Agent News
Q3 2018
Our New Business Incentive Program has been extremely successful, and because of that, we’ve decided to extend it again. As a reminder, we’ll give you a 2% bonus commission on all new accounts issued under $200,000 in premium, no exclusions! Our new business incentive could equate to 29% more revenue for your agency – and will now run through March 31, 2019.
Contact your business development consultant right away if you haven’t already discussed how you can maximize the benefits or click here to access our flyer.
It’s hard to believe we’re entering the fourth quarter of 2018 already – but this also means our 2019 Mediterranean luxury adventure aboard the Scenic Eclipse Yacht is getting that much closer!
We’ve told you a lot about the yacht, but have neglected the amazing ports of call. Therefore, we created this video to highlight the beautiful locations we’ll dock at along the way. Take a look!
Additional trip details: May 4 – 12, 2019, trip earners will cruise on the world’s first-ever discovery yacht, which features all-inclusive verandah suites with floor to ceiling windows, personal butler service and 5-star amenities…as well as 10 fine dining and casual restaurants, unlimited complimentary beverages and daily entertainment. And when the yacht docks along the various ports of call, we will have the opportunity to explore Venice, Amalfi, Dubrovnik, Porto Venere, Barcelona and St. Tropez.
For more about the trip, click here to access our incentive trip website. Now is the time to make your final push – we want to see YOU aboard this incredible yacht!
“We’re not your average workers’ comp company. We care about our customers. We care about doing what’s right.” That’s the message in a new video that focuses on the people-first philosophy that sets Accident Fund apart from our competition.
This short video highlights a hypothetical injured worker’s experience with Accident Fund’s personalized approach to customer service, from the time of injury to recovery. By sharing the benefits of our exceptional claims service and return to work programs, the positive impact made on this one man’s life becomes clear.
This video closely aligns with our recently-launched digital advertising campaign, which targets current and potential agents and policyholders in key states and business segments. The campaign’s creative work includes a series of brand-specific videos which share personal “comeback stories” of real injured workers (played by actors) and their road to recovery.
The goal with this campaign was to demonstrate the integral role workers’ compensation plays when an injury occurs – and portraying our business in a compassionate and empathetic way. This will help position us not only as experts in the industry, but also as a company who cares about our people, our customers and doing the right thing. We hope you’ll check out the video today and share it with current and potential Accident Fund customers to help in demonstrating our value to our mutual customers..
Since 1995, Accident Fund has offered very successful Group Programs to small- to- mid-sized customers. Through group pooling power, our programs allow your customers access to dividends that they wouldn’t have otherwise obtained. Since their inception, we have paid nearly $50 million in dividends back to group members.
We have added a significant number of groups in the past 12 months, including expanding many of our class code driven programs. Some of our new national groups include:
- Artisan Contractors (available in most core states effective 12/1/18)
- Faith-Based Organizations (available in all core states except MO and WI)
- Home Health Care (available in most core states effective 12/1/18)
- Mail Package Delivery (available in all core states except MO and WI effective 12/1/18)
Click here for an overview of underwriting criteria for all of our national and local Group Programs — and contact Laura Hall, Group & Association Specialist, with questions.
Do your customers ever ask why they should report claims – even the small ones? If so, we have your answer! This helpful flyer will help your Accident Fund policyholders understand the benefits (and legal requirements) of reporting claims. We’d encourage you to share it with new and renewal accounts, so they understand why they should report claims and are prepared before they even occur.
For more claims information and resources, visit our Toolbox.
Best’s Review recently published an article about the opioid crisis featuring insights from AF Group’s own Medical Director, Dr. Dan Hunt.
“Dan Hunt remembers the day the posters went up in his hospital. ‘Pain is the fifth vital sign,’ they read. It was 2001 and the Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization, had just launched its Pain Management Standards, which made treatment of pain a key focus for medical providers. The Visual Analogue Scale—a series of faces ranging from smiling to frowning to crying—was introduced as a tool to measure the severity of a patient’s pain, and doctors were judged on how quickly they alleviated this highly subjective new vital sign.”
Click here for the full article.
