Agent News

3CU’s Dave Brandolino, loss control manager in Nashville, Tenn., was recently featured in Risk & Insurance Magazine, addressing the workplace risks of distracted driving. In the article, he offers mitigation strategies for employers and shares 3CU’s own approach to combating the issue.

Distracted driving, especially related to use of cell phones, is on the rise and resulting in an increasing number of accidents. As insurers compare national distracted driving statistics to claims involving motor vehicle accidents, many can infer the phenomena are related.

Brandolino stresses the importance of distracted driving policies in the workforce, beginning with the hiring process and ending with the right technology and data points to develop forward-looking metrics. He cites the ability to check job candidates’ driving records for distracted driving-related incidents and advantages in requiring minimum age requirements and road experience. He also lauds technology like telematics and cab cameras—electronic devices installed in vehicles that report information on driver speed, hard braking and swaying.

It’s these policies and expectations that hold drivers accountable and create opportunities for continued training and driver safety. 3CU is proud to help customers build programs that minimize the incidence and dangers of distracted driving.

To view the complete article in Risk & Insurance Magazine, visit the publication online.

2016 was a year of great success and growth for Third Coast Underwriters and a record-breaking year for the AF Group enterprise. As always, our valued agent partnerships played a key role in helping us achieve, and in many cases, surpass our goals. To see how the organization and each of its brands performed, please review the 2016 AF Group Annual Report: Delivering the Exceptional, available online.

You’ll find 2016 financial performance information for 3CU and other brands, as well as a letter from AF Group President Lisa Corless highlighting the year’s wins and charitable programs in the communities where our employees live and work. For more details, visit www.afgroupinsurance.com.

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. The list below illustrates the varied mix of accounts we have written recently within our core segments. Let us help you deliver successful outcomes for your customers today. For more information, visit 3CU.com, email info@3CU.com or call 866-641-2328.

AGRIBUSINESS

• Contractors – Machinery Dealers & Drivers – $571,300
• Farm – Livestock or Cattle Raising – $628,700
• Farm – Raising, Harvesting and Preparing for Market – $684,000
• Landscape Gardening and Drivers – $158,600 – $751,300
• Store Meat, Fish or Poultry Dealer – $249,700

CONSTRUCTION

• Architect or Engineer – Consulting – $173,900
• Burglar Alarm Installation or Repair – $142,800
• Carpentry – $146,400 – $364,500
• Conduit Construction – $366,800 – $648,200
• Concrete Construction – $191,700 – $1,422,900
• Concrete or Cement Work – $160,300 – $620,200
• Concrete Products – $1,296,300
• General Contractor (self performing) – $337,200 – $651,700
• Electric Light or Power Line Construction & Drivers – $1,148,800
• Electrical Wiring – Within Buildings & Drivers – $163,600 – $368,300
• Excavation – $175,000 – $211,600
• Gas Main or Connection Construction & Drivers – $216,000 – $286,300
• Glazier – $163,800
• HVAC & Refrigeration – $269,400 – $315,300
• Iron or Steel Erection – $220,200
• Machinery Dealer & Drivers – $280,900 – $487,900
• Machinery or Equipment Erection or Repair – $330,700
• Masonry –  $187,600 – $361,200
• Painting or Paperhanging – $165,100 – $259,600
• Plumbing –  $171,100 – $469,000
• Railroad Construction – $229,400 – $881,600
• Roofing & Drivers – $167,400 – $484,000
• Shaft Sinking – $288,700
• Sheet Metal Installation & Drivers – $154,800
• Sign Installation, Maintenance, Repair or Removal & Drivers – $486,400
• Street Cleaning & Drivers – $464,300
• Street or Road Construction – Paving or Repaving – $167,600 – $368,500
• Store – Hardware – $584,300
• Telephone or Telegraph Company – $170,400 – $1,182,600

TRANSPORTATION

• Automobile Repair & Drivers – $293,900
• Automobile Towing – $186,200 – $245,000
• Beer or Ale Dealer – $163,100 – $1,817,500
• Bus Company – $159,500
• Garbage Collection & Drivers – $246,800
• Lumberyard – New Materials – $590,400
• Machinery Dealer & Drivers – $202,800
• Storage Warehouse Furniture & Drivers – $184,000 – $346,800
• Store – Wholesale – $237,700 – $607,200
• Trucking – $154,400 – $262,500
• Trucking – Long Distance Hauling – $207,100 – $419,900
• Trucking – Mail Parcel or Package Delivery – $582,300
• Vending Distribution – $976,200

