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We’re being social at Hudson Valley RAP

PIANY’s Hudson Valley Regional Awareness Program is coming up, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, and will focus on issues relevant to New York’s controversial Labor Law and the current rebuilding of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Stay in touch with your association and attending peers leading up to and during Hudson Valley RAP. Follow @PIAEducConf on Twitter for live blogging of the event. Be sure to tag your selfies and photos on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with our designated hashtag, #HVRAP. Bookmark Hudson Valley RAP’s mobile site to access the day’s schedule and more while you’re on the go. And, be sure to submit an RSVP to our designated Facebook event, so you can connect with other attendees and receive event updates directly to your news feed.  

There’s still time to write Cuomo about certificates of insurance

According to early results of our October Two-Minute Survey, three out of four respondents indicated there is a need for state law to regulate the use of certificate forms and require that certificates clearly and accurately reflect the coverages in the policy. Representatives of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s office told PIANY that it does not believe fraudulent certificates of insurance pose a major problem for producers. Have you written to the governor to tell him that certificates of insurance do pose a problem? If you haven’t, please do it now. Write Gov. Cuomo a letter on your agency’s letterhead and help PIANY show strong, broad-based support for our certificates of insurance reform bill (A.9590 Morelle/S.6545-A Seward), and send us a copy. More …   

PIANY supports photo inspection regulation reform

As reported earlier this month, your association continues to work with the New York State Department of Financial Services on a proposed update to current regulations that govern automobile photo inspections in an effort to make it easier for agents and policyholders to comply. In an effort to push this reformation, PIANY has submitted a letter to DFS Senior Attorney Camielle Barclay, outlining your association’s position on photo inspections, as well as proposed regulatory changes. More …  

Midterms are around the corner—Sign up for fall district office visits

Each year at the beginning of autumn, your association kicks off its District Office Visit Program. Now is the time to reach out to your state legislators to set a time to meet with them before they return to office in early 2015 and discuss important issues to professional, independent insurance agents and their clients. PIANY facilitates these meetings with legislators across the state, which take place November through January, and give us a head start on priority issues for the coming session. PIANY is committed to helping DOVs be a success, preparing volunteers with background information and talking points, so you can speak confidently on the most pressing issues. Participation is easy. Your association’s staff even will attend meetings to support your visit. Interested in participating? Email govaffairs@pia.org or call the Government & Industry Affairs Department at (800) 424-4244.  

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Information on time off to vote made available

The New York State Board of Elections has provided information regarding time off to vote. The document outlines New York State Election Law, Section 3-110, which states that employees may, if they do not have sufficient time outside of working hours, take up to two paid hours of working time at the beginning or end of a shift to vote. Sufficient time is defined as four consecutive hours either between the opening of the polls and the beginning of a working shift, or between the end of the working shift and the closing of the polls. Employers must be notified between two and 10 days before the day of the election that an employee will take this designated time. More …  

CCIIO to fix broker tracking, commission issue on federal health exchange

According to an agency official at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, the organization is addressing an issue that currently is preventing agents and brokers from identifying themselves and receive commissions for their work on the federally facilitated marketplace. The fix should be in place by Nov. 15. More …  

FEMA updates April 2015 changes

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued Bulletin W-14055 to provide additional guidance and clarifications to the Oct. 1, 2014 Bulletin W-14053 with regard to the changes that the National Flood Insurance Program will implement effective April 1, 2015. The procedures described below for Property Newly Mapped into the Special Flood Hazard Area, in accordance with the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, are intended to clarify the eligibility criteria and describe how this "Newly Mapped" procedure applies in the first year of eligibility. Confused about all the FEMA updates? Then don’t miss The National Flood Insurance Program Revised and Updated, a PIANY Webinar led by Rita Hollada, CIC, CPCU, CPIA, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, from 10 a.m.-noon. NYCE: TBA. For more information or to register, click here.  

National General on agents’ concerns about merger with Tower

PIA participated at a meeting in which National General Insurance Co. addressed its recent merger with Tower Insurance. Topics discussed at the meeting ranged from commissions to technology platforms to in-shoring work. National General stressed it is a much stronger company and that the transition of policies from Tower will be as seamless as possible. As to the commission structure, which everyone was concerned about, National General reiterated the fact that there will be no change to the current commission structures. National General is holding meetings across the United States, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire.  

