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INSURANCE MATTERS
 
A Newsletter for Members of the CCAP Insurance Programs
Owned by Members, Governed by Members, Service to Members
 
March 2012
Specialty Lines

 

Hello   

 

This is a significant anniversary year. Two of CCAP's insurance programs will celebrate anniversaries: PComp 20 years of operations on March 25 (see article below) and PCoRP 25 years on November 18.

 

It is appropriate these two programs' anniversaries are linked. When PCoRP started in 1987 it was due to a tremendous upheaval in the public entity insurance market, one that saw Pennsylvania counties unable to purchase liability insurance. If they could find coverage the pricing and limits were horrible. Counties turned to CCAP and the result was the creation of PCoRP, an insurance pool which packaged auto, liability, property and crime insurances. Twelve counties took the big step that first year, and 25 years later we insure 44 counties and 4 county related entities.

 

Once it became clear PCoRP was here to stay, counties began to experience problems finding workers' compensation insurance. Commercial insurance companies wanted to write other insurance for the county in order to provide the workers' compensation, so we got PComp started in 1993. Another 12 counties took the plunge into the new pool, and 20 years later PComp insures 39 counties and 14 county related entities.


PCoRP and PComp members should plan to attend both the anniversary dinner celebrations, at the CCAP Spring and Fall Conferences. Every member will be recognized and there will be some special souvenirs (ask me about the PCoRP beer we gave out in 2002!).

 

Oh, and there is one other anniversary to note - in November my wife and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. The woman is a saint...

 

Make sure you call us when you need help with something,

 

                              John Sallade

 

NACoPittsburgh

In This Issue
Specialty Lines
PComp and PCoRP Celebrations
Revised PCoRP Bylaws
PELICAN Dividends to Members
New PELICAN Board Member
PELICAN Annual Meeting
Gail Kipp Recognized
Spring Workshops
County Administration Conference
Legal Issues and Risk Management Workshops
Four Ways to Trim Your Tax Liability
Governor's Award for Safety Excellence
Coverage Corner
Quote of the Month

Quick Links 






  
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PComp to Celebrate 20th Anniversary March 25

PComp members have received invitations to attend the 20th anniversary PComp Membership Dinner Meeting, to be held Sunday March 25 at the Harrisburg Hilton. The meeting is held during the CCAP Spring Conference, and starts at 6 p.m. Representatives from PComp counties, county related entities and local insurance producers are welcome to attend and bring their spouse or a guest at no charge. However, preregistration is required. Contact Tona Faust at CCAP to register by March 16.

 

A short program will follow dinner. George Knehr, Chief of the Self Insurance Division of the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, will be a special guest. The annual PComp awards will be presented, and each PComp member will receive a membership award. Special souvenirs will be provided to each attendee. We are hoping to see someone from each member there!

 

Revised PCoRP Bylaws Sent to All Members

The PCoRP membership met in November during the CCAP Fall Conference and approved changes to the PCoRP bylaws. The changes had been recommended by the PCoRP board of directors. Many of the changes were editorial in nature and brought the bylaws up to date. One major change was a reworking of the section which explains how members may be asked to leave the insurance pool. Previously this was done by expulsion, and had to be done through a vote of all the members. The new process allows mid-term cancellations or end of policy year non-renewals by the board of directors, subject to a detailed process. Appeal procedures are also provided. Copies of the revised bylaws were emailed to all PCoRP members and their local insurance producers. For an electronic copy, contact John Sallade at CCAP.

 

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PELICAN Members Receiving $1 Million Dividend and Reduced Rates!

PELICAN, the nursing home insurance program sponsored by PACAH and administered by CCAP, renewed coverage for all members on March 1. This year members received two pleasant surprises for the renewal: a $1 million dividend distribution and a 5% rate reduction! This is the third consecutive year PELICAN has been able to distribute a dividend (each has been $1 million). Member homes will receive a dividend based on their premium payments into PELICAN over time, so those who have been participants the longest received a higher percentage return of funds than newer members. The dividend checks will be mailed when final approval is received from the Vermont Department of Insurance. A separate letter explaining the dividend and each facility's amount will be sent soon.

