main street industry news - march 2014
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PIA of Nebraska and Iowa, Main Street Industry News. Politics, Insurance, News and More.TRANSCRIPT
March 2014 | Published Monthly
Flood Map Rigging for the Rich? »20
PIA National Federal Legislative Summit »7
INSIDE
Drinking & Drugging on the Job »24
Standard & Poor’s Predicts TRIA Renewal »18
WellPoint — ObamaCare Double-Digit Rate Raise »27
2014 Agent Convention
Register today for the Agent
Convention! »28
National Association of Professional Insurance Agents400 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2353www.pianet.com | [email protected] | (703) 836-9340
Did you know that on March 26-27, 2014, PIA members from across the country came to Washington, DC to meet with their Members of Congress as part of PIA’s annual Federal Legislative Summit (www.piafls.com)?
These agents know that laws made in Congress can have devastating effects on their businesses. They also know that PIA has the tools, information and support materials to arm a grassroots movement.
Here are some of the important issues these agents were fighting for:
• Health Care Reform
• National Flood Insurance Program
• State Regulation of Insurance
• Terrorism Risk Insurance
• Crop Insurance
To learn how you can become a PIA Grassroots Action Leader, visit www.piagrassroots.com.
PIA will continue to fight for the best interests of professional insurance agents. If you are not a PIA member, please join the fight. Contact us for a membership application or visit us online at www.pianet.com/joinpia.
March 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 4
New ObamaCare Rule — Navigators Do Not Need E&O | 25The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wants comments on 279-pages of proposed rules it released on March 14th covering many topics related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
ObamaCare Deadline Extended — Sort of | 26Those who’ve kept up with the unfolding unrolling of the Affordable Care Act are not surprised that the Obama administration has extended the March 31st deadline to sign up for the health insurance for those unable to finish registering by the end of the day.
ObamaCare — Who Signed Up? | 27The Obama administration claims that the Affordable Care Act now has 7-million enrollees.
WellPoint — ObamaCare Double-Digit Rate Raise | 27It’s going to be a couple of months before we know just how much insurers are going to raise health insurance rates.
PIA National Federal Legislative Summit | 7The PIA National Annual Federal Legislative Summit has finished.
Update — Oso, Washington Mudslide | 17It’s an ongoing story. At the time this is written 21 people have been confirmed dead.
Standard & Poor’s Predicts TRIA Renewal | 18A recent analysis by Standard & Poor’s predicts Congress will reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA).
Insurance 2013 Finances — It wasn’t a Bad Year | 18Fitch Ratings said there are 48 publicly traded P&C insurance companies.
Flood Map Rigging for the Rich? | 20NBC News is reporting that the FBI is looking into charges that some employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made changes in flood maps to reduce the cost of flood insurance for high rent and high-priced waterfront properties in high risk flood zones.
Farm Bill Critics Bash Bill’s Insurance Subsidies | 21Most farmers won’t see the benefits of the recently passed farm bill until 2015. Grain farmers — however — will.
A Positive — Insurance Customers View Insurance | 22The New York think tank Ethisphere Institute has named Hartford Financial Services Group the World’s Most Ethical Company.
Drinking & Drugging on the Job | 24One in 10 — or 10% — of small business owners or managers say they had at least one person show up for work while under the influence of a controlled substance.
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PIA National Federal Legislative Summit | 7
Branch Out With PIA - Agent Convention | 28
Upcoming Events Calendar 2014 | 30
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Annual Federal Legislative Summit
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The PIA National Annual Federal Legislative Summit has finished.
A couple of hundred PIA member independent insurance agents went to Capitol Hill to talk to members of Congress and their staffs about issues critical to the insurance industry and to their businesses. The PIA Western Alliance sent a delegation and they represented the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.
What was a concern to insurance and to your business five-years ago has grown exponentially. The list of issues — including federal intervention into the industry — has also expanded and are more important to you today than they were five-years ago.
That’s why it is important that — even though you may not have attended — that you respond. At the end of this article we’ll show you how you can help.
Tim Russell who chairs the PIA National Government Affairs committee put the legislative summit in perspective from an association point of view. “PIA’s annual legislative summit is an important part of our year-round program of legislative advocacy. There is no better way to forge and maintain relationship with lawmakers than to do it up close and personal. It gives lawmakers the opportunity to meet with Main Street insurance agents from their districts who do business with real people, in the real world.”
PIA National Director of Federal Affairs Jon Gentile said the list of issues begins with the continuing threat of federal encroachment into insurance regulation and — ultimately — to your business. “The past year has seen a renewed push to revive previous failed efforts aimed at bringing about the federal regulation of insurance. The recent report by the Federal Insurance Office attempts to obscure the fact that there is a clear choice between state insurance regulation and federal intrusion,” he said.
Gentile said the PIA wants to make sure Congress understands why states regulate insurance. “Our members will be telling lawmakers in no uncertain terms that PIA supports our state-based system of insurance regulation and opposes attempts to advance federal regulation of insurance.”
Here are the issues the PIA member agents shared with the members of Congress from their states and regions.
Insurance RegulationPIA supports a modernized national system of •
state-based insurance regulation.
PIA opposes any effort to move the Federal • Insurance Office outside of its congressional mandate, which makes it clear that it is not a regulator of the business of insurance.
PIA opposes preemption by a federal • insurance regulator or federal preemption of state insurance oversight, whether optional or mandatory.
National Flood Insurance Program
PIA supports the continued implementation of • Biggert-Waters along with a transition to risk-based rates that takes consumer affordability sufficiently into consideration.
PIA supports solutions to eliminate the • program’s debt and put the program on the path of fiscal stability.
PIA opposes outright privatization of the • National Flood Insurance Program while there is no, sustainable private market solution.
