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Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says his state had more than $8.7 billion in damage in both insured and uninsured losses from catastrophic flooding in August, and the figure will increase as officials finish assessing damage to roads and other public infrastructure.

A storm that started Aug. 12 dumped as much as two feet of rain in some parts of Louisiana over two days, and the flooding has been described as the worst disaster in the U.S. since Superstorm Sandy struck the East Coast in 2012.

READ: 6 Tips for Flood Survivors on Avoiding Fraud and Scams

Edwards said documented flood damage has affected more than 55,000 houses in Louisiana, and that could double as aid applications and inspections continue. He said initial evaluations show the majority of flooded households were resided in by people with low to moderate incomes, and 20 per cent of flooded homes were resided in by renters.

READ: Agent Tools for Flood Insurance

More than 6,000 businesses flooded, with more than $2.2 billion in damages to buildings, equipment and inventory, Edwards said. He also said there are “conservative estimates” of more than $110 million in damage to agriculture.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says officials have said that the August flood event will be the fourth most costly event for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Approximately 28,000 claims have been filed with the NFIP, and Donelon expects that number to rise to approximately 30,000.

Aetna Inc. warned U.S. officials more than a month ago that it would pull out of Obamacare’s government-run health insurance markets if antitrust officials attempted to block its $37 billion merger with Humana Inc.

In a July 5 letter to the Justice Department from Chief Executive Officer Mark Bertolini, Aetna said that challenging the merger “would have a negative financial impact on Aetna and would impair Aetna’s ability to continue its support” of plans sold under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Such a challenge would leave the insurer “with no choice but to take actions to steward its financial health.”

READ: In Reversal, Aetna Pulls Back From ACA

“If the DOJ sues to enjoin the transaction, we will immediately take action to reduce our 2017 exchange footprint,” Bertolini wrote. He said that the cost of litigation and debt taken on by Aetna, the need to plan for a breakup fee it would owe Humana, as well as cost savings already anticipated as a result of a successful deal, would all factor into Aetna’s need to pull back.

“By contrast, if the deal proceeds without the diverted time and energy associated with litigation, we would explore how to devote a portion of the additional synergies (which are larger than we had planned for when announcing the deal) to supporting even more public exchange coverage,” Bertolini said in the letter.

An agreement that would provide regulatory equivalency for U.K. and U.S. insurers could be fast-tracked for approval after Britain exits the European Union, according to Michael McRaith, the director of the U.S. Federal Insurance Office. U.S. and European Union officials are currently negotiating such a regulatory agreement, and until the U.K. completes its “Brexit,” the covered agreement would also apply to Britain, which is home to the world’s hub for specialty lines of insurance. A separate agreement covering UK and U.S. insurers probably would be needed once Britain goes through with the split.

“Our view is, until the U.K. withdraws from the EU, that we are dealing with the EU,” McRaith told members of the U.S. Treasury’s Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance, which is comprised of state insurance regulators and consumer groups along with many of world’s leading insurance companies, including Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc., American International Group Inc., Lloyds of London and Liberty Mutual Co., and other insurance research and analysis groups.

READ: NAIC, Industry Renew Calls for Equivalency

There are concerns that possible outcomes of covered agreement talks between the U.S. Treasury Department and the European Union could threaten the U.S. system of state-based insurance regulation. PIA strongly supports the Transparent Insurance Standards Act of 2016 (H.R. 5143), which enhances Congress’s oversight of international deliberations relating to insurance standards by requiring the U.S. Treasury Department and Federal Reserve to consult with Congress and state insurance regulators before approving any international insurance standards.

A National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) panel has drafted recommendations to reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as part of a congressional 2017 reauthorization, including measures designed to aid private flood insurance market growth. The panel has put forward objectives that include support for long-term reauthorization of at least 10 years in order to avoid short-term extensions and program lapses; encouraging greater private market growth; and encouraging mitigation to reduce losses.

The committee draft also supports final passage of H.R. 2901, the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act, which clarifies that private flood insurance meets the mandatory purchase requirement. The bill passed the House in an overwhelmingly bipartisan 419-0 vote on April 28.

