Insurance Illustrated

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for the week of May 5, 2023

Education + Analysis for the Independent Agent

Categories Included In This Week's Edition

Advantages of Big "I" Membership * Workers Compensation * Back to Basics * Personal Lines * Commercial Lines * Insurance Laws & Statutes/Coverage Resources

Advantages of Big 'I' Membership

ABEN is the Big "I" VU Provider for CE

The Agents & Brokers Education Network (ABEN) is a partnership between Big "I" state associations across the country offering professional insurance training and continuing education using premier, live webcast technology. ABEN's catalog has dozens of courses from some of the best presenters in the insurance industry, covering a wide range of relevant topics. Their webcasts offer high quality CE training in your location and on your schedule at a fraction of the cost associated with attending an on-site course.

Workers’ Compensation

Five Work Comp Errors Every Agent Makes

Workers’ compensation, from a coverage standpoint, is the simplest coverage to understand and even explain. However, statutes and common laws serve to complicate the initial simplicity of workers’ compensation and complexity breeds errors.

Are You Ready for the Work Comp Audit? Confirming Payrolls Used

When the work comp policy expires, it is time for the audit. As every agent knows, work comp premium is generally based on payroll; thus, the two most important questions are: 1) what remuneration is included in the audit; and 2) what remuneration is excluded from the audit? Of the two questions, knowing what payroll is excluded from the audit might be the more important information – as this is where most mistakes are made. This article lists the payroll inclusions and exclusions.

Even Monkeys Cannot Explain Why Companies Insist on Workers’ Compensation Waivers of Subrogation Endorsements

Why waivers of subrogation are requested is a question that results in blank stares and shoulder shrugs. Risk managers want them because they were in the previous contract their company entered into. Subcontractors further down the food chain request them because somebody else required it as a condition to being awarded the contract. Owners and general contractors insist on them because they feel they are buying protection at some level, perhaps believing it will prevent the employees of subcontractors from suing them for injuries received on the project. Nobody knows why they are required beyond, “We’ve always done it that way.”

Back to Basics

E&O Tips: Writing Umbrella Coverage on a PAP

The alleged failure to properly offer and procure umbrella coverage on a personal auto policy is a growing source of professional liability claims for large agents. In this article from IA Magazine, read about ways you can mitigate your exposure with basic risk management practices, which can reduce the risk of such claims being successful.

Personal Lines

Flood Risks Are Rising – Are Your Clients Prepared?

Your clients may be unaware of the flooding risks they face. A free, online assessment tool pioneered by First Watch Foundation may help your policyholders better recognize their flood risks.

Is Providing a Replacement Cost Estimate to Lenders an E&O Exposure?

This article from IA Magazine is based on a submission through the Big "I" Virtual University's Ask An Expert service. Read responses from Virtual University faculty for the question "Is providing a replacement cost estimate to lenders an E&O exposure?"

Insuring Jewelry: Homeowners, Personal Articles Floater or Standalone Policy

This article from IA Magazine read about insurance losses related to personal jewelry. Jewelry claims usually fall below the radar for both insurers and agents because the cost of the settlement is small. However, if the jewelry is on a homeowners policy, the impact of the claim can be huge.

Commercial Lines

Changes to ISO’s Auto Dealer Coverage Form

Insurance Services Office (ISO) recently introduced several changes to its Auto Dealer Coverage Form (CA 00 25) with a November 2020 edition date and a proposed effective date of December 1, 2020. These changes are in response to changes in the business auto program, the general liability program and the dissolution of the garage program.

ISO Business Auto Form and Endorsement Revisions

ISO’s most recent BAP multistate filing includes 19 NEW endorsements. Effective 11/1/2020, many of these endorsements are the result of Big I’s Technical Affairs Committee and cover gaps that have existed for years. Get to know these endorsements, they can save the insured from major coverage gaps.

Can Administering Narcan Create a General Liability Exposure?

Our Ask an Expert service offers Big "I" members insight into today’s risks or other coverage, technology, or agency management issues today’s agents encounter. This article offers insight into an important question we received: If I administer Narcan as a trained or untrained employee in emergency situations as required by the employer, will the employer’s general liability policy respond based on the “Who is an insured" definition and definition of "bodily injury”?

Insurance Laws & Statutes / Coverage Resources

Eliot Spitzer, Bid Rigging, and Commission Disclosure Statements– Not to Dredge Up Old Pains

Eliot Spitzer, former New York Attorney General, sued Marsh & McLennan Cos. on October 14, 2004, for supposed bid rigging and other misdeeds and misinformation. This suit led to laws requiring insurance agents and brokers to disclose who they represent (the carrier or the insured), the sources of income, and sometimes the amount of income. Fifteen states currently have commission disclosure laws on the books possibly as an indirect result of Spitzer’s suit.

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