Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INSURANCE SERVICE

PROVIDING

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a compensation service for a lapsed insurance, and more particularly an apparatusand method for providing a compensation service for a lapsed insurance capable of allowing an appropriate indemnity (compensation) based upon applied insurance maintained period, late payment days for the insurance, and special contract clauses even if the applicant's insurance is currently in the lapsed state owing to his unavoidable circumstances. Background Art

[2] In recent times, many members of society apply for various types of insurances for their old age living, unexpected accidents and diseases.

[3] Insurance denotes an economic policy which people having probabilities to be involved in the same type of accident generate a commonly-prepared property by clubbing money together in advance, and a person involved in the accident is provided with payment from the commonly-prepared property.

[4] The types of insurances may roughly be classified into 1) public insurance and private insurance, 2) profit-making insurance and mutual insurance, 3) personal insurance and impersonal insurance, 4) personal insurance and property insurance, 5) property insurance and fixed-rate insurance, 6) land insurance, marine insurance and aviation insurance, 7) individual insurance and group insurance, and 8) original insurance and reinsurance.

[5] Insurance products have different insurance indemnities (compensations, coverage amounts, etc.) according to types of insurances and probability of accident being taken place. At a time point of an accident taken place, an applicant s indemnity is determined according to main contract clauses (e.g., coveragel, coverage 2, coverage 3, ...coverage n) and special contract clauses, both being selected by the applicant when applying for the insurance product, and the number of times premium has been paid and period expiration (i.e., full paid-in period) after applying for the insurance product.

[6] Further, if the applicant has not paid for premium over a certain duration owing to his unavoidable circumstances, his insurance is processed as "lapsed insurance" Accordingly, the insurance company does not pay the applicant (beneficiary) with the indemnity (compensation) upon the occurrence of the accident.

[7] However, from the applicant perspective, it may be preferable to be paid for his insurance benefit (i.e., indemnity, compensation, etc.) corresponding to an entire

insurance premium having paid even if his insurance is in the lapsed state. Also, concerning that an insurance policy is for generating (forming) a commonly-prepared property for an accident which might occur thus to provide its applicant with the compensation, it is reasonable for the applicant to be paid for the insurance benefit (indemnity) corresponding to full premium he has paid before the insurance lapses. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for providing a compensation service capable of paying for insurance benefit (i.e., indemnity, compensation, etc) based upon an insurance maintained period until an accident occurs, delay payment days for insurance and special contract clauses in case where the accident occurs to an applicant under a condition that the insurance applied by the applicant lapsed. Technical Solution

[9] To achieve the above object in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing a compensation service for a lapsed insurance comprising: at least one or more computer terminals for allowing a plurality of applicants to apply for insurance products through internet networks and to search for coverage related information on the insurance products or indemnities for each lapsed insurance; and an insurance service system for managing information related to an applicant applied for an insurance product using a corresponding computer terminal, and differentially calculating the indemnity for the lapsed insurance based upon at least one of information related to a full paid-in period, information related to paid-in maintained period, information related to late payment days, or information related to maintenance costs for the insurance, in case where the insurance product lapsed at a time point when the applicant has an accident.

[10] Further, the insurance service system may comprise: an applicant database for storing information regarding an applicant applied for an insurance product in an offline manner; an insurance product providing server for providing information on a type of insurance and detailed information thereof when receiving an application request from each computer terminal, and providing an insurance product having an establishment for main contract clauses and special contract clauses based upon the applicant's selection; an offline managing server for storing the applicant related information with respect to an insurance for which the applicant has applied in the offline manner in the applicant database, and sending to the corresponding applicant the applicant related information by offline mail; a searching server for displaying a selection screen including a plurality of selection windows when receiving an

indemnity checking request from each computer terminal, and calculating and providing the calculated indemnity for the lapsed insurance according to information selected by the applicant; and a status information providing server for sending an email to each applicant through an internet network periodically or according to the applicant's request, the email including the applicant related information stored in each applicant database.

