The mission of the Insurance Research Council is to produce objective, credible, and relevant research on public policy issues affecting risk and insurance, and to make its research available to the public, to industry, and those involved in the public policymaking process.
The IRC offers the following privileges to organizations supporting the IRC through membership, participation, and financial contribution.
The IRC research agenda is determined with substantial involvement from members. Meeting in person and by conference phone, the IRC Advisory Board reviews and approves the IRC research agenda and evaluates preliminary research findings prior to final publication. All member organizations are invited to designate a representative to serve on the Advisory Board. Participation provides members with the opportunity to propose and support projects that are important to their organizations.
IRC reports are the primary means by which key research findings are communicated to those with an interest in the issues involved. Member organizations receive first copies of IRC research reports and complimentary copies for distribution within their organizations. Members also enjoy immediate access to electronic copies of IRC reports through the IRC website.
Many IRC research projects are guided by project committees comprised of volunteers from member organizations with knowledge and expertise relevant to the topic involved. These committees typically meet 2-3 times by conference phone over the course of a project. The key tasks of project committees are to review proposed research plans and preliminary findings associated with each project.
Member organizations are encouraged to contact IRC staff for assistance on matters of common interest to the IRC membership. Staff is available for in-person presentations on IRC research, when requested. In addition, IRC staff is available to analyze the IRC databases for timely answers to key public policy-related questions.
IRC research and data are used to promote constructive change in the legislative and regulatory insurance environment.
IRC research has helped improve claim handling efficiency, decrease the social and economic costs of insurance fraud, and eliminate unnecessary claim costs associated with the overutilization of medical services.
The industry-wide perspective of IRC research gives federal, state, and local lawmakers and regulators an objective analysis of key insurance-related public policy issues.
Press coverage of IRC research helps give the general public a better understanding of the nature of property-casualty insurance.
IRC research helps initiate public debate about issues of importance to the property-casualty insurance industry.
For more information about joining the IRC, contact Dale Porfilio at (212) 346-5533 or dalep@iii.org