Doordash
Doordash This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 12, 2020 QUESTION I have a client who is looking into part-time with Doordash. How is personal lines client addressing using personal vehicle for doordash? Any thoughts?
SD.2888 and Other Proposed Legislation to Cover COVID-19 BI Claims
SD.2888 and Other Proposed Legislation to Cover COVID-19 BI Claims As the legislative and regulatory landscape continues to shift day by day, MAIA and our national association, The Big “I,” are working hard to ensure that independent agents are well represented. Many of you have reached out with questions about the highly publicized bills being…
RMV to Mail IRP Renewals in Monthly Batches Starting in April
RMV to Mail IRP Renewals in Monthly Batches Starting in April MAIA spoke to the RMV today (Friday, March 27), and they are still on point to start mailing IRP renewals, but will be changing the process this year. Instead of mailing all renewals at once, they will separate the renewals into three groups and…
RMV Enforcing No Walk-In Policy
RMV Enforcing No Walk-In Policy Effective Friday, March 27th, the RMV will be enforcing a strict no walk-in policy at its eight Service Centers open to the general public. The only transactions that will be processed at service centers are those that require an in-person transaction, including Commercial Driving Licenses or Permits (CDLs / CLPs), some new…
RMV: 60-Day Extension Now Applies to Both Commercial and Non-Commercial Vehicle Inspections
RMV: 60-Day Extension Now Applies to Both Commercial and Non-Commercial Vehicle Inspections The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is implementing a 60-day extension to commercial vehicle inspections expiring in March and April. The RMV announced the 60-day extension for non-commercial vehicle inspections on March 20th. These initiatives recognize the importance of commercial vehicle drivers…
Surcharge
Surcharge This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 19, 2020 QUESTION If a client hits a barrel that falls out of the back of a truck on the highway, can they be surcharged? Thank you!
RMV Springfield Will Accept B2B/IRP Transactions for Drop-Off Service
RMV Springfield Will Accept B2B/IRP Transactions for Drop-Off Service Beginning Thursday, March 26, the Springfield RMV Service Center will be open for B2B/IRP drop-off transaction processing. (The B2B/IRP-dedicated service centers at Milford and Wilmington also remain open for drop-off services.) These facilities and services will be for drop-off transactions/bundles only. You will not be allowed to…
Roommates
Roommates This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 19, 2020 QUESTION Personal auto policy, individual rents a room with several other “housemates”/Roommates. He doesn’t speak to them, no idea who they are. Carrier is asking to be added to his auto policy. There a ruling on…
E&O Reminder: Don’t Say, “It Isn’t Covered”!
E&O Reminder: Don’t Say, “It Isn’t Covered”! MAIA’s Number One Agency would like to remind you that it is the carrier’s responsibility to determine coverage, not the agent’s. Please be careful when questioned by an insured about coverage. We suggest that it is okay to offer your opinion, but with the disclosure that it is truly up…
RMV Branches Limiting Numbers of Customers
RMV Branches Limiting Numbers of Customers The RMV branches that are open are swamped, so they have determined how many customers they can serve in a day and are giving out numbers to people waiting in line as a trial process. Once the numbers are gone, that will be all that is serviced that day.…
RMV Makes Temporary Policy Change Re Insurance Stamps
RMV Makes Temporary Policy Change Re Insurance Stamps The RMV is temporarily amending the current proof of insurance policy to allow insurance companies and agents to send a scanned or faxed copy of the RTA, RMV-2 form, or the Section 5 registration application, rather than requiring a rubber stamp. The copy must be legible and…
RMV: Appointment-Only Online Reservation System & Other Measures
RMV: Appointment-Only Online Reservation System & Other Measures The RMV continues to take steps to minimize customer volume at physical locations, and has implemented an online reservation system for making appointments to conduct certain “necessary and required” in-person transactions at the eight open and operating RMV Service Centers. These essential transactions include certain CDL transactions…
Condo
Condo 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 3, 2020 QUESTION Question, if a condo master policy includes earthquake coverage but the HO6 policy does not, if there was an earthquake loss, would the loss assessment apply or does it have to be a covered loss….…
