Researchers Submit Patent Application, “Methods And Systems For Conducting Online Insurance Application Process”, for Approval (USPTO 20230032043): State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

2023 FEB 22 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- From Washington, D.C., NewsRx journalists report that a patent application by the inventors Breitweiser, Edward W. (Bloomington, IL, US); Ingrum, Larry (Mahomet, IL, US); McKimmy, Linda (Bloomington, IL, US); Merkle, Ryan J. (Waynesville, IL, US); Sargent, Dustin C. (Bloomington, IL, US); Wilkes, Betsy L. (Normal, IL, US), filed on October 13, 2022, was made available online on February 2, 2023.

The patent’s assignee is State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Bloomington, Illinois, United States).

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Traditionally, an applicant seeking to purchase an insurance policy visits a local agent’s office to furnish relevant information to the agent, and the agent may collect the applicant’s information. In some cases, an insurance provider may require a medical appointment and laboratory testing for applicants seeking life and/or health insurance coverage. However, visiting an agent’s office may be time consuming and inconvenient.

“Some insurance providers allow applicants to start an insurance application process through a web-based online application process. Typically, during the online application process, the same high-level application questions are given to all applicants. Once the information is collected, the insurance provider decides whether to insure the applicant, and if so, determines an appropriate premium for an issued insurance policy. The decision of whether to issue an insurance policy, as well as the premiums associated with an insurance policy, is generally based upon several risk factors determined from the submitted information. Additionally, because it is online application process, it may be difficult to verify whether the responses provided by the applicant are accurate. As such, it may require an agent of the insurance provider to manually verify the information or conduct an in-person interview and/or a medical exam to verify the information. As a result, the applicant may need to wait for the results before being covered by the policy.

“Conventional techniques may be ineffective, inefficient, costly, awkward, and/or include additional drawbacks as well.”

As a supplement to the background information on this patent application, NewsRx correspondents also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “The present embodiments relate to computer systems and methods that may improve efficiency of the insurance online application process.

“In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for conducting an online insurance application process is provided. The method may be implemented via one or more local or remote processors, servers, sensors, and/or transceivers. The method may include (1) receiving a request from an applicant to start an insurance application; (2) prompting the applicant to upload data; (3) receiving, in response to prompting the applicant, first data from the applicant; (4) requesting the applicant for permission to obtain applicant’s data from a third-party; (5) obtaining, in response to requesting the applicant, second data; (6) generating application questions for the applicant based upon the first and second data; (7) determining an insurance policy for the applicant based upon the first and second data and compiled responses to the application questions; and/or (8) generating a conditional receipt to the applicant. The method may include sending a link to the applicant’s mobile or other computing device to allow the applicant to access and fill out an electronic authorization form specific to a medical facility during the online interview. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“In another aspect, a computer system for conducting an online insurance application process may be provided. The system may include a network; a computing device; and a server communicatively coupled to the computing device via the network. The server may be configured to: (1) receive a request from an applicant to start an insurance application; (2) prompt the applicant to upload data; (3) receive, in response to a prompt, first data from the applicant; (4) request the applicant for permission to obtain applicant’s data from a third-party; (5) obtain, in response to a request, second data; (6) generate application questions for the applicant based upon the first and second data; (7) determine an insurance policy for the applicant based upon the first and second data and compiled responses to the application questions; and/or (8) generate a conditional receipt to the applicant. The computer system and/or server may be configured to send a link to the applicant’s mobile or other computing device to allow the applicant to access and fill out an electronic authorization form specific to a medical facility during the online interview. The computer system may be configured with additional, less, or alternate functionality, including that discussed elsewhere herein.

“In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for conducting an online insurance application process is provided. The method may be implemented via one or more local or remote processors, servers, sensors, and/or transceivers. The method may include (1) receiving a request from an applicant to start an insurance application; (2) collecting, in response to receiving the request, applicant data from one or more service providers; (3) generating application questions for the applicant based upon the applicant data; (4) prompting the application questions to the applicant; (5) receiving, in response to prompting the application questions, responses to the application questions; and/or (6) generating a conditional receipt based at least upon the responses of the applicant. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“In another aspect, a computer system for conducting an online insurance application process may be provided. The system may include a network; a computing device; and a server communicatively coupled to the computing device via the network. The server may be configured to: (1) receive a request from an applicant to start an insurance application; (2) collect, in response to a receipt of the request, applicant data from one or more service providers; (3) generate application questions for the applicant based upon the applicant data; (4) prompt the application questions to the applicant; (5) receive, in response to the application questions being prompt to the applicant, responses to the application questions; and/or (6) generate a conditional receipt based at least upon the responses of the applicant. The computer system may be configured with additional, less, or alternate functionality, including that discussed elsewhere herein.

“While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

“Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the disclosure, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

“For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, these exemplary embodiments were chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the embodiments provided can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, and/or a combination thereof. Programming code according to the embodiments can be implemented in any viable programming language or a combination of a high-level programming language and a lower level programming language.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1-16. (canceled)

“17. A computer-implemented method for assessing a health status of an individual, comprising: receiving, by a server via a network, health data from at least one remote server of one or more service providers, the health data including electronic health records, prescription history, medical claim history, and family medical history; receiving, by the server via the network, sensor data from at least one sensor device associated with the individual, the sensor data including heart activity, sleep history, and exercise information; analyzing, using at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server, the health data and the sensor data to assess the health status of the individual based upon the health data and the sensor data; generating, using at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server and based upon the received health data and sensor data, a plurality of questions tailored to the individual regarding the individual’s health status; transmitting from the server via the network for presentation on a computing device associated with the individual at least one question of the plurality of questions; receiving, by the server via the network, a response from the computing device to the at least one question; and comparing, by the server, the response to an expected response generated based upon the analysis of the health data and the sensor data to verify accuracy of the response and the health status of the individual.

