Texas Mutual Agent News

OSHA revised its certification process for online training in January. As a result, certified OSHA 10-hour training will no longer be available through our website as of March 31, 2012.

Need a loss run?

Texas Mutual^® online services offer the quickest way to get loss runs for your Texas accounts. Simply go to texasmutual.com, click on Employers, and then click on Loss Run and Claim Detail.

We continue to mail loss runs to you for your Texas and other states accounts 90 to 120 days before policies renew. If you need an other states loss run in the interim, email underwriting@texasmutual.com or call (800) 859-5995.

Rate changes affect e-mods

In June 2011, Texas' expected loss rates decreased. Some of your clients' experience modifiers may have increased based on the lower rates.

To understand why, consider the e-mod formula: Actual losses / Expected losses = E-mod.

So, let's assume a policyholder's actual losses equal $50,000, but the expected losses are $100,000.

$50,000 / $100,000 = .50 e-mod

If the expected losses decrease to $75,000, what happens if your policyholder has the same amount of losses?

$50,000 / $75,000 = .67 e-mod.

You can get more information about e-mods, class codes and Texas Mutual^® agency services at one of our free workers' compensation workshops. Agents and CSRs earn 3.5 CE credits for attending.

Continue using standard ACORD form

Texas Mutual reminds agents that under Senate Bill 425, all certificates of insurance must be approved by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). Agents should continue using the standard ACORD^® form, which TDI has approved.

If you use a company-specific certificate TDI has not approved, TDI will consider it void.

For more information about how SB 425 affects agents, visit the IIAT at www.iiat.org/down/certificate_ltr.pdf.

Get free CE credits

Do you want to know how e-mods affect premium, how to apply the five basic industry classification codes or how to get quicker quotes? Come to a free Texas Mutual workers' compensation workshop for agents and CSRs.

Agency personnel who attend a workshop get 3.5 CE credits.

And don't forget to tell your clients about our free employer workshops. Each workshop includes tips for preventing workplace accidents, navigating the claim process and fighting workers' compensation fraud.

Upcoming workshops:

April 4 - Brownsville
May 2 - Richardson
May 10 - Abilene
May 23 - Longview

Visit our website to register for a workshop near you.

Texas Mutual has gone social

The telegraph, the printing press, the Internet - history is chock full of inventions that revolutionized the way we communicate. Nowadays, social media provides an avenue for businesses to engage with their customers.

Texas Mutual is carving out its niche in the social media realm, and we want you to join us.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/texasmutual for time-sensitive company and industry news. If you want practical information on workplace safety, return-to-work and other topics that can help companies save money, stop by our blog at texasmutual.wordpress.com.

February 2012

New network directory expands your search options

Texas Mutual is pleased to announce the release of our new online provider directory. The directory enhances service to our Texas Star Network^® customers.

The new search tool offers our agents, employers and injured employees a variety of different search options, including detailed mapping of provider locations, the ability to text or email provider-specific driving directions, and overall improved ease of use in locating participating network providers.

The new directory is available at texasmutual.com/hcn/provdir.shtm. We encourage you to take a look at it and send feedback to directoryfeedback@texasmutual.com.

Want an instant policy number?

Getting a Texas Mutual policy number so you could complete a certificate of insurance used to be a manual two-day process. Now, it's an automated process, thanks to the collective brainpower of Texas Mutual's underwriting and information technology professionals.

In response to customer feedback, Texas Mutual has given agents the ability to generate policy numbers online. All you have to do is visit our Internet Quoting (IQ) system at texasmutual.com and pay in advance of the desired effective date. In most cases, IQ will generate a policy number instantly.

"In addition, IQ will generate a downloadable policy," said Jay Beene, a senior process analyst in our underwriting department. "An agent can now complete the entire cycle online. For qualifying applicants, agents start with a submission, receive an automated quote, and then proceed to the policy in one sitting. We hope this new service encourages more agents to save time by paying and binding coverage online."

Beene adds that online policy issuance is exclusively for agents.

Texas Mutual constantly works to make it easier for you to do business with us. If you have improvement suggestions for Texas Mutual^® online services, we invite you to contact your agency representative or call us at (800) 859-5995.

