| The 2025 InsurPac fundraising campaign has officially closed, and we are thrilled to report a record-setting year! Nationwide, InsurPac raised $1,303,715.93, marking the second-highest fundraising total ever and an increase of approximately $10,000 over 2024. Congratulations to Big I Connecticut members for their outstanding support. Connecticut exceeded its 2025 InsurPac goal with a total of $21,308 raised. With an average of $159.02 per agency, Connecticut ranks among the top five 'Eagle Status' states that raised $100 or more per agency. Connecticut also reached its Young Agent InsurPac goal, reflecting the commitment of both seasoned and emerging leaders to protect the independent agency system. This success is a direct result of the dedication and generosity of Connecticut members, joining thousands of contributors nationwide in strengthening the voice of independent insurance agents. As we celebrate 2025, we also look ahead to 2026. Now is the time to plan your contributions and continue building momentum for another record-breaking year. Your support ensures that InsurPac remains a powerful advocate for independent agencies across the country. Make your 2026 contribution today! Thank you, Connecticut, for your leadership and commitment! Let's make 2026 even stronger. |
| As an independent insurance agent, it's important to stay informed about legislative and regulatory developments that affect your business - both in Hartford and in Washington, D.C. That's why we host a monthly Government Affairs Committee call, designed to give you the latest updates, a platform to share your perspective, and an opportunity to discuss challenges your agency is facing that may have a regulatory or legislative solution. These 30-minute calls also serve as a gateway to greater engagement with lawmakers and allow you to hear directly from our legislative team about the issues that matter most to independent agents. Your insight and experience help shape policy, strengthen the independent agency system, and ensure your voice is heard where and when it counts. Join us each month and be part of the conversation that drives real impact.Please email Travis Wattie, Assistant Vice President of Government Relations, at tswattie@bigict.org for more information. |
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Question from a member: The age-old question… client adds a third car… child just got licensed… - Are we obligated to add the child?
- If they refuse to add the child, are they covered?
- Do we have to notify the carrier if the client refuses to add the child?
- Is there an errors and omissions (E&O) liability exposure?
- Does our obligation vary by carrier?
Answer: I'll answer the questions in order. Obligated to add the child. Since the insurer is accepting the risk of loss, it should be informed of any factor that affects that risk. That would include the new presence in the household of a licensed driver. If you are an appointed agent of the insurer, legally the insurer is presumed to know what you know. Your contract with that insurer may also require you to inform them of any exposure changes. Therefore, you should notify the insurer. Once the insurer learns of the driving child's existence, it's not a question of adding or not adding them. The insurer is legally permitted to charge a premium for its exposure to loss. The New York State Department of Financial Services has written that an insurer is permitted to retroactively charge an additional premium earned as of the date the child became licensed. I have not found a similar publication by the Connecticut Insurance Department. Coverage. I have never seen a personal auto policy that did not provide liability coverage for both the named insured and a resident family member for the use of any auto. Physical damage coverage is for the benefit of the vehicle's owner. The New York Personal Injury Protection Coverage endorsement and the New York and Connecticut Uninsured Motorist Coverage endorsements automatically cover resident family members of the named insured. Therefore, coverage for a newly licensed family member is automatic, regardless of whether the insurer is informed of that driver. Obligated to tell about refusal. It's hard to think of an easier way for an insured to get their insurer to non-renew the policy than to deliberately conceal the presence of a licensed driver in the household. I don't know that you are obligated to tell the insurer of the insured's refusal, but underwriters generally distrust insureds who are not truthful with them. E&O. The E&O exposures might include legal action against the agent for withholding information about the exposure (imagine them having to pay policy limits for a loss involving a member of the household they didn't know about.) Another exposure might be the insured trying to hold the agent responsible for an additional premium billed retroactively for three years. That action might fail but it would still incur defense costs and likely a deductible. Obligation vary by carrier. Agency-insurer contracts may vary somewhat in terms of the specific language used. However, I expect that virtually all insurers expect their agents to inform them of all loss exposures that they insured. I raised three sons. I know car insurance is expensive when teen drivers are in the household. However, the insurer is entitled to charge for its exposure to loss, and the insured always has the option to shop for a less expensive policy. They should tell the insurer about all household drivers.
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The Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) last week gave Big I Connecticut a demonstration of its new consumer Climate Risk Mapping Tool. Big I CT board members and staff took part in the presentation. The department intends for this resource to give property owners information about their risks from climate-related hazards such as flooding, wildfires, windstorms, and extreme heat.
A joint project of CID and climate risk data analysis firm First Street, the climate risk mapping tool permits state residents to gather information about their exposure to catastrophic risks by entering a property's address. It is one piece of CID's efforts this year to better educate consumers on insurance matters. Big I CT is considering ways to educate our members on how to use the tool.
The climate risk mapping tool is also one part of a new Consumer Information Center unveiled by the department last week. Designed to give residents information about several types of property-casualty and life-health insurance, the information center includes the climate risk tool and: - Life Insurance Policy Locator tool to help track down life insurance policies that are missing or that the family does not know about.
