Insurance Illustrated | June 2, 2023

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for the week of June 2, 2023

Education + Analysis for the Independent Agent

Categories Included In This Week's Edition

Special Feature * Advantages of Big 'I' Membership * Workers Compensation * Personal Liability * Commercial Lines * Insurance Laws & Statutes/Coverage Resources

Special Feature

A Habitational Hot Mess

The habitational market struggles with a lack of capacity, increasing non-renewals, higher deductibles and restricted underwriting. How can the industry adapt to this hard market? This article covers current habitational risks in the multi-family market and offers tips for agents trying to place coverage.

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

“Workcation” and Work Comp

The employee decides to take his or her work “on the road” now that they are allowed to work from home – or anywhere. When the employee takes a “workcation” away from their residence, are any workers’ compensation issues created?

What Injuries are Covered (“Compensable”) Under Workers’ Compensation?

Only “occupational” injuries are covered by workers’ compensation. To be “occupational” and thus compensable, the injury must “arise out of and be in the course and scope of employment.” All three distinct tests must all be satisfied for the injury to be compensable.

Employee or Independent Contractor

Classifying a worker as either an “employee” or “independent contractor” is problematic for more than just workers’ compensation. In an attempt to minimize the problems and confusion, the Department of Labor has proposed the codification of five tests to help in classifying a particular worker as an employee or independent contractor. Although not necessarily developed for the insurance industry, these tests can be used for workers’ compensation clients.

Back to Basics

Financial Terms Commercial Insurance Professionals Need to Know

As you handle more complicated commercial accounts, you’ll need to understand some often-used financial terms. Whether you’re furnishing your commercial insured’s financial data for underwriting or renewal or responding to audit assistance, here are the top financial terms you should know.

Personal Lines

2022 ISO Homeowners’ Changes in Chart Form

Charts are probably the most helpful resource for keeping track of key Homeowners’ policy provisions. Being able to see key information in one, easy-to-read form aids in memory and retention; besides, it allows easy recall because the charts can be printed for easy reference. ISO’s release of its 2022 multi-state homeowners’ filing requires two different charts based on the edition date of the policy form being used.

When Insurance Strikes (Out): Underestimating Replacement Cost

Underinsurance is still a problem. According to CoreLogic approximately 60 percent of homes are underinsured by 20 percent on average. Obviously, this leads to devastating results for the insured, and possibly the agent from an E&O perspective. We know this in the industry, but now the NY Times is reporting it – and they are making serious charges.

Why Defining Actual Cash Value is Amazingly Difficult

The concept of actual cash value (ACV) is far more complicated than “replacement cost minus physical depreciation.” In fact, the meaning of replacement cost differs based on the state. To further complicate the “problem” with defining ACV is whether or not labor is depreciable. Again, the answer differs based on the state in which the property is located.

Commercial Lines

Alternatives to Business Income Coinsurance

Non-BOP business income coverage is written on a coinsurance basis; however, some agents are afraid of coinsurance for a couple reason: 1) they don’t know how to develop the proper coinsurance percentage; and 2) they don’t want to explain the CP 15 15 Business Income Report and Worksheet. Well, there are three alternatives to coinsurance agents can use. One doesn’t save the agent from having to explain the worksheet, and two may not indemnify the insured – but agents do have alternatives. All three are touched on in this article.

Business Income Loss Due to Mall Shooting

The tragic December 2007 shooting of innocent shoppers at an Omaha, Nebraska shopping mall brought two quick questions to the VU "Ask an Expert" service. The entire mall was closed for 2-3 days during the peak holiday season and several stores were closed for two weeks, not reopening until the week prior to Christmas day. Does a business income policy respond to this business interruption?

ISO's Professional Liability Forms

Effective June 1, 2017, Insurance Services Office (ISO) introduced the new Miscellaneous Professional Liability Policy (MI 00 01) along with a multitude of endorsements. This is the first in a series of insurance programs designed to address the professional liability needs of various risk types. These new forms are housed in Division Sixteen – Professional Liability – Other Than Medical of the ISO Commercial Lines Manual.

Insurance Laws & Statutes / Coverage Resources

Dog Owner Liability Rules By State

In preparation of Pet Appreciation Week - the first week of June - download this chart which details dog owner liability in all states.

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