Lawsuit Is Company’s Sixth this Year in NY for Total of Nearly $10M in Damages

NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — As detailed in a lawsuit filed today, its sixth this year, Allstate Insurance Company seeks to prove that professional service corporations were actually owned and operated by a layperson, rather than by licensed physicians or medical professionals. Allstate is committed to fight insurance fraud in New York and has sought to recover damages totaling $9,899,093.56 during 2010.  Since 2003, Allstate has filed 23 fraud lawsuits in New York, seeking damages totaling $144,258,263.56.

Allstate filed this latest lawsuit against Robert David Solomon, M.D., Charles Leo Cooper, M.D., Natalia Gurevich, M.D., Aviyon Medical Rehabilitation, LLC, Primavera Medical Rehabilitation, PLLC, Competent Medical Rehabilitation, PLLC, Trastevere Medical Rehabilitation, PLLC, Dr. Natalia Gurevich Medical, P.C., Main Diagnostic Medical, P.C., Sharp Imaging Radiology, P.C., Sharp Radiology, P.C., Rapid Scan Radiology, P.C., Snoop Radiology Imaging, P.C., Arthur Bogoraz and Matthew Abramowitz. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, alleging that the professional service corporations filed false ownership documents with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations. The complaint claims that the professional service corporations lack standing to recover no-fault auto insurance benefit payments from Allstate Insurance Company based upon violations of the New York Business Corporation Law, which requires that professional service corporations be owned and operated by a licensed physician or medical professional.  

As detailed in its lawsuit, Allstate intends to prove that the professional service corporations submitting numerous claims to Allstate Insurance Company were actually owned and operated by layperson Arthur Bogoraz, instead of licensed physicians or medical professionals. The aggregate of those claims resulted in payments to the professional service corporations in excess of $2.9 million dollars. Allstate seeks reimbursement for the full amount.

“Allstate is aware of the economic pressures that consumers face, said Jim Murray, Allstate Assistant Vice President in charge of the company’s Special Investigation Unit.  ”Insurance fraud adds to the cost of the product, and Allstate is aggressively pursuing the fight against insurance fraud to protect consumers and help keep insurance costs down.”  

The Allstate Corporation is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company

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Online Property Insurance Market Poised for Growth

RESTON, Va., Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — comScore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its 2010 Online Property Insurance Report, based on behavioral data from comScore’s 1 million person U.S. panel and a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. Internet users aimed at understanding attitudes and intentions with regard to conducting insurance transactions online. The results showed that while online property insurance quote volume is currently modest in size, the industry is positioned well for growth among increasingly engaged digital consumers.

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“While online property insurance is still in its infancy, insurers can look to the online auto insurance industry as a model for how to achieve growth within the digital channel,” said Susan Kleinman, comScore director. “With consumers already very accustomed to submitting quotes and purchasing auto insurance online, the foundation is in place for them to use the Internet to obtain quotes and to purchase homeowners and renters insurance.”

Opportunity for Providers to Capture Online Property Insurance Market

Purchasing property insurance online is still in its infancy compared to the auto insurance industry. In the first half of 2010, there were 20.2 million online auto insurance quotes submitted. In comparison, there were 500,000 homeowner insurance quotes and 400,000 renter insurance quotes during the same time period. Although online property insurance quotes are equivalent to just 5 percent the volume of auto insurance quotes, the opportunity exists to increase property insurance quotes and purchases among both homeowners and renters.

Half of Online Property Insurance Shoppers Spend 20+ Hours Online Each Week

The comScore study also looked at the characteristics of online property insurance shoppers, including an analysis of their demographic profile and media consumption behaviors. The findings showed that online property insurance shoppers spend more time on average on the Internet than watching TV. While 49 percent of online property insurance shoppers spend 20+ hours a week online, only 36 percent consume that many hours of television in a week. The engaging nature of the online channel makes it a viable option for providers looking to reach consumers with information on property insurance.

Additional topics addressed in the comScore report include:

• Penetration of online property insurance among homeowners and renters.
• Share of submitted online property insurance quotes by aggregators and insurers.
• Consumer sentiment toward bundling auto and property insurance with the same provider.
• Profile of an online insurance shopper.