Get free CE credits

Agency personnel who attend a workshop get 3.5 CE credits.

Upcoming workshops:

March 7 - Houston
March 21 - Corpus Christi
April 4 - Brownsville

Visit our website to register for a workshop near you.

Texas Mutual is carving out its niche in the social media realm, and we want you to join us.

January 2012

Network statute changes could result in administrative penalties for employers

Recent changes to the Texas Insurance Code affect employers who have enrolled in a workers' compensation health care network.

Under the changes, if an employer does not properly notify employees about their network participation, employees may bring the issue to the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) for adjudication. The law allows injured workers to choose their own treating doctor, regardless of whether the doctor is in-network, while the dispute is pending.

Texas Mutual continues to provide online tools for agents and policyholders that can assist policyholders in complying with network requirements. Simply go to texasmutual.com, and click on the Health Care Network tab. You can provide your clients the important compliance information they need when they select the network option.

It's very important for policyholders to comply with the law. Violations could result in administrative penalties for employers on a per occurrence, per day basis. Please refer to the Texas Insurance Code.

RRC discontinues use of LPG Form 996A, LNG Form 2996A and CNG Form 1996A

Due to the recently implemented SB 425 "certificate law," effective January 1, 2012, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) no longer requires LPG, LNG and CNG license holders to complete and file special certificates (LPG Form 996A, LNG Form 2996A, or CNG Form 1996A). Therefore, agents can now provide the RRC with a standard certificate.

Agents or policyholders may use a standard ACORD form to certify workers' compensation coverage that includes the WC420601-Notice of Material Change Endorsement or an equivalent endorsement approved by the Texas Department of Insurance. Attaching this endorsement will amend the policy to ensure that any cancellation of the policy would require 30 days' written notice to the Railroad Commission's Alternative Energy Division, Licensing Section. These forms should be forwarded directly to the RRC.

Contact information for the RRC can be found at rrc.state.tx.us.

Texas Mutual serves up $1.4M dividend to TRA safety group

Members of the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) safety group recently shared in a $1,387,241 Texas Mutual dividend. The dividend was based largely on the group's overall loss ratio.

"The restaurant industry is an economic engine for Texas," said Bob Barnes, chairman of Texas Mutual's board of directors. "Restaurants pump $36.6 billion into the economy and employ more than 1 million people. For every $1 million spent in restaurants, the state benefits from nearly 30 additional jobs. We hope this money helps TRA members continue to grow their businesses during challenging economic conditions."

TRA has earned more than $17 million in group dividends since 1999.

Safety group dividends are separate from the $155 million in individual policyholder dividends Texas Mutual distributed in 2011. Since 2000, the company has injected more than $1 billion into the Texas economy through its group and individual dividend programs.

"Between individual policyholder dividends and safety group dividends, Texas Mutual makes participating in the workers' compensation program in Texas a good business decision," said Richie Jackson, CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association.

For a video of TRA member Bob Westbrook talking about his dividend, click here.

Get free CE credits

Do you want to know how e-mods affect premium, how to apply the five basic industry classification codes or how to get quicker quotes? Come to a free Texas Mutual workers' compensation workshop for agents and CSRs.

Agents who attend a workshop get 3.5 CE credits.

The first workshop of 2012 will take place on February 15 in Austin, followed by a February 22 stop in San Antonio.

From there, our workshop team hits the road, bringing their expertise to agents across the state.

And don't forget to tell your clients about our free employer workshops. Each workshop includes tips for preventing workplace accidents, navigating the claim process and fighting workers' comp fraud.

We update our workshop schedule throughout the year. Visit the workshop page at texasmutual.com to register for a workshop near you.

Texas Mutual is carving out its niche in the social media realm, and we want you to join us.

December 2011

NFIB, Texas Mutual partnership pays dividends
In December, members of the NFIB safety group for manufacturers celebrated the holidays with an $819,000 dividend from Texas Mutual.

The dividend was based largely on the group's overall loss ratio.

"Entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy," said Bob Barnes, chair of Texas Mutual's board of directors. "As an independent business owner, I am proud of the partnership Texas Mutual has forged with the NFIB. Anytime we have the opportunity to invest in Texas entrepreneurs, we consider it money well spent."

In 2011, Texas Mutual distributed approximately $15 million in safety group dividends. Group dividends are separate from the $155 million in individual policyholder dividends the company paid this year.

For a list of safety group opportunities for you and your clients, visit texasmutual.com/agents/group.shtm.

Show your clients the importance of dividends

Agents across Texas are leveraging dividends to attract and retain customers. Texas Mutual created a marketing tool to help you cash in on our dividend plan.

The tool explains the components of our dividend plan. It also helps you demonstrate the impact of dividends to your clients and potential clients.

For more dividend marketing information, visit texasmutual.com/news/dividendhistory.shtm. The site includes a password-protected online service that allows agents to review their clients' individual Texas Mutual dividend histories.

Get our winter newsletters online
Texas Mutual encourages agents and their clients to visit our website for the winter editions of CompNews, our policyholder newsletter, and Mutual Interests, our agent newsletter.

CompNews topics:

The 100th anniversary of the workers' comp system in America
Early qualifier dividends
Free safety tools
Legislative and fraud-fighting updates
A message from our president

Mutual Interests topics:

How safety groups help agents get ahead
A message from Ken Lauber, our vice president of field operations, about our financial stability
A feature on John Williams, an agency representative based in our Dallas regional office

Congratulations to our safety award winners
Employers who commit to workplace safety can reduce their workers' compensation costs and improve their productivity. Each year, Texas Mutual recognizes employers who have demonstrated their commitments.

This fall, approximately 300 employers earned our annual workplace safety award. Our board of directors, management and staff thanks each award winner for sharing our vision of a safer, more productive Texas.

For a list of safety award winners, visit texasmutual.com/news/safetyawards.shtm.

November 2011

Texas Mutual wraps up $155M dividend distribution
In early November, Texas Mutual distributed about $1.5 million in workers' compensation dividends among approximately 2,800 new policyholders.

The early-qualifier dividends represent the final component of Texas Mutual's $155 million dividend distribution during 2011. Approximately 77 percent of the company's policyholders received a dividend as a reward for preventing workplace accidents and helping injured workers return to productive employment.

Texas Mutual has distributed more than $1 billion in dividends since 2000. The company reminds agents that they can review their clients' dividend histories by logging into the dividend reports tool at texasmutual.com.

New policy process reduces your administrative burden
Texas Mutual partners with Argonaut Insurance Company to offer other states coverage for our policyholders. Until now, agents have received their clients' Texas Mutual and Argonaut policies separately.

Texas Mutual has streamlined the process and reduced your administrative burden.

In most cases, agents will now receive a single envelope that will include the Texas Mutual and Argonaut policies, along with an invoice summary for both premiums due.

Jeff Lentz on the move
Congratulations to Jeff Lentz, Texas Mutual's new vice president of underwriting.

Jeff has served as manager of underwriting and marketing in our Dallas regional office since 2004.

"During his time in our Dallas office, Jeff has built strong relationships with Texas Mutual's agent partners," said Steve Math, senior vice president of underwriting. "He has spent the past seven years listening and responding to agents' needs. His experience will be valuable in Texas Mutual's ongoing commitment to delivering excellent service to the agents we do business with."

In his new role, Lentz will be responsible for directing underwriting policies and procedures. In this capacity, he will oversee the integrity of the company's risk selection and pricing decisions to achieve profitability, retention and growth. Lentz will also direct the company's file review process, as well as strategies for enhancing the profitable growth of workers' compensation safety groups underwritten by the company.

Reminder: You can view payment history online
Texas Mutual reminds agents that they and their clients can view policy payment history at texasmutual.com.

Payment history is available to all agency staff with a valid login account. Payment history of current/expired policies can be viewed by searching for a policy and choosing the Make a Payment/Payment History option from the action drop-down list.

Policyholders can view payment history on their existing or expired policies from the texasmutual.com Payments page by selecting the Payments button.

