HO6 Condo Coverage A
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question My client inherited a condo in Maine from their parents. When the parents lived there, they added a screened-in porch off the back of the unit. My client is saying the parents were allowed to add the…
Coverage for Tree Struck by Lightning & Debris Removal
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question Lightning struck a tree. I know a home policy covers the tree itself for $500, but is there full coverage to remove the dead tree? Answer Laura Poulin: With respect to the ISO HO forms, the limit…
2024 Q2 Quarterly P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2024 Q2 Quarterly P&C Marketplace Summary covering the Massachusetts Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Marketplace as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). This report provides up-to-date property and casualty (P&C) data, offering you a “real-time” view of trends in the Massachusetts insurance marketplace.…
Paying Commission To An Employee With An Expired License
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question One of our employees had their producer license expire because they did not achieve the required continuing education credits. In MA, you may reinstate your license within 12 months of the missed renewal deadline for a late…
Motorized Wheel Chair
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question Good Afternoon. I have an insured who recently got a chair to assist his wife with mobility through Medicare. He is with his Insurance on an HO3 form. He is concerned if there is any coverage under…
2024 Massachusetts Storm Events Summary
As a benefit of your membership in the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, you are receiving this 2024 Massachusetts Storm Events Summary. The core component of tracking weather is what is known as a “Storm Event.” This 2024 Massachusetts Storm Events Summary focuses on 56 types of Storm Events, as defined by the National Center…
Just What Is Surface Water?
September 25, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Though there are many contributing factors to flooding, rainfall is certainly a primary factor. When rain falls, some is captured by soil and vegetation, and the remainder flows onward. Many are aware of flooding…
2024 September Commercial Multi-Peril P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 September Commercial Multi-Peril P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). The reason MAIA is providing you with this list is it lets you have speedy access to information on the Commercial Multi-Peril Insurance marketplace in Massachusetts. Do not forget…
Diminished Value
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question I know a couple of years ago, there was a court case concerning Diminished Value and what a claimant has to do to present a claim for this. I could not find anything on the website. Do…
Oil Remediation
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question Do you have any articles on oil remediation and common endorsements regarding the Homeowners’ Policy? Or an online course? Answer Laura Poulin: The unendorsed ISO HO0003 policy excludes losses to an insured’s property arising from pollutants unless…
Funeral Expensed Under the Auto Policy
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question Unfortunately, we have an insured who passed away in a car accident. Obviously, we know that PIP will pay for funeral expenses. He also has $5,000 in Medical Payments. When you read the coverage section, it sounds…
Lienholder Code List
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question I know you sent me a list of electronic title states. Now I can’t find it! Would you please resend it or let me know how I can find it? Answer Kathy Cormier: Here is a link…
2024 MAIA Annual Meeting Announcement
NOTICE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE AGENTS OF THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING. In accordance with Article XI, Section 1, of the bylaws, notice is hereby given to the members of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, Inc., that the Annual Meeting of the Association will be held on Friday, September 27th…
Revised MAIP Eligibility…the Good, the Bad and…You Know!
August 19, 2024 Written By: Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW – Consultant, Technical Affairs, MAIA Just when you think you know what you’re talking about, someone changes something, and then you’re back to “say what?” What vehicles are eligible for MAIP? Autos eligible for MAP In May of this year,…
Golf Cart for Street Use
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question Do you happen to know of a carrier that will write a golf cart for street use in MA? I called the carrier and they will do it if they are writing another vehicle. I am trying…
Legislative Update Re: Compulsory Limits
MAIA’s priority this session has been on legislation that would increase compulsory limits from 20/40/5. Special thanks to MAIA members for reaching out to their legislators to express their support for this measure. These provisions would provide a long-overdue update to the state’s compulsory bodily injury insurance and property damage limits. As healthcare costs have soared…
Age of RTA
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question I hope all is well! Is there a hard and fast rule about how old the stamped RTA form can be before the RMV rejects it? I assumed one month, but can you confirm that? Thanks for…
More Lender/Servicer Problems – When Will It End!
