Agent News
NewsLink March 2022
Message From Mike
Watch the latest video update from Vice President of Business Development and Operations Mike Valiante.
Texting Tool Offers Easy Claims Communication
AF Group recently rolled out a new claims texting tool as an exciting addition to our existing suite of services and technologies for our mutual customers. Thank you for the role you played in helping us implement this important change for our organization — your feedback is invaluable.
After vetting results from a survey conducted in July 2021, we learned that more than 80 percent of policyholders prefer to text with their insurance provider over other methods of communication. With texting being so widely adopted, these results were no surprise – but certainly a catalyst for us to move swiftly on this opportunity.
Since the launch, we’ve received positive feedback on the ease of exchanging messages, documents, appointment reminders and photos between our Claims professionals, policyholders and injured workers. Furthermore, information gathered through texting is automatically added to our claim system, which accelerates approvals and payments – taking the customer experience to a new level.
The tool even offers real-time texting translation in more than 10 languages, strengthening the relationships we have with our non-English speaking customers.
As always, thank you for helping us stay on the competitive edge of insurance technologies and supporting our mission to provide superior customer service, while finding new and exciting ways to optimize our operations.
For more information about our texting initiative, please feel free to visit these additional resources:
AF Group Workers’ Compensation Division Announces National Account Unit
We’re excited to announce a new National Account unit within AF Group’s Workers’ Compensation Division. National Account products and services are designed for customers seeking alternatives to guaranteed cost workers’ compensation, such as retrospective rating and large deductible plans. For the last several years, we’ve successfully written loss sensitive plans primarily appointed with our United Heartland brand, and we’re excited to begin expanding our National Account footprint across all workers’ comp brands. All existing agencies contracted with an AF Group brand will have access to National Accounts, at the enterprise level, without requiring a separate contract or addendum.
Our National Account team is uniquely poised for growth in the market, given our approach to provide our customers with comprehensive cost mitigation strategies that are bundled into our products and services at no additional cost. Key features of our approach to cost mitigation include:
- Our treatment of ALAE is transparent and an industry-leading financial differentiator to our mutual customers.
- Proactive claims and medical management services help reduce the overall cost of risk, including use of our patented Care Analytics® platform to connect the injured worker with an experienced occupational physician. As a result, our overall average claims costs are 20 percent below the industry average.
- Claims adjusters have extensive jurisdictional knowledge and experience.
- Loss control experts develop individual loss control strategies for each location.
- Our risk management information system is updated daily and allows you to view your most current loss trends.
If you have any questions about National Accounts, please contact Guy Couillard, director of National Accounts for AF Group’s Workers’ Compensation Division, or your business development consultant.
Learn About our Premium Audit Process
When a workers’ compensation policy is purchased, the premium on that policy is estimated based on your business operations and exposures. Throughout the life of the policy, those exposures and payroll might change, resulting in a higher or lower premium. During a premium audit, which is conducted at the expiration of the policy period, actual exposures and classifications are compared to what was estimated to determine the final premium.
We understand that the word ‘audit’ can sound daunting, but rest assured, our team will be there to guide you. And, in some cases, audits actually save our customers money, which is another reason it’s such an important part of the workers’ compensation policy process!
For more information on a premium audit and how we provide support throughout the process, click here.
CAWC and More Agency Education Opportunities
Our Agency Education team has a number of virtual and in-person courses planned for this year, including our popular Certified Authority on Workers’ Compensation (CAWC) designation.
For more information and to register for courses, please visit the Agency Education Events page. Also, you can find on-demand learning opportunities here.
Accident Fund Names UNICO Group as Agency of the Year
We’re proud to recognize UNICO Group as our 2021 Agency of the Year! Learn more about UNICO and their commitment to partnership and our shared customers.
Accident Fund Recognizes Top-Performing Agencies Nationwide
Accident Fund is proud to recognize our Agency of the Territory and President’s Club Award honorees, representing an extraordinary group of high-performing agent partners across the nation. View our list of award honorees.
Register: Annual Agent Meeting
Join us this April for a virtual meeting hosted by Accident Fund Vice President of Business Development and Operations Mike Valiante, with appearances from divisional and regional leadership and AF Group Workers’ Compensation Division leaders! Register here.
