Issue 2005-29: July 19, 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.




Claims

Insurance Systems Inc. Releases White Paper on Loss Control Inspection Technology.
July 2005, Toronto - While many insurance companies talk of risk assessment and underwriting, few have taken advantage of technology solutions to integrate loss inspection reports into their workflow. The focus of this White Paper is to analyze the need for automation in the loss control inspection process.

Alcohol Interlock Programs: Enhancing Acceptance, Participation and Compliance: TIRF.
June 29, 2005 - Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has released a new report, "Alcohol Interlock Programs: Enhancing Acceptance, Participation and Compliance" authored by Doug Beirness and Robyn Robertson. The report is based on the presentations and deliberations from the fourth international symposium on alcohol ignition interlock programs that was held in Hilton Head, South Carolina in October, 2003.

Following World Trade Centre Investigation, NIST calls for Improved Safety Design of Tall Buildings.
NEW YORK� June 23, 2005 - The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today called on the organizations that develop building and fire safety codes, standards and practices�and the state and local agencies that adopt them�to make specific changes to improve the safety of tall buildings, their occupants and first responders. The recommendations result from the agency's investigation of the fires and collapses of New York City's World Trade Center (WTC) towers following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Progressive Expands Concierge Level of Claims Service - Stages Live Car Crash at Unveiling of New Service Center in Orlando.
New Service in Orlando Manages Entire Claims/Repair Process, Providing One-Stop Convenience for Customers or Anyone in the Area Who Has a Claim with Progressive

eBusiness and Technology

John Hancock Life Insurance Expands Partnership with CGI By Signing New Seven-Year IT Services Contract Valued at US$166 Million.
Boston, Massachusetts, July 11, 2005 - John Hancock Life Insurance and CGI Group Inc. today announced the signing of a seven-year information technology outsourcing contract valued at US$166 million. This contract has provisions for a three-year extension. CGI will be responsible for infrastructure management services including mainframe and mid-range equipment, data storage and recovery, document management as well as professional services to transform the delivery platforms.

Careers and Jobs

The Top 10 Qualities an interviewer is looking for in a candidate: by Harvey Blake.
All employers are looking for certain characteristics from a job candidate. Keeping the following in mind when answering interview questions will certainly promote your chances of a successful outcome.

CSIO Insurance Portal Status Update

Week ending July 15, 2005:
The number of brokers remains at 189.
Hamilton Township Mutual has moved into production on the portal for both auto and property rates.
Royal & SunAlliance and Western are now quoting guaranteed rates for Auto.
New Facility rates were received July 15 and are now being tested.

Consumer Information

Half Of Canadians Do Not Have A Financial Plan To Deal With Critical Illness: Ipsos-Reid (Sun Life Financial).
June 23, 2005 Toronto, ON - A new Ipsos-Reid survey conducted on behalf of Sun Life Financial finds that half (49%) of Canadians do not have a financial plan to deal with the prospect of themselves or a family member living through a critical illness. This despite the fact that nine in ten (89%) Canadians have a family member or close friend who has suffered from a critical illness such as a stroke, heart attack, cancer, or Alzheimer's disease.

How Safe Is Your Job? WSIB launches annual youth safety campaign.
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) launched its seventh Awareness Campaign targeted to young workers on June 20, 2005. As young people begin summer jobs, the WSIB is urging them to consider the importance of occupational health and safety by posing the question: "How safe is your job?"

CIHI Releases data from OECD Comparing Canadian Smoking and Other Health Related Statistics to Other Countries.
June 9, 2005-New data released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that the rate of daily smokers in Canada has declined from 33% in 1981 to 17% in 2003-the lowest rate among all OECD countries along with Sweden and the United States (both at 17.5%).

Business of Insurance

Royal & SunAlliance acquires ING's commercial marine portfolio: Strengthens position as Canada's #1 marine insurer.
July 14, 2005 - Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Company of Canada strengthened its position as the number one marine insurer in Canada with the acquisition of the renewal rights of ING Insurance Company of Canada's $13-million marine commercial insurance business effective September 1, 2005.

TowerGroup Identified Key Financial Services "MEGA-TRENDS".
BOSTON, MA (TowerGroup Annual Conference) June 2, 2005 - The global financial services industry is reinvigorating a transformation in how it applies technology to support business on an enterprise level.

Marketing and the Market Place

Flexible Benefit Plans Continue to Gain Momentum in Canada, Says Hewitt Associates.
TORONTO, ON - July 6, 2005 -- Flexible benefit plans, in which employees choose the type and level of benefits that best meet their needs, continue to grow in popularity in Canada, according to new research from Hewitt Associates, a global human resources services firm.

Identity Theft Concerns Produce Promising Market for Information Protection Insurance: Boston University Research.
Boston, MA June 27, 2005 -- Americans willing to pay for a personal information protection insurance plan expect to pay $88 annually, according to graduate student researchers at Boston University. The researchers link the public's rising concerns over information security to increased media coverage of identity theft and recent security breaches at national data centers.

Despite Years of Education, Employees Continue To Buy Health Coverage with Their Hearts Not Their Heads, Towers Perrin Finds.
STAMFORD, CT, JUNE 14, 2005 -- When employees make decisions about their health care options, they are strongly influenced by fear and insecurity, according to new research from Towers Perrin, a global professional services firm. The new study clearly demonstrates that health care decisions are fueled by emotion to a far greater extent than by rational evaluation and decision making. The study also shows that employees are far more negative than positive about both their current coverage and their current experience in obtaining health care.

The Insurance Integrity Crisis: Re-establishing the Brand: Report Published by Celent.
June 28, 2005 - The Insurance Integrity crisis shows no signs of subsiding. Major brokers have agreed to pay over US$1 billion in restitution, new business models and compensations systems have been launched, over twenty state and federal investigations are underway, dozens of shareholder and beneficiary suits have been filed, thousands of people have lost their jobs, and at least ten industry executives have pled guilty to criminal charges and are cooperating in ongoing investigations.

Managing Relationships and Customer Service

Sun Life Financial launches pre-retirement education for group retirement plan members.
Toronto - June 28, 2005 - Sun Life Financial announced today the launch of a unique pre-retirement seminar series to meet the growing need for pre-retirement planning for members of employer-sponsored group retirement and savings plans. Unlike most financial education sessions which are based on the saving or accumulation phase of life, Sun Life Financial's new seminars focus on helping employees prepare for the "harvest" period when they will receive income from the retirement accounts they have built over the years.

from Doug:

Medical advances are happening so quickly, and bring with them many issues and obviously some controversy. Some times we lose sight of the benefits. My Dad suffers from glaucoma and some related problems. Ten years ago one eye was operated on but the pressure problem was not caught early enough and he has permanent optic nerve damage.
Since then he has had various treatments including drops for his other eye. A week ago he spent an hour or so in surgery, and emerged with a new lens, one fewer cataracts, a flap in his eye which should remain open permanently to allow drainage and prevent pressure buildup. The operation was out-patient.
He was checked the following day and a week later one of three stitches was removed by laser. The other two should dissolve. Six days after the operation he could see better than before the operation, with continued improvements expected. He is delighted, and notes that if this had happened twenty or more years ago, he would probably be blind now. The marvels of medical science.


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