Agent News

Q4 2018

You’re Invited to Our Upcoming Annual Agent Meetings!

Our Annual Agent Meetings are just around the corner – beginning Jan. 22. We look forward to connecting with our valued agent partners to celebrate the invaluable contributions you’ve made to our success.

 

During our meetings, we will also recognize our top-performing agents from 2018 and announce our exciting new destination for the 2019 Incentive Trip Program.

 

Here’s the complete schedule:

 

Date Location 2019 Facility Meeting Time
Jan. 22 Lansing, MI Kellogg Center & Conference Center
219 South Harrison Rd
East Lansing, MI 48824
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 23 Atlanta, GA 103 West
103 West Paces Ferry Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30305
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 24 Nashville, TN Franklin Marriott Cool Springs
700 Cool Springs Blvd.
Franklin, TN 37067
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 29 Minneapolis, MN Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington
3900 American Blvd. West
Bloomington, MN 55437
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 West Des Moines, IA Sheraton West Des Moines
1800 50th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 31 Overland Park, KS Marriott Kansas City
Overland Park
10800 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66210
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 1 St. Louis, MO Marriott St. Louis West
660 Maryville Centre Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63141
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 Plymouth, MI The Inn at St. Johns
44045 Five Mile Road
Plymouth, MI 48170
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 Marquette, MI Northern Michigan University
1401 Presque Isle Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 Grand Rapids, MI Frederik Meijer Gardens
1000 E Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 Milwaukee, WI Marriott Milwaukee West
W231 N1600 Corporate Court
Waukesha, WI 53186
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Feb. 13 Indianapolis, IN Marriott Indianapolis Downtown
350 West Marland Street
Indianapolis, IN 46225
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Feb. 19 Naperville, IL Hotel Arista
2139 CityGate Lane
Naperville, IL 60563
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 21 Dallas, TX Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum
14901 Dallas Parkway
Dallas, TX 75254
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 22 Little Rock, AR Capital Hotel
111 W. Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 Baltimore, MD Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel
10207 Wincopin Circle
Columbia, MD 21044
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 26 Richmond, VA The Westin Richmond
6631 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 27 Greensboro, NC O.Henry Hotel
624 Green Valley Road
Greensboro, NC 27408
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 28 Columbia, SC Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
1101 Lincoln Street
Columbia, SC 29201
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Mar. 7 Troy, MI The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management
811 W. Square Lake Rd.
Troy, MI 48098
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

 

CLICK HERE to register for a meeting near you. If you have any questions about the schedule, please contact Kylie Olanowski. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Improved Claims Portal Provides Access to Manage Claims – Anytime, Anywhere!

Accident Fund is pleased to announce the launch of new online claim management tools, which provide our customers easy access to claim documents and real-time claim filing from their desktop or mobile device. This new functionality enhances policyholders’ ability to manage claims by providing:

  • 24-hour real-time claim filing and immediate receipt of a claim number upon submitting First Notice of Loss (FNOL).
  • The ability to save an in-progress FNOL and complete it within 48 hours.
  • Mobile-friendly access with a consistent look and feel between platforms.
  • Online and mobile access to prescription benefit cards. (Cards will still be mailed to injured workers.)
  • Ability to update and self-manage user profiles.
  • Real-time claim and payment status updates.
  • Capability to search claim notes and view claim financials.
  • Access to our Care Analytics® Provider Locator.
  • Integration with Bing maps to easily identify accident locations if an incident doesn’t occur on the company’s site.
  • Less paperwork by eliminating envelopes for claim correspondence via use of the portal for a more efficient process.

Injured workers (non-litigated claims only) now have access to online claims management tools for the first time, where they can:

  • View claim payment information in real time.
  • Update and manage their user profile.
  • Submit reimbursement requests for travel, pharmacy and other items along with the ability to attach supporting documentation (receipts, etc.)
  • Load documents electronically from their care provider’s office.
  • Access prescription benefit cards. (Cards will still be mailed to injured workers.)

To access the portal, a one-time registration is required via our website. (Note: A select number of current Accident Fund policyholders already have access to Claim Inquiry and should use their previously created login and password to sign in.)

Policyholder Registration:

  • Policyholderswill need to provide their policy number, Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and policy expiration date.
  • Injured workerswill need to provide their Social Security number, claim number and date of injury.

After the initial registration, users will only need to provide the username and password created during the registration process to log in.

Please note: Only one person can perform the initial registration process for the site. The first person to do so will be designated as the Security Administrator for their organization. Instructions for Security Administrators are available on the site. After completing the initial registration, the Security Administrator will have the option to setup an additional Security Administrator if needed — along with creating additional user access for the policyholder portal.