Producer LicensingPIA supports efforts to achieve a modern, •
nationwide insurance producer licensing system utilizing model laws and regulations, such as the Producer Licensing Model Act (PLMA), and electronic facilitators, such as the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
PIA supports the National Association of • Registered Agents and Brokers (NARAB II)
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narrowly targeted federal legislation, such as H.R. 1112 and S. 2342 in the last Congress, commonly known as NARAB II, which would facilitate reciprocity without creating a new federal insurance bureaucracy.
PIA supports the efforts of state organizations, • such as the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), to promote uniform state laws and regulations.
Crop InsurancePIA supports just compensation for •
independent insurance agents, the key sales force for the FCIP.
PIA supports a seat for agents at the table • during the SRA negotiations.
PIA supports the continued role of agents in • the delivery of the crop insurance program.
PIA supports comprehensive enforcement of • anti-rebating and control of business schemes.
Health care ReformPIA supports the role of independent agents •
and brokers in health care reform.
PIA supports legislation to ensure the just • compensation of insurance agents (H.R. 2328 / S. 650).
PIA opposes allowing healthcare navigators • to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance without a proper license.
Terrorism Risk InsurancePIA supports an extension of the Terrorism •
Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.
PIA supports a Terrorism Risk Insurance • Program (TRIP) that provides economic certainty and fills a private market void.
PIA supports a Terrorism Risk Insurance • Program that allows for wide industry participation.
Natural Disaster PlanningPIA supports a public-private collaborative •
effort in designing a catastrophe plan which involves participation by states and local governments and emphasizes mitigation.
PIA supports the ability of insurers to price • policies according to risk.
PIA opposes natural disaster legislation that • combines new proposals with existing programs designed for other forms of catastrophic events, such as flood or terrorism insurance.
PIA supports increasing the availability and • affordability of property insurance in catastrophe prone areas.
Tax & Regulatory Burdens on Small Business
PIA supports a clear and simple tax code to • reduce administrative burdens and regulatory compliance costs.
PIA supports reducing individual and • corporate income tax rates for small businesses.
PIA opposes tax provisions and regulations • that impede small business growth.
As mentioned earlier, though most of you did not attend the FLS, it is still possible — and very important — that you let your congressional delegation know how you feel about the issues just listed and others on your mind.
The U.S. Senate members of your state and the U.S. Representative representing your district do want to hear from you. That cannot be stressed enough. They are not insurance experts. You are. They rely upon your expertise to make decisions on the insurance issues before them. n
Find out how to reach your congressional delegation on these links:
Senate Contact Information — CLICK HERE
House Contact Information — CLICK HERE
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4369 – Senator Fischer
CongressionalVisit
4377 – Congressman Smith
4362 – Senator Johanns 4388 – Congressman Fortenberry
4372 – Congressman Terry
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Breakfast Briefing
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Membership Committee
Opening Night
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Awards Luncheon
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PIAPAC Dinner
Rick Sirek, Richie Clements and Tim Russell --- President’s Circle $1000 - $2499 in PIAPAC
Donations Steve Becher ND/SD, Cathy Klasi NE/IA, Trina Cabellos KS, Jody Boudreaux LA, Greg Sather MN, Dennis Yocum VA/DC --- State Executives
with PIAPAC Donations Over $100
Mark Suhr – Chariman’s Caucus $500 - $1000 in PIAPAC Donations
Not pictured from Nebraska – Donald Suhr - Chariman’s Caucus $500 - $1000 in PIAPAC Donations Cap Peterson – President’s Circle $1000 - $2499 in PIAPAC Donations
Robert Hansen, PIA National Vice President/Treasurer --- President’s Circle $1000 - $2499
in PIAPAC Donations
President Amy Rademacher – Chariman’s Caucus $500 - $1000 in
PIAPAC Donations
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Jim Dobler, PIA Legislative Coordinator
Crop Working Group
John Gentile, PIA National Director of Federal Affairs
Brandon Willis, Administrator, Risk Management Agency, Chairman Crop Working Group Dan Weber and Julia Domagalski
government affairs coordinator
PIA President Elect Joe Bob Atkins, Steve Becher PIA ND/SD Exec.
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Crop Insurance Working Group Meeting
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It’s an ongoing story. At the time this is written 21 people have been confirmed dead. Of the 21, six have not been identified. The list of missing is down from a couple of hundred to 30.
By the time Weekly Industry News is published both lists will likely have changed.
Conditions at the site are brutal. The debris field was once thought to be a mile. It has now been measured at 300 acres. A square mile is 640 acres. Along with trying to locate victims, workers are now engaged in finding and getting personal items back to survivors.
While the search continues more and more people are turning to the big question. Why?
The Seattle Times reports that a husband and wife team — Daniel and Lynne Miller — wrote a report on the hill in 1999 warning of the potential of a massive mud slide. The newspaper said the Millers claims it was sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Daniel Miller also claims to have sent a similar report to the Washington Department of Ecology and the Tulalip Tribes in 1997 and said at the time the hill had the potential for a large catastrophic failure.
“We’ve known it would happen at some point,” Daniel Miller told the newspaper.
His criticism does not end there. Miller said he returned to the hill in 2006 just before a landslide
near there plugged a nearby river. He said he was shocked to see more homes being built. Snohomish County officials say they are not aware of either report. County Public Works Director Steve Thomsen said slides like this are almost impossible to predict.
Meanwhile, most of those living on the hill were not insured with the kind of coverage that helps in such a disaster. Most insurance people already know that. Karl Newman is president of the NW Insurance Council. He explained what’s happening insurance wise to the rest of the world.
In a comment to Insurance Business Newman said, “Landslides aren’t covered under standard home and business owner policies. The only policy we are aware of that covers landslide damage is difference in conditions (DIC) coverage, and most people don’t have it. Right now, what most insurers are doing is making themselves available and ready to talk to their insureds, but they are in a position where they can’t provide coverage. It’s such an absolutely heartbreaking circumstance for everyone.”