[11] In another aspect of the present invention, a compensation service providing method may comprise: allowing a plurality of applicants to apply for insurance products selected by the applicants in case of receiving application requests for insurance products from the plurality of applicants through internet networks; checking whether the insurance applied by each applicant lapsed when the applicant has an accident; and differentially calculating and providing an indemnity for the lapsed insurance based upon at least one of information on a full paid-in period, information on paid-in maintained period, information on later payment days, or maintenance costs for insurance product, in case of the applicant's lapsed insurance.

[12] Calculating the indemnity for the lapsed insurance in the compensation service providing method may comprise: calculating an indemnity for the lapsed insurance according to the main contract clauses for the insurance and calculating another indemnity for the lapsed insurance according to the special contract clauses; and upwardly adjusting each indemnity for the lapsed insurance by a certain rate according to a rate of the information related to the full paid-in period for the insurance and information related to the paid-in maintained period thereof.

[13] The compensation service providing method may further comprise: providing

(displaying) a selection screen including a plurality of selection windows when receiving an indemnity checking request from each computer terminal; calculating the indemnity for the lapsed insurance according to a value selected by the applicant from the selection screen to display it using the computer terminal in real time; sending an email to each applicant through the internet network periodically or according to the applicant's request, the email including information related to each applicant; and sending a mail to each applicant by offline mail, the mail including the information related to each applicant.

Advantageous Effects

[14] As mentioned above, in the present invention, the applicant can receive payment corresponding to an appropriate indemnity (compensation) for a lapsed insurance from an insurance company when the applicant has an accident in a state that the insurance applied by the applicant lapsed owing to unavoidable circumstances.

[15] Also, the insurance company can win over more applicants by paying each

applicant for an indemnity for a lapsed insurance, thereby improving public confidence.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[16] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for providing a compensation service in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[17] Fig.2 is a view showing a search screen according to the present invention; and

[18] Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a compensation service providing method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[19]

[20] **** Explanation for the major reference numerals ****

[21] 100: computer terminal 200: insurance service system

[22] 210: insurance product providing server 220: searching server

[23] 230: status information providing server 240: applicant database

[24] 250: offline managing server 300: managing terminal

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[25] Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for providing a compensation service for a lapsed insurance according to the present invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, explanation will be given of a case where an insurance for which an applicant has applied becomes lapsed due to unavoidable circumstances, and other cases where applications are normally processed may be the same as the case to be explained herein.

[26] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for providing a compensation service in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[27] Referring to Fig. 1, an apparatus for providing a compensation service for a lapsed insurance according to the present invention may comprise a plurality of computer terminals 100, an insurance providing system 200 connected to each computer terminal 100 through an internet network, and a managing terminal 300 connected to the insurance providing system 200 via a wired/wireless network.

[28] The insurance providing system 200 may include an insurance product providing server 210, a searching server 220, a status information providing server 230, an applicant database 240 and an offline managing server 250.

[29] Each computer terminal 100 can allow an applicant to access the insurance service system 200 via the internet network so as to apply for an insurance product provided by the insurance service system 200.

[30] Each computer terminal 100 can also be allowed to be connected to the insurance service system 200 according to the applicant's request such that the corresponding applicant can calculate and check an indemnity for a lapsed insurance which can

currently be compensated by the insurance product applied by the applicant, and retrieve particulars information related to currently- applied insurance products.

[31] The managing terminal 300 allows insurance consultants to attract applicants of insurance products on an offline and to store applicant related information for each applicant attracted in the insurance service system 200.

[32] The insurance service system 200 stores applicant related information for each applicant applied for an insurance product through the internet network and each applicant applied for an insurance product by help of an insurance consultant. When each computer terminal 100 sends an indemnity checking request for a lapsed insurance, the insurance service system 200 calculates and provides a current indemnity for the corresponding lapsed insurance according to conditions selected by the corresponding applicant.

[33] When each computer terminal 100 requests a searching for particulars information related to an insurance product, the insurance service system 200 provides the corresponding computer terminal 100 with the particulars information for the insurance product applied by the corresponding applicant, such as a type of the insurance product, a current state of the insurance, the number of times premium has been fully paid, the number of times premium has currently been paid, a current indemnity for the lapsed insurance, and the like.

