Features
The Online Quest
June 1, 2004 Glen PillerInsurance companies have taken a piecemeal approach to automating their underwriting and distribution processes – with predictable results. The “first generation” of Internet capabilities has had more misses than hits, offering limited inquiry and transactional functions to brokers and agents. The goal of “straight-through processing” remains elusive. But some insurers are headed in the right direction.
Insurers 1-Q Returns Confirm Strong Rebound
June 1, 2004 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Canadian property and casualty insurance industry increased net profit for the first quarter of this year by more than 4.3 times to $589.6 million compared with the $136.9 million reported for the same period in 2003, according to financial…
Automated Underwriting: An Art of Science?
June 1, 2004 Sean van Zyl, EditorWhile the focus of Canadian insurers in the technology application arena has been primarily on “front-end” interface with brokers, new developments in terms of electronic underwriting tools and risk modeling are slowly beginning to surface as companies have been forced to review their existing legacy-based mainframe systems in order to achieve real-time processing. This has created the opportunity to build “risk filters” into the mainframe architecture with the ability to integrate data from third-party information providers. But, the move by Canadian insurers toward automated underwriting has been slow and cautious relative to advancements made in the U.S. marketplace, possibly due to emerging controversy surrounding the use of policyholders’ individual information – such as credit standing – in setting the price of coverage.
Organized Crime on Trial
June 1, 2004 Craig HarrisThe insurance industry’s focus on crime prevention has shifted to organized criminal networks. Intricate, often sophisticated rings have moved rapidly into lucrative areas like staged collisions and auto theft. Insurers say the daunting spread of organized crime requires a concerted industry-wide response and partnerships with police, judicial and government agencies. But, can insurers keep up with the criminals?
A Bridge Too Far?
June 1, 2004 Sean van Zyl, EditorInvestment analysts and insurer CEOs speaking at this year’s National Insurance Leadership Symposium, which was recently held in San Francisco, share a cautious sense of optimism regarding the current financial state of the North American property and casualty insurance industry. However, many of the speakers were concerned that the “cost of the past”, combined with insurers’ habitual mistake of abandoning underwriting discipline, could undermine the industry’s objectives of achieving long-term sustainable profitability and stable market pricing.
RIMS 2004: Tough Talk
June 1, 2004 Vikki SpencerThe property and casualty insurance industry’s mantra of late has become, “how can we stop the cycle”? At this year’s RIMS Conference in San Diego, commercial clients urged insurers to find a way to avoid the startling price increases of the past two and a half years, and temper the behemoth known as the “insurance cycle”. Insurers say this can be done, but caution that everyone – carriers, buyers and legislators – must be part of the solution.
Auto Rental Replacement: A Tech Boost
June 1, 2004 Tim MacNairIntroduced in Canada in 2000, automated rental car systems changed the way insurers and rental car companies do business. The new technology promised to cut costs and boost customer service and has done so quite successfully. Now, four years later,…
Canada’s Insurance Market: A Silver Lining
June 1, 2004 Vikki SpencerCanadian commercial insurance buyers have had little to celebrate with the record rate increases and tight terms faced over the past two or more years. Now, with reinsurers and insurers reporting stronger results, risk managers’ expectations of better pricing are starting to surface. However, insurers and brokers warn, risk managers who look for the loose underwriting standards and coverage giveaways of the past, do so at their own peril.
Moments In Time (June 01, 2004)
June 1, 2004 by Canadian UnderwriterEach month of this special 70th anniversary year, Canadian Underwriter will look back at a pivotal period in the industry’s history. These are the people, events and issues that have shaped Canadian Underwriter and the insurance industry for seven decades.
“Rich Man, Poor Man” Syndrome
June 1, 2004 Sean van Zyl, Managing EditorCanada’s property and casualty insurance industry – inclusive of the primary and reinsurance sectors – appears to suffer from a condition of “rich man, poor man syndrome”, a condition which the insured public whether they fall in the personal lines…
Former Pilot Execs Face FSCO Charges
June 1, 2004 by Canadian UnderwriterIn an unprecedented move, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has filed charges against two former Pilot Insurance Co. executives for “directly or indirectly furnishing false, misleading or incomplete information” to the insurance regulator. Former Pilot CEO Stu Kistruck…
Final Alberta Reform Package Promises 20% Rate Cut
June 1, 2004 by Canadian UnderwriterAfter months of wrangling, a final package of auto reforms has been released in Alberta, with a promised rate savings of 20% overall. The reforms are to be implemented by September this year, with the province’s “Standing Policy Committee on…