A rogue employee attempting to make a profit on the Dark Web in 2017 breached the data systems of Bupa, a U.K.-based international health insurer. The employee, who goes under the codename “MoZeal” and who offered the database for sale on Alpha Bay, one of many sites on the Dark Web, has exposed data for 108,000 policies and claims to have information for as many as one million customers.

Lemonade, an U.S. property/casualty insurance company “powered by artificial intelligence and behavioral economics”, in June 2017 released two surveys conducted in April 2017 that appear to indicate it had overtaken Allstate, GEICO, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, State Farm, USAA and all other legacy insurers, when it comes to first-time purchasers of renter’s insurance in New York State. The first of two Google surveys (500 respondents) compared Lemonade’s market share in

Zurich’s International business (Zurich International) in August 2017 launched its Target Date Funds (TDFs) as part of the investment proposition available with the International Pension Plan (IPP), and International Corporate Investment Plan (ICIP). Zurich International claims it is the first financial services group to offer a US Dollar TDF solution in the International Pensions & Savings market. With their focus on simplicity, value for money and positive retirement outcomes

U.S. health insurance comparison platform HealthCare.com in June 2017 announced the launch of The CheckUp, a new online blog meant to equip Americans with the knowledge and insight to make better-informed decisions about their healthcare. More than one-third of Americans are unaware that “Obamacare” is another name for the Affordable Care Act, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult earlier this year. Led by Ronald Barba, a veteran

American International Group (AIG), IBM, and Standard Chartered Bank, in June 2017 announced they have successfully piloted the first multinational “smart contract”-based insurance policy using blockchain, a distributed ledger technology. The three parties chose to execute this initiative in one of the most complicated areas of commercial insurance – multinational risk transfer – to better understand blockchain’s potential to reduce friction and increase trust in other areas of the

Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG) in June 2017 acquired HolaDoctor, the leading digital provider of health and wellness solutions for Hispanic audiences, in a significant strategic initiative by PALIG that both expands its presence in the U.S. Hispanic market and strengthens its position as a healthcare leader in Latin America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 1999, HolaDoctor is an online resource for Hispanic consumers interested

The Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies in July 2017 passed a reform of the long-term nursing care (LTC) insurance plan provided by Social Security, officially known as “assurance dépendance”. The new provisions that come into force on 1 January 2018 allow for higher individualization of the range of – mainly nursing – services to better meet the daily needs of LTC beneficiaries. New standards and controls and simplified procedures are

In a long overdue move, the European Commission in June 2017 unveiled a proposal for a pan-European personal pensions product (PEPP). PEPPs are designed to complement – not replace or harmonize  – existing state-based occupational and national personal pensions throughout the European Union. The PEPP forms part of the Commission’s plan to build a Capital Markets Union (CMU), wherein the Commission believes the new pension product will help to

Actuarial firm Milliman in June 2017 released a white paper: The 2016 US Group Disability Market Survey, which discusses employer-paid and employee-paid short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) insurance products, and includes an analysis of premiums, cases, and covered lives from new sales and in-force business in 2015 and 2016. The white paper determined that the combined STD and LTD in-force premium among contributing companies in 2016 was

Global consulting and actuarial firm Milliman in June 2017 released the findings of a study titled “Participating business in Asia: 2016 Edition.” The study analyses and compares participating (par) business across seven Asian insurance markets, most notably Singapore, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, mainland China, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The report collates in-depth information not otherwise available and provides insight from survey results about par business in Asia and includes:

Generali Global Health (GGH), the international health insurance division of Generali, in June 2017 launched a new product in Spain, Global Choice, an international health insurance plan for groups with globally mobile employees. GGH has partnered with sister company Generali España to launch Global Choice in Spain. Since its launch in select markets throughout 2016, including the UAE and Hong Kong, Global Choice has been updated and the Spanish

Alight, the former outsourcing business that Aon in February 2017 sold to private equity firm Blackstone, in June 2017 re-emerges as a standalone firm. Chris Michalak, CEO of Alight Solutions: “We are using this opportunity to ignite an entrepreneurial spirit and a culture focused on innovation to help companies and their people meet their rapidly changing benefits, HR and financial needs. […] we believe that businesses are powered by

The Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR) in late May 2017 released its Travel Health Insurance Products Position Paper detailing final recommendations to the issues it identified in travel health insurance, to enhance consumer protection and confidence, including: Development of common standardized definitions and terminology Improvements to the application, screening and claims process Simplifying and improving disclosure documents Ensuring adequate controls and oversight mechanisms are in place throughout the

