News Briefs

ALABAMA

DOI Lists Insurance Providers

A list of insurance companies, agencies and agents writing property insurance in coastal areas of Alabama, including Mobile and Baldwin counties became available June 13, thanks to the efforts of the Alabama’s Hurricane Insurance Issues Task Force. The project was completed in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Insurance, the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents, and other area home builders and realtors groups.

Insurance Commissioner Walter Bell said the state agency is acting as a facilitator.

Bell and Gov. Bob Riley created the Hurricane Insurance Issues Task Force in response to problems that arose after Hurricane Ivan, a strong Category 3 storm that hit Alabama last September.

Homeowners Urged, Upgrade Coverage

Florida homeowners have been urged to consult their insurance agents to ensure they have coverage to rebuild if their home
is destroyed. Changes were urged due to

additions made to homes, higher prices for building materials and new more strict construction codes. Homeowners were advised to make sure the top limits of their insurance policies match their home’s appraised value.

Condominium owners are especially vulnerable according to Michael Keeby, senior vice president with HBA Insurance and president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Dade County. He told the Miami Herald that condo owners buy insurance to cover furnishings and clothing, but often forget interior structures like kitchens, baths and floor coverings. Some ignore hurricane insurance because their condo association buys it for the building. That won’t cover their units.

“It’s a big mistake,” Keeby said.

Making sure a homeowner has sufficient insurance coverage should be a periodic exercise, Dulce Suarez-Resnick, an agent with Combined Underwriters of Miami and president of the Latin American Association of Insurance Agents, told the Herald.

FIC Unveils Hurricane Central Web Site

The Florida Insurance Council has unveiled a new Hurricane Central Web site (www.flains.org) as the site to find reliable hurricane-related information.

The site is part of the industry’s response to legislation passed this session mandating that insurers give consumers better information regarding insurance policies to help Florida residents prepare for hurricanes.

“Our members are re-writing policies that will give greater detail and better explain the policy and its coverages to customers,” Sam Miller, Florida Insurance Council executive vice president said. “This site is an
extension of the commitment from our

member companies to better serve Florida consumers.”

Following Florida’s horrific 2004 hurricane season, Miller said the Florida Insurance Council’s Web site saw a 335 percent increase in traffic, as Florida residents, business owners and media sought vital information about the storms as well as information to assist with the aftermath of each storm.

The Hurricane Web site can be found at: www.flains.org. Look for the Hurricane Central link on the upper left column.

Hurricane Model Approved

The Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology has for the ninth consecutive year certified AIR Worldwide Corporation’s 2005 U.S. Hurricane Model. The state requires hurricane models to be certified each year.

AIR updated its model to include the storms from both the 2003 and 2004 hurricane seasons. While five hurricanes made landfall in 2004, the season followed several seasons of below-average activity. The addition of the above average, though not highly unusual season, resulted in a small increase to the long-term average hurricane frequency, actually restoring it to previous levels.

AIR’s model enables insurers to account for the new annual deductible that must be offered to policyholders in Florida. Clients have the option to estimate losses based either on an annual or per-occurrence deductible. The model also allows insurers to apply a demand surge factor to their loss estimates on an aggregate basis to account for the increase in repair costs resulting from multiple storms in close proximity.

Florida CHOICE Awards Judges Selected; Entry Deadline is June 24

Nine judges have been selected for the third annual Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation. The program, produced by CHOICE Medical Management Services LLC, recognizes outstanding physicians who treat Florida’s injured employees under the Florida workers’ compensation
system.

The Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers’ Compensation honors physicians that deliver high quality care, promote the return-to-work philosophy and achieve a high rate of patient satisfaction. Anyone involved in the workers’ compensation system, including injured employees, employers, case managers, claims professionals, risk managers and third-party administrators can nominate a physician by logging onto www.FloridaChoiceAwards.com or calling (888) 823-5377. The deadline for nominations is June 24.

GEORGIA

Crawford & Company Offers Hands-on Adjuster Training

Atlanta-based Crawford & Company has announced the expansion of its educational program to offer adjusters training in personal and commercial liability; property and casualty; and workers’ compensation claims.

The Crawford University offers comprehensive client training in a hands-on program that combines technical learning programs with hard-skill training. Most classes are offered in Atlanta; however, customized programs can be delivered at its faci-lity or at the client’s location.

For the new full-time property adjuster or the multi-line adjuster with minimal experience in adjusting property claims, Crawford offers the Basic Property Loss Adjustment class. This one-week classroom course will enable the adjuster to evaluate, estimate, and handle property losses, under supervision.