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

• Scrap Dealer & Drivers – $154,000 – $684,400
• Rubber Tire Dealers – $1,685,500

ENERGY

• Mobile Crane and Hoisting Service – Employees & Drivers – $309,500
• Oil or Gas Well – Cementing & Drivers – $156,600
• Oil or Gas Well – Instrument Logging or Survey Work & Drivers – $196,300
• Oil Rig Erecting & Drivers –  $221,800
• Oil Still Erection or Repair – $307,800 – $317,700
• Trucking – Employees & Drivers – $152,800 – $519,300

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

• Oxygen or Hydrogen Manufacturing & Drivers – $2,084,400
• Ink Manufacturing – $239,000
• Painting – Shop only – $823,800

Michigan
The Workers’ Compensation Health Care Services Advisory Committee, led by Director Mark Long, recently took action on new air ambulance reimbursement regulation and the 2017-2018 fee schedule conversion factor. Nationally, air ambulance transporters have been charging exorbitant fees — regulation to set the fee schedule at 140% of Medicare for all air ambulance reimbursement successfully progressed out of Committee. Because he is not witnessing any access to care issues, and as a result of Medicare conversion, providers will receive a bit of a rate increase; the director sees no reason to increase workers’ compensation provider reimbursements at this time, and moved forward with an official recommendation to maintain the current fee schedule conversion factor.

Through the Advisory Committee, each initiative will now receive a public hearing, prior to proceeding to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) where we anticipate them to pass into law.

Illinois
The General Assembly passed legislation (HB 2525) establishing price controls on workers’ compensation insurers and (HB 2622) creating the Illinois Employers Mutual Insurance Company (IEMIC), a state-sponsored fund to provide workers’ compensation insurance in Illinois. House and Senate Democrats, who are at odds with the governor on virtually all fronts, promoted both bills. AF Group industry partners AIA, Illinois Chamber and the Illinois Insurance Association opposed both proposals.

More recently, House Republican leadership introduced a modest series of budget and business reforms (HB 4068), which include two industry supported measures: the establishment of a Medicare-based fee schedule, and calls for the creation of an evidence-based drug formulary. In coordination with our trades, AF Group is supportive of HB 4068 and has requested that Governor Bruce Rauner veto both HB 2525/HB 2622, which we believe he is inclined to do.  We will remain engaged as the situation in Springfield continues.

Wisconsin
Labor and Industry Review Commission – The proposal that would’ve eliminated the state’s Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC) has failed. The issue will certainly arise in next year’s budget, but for now the status quo is maintained.

Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council – Assembly Labor Committee held a hearing on Assembly Bill 308, which would alter the membership on the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council. The legislation proposes to change the composition of the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) to reflect the current unionized versus non-unionized labor force. Proponents of the bill argue that unionized labor should not be allowed to have five voting members on the council if unions only make up 8% of the workforce. Opponents argue that the legislation is not needed and would upend the delicate balance that exists on the council between labor and management. AF Group partners at the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance have opposed this legislation and successfully stalled the initiative for now.

North Carolina
North Carolina Supreme Court has issued its decision in Wilkes v. City of Greenville, ruling that once an injury has proven established as compensable, there is a rebuttable presumption that any additional medical treatment is related to the compensable injury.  AF Group national trade partner, the American Insurance Association, has filed an amicus brief in this action arguing against the presumption. The industry will be engaging with employer groups to seek a legislative solution to this decision. More to come as this situation progresses.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced the creation of the Innovation and Technology (EX) Task Force to help insurance regulators stay informed on key developments, including new products and services from start-up companies, as well as established insurance industry players. The task force reports directly to the NAIC Executive Committee. Michigan Insurance Director Patrick M. McPharlin and Oregon Insurance Commissioner Laura Cali Robison will lead the task force as chair and vice chair, respectively. Of particular interest to AF Group, the new task force will also oversee the work of the Big Data Working Group and the Cybersecurity Working Group.