Category Archives: Business

Press Releases from the Business World. Announcements, Product releases, Appointments.

Kin Insurance Achieves $100 Million Premium Run Rate in 1.75 Years


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Our rapid growth shows how eager customers are for an insurance company built for the modern world, not the world as it was 100 years ago.

Kin Insurance, the insurance technology company transforming home insurance through intuitive tech and affordable pricing, today announced that it surpassed $100 million in annual recurring premium after just 21 months as a carrier, a feat accomplished with only $52 million in equity funding.

On average, even the fastest growing tech companies require six years to scale from $1 million to $100 million in annual recurring revenue, according to the 2021 State of the Cloud report from Bessemer Venture Partners. Kin started its reciprocal exchange insurance carrier in July 2019, taking only a year and three quarters to reach this significant milestone – or about 70 percent faster than expected based on that benchmark.

Kin reached $25 million in annual recurring premium in March 2020, and grew to $100 million only a year later, quadrupling year over year.

Kin’s rapid rise is particularly noteworthy given that it’s the only direct-to-consumer, homeowners-focused insurance tech company. Homeowners insurance is still 93 percent sold through brick-and-mortar agencies.

“The world is changing fast: technology, consumer preferences, demographics, even the weather,” Kin Co-Founder and CEO Sean Harper said. “Our rapid growth shows how eager customers are for an insurance company built for the modern world, not the world as it was 100 years ago.”

With a technology-first approach to homeowners insurance, Kin has made coverage accessible and affordable even for homes at risk for extreme weather. Previously homeowners in regions most impacted by climate change had to rely on legacy providers with outdated risk models that dramatically increased rates or denied coverage altogether.

Kin is currently available in California, Florida and Louisiana, which make up 21 percent of the home insurance market, and plans to expand nationally before the year’s end.

About Kin:

Kin is the home insurance company built for the future. By leveraging thousands of property data points, Kin customizes coverage and prices through a super simple user experience. Kin offers homeowners, condo, landlord, and mobile home insurance through the Kin Interinsurance Network (KIN), a reciprocal exchange owned by its customers who share in the underwriting profit. Because of its efficient technology and direct-to-consumer model, Kin provides exceptionally low prices without compromising coverage. To learn more, visit http://www.kin.com.

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A Product by Agency Height


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Become a part of Insurance Agent Directory

A hassle-free solution-oriented platform that matches agents with potential clients.

Agency Height is proud to announce the launch of its long-awaited Agent Directory. The platform is an innovative one-stop solution for agents and potential clients to find each other using a hassle-free process.

With the launch of this online directory, Agency Height will bridge the gap between insurance agents and their clients by providing a seamless and easily accessible collective hub designed for both parties.

Agents are provided access to a vast untapped resource of new clients. They are able to strengthen their online presence through a free membership program. And they will be able to leave a more substantial digital footprint, resulting in additional reviews and ratings to improve credibility in their locality.

Independent insurance agents can also benefit from the directory’s ranking system. As the agents claim listings, they can improve their rank, resulting in more publicity and boosting career growth. With a free membership program, claiming a listing is easy.

Customers looking for quality, affordable insurance policies will benefit from our one-of-a-kind algorithm. It allows users to search for experienced agents within a 50-mile radius by entering keywords and location data.

With a free membership program, Agency Height aims to bring together a community of clients and agents in the easiest way possible. The directory will be available for all independent insurance agents starting 19th April 2020. Find more information at Agency Height.    

About the Company: Agency Height is an online insurance publisher for independent insurance agents offering insight and information about the industry. The company aims to build an extensive platform for agents and help them seize bigger opportunities.

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Tom Blomberg Joins Coterie Advisors Executive Sales Team


We are excited to announce that Tom Blomberg is joining Coterie and will add a highly-talented and experienced executive to our team.

Coterie Advisory Group Inc., whose founding partners include some of the original founders of Star HRG (Starbridge®) and Ternian® Insurance Group, have announced that Thomas Blomberg, formerly of BCS Insurance Company® and more recently of Innovative Health Insurance Advisors, will be joining Coterie Advisor’s business development team as: Senior Vice President of National Sales.

Tom will leverage his industry experience and relationships to partner with employee benefits Brokers and Consultants to focus on Coterie Advisor’s Fundamental Care® product set. Their Limited-Benefit Indemnity Plans allow employers to offer affordable and unique health insurance options for their uninsured, part-time, and hourly workers which provides coverage for basic medical expenses. It complements Coterie Advisor’s flagship product, their level-funded Limited Day Health Plan, which offers near-comprehensive coverage at 30-40% less than the cost of traditional high-deductible health plans. With their combined product offerings, Coterie Advisors delivers an Affordability-Based Medical Plan strategy that is unique to the marketplace.

Aaron Cook, President of Coterie Advisors said, “We are excited to announce that Tom Blomberg is joining Coterie and will add a highly-talented and experienced executive to our team. Similar to the principals of Coterie, Tom has spent his career dedicated to offering unique medical solutions to underserved employees of some of the largest service industry employers in the nation.” Cook added, “Tom brings to Coterie his experience, industry knowledge, and reputation that will drive business development for Fundamental Care and continue our success in the future.”

The affordability void in healthcare continues to be a major issue in the United States. With over 28 Million uninsured and 70% of workers living paycheck to paycheck, Coterie Advisors continues to design and develop solutions that meet the needs of the underserved. Fundamental Care provides access to unique and affordable insurance benefits on a guarantee issue basis. Limited Day and Limited Benefit Indemnity plans can be customized and structured with affordable premiums and no deductibles. The plans are high in potential coverage and include upfront, day-one benefits – healthcare employees can actually use. Both plans meet the employer’s ACA mandated requirement for offering Minimum Essential Coverage and Coterie Advisors can also provide Minimum Value Plan (MVP) options for client’s needing a solution for their full-time equivalent employees.