DIC policies cover mudflow, earthquake and flood.
How few have such insurance? In the entire state just 4,700 homes and businesses have a DIC policy. “That means far less than 1% have a policy like this.” Newman also added that many insurance agents may not be aware that DIC policies are available to people living in conditions similar to the victims of the slide.
That means probably nobody living on that hill had that kind of policy.
As noted earlier, Newman said, “Typically, even many insurance agents are not aware that this policy exists, or they don't take it seriously. We would encourage agents and brokers, in light of the tragedy, to take that extra step in really encouraging a home or business owner to consider difference in conditions coverage. Even if you don’t write it, at least refer them to an agent or broker who does,” Newman said. n
Oso, Washington MuDSLIDe
update
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Fitch Ratings said there are 48 publicly traded P&C insurance companies. They stretch across five insurance subsectors. For them the year-end financial results for 2013 were outstanding.
The ratings agency said aggregate operating earnings rose 30% in 2013 compared to 2012. Improved underwriting results because of lower catastrophe losses is the reason.
Just seven of the 48 had lower year-over-year operating return on equity. Overall, the combined ratio of the 48 improved 5.2% to 93.3. Just four of the 48 saw a combined ratio over 100.
That’s the good news. The bad news? Fitch said that’s the peak — at least for the next few years. Things are expected to return to “normal” from this year on into the foreseeable future. “Pricing gains have slowed in primary lines and property-reinsurance rates declined at the Jan. 1 renewal. An anticipated return to normalized catastrophe activity and diminishment of reserve releases suggests that 2014 underwriting margins will more likely decline.”
And with that the Fitch report looked at the five insurance subsectors and how they did in 2013.
Commercial Diversified InsurersThere are 13 in this category. The ratings firm said 12 of the 13 saw an improved profitability picture in 2013 compared to 2012. Tax problems caused White Mountains Insurance Group to be the one exception.
For the group net earned premium rose 3.2% to $183.4 billion. What kept that figure from being larger is what Fitch says is a modest decline in earned premiums for AIG and The Hartford who are the group’s two biggest firms. Here’s the top-three in terms of net earned premium:
Insurance 2013 FinancesIt Wasn’t A Bad Year
A recent analysis by Standard & Poor’s predicts Congress will reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA). That said S&P cautions that the program could be significantly changed.
In the report, S&P notes that TRIA — which will expire at the end of 2014 — could be renewed with a higher insurance industry trigger for terrorism attacks, increased deductibles, a “mandate that insurers explicitly cover newer threats, such as terrorist cyber attacks,” or other requirements. The ratings firm remains “cautiously optimistic” that TRIA will be renewed but noted that “significant work remains to be done before any extension will be enacted.”
What It Means to Agents: PIA supports renewal of TRIA. We note as Congress moves forward on reauthorizing TRIA, it is important to keep the program at a point where all companies, small and large, have an opportunity to participate. An increase to cost thresholds, including higher deductibles or a higher share of losses over the deductible, could price this program out of the hands of many insurers, which PIA cautions against. n
Standard & Poor’sPredicts TRIA Renewal
TERRORISM
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AIG — $34 billion•
Liberty Mutual Holding Company — • $32.6 billion
Berkshire Hathaway — $30.4 billion•
Only one of the group — AIG — failed to show an underwriting profit. That’s much better than 2012 when four of the 13 failed.
Net income hit $43.3 billion:
Berkshire Hathaway leading the way with • $19.5 billion
AIG was second at $9.1 billion •
Ace Limited saw $3.8 billion in net income. •
The 2012 net income figure was way below that at $29 billion.
The combined ratio for the group is 94.4. In 2012 it was 100.2.
Regional Commercial InsurersOf the five groups, regional insurers are the weakest performing group — at least when it comes to underwriting performance. And that’s “barely” the weakest. The good news is all by six in that group saw underwriting results improved over 2012. Only State Auto Financial Corp. failed to get an underwriting profit in 2013.
Net earned premium hit $16.6 billion — up 7.9% from 2012. Here are the top earners:
Erie Indemnity topped the group with $4.8 • billion earned
Hanover Insurance Group was second at • $4.5 billion
Cincinnati Financial Corp. was third with • $3.7 billion.
The combined ratio jumped six-positive points to 97.
Fitch said of the three commercial insurance subsectors — diversified, regional and specialty
— regional insurers saw the worst year-over-year decline in loss-ratio impact from disasters. The disasters added 3.8% to the combined ratio compared to 9.6 in 2012.
Combined net income for Fitch’s six regions hit $1.2 billion. That’s up from $726 million.
Cincinnati Financial was the top income • earner at $517 million
Hanover Insurance Group was second with • $251 million
Erie third at $163 million. •
Specialty Commercial InsurersNormally specialty insurers perform better than the other two commercial groups in the Fitch categories. Not this year, they are all about equal.
Specialty insurers had solid results with modest improvement compared to 2012. There are 13 companies in this group and their combined ratio was 96.1 — down from 98.6 in 2012. The loss reserve releases were offset by lower cat losses.
Just two firms — Employers Holding and Meadowbrook — saw a combined ratio over 100.
Net earned premium hit $25.7 billion for the group. That’s up a whopping 15.9%. Here are the leaders:
W.R. Berkley topped earned premium with • $5.2 billion
Markel Corp. took second at $3.23 billion•
American Financial Group was third at • $3.2 billion
Just five of the 13 saw an operating return on equity of 10% or more in 2013. That’s unchanged from 2012. This is spite of decent underwriting results.
Net income totaled $3.5 billion for the 13 firms. That’s up from $2.8 billion in 2012.
