November 2016

PIACT staff meets with CID to discuss HealthyCT

A state superior court judge recently placed Connecticut’s consumer-operated and oriented plan HealthyCT on rehabilitation, and it is set to shut down by the end of the year. Following the announcement, PIACT Government Affairs Counsel Sarah Coli, Esq., and Legislative Representative James O’Brien, Esq., met this week with Connecticut Insurance Department Deputy Insurance Commissioner Tim Curry and Special Deputy Rehabilitator Dan Watkins to discuss this wind-down process and its possible effect on agents and brokers in the state. Commissions paid by carriers, which now are not being passed onto brokers, was a top concern in the meeting. HealthyCT stopped paying commissions as of Oct. 1. Administrators expressed that commissions may not be a top priority in the process. The CID promised to keep PIACT informed about the financials of the co-op and conduct conference calls with your association staff. PIACT will continue to monitor this issue as it unfolds.

July 2015

Progressives announces delay in underwriting changes

Progressive announced in May it is delaying its recent policy changes. Those changes included: duty to report changes (under its recent changes, Progressive could deny coverage if significant changes occur and the insured has not reported them); unrelated rated driver (the changes offered excess coverage to named drivers when driving another vehicle); and lienholders (the changes pulled back on coverage to be more in line with the insured). In a communication to agents, the company said: "We recently heard there was language in the new contract that could be confusing and may lead to unnecessary disruption on the side of the agent. After careful consideration, we've decided to delay these contract changes to address these concerns." In the event Progressive reconsiders its underwriting changes, the company will communicate with its agents any contract changes 30 days prior to the date of activation.

May 2015

Progressive announces reversal of changes to personal auto contracts

This week, Progressive announced it would delay the changes to its personal auto contract originally set to take effect next week. PIACT thanks members who brought this concern to your association so that we could communicate it to regulators at the CID. Your association encourages agents to share changes to the market with PIA as they occur.

March 2015

The Hartford redefines regular use

According to a recent announcement from The Hartford, the company has redefined the term "regular use" to include the use of an insured vehicle an average of one time per month or 12 times per year. Drivers who meet this criteria must be added to the insurance policy, whether they live in the house or not, or have their own car or insurance. This change went into effect Feb. 21, 2015.

This change applies in the following states: New York, Connecticut and New Hampshire. PIA has reached out to The Hartford for additional clarification, which PIA will share with its members.