WORCESTER, Mass., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hanover Insurance
Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), a leading super regional property and casualty
company, has enhanced its homeowners quoting and issuance process, making it
easier for its agent partners to do business.*
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/NEM023LOGO )
The improvements cut the time it takes to quote a policy by 30 percent and
reduce the number of accounts referred to an underwriter.
The Hanover's homeowners enhancements include:
- distinct and separate quote and issuance processes
- simpler screens: numerous fields have been eliminated and many others
have been pre-filled to foster smooth navigation
- a link to the Marshall & Swift/Boeckh Replacement Cost Estimator, to
help foster agent/customer discussions about the adequacy of their
coverage
- helpful links for cross-selling allow agents to easily offer additional
policies such as second home, auto or umbrella
- improved navigation and "help" icon efficiently answers agent questions
The simplified homeowners screens were recently piloted with great success
in Connecticut and Virginia, and include homes, condominiums and tenants
policies.
"We are very pleased to unveil the latest improvements to our homeowners
product because they are based on direct feedback from our valued agent
partners," said Marita Zuraitis, president of The Hanover's property and
casualty companies. "All of these changes demonstrate our commitment to
continuous improvement and making it easy for our agent partners to do
business with us. We believe these enhancements, as well as planned future
enhancements, will deliver additional growth opportunities for independent
agents."
The enhancements mark an important step in a series of changes that
The Hanover will make as it prepares for the launch of Connections(TM) Home, a
competitive, new homeowners product that the company plans to launch in 2007.
Preparation for Connections Home comes on the heels of last year's launch of
Connections Auto(TM), a state-of-the-art auto product, which has driven
private passenger automobile new business growth of more than 150 percent.
For independent agents, who always seek to provide customers with the best
combination of coverage and cost, The Hanover's homeowners product is an
excellent way to round-out accounts, as it complements the company's powerful
suite of personal lines products designed to meet the needs of both
individuals and families. The Hanover's broad menu of personal lines products
also includes auto, watercraft and umbrella policies.
All of The Hanover's personal lines products are sold exclusively through
independent agents.
About The Hanover
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), based in Worcester, Mass.,
is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover
Insurance Company, also based in Worcester; Citizens Insurance Company of
America, headquartered in Howell, Mich., and their affiliates. The Hanover
offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to
individuals, families and businesses through an extensive network of
independent agents, and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners
and their customers for more than 150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover
ranks among the top 35 property and casualty insurers in the United States.
CONTACTS:
Investor Relations Media Relations
Sujata Mutalik Amy Lynn Banek
smutalik@hanover.comabanek@hanover.com
(508) 855-3457 (508) 855-4486
* The enhancements are available in states where The Hanover is currently
writing new homeowners business. However, enhancements vary by state, as agent
partners in Massachusetts will only see changes to the issuance process, due
to the nature of the technology used by local agents.
SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
Contact: Investor Relations Sujata Mutalik, +1-508-855-3457, smutalik@hanover.com, or Media Relations: Amy Lynn Banek, +1-508-855-4486, abanek@hanover.com, both of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.