Tech Talk: I’m Protected by the Homestead Act – I Don’t NEED Liability Insurance…
Tech Talk: I’m Protected by the Homestead Act – I Don’t NEED Liability Insurance… By Irene L. Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW VP Technical Affairs, MAIA That is one of the most FOOLISH statements that I have ever heard, and it is SO UNTRUE! Don’t get me wrong. I think protecting…
Tech Talk: Your client wants to know! A taste of the upcoming October convention …
Tech Talk: Your client wants to know! A taste of the upcoming October convention … By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, CPIW, LIA VP Technical Affairs, MAIA MAIA’s annual convention …the BIG EVENT … is just a few short weeks away. So, to whet your appetite and to entice you to attend,…
TECH TALK: ANOTHER INTERESTING HOMEOWNER INSURANCE QUESTION
Tech Talk: Another Interesting Homeowner Insurance Question Irene Morrill CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW VP Technical Affairs, MAIA One of your member benefits is getting your questions answered by MAIA staff. My “specialty” is insurance-related questions. One agent emailed me …. Is it building or content? Is it a chicken or a…
Pain and Suffering Worker’s Comp
Question Workers Compensation: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect May, 2022: We need clarification on whether or not “pain and suffering” is afforded under a work comp policy here in MA. Can you advise? Answer Irene Morrill: The ACORD certificate states: Part I benefits are state mandated …lost wages, medical,…
Tech Talk: Another Interesting Homeowner Insurance Question
Tech Talk: Another Interesting Homeowner Insurance Question Irene Morrill CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW VP Technical Affairs, MAIA One of your member benefits is getting your questions answered by MAIA staff. My “specialty” is insurance-related questions. One agent emailed me …. Is it building or content? Is it a chicken or a…
Charging Fees
Question Charging Fees: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July, 2022: Good afternoon. I am considering charging fees for: Registry services Making payments on behalf of the insured and passing on consultation fees that I incur for resolving a problem with the FMCSA Answer Kathy Cormier: I believe…
Principle Place of Business
Question Principle Place of Business: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January, 2021: 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…
2022 Q3 P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this Massachusetts 2022 Quarterly P-C Premium Summary – Q3 as a benefit of your membership in the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents. Quarterly premium data reveals trends to give you, as members, a more “real time” sense of market conditions. Below are the highlights from the most recent quarterly data, as…
Adding and Removing Vehicles
Question Adding/Removing Vehicle This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on December 6, 2021: Agent: Quick question – this is the first time in almost a decade I ran into this situation so I’m trying to figure this out. We have a composite rated policy with Symbol 1 – at renewal…
Commercial Auto with Out of State Garaging
Question Commercial Auto with Out of State Garaging: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect August, 2022: I feel like I know the answer to this but hoping to confirm with you. We have a client in commercial lines that has a commercial auto policy and purchasing a new vehicle…
Can a Bobcat be Registered?
Question Can a Bobcat be registered? This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 20, 2021: Can a Bobcat (very small four-wheel front loader that cleans the sidewalks of snow) be registered? Please advise! Thanks! Answer Kathy Cormier: In the opinion of the Massachusetts RMV, a Bobcat (Skid Steer) is…
License Suspension Hearing
Question License Suspension Hearing: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July, 2022: I have a customer that had their license suspended but has now cleared up all the issues for the suspension. What is the easiest way to get a hearing? Do you think walking into the Milford…
Can you have a Motorcycle Policy without a Motorcycle permit-license?
