News & Updates
Religious Accommodations: Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs
Employers typically should assume that a request for religious accommodation is based on a sincerely held religious belief. However, suppose the employer has a valid and objective reason to request more information from an employee or doubt a request’s validity. In that case, they may ask additional questions tailored for the individual assessment being conducted. …
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Swiss Re/Westport Releasing New E&O Policy Enhancements
Swiss Re and IIABA created a Professional Liability Committee for state E&O program managers, state executives, and independent agents to consistently review the Swiss Re E&O program and its offerings. Below is a high-level summary of the changes. Simplified and consistent policy language Revised the language in some sections for ease of reading with no…
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Changes to Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund
We would like to take the opportunity to inform you of changes to the Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund that will impact your clients’ policies effective January 1, 2022. On May 19, 2021, Governor Laura Kelly signed into law House Substitute for Senate Bill No. 78. The new statute requires defined health care providers to…
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Big ‘I’ Installs New Leadership
October 5, 2021- The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) installed Kansas’ Bob Fee, president of Fee Insurance Group Inc. in Hutchinson, as 2021-22 Big “I” chairman at the recent Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Fee has held numerous positions at both the state and national level…
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Kansas Association of Insurance Agents Adds Shelby Doty to Board of Directors
September 28, 2021 – Topeka, Kansas – Shelby Doty has been named to the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents (KAIA) Board of Directors. Doty, commercial lines account executive at Insurance Planning, Inc., Hays, Kansas, will serve as a director-at-large. “As an independent agent for 20 years, I am honored to have the opportunity to serve…
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Phone Carriers’ New Requirements for Business Texting
by AnneMarie McPherson National phone carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon are starting to implement new requirements for business texting to counteract telemarketing spam. The requirements primarily focus on businesses using application-to-person (A2P) text messages sent via 10-digit long code (00310DLC) phone numbers, which are phone numbers that include a local area code and support high…
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Insurance Coverage Committee Creates Farmowners Task Force
Volunteer Today! The Insurance Coverage Committee met on Tuesday, September 7th. One outcome was the committee established a Farmowners Competitive Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to help independent agents better compete against direct/captive carriers by analyzing the insurance offerings in the Farmowners market and highlight where independent agents may have a…
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Heritage Insurance Group merges with Garrett Insurance
The owners and staff of Heritage Insurance Group, Inc. of Stockton, Kansas, are excited to announce the merger of its agency with Garrett Insurance Agency, Kerrville, Texas. Originating from a decade-long friendship between owners, the new partnership will bring two family-owned insurance agencies under joint leadership, opening many doors to new and exciting opportunities. Both…
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KID Tax Clearance and Digital Fingerprinting for New Producer Licenses
The Kansas Insurance Department’s Producer Licensing division is undergoing many changes to streamline the licensing process, making it easier and quicker. The transition to NIPR on January 1, 2022, is an important part of that process. There are several other changes KID is making in preparation for that transition, which will help expedite the current…
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