Arkansas
American Safeguard Group Inc, Conway
BXS Insurance Inc., Little Rock
Georgia
Doherty, Duggan, Hart & Tiernan Insurors, Albany
Risk Innovations, LLC, Atlanta
Illinois
Market Financial Group, Crystal Lake
Southpoint Insurance Agency Inc, Orland Park
Indiana
Gregory & Appel Insurance Agency, Indianapolis
Sycamore Insurance Associates LLC, Terre Haute
Iowa
Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Davenport
Perspective Insurance-Sioux Center, Sioux Center
Kansas
Chapple Insurance Group, Wichita
The Reilly Company, LLC, Leavenworth
Louisiana
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Baton Rouge
Louisiana Companies, Baton Rouge
Maryland
Diversified Insurance Industries Inc., Hunt Valley
Georgetown Insurance Services, Inc., Silver Spring
Michigan
Ieuter Insurance Group, Midland
VTC Insurance Group, Troy
Minnesota
Heartman Agency, Inc., Rochester
The Christensen Group, Inc., Eden Prairie
Mississippi
Bottrell Insurance, Jackson
Insurance & Risk Managers, Brookhaven
Missouri
Charles L. Crane Agency Company, Saint Louis
Risk Innovations LLC, Lees Summit
Nebraska
Lockton Companies, LLC, Omaha
UNICO Group, Inc., Lincoln
North Carolina
NFP Corporate Services (SE) Inc, Charlotte
Sentinel Risk Advisors LLC, Raleigh
Oklahoma
BancFirst Insurance Services Inc., Tulsa
Rich & Cartmill Inc., Tulsa
South Carolina
Brown & Brown of SC, Inc., North Charleston
Insurance Office of America Inc, Columbia
South Dakota
Boen & Associates, Inc., Sioux Falls
Holmes, Murphy and Associates, LCC, Sioux Falls
Tennessee
Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance, LLC, Memphis
McGriff Insurance Services, Inc., Memphis
Texas
Insgroup, Inc., Houston
Swingle Collins & Associates, Dallas
Virginia
Independent Insurance Center, Inc., Lansdowne
Nansemond Insurance Agency, Inc., Suffolk
Wisconsin
McClone Agency Inc, Menasha
I. C. Inc., Onalaska
Arkansas
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
3724 Machinery or Equipment Erection or Repair NOC & Drivers
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
8864 Social Services Organization – All Employees & Salespersons
Georgia
9014 Buildings-Operation by Contractors
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
Illinois
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
6504 Food Sundries Mfg NOC-No Cereal Milling
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
Indiana
9052 Hotel: All Other Employees & Salespersons, Drivers
3400 Metal Goods Mfg. NOC
4484 Plastics Manufacturing: Molded Products NOC
Iowa
9101 College: All Other Employees
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
6217 Excavation & Drivers
3400 Metal Goods Mfg. NOC
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
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
5474 Painting or Paperhanging NOC & Shop Operations, Drivers
9082 Restaurant NOC
Louisiana
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
4484 Plastics Manufacturing: Molded Products NOC
Maryland
9110 Charitable or Welfare Organization-All Other Employees
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Michigan
5645 Carpentry-Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings
7202 Drivers Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery
9058 Hotel: Restaurant Employees
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
Minnesota
6325 Conduit Construction-For Cables or Wires-& Drivers
6504 Food Sundries Mfg NOC-No Cereal Milling
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
5537 Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
Missouri
8391 Automobile Repair Shop & Parts Dept Employees, Drivers
5645 Carpentry-Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Nebraska
5403 Carpentry NOC
8833 Hospital: Professional Employees
5474 Painting or Paperhanging NOC & Shop Operations, Drivers
8293 Storage Warehouse-Furniture & Drivers
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
North Carolina
6217 Excavation & Drivers
0042 Landscape Gardening & Drivers
7219 Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers
Oklahoma
2003 Bakery & Drivers, Route Supervisors
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
3632 Machine Shop NOC
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
7219 Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers
South Carolina
6217 Excavation & Drivers
5022 Masonry NOC
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
South Dakota
5645 Carpentry-Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings
5213 Concrete Construction NOC
7380 Drivers, Chauffeurs & Their Helpers NOC-Commercial
5022 Masonry NOC
8018 Store: Wholesale NOC
Tennessee
9014 Buildings–Operation by Contractors
3400 Metal Goods Mfg. NOC
7219 Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers
Texas
7380 Drivers, Chauffeurs & Their Helpers NOC-Commercial
5190 Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers
9079 Restaurant NOC
8018 Store: Wholesale NOC
7219 Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers
Virginia
9110 Charitable or Welfare Organization-All Other Employees
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Wisconsin
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