Yes, the Governor Deemed Insurance an Essential Business – No, That Does Not Mean Your Agency Must Stay Open
Yes, the Governor Deemed Insurance an Essential Business – No, That Does Not Mean Your Agency Must Stay Open In our March 23rd Special Bulletin, we reported Governor Baker’s decision to include “insurance services” among the list of “essential” businesses that are exempt from his mandatory shutdown order. This announcement generated many questions from members,…
It’s Official: Insurance Licenses ARE Extended
It’s Official: Insurance Licenses ARE Extended If your MA insurance license in good standing has expired or will expire during the COVID-19 state of emergency, it will remain valid until 90 days following the termination of the state of emergency. After receiving conflicting reports (and issuing a “Correction” earlier this week that turned out to…
Boston Software Providing FREE Tool to Create, Stamp & Submit RTAs to the Registry from Home
Boston Software Providing FREE Tool to Create, Stamp & Submit RTAs to the Registry from Home With so many agencies transitioning to work-from-home arrangements, Boston Software, in partnership with the RMV and MAIA, is providing free access to its SinglePoint Forms tool and carrier eStamps to allow agents to submit copies of Registration and Title…
DOI Asks Carriers for Flexibility to Ensure Continuation of Coverage
DOI Asks Carriers for Flexibility to Ensure Continuation of Coverage The MA Division of Insurance (DOI) on March 23 issued Bulletin 2020-05 to all insurance carriers and self-insurance groups that provide coverage in Massachusetts. The Bulletin outlines the DOI’s expectations for carriers to “provide as much flexibility as is reasonably possible” with regard to collection…
Trailer Only Policies
Trailer Only Policies 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 5, 2020 QUESTION We are being told by our carrier that their new company portal will no longer support “trailer only” policies, so they are going to be non renewing the policies unless we add a…
Special Bulletin: Insurance Agents ARE Essential
Special Bulletin: Insurance Agents ARE Essential For more recent information, please read this post from 3/24/20: Yes, the Governor Deemed Insurance an Essential Business No, That Does Not Mean Your Agency Must Stay Open Governor Baker this morning (3/23/20) mandated that all non-essential businesses in MA shut down. However, MAIA has just confirmed that insurance…
Commercial Driver’s Licenses and Commercial Learner’s Permits
Commercial Driver’s Licenses and Commercial Learner’s Permits Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) and Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLPs) expiration dates have NOT been extended. However, the RMV recognizes the importance of commercial vehicle drivers to the supply chain during the State of Emergency declaration, and will continue to prioritize reducing customer volumes in physical locations. The Milford RMV…
What the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Means to Employers
What the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Means to Employers Among the provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which will take effect April 1, are two acts that apply to employers with fewer than 500 employees: Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act Emergency Family and Medical Expansion Act. [Please see updated information below] Affinity…
Rear End Collision and Glass
Rear End Collision and Glass 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 5, 2020 QUESTION Have an insured who was rearended. He filed a claim through the other carrier. They are paying for the damage to his bumper, but the collision also caused drivers side window…
RMV Extends Deadlines on Non-Commercial Vehicle Inspections
RMV Extends Deadlines on Non-Commercial Vehicle Inspections To help customers maintain proper social distancing, Massachusetts RMV is extending expiration dates on annual motor vehicle safety and emissions inspections and newly registered vehicle inspections for non-commercial vehicles as follows:
Milford & Wilmington RMVs Doing CDL Transactions Exclusively
Milford & Wilmington RMVs Doing CDL Transactions Exclusively Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) and Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLPs) expiration dates have NOT been extended. However, the RMV recognizes the importance of commercial vehicle drivers to the supply chain during the state of emergency, so effective immediately, the Milford RMV and Wilmington RMV will exclusively perform commercial license/permit transactions.
