Registration for committee volunteering will be closing soon- now is your chance to get involved!

Now more than ever, it is important to maintain the connections you have built in the mutual insurance industry. By volunteering to serve on a PAMIC Committee, you are involved in the following duties:

• Identifying emerging issues and trends in the mutual insurance industry at committee meetings

• Staying connected with other companies in the Mid-Atlantic region to ensure event dates and contents do not conflict

• Contributing leads and ideas to PAMIC’s Event Director and respective committee chairman on credible and engaging speakers or presentations

• Providing insight on logistical issues, extra curricular activities such as receptions or golf outings, how to raise attendance, etc.

• Promoting the event and it’s exhibition and sponsorship opportunities to those in the mutual insurance industry and its supporters 

PAMIC welcomes volunteers throughout the year and will on-board those individuals on a case by case basis. Please reach out to Andrea Stroble at astroble@pamic.org for more information.  

Please click here to register or for more information.

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania legislature has passed a spending plan that avoids tax increases and major cuts, and relies on about $1.3 billion in coronavirus relief aid to balance the books. The package approved Friday includes no major surprises — and no bailout for restaurants and other industries that have lobbied for what they say is a desperately needed influx of cash. Republican leaders justified using federal aid money for the budget, rather than for direct assistance, saying it would pay the salaries of state-employed public health and safety workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers in May approved a partial, stopgap budget amid uncertainty about how COVID-19 would impact state finances. The new plan funds the final seven months of the fiscal year, bringing the total operating budget through June 2021 to $36.5 billion — a roughly 4% spending increase compared to the previous year. Gov. Tom Wolf intends to sign the plan. “COVID-19 has left Pennsylvania in a difficult financial situation, and this budget protects against furloughs and deep cuts to critical programs,” Wolf’s spokesperson, Lyndsay Kensinger, said in a statement. “The governor will continue to advocate for federal funding to support recovery efforts at the state and local level, including additional funding for Pennsylvania municipalities and the restaurant industry. We need our federal leaders to step up and provide Americans with the support they desperately need.” House lawmakers voted 104-97 to approve the main budget bill and 108-92 to approve the enabling fiscal code, which provides spending instructions, late Friday.

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Ed Mahon, Harrisburg Patriot News

Saturday, November 21, 2020

• All 203 House seats were up for election.  A quarter of House seats were elected without opposition in the general election (28 Republicans and 29 Democrats).

• There were 20 races where the margin of victory was less than 54% (10 Republicans, 10 Democrats).

• Three Democratic incumbents appear to have lost their seats (pending uncounted and provisional ballots).  Minority Leader Frank Dermody had 48.5%, or 923 votes short of re-election.  The apparent winner is Oakmont Boro Council member Carrie Delrosso.  Joseph Petrarca (Indiana/Armstrong/Westmoreland) is the apparent loser with 47.7% of the vote,1,445 votes short. Perhaps the biggest upset was in Democrat -trending Bucks County where incumbent Democrat Rep. Wendy Ullman lost to political newcomer Republican Shelby Labs (Bucks) with 51.7% to 48.3%, a 1,472-vote deficit.  

HOUSE CLOSE CALLS.  Ten Democrats won with less than 54% of the vote.  Closest margins were Rep. Chris Sappey (Chester) with 50.6% (485 margin of victory) and Rep. Chris Sainato (Lawrence) at 50.2%.  There were ten Republican close calls with the victors receiving less than 54% of the vote.  The closest margins were Rep. Aaron Bernstine (Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) with 51.7% and Rep. Chris Quinn (Delaware) with 51.9% of the vote, a margin of 812 votes.

HOUSE OPEN SEATS.  There were 17 open seats due to retirements or primary losses.  All six Democratic open seats stayed in the Democratic column.  Of the 11 Republican open seats, one seat flipped to Democratic control.  The seat currently held by Rep Tom Murt (R-Montgomery) will be filled by Hatboro Mayor Democrat Nancy Guenst.  Murt’s district has never had a Democratic House member.  Rep. Murt retired after seven terms.

HOUSE LEADERSHIP

House leadership will see some changes.  For Republicans, Majority Caucus Chair Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery) is retiring.  On the Democratic side, Minority Caucus Secretary Rep. Rosita Youngblood (D-Phila.) is retiring and was replaced with another Philadelphia Democrat.  A surprising election result is Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) who appears to be losing a seat which he has held since 1991.  The result is not final because of uncounted and provisional ballots but right now, he is 923 votes behind Republican challenger Carrie Delrosso.  This deficit dropped from 1,248 votes on 11/6.  