Through Coterie Advisor’s Affordability-Based Medical Plan Strategy, the plans not only provide needed healthcare to the insured employees but also offer companies a strategy to improve recruiting and reduce turnover by rewarding a carve-out class or more-tenured employees. For more information, please contact your employee benefits broker or visit https://www.fundamentalcare.com or https://www.coterieadvisors.com.

ABOUT COTERIE ADVISORS:

Coterie Advisory Group, Inc. is an Arizona-based, insurance program manager and consultative advisor who delivers Affordability-Based Medical Plan Strategies to help benefit brokers, employers, and associations in the benefits industry. Since 1990, the founding partners of Coterie Advisors have specialized in Affordability-Based Medical Plans. They have decades of experience working with some of the nation’s largest service industry employers and understand the unique needs of a variable hour workforce made up of part-time, hourly, and seasonal employees. Their unique and proprietary Affordability-Based Medical Plans (Fundamental Care) include fully-insured limited-benefit indemnity plans and level-funded limited-day plans which solve real-world problems, make a meaningful difference in consumers’ lives, and have a track record of being market-leading and market-changing.

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Loyall Group Expands Insurance Services for Health Practices


An insurance policy should never be the roadblock that holds one up from closing on their dream practice, nor should a banker be worrying about if insurance is going to get done in time.

Today, Loyall Group, a modern insurance firm for those in healthcare, announced they are revolutionizing the way insurance is done for healthcare loans. Loyall’s ambition to remove hindrances in loan closings, caused by delays in approvals, is a reality today through its tech-driven insurance platform. What once used to take weeks and months for insurance approvals, now takes minutes and days. No more having to go to multiple sources to secure all the different types of insurances needed. Loyall Group has created one team for all the insurances needed to close on a loan, making the process seamless.

While COVID brought unprecedented changes to our world, it also brought these significant changes to insurance. Through artificial intelligence, and the use of existing claims data, some life insurance carriers today can make underwriting decisions in five minutes. Loyall Group is leading the charge of expedited approvals, and eliminating delays with collateral assignments, which can be done simultaneously when policies are approved. With rapid changes happening in the landscape of insurance, more and more insurance carriers will enter this space.

For example, disability insurance is one of the most complicated insurance coverages to get approved for. Loyall Group, even though COVID, averaged just 9.5 days to reach an underwriting decision for disability insurance. Through the Loyall Group’s property & casualty division, approvals for business insurance can be done as fast as 20 minutes.

CEO Jennifer Loyall says, “An insurance policy should never be the roadblock that holds one up from closing on their dream practice, nor should a banker be worrying about if insurance is going to get done in time. We free people every day from insurance so they can focus on what matters — closing on the dream practice, not the insurance.”

COO Austin Dial says, “The process of applying for insurance shouldn’t be complicated. Through Loyall’s tech-driven platform, with a few clicks on a smartphone, underwriting begins.”

Significant changes are happening in the landscape of FinTech and banking. Loyall Group tested its insurance platform with Lendeavor, now Provide, in 2020. The platform is designed to be used by any bank and can be customized for each bank’s specific insurance requirements. Loyall offers insurance consulting to banks who want to bring insurance in house.

About Loyall Group: Combining Loyall Group’s 15 years of experience working with veterinarians, orthodontists, dentists, and those in healthcare, with technology, Loyall Group has a created a digital platform — that bankers and borrowers alike — can use on their smartphone and with one click, underwriting can begin.

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Major Car Insurance Mistakes Drivers Should Avoid Doing


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“Everyone makes mistakes. However, when dealing with a car insurance company, drivers should avoid doing costly mistakes”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Carinsuranceplan.org has launched a new blog post that presents several car insurance mistakes that should be avoided.

For more info and online car insurance quotes, visit https://carinsuranceplan.org/major-car-insurance-mistakes/

For many drivers, car insurance is an expensive investment. Any mistake can be costly and the policyholder can end up wasting hundreds, or even thousands of dollars each year.

Drivers should avoid doing the following major car insurance mistakes:

  • Choosing a high deductible. As long as a driver can afford to pay it, it is good to have a high deductible. Many drivers that want to pay lower car insurance rates are choosing higher deductibles. However, raising the deductible may not make a major difference depending on the policyholder’s driving record and type of vehicle. Drivers that have bad driving records won’t save that much on their premiums if they choose a higher deductible.
  • Sacrificing coverage for lower premiums. There are many insurers that brag they offer the lowest insurance prices. That doesn’t mean they are the best companies or they offer the best services. A cheap policy is not always equal to a quality product. Drivers should ensure they are not purchasing just the minimum required coverage in order to save a few bucks. Drivers who select to carry just the lowest limits required by law, are putting themselves at risk. Drivers are recommended to carry enough coverage to protect the value of their cars and assets.
  • Not buying Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured drivers are putting honest drivers at risk every day. In case of an accident, the uninsured driver does not have the liability coverage to pay for the medical bills or property damage coverage to pay for the damage they have done.
  • Not checking the provider. Before purchasing coverage from a company, drivers should check that company’s financial solvency. By doing so, drivers will avoid signing an insurance deal with a company that doesn’t pay reimbursements.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://carinsuranceplan.org/

Carinsuranceplan.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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NAIFA Invites All Financial Services Professionals to Attend Virtual Congressional Fly-In May 25-26


The Congressional Conference bolsters NAIFA’s prestige among lawmakers and industry partners and enhances the association’s standing as the leading voice for insurance and financial professionals.

