Agent News

We are excited to announce that A.M. Best has recognized AF Group’s ongoing financial strength and stability by reaffirming our financial strength rating as “A-” (Excellent) and upgrading our “stable” outlook to “positive.”

In recognizing AF Group’s enhanced financial position, A.M. Best cited “improving operating performance driven by profitable underwriting results and demonstrated expertise within the workers’ compensation marketplace. Furthermore, the ratings acknowledge the group’s utilization of sophisticated predictive analytic modeling tools and medical cost containment practices and initiatives.”

“This announcement is a reflection on the outstanding partnerships we have established with our agents, who share our vision of providing unparalleled service to the customers we collectively serve,” said Lisa Corless, president of AF Group.

AF Group’s strong financial position is supported by:

• Anticipated outperformance of the industry for the sixth consecutive year in 2017 with a forecasted combined ratio significantly better than the expected industry result of 100%.
• Claim and medical management strategies producing claim costs that are 17% better than the industry on average.
• Ranking as the 11th largest workers’ compensation insurance company in the United States on a net premium basis, with a diversified portfolio of insureds.

If you have questions regarding this information, please reach out to your business development consultant.

Accident Fund has partnered with ReEmployAbility®  to offer injured workers a Transition2Work®  program that helps return them to the workforce quickly. This program enables injured workers to earn income while becoming re-engaged with the work experience following a period of disability.

Transition2Work provides transitional sedentary employment with a non-profit agency for an injured worker when the pre-injury employer is unable to accommodate  temporary light duty work. The network of non-profits includes more than 20,000 organizations, which means quicker placement for injured employees.

To learn more about this program, click here. And remember to share this information with your Accident Fund customers as well.

Effective July 1, 2016, Accident Fund partnered with Zenjuries to offer a unique group dividend program. Initially, this program  was limited to a handful of states, but because of its success, we made it available in all of our core states on July 1, 2017.

What is Zenjuries?

Zenjuries is an app an employer can use to help track the claims process for their injured worker.  The employer pays a fee to use the app and it keeps the injured worker updated on the progress of their claim.

Group Dividend Verification

When an employer signs up for the program, they receive a certificate of enrollment. They should provide this certificate to your agency to receive the benefits of the Group Dividend Program.

Do you have new producers at your agency looking to become appointed with Accident Fund? The quickest way for them to do so is to complete our secure, online producer profile. It’s simple…all they need to do it complete the information hit ‘Submit.’ We look up their license, so there’s no need for them to send us a copy. To access the online form, click here.

Any additional agency change requests (producer terminations, name changes, address changes, agent inbox changes, purchases, etc.) can be emailed to [email protected].

Leveraging more than 100 years of experience and an “A-” (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best, AF Group is one of the nation’s largest writers of specialty insurance. Collectively, our brands carry a broad appetite and the ability to write up to 80% of all workers’ compensation business in our core states.

Through effective cross-selling between brands in key states, our goal is to enhance collaboration and make selling all AF Group business easier for our agent partners. In support of this initiative, we have created an AF Group onboarding presentation to illustrate the power of our organization and provide consistent information about the enterprise to all our agencies and policyholders. To access the presentation, click here.

Accident Fund has established a database of experienced workers’ compensation medical providers that adhere to best practices for treating injured workers, resulting in significant cost savings for policyholders. Our Care Analytics® platform connects injured workers with an experienced occupational physician.

On average, injured workers treating with Care Analytics® preferred providers have shown a 12% decrease in overall medical spend as compared to those treating with non-preferred providers. The benefit associated with a preferred provider increases as medical complexity rises.

To ensure you see this impact on your claims, follow these steps:

• Report claims timely to ensure appropriate treatment from the onset.
• When an injury occurs, use the AF CompAdvisor app to locate a physician (this does not apply to the panel states of GA, TN and VA).

For more information about AF CompAdvisor, click here.