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W.R. Berkley had $500 million in net income • to top the list
Assurant was a close second — $489 million•
American Financial Group third at $471 million•
Personal LinesHalf of the personal lines writers said they had unfavorable reserve development in 2013. Of the six in the group, Progressive, Mercury Casualty Group and Infinity Property saw modest unfavorable development. Allstate — the largest firm in the group — saw “significantly less benefit” from reserve releases in 2013 compared to 2012.
All six — though — had an underwriting profit in 2013. The combined radio was down to 93.2 from 96.5. Net earned premium was $50.8 billion. That’s up 4.4% over 2012. Here’s the top three:
Allstate — $27.6 billion in net earned premium•
Progressive — $17.1 billion•
Mercury — $2.7 billion•
Net income was $3.9 billion up from $3.6 billion in 2012.
Allstate — $2.2 billion•
Progressive — $1.2 billion•
Kemper — $218 million•
ReinsurersReinsurers also demonstrated better underwriting discipline in 2013 compared to 2012. Fewer catastrophe losses drove the combined ratio to 82.7 compared to 90.4 a year ago.
Net earned premium for reinsurers hit $23.3 billion. That’s up 9.5%. Here are the top three:
Everest Re — $4.8 billion in net earned premium•
PartnerRe — $4.2 billion•
Axis Capital — $3.7 billion•
Net income was $5.1 billion — up from $4.8 billion in 2012. Here are the top three in terms of results:
Everest Re — $1.3 billion in net income•
RenaissanceRe — $666 million•
PartnerRe — $597 million•
Hailstorms in Germany and flooding in central Europe were the largest losses for reinsurers. n
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Flood Map Rigging for the Rich? NBC News is reporting that the FBI is looking into charges that some employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made changes in flood maps to reduce the cost of flood insurance for high rent and high-priced waterfront properties in high risk flood zones.
The documentation says there are more than 500 properties where the owners saved as much as 97% on their flood insurance bills from the remapping. Some outside of FEMA are being questioned as well.
NBC News said the flood zone lines were moved or downgraded in places all over the country. And some were allegedly done as Super Storm Sandy moved toward the Atlantic Coast. That was October 12, 2012. On that day FEMA remapped more than a mile of property in Gulf Shores and Island Tower, Alabama.
As an example of the huge savings from the rezone, 25 condos on Island Tower were paying $143,000 and some change per year for flood insurance. The remapping on that day dropped the payment from that figure to $8,457 per year. That’s a saving of 94%.
Another group of condos in Gulf Shores saw rates drop 97%. And on it goes.
In addition, NBC News said FEMA employees redrew maps on properties all over the country that have repeatedly filed claims from flood losses from previous storms. Some were on the not-so-secret secret and supposedly not used by FEMA, repetitive loss list.
Some of the changes wrought over the last several years came about even though local flood officials opposed them. n
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Most farmers won’t see the benefits of the recently passed farm bill until 2015. Grain farmers — however — will. They’ll have 2/3 of their insurance bill paid by the federal government.
Criticism aimed at insurers says the federal government — or the taxpayer — is paying that bill while the insurance companies rake in underwriting profits. Agricultural economist Bruce Babcock of Iowa State University put it in perspective. He said the government gets even more generous next year. “I think taxpayers lost on that farm bill for sure. There was lots of money that could have been saved to reduce the deficit, but they chose not to.”
He blames insurance lobbyists. “The industry lobbies heavily. It’s just rub my back, I’ll rub yours.”
Farm Bill CriticsBash Bill’s Insurance Subsidies
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says the five-year bill saves $40 billion in payments to farmers over a decade. However, the CBO notes 80% of those savings — $33 billion — end up as enhanced crop insurance.
Craig Cox of the Environmental Working Group goes a step farther. He said the farm bill is a waste of taxpayer money. “The crop insurance program survived essentially unscathed in this farm bill. This was the first farm bill where there was a lot of attention paid to trying to reform the crop insurance program. None of those reforms made it into the final bill.”
Critics are critics. Insurers have a much different take says David Graves of the American Crop Insurance Association (ACIA). He said the new bill’s insurance direction is a good thing for taxpayers. “For the taxpayer, it eliminated direct payments and reduced some of the price support policies of the past in favor of expanding crop insurance, which is purchased by farmers on an individual basis. For crop insurance companies, the farm bill underscored the fact that crop insurance is the top risk management tool for America’s farmers and ranchers.”
This information comes from a Reuters story. It says the CBO is estimating the new law will add $3.3 billion a year to the already $9 billion a year crop insurance costs. Critics say because of a bill that encourages crop insurance claims, it’s going to be more like $5 billion.
As an example the story shows this year’s government share of premium payments at 60% to 65% for acreage planted with corn, soybeans or wheat. The new bill ups it to 86%.
Insurers say what critics don’t see is the added administrative costs. Annual payments to the 19 private insurers has also been capped at $1.3 billion — or an average of $68 million a year each. The ACIA’s Graves said that’s not even enough to meet insurer costs. n
Photo Credit: Some rights reserved by Rafael Sato
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The New York think tank Ethisphere Institute has named Hartford Financial Services Group the World’s Most Ethical Company. Hartford EVP and general council Alan Kreczko told Business Insurance his company “strives to exemplify exceptional character in all that we do.”
It’s the sixth time Hartford Financial Services has received the award. “Receiving this award for the sixth time demonstrates our continued commitment to upholding the highest level of ethics to our employees, customers, business partners, neighbors and investors.”
How insurers are viewed by customers is critical to the success of the independent insurance agents of the PIA and for the companies themselves. The industry actually does fairly well. Here’s an example. The customer service research firm Temkin does an annual survey titled the Temkin Experience Ratings survey.
A PositiveInsurance Customers View Insurance
It checks with 10,000 U.S. consumers and rates 268 firms across 19 industries.
