ConfirmNet Gives Clients Access to Proof of Insurance.

Agents and brokers could save time and money if clients could request and receive their own certificates of insurance simply by logging on to the Internet.

"There are literally agencies with people hired solely to answer requests for certificates of insurance and distribute them," said Paul Buse, president of IIAA Membership Inc., a for-profit subsidiary of the nonprofit Independent Insurance Agents of America. "Having the client request and receive a certificate by the Internet makes a lot of sense."

ConfirmNet Corp., San Diego, has developed such a product. The company has launched CertificatesNow, an upgraded version of a product with the same name that allows clients to log on to a secure site, request and receive a certificate of insurance.

Certificates of insurance are proof of insurance, and they often are needed by commercial clients for such things as applying for loans or for subcontracting or contracting work, said Lauren Brimmer, director of product marketing for ConfirmNet. Rather than requesting a certificate from the agent and waiting for it to be sent by e-mail, fax or mail, the client can access the certificate directly and send it electronically to a third-party seeking proof of insurance.

"This takes an administrative burden off agents and brokers," Brimmer said. Before the upgrade, CertificatesNow was limited to the number of clients and agents and brokers it could handle. Now, it can simply add new servers to increase the number it can handle.

IIAA Membership Inc. has endorsed CertificatesNow, Buse said.

The market for electronic storage and distribution of certificates of insurance is so new, it's difficult to place a size on the market, Buse said. But he said the market is sure to grow. "It's kind of an evolution...but it makes such sense," Buse said.