- Checklists, quizzes, and step-by-step instructions to help residents better understand their coverages and file claims.
- Answers to frequently asked questions and information on consumer rights and protections and how to submit complaints to CID.
The department's release said that CID intends to add more content, tools, and features to the center. You may want to make your clients aware of this new resource. It is available on the CID website at https://portal.ct.gov/cid/consumer-information-center.
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| Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais today announced his resignation from the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID). The Governor has nominated Josh Hershman as his successor. Hershman currently serves as CEO of the Immigrant Life Insurance Company of America and previously served as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the CID. He will begin serving in an interim capacity on December 12, 2025, and will be formally considered by the General Assembly during the 2026 regular session.
Mais was appointed commissioner by Governor Ned Lamont in 2019. In 2024, he served as President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). During his tenure, both he and the CID team were reliable, transparent, and fair partners—and a model for how regulators and industry can collaborate effectively.
Prior to today's announcement, Commissioner Mais reached out directly to Big I Connecticut to share the transition news. He thanked Big I Connecticut for its partnership throughout his tenure and expressed his high regard for the insurance agent and broker community.
We wish Commissioner Mais all the best as he moves on to spending more time with family and pursuing other endeavors, and we congratulate Interim Commissioner Hershman on his new role leading the CID.
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Big I New York and Big I Connecticut recently represented you at an important event that you might not know about – the Mid-America Insurance Conference. Since 1934, the MAIC has annually brought together: - Agents
- National and state Big I staff
- Carriers
- Insurance Services Office (ISO)
- International Risk Management Institute (IRMI)
- Consultants
- National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI)
- ACORD
Over the course of two days each November, participants discuss suggested additions and changes to ISO's, NCCI's, and ACORD's products. The agenda for the 2025 conference, held November 5 through 7 in Kansas City, Missouri, included 112 items from the current and previous years described in 228 pages. Participants represent states that are members of the conference. Most member states are in the Midwest (hence the conference name.) However, they reach as far east as New York and Pennsylvania and as far west as Arizona and Wyoming. This year's event drew 38 participants in person and one virtually from NCCI. The work done at this conference produces new and improved insurance products that better protect your clients. Some examples: - ISO Personal Auto endorsement PP 43 34 01 23, Delivery Network Driver Coverage, proposed by New York in 2018 and 2021, provides coverage for individuals who drive for app-based delivery services such as Uber Eats, GrubHub, and Instacart.
- ISO Personal Auto endorsement PP 43 32 01 23, Transportation Network Driver Physical Damage Deductible Coverage, proposed by New York in 2017, covers the difference between the insured's physical damage deductible and the deductible provided by the transportation network company (such as Uber or Lyft) for whom the insured is driving.
- ISO Commercial General Liability endorsement CG 20 42 12 19, Additional Insured—Automatic Status for Designated Operations, proposed by New York in 2018, provides automatic additional insured status to persons or organizations for which the named insured is performing certain operations described in the endorsement schedule. For example, if a building owner requires someone making deliveries to the building to cover them as an additional insured, this endorsement would automatically provide the coverage.
- ISO Commercial General Liability endorsement CG 20 44 12 19, Additional Insured—Vendors—Automatic Status When Required in Agreement, proposed by New York in 2016, provides additional insured status to a vendor of the named insured's product automatically whenever a contract requires the named insured to provide it.
- ISO Homeowners endorsement HO 06 69 03 22, Utility Line Expense Coverage, proposed by New York in 2016, covers damage to underground utility lines running underneath the named insured's property, along with related expenses.
- ISO Commercial General Liability endorsement CG 20 39 12 19, Additional Insured—Owners, Lessees or Contractors—Automatic Status When Required in Written Construction Agreement with You (Completed Operations), proposed by New York in 2015, provides automatic additional insured status regarding completed operations liability for anyone if the named insured has a contract requiring them to provide the coverage. This covers so-called “upstream" parties who are not direct parties to the contract.
Action on MAIC agenda items is not always fast. The oldest item on the 2025 agenda was first proposed in 2011. New York proposed four new items for ISO this year and one for ACORD and had eight unresolved items from prior years. Most New York agenda items came from research inquiries from Big I New York and Big I Connecticut members. We urge you to tell us about product improvements you would like to see, either because you see coverage gaps or have actually had uninsured claims. Email your suggestions to Tim Dodge. Also, agents from member states are encouraged to attend the 2026 conference in Kansas City November 4 through 6. Visit matcinsurance.com to learn more about this important event and how you can contribute.
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| Brought to you by our friends at Arbella Insurance.
Picture this: You're relaxing at home when someone calls you or knocks on your door. They claim they're from a roofing company working in your area, and they offer to inspect your roof and fix any damage they find for free. Sounds almost too good to be true, right? That's because it probably is. Roofing contractor scams are becoming increasingly common across the country, especially in places where a storm has just hit. Watch Out for These Red Flags
As stated before, if something seems too good to be true, that's because it probably is. Be wary of any of the following: - Unsolicited offers: You didn't call a contractor, but they're calling you or showing up at your door.
