American Skyline Insurance Taps Debit-Based Claims Vendor

As part of a strategy that will reduce paper claims drafts and get claims payments to policyholders more quickly, Baltimore-based American Skyline Insurance Co. (ASIC) has awarded a contract to Clarity Incentive Systems (New York). The deal will enable ASIC to use Clarity's payment platform to power a debit card-based claims disbursement program.

The new program will enable ASIC to issue monetary payments instantly to policyholders' ASIC-branded Visa debit cards. The cards will be distributed to policyholders when their policies are issued. Claims representatives can activate payments on the cards electronically through Clarity's Web site.

According to Earnie Hines, president and CEO, ASIC, the insurer selected Clarity Incentive Systems after looking at a number of payment solutions providers. "ASIC was looking for a provider that had vision," says Hines. "Also, Clarity is designed around leveraging technology and its delivery is well ahead of most."

The claims disbursement card program, reports Hines, will improve the ease of doing business with policyholders outside ASIC's local area. "If a policyholder gets into an accident outside of our local area, by having the ability to activate the card, ASIC can actually get the claims process underway immediately without having to have a local claims office," says Hines. The program is also beneficial for ASIC from a branding standpoint. Because the Visa cards have ASIC's logo, notes Hines, the company will secure more customer "mindshare."