There is lots of good news for insurance within this year’s survey. The industry is ranked number six within the 19 industries when it comes to a positive customer service experience.
Of the insurers checked, 14 have received positive ratings. These are the criteria used and upon which the survey questions are written:
Functional: How well do experiences meet customers’ needs?
Accessible: How easy is it for customers to do what they want to do?
Emotional: How do customers feel about the experiences?
Each company is scored on those three criteria and the Temkin Group then averages the results and produces a score.
These are the percentage ratings of the insurance companies:
USAA 78%
State Farm 74%
GEICO 70%
Allstate 69%
The Hartford 69%
AAA 67%
Progressive 66%
Travelers 65%
Nationwide 63%
MetLife 63%
Liberty Mutual 63%
Farmers 61%
American Family 56%
21st Century 55%
Photo Credit: Some rights reserved by .reid.
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Here are the top companies in the Temkin customer experience ratings:
Here are the bottom companies in the ratings:
RANK COMPANY INDUSTRY T&R
1 H.E.B. Groceries 88%
2 Trader Joe’s Groceries 84%
3 Chick-fil-A Fast Foods 83%
4 Publix Groceries 83%
5 Aldi Groceries 82%
5 Food Lion Groceries 82%
5 Sonic Drive-In Fast Foods 82%
8 A Credit Union Banks 81%
8 Kroger Groceries 81%
8 Sam’s Club Retailers 81%
8 Starbucks Fast Foods 81%
RANK COMPANY INDUSTRY T&R
268 Coventry Health Care
Health Plans
41%
267 Empire (BCBS) Health Plans
42%
266 Highmark (BCBS)
Health Plans
44%
265 Medicaid Health Plans
45%
264 US Cellular Wireless Carrier
46%
260 Comcast TV Service 47%
260 Comcast Internet Service
47%
260 Motel 6 Hotels 47%
260 Super 8 Hotels 47%
258 Charter Communications
TV Service 48%
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One in 10 or 10% — of small business owners or managers say they had at least one person show up for work while under the influence of a controlled substance. Or two.
This from a study by Employers Holdings. Employers’ COO Stephen Festa said the most commonly abused substances are alcohol, marijuana or prescription painkillers or a combination of two or all three. “Business owners today are rightfully concerned about the use of illegal or judgment impairing substances in their workplaces. It’s a disturbing trend that we have seen developing over the past several years with the rise in prescription opioids and the increasing legalization of marijuana.”
He said those under the influence pose a potential danger to themselves and everyone else around them. And apparently 75% of small business owners agree. Over half say over-the-counter pain medications are also potentially a problem.
Here was the question posed in the Employers’ drug survey: In the past year has your business experienced an employee under the influence of any of the following substances on the job?
Festa said the new — big — concern for employers is prescriptions. “To those of us in the workers compensation insurance industry, prescription opioid abuse is of particular concern. The Centers for Disease Control has reported that more people die from prescription painkillers than from heroin or cocaine. Opioid addiction has been linked to decreased worker productivity, as well as making workplaces less safe, prolonging disability claims, and increasing the risk of death from overdoses.” n
DRINKING & DRUGGING ON THE JOB
Any 9.9% None of These 89.6%
Alcohol 5.3% Don’t Know 0.1%
Marijuana or Prescribed Pain Killer 5.1% Refused to Answer 0.4%
An Illicit Narcotic 1.1%
Photo Credit: Some rights reserved by cabreraluengo.com
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wants comments on 279-pages of proposed rules it released on March 14th covering many topics related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In the section of the rules discussing navigators, the Obama administration’s document says “A state or an exchange must not require that all navigators be agents or brokers or carry errors and omissions coverage.”
It answers a big question the insurance community — including the PIA — has been asking for quite awhile. PIA has stated it is important for them to have errors and omissions insurance.
Federal law requires that each community have at least one consumer-focused consumer group listed as a navigator. The rule goes on to say if navigators were to be required to carry E&O insurance, this would disqualify them from being considered a “community and consumer-focused nonprofit group.”
The proposed rule is largely a directive to states, so they do not begin any sort of E&O requirement. Friday’s regulations also included a formal directive to the states preventing them from passing any laws requiring a navigator to refer a consumer to an agent or broker for any reason. The language says, “Non-federal laws
OBaMaCaRe
or regulations that require referrals to sources that are not required to provide impartial advice would, on their face, make it impossible for these assisters to comply with existing federal statutory and regulatory duties and standards.”
As you might expect, PIA National will file comments in disagreement with certain of these proposed regulations during the 30-day comment period.
Criticism — much of it scathing — was instant from the health insurance industry and those supporting the industry.
Craig Hasday — who is the COO at the New York City benefits firm Frenkel Benefits — said not requiring navigators to have E&O insurance hurts the consumer. He sees many being confused after being given health insurance information from someone not trained in the insurance industry.
“The best way to fix [exchange confusion] is to get the people who know what they’re doing to work with plans. The assisters and navigators …don’t have the perspective and the licensing and the E&O to give proper advice. They’re saying they don’t give advice and that’s absurd because people are going to give advice,” he said.
He predicts after navigators thoroughly confuse the consumer they’ll take the natural logical step and go to an agent or broker. The agent or broker — illogically — will not be paid for taking
New OBaMaCaRe RuleNavigators Do Not Need E&O
March 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 26
the time to get the person into the proper plan.
Health Agents for America calls the regulation on navigators another blow from the federal government to agents and brokers and the insurance community. It sent an email to its members saying, “Call your U.S. senators and U.S. representatives. CMS has gone too far.”
Peter Marathas is a partner at the benefit advisory firm Proskauer Rose LLP. He agrees with the lobbying group that this really hurts the agent and broker industry. “Why even have in this federal law the whole concept of navigators? Why not find a way to invite a whole group of people who have been hard-working members of the industry for years, compared to hours. Why create a whole new niche industry?”
