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We all recognize the necessity of insurance in present times. With thousands and even millions of people losing their properties and even lives in natural disasters, the loss could have been worse if not for the assistance of insurance. Across the globe, life, health and car insurances are prevailing. Indeed, insurances have undergone great changes in both developed and developing nations. The changes in the market showed the gradual move towards liberalization and privatization and also the consolidation of insurance operations.
The last 5 years had shown eventful development of insurance market. Not only in America and Europe was there a great change. Even developing cities of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jakarta, Indonesia and Bangkok, Thailand has revamped their own systems to make way for further growth Singapore, Japan, Seoul, South Korea and China, on the other hand, are known to have distinct insurance characteristics.
Some of the changes that insurance underwent to are:
1. Adaption of Technology
Technological usage has benefited insurance in terms of cost and ease of usage. Services have become more efficient and products are easily distributed. However, the products sold online limits to be personal insurances as the internet is still an easy venue for scammers and hackers. Larger insurance coverage, such as commercial insurance continues to rely on agents and Brokers for advisory inputs.
2. Fragmentation of specific function
Insurance companies have become more detailed. The task has been distributed into underwritings, administration and fund management and other different functions provided by different entities. This disaggregation could be useful for developing countries, which could then invest in capturing specific markets such as policies administration, marketing, claim settlement/processing and fund management, accounting and underwriting.
3. Strengthening of ties between the bank and insurers
Banks and insurers have joined forces over the years through conglomerates (broader financial spectrum) and bancasurrance (fuse between bank and insurance) Insurers have diversified into banking and asset management products. Moreover, new services and products are also offered. Insurance also have secured risk management program for the benefits of clients.
4. Ease of Access through off-shore sites
Gone were the times when insurance have been imprisoned within the boundaries of its localities. International connection has been developed to cater to the demands of those abroad. Axis Capital Inc., one of the leading insurance companies in Bermuda, is itself an example with off-shore sites in as far as Singapore, Australia and Europe. More than 10 branches more are scattered around the United States.
In the new age, a lot of methods can be used to do a lot of fraudulent acts. In the insurance industry, fake and deceptive health plans are spreading rapidly. Since there are millions of individuals without health insurance, scammers they advantage of offering premiums that now cost a lot. Victims have faced thousands of dollars in medical bills when their bogus plans refused to pay up. Axis Capital, with a group of insurance and reinsurance companies scattered all over the world from its main base in Bahamas, is running a campaign on how stopping these illegal agents and companies to operate.
We have reports that in Ghana, Africa and Jakarta, Indonesia where there is the lose penalty on illegal operations on insurance, crooked plans promise full health coverage but deliver worthless pieces of paper, stripped-down policies, or medical discount cards that require members to pay most medical bills themselves.
Special health-reform warning: crooks are exploiting confusion over health-care reform. Door-to-door pitchmen are lying they’re from the federal government. They’re selling fake “special” or “limited open enrollment” policies, lying that the coverage is “required” by health-care reform. TV ads with 800 lines selling bogus coverage also have been spotted. Watch out for blast faxes and emails as well. Seniors often are targeted.
How the scams work
Watch out for aggressive sales pitches and false marketing hype. Health cons typically promise you full health insurance, but only deliver lesser products such as:
• Fake coverage that’s a worthless piece of paper;
• Stripped-down coverage that can be nearly useless; or
• Medical discount cards that merely offer price breaks on medical services you pay from your own pocket; or
• Combinations of these deceptive products.
Your foot the bills. You’re forced to pay most or all medical bills yourself—often tens of thousands of dollars that can wipe out your life savings and damage your financial future. They will only promise to give you your claim if you present your receipt after paying for the bills first. When you finally show at their door with your receipt at hand, you discover that they have no office at all.
Your health is endangered. Finding new health coverage after discovering you’ve been scammed can delay urgent medical treatment. This can jeopardize your health and wellbeing.
Warning Signs:
You’re harassed by aggressive telemarketers, faxes or emails promising unusually good insurance deals. The faxes may have no company name, address or contact name—only a toll frees number.
The sales rep pushes you to sign up fast. This “special deal” is available only if you buy today, the rep might lie.
In the newest scam, con artists sell fake health insurance that they lie is “required” by health-care reform. The pitchmen may say this is a “limited-time” deal, or “limited open-enrollment” for signing up.
