Systems and methods for customizing insurance

• US 9,881,341 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Yager, Floyd M., Wilson, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chng, Joy
• Application Number:
  US14/139,048
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 705 4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

System and methods provide customizable insurance according to consumer preferences. Demand simulators guide the creation of optimized packages of features, which consumers may select from to form an insurance product appropriate for their particular needs. Packages may be formed with a particular appeal to consumers with common needs, wants, or characteristics. In addition, methods and systems are provided for presenting insurance products for consideration by customers over a network. Presented insurance products may be formed through an optimization process or according to customer preferences.

Claims

1. An insurance package customization system of an insurance company comprising:

an insurance customer terminal that includes a display, an input device, at least one processor, and a memory;

an insurance package customization server that includes a memory and at least one processor;

a computer network that connects the insurance customer terminal to the insurance package customization server;

an automobile insurance package that includes an automobile replacement coverage feature;

an automobile that is covered by the automobile insurance package when the automobile insurance package is selected by an insurance customer;

a replacement automobile available under the automobile replacement coverage feature that has a same make, a same model, and similar equipment as the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package;

wherein the insurance customer terminal is configured to

provide access to an insurance company website via a web browser,

receive insurance customer identification information from the insurance customer,

transmit the insurance customer identification information to the insurance package customization server,

receive information corresponding to the automobile insurance package from the insurance package customization server that at least includes a premium for the automobile insurance package,

present the information corresponding to the automobile insurance package at the display,

receive at the input device an indication of a selection of the automobile insurance package from the insurance customer, and

transmit the indication of the selection of the automobile insurance package to the insurance package customization server;

wherein the insurance package customization server is configured to

receive the insurance customer identification information from the insurance customer terminal,

select the automobile insurance package in response to receipt of the insurance customer identification information,

determine the premium for the automobile insurance package,

transmit the information corresponding to the automobile insurance package to the insurance customer terminal,

receive the indication of the selection of the automobile insurance package from the insurance customer terminal, and

determine the automobile is covered under the automobile insurance package in response to receipt of the indication of the selection of the automobile insurance package;

wherein the automobile replacement coverage feature provides that, upon a total loss of the automobile and in response to a determination that the automobile replacement coverage feature applies to the total loss, the insurance company will pay to replace the automobile with the replacement automobile subject to a depreciation value associated with the automobile; and

wherein the automobile insurance package provides that the automobile replacement coverage feature is in effect while a collision coverage feature and a comprehensive coverage feature of the automobile insurance package are in effect and until a renewal of the automobile insurance package that is effective in a calendar year that is three years greater than a model year of the automobile.

2. The insurance package customization system of claim 1 further comprising a server configured to

receive notice of a loss associated with the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package,

determine that the loss is the total loss,

determine whether the automobile replacement coverage feature applies to the total loss, and

responsive to a determination that the automobile replacement coverage feature applies to the total loss, calculate a replacement amount for replacing the automobile with the replacement automobile.

3. The insurance package customization system of claim 2 wherein:

the server, when calculating the replacement amount, is further configured to calculate a reduction amount and to reduce the replacement amount based on the reduction amount; and

the reduction amount includes at least one of

an amount payable on at least one coverage feature of the automobile insurance package,

a deductible specified by the automobile insurance package,

the depreciation value associated with the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package, and

combinations thereof.

4. The insurance package customization system of claim 1 wherein:

the automobile insurance package further includes a repair coverage feature that provides that, upon a loss of the automobile that is not the total loss of the automobile and in response to a determination that the repair coverage feature applies to the loss, the insurance company will pay to repair the automobile without deducting for depreciation of the automobile.

5. The insurance package customization system of claim 4 further comprising a server configured to

receive notice of the loss associated with the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package,

determine that the loss is not the total loss of the automobile,

determine whether the repair coverage feature applies to the loss, and

responsive to a determination that the repair coverage feature applies to the loss, calculate a repair amount for repairing the automobile.

6. The insurance package customization system of claim 5 wherein:

the server, when calculating the repair amount, is further configured to calculate a reduction amount and to reduce the repair amount based on the reduction amount; and

the reduction amount includes at least one of

an amount payable on at least one coverage feature of the automobile insurance package,

a deductible specified by the automobile insurance package, and

combinations thereof.

7. The insurance package customization system of claim 1 wherein the automobile insurance package further includes a protection coverage feature that provides that, upon the total loss of the automobile and in response to a determination that the protection coverage feature applies to the total loss, the insurance company will pay the insurance customer a difference between a cash value of the automobile and an amount owed under a loan or lease of the automobile that exceeds the cash value.

8. The insurance package customization system of claim 7 further comprising a server configured to

receive notice of a loss associated with the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package,

determine that the loss is the total loss,

determine whether the protection coverage feature applies to the total loss, and

responsive to a determination that the protection coverage feature applies to the total loss, calculate a payment amount corresponding to the difference between the cash value and the amount owed.

9. The insurance package customization system of claim 8 wherein:

the server, when calculating the payment amount, is further configured to calculate a reduction amount and to reduce the payment amount based on the reduction amount; and

the reduction amount includes at least one of

an amount associated with unrepaired damage to the automobile that occurred prior to the total loss,

an overdue loan or lease payment associated the loan or lease of the automobile,

at least one financial penalty associated with the overdue loan or lease payment,

an outstanding balance associated with another loan or lease associated with another automobile owned by the insurance customer,

a refund resulting from early termination of the loan or lease associated with the automobile, and

combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the insurance package customization server is further configured to determine, based on a target population associated with one or more aspects of the insurance customer identification information, desirable features, and wherein the information corresponding to the automobile insurance package further comprises the desirable features.