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ (NAIFA’s) Congressional Congress, May 25-26, will be a virtual event featuring targeted advocacy training with briefings on legislative issues that affect members’ businesses, best practices for conducting congressional meetings, and tips for developing impactful long-term relationships with legislators.

Featured presenters for the May 25 session will include Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), a former insurance professional prior to his service as a federal lawmaker; Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee; American Council of Life Insurers President and CEO Susan Neely; NAIFA’s Government Relations team; and other influential industry representatives. More information on the schedule is on NAIFA’s web site.

On May 26, attendees will participate in virtual meetings with their members of the Senate and congressional staff. They will discuss legislative issues important to their businesses and clients and tell their stories that show the important work they do providing Main Street USA consumers with opportunities to achieve financial security and prosperity.

“The Congressional Conference is one of NAIFA’s signature events and is crucial to our grassroots advocacy strategy,” said NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE. “The virtual event brings NAIFA members together as a critical mass to advocate on behalf of their businesses, clients, consumers, and the insurance and financial services industry. Virtual meetings, in fact, allow us to offer an even more inclusive event and promote equitable access to advocacy with more agents and advisors able to participate and have a meaningful impact.”

The 2021 Congressional Conference will mark the second year in a row that the event has been held in a virtual setting. Attendance grew last year as more agents and advisors were able to participate from their homes and offices. Unlike last year, this year’s event will feature small group meetings with lawmakers that have become a highlight of past Congressional Conferences.

“COVID-19 and restrictions in place at the U.S. Capitol require us to go 100% virtual this year, but NAIFA members will be meeting with U.S. Senators and will have the same influence as when they meet face-to-face,” said Diane Boyle, NAIFA’s Senior Vice President for Government Relations. “We have even greater influence when we fully activate our grassroots network. It also helps more financial professionals get to know NAIFA and see first-hand the great advocacy work our association is doing to protect their businesses and clients.”

The Congressional Conference bolsters NAIFA’s prestige among lawmakers and industry partners and enhances the association’s standing as the leading voice for insurance and financial professionals. It is crucial for ensuring lawmakers thoroughly understand the important role NAIFA members play in:


  • Providing products, services, and advice that improve the financial security of 90 million American families.
  • Promoting financial literacy and self-sufficiency in diverse communities.
  • Strengthening the U.S. economy and contributing to the financial health of communities in every congressional district.
  • Representing the best interests of their clients and promoting the success of Main Street Americans and businesses.

“The personal stories insurance and financial professionals tell profoundly illustrate how public policies impact their clients,” Mayeux said. “These are stories lawmakers want and need to hear. No one can tell them better than NAIFA members, and the Congressional Conference is our best vehicle for reaching a large, attentive audience of policymakers.”

Registration for NAIFA’s 2021 Virtual Congressional Conference is open online.

ABOUT NAIFA: The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors is the preeminent membership association for the multigenerational community of financial professionals in the United States. NAIFA members subscribe to a strong Code of Ethics and represent a full spectrum of financial services practice specialties. They work with families and businesses to help Americans improve financial literacy and achieve financial security. NAIFA provides producers a national community for advocacy, education and networking along with awards, publications and leadership opportunities to allow NAIFA members to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. NAIFA has 53 state and territorial chapters and 35 large metropolitan local chapters. NAIFA members in every congressional district advocate on behalf of producers and consumers at the state, interstate and federal levels.

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Level is Rebuilding Insurance to Help Employers Offer Bigger Benefits for Less


Level not only offers a better experience, but it also offers the potential for significant cost savings. Level’s self-insured dental and vision products let companies offer more coverage to their teams while often cutting nearly 20 percent from their benefits budget.

Level, the technology company that makes financial products for employers, announced $27 million in Series A funding. Khosla Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners led the round, along with Operator Collective and leading angels. Previous investors First Round Capital and Homebrew also participated. The funding will help Level accelerate building insurance and benefits products that meet the demands of today’s consumers.

“Insurance is confusing and often feels unfair. Networks restrict where you can go, billing takes weeks, and you always seem to owe more than you expect,” shares Paul Aaron, founder and CEO of Level. “We believe paying with insurance should be as easy as any other purchase. So we’re rebuilding insurance from the ground up—from flexible networks to real-time claims. We’re helping employers and employees get more out of their benefits dollars.”

Level first launched employer-sponsored dental benefits in 2019 and now also offers vision plans. Today, the company serves leading people-centric companies, including Intercom, Udemy, Docker, and KeepTruckin.

Every part of the member experience is seamless—from finding a provider to checkout. With Level, employers can offer their teams:

  • Straightforward plans: Employers can customize plans to offer 100 percent coverage across treatments, which stretches benefit dollars further and eliminates out-of-pocket costs. Members have a benefits balance that they spend and track like cash.
  • Mobile-first experience: Members can manage their plans all with the Level app. That includes finding a provider, getting detailed cost estimates, and tracking benefits spend in real-time.
  • Flexibility to see any provider: Members can see any provider and their visit is covered 100 percent, even out of network. Members can also save with Level’s national network of providers.
  • Fast payments: No more surprise bills weeks later: 88 percent of claims are processed the same day. No more paperwork. Members can “settle up” their bill before they even leave the office.

Level’s full-stack approach extends across the benefits ecosystem of employers, brokers, and providers. The company is building end-to-end tools, from automated underwriting to real-time benefit analytics.

“We actually offer Level to our team here at First Round Capital, and people love it,” shares Rob Hayes, Board Partner. “There’s a certain ‘magic’ when using the Level app and paying with insurance instantly at checkout. It was a similar feeling when opening the Uber app for the first time. The more people experience how simple insurance can be, the more they’ll start to ask for Level from their next employer.”

