The Allstate "Insurance Network" is up and running and on target to make home, renters and auto insurance available to policyholders in all states by the end of 2001.
When
Allstate announced its plans to begin selling its insurance policies on
the Internet and over the phone in November 1999, it projected the
rollout would be complete and on budget by the end of 2001. Allstate
will continue to offer its policies through approximately 13,000
insurance agents around the country. Currently, consumers in 10 states — Alabama, Arizona,
Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, and
Virginia — can purchase insurance from Allstate on the Internet, via an
800 phone number, or from an insurance agent. The company charges the
same premium for policies regardless of purchase method. While Allstate was not the first insurer to offer home and auto insurance products on the Internet — Progressive Insurance
Corp. and Homesite Insurance Co. beat them to the respective punches —
it is by far the largest company to offer consumers the option to
purchase same-day in-force auto and home insurance online. In addition to selling policies, Allstate allows its
policyholders to report claims, check the status of a claim, make
electronic payments, view policy information, and request policy
changes, on the Internet.
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