Definitions

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Aggregator

A company that displays information collected from third-parties through a single online platform.​

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Insurance Aggregators

Insurance intermediaries with an insurance broker license operating on an online platform, either hosted on a website or a smart device application (mobile application).

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Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)

A law in Bahrain that applies to entities that collects and processes personal data of customers. Entities will be required to seek the approval of the owner prior to collecting, processing, storing, and managing the data.

 

Key Points

 

Authorization Requirement

If an insurance aggregator wishes to extend its services to additional regulated insurance broker services, the CBB should provide an approval to do so. An example of insurance broker services include the handling of customers’ claims. The CBB permits insurance intermediaries, who have been granted an insurance aggregator license, to provide insurance aggregation and additional insurance services exclusively through an online platform. Therefore, the insurance aggregator will not be authorized to provide traditional broker services.

 

Customer Data Protection

The use of tools that utilizes cloud technology to process customers’ data would require insurance aggregators to apply applicable laws that promotes confidentiality and data privacy. Insurance aggregators must document measures to protect the confidentiality of customers’ data in compliance with the PDPL that was issued on the 22nd July 2018.

 

Technology Governance

The technological solutions used by insurance aggregators should operate in conjunction to software and systems used by insurance licensees and various applications used by customers. Internal controls for technology governance should cover:

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• Development and/or acquisition of the technology

• Testing of the technology

• Standard of communication and access

• Authentication of the users

• Tools for the prevention of fraud and errors

 

Display of Product Comparisons

Insurance aggregators must only disclose authentic and unbiased information on the insurance product. Therefore, the displayed information should be free of any rankings, ratings, endorsements, and labelled bestsellers to prevent influencing customers. Insurance aggregators must provide basic information about the insurance products including:

 

• Eligibility criteria

• Policy term

• Premium Inbuilt benefits/riders

• Premium for various age groups

• Benefits

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Additionally, insurance aggregators must highlight and differentiate on whether an insurance policy is a Sharia-compliant Takaful policy or a conventional policy.

 

Professional Indemnity Insurance

An arrangement between an insurance aggregator and insurance company should not be established in the cases where it is against the interests of the policyholders. An insurance aggregators and insurance companies that have entered into an agreement must be ready to accommodate the CBB’s on-site supervision team choice to investigate the nature of the arrangement. At any point where the CBB finds the agreement to be unfit, the CBB can authorize the termination of the distribution arrangement of the insurance aggregator and the insurance company.

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Conclusion

The CBB’s draft rules on insurance aggregators is a positive step toward promoting InsurTech solutions in Bahrain’s ecosystem. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the development will further encourage existing insurance companies to pursue and develop digitalization efforts to accommodate the new entry of solutions into the market.

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Disclaimer: The information presented in this summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute and should not be construed as a solicitation or other offer, or recommendation to acquire or dispose of any investment or to engage in any other transaction, or as advice of any nature whatsoever. This summary is not designed to provide legal or other advice.