About the 2010 Online Property Insurance Report

The comScore 2010 Online Property Insurance Report presents a detailed overview of the online property insurance market, with insights into overall industry trends, key areas influencing consumers’ online decision-making process and a profile of online property insurance shoppers. The study analyzes the online behavior of comScore’s passively-observed panel of 1 million U.S. consumers, as well as attitudinal insights gained from a comScore survey of more than 2,000 U.S. online consumers.

To purchase a copy of the comScore 2010 Online Property Insurance Report, please visit: https://www.registrationheadquarters.com/events/?d432535444534df8bfd0aa58f11abfd0a

For additional information on comScore Online Insurance solutions, please contact Susan Kleinman skleinman@comscore.com

About comScore

comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world and the preferred source of digital marketing intelligence. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/companyinfo.

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SOURCE comScore, Inc.

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RSA Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Car Insurance Providers in Inaugural Study

LONDON, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — While 56 percent of personal car insurance customers overall indicate they have used the same insurance provider for the past year, policy retention rates vary widely between insurance companies — ranging from a high of more than 80 percent to a low of 35 percent, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 UK Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.

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The inaugural study measures car insurance policyholder experiences with their primary insurer. Customer satisfaction, a primary driver of policy renewals, is measured across five factors (listed in order of importance): billing and payment; price/premium; interaction; policy offerings; and claims. Overall satisfaction averages 708 on a 1,000-point scale in 2010.

“While some of the highest performing car insurance companies in the UK market successfully renew more than eight in 10 policyholders, others manage to retain barely one-third of theirs, which means they have to invest in advertising and lead commissions to replace two-thirds of their customers annually,” said Jeremy Bowler, senior director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “Furthermore, 44 percent of customers overall switched insurers during the past 12 months, which represents nearly 3.5 billion pounds in premiums that were up for bid. It’s clear that focusing on customer retention can bring insurers substantial benefit in reducing costs and boosting profitability.”

RSA ranks highest in customer satisfaction with car insurance providers with a score of 762 and performs particularly well in the price/premium and interaction factors. LV = (Liverpool Victoria) follows RSA in the rankings with a score of 755. LV = (Liverpool Victoria) ranks highest in the billing and payments and policy offerings factors. Rounding out the top five car insurers are Sheilas’ Wheels (723), Diamond (722) and Swiftcover (721).

The study finds that bundling insurance policies has a notable positive effect on overall satisfaction and retention with car insurance providers. However, 62 percent of customers say they hold a car insurance policy, but no other policies, with their insurer. Satisfaction among these customers averages 705 — slightly lower than the industry average. Overall satisfaction is considerably higher among customers that hold three or more policies with their car insurance provider — 728, on average. However, only 9 percent of policyholders indicate bundling three or more policies with their insurer. Among customers who bundle, roadside assistance/breakdown cover and home insurance are the most commonly added policies.

“Some insurance providers are beginning to promote significant discounts to customers who bundle their car insurance with other policies, which will likely drive an increase in this practice,” said Bowler. “Bundling brings benefits for both consumers and insurance providers. Consumers may receive lower premiums and the added convenience of dealing with just one provider for multiple insurance policies, while insurance providers may achieve higher customer satisfaction levels and as a result, higher customer retention and advocacy, as well as financial profitability.”

According to Bowler, there is ample opportunity for car insurance providers to improve communication efforts regarding the benefits of bundling. Only 28 percent of policyholders indicate they recall their insurance provider informing them of other product and/or service offerings, reflecting missed opportunities to promote bundling. In addition, relatively low proportions of policyholders indicate they receive information from their insurance provider about policy reviews and discount offerings.

The study also finds that policyholders who interact with their insurance provider through a local broker are much more satisfied (752, on average) than policyholders who use other contact methods such as call centres (722), websites (721), e-mail (662) or automated phone systems (649). Among policyholders who seek car insurance information via websites, those who use a comparison website to select an insurer are considerably less likely to renew with their insurer, compared with those who use an insurer website.