PIA supports the long-term reauthorization of the NFIP when it comes up for renewal in 2017.  PIA opposes the immediate privatization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), but supports sensible solutions for encouraging the growth of the private flood insurance market with measures like H.R. 2901.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a rule in June that will make it easier to use unmanned aircraft systems — better known as drones — for commercial purposes such as aerial photography, equipment inspection and news gathering.

Insuring your drone, however, is anything but simple. Drones pose myriad risks, including damage to the drone itself, to people or property hit by a drone and invasion of privacy claims.

READ: The Latest on Drone Regulations

Homeowners or renters policies might — or might not — cover some or all of these risks if you’re flying a drone for fun, but it won’t cover business use. See PIA National’s one-page issue sheet, Hobbyist Drones (PIA member login required).

If you use a drone to make money, your general business insurance might cover the drone itself, but you usually need a specific aviation-liability policy to cover damage it inflicts on people or property. As with any type of insurance, you must read the exclusions carefully, and if you don’t understand them, talk to your agent.

PIA National is pleased to announce that National General Insurance has joined The PIA Partnership. “We are extremely pleased that National General Insurance, a distinguished company with a solid track record of supporting the American agency system, has joined The PIA Partnership,” said Robert W. Hansen, Jr., PIA National President. “Their participation demonstrates National General’s ongoing commitment to the continuing success of professional independent agents across the country.”

“National General is excited and honored to be part of an organization as critical to our industry as PIA and we expect our membership in The PIA Partnership will further the great work already accomplished for PIA members and National General agencies and brokerages,” says Rick Pierce, Senior Vice President of Independent Agent Development for National General Insurance.

Current PIA Partnership companies include:  Central Insurance Company; Encompass Insurance; Erie Insurance; Liberty Mutual Insurance; MetLife Auto & Home; National General Insurance; Nationwide Independent (formerly Harleysville Insurance);  Progressive Insurance; Selective Insurance Group; State Auto Insurance Companies;  The Hanover Insurance Group; The Hartford; and The Motorists Insurance Group.

Pennsylvania insurance agent Don Ruschak still goes to work every day at the agency he created in 1957. The 85-year-old who opened Ruschak Associates Insurance & Real Estate nearly 60 years ago still wakes up each morning at 6AM and heads into the office. Even though Ruschak turned over his business to his sons years ago, he says he just can’t keep away.

“I love helping people, especially those who are going through a difficult time,” Ruschak told the Herald-Standard, which covers local news in Ruschak’s Charleroi, Pennsylvania hometown. “That’s what attracted me to the insurance business initially, and that’s what keeps me going today.”

“Age doesn’t hold me back,” he said. “I still go out and inspect homes, and I help with appraisals. Working helps me to stay youthful. I tell other seniors to keep working as long as they can. The longer you work, the better you feel.”

WASHINGTON — The Executive Board of NetVU, the Network of Vertafore Users, has voted to formally support the position of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) regarding the Buy Button as conceived by PIA.

The Buy Button is the ability for agents to bind a policy in a once-and-done fashion, in real time in their agency systems, from among their appointed carriers, regardless of the point of engagement or policy sale. The technology exists to do this, but has yet to be used in this manner.

Currently, agents must leave their systems, or bridge to the carrier system, to bind a policy. The buy button will empower agents to bind coverage in real time for prospects or clients who call on the phone, walk into the agency, meet, or visit online.

“The goal of NetVU’s formal support of this initiative is to be able to provide consistent messaging to our members, carriers and vendors in support of making buy button functionality a reality for independent agents,” said NetVU Chairman of the Board Keith Savino.

In January 2016, PIA National initiated an industry-wide dialogue on the concept of independent agents offering real time binding of insurance policies, which could include a level of purchasing capability on their websites. PIA convened a meeting among all stakeholders—carriers, agents and technology vendors—held at the headquarters of ACORD, the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development, in Pearl River, New York, to discuss the topic.

In March 2016, PIA adopted a position in support of the buy button concept. That position was then endorsed by NetVU.

“This is all about empowering agents, carriers and consumers,” said PIA National Executive Vice President & CEO Mike Becker. “The buy button will create new opportunities to reach markets that currently go untapped for most agents. It will expand choices for consumers and build business for our carriers. PIA thanks our colleagues at NetVU for their support of PIA’s initiative.”

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.