- Aggressive sales techniques: They're persistent and won't take no for an answer.
- Involving your insurance: They promise you'll pay nothing because they'll submit a claim to your insurance company without your involvement.
- Vandalism: Dishonest contractors could cause intentional damage to a customer's roof.
So, How Do You Find a Reputable Roofing Contractor?If you think your roof could be damaged, it's best to hire your own contractor. But how do you know if someone is legitimate? - Check their license and insurance: Visit your state's licensing agency to make sure the company you choose is insured and licensed to work in your area. Additionally, you can call the company's insurance carrier to certify that they're covered for property damage, personal liability, and workers' compensation.
- Research local companies: Find an established contractor in your community. If you run into any issues five or ten years down the line, you'll want someone nearby.
- Ask your friends: Reach out to people you know and trust to see if they have any recommendations.
- Examine past projects: View photos and videos of a company's completed work on their website or social media channels to evaluate their level of expertise.
You can also inspect your property yourself for signs of roof damage. Leaks or stained ceilings and fallen shingles are usually indicators that something isn't right. Reach out to your local, independent agent for more information on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from roofing contractor scams.
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| The Connecticut Insurance Department has approved an average 3.8% decrease in Workers' Compensation voluntary loss costs efffective January 1. The department
announced on Oct. 27 that it had approved the latest filing from the National Commission on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) as submitted.
Loss costs for employers in the Assigned Risk plan will remain largely unchanged, decreasing an average 0.4%.
The department also accepted these changes for certain rules:
| 2025
| 2026
| Max Weekly Payroll for Executive Officers and Members of Limited Liability Companies
| $3,300
| $3,400
| Minimum Weekly Payroll for Executive Officers and Members of Limited Liability Companies
| $1,650
| $1,700
| Annual Payroll for Sole Proprietors and Partners
| $86,000
| $89,200
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View the NCCI filing
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Knowledge is power, and it begins with understanding how your agency stacks up. The Agency Compensation 360 Study, offered in partnership with Catalyit, gives independent agencies across Connecticut exclusive access to compensation trends, benefits, and role insights. This valuable tool helps agency leaders make informed decisions, stay competitive in today’s market, and attract and retain top talent. Participation is free for Big I Connecticut members, and all data is kept completely confidentia. Results are reported only in aggregate. Every completed survey strengthens the collective knowledge of the independent agency community. Listen to the message in the video above from our President Lisa Lounsbury to learn why your participation matters and how your agency can benefit from this study. Then, take or complete your survey here:
Start or Complete Survey
If you have any questions, email comp360@catalyit.com.
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Recently enacted legislation had only a minor effect on Connecticut's surplus lines diligent effort requirement, according to a recent Insurance Department announcement. Connecticut law imposes requirements on a licensed surplus lines insurance broker and the insured before obtaining coverage from an “unauthorized" (unlicensed) insurer. They must “make a diligent effort … to procure, from any authorized insurer or insurers, the full amount of insurance required to protect the interest of such insured …" This is commonly referred to as the “diligent effort" requirement. Until recently, the only exceptions to that requirement were for:
- Coverages that the department has concluded are generally unavailable from licensed insurers. The list of these coverages is called the “exportable list."
- Flood insurance.
- Coverage for “exempt commercial purchasers" (large organizations that retain risk managers.)
The department's October 10 bulletin interpreted the changes made by a bill signed into law last June by Gov. Ned Lamont and effective October 1. That bill added a third exception: “… any policy of insurance where the broker seeks to procure or place such insurance through an unaffiliated wholesale surplus lines insurance broker." Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais wrote in the bulletin that this new exception applies only in very narrow circumstances. He noted that the exception uses the word “broker," and the state insurance statutes do not contain a definition of that word. “In the absence of a statutory definition," he wrote, “the Insurance Department interprets the term 'broker' as used in Public Act 25-87 to mean 'surplus lines broker.'" He continued: “Notably, if the legislature had intended the exception from the diligent effort requirement established by Public Act 25-87 to apply to 'producers' (i.e., retail agents), … it is reasonable to expect that the term 'producer' would have been specified in the Act or that the diligent effort required pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-741(b)(1) would have been repealed in its entirety. Based on the foregoing, the Limited Exception only applies to placements in the surplus lines market where the surplus lines broker acts as the retail agent and accesses such market through an unaffiliated wholesale surplus lines broker." Therefore, the requirement that retail agents make a diligent effort even when obtaining coverage through an unaffiliated wholesaler has not changed. Big I Connecticut is disappointed with this interpretation as we do not believe it reflects the legislation’s intent. We supported passing the bill last spring because we intended to reduce burdens on retail agents. This law serves little purpose and unnecessarily consumes limited resources. We will continue working toward legislative and regulatory solutions to reform it.
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