[34] Also, the insurance service system 200 provides, periodically or according to an applicant's request, each applicant with current particulars information for an insurance applied by each applicant by email via an internet network, or sends it by offline mail.

[35] The offline managing server 250 of the insurance service system 200 stores applicant related information which an insurance consultant inputs via the managing terminal 300 in the applicant database 240.

[36] The insurance product providing server 210 provides information on types of insurance products if receiving an application request from each computer terminal 100. The insurance product providing server 210 then provides detailed information related to a type of insurance selected by an applicant to thereafter allow the applicant to apply for the selected insurance based upon main contract clauses and special contract clauses desired by the applicant.

[37] The insurance product providing server 210 stores the applicant related information applied through the internet network in the applicant database 240. The insurance product providing server 210 also manages and updates the applicant related information in the applicant database 240 when the applicant pays for premium in a manner of a transfer through the internet network, deposit into an account at the bank or a telebanking manner, or when his premium is in arrears.

[38] Here, the applicant related information in the applicant database 240 may include

information on types of insurance products applied by each applicant, information on main contract clauses, information on special contract clauses, information related to the number of times premium has been fully paid, information related to the number of times premium has been currently paid, information on late payment days, profile information related to each applicant (e.g., information related to ID, home address, email address, phone number, etc.), and the like.

[39] When an applicant requests an indemnity checking for a lapsed insurance using his computer terminal 100, the searching server 220 displays a search screen on the computer terminal 100. The searching server 220 then calculates a currently- compensated indemnity for the lapsed insurance according to information inputted by the applicant (e.g., the applicant's ID or a number of an insurance policy, etc.) and provides the information related to the calculated indemnity for the lapsed insurance to the applicant.

[40] Fig. 2 is a view showing a search screen according to the present invention.

[41] As shown in Fig. 2, the searching server 220 displays a window which includes a field (a) of a type of insurance for providing information on various types of insurance products via each computer terminal 100, a field (b) of the number of times premium has been fully paid, a field (c) of the number of times premium has been currently paid, a field (d) of late payment days, a field (e) of special contract clauses, a searching field (g) and a field (h) of a current indemnity.

[42] The applicant selects a type of insurance using an input unit (e.g., a mouse or keyboard) of his computer terminal 100, selects the number of times premium has been fully paid based upon the main contract clauses, and selects the number of times premium has been currently paid.

[43] Also, the applicant selects or inputs late payment days using his computer terminal

100 when premium payment is in arrears, and selects the searching field (g) after selecting set special contract clauses.

[44] The searching server 220 calculates a current indemnity for a lapsed insurance based upon a type of insurance selected by the applicant, the number of times premium has been fully paid, the number of times premium has been currently paid, late payments days for premium and the special contract clauses. The searching server 220 displays the current indemnity for the lapsed insurance calculated in the field (h) of the current indemnity. Accordingly, the applicant is allowed to confirm in real time the current indemnity for the lapsed insurance which can currently be compensated to the applicant.

[45] Meanwhile, if the applicant does not select the late payment days, the searching server 220 calculates the applicant's current indemnity, and displays it to allow the applicant to confirm his current indemnity in real time.

[46] Here, the insurance service system 200 can calculate each applicant's current indemnity in a manner as shown in [Equation 1] as follows. [47]

[48] [Equation 1]

[49]

K = {I - (x t w -x a.)} - ∑

[50] where i

: current indemnity for lapsed insurance [51]

I

: indemnity based upon main contract [52]

: full paid-in period for insurance [53]

: paid-in maintained period for premium [54]

: maintenance costs for insurance [55] a.

