Agent News

3CU prides itself on hiring workers’ compensation experts with the experience to provide our agents and customers the very best service. It’s gratifying to hear positive feedback from those we work for that the efforts of our team truly make a difference. Here are some examples of 3CU employees making a difference.

• Claims Consultant Vicki Sherwood: A safety and loss control director at an electrical account had the following to say about Vicki: “I would like to take a moment to inform you of the pleasant experience it is to work with Mrs. Vicki Sherwood. Each claim here is very difficult and complicated. She is always extremely helpful and poised. I have been working with insurance claims personnel for over 20 years and Mrs. Sherwood is the best professional claims adjuster I have had the pleasure to work with. She always has great words of wisdom and superior listening skills. She truly is a complement to your team at 3CU and a problem solver. Thank you for teaming me with her.”
• Senior Loss Control Consultant Alan Ponder: Alan received the following compliment from an agent on an account that ended up staying with its incumbent carrier: “The insured wanted me to let you know that they really enjoyed the meeting with your loss control representative, Alan. They said Alan was a huge help and that if they do move from their carrier, Third Coast will definitely be their market of choice.”

We look forward to our newest hires earning your praise and delivering on our promise of providing you and your customers with the successful outcomes you need. They include:

• Senior Underwriter Michael Altman (based in Chicago)
• Senior Claims Representative Bryan Cremeans (based in Chicago)
• Senior Underwriter Torin Durham (based in Georgia)
• Senior Loss Control Consultant Nick Greco (based in Chicago)
• Senior Claims Examiner Jean Marie Hoffman (based in Chicago)
• Senior Loss Control Consultant Chad Price (based in Missouri)

Do you have a customer in the scrap metal recycling searching for ways to involve managers in their safety processes? A construction firm seeking advice on how to get their claims costs under control? A welding company eager to make sure they are following the latest safety protocols? If your customers have questions, 3CU has the answer – the 3CU Segment Leaders Knowledge Center.

The Knowledge Center offers enhanced service to our customers working in construction, specialty transportation, energy, emerging markets, longshore and mergers and acquisitions. Customers often cite 3CU’s high level of expertise as a reason they choose us as a carrier. Because of this, we want to give them even greater access to our expert resources.

Expertise provided by the Knowledge Center includes coverage issues, segment operations overviews, exposures and controls, industry trends and program design.

Segment Leaders include:

• Construction: Kevin Rakow,  Kevin.Rakow@3CU.com, 312-443-4063
• Energy and Longshore: Bob Hamilton, Bob.Hamilton@3CU.com, 713-208-8347
• Mergers and Acquisitions: Mike Valiante, Mike.Valiante@3CU.com, 312-443-4055
• Recycling, Scrap and Garbage: Jerry Self, Jerry.Self@3CU.com, 312-443-4048
• Specialty Transportation: Scott Babcock, Scott.Babcock@3CU.com, 312-443-4042

Share the details of the 3CU Segment Leaders Knowledge Center with your customers today with this downloadable flier.

If you have customers craving high-touch service from their workers’ compensation carrier, look no further than 3CU. We meet with our customers within the first 30 days to review our claims, loss control and underwriting operations so that we can establish our ultimate goal of meeting and exceeding their expectations over the course of their policy year.

To help explain our distinctive approach to customer service, we’ve developed a new sales video, “3CU Promise: Excellent Customer Service.” This 90-second video provides a brief introduction to the tools and resources we use to improve our customers’ safety experience. It’s a great way to start a conversation with your own customers about what type of service experience they’re looking for from their work comp carrier and how 3CU can deliver the outcomes they seek.

To view the video, please click here and then bookmark the page for use with your customers.

2014 was a year of successes for Third Coast Underwriters and the Accident Fund Holdings Enterprise. Our valued agent partnerships played a key role in helping us achieve greatness. To see how the Enterprise and each of its brands performed, we encourage you to review the the 2014 Accident Fund Holdings’ Annual Report now available online.

You’ll find 2014 financial performance information for each brand, notable highlights from the past year and details on the many ways the Enterprise gave back to the communities where our many employees work and live. For more details about the holding company, visit AccidentFundHoldings.com.

Legislative Update is a brief synopsis of relevant legislative activity currently taking place in 3CU core and accommodation states. For more details or further documentation on any of these legislative activities, contact your underwriter.