“When shopping for insurance coverage, consumers may find it beneficial not to limit their search efforts to only comparison sites, as our results suggest that insurer tend to provide their shoppers with more comprehensive information about coverage options and supplemental services, in addition to price quotes,” said Bowler. “Also, consumers should consider requesting quotes for bundled policies while comparison shopping, as this may yield additional discounts.”

High levels of satisfaction with car insurance providers have a particularly strong positive effect on customer renewal and retention rates. Among the most highly satisfied policyholders (satisfaction averaging 901 or higher), 86 percent say they “definitely will” or “probably will” renew their policy, while 96 percent say they “definitely will” or “probably will” recommend their insurer to others. Among the least satisfied customers (satisfaction averaging 550 or less), only 39 percent indicate they are likely to renew and only 44 percent say are likely recommend their insurer.

The study findings also include the following key trends:

• Satisfaction with car insurers tends to decline considerably during the first year of service, then gradually recovers over time. It takes an average of four years for satisfaction to return to initial levels. Customer retention also increases significantly following the first year of service, with more than three-fourths of policyholders with tenure of three years indicating they are likely to renew their current policy.
• Approximately 9 percent of policyholders have filed a claim within the past 12 months. Seventy-five percent of customers who indicated they filed a recent claim subsequently renewed their car insurance policy.
• Satisfaction among policyholders who filed a claim for physical damage to their vehicle averages 733 — 25 points higher than the industry average.

The 2010 UK Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 5,036 auto insurance policyholders. The study was fielded in October 2010.

About J.D. Power and Associates

The European headquarters of J.D. Power and Associates is located in Munich, Germany.  With world headquarters in Westlake Village, California, U.S.A., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction.  J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a global information and education company providing knowledge, insights and analysis in the financial, education and business information sectors through leading brands including Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts, and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2009 were $5.95 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.  

Media Relations Contacts:

Hannah Smith; Ruder Finn UK; London, England; (44) 207-462-8949; hsmith@ruderfinn.co.uk

John Tews; J.D. Power and Associates; Troy, Mich.; (248) 312-4119; john.tews@jdpa.com

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com/corporate

SOURCE J.D. Power and Associates

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Insurer Continues to Find New Ways to Offset Carbon Emissions

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Esurance, the direct-to-consumer personal auto insurance company, recently announced the purchase of offsets from the new Laurelbrook Farm Compost Project, a project which is estimated to prevent more than 15,000 tons of greenhouse gas pollution over the next ten years – an amount equivalent to the CO2 emissions from 31,646 barrels of oil consumed.(1)

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Since 2009, Esurance has teamed with NativeEnergy to offset policyholder carbon emissions and electricity use in each of their 14 office locations. Now, as a supporter of the Laurelbrook Farm Project, Esurance is helping provide vital funding for the family-owned farm in East Canaan, Connecticut. Through NativeEnergy’s innovative HelpBuild™ model, Esurance is able to purchase a share of the verified emissions reductions that the project will produce over a ten-year period.

“Nothing gives us more satisfaction than working with excellent companies to address their climate impact by bringing new projects into being. Working together with one of the top names in car insurance and a local family farm, we’re making a difference,” said Jeff Bernicke, president of NativeEnergy.

Founded in 1948 and managed by the Jacquier family for three generations, Laurelbrook Dairy Farm began composting manure on a limited basis three years ago. Now, with the help of NativeEnergy and supporting companies like Esurance, Laurelbrook has installed a more efficient and reliable separation technology that will avoid the methane pollution typically resulting from the storage of dairy manure.

Robert Jacquier, who oversees the farm, said: “We believe the composting operation is the best way to take full advantage of the nutrients in the waste stream while significantly reducing the environmental threat posed by manure decomposition and nutrient run-off. It’s a difficult time to operate a dairy farm, but we take pride in taking the best care of our animals and being good stewards of the land.”

With its offset purchase, Esurance continues to address greenhouse gas emissions from their offices’ electricity use and corporate travel, while simultaneously helping to further the technology available to family farms.