: proportional number [56] [57] As shown in [Equation 1], the current indemnity for the lapsed insurance (

K

) can be determined within a range of 1% to 99.9% of an original indemnity based upon the indemnity (

I

) which can be compensated to the applicant based upon main contract, the full paid-in period for insurance (

λλS

), the paid-in maintained period for premium (

) and maintenance costs (

) generated in view of maintaining/managing the corresponding insurance product by

the insurance company. [58] Also, the insurance service system 200 can calculate the current indemnity according to [Equation 2] as follows. [59]

[60] [Equation 2]

[61]

K = {/ - (x f w x a) - O x β)} - z

[62] where

K

: current indemnity for lapsed insurance [63]

: full paid-in period for insurance [64]

I

: indemnity based upon main contract [65]

: paid-in maintained period for premium [66] y

: late payment days for non-paid premium [67] β

: proportional number [68] [69] As shown in [Equation 2], the current indemnity for the lapsed insurance can be determined within a range of 1% to 99.9% of an original indemnity according to the indemnity (

T

) which can be compensated based upon the main contract of the insurance applied by the applicant, the full paid-in period for insurance (

), a rate of the paid-in maintained period for premium (

), late payment days for the insurance ( y

) and maintenance costs (

) for the insurance product.

[70] That is, the insurance service system 200 can differentially calculate the indemnity for the applicant's lapsed insurance based upon the paid-in maintained period for premium (

) and the late payment days for the insurance ( y

), and differentially calculate the indemnity for the lapsed insurance with respect to the special contract clauses based upon the pain-in maintained period for premium (

) and the late payment days for the insurance ( y

)•

[71] Here, because the period of the late payment for the premium may variously be generated from one month to several months for each applicant, the differential calculation of the indemnity for the lapsed insurance according to the late payment days for the insurance can be performed so as to prevent each applicant's disadvantage.

[72] Further, after calculating the indemnity for the lapsed insurance according to the equation 1 or 2, the same calculation methods are adapted to the special contract clauses to thusly calculate the indemnity for the lapsed insurance according to the special contract clauses.

[73] In addition, the insurance service system 200 can upwardly adjust the indemnity for the lapsed insurance based upon reliability (fidelity) for the paid-in maintained period with respect to the applicant's insurance product (e.g., 50% of reliability for 5-year payment in 10-year full payment). That is, the insurance service system 200 may preferably upwardly adjust the calculated indemnity for the lapsed insurance by a certain rate in proportion to the period that the applicant has continuously paid for premium.

[74] Here, the equations for calculating the indemnity for the lapsed insurance may not be limited to Equation 1 and Equation 2 aforementioned. Instead, the calculation can be performed using Equations 3 to 5 under several circumstances predicted according to insurance products and by adapting other various numerals, which may not be apart from the scope of the present invention.

[75]

[76] [Equation 3]

[77]

K = I xN

[78] where

K

: indemnity for lapsed insurance [79]

7

: main indemnity [80]

N

: compensation rate set by insurance company (i.e., 0.1% ~ 100%) [81] [82] Here, the insurance company can determine to pay the indemnity for the lapsed insurance based upon

K = (Ix N) - Z taking account of various costs that the insurance company has spent to handle risks of the applicant's burden applied to the corresponding insurance (here,

denotes maintenance costs for the insurance). [83]

[84] [Equation 4]

[85]

K = {(I x N) - z) x a

[86] where

K

: indemnity for lapsed insurance [87]

I

: main indemnity by insurance company [88]

Z

: maintenance costs for insurance [89]

N

: weight value set by insurance company [90] a

: weight value based upon insurance maintained rate

[91] (here, the insurance maintained rate can be calculated based upon a = x/ w x lOO )

[92]

W

: full paid-in period for insurance [93]

: paid-in maintained period for which applicant has continuously paid for premium [94]

[95] [Equation 5]

[96] b = (w - t) /(w - x) x \ Q0

[97] where

W

: stipulated paid-in period [98]

: the number of months from contract initiation to a time point of accident occurred [99]

: premium paid-in period [100] b

: weight value based upon lapsed period

[101]

[102] Meanwhile, when an applicant having an insurance a lapsed state has had an accident, the insurance product providing server 210 calculates an indemnity for the lapsed insurance, as shown in the equation 1 or 2. The insurance product providing server 210 then pays the applicant for the indemnity for the lapsed insurance within a range of 0.1% to 100% of the original indemnity according to the main contract clauses and special contract clauses.