Level not only offers a better experience, but it also offers the potential for significant cost savings. Level’s self-insured dental and vision products let companies offer more coverage to their teams while often cutting nearly 20 percent from their benefits budget. In a time where employers are taking bigger roles in their team’s wellness, Level is helping them offer more robust benefits for less.

“Employers already spend so much money on benefits, and neither they nor their teams get enough out of it,” said Jana Messerschmidt from Lightspeed Venture Partners. “Businesses of all sizes need to compete for talent with innovative benefits that help people get more from their paychecks. Level offers a far superior employee experience, and you’re getting bang for your buck. It’s a win-win.”

Next up, Level will launch new modern plans tailored for small businesses. Level is investing in innovative insurance approaches—even creating a captive and holding risk—to make big benefits available to small businesses that typically only enterprises offer. The full suite of products will allow companies of all sizes—from 2 employees to 20,000—to provide better benefits for their teams.

“If anyone can make paying with benefits feel simple, it’s Level,” said Samir Kaul from Khosla Ventures. “Paul’s expertise in payments at Square combined with his insurance knowledge from Oscar uniquely qualifies him to tackle this problem. Level can do for insurance and benefits what Square Cash did for person-to-person payments—and his team comes straight from building similarly transformative products.”

About Level

Level builds financial products for people-first businesses. Level makes it easy for people to pay with their benefits dollars, while helping businesses and their teams save money. Starting with dental and vision, Level is rebuilding insurance to create more coverage through straight-forward plans, flexible networks, and fast payments. The founding team comes from companies that have simplified payments and insurance, like Square, Oscar, and Uber. Level started in 2018 in New York City, and is backed by Khosla Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, First Round, Homebrew, BoxGroup, and Precursor Ventures. Learn more at level.com.

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Reduce Your Out-Of-Pocket Health Care Expenses by Adding a Supplemental Health Insurance Plan


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Reduce your out-of-pocket health care expenses.

ACA Marketplace deductibles vary by state and can have a substantial impact on an individual’s out-of-pocket health care costs

A health insurance policy’s deductible can have a big impact on the total annual health care spending. Consumers need to remember, all 2021 Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans end on 12/31/21. For any plan purchased now, the consumer has a shorter time span to satisfy their calendar year deductible.

“ACA Marketplace deductibles vary by state and can have a substantial impact on an individual’s out-of-pocket health care costs,” began Bob Dial, vice president, Preferred Health Insurance Solutions, formally known as ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions (ACAEnroll.com)    

“Consumers can consider adding a Supplemental (ancillary) Health Insurance plan. Many, Supplemental Health Insurance plans are guaranteed issue, have low deductibles and provide a variety of coverage options. A licensed insurance agent will be able address all of the advantages of adding a Supplemental Health Insurance plan,” Dial added.

Dial provides the following tips when considering a Supplemental Health Insurance plan:

Tip 1: Understanding the value of a Supplemental Health insurance plan

Examples of Supplemental Health Insurance plans include, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Dental/Vision Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance, and Disability Income Insurance.

“Having a Supplemental Health Insurance plan, like a Critical Illness plan, could help cover a person’s out-of-pocket costs when having an unexpected major medical event like a stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, cancer, or organ transplant.” remarked Dial.

Tip 2: Many Supplemental Health insurance plans include a lump-sum cash benefit.

Many Supplemental Health Insurance plans pay a lump-sum cash benefit, which can go directly to the individual. The insured can use the money any way they like – for deductibles or coinsurance, second opinions, preferred providers, or even household bills.

“For example, many Personal Accident Medical Insurance plans offer an annual maximum benefit up to $10,000 for a covered accident. If the injury was the result of an accident, the Personal Accident Medical Insurance benefit can help cover the out-of-pocket costs. The cash benefits from a Personal Accident Medical Insurance plan can also be used for both emergency and future medical costs if not covered under another medical plan, and for home care, childcare, transportation, or anything else that may be needed during the recovery period. This would be a great option for a family to consider.”

Tip 3: To help lower costs even further, take advantage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Dial explained, “The goal of the new ARPA is to improve access and affordability of health coverage through the ACA Marketplace by increasing eligibility for financial assistance to help pay for ACA Marketplace coverage. In order to access the full benefits of the ARPA this year, it is important for consumers to act before the SEP ends on Aug 15, 2021.”

Even those already enrolled through HealthCare.gov will need to reapply to determine if they are eligible for a larger subsidy. When consumers enroll in the ARPA, they can choose a plan that is the same, costs more or costs less than the benchmark plan. The 8.5% cap is used to calculate this increase in premium tax credit amounts, but the cost of the plan a consumer chooses to enroll in may be higher or lower than the benchmark plan.

Dial remarked, “A Preferred Health Insurance Solutions agent can help an individual calculate the new tax credit and help compare plans. This will ensure an individual’s health plan truly fits their individual or family’s healthcare needs. It is vital that all Americans act before the SEP ends on Aug. 15th deadline. If they do not act now, they will miss the opportunity to take advantage of the ARPA and possibly lower their ACA Marketplace plan 2021 health care premium.”

Tip 4: Consider adding a Telemedicine product

Telemedicine provides an individual unlimited access to U.S. based physicians 24/7/365. A physician can provide a diagnosis conveniently over the phone or video chat for common illnesses such as a sore throat, the cold or flu, muscle or joint pain and more.