Again we mention that PIA National will be sending a response from this association during the commentary period. PIA National has been very critical of the Obama administration’s decisions on navigators and on not depending upon insurance agents and brokers for health insurance advice. n
OBaMaCaRe Deadline Extended – Sort of E&O
Those who’ve kept up with the unfolding unrolling of the Affordable Care Act are not surprised that the Obama administration has extended the March 31st deadline to sign up for the health insurance for those unable to finish registering by the end of the day. As long as they’ve tried to sign up by March 31st, they have until mid-April to complete the process.
Health and Human Services’ spokeswoman Joanne Peters said if they’re online trying to register at the end of the day then “we won’t shut the door on them.”
Here’s the deal. The government won’t question whether they were actually trying to get registered or not if they haven’t registered and
do get the job done by mid-April. That said, no one knows if there might be another extension then though it’s getting pretty tight for insurance companies who need to know the final numbers to set 2015 rates
Another way out? If you have one of the 14-different “hardship exemptions” you don’t have to sign up at all. And the exemptions are almost as loosey goosey as the questions that won’t be asked as to whether someone was really trying to make the March 31 deadline.
Or as health policy expert Bob Laszewski posted on his blog, “What individual mandate? It is looking more and more like the Obama administration will not enforce the individual mandate.”
Putting it another way, with the dozen or so changes and delays, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the law has become the “legal equivalent of swiss cheese.”
Peters said on March 30th the federal government’s HealthCare.gov had 1.1 million visitors — the second most ever. The state exchanges had busy days, too. Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange enrolled 12,000 people last week.
Add those to the growing number of registrants and the administration says it now has 6-million registered — close to the number the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said it needs to hit a break even mark.
Republicans disagree with the 6-million number and accuse the administration of fudging figures. At issue is the number who have actually paid the premium. If a premium isn’t paid then someone isn’t insured.
The administration fired back that it’s impossible to know who has paid and who hasn’t until the backend of HealthCare.gov is built. “When we have accurate and reliable data regarding premium payments, we will make the information available,” Peters said. n
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OBaMaCaRe Who Signed Up?
WellPointOBaMaCaRe Double-Digit Rate Raise
The Obama administration claims that the Affordable Care Act now has 7-million enrollees.
Some say that’s a wonder because President Obama has given dozens of exemptions and passes, and has decided to not implement huge chunks of the law. Many say the changes, delays and all are way outside his presidential powers. Late last week the president decided to extend the cutoff date to sign up for the Affordable Care Act for those who were trying to sign up before March 31st but couldn’t get the job done.
They now have until mid-April and the administration will not quiz anyone on whether they were really still trying to sign up when the deadline passed.
The questions bantered around now by critics are many. Who signed up? How many have paid? How many had insurance before but were kicked off their plans because of administration criteria? How many are actually the uninsured now getting insurance?
The administration cannot — or some say will not — answer those questions.
Estimates from some sources like McKinsey & Company, the Kaiser Family Foundation and others are that most who signed up for insurance are 35 and older. The 18 to 34-year olds needed to make the plan pay for at least part of itself are not signing up and it is not believed enough of them will to keep insurance rate increases down.
A recent report from McKinsey pegs the number of enrollees who were previously uninsured at 27%. The company found 75% have paid their premiums and thus are truly insured. n
It’s going to be a couple of months before we know just how much insurers are going to raise health insurance rates. That they’ll go up is not a question. All experts agree that the enrollment of young people in the health insurance exchanges has not met expectations and it those enrollments that are designed to pay the higher costs of those that are older.
WellPoint is the first insurer to have loose lips. In spite of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius contending rates will rise but not as much as they would before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, WellPoint is already saying rates will be double-digit.
This has taken a few experts by surprise. Stephen Zaharuk of Moody’s Investors Service said it appears the company is hedging its bets because of the many changes enacted in the law by the Obama administration. “The double-digit increase surprised me. If everything’s working according to plan, then the increases should be where the medical trend is, which should not be double-digit,” he said.
The medical trend is the cost of health care in total — including inflation and patient utilization of services — which has grown 5% to 6% in the last couple of years. Zaharuk thinks it will go up to 8% to 9% this year. n
Golf Outing at ArborLinks Golf Course: www.arborlinks.com
ArborLinks Golf Course6038 H Road, Nebraska City, NE 68410 (866) 272-7453ArborLinks is an exclusive private destination golf club featuring an 18-hole championship course designed by Arnold Palmer. Native grasses have been used to define and separate the golf holes, while bunkers and other hazards have been sculpted to create an old world look and feel. Greens and fairways are expansive, providing unequaled challenges and stimulated creative strategy, while remaining simple and natural. Throughout its history, ArborLinks has been hailed as one of the best courses in Nebraska.Registration begins at 10:00 amShot Gun Start: 11:00 amLunch/Beverages on your own.
Trade Fair & Evening Entertainment at Lied Lodge & Conference Center Lied Lodge & Conference Center – Nebraska City2700 Sylvan Road, Nebraska City, NE 68410(402) 873-8733
Trade Fair begins at 5:30 pm**Golf Prizes will be awarded at 6:00 pmRepresentatives of numerous businesses that support our association are eager to visit with you. Refreshments and hors d’oeurves will be available as you mingle with the crowd and make the rounds of the exhibit booths. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards and make the most of this opportunity to make new contacts and strengthen established relationships.
Evening Entertainment begins at 7:00 pmCoach Tim Miles, the only active coach who has taken teams to the postseason at the Division I, Division II and NAIA ranks, overachieved with the Huskers in his first season at Nebraska. He took a team that returned one starter and two of its top
nine scorers, and improved the Huskers’ win total from 12 to 15 despite facing one of the nation’s toughest schedules, including a school-record 10 ranked teams.