[103] The status information providing server 230 uses each applicant's profile information periodically or according to the applicant's request based upon applicant related information stored in the applicant database 240, thus to transmit particulars information by email or by offline mail, the particulars information including information on types of insurance products applied, information on main contract clauses, information on special contract clauses, information on the number of times

premium has been fully paid, information on the number of times premium has been currently paid, information on insurance maintained period, information on late payment days and the like. Here, for the applicant's lapsed insurance, the status information providing server 230 can transmit particulars information by email or by offline mail, the particulars information including information on indemnity for the lapsed insurance determined based upon Equation 1 or 2.

[104] Here, the offline managing server 250 of the insurance service system 200 can give salespersons (i.e., insurance consultants) a command to send particulars information related to each applicant by offline mail using the managing terminal 300. The salespersons then uses the managing terminal 300 to print out the particulars information related to each applicant stored in the applicant database 240 thereafter to transmit the information by mail.

[105] Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for providing a compensation service in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[106] Referring to Fig. 3, an applicant accesses the insurance service system 200 using his computer terminal 100 to apply for an insurance provided by the insurance service system 200 (SlO). That is, the insurance service system 200 provides information on types of insurance products if receiving an application request from the computer terminal 100. The insurance service system 200 then provides detailed information related to a type of insurance product selected by the applicant. The insurance service system 200 thereafter allows the corresponding applicant to apply for the insurance according to main contract clauses and special contract clauses selected by the applicant. The insurance service system 200 thusly manages information related to the applicant.

[107] Here, the applicant can on-line apply for the insurance product by help of the salesperson. The salesperson stores information related to the applicant applied for the insurance in the insurance service system 200.

[108] The insurance service system 200 manages each applicant related information.

When an accident occurs to an applicant applied for an insurance product, the insurance service system 200 checks the corresponding applicant related information to determine whether the insurance applied by the applicant lapsed due to non-payment for premium (S20).

[109] Here, the applicant related information managed by the insurance service system

200 may include several information regarding types of insurance products applied by each applicant, main contract clauses, special contract clauses, the number of times premium has been fully paid, the number of times premium has been currently paid, the insurance maintained period, late payment days, each applicant's profile (e.g., information related to ID, home address, email address, phone number, etc.), and the

like.

[110] The insurance service system 200 then pays the applicant for an indemnity based upon the main contract clauses and special contract clauses if the insurance applied by the corresponding applicant did not lapse (S30).

[I l l] Conversely, if the applicant's insurance lapsed, the insurance service system 200 calculates an indemnity for the lapsed insurance according to Equation 1 or 2 to thereby pay the applicant for the calculated indemnity for the lapsed insurance (S40). Here, the insurance service system 200 can pay the applicant for the indemnity for the lapsed insurance within a range of 0.1 % to 99.9 % of coverage amount compensated based upon the main contract clauses and special contract clauses.

[112] Further, preferably, the insurance service system 200 can upwardly adjust the calculated indemnity for the lapsed insurance by a certain rate in proportion to the period for which the applicant has continuously paid for premium.

[113] The insurance service system 200 can use profile information regarding each applicant to send particulars information by email or by offline mail periodically or according to the applicant's request, wherein the particulars information includes several information regarding the types of insurance products applied by each applicant, the main contract clauses, the special contract clauses, the number of times premium has been fully paid, the number of times premium has been currently paid, the insurance maintained period and the late payment days, and may further include information regarding the indemnity for the lapsed insurance determined based upon Equation 1 or 2 aforementioned if the applicant's insurance lapsed (S50).

[114] Furthermore, if the applicant requests to check the indemnity using his computer terminal 100, the insurance service system 200 then displays a search screen including a field (a) of a type of insurance for providing information on various types of insurance products via each computer terminal 100, a field (b) of the number of times premium has been fully paid, a field (c) of the number of times premium has been currently paid, a field (d) of late payment days, a field (e) of special contract clauses, a searching field (g) and a field (h) of a current indemnity (S60).

[115] The insurance service system 200 then calculates the indemnity for the lapsed insurance based upon the type of insurance selected by the applicant, the number of times premium has been fully paid, the number of times premium has been currently paid, the late payment days and the special contract clauses by using Equation 1 or 2 aforementioned, and displays the calculated indemnity on the search screen, thereby allowing the applicant to check a current indemnity for the lapsed insurance or a current indemnity in real time.

[116] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the

above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.