“For over a decade Esurance has focused on reducing its environmental impact through operational initiatives such as our ‘paperless experience’ for consumers, and engaging with local communities by supporting urban reforestation programs,” said Esurance President and CEO, Gary Tolman. “By working with NativeEnergy on the Laurelbrook Farm project, we are able to reduce pollution from greenhouse gases, offset our carbon footprint, and help promote sustainable and ethical farming practices.”

Esurance invites companies, individuals, and the wider community to learn more about their own global warming emissions and take steps to reduce and offset their impact by visiting NativeEnergy.

Learn more about Esurance’s environmental initiatives.

About NativeEnergy

NativeEnergy is a climate solutions innovator and recognized leader in offering services that reduce carbon emissions to fight global warming, create sustainable jobs, and reduce our country’s dependence on fossil fuels. By helping finance construction of Native American, family farm, and community-based renewable energy and carbon reduction projects with NativeEnergy’s Help Build^™ carbon offsets, our customers help at-risk local communities build sustainable economies. For more information visit: www.nativeenergy.com.

About Esurance®  

Esurance, a subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM), provides personal car insurance direct to consumers online and through select agents, including sister company Answer Financial. Because of Esurance’s virtually paperless online customer experience, Esurance car insurance customers have saved thousands of trees since the company’s inception. As of the end of first quarter 2010, Esurance has also helped plant and maintain over 92,000 trees by supporting a variety of urban reforestation programs. Esurance is also committed to safeguarding the environment through its own operational practices, including a fleet of hybrid claims vehicles and investment in carbon reduction projects to offset the electricity used in each of its permanent office locations.

Over the years, Esurance’s environmental initiatives have earned the company awards and recognition. For the past two years, Esurance has earned a position within U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Leadership Club for its purchase of renewable energy credits to offset 100% of its electricity use. For more information about Esurance’s green initiatives, visit: http://www.esurance.com/environment

(1) Results from the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator – http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html

SOURCE Esurance

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Combining Cross Country Automotives Services’ Insurance Services with its Telematics Services: Automatic Crash Notifications, Geo-Targeted Hail Alerts Can Expedite Claims Process, Lower Costs

YPSILANTI, Mich., Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Leveraging existing automatic crash notification technology in more than 8 million connected vehicles on the road today in North America could generate immediate savings to auto insurers – with little investment – by simply providing earlier notification of a vehicle loss, said Dave Ferrick, senior vice president and general manager at Cross Country Automotive Services.

Ferrick said immediate savings in accident claims costs would be realized by insurers and their policy holders by enabling insurers’ access to relevant information about vehicle accidents. He noted that too often discussion about telematics-based insurance focuses around the challenges of using location-based data from telematics-enabled vehicles for rate-setting purposes.

Ferrick presented at “Creating Markets for Connected Vehicle Data,” the latest industry forum conducted by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), a non-profit research organization dedicated to conducting research on significant issues related to the future direction of the global automotive industry.

“These are easy, first steps that deliver clear, tangible benefits to vehicle owners and makes them comfortable in entrusting the insurance industry with their data,” said Ferrick, whose company manages data and voice calls with drivers associated with nearly 6 million roadside events annually. “In just about every roadside incident, consumers want help at the scene, want to contact their loved ones and, in significant accidents, want to notify their insurance carrier.”

Ferrick noted that almost every accident scene tow in the U.S. and Canada today is handled by local law enforcement authorities, driving up costs for insurers and policyholders with multiple towing events and the storage of damaged vehicles by vendors whose prices, response times and customer service levels may fall short of insurance carrier benchmarks.

Through automatic collision notification triggered by air bag deployment and other in-vehicle crash sensors, a connected vehicle services provider such as ATX Group, a business unit of Cross Country, learns of accidents and sometimes their severity before notifying emergency responders. With vehicle owner’s permission, ATX could also notify auto insurance carriers to enable a faster removal of the vehicle from the accident scene and a faster claims handling process.

