New Markets

October 17, 2005

Expanded ElderCare Program

Nuts & Bolts: Lighthouse Underwriters LLC expanded its ElderCare program in Texas with an assisted living package that includes combined general liability/professional liability, automobile, and excess coverage for assisted living facilities, independent living facilities and continuing care retirement communities. Lighthouse Underwriters offers in-house underwriting authority, a broad professional liability form and a proprietary rating.

Dollars: GL/PL minimum premium is $7500. Limits to $1 million/$3 million; deductibles go from first dollar to $25,000. Excess available up to $5 million.

Carrier: Essex/SMART, a Markel Ins. Co., rated “A” (excellent) by A.M. Best, non-admitted. Auto on admitted basis with Markel.

State Available: Texas.

Contact: Saye Gbalazeh, (703) 770-3700 ext. 308; sgbalazeh@lighthouseunderwriters.com.

Sewer and Water-Main Contractors

Nuts & Bolts: Sloan Mason Insurance Services announced a program with an “A+ XV” admitted carrier, which provides WC/GL/Auto/UMB for sewer and water main contractors. These utility contractors can perform work in new tract developments, as well as usual public areas. No hook-ups to residential properties. The following are required for full underwriting review and best quote: five-year payroll history; five-year currently valued carrier issued loss runs (valuation date within 120 days of requested effective date); ACORD WC/GL/Auto/UMB applications; a copy of current NCCI or WCIRB experience rating worksheet; and contractors supplemental or generic supplementals accepted. Sloan Mason is a surplus lines brokerage based in San Diego, Calif., with non-resident licenses in a number of other states.

Dollars: Minimum premiums are $50,000 for workers’ compensation/general liability/auto combined and $7,500 for umbrella liability. No deductibles apply, so coverage is first dollar. Limits available on general liability are $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate. Limits available on umbrella are up to $10 million.

Carrier: Rated “A+ XV” by A.M. Best, admitted.

States Available: Alaska, California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, New Jersey and Mississippi.

Contact: Paul Mason, (619) 595-4831 or paul@sloanmason.com. Eva Martinez (619) 595 4831 or eva@sloanmason.com.

EPLI for Small Employers

Nuts & Bolts: Rockwood Programs developed an Employment Practices Liability Insurance policy specifically tailored to address the needs of small employers. Com-panies with 15 employees or fewer are eligible. The product is marketed under the name of the Rockwood Guardian EPLI Program. The program offers liability limits of $50,000 and $100,000. Applicants also have the option of selecting between defense/indemnity and defense only coverages. All policies are issued with a $5,000 deductible. Rockwood can satisfy requests for higher limits through other markets outside of the Guardian program. The insurance is offered through the Rockwood Guardian EPLI Risk Purchasing Group. Risk management services are also provided as part of the coverage package.

Dollars: Minimum premiums are $500. Liability limits are available at $50,000 and $100,000. All policies are issued with a $5,000 deductible.

Carrier: Lloyds of London rated “A+,” nonadmitted.

States Available: All.

Contact: Thomas Caputo, (302) 765-6012, thomas.caputo@rockwoodinsurance.com.

Employee Identity Theft and Discrimination Allegations

Nuts & Bolts: NAS Insurance Services’ EPLI program now covers employers for allegations of improper disclosure of confidential information resulting in identity theft. In addition, coverage for employers from allegations of genetic make-up discrimination is also included. NAS Insurance Services is an underwriting manager and Lloyds correspondent located in Encino, Calif.

Dollars: The minimum premium is $1,728. Deductibles are $5,000 and limits range from $100,000 to $2 million.

Carrier: Lloyd’s of London rated “A” by A.M. Best, nonadmitted.

States Available: All except Alaska, Alabama, Kentucky and Illinois.

Contact: Anita Bryant, (818) 808-4465; abryant@nasinsurance.com. Melvin Osswald, (818) 808-4467; mosswald@nasinsurance.
com.

Enhanced Identity Theft Protection

Nuts & Bolts: Travelers Personal Lines, a member of St. Paul Travelers, enhanced its identity theft protection program to include a new resolution service and expanded expense reimbursement coverage. They now offer resolution services that provide identity theft victims with the help they need. A consumer fraud specialist will guide victims through the steps of reclaiming their identity and repairing their damaged financial history, including ordering credit reports, alerting credit reporting agencies, enrolling customers in six months of daily credit monitoring, and preparing dispute letters on the customers’ behalf. In addition, the expense reimbursement coverages have been expanded with increased coverage limit from $15,000 to $25,000, eliminated deductibles, increased coverage for lost wages up to $1,000 per week for a maximum of five weeks and added reimbursement for daycare and eldercare expenses. Other covered expenses include notary and certified mail charges for completing and delivering fraud affidavits, fees to re-apply for loans that were denied due to erroneous credit information due to the identity theft, long distance telephone charges for calling merchants, the cost of discussing an act of identity theft with law enforcement agencies or credit grantors and attorney fees incurred with Travelers’ prior consent. The product is offered as an endorsement to a Travelers homeowners, condo or renters policy for only $25 per year. Also offered is identity fraud expense reimbursement coverage to financial institutions or other commercial businesses that purchase a master policy on behalf of their account holders or customers, or for
use as an employee or membership benefit offering.

Dollars: The limit is $25,000. No deductibles. The endorsement to any Travelers homeowners, condo or renters policy is $25 per year.

Carrier: Travelers rated “A+,” nonadmitted.

States Available: All except Hawaii and Alaska.

Contact: Kristin Fabian, (860) 277-6497.