 

Mcare has announced its 2012 rates and members can expect to see a slight increase in their Mcare costs, with some geographic locations slightly higher than others.

 

If you have any questions about PELICAN, please contact Christie Ward at CCAP, (800) 895-9039, extension 3308.

 

PELICAN 2012: A New Board Member and a New Insurance Policy

There are two new things for the March 1 renewal for PELICAN Insurance. Effective March 1 is a new PELICAN insurance policy. After a thorough review of the insurance policy used since the start of PELICAN, it was decided it was time to make some changes. Staff took on a yearlong rewriting of the entire document. The goal was to better describe what was always intended to be covered by the policy but was not necessarily clearly described in written form. Copies were sent to all subscribers and their local insurance producers. The changes are all enhancements. A summary was included to review the highlights of the changes. There are no reductions in coverage provided.

 

New to the PELICAN Subscribers Advisory Committee (SAC) is Terry Brennan, NHA of Berks Heim. He was appointed by the SAC to fill a vacancy on the committee. Terry will fill an unexpired term and is up for reelection this year.

 

PELICAN was developed by PACAH and CCAP as a long-term solution to the crisis in medical malpractice and general liability insurance coverage for county affiliated nursing homes. PELICAN is your program! It is owned by the homes which purchase coverage from it, governed by the members, endorsed by PACAH, and managed by the County Commissioner's Association of Pennsylvania under the direction of the PELICAN Subscriber's Advisory Council.

 

If you have any questions about PELICAN, please contact Christie Ward at CCAP, (800) 895-9039, extension 3308.

 

PELICAN Annual Membership Meeting April 25

Representatives of PELICAN subscribers (members) and their local insurance producers are encouraged to attend the annual meeting of the subscribers on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. The meeting will begin with lunch at noon at Toftrees Resort in State College, during the PACAH Spring Conference. The following members of the Subscribers Advisory Committee (SAC) are up for election at this meeting: Molly Hess (Philadelphia Nursing Home), Joe Giles (Erie County Council Member) and Terry Brennan (Berks Heim). Watch for a separate mailing on this meeting.

 

If you have any questions about PELICAN, please contact Christie Ward at CCAP, (800) 895-9039, extension 3308.

 

Gail Kipp Recognized For Service on PCoRP Board

Columbia County chief clerk Gail Kipp was surprised at the January 19 board meeting of the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool (PCoRP) when PCoRP's managing director, John Sallade, recognized her for 20 consecutive years of service on the board of directors. The PCoRP board presented her with a gift and thanked her for her dedicated service to the insurance program.

 

Gail is the longest serving board member of PCoRP, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. She currently serves as vice chairman of the board, and also serves on the Underwriting and Claims Committee. Not only does Gail bring a detailed knowledge of county operations to her position on the board, she also worked in the insurance industry. Gail is known for being a soft spoken but active and helpful board member.


Frank Staudenmeier, Chairman of the PCoRP board and Schuylkill county commissioner, notes "Gail has been a valuable asset to the PCoRP board the past twenty years. On behalf of all the members of the board of directors I would like to congratulate Gail and thank her for her outstanding dedication and leadership of PCoRP."

 

We asked Gail for her thoughts on this occasion: "20 years! It only seems like yesterday when I attended my first PCoRP retreat. The changes have been diverse yet all seeking the same goal of improving the services for the counties. Decisions ranged from membership eligibility, services and programs. We went from outside contractors for marketing, loss control and claims to bringing them all in house with trained and knowledgeable staff. We originally limited membership to counties under a 250,000 population, and ended up opening membership to any size county that fits with the structure of the program, along with affiliate organizations such as joinders that involve multiple counties. This also increased the pool of eligible participants. We developed programs for tax collector bonds, incorporated insurance appraisals into the program, and provided other specialized issues like a fraud hotline.