Telemedicine can save time and money in physician visits, copays and out-of-pocket costs. When appropriate, telemedicine physicians can provide short-term medication and other prescriptions. Outside of the enrollment cost, there usually are no additional fees or out-of-pocket costs. It is important to go over all of the details with a licensed insurance agent. “Telemedicine is an ideal product for a family” remarked Dial. “Telemedicine can help an individual avoid germ-filled waiting rooms, which may reduce the risk of getting a new illness.”

Preferred Health Insurance Solutions has established a Call Center of multilingual, licensed health insurance agents who have been trained to walk a client through the entire process of selecting a healthcare plan and enrolling them for their coverage, as well as responding to any questions they may have regarding their new health insurance policy. Because of their extensive marketplace experience, Preferred Health Insurance Solutions agents can help the determine if the individual qualifies for financial assistance to help pay for their health insurance, as well as go over with them deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs. Consumers can call the Preferred Health Insurance Solutions’ Call Center at 800-342-0631 or access the company’s website at https://www.PHISonline.com.    

About Preferred Health Insurance Solutions    

Headquartered in Bedford Park, Illinois, Preferred Health Insurance Solutions (PHIS) is a national enrollment firm specializing in the Health Insurance Marketplace as well as a variety of other health insurance products including: Dental, Critical Illness; Short Term Major Medical; and others. Preferred Health Insurance Solutions, formerly known as ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions (ACAEnroll.com) provides enrollment services throughout the country, through national and regional insurance carriers. Consumers can call the PHIS Call Center at 800-342-0631 or access the company’s website at https://www.PHISonline.com.

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Truck Safety Bill Introduced in Congress Today Seeks First Raise in Minimum Insurance for Motor Carriers in 41 Years


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Crash victim family members volunteering with the Truck Safety Coalition are available for media interviews to discuss their personal stories of emotional and economic loss, and the critical need to raise minimum insurance coverage for motor carriers which has been stuck at $750,000 since 1980.

Media Contact: Bill Bronrott, 202-270-4415, bronrott@gmail.com

TODAY: Truck Safety Bill Introduced in Congress to Raise Minimum Insurance for Motor Carriers for First Time in 41 Years.

Victims and Survivors Send Letter Urging Members of Congress to Protect Families from the Financial Hardship of Shouldering the High Costs of Lifelong Medical Care Resulting from a Truck Crash.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY:

Crash victim family members volunteering with the Truck Safety Coalition are available for media interviews to discuss their personal stories of emotional and economic loss, and the critical need to raise minimum insurance coverage for motor carriers which has been stuck at $750,000 since 1980.

WHY:

Truck crash survivors and victims’ families today sent the following letter to each Member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urging them to enact legislation introduced today by Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Chicago, IL) and several cosponsors to increase the required minimum insurance for trucking companies to catch up with medical cost inflation over the past 41 years. Joining Rep. Garcia as cosponsors of the Improving National Safety by Updating the Required Amount of Insurance Needed by Motor Vehicles Per Event Act of 2021 (INSURANCE Act) are Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA-04), John Garamendi (D-CA-03), Mondaire Jones (D-NY-17), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA-47).

In 1980, Congress established $750,000 as the minimum insurance requirement for motor carriers to ensure public safety and to measure the financial fitness and responsibility of a motor carrier company entering the business. Over the past four decades, the cost of living rose by more than 200 percent, and the per capita health expenditure jumped from about $1,000 to approximately $12,000.

In 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a study concluding that “the current financial responsibility minimums are inadequate to fully cover the costs of some crashes in light of increased medical costs and revised value of statistical life estimates.” FMCSA soon after issued a proposed rulemaking to increase the minimums, however, the agency withdrew it in 2017.

In 2019, more than 5,000 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks and 159,000 were injured at an economic cost of $143 billion. Since 2009, truck crash deaths have increased 48 percent. (source: U.S. Department of Transportation)

WHO:

Forty-eight truck safety advocates from 26 states and DC signed onto the letter to Members of Congress calling for passage of the legislation. The following family spokespersons are available for media interviews:

Nancy Meuleners (Minnesota)

Nancy was severely injured in 1989 when her vehicle slid under the back of a semi stopped in traffic without emergency flashers illuminated. She has had over 40 surgeries to reconstruct her face and mouth and expects there will be more.

Ed Slattery (Maryland)

Ed’s wife, Susan, was killed, and his sons, Peter and Matthew, were severely injured in 2010 when they were rear-ended by a truck driver who fell asleep. Lifetime costs for Matthew’s care alone are estimated to be $35-45 million. Ed’s journey since the crash has been documented in the book, The Long Blink, the true story of trauma, forgiveness, and one man’s fight for safer roads, by award-winning Baltimore reporter and author, Brian Kuebler. It is a must-read and a major contribution to the field of dealing with grief after tragedy and loss.

Dawn King (Michigan)

President, Truck Safety Coalition

Dawn’s father, Bill Badger, was killed in 2004 while slowed in traffic when he was hit from behind by a semi-truck driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel.                                                                                                

Gage Evans (Colorado)

Gage’s husband, Bill Bailey, was killed in 2019 when a truck driver hauling a load of lumber was descending from the mountains on an interstate at a very high speed and crashed into the rear of slowing traffic in Lakewood, Colorado, killing 4 people and injuring many others. The motor carrier’s limits of liability coverage (of either $750k or $1 million) was paid out to other claimants, including payments to other motor carriers for their property damage, before Gage even had time to hire a lawyer.

Eileen Kosc (Delaware)

Eileen was driving home from the beach in slow traffic in 2013 when she was struck from behind by an inattentive box truck driver, killing her 7-year-old son, Bryan, and injuring her and her other son, Brandon. It was a multi-vehicle crash resulting in not enough insurance money to cover all the cases. Eileen is an essential, front-line nursing manager who delivers health care and personally understands the excessive cost burdens involved with crashes involving large trucks. She stays involved with the Truck Safety Coalition’s work in honor of her son, Bryan.    