Arkansas

7228   Automobile Towing Company

2003   Bakery & Drivers, Route Supervisors

5403   Carpentry NOC

5535   Unknown

Georgia

9052   Hotel: All Other Employees & Salespersons, Drivers

8869   Professional Employees: School or College

9083   Restaurant: Fast Food

Illinois

9014   Buildings-Operation by Contractors

8868   College: Professional Employees & Clerical

Indiana

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

8868   College: Professional Employees & Clerical

Iowa

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

5645   Carpentry-Detached One or Two Family Dwellings

5022   Masonry NOC

5445   Wallboard Installation Within Buildings & Drivers

Kansas

5645   Carpentry-Detached One or Two Family Dwellings

8868   College: Professional Employees & Clerical

5221   Concrete or Cement Work-Floors, Driveways, Yards or Sidewalks-& Drivers

5022   Masonry NOC

7231   Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers

Louisiana

3632   Machine Shop NOC

3629   Precision Machined Parts Mfg NOC

8017   Store: Retail NOC

Maryland

5190   Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers

2881   Furniture Assembly-Wood-From Manufactured Parts

3040   Iron or Steel: Fabrication: Iron Works-Shop-Ornamental-& Drivers

8835   Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees

Michigan

9053   Adult Foster Care Home

8868   College: Professional Employees & Clerical

5221   Concrete or Cement Work-Floors, Driveways, Yards or Sidewalks

9058   Hotel: Restaurant Employees

3400   Metal Goods Mfg. NOC

Minnesota

5462   Glazier-Away From Shop & Drivers

9052   Hotel: All Other Employees & Salespersons, Drivers

8835   Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees

9082   Restaurant NOC

8824   Retirement Living Centers: Health Care Employees

Mississippi

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

9052   Hotel: All Other Employees & Salespersons, Drivers

7219   Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers

Missouri

9014   Buildings-Operation by Contractors

5645   Carpentry-Detached One or Two Family Dwellings

7380   Drivers, Chauffeurs & Their Helpers NOC-Commercial

8387   Gasoline Stations – Retail

7231   Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers

Nebraska            

5437   Carpentry-Installation of Cabinet Work or Interior Trim

4034   Concrete Products Mfg & Drivers

0042   Landscape Gardening & Drivers

5183   Plumbing NOC & Drivers

5535   Sheet Metal Work Installation & Drivers

North Carolina

5190   Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers

2881   Furniture Assembly-Wood-From Manufactured Parts

3040   Iron or Steel: Fabrication: Iron Works-Shop-Ornamental-& Drivers

8835   Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees

South Carolina

5190   Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers

2881   Furniture Assembly-Wood-From Manufactured Parts

3040   Iron or Steel: Fabrication: Iron Works-Shop-Ornamental-& Drivers

8835   Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees

South Dakota

5223   Swimming Pool Construction-Not Iron or Steel-All Operations & Drivers

8824   Retirement Living Centers: Health Care Employees

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

9014   Buildings-Operation By Contractors

8825   Retirement Living Centers: Food Service Employees

Tennessee          

5645   Carpentry – Detached One or Two Family Dwellings

8832   Physician & Clerical

7231   Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers

Texas

5200   Cement Work-Sidewalks, Cellar Floors or Driveways

6219   Clearing And Grading of Land Noc & Drivers

9101   College: All Other Employees

8868   College: Professional Employees & Clerical

5183   Plumbing NOC & Drivers

3114   Tool Mfg-Drop or Machine Forged-NOC: Machining or Finishing of Tools or Die Making Operations

Virginia

5190   Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers

2881   Furniture Assembly-Wood-From Manufactured Parts

3040   Iron or Steel: Fabrication: Iron Works-Shop-Ornamental-& Drivers

8835   Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees

Wisconsin

8835   Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees

8008       Store: Clothing, Wearing Apparel or Dry Goods-Retail

 

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	Effective   Date
Alabama	03/01/18
Alaska	01/01/18
Arizona	01/01/18
California	02/01/18
Colorado	01/01/18
Connecticut	01/01/18
Delaware	12/01/17
District of Columbia	11/01/17
Florida	01/01/18
Georgia	03/01/18
Hawaii	01/01/18
Idaho	01/01/18
Illinois	01/01/18
Indiana	01/01/18
Iowa	01/01/18
Kansas	01/01/18
Kentucky	01/01/18
Maryland	01/01/18
Michigan	01/01/18
Minnesota	01/01/18
Mississippi	03/01/18
Missouri	01/01/18
Nebraska	02/01/18
Nevada	03/01/18
New Hampshire	01/01/18
New Jersey	01/01/18
New Mexico	01/01/18
New York	10/01/17
Oklahoma	01/01/18
Oregon	01/01/18
Pennsylvania	11/01/17
Tennessee	03/01/18
Utah	12/01/17
West Virginia	11/01/17

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:
Michigan	CAOM	11/01/17	08/18/17
Wisconsin	-3.19%	10/01/17	08/23/17

Please be sure to discuss pricing options for all new business and renewals with your business development consultant.

 

