Agent News
Q1 2019
Earn more on your new business! Send us new business and we’ll give you a 2% bonus commission on all new accounts issued under $200,000 in premium, no exclusions!
To incentivize you even further, we’ve extended the program to run through Dec. 31, 2019! Our new business incentive could equate to 29% more revenue for your agency.
Contact your business development consultant to discuss how you can maximize the benefits.
We were thrilled to see so many of you at our recent Annual Agent Meetings. We greatly value the time we’re able to spend with our agency partners and appreciate you making the effort to join us.
As discussed at the meetings, Accident Fund had another record year. We exceeded all our targets by a significant margin as you’ll see below.
| 2018 Plan | 2018 Actual | |
| Written premium | $775.7M | $859M |
| New business | $159.6M | $188M |
| Premium retention | 86% | 89% |
| CY combined ratio | 87.8% | 81% |
| Underwriting gain | $92.9M | $150M |
We realize these remarkable results couldn’t have been achieved without our strong agency partnerships and we were glad to share in our success through profit sharing. Accident Fund continues to pay out record profit sharing year after year…and 2018 was no different as we paid agents $35.4 million, up $2.2 million, with 51% of our agents receiving a check.
Because our payout incentive is based on a three-year plan, we encourage you to retain your Accident Fund business so you’ll have our two most profitable years on record going into 2019!
If you missed the meetings, or would like to share the presentation with your team, the PowerPoints are available on our Agent website under ‘Agent Meeting Materials.’ To access the overview flyer we provided, click here.
In qualifying for Accident Fund’s President’s Club, the following agents contributed to our overall success in 2018 by helping us grow and retain profitable business. Thanks to their dedication and commitment to promoting our value to customers, they achieved very impressive results for Accident Fund. We appreciate their ongoing support, continued feedback and valued insight into the individual needs of their clients.
President’s Club qualifications for 2018 included written premium exceeding $2 million, a five-year cumulative loss ratio of 50% or less, and premium retention of 82% or higher. We are proud to honor these agencies:
- Allied Insurance Managers, Inc.
- Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc.
- Athens Insurance Agency
- BHS Insurance
- Brown & Brown of Detroit
- Brown & Brown of Michigan
- Brown & Brown of SC
- Buiten & Associates, LLC
- BXS Insurance
- Capital Insurance Group
- Commercial Risk Management
- Consolidated Insurance + Risk Management
- Correll Insurance Group
- David Chapman Agency
- Diebold Insurance Agency
- Doeren Mayhew Insurance Group
- Doyle & Ogden, Inc.
- Fee Insurance Group
- General Agency Company
- Georgetown Insurance Services, Inc.
- Gompers, Cornish & Barr
- Harold W. Wells & Son, Inc.
- HUB International Midwest Limited
- Hylant Group
- Ieuter Insurance Group
- IMAGE of Wisconsin
- InPro Insurance Group
- ISU Insurance Services
- A. Price Agency
- Smith Lanier & Co., a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company
- Johnson Insurance Services
- Kapnick Insurance Group
- Lighthouse Group
- Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance
- Lowry & Associates, Inc.
- Marsh & McLennan Agency
- McGriff Insurance Services
- Michigan Community Insurance Agency, Inc.
- Mid Atlantic Insurance Group
- Missouri General Insurance Agency
- Mountain Empire Agency Alliance
- Oakland Companies
- Peabody Insurance Agency
- Ralph C. Wilson Agency, Inc.
- Relation Insurance Services of North Carolina, Inc.
- RT Specialty
- Saginaw Bay Underwriters
- Scheetz, Hogan, Freeman & Phillips
- Shared Agency Services of MS
- Southern Risk and AssuredPartners Company
- Sterling Insurance Group
- Sunstar Insurance Group
- The Huttenlocher Group
- The Reilly Company
- Towne Insurance
- TriSure Corporation
- TrueNorth Companies, L.C.
- Turbeville Insurance Agency
- UNICO Group
- Unland Co.
