| FROM THE COMMISSIONER |
Looking to the Future
Predictions about 2018 insurance business trends.
C
rystal-ball gazing and publishing predictions are part
of human nature. We all like to predict what will or
could happen in our future. Like many New Year’s
resolutions, those predictions often go by the wayside
as time, circumstances and events evolve.
But there is a measure of stability in the insurance business.
That allows those of us who work with and within the industry to
make reasonable pronouncements about what ideas and trends
we will face as we move farther into 2018. My staff and I have
put together a short list of the topics we think you as agents
and ourselves as regulators will address in some fashion in the
coming year.
You might already be in the forefront of knowledge about the
following topics. If so, your foresight is to be commended, and
your clients will be well served.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT Those of you who sell health
insurance, no doubt, will find the coming year to be full of
news about what goes away in this federal legislation and what
could replace it. As our national leaders wrestle with the ACA’s
implications, it will be important to keep up with facts you can
share with your clients.
One other particular part of health insurance that could
affect you is the emergence of association health plans as
an alternative to current coverage. For your clients’ best
understanding, pointing out the pros and cons of such plans
may be necessary.
2018 CANDIDATES Being an informed citizen concerning
what candidates believe and will advocate for is part of a good
representative government. When you get the chance to speak
with state and national candidates, ask them specific questions
about insurance-related topics. Listen carefully to their answers.
Make a solid judgement based on how their views affect your
family, clients and business.
DRONE USE AND REGULATION
KEN SELZER
Kansas Insurance Commissioner
Mitigating the risks involved in
drone use, whether commercially
or individually, will continue to emerge as an insurance topic
of debate. The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that
more than 7 million drones will be sold in the United States by
2020. Crashes, accidents, collisions and “operator error” will
continue to be in the news. Knowing what your clients need to
understand regarding restrictions, regulations and insurance
coverage will become increasingly important.
CYBERSECURITY As businesses and government grapple with
the sinister spectre of data breaches, agents and companies are
faced with formulating policies and advocating for regulations
that will best serve their customers and business models.
Knowing how and when a data breach will occur is not possible.
Working toward making them harder to harm consumers and
businesses is necessary.
FINDING NEW INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS Here in
Kansas, the Kansas Insurance Education Foundation (KIEF) and
the Kansas Insurance Department have established a means of
promoting a continual pipeline of young insurance professionals
through our educational initiative concept. This took root in 2016
through the cooperation of many higher-education institutions in
our state, the KAIA and the state’s insurance industry.
We are hoping to enlarge the scope of the college-level activities,
including the need for internship opportunities. If you or your
company would offer an internship to a college student as
part of the initiative requirements, please contact either Cindy
Hermes or Daniel Rineberg, KID Government and Public
Affairs Division staff members, at 785-296-7803.
There are other topics that are sure to come up in 2018 — such
as flood insurance, driverless cars, and air ambulance charges
— so I hope you will keep all of these in mind as you guide your
clients through the insurance world.
| January - February 2018 | KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER
7