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7D Medical Forms Completed by Physician Assistants

Effective immediately, physical exams for school pupil transport (7D) license applicants can be conducted by physician assistants in addition to physicians and nurse practitioners. The Medical Form for a School Pupil (7D) Driver Certificate or a School Bus Driver Certificate (VSC109) has been revised to indicate that it can be completed by physician assistants. The revised application has a date…

Commercial Policy and Personal Trailer

*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect in December 2022. Question I have an insured with a Mass Commercial auto policy in a corporation name. The insured also owns a camping trailer in his personal name. Will the Commercial auto pick up the liability of the camper when pulled…

A Year of New Heights for InsurPac!

With the help of your contribution to InsurPac, Massachusetts ranked 4th in total donations for the year 2022. The total contributions for Massachusetts were $65,155! Of this amount, $7,700 came from our Young Agents – ranking them 6th among all contributing states and achieving their InsurPac goal for 2022! InsurPac finished with $1,269,794.59 in receipts. That total…

CAR Language Adopted – Big Win for MAIA Members!

Governor Baker signed the FY23 budget. We are happy to report that MAIA’s language relative to the Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers was included in the enacted budget. This language ensures appropriate agent representation on the CAR Governing Committee by removing the requirement that two seats be reserved exclusively for ERPs. For years these seats sat vacant due…

New Board Members!

We are incredibly pleased to introduce the newest members of the MAIA Board. These new members were sworn in at our 2022 Annual Meeting in Boston at our annual Big Event! (From left to right) Bill Burbine, Fred C. Church Insurance; Ted Gibson, MLIS, Deland, Gibson Insurance Associates, Inc.; Tricia Sabulis CISR, CIC, AAI-M, A.P…

New Year, New Chair!

Lisa Hirbour, CPCU, CIC, MAIA’s New Chair for 2023, presented Ben Cavallo, CIC, AAI, CISR (MAIA’s 2022 Chair), with the Chair Award at our 2022 Annual Meeting. We are very thankful to both of you for your past, present, and future contributions! Congratulations! “I am looking forward to further progress on the initiatives and projects we…

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…

IIAHC/NAIFA Annual Legislative Breakfast

State Senators John Velis and Jake Oliveira, State Representatives Mike Finn and Aaron Saunders, and other legislative staff with members of the Independent Insurance Agents of Hampden County, MAIA President, and CEO Nick Fyntrilakis, and MAIA Lobbyists Dennis Murphy and Anthony Abdelahad, at the IIAHC/NAIFA Annual Legislative Breakfast in Springfield.

I’m renting an auto on vacation out of the country…does my MAP and PUP cover me?

January 18, 2023 Written By: Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW – Vice President of Technical Affairs, MAIA I’ve had two emails in the last few weeks about car rentals out of the country, so big vacation weeks are coming up. Let’s take a look at what coverage there might or…

Individual Transports Vehicle to Florida and Coverage

*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect in December 2022. Question We have an insured that will be driving other people’s autos to Florida for a fee, trying to figure out if he needs some kind of insurance. He does not have a business name or EIN#. Answer Irene…

Updated Forms

The following forms have been updated to reflect the changes regarding foreign license holders receiving a MA registration: +Attached is the revised version of the RTA. Fields D4, D6, and D8 were changed to allow information on licenses, IDs, SSNs, passports, and consular IDs. +Attached is the revised version of the RTA Instruction Guide. Questions? Contact…

Voter Registration Changes

Effective January 1, 2023, the VOTES ACT requires the RMV to remove the “opt-out” for voting from the driver licensing application. Applicants that wish to opt out may contact their town/municipality directly. Information on all eligible applicants will automatically be sent to the Secretary of the Commonwealth (SoC) for voter registration. The option to decline to…

RMV Title Question

*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect in November 2022. Question I have a Dr. who bought out his leased vehicle; the current lease is in his medical practice name. The leasing company “sold “the vehicle to the medical practice naming the practice on the bill of sale and…

PL or CL Policy and Coverage

*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect in October 2022. Question We were asked by one of our carrier underwriters to add a vehicle on the date of purchase vs. the date that the vehicle was stamped unless it had gone beyond 8 days. I am trying to put…

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…