For policyholders already registered with access to our secure policyholder portal, the Security Administrator can add claim inquiry access to the profile of existing users by selecting the ‘Change User ID/Password’ link from the main policyholder portal site. This will give the Security Administrator the option to ‘Manage Users’ including giving claim inquiry access.

We’re excited to be able to provide our customers easier access to their claims information – and encourage you to share this information with them.

Become a Work Comp Leader — LEAD with Comp

“The LEAD program gave our new producer a deeper understanding of workers’ compensation insurance and the service offerings of the AF Group.” David W. Goodman, President, InPro Insurance Group, Inc.

LEAD with Comp, AF Group’s 12-month training and professional development opportunity, was designed with newer workers’ compensation producers in mind. This unique program will equip participants with the knowledge necessary to be successful in the workers’ compensation market space and the relationships to do so.

The key objectives of LEAD with Comp program are:

  • Assist agency leadership in developing new talent
  • Educate participants in all aspects of workers’ compensation
  • Build relationships between agency and AF Group brand staff
  • Increase new business by educating participants on how to displace the incumbent agent

Classes begin Jan. 15-17, 2019 and Sept. 17-19, 2019 and run for 12 months. For more information on how to build value for your clients and set yourself apart from the competition, click here.

Introducing Our Enhanced Mobile App

Accident Fund has launched its second iteration of our AF Group mobile app, which has new tools and functionality that will benefit policyholders and agents.

The app still provides our agent partners immediate access to dynamic information and tools, such as:

  • Class code lookup
  • Company contact information (Help Desk, Billing and two customizable contacts)
  • Marketing materials
  • Access to events information and training opportunities
  • Social media content

The new version also features a policyholder section so they, too, have easy access to important information, such as safety handouts, loss control tips, contact information, etc. There is also the ability to send documents using the ‘share’ feature.




If you haven’t already downloaded the app, please do so today – and encourage your Accident Fund customers to do so as well! The mobile app is publicly available in the Apple and Google store.

AF Group Investigative Services Unit—NEW Brochure

With billions of dollars lost each year to insurance fraud, our team of former law enforcement, safety and claims professionals partner with our claims team to investigate and expose potential fraud. The Investigative Services Unit (ISU) is committed to identifying, mitigating and eliminating fraudulent behavior. They also serve to protect AF Group against economic loss by conducting timely and quality investigations.

AF Group’s ISU has several types of investigators with specific skill sets. This integrated team of experts conducts cross-functional investigations to provide a unique and comprehensive perspective.

To learn more, click here to access our NEW brochure, which highlights the services our Investigative Services Unit provides in an effort to protect employees, employers and our customers’ bottom line.

Psychometrics – Employee Assessment Tools for Policyholders

We recognize that employee attitudes and behaviors play a key role in safety performance — and identifying these attributes provides opportunities to improve safety and reduce turnover. That’s why we’ve partnered with Psychometrics to provide our policyholders with testing and assessments to help with their hiring decisions.

Psychometrics’ WorkSafe Predictor and Employee Reliability Inventory (ERI) assessments are available to Accident Fund customers for a discounted price. The one-time portal registration fee and first five assessments are just $99. Ongoing assessments are just $18-25 (depending on volume).

For more information on this topic, click for a WorkSafe Predictor Sample Report or a case study on turnover reduction. This information is available on our policyholder portal, but please share this valuable resource with your Accident Fund customers in case they missed it!

Helping Customers Stay S.A.F.E.

Nearly one third of workers’ comp claims in the Midwest are caused by slips and falls on ice and snow. With winter weather upon us, be sure your customers are taking advantage of our S.A.F.E: Slip and Fall Elimination campaign. This campaign increases awareness of winter weather-related slip-and-fall injuries and offers steps that can be taken to reduce their likelihood.

Be sure to visit our campaign frequently and encourage your customers to do the same. Click here for a series of short, humorous videos promoting the campaign!

Hall of Fame

Arkansas

JMR/PFP Insurance, Fort Smith

Meadors, Adams & Lee, Inc., Little Rock

 

Georgia

Blanchard & Calhoun Insurance Agency, Inc., Augusta

Starr – Mathews Agency Inc, Calhoun

Turner, Wood & Smith Insurance, Gainesville

 

Illinois

Assurance Agency, Ltd, Schaumburg

Crissie Insurance Group, Des Plaines

 

Indiana

Assuredpartners of Indiana, LLC, Indianapolis

Hylant Group Inc., Fort Wayne

 

Iowa

Lamair – Mulock – Condon Co., West Des Moines

Molyneaux Insurance Inc., Davenport

VGM Insurance Services Inc, Waterloo

 

