The Surplus lines market has traditionally been a method for insurance placement available to property and casualty products only, although states are increasingly opening up other lines of insurance to the nonadmitted market. For example, a growing number of states have either expressly or indirectly allowed for accident and health coverage to be written through the surplus lines market, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners released guidance earlier this year advising the states on how to effectively legislate for the expansion of insurance lines that may be written on a surplus lines basis.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 16): Expert Analysis – Disability Insurance in the Surplus Lines Market and Recent Legislative Updates
8 Things to Consider When Buying or Selling an Insurance Agency
Insurance agency acquisitions and deal values are near an all-time high and all expectations are that deal flow in 2019 will match or exceed last year’s numbers. And while reported numbers tend to skew towards larger agency transactions there are many agency deals that involve small, local firms that do not appear in industry reports.
Read More 8 Things to Consider When Buying or Selling an Insurance Agency
LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 15): Mid-Year 2019 Report Shows Impressive Surplus Lines Growth
As reported in the Insurance Journal, the surplus lines industry is expanding at an approximately 13% faster rate than it was during this time in 2018. Stamping offices are indicating that premium has already hit $18 billion, a 12.7% growth over mid-year 2018 reports. All surplus lines service office states except for Nevada have reported a growth in premiums generated by the surplus lines market. Some of the major coverages that are being increasingly written in the surplus lines space and are contributing to this growth are construction, professional and general liability coverages.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 15): Mid-Year 2019 Report Shows Impressive Surplus Lines Growth
LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 13): New York Diligent Search Reformation Bill Unlikely to Pass this Year
New York Senate Bill S769A (the “Bill”) has failed to move in the New York Assembly despite its passage by the Senate and therefore is unlikely to become law in 2019.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 13): New York Diligent Search Reformation Bill Unlikely to Pass this Year
Common Misconceptions About Risk Purchasing Groups
When Congress passed the Federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 in response to skyrocketing insurance premiums being charged for, and the lack of available, commercial liability insurance, a new regime was born.
Read More Common Misconceptions About Risk Purchasing Groups
Locke Lord QuickStudy: Excess Lines Association of New York Publishes Guidance on New York Group P&C Policies
On June 17th, the Excess Lines Association of New York (“ELANY”) published Bulletin No. 2019-19 (the “Bulletin”) detailing New York’s substantial restrictions on group property and casualty insurance policies. The Bulletin echoes some of the remarks at the most recent Surplus Lines Law Group Meeting where this author provided details on the growing regulatory concerns as to group P&C policies.
Read More Locke Lord QuickStudy: Excess Lines Association of New York Publishes Guidance on New York Group P&C Policies
LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 11): Vermont authorizes Domestic Surplus Lines Insurers; Standardizes Premium Tax rates; Repeals SLIMPACT
On June 10, 2019, Governor Phil Scott of Vermont signed Senate Bill 131 (the “Bill”) into law, permitting domestic surplus line insurers to offer and sell surplus lines insurance under a surplus lines certificate of authority in the state. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and as mentioned in our previous post found here, Nevada passed similar legislation earlier this month.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 11): Vermont authorizes Domestic Surplus Lines Insurers; Standardizes Premium Tax rates; Repeals SLIMPACT
LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 10): Nevada Joins List of Domestic Surplus Lines Insurer States; Revises Broker Fee Statute; Other Changes
Add Nevada to the growing list of states that have adopted domestic surplus lines legislation. Senate Bill 86 (the “Bill”) was signed into law on June 1, 2019, with most provisions effective October 1, 2019. Of perhaps most significance Is that Nevada will now allow for insurance companies to domesticate in Nevada for the exclusive purpose of writing surplus lines insurance coverage within the state and potentially elsewhere.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 10): Nevada Joins List of Domestic Surplus Lines Insurer States; Revises Broker Fee Statute; Other Changes
LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 9): Florida and California Make News on Broker and Agent Fees
Earlier this month, Florida passed House Bill 301 to remove the cap on the amount of fees that may be charged by a surplus lines broker in connection with the procurement of surplus lines insurance for a prospective insured. Instead of the old cap of a maximum of $35 per policy, surplus lines brokers will be able to charge any fee that is “reasonable” and disclosed to the insured in advance.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 9): Florida and California Make News on Broker and Agent Fees
LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 7): Applicability of Cancellation and Nonrenewal Requirements to Surplus Lines Insurers and recent updates (Attorney Analysis)
Cancellation and nonrenewal requirements applicable to insurance policies exist in every state in the nation. These laws and regulations are founded on the principle that insurance customers should be protected against losing insurance coverage without proper notice and without good reason. As such, many states require that mid-term cancellation of an insurance policy only be effectuated for specific statutorily-defined reasons, and that sufficient advance notice must be given to the insured prior to the cancellation or nonrenewal of an insurance policy.
Read More LL Surplus Lines Series (Entry 7): Applicability of Cancellation and Nonrenewal Requirements to Surplus Lines Insurers and recent updates (Attorney Analysis)