Real-time insurance estimate based on non-personal identifying information

• US 8,065,169 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Hobart, Michael Frederick, Krieter, Dean, Oldham, Craig, Wojcik, John Paul, Herrmann, Jeffrey Robert, Porras, Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Havan; Thu Thao
• Application Number:
  US12/031,927
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing estimated insurance quotes/premiums are described herein. After analyzing rate factors, a subset of rate factors are selected that yield a fairly accurate estimated insurance premium from a minimum amount of information easily obtainable from a user. The user inputs a value from a predetermined set of allowable inputs (value input filter). After receiving and analyzing the user inputs, the system generates one or more estimates and displays the one or more estimates to the user, e.g., via a web page. When multiple estimates are provided, the multiple estimates may differ based on the level of coverage, add-on features, or both. Readily known non-personal identifying information is preferably requested and used, thereby alleviating privacy concerns while still being able to provide an estimate to the user very quickly, e.g., under 30 seconds, once all the requested information is obtained.

Claims

1. A method of providing an automobile insurance estimate, comprising:

receiving at an insurance rate computer, first user input identifying a geographic location in which the insured vehicles reside, wherein the first user input does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving at the insurance rate computer, second user input identifying marital status, gender, age, and driving history for each of one or more drivers to be insured, wherein the second user input does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving at the insurance rate computer, third user input identifying a vehicle make, vehicle model, and vehicle year for each of one or more vehicles to be insured, wherein the third user input does not comprise a vehicle identification number (VIN) and does not comprise any personal identifying information;

the insurance rate computer determining an estimated insurance premium based on the received first through third user inputs; and

providing the estimated insurance premium for communication to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining comprises determining a plurality of estimated insurance premiums, wherein each estimated insurance premium is based on a different level of insurance coverage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the different levels of insurance coverage are selected based on popularity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining comprises determining a plurality of estimated insurance premiums, wherein each estimated insurance premium is based on a different set of insurance add-ons.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each user input is received via a user input control displayed to the user on a web page, and wherein each user input is constrained by one or more value input filters based on the user input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining comprises assuming one or more items of information necessary to determine the estimated insurance premium.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving fourth user input identifying residence ownership information, bill payment history, and prior automobile insurance carrier history, wherein the fourth user input does not comprise any personal identifying information,

wherein determining the estimated insurance estimate is further based on the fourth user input.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the estimated insurance premium occurs prior to the user providing any personal identifying information to an insurance marketplace through which user receives the estimated insurance premium.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated insurance premium is not a binding offer that can be accepted to form a binding insurance agreement.

7. One or more computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method of providing an automobile insurance estimate, comprising:

receiving first user input identifying a geographic location in which the insured vehicles reside, wherein the first user input does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving second user input identifying marital status, gender, age, and driving history for each of one or more drivers to be insured, wherein the second user input does not comprise any personal identifying information;

receiving third user input identifying a vehicle make, vehicle model, and vehicle year for each of one or more vehicles to be insured, wherein the third user input does not comprise a vehicle identification number (VIN) and does not comprise any personal identifying information;

determining an estimated insurance premium based on the received first through third user inputs; and

providing the estimated insurance premium for communication to the user.

8. The computer readable media of claim 7, wherein determining comprises determining a plurality of estimated insurance premiums, wherein each estimated insurance premium is based on a different level of insurance coverage.

9. The computer readable media of claim 8, wherein the different levels of insurance coverage are selected based on popularity.

10. The computer readable media of claim 7, wherein determining comprises determining a plurality of estimated insurance premiums, wherein each estimated insurance premium is based on a different set of insurance add-ons.

11. The computer readable media of claim 7, wherein each user input is received via a user input control displayed to the user on a web page, and wherein each user input is constrained by one or more value input filters based on the user input.

12. The computer readable media of claim 7, wherein determining comprises assuming one or more items of information necessary to determine the estimated insurance premium.

17. The computer readable media of claim 7, said method further comprising receiving fourth user input identifying residence ownership information, bill payment history, and prior automobile insurance carrier history, wherein the fourth user input does not comprise any personal identifying information,

wherein determining the estimated insurance premium is further based on the fourth user input.

19. The computer readable media of claim 7, wherein the providing the estimated insurance premium occurs prior to the user providing any personal identifying information to an insurance marketplace through which user receives the estimated insurance premium.

23. The computer readable media of claim 7, wherein the estimated insurance premium is not a binding offer that can be accepted to form a binding insurance agreement.

13. A data processing system, comprising:

a processor;

memory storing insurance rate model data and computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, determine a plurality of automobile insurance estimates from the rate model data based on driver information, vehicle information, and background information received as user input received via a user interface;

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the user interface to be displayed on a client computer, said user interface comprising;

a driver information input module that receives the driver information from a user for one or more drivers, said driver information for each driver comprising gender, marital status, age, and driving history;

a vehicle information input module that receives the vehicle information from the user for one or more vehicles, said vehicle information for each vehicle comprising year, make and model;

a background information input module that receives the background information for a prospective automobile insurance estimate, said background information comprising residence information, a self-declaration of bill payment history by the user, and automobile insurance history; and

an output module that displays the plurality of automobile insurance estimates in a grid based on increasing levels of insurance associated with each estimate, and based on increasing levels of add-on features associated with each estimate.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein when the user hovers an input device over one of the plurality of automobile insurance estimates the output module displays additional information associated with the one of the plurality of automobile insurance estimates in a pop-up window.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein when the user selects one of the automobile insurance estimates the output module displays a summary screen comprising levels of insurance and add-on features associated with the selected one of the automobile insurance estimates.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the output module displays the plurality of automobile insurance estimates without receiving any personal identifying information about the user.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the driver information, for each driver, consists of gender, marital status, age, and driving history,

wherein the vehicle information, for each vehicle, consists of year, make and model, and

wherein the background information consists of the residence information, the self-declaration of bill payment history by the user, and the automobile insurance history.