 

It is amazing to see the complexity and diversification with in the county structure but yet the insurance programs have been able to provide coverage which is as unique as a county's needs are. Serving on the board has been eye opening with some strange claims (including unicorns) to those that are pretty common among us all - slips, falls, automobile accidents. The staff handles them all with the same determination to settle it with the least cost to the county and to PCoRP. I have seen changes in staff, legal counsel and board members. It's reassuring to know that whoever volunteers for the board or joins as a staff member or provides us counsel that the consistency of excellence in their quality and breadth of knowledge is constant if not expanding. The counties participating in PCoRP as well as the other insurance programs should be comforted to know that these individuals take their responsibilities to the extra mile to assist us in protecting our assets, employees and citizens. Twenty years - I can't believe it's been that long. Time flies when you are having fun!"

 

PCoRP insures 44 counties and 4 county related entities for auto, property, liability, crime and other insurances. For more information about PCoRP please contact John Sallade at CCAP.

Think Spring......Spring Workshops!

By Linda Rosito, Insurance Training Director 

 

March brings the start of the spring workshop season of the CCAP Insurance Programs. We have a great spring planned for you and we hope you take advantage of the great programming we have for you.

 

You should soon receive your copy of the spring Glimpse but until then, all information is online and registration is available!

Here is a listing of workshops this spring:

 

March 

20 - Controlling Workers Compensation Costs, The Penn Stater Conference Center
Hotel - State College

29 - Defensive Driving Course, Best Western/Country Cupboard - Lewisburg

 

April        

      2 - KEYS: Leadership Strategies for Challenging Times, CCAP North Office - Hbg
      3 - Maintenance Workshop, The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel - State
      State College

      13 - PCoRP Loss Control Workshop, The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel - 
      State College

17 - Defensive Driving Course, The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel - State College

17 - Dealing with Threats, Trauma and Violence in the Workplace, The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel - State College

19 - KEYS: HR Boot Camp, CCAP North Office - Harrisburg

25 - Dealing with Threats, Trauma and Violence in the Workplace, Scranton Hilton - Scranton

26 - KEYS: Leadership Strategies for Challenging Times, Best Western/Country Cupboard - Lewisburg

27 - County Risk Managers Council, CCAP North Office - Harrisburg

 

May 

2 - KEYS: Leadership Strategies for Challenging Times, Regional Learning Alliance (RLA) - Cranberry Twp.

8 - KEYS: Leadership Strategies for Challenging Times, Scranton Hilton - Scranton

15 - KEYS: Getting it WRITE the First Time, Regional Learning Alliance (RLA) - Cranberry Twp.

17 - Dealing with Threats, Trauma and Violence in the Workplace, Best Western/Country Cupboard - Lewisburg

22 - Getting it WRITE the First Time, CCAP North Office - Harrisburg

24 - Prison Risk Management, The Hotel Hershey - Hershey

30 - 31 - County Administration Conference, The Atherton - State College

 

 

Please keep in mind that most of our training sessions are free (if sponsored by an insurance program in which your employer is a member) AND for PCoRP, PComp and UC Trust members you can SAVE MONEY off your insurance costs by attending training sessions.

 

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Linda Rosito or

Jenn James at (800) 895-9039.

 

Thank you for your continued support of the CCAP Insurance Programs trainings.

 

We hope to see you this spring!

 

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Be Safe Be Aware

By Maureen McMahon, Loss Control Specialist

 

How do you get employees to be safe? One of the ways is through safety awareness. Safety awareness means building safety into the way workers think about things. Without it, workers won't wear their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), or won't wear it properly. They won't make full use of the safety features built into their equipment. And they won't observe simple rules, such as those of good housekeeping, which can prevent accidents. Without safety awareness, workers may think about how busy they are, their wages, or tonight's hockey game - but not safety.

 

Here is a list of safety awareness do's and don'ts that you can use with your employees as a starting point for safety awareness, and modifying or adding to the list to fit your specific situation.

 

Safety Awareness Do's: 

  • Treat safety as an important job responsibility.
  • Plan each job before you start.
  • Think about what could go wrong, and how you'll prevent problems and accidents.
  • Use labels, Material Safety Data Sheets MSDSs, protective clothing and other safety information and equipment.
  • Keep your work area clear of potential fire, spill or tripping and falling hazards.
  • Wash hands thoroughly before eating or drinking.
  • Check tools and equipment before you use them.
  • Select the right tool for the job.
  • Check that ventilation is working.
  • Know and follow county rules.
  • Pay attention to what you are doing.
  • Know what to do in an emergency.
  • Ask questions when you are unsure of what to do or how to do it.

