What type of data do insurance companies collect?

Asked by: Sienna Kiehn  |  Last update: October 15, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (4 votes)

Here are seven of the most important customer data types in insurance:
  • Personal information. This includes a wide range of data points and is usually collected when a customer first applies for coverage. ...
  • Policy information. ...
  • Claims history. ...
  • Payment history. ...
  • Interaction history. ...
  • Signatures. ...
  • Agent information. ...
  • Attachments.

What information do insurance companies have access to?

An insurer can only access your medical records if you give your permission for them to do so. If you agree to let them go through your medical history, they'll contact your doctor and will look at your records over the last five to ten years.

What types of data sets do insurance companies use to get the information used to set premiums?

Historical models (or historical experience) are traditionally used by insurers when they have ample observed events or data, such as on car crashes, for auto insurance. Using averages run from this information provides a meaningful indication of the potential for loss in the future.

What type of data does companies collect?

This includes identity-related info like your name, gender, Social Security number, and device-related info like IP address, web browser cookies, and device IDs. Personal data is usually collected to classify users into different demographics based on certain parameters.

Do insurance companies use data analytics?

The use of big insurance data analytics in the insurance industry is rising. Insurance companies invested $3.6 billion in 2021. Companies that invested in big data analytics have seen 30% more efficiency, 40% to 70% cost savings, and a 60% increase in fraud detection rates.

What Insurance Companies Know About You

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What kind of data do insurance companies use?

Here are seven of the most important customer data types in insurance:
  • Personal information. This includes a wide range of data points and is usually collected when a customer first applies for coverage. ...
  • Policy information. ...
  • Claims history. ...
  • Payment history. ...
  • Interaction history. ...
  • Signatures. ...
  • Agent information. ...
  • Attachments.

Do insurance companies use SQL?

At Selective Insurance Group, SQL is used for analyzing large insurance datasets, such as policyholder information, claims data, and risk assessment data to identify high-risk areas and predicting future losses.

What kind of data do companies look at the most?

However, some essential types of data that are often crucial for business success include:
  1. Customer Data. ...
  2. Sales and Revenue Data. ...
  3. Market and Competitive Analysis. ...
  4. Operational Data. ...
  5. Website and Social Media Analytics. ...
  6. Employee Performance and Engagement. ...
  7. Inventory and Supply Chain Data. ...
  8. Customer Support and Feedback.

How do I stop companies from collecting my data?

What To Do About Online Tracking and Personalized Ads
  1. Delete your history. If you don't want to see ads based on your previous online activity, delete cookies and clear your browsing and search history. ...
  2. Adjust your privacy settings. ...
  3. Consider using an ad blocker. ...
  4. Opt out of personalized ads. ...
  5. Review website cookie notices.

What are the five most common types of data collection?

5 Data Collection Methods
  • Surveys, quizzes, and questionnaires.
  • Interviews.
  • Focus groups.
  • Direct observations.
  • Documents and records (and other types of secondary data, which won't be our main focus here)

How do insurance companies use big data?

Insurers use big data to improve underwriting processes. By incorporating data from multiple sources, they can better evaluate applicants and make more informed decisions, resulting in lower risk and higher profitability.

Is there a database for insurance?

All-payer claims databases (APCDs) are large State databases that include medical claims, pharmacy claims, dental claims, and eligibility and provider files collected from private and public payers. APCD data are reported directly by insurers to States, usually as part of a State mandate.

What is data used for in insurance?

The data used in insurance creates a picture of who you are and the likelihood that something might happen, in order to protect you if it does. With all the new technology available today, this data can be used in different ways which benefits customers.

What reports do insurance companies use?

An insurer may request a CLUE report when you apply for coverage or request a quote. The company uses your claims history, or the history of claims at a specific property, to decide if it'll offer you coverage and how much you'll pay.

Can insurance companies get access to your medical records?

The answer varies depending on the state. In California, the retention period can be anywhere from two to ten years, depending on the type of procedure or healthcare provider. However, an insurance claim medical report should only look as far back as the injury in question.

How do insurance companies track you?

How can insurance companies know that you're a safe driver? Usually, they rely on the information they collect from special equipment they install in the vehicle. They're known as insurance trackers or telematics.

How do I force a company to delete my data?

How do I ask for my data to be deleted? You should contact the organisation and let them know what personal data you want them to erase. You don't have to ask a specific person – you can contact any part of the organisation with your request. You can make your request verbally or in writing.

Is it legal for companies to collect data?

Companies may collect data for their own business needs, but they can also sell it as well. Under some data privacy laws, companies are required to explicitly disclose whether they sell personal data and to enable individuals to opt out of such sales.

Who is the biggest data broker?

Top Data Broker Companies
  • Experian.
  • Equifax.
  • Epsilon.
  • Acxiom.
  • CoreLogic.

What type of data do companies track?

Generally speaking, there are four types of user information collected by businesses. Personal data includes common information like social security numbers, gender, phone number, and email address, as well as some less personal but still private information such as device IDs, web browser cookies, and IP addresses.

What are some consequences of companies collecting your data?

Potential Consequences for Individuals
  • Privacy Concerns: Excessive data collection can erode personal privacy, leading to fears of surveillance and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  • Data Breaches: Storing large volumes of personal data makes businesses susceptible to data breaches.

What type of data is most valuable?

Here's a look at some of the most important types:
  • Customer demographics. Understanding your customer base and their purchasing habits can optimize products or services for greater customer satisfaction.
  • Industry data. ...
  • Historical data. ...
  • Internal business processes. ...
  • Marketing data. ...
  • Product performance. ...
  • Sales data. ...
  • Social data.

What database do insurance companies use?

Where is my insurance history kept? This claims information service is traditionally called the “Index System” (or “Index Database”) and is used by most insurance companies to secure the claims history of every claimant.

Are insurers data controllers?

An Insurer as a Data Controller usually relies on contract with the data subject or the data subject's specific consent as a lawful basis for processing. The loss adjuster as a Data Processor must only act on the documented instruction of the Controller in terms of processing the data.

Does anyone use SQL anymore?

SQL, the Structured Query Language, remains one of the most widely used programming languages, coming in fourth in Stack Overflow's research for 2023. Just over half (51.52%) of professional developers use SQL in their work, but only around a third (35.29%) of those learning to code use SQL.