Commercial Auto and SDIP
Commercial Auto and SDIP 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 5, 2020 QUESTION We have a client that has both a personal auto policy and a business auto policy with us. The insured backed into a snow bank and caused damage to the truck that…
Special Bulletin: COVID-19 Updates for Thursday 3/19/20
Special Bulletin: COVID-19 Updates for Thursday 3/19/20 Dear Members,While we don’t want to be like the TV news media with “Breaking News” interruptions every five minutes, we want to keep you up to date on important topics in a timely fashion. With the understanding that some of this information may actually change within five minutes,…
Are Insurance Agencies Essential Businesses? Or, “What Should My Agency Do?”
Are Insurance Agencies Essential Businesses? Or, “What Should My Agency Do?”
Stamped RTA and Coverage
Stamped RTA and Coverage 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 6, 2020 QUESTION I hope you have been well. Question for you – if we stamp an RTA, is coverage for that vehicle considered bound? Ie. If we forget to send a change request to…
MAIA Launches One-Stop COVID-19 Resource Page
MAIA Launches One-Stop COVID-19 Resource Page MAIA has you covered! We have created a one-stop MAIA webpage with Massachusetts-specific COVID-19/coronavirus-related information and links to help you serve your customers and operate your business during this extraordinary time. We will update the page frequently as we learn more!
Stay Connected to Number One – No Mailing Required!
Stay Connected to Number One – No Mailing Required! The Number One Team is working remotely, but our website and online tools will allow you to submit your and your clients’ documents directly – no mailing required!
RMV Directs Agents/Runners to Drop Off in Wilmington or Milford Only
RMV Directs Agents/Runners to Drop Off in Wilmington or Milford Only The MA RMV wants to direct all agents/runners to drop off bundles at either the Wilmington or Milford service center ONLY. Wilmington and Milford will process all B2B transactions and all IRP transactions. These branches are open only for drop off and not to…
RMV and Blank Checks
RMV and Blank Checks 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 6, 2020 QUESTION Our runner brought in a notice on the checks-dated 2/25/2020 B2B CHECK Policy & Bulk Transaction and it refer me to the cash manual chapter 1 but I can’t find the manual.…
Food Delivery & MAP Business Activity Exclusions
Food Delivery & MAP Business Activity Exclusions By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW — VP of Technical Affairs
COVID-19 Small Business Loan Fund
COVID-19 Small Business Loan Fund A loan fund of $10 million has been created to provide financial relief to Massachusetts businesses with under 50 full- and part-time employees that have been affected by COVID-19. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will receive and process all applications for this fund.
Nominate Your Outstanding CSR of the Year
Nominate Your Outstanding CSR of the Year Each year The National Alliance presents Outstanding CSR of the Year Awards to deserving, qualified CSRs in the insurance industry. Nominees first compete on a state level. Entries and nominations are due by May 1, 2020. State winners will automatically be entered into the national competition. Finalists and the…
Free Daily Webinar: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Does Business Income Respond?
Free Daily Webinar: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Does Business Income Respond? Does ISO’s Business Income policy respond if a business shuts down because of the coronavirus? What happens if the authorities require the business to close? There is a short answer to these questions, but it’s not necessarily a simple answer.
Vanity Plate and Signage
Vanity Plate and Signage 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 6, 2020 QUESTION One of our insureds has a vanity plate- she owns a business and has a magnetic sign that she puts on her door for advertising…does she need to change to a commercial…
Gov. Baker Files Coronavirus Response Bills
Gov. Baker Files Coronavirus Response Bills MA Gov. Charlie Baker has filed a suite of legislation related to the COVID-19 crisis. Most relevant to independent agencies, S.2598 would eliminate the waiting period for unemployment benefits (currently one-week) paid to workers impacted by COVID-19.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act – H.R. 6201
Families First Coronavirus Response Act – H.R. 6201 We want to call your attention to a piece of pending legislation — Families First Coronavirus Response Act, (H.R. 6201) — which will have implications to employers of fewer than 500 employees, so it will be very relevant to most MAIA member agencies.