Golf & Entertainment Day – Tuesday, June 3rd
The morning starts out with …
The evening brings …
Past President’s Breakfast – 7:00amEveryone is welcome to join us to Honor Past Presidents!
Registration begins at 8:00 am** 3 P/C hrs applied for NE & IA
How to Turn Your TechnicalKnowledge into Dollars! – 8:30 amLearn valuable tips on creating risk profiles, consumer expectations, account development and retention, and interpersonal communication skills in an interactive and fun atmosphere. Agency sales managers, account managers, producers, internal support staff and company marketing personnel all benefit greatly from this program.
Becky Lathrop, CIC, CPIA – Lake Worth, FLBecky Lathrop is the Vice President of Optimum Performance Solutions, LLC, a company that provides management consulting on a nationwide basis to insurance agencies and carriers.
Becky helps agencies throughout the United States grow profitably by counseling them in areas such as workflow management, staff stratification/organization and training, sales/ marketing business plans, client retention, strategic planning, and producer management and compensation. She has also developed and facilitates many agency and carrier training programs, including Marketing/profitability workshops to help agencies grow, manage their loss ratios, and assist them with capitalizing on contingency bonus opportunities. **Becky was voted the 2012 AIMS Society/CPIA Instructor of the Year!
Achievers Luncheon - 12:15 pm – 1:45 pmFind out who is “Agent of the Year,” “Marketing Rep of the Year,” and “Company of the Year!”
Meet the winner of the $1000 PIA Scholarship!
Education Session and Achiever’s Luncheon
Education Day – Wednesday, June 4th
Hotel Information
Event Attire
Lied Lodge & Conference Center, Nebraska City NEYou are responsible for making your own hotel reservation by contacting the Lied Lodge & Conference Center at (402) 873-8733 and requesting the group name “Professional Insurance Agents” for our special rate of $119.00. A block of rooms have been reserved for June 3-4, 2014. The special room rate will be available until May 7th or until the group block is sold-out.
Be sure to get an Arbor Day Tree; Don’t leaf without one!
Tuesday’s Golf Outing: appropriate golf attire please.Tuesday Evening & Wednesday: Business Casual
Convention Hotel Facility (you must register yourself for accommodations)
Convention Hotel Facility (you must register yourself for accommodations)
Payment Information:
Be sure to get an Arbor Day Tree; Don’t
leaf without one!
LIED LODGE & CONFERENCE
CENTER
2700 Sylvan RoadNebraska City
NE 68410
(402) 873-8733
Name: _______________________________________ Company Name: ___________________________
Address: ____________________________________ City/State/Zip: _____________________________
Phone: ______________________________________ E-mail: ____________________________________
Amount Enclosed: $ __________________________ I’m Sending a Check: oCredit Card No: __________________________________________ Exp. Date: _____________________
Approval Signature: _______________________________________________________________________
Return with payment to: PIA NE IA – 920 S 107th Ave., Ste. 305, Omaha, NE 68114 • FAX: (402) 392-2228 Questions? Email Jenn at [email protected] (REGISTER ONLINE at www.pianeia.com)
Golf Outing at ArborLinks:
No. of Players: _____ Name(s) of Players: _____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Evening with Coach Tim Miles & Trade Fair: $35/Members $45/Non-MembersPast President’s Breakfast: $15/Members $25/Non-MembersMorning Seminar: FREE/Members $35/Non-MembersAchiever’s Luncheon: $25/Members $25/Non-Members
Total for all Events/Classes you plan to attend: $____________________________________
Cancellations received 5-10 calendar days before convention will incur a $25 non-transferable fee. Cancellations received 2-5 calendar days before will incur a $75 non-transferable fee. If you cancel the day before or fail to show up for any events, registration fee is forfeited; No Exceptions.
March 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 30
Date Event State TimeJanuary 20 - March 7, 2014 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation NE Online Course
February 17 - April 11, 2014 MERG: Commercial Lines Coverage Basics NE Online Course
February 17 - April 4, 2014 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation NE Online Course
February 17 - March 28, 2014MERG: Delivering Quality Service (to the Customer and the Employer)
NE Online Course
March 6, 2014 CISR: Commercial Casualty 2 Davenport Saint Ambrose University
March 7, 2014 National Health Care Reform NE/IAWebinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM
March 12 - 14, 2014 CIC: Agency Management Institute IA Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
March 17 - April 25, 2014 MERG: Personal Lines Coverage Basics Online Online Course
March 17 - May 2, 2014 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation Online Online Course
March 20, 2014Waivers of Subrogation/Indemnity/Certificates
NE/IAWebinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM
March 20, 2014 CISR: Insuring Commercial Property Marion Kirkwood Training Center
March 24, 2014It's Personal: Home and Auto Exposures your Insured Won't Tell You
NE/IAWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
March 25, 2014 Business Income - How Much is Enough? NE/IAWebinar: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
March 26, 2014 Ethics for Insurance Professionals NE/IAWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
April 3, 2014 Changes to the Homeowners Program IowaWebinar: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
April 9 - 11, 2014 CIC: Personal Lines Institute LincolnHoliday Inn Lincoln - Downtown
April 9, 2014 CISR: Agency OperationsDes Moines
Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale
April 9, 2014Seven Ways to get Sued and How to Avoid Them
NebraskaWebinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM
April 10, 2014 CPIA 1: Position for Success Omaha Omaha Marriott Hotel
For information and to register Click Hereor call (402) 392-1611.
