Agent News
Compwest Quarterly
First Quarter 2019
We look forward to this annual opportunity to exchange ideas with valued partner agents like you. We hope you’ll join us at one of our April Road Show meetings, April 8-11, where we’ll discuss 2018 results, 2019 goals and how we can best leverage our partnership.
Register for a meeting online by March 29.
Meeting dates and locations:
Sacramento – April 8
2-4 p.m. (4-6 p.m. reception to follow)
Hyatt Regency
Sacramento, Calif.
Walnut Creek – April 9
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (lunch included)
Renaissance ClubSport Walnut Creek Hotel
Walnut Creek, Calif.
Newport Beach – April 10
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (lunch included)
Newport Beach Marriott Bayview
Newport Beach, Calif.
Manhattan Beach – April 11
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (lunch included)
Westdrift Manhattan Beach, Autograph Collection
Manhattan Beach, Calif.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts on business results and strategies and finding continued ways to improve our partnership.
Register now to save 25% on the cost of our upcoming Certified Authority on Workers’ Compensation (CAWC) programs.
As a newsletter subscriber, use discount code 25OFF when registering for one of two upcoming courses:
*To apply the discount code, select the “I have a discount code” box on the “order registration summary” page during checkout. Enter 25OFF in ALL CAPS and select “apply.” The course cost will be adjusted accordingly.
CAWC is a nationally recognized three-day class designed to create experts in workers’ compensation insurance, with a focus on core concepts like experience modification factors, claims and loss control protocols, return-to-work strategies and more.
Earning the CAWC designation provides a competitive advantage for agents and producers by giving them the tools and knowledge necessary to win business, create client loyalty and be viewed as an authority on workers’ compensation.
For more information about the program or to register, visit https://www.compwestinsurance.com/education/.
Since 2010, CompWest has built strong partnerships and found expertise in California’s manufacturing industry. We assist manufacturing risks with premiums of up to $1.5M in developing safer work environments and reducing workers’ compensation claims costs. We are confident in the policyholder services we offer eligible operations, including:
- Manufacturing metal products
- Furniture
- Tools
- Hardware
- Aircraft components
- Wood products
- Plastic goods
- Textile products
- Leather products
- Machine shops
We also partner with food product manufacturers, such as confections and food sundries, vegetable and fruit processing and packing, and bakeries.
Our strength in manufacturing is reinforced as CompWest is the endorsed carrier for the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA.) CMTA members earn a 5% discount on their CompWest policy and the chance to support policies that stimulate economic growth, create new jobs and protect existing jobs. CMTA is the only statewide organization dedicated to protecting manufacturing interests in Sacramento.
Employees from AF Group and its subsidiaries, including CompWest, pledged $266,750 in support of numerous charitable organizations around the country as part of the company’s recent Caring and Sharing Community Campaign. Together with a dollar-for-dollar corporate match, AF Group and subsidiaries Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, United Heartland, Third Coast Underwriters and CompWest will contribute $533,500 to 34 organizations nationwide throughout 2019.
Now in its ninth year, the successful employee campaign has raised more than $2.6 million for regional and national charities in the communities where AF Group and its subsidiaries do business.
Learn more about the effort and the national and local organizations it supports.
AF Group is investing in new technology, data and analytics, and capabilities to improve the ease of doing business for agents and customers. The enterprise kicked-off 2019 innovation efforts with an Employee Innovation Week, highlighted by a variety of initiatives designed to enhance the customer experience. Check out our 2018 innovation accomplishments and see what’s coming in 2019 – like wearables, hackathons and data-driven underwriting.
Click here for a list of our top 10 written class codes during the past six months in both our Southern and Northern California regions.
Please contact your business development consultant with questions or to learn more.
Federal
The insurance industry has started initial lobbying efforts in Washington to extend the terrorism risk insurance program, which expires at the end of 2020. The program was created after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, when carriers suffered excessive losses and eventually highly populated commercial areas across the Nation were unable to secure coverage. In an effort to maintain market stability, AF Group will work with Congressional leaders over the next 18 months in support of a timely renewal.
Florida
The Florida Legislature is considering two bills, SB 1636 and HB 1399, that address workers’ compensation. SB 1636, proposes reasonable fixes for the Florida Supreme Court’s adverse decisions a few years ago that invalidated both the statutory contingent attorney fee provision (Castellanos) and the 104-week limitation on temporary total disability (Westphal). The Senate proposal seems the preferable approach as an overall reform vehicle, although H.B. 1399 does have one favorable provision that is lacking in S.B. 1636, as it would tie outpatient hospital reimbursement to Medicare, in lieu of the current charge-based approach. We anticipate some form of merged compromise to occur between the Senate and House proposals.
Maryland
SB 854 would require carriers to provide injured workers with medical cannabis, which would be characterized as “medicine”; and require compensability even where an accident is solely caused by medical cannabis, if it was administered or taken in accordance with a physician’s written certification and instructions. In general, the industry opposes mandatory marijuana reimbursement under workers’ compensation system, based on both the federal illegality of cannabis and the lack of sufficient objective medical evidence of its efficacy in treating workplace injuries. We are aware that some insurers want the discretion to recommend or treat with marijuana when it appears in a case to be a suitable alternative to opioids. The bill now awaits consideration by the House Economic Matters Committee.
California
The industry is closely monitoring Senate Bill 567, which establishes various presumptions for hospital employees. According to the proposal infectious diseases, cancer, musculoskeletal injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and respiratory diseases; would be presumed work related injuries for hospital employees. The future of this initiative is unclear at this time.
Illinois
As previously communicated, enacted Senate Bill 1737, requires carriers to send employer and agency premium increase notifications on all Illinois policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2019 that have premium in excess of 5% of the rate recommendation filed with the Department. The industry had previously been misadvised this provision applied to all Jan. 1, 2020 new business. AF Group has invested in system changes and created new processes/procedures in an effort to ensure compliance and timely communication with all stakeholders when notification are required.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission approved the 2019 Medical Services Provider Manual (MSPM) with changes taking effect April 1, 2019. The summary of the changes can be found at the following link: https://wcc.sc.gov/sites/default/files/Documents/Main/Insurance_and_Medical_Services/Medical_Services_Division/Medical_Fee_Schedules/2019%20MSPM%20%20Changes%203.21.pdf.