- Van Wyk Risk Solutions
- VTC Insurance Group
- Watson Insurance Agency
- Wyatt Insurance Services
- Yates Insurance
In 2020, trip earners will join us in spectacular Tenerife! As the largest of the seven Spanish Canary Islands, Tenerife has it all — stunning coastlines, panoramic island views from atop Mount Teide, whale watching, wineries, canyons and caves, amazing food, shopping and more. With almost guaranteed sunshine all year, the weather is the number one reason people flock to Tenerife’s shores.
While there, our guests will stay at the Ritz Carlton Abama Resort — a five-star resort with a prized ocean view, Michelin-starred restaurants and a renowned golf course. Guests will also be invited to relax at the luxury resort spa, which uses locally developed ingredients with tailored massage techniques and holistic therapies.
When not relaxing at the spa, swimming in one of the seven pools, or enjoying the 18-hole championship course, guests will be invited to join in various activities, including:
- Excursion to Mt. Teide National Park
- Catamaran cruise with whale watching
- Kayak and snorkeling adventure
- Jet ski safari
Each night we will enjoy group dinners at some of the best restaurants on the island.
Click here to access the website for qualifications, rules and more information about this incredible destination, including photos and our new videos.
We want to see you earn a spot on this incredible trip — so be sure to work with your business development consultant to develop a plan to get you there!
New this year, members of Accident Fund’s Loss Control team will be offering a series of short training sessions that provide customers with safety tips and tools to help prevent workplace accidents and injuries. There will be six opportunities available with various topics, such as:
- Loss Control Toolbox Intro
- Making Safety Successful
- Leading Loss Sources in the Trucking Industry
- Slip and Fall Elimination (S.A.F.E.)
Please feel free to attend any or all of our sessions and encourage your Accident Fund customers to do the same. Click here to register today!
Also created recently was a Loss Control Technical Services resource for answering safety and loss control-related questions. An email and phone number are now available to agents and policyholders needing assistance with safety resources and services provided by our Loss Control team. Please share this information with your Accident Fund customers so they can begin taking advantage of this new service.
Arkansas
Meadors, Adams & Lee, Inc., Little Rock
NFP Property & Casualty Services, Inc, Benton
Georgia
The Norton Agency, Gainesville
Turner, Wood & Smith Insurance, Gainesville
Illinois
Arthur J. Gallagher RMS Inc, Decatur
Hub International Midwest Limited, Chicago
Indiana
Gibson Insurance Agency, Inc., South Bend
McGriff Insurance Services Inc., Kokomo
Iowa
Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Davenport
Mid – Iowa Insurance Associates, Carroll
Kansas
Creative Planning Property & Casualty LLC, Overland Park
Eils & Associates Insurance Group, Prairie Village
Kentucky
Chas. M. Moore Insurance Agency Inc., Bowling Green
Peel & Holland Inc, Benton
Louisiana
BXS Insurance Inc., Baton Rouge
Stiel Insurance of Acadiana Inc, Lafayette
Maryland
Diversified Insurance Industries Inc., Hunt Valley
Insurance Exchange Inc., Rockville
Michigan
InPro Insurance Group, Inc., Troy
Olivier VanDyk Insurance Agency, Wyoming
Minnesota
Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc., Bloomington
Maguire Agency Inc, Roseville
Mississippi
Bottrell Insurance, Jackson
Hub International Gulf South, Ridgeland
Missouri
- M. Peters Agency, Liberty
SRA Insurance Agency LLC, Kansas City
Nebraska
The Harry A. Koch Co., Omaha
UNICO Group, Inc., Lincoln
North Carolina
Business Insurers of the Carolinas Inc, Chapel Hill
Pelnik Insurance of Cary NC, Inc., Cary
Oklahoma
Arthur J. Gallagher RMS Inc, Oklahoma City
Rich & Cartmill Inc., Tulsa
South Carolina
Palmetto Insurance Associates LLC of Anderson, Anderson
Turbeville Insurance Agency, Inc., Columbia
South Dakota
Black Hills Insurance Agency Inc., Rapid City
Howalt McDowell Ins, a Marsh & McLennan Agcy LLC Co, Sioux Falls
Tennessee
Commercial Insurance Associates LLC, Brentwood
Inter – Agency Insurance Service, Inc., Knoxville
Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance, LLC, Memphis
Texas
Insgroup, Inc., Houston