“From the insurance carriers’ perspective, the quicker they can process the claim, the quicker their policy holder gets the car back in the driveway,” Ferrick said. “Accelerating the process directly translates into higher customer satisfaction with the carrier, reduced costs for towing and repair, and less risk of the claim resulting in disputes and higher claim costs.”

Cross Country’s roadside services unit provides accident scene management, vehicle release management and total loss screening services to more than 30 North American insurance carriers, providing coverage to approximately 40 million vehicles. Cross Country also operates one of the largest networks of independent roadside assistance and towing service providers with more than 20,000 suppliers across the U.S. and Canada serving more 76 million motorists.

About Cross Country

For nearly 40 years, Cross Country Automotive Services has been a pioneer and thought leader in creating and delivering technology enabled service solutions for the auto and insurance industries.  

Cross Country’s innovative, privately labeled customer relationship management programs connect, inform and assist drivers while building brand loyalty.  Cross Country leverages emerging technologies, data and application integration, and multi-modal experiences to deepen customer relationships at critical customer touch points. Its customized solutions include accident scene and vehicle release management programs, comprehensive roadside assistance plans and connected vehicle solutions (telematics) through its ATX Group division.

Cross Country Automotive Services is a member of the Cross Country Group, one of the largest privately held providers of customer service programs in North America.  For more information, visit www.crosscountry-auto.com.  

SOURCE Cross Country Automotive Services

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Consumer Reports Releases 2009 National PPO Ratings

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ – Coventry Health Care, Inc., of which Coventry Workers’ Comp Services is a division, has been named #1 Preferred Provider Organization by Consumer Reports for 2009. The November issue highlighted the Best Products of the Year and published a feature article on health care announcing the results.

National PPOs were ranked based on the results of a satisfaction survey conducted by Consumer Reports National Research Center. In addition to the national PPO ranking, Coventry health plans were called out repeatedly in the NCQA Private health-plan rankings published in the same issue. “We are pleased to be recognized for our efforts in the PPO product space,” shared Bruce Singleton, senior vice president network product management. “To have our national network selected by consumers as the #1 PPO is a huge accomplishment and one we accept with great pride.”

The Coventry Workers’ Comp Services PPO, which hails by the name The Coventry Integrated Network(sm), is comprised of the Coventry PPO and other top performing workers’ comp networks. “Our diligent efforts in provider network management have been significant, and this recognition is evidence of that,” added Singleton.

About Coventry Workers’ Comp Services

Coventry Workers’ Comp Services, a division of Coventry Health Care, Inc., is the leading provider of cost and care management solutions for property and casualty insurance carriers, (workers’ compensation and auto insurers), third-party administrators and self-insured employers. We design best-in-class products and services to help our partners restore the health and productivity of injured workers and insureds as quickly and as cost effectively as possible. We accomplish this by developing and maintaining consultative, trusting partnerships with our clients and stakeholders, built on a foundation of innovative and customized solutions that support the claims management process. Go to www.coventrywcs.com for more information.

SOURCE Coventry Workers’ Comp Services

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A nationally recognized agency, Save-On Insurance provides people with the options and information necessary to purchase the most beneficial and cost-effective California health insurance plan for their needs

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Health insurance and health care are the hot topics of the year, with politicians and citizens passionately voicing their concerns about the state of health care in the US. With the recently instated health care reform policies, more people than ever are eligible to be covered by health insurance in California, and Save-On Insurance is helping people find the California health insurance policy that’s best for them.

Founded over twenty-five years ago, Save-On Insurance is a premier insurance agency for countless individuals all over California. By shopping multiple insurance companies, from small providers to more prominent names, Save-On is able to provide clients with a comprehensive list of insurance agencies to choose from, as well as pertinent information regarding types of coverage, pricing, and other specifications that help in the decision making process. Save-On goes the extra yard in order to find clients the best California health insurance rates and coverage and in doing so has earned itself recognition as one of the most dependable insurance agencies in Southern California, according to a GoldLine research poll. This has led to further recognition, when Forbes magazine published the GoldLine poll results in one of its 2009 issues.