3629 Precision Machined Parts Mfg 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 |
| Alabama | N/A | 03/01/19 |
| Alaska | -14.8% | 01/01/19 |
| Arizona | -7.9% | 01/01/19 |
| Colorado | -16.7% | 01/01/19 |
| Delaware | -9.94% | 12/01/18 |
| District of Columbia | -3.7% | 11/01/18 |
| Florida | -13.4% | 01/01/19 |
| Hawaii | +6.2% | 01/01/19 |
| Idaho | N/A | 01/01/19 |
| Illinois | -9.1% | 01/01/19 |
| Indiana | N/A | 01/01/19 |
| Iowa | -9.2% | 01/01/19 |
| Kansas | -6.4% | 01/01/19 |
| Kentucky | N/A | 01/01/19 |
| Maryland | -6.9% | 01/01/19 |
| Minnesota | +1.2% | 01/01/19 |
| Mississippi | N/A | 03/01/19 |
| Missouri | -3.5% | 01/01/19 |
| Nebraska | N/A | 01/01/19 |
| Nevada | N/A | 03/15/19 |
| New Hampshire | -14.0% | 01/01/19 |
| New Mexico | -9.2% | 01/01/19 |
| Oklahoma | N/A | 01/01/19 |
| Oregon | -9.7% | 01/01/19 |
| Tennessee | -19.0% | 03/01/19 |
| Utah | N/A | 12/01/18 |
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: |
| Kentucky | -10.8% | 10/01/18 | 09/07/18 |
| Michigan | CAOM Rates | 11/01/18 | 08/24/18 |
| New York | -11.7% | 10/01/18 | 08/17/18 |
| Rhode Island | -5.3% | 08/01/18 | 07/06/18 |
| West Virginia | -13.0% | 11/01/18 | 09/07/18 |
| Wisconsin | -6.03% | 10/01/18 | 08/17/18 |
Please be sure to discuss pricing options for all new business and renewals with your business development consultant.
California – Large Deductible Policy Regulation
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) has released new amendments to the proposed regulations on large deductibles (LD). The regulation will require the full collateralization of programs with an LOC/Trust/Cash/Surety Bond at policy inception, unless the carrier has an “A” or better A.M. Best rating. CDI was not receptive to AF Group’s request to require insurers to have an “A-” rating rather than an “A” rating. Although the regulation is still under review and available for amendments, we anticipate it will take effect in its current form. Considering the regulatory process and time tables, the regulation should take effect some point in January.
Illinois – Governor Veto’s Portion of Work Comp Bill
Governor Rauner recently vetoed work comp prior rate approval and premium increase notification provisions within Senate Bill 1737. Of most concern to AF Group is the portion of the bill that states carriers cannot adjust discretionary rating more than 5% up without sending notice 30 days out to policyholders/agents. Although this portion has been removed by the Governor, we feel confident the legislature is likely to override his veto in November, which will make this provision law. The legislature is next scheduled to meet Nov. 13-15 and 27-29, 2018. Moving forward we anticipate Democratic forces will continue to promote legislative initiatives on price controls and the creation of a state fund. The industry will have to work diligently in order to negotiate the best compromise possible to all negative proposals.
Federal – Bipartisan Opioid Legislation
Recently, the United States Senate passed a comprehensive bill package intended to impact the national opioid crisis. Included in the bill are efforts to increase access to treatment programs for those citizens addicted as well as initiatives aimed to significantly reduce the amount of painkillers entering the United States illegally. Earlier this Summer, the House of Representatives enacted similar legislation. We anticipate the Senate and House will come to some form of compromise on this initiative and send a final bill package to the President for signature by the end of the year.
Texas – Proposed Rule §§114.1 -114.15, 114.16
The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation has proposed a new rule aimed at employers seeking to transition from a certified self-insured into the voluntary market. Under the current system, employers remain liable for all claims that remain open, even after such an employer has opted out of self-insurance and entered the voluntary market. The proposal intends to allow former self-insured employers to obtain a work comp policy that covers all claim obligations that occurred while the employer was operating as a self-insured. AF Group will continue to monitor this proposal at it progresses through the regulatory process.
Gubernatorial Elections: California – Illinois – Michigan
Gubernatorial elections are taking place this year in the following states, each of which represents significant AF Group direct written premium. The current governors in these states have protected the industry from harmful initiatives throughout their time in office. The election results will impact industry political and regulatory climates. The recent poll numbers outlined below show where things stand:
California
- Republican: John H. Cox Democratic: Gavin Newsom
- Recent Poll: (from Sept. 5-17) has the Democratic Candidate Gavin Newsom in the lead at 52% to Republican Candidates John Cox’s 40%.
Illinois
- Republican: Bruce Rauner (incumbent) Democratic: J.B. Pritzker
- Recent Poll: (from Sept. 5-13) has Pritzker in the lead at 44% to Rauner’s 27%
Michigan
- Republican: Bill Schuette Democratic: Gretchen Whitmer
- Recent Poll: (from Sept. 10-14) has Whitmer in the lead at 50% to Schuette’s 41%
