Agent News
Second Quarter 2015
On July 1, 2010, Third Coast Underwriters opened for business with one purpose – to provide a truly unique workers’ compensation solution for insureds and agents with complex exposures and service needs. Five years later, our mission remains the same but we’ve grown into a respected, recognized brand in the marketplace that delivers what we promise to our agents and customers. In honor of our fifth anniversary, I wanted to share with you the five things I’m most proud we’ve accomplished in these last few years.
- Building a team of dedicated, expert professionals: 3CU couldn’t achieve the success we’ve had without gathering some of the most talented professionals I have ever had the pleasure to work with. We’ve assembled some of the most experienced people in the work comp industry who understand the niche industries that we specialize in and are committed to using their expertise to the benefit of our customers.
- Developing a reputation for excellent service: Our customers repeatedly tell us that our commitment to excellent service differentiates us from our competitors. Because of this, we have become known for delivering exceptional outcomes. We work tirelessly to assist our customers in keeping their employees safe, their injured workers cared for, and their costs manageable.
- Establish a record of keeping promises: At 3CU, our core value is keeping our word – to our customers, our agents and each other. By developing this trust, we’ve established relationships that have allowed us to grow our business substantially, expand our regional footprint and plan for future success.
- Achieving profitable results: Through careful underwriting, superior loss control, exceptional claims handling and active book management, 3CU has achieved and maintained post-startup profitability. 3CU’s current results are the best I’ve personally experienced during my time in the industry, a testament to the daily efforts put forth by our team to remain focused on our core competencies.
- Maintain scalability: As a division of Accident Fund Holdings, we are proud to be a part of one of the largest workers’ compensation insurers in the country. The scale of the organization allows us the economy of scale needed to remain competitive, while keeping 3CU focused on the needs of our individual clients.
I’m excited to celebrate our fifth anniversary and the expansion of 3CU’s Chicago headquarters in late July. We have a beautiful space from which to continue on this journey as 3CU evolves into one of the premier specialty workers’ compensation providers in the country. Thanks to all of you who have supported our vision thus far and to those who will help us carry on our promise to deliver exceptional outcomes to our valued customers.
Marguerite Dixen
President, Third Coast Underwriters
Avoiding what could have resulted in a catastrophic loss, the efforts of the 3CU team and the effective use of return to work helped bring a young worker back to full duty just six months after a severe work injury. The claim involved a highway construction worker who was severely injured after becoming pinned between a concrete barrier and an excavator in early August last year. To help facilitate the claim, 3CU assigned a nurse case manager who worked with the man, his parents and eventually his attorney to understand and navigate his recovery process.
While the claimant was recovering, 3CU Senior Claim Representative Stephanie Bolen was also working closely with the insured. “I explained to them that if he didn’t return to work in some capacity, he may get into that disability mode and possibly never return,” Bolen said. The potential exposure could result in the payment of years of wage differential benefits. Bolen educated the insured on the negative implications to their experience modification factor and what that could mean to future premiums and business opportunities. The insured was very receptive to her feedback and supportive of developing short term light-duty opportunities as well as long-range alternatives, if the claimant would have permanent restrictions placed on the type of work he could do.
By early December, the claimant was released for light duty and began working half days. By February, he was released to full duty and back to doing his normal job – a remarkable achievement given the severity of his injuries a little more than 6 months earlier. Bolen is convinced 3CU’s consultative approach with all parties involved and the effective use of return to work made all the difference. “Had we not explained the benefits of providing light duty work options, had the insured not brought him back and worked with us, and had the claimant not been receptive to our efforts, he would have likely been off the job a lot longer and possibly never returned,” Bolen said. “It could easily have turned into a catastrophic loss.”
Most important, it’s satisfying to know that our collaborative efforts helped return a young worker to his job and to a full and productive life.
As part of our regional growth strategy, 3CU has been focused on increasing our presence in the Southeast. To illustrate our commitment to this goal, we are excited to announce three recent hires who will be based throughout the region. They are:
- Torin Durham, Senior Business Development Specialist: Based in Georgia, Torin brings 13 years of underwriting experience with specific expertise in handling high-hazard, complex accounts. He also has a strong track record of developing and fostering valued agency partnerships.
- Greg Hurd, Senior Claims Consultant:Based in Tennessee, Greg brings nearly 18 years of workers’ compensation claims experience. He’s worked closely with multiple national accounts and has experience in more than 25 jurisdictions, including those throughout the Southeast and Gulf region.
- Scott Oliver, Senior Loss Control Specialist: Based in North Carolina, Scott brings 23 years experience in loss control and risk management consulting. He has earned his ARM, INS and has certifications for OSHA 500: Trainer Course for Construction and as a 130 Hour Construction Safety Coordinator.
Together with Business Development Regional Director Jerry Self, Loss Control Manager David Brandolino and Senior Claims Representative Kriste Henderson, these six will help 3CU penetrate the Southeast region even further with their on-the-ground presence. And having them close and readily available to our valued agents and customers will help 3CU continue to deliver the exceptional outcomes and service they’ve come to expect.
The new 3CU.com website makes it easier than ever to find the resources and materials you and your customers need. To access the 3CU Toolbox, go to3CU.com and click on Toolbox in the upper right hand corner of the page. On the Toolbox page, you’ll find icons that allow you to peruse materials by four topics – Claims, Fraud, Loss Control and All Resources.
- Click on Claims to get information on how to report a claim easily as well as useful claim-related forms that you may need to process your incident efficiently.
- Click on Fraud to learn examples of fraudulent behavior, download fraud posters and fliers, and how to report fraud easily and anonymously. (We’ll tell you here too – call 1-800-944-FRAUD (3728) or email ReportFraud@3CU.com.)
- Click on Loss Control to access loss control materials and resources sorted by our key business segments (Construction, Emerging Markets, Energy, Longshore, Manufacturing and Specialty Transportation) or safety topics (more than 15 to select from). Materials with a padlock icon indicate their availability in our Secure Toolbox, which is found on the Agent and Policyholder sites and accessible with Policyholder or Agent login.
- Click on All Resources to learn about the innovative products and services that 3CU provides customers as well as sort all materials by area of interest.
Users can also easily search all 3CU Toolbox materials via the Toolbox-specific search, located in the right-hand column. We encourage you to share this information with your customers so that they can have access to the resources and materials they need to keep their employees safe.
Since our start, 3CU’s focus has been on delivering outcomes for customers with high hazard operations. That’s why we’ve assembled a team of loss control consultants who are experts in developing safety solutions for complex operations.
To help explain 3CU’s distinctive approach to loss control, we’ve developed a new sales video, “3CU Promise: Loss Control Expertise.” This 80-second video explains the assessments used in evaluating customers to ensure they have the best safety controls in place. It also details the tools and resources available to customers to improve their employees’ safety training.
If loss control is a top priority for your customer, the video can be a great introduction for them about what 3CU offers. To view the video, please click here and then bookmark the page for use with your customers.