Kansas

Brier Payne Meade Insurance, Inc., Overland Park

Eils & Associates Insurance Group, Prairie Village

 

Kentucky

Al Torstrick Insurance Agency Inc., Lexington

Chas. M. Moore Insurance Agency Inc., Bowling Green

 

Louisiana

Dwight W. Andrus Insurance, Inc, Lafayette

Hub International Gulf South, Metairie

Risk Services – Leavitt Group, Shreveport

 

Maryland

Consolidated Ins + Risk Mgmt, Owings Mills

McGriff Insurance Services Inc. – Columbia, Columbia

 

Michigan

Larkin Group of Traverse City, Traverse City

Oakland Companies, Clarkston

 

Minnesota

AssuredPartners of Minnesota, LLC, Saint Paul

Hays Companies, Minneapolis

 

Mississippi         

Bottrell Insurance, Jackson

Insurance & Risk Managers, Brookhaven

Ross & Yerger Insurance, Inc., Jackson

 

Missouri

SRA Insurance Agency LLC, Kansas City

W.E. Walker-Lakenan, Cape Girardeau

 

Nebraska

Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc, Omaha

UNICO Group, Inc., Lincoln

 

North Carolina

SIA Group, Jacksonville

USI Insurance Services National Inc., Charlotte

 

Oklahoma

BancFirst Insurance Services Inc., Tulsa

Rich & Cartmill Inc., Tulsa

 

South Carolina

Anderson Insurance Associates, LLC, Charleston

Turbeville Insurance Agency, Inc., Columbia

 

South Dakota

Howalt McDowell Ins, a Marsh & McLennan Agcy LLC Co, Sioux Falls

Rhodes Anderson Insurance, Aberdeen

 

Tennessee

Commercial Insurance Associates LLC, Brentwood

  1. Smith Lanier, a Marsh & McLennan Agcy LLC Co, Knoxville

Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance, LLC, Memphis

 

Texas

Insgroup, Inc., Houston

MHBT, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, Company, Dallas

 

Virginia

HRI Associates, Herndon

MidAtlantic Insurance Group LLC, Richmond

 

Wisconsin

Johnson Insurance Services, LLC, Mount Pleasant

Starr Insurance Group Ltd, Greenfield

Class Codes

Arkansas

5188   Automatic Sprinkler Installation & Drivers

3632   Machine Shop NOC

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

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

6217   Excavation & Drivers

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

5183   Plumbing NOC & Drivers

 

Illinois

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

5190   Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers

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

8033   Store: Meat, Grocery and Provision Stores Combined-Retail NOC

 

Indiana

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center and Drivers

8868   College: Professional Employees & Clerical

3632   Machine Shop NOC

8018   Store: Wholesale NOC

 

Iowa

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

8116   Farm Machinery Dealer-All Operations & Drivers

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

8864   Social Services Organization – All Employees & Salespersons

3126   Tool Mfg-Agricultural, Construction, Logging, Mining, Oil or Artesian Well

 

Kansas

3821   Automobile Recycling & Drivers

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

5645   Carpentry-Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings

5022   Masonry NOC

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

 

Kentucky

5437   Carpentry-Installation of Cabinet Work or Interior Trim

9052   Hotel: All Other Employees & Salespersons, Drivers

8869   Professional Employees: School or College

 

Louisiana

6217   Excavation & Drivers

8107   Machinery Dealer NOC-Store or Yard-& Drivers

3064   Sign Mfg-Metal

7219   Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers

5445   Wallboard Installation Within Buildings & Drivers

 

Maryland

5190   Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers

5022   Masonry NOC

9083   Restaurant: Fast Food

 

Michigan

8395   Automobile Repairs Facility

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

4484   Plastics Manufacturing: Molded Products NOC

9079   Restaurant NOC

 

Minnesota

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

5645   Carpentry-Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings

8293   Storage Warehouse-Furniture & Drivers

8006   Store: Grocery Retail, Includes Rural General Stores

7230   Trucking: Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers

 

Mississippi

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

6217   Excavation & Drivers

5479   Insulation Work NOC & Drivers

8033   Store: Meat, Grocery and Provision Stores Combined-Retail NOC

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

 

Missouri

7390   Beer or Ale Dealer-Wholesale & Drivers

5645   Carpentry-Detached One or Two-Family Dwellings

8842   Group Homes – All Employees & Salespersons, Drivers

5022   Masonry NOC

4299   Printing

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

 

Nebraska             

9060   Club-Country, Golf, Fishing or Yacht-& Clerical

6325   Conduit Construction-For Cables or Wires-& Drivers

8842   Group Homes – All Employees & Salespersons, Drivers

5537   Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration

9102   Park NOC-All Employees & Drivers

 

