MAIA Staff Retirement Announcement: Sheron Gagnon

Please join us in congratulating Sheron Gagnon on her upcoming retirement from MAIA! Sheron has been a valuable member of our staff for over 36 years. She has helped a countless number of members throughout her tenure with MAIA. She has also managed the trade fair at our annual Big Event Conference and Trade Fair. …

Senior Hours Extended Through March

Dedicated Wednesday appointment hours for customers 75 years of age or older have been extended through March. These appointments will be available to all customers 75 years of age or older.

Operator Assignment

Question Operator Assignment This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 17, 2021 Insured has two cars and three drivers. Dad point 2 Mom point 99 Daughter point 3 If I put both cars on one policy.   Newer car gets daughters points, older car gets Dad’s point To…

ATLAS Issue with Mismatched Territory Codes Now Resolved

The MA Private Passenger Automobile Statistical Plan incorporated new territory codes for New Jersey (997) and Pennsylvania (998) effective 1/1/2021. When the ATLAS database was updated with the new codes, the system was inadvertently changing incident locations stored as Other (999) to Pennsylvania (998), particularly on Claims and Out-of-State Incidents. The system error has now…

Build a Strong Business & Protect it Well

We know the E&O competition is out there. And we want you to know that when you buy your Agents’ Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance through MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency, you’re purchasing a promise that we will do our utmost to protect your assets and serve your needs. We work with leading carriers, building…

Tech Talk: High Limits on Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage … Why?

Special Bulletin: MAIA’s Fair & Accurate Quotes Bill Becomes Law!

We are happy to announce that key language from “An Act Relative to Fair and Accurate Motor Vehicle Insurance Quotes”, was incorporated into the Economic Development Bill that was signed yesterday by Governor Baker. MAIA proposed the Fair and Accurate Quotes Bill after fielding complaints from members who were losing business to direct writers due…

Temporary Licenses and IDs Extended to 60 Days

Effective January 14th, temporary licenses (all classes) and ID cards printed on secure card stock will be valid for 60 days. They were previously valid for 30 days. Temporary licenses and ID cards issued prior to January 14th will still only be valid for their original 30-day period.

Online Learner’s Permit Exams Available in All ATS Languages

Beginning January 14th, online Class D and Class M Learner’s Permit Exams will be available in ALL of the languages that are available through the Automated Testing Station (ATS). Customers will be able to choose any of the following languages when taking an exam online.

Please Fill Out Cover Sheets Completely When Doing Registry Drops!

The Registry has asked us to remind our members that cover sheets must be filled out completely for individual and commercial transactions brought to Registration Drop Off Centers. They have noticed a trend where agents/runners/dealers are skipping some sections on the cover sheets, and then the clerk does not have what they need to finish…

Learn about Lawyer’s E&O and Add a New Product to Your Agency

MAIA’s Number One Agency has been selling Westport and E&S Lawyer’s Professional Liability Insurance (LPLI) policies since 2005, and we have grown the book over the past two years! Westport (AM Best Rated: A+ Superior) offers a competitive policy in both coverage and rate. Writing E&O for attorneys can sound a bit scary if you…

Massachusetts One of Top 3 State Contributors to InsurPac

MAIA extends a huge thank you to all from Massachusetts who participated in the 2020 InsurPac fundraiser. The Bay State contributed $73,817, exceeding our goal AND putting us among the Top 3 state contributors in the country! MA Young Agents also hit their InsurPac goal. After tallying the receipts and closing the books, the InsurPac…

Claim or Revalidate Your Free ACORD Forms License

A little over a year ago, the Big “I” and ACORD worked out an arrangement that allows member agencies (including MAIA members) with an annual group gross P&C revenue under $50 million to obtain a complimentary license to use ACORD Forms through their agency management system. (Big “I” members under $1 million in annual group…

Finally! MAIA’s Fair & Accurate Quotes Bill Is Set to Become Law

MAIA President & CEO Nick Fyntrilakis (center) testifying on the Fair & Accurate Quotes Bill at the Massachusetts State House in 2019. MAIA’s persistence pays off! Bill H.4643, An Act Relative to Fair and Accurate Motor Vehicle Insurance Quotes, has jumped all but the final hurdle before it becomes law. It was incorporated into the…

Got a MA Health License? Use It to Show Clients Your Value

A great way to add value for your commercial clients is to offer them a private, stand-alone MA PFML policy at rates that are competitive with the state plan! MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency can assist you in writing a private PFML policy for your clients with 25+ employees. It’s a win-win. They get good…

A Word from Nick Fyntrilakis About QuickClicks!

UPDATE 1/13/2021: On 1/11/2021, we emailed the login instructions for a free, one-year QuickClicks subscription to the primary agency contact person on record (typically the owner/principal) for every MAIA member agency.  If you are the primary contact but did not receive the email, please contact Heather Kramer at [email protected]. MAIA is proud to launch a…

Principal Place of Business

This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on November 13, 2020   I have a question on a Maine registered vehicle. I have a commercial insured (Massachusetts business) that has reregistered one of his commercial trucks in Maine that was previously registered in Massachusetts. My Massachusetts auto carrier indicates…

Green Insurance Donates Cash to Local Not-for-Profits

An article in The Wilbraham-Hampden Times (Dec. 31, 2020) alerted us to the good deeds of a MAIA member from Western Mass! COVID-19 prevented the Richard R. Green Insurance staff from carrying out their longstanding holiday tradition of collecting and donating toys. So, they did a 2020 pivot and found a different way to do…

Be Alert for E&O Policy Implications Related to COVID-19

As the leading provider of Agents’ E&O coverage in Massachusetts, MAIA’s Number One Agency offers coverage from top carriers including Utica National. We’d like to share a recent E&O Risk Management Alert from Utica, which addresses some of the important policy implications arising from COVID-19, including the Communicable Disease Exclusion recently developed by ISO. Will…

Big “I” Secures Agent Exemption to New Small Business Reporting Requirement

New DOI Bulletins Urge Carriers to Remain Flexible & Proactive as COVID-19 Crisis Continues

Reiterating the expectations laid out in previous Bulletins, the MA Division of Insurance (DOI) on December 29, 2020, issued Bulletins 2020-30 and 2020-33, stating that insurance carriers and self-insurance groups should continue to be flexible in issuing and administering insurance. “Exploring all appropriate flexibility in arrangements and timing of payments will help protect policyholders while…

Don’t Lose Your Member Benefits! Renew Your MAIA Membership

MAIA’s 2020 membership period ended on December 31st. If you have yet renewed, you will be receiving a final invoice in the coming days. Please be sure to renew no later than January 31st to avoid losing your membership benefits! – including your subscription to The Mass. Agent newsletter; education discounts; access to MAIA’s technical…

BAP Rate Change Mid Term

This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on November 13, 2020   I have a Customer with Progressive -on a Commercial Auto policy.  When we wrote the policy back in May the Premium was around $21,000 Since then they have continually increased the Premium – It is now around…

Commercial Credentials (CDLs & CLPs) and Medical Certificates Extension

The expiration dates for Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs), Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLPs), and CDL Medical Certificates have all been further extended to February 28, 2021. Customer records will be updated to reflect the new expiration date.