11. An insurance system comprising:

at least one processor;

a data store that stores information corresponding to an automobile insurance package having an automobile replacement coverage feature; and

wherein the insurance system is configured to

receive notice of a loss associated with an automobile covered by the automobile insurance package,

determine that the loss is a total loss,

determine whether the automobile replacement coverage feature applies to the total loss, and

responsive to a determination that the automobile replacement coverage feature applies to the total loss, calculate a replacement amount for replacing the automobile with a replacement automobile having a same make, a same model, and similar equipment as the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package,

wherein the automobile replacement coverage feature is in effect until a renewal of the automobile insurance package that is effective in a calendar year that is three years greater than a model year of the automobile.

12. The insurance system of claim 11 wherein the insurance system is further configured to:

initiate a payment to a customer associated with the automobile insurance package responsive to a determination that the automobile replacement coverage feature applies to the total loss; and

the payment is based on the replacement amount for replacing the automobile with the replacement automobile.

13. The insurance system of claim 12 wherein the insurance system is further configured such that, when determining whether the automobile replacement coverage feature applies, the insurance system:

determines whether the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package is a leased automobile; and

determines that the automobile replacement coverage feature does not apply responsive to a determination that the automobile is a leased automobile.

14. The insurance system of claim 12 wherein the insurance system is further configured such that, when determining whether the automobile replacement coverage feature applies, the insurance system:

determines a cause of the total loss; and

determines whether the automobile replacement coverage feature applies based on the cause of the total loss.

15. The insurance system of claim 14 wherein the insurance system is further configured such that, when determining whether the automobile replacement coverage feature applies based on the total loss, the insurance system:

determines that the automobile replacement coverage feature does not apply responsive to a determination that the cause of the total loss is at least one of fire, a theft, a larceny, a flood, and combinations thereof.

16. The insurance system of claim 12 wherein the insurance system is further configured such that, when determining whether the automobile replacement coverage feature applies, the insurance system:

determines whether a collision coverage feature and a comprehensive coverage feature of the automobile insurance package were in effect when the total loss occurred;

determines that the automobile replacement coverage feature applies responsive to a determination that the collision coverage feature and the comprehensive coverage feature were in effect when the total loss occurred; and

determines that the automobile replacement coverage feature does not apply responsive to a determination that the collision coverage feature and the comprehensive coverage feature were not in effect when the total loss occurred.

17. The insurance system of claim 11 wherein the insurance system is further configured to:

determine whether the replacement automobile is available for purchase; and

responsive to a determination that the replacement automobile is not available for purchase, calculate an alternative replacement amount needed to replace the automobile with an alternative replacement automobile have a similar make, a similar model, and similar equipment as the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package.

18. A computer-implemented method of applying an automobile insurance package comprising:

storing, at a data store of an insurance system, information corresponding to an automobile insurance package having an automobile replacement coverage feature;

receiving, at the insurance system, notice of a loss associated with an automobile covered by the automobile insurance package;

determining, using the insurance system, whether the loss is a total loss;

determining, using the insurance system, whether the automobile replacement coverage feature applies to the total loss; and

responsive to a determination that the automobile replacement coverage feature applies to the total loss, calculating, using the insurance system, a replacement amount for replacing the automobile with a replacement automobile having a same make, a same model, and similar equipment as the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package;

wherein the insurance system comprises at least one processor and the data store that stores the information corresponding to an automobile insurance package having an automobile replacement coverage feature, and

wherein the automobile replacement coverage feature is in effect until a renewal of the automobile insurance package that is effective in a calendar year that is three years greater than a model year of the automobile.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

calculating, using the insurance system, a reduction amount; and

reducing the replacement amount, using the insurance system, based on the reduction amount.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the reduction amount includes an amount payable on at least one coverage feature of the automobile insurance package.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the reduction amount includes a deductible specified by the automobile insurance package.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

calculating, using the insurance system, an amount owed under a loan or lease of the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package;

calculating, using the insurance system, a cash value of the automobile;

comparing, using the insurance system, the amount owed to the cash value; and

responsive to a determination that the amount owed exceeds the cash value, initiating, using the insurance system, a payment to a customer associated with the automobile insurance package wherein the payment corresponds to a difference between the amount owed and the cash value.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

calculating, using the insurance system, a reduction amount to reduce the payment by; and

reducing the payment, using the insurance system, based on the reduction amount.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the reduction amount includes an amount associated with unrepaired damage to the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package that occurred prior to the total loss.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the reduction amount includes an amount associated with overdue loan or lease payment associated with the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the reduction amount further includes an amount associated with at least one financial penalty associated with the overdue loan or lease payment.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the reduction amount includes an amount associated with an outstanding balance associated with another loan or lease associated with another automobile owned by the customer associated with the automobile insurance package.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein:

the reduction amount includes an amount associated with a refund resulting from early termination of a loan or lease agreement associated with the automobile covered by the automobile insurance package; and

the refund includes one or more refunds respectively associated with at least one of a financed warranty, an extended service contract, and combinations thereof.