Florida Lawmakers Take Two-Pronged Approach to Insurance Reform

Tort reform and fraud have become the two big targets as Florida lawmakers are finally gearing up to tackle the state’s no-fault auto insurance law.
Taking a divide and conquer approach, the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee has approved a bill that seeks to rein-in medical and litigation costs, while two other lawmakers have unveiled a bill designed to crack down on fraud.

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The best response is a planned one.

Emergencies come in many forms and often without much warning. Whether you’re faced with a hurricane, wildfire or some other threat, advance planning can make all the difference.

Don’t be surprised.

Be prepared.

Ten steps to keep you, your family and home safe and sound:

1. Start with the right homeowners insurance protection. Visit http://www.es-insurance.com/.

2. Know your community’s severe weather warning system and follow news reports closely.

3. Identify escape routes from your home and neighborhood.

4. Research the evacuation plans for your workplace and children’s schools.

5. Designate an emergency meeting place for your family.

6. Decide in advance where you and your pets can take shelter if necessary.

7. Establish a contact point to communicate with concerned relatives.

8. Take video and photographs of your home inside and out, recording upgrades and valuables.

9. Have drinking water and an emergency kit stocked and ready to go.

10. Fill your bathtub with water that can be used for flushing toilets or washing.

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Soultions, Service, Stability!

E&S Insurance offers a full range of Homeowners and dwelling fire insurance solutions. Call on of our agents or contact me directly. We are are ready to assist you in selecting your individualized coverage.

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Something I found In Insurance Journal

Something I found In Insurance Journal.

Are you an insurance news hound? Test your insurance news IQ and find out. The following questions and answers (at bottom of the page– don’t cheat!) were developed based on news stories published by InsuranceJournal.com in 2010. Good luck!

1. During the year, Congress let the National Flood Insurance Program lapse several times. The last vote extends the NFIP until when?

1. Jan. 31, 2011
2. Sept. 30, 2011
3. Dec. 31, 2013
4. Sept. 30, 2012

2. What state had the highest number of Internet fraud complaints in 2009?

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. New York
4. California

3. About how much of its $182 million bailout does AIG still owe U.S. taxpayers?

1. $100 billion
2. $50 billion
3. $25 billion
4. $0

4. Who won the November election to be the next Georgia insurance commissioner?

1. Ralph Hudgens
2. John Oxendine
3. Wayne Goodwin
4. Kevin McCarty

5. The nation’s largest insurance brokers received the go-ahead to begin accepting contingent commissions again in 2010. But which of the following large brokers said they would not resume accepting them?

1. Aon
2. Marsh
3. Willis
4. All of the above

6. The attempted takeover of what company by Texas-based based Biglari Holdings Inc., owners of the Steak n Shake restaurant chain, prompted a new Michigan law requiring that a perceived hostile takeover of a small insurer be approved by two-thirds of the shareholders?

1. Michigan Insurance Co.
2. Fremont Michigan InsuraCorp.
3. Northern Mutual Insurance Co.

7. In 2010, which of the following insurance entities announced and then cancelled plans for an initial public offering of one of its units?

1. Allstate
2. Liberty Mutual
3. AIG
4. ISO

8. How many managing agencies at Lloyd’s had gross written premiums in excess of $2 billion in 2009?

1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5

9. Under the Obama federal health care reform, medical malpractice insurers will lose their limited exemption from federal anti-trust laws.

1. True
2. False

10. Who won the November election to be the next California insurance commissioner?

1. Mike Villines
2. Dave Jones
3. Steve Poizner
4. Jerry Brown

11. How much did oil giant BP set aside to pay claims from the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster?

1. $20 billion
2. $100 billion
3. $75 billion
4. $200 million

12. How much have the world’s insurers and reinsurers paid out in catastrophe claims so far this year?

1. More than $10 billion
2. More than $20 billion
3. More than $30 billion
4. More than $40 billion

13. For the years 2006 through 2010, Florida property insurers will have paid an estimated $2 billion in claims for what?

1. Fires
2. Hurricanes
3. Sinkholes
4. All of the above

14. Which of the following insurance firms fended off a mini-tender offer by an outside firm looking to buy 2 million shares?

1. Harleysville Insurance
2. Chubb Insurance
3. Markel Insurance
4. Willis

15. In July, Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray negotiated a settlement in long-running securities fraud lawsuit with insurer American International Group on behalf of three Ohio pension funds. Under the terms of the July settlement, AIG agreed to pay:

1. $10 Million
2. $1.5 Billion
3. $725 Million

16. What was the workers’ compensation industry’s combined ratio for 2009?

1. 110
2. 101
3. 98
4. 103

17. New York, under fire for tough workers’ compensation requirements for out-of-state businesses, agreed to ease some of its rules for businesses that do only occasional, non-construction work in the state.