In a letter addressed to leaders in the United States’ House of Representatives and shared with all House and Senate members, the American Academy of Actuaries’ Individual and Small Group Markets Committee and Medicaid Subcommittee in April 2017 provided an actuarial perspective on the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The analysis examines the effects on enrollment and on the risk pool of the AHCA’s replacement of the individual mandate

Aetna International, a subsidiary of Aetna, in May 2017 announced the redesign of Health Hub, its health care benefits secure member portal, after an extensive review of the service. The redesign allows users to search for information about a subscriber’s health, and allows subscribers to have secure access to their insurance and healthcare needs from any location. Members can view their plan details, access claim records, and search for

With growing global uncertainties, there is an increased demand for a way to reach traveling employees anywhere, at any time, and this was the driving force behind a new Active Monitoring service, offered by HX Global as an add-on to Concur’s Integrated Traveller Risk Management Solution, that is designed to help companies manage employee safety. The integrated Traveller Risk Management Solution, unveiled by Concur in March 2017 at Concur

IPMI provider Now Health International in May 2017 announced that, after a comprehensive product review, they are offering significant changes to their flagship WorldCare product. The enhanced version of WorldCare will include a simplified annual deductible structure, higher benefit limits, and new added value services in response to feedback from its members and distribution network. Key enhancements include: Simple annual deductible Now based on a new deductible structure rather

Aon Benfield, the global reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon plc, in May 2017 announced the launch of its PathWise Solutions Group business solutions package, bringing the integrated enterprise High Performance Computing (HPC) business platform within compliance for IFRS 17 standards for insurance contracts. This standard requires companies to significantly enhance their valuation systems and processes; specifically in areas such as data management, model management, and computational power

CSA Travel Protection, a travel insurance provider, in May 2017 began rebranding to Generali Global Assistance as part of a wider program to rebrand several Europ Assistance business lines in the United States to Generali Global Assistance (GGA). Products and solutions carrying the CSA Travel Protection name will transition over time, while retaining and enhancing offerings and services to customers. As GGA, they will be able to offer a

Lemonade, the New York City-based insurtech company in April 2017 announced a strategic investment by Allianz, the world’s largest insurance company. Details of the investment have not been disclosed. Solmaz Altin, Chief Digital Officer at Allianz, cited the company’s commitment to staying at the cutting edge of insurance and to helping Lemonade expand throughout the U.S. and internationally. Allianz already had invested in several thought leadership initiatives, such as

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN), a global joint venture between MetLife and AXA, in April 2017 announced the launch of its new website, client portal, and member portal as part of the firm’s extensive investment in its digital infrastructure. The new site has revised content about MAXIS GBN’s network, solutions, and thought leadership. The latter includes the new, monthly, Viewpoint series, webinars, and health and wellness white-papers. The

Some ten months after selecting its key service providers, European cross-border pension plan RESAVER is poised to begin operations in March 2017. A brainchild of the European Commission, RESAVER is a pension plan specially designed for highly mobile researchers working at public and private research institutions and universities, SMEs, and research and technical development companies. It is advised by Aon Hewitt; BlackRock won the initial investment management mandate; and

Aetna International is expanding into the Canadian market to provide tailored coverage for expatriate clients. With the main office in Toronto, Aetna expects to open additional offices throughout 2017 and is actively hiring staff to fill key roles. Carrie Chapman in September 2016 was appointed country manager for Canada, reporting to Richard di Benedetto, president and CEO of Aetna International. The plans offered by Aetna will cover everyone whether

While publication of solvency ratios for the insurance industry is not a requirement, many companies do publish this information as part of their risk appetite and financial targets. The E.U. solvency regime, called Solvency II, also allows countries operating outside the E.U., ‘third country insurers’, to operate and comply with E.U. rules. The chart, compiled by Guy Carpenter, a Marsh & McLennan company, and published in February 2017, shows

Results of the Deloitte Global Chief Procurement Officer Survey 2017 point to reducing costs in the face of global uncertainty as the biggest priority Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) face. Eighty-four percent of the CPOs surveyed in North America said that managing risks is the second highest priority, indicating that they are taking a cautious approach at a time when risks include weakness and volatility in emerging markets and rising

In response to the urgent call for new vaccines to treat emerging infectious diseases, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, established a global coalition in January 2017 that is committed to developing safe and effective vaccines against known infectious disease threats. Buoyed by an initial investment of US$460m from the governments of Germany, Japan, and Norway, plus investments from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome

Humanis, a large French group insurance carrier, since 2013 has published a yearly survey of French expatriates. Here are some key takeaways from the January 2017 edition: French expats like living abroad, and 95% of them would recommend that their friends give expatriation a try. 64% of French expats do not expect to return home in the next five years.   39% of French expats would like to create