Question Can you have a Motorcycle Policy without a Motorcycle permit/license? This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July, 2022: I’ve checked with everyone that I work with and no one seems to know the answer to this. We have an insured who is trying to register and insure…
Adding Additional Insurance to HO Policy
Question Adding Additional Insurance to HO Policy: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect August, 2022: I have an insured that is going to install a generator for their house in Scituate, and the only place to put it is next to their neighbor’s generator on their neighbor’s property. The neighbors is…
New RMV Service Center Services Handout
New RMV Service Center Services Handout A new handout called RMV Service Center Services (document LIC118) has been created. This handout contains information on which RMV transactions require an appointment, which can be processed in an RMV Service Center without an appointment, and which cannot be processed in RMV Service Centers. View the handout HERE. Please…
Moped Expiration Decal Change
Moped Expiration Decal Change Moped registrations/plates are valid for two years and expire on the last day of March. Currently, moped expiration decals are issued with the format MONTH YEAR (example: MAR 23, MAR 24). Beginning with moped registrations/plates expiring in March 2025, we are switching to the standard expiration decals that are used for…
New RMV Service Center Services Handout
New RMV Service Center Services Handout A new handout called RMV Service Center Services (document LIC118) has been created. This handout contains information on which RMV transactions require an appointment, which can be processed in an RMV Service Center without an appointment, and which cannot be processed in RMV Service Centers. View the handout HERE. Please…
Moped Expiration Decal Change
Moped Expiration Decal Change Moped registrations/plates are valid for two years and expire on the last day of March. Currently, moped expiration decals are issued with the format MONTH YEAR (example: MAR 23, MAR 24). Beginning with moped registrations/plates expiring in March 2025, we are switching to the standard expiration decals that are used for…
Full Term Credentials for Asylees and Refugees
Full Term Credentials for Asylees and Refugees Customers whose SAVE check returns a status of Asylee or Refugee are considered to have permanent lawful presence and will be eligible for full-term (5-year) credentials (all classes) beginning October 13, 2022. Previously, these customers received a one-year card. A change has been made to ATLAS to allow…
Full Term Credentials for Asylees and Refugees
Full Term Credentials for Asylees and Refugees Customers whose SAVE check returns a status of Asylee or Refugee are considered to have permanent lawful presence and will be eligible for full-term (5-year) credentials (all classes) beginning October 13, 2022. Previously, these customers received a one-year card. A change has been made to ATLAS to allow…
Rental Vehicle
Question Rental Vehicle: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July, 2022: My insured is going to rent a vehicle from dealer while his pickup is in for repair. It may take a while because they have to order parts. He is going to borrow his sister-in-law’s truck to…
Public or Livery
Question Public or Livery: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May, 2022: Question: I have a client who works as a therapeutic mentor and drives clients with special needs as part of her job function. She drives them to locations in the community for support for social skills…
Commercial Auto Ceded Carrier Quote
Question This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June, 2022: Commercial Auto Ceded Carrier Quote: Good afternoon. I understand a ceded carrier needs to have signed & completed Acord forms and all the supplemental forms to bind a ceded quote. But do they need to be completed and…
RMV ‘Get Ready” Service Streamlines Registration & Title Transactions
RMV ‘Get Ready” Service Streamlines Registration & Title Transactions The RMV is offering a ‘Get Ready’ web service that allows users to start registration and title transactions online. Get Ready cuts down on the data entry process, significantly reduces the time at the registry and eliminates inconvenient, frustrating clerk rejections. The service sends the Agent-entered…
RMV ‘Get Ready” Service Streamlines Registration & Title Transactions
RMV ‘Get Ready” Service Streamlines Registration & Title Transactions The RMV is offering a ‘Get Ready’ web service that allows users to start registration and title transactions online. Get Ready cuts down on the data entry process, significantly reduces the time at the registry and eliminates inconvenient, frustrating clerk rejections. The service sends the Agent-entered…
Updated Company Auto Insurance Filings – November 2022
P&C Company Filings – November 2022 MAIA periodically visits the Division of Insurance to collect the latest information about each company’s private passenger automobile insurance rules, rates, and forms filings. Recent changes and updates are presented here. Visit our Company Filings webpage to review the full filings. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at [email protected] or 508-634-7353. Company Filing Date/Rate Impact Commerce…
