System and Method for Automated Detection of Coverage Exceptions Based on Utility Usage Data

• US 20130096954A1
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bodas, Rohit S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,799,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

An advanced underwriting and risk evaluation system leverages data from utility based metering devices and other IP addressable devices, and machines to provide real time operational and usage data. The data is used by an insurance entity to modify and adjust insurance coverages and premiums in the case of certain usage exceptions and conditions in view of an underlying policy coverage.

Claims

1. A system for automated detection of certain property uses for the generation of additional insurance coverage recommendations utilizing a plurality of networkable devices associated with an individual'"'"'s insured property, comprising:

a storage device having a database storing data related to property coverage parameters, historical utility usage data and usage threshold parameters associated with the insured property, the property coverage parameters representative of covered uses under an insurance policy for the insured property;

a communications device in communication with the storage device, the communications device configured to receive current usage information from a plurality of networked metering devices; and

a processor in communication with the communications device, the processor configured to compare the current usage information to the historical utility usage data to determine whether the current usage has exceeded the threshold parameter, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an insurance coverage recommendation responsive to determining that the usage has exceeded the threshold parameter, wherein the coverage recommendation for the insured structure is transmitted to the individual via the communications device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the networked metering devices is one of an electric meter and a water meter employing Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) architecture.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor interacts with a predictive model to determine if the current usage has exceeded the threshold parameter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the networked metering devices is a device for measuring internet usage.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the networked metering devices includes an electric meter and a home security device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the individual is not a current insurance policyholder.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the threshold parameter is a predetermined percentage above a range of historical usage data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to account for variables including time of year and weather.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the property coverage parameters relate to excluded uses of the property.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the excluded uses of the property is commercial use of a residential property.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein an amount the usage has exceeded the threshold parameter is used to price the coverage recommendation.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the insurance coverage recommendation is generated at the time of renewal for the insured property.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the insurance coverage recommendation is an electronic mail message containing information related to binding coverage of an uncovered use under the existing insurance policy for the insured property.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the insurance coverage recommendation is a binding offer for a stretch endorsement.

15. A system for utilizing a plurality of networked metering devices to detect uninsured conditions associated with at least one insured entity, comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive usage based information from at least one of the plurality of networked metering devices;

a storage device having a database configured to store both historical usage based information and real-time usage based information from the at least one of the plurality of networked metering devices; and

a processor in communication with the storage device and configured to compare the historical usage based information and the real time usage based information in order to detect whether an exception condition has occurred, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an insurance coverage offer to the at least one insured entity in the event an exception condition has occurred, wherein the communications interface is further configured to transmit the insurance coverage offer to the at least one insured entity.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the insurance coverage offer is formatted for transmission to a portable computing device of the at least one insured entity.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the networked metering devices is a radio frequency enabled electrical meter.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the networked metering devices is a radio frequency enabled water meter.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the database further configured to store insurance policy information related to the at least one insured entity.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the insurance coverage offer is a binding offer for insurance.

21. A computer implemented method for intelligently monitoring at least one property for uses outside the scope of current in-force insurance coverages, the computer implemented method comprising:

receiving, via a communications device, historical and real time usage based information from at least one of the plurality of wireless metering devices;

storing, in a database on or more storage devices, both historical usage based information and real-time usage based information from at least one of the plurality of wireless metering devices;

accessing, via the communications device, insurance policy data related to the at least one property;

processing, in at least one processor, the historical usage based information, the real time usage based information and the insurance policy data in order to determine whether a use outside the scope of current in-force insurance coverages has occurred, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an insurance coverage communication to at least one entity; and

transmitting, via the communications device, an electronic message containing the insurance coverage communication to the at least one insured entity.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 21, wherein the processor is also configured to process third party web site data.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 21, wherein the insurance coverage communication is provided at a time for renewal of the in-force insurance coverages.

24. The computer implemented method of claim 21, wherein the electronic message containing the insurance coverage communication is a binding offer for insurance.

25. The computer implemented method of claim 21, wherein the electronic message communication contains background information about the use outside the scope of current in-force insurance coverages.