Texas Mutual is committed to providing online services that make it easier for you and your customers to do business. If you have improvement suggestions or questions, please contact your agency representative at (800) 859-5995.

October 2011

Early-qualifier dividends reward new policyholders
In early November, Texas Mutual Insurance Company will distribute about $1.5 million in early-qualifier dividends among approximately 2,800 new policyholders.

Early-qualifier dividends are Texas Mutual's response to agents who asked us to shorten the time that new policyholders must wait for a dividend. To be considered for eligibility, a policyholder must have met the following minimum standards:

Must have had a policy in force with the company on October 15, 2011
Must have had a first-year policy that expired between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2011
Loss ratio must have been in an acceptable range

Early-qualifier dividends represent the final component of Texas Mutual's
$155 million 2011 dividend distribution. Approximately 77 percent of the company's policyholders received an individual dividend. Many earned additional dividends as members of safety groups.

Dividends are a good tool for attracting and retaining good business. Remember that you can visit texasmutual.com to get dividend marketing materials and review your clients' dividend histories.

Help us promote our new safety website
By now, most agents know about the safety resource center at texasmutual.com. We hope your clients do, too.

The safety resource center is home to thousands of free tools that help your Texas Mutual clients make safety a priority in their workplaces. Customers have to be Texas Mutual policyholders to access the materials.

But what about your prospects or clients who are not with Texas Mutual yet?

We recently launched a website, worksafetexas.com, that any employer can benefit from. The site offers free safety information on distracted driving, Spanish-speaking employees, teen workers, ergonomic injuries, slips, trips, falls and other general safety topics. Employers who visit the site get a taste of what the safety resource center offers.

Texas Mutual encourages you to recommend that your clients use worksafetexas.com and help us spread the word about this exciting new resource.

Texas Mutual enhances online safety tools
In response to user feedback, Texas Mutual recently made the safety resource center at texasmutual.com even easier to use.

The enhancements make the search and media type buttons more visible. We also added "type ahead" capability. As you begin to enter something in the search box, the system suggests terms you might be interested in.

"It works similar to Google's search suggestions," said Stacy Rose, the Texas Mutual loss prevention analyst who worked closely with our programmers to design the enhancements. "It's especially useful if you don't know the exact title of the resource you're looking for."

Please remind your clients that they can use the free safety resource center to watch online safety videos, evaluate their safety programs, download safety programs and find out how much money accidents cost their businesses.

September 2011

Two new safety group opportunities for you and your clients
Texas Mutual recently announced two new safety groups: Texas Church Group and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. Both groups can help agents attract new customers and retain current customers.

Texas Church Group is open to qualifying nonprofit, faith-based organizations operating houses of worship, such as churches and synagogues. Qualifying class codes are 8868 and 9101.

The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers safety group caters to businesses in the oil and gas production industry. Qualifying class codes are 1321, 6202, 6203, 6206, 6213, 6216, 6233, 6237, 6238 and 7515.

Members of both groups have access to free, industry-specific workplace safety resources, including a Texas Mutual safety professional with expertise in their industries.

Safety group members can also take advantage of the free safety resource center at texasmutual.com. The resource center offers convenient access to interactive tools, streaming videos and other training materials.

Texas Mutual underwrites 30 safety groups. Represented industries include health care, construction, restaurants and manufacturing, among others. For a list of safety groups, visit texasmutual.com/agents/group.shtm.

TDI announces new average weekly wage
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has set the average weekly wage (AWW) for dates of injury between October 1, 2011, and September 30, 2012, at $787.47. The maximum weekly benefit rate is $787, and the minimum weekly benefit rate is $118.

The AWW, maximum weekly benefit rate and minimum benefit rate for dates of injury between October 1, 2010, and September 30, 2011, were $766.34, $766 and $115 respectively.

Court decision strengthens workers' comp law
The Supreme Court of Texas issued a decision in Texas Mutual Insurance Company v. Timothy J. Ruttiger that strengthens a law affecting millions of Texans-the Workers' Compensation Act.

