Patent Publication Number: US-2005119920-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for automated insurance processing

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/494,689, filed Aug. 13, 2003, entitled, “Method and Apparatus for Automated Insurance Processing,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to the field of insurance issuing, and in particular to a method and apparatus for automated insurance processing.  
      2. Background Art  
      In the typical insurance buying process, a customer fills out a form which is transmitted in paper form to members of an insurance company that determine whether the insurance can be issued. In some systems, the customer can fill out a form online (e.g., via the world wide web). However, the online form is still printed out and sent to a person who makes the determination of whether to issue a policy or not. Thus, even healthy customers who desire immediate coverage (e.g., for life insurance) who engage in no risky behavior must wait days before knowing whether they are insured.  
      Alternatively, an insurer could issue insurance to everyone regardless of the risk involved. However, the premium would be much higher for non-risky customers, and thus, those customers would likely seek out other insurers. The above delays, difficulties and inefficiencies cause some portions of the potential insurance market (e.g., the middle market) to have a very low or even negative rate of return on investment of time, effort and capital of insurers or reinsurers.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for automated insurance processing. In one embodiment of the present invention, information about a customer is entered into an electronic system. In one embodiment, the customer (due to the customer&#39;s traits, desired insurance/reinsurance product, or other factors) is part of a low-margin market. A low-margin market is a portion of the insurance (or reinsurance) market wherein the expected profit from insuring (reinsuring) an entity within that portion is small relative to the cost of insuring an entity within that portion (e.g., payout expectations, overhead involved in developing business with the entity, etc.). Hereinafter “insurance” and “reinsurance” and related terms will be used interchangeably unless specifically indicated otherwise.  
      In one embodiment, the customer enters the information. In another embodiment, an insurance agent enters the information. In still another embodiment, the information is entered by a third party that is privy to the information (e.g., a bank, credit card company, retail sales store, club, fraternal organization, social organization, charitable society, etc.). In one embodiment, the information is entered via the world wide web. In one embodiment, the information is entered using a standardized XML format. In another embodiment, the information is entered as part of a batch of information entered about several individuals. In still another embodiment, the information is entered via the Internet. In one embodiment, the information gathered about the customer is done in stages. For example, at a first stage, a customer is asked for a certain set of information. Then, the information requested at a second stage is determined at least in part from information entered at a first stage. In one embodiment, part of the information entered is the customer&#39;s signature. In one embodiment, the signature is an electronic signature.  
      In one embodiment, information about a customer is used to automatically retrieve additional information. In one embodiment, information about a customer (e.g., the customer&#39;s name and/or social security number) is used to retrieve a customer&#39;s driving record. In another embodiment, information about a customer is used to retrieve a customer&#39;s medical record. In one embodiment, the customer&#39;s medical record comprises the customer&#39;s pharmaceutical records.  
      In one environment, information about the customer is entered anonymously at a facility where some of the information is generated. In an example embodiment, when a customer visits a physician, the customer&#39;s medical information and other relevant information are entered anonymously and the customer is presented with a tentative quote. If the customer wishes to proceed, additional information (e.g., the customer&#39;s identity) is entered and/or collected to produce a final quote. In this way, the customer can avoid additional trips to the physician and can be prompted with insurance options available to the customer at the customer&#39;s already scheduled visit. In another embodiment, the customer&#39;s information is entered by a medical testing facility that is performing medical tests upon the customer.  
      In one embodiment, additional information (e.g., MIB, MVR, and/or Rx) is automatically requested about the customer from electronic databases using the information entered into the system about the customer. In one embodiment, information about a customer is scored. In one embodiment, how different medications that are in the customer&#39;s pharmaceutical records interact with each other and/or commonly used medications, foods, and/or beverages. In another embodiment, certain information conditions are flagged (e.g., the customer is a smoker, has a fatal disease, takes medication taken for a fatal disease or disease related to risky behavior, hang-glides, flies airplanes, works with explosives, is an alcoholic, has been treated for a drug addiction, etc.).  
