AISG Announces Key New Options and Services for the Index System; Provides Industry More Information and Flexibility in Evaluating Insurance Claims Through the National Database.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 1996--The American Insurance Services Group, Inc. (AISG) has unveiled new search and information verification programs in the Index System, the national clearinghouse of bodily injury claims. The new system advancements are intended to provide claims processing departments and special investigation units (SIUs) greater flexibility and capability in confirming the validity of bodily injury claims.

According to Richard P. Boehning, president of AISG, the new services fall into two categories: those that will be part of Index's regular processing of more than 15 million claims reports annually, and those designed for support of special investigations. The new services capitalize on the 1995 expansion of the Index database to accept more information including vehicle identification numbers (VINs), driver's license numbers, tax identification numbers (TINs), and repair vendor names and addresses.

"Now, when a claim report includes some of these fields of information, the System will automatically search for matching data through its database of nearly 50 million bodily injury claims," stated Boehning. "This gives offices submitting auto accident injury reports more options for finding prior claims. The system will search on the automobile/driver data in the report."

"In a second enhancement, Index also will automatically check Social Security Numbers against the Social Security Death Master File and will read intelligence embedded in the number. This capability will be triggered automatically when claims are found in the database with a matching SSN," added Gerald F. Murphy, vice president of the Database Information Services Group at AISG. "Then, the number on the incoming claim will be checked against the Death File and any information in the number will be interpreted. This will advise users when the SSN being reported refers to someone who has died, when and where the number was issued, and when the number is invalid."

AISG also has made these services available for special investigations through its SIU program. For example, all of the key automobile/driver searches can be requested when making special inquiries for searches on claimants and insureds. This includes vehicle identification, license plate and driver's license numbers.

A broad, new "address-only" search also has been introduced, which is limited to special investigations inquires. Now, investigators can search to see all claims where the claimant's address is the same, even when reported names have been changed. This is a valuable tool for investigating mail drops and possible ring activity.

For more information on the Index System and its special investigations services, please call The Index Customer Service office at 908/388-0332. -0-

The Index System is the property-casualty industry's first line of defense against fraud in bodily injury claims. Its database of almost 50 million claim reports serves 1,675 insurers, 1,500 public and private self-insureds, 18 state workers' compensation insurance funds, 260 third party administrators, and a growing number of accident and disability writers. Index is a division of AISG, the leading property-casualty industry supported provider of risk management and loss data.

CONTACT: AISG

Susan Black

212/669-0406

or

MWW 

Bill Murray

201/507-9500