PIP and Med Pay
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 12, 2020 QUESTION A client, a personal injury attorney, requested we remove $25000 of Medical Payment coverage from her auto policy because her company (Travelers) would not provide Medical payment until…..coverage was exhausted from PIP, her Personal Health policy,…
Tech Talk: Will This COVID-19 Good Deed Hurt Your Customer?
By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW — VP of Technical Affairs
Registry News: Springfield B2B Service Moving to Chicopee
Due to the evolving situation with COVID-19 (coronavirus) and in an effort to continue protecting RMV staff, customers, and business partners, the RMV is moving B2B service for Western Massachusetts to the Chicopee RMV Service Center, effective Monday, May 18. In following ‘social-distancing’ practices, the Chicopee RMV will exclusively perform drop-off B2B transactions / bundles only …
Registry News: Registration Renewals & Reactivations for Secondary Vehicles
CORRECTION The original RMV handout on Renewing and Reactivating Registrations had an incorrect mailing zip code. If you are mailing a Registration and Title Application (RTA) to the RMV, the correct address is: Registry of Motor VehiclesP.O. Box 55895Boston, MA 02205-5895The correct information is reflected in this revised handout. Registration renewals and reactivations for secondary vehicles such as…
Share Your Opinions with Governor’s Reopening Advisory Board
Last week, Governor Charlie Baker announced the creation of a Reopening Advisory Board to help his administration develop strategies to reopen the economy in phases, based on health and safety metrics. They have posted an online form for those who want to share input with the Advisory Board. Your comments will be reviewed and taken into…
DOI Allows Temporary Insurance Producer Licenses with No Exam
With insurance producer license exams suspended due to COVID-19, some eligible applicants were unable to obtain a license in Massachusetts. In response, the MA Division of Insurance (DOI) has authorized the issuance of temporary individual insurance producer licenses without requiring an exam. The temporary policy is effective immediately and will extend until after the State…
Is Your Website an Unintentional E&O Risk?
Your agency’s website is the cornerstone of your operational and marketing strategy – especially now, when practically everything’s happening online! But certain statements, omissions, even words like “expertise” or “24/7” can actually work against you when defending an E&O claim. E&O provider Swiss Re Corporate Solutions and the Big “I” Trusted Choice team have created…
Keep Your Contact Info at Your Customer’s Fingertips
Order customized vinyl registration holders from MAIA, and your customers will have your number where and when they need it. Imprinted with your agency’s branding, these vinyl holders are designed to fit the 8.5” x 11” (folded) MA registration form and an accident card to record the needed information. With a pocket for your business…
2020 Big ‘I’ Virtual Legislative Conference – Let’s ALL Register Today!
MAIA is urging ALL members to register for the Big “I” Virtual Legislative Conference May 12-15, 2020. It’s free, it’s important, and the more registrants, the stronger the message to our lawmakers that these issues are important! Each day at 2:00 p.m., you can tune in for a 45-minute session and hear from insurance legislators,…
Registry News: Class D & M Road Tests Canceled through May 18th
The MA RMV has canceled all passenger and motorcycle road tests (Class D & Class M) through Monday, May 18, 2020. (They previously had been canceled through May 4th.) However, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) road tests are still being conducted. Please visit the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) website at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/rmv-covid-19-information for the most…
MAP Coverage & License Suspension
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 27, 2020 QUESTION May I ask a question, please, about the MAP?If an insured is driving on a suspended license, are any of his coverages voided? We have an insured whose license was suspended and his reinstatement hearing, scheduled…
Registry News: Essential Transactions, Appointments & Where to Find Help
During the COVID-19 state of emergency, Massachusetts has gone from 30 RMV service center locations and multiple AAA locations down to eight locations for the entire state (plus two that are designated commercial-only) to maintain social-distancing for the safety of customers and staff. MAIA’s member relations advocate Kathy Cormier has compiled some facts and guidelines…
Hartford Flood Launches New Online Portal
If your agency is a Hartford Flood broker through MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency, don’t forget that Hartford Flood will be moving to a new online portal on Friday, May 1, 2020. All users will receive two separate welcome emails delivered to their emails on file on April 30th & May 1st with instructions for…
Hospitality Liquor Coverage During COVID-19
MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency wants to remind agents that we are here to help you with access to Hospitality Mutual coverage if you need it! Hospitality has done an excellent job with accommodating insureds during the COVID-19 crisis. They have:
BAP and Covid-19
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 22, 2020 QUESTION Curious if you’ve had feedback/questions from agencies about commercial auto during Covid. Some carriers are “allowing” us to decrease limits on some or all vehicles until client is back to work. We are hesitant to offer…
RMV Non-Essential Transactions
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 22, 2020 QUESTION We have received a notice from the Springfield Registry that they will not register a trailer for one of our clients since it is “non-essential” vehicle. Is this true?
Registry News: Paying Vehicle/Trailer Sales Tax Online
With RMV service centers closed for all but essential services, sales tax for a motor vehicle, trailer, camper, motorcycle, etc. must be paid online to avoid late penalties or interest. The RMV has issued instructions and a link to the MA Department of Revenue (DOR ) MassTaxCollect site where these transactions can be completed. The…