One of the distinct aspects of Save-On Insurance that has allowed it to garner such a positive reputation is the unmatched dedication to the well-being and satisfaction of its clients. Taking into consideration each client’s unique situation and needs, Save-On does the leg work in order to find its clients plans and companies that can best accommodate what they’re looking for. The consistent positive feedback from satisfied individuals and families is a testament to the quality of service that Save-On provides.

The cost of doctor and hospital visits are astronomical without proper health insurance in California, which is why more and more people are going to Save-On Insurance services to find the insurance companies that can best facilitate their needs. Along with health insurance, Save-On is a premier provider of auto insurance in California, motorcycle insurance, business insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance, commercial insurance in California, and more.

For more information regarding Save-On Insurance Services, visit online at www.save-oninsurance.com or call 310 474 7283 to speak to a friendly representative.

PR submitted by http://www.cyberset.com

SOURCE Save on Insurance Services Public Relations

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Insurer Continues to Embrace New Technologies and Innovate in the Car Insurance Market

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Esurance, the direct-to-consumer personal car insurance company, today announced its application for Windows® Phone 7. Esurance was selected as a premier launch application by Microsoft and was granted early access to the new platform.

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The application, which takes advantage of the advanced features of Windows Phone 7, provides policy and claims support to Esurance customers as well as the ability for users to get quotes for car insurance. Esurance Mobile helps deliver the Esurance promise of “technology when you want it” by giving users increased mobile 24/7 access to a wide range of services and benefits.

“Our new application for Windows Phone 7 is another step for us in providing innovative, easy-to-use products and services to our customers, and it builds on the success of our current mobile platform. We see more and more consumers are relying on technology to meet their car insurance needs and we are working to stay ahead of that trend,” said Esurance Chief Information Officer Phil Swift.

The app makes shopping for car insurance fast and convenient by enabling users to get a quick Esurance quote and connect with a customer service representative. Shoppers can save their quotes and access the accident toolkit, which lists helpful information on accident preparedness and procedures to follow in the event of an accident. If customers are involved in an accident, the Esurance Windows Phone 7 app can point them to preferred repair facilities in their neighborhoods using Bing.

“Esurance has embraced the unique design and capabilities of Windows Phone 7,” said Charlie Kindel, general manager, mobile developer ecosystem at Microsoft. “Using our acclaimed Live Tiles, Esurance customers can get glance and go updates delivered directly to their home screen relaying important information notifications about their claims and repairs.”

Additionally, the Esurance Mobile app is loaded with customer-centric features designed to make policy management easier. Esurance customers can access ID cards, view their coverages, and make payments. And once a claim has been reported, customers can see photos of their vehicles during the repair process, and contact their dedicated claims representatives. More information about the Esurance Mobile platform is available at http://www.esurance.com/mobile-app.

Download the Windows Phone 7 application at http://www.esurance.com/mobile-app.

About Esurance®

Esurance, a subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM), provides personal auto insurance direct to consumers online and through select agents, including sister company, Answer Financial. Esurance is dedicated to constantly improving the way people shop for, buy, and manage their auto insurance. By combining the best of technology with industry know-how, Esurance is able to offer hassle-free coverage with 24/7 customer service and claims handling at competitive prices.

Through Esurance’s website, www.esurance.com, customers can get instant car insurance quotes, view comparison quotes, buy an Esurance policy, and print their insurance cards— all in minutes. Esurance also offers policyholders the ability to make policy changes and file claims instantly online, demonstrating its commitment to improving the entire insurance process from quote to claim.

Answer Financial, also a subsidiary of White Mountains, is one of the largest independent personal lines insurance agencies in the country. Answer Financial offers comparison quotes and provides auto and property insurance from more than a dozen top-rated insurance companies through its website, www.answerfinancial.com, and over the phone.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or referenced in this release which address activities, events or developments which we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  The words “will,” “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “predict” and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to White Mountains’:

*changes in adjusted book value per share or return on equity;

*business strategy;

*financial and operating targets or plans;

*incurred losses and the adequacy of its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and related reinsurance;

*projections of revenues, income (or loss), earnings (or loss) per share, dividends, market share or other financial forecasts;

*expansion and growth of our business and operations; and

*future capital expenditures.

