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Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Reform Bill Sent to Full Texas House

The Texas House of Representatives Insurance Texas Committee has authorized a check that would make poignant changes to how the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association operates, carriage it on to the full House for consideration.

H.B. 272 tweaks how claims disputes or matured, removes the requirement that TWIA policyholders reason inundate insurance, removes the limit value of a home insurable by TWIA, and requires TWIA to annually contention a disaster plot to the commotion Legislature.

Under H.B. 272, claimants would be authorized to solve disputes by litigation, but only after burdensome a run of choice processes.

The question of how to take adult a run at government mishaps at TWIA is one that has unclosed a run of issues surrounding the association, which serves as Texas quasi-governmental insurer of final choice for homeowners in hurricane-prone areas along the disorders coast.

After conducting an investigation, the Texas Department of Insurance discovered TWIA had been paying insurance adjusters for work they hadn't performed and paid claims based on those adjusters' reports.

TDI is also investigating the firings and severance packages given to two top TWIA lieutenants, who were dismissed late last year because of "management issues." Reggie Warren, the former head of claims at TWIA, was given more than $114,000 and a truck, which he had been using at the agency. Bill Knarr, the former catastrophe office manager, received more than $47,000.

In a Feb. 28 letter to then-TWIA general manager Jim Oliver, Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin, a Republican, criticized the association's management for lacking the "experience, competence, or trustworthiness to operate TWIA in a safe and sound manner." Geeslin added TWIA had become "hazardous to the public" (BestWire, March 1, 2011). The TDI declined to comment on the legislation.

Oliver was fired last month, and TWIA's board appointed Randy Wipf, vice president of underwriting, to serve as acting general manager (BestWire, March 23, 2011).

Meanwhile, Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio and Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood -- all members of the House Insurance Committee during the 2009 session -- allegedly pocketed tens of thousands of dollars in fees and commissions in Hurricane Ike-related suits filed against TWIA. Those fees and commissions were viewed by some as potential conflicts of interest.

Nationwide Texas Insurance Co. is Adding More Than 100 Agents in Texas by 2014.

Nationwide Mutual Texas Insurance Company is looking for experienced sales professionals to fill agency positions. The company has plans to hire more than 100 new Nationwide agents by 2014 to serve the needs of customers throughout Texas.

The companies Texas insurance division plans to add about 30 new agents in San Antonio, 60 in Dallas and 20 in Austin.

“We’re looking for top sales professionals and entrepreneurs to join our team,” said Terrance Williams, regional vice president of Nationwide’s southern region. “Becoming a Nationwide agent gives you the opportunity to grow and run your own business, selling Texas homeowners insurance, Texas auto insurance, Texas business insurance and life insurance products to help consumers protect what’s most important to them.”

Nationwide offers a broad range of insurance careers and agency programs that help match sales professionals with challenging, yet rewarding occupation. These positions offer competitive compensation packages and exceptional career growth opportunities.

In addition to its statewide agent expansion, Nationwide recently broke ground on a new sales and service facility in San Antonio that will be home to about 1,000 existing and 800 new sales and service associates. The facility is scheduled to be completed in mid-2012.

Liberty Mutual owned America First Insurance Expands There Small Commercial Appetite

Texas Insurance company America First, a Liberty Mutual Agency Corporation regional company, today announced the expansion of its small commercial insurance appetite with the addition of more than 60 business classes to its Commercial Protector BOP product.

The majority of the additional classes are in wholesale/retail, office, and medical office, but America First Insurance is also introducing six new internet classes to accommodate retailers with on-premises inventories. A Limited Cyber Liability endorsement has also been added at no cost for all qualified Commercial Protector and Custom Protector™ business classes. Lower limits for Employment Related Practices coverage are also available for both products.

“These enhancements broaden our appetite and deepen our franchise value with our agents,” said Fred Schneider, vice president, Marketing. “Small commercial is a large and attractive market segment, and we see great opportunity in writing a wider variety of smaller accounts.”

To better compliment the America First Insurance Package Series, the company is also targeting specific business categories with its new Spotlight Series. Key business categories include: automotive services; computer; contractors; craft; fine arts and collectibles; hospitality; internet retail; motion picture, pet services and professional office. These categories represent some of the most popular and wide-ranging areas for which businesses need specified Texas business insurance solutions. The Spotlight Series suite of products addresses numerous business needs reliably, competitively and comprehensively, furthering America First Insurance’s growth opportunities in its six-state territory.