Big Data and Regulation in the Insurance Industry Lars Powell, PhD Executive Director Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research University of Alabama
Benefits of Big Data applications
Benefits of Big Data applications Accurate prices Efficient risk-taking Telematics New rating variables
Benefits of Big Data applications Customer satisfaction Real-time monitoring Appropriate products
Benefits of Big Data applications Increasing coverage Cat models Satellite data Granular underwriting and rates
Benefits of Big Data applications Claims process Reducing fraud Link analysis, text analysis Improving accuracy Improving customer satisfaction
Benefits of Big Data applications Increasing efficiency Reducing search costs for consumers Reducing operating costs for insurers
Issues Substantial changes to regulation of insurance products Disclosure Price segmentation Disparate impact Regulatory resources
Disclosure A noble goal Can reduce efficacy of rating variables Less accurate rates Probably a losing argument
Price segmentation Accurate prices Optimal incentives Competitive markets Does not reduce ability to pool risk Not feasible for premiums to be “too accurate”
Disparate Impact Accurate pricing only has disparate impact on high-risk policyholders
Regulatory resources Model complexity Advanced statistical methods Opacity vs. transparency State vs. Federal regulation?
Insurance markets work very well
Complaints by Category and Premium
Competition Measures Source: NAIC 2014 Competition Database Report
Average Annual Return on Net Worth by Industry: 2006 – 2015 Sources: ISO®, a Verisk business® and Fortune, as reported by Insurance Information Institute at: http://www.iii.org/publications/insurance-fact-book-2016/property-casualty-financial-data/financial-results
Thank you