Updated Company Auto Insurance Filings – September 2022
Updated Company Auto Insurance Filings – September 2022 MAIA periodically visits the Division of Insurance to collect the latest information about each company’s private passenger automobile insurance rules, rates, and forms filings. Recent changes and updates are presented here. Company Filing Date/Rate Impact Allstate ALSE133277732 Rate/Rule 08/29/22 New 10/13/22 Renew +9% Bankers Standard ACEH133234830 Form/Rate/Rule 02/07/22…
Change of Utility Truck Body Style Code
Change of Utility Truck Body Style Code Effective September 15th, the ATLAS body style code of Utility Truck was changed to SUV (sport utility vehicle). This is because most vehicles given this code are more accurately described as SUVs. Vehicles that previously would have been given the body style code of Utility Truck, but are…
MAIA Announces 2022 Annual Meeting
MAIA Announces 2022 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, October 21, 2022, at 11:30 AM, in the Marina Ballroom I, during MAIA’s Big Event Conference…
Change of Utility Truck Body Style Code
Change of Utility Truck Body Style Code Effective September 15th, the ATLAS body style code of Utility Truck was changed to SUV (sport utility vehicle). This is because most vehicles given this code are more accurately described as SUVs. Vehicles that previously would have been given the body style code of Utility Truck, but are…
New Title Paper Stock
New Title Paper Stock Effective the week of September 12th, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing a revised Certificate of Title. This revised title will be printed on new paper stock and has one major change. The watermark depicting the Massachusetts State Seal will be replaced by the Screaming Eagle Watermark. Read…
Vehicle Inspection Update
Vehicle Inspection Update Two vehicle inspection changes will take effect over the next couple of months. Starting October 1, vehicle owners will no longer receive a printed inspection report when a vehicle passes inspection. Starting November 1, vehicles passing inspection will get a new sticker with the month the last sticker expired (unless the sticker…
New Title Paper Stock
New Title Paper Stock Effective the week of September 12th, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing a revised Certificate of Title. This revised title will be printed on new paper stock and has one major change. The watermark depicting the Massachusetts State Seal will be replaced by the Screaming Eagle Watermark. Read…
Vehicle Inspection Update
Vehicle Inspection Update Two vehicle inspection changes will take effect over the next couple of months. Starting October 1, vehicle owners will no longer receive a printed inspection report when a vehicle passes inspection. Starting November 1, vehicles passing inspection will get a new sticker with the month the last sticker expired (unless the sticker…
No, Commissions Don’t Grow on Trees
No, Commissions Don’t Grow on Trees But if you are writing Worker’s Comp through MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency, commissions will grow in your bank account! Do you have difficulty finding placement for risk or have quality risks in the MA WC Pool that can be transitioned out? Not sure where to start? Work with…
No, Commissions Don’t Grow on Trees
No, Commissions Don’t Grow on Trees But if you are writing Worker’s Comp through MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency, commissions will grow in your bank account! Do you have difficulty finding placement for risk or have quality risks in the MA WC Pool that can be transitioned out? Not sure where to start? Work with…
Condo Associations and All-In Coverage
Question Condo Associations and All-In Coverage: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January, 2022: Is it true that now in MA all condo associations by law need to carry all-in coverage, they just don’t always include betterments and improvements? This is what I’m hearing now however I don’t…
Need an RMV EVR Surety Bond?
Need an RMV EVR Surety Bond? The MA Registry of Motor Vehicles requires any MA insurance agency on the EVR Lite Program to secure a surety bond for $10,000. MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency has partnered with RLI Insurance Company to offer EVR Permit Surety Bonds for MAIA member agencies at a great price! Why get your…
Need an RMV EVR Surety Bond?
Need an RMV EVR Surety Bond? The MA Registry of Motor Vehicles requires any MA insurance agency on the EVR Lite Program to secure a surety bond for $10,000. MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency has partnered with RLI Insurance Company to offer EVR Permit Surety Bonds for MAIA member agencies at a great price! Why get your…
Diminished Value
Question Diminished Value: This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May, 2022: Question: We have a customer that recently had an accident in his new 2022 Honda Accord. He was not at fault and he’s looking to claim diminished value on the vehicle. His insurance company is telling him…