Arkansas

BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc., Little Rock

Regions Insurance Inc. Little Rock, Little Rock

Georgia

Harbin Agency Inc, Tyrone

Risk Innovations, LLC, Atlanta

Illinois

Assurance Agency, Ltd, Schaumburg

Unland Co., Pekin

Indiana

Assuredpartners of Indiana, LLC, Indianapolis

MBAH Insurance, Lafayette

Iowa

First Iowa Insurance Agency, Inc., Cedar Rapids

INSPRO, Inc., W Des Moines

Kansas

Elliott Insurance Inc., Louisburg

KFSA Insurance, LLC, Hutchinson

Louisiana

BancorpSouth Insurance Services Inc, Baton Rouge

Hub International Gulf South, Metairie

Maryland

Georgetown Insurance Services, Inc., Silver Spring

Yates Insurance, Inc., Edgewater

Michigan

Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc., Grand Rapids

Cia Insurance & Risk Mgmt, Shelby Twp

Minnesota

Bearence Management Group, LLC, Mendota Heights

Risk Placement Services Inc., Minneapolis

Mississippi          

Bottrell Insurance, Jackson

Insurance & Risk Managers, Brookhaven

Missouri

Charles L. Crane Agency Company, Saint Louis

Risk Innovations LLC, Lees Summit

Nebraska

Peterson Brothers Insurance Inc, Omaha

Quinn Insurance Inc., Omaha

North Carolina

John Hackney Agency of Rocky Mount, Inc., Rocky Mount

Swimmer Insurance Agency Inc, Charlotte

South Carolina

Adams Eaddy & Associates, Columbia

CSP Insurance Services, Florence

South Dakota

Howalt Mcdowell Ins, A Marsh & Mclennan Agcy LLC Co, Sioux Falls

Rhodes Anderson Insurance, Aberdeen

Tennessee

Collier Insurance, Memphis

Commercial Insurance Associates LLC, Brentwood

Shafer Insurance Agency, Inc., Knoxville

Texas

Marsh & Mclennan Agency, LLC – Southwest Region, Houston

Swingle Collins & Associates, Dallas

Virginia

Foundation Insurance Group Inc, Falls Church

Olson Insurance Agency, Arlington

Wisconsin

Insurance Marketing Group of Wisconsin, Inc (Image), Saint Germain

McClone Agency, Inc., Sheboygan

 

Michigan

The Workers’ Compensation Health Care Services Advisory Committee, led by Director Mark Long, recently took action on new air ambulance reimbursement regulation and the 2017-2018 fee schedule conversion factor. Nationally, air ambulance transporters have been charging exorbitant fees — regulation to set the fee schedule at 140% of Medicare for all air ambulance reimbursement successfully progressed out of Committee. Because he is not witnessing any access to care issues, and as a result of Medicare conversion, providers will receive a bit of a rate increase; the director sees no reason to increase workers’ compensation provider reimbursements at this time, and moved forward with an official recommendation to maintain the current fee schedule conversion factor.

Through the Advisory Committee, each initiative will now receive a public hearing, prior to proceeding to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) where we anticipate them to pass into law.

Illinois

• The General Assembly passed legislation (HB 2525) establishing price controls on workers’ compensation insurers and (HB 2622) creating the Illinois Employers Mutual Insurance Company (IEMIC), a state-sponsored fund to provide workers’ compensation insurance in Illinois. House and Senate Democrats, who are at odds with the governor on virtually all fronts, promoted both bills. AF Group industry partners AIA, Illinois Chamber and the Illinois Insurance Association opposed both proposals.
• More recently, House Republican leadership introduced a modest series of budget and business reforms (HB 4068), which include two industry supported measures: the establishment of a Medicare-based fee schedule, and calls for the creation of an evidence-based drug formulary. In coordination with our trades, AF Group is supportive of HB 4068 and have requested that Governor Bruce Rauner veto both HB 2525/HB 2622 which we believe he is inclined to do.  We will remain engaged as the situation in Springfield continues.

Wisconsin

Labor and Industry Review Commission – The proposal that would’ve eliminated the state’s Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC) has failed. The issue will certainly arise in next year’s  budget, but for now the status quo is maintained.

Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council – Assembly Labor Committee held a hearing on Assembly Bill 308, which would alter the membership on the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council. The legislation proposes to change the composition of the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) to reflect the current unionized versus non-unionized labor force. Proponents of the bill argue that unionized labor should not be allowed to have five voting members on the council if unions only make up 8% of the workforce. Opponents argue that the legislation is not needed and would upend the delicate balance that exists on the council between labor and management. AF Group partners at the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance have opposed this legislation and successfully stalled the initiative for now.

North Carolina

North Carolina Supreme Court has issued its decision in Wilkes v. City of Greenville, ruling that once an injury has proven established as compensable, there is a rebuttable presumption that any additional medical treatment is related to the compensable injury.  AF Group national trade partner, the American Insurance Association, has filed an amicus brief in this action arguing against the presumption. The industry will be engaging with employer groups to seek a legislative solution to this decision. More to come as this situation progresses.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced the creation of the Innovation and Technology (EX) Task Force to help insurance regulators stay informed on key developments, including new products and services from start-up companies, as well as established insurance industry players. The task force reports directly to the NAIC Executive Committee. Michigan Insurance Director Patrick M. McPharlin and Oregon Insurance Commissioner Laura Cali Robison will lead the task force as chair and vice chair, respectively. Of particular interest to AF Group, the new task force will also oversee the work of the Big Data Working Group and the Cybersecurity Working Group.