Business Auto and DOC
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of January 2023. Question Does a business auto policy have to have doc coverage if employees driving company vehicles are also listed as drivers on their spouse’s personal auto policies? Answer Irene Morrill: A DOC is an optional endorsement that a…
Five Star Renewals
Last week we had TWO agencies receive their Five Star renewal award presented by our very own President & CEO, Nick Fyntrilakis, and Agency Consultant, Erin Schaff. Matt Phaneuf, President of Bell & Hudson Insurance Agency, and his team were awarded their Five Star Renewal last week in Belchertown, MA! The Lapointe Insurance team was…
Massachusetts Legislative Update
We are pleased to report that the 2023-24 Legislative Session has kicked off with the swearing-in of all 200 State Representatives and Senators, including 26 new Legislators and a new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and State Auditor. Last Friday marked the legislature’s bill filing deadline, with over six thousand bills filed for the session.…
Emailing the FID Department
Effectively immediately, all FID correspondence should be emailed to the FID direct email box. Please do not fax or send emails to personal email addresses. The FID email is [email protected] – This email box is monitored and will result in a quicker response. Read more here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected].
Renting a Vehicle Out of Country
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect in December 2022. Question I have a customer going on vacation outside of the U.S. and Canada. He wants to know if his auto coverage is extended from his Mass. Policy, I believe it is not. I want to tell him to…
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…
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…