The Court reversed the Houston Court of Appeals and rendered judgment that Mr. Ruttiger take nothing on his Insurance Code and Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act claims.

Justice Phil Johnson wrote in strong terms that a bad faith cause of action is inconsistent with the current workers' compensation system.

"[If the plaintiff were to prevail, the precedent would build] additional costs into the system by increasing litigation expense to employees, insurers and employers," Justice Johnson wrote. "The way the dispute was resolved after Ruttiger initiated the dispute resolution process is the way the Act is designed to function."

For more information on this story, visit the Newsroom at texasmutual.com.

August 2011

What's in a name?

Quite a bit, actually. That's why Texas Mutual now refers to purchasing groups as safety groups.

"The new name embodies the primary advantage of group coverage for policyholders," said Ken Lauber, Texas Mutual vice president of field operations. "When employers join a group, they partner with other employers who face similar workplace safety challenges. Through the group, they have access to exclusive, industry-specific safety resources that can help them address those challenges."

Texas Mutual underwrites 28 safety groups representing a range of industries. The company has assigned each group a loss prevention consultant who has unique experience in members' operations.

Safety group members also have access to the safety resource center at texasmutual.com. When they log in, the system directs them to their group's home page. There, they find training materials that address the hazards their employees face on the job.

In addition to free safety resources, safety group members get premium discounts, and they have the potential to earn group and individual dividends if declared by Texas Mutual.*

For a complete list of open safety groups, visit the Quick Links section on our home page.

*Dividends are based on performance and are not guaranteed. All dividend plans must be approved by the Texas Department of Insurance.

Best's Review misprints Texas Mutual's loss ratio

AM Best has calculated Texas Mutual's 2010 loss ratio at 65.7 using their proprietary adjusted loss ratio formula. Unfortunately, they incorrectly listed our loss ratio as 453.0 in the August 2011 edition of Best's Review.

The publication emailed all of its data subscribers to inform them of the error. It also corrected the mistake in the digital edition of the magazine, and it plans to run a correction in the September print edition.

Texas Mutual remains financially strong, stable and ready to meet your clients' workers' compensation needs. Our 2010 year-end statutory surplus was $1.61 billion, which equates to a premiums written to surplus ratio of 0.38:1.

That means we can write premium several times our 2010 written premium of $609 million without compromising our financial strength.

Dividend program garners press coverage

The August 4, 2011, edition of the Austin American-Statesman featured an article about Texas Mutual's $155 million dividend plan, as well as the company's stabilizing role in the workers' compensation market.

The article is just one example of how Texas Mutual is promoting dividends.

We are sending press releases to select counties detailing how much of the $155 million dividend distribution went to policyholders in those areas.

We are also featuring dividends in our advertising campaign. The ads feature agents and policyholders who have benefitted from our dividend program. To see the ads, visit the marketing materials page at texasmutual.com.

Texas Mutual is calling on agents to use dividends to build their businesses. For tips on promoting dividends among your clients and prospective clients, see "Ken's Corner" in the Summer 2011 edition of Mutual Interests.

Reminder: online tools streamline payment process

Texas Mutual reminds agents that they and their clients can submit direct-draft electronic payments and view payment history at texasmutual.com.

For more information about making online payments, click here.

For more information about viewing payment history online, click here.

Read our customer newsletters online

Texas Mutual encourages agents to help promote its $155 million dividend plan. You can read more about it in the summer edition of Mutual Interests, our hard-copy agent newsletter.

We also publish CompNews, our policyholder newsletter. The summer edition features policyholders who recently earned recognition from federal and state regulators for their model safety programs.

Both newsletters are available in the Newsroom at texasmutual.com.

Texas Mutual is committed to providing online services that make it easier for you and your customers to do business with us. If you have suggestions on how to improve our website, please contact your agency representative at (800) 859-5995.

Follow us on Twitter

If you want timely company and industry updates, follow Texas Mutual on Twitter.

July 2011

Texas Mutual distributes $155M in dividends

This week, Texas Mutual began distributing $155 million in dividends among qualifying policyholders. For a list of your qualifying clients, go to texasmutual.com, log into the Agent Gateway, select Dividends under the More tab, and then select Individual Dividend Notification.

