Managing an insurance plan

• US 8,380,546 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discovery Life Limited (Discovery Limited)
• Original Assignee: Discovery Life Limited (Discovery Limited)
• Inventors: Rabson, Kenneth Steven, Mayers, Herschel Phillip, Gore, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Sereboff, Neal
• Application Number:
  US12/912,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705/35, 705/36.R
• US Class Current: 705/4
• 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

A method of managing an insurance policy includes defining a plurality of mechanisms to protect an insured person from adverse financial outcomes. A selection of at least one of the plurality of mechanism is received from the insured person and stored the selection in a memory. On the occurrence of an insured event, the stored selection is retrieved and a basic insurance amount to be paid to the insured person based on an insurance policy of the insured person is calculated. The method then includes determining based on the stored selection of mechanisms if the insured person has suffered any adverse financial outcomes since the inception of the policy and if so then calculating a further financial protector amount to be paid to the insured person based on the stored selection of mechanisms. Finally, the basic insurance amount and further financial protector amount are paid to the insured person or their nominated beneficiary.

Claims

1. A method of managing an insurance policy, comprising:

using software executing within at least one computer from non-transitory storage medium, the software configured for

receiving data pertaining to coverage for one or more insured events for an insured person under the insurance policy;

receiving data pertaining to additional coverage under the insurance policy based upon at least one financial indicator selected from the group consisting of (a) an investment fund compared to a published price index, (b) a change in value between a local currency and a foreign currency, and (c) an interest rate level published by an authority;

calculating a basic insurance amount to be paid to the insured person based on the occurrence of an insured event under the policy of for the insured person,

determining, for the selected at least one financial indicator at the end of a given time period,

if (a) is selected, if the interest rate of the investment performance is lower than the rate of the published price index,

if (b) is selected, if the local currency is of lower value as compared to the foreign currency relative to the start of the given time period, or

if (c) is selected, if the interest rate level published is lower relative to the start of the given time period, since the inception of the policy, and

if the selected financial indicator is lower, then calculating an additional coverage benefit amount to be paid to the insured person on the occurrence of the insured event, based on a function of the extent of lowering of the selection and a predetermined notional starting value which is not the basic insurance amount or an actual investment amount; and

causing the basic insurance amount and the additional coverage amount to be paid to the insured person or their nominated beneficiary.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including:

monitoring the compliance of the insured person with a wellness program; and

altering the additional coverage benefit amount based on the insured person'"'"'s compliance with the wellness program.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the monitoring is not performed by the insured.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined starting value is determined based upon the financial obligations of the insured at a predetermined date.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the insured event is selected from the group consisting of disease, disability, and death.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the authority is a government, regional authority, or financial institution.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined starting value is a notional value determined by the insured for a desired level of coverage.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined starting value is based upon financial obligations of the insured.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional coverage amount is paid in installments over time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional coverage amount is paid upon the insured reaching a predetermined retirement age.

11. A system for managing an insurance policy, the system including:

at least one computer server including software executing within said at least one computer from non-transitory storage medium, the software configured to

store an initial interest rate level which is an interest rate level payable on debt of the insured person;

store policy information for a first benefit payable upon the occurrence of an insured event relating to disease, disability, or death, the first benefit configured to cover losses associated with the insured event;

store policy information for a second benefit payable upon the occurrence of the insured event, the second benefit configured to pay debt of the insured at the time of the insured event;

determine an interest rate level at the time of an occurrence of the insured event;

compare the determined interest rate level with the inception interest rate level;

calculate the second benefit amount to be paid to the insured person if the determined interest rate level is higher than the inception interest rate level, the second benefit amount based upon a predetermined notional number and the compared interest rate levels, the predetermined number not directly related to the first benefit amount; and

cause to pay the first and second benefit amounts to the insured person or their nominated beneficiary.

12. A system according to claim 11, further including:

a monitoring module to monitor the compliance of the insured person with a wellness program; and

the calculation module altering the second benefit amount based on the insured person'"'"'s compliance with the wellness program.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the monitoring is not performed by the insured.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the interest rate is set by a government, regional authority, or financial institution not the insurer.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined number is a notional value determined by the insured for a desired level of coverage.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined number is based upon financial obligations of the insured.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the second benefit amount is paid in installments over time.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the second benefit amount is paid upon the insured reaching a predetermined retirement age.

19. A method for managing an insurance policy, the system including:

using at least one computer server including software executing within said at least one computer from non-transitory storage medium, the software configured to

store an initial level relating to at least one of a published price index, relative value between a local currency and a foreign currency, and an interest rate level published by a financial institution or regional authority;

store an initial level relating to financial obligations of the insured;

store policy information for a first benefit payable upon the occurrence of an insured event relating to disease, disability, or death, the first benefit configured to cover losses associated with the insured event;

store policy information for a second benefit payable upon the occurrence of the insured event, the second benefit configured to pay at least a portion of the financial obligations of the insured beginning on or after the time of the insured event;

determine a change in level of at least one of the published price index, relative value of the local currency and foreign currency, and interest rate level published by a financial institution or regional authority between the initial level and the level at about the time of an occurrence of the insured event;

calculate the second benefit amount to be paid to the insured person based upon the determined change in level and the financial obligations of the insured; and

cause to pay the first and second benefit amounts to the insured person or their nominated beneficiary.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the software is further configured to change the calculated second benefit amount based upon compliance of the insured with a wellness program configured to improve the health of the insured.