Insurance-Canada.ca Chronicle Newsletter Archive

Issue 2001-26:   December 10, 2001

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.




Insurance Distribution

CSIO Insurance Portal

Insurance-Canada.ca announces a new section, within the insurance distribution space, focusing on the status of the CSIO Insurance Portal. The objective is to provide the status of each of the bundles of functions which the Portal is implementing, as each moves from analysis through full production. As each of the participants - companies, brokers, vendors - prepares for their involvement, we hope that they will share their status with the community here as well. This is a large important project for the P&C broker distribution channel. It represents an example of the core of what Insurance-Canada.ca tries to provide - information for insurance professionals about the business of insurance, especially product, partnerships and technology.

Other Distribution

Clarica has introduced a suite of technology enhancements to its service capabilities for Pension and Group Savings plan sponsors and their employees that includes the introduction of an electronic online enrolment process. Kevin Strain, Vice President, Pension and Group Savings, said "enhanced functionality through the application of leading-edge technology is a cornerstone of Clarica's service strategy. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/Clarica200111.php

Customers of RBC Financial Group can now obtain personal accident insurance coverage online using a new RBC Insurance Internet application. The personal accident insurance program for RBC Financial Group customers provides coverage for situations involving accidental death. The insurance is available through the RBC Insurance Web site at www.rbcinsurance.com - more at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/RBCAcc200111.php

The majority of CAFP members who responded to CAIFA's October 9, 2001, proposal enthusiastically support the creation of a new organization that would see both CAIFA (Canadian Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) and CAFP (Canadian Association of Financial Planners) folded into its structure. All comments provided by CAFP members have been posted on CAIFA's Web site at http://www.caifa.com/ - more at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/CAIFA200112.php

CCH Canadian and CAIFA formerly announced that they have agreed to join forces to provide CAIFA members and others in the financial services industry with a suite of educational products to complement CAIFA's existing professional development programs today. The strategic partnership will lay the foundation for a more comprehensive program of education and practice management support for CAIFA members. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/CCHCAIFA200112.php

Marketing

A recent survey conducted on behalf of Imperial Life shows that only 42 per cent of small business owners have put a continuation plan in place in preparation for retirement, disability or death. Of that 42 per cent, 10 per cent could not identify what is in their continuation plan. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/market/canada/Imperial200111.php

E-Business & Technology

Clarica is providing a Canadian insurance industry first by introducing two-way secure messaging as a feature on Customer Access, a secure area of Clarica's Web site that allows customers to see all of their accounts, including personal investments and insurance plans, and group health, dental and savings plans for groups which have enrolled. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/canada/Clarica200112.php

Web Conferencing in the Asset Management industry: report from kasina. Asset management companies are increasingly using Web conferencing tools both internally and externally. Web conferencing can be broadly defined as the ability to hold a meeting where participants can listen by phone and simultaneously see visuals through their Web browser. While not as good as being there in person, companies can have an effective meeting where everyone hears and sees the same thing at the same time - without the hassle and expense of travel. These tools provide a wealth of opportunities for asset management firms. Short report from www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/other/kasinaconf200111.php

Claims

Beginning in 2002, ReplacementFinder will include a free online virtual calendar, says Mark Kuper, creator of the ReplacementFinder, the Ultimate Replacement Resource. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/announce/Replace200112.php

Viden Inc. is pleased to announce the release of iSalvage at Adjustersnet.com, another free tool for claims adjusters, designed to assist in the management and recovery of insurance salvage. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/announce/isalvage200112.php

Insurance Bureau of Canada is launched a new reference guide for insurance claims professionals who are IBC Members. Managing Injury Claims and Health Care Issues was released to the industry in an introductory session November 28. "Managing health care issues has become increasingly complex and costly," said Paul Kovacs, IBC Senior Vice President, Policy. "A need was identified for a manual that would provide the necessary tools to work with, and answer questions related to, health care claims." More at www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/canada/IBCManual200112.php

In her report to the Canadian Association of Special Investigations Units (CASIU), Sue Collings of Royal & Sun Alliance stated that Collision Reporting Centres are a very useful tool in their ability to fight Accident Benefit related insurance fraud. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/announce/CASIUCRC200112.php

Seminar: Claiming Benefit from Technology and the Internet -- half day, Tuesday Feb. 5, 2002, Toronto, hosted by Insurance-Canada.ca This seminar was announced last week. However, due to a conflict with the CICMA/CIAA joint seminar, we are reconsidering the date. The seminar description, topics descriptions and speaker biographies are at www.insurance-canada.ca/seminars/seminar20020214.php

Policy Management

A major win for Halifax-based Garvin-Allen Solutions Limited was recently secured when its state-of-the-art software was adopted by The Hartford Financial Services Group, one of the largest commercial insurance and financial services companies in America. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/poladmin/announce/Garvin200111.php

Human Resources

Standard Life's president, Mr. Claude Garcia, presented five HEC students with Standard Life scholarships this past week completing the second year of the Fonds Standard Life - Hautes Etudes Commerciales programme. The Fonds Standard Life - Hautes Etudes Commerciales is a unique experience for a handful of students who see a different, more practical angle of the investment world. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/humanres/canada/Standard200112.php

from Doug:

It is heartening to see various industry and company initiatives which focus on loss prevention and severity reduction. At one time it seemed the domain of government and regulators. However we all benefit from the combined efforts of interested stakeholders. To be applauded are efforts to get the consuming public even more involved. It will be interesting to see what is the detail beneath Finance Minister Paul Martin's "Security" -focused budget later today.