Feature
Time to address International PMI fraud
As European Union members get closer to introducing the Directive on patient mobility Edmund Tirbutt asks how private medical insurers are tackling fraud in health care.
Will sub-brokers in India make a difference?
Neera Bhardwaj asks if the expected allowance of sub-broking in India will really shake up the retail insurance landscape.
Broking Focus: Cashflow Problem
Macquarie’s withdrawal from cashflow lending last year caught many brokers by surprise, but what has the impact been– and where do brokers look now for finance?
Insurance Census: Gender: Battle of the Sexes?
In the first of a three-part series on diversity in the industry, Post analyses the role of gender in insurance. Does the traditional image of a male-dominated industry hold true, or do females have a strong presence across the sector?
Where is the service culture?
Praveen Gupta, ceo and country manager of Raheja, QBE in Mumbai, and senior member of the Chartered Insurance Institute, wants emerging markets in Asia to place less emphasis on sales and more on service.
Gender Directive: The Sex Factor
As consumers come to terms with gender-neutral pricing, motor insurers continue to sweat over alternative rating factors and rebalanced underwriting models.
Regulation: Staggering Along
The switch from the Financial Services Authority to the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority could prove tricky — especially with Solvency II on the horizon.
Reinsurance: Superstorm in a teacup?
While destruction wreaked by Superstorm Sandy hasn’t hit the reinsurance sector as hard as might be expected, the market faces challenges in the shape of overcapitalisation and PPOs.
Spotlight On: Telematics: Map Reading
In the flourishing world of telematics-based car insurance, the concept of a vehicle score to evaluate individual risk has become ubiquitous. But are all scores equal?
Spotlight On: Telematics: On the road to a new era
Has the EU Gender Ruling finally brought telematics to the fore to drive new growth in the motor sector?
Europe’s hidden gems
Insurers branching out in Asia and other far reaches seem to be grabbing the headlines of late but as Francesca Nyman explains, there are still plenty of opportunities for insurers closer to home.
The indirect tax problem
Tax compliance can be a challenging issue for insurers and as Anne-Louise Fogtmann discovers unprecedented levels of indirect tax changes across Europe in 2013 are likely to keep insurers on their toes.
Fraud prevention: Capital punishment
It has been a year since the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department opened for business in the City of London. Is the specialist team living up to the hype?
In Series: Outsourcing - Quality control
How can insurers ensure their brand identity and customer service expectations are maintained by outsourced providers?
In Series: Outsourcing - Hand in hand
Research shows that customers remain loyal to brands that treat them well. A great experience makes them more likely to buy or repeat a service, but once trust is lost it is hard to win back.
Corporate governance: Skilled assessment
The Financial Services Authority can request a 'skilled person report' at any time, on any matter. What can insurers do to ensure that their corporate governance is in the best shape?
Customer retention: Rewarding loyalty
Insurers spend vast amounts on acquiring new customers, but customer churn remains high. Should they be doing more to retain existing policyholders instead?
To list or not to list? More Chinese insurers tipped to seek IPOs in 2013
Chinese insurers have started to raise money from equity issuance in the past two years as regulations and market appetite make the option more attractive, writes Andrew Tjaardstra.
Mergers & Acquisitions: How's your appetite?
With industry commentators split on how mergers and acquisitions might unfold this year, is there evidence that firms are hungry for more after a busy 2012, or have they had their fill for now?
Weathering the growing subsidence risk
Subsidence is increasingly frequent and research shows that, with climates getting hotter, this is only going to continue. Edmund Tirbutt looks at how the market covers subsidence and whether it will continue to do so.
The importance of disaster restoration
Insurers in Asia are increasingly turning their attention to property restoration following natural disasters, spurred on by the possibility of huge cost savings, writes Nicky Burridge.
Insurance contracts: Watch your mouth
A Court of Appeal ruling on contract law allowing verbal discussions to be incorporated into a contract at any stage could have far-reaching implications for the industry.
In Series: Outsourcing - Clear the decks
Having underwriters carry out administration tasks wastes time and doesn't make business sense, says Paul Firkins.
In Series: Outsourcing - Can't someone else do it?
Outsourcing administration can ease the pressure on staff, allowing them to focus on the jobs they were hired to do.