Wednesday, April 16, 2008

New York Ins. Department Offers Updated Web Site

The New York Insurance Department has debuted a redesigned Web site at www.ins.state.ny.us, offering visitors a clean new look, enhanced navigational tools and accessibility for people with disabilities, Superintendent Eric Dinallo announced.

“The Web site’s attractive new design will help make information more easily available to the public,” said Superintendent Dinallo. “As with most organizations, our Web site has become a primary point of contact, and we felt it was time to improve an already excellent resource. Industry, consumers – including seniors – and anyone with insurance questions will find a wealth of resources conveniently at hand.”

The Web site breaks out information for the three primary groups that visit the Department site: agents and brokers, consumers, and insurers. It includes a portal for seniors that features items of special interest such as Medicare, Medicaid and long term care, all in easy-to-read large type. In order to increase accessibility to the visually impaired, the site allows screen reading programs to scan and translate the text and describe images. Text can be enlarged for easier reading.

“Our goal is to make sure all New Yorkers, regardless of disability or age-related challenges, can freely access the information on the site because educating consumers about insurance is vitally important,” Dinallo said.

The new Web site incorporates numerous functional and visual improvements. Screen contrast has been improved in order to enhance readability. Navigation is reportedly easier with new home page columns and a site map. Google search has been added to all primary pages.

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