The Connection Magazine AIM MUTUAL Spring 2020 | Page 26

PEOPLE BEHIND THE POLICY THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE POLICY YOU MIGHT think workers’ compensation coverage is pretty straightforward, and you’d be right—to a point. A nursing home in Massachusetts with 100 employees has similar, though not identical, coverage to one across the border in New Hampshire. Where those points diverge is on the law and the regulations that frame it. No two states are alike. Back in 1911, when Wisconsin was rolling out the first workers’ compensation system in the country, no one could predict how coverage would evolve. Given the inner workings, it’s no surprise the people behind the policy play such a key role. As a workers’ compensation specialist, A.I.M. Mutual has been providing coverage and services for more than 30 years. With more than 18,000 policies to produce annually, that’s a tall order. “Whether it’s a quote, endorsement, renewal, or reinstatement, we rely on our production staff to review and process each request that comes across their desk,” said Abi Troy, Vice President of Operations. “That reflects a certain level of experience and dedication that we really appreciate, and it has allowed us to meet and often exceed standards across the board.” Today all New England states require employers to have workers’ compensation insurance in place, regardless of whether the business is large or small. Meeting the statutory requirements is the employer’s responsibility, yet policyholders often look to their carriers for help. Once underwriting has done its job, the policy production team takes over, processing all policy transactions. The clock starts ticking right away since turnaround times are mandated. That’s all in a day’s work for Rating, Statistical, and Office Services, where everyone is accustomed to meeting service requests on demand. Like a puzzle, each production department is a piece that touches another. When the pieces click into place, so does the successful start of another coverage period. Brokers and policyholders know they can get sameday answers to questions ranging from certificate requests to policy information. The Processing Hub Rating is where the policy changes happen, and they come from all directions. Brokers, policyholders and state bureaus forward their requests through any number of channels. Some states, like Massachusetts, have their own bureau responsible for setting workers’ compensation requirements. More often, though, states defer to National Council on Compensation Insurance guidelines. If a business operates in more than one state, it can easily find itself dealing with very different rules. Consider too the involuntary market has a set of standards 26