The recent flooding in Houston could be considered a 1-in-100-year event, but that label is a misnomer in that it can mislead people into thinking that such flooding literally happens once every 100 years and that they will thus be safe for 99 years out of 100. The U.S. government has used the label to suggest that a flood of that severity has a 1 percent chance of happening in any given year, not that it could happen only once per century. However, the label does not take into account other conditions that can alter those probabilities, such as climate change, El Niño, and La Niña.

“That’s why the 100-year event is such a moving target, especially in an urban environment. Someone builds a couple of parking lots, and you just turned a 100-year event into a 70-year event because of the impervious surfaces,” says Chuck Watson, director of research and development at Enki Research. Weather Research Center founder Jill Hasling suggests that residents of places like Houston that get more than one flood per year buy flood insurance. “If you are not in the flood zone, buy it anyway; it will just be cheaper,” she said.

U.S. Justice Department Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin says Internet-connected and driverless cars could be targets for hackers, including hostile nations and terrorists, and he urged the automotive industry to ensure that such vehicles have built-in cybersecurity protection. The market for Internet-connected cars could reach a value of $42 billion by 2025, with more than 220 million vehicles on the roads. Toyota Motor Corp., Google, Ford Motor Co., and Baidu Inc. intend to introduce driverless cars in as soon as five years.

“There is no Internet-connected system where you can build a wall that’s high enough or deep enough to keep a dedicated nation-state adversary or a sophisticated criminal group out of the system,” said Carlin.

Questions about the auto industry’s responsiveness were raised last year when Fiat Chrysler waited 18 months to tell federal safety regulators about a security flaw in radios being installed in more than a million vehicles that security researchers exploited in July, seizing control of a Jeep just to show it could be done. The episode led to the recall of almost 1.5 million vehicles — the first auto recall prompted by cybersecurity concerns.

PIA recently commented on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Cybersecurity Task Force’s Preliminary Working and Discussion Draft of its Insurance Data Security Model Law. PIA’s comments expressed reservations about the model law approach generally and expressed concern about the need for a model law that would be passed with the expectation of adoption in some form in each state, in light of the fact that state laws on this subject already exist in 47 jurisdictions. PIA is also aware of potential conflicts between the Preliminary Draft, existing state law, and existing federal law. PIA continues to monitor this important issue and intends to provide verbal feedback on the Preliminary Draft at the forthcoming NAIC National Meeting in New Orleans.

Is the Internet rising up in the small commercial marketplace—taking the place of agents? No.

What is actually true is that small business owners strongly prefer independent insurance agents as they make choices in today’s online world. But at the same time agents need to be more engaged online—using the Internet to demonstrate and reinforce the value they provide.

These are among the findings of recent research by The PIA Partnership, PIA’s national agency-company council. Read all about “Small Business Insurance & The Internet—The Voice of the Commercial Lines Customer” in this in-depth article in Rough Notes magazine.

Did you see the 2016 PIA National Guide to Member Benefits inserted into the January issue of PIA Connection? Below we’ve listed just a few of the PIA programs highlighted in the most recent Guide to Member Benefits.

DocIT for Agents: Save time and money by placing drivers with the right auto insurance carrier earlier in the quoting process using DocIT for Agents’ online database of driver violation data.

PIA Agency Marketing Guide: Our hands-on marketing tips from industry experts, published annually.

Floodbroker.com: A unique tool for the flood insurance industry that provides National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) information to PIA members’ clients and prospects to quickly and easily get a flood insurance quote.

Rough Notes Producer Online: Helps identify risk exposures and provides detailed coverage analysis. PIA members get a special rate.

Hartford Flood Insurance: Easy enrollment, dedicated local sales directors and book transfer/rollover team, training/CE, free certified zone determinations, 24/7 claims reporting and great commissions. Not comfortable with flood insurance? Try the “Flood Solutions” option.

The PIA Partnership: Our national company council continually conducts real life applicable research campaigns and makes the results available to PIA members as a dynamic, evolving process — not simply discussed and put on a shelf.

Employee Profiling from OMNIA: OMNIA's behavioral assessment programs give you the insight to take the guesswork out of personnel decisions. Whether you are hiring a new employee, deciding on future roles for current employees, team building or creating a succession plan for your business, Omnia can help.