LETTER TO CONGRESS FROM TRUCK SAFETY COALITION FAMILIES

See below

April 15, 2021

Dear Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee:

As individuals who have survived truck crashes or have had family members killed or seriously injured, we are writing in strong support of legislation introduced by Representatives Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL), John Garamendi (D-CA), Mondaire Jones (D NY), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Jared Huffman (D CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Alan Lowenthal (D CA), directing the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to increase minimum insurance requirements for motor carriers.

This issue is about grieving families and not enriching lawyers. It is unfair, unreasonable, and unacceptable to burden innocent victims and survivors of truck crashes, as well as taxpayers, with the crushing costs of lifelong medical care as well as financial responsibility for children, spouses and other dependents left behind, because of irrefutably inadequate insurance coverage. Many of the individuals who have signed this letter know firsthand the devastating economic consequences of being involved in a truck crash with a motor carrier that only meets the minimum insurance requirement. It is not uncommon for family members to be forced to spend their life savings, raid their retirement accounts, borrow money, file for bankruptcy, or rely on government assistance.

In 1980, Congress passed legislation establishing $750,000 as the minimum insurance requirement for motor carriers to ensure public safety and to measure the financial fitness and responsibility of a motor carrier company entering the business. The current minimum amount no longer fulfills these goals. Crash victims are routinely uncompensated, and many unfit and unsafe motor carriers are operating on our streets and roads. Furthermore, the minimum insurance requirement was never intended to cover so-called fender benders but rather those severe crashes causing multiple casualties, grave injuries, and serious property damage.

During these past 40 years, the cost of living in the United States has risen by more than 200 percent. In 1980, the per capita health expenditure in our country was about $1,000 and in 2020 was approximately $12,000. Furthermore, consider that in 1980 the annual salary of a Member of Congress was $60,662. Today, it is $174,000.

In 2012, Congress passed legislation, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21; P.L.112-141) directing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to study the adequacy of the $750,000 minimum insurance requirements for motor carriers of property. The report, issued in April 2014, states “In conclusion, FMCSA has determined that the current financial responsibility minimums are inadequate to fully cover the costs of some crashes in light of increased medical costs and revised value of statistical life estimates.”

Shortly after releasing the report, the FMCSA issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to increase the minimum levels of financial responsibility for motor carriers. Unfortunately, the rulemaking was withdrawn in 2017. Nearly 10 years after Congress directed the study and seven years after FMCSA determined the $750,000 minimum insurance requirement was inadequate, there still has been no agency action to address this significant inequity. Meanwhile, the truck crash death and injury toll on our roads and highways continues to grow at an alarming rate. According to DOT, in 2019, more than 5,000 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks and 159,000 were injured at a cost estimated to be $143 billion. Since 2009 there has been a 48 percent increase in truck crash fatalities.

Families who experience the tragic loss or serious injury of a loved one in a truck crash carry a lifelong emotional burden. They should not have to shoulder a lifelong financial burden. We urge you to support this legislation directing an increase in the minimum insurance requirement for interstate motor carriers with periodic adjustments for inflation.

Sincerely,

Nancy Meuleners (Minnesota)

Nancy was severely injured in 1989 when her vehicle slid under the back of a semi stopped in traffic without emergency flashers illuminated. She has had over 40 surgeries to reconstruct her face and mouth and expects there will be more.

Gage Evans (Colorado)

In 2019, Gage’s husband, Bill Bailey, was killed when a truck driver hauling a load of lumber was descending from the mountains on an interstate at a very high speed and crashed into the rear of slowing traffic in Lakewood, Colorado, killing 4 people and injuring many others. The motor carrier’s limits of liability coverage (of either $750k or $1 million) was paid out to other claimants (including payments to other motor carriers for their property damage) before Gage even had time to hire a lawyer.

Kate Brown (Illinois)

In 2005, Kate’s 27-year-old son, Graham, was critically injured, partially disabled, and has endured more than 22 surgeries after he was hit by a drunk, drugged and fatigued semi driver who fell asleep at the wheel. There was not enough insurance coverage for his considerable medical bills. His health costs exceeded $4-5 million.

Julie Magnan Patrissi (Vermont)

Julie was severely injured and her husband, David, was killed in a crash in 2002 when a semi crossed the median and collided with their car. Julie has had numerous surgeries over the past 19 years. She received nothing for her injuries because the truck owner had only minimum insurance.

Ed Slattery (Maryland)

Ed’s wife, Susan, was killed, and his sons, Peter and Matthew, were severely injured in 2010 when they were rear-ended by a truck driver who fell asleep. Lifetime costs for Matthew’s care alone are estimated to be $35 – $45 million. Ed’s journey since the crash has been documented in the book, The Long Blink, the true story of trauma, forgiveness, and one man’s fight for safer roads, by award-winning Baltimore reporter and author, Brian Kuebler.

Michelle Novak (New York)

Michelle’s nephew, Chuck, was one of five people who died in a NC interstate crash in 2010, when a speeding semi crashed into a line of stopped cars. Ten others were injured. The minimum insurance was disbursed among all parties for injuries, fatalities, auto damage, county road and bridge repairs, first responders, and others. It would not have covered a month’s worth of care for just one of the permanently injured victims.

Eileen Kosc (Delaware)

Eileen was driving home from the beach in slow traffic in 2013 when she was struck from behind by an inattentive box truck driver, killing her 7-year-old son, Bryan, and injuring her and her other son, Brandon. It was a multi-vehicle crash resulting in not enough insurance money to cover all the cases.

