Texas Mutual Agent News
In 2011, Texas Mutual replaced its FactsLine publication with a free e-newsleter for agents. To register for the e-newsletter, click here.Below are the 2013 editions of Texas Mutual Agent News.
Access Agent News archives for:
2012
2011
- Action needed: HB 1833 set for floor debate
- Board approves $175M dividend distribution
- TDI releases new rate relativities
- What your clients need to know about OSHA's new hazard communication standard
- Get more online requotes
- Making online payments on clients' behalf?
- Update on Texas Mutual's legislative initiative
- Get free CE credits
- Should your clients pay small claims out of pocket?
- Yurkovich joins Texas Mutual
- New managers bolster large account support
- Get free CE credits
- Read our spring newsletters
- Connect with us on social media
- Meet our new president
- Taylor, Sheets to sponsor Texas Mutual's legislation
- Reminder: Tell your clients about our claims videos
- Get free CE credits
- Connect with us on social media
- Remember new TDI ruling on classifying risks
- Texas Mutual boosts Internet Quoting
- Matching policyholder information now easier on quotes
- Three safety groups earn combined $1.6M in dividends
- Get free CE credits
- Connect with us on social media
March 2013
Should your clients pay small claims out of pocket?
Some of your clients may be paying for seemingly minor medical care out of pocket, without involving Texas Mutual. These employer/provider small-claim arrangements are not always in policyholders' best interests. Texas Mutual encourages you to remind your clients of the potential negative outcomes:
- They may be paying for non-compensable claims.
- They may be paying more than Texas Mutual would have paid under the state's medical fee guidelines.
- Injuries that start off minor can get worse, and their associated costs can skyrocket.
- If an employer owes a provider for a previous claim, the provider may turn away the employer's injured workers until the employer pays the bill.
- The employer assumes the administrative burden of identifying the Medicare beneficiary status of claimants and reporting claim data quarterly to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
For more information on this topic, visit texasmutual.com/news/smallclaims.shtm.
February 2013
Meet our new president
Texas Mutual's board of directors is excited to announce Richard Gergasko as the company's new president.
Gergasko succeeds Ron Wright, who retired in February after 16 years of service. The leadership transition will be seamless for agents, policyholders and their employees.
Before joining Texas Mutual, Gergasko was president and COO of SeaBright Insurance Company in Seattle. He worked as executive vice president of operations for the company from 2003 to 2009. Gergasko had a long career in various positions in the workers' compensation insurance industry prior to that.
Taylor, Sheets to sponsor Texas Mutual's legislation
Senator Larry Taylor and Representative Kenneth Sheets have agreed to sponsor legislation that would sever Texas Mutual's few remaining ties to the State of Texas. The bill numbers are HB 1833 and SB
850.
Last fall, Texas Mutual notified agents and policyholders about this legislative initiative, which we call our long-term vision (LTV) for Texas. If signed into law, LTV will transition Texas Mutual into a fully independent mutual insurance company whose board of directors and chair are elected by and solely accountable to its policyholders. It will also create a residual market shared by all insurance companies, ensuring that the market is stronger than any single insurer.
We recently launched a website, www.texasmutualtalks.com, that provides more information about the legislation, including why it is in the best interests of agents, policyholders and all workers' comp system stakeholders. We encourage you to visit the site and consider lending your support.
Reminder: Tell your clients about our claims videos
The best claim outcomes happen when insurance carriers, policyholders and injured employees work together. Texas Mutual created a series of short videos
to help policyholders understand the claims process. We encourage you to tell your clients about these free resources.
Each video is between two and four minutes long. Topics include injury reporting, network requirements, assignment of new claims, accident investigations, compensability and return-to-work.
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 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 employer workshops. Each workshop includes tips for preventing workplace accidents, navigating the claim process and fighting workers' compensation fraud.
Upcoming workshops:- March 6 - San Antonio*
- March 20 - DeSoto
- April 17 - Tyler
*Special trucking industry workshop
Transportation incidents are the leading causes of workplace fatalities. To help drivers stay safe behind the wheel, Texas Mutual will host a workshop designed for the trucking/transportation industry. The workshop will immediately
follow the March 6 policyholder and agent workshops in San Antonio.
Connect with us on social media
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.
January 2013
Remember new TDI ruling on classifying risks
Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) rules and procedures historically required TDI's involvement in assigning and amending classifications. On December 3, 2012, that requirement was removed.
Now, carriers select classification codes to use when issuing a quote or a new or renewal workers' compensation policy. Carriers may only use classification codes contained in the manual, as noted in Rule IV.A (Classification Rules) and Appendix B.2 (Classification Procedures) of the Texas Workers' Compensation and Employers' Liability Manual. In addition, insurance carriers may change, add and delete classification codes on a workers' compensation policy.
If you have questions about classifications, please contact your Texas Mutual underwriter.
Texas Mutual boosts Internet Quoting
Effective February 1, 2013, our Internet Quoting (IQ) system will offer automatic quotes for submissions up to $50,000 in premium. The prior limit was $25,000. Some class code and exposure conditions still apply.
IQ is the fastest, most convenient way to get quotes for your clients. Remember, you can also use IQ to get re-quotes, process endorsements, attach files and much more.
Matching policyholder information now easier on quotes
In response to customer feedback, Texas Mutual has begun cross-referencing the policy number on renewal quotes, as well as the DBA on renewal and new business quotes, if applicable. This enhancement makes it easier for you to locate a
policyholder in your agency management system.
Historically, the fax and/or email subject line on quote correspondence has shown only the insured's quote number and legal entity name. We recognize that most agency management systems reflect the insured's policy number and files by DBA, if applicable.
Thank you for your feedback and continued partnership in helping Texas Mutual make it easier for you to do business with us.
Three safety groups earn combined $1.6M in dividends
In January, the National Federation of Independent (NFIB) business safety group for the construction industry earned a $984,708 dividend.
In other group dividend news, the NFIB wholesale/retail group earned $458,294, and the Texas Lodging Group earned $166,890.
Texas Mutual underwrites safety groups representing a range of industries. Any licensed Texas agent can submit qualifying clients for consideration.
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 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 employer workshops. Each workshop includes tips for preventing workplace accidents, navigating the claim process and fighting workers' compensation fraud.
- February 13 - Austin
- March 6 - San Antonio*
- March 20 - DeSoto
*Special trucking industry workshop
Transportation incidents are the leading causes of workplace fatalities. To help drivers stay safe behind the wheel, Texas Mutual will host a workshop designed for the trucking/transportation industry. The workshop will immediately follow the March 6 policyholder and agent workshops in San Antonio.
Connect with us on social media
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 Back to top