Crawford offers: A two-week Advanced Property Loss Adjustment class for the experienced commercial property adjuster, with special emphasis on business interruption and loss of income; a one-week Workers’ Compensation class for new adjusters and risk management personnel; and a two-week Commercial Lines Liability class for new adjusters with minimal claims experience. It also has a two-week Personal Lines Liability class for new adjusters.

For information and the schedule of upcoming classes, visit http://www.crawfordandcompany.com/, or contact Bruce Stauf at (404) 847-4470 or via e-mail at bruce_stauf@us.crawco.com.

KENTUCKY

‘Town Forums’ Include Ethics Classes

The Kentucky Office of Insurance is sponsoring town forums across the state in July. Sessions will include a three-hour continuing education class on ethics for insurance agents. In addition, consumers are
invited to stop by the various locations to talk to KOI staff, file a complaint or obtain

publications.

Classes are scheduled: July 13, Lexington, Holiday Inn, Newtown Pike; July 14, Louisville, University of Louisville Shelby Campus, Founders Union Building; July 15, Ft. Mitchell, Best Western, Dixie Highway; July 19, Owensboro, Executive Inn Rivermont; July 20, Gilbertsville, Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park; July 21, Hopkinsville, Holiday Inn, Fort Campbell Boulevard; July 22, Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University, South Campus, Carroll Knicely Conference Center; July 26, Ashland, Ashland Plaza Hotel, 15th Street and Winchester Ave.; July 27, Prestonsburg, Jenny Wiley State Resort Park; and July 29, Somerset, Center for Rural Development, 2292 U.S. 27 South.

Agent sessions are from 1-4 p.m. at all locations except Prestonsburg, where the schedule will be 9 a.m. to noon. Consumers are invited to stop by during those times. If requested, consumers can talk confidentially with a staff member.

Agents must pre-register for the classes online through the secure eServices site at http://doi.ppr.ky.gov/kentucky. (Click on the red eServices logo in the top right corner.) Agents without an existing account can create one by following the directions for a first-time user. For assistance, please call (502) 564-3630 or send an e-mail to Koiishelpdesk

@ky.gov with “Town Forum” as the subject line. Class size is limited and varies according to the location.

WEST VIRGINIA

Auto, Homeowner Rate Decreases Ok’d

Three insurance companies have been granted rate decreases by the West Virginia Insurance Commission, including: Erie Insurance Co., 3.1 percent decrease in private passenger auto insurance, goes into effect Aug. 1; State Farm Insurance, 10 percent decrease for private auto insurance policies, in effect July 8; Westfield Insurance Co., 7.7 percent decrease in private automobile rates and a 6 percent decrease in homeowners rates, effective July 1.

In addition, Allstate and Nationwide have also pledged to Insurance Commissioner Jane Kline to lower their rates.

Erie Insurance has a network of more than 7,200 independent agents in 11 states and the District of Columbia.

Westfield is one of Ohio’s largest non-public companies. It has a network of more than 1,200 independent insurance agencies and writes policies in 28 states.

The rate changes are being requested due to the recent passage of insurance and civil justice reforms by the West Virginia Legislature.

According to Kline, most West Virginia drivers can expect their auto insurance premiums to fall around 5 percent as carriers pass on savings from new insurance laws. The five insurers carry about 70 percent of policies held in the state, and their reductions will represent a 5.4 percent average decline from the premiums they currently charge.

The state’s biggest homeowner insurance carriers have pledged to cut rates $3 million since this year’s insurance reforms were signed. And the West Virginia Physicians’ Mutual Insurance Co., the doctor-run insurer created last year to provide more affordable malpractice coverage, has seen claims filed drop about 25 percent, making a rate decrease likely in the future, Kline said.

Workers’ Comp Educational Program

West Virginia workers’ compensation reforms, including the privatization of the Workers’ Compensation Commission, are a mystery to residents according to the results of a poll released by RMS Strategies.

In a telephone poll, conducted between May 11 and 18, 40 percent of West Virginians questioned said they had read, seen or heard very little about workers’ compensation reforms and 21 percent said they had heard “nothing at all.”

Based on the results of the poll, the Workers’ Compensation Commission has launched a seven-month long educational program to educate the public about the reforms and what effect privatization will have on them.

Andrew Wessels, director of corporate affairs for the Workers’ Compensation Commission, said that other research has shown similar results.

According to the poll of 401 registered voters, more than half said they have a very or somewhat favorable opinion of the reforms, while 25 percent reported a somewhat or very unfavorable opinion.

Though respondents said they generally supported the reforms, 46 percent said they oppose making the system a private company, as it will become the first day of 2006. The company will sell workers’ compensation insurance to businesses. The premiums paid will go into a fund available to pay workers for possible injuries sustained on the job.

Topics Florida Catastrophe Carriers Agencies Workers' Compensation Virginia Property Alabama Hurricane Homeowners Training Development Kentucky West Virginia