Santiago Calderon (California)

Santiago survived a crash in 2014 where 10 people died, and many others were injured when a double tractor-trailer crashed into the charter bus on which he was a passenger. Both the truck and the bus were engulfed in flames that started after impact. In his own words: “It makes complete sense to raise the insufficient insurance requirements, to help protect victims and survivors with injuries in future crashes.”

Brady and Kaitlin Lambert (Texas)

In 2019, Brady Lambert was riding his farm tractor on the shoulder of a highway, with his flashers activated, when he was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer. He was ejected, then airlifted to a hospital for treatment of the serious injuries suffered in the crash. The total costs of Brady’s injuries exceeded $750,000.

Daniel and Jessie Dorman (Iowa)

In 2020, Daniel, their 5-year-old son, Harvey, and Jessie’s parents, Teri and Rick, were rear-ended by a semi in western Kansas. Daniel had a concussion; Harvey was severely bruised, had a concussion and a cracked rib, was hospitalized for several days; Teri was flown to Wichita for emergency surgeries, and was hospitalized for a month before she was able to be transported back home. Teri’s medical expenses alone have exceeded the insurance limits.

Dawn King, President, Truck Safety Coalition & Board Member, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH). (Michigan)

Dawn’s father, Bill Badger, was killed in 2004 while slowed in traffic when he was hit from behind by a semi driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel.                                                

Daphne and Steve Izer, Founders and Co-Chair, Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T.) & Board Members, Truck Safety Coalition. (Maine)

Daphne and Steve’s son, Jeff, and three of his friends were killed in 1993 when a semi driver fell asleep at the wheel and ran over the car as it was parked on the shoulder.

Russell Swift, Co-Chair, P.A.T.T. & Board Member, Truck Safety Coalition (Maine)

Russ’s son, Jasen, was killed instantly, as was a fellow Marine, while they drove in the dark to work in 1993, by a 17-year-old truck driver without a permit whose truck was stuck across two lanes after trying a U-turn, causing the car to drive into and under the side of the trailer.

Jane Mathis, Vice President, Truck Safety Coalition; Board Member, P.A.T.T. (Florida)

Jane’s 23-year-old son, David, and his bride, Mary Kathryn, were killed while on their way home from their honeymoon in 2004 when they were stopped in traffic and hit from behind by a semi whose driver fell asleep at the wheel. The car became wedged under the truck, then exploded.

Jennifer M. Tierney, Board Member, CRASH; Truck Safety Coalition. (North Carolina)

Jennifer’s father, James Mooney, was killed on a dark, rural road in 1983 when he crashed into a truck with no visible lights blocking the roadway.

Tami Friedrich Trakh, Board Member, CRASH & Truck Safety Coalition. (California)

Tami’s sister, Kris, brother-in-law, Alan, and two of their children, Brandie and Anthony, were killed in 1989 when a tanker truck overturned in front of them and exploded.

Nikki Weingartner, Board Member, P.A.T.T. & Truck Safety Coalition. (Hawaii)

Nikki’s husband, Virgil Hensley, was killed in 1997 when a truck driver ran a stop sign at an intersection, killing him instantly.

Linda Wilburn, Board Member, P.A.T.T. & Truck Safety Coalition. (Oklahoma)

Linda and Gary Wilburn’s son, Orbie, was killed in 2002 when a tired truck driver slammed into his car.

Roy Crawford (Kentucky)

Roy’s son, Guy Champ Crawford, was killed in 1994 by an overloaded coal truck that had poor conspicuity and no underride guards. Roy is a retired forensic engineer who has reconstructed many fatal truck crashes.

Larry and Patty Liberatore (Maryland)

Larry and Patty Liberatore’s son, Nick, was killed in 1997 by a fatigued truck driver who drove his semi over their son’s vehicle.

Franklin Wood (Virginia)

Franklin’s daughter, Dana, and her friend were killed in 2002 when a truck driver, driving on a suspended license, struck Dana’s car, pushing it 1500 feet down the highway.

Ron Wood (Washington, DC)

Ron’s mother, Betsy Wood, sister, Lisa Wood Martin, and Lisa’s three children, Chance, Brock and Reid Martin, were killed in 2004 when a tractor trailer driver fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the median, striking their vehicle.

Elissa Schee (Florida)

Elissa’s 13-year-old daughter, Margay, was riding home from school in a school bus in 2008 that was struck from behind by a semi and burst into flames.

Debra Cruz (Texas)

Debra survived being hit from behind by a semi in 2008, though she lives with life- changing injuries that require her to wear a nerve stimulator to cope with overwhelming pain.

Vickie Johnson (Georgia)

Vickie’s husband, Curt, and stepdaughter, Crystal, were killed in 2009 when they were stopped in traffic and hit from behind. Vickie and her daughter, Abby, and stepson, Cody, survived with injuries.

Scott T. Harper (Massachusetts)

Scott’s mother was killed in 2011 with her 3 close senior living center friends, when a semi – driver ran a red light and t-boned the elders’ car, killing all 4. Scott’s mother lived for 6 hours, but none of her 3 children arrived in time to be at her side before she died.

Pierenna Arrington (South Carolina)

Pierenna’s husband, Scott, was killed in 2012 while riding his motorcycle to work when he was hit and killed by a semi-truck pulling into traffic.

Craig Polston (Ohio)

In 2012, Craig’s wife, Anna, was killed, and he and his in-laws were injured when a truck driver illegally changed lanes and forced their car off the interstate in Georgia. There were two trucks involved, with evidence of violations of hours of service and cell phone use by one of the drivers.