UpcomingEvents Calendar 2014
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March 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 31
April 14, 2014CYBERTECH- Recognizing and Insuring Electronic Risk
NE/IAWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
April 15, 2014 Ethics for Insurance Professionals NE/IAWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
April 16, 2014 Business Auto Coverages IAWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
April 16, 2014Patches for the Imperfect Policy - Home, Work & Auto Edition
IAWebinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM
April 21 - June 13, 2014 MERG: Commercial Lines Coverage Basics Online Online Course
April 21 - June 6, 2014 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation Online Online Course
April 22, 2014BIP(idy), BOP(idy), Boo(ze): Turning 3 Mundane Coverages into Magic
NE/IAWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
April 23, 2014 National Health Care Reform NE/IAWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
April 29, 2014 CPSR: Systems, Operations & Procedures Kearney Holiday Inn Express
May 6, 2014CISR: William T. Hold: Advanced Learning Seminar
Marion Kirkwood Training Center
May 7, 2014 CISR: Personal Lines MiscellaneousDes Moines
Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale
May 8, 2014 CPIA 1: Position for SuccessDes Moines
Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale
May 12, 2014E&O and the Legal & Ethical Duties of Agents/Brokers
NEWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
May 15, 2014Waivers of Subrogation/Indemnity/Certificates
NE/IAWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
May 19 - July 4, 2014 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation Online Online Course
May 19 - June 27, 2014 MERG: Personal Lines Coverage Basics Online Online Course
May 19, 2014 Ethics for Insurance Professionals NE/IAWebinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM
May 20, 2014 National Health Care Reform NE/IAWebinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM
May 21, 2014 CISR: Insuring Commercial Property Davenport Saint Ambrose University
May 21, 2014 Social Networking: OMG or E&O? NE/IAWebinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM
May 27, 2014 Business Income - How Much is Enough? NE/IAWebinar: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
May 29, 2014It's Personal: Home and Auto Exposures your Insured Won't Tell You
NE/IAWebinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM
June 3, 2014 CPIA 2: Implement for Success Omaha Omaha Marriott Hotel
June 12, 2014 CISR: Insuring Commercial PropertyWest Des Moines
LaMair - Mulock - Condon Insurance (LMC)
June 16 - August 1, 2014 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation Online Online Course
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March 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 32
piA Ne iA eveNTS
June 16 - August 8, 2014 MERG: Commercial Lines Coverage Basics Online Online Course
June 16 - July 25, 2014MERG: Delivering Quality Service (to the Customer and the Employer)
Online Online Course
June 18 - 20, 2014 CIC: Commercial Property InstituteCedar Rapids
DoubleTree Hilton
June 26, 2014 CISR: Agency Operations Marion Kirkwood Training Center
July 9 - 11, 2014 CIC: Commercial Casualty Institute Omaha Omaha Marriott Hotel
July 10, 2014 CISR: Insuring Personal Auto ExposuresDes Moines
Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale
July 17, 2014 CISR: Personal Lines Miscellaneous Davenport Saint Ambrose University
July 21 - August 29, 2014 MERG: Personal Lines Coverage Basics Online Online Course
July 21 - September 5, 2014 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation Online Online Course
July 22, 2014 CPSR: Residential Property Columbus Dusters
July 30 - August 1, 2014 CIC: Personal Lines InstituteWest Des Moines
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
August 6, 2014 CISR: Commercial Casualty 2 Marion Kirkwood Training Center
August 12, 2014 CPIA 2: Implement for SuccessDes Moines
Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale
August 13, 2014 CPIA 3: Sustain Success Omaha Omaha Marriott Hotel
August 18 - October 10, 2014 MERG: Commercial Lines Coverage Basics Online Online Course
August 18 - October 3, 2014 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation Online Online Course
August 21, 2014CISR: William T. Hold: Advanced Learning Seminar
Des Moines
Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale
September 5 - October 31, 2014
MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation Online Online Course
September 10 - 12, 2014 CIC: Life & Health Institute LincolnHoliday Inn Lincoln - Downtown
September 10, 2014 CISR: Insuring Personal Residential PropertyDes Moines
Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale
September 15 - October 24, 2014 MERG: Personal Lines Coverage Basics Online Online Course
September 17 - 19, 2014 CIC: Commercial Casualty InstituteCedar Rapids
DoubleTree Hilton
September 24, 2014 CISR: Agency Operations Davenport Saint Ambrose University
September 25, 2014 CISR: Personal Lines Miscellaneous Marion Kirkwood Training Center
October 9, 2014 CISR: Commercial Casualty 2Des Moines
Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale
October 15 - 17, 2014 CIC: Agency Management Institute Omaha Omaha Marriott Hotel
October 20 - November 28, 2014MERG: Delivering Quality Service (to the Customer and the Employer)
Online Online Course
October 20 - December 12, 2014 MERG: Commercial Lines Coverage Basics Online Online Course
October 20 - December 5, 2014 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation Online Online Course
March 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 33
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October 23, 2014 CISR: Dynamics of Service Marion Kirkwood Training Center
October 29, 2014 CISR: Insuring Personal Residential Property Davenport Saint Ambrose University
November 5, 2014 CISR: Insuring Commercial PropertyWest Des Moines
LaMair - Mulock - Condon Insurance (LMC)
November 6, 2014 CISR: Commercial Casualty 1 Marion Kirkwood Training Center
November 11, 2014 CPIA 3: Sustain SuccessDes Moines
Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale
November 12 - 14, 2014 CIC: Life & Health InstituteWest Des Moines
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
November 17 - December 26, 2014
MERG: Personal Lines Coverage Basics Online Online Course
November 17 - January 2, 2015 MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation Online Online Course
November 18, 2014 CPSR: Commercial Casualty Omaha Omaha Marriott Hotel
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To advertise contact PIA of Nebraska and Iowa – Executive Director, Cathy Klasi at (402) 392-1611.
Register online for PIA of Nebraska & Iowa education: Click here or call (402) 392-1611
Education
