Agent News
Q3 2019
If you’re not already receiving your commissions via electronic funds transfer (EFT), download and submit the application form today! Email completed EFT applications to [email protected], making sure the email address on your form is the appropriate address for delivering commission statements.
Within 30 days of submitting an application, you will receive an email confirmation that EFT setup is complete.
Click here to download the EFT application form and for a list of frequently asked questions.
During the past several weeks, AF Group and its brands have received several significant accolades that we’re excited to celebrate with our agent partners.
First, our A.M. Best Rating was recently upgraded from “A-” to “A” (Excellent) with a “stable” outlook. This great news is an indicator of our continued financial strength and strong net income, underwriting income and surplus growth along with record-setting premium retention.
Next, we were also recently recognized as a Ward’s 50 company, an award presented to top insurance industry performers who demonstrate consistent superior performance. For this honor, Ward’s examined nearly 3,000 property/casualty and life/health insurance companies, and their recognition of AF Group was based on our outstanding financial results “in the areas of safety, consistency and performance over a five-year period.”
Finally, AF Group has once again been named to the list of “Best Places to Work in Insurance” by Business Insurance magazine! This is our 10th year on the Best Places list and our return to the #1 position in the large employer category – an honor that acknowledges the strong team and culture across AF Group.
While each of these accomplishments reflect well on our organization and teammates that are committed to serving you and your customers, these awards also reflect the success of our continued partnership with you, our valued agent partners.
Our sincerest thank you and best wishes to you this holiday season. We look forward to many more successful years to come.
We are excited to share we eclipsed 80,000 policies in force last quarter! We are so grateful to our customers for their partnership and trust in helping us keep their workforce safe — and for our incredible teams and agent partners who make it happen. This isn’t just a number, but rather the culmination of hard work by so many. Please know that we appreciate everything you do, day in and day out, that leads to our success.
See how our claims team steps into action when an injury occurs. Our nurse case managers, pharmacist and medical director — with more than 30 years’ experience as a general surgeon — are committed to improving care for injured workers while keeping costs down for policyholders. Watch the video.
Visit our website to view past webinars, including our latest on winter slip and fall elimination – and stay tuned for the 2020 webinar calendar.
Arkansas
Allison Insurance LLC, Jonesboro
BHC Insurance, Fort Smith
Georgia
PointeNorth Insurance Group, LLC, Atlanta
Starr – Mathews Agency Inc, Calhoun
Illinois
Assurance Agency, Ltd, Schaumburg
Unland Co., Pekin
Indiana
Huntington Insurance, Inc., Indianapolis
ONI Risk Partners Inc, Evansville
Iowa
LaMair – Mulock – Condon Co., West Des Moines
Molyneaux Insurance Inc., Davenport
Kansas
Creative Planning Property & Casualty LLC, Overland Park
IMA, Inc., Wichita
Kentucky
Energy Ins Agency Inc, Lexington
Peel & Holland Inc, Benton
Louisiana
Dwight W. Andrus Insurance, Inc, Lafayette
Ira Young & Associates Inc., Broussard
Maryland
Keller – Stonebraker Insurance Inc., Hagerstown
PSA Insurance, Inc., Hunt Valley
Michigan
Daly Merritt Insurance Svcs, Wyandotte
Hub International Midwest, Grand Rapids
Minnesota
AssuredPartners of Minnesota, LLC, Saint Paul
Waypoint Insurance Advisors, Inc, Hopkins
Mississippi
Bottrell Insurance, Jackson
Hub International Gulf South, Ridgeland
Missouri
Charles L. Crane Agency Company, Saint Louis
R-T Specialty LLC, Kansas City
Nebraska
INSPRO, Inc., La Vista
UNICO Group, Inc., Lincoln
North Carolina
AssuredPartners of North Carolina, LLC, Raleigh
ISU Ballantyne Ins Group Inc, Charlotte
Oklahoma
BancFirst Insurance Services Inc., Tulsa
Rich & Cartmill Inc. Tulsa, Tulsa
South Carolina
Anderson Insurance Associates, LLC, Charleston
Palmetto Insurance Associates LLC, Anderson
South Dakota
Black Hills Insurance Agency Inc., Rapid City
Fischer Rounds & Associates Inc – Pierre, Pierre
Tennessee
Commercial Insurance Associates LLC, Brentwood
Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance, LLC, Memphis
William Blount & Associates, Knoxville
Texas
Brookhurst Insurance Services, San Antonio
Insgroup, Inc., Houston
Virginia
MidAtlantic Insurance Group LLC, Richmond
Preferred Insurance Services, Inc., Fairfax
Wisconsin
Spectrum Insurance Group LLC, Eau Claire
Starr Insurance Group Ltd, Greenfield
Arkansas
9101 College: All Other Employees
5221 Concrete or Cement Work-Floors, Driveways, Yards or Sidewalks-& Drivers
9082 Restaurant NOC
8018 Store: Wholesale NOC
Georgia
5190 Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers
5537 Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems–Installation, Service and Repair and Drivers
9082 Restaurant NOC
7230 Trucking: Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Illinois
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
Indiana
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Iowa
6325 Conduit Construction-For Cables or Wires-& Drivers
5190 Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers
3076 Fireproof Equipment Mfg
3629 Precision Machined Parts Mfg NOC
8032 Store: Clothing, Wearing Apparel or Dry Goods-Wholesale
Kansas
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
9015 Buildings-Operation-By Owner, Lessee, or Real Estate Management Firm: All Other Employees
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
2883 Furniture Manufacturing-Wood-NOC
9082 Restaurant NOC
Kentucky
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
8232 Lumberyard New Materials Only: All Other Employees & Yard, Warehouse, Drivers
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Louisiana
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
7219 Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers
7230 Trucking: Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Maryland
5188 Automatic Sprinkler Installation & Drivers
4034 Concrete Products Mfg & Drivers
5146 Furniture or Fixtures Installation-Portable-NOC
0042 Landscape Gardening & Drivers
9102 Park NOC-All Employees & Drivers
Michigan
9053 Adult Foster Care Home
9015 Buildings-Operation-By Owner, Lessee, or Real Estate Management Firm: All Other Employees
5221 Concrete or Cement Work-Floors, Driveways, Yards or Sidewalks
9058 Hotel: Restaurant Employees
Minnesota
3076 Fireproof Equipment Mfg
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
8864 Social Services Organization – All Employees & Salespersons
8033 Store: Meat, Grocery and Provision Stores Combined-Retail NOC
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Mississippi
5537 Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
9522 Upholstering
Missouri
8380, Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
9015 Buildings-Operation-By Owner, Lessee, or Real Estate Management Firm: All Other Employees
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
3632 Machine Shop NOC
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Nebraska
5190 Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers
3632 Machine Shop NOC
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
5474 Painting or Paperhanging NOC & Shop Operations, Drivers
9082 Restaurant NOC
North Carolina
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
5537 Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
8864 Social Services Organization – All Employees & Salespersons
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Oklahoma
9101 College: All Other Employees
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
7380 Drivers, Chauffeurs & Their Helpers NOC-Commercial
5190 Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers
5183 Plumbing NOC & Drivers
South Carolina
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
6217 Excavation & Drivers
5183 Plumbing NOC & Drivers
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
7219 Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers
South Dakota
5645 Carpentry-Detached One or Two Family Dwellings
9101 College: All Other Employees
8116 Farm Machinery Dealer-All Operations & Drivers
2585 Laundry NOC
8869 Professional Employees: School or College
Tennessee
8116 Farm Machinery Dealer-All Operations & Drivers
8832 Physician & Clerical
8044 Store: Furniture & Drivers
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Texas
9014 Buildings-Operation By Contractors
8810 Clerical Office Employees NOC
2881 Furniture Assembly-Wood-From Manufactured Parts
7230 Trucking: Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
Virginia
5213 Concrete Construction NOC
8835 Nursing-Home Health, Public and Traveling-All Employees
7231 Trucking: Mail, Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
7230 Trucking: Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers
5445 Wallboard Installation Within Buildings & Drivers
Wisconsin
8380 Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers
5645 Carpentry-Detached One or Two Family Dwellings
8868 College: Professional Employees & Clerical
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 | -3.4% | 03/01/20 |
| Alaska | -14.4% | 01/01/20 |
| Arizona | -10.7% | 01/01/20 |
| Colorado | -8.5% | 01/01/20 |
| Connecticut | -2.9% | 01/01/20 |
| Delaware | -13.29% | 12/01/19 |
| Florida | N/A | 01/01/20 |
| Hawaii | -1.5% | 01/01/20 |
| Idaho | -6.2% | 01/01/20 |
| Illinois | -5.1% | 01/01/20 |
| Indiana | -6.9% | 01/01/20 |
| Iowa | -3.0% | 01/01/20 |
| Kansas | -4.5% | 01/01/20 |
| Maryland | -7.0% | 01/01/20 |
| Minnesota | -0.4% | 01/01/20 |
| Missouri | -1.6% | 01/01/20 |
| Nevada | 3.3% | 09/01/19 |
| New Jersey | -3.8% | 01/01/20 |
| New Mexico | -8.5% | 01/01/20 |
| North Carolina | -10.3% | 04/01/20 |
| Oklahoma | -5.1% | 01/01/20 |
| Oregon | -8.4% | 01/01/20 |
| Pennsylvania | N/A | 04/01/20 |
| Tennessee | -9.5% | 03/01/20 |
| Vermont | -11.6% | 04/01/20 |
| Virginia | -10.7% | 04/01/20 |
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: |
| California | -2.8% | 09/01/19 | 07/05/19 |
| District of Columbia | -10.0% | 11/01/19 | 09/20/19 |
| Georgia | 3.5% | 07/01/19 | 07/05/19 |
| Iowa (retroactive) | -11.5% | 01/01/19 | 09/06/19 |
| Kentucky | -9.0% | 12/01/19 | 10/04/19 |
| Maine | 3.9% | 01/01/20 | 10/04/19 |
| Michigan | -7.6% | 11/01/19 | 09/06/19 |
| Nevada | 3.3% | 09/01/19 | 08/09/19 |
| New Hampshire | -9.6% | 01/01/20 | 10/04/19 |
| New York | -10.0% | 10/01/19 | 08/23/19 |
| Oklahoma | 6.4% | 10/01/19 | 07/26/19 |
| West Virginia | -1.6% | 11/01/19 | 09/20/19 |
| Wisconsin | -8.84% | 10/01/19 | 08/09/19 |
Please be sure to discuss pricing options for all new business and renewals with your business development consultant.