Texas Mutual encourages you to touch base with your clients in the coming weeks, make sure they cash their dividend checks and express our joint appreciation for their business.

By the end of this year, Texas Mutual will have paid $1 billion in policyholder dividends since 2000. The Dividends section at texasmutual.com includes free marketing materials to help you promote our dividend track record among your clients. You can also log into the dividend reports tool and review your clients’ personal dividend histories with them.

The final phase of the 2011 dividend plan will happen in November, when Texas Mutual distributes early-qualifier dividends among new policyholders. As always, the company will mail a list of your qualifying clients to you.

If you have questions about dividends, please contact your agency representative or our information service center at (800) 859-5995.

Send us your other states business

Many Texas employers are becoming regional players, and Texas Mutual stands ready to meet their workers’ compensation needs.

The company partners with Argonaut Insurance Company to offer workers' compensation coverage for Texas-based businesses that have operations in other states. All states are eligible for other states coverage except monopolistic states: North Dakota, Ohio, Washington and Wyoming.

Other states exposures are 100 percent reinsured by Texas Mutual’s strong financial position. For details, see our 2010 annual report in the Newsroom at texasmutual.com, or visit texasmutual.com/agents/statFinData.shtm.

Give us an opportunity to demonstrate how we can cover your clients with other states exposures. Please contact your underwriter or agency representative for more information.

Tim Brady earns IIAT’s highest honor

Congratulations to Tim Brady, who was named the 2011 Drex Foreman award winner at the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas’ (IIAT) 114th Annual Conference & Trade Show in Houston.

The Drex Foreman is the highest honor awarded by the IIAT. It is named after Drex G. Foreman, who served as IIAT chief executive for more than 30 years.

Tim is chairman and former CEO of Brady, Chapman, Holland and Associates in Houston. As a former member of Texas Mutual’s Agent Advisory Council, Tim helped shape many of Texas Mutual’s most high-profile services for independent agents.

Former South Carolina insurance director to head up TDI

Governor Rick Perry announced that Eleanor Kitzman of Austin will succeed Mike Geeslin as Texas Insurance Commissioner. Kitzman’s term will begin August 15, 2011, and expire February 1, 2013.

Kitzman is the outgoing executive director of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board. She served as director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance from 2005 to 2007.

Kitzman grew up in Houston. She is a graduate of the University of Houston and South Texas College of Law. After law school, she served as a clerk on the Texas Supreme Court.

For more information, click here

June 2011

TDI approves $155M dividend plan

The Texas Department of Insurance has approved Texas Mutual’s plan to distribute $155 million in dividends in 2011. We anticipate mailing dividend checks in late July. You will receive a list of your qualifying clients in advance.

By the end of the year, Texas Mutual will have paid more than $1 billion through its individual and group dividend programs since 2000. The company encourages agents to use its dividend track record to attract and retain good customers.

For more information about dividends, visit the Quick Links section at texasmutual.com.

Manage blanket notice of material change endorsements online

Agents can now visit texasmutual.com to request a blanket notice of material change endorsement and maintain the list of those who need to be notified.

List maintenance functions include the ability to transfer information from existing specific notice of material change endorsements. Agents also have the option to copy certificate holder information forward from the prior policy term using a spreadsheet download/upload function.

To learn more about this new function, click here for a video overview.

For more information on this and other Texas Mutual^® online services, please contact the information services center at (800) 859-5995 or your agency representative.

Experience Producer Day

This spring, hundreds of agents joined Texas Mutual for Producer Day in San Marcos and Houston. The events gave agents the chance to network, meet our employees, learn more about the workers’ comp system, and find out how to leverage Texas Mutual’s services to build their businesses.

If you didn’t get a chance to attend, you can still experience Producer Day.

We posted the educational presentations, the keynote speaker presentations, photos and a short video on our website.

Follow us on Twitter

If you want timely company and industry updates, sign up to follow Texas Mutual on Twitter.

May 2011

Dividends exceed $1B mark

This afternoon, Texas Mutual's board of directors approved the company's
$155 million policyholder dividend plan.