Agency Revenue Tools: Boost personal lines sales by engaging in employee worksite marketing using your appointed markets at regular commission rates.

In a recent Nationwide survey, 66 percent of small business owners said they still lack business interruption insurance, and 75 percent said they do not have a disaster plan in place. About 51 percent of owners said they are taking steps to prepare for the impact of climate change and El Niño on their companies, though many are divided on the impact of climate change and El Niño. Nationwide President and COO Mark Berven said small business clients should be reminded about the benefits of business interruption insurance. “Some of America's small business owners may be feeling overconfident, even as we head into the spring storm season. There hasn't been a major U.S. disaster in years, so there may be a sense of complacency,” he said.

This is a further update and summary on PIA's previously issued special bulletins on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and these changes.  It is more critical than ever that PIA members work very closely with their WYO partners through this next set of changes.

Despite the efforts of both the Flood Insurance Producers' National Committee and WYOs and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Flood Committee, as of this moment the REVISED Manual incorporating the April 1, 2016 changes has NOT yet been published (as final revisions are being polished).

Thus far, the inventory of NFIP bulletin references involved in these changes can be found here and here.

2016

w-16010 – Changes to the FEMA Mapping Center Services - As FIPNC requested.

w-16003 - Addendum #3 to the April 1, 2016 Changes – a rate table

w-16002 – Revised & Approved EC & Floodproofing Cert.

2015

w-15063 – Addendum #2 to April 1, 2016 Changes – Correction to premium language

w-15055 – Addendum #1 to April 1, 2016 Changes – Revised rates - high-rise condos

w-15046 – The original and core content of April 1, 2016 changes

Be sure to review the procedures for the Newly Mapped Program and its transition. We also encourage members to read the section for property owners, and the one for lenders on this subject as well so that you have a fully rounded appreciation.

PLEASE NOTE: The FEMA/NFIP Specific Rating Guidelines "paper" published by FEMA in December for the April 1, 2016 changes is no longer completely accurate.   So, please rely on your WYO for guidance and education/information.

WHY Flood Coverage & WYOs ARE Important: Since 4^th quarter 2010, and more especially since 4^th quarter 2015, many areas of mid-America and elsewhere that have not experienced flooding in a long time have been flooded, and most are experiencing repeating events.

PIA agencies know the value of risk management for their agency and their customers.  Hence, it is critical that all private sector insureds remember that the typical private sector property insurance policy does not cover the perils of, nor damage from, floods and flooding events to include mud-flows.  Further, property insureds should also be aware that the federal government program, NFIP, provides coverage for property and contents from damage by flood and flooding events to include mud-flows.  While NFIP is not as complete a claims answer for your customers as anyone would like, the private sector property insurance policies are no answer to the damage after a flood.

PIA members operate best in off

Google is shuttering Google Compare, its U.S. comparison-shopping site for auto insurance, credit cards and mortgages, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The company said in an email to its partners that Google Compare’s U.S. and U.K. services would start winding down this month and terminate on March 23, according to the Journal. Google said the service didn’t meet its expectations and that the company will now focus on AdWords and future innovations, the paper reported citing the email.

“Google has apparently discovered what independent insurance agents have always known: when it comes to insurance, customers appreciate that it is a complex transaction that requires professional advice,” said PIA National Executive Vice President & CEO Mike Becker. “PIA’s research has consistently shown a strong preference among both personal lines and commercial lines customers for doing business with a local agent.”

“However, independent agents should not interpret this decision to wind down Google Compare as an indication that they need not compete in the digital arena,” Becker cautioned. “Customers also want local agents as experts who are capable of online interaction concerning their accounts and are backed by the efficiency of the Internet.”

(Left to right) Bill Hartnett, Keith Savino, Mike Becker

Just what does the independent agent “Buy Button” mean? How could utilizing technology to allow an agent to bind policies in real time anywhere he or she decided—in person by the agent during a consultation, or after hours on the agent’s website by the customer—be an advantage? What are the possible pitfalls?

The Buy Button is being likened by its advocates to earlier milestones in technology development in the insurance industry.

ACORD’s Bill Hartnett discusses these issues with PIA’s Mike Becker and Keith Savino, following up on an industry-wide discussion session that was convened by PIA in January and held at the headquarters of ACORD in Pearl River, New York. [video]