System and method for use of social networks to respond to insurance related events

Abstract

Pursuant to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus and computer program code for responding to insurance related events are provided. Pursuant to some embodiments, event data associated with an insurance related event are received, and cause the analysis of the event data, the identification of an insured entity and an affected insurance policy, the establishment of a support network for response to the insurance related event, and the communication of information associated with the support network to an insured entity. In some embodiments, the support network is a social network that includes the insured as well as one or more service providers selected based on the affected insurance policy, the insured, and the insurance related event.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An insurance processing system, comprising:
 a communication device to receive event data associated with an insurance related event;   a processor coupled to the communication device; and   a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:
 analyze said event data; 
 identify, based at least in part on said event data, an insured entity and an affected insurance policy; 
 establish, based on said event data, said insured entity, and said affected insurance policy, a support network in response to said insurance related event, the support network including at least the insured entity, a representative of an insurer and at least one service provider; and 
 communicate information associated with said support network to said insured entity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the event data includes location information identifying a location of the insurance related event. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , the storage device further storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:
 determine one or more policy rules associated with the insurance related event and the affected insurance policy; and   identify, based at least in part on the one or more policy rules and the location information, one or more service providers.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the support network is a social network including the insured entity and the one or more service providers. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the support network further includes at least a first insurance company representative. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said information associated with said support network includes access instructions allowing said insured entity to access said support network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said insurance event data is received by a direct communication from said insured entity. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said direct communication is by at least one of (i) an email communication, (ii) a telephone communication, and (iii) a communication from a device associated with said insured entity. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said insurance event data is received by an indirect communication from said insured entity. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said indirect communication is detected based on information posted on at least a first social network. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , the storage device further storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:
 validate the occurrence of said insurance related event using information posted on at least a second social network.   
     
     
         12 . A computer implemented insurance processing method, comprising:
 receiving, at an insurance processing platform, insurance related event data associated with an insured;   identifying, based at least in part on said event data, an insured entity, an affected insurance policy and a relevant policy rule;   applying said relevant policy rule to said event data to establish a support network in response to said insurance related event, the support network including at least the insured entity, a representative of an insurer and at least one service provider identified based on said relevant policy rule; and   communicating information associated with said support network to said insured entity.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the insurance related event data includes location information identifying a location of the insurance related event. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the relevant policy rule is selected based at least in part on the type of insurance related event. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the support network is a social network including the insured entity, the insurer and the one or more service providers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the support network further includes at least a first insurance company representative. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said information associated with said support network includes access instructions allowing said insured entity to access said support network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said insurance event data is received by a direct communication from said insured entity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said direct communication is by at least one of (i) an email communication, (ii) a telephone communication, and (iii) a communication from a device associated with said insured entity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said insurance event data is received by an indirect communication from said insured entity. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said indirect communication is detected based on information posted on at least a first social network. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 validating the occurrence of said insurance related event using information posted on at least a second social network.   
     
     
         23 . A method for operating an insurance processing social network, comprising:
 creating an insurance processing social network in response to data identifying an insurance related event involving an insured entity, and the application of a rules engine to identify a plurality of participants in the insurance processing social network;   transmitting information for accessing the insurance processing social network to said plurality of participants;   allowing each of said plurality of participants to transmit messages to others of said plurality of participants through said insurance processing social network; and   displaying said messages to said plurality of participants on a user interface of a computing device associated with each of said plurality of participants.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 disabling access to said insurance processing social network after said insurance related event has been resolved; and   archiving data associated with said insurance processing social network for use in an insurance claim file.