Results Are in From the PIA/National
Underwriter
Independent Agent Study
For the third year in a row, PIA has partnered with the National
Underwriter/PC360 to conduct the 2019 National Underwriter/PIA
Independent Agent Study. It is designed to provide insights into the
commercial lines segment from the perspective of independent
Property & Casualty insurance agents and brokers throughout the
United States. The survey asked producers for their views on working
with commercial carriers, their books of business and the challenges
they face.
Results from the survey are published on PC360, in the March 2019
National Underwriter and in PIA Connection. Listed below
for are links to see the survey results:
Results are in: The 2019 NU/PIA independent agent
study
Part 1 of 3: Producers were asked about the business challenges they
face and much more.
2019 Agent Study: Major business lines, sales
goals and more
Part 2 of 3: As part of the 2019 NU/PIA Agent Study, we asked producers
how satisfied they are with P&C commercial lines.
2019 Agent Study: Commissions, carrier strengths
and more
Part 3 of 3: Insurance producers who responded to the 2019 NU/PIA
Independent Agent Study seem satisfied overall with their carrier
relationships.
In Depth:
National Underwriter print article:
Listening to Agents: results of the 2019 NU/PIA
Independent Agent Study
On PIAnet.com:
https://pianet.com/news/insurance-news/2019/2019-national-underwriter-pia-survey-results
PIA thanks the National Underwriter, ALM Media and
Flaspöhler/NMG Consulting.
PIA Agents Win Early Victory in Draft
NFIP Legislation
PIA National is optimistic about
four draft bills that were recently released by
House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA). This
draft package was released in advance of a March 13 hearing on NFIP
reauthorization ["Preparing for the Storm: Reauthorization of the National
Flood Insurance Program"]. PIA National submitted
testimony for the hearing.
Each of the released bills pertains to one of four categories: mitigation,
mapping, administrative reform, and a foundational bill that reauthorizes
the program for five years, forgives the debt, and addresses affordability.
The current authorization for the NFIP expires in May.
PIA National has advocated for several provisions included in this package,
including a long-term reauthorization, increased investment in mapping and
mitigation, the creation of a consumer appeals process of FEMA mapping
decisions, and the inclusion of provisions to continue the program's move
toward risk-based rates.
"Perhaps most important for independent agents is what PIA National has
successfully prevented from being included in the draft package—a cut
to the Write-Your-Own (WYO) reimbursement rate for insurers administering
the NFIP," said Jon Gentile, vice president of government relations of
PIA National.
A WYO rate cut could force the WYOs to pass that reduction on to agents
through their commissions. In turn, that reduction in agent commissions
would likely result in an exodus of qualified independent agents from the
NFIP, which would devastate the program. PIA National has consistently been
the only independent insurance agent association that opposes a WYO cut.
"While the release of Chairwoman Waters' draft package is only an initial
step toward reauthorizing the NFIP, PIA National views the maintenance of
the current WYO rate as an early victory for our unrelenting advocacy on
this issue," Gentile added. "PIA National will remain vigilant on this
issue throughout this process."
PIA National will also continue to encourage Chairwoman Waters to include
other important provisions, such as H.R. 1666, the continuous coverage bill
introduced earlier this week by Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Blaine
Luetkemeyer (R-MO), in a final NFIP reauthorization bill. A continuous
coverage provision would allow consumers who could be left vulnerable if
their policies are canceled in the middle of the policy year to go back to
the NFIP and purchase a policy at the rate they previously had.
PIA National Opposes Insurance Sales Across
State Lines
PIA has
reaffirmed its long-standing opposition to proposals
that would encourage insurance sales acrossn state lines. Such proposals
constitute a clear threat to the successful state-based system of insurance
regulation, which PIA supports.
PIA National is strongly opposed to an action taken that seeks to allow the
sale of health insurance across state lines. Following President Trump's
October 2017 executive order (EO #13813), directing federal agencies to
consider ways to increase competition and choice in health care, the U.S.
Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
issued a 60-day request for comment on selling
health insurance policies across state lines.
NAIC: Interstate Health Insurance
Sales: Myth vs. Reality
PIA National is a steadfast supporter of continued supervision and regulation
of insurance by the states as outlined by the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945,
and opposes all proposals that would create a version of federal insurance
regulation, in full or in part. Allowing the sale of insurance across state
lines could strip the states of their authority over health insurance and
undermine the regulatory structure set up by McCarran-Ferguson.
"In its notice, CMS seeks to dismiss these concerns, but we don't find
their assurances credible," said PIA National Vice President of Government
Relations Jon Gentile. PIA National will submit comments within the 60-day
window and strenuously oppose attempts to subvert state insurance regulation.
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