Insurance

Though the concept of being “customer-centric” isn’t necessarily wrong, it is important to realize that a balance must be struck for such an idea to be successful. Have we gone so far in this direction as to make its effectiveness diminish?

On-demand insurance has quickly become the go-to choice for entrepreneurs and gig economy workers alike – and it’s no wonder why. Insurtech companies have been thrilled at its surge in popularity, as more people are leaning towards a familiar user experience with their insurance purchase that mimics shopping on Amazon or another online platform. This shift toward relying heavily on smartphones, applications, or other advancements is transforming how we shop for coverage today.

Subsequently, the marriage between technology and insurance resulted in the origination of on-demand insurance. Now, customers can shop for and purchase policies with no need to seek assistance from an insurance broker, or agent. For instance, a new founder can acquire a general liability policy or even errors and omissions coverage rapidly with just a few taps on their smartphone.

As commercial insurance brokers look to the future, they are taking advantage of on-demand technologies like mobile apps that make it easier for them to connect with their clients. From submitting vital documents, making payments, and even inviting collaborators onto policies — there is no denying that this industry has undergone a modern transformation at an astonishing rate. Even though some may see insurance as archaic in nature, technology continues to prove itself as the driving force behind its innovation.

Unveiling the Impact of AI and Machine Learning on Insurance

Before we delve into the exciting changes that have taken place in the industry due to embracing these progressive technologies, it’s important to note how underwriting has been a major part of this transformation. It is widely accepted now that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are changing the way insurance companies operate – from “detect and repair” to “predict and prevent”. This deserves closer attention as it could lead us toward an even more advanced future for insurers.

In the past, traditional underwriting processes were quite laborious and slow due to the manual evaluation of threats by human personnel. Fast forward to today, where automated underwriting is enabled by advanced algorithmic technology allowing businesses to make more precise decisions in a matter of moments! This revolutionary process has revolutionized risk management for modern-day organizations looking for ways to thrive in our dynamic digital world.

Despite our present-day trials, we should recall the not-so-distant past and its importance:

Insurance may be too easily accessible, especially with the influx of insurtechs that offer automated underwriting. These efficient tools can become a double-edged sword when it comes to larger companies or riskier industries like crypto and fintech– while they are great for simpler risks and smaller businesses, more intricate profiles require expert oversight in order to effectively secure coverage.

The Threats of On-Demand: Unnoticed and Underestimated

On-demand insurance has revolutionized the lives of many, and few would voice opposition to its benefits. Yet, when it comes to introducing new technologies, we must remain mindful that these advancements come with their own set of potential risks.

Let’s explore the double-sided risks associated with adequate coverage. To begin, tech-dependent brokers frequently fail to advise customers properly on what insurance products they should apply for. Additionally, these brokers leave clients wondering how precisely their protection should be structured or classified in relation to their business model.

We’ve witnessed the unfortunate trend of consumers making crucial insurance decisions without consulting their broker, leaving them with huge coverage gaps and often denied claims. As you can imagine, this is an incredibly dangerous avenue to pursue. Thankfully, clients are now empowered to modify vital coverages such as limits and deductibles — which must be managed by someone knowledgeable about insurance for a successful outcome.

Moreover, automated underwriting can create scalability issues for the larger risks that bypass the system. Once a human underwriter evaluates them, they are likely to non-renew or increase rates sharply in order to match the actual risk.

Proven and Practical On-Demand Insurance Solutions

Insurance customers demand various forms of communication from their brokers, transforming the role of a commercial insurance broker to meet these needs. Some prefer personalized attention while others would rather tackle tasks using an app. To ensure customer satisfaction and provide prompt responses, many carriers have embraced automation technology for certain underwriting data that are quantitative. Moreover, clients expect swift reactions from their insurers – making this shift towards digitalization paramount in meeting consumer expectations.

We should anticipate consistent advancement of automated underwriting among traditional companies and insurtech organizations. Virtually all life insurance firms have previously utilized digital processes, while commercial lines are projected to become increasingly reliant on automated underwriting with the notion of “predicting and preventing” in mind.

Ultimately, automated or on-demand insurance solutions have their place in the industry. Yet we should understand when clients, brokers, and underwriters require specialist expertise and attention. Combining human experience with technology is achievable – only if both forces acknowledge each other’s strengths and limitations for what they are.

March 17, 2023
« Previous Page — Next Page »