MHBT, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, Company, Dallas
Virginia
Foundation Insurance Group Inc, Falls Church
MidAtlantic Insurance Group LLC, Richmond
Wisconsin
R & R Insurance Services, Inc., Waukesha
Starr Insurance Group Ltd, Greenfield
Arkansas
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
7228 Local Trucking
8044 Store: Furniture & Drivers
Georgia
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
7219 Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers
Illinois
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
Indiana
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
9082 Restaurant NOC
Iowa
4034 Concrete Products Mfg & Drivers
3635 Gear Mfg or Grinding
4683 Oil Mfg-Vegetable-NOC
8832 Physician & Clerical
4484 Plastics Manufacturing: Molded Products NOC
Kansas
5645 Carpentry-Detached One- or Two-Family Dwellings
5190 Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers
0005 Farm: Nursery Employees & Drivers
8006 Store: Grocery Retail, Includes Rural General Stores
5348 Tile, Stone, Mosaic or Terrazzo Work-Inside
Kentucky
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
Louisiana
5537 Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
7230 Trucking: Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Maryland
8842 Group Homes, All Employees, Salespersons & Drivers
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
Michigan
8395 Automobile Repairs Facility
7202 Drivers Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery
9058 Hotel: Restaurant Employees
Minnesota
5645 Carpentry-Detached One- or Two-Family Dwellings
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
8824 Retirement Living Centers: Health Care Employees
8033 Store: Meat, Grocery and Provision Stores Combined-Retail NOC
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Mississippi
8829 Convalescent or Nursing Home-All Employees
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Missouri
5645 Carpentry-Detached One- or Two-Family Dwellings
9082 Restaurant NOC
8293 Storage Warehouse-Furniture & Drivers
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
5445 Wallboard Installation Within Buildings & Drivers
Nebraska
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
2585 Laundry NOC
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
8044 Store: Furniture & Drivers
8021 Store: Meat, Fish or Poultry Dealer-Wholesale
North Carolina
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
9060 Club-Country, Golf, Fishing or Yacht-& Clerical
6217 Excavation & Drivers
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
5183 Plumbing NOC & Drivers
Oklahoma
5188 Automatic Sprinkler Installation & Drivers
5190 Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers
9052 Hotel: All Other Employees & Salespersons, Drivers
3030 Iron or Steel: Fabrication: Iron or Steel Works-Shop-Structural-& Drivers
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
South Carolina
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
5190 Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers
6217 Excavation & Drivers
5537 Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
South Dakota
9015 Buildings-Operation-By Owner, Lessee, or Real Estate Management Firm: All Other Employees
8810 Clerical Office Employees NOC
9052 Hotel: All Other Employees & Salespersons, Drivers
8010 Store: Hardware
8013 Store: Jewelry
Tennessee
9014 Buildings-Operation by Contractors
9083 Restaurant: Fast Food
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
7219 Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers
Texas
7380 Drivers, Chauffeurs & Their Helpers NOC-Commercial
6217 Excavation & Drivers
8292 Storage Warehouse NOC
8018 Store: Wholesale NOC
7230 Trucking: Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Virginia
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
5474 Painting or Paperhanging NOC & Shop Operations, Drivers
5445 Wallboard Installation Within Buildings & Drivers
Wisconsin
5190 Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers
9082 Restaurant NOC
Pending Rate Changes
The following states have a pending rate change for Accident Fund. New rates are not yet available in eLink; however, some renewing policies may be viewable in the renewal index. Please refrain from releasing quotes and renewals for these states until rates are updated. Please check our website for updates.