      In one embodiment, the information about the customer is used to determine whether the customer meets the criteria for automatic policy approval. If the customer meets the criteria for automatic policy approval, a policy is automatically issued for the customer. In one embodiment, the policy is automatically delivered to the customer electronically. In another embodiment, the policy is automatically sent to the customer in a paper format (e.g., the policy is automatically printed, enveloped and placed into a mail system). In one embodiment, the customer receives an offered rate based upon the information entered about the customer.  
      In one embodiment, the customer&#39;s information is submitted by an online service (e.g., online banking) used by the customer. When the customer logs into the online service, the customer is notified of the offered insurance product and rate. In one embodiment, by submitting the electronic application, the customer is agreeing to the offered rate. In another embodiment, if additional information collected about a customer alters the offered rate, the customer is automatically notified of the new rate (e.g., via e-mail, web site, automated phone call, etc). In one embodiment, the customer must agree to the new rate, if any, before a policy can issue. In another embodiment, if the new rate is lower, the customer&#39;s submission at the old rate constitutes acceptance at the lower rate as well.  
      In one embodiment, the information about the customer is used to determine whether the customer meets the criteria for automatic policy denial. If the customer meets the criteria for automatic policy denial, the customer is automatically denied a policy. In one embodiment, the customer&#39;s information is compared to more than one insurer&#39;s approval/denial criteria. In one embodiment, two entities (e.g., an insurer and a re-insurer) partition financial obligations with regard to a policy issued automatically. In one embodiment, when certain customer information is entered (e.g., one of a range of scores or one or more flags are associated with the customer information), the customer&#39;s information is automatically sent to a human for review. The human can review the information and request additional information from the customer and/or electronic databases or issue or deny a policy.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:  
       FIG. 1  is a flow diagram of the process of insuring a customer who is part of a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of the process of insuring a customer who is part of the middle market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of the process of insuring a customer who enters at least some of his or her information and who is part of a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of the process of insuring a customer who is part of a low-margin market wherein an insurance agent enters at least some of the customer information in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of the process of insuring a customer who is part of a low-margin market wherein at least some of the customer&#39;s information is entered by a third party in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of the process of insuring a customer, who is part of a low-margin market, using a computer network in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of the process of gathering information about potential customers within a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of a drill-down information entry process in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of the process of automatically retrieving additional information about a customer who is part of a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a flow diagram of the process of initiating customer information gathering at a traditionally slow part (preferably the slowest part) of the insurance application information gathering process in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a flow diagram of the process of automatically insuring a customer in a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 12  is a block diagram of a general purpose computer.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention is a method and apparatus for automated insurance processing. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough description of embodiments of the invention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.  
      Various embodiments of the invention may be used with the systems and methods described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/986,204, filed Nov. 7, 2001, entitled, “System and Method for Enabling Real Time Underwriting of Insurance Policies;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/993,153, filed Nov. 6, 2001, entitled, “Automated Insurance Policy Application;” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/883,193, filed Jun. 19, 2001, entitled, “System and Method for Facilitating Interaction with a Financial Service,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
      Electronic Insurance in Low-Margin Markets  
      In one embodiment of the present invention, information about a customer is entered into an electronic system. In one embodiment, the customer (due to the customer&#39;s traits, desired insurance/reinsurance product, or other factors) is part of a low-margin market (e.g., the middle market). A low-margin market is a portion of the insurance (or reinsurance) market wherein the expected profit from insuring (reinsuring) an entity within that portion is small relative to the cost of insuring an entity within that portion (e.g., payout expectations, overhead involved in developing business with the entity, etc.).  
       FIG. 1  illustrates the process of insuring a customer who is part of a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  100 , information about a customer who is part of a low-margin market is entered into an electronic system. At block  110 , it is determined whether to offer a policy to the customer. If a policy is not offered to the customer, at block  120 , no policy is issued. If a policy is offered to the customer, at block  130 , it is determined whether the customer accepts the policy. If the customer does not accept the policy, the process continues to block  120 . If the customer accepts the policy, at block  140 , payment is arranged and the policy is issued.  
