A Kiwi developed world first from Accuro, instant online health insurance, has just won the Innovation of the Year prize at this year’s New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards. The judges praised HUGO, Accuro Health Insurance’s online underwriting service, for; "…its easy-to-use design and its ability to improve the customer experience and enhance the efficiency of internal processes." The judges recognised that this innovation yields; "tangible benefits for both customers and the organisation." "When we launched HUGO a year ago, we knew we had something special, a genuine game changer," says Geoff Annals, CEO of Accuro Health Insurance, a New Zealand owned not for profit insurer. "We have proved we can deliver what people actually want; simple, quick, hassle free, underwritten health insurance that allows people to arrange things easily and get on with their busy lives." HUGO is the only service that allows a member of the public to fill out a guided online questionnaire and, in the majority of cases, receive an instant offer of fully underwritten health insurance including exclusions where necessary. "As the donkey work is done by the automated system, our specialist underwriters are freed up to spend more time on the more complex applications that HUGO refers onto them," adds Geoff Annals. "It makes our office work easier, so it’s a win-win for customers and us, something that the ANZIIF recognised in choosing HUGO as innovation of the year."
Online health insurer Accuro won the insurance Innovation of the Year prize at the New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards for its automated underwriting service HUGO. The company said it was able to reduce claims by up to 50 per cent and increase premiums by as much as 20 per cent. HUGO allows customers to fill out an online questionnaire which will instantly provide them with offers for fully underwritten health insurance tailored to their needs.