We have an especially jam-packed issue for you this month covering a wide range of insurance topics from surplus lines to property to workers' compensation to health care reform to office technology. Think of it as our summer reading gift.
We are pleased to present an opinion piece by Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. Florida is frequently seen as a bellwether state on critical insurance issues, thanks in no small part to Commissioner McCarty's standing among his colleagues. He is president-elect of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and holds leadership positions on several of its committees and task forces. Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet announced McCarty as the state's first appointed insurance commissioner in January 2003. His popularity within the insurance industry has fluctuated over the years, but none have ever doubted his acumen and work ethic.
In his opinion piece, “Why Florida Chose NIMA,” the commissioner succinctly outlines the advantages and disadvantages of NIMA and its counterpart, SLIMPACT. The programs were developed to address requirements of the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act relating to premium tax collections and multistate risks. Florida, Louisiana, California, Texas, and New York collectively account for 55.4 percent of the nation's nonadmitted revenues. Florida and Louisiana have signed NIMA; as of this writing, the other major states are uncommitted.
Whether you are reading this online or in print you will appreciate the insights into agency technology offered by Bill Bunker of Vertafore in our cover story, “Tech Smart.” He and the insurance people he spoke with caution us that all the cool technology in the world is only as good as our need for it. Smartphones and software truly can make our jobs “a day at the beach,” provided we choose carefully and don't get burned from overexposure.
Two of our contributing editors again bring us the current water-cooler news. In a “defining” column, Lynne McChristian explains subrogation, an area that, while familiar to us, often is bewildering and frightening to our clients.
Gary Fineout touches on one of the hottest topics in Tallahassee and around the state: The bold idea to privatize Citizens Property Insurance Corp., championed by Board Chairman Jim Malone at a July meeting. Malone, a Naples businessman and turn-around expert, earned fast atta-boys from his fellow Sunshine State Neapolitans, Gov. Rick Scott and Republican Senator Garret Richter, for his remarks. Whether his idea will garner additional supporters is the big question.
There also is important news on the other side of the insurance aisle in the life & health arena. The good people at the law firm of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A. have contributed a piece on Florida's Medicaid reform that is remarkably free of legalese and easy for us lay people to understand. Medicaid enrollment in Florida is approaching 3 million—and growing—out of a total state population of 18.9 million. The ongoing changes deserve our attention.
Barbara Rennard, a life & health agent, discusses voluntary employee benefits plans in her feature article. As she explains the advantages of presenting these plans to employers, she reminds us that the light at the end of the tunnel is not always an oncoming train; sometimes it is an opportunity.
For many, summer means trips to various Florida hot spots—all right, usually Orlando—for conventions. One of the largest is the workers' compensation gathering sponsored by the Florida Workers' Compensation Institute. Now in its 66th year, the conference brings together some 8,000 workers' compensation devotees involved in all aspects of the industry. What started out as a Florida-focused conference has evolved into a national educational program with significant industry impact. If you cannot get to Orlando, take an armchair trip through the world of workers' compensation via our special supplement in this issue.
Enjoy!
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