Texas Mutual plans to begin distributing dividends among approximately 38,000 qualifying policyholders in late July, pending Texas Department of Insurance approval. The company will send a list of your qualifying clients to you in advance.

Texas Mutual's dividend distribution is a direct reflection of your clients' efforts to prevent workplace accidents and manage claims efficiently.

By the end of this year, Texas Mutual will have paid more than $1 billion in dividends since 2000. The company encourages agents to use its solid dividend track record to attract and retain good customers.

"Texas Mutual's service is awesome, and their dividend program is a huge, huge plus in the retention of our accounts," said Jim Berger of Insurance Alliance. "When the insured sees that dividend check, he sees money coming back to him. That's instant gratification. It's almost impossible to lose that account."

Remember that you can use the dividend reports tool at texasmutual.com to review your clients' individual dividend history with them, especially when discussing their renewal. Texas Mutual also offers free, downloadable dividend marketing materials in the Agents section at texasmutual.com.

Stay tuned for updates as we roll out our dividend plan this summer.

Free safety resources provide powerful sales tool

Texas Mutual is committed to helping agents grow their book of business. Our free Safety Resource Center at texasmutual.com gives you another powerful tool to attract and retain good customers.

We encourage you to remind your clients that if they control workplace accidents, they can reduce their workers' compensation losses and ultimately lower their premiums.

The Safety Resource Center offers free tools to help your clients make safety part of their culture. Policyholders can visit the Safety Resource Center to:

Evaluate their safety programs
Identify and correct the root causes of workplace accidents
Watch more than 200 online videos on a variety of topics
Download or order from our list of 2,000 DVDs, CDs, pamphlets, posters and other safety training materials
Agents can also order or download materials on behalf of their clients. Many of the materials are available in English and Spanish.

To access the free safety materials, go to texasmutual.com, click on Safety Resource Center, and enter your Texas Mutual online username and password, or click on New User.

If you have clients who are members of safety groups, the system will automatically direct them to their groups' landing pages. There, they will find industry updates and safety resources selected specifically for their operations.

Texas Mutual is constantly improving the Safety Resource Center for you and your clients. If you would like us to add resources on specific topics, please call us at (800) 859-5995, or email safety@texasmutual.com.

How we audit Texas and other states policies

Texas Mutual's other states book of business has grown considerably. The company has reviewed how it completes joint Texas and other states policy audits. As a result, Texas Mutual implemented the following practices:

If records reflect which state the work was performed in, we allocate payroll to the appropriate class code based on that information.
If records do not reflect which state the work was performed in, we allocate payroll to the appropriate class code based on the states in which payroll taxes are filed.

For best results, applications should reflect payroll by the appropriate class code in the state where work will be performed. Policyholders should be advised to complete interim reporting the same way.

View loss ratios online

Agents can use the policy inquiry function in Texas Mutual online to view loss ratio* information for all of their active policies. Users must be granted access to see the policy inquiry function.

To get access, users should work with a Texas Mutual online self-administrator in their agency or email information@texasmutual.com:

Go to texasmutual.com.
Log in to the Agent Gateway.
Select Policy Inquiry.
Select Show Only Active Policies.

*The loss ratio shown in the policy inquiry is by policy term. Incentive bonus calculations are based on incurred losses within a calendar year.

April 2011

New feature allows exclusive access to online safety materials

Your clients can now grant their employees exclusive access to Texas Mutual's online Safety Resource Center, yet keep sensitive information, such as claim details and payments, from being viewed.

Employees who have exclusive Safety Resource Center access can watch online videos and download safety materials. Their employers can run usage reports showing which safety resources their employees have used.

If your clients want to take advantage of Safety Resource Center exclusive access, instruct them to:

Go to texasmutual.com.
Click on Safety Resource Center.
Enter their Texas Mutual online username and password, or click on New User.
Select Manage Account under Free Safety Resources.

The system will lead your clients through the process of creating a unique Safety PIN. Their employees can then visit texasmutual.com/safe to enter their Safety PINs, watch online videos and download safety materials.

