LIFE INSURANCE, INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY
PRnewswire | March 20, 2023
MIB, the life insurance industry's most trusted and secure partner for data-driven insights and digital services announced the launch of a new suite of solutions that leverage a unique database consisting of in force and pending application data as well as terminated policy data to provide new critical insights to the industry.
The MIB In Force Data Solutions portfolio leverages a contributory database, maintained by MIB on behalf of the life insurance industry, to provide insights that address a critical industry challenge – the need to understand an applicant's total coverage exposure. The only data solution of its kind, the database was developed in partnership with TAI (Tindall Associates, Inc.), the premier reinsurance administration software in use in the U.S., and in conjunction with carriers and reinsurers who are MIB's members.
The first services available within the portfolio enable the industry to identify potential risks and behavioral trends tied to total coverage exposure while minimizing hidden financial risks:
The MIB Jumbo Service enables participating carriers and reinsurers to take a retrospective look at their highly insured individuals to proactively identify and resolve jumbo treaty breaches during the contestability period. Launched in April of 2022, the service to date has helped the industry identify over 600 insureds with combined in force and pending coverage levels near or above jumbo treaty limits, helping mitigate more than 16 jumbo treaty violations, and saving the industry an estimated $75 million of unanticipated claims.
Newly launched, the MIB Total Line Service provides total coverage exposure data at the time of underwriting. With this new data, underwriters can verify an applicant's reported coverage level, and also proactively identify risk patterns and behaviors that may warrant further investigation. Based on initial MIB case studies, the service has significant potential to help identify behavioral risk of applicants and producers.
Since the In Force Solutions contributory data vault leverages existing system interfaces that many carriers already have in place with TAI and MIB, most MIB members can take advantage of the new services without the burden of an IT spend. In force data is contributed through TAI's reinsurance software and pending application data is contributed through MIB's Code Solutions platform which is e-connected to 99.0% of the insurance companies in North America.
Committed to developing innovative solutions that address the life insurance industry's evolving needs, MIB sees significant future potential to leverage the database for services that extend beyond fraud prevention. "As our access to data continues to grow, there are many opportunities to introduce new services and deliver additional insights," said Patti DeWitt, Vice President of Member Services at MIB. "We are excited about the possibilities for new innovative solutions, leveraging protective value studies, data analytics and behavioral sciences that can safeguard against fraud, improve claim processes, inform underwriting rules, and more."
"Before now, the industry lacked the opportunity to see a full picture of in force, applied for, and terminated coverage. Now that we can examine the picture in full, there is great potential to uncover novel insights and valuable learnings for the industry," said Chris Murumets, CEO, TAI. "This is a perfect example of how data and analytics can be leveraged to help move the industry forward."
About MIB
MIB Group Holdings, Inc. is the insurance industry's most trusted and secure partner for data, insights and digital solutions that support underwriting and actuarial decision making and improve industry efficiencies. With deep connections to the life insurance companies who are its members, and a sole focus on improving the insurance industry, MIB is uniquely positioned to provide data-driven solutions that address common industry challenges and enable clients to gain efficiencies, manage their risks, and grow profitably. MIB Group Holdings, Inc. provides services through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, MIB, LLC, MIB Services, LLC and MIB Solutions, LLC. For more information about MIB, visit www.mibgroup.com.
Read More
CORE INSURANCE, INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY
Citizens Inc. | February 27, 2023
Citizens, Inc., a diversified financial services company that offers life, final expense, and limited liability property insurance, recently announced that it entered into a new distribution agreement with Amerus Financial Group to expand its white-label program.
As part of the agreement, Amerus will distribute Citizens' life and ultimate expense insurance policies under the Amerus Silver Shield brand. Meanwhile, CICA Life Insurance Company of America, also owned by Citizens, will be responsible for marketing and selling these policies.
The company's goal is to be the market leader in custom-made white-label products and also, Amerus' first-choice partner. Citizens' product experience, service, and capacity to quickly develop new products in several languages make it an excellent white-label partner. Citizens' white-label product, Amerus Silver Shield, will service the life and ultimate expense market with Amerus' experience and dedication to seniors.
"Our partnership with Amerus represents a tremendous opportunity to leverage our unique strengths and shared drive to deliver on the life insurance promise," said Gerald W. Shields, Vice Chairman and CEO of Citizens Inc. He continued, "Both companies are passionate about preparing people for the uncertainty of tomorrow with solutions for today. It is very exciting to work with the top IMOs and agencies to meet the needs of this underserved population. We look forward to working with Tim and his team to develop tailor-made product solutions that address the unique needs of clients."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
Tim Baggott, Amerus CEO, expressed, "Citizens, Inc. is the perfect partner with whom to white label our own suite of life and final expense products which fill an ever-widening gap in the market. Beginning with our Silver Shield final expense product offering, Amerus will now be able to offer outstanding coverage for seniors who would otherwise not be able to afford to leave a financial endowment for their loved ones. We are looking forward to expanding our offerings even more going forward as our partnership with Citizens develops."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About Citizens Inc.
Through its insurance company subsidiaries, Citizens, Inc. provides life, ultimate expense, limited liability property insurance, and other financial products to people as well as small businesses in the United States, Latin America, and Asia. The company’s unique goods are available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin as part of the company's customer-centric expansion strategy. Its Life Insurance division is a prominent name in Latin America for whole life cash value insurance policies denominated in U.S. dollars, while the company's Home Services division is a pioneer in the Gulf Coast region of the United States.
Read More
CORE INSURANCE, INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY
Branch | February 13, 2023
Branch®, a full-stack insurance business that uses technology, data, and automation to make home and vehicle insurance more accessible and affordable, has introduced condo insurance, increasing its selection of instantly bindable products. Condo insurance will be launched across Branch's accessible states, beginning with Ohio, in the coming months.
Branch transformed the purchasing process by needing just a consumer's name and address to get an instant estimate for combined home and vehicle insurance. The National Association of Realtors reports that more than 10% of existing home sales in the last three years were condos. By offering a condo product, Branch can provide quick bundling to millions of more homeowners.
Branch co-founder and CEO, Steve Lekas, said, "Bundling has always been at the core of what Branch can do, so we're thrilled to offer another product to help consumers quickly and easily bundle their insurance." He added, "By enabling more people to access Branch's bundle, and the deep savings that come with it, we're taking meaningful steps towards our mission of getting more people insured."
(Source – PR Newswire)
Including a condo product adds tremendous value to Branch's rapidly expanding independent agency channel, allowing Branch-appointed agents to meet their customers' insurance requirements better. Moreover, by increasing its product offerings, Branch provides its partners with a seamless, integrated experience. On the Branch website, consumers can rapidly acquire condo insurance with only a few pieces of information and bundle it with vehicle insurance.
About Branch®
Branch®, is a company that provides home and car insurance that is easy to purchase and designed to save money. Through its groundbreaking instant-bind capabilities, Branch eliminates all of the hassle involved with obtaining coverage, making it simple for clients to combine home and vehicle insurance. The Branch Insurance Exchange was designed as a reciprocal exchange to make insurance more accessible and inexpensive for everybody. Branch is a public benefit corporation and a certified B corporation dedicated to achieving the highest levels of social and environmental performance and responsibility.
Read More