BRIEFS
Prospective policyholders now can look up an SFM agency partner through “Find an agent” available on SFM’s website.
The user can type in a zip code and, from more than 260 SFM-contracted agents, find those within a 10-mile radius.
“The look-up function puts prospective clients in touch with high-quality independent agents,” said SFM Vice President, Business Development and Marketing, Mike Happe.
For the 11th consecutive year, SFM ranks No. 1 among large insurers—those with more than 1,000 claims—in the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s annual Prompt First Action Report.
“Consistently topping the report demonstrates SFM’s responsiveness in handling claims from the point they are received on through until they are resolved,” said SFM Vice President, Claims, Meg Kasting.
The report, released in January, covers performance on lost-time claims for all Minnesota insurers for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009. It is available on the department website.
Congratulatory letters recently were sent to five deserving policyholders of SFM’s highest honor, the Premier Partner Award
- St. Luke’s Hospital and Regional Trauma Center, Duluth, Minn. (Liscomb Hood Mason Company)
- The Masterson Company, Milwaukee, Wis. (R & R Insurance Services Inc.)
- Schmitty and Sons School Buses Inc., Lakeville, Minn. (Miller Hartwig Insurance)
- Twin City Glass Contractors Inc., St. Paul, Minn. (RJ Ahmann Company)
- Universal Promotions Inc., Rogers, Minn. (CompCost Agency)
Premier Partner Award winners receive an award plaque and will be featured in SFM’s Companion. Award presentations are scheduled over the coming months.
SFM policyholders Hardrives Inc., based in Rogers, Minn., and Ryan Companies Inc., based in Minneapolis, recently were recognized at the Minnesota Associated General Contractors Safety Day for participation in the Construction Health and Safety Excellence program. CHASE is a joint program of the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Association and Minnesota AGC.
SFM Assistant Vice President and Director of Underwriting Brian Bent was recently appointed to the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Insurers Association board.
The MWCIA, a nonprofit, is licensed by the state to collect policy, claims and financial data to develop its annual ratemaking report and calculate employer experience modification factors.
The number of employers fined by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for failing to insure against workers’ compensation injuries rose 71 percent for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009, according to the department’s annual Collection and Assessment of Fines and Penalties report.
More than 500 employers were assessed penalties totaling $4.4 million.
The increase is due primarily to the department’s stepped-up enforcement and investigation of employers that should have obtained workers’ compensation insurance but never did, according to the report.
The report shows a decrease in other penalties and assessments, including those for late filing of First Reports and late first payments.