Safety Awareness Don'ts:

  • Use a malfunctioning tool or machine; Tag it and report it.
  • Work on hazardous jobs, such as tasks in confined spaces, without a buddy.
  • Ignore a safety hazard; either fix it or report it.
  • Ignore other workers' unsafe practices; correct them or report them.
  • Let others talk you into bypassing safety procedures.
  • Take shortcuts.

Build safety awareness into employee communications, from emails to paycheck stuffers to newsletters-safety should be stressed. In fact, the more focus you put on it, the more it will become an integral part of your organization.  

County Administration Conference

By Linda Rosito, Insurance Training Director

 

Please mark your calendars for this year's County Administration Conference. This two day event is designed specifically for county employees interested in budget and finance issues, administration issues and personnel and human resource issues. The conference is being held on Wednesday, May 30 and Thursday, May 31 at The Atherton Hotel, State College.

 

Registration information and a tentative agenda will be available later this month. We hope you can attend this excellent educational opportunity.

 
Legal Issues and Risk Management Workshops

The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) is pleased to announce two workshops being held April 19-20 at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in State College, PA and open to all county elected officials and staff.

 

On Thursday, April 19, join us for the "Legal Issues" session with speakers Marie Milie Jones, Esquire, and Michael Lettrich, Esquire, of JonesPassodelis, PLLC. Topics of discussion include critical employment issues for public entities, hot button issues in zoning relating to Marcellus Shale, civil rights issues and law enforcement and jails. This course is scheduled from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. with lunch included. Participants in the CCAP Academy For Excellence In County Government and Advanced Certification programs may earn credit to fulfill the Legal Issues core course upon their participation at the event.

 

Friday, April 20 features a "Risk Management" session with speaker John Sallade, CRM, CCAP Insurance Programs. Topics of discussion include accident reporting, claims, governmental immunity, safety, bonding, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, controlling employee lawsuits, among others. The course will run from 9 a.m. to noon and participants in the CCAP Academy For Excellence In County Government and Advanced Certification programs may earn credit to fulfill the Risk Management core course upon their participation at the event.

 

The workshops are open to all county officials and staff. Associate members and other CCAP vendors are also invited to attend. Registered Academy and Academy Advanced Certification participants may attend at no cost. The costs for non-Academy participants (CCAP members) vary. Other fees may apply for Academy graduates, associate members and other vendors. There is a multi-day discount available. The workshop fee includes refreshment breaks and session materials on both days and lunch for the Thursday session

 

Seating is limited - for registration information, please visit the CCAP website or contact Mandi Glantz, Director of Member and Vendor Relations or by phone (717) 526-1010 x 3339  

 

Four Ways to Trim Your Tax Liability to Uncle Sam

Your employer's deferred compensation program is designed to help you work toward your financial future. Plus, your participation in the plan may also reduce your taxable income today.

 

Here are four ways deferred compensation may help trim your annual income tax bill: 

  1. Enroll and participate in deferred compensation. 
    When you defer a portion of your salary into a deferred comp account, you're making contributions before income tax is accessed on your earnings. By lowering your gross income, in turn, you could pay fewer taxes today to Uncle Sam.

    Plus, as long as you keep your money invested in the plan, you won't pay taxes on any potential earnings until you start taking withdrawals in retirement. Keep in mind that investing involves market risk, including the possible loss of principal.
     
     
  2. Increase your deferral.
    If you already participate in deferred comp, you can increase your contribution at any time during the year. And the more you contribute, the less you pay in taxes today.
     
  3. Take your plan to the max.
     
    Every year, the government sets an annual salary deferral limit. Through 2011, public employees may contribute up to $16,500 of their gross annual income. 
     
  4. Get caught up!
     
    Finally, Uncle Sam offers two options known as "catch-up" to help public workers save more for retirement. 
     

