PIACT thanks its members at start of holiday season

At this time of year, we take stock of all for which we are grateful. PIACT thanks our members and supporters and we wish you and yours a warm and prosperous holiday season.  

PIACT supports next generation of insurance professionals at Goodwin College

PIACT President Peter J. Frascarelli, CPIA, and Immediate past President Augusto Russell, CIC, met with Goodwin College representatives Nov. 21, to present the school with a donation to support the college’s newly developed insurance-focused curriculum. Your PIA officers toured the campus and presented the college with a check to support current and prospective students in the insurance program, including the licensing training portion of the program. Since fall 2013, PIACT board members have collaborated with Goodwin College to develop a program to boost Connecticut’s job market and bolster the perpetuation of the state’s well-earned reputation as a stronghold in the insurance industry. The collaboration has culminated into insurance-specific coursework through Goodwin’s business program, and also includes paid externships with PIACT-member agencies, for top-tier students. PHOTO: (LEFT TO RIGHT) PIACT Government Affairs Counsel Campbell H. Wallace, Esq.; PIACT President Peter Frascarelli, CPIA; Goodwin College Assistant Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Clifford E. Thermer, Ed.D.; Goodwin College Business Administration Program Director Ernesto Varela, Ed.D., CFP; and PIACT Immediate past President Augusto Russell, CIC, met on Friday to discuss the perpetuation of the industry.  

During the winter storm season, use PIA’s Storm Info Central

The relatively quiet Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Nov. 30, and PIACT reminds its members that winter is coming. PIA’s Storm Info Central offers you one spot for all your winter storm-related resource needs—from the latest updates to QuickSource documents. If there is something you are looking for that you do not see here, contact PIA’s Industry Resource Center at resourcecenter@pia.org or use the Ask PIA button on the PIA website and we will address your specific question.  

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DOL clarifies: Employers cannot reimburse employees who participate in health exchanges

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor issued FAQ Part XX11 on the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The FAQ clarifies that employers cannot reimburse employees who participate in a health exchange. What this means for agents: If you are thinking of complying with the PPACA requirements by engaging in this practice, the DOL is aware of this tactic and has given it careful scrutiny.   

FEMA to appeal judge’s order on Sandy claims

As PIA reported last week, there has been a call to address potential widespread manipulation of flood insurance claims of Sandy victims. This week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is appealing Magistrate Judge Gary Brown’s order to release flood insurance documents to determine whether engineers and adjusters conspired to deny Superstorm Sandy claims. More …  

FEMA clarifies loss settlement issues

FEMA has released Bulletin W-14058 to provide clarification in 1.) the application of the Replacement Cost Loss Settlement and Actual Cash Value Loss Settlement provisions; 2.) the use of flood insurance claims proceeds; and 3.) FEMA’s Underwriting and Claims Operation Review Tool.   

NAIC forms cyber security task force

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners formed a special task force last week, aimed to help coordinate insurance issues related to cyber security and providing recommendations regarding NAIC’s efforts to protect information housed in insurance departments and NAIC, and collecting information on cyber-liability policies. More …   

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Need a market? Think PIA first

PIA’s MarketBase^TM Program, with more than 2,100 risk categories offered by more than 120 different firms, offers association members the information needed to place those unusual or hard-to-place risks. From our online database to our phone-in and email options, PIA MarketBase^TM is your source for market leads.  

Upcoming PIACT Webinars

PIACT will offer the following Webinars in the next few months: Ethics—Something Worth Pursuing (Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., CTCE: 3 LRE); The National Flood Insurance Program Revised and Updated (Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m.-noon, CTCE: 2 FLOOD); Top Ten Commercial Lines Endorsements (Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 10-11 a.m., CTCE: 1 PC); Coverage Abbreviations: OCP, K&R, COP/MOP, OCIP/CCIP, KMI (Tuesday, Jan. 6, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., CTCE: 1 LH, 2 PC); Key E&O Issues that Every Agent Should be Thinking About^{^FF^UM} (Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., CTCE: 3 PC); Cyber Liability—Why the Need? (Friday, Jan. 30, from 10-11 a.m., CTCE: PC 1); and Key E&O Issues that Every Agent Should be Thinking About^{^FF^UM} (Tuesday, April 28, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., CTCE: 3 PC). ^{^FF^UM}—This course has been approved for E&O loss-prevention credit by Fireman’s Fund and Utica Mutual. Call the PIA E&O Department for details at (800) 424-4244. For more information or to register, click here.  

Celebrate the season at the PIACT-YIP Holiday Social

Take advantage of the last opportunity of the year to mingle with your colleagues throughout the industry before the holiday rush at this year’s PIACT-YIP Holiday Social, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at Southport Brewing Co., Milford, from 5:30-8 p.m. Talk about the successes of the past year and the projections for the future of insurance. Don’t forget to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the CT Food Bank after the event. Your registration includes appetizers and two complimentary drinks. More …  

When dogs do more than bark

According to the Center for Disease Control, dogs bite more than 4.5 million Americans annually, resulting in approximately 800,000 injuries that require medical attention. Unfortunately, the laws and regulations that govern dog-bite liability are far from uniform and emanate from the city, county and state levels. When it comes to insurance, a dog represents a risk that often is ascertainable, and insurers treat it accordingly. For a discussion of the dog bite laws for Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and New Hampshire be sure to access QS90454 in PIA’s QuickSource library.  

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