Livia Maddamma (Ohio)

In 2015, Livia’s sister, Sandra Maddamma, was slowed down in interstate traffic when her car was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer. She was pushed into the center lane where her car struck another car, and Sandra died from her injuries.

Rick Watts (Virginia)

In 2015, Rick’s wife, Tiffany, his stepdaughters, Kelsie and Savannah, and

Sandra Anderson, Tiffany’s mother, were stopped near Chattanooga, TN, in traffic due to construction, when a tractor trailer collided with 8 vehicles. Six people, including Rick’s entire family, were killed, and another 6 people were injured. The NTSB investigated this horrific crash.

Kristi Garrigues and Garrigues Family (Washington)

Kelsie and Savannah, from the 2015 Watts crash above, were Kristi Garrigues’ granddaughters. She lost both of them that terrible day.

Martha Yancoskie-Mellinger (Pennsylvania)

In 2015, Martha’s Mom and Dad were involved in a side underride crash with a tractor-trailer stopped across both lanes of the road. Her Mom survived the crash; her Dad was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pamela Biddle (Georgia)

In 2017, Pamela’s 23-year-old son, Aaron Lee, his father, Brian Lee, and Brian’s partner, Stephanie Swaim, were killed when they were stopped in interstate highway traffic caused by a semi with a wheel fire and hit from behind by another semi which failed to slow. The semi driver also perished.

Becky McCammon-Matthew (Florida)

Becky’s 20-year-old son, Dyllon, was killed in 2017 when a semi pulled out in front of his car.

Laura and Richard Fredricks (New Jersey)

Laura and Richard’s daughter, Emily, was killed while riding her bicycle to work in 2017 when a sanitation truck turned in front of her.

Sarah Jo Plucker-Wright (Ohio)

Sarah Jo was severely injured in 2018 when a semi driver ran a red light and struck her vehicle. Sarah Jo’s leg has a titanium rod, she has permanent nerve damage, burn scars across her neck, and internal scarring in her abdomen.

Dorine E. and Thomas S. Norko (Connecticut)

In 2018, in Idaho, Dorine’s son, Senior Airman Lawrence P. Manlapit III, was killed along with two of his fellow airmen, Carlos Johnson and Karlie Westall, when the Jeep they were riding in was stopped in traffic in a construction zone and rear-ended by a tractor-trailer. The Jeep and truck were engulfed in flames. The semi driver, who had a poor record, was going 62 mph before impact, and was also killed.

Catherine DeSalvo (New Jersey)

Catherine’s husband, Jim, was killed while riding his bike in 2019, when the tire flew off of an overweight, unmaintained dump truck and hit him.

Anna Guardipee (Virginia)

Anna and her dear friend, Jennifer Burton, were slowed in construction traffic in 2019 when a semi failed to stop and rear ended their vehicle, pushing them into another semi. Anna was paralyzed and Jennifer was killed.

Paul Huffman (Virginia)

Paul, a close friend of Anna Guardipee (see above), has dedicated himself to supporting Anna since her crash in 2019.

Purushottam & Mina K P Panthee (New York)

In 2020, Purushottam and Mira’s 10-year-old son, Shree, was killed, and Mira has serious, life-threatening injuries, from a collision in a school cross walk with a Queens, NY, sanitation truck. In Purushottam’s words: “It is not just the physical wounds but she (Mira), along with our whole family, is suffering from mental pain. We are a victim’s family and want to request the U.S. government to impose more regulations for truck safety and pedestrian rights to save lives.”

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Allen Insurance and Financial Earns Diamond Achiever Award in Maine


Allen Insurance and Financial has been named Maine’s 2020 Diamond Achiever by Patriot Insurance Company. The annual award is presented to the highest performing agency based on set criteria including length of appointment, profitability, growth, and policy retention. Each year, the top Patriot Insurance Company agencies receive the “Diamond Achiever” award in recognition of their outstanding accomplishment.

Patriot Insurance Company President and CEO, Lincoln Merrill Jr. explains, “We are proud to present Allen Insurance and Financial with our Diamond Achiever award. Through their hard work and commitment to providing superior services, support and products, it is well deserved.”

This recognition exemplifies their commitment to providing quality, professional insurance products and services to our mutual clients.

The results achieved by the team at Allen Insurance and Financial helped the agency become one of the most successful among Patriot Insurance Company’s more than 115 independent agencies.

“The team at Allen Insurance and Financial is dedicated to providing the protection our clients need accompanied by the highest level of service. We are all very proud to be recognized by our colleagues at Patriot Insurance. Strong partnerships like ours benefit everyone in the industry − carriers, agents and clients, ” said Michael Dufour, executive vice president of Allen Insurance and Financial.

Allen Insurance and Financial has been licensed with Patriot Insurance Company since 1993 is recognized as one of the carrier’s Preferred independent insurance agency partners.

About Patriot Insurance

Patriot Insurance has been providing peace of mind for families and businesses in New England for over 50 years. Headquartered in Yarmouth, Maine, we are a regional carrier offering business, home, auto, life, and surety products backed by local, autonomous claims, loss control, and underwriting teams. We work exclusively with independent agents who can give our customers the personal guidance and service they deserve. Since 2007, we have partnered with Frankenmuth Insurance, a longstanding company founded in Michigan in 1868. Patriot Insurance is financially sound, with an A.M. Best rating of “A” (Excellent).

About Allen Insurance and Financial

Allen Insurance and Financial is an independent, employee-owned insurance, employee benefits, and financial services company with offices in Rockland, Camden, Belfast, Southwest Harbor and Waterville. Call 800-439-4311. Online: AllenIF.com

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