      In one embodiment, the customer is part of a middle market for life insurance. The middle market for life insurance comprises life insurance policies with insurance amounts in the range of approximately $50,000 to approximately $250,000 in 2003 dollars. For example, a credit union may offer life insurance policies with insurance amounts in the middle market range to each of its members in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates the process of insuring a customer who is part of the middle market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  200 , information about a customer who is part of the life insurance middle market is entered into an electronic system. At block  210 , it is determined whether to offer a policy to the customer. If a policy is not offered to the customer, at block  220 , no policy is issued. If a policy is offered to the customer, at block  230 , it is determined whether the customer accepts the policy. If the customer does not accept the policy, the process continues to block  220 . If the customer accepts the policy, at block  240 , payment is arranged and the policy is issued.  
      Entering Customer Information  
      In one embodiment, the customer enters the information. In another embodiment, an insurance agent enters the information. In still another embodiment, the information is entered by a third party that is privy to the information (e.g., a bank, credit card company, retail sales store, club, fraternal organization, social organization, charitable society, doctor&#39;s office, medical insurance company, etc.).  
       FIG. 3  illustrates the process of insuring a customer who enters at least some of his or her information and who is part of a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  300 , the customer, who is part of a low-margin market, enters information about himself or herself into an electronic system. At block  310 , it is determined whether to offer a policy to the customer. If a policy is not offered to the customer, at block  320 , no policy is issued. If a policy is offered to the customer, at block  330 , it is determined whether the customer accepts the policy. If the customer does not accept the policy, the process continues to block  320 . If the customer accepts the policy, at block  340 , payment is arranged and the policy is issued.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the process of insuring a customer who is part of a low-margin market wherein an insurance agent enters at least some of the customer information in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  400 , an insurance agent enters information about the customer, who is part of a low-margin market, into an electronic system. At block  410 , it is determined whether to offer a policy to the customer. If a policy is not offered to the customer, at block  420 , no policy is issued. If a policy is offered to the customer, at block  430 , it is determined whether the customer accepts the policy. If the customer does not accept the policy, the process continues to block  420 . If the customer accepts the policy, at block  440 , payment is arranged and the policy is issued.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates the process of insuring a customer who is part of a low-margin market wherein at least some of the customer&#39;s information is entered by a third party in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  500 , a third party with information about the customer (e.g., the issuer of a store credit card account of the customer&#39;s, the customer&#39;s physician, a society to which the customer belongs, etc.) enters information about the customer, who is part of a low-margin market, into an electronic system. At block  510 , it is determined whether to offer a policy to the customer. If a policy is not offered to the customer, at block  520 , no policy is issued. If a policy is offered to the customer, at block  530 , it is determined whether the customer accepts the policy. If the customer does not accept the policy, the process continues to block  520 . If the customer accepts the policy, at block  540 , payment is arranged and the policy is issued.  
      In one embodiment, the information is entered via the world wide web. In one embodiment, the information is entered using a standardized XML format. In other embodiments, other data formats and protocols are used. In another embodiment, the information is entered via the Internet. In still another embodiment, the information is entered via a private network. In yet another embodiment, the information is entered via a dedicated network used for insurance purposes only.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates the process of insuring a customer, who is part of a low-margin market, using a computer network in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  600 , information about a customer who is part of a low-margin market is entered at a terminal. The terminal may be a general purpose computer, a PDA, a cell phone or any other system capable of inputting the data and connecting to the network. At block  610 , the information is transmitted via a computer network to a determination unit of an electronic system. At block  620 , it is determined whether to offer a policy to the customer. If a policy is not offered to the customer, at block  630 , no policy is issued. If a policy is offered to the customer, at block  640 , it is determined whether the customer accepts the policy. If the customer does not accept the policy, the process continues to block  630 . If the customer accepts the policy, at block  650 , payment is arranged and the policy is issued.  
      In another embodiment, the information is entered as part of a batch of information entered about several individuals. In one embodiment, information is entered by retrieving the information from a database in which the information is already stored. In one embodiment, an automated process searches a database for potential customers that are part of a low-margin market. Information about those potential customers is automatically formatted and entered.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates the process of gathering information about potential customers within a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  700 , it is determined whether every potential customer in a database has been examined. If every potential customer in a database has been examined, at block  710 , the process is complete. If not every potential customer in a database has been examined, at block  720 , an unexamined potential customer is selected. At block  730 , it is determined whether the selected potential customer is part of the desired low-margin market. If the selected potential customer is not part of the desired low-margin market, the process repeats at block  700 . If the selected potential customer is part of the desired low-margin market, at block  740 , the selected customer&#39;s information is retrieved from the database and entered into an electronic insurance system, and the process repeats at block  700 .  