Federal

National Association of Registered Agents & Brokers

The National Association of Registered Agents & Brokers (NARAB), established by legislation that also extended the federal government’s terrorism insurance backstop through 2020, will be a nonprofit. Its board of directors, consisting of eight current and former state regulators and five other members with expertise in producer licensing, will set membership standards for eligible nonresident insurance producers and provide access to every state on a nonresident basis.

Supported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the law preserves states’ rights on resident licensing, continuing education and other issues of interest to state regulators. There’s a lot that has to go well before the national broker licensing clearinghouse is up and running. The first step could be complete this month, when President Barack Obama names the 13 board members, which the law requires to be done within 90 days of the law’s Jan. 12 effective date. Still, questions of standards required of producers to participate, as well as how the body will be funded, remain unanswered.

Growing Threat of Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse

The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, has scheduled a hearing titled, “Examining the Growing Problems of Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse: State and Local Perspectives.” The subcommittee will continue its review of the growing prescription drug and opioid abuse problem across America.

State

Tennessee

The proposed Tennessee opt-out initiative, SB 721, is anticipated to receive an Advisory Council hearing in the near future. Accident Fund Holding’s (AFHI) national trade partner, the American Insurance Association, will offer opposition testimony against the bill at that meeting. We do not expect the bill to receive a positive recommendation from the Advisory Council. However, the Council’s recommendation is not binding upon the General Assembly and we expect the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee will pass substitute opt-out proposals regardless of the Council’s failure to recommend passage. It appears the proposal may not currently have strong support in the House. AFHI will keep you apprised of further developments.

Illinois

Numerous workers’ compensation legislative proposals have been introduced in both the House and the Senate. Many of these proposals’ chances of success are minimal and it appears many are headed to subcommittees for possible consideration. Recently, the House Labor Committee met and heard testimony on the effects of the workers’ compensation reforms that were enacted in 2011. In brief, NCCI outlined a cumulative 18.1% advisory rate reduction (over four years), business groups noted the modest to limited effect of the reforms, medical providers decried the fee reductions and the labor/attorney coalition voiced concern over carrier profits. AFHI will continue to monitor the political situation in Illinois, taking action in coordination with the Illinois Insurance Association, if we feel it benefits the industry.

North Carolina

North Carolina Rules Review Commission approved the Industrial Commission’s Workers’ Compensation Medicare-based fee schedules. These fee schedules were the result of a two-year negotiation between the industry, business community, hospitals and doctors. The fee schedule regulations take effect on April 1, 2015 and July 1, 2015.

Disclaimer of Liability

This document is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. This information is subject to change. Every effort is made to provide accurate and complete information in Accident Fund Holding’s Legislative Update. However, Accident Fund Holdings makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Update and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this newsletter.

All content within the Legislative Update is the property of Accident Fund Holdings, Inc., unless otherwise stated. All rights are reserved. No part of the Update may be reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Accident Fund Holdings.

• Automatic Sprinkler Installation & Drivers: $172,100
• Boiler Installation or Repair: $156,000 – $225,200
• Buildings – Operation by Contractors: $339,500 – $1,103,400
• Burglar Alarm Installation or Repair: $212,300
• Carpentry: $184,500 – $1,316,000
• Concrete or Cement Work: $151,300 – $372,900
• Concrete Construction: $163,000 – $1,523,200
• Conduit Construction: $310,800
• Construction or Agricultural Machinery: $377,200
• Contractor – Executive Supervisor or Construction Superintendent: $203,000 – $313,200
• Door Erection: $204,600
• Electrical Wiring – Within Buildings & Drivers: $155,500 – $505,100
• Elevator Erection or Repair: $162,600 – $363,300
• Excavation: $163,200 – $301,700
• Flooring: $243,800
• Gas Main or Connection Construction & Drivers: $318,000
• Glass Merchant: $166,200
• HVAC & Refrigeration: $184,300 – $452,300
• Iron or Steel Erection: $159,400 – $498,100
• Landscape: $543,500
• Lumberyard New Materials Only: $278,500 – $748,300
• Machinery or Equipment Erection or Repair: $164,200 – $841,000
• Machinery Dealer: $250,200
• Masonry: $268,100 – $369,500
• Mobile Crane and Hoisting Service Contractors: $219,100 – $729,400
• Painting or Paperhanging: $167,600 – $441,500
• Papercoating: $369,900
• Pile Driving: $285,800
• Plumbing: $174,800 – $490,500
• Quarry: $357,600
• Railroad Construction: $216,800 – $249,500
• Rigging: $535,700
• Roofing: $153,700 – $614,800
• Shaft Sinking: $858,900
• Sheet Metal Work: $150,600
• Sign Installation Maintenance or Repair: $518,400
• Street or Road Construction – Paving or Repaving: $218,200 – $444,700
• Wallboard Installation within Buildings: $293,400 – $602,500