AFXpress Top Class Codes
| Governing Class Code of Policy | Primary Governing Class Code Desc |
| 5645 | Carpentry-Detached One Or Two Family Dwellings |
| 9082 | Restaurant NOC |
| 9014 | Buildings-Operation By Contractors |
| 5474 | Painting Or Paperhanging Noc & Shop Operations, Drivers |
| 5437 | Carpentry-Installation Of Cabinet Work Or Interior Trim |
| 5221 | Concrete Or Cement Work-Floors, Driveways, Yards Or Sidewalks-& Drivers |
| 9102 | Park Noc-All Employees & Drivers |
| 5537 | Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refriger |
| 5183 | Plumbing Noc & Drivers |
| 5348 | Tile, Stone, Mosaic Or Terrazzo Work-Inside |
California
AB-5 has passed and been signed by the governor. This legislation statutorily implements the Dynamex test for determining independent contractor status. The new law will apply to all policies, including those in-force July 1, 2020. Pursuant to Dynamex and AB 5, a worker is presumed to be an employee unless the party asserting that worker is a contractor can prove:
- The worker is free from control or direction from the hiring individual or company.
- The worker is providing a service that is outside the hiring entity’s normal scope of business.
- The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade.
An important issue associated with AB-5 involves the debate on whether the gig economy receives an exemption from the Dynamex test or a separate status. As a result, Uber, Lyft and Door Dash are using $90 million in funding to begin preparing for the prospects of November 2020 ballot initiative that would exempt gig economy workers from the Dynamex test and create a separate set of rules and benefits. This move will continue the debate through next June, the deadline to remove initiatives from the November ballot.
Indiana
Indiana General Assembly has taken interest in reexamining their workers’ compensation hospital fee schedule. The topic was assigned to the insurance interim study committee to analyze a potential fee schedule for ambulatory surgical centers, with the intent of looking at all providers. The industry’s goal is to have the committee approve a legislative proposal to introduce in the 2020 legislative session. This initiative will continue receiving political attention throughout the next several months.
Michigan
Newly elected Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order earlier this summer, initiating uncertainty in the appellate process and the Workers’ Compensation Agency. Historically, a minimal amount of AF Group matters have risen to the Appellate Commission level, but that will likely change under this new democratic-appointed three-commissioner structure. Plaintiff’s counsel is threatening to try more cases, given they feel confident that with the new makeup of the commission, it could overturn any adverse decision from the magistrate level. Time will tell.
Wisconsin
Individual management and labor proposals outlining their individual workers’ compensation wish lists were shared at the last Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) meeting. The WCAC will begin discussions on these proposals as they build the legislative session’s “agreed bill.” Because things are currently so politically heated between the republican-led legislature and democratic governor, we don’t anticipate anything of significance to come from the agreed bill process but will maintain a close eye as it progresses.
Federal
- 1595, the SAFE Banking Act of 2019, was approved with a 321 to 103 vote in the House. This Legislation would ease things a bit for insurers and others who work with the cannabis industry. The legislation now moves on to the U.S. Senate, where it has bi-partisan support. Among those expressing support was the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents.
Bill Summary – will allow cannabis businesses to work with state banks. The bill was later amended to include insurance providers. This legislation would remove some of the liability assumed by the insurance industry under federal law. It would remove the direct conflict between state and federal law. The bill has been passed through the judicial committee on a bi-partisan basis and stands ready for a floor vote. When and if it clears the House, the battle will proceed in the Senate.
