Industry News

The Hartford is one of the largest flood insurance writers in the country, having written flood insurance through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program for over three decades.

The Hartford wants to be your go to flood market for both personal lines and commercial lines. Their dedicated flood sales and transfer teams want to earn your business by making it easy to do business and providing exceptional service for both you and your customers. Flood producers enrolled in PIA’s Flood Program with The Hartford have benefitted from sales support, marketing materials and preferred commission rates.

If you would like more information about the program, attend a free webinar on Friday, November 16 at 2:00 P.M. Eastern to learn more about PIA’s national partnership with The Hartford and its flood insurance program. Joseph M. Surowiecki, Jr. of The Hartford will cover program details as well as answer any questions you may have about PIA’s long-standing flood insurance program with The Hartford.

Register today.

Can’t wait for the webinar? Learn more now.

PIA National Immediate Past President Tim Russell is joining PIA staff members this week to meet with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) concerning the future of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). PIA is also meeting this week with representatives of the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) concerning terrorism risk insurance and the Department of Labor (DOL) regarding possible future revisions to the overtime rule.

Recent rule changes enacted by the federal government mean insurers now can sell short-term policies that last up to 12 months, renew them for up to 36 months, reject people with pre-existing conditions, and place lifetime limits on what the coverage pays for.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department has published a brochure to help people understand the differences between coverage offered under Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans and short-term policies, and ask the right questions. States can still regulate short-term health plans. Legislators in California recently passed a ban on sales of short-term plans. New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Hawaii and other states have severely restricted or banned short-term plans.

Now in its 14^th year, the PIA and The Hartford program offers easy enrollment for PIA members who want to earn great flood insurance commissions while working with a top-flight Write-Your-Own flood insurance company. The program is available to PIA members and their policyholders in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

If you would like more information about the program, attend our free webinar on Friday, May 18 at 2:00 P.M. Eastern to learn more about PIA’s national partnership with The Hartford and its flood insurance program. Joseph M. Surowiecki, Jr. of The Hartford will cover program details as well as answer any questions you may have about PIA’s long-standing flood insurance program with The Hartford.

Register today.

Can’t wait for the webinar? Learn more now.

Take this opportunity to reevaluate your agency’s flood insurance program and consider PIA’s program with The Hartford.

Now in its 14^th year, the program offers easy enrollment for PIA members who want to earn great flood insurance commissions while working with a top-flight Write-Your-Own flood insurance company. The program is available to PIA members and their policyholders in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

If you would like more information about the program, please attend our free webinar on Friday, May 18 at 2:00 P.M. Eastern to learn more about PIA’s national partnership with The Hartford and its flood insurance program. Joseph M. Surowiecki, Jr. of The Hartford will cover program details as well as answer any questions you may have about PIA’s long-standing flood insurance program with The Hartford.

Register today.

Can’t wait for the webinar? Learn more now.

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), a national trade association that represents independent insurance agents, has issued a statement welcoming Nationwide Insurance agents who will be transitioning into the independent agency insurance distribution system.

On April 16, Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide announced its intention to shift entirely to an independent agency distribution model by July 1, 2020. The company is one of the largest carriers that currently sells products through both exclusive and independent agents.

“This is another illustration of the fact that the independent agency system is the insurance distribution system of choice,” said PIA National President Timothy G. Russell.

Nationwide said in a press statement that there are approximately 2,000 existing agents who have been operating under the Nationwide brand that will have the opportunity to transition to an independent agency model between now and July 1, 2020. The company already has relationships with more than 10,000 independent agents across the United States.

“PIA would like to welcome all the Nationwide agents who will be moving to what we believe is the superior independent agent system. We encourage the agents who will be joining our ranks to take advantage of many business-building programs offered by PIA that help add to an agency’s bottom line. In addition, PIA advocates for you in Congress and throughout the industry. You can rest assured that, to paraphrase Nationwide’s slogan, PIA is also on your side.”

Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America ^SM.PIA’s web address is www.pianet.com.

Professional Insurance Agents from around the country are converging this week on Washington, D.C. for the annual PIA Federal Legislative Summit (FLS). The Summit will be held April 24-25.

PIA members will advocate for solutions that enable agents to better serve their clients and communities by encouraging Congress repeal the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), protect a strong and stable crop insurance program, and reinstate fair and just compensation in healthcare.

PIA thanks our FLS Platinum sponsors The PIA Partnership and Progressive Insurance; our FLS Gold sponsor, Crop Risk Services; and Silver sponsors NAU Country Insurance, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and State Auto Insurance Companies.

For more information, visit the FLS webpage at www.piafls.com.

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PIA members will converge on Washington, D.C. April 24-25 for the 2018 PIA Federal Legislative Summit (FLS). The annual PIA Federal Legislative Summit is a gathering of PIA members from around the country who come together to meet with their members of Congress and advocate their positions on issues of importance to Professional Insurance Agents.

“Our annual legislative summit is a key opportunity for PIA members to solidify their relationships with members of Congress, in order to continue to advance our issues,” said PIA National President Tim Russell.

PIA members will advocate for solutions that enable agents to better serve their clients and communities by encouraging Congress repeal the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), protect a strong and stable crop insurance program and reinstate fair and just compensation in healthcare.

PIA thanks our FLS Platinum sponsors The PIA Partnership and Progressive Insurance; and our FLS Gold sponsor, Crop Risk Services.

For more information, visit the FLS webpage at www.piafls.com.

Authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has been extended until July 31, 2018, as part of the fiscal 2018 omnibus appropriations bill that was passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on Friday March 23.

PIA issued a statement noting that we are alarmed that Congress has decided to decouple the NFIP—that is separate it—from the funding of the federal government, rather than continue it to September 30 along with the rest of the omnibus.

“In the absence of a must-pass legislative vehicle to which it can be attached, the program will now be in danger of expiring for an extended period during hurricane season, putting millions of flood insurance policyholders at risk,” said PIA National Vice President of Government Relations Jon Gentile. “In the wake of the devastating 2017 hurricanes, Congress should take no chances with the homes and businesses of policyholders.”

PIA will continue to advocate for Congress to pass a long-term reauthorization of the program that recognizes the essential role independent agents play in providing expert advice to consumers. “Given the decision to decouple the program and the approach of another hurricane season, failure to reauthorize the NFIP by July is not an option,” Gentile said.

PIA members will converge on Washington, D.C. April 24-25 for the 2018 PIA Federal Legislative Summit (FLS). The annual PIA Federal Legislative Summit is a gathering of PIA members from around the country who come together to meet with their members of Congress and advocate their positions on issues of importance to Professional Insurance Agents.

“Our annual legislative summit is a key opportunity for PIA members to solidify their relationships with members of Congress, in order to continue to advance our issues,” said PIA National President Tim Russell.

PIA members will advocate for solutions that enable agents to better serve their clients and communities by encouraging Congress repeal the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), protect a strong and stable crop insurance program and reinstate fair and just compensation in healthcare.

PIA thanks our FLS Platinum sponsors The PIA Partnership and Progressive Insurance.

For more information, visit the FLS webpage at www.piafls.com.