      In alternative embodiments, variations on the process illustrated in  FIG. 7  are used. In an example embodiment, information about all customers that are part of a desired low-margin market is stored and entered into the electronic insurance system in one or more bundles of data. In another example embodiment, there is more than one desired low-margin market.  
      Drill-Down Customer Information Gathering  
      In one embodiment, the information gathered about the customer is done in stages. For example, at a first stage, a customer is asked for a certain set of information. Then, the information requested at a second stage is determined at least in part from information entered at a first stage. In one embodiment, part of the information entered is the customer&#39;s signature. In one embodiment, the signature is an electronic signature.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a drill-down information entry process in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  800 , a user is prompted for information about a potential customer. A user may be the potential customer, an insurance agent, a third party, or an automated computer process (i.e., a script or program). At block  810 , the user enters information about the potential customer. At block  820 , it is determined from any of the information entered at block  810  whether any additional information is desired. For example, if a user enters that the potential customer has a heart problem, at  820  it may be determined that more specific information about the potential customer&#39;s heart health is required. If no additional information is desired, at block  830 , the drill-down process is complete. If additional information is desired, the process repeats at block  800 .  
      Automatic Retrieval of Additional Customer Information  
      In one embodiment, information about a customer is used to automatically retrieve additional information. In one embodiment, information about a customer (e.g., the customer&#39;s name and/or social security number) is used to retrieve a customer&#39;s driving record. In another embodiment, information about a customer is used to retrieve a customer&#39;s medical record. In one embodiment, the customer&#39;s medical record comprises the customer&#39;s pharmaceutical records.  
       FIG. 9  illustrates the process of automatically retrieving additional information about a customer who is part of a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  900 , information about a customer who is part of a low-margin market is entered into an electronic system. At block  910 , some or all of the customer information (e.g., name, social security number, driver&#39;s license number, etc.) is used to automatically query one or more databases for more information about the customer. The queried database may be a government agency database (e.g., a state department of motor vehicles database) or any other database (e.g., Medical Insurance Bureau—MIB, prescription database—Rx, individual insurance company database, sex offender database, criminal records database, etc.) At block  920 , the additional information is received by the electronic system.  
      Efficient and/or Opportunistic Potential Client Information Gathering  
      In one embodiment, information about the customer is entered anonymously at a facility where some of the information is generated. In one embodiment, the information is gathered at the facility that takes the most time to collect information in traditional insurance application information gathering processes (e.g., a doctor&#39;s office). In an example embodiment, when a customer visits a physician, the customer&#39;s medical information and other relevant information are entered anonymously and the customer is presented with a tentative quote. If the customer wishes to proceed, additional information (e.g., the customer&#39;s identity) is entered and/or collected to produce a final quote. In this way, the customer can avoid additional trips to the physician and can be prompted with insurance options available to the customer at the customer&#39;s already scheduled visit. In another embodiment, the customer&#39;s information is entered by a medical testing facility that is performing medical tests upon the customer.  
       FIG. 10  illustrates the process of initiating customer information gathering at a traditionally slow part (preferably the slowest part) of the insurance application information gathering process in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  1000 , a potential customer who is part of a low-margin market and who may or may not intend to investigate his or her insurance options participates in gathering information that is typically information on an insurance application that is slow (or slowest) to gather. In an example embodiment, a potential customer visits a physician for an annual check-up, has various medical tests (including laboratory tests) performed, and contacts the physician to discuss the results of the tests.  
      At block  1010 , the gathered information is entered into an electronic system. At block  1020 , it is determined whether to offer a policy to the customer. If a policy is not offered to the customer, at block  1030 , no policy is issued. If a policy is offered to the customer, at block  1040 , it is determined whether the customer accepts the policy. If the customer does not accept the policy, the process continues to block  1030 . If the customer accepts the policy, at block  1050 , payment is arranged and the policy is issued.  