These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by White Mountains in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate in the circumstances.  However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including:

*the risks associated with Item 1A of White Mountains’ 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K;

*claims arising from catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or terrorist attacks;

*the continued availability of capital and financing;

*general economic, market or business conditions;

*business opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to it and pursued;

*competitive forces, including the conduct of other property and casualty insurers and reinsurers;

*changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their interpretation, applicable to White Mountains, its competitors or its clients;

*an economic downturn or other economic conditions adversely affecting its financial position;

*recorded loss reserves subsequently proving to have been inadequate;

*action taken by rating agencies from time to time, such as financial strength or credit ratings downgrades or placing ratings on negative watch;

*other factors, most of which are beyond White Mountains’ control.

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by White Mountains will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, White Mountains or its business or operations. White Mountains assumes no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Esurance

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Automotive Globalization and Universal Appeal for Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Automatic Crash Response, In-Vehicle Connectivity Driving Telematics Expansion Into Emerging Markets

MUNICH, Nov. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — The dramatic growth potential for new vehicle sales in such emerging markets as Brazil, Russia, India, and China is also drawing the expansion of connected vehicle services (also known as telematics services) beyond North America and Europe.

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Growing universal appeal for satellite-enabled stolen vehicle locating capabilities and other location-based services as well consumers’ desire for continual Internet connectivity are two of the primary catalysts behind the emerging expansion of connected vehicle services, according to Tomas Metzger, senior vice president and general manager for ATX, a leading provider of connected vehicle services to global automobile manufacturers.

Speaking to attendees at an annual, European telematics conference, Metzger noted other market drivers in Brazil, Russia, India and China, referred to as the “BRIC countries”, include supportive governments, who see public policy benefits in connected vehicle deployment, and the desire of automobile manufacturers to obtain greater efficiencies in connected vehicle technology. Metzger commented that the BRIC countries are a natural draw for such a market expansion with their rapidly expanding market for new vehicle sales, their maturing highway and telecommunications infrastructures, and large segments of their population with rising disposable incomes and rapidly increasing internet use and purchases of portable navigation and wireless communications devices.

Metzger believes that the expansion in the European market for connected vehicles – activated by deployment of the European Commission’s eCall initiative – will provide the business template for the development of platforms in the emerging BRIC markets.

“Unlike the uniform, predominantly voice-centric operations that have proven successful in North America, the infrastructure that is emerging to serve Europe is more data-centric and modular, enabling adaption to a patchwork of local partnerships, language, emergency response protocols, and regulatory compliance that’s more adaptable for a global rollout,” said Metzger.

With globalization, the requirements for service providers grow more complex, necessitating not only ongoing development of back-office infrastructure and data security but experience in wireless service management, interactive and automated voice technologies, development of handset applications, customer relationship management, and in-vehicle electronics. A connected vehicle program today has to maintain the flexibility to serve a global platform while simultaneously adapting to local or specific market needs and maintaining a consistently high level of customer service.

ATX, a long-time provider of connected vehicle services in several European countries, earlier in the year proposed a new flexible approach for accelerating expansion of in-vehicle, location-enabled, eCall to emergency responders across Europe. The proposed self-dispatching eCall solution overcomes many of the technical and cultural hurdles that have deterred deployment across national borders within the EU, similar to what might be experienced on a global scale, according to Arnaud de Meulemeester, managing director of ATX’s European operations.

ATX (www.atxg.com), with offices in Paris and Dusseldorf in Europe and Dallas-Fort Worth in North America, is a division of Cross Country Automotive Services (www.crosscountry-auto.com), based in Medford, MA. ATX and Cross Country serve 76 million consumers associated with 36 automotive brands and over 30 auto insurance carriers in North America.  The combined companies specialize in leveraging emerging technologies for customer relationship management programs for the automotive and insurance industries.  

SOURCE ATX Group

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Auto-Owners Insurance Ranks Highest in Overall Satisfaction among Auto Insurance Claimants For a Third Consecutive Year

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ —  Although claimant satisfaction with auto insurers has declined slightly from 2009, the industry has retained most of the service gains made since 2008, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.

