Captive insurance programs are a great way for companies to manage and mitigate risk while protecting cash flows and expense outlays. Similar to public entity pools where insurance programs are administered specifically for the group being covered, captive insurance companies are actually owned by the entity or entities for which coverage is provided. In order for a captive to be profitable, and for the safety of...
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At the heart of every successful small insurance company is a claims processing department that operates efficiently and accurately to protect the company's assets to the greatest degree possible while delivering the products and services necessary to meet the needs of its customers. Studies show that the costs involved with claims processing often comprise as much as 80% of companies' operational costs. Therefore, it makes sense...
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When the federal government adopted The Tax Shelter Captive IRC 831(b), captive insurers were provided the opportunity to deduct premiums from their tax bill. The benefits are obvious. Unfortunately, those benefits led to an abuse of the system. Some captive insurance groups are merely tax shelters that offer little to no risk coverage. How do you know that the captive you are joining, or the one...
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In an ever-changing economic environment, businesses are looking for new and innovative ways to effectively manage capital and assets. Some companies are seeking alternatives to traditional insurance coverages through the use of a captive insurance company. What is Captive Insurance? Basically, a captive insurer is an insurance company that is completely controlled and owned by its insured. However simplistic as this may sound, the scope and administration...
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The global corporate landscape is changing and small to medium-sized insurance companies have excellent opportunities to capitalize on these changes. The buzzword fueling the change is known as the "Gig Economy" and it is taking the small business world by storm. The Gig Economy consists of an ever-growing demographic of individuals who work as independent contractors or freelancers in various capacities. Examples include drivers for Lyft...
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For public entities, such as cities, counties and school districts, risk-sharing pools have provided a viable alternative to commercial insurance plans. Created in the 1970's and revived in the 1980's, public entity pools offer the means to stabilize taxpayer funds for public employee insurance plans. Public entity risk-sharing pools differ from commercial insurance plans in several ways including funding sources, goals and administration. Commercial insurance carriers,...
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Self-insured businesses not currently using workers compensation software to manage their risk and claims cost may be doing themselves and their employees a disservice. This is especially true for companies in areas such as construction, energy, and mining that have typically higher risks for on-the-job injuries. For these companies, software designed to manage workers compensation claims can greatly reduce the negative impact to the bottom line...
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Automation has long been seen as a harbinger of the future. When machines can do the thinking, human employment is expected to decline. Underwriting software holds a different promise. Current day insurance companies, even small-to-midsize firms, can see the value of their underwriters intensify. Here are a few ways insurance underwriting software makes the underwriter of the future stronger. Integrated Tools With a combination of mostly analog...
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Forming a captive is almost identical to forming a company. The parties involved must clarify goals, consider potential partners and follow established protocols. Indeed, when forming a captive, you and your partners are forming a limited liability insurance company. Here are some factors to consider, and some captive insurance technology solutions to implement, before forming your company. Assess Financials A captive insurance company requires start-up funds that...
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The insurance industry is starting to take a hard look at Blockchain's open-ledger, encrypted, data storage holds a great deal of potential for insurance technology. Every transaction is recorded. Blockchain could potentially eliminate the need for legacy data storage. In addition, claim histories would be easily accessible across third-parties. In Vermont, where many captive insurers are headquartered, blockchain technology is finding friends in the legislature....
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