T H U R S D A Y ,   J U N E   2 5 ,   2 0 0 9

 Industry News

IIABA News
Big “I” Sends Letter to Senate HELP Committee 

Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO, sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) opposing the current draft of a health care reform bill introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) that is pending in the committee. The association is calling for “real and substantive health care reform.”

Both the House and Senate are expected to consider health care reform legislation in mid to late July and this letter is part of the Big “I”’s continuing efforts to lobby Congress regarding the important role of agents and brokers in the sale and delivery of health insurance.

“Our country must take significant steps to address this problem, and the Big 'I' is strongly supportive of real and substantive reform of the private market to address the serious problems in our health care system,” says Rusbuldt.  “In spite of the need for health care reform, the Big ‘I’ has very serious concerns with the Senate HELP Committee’s bill.”

Click here for the full text of the letter.


IIABA News
Insurance Professionals Gear Up for Important Health Care Fly-In

On July 14 and 15, the Big “I” will co-host a special health care reform Capitol Hill fly-in in partnership with other major health insurance producer groups.

Big “I” members are encouraged to travel to Washington, D.C. next month and join members of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB) and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) in lobbying Congress on the issue of health care reform. Collectively, these groups represent more than 500,000 professional health insurance advisors, agents, brokers, consultants and employee benefit specialists. On Tuesday morning, hundreds of insurance professionals and association leaders have committed to joining the fly-in. There is already a 50% increase in participation from what was originally anticipated. 

Health care reform is of great importance to the independent agency system and could have severe repercussions on the livelihood of our membership. The House and Senate will be considering reform legislation in late July, so this event is a tremendous opportunity for the health insurance producer community to send a loud message about the important role agents and brokers play in the sale and delivery of health insurance. 

Click here to register for the fly-in and find links to our healthcare information center. After you fill out and submit the online registration, you will receive an e-mail on how to make your room reservation. The Big “I” has reserved a block of rooms at the Grand Hyatt Washington at 1000 H St. NW in Washington, D.C. at a cost of $199 per room, per night plus tax. However, space is limited, so reservations should be made early. A limited number of grassroots scholarships may be available for qualifying agents. Those interested in applying should contact Jen McPhillips at 202-863-7000; jen.dlugasch@iiaba.net.

The schedule of events for the fly-in is as follows:

July 14: Attendees arrive in the afternoon or early evening. A joint cocktail reception will be held from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel.

July 15: Attendees will have a joint breakfast at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel from 7 – 8 a.m., followed by a joint issues briefing from 8 - 9 a.m. From 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., agents will head to Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers, after which attendees are free to depart.

Please consider attending this very important event. The Big “I” needs your help in Washington now more than ever. If you don’t fight for your livelihood, who will?

Trusted Choice^®
New York Agency Awarded Trusted Choice^® Agency of the Month

The Sullivan Financial Group has been named the Trusted Choice^® Agency of the Month.

“For more than 40 years, the Sullivan Financial Group, lead by the Sullivan family, has provided the personalized and professional service that exemplifies the Trusted Choice^® Pledge of Performance,” says Dave Evans, Trusted Choice^® executive director. “We are proud to announce that they are the Trusted Choice^® Agency of the Month.”

The Sullivan Financial Group is a family-owned and operated independent agency that has served local residents and businesses in the Mahopac, N.Y. area for more than 40 years. The agency provides its clients with a variety of family, business, life, long-term care, estate, health and specialty insurance products. 

“Our firm of dedicated insurance professionals is committed to providing our clients with caring, personalized service and we are proud to be part of the Trusted Choice^® brand,” says Neal Sullivan, president of the Sullivan Financial Group. “We are a firm committed to a high standard of excellence in all that we do and to establishing a firm relationship of mutual trust and service with each of our clients. As long-time participants in the branding efforts, we are honored to be recognized as the Trusted Choice^® Agency of the month.”

The Trusted Choice^® Agency of the Month program recognizes those Trusted Choice^® agencies that are going above and beyond in living the tenets of the Trusted Choice^® Pledge of Performance and in communicating the benefits of their services to consumers. Trusted Choice^® agencies agree to adhere to a written pledge that states they will work with their customers to identify the insurance and financial services that are right for them, their families or their business and use their access to multiple companies to deliver those products. It also states that they will help guide consumers through the claims process and help them solve problems related to their coverage or account, among other things.

For more information, go to www.TrustedChoice.com.


Virtual University
Virtual University Uses Twitter to Provide Up-To-The-Minute Coverage Issues

In response to growing news media accounts and questions from Big “I” member agencies, the Virtual University published an article last week on Chinese drywall. The article examines the issues surrounding this problem from a first-party basis under homeowners and commercial property forms insuring building owners, and from a third-party basis under CGL policies insuring suppliers and contractors. The article can now be found here in the password-protected area of the VU.