Please note that employees who have Safety PINs cannot order DVDs or videos.

Texas Mutual launched Safety Resource Center exclusive access in response to requests from policyholders whose employees work in multiple locations. The company welcomes your feedback, as well.

If you have suggestions for future Texas Mutual online enhancements, please feel free to contact us at (800) 859-5995.

Texas Mutual appreciates agents' help promoting this new feature.

Submit payments online

If you and your clients want to streamline your business with Texas Mutual, remember to take advantage of our online payments tool.

The tool allows you to submit direct-draft payments on policies and quotes. Your clients can make online payments on existing policies, and they can submit payments on expired policies for additional premium that resulted from a final-audit adjustment.

For more information about online payments, click here.

Redesigned website coming soon

Texas Mutual plans to unveil its redesigned website in the next few weeks. All of the Texas Mutual online tools and information you rely on will still be there; they will just be easier to navigate.

Redesign benefits:

Website displays consistently across platforms (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
More intuitive navigation for agents, employers, injured workers and health care providers
Reinforces the Texas Mutual brand

March 2011

You Asked, We Delivered

Relationships thrive on communication. That's why when you ask for something, Texas Mutual delivers.

Here are just a few of the ease-of-doing-business initiatives we have launched in response to your requests.

Exclusive improvements for agents

Preferred method of communication. Customize the delivery of your quotes, policies, endorsements, declinations, additional information requests, experience modifiers and Start transfer letters. Delivery methods include email, mail and facsimile, or any combination of these methods.

More Internet quotes. Receive more online auto-quotes for small businesses ($25k premium or less).

Single sign-on for online users. Allows agents with multiple agency codes for Texas Mutual^® online services to use one sign-on to manage all of their accounts.

Mutual improvements for you and your clients

Online payments. Allows agents to make online direct draft payments on policies and quotes. Policyholders can make online direct draft payments on policies.

Online claim alerts. Policyholders can receive email alerts about changes in claim status, such as reserve changes and adjuster reassignments. Agents can receive all alerts their policyholders have elected to receive.

Exclusive improvements for your clients

Postdating a payment for interim reporting. Allows policyholders to input payroll information, save it and remit payment later in the month.

Purchasing group Web pages. Purchasing group members can easily access safety resources hand-selected for their group’s operations.

Texas Mutual Unveils Streamlined Quote Product
In response to agent feedback, Texas Mutual has redesigned its quote product. The redesign serves you better by:

Eliminating duplicate agent pages
Reorganizing the quote packet to provide key information first
Enhancing the agent cover letter by adding the commission rate

We Want Your Feedback
Is there a subject you would like to read about in Texas Mutual Agent News? Contact David Wylie, editorial coordinator, at dwylie@texasmutual.com or (512) 224-3863.

February 2011

Texas Mutual Agent News debuts
Texas Mutual has upgraded its FactsLine agent information service to a free electronic newsletter titled “Texas Mutual Agent News.”

You do not need a Texas Mutual^® online username and password to receive Texas Mutual Agent News.

Texas Mutual’s vision is to make Texas Mutual Agent News your single source for company and industry happenings. The newsletter will cover all the topics included in FactsLine.

You will read about new Texas Mutual^® online tools, dividend announcements and legislative developments that affect workers’ comp system stakeholders.

We will introduce new topics as the newsletter evolves.

Texas Mutual is committed to maintaining strong relationships with independent agents. We know relationships thrive on communication. If there is a topic you would like to read about in Texas Mutual Agent News, please contact David Wylie, editorial coordinator, at dwylie@texasmutual.com or (512) 224-3863.

FactsLines published between 2003 and 2011 are available at texasmutual.com/agents/Factsline.shtm.

Don't forget about our hard-copy newsletter
Our print newsletter for agents, Mutual Interests, is available in the Agents section at texasmutual.com. The Winter 2010 issue includes:

A spotlight on Ann Cantwell, Texas Mutual agency representative for the Houston area
A look at what your clients value and how Texas Mutual can help you meet their needs
An update on our other states coverage program
Legislative changes you need to know about