and feed the needs of our homeless .” What started out as Peter serving hot soup out of a pick-up truck is now a mobile convoy providing essential services , offering the homeless a message of hope and a sense of dignity .
Diane and Associate Underwriter Rich Canon decided to reach out to Karen to gather more information and ask about her client ’ s story .
“ Support the Soupman Corporation is an account our agency has written for several years ,” Karen explained . “ In late 2019 , the insured hired a couple of employees to help with the shower trailers and clothing distribution in the Brockton area . The workers ’ compensation coverage was placed in the assigned risk pool .”
“ In August , the insured advised me that they had a new employee in New Hampshire who is their IT , website , and marketing guy ,” Karen said . “ I knew I would need another policy for this exposure and then the lightbulb went off . Why not ask Associated Employers Insurance Company ( one of the A . I . M . Mutual Companies ) if they would entertain this risk and write one policy for both states ? It didn ’ t take long for Diane and Rich to review the account and realize that this was something they could entertain . They made it very easy to get this policy written , and out of the assigned risk pool , for our agency .”
This is the heart of what “ First , we listen ,” means : taking the time to dig deeper , beyond the paper submission . Diane and Rich were able to partner with Karen , ask the right questions , and ultimately obtain voluntary workers ’ comp coverage for The Soupman .
HEALTH CARE IN THE TIME OF COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has created enormous challenges for the insurance industry . We understand it has created unique hurdles for our agency partners to overcome when finding workers ’ compensation coverage — especially for their health care clients .
So while many carriers have instituted strict moratoriums on new business over the past several months , A . I . M . Mutual takes a different approach . You guessed it , “ First , we listen .”
By implementing additional underwriting tools via a new COVID-19 questionnaire and instituting a senior leadership referral process , A . I . M . Mutual carefully considers all new health care risks to properly assess their desirability , even in the current COVID-19 world .
This was precisely the experience of Chris Gautreau , a producer with NFP Property & Casualty Insurance Services . He worked recently with Senior Underwriter Mark Brough on a new business opportunity for a health care client in Burlington , Vermont .
“ A . I . M . Mutual underwrites each specific risk based on the presented exposures and doesn ’ t automatically decline , as other carriers tend to do ,” Chris said . “ This was evident recently with a new business opportunity I presented in July . Many carriers immediately declined due to the coronavirus pandemic , but A . I . M . Mutual took a different approach . They reviewed the account carefully by obtaining a COVID-19 supplemental application and by interviewing the insured , and determined they were a solid risk . After presenting a comprehensive quote , they wrote the account , and I had a very happy customer .” We couldn ’ t have said it better ourselves , Chris . First , we listen .
KEVIN M . SNYDER is Senior Manager- Underwriting for A . I . M . Mutual Insurance Companies , responsible for underwriting operations throughout New England . He joined A . I . M . Mutual in 2010 as a Regional Underwriting Manager and assumed his current position as Senior Manager-Underwriting in 2016 .
For More Information On The Soupman And To Donate , Go To www . supportthesoupman . org /
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