All VU Twitter followers were notified the instant this article was posted and the VU will continue to post “tweets” periodically for important and/or timely information or events. “Twittered” articles are posted for at least 48 hours in the public area of the VU Web site. After that time, they are archived in the password-protected area. If you would like to follow the VU on Twitter, sign up here.

On June 26, in response to last week’s court verdict of $1.92 million against a woman who illegally downloaded 24 songs, the VU will post an article entitled “The HO Policy and Illegal Music Downloads,” which discusses the coverage available via a homeowners policy for illegal download lawsuits. If you sign up to follow the VU on Twitter, we’ll send you a “tweet” as soon as the article is posted.


Trusted Choice^®
Alaska Agency Uses MRP Dollars to Purchase Uniforms for Staff Baseball Team

Shattuck & Grummett Insurance in Juneau, Alaska, a Trusted Choice^® member since March 2004, recently earned $500 in marketing reimbursement dollars for logo wear and their Web site. The agency was already “living the brand” by using their logo on the back of their business cards and on their office sign.

 “Trusted Choice^® and our agency brand complement each other,” says John Grummett, vice president of Shattuck & Grummett Insurance.

The agency used $250 of its MRP dollars to start a softball team equipped with matching Trusted Choice^® shirts. The shirts feature the Trusted Choice^® logo on the front and a tagline on the back: “Insure and Be Sure with your Trusted Choice^® Agency.” Grummett has played baseball competitively his whole life and knows the team building that takes place on the field is unlike anything that happens at the office.  Playing a team sport also creates a certain closeness that is beneficial and fun for agency staff. 

“The best part is the end of the game when you hear ‘Good game, Trusted Choice^®,” Grummett says. 

Shattuck & Grummett Insurance has also produced radio commercials that air in their region. Often, other players hear the radio spots and mention them or the players will ask what Trusted Choice^® is. Either way, it’s a win-win for the branding efforts of this Alaska agency. The agency also earned $250 to update its agency Web site, where they now include the Trusted Choice^® logo with a link to the Trusted Choice^® Pledge of Performance. Trusted Choice^® agencies may apply for a maximum of $500 ($250 per application) through the marketing reimbursement program. Visit www.TrustedChoice.com/mrp to learn more and to apply. 


Big “I” Flood Program
Marketing Ideas for Flood Insurance

Big “I” Flood Program Manager Linda Mackey is often asked for advice on marketing flood insurance, prompting her to issue a new marketing tip sheet based on guidance from the NFIP. Here are some of her tips:

1. Get Flood Smart! Complete your state licensing requirement for FIRA 2004 C.E. by taking a flood class offered by your state association or online at the Big "I" Virtual University. NFIP also offers online or classroom courses to gain product and program knowledge. Have a copy of the NFIP flood manual in your office or on your computer. Get even smarter about flood marketing by participating in the "Oh, By the Way, Flood Sale" weekly webinar offered by the Big “I.” To sign up, e-mail your request to bigimarkets@iiaba.net.

2. Offer flood insurance to all your property accounts, both existing and prospective. Include building and contents. If coverage is rejected, get a signed client waiver for your permanent client file using the newly revised Acord 60 or the version available from the Virtual University. Either FloodSmart or the Big "I" Flood Program can help you plan a direct mail campaign for prospecting. 

3. Promote flood insurance as a line of coverage offered by your agency for both personal and commercial accounts on your Web site, in your Yellow Pages ad or anywhere else you promote your agency. Remember, a consumer can only purchase flood insurance with the help of an insurance agent, so consumers need to know you offer the protection!

Click here to read more tips. Learn more about the Big “I” Flood Program at www.independentagent.com/Flood or contact Mackey at linda.mackey@iiaba.net.


IIABA News
Using Web 2.0? Let Us Know

In a world of abbreviations like IDK (I don’t know) and LOL (laugh out loud), it’s fun to spell it out every once in a while. So, the Big “I” wants to hear from you! Social media or Web 2.0 has become more than a trend---it’s a great way to stay connected and share your message. Radio stations “tweet” contests, car makers write blogs and businesses earn fans on Facebook. Share your Facebook pages, tweets or blogs with the Big “I.” Your stories will be featured in upcoming issues of Insurance News & Views, so other members can learn from your experiences as the Big “I” works toward maximizing its presence in the digital world. To share your Web 2.0 story, contact Susan Bonner at susan.bonner@iiaba.net.


IIABA News
Insurance News & Views Hiatus 

Insurance News & Views will not be published next Thursday, July 2, in observance of Independence Day. The Big “I” wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend! The next edition of IN&V will be published July 9.