July 29, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Well, they are at it again! We are seeing an uptick in Lender/Servicer issues affecting Insureds. Whether the loan owner or a separate mortgage servicer manages your Insured’s loan, they may be susceptible to…
Surviving Spouse and Trailer
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question I have an insured (surviving spouse) who would like to retain 2 of her husband’s trailers. I understand that the surviving spouse process cannot be used on trailers. The RMV is looking for an approval for plate…
Compulsory Limits – Senate Economic Development Bill
As you may be aware, MAIA’s legislative priority this year is to increase compulsory limits from 20/40/5 to 50/100/30. We have been successful in getting this language included in the Senate version of the Economic Development Bill – but it was not included in the House version. There is now a Conference Committee working through the…
2024 Q1 Massachusetts P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2024 Q1 Quarterly P&C Marketplace Summary covering the Massachusetts Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Marketplace as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). Quarterly property and casualty (P&C) data reveals trends during the current year to give you, as members, a more “real time”…
Business Merged with Name Change
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question I have a commercial client who merged his business with another. The name has changed, but the FEIN has remained the same. The insured has one commercial auto insured by Safety under the name prior to the…
Traveling Nomad
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question We currently write an HO4 for an insured with MPIUA (due to claims). His legal residence is in Leominster, where he has some personal property. He also has some personal property in a storage unit in Leominster.…
Off Premises Power Loss and Resulting Power Surge
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of May 2024. Question We have an insured that had a loss back in March from the last snow storm. A tree fell on a pole and caused a power surge to his house. The pole was off premise. Carrier is…
2024 Massachusetts Annual P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2024 Massachusetts Annual P&C Marketplace Summary covering the Massachusetts property and casualty (P&C) insurance marketplace as a benefit of your membership in the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents. What follows is a graphic and numeric presentation of the Massachusetts P&C industry data from an Independent Agent’s perspective. The 2023 data…
LDW/CDW vs Hired Car Coverage on a BAP
June 24, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA In theory, Hired Car Liability, Symbol 8, and Hired Car Physical Damage should do the trick; however, typically, the rental contract makes the Insured responsible for things beyond what the Insurance will pay, making…
In-Law Apartment vs. Two-Family
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of May 2024. Question Hope all is well – we are having a lively discussion in our office and can’t agree, so I said I will ask MAIA, “What is the difference between a one-family with an in-law apartment and a…
Earth Movement Exclusion & Blasting Operations
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of May 2024. Question We had an interesting call last week from a prospect. The individual lives near a quarry where blasting takes place on a regular basis. If the blasting causes any damage to his home or pool, would it…
2024 MAIA Advocacy Fund Contributors
We sincerely thank the following independent agents for contributing to the 2024 MAIA Advocacy Fund. Your contributions will directly support efforts to protect your business interests and ensure a fair legislative and regulatory environment. THANK YOU! A David Risman Insurance Agency, Inc. A J Marchionne Insurance Agcy Inc. Acacia Insurance Inc. Affordable Insurance Agency Inc.…
Garagekeepers vs. On-Hook Coverage
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of May 2024. Question If an Insured already has Garagekeepers Legal Liability coverage, does it also need On-Hook Coverage CA0402 or is On-Hook Coverage for a pure towing operation that does nothing more than pick up and deliver autos between other…
HO-3 Coverage
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of April 2024. Question Here’s a story and just trying to see if there is any chance of HO-3 coverage. Policyholders’ 9 yr old is visiting his 15 yr old cousin in Brockton (postage stamp lots). The older kid (that lives…
Trusts & the HO Policy
May 20, 2024 Written By: Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW – Consultant, Technical Affairs, MAIA An agent emailed saying his client had put their personal assets, including their home, into a trust, and the lawyer is requiring the HO 05 43 Residence Held in Trust endorsement to be added to…
MA Fair Plan
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of April 2024. Question I hope you are well! We quoted some MPIUA homes last week, and today, two were rejected because they said we didn’t use the new RCT info from 2/24. Coverage A went up over $300K on one!…
RTA Questions & Answers
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of April 2024. Questions & Answers A few questions have come up at our agency, and I was hoping you could help. If a dealership (non-drive) sells a vehicle, is that dealership responsible for completing the RTA? If it is a…
Lease Buyout and Plate Reassignment
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of April 2024. Question Quick question for you. I’ve noticed recently that the registry has allowed folks buying out their leases to keep the same plates. Can you tell me what we check off on the RTA to indicate this? Answers…
Loss Assessment
April 23, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Which coverage does a unit owner need to purchase to cover an Association deductible – building Coverage A or loss assessment coverage? Let’s start with Loss Assessment coverage. There are three requirements to trigger…
WC Classification
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of March 2024. Question I have an insured who operates a not-for-profit cemetery. They want to appeal the assignment of class code 9220; see the email excerpt below. I have been on the DIA website and called their general number but…
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