North Carolina

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

6217   Excavation & Drivers

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

 

Oklahoma

3507   Construction or Agricultural Machinery Mfg

5537   Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration

6306   Sewer Construction-All Operations & Drivers

5445   Wallboard Installation Within Buildings & Drivers

 

South Carolina

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

6217   Excavation & Drivers

7230   Trucking: Parcel or Package Delivery-All Employees & Drivers

 

South Dakota

8227   Construction or Erection Permanent Yard

5190   Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers

8869   Professional Employees: School or College

4000   Sand Digging & Drivers

9063   Ymca, Ywca, Ymha or Ywha, Institution-All Employees & Clerical

 

Tennessee          

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

0042   Landscape Gardening & Drivers

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

9083   Restaurant: Fast Food

7219   Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers

 

Texas

8234   Building Material Dealer-New Materials Only: All Others

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

3724   Machinery or Equipment Erection or Repair NOC & Drivers

5183   Plumbing NOC & Drivers

7219   Trucking: NOC-All Employees & Drivers

 

Virginia

0042   Landscape Gardening & Drivers

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

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

 

Wisconsin

8380   Automobile Service or Repair Center & Drivers

5190   Electrical Wiring-Within Buildings & Drivers

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

3629       Precision Machined Parts Mfg NOC

Rate Changes

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 -6.4% 03/01/19
Alaska -14.8% 01/01/19
Arizona -7.9% 01/01/19
District of Columbia -3.7% 11/01/18
Florida -13.8% 01/01/19
Georgia -8.9% 03/01/19
Hawaii +4.7% 01/01/19
Illinois -9.1% 01/01/19
Louisiana -5.6% 05/01/19
Maine N/A 04/01/19
Mississippi -10.7% 03/01/19
Nebraska -8.1% 02/01/19
Nevada -8.1% 03/01/19
North Carolina -15.9% 04/01/19
Pennsylvania N/A 04/01/19
Rhode Island -7.7% 08/01/19
South Carolina -9.2% 04/01/19
Tennessee -19.0% 03/01/19
Texas -12.4% 07/01/19
Vermont -5.1% 04/01/19
Virginia N/A 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:
Colorado -16.7% 01/01/19 12/07/18
Connecticut -16.8% 01/01/19 12/07/18
Delaware -10.0% 12/01/18 11/23/18
Idaho -4.2% 01/01/19 10/26/18
Indiana -5.6% 01/01/19 11/09/18
Iowa -9.2% 01/01/19 10/26/18
Kansas -6.4% 01/01/19 11/09/18
Kentucky -10.8% 01/01/19 10/05/18
Maryland -6.9% 01/01/19 10/19/18
Minnesota +1.2% 01/01/19 10/19/18
Missouri -3.5% 01/01/19 11/16/18
New Hampshire -14.0% 01/01/19 11/23/18
New Jersey -5.3% 01/01/19 11/02/18
New Mexico -5.0% 01/01/19 10/12/18
Oklahoma -2.3% 01/01/19 10/26/18
Oregon -9.7% 01/01/19 10/19/18
Utah -8.1% 01/01/19 11/02/18

 

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

Legislative Updates

Michigan

The Republican majority in the legislature is busy sending as many bills as they can to Republican Governor Rick Snyder before newly elected democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer takes office Jan. 1, 2019. Of importance to the industry is proposed Data Security legislation, HB6491.  This bill establishes new carrier data security standards in an effort to protect consumer’s personal information and define reporting expectations to the Department of Insurance and Financial Services in the event of a data breach.  A portion of the bill will require all carriers to execute a data security risk assessment of their contracted third-party service providers, which includes all agency partners. The most significant portions of the bill don’t take effect until 2021, so AF Group will work to formalize our third-party service provider risk process and communication strategy. AF Group anticipates the bill will become law.

Illinois

Newly enacted Senate Bill 1737, requires carriers to send employer and agency premium increase notifications on all Illinois policies issued or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2020, that have premium in excess of 5% of the rate recommendation filed with the Department.  The industry has been working with Illinois Insurance Director Jennifer Hammer on the industry compliance challenges initiated by SB1737. As a result, the Department of Insurance issued a bulletin to provide guidance and attempt to reduce confusion.

South Carolina

Governor Henry McMaster announced this week that Ray Farmer will continue to serve as Director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance.   McMaster stated “Because of his expertise and his unimpeachable reputation within the insurance industry, Director Farmer has been recognized by his peers across the country as one of the best in the business.”  “Team South Carolina is stronger because of Director Farmer, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to work with him.”  Click here for the full release.

If you have any questions, email us at MarketingInfo@accidentfund.com!