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The study finds that, while overall satisfaction has declined by five points from 2009 to 837 (on a 1,000-point scale), satisfaction remains 19 points higher than in 2008. The slight decline in satisfaction in 2010 is the result of a decrease in satisfaction with settlement, primarily due to a reduction in the number of claimants who considered their settlement to be fair and equitable.

“In 2009, the industry experienced dramatic improvements in overall claims satisfaction, fueled in part by a two-day reduction in average repair time year over year,” said Jeremy Bowler, senior director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “In 2010, repair times have increased by less than half a day, on average, so the industry has retained much of that satisfaction gain.”

The study measures claimant satisfaction with the claims process for auto physical damage loss. Depending on the complexity of a claim, the claimant may experience some or all of the following factors measured in the study: first notice of loss; service interaction; appraisal; repair process; rental experience; and settlement. Of these six factors, settlement is the most important to overall satisfaction and accounts for 37 percent of a claimant’s overall claims experience. First notice of loss is the second-most-impactful factor (24%).

Auto-Owners Insurance ranks highest for a third consecutive year in overall satisfaction with a score of 902. Auto-Owners Insurance performs particularly well in all six factors. Amica Mutual and The Hartford rank second in a tie with 872 points each.

The study also finds the following key trends among Generation Y auto insurance claimants (those born between 1977 and 1994):

• One-half of Gen Y claimants indicate that their recent auto claim was their first. As a result, claimants in this age group are the least likely to understand how a claim is typically handled and are more likely to ask questions about their underlying coverage. For example, more than one-third of Gen Y claimants say they weren’t sure if they had rental coverage when they reported their loss.
• While Boomers take an average of 15 minutes to report their claim, Gen Y claimants spend an average of nearly 22 minutes reporting their claim, and are twice as likely to indicate they still had questions that were not answered during the first notice of loss call.
• Among claimants who do not have rental car coverage, Gen Y claimants are least likely to own a second vehicle that they can use while their primary vehicle is repaired (20 percent vs. 34 percent of Boomer claimants). As a result, Gen Y claimants are more likely to report they were inconvenienced during the claims process.
• Among claims that require towing the vehicle to a repair facility, nearly one in four Gen Y claimants attempts to negotiate what is covered in the claims settlement–more than twice the rate of Boomers.

“Particularly for Gen Y claimants, insurers must strive to set the first-time claimant’s expectations, then manage them appropriately–both for repair work and the settlement process,” said Bowler. “Insurers need to ensure Gen Y claimants have a clear understanding of who to contact after they report their claim, as well as who they should expect to be contacted by next. Insurers should also find out each claimant’s preferred communication channel and contact number. In many regards, Gen Y claimants tend to be less knowledgeable about their policy or the claims process, but are much more critical of what they perceive to be unnecessary complexity or delay in handling their claim.”

For an in-depth examination of Gen Y expectations of the claims experience and how individual insurers are competing for this growing segment of the market, read “Gen Y: Servicing the First-Time Claimant” by clicking here.

The 2010 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study is based on 11,597 responses from auto insurance customers who filed a claim within the past 12 months with their current auto insurance provider. The study excludes claimants whose vehicle only incurred glass/windshield damage or was stolen, or who only filed roadside assistance claims. The study was fielded May through June 2010.

Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking

(Based on a 1,000-point scale)

*USAA is an insurance provider open only to U.S. military personnel and their families and therefore is not included in the rankings.

Included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size are Encompass and GMAC.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on insurance company ratings, please visit JDPower.com. Also available are car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings and more. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a global information and education company providing knowledge, insights and analysis in the financial, education and business information sectors through leading brands including Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts, and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2009 were $5.95 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.  

Media Relations Contacts:

Kristin Ballard; Brandware Public Relations; Atlanta, Ga.; (770) 649-0880 ext. 301; kballard@brandwarepr.com

John Tews; J.D. Power and Associates; Troy, Mich.; (248) 312-4119; media.relations@jdpa.com

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com/corporate

SOURCE J.D. Power and Associates

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