Industry News

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.

With the signing of the budget deal by President Donald Trump, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has been reauthorized until March 23. The NFIP has been reauthorized through stopgap measures since September. This is the fifth such stopgap extension.

“While it is disappointing that the NFIP lapsed again, though this time only for a few overnight hours, we’re pleased with the extension to March 23,” said PIA National Vice President of Government Relations Jon Gentile in a statement. “Congress must use the time between now and then to move away from short-term measures and provide a long-term reauthorization of this program,”

The NFIP originally expired on September 30, 2017, after its 5-year authorization ended. It was then extended until December 8^th, then again until December 22^nd, then extended again until January 19, and again until February 8.

“The NFIP is a program that requires certainty. It is also in great need of reforms. PIA will continue our advocacy for a long-term reauthorization of the program that recognizes the essential role independent agents play in providing expert advice to consumers,” Gentile said.

PIA is opposed to the steep cuts to crop insurance once again included in the Trump Administration proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2019, which was released Monday Feb. 12. PIA issued a statement.

The Administration’s budget proposes a $26 billion cut to crop insurance over the next 10 years. The cuts come in the form of an adjusted gross income (AGI) limit for crop insurance of $500,000, a reduction in the average of premium discounts for farmers by 14 percentage points, and a reduction in subsidies to crop insurance companies by asking Congress to legislate a 12 percent cap for underwriting gains.

The budget proposals run counter to remarks President Trump made to the American Farm Bureau’s annual convention on Jan. 8, when he expressed support for crop insurance premium subsidies in the upcoming Farm Bill.

“We thought the president had come around to supporting crop insurance, but the Administration’s proposed budget tells a different story,” said Jon Gentile, Vice President of Government Relations for PIA National. “These proposed cuts would not only hurt farmers and the agriculture community, but also would harm the independent insurance agents who work diligently to sell and service crop insurance policies on behalf of the Federal Crop Insurance Program.”

Results of the 2018 National Underwriter/PIA Independent Agent Study have just been released, in the February 2018 issue of the National Underwriter.

In 2017, PIA National forged an alliance with the National Underwriter and Flaspöhler, part of NMG Consulting, to conduct the inaugural Independent Agent Study – a research project designed to annually take the pulse of independent Property & Casualty insurance agents throughout the U.S. and provide insight into the demographics, books of business and challenges they face. Agents also reveal their most highly rated carrier partners.

The expanded questionnaire — crafted by Flaspöhler, P&C carriers, PIA and NU — is distributed to NU’s proprietary lists of independent agents nationwide as well as PIA’s national membership (in return for the exclusive right to publish highlights of the study findings), resulting in the most reliable and scientifically sound sample in the history of this study.

The 2018 study is a follow-up to 2017’s highly successful survey.

In the coming months, PIA will also report the results of a separate set of questions that were asked only of PIA members who participated in the overall survey. These questions are PIA-specific and are proprietary to PIA.

Click here to enlarge survey results.

Click here to read the February issue of NU.

Being prepared for an emergency means having emergency kits ready to go! The PIA Branding Program has released a new consumer-friendly issue paper covering emergency preparedness tips for your clients.

This one-page paper features key tips your clients should consider if they run into an emergency that Mother Nature may bring. Each paper is available in multiple formats (1) ready-to-send with PIA logo and branding, (2) customizable so that it can be personalized by PIA members with their photo/logo and contact information, and (3) an infographic for social media. Social media copy is also provided for each paper.

Log on here and download yours! Start sharing this content with your clients today or utilize the text on your agency's website, email, or blog.

The PIA Branding Program provides a collection of free advertising and marketing materials PIA members can customize and use in their local market and beyond.

Funding for the PIA Branding Program is provided in part by PIA’s Pinnacle Partners: Bankers Insurance Group, Encompass Insurance, Erie Insurance, Nationwide Independent, Progressive Insurance, State Auto Insurance Companies, The Motorists Insurance Group, and Wright Flood.

The three-day federal government shutdown ended with Monday’s compromise in Congress extending funding until February 8.

On Monday January 22, the Senate agreed 81-18 to end debate, approving a temporary funding plan through Feb. 8—the culmination of days of deal making that unfolded as both parties traded blame for the government closure that began at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had “come to an arrangement.” Later Monday, the House passed the continuing resolution 266-159, and President Trump signed it. PIA issued a statement.

This leaves almost three weeks for the parties to resolve deep differences on the issue of immigration, the major stumbling block that led to the three-day shutdown.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) did go into technical shutdown during the three days, but it has been reauthorized until February 8. During the three-day shutdown, FEMA had requested that agents and other industry professionals begin implementing its guidance.

A government shutdown would not have affected payment of flood insurance claims, and the insurance that people have would remain in effect. Where the effect of a shutdown is felt is with real estate closings, where lenders require flood insurance. The National Association of Realtors estimated in a 2011 study that the inability to write new policies affected 1,332 homes sale closings per day, or roughly 40,000 per month. The association derived the estimate from a 33-day period during the height of summer home sales in 2010 when the NFIP had not been reauthorized.

As part of PIA’s ongoing partnership with The Hartford’s flood insurance program, we are proud to provide PIA members with the latest Flood Agent eNewsletter produced by The Hartford for its flood insurance agents. This month’s contents address important facts about ice jam flooding, the NFIP reauthorization update, and claim capabilities on FloodPro.

In addition to The Hartford’s eNewsletters, PIA members visiting PIA’s Flood Insurance Marketing Support Center can download flyers to help their personal lines and commercial lines clients prepare for floods, deal with the aftermath of flooding, and how to prepare for a visit by an adjuster.

PIA thanks The Hartford for making these excellent materials available to all PIA members, regardless of their participation in PIA’s flood insurance program with The Hartford.

PIA members who want to earn great flood insurance commissions while working with a top-flight Write-Your-Own flood insurance company should consider the PIA/Hartford flood insurance program. To learn more visit www.pianet.com/hartfordfloodinsurance or contact Joseph M. Surowiecki, Jr. of The Hartford at 860-547-5006 or joseph.surowiecki@thehartford.com.

Independent insurance agents need to have the same level of expertise and competence about cyber insurance that they have in other areas of risk and insurance. That’s according to PIA Executive Vice President & CEO Mike Becker, in an opinion article [Putting Cyber in Proper Perspective] appearing in PC360 and the National Underwriter.

“As bad as they are now, cyber attacks are only likely to increase, making it all the more important for independent insurance agents to have the knowledge and the tools they need to help their clients protect themselves,” says Becker. “That’s why PIA National joined together with our carrier council, The PIA Partnership, to unveil a new, comprehensive educational resource: Cyber 101, available to PIA members and agents appointed by carriers participating in The PIA Partnership.”