1. True
2. False

18. In which South Central state will an insurance agent be installed in January as lieutenant governor?

1. Louisiana
2. Oklahoma
3. Arkansas

19. Which insurer said it warned federal officials about safety problems with Toyotas as far back as 2007, years before the carmaker’s massive recall in 2010?

1. State Farm
2. Allstate
3. Progressive
4. Travelers

20. Voters in which state rejected a measure to privatize the state’s workers’ compensation system??

1. Washington
2. Oregon
3. Arizona
4. California

21. Unless the provision in the federal health care law is repealed before it goes into effect in 2012, businesses will be required to file a so-called 1099 form identifying anyone to whom they pay at least how much in a year?

1. $60,000
2. $6,000
3. $600
4. $60

22. The Georgia Supreme Court in 2010 heard arguments on the constitutionality of the state’s law setting caps on medical malpractice awards. What did the court decide?

1. The law constitutional
2. The law is unconstitutional
3. The law is constitutional but the amounts are too low
4. The question is a political one for the Legislature, not the courts, to decide.

23. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in July signed a bill that prohibits insurance companies from dropping homeowners insurance coverage for insureds that have a particular product in their homes. That product is:

1. Vinyl flooring
2. Chinese manufactured drywall
3. High VOC paint

24. Last May a volcanic eruption grounded flights in Europe for several weeks. Where was the volcano located?

1. Italy
2. Indonesia
3. Georgia
4. Iceland

25. Despite requests from brokers, the California State Compensation Fund refused to modify its policy on paying commissions on direct accounts where there is a broker of record letter.

1. True
2. False

Answers: 1. B, Sept. 30, 2011; 2. D; 3. A, $100 billion as of November; 4. A; 5. D; 6. B; 7. B; 8. B, there were three – Catlin, QBE and Beazley Furlonge; 9. B; 10. B; 11. A; 12. C; 13. C; 14. B; 15. C; 16. B; 17. A; 18. C; 19. A; 20. A; 21. C; 22. B; 23. B; 24. D; 25. B

Best Affirms Progressive and Subs ‘A+’ Rating

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa” of the Progressive Agency Pool, Progressive Direct Pool and Progressive Commercial Auto Group (collectively known as Progressive) and their respective members.
Best also affirmed the FSR of ‘A’ (Excellent) and ICR of “a+” of National Continental Insurance Company, as well as the ICR of “a” and all debt ratings of the parent holding company, The Progressive Corporation.
The outlook for all of the ratings is stable. All the companies are headquartered in Mayfield Village, Ohio.
The ratings reflect Progressive’s “solid capitalization, strong operating performance and sustainable competitive advantages,” said Best. “Progressive’s capitalization has benefitted from sustained underwriting profitability and a rebound in its investment portfolio since 2008.
“Progressive continues to benefit from an innovative management team, brand name recognition, a multiple channel distribution platform and innovative underwriting and claims handling technology. In addition, Progressive’s direct operations have exhibited favorable growth, reflective of improved brand recognition.

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Wind Mitigation Report - Roof Deck Attachment

The second point in the Wind Mitigation Report Is Roof Deck Attachment:

Dimensional lumber decks are typically stronger than plywood/OSB roof decks because they are attached with more nails than plywood/ OSB decks. Thus, even older homes built before the introduction of high-wind criteria into the local building codes may qualify for wind insurance credits.

The roof deck connection type can be determined on existing buildings by using a metal detector to locate the nails or screws. The following is the type of deck connections for which insurance companies may give credits.

The following items describe the typical roof deck attachment methods used in residential construction. Each of the nail options refers to the size of the nail (commonly referred to as a penny size (d)) and the spacing of nails along the framing members. The two numbers refer to the spacing along the edges of the plywood and the spacing of nails along the interior members of the plywood.

8d Nails @ 6/6 - Roof deck is attached with 8d (2.5" long) nails spaced at 6 inches on the edge of the sheathing and the interior of the sheathing. This connection pattern is seen mostly in newer homes built to high wind standards.

Screws/Bolts - Instead of using nails to attach the deck, some manufacturers are now producing screw guns that can install screws almost as fast as nails. Screws typically have must greater pullout resistance than equivalent lengths of nails.

8d Nails @ 6/12 - Roof deck is attached with 8d (2.5" long) nails spaced at 6 inches along the edge of the sheathing and 12 inches in the interior of the sheathing.

6d Nails @ 6/12 - Roof deck is attached with shorter 6d (2" long) nails spaced at 6 inches along the edge of the sheathing and 12 inches in the interior of the sheathing.

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Wind Mitigation Report - Roof Covering

Following my post from November 23^rd I received several e-mails and request from people asking me for more information on the Wind Mitigation Report.  I thought maybe I should just make several blogs covering this information, so everyone can have the information about what points a Wind Mitigation's Report cover:

1.       Roof Covering, this point will give you a discount if the roof meets 2001 Florida building code or the 1994 South Florida Building Code.

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