| State | PROPOSED NCCI/Bureau Impact | Effective Date |
| Arizona | -7.9% | 01/01/19 |
| Arkansas | N/A | 07/01/19 |
| Georgia | -8.9% | 07/01/19 |
| Massachusetts | N/A | 07/01/19 |
| Montana | -17.2% | 07/01/19 |
| North Carolina | -15.9% | 04/01/19 |
| Rhode Island | -7.7% | 08/01/19 |
| South Carolina | -9.2% | 04/01/19 |
| South Dakota | -11.9% | 07/01/19 |
| Texas | -12.4% | 07/01/19 |
| Virginia | -2.6% | 04/01/19 |
New Rates Now Available in eLink
Updated rates are now accessible in eLink for the following states:
| State | NCCI/Bureau Impact | Effective Date | Available in eLink as of: |
| Alabama | -6.4% | 03/01/19 | 12/21/18 |
| Alaska | -14.8% | 01/01/19 | 12/14/18 |
| Florida | -13.8% | 01/01/19 | 12/14/18 |
| Hawaii | +4.7% | 01/01/19 | 12/14/18 |
| Illinois | -9.1% | 01/01/19 | 12/21/18 |
| Louisiana | -5.6% | 05/01/19 | 03/01/19 |
| Maine | -7.5% | 04/01/19 | 03/01/19 |
| Mississippi | -10.7% | 04/01/19 | 02/22/19 |
| Nebraska | -8.1% | 02/01/19 | 12/21/18 |
| Nevada | -8.1% | 03/01/19 | 12/14/18 |
| New Jersey | -5.3% | 01/01/19 | 12/14/18 |
| Pennsylvania | -9.8% | 04/01/19 | 01/25/19 |
| Tennessee | -19.0% | 03/01/19 | 02/08/19 |
| Vermont | -5.1% | 04/01/19 | 02/22/19 |
Please be sure to discuss pricing options for all new business and renewals with your business development consultant.
Federal
The insurance industry has started initial lobbying efforts in Washington to extend the terrorism risk insurance program, which expires at the end of 2020. The program was created after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, when carriers suffered excessive losses and eventually highly populated commercial areas across the Nation were unable to secure coverage. In an effort to maintain market stability, AF Group will work with Congressional leaders over the next 18 months in support of a timely renewal.
Florida
The Florida Legislature is considering two bills, SB 1636 and HB 1399, that address workers’ compensation. SB 1636, proposes reasonable fixes for the Florida Supreme Court’s adverse decisions a few years ago that invalidated both the statutory contingent attorney fee provision (Castellanos) and the 104-week limitation on temporary total disability (Westphal). The Senate proposal seems the preferable approach as an overall reform vehicle, although H.B. 1399 does have one favorable provision that is lacking in S.B. 1636, as it would tie outpatient hospital reimbursement to Medicare, in lieu of the current charge-based approach. We anticipate some form of merged compromise to occur between the Senate and House proposals.
Maryland
SB 854 would require carriers to provide injured workers with medical cannabis, which would be characterized as “medicine”; and require compensability even where an accident is solely caused by medical cannabis, if it was administered or taken in accordance with a physician’s written certification and instructions. In general, the industry opposes mandatory marijuana reimbursement under workers’ compensation system, based on both the federal illegality of cannabis and the lack of sufficient objective medical evidence of its efficacy in treating workplace injuries. We are aware that some insurers want the discretion to recommend or treat with marijuana when it appears in a case to be a suitable alternative to opioids. The bill now awaits consideration by the House Economic Matters Committee.
California
The industry is closely monitoring Senate Bill 567, which establishes various presumptions for hospital employees. According to the proposal infectious diseases, cancer, musculoskeletal injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and respiratory diseases; would be presumed work related injuries for hospital employees. The future of this initiative is unclear at this time.
Illinois
As previously communicated, enacted Senate Bill 1737, requires carriers to send employer and agency premium increase notifications on all Illinois policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2019 that have premium in excess of 5% of the rate recommendation filed with the Department. The industry had previously been misadvised this provision applied to all Jan. 1, 2020 new business. AF Group has invested in system changes and created new processes/procedures in an effort to ensure compliance and timely communication with all stakeholders when notification are required.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission approved the 2019 Medical Services Provider Manual (MSPM) with changes taking effect April 1, 2019. The summary of the changes can be found by clicking here.