    "Age 50+ Catch-Up" is available to employees age 50 and older. "Special 457 Catch-Up" allows any public sector worker within three years of the plan's normal retirement age to defer extra money into deferred comp.
    Both provisions are designed to help you save more money during your last years in the workforce and trim your tax obligation, but they only be used one at a time. Please note that these are optional provisions and available on a plan-by-plan basis. Please contact your plan administrator for specific details relating to your employer's 457 plan.

 

Contact Nationwide today.

As your deferred comp plan provider, your Nationwide representative can help you enroll, increase your deferral limit or provide additional information about catch-up. Call us today at (877) NRSforu or (877) 677-3678. We are ready to assist you.

 

Neither the company nor its representatives give legal or tax advice. Please consult your attorney or tax advisor for answers to specific questions. Information provided by Retirement Specialists is for educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice.

 

Retirement Specialists are registered representatives of Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member FINRA. In MI only: Nationwide Investment Svcs. Corporation.

 

� 2010, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, Inc. One Nationwide Plaza. Columbus, Ohio 43215. All Rights Reserved. Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

 

NRW-2648AO (10/10)

 

Time to Apply for the Governor's Award for Safety Excellence

If you are proud of your safety and prevention program for its impact on reducing employee injuries, financial and other achievements, why not apply for the

Governor's Award for Safety Excellence? The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding prevention programs and the superior efforts that make these programs so successful. Employers can nominate themselves or be nominated by a third party.

 

To download the nomination form or for more information go to www.dli.state.pa.us, in the center of the page select the "Workers' Compensation" icon. Select "Health & Safety Division" on the left hand blue bar, then select "Governor's Award for Safety Excellence" located on the left hand blue bar.

 

Or go to:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=552346&mode=2 

 

All applications must be submitted by June 1, 2012 to:

 

Amy Zacks

Program Coordinator

Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Health and Safety Division

1171 South Cameron Street

Harrisburg, PA 17104

 

For additional information or assistance call (717) 772-1917 or email Amy Zacks or

[email protected].

 

Coverage Corner 

Reminders and Pointers about Insurance Coverage and Risk Management 

CONTRACTS 
 

Keep in mind that the insurance provisions in contracts matter! As Tom Waits said "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away". Certain insurance provisions contained in contracts could transfer the liability for paying for a claim to you even if the other party is negligent. And just because the contract requires the county to provide insurance coverage does not mean the insurance coverage the county has purchased will cover what the contract is requiring. Check with your insurer before signing the contract, or the county could end up with a liability for which it has no insurance. Insurance requirements in contracts should be reviewed carefully!

 

Questions or comments? Contact Karen Cohen, CCAP's Property and Casualty Programs Manager.

 

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Quote of the Month
 
 "Follow your compass, not a map ."
 
- Steve Donahue
 

CCAP Insurance Programs
 
PO Box 60769, Harrisburg, PA 17106-0769
Phone (800) 895-9039 - FAX (717) 526-1020
Claims Fax (888) 692-2368

 Click here to go the Insurance Section of the CCAP Website.

 

email: [email protected] 

 

Insurance Matters is published monthly by CCAP's Insurance Programs for the use of members of CCAP's UC Trust, PCoRP, PComp, PIMCC, COMCARE, COMCARE PRO, PELICAN, Health Alliance and other insurance programs, and insurance producers of these members.

 

Advice contained in this publication is not legal advice and members are encouraged to seek the opinion of their solicitor.

The information provided in this publication is not intended to take the place of professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with competent legal, financial, or other appropriate professionals. Statements of facts and opinions expressed in this publication, by authors other than Association staff and officers, are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent an opinion or philosophy of the officers, members and staff of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). No endorsement of advertised products or services is implied by CCAP unless those products or services are expressly endorsed, or are owned or managed by the Association programs, or our affiliates. This publication may not be reproduced, modified, distributed, or displayed in part or in whole, by any means, without advance written permission of CCAP. Please direct your requests to John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs, [email protected]

 

 

Note: As part of its copyright agreement the CCAP grants the author the right to place the final version of his/her manuscript on the author's homepage, subject to CCAP's standards, or in a public digital repository, provided there is a link to the CCAP website.

 

 

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