“18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising: receiving, by the server from the computing device, records data including medical records, criminal records, and motor vehicle records; wherein generating the plurality of questions tailored to the individual includes generating the plurality of questions using the at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server based upon the health data, the sensor data and the records data.

“19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising: transmitting, from the server to the computing device, a request for permission from the individual to receive the health data from the at least one remote server of one or more service providers; and receiving, by the server from the computing device, permission to receive the health data.

“20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising: determining whether the individual is taking a prescription drug by analyzing, using the at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server, the health data from the at least one remote server of the one or more service providers.

“21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising: transmitting, from the server to the computing device, an inquiry whether the individual is taking the prescription drug; and responding to a response to the inquiry indicating that the individual is not taking the prescription drug by transmitting a question regarding when the individual stopped taking the prescription drug.

“22. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising: scheduling, by the server based upon the health status of the individual and a location of the individual, an appointment with a health service provider.

“23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the scheduling is further based upon a rating of a facility associated with the health service provider.

“24. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising: accessing, by the server via the network, medical history information of at least one of applicant’s family members.

“25. A computer system for assessing a health status of an individual, comprising: a network; a computing device associated with the individual; at least one remote server associated with one or more service providers; at least one sensor device associated with the individual; and a server communicatively coupled to the computing device, the at least one remote server and the at least one sensor via the network; the server configured to: receive, via the network, health data from the at least one remote server, the health data including electronic health records, prescription history, medical claim history, and family medical history; receive, via the network, sensor data from the at least one sensor device, the sensor data including heart activity, sleep history, and exercise information; analyze, using at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server, the health data and the sensor data to assess the health status of the individual based upon the health data and the sensor data; generate, using at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server and based upon the received health data and sensor data, a plurality of questions tailored to the individual regarding the individual’s health status; transmit, via the network for presentation on the computing device, at least one question of the plurality of questions; receive, via the network, a response from the computing device to the at least one question; and compare the response to an expected response generated based upon the analysis of the health data and the sensor data to verify accuracy of the response and the health status of the individual.

“26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the server is further configured to: receive, from the computing device, records data including medical records, criminal records, and motor vehicle records; and generate the plurality of questions tailored to the individual based upon the health data, the sensor data and the records data.

“27. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the server is further configured to: transmit, to the computing device, a request for permission from the individual to receive the health data from the at least one remote server of one or more service providers; and receive, from the computing device, permission to receive the health data.

“28. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the server is further configured to: determine whether the individual is taking a prescription drug by analyzing, using the at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server, the health data from the at least one remote server of the one or more service providers.

“29. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the server is further configured to: transmit, to the computing device, an inquiry whether the individual is taking the prescription drug; and respond to a response to the inquiry indicating that the individual is not taking the prescription drug by transmitting a question regarding when the individual stopped taking the prescription drug.

“30. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the server is further configured to: schedule, based upon the health status of the individual and a location of the individual, an appointment with a health service provider.

“31. The computer system of claim 30, wherein the appointment is scheduled further based upon a rating of a facility associated with the health service provider.

“32. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the server is further configured to: access, via the network, medical history information of at least one of applicant’s family members.

“33. A non-transitory computer-readable medium with an executable program stored thereon for assessing a health status of an individual, wherein the program, when executed by a processing element of a server, causes the processing element to perform the following steps: receive, via a network, health data from at least one remote server, the health data including electronic health records, prescription history, medical claim history, and family medical history; receive, via the network, sensor data from at least one sensor device, the sensor data including heart activity, sleep history, and exercise information; analyze, using at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server, the health data and the sensor data to assess the health status of the individual based upon the health data and the sensor data; generate, using at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server and based upon the received health data and sensor data, a plurality of questions tailored to the individual regarding the individual’s health status; transmit, via the network for presentation on a computing device associated with the individual, at least one question of the plurality of questions; receive, via the network, a response from the computing device to the at least one question; and compare the response to an expected response generated based upon the analysis of the health data and the sensor data to verify accuracy of the response and the health status of the individual.

“34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the program further causes the processing element to: receive, from the computing device, records data including medical records, criminal records, and motor vehicle records; and generate the plurality of questions tailored to the individual based upon the health data, the sensor data and the records data.

“35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the program further causes the processing element to: determine whether the individual is taking a prescription drug by analyzing, using the at least one machine learning algorithm running on the server, the health data from the at least one remote server of the one or more service providers.

“36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the program further causes the processing element to: schedule, based upon the health status of the individual and a location of the individual, an appointment with a health service provider.”

For additional information on this patent application, see: Breitweiser, Edward W.; Ingrum, Larry; McKimmy, Linda; Merkle, Ryan J.; Sargent, Dustin C.; Wilkes, Betsy L. Methods And Systems For Conducting Online Insurance Application Process. U.S. Patent Application Number 20230032043, filed October 13, 2022 and posted February 2, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(20230032043)&db=US-PGPUB&type=ids

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)