      Determining Policy Issuance Using Scoring  
      In one embodiment, additional information (e.g., MIB, Motor Vehicle Records—MVR, and/or Rx) is automatically requested about the customer from electronic databases using the information entered into the system about the customer. In one embodiment, information about a customer is scored. In one embodiment, how different medications that are in the customer&#39;s pharmaceutical records interact with each other and/or commonly used medications, foods, and/or beverages. In another embodiment, certain information conditions are flagged (e.g., the customer is a smoker, has a fatal disease, takes medication taken for a fatal disease or disease related to risky behavior, hang-glides, flies airplanes, works with explosives, is an alcoholic, has been treated for a drug addiction, etc.).  
      In one embodiment, the information about the customer is used to determine whether the customer meets the criteria for automatic policy approval. If the customer meets the criteria for automatic policy approval, a policy is automatically issued for the customer. In one embodiment, the policy is automatically delivered to the customer electronically. In another embodiment, the policy is automatically sent to the customer in a paper format (e.g., the policy is automatically printed, enveloped and placed into a mail system). In one embodiment, the customer receives an offered rate based upon the information entered about the customer.  
      In one embodiment, the customer&#39;s information is submitted by an online service (e.g., online banking) used by the customer. When the customer logs into the online service, the customer is notified of the offered insurance product and rate. In one embodiment, by submitting the electronic application, the customer is agreeing to the offered rate. In another embodiment, if additional information collected about a customer alters the offered rate, the customer is automatically notified of the new rate (e.g., via e-mail, web site, automated phone call, etc). In one embodiment, the customer must agree to the new rate, if any, before a policy can issue. In another embodiment, if the new rate is lower, the customer&#39;s submission at the old rate constitutes acceptance at the lower rate as well.  
      In one embodiment, the information about the customer is used to determine whether the customer meets the criteria for automatic policy denial. If the customer meets the criteria for automatic policy denial, the customer is automatically denied a policy. In one embodiment, the customer&#39;s information is compared to more than one insurer&#39;s approval/denial criteria. In one embodiment, two entities (e.g., an insurer and a re-insurer) partition financial obligations with regard to a policy issued automatically. In one embodiment, when certain customer information is entered (e.g., one of a range of scores or one or more flags are associated with the customer information), the customer&#39;s information is automatically sent to a human for review. The human can review the information and request additional information from the customer and/or electronic databases or issue or deny a policy.  
       FIG. 11  illustrates the process of automatically insuring a customer in a low-margin market in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. At block  1100 , information about a customer who is part of a low-margin market is entered into an electronic system. The customer may be aware or unaware that his or her information is being entered. At block  1110 , it is determined using a scoring system based upon information collected about the customer whether to automatically offer a policy to the customer. If a policy is not automatically offered to the customer, at block  1120 , it is determined using a scoring system based upon information collected about the customer whether to automatically reject the customer.  
      If the customer is automatically rejected, at block  1130 , no policy is issued. If the customer is not automatically rejected, at block  1140 , the case is automatically brought to the attention of a human insurance decision maker. At block  1150 , the human insurance maker decides whether to issue a policy. If a policy is not offered, the process continues at block  1130 . If a policy is offered automatically or by the human decision maker, at block  1160 , it is determined whether the customer accepts the policy. If the customer does not accept the policy, the process continues at block  1130 . If the customer accepts the policy, at block  1170 , payment is arranged and the policy is issued.  
     Embodiment of Computer Execution Environment (Hardware)  
      An embodiment of the invention can be implemented as computer software in the form of computer readable program code executed in a general purpose computing environment such as environment  1200  illustrated in  FIG. 12 . A keyboard  1210  and mouse  1211  are coupled to a system bus  1218 . The keyboard and mouse are for introducing user input to the computer system and communicating that user input to central processing unit (CPU)  1213 . Other suitable input devices may be used in addition to, or in place of, the mouse  1211  and keyboard  1210 . I/O (input/output) unit  1219  coupled to bidirectional system bus  1218  represents such I/O elements as a printer, A/V (audio/video) I/O, etc.  
      Computer  1201  may include a communication interface  1220  coupled to bus  1218 . Communication interface  1220  provides a two-way data communication coupling via a network link  1221  to a local network  1222 . For example, if communication interface  1220  is an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem, communication interface  1220  provides a data communication connection to the corresponding type of telephone line, which comprises part of network link  1221 . If communication interface  1220  is a local area network (LAN) card, communication interface  1220  provides a data communication connection via network link  1221  to a compatible LAN. Wireless links are also possible. In any such implementation, communication interface  1220  sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals which carry digital data streams representing various types of information.  