How Can 3CU Deliver Successful Outcomes for Your Customers?

At Third Coast Underwriters (3CU), our customers are our top priority. Because we specialize in addressing complex operations and challenging exposures, we know the importance of developing unique workers’ compensation solutions. Let us help you today. For more information, visit 3CU.com, email info@3CU.com or call 866-641-2328.

• Scrap Metal Recycling/Dealers: $176,800 – $1,800,000

How Can 3CU Deliver Successful Outcomes for Your Customers?

At Third Coast Underwriters (3CU), our customers are our top priority. Because we specialize in addressing complex operations and challenging exposures, we know the importance of developing unique workers’ compensation solutions. Let us help you today. For more information, visit 3CU.com, email info@3CU.com or call 866-641-2328.

• Boat Building and Repair: $520,300
• Drilling: $218,400
• Electric Light or Power Line Construction: $219,300 – $794,400
• Oil or Gas Lease Work – Contractors & Drivers: $161,900 – $459,900
• Oil or Gas Pipeline – Construction & Drivers: $201,300 – $810,900
• Oil or Gas Pipeline – Operation & Drivers: $194,800
• Oil or Gas Well: Instrument Logging or Survey Work: $502,200

How Can 3CU Deliver Successful Outcomes for Your Customers?

At Third Coast Underwriters (3CU), our customers are our top priority. Because we specialize in addressing complex operations and challenging exposures, we know the importance of developing unique workers’ compensation solutions. Let us help you today. For more information, visit 3CU.com, email info@3CU.com or call 866-641-2328.

• Security Operations: $212,500

How Can 3CU Deliver Successful Outcomes for Your Customers?

At Third Coast Underwriters (3CU), our customers are our top priority. Because we specialize in addressing complex operations and challenging exposures, we know the importance of developing unique workers’ compensation solutions. Let us help you today. For more information, visit 3CU.com, email info@3CU.com or call 866-641-2328.

• Boilermaking: $745,400
• Painting: Shop Only: $751,200
• Restaurant: $247,700
• Rubber Goods Manufacturing: $474,900
• Store – Wholesale: $172,200 – $792,400

How Can 3CU Deliver Successful Outcomes for Your Customers?

At Third Coast Underwriters (3CU), our customers are our top priority. Because we specialize in addressing complex operations and challenging exposures, we know the importance of developing unique workers’ compensation solutions. Let us help you today. For more information, visit 3CU.com, email info@3CU.com or call 866-641-2328.

• Ambulance Services and EMS: $271,200 – $825,500
• Automobile Towing Company: $268,900 – $801,100
• Beer or Ale Dealer – Wholesale & Drivers: $280,000 – $1,317,000
• Bus Company: $337,400
• Garbage Collection and Drivers: $283,800 – $445,400
• Garbage Works: $344,600
• Oxygen or Hydrogen Manufacturing and Drivers: $161,600
• Storage Warehouse: $185,700 – $354,200
• Street Cleaning: $160,100 – $445,200
• Trucking – All Employees and Drivers: $219,700 – $1,398,000
• Trucking – Long Distance Hauling: $549,300
• Trucking – Mail Parcel or Package Delivery: $610,600
• Trucking – Oil Field Equipment: $230,300 – $271,700
• Vending or Coin-Operated Machines: $509,900

How Can 3CU Deliver Successful Outcomes for Your Customers?

At Third Coast Underwriters (3CU), our customers are our top priority. Because we specialize in addressing complex operations and challenging exposures, we know the importance of developing unique workers’ compensation solutions. Let us help you today. For more information, visit 3CU.com, email info@3CU.com or call 866-641-2328.