Ask PIA: Pandemic coverage

Recent events and coverage on the Ebola outbreak may raise the question: Is there any type of insurance available that covers a business in the event of a widespread pandemic? A. When we start talking about outbreaks or pandemics, the first thought should be about the safety of the employees. A great resource is at flu.gov/pandemic/. Secondly, we will want to look at the business interruption coverage. Business interruption coverage is designed to protect businesses from losses that they may suffer unexpectedly due to unavoidable interruptions in their daily operations. Typical business income and extra expense coverage is triggered by damage to property at the insured’s premises by a covered peril, not the threat of disease. In order to trigger civil authority coverage, there must be damage to property located no more than a mile from the insured’s premises caused by a covered peril. For a comprehensive answer to this question, click here. For more information on facts and perspectives on the current Ebola outbreak, click here and here. To access our entire Ask PIA library of frequently asked questions and expert answers by PIA’s technical staff, click here.   

PIA members receive discount on online CE courses

Looking for online education courses? Think PIA first. PIANY has partnered with CEU.com—a provider of online continuing-education courses—to offer PIA members a 35 percent discount on online insurance CE courses. To take advantage of this discount, PIA members must access CEU.com via the pia.org website, by clicking the "Education" tab and then clicking "Online from CEU.com (off-site)" link under "Insurance licensing."  

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Winter personal-lines newsletters are available for your clients

Now is the time to order your winter issue of Insights and Updates to send to your clients. This newsletter is perfect for your personal-lines clients and features the following topics: the risks of ride sharing; how to prevent ice dams; heating your home with a fireplace vs. traditional gas; the liability of sledding on private property; and travel during the busy holiday traffic. This newsletter, in which you also can include your agency’s privacy notice, can be personalized and sent through PIA Creative Services. For more information, contact dcramer@pia.org or call (800) 424-4244.  

Webinar on social media and smartphones

Agents are reaching a digital tipping point and must accelerate, take control of and link their efforts in social media and mobile technology to stay competitive. Join PIA National and social media/insurance marketing guru Tom Wetzel for a free PIA-member webinar, Taking Control of Social Media and the Smartphone, Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, at 2 p.m. This webinar will help agents: leverage the power of the smartphone in your agency’s social media; understand how carriers’ strategies affect your agency; understand the effect that carrier apps have on your clients and your agency; learn the keys to successful social media content; and walk away with immediate action steps and best practices. For more information, or to register, click here.  

Life, health and long-term disability

Your agency is a priority to PIA ... let us do your shopping. PIA aims to reduce your premiums and customize your employee benefits. Let us take care of your group medical, group term life insurance, group long-term disability and group dental. Take advantage of PIA Members’ Choice employee benefit programs. Get your no-obligation quote today. Call (800) 424-4244 or click here.  

Upcoming PIANY Webinars

PIANY will offer the following Webinars in the next few months: Are You Linked In? What it Can Do for You and Your Agency (Friday, Nov. 14, from 10-11 a.m., NYCE: N/A); Exploring the Personal Umbrella/Excess Policy (Friday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., NYCE: 3 BR, C3, PC, PA); Ethics—Something Worth Pursuing (Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., NYCE: 3BR, C1, C3, LA, LB, LSB, PA, PC); Two-Part Webinar: NY AIP Producer Procedures Course (Thursday and Friday, Dec. 4-5, from 10 a.m.-noon, NYCE: 2 BR, C3, PC, PA, for each part. 4 CE total); The National Flood Insurance Program Revised and Updated (Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m.-noon, NYCE: TBA); and Top Ten Commercial Lines Endorsements (Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 10-11 a.m., NYCE: 1 BR, C3, PC, PA). For more information or to register, click here.  

Disability benefits booklet available

The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board offers a comprehensive guide that explains the disability benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Law, including answers to commonly asked questions. To obtain a copy, access QS31216 in PIA’s QuickSource library.  

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