      Network link  1221  typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link  1221  may provide a connection through local network  1222  to local server computer  1223  or to data equipment operated by ISP  1224 . ISP  1224  in turn provides data communication services through the world wide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the “Internet”  1225 . Local network  1222  and Internet  1225  both use electrical electromagnetic or optical signals which carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link  1221  and through communication interface  1220 , which carry the digital data to and from computer  1201 , are exemplary forms of carrier waves transporting the information.  
      Processor  1213  may reside wholly on client computer  1201  or wholly on server  1226  or processor  1213  may have its computational power distributed between computer  1201  and server  1226 . Server  1226  symbolically is represented in  FIG. 12  as one unit, but server  1226  can also be distributed between multiple “tiers”. In one embodiment, server  1226  comprises a middle and back tier where application logic executes in the middle tier and persistent data is obtained in the back tier. In the case where processor  1213  resides wholly on server  1226 , the results of the computations performed by processor  1213  are transmitted to computer  1201  via Internet  1225 , Internet Service Provider (ISP)  1224 , local network  1222  and communication interface  1220 . In this way, computer  1201  is able to display the results of the computation to a user in the form of output.  
      Computer  1201  includes a video memory  1214 , main memory  1215  and mass storage  1212 , all coupled to bi-directional system bus  1218  along with keyboard  1210 , mouse  1211  and processor  1213 . As with processor  1213 , in various computing environments, main memory  1215  and mass storage  1212 , can reside wholly on server  1226  or computer  1201 , or they may be distributed between the two.  
      The mass storage  1212  may include both fixed and removable media, such as magnetic, optical or magnetic optical storage systems or any other available mass storage technology. Bus  1218  may contain, for example, thirty-two address lines for addressing video memory  1214  or main memory  1215 . The system bus  1218  also includes, for example, a 32-bit data bus for transferring data between and among the components, such as processor  1213 , main memory  1215 , video memory  1214  and mass storage  1212 . Alternatively, multiplex data/address lines may be used instead of separate data and address lines.  
      In one embodiment of the invention, the microprocessor is manufactured by Intel, such as the 80×86 or Pentium-typed processor. However, any other suitable microprocessor or microcomputer may be utilized. Main memory  1215  is comprised of dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Video memory  1214  is a dual-ported video random access memory. One port of the video memory  1214  is coupled to video amplifier  1216 . The video amplifier  1216  is used to drive the cathode ray tube (CRT) raster monitor  1217 . Video amplifier  1216  is well known in the art and may be implemented by any suitable apparatus. This circuitry converts pixel data stored in video memory  1214  to a raster signal suitable for use by monitor  1217 . Monitor  1217  is a type of monitor suitable for displaying graphic images.  
      Computer  1201  can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link  1221 , and communication interface  1220 . In the Internet example, remote server computer  1226  might transmit a requested code for an application program through Internet  1225 , ISP  1224 , local network  1222  and communication interface  1220 . The received code may be executed by processor  1213  as it is received, and/or stored in mass storage  1212 , or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, computer  1201  may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave. Alternatively, remote server computer  1226  may execute applications using processor  1213 , and utilize mass storage  1212 , and/or video memory  1215 . The results of the execution at server  1226  are then transmitted through Internet  1225 , ISP  1224 , local network  1222  and communication interface  1220 . In this example, computer  1201  performs only input and output functions.  
      Application code may be embodied in any form of computer program product. A computer program product comprises a medium configured to store or transport computer readable code, or in which computer readable code may be embedded. Some examples of computer program products are CD-ROM disks, ROM cards, floppy disks, magnetic tapes, computer hard drives, servers on a network, and carrier waves.  
      The computer systems described above are for purposes of example only. An embodiment of the invention may be implemented in any type of computer system or programming or processing environment.  
      Thus, a method and apparatus for automated insurance processing is described in conjunction with one or more specific embodiments. The invention is defined by the following claims and their full scope and equivalents.