Independent agents and brokers can take a course in insurance ethics developed by St. Paul Travelers and presented online via the Big "I" Virtual University
The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America's Big "I" Virtual University is providing the carrier's ethics course, "Fair Access to Insurance," through its Web site at www.independentagent.com.
The course promotes and describes the industry's responsibility to furnish equal treatment to all clients and prospects.
Using examples, case studies and questions to support the learning experience, the course is geared to raising awareness and knowledge of fair access and equal treatment in business.
Continuing Education credits for the course are provided in some states, St Paul Travelers said.
"We are pleased to share our course on Fair Access to Insurance with all agents and brokers. The material reflects our company's 'zero tolerance' policy for discrimination and our alertness to its negative ramifications," said Loren Shoemaker, vice president, agency management for St. Paul Travelers.
Goals of the course are:
o To help agents and brokers understand the issues surrounding allegations of discrimination within the insurance industry and the current public policy debate regarding insurer and agent market conduct.
o To discuss the concept of ethnocentrism and how to counteract its effects.
o To explain the various types of discrimination that may lead to a lack of fair access to insurance products.
o To help agents and brokers understand the different groups of people who are likely to receive unfair treatment.
o To show how to apply a risk management approach to fair access issues by recognizing the issues and preparing a sound business strategy to deal with them.
o To explore the concept of opportunity management arising out of current groups of underserved insurance consumers.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.