Texas State-Run Insurers Modernize with Guidewire Systems

The Texas FAIR Plan Association and the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association have adopted Guidewire core systems, Digital Portals and data management solutions.

Anthony R. O’Donnell //

(Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, Texas, which stood in the path of Hurricane Celia in Aug. 1970. Photo credit: Simiprof.)

Two Texas state-run markets of last resort–The Texas FAIR Plan Association (TFPA) and the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA)—have adopted Guidewire systems as modernization platforms.

The Texas FAIR Plan Association (TFPA) has selected Guidewire InsuranceSuite as its new core system platform, Guidewire DataHub and InfoCenter for data management and business intelligence. The insurer also selected the vendor’s Digital Portal solutions, Guidewire Claim Portal for Policyholders and Claim Portal for Agents to support an improved digital experience for users, according to a vendor statement.

The TPFA is a state-managed market of last resort for the purpose of providing basic residential property insurance to applicants who cannot secure coverage in the voluntary market. Although the FAIR Plan is considered a market of last resort, applications submitted for coverage are subject to underwriting guidelines for characteristics of ownership, condition, occupancy, maintenance, and liability exposure.

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) has selected Guidewire ClaimCenter as its new claims management system, and DataHub to support the implementation. TWIA also selected Guidewire Claim Portal for Policyholders and Claim Portal for Agents to enhance the digital experience for users. The system selection announcement follows the insurer’s TWIA successful deployment of  Guidewire PolicyCenter and BillingCenter.

The TWIA was established by the Texas Legislature in 1971 in response to regional market conditions following Hurricane Celia in August 1970. Its purpose is to provide windstorm and hail insurance in the Texas seacoast. The TWIA is a residual insurer of last resort and are not a direct competitor in the voluntary insurance market.

Digital Portals

The portal solutions adopted by the insurers fall within the vendor’s Guidewire Digital Portals offering set, which the vendor describes a portfolio of portals that allow insurers to expose Guidewire InsuranceSuite functionality to external stakeholders such as policyholders, agents/brokers and vendors through the web and mobile devices.

Anthony R. O’Donnell // Anthony O'Donnell is Executive Editor of Insurance Innovation Reporter. For nearly two decades, he has been an observer and commentator on the use of information technology in the insurance industry, following industry trends and writing about the use of IT across all sectors of the insurance industry. He can be reached at AnthODonnell@IIReporter.com or (503) 936-2803.

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