IMPACT ON INSURANCE

• Both House Insurance Committee Majority Chair Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford) and Minority Chair Rep. Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny of the had no general election opponent.

• A big vacancy to fill with be the seat of retiring Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks).  He is a licensed insurance agent for Nationwide. PERSONAL NOTE:   As far as is known, he was the last licensed insurance agent in the legislature.

• Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Northampton/Montgomery is another vacancy in the House Insurance Committee.

• These two vacancies were retained by Republicans.  Replacing Tobash is Dauphin County prosecutor Joseph Kerwin who was unopposed.  Simmons’ replacement is V. Milou Mackenzie, an interior designer.  She won 54.5% - 45.6%.

• Embattled incumbent and Insurance Committee member Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) was able to prevail over his two opponents with 51.7% of the vote.

• Except for the two vacancies mentioned above, all other Insurance Committee members were re-elected with comfortable margins.  Of these, five Democrats and one Republican had no opponent in the general election.

• 25 Senate seats were on the ballot in 2020.

• 14 Republicans ran for re-election.  Of these, one (Senator David Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks) was unopposed.

• Four Democratic incumbents were unopposed –Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Sharif Street, (D-Phila.) Minority Chair, Senate Banking & Insurance Committee, John Sabatina (D-Phila.), and Vincent Hughes (D-Phila.)

FLIPS AND CLOSE CALLS. A Democratic seat flipped to GOP control.  First term Democratic Senator Pam Iovino (Allegheny) lost to business owner Devlin Robinson.  Iovino had 47.9% of the vote and was 7,119 votes short of her goal.  Republican Senator Tom Killion (Delaware) lost by 5,627 votes to the Democratic challenger.  

Re-election prospects for Senate Banking & Insurance Committee member Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) are still uncertain.  As of 11/6, he was 1,543 votes behind his Republican challenger family law attorney Nicole Ziccarelli, losing 50.2% to 49.8%.  Although split among several districts, uncounted mail in and provisional ballots for Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties total 40,500.

OPEN SEATS.  There were three open seats now held by Democrats.  Democrats retained the seats that were held by Senator Larry Farnese (D-Phila.), Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery), and Senator Andy Dinniman (D- Chester).  Dinniman’s seat will be filled by current Rep. Carolyn Comitta.

There was one open seat held by Republicans.  Republicans retained the seat held by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati.  Current House member Cris Dush won easily with 74.4% of the vote total.

Senate Results and Impact on the Insurance Sector

• Banking & Insurance Committee Majority Chair Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) was not up for re-election.  His counterpart Sherif Street (d-Phila.) had no opposition.  Senator Street has considerable experience in insurance litigation.

• Republican Banking & Insurance Committee member Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) who at one time was considered vulnerable, won with 59.9% of the votes.  As of 11/6, there were only 1,097 uncounted votes in Erie County – not enough to make up a 22,623 deficit.

• Banking & Insurance Committee member Democrat Larry Farnese’s (D-Phila.) seat will be vacant since he was defeated in the primary.  

• Re-election of Democratic Banking & Insurance Committee member Senator Jim Brewster (D-Westmoreland/Allegheny) is uncertain since he is only 1,543 votes short.

• Banking & Insurance Committee member Republican Senator Tom Killion (R-Delaware/Chester) is losing 51.9% to 48.1%, a 5,627-vote deficit.  If Killion finally loses, it is a loss for the Insurance Community since he formerly held a life/health insurance producer’s license.  The apparent victor is Democrat is John Kane, a plumbers’ union official.  

• Senator Joe Scarnati’s ex officio seat on the committee will be vacant.  At one time, he sat on the Board of a Mutual Insurance Company.  The likely new President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Centre) will take his spot on the committee.

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As the Wolf Administration pushes back on federal attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act amid a pandemic and the start of flu season, the Department of Insurance today announced Pennsylvania's approved 2021 individual and small group Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance rates, highlighting a decrease in individual market rates attributable to the new state-based exchange and reinsurance program.

"This individual plan rate decrease means more affordable plan options for those who seek coverage via the ACA," Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman said. "Without the affordable coverage that the ACA provides, millions of people would be without health care coverage during a time when health is top-of-mind for every Pennsylvanian and having coverage to maintain good health is even more critical."

 

All insurers currently offering coverage in Pennsylvania's 67 counties will continue to provide plans in 2021 with a statewide average decrease of 3.3 percent for individual market plans and a 2.1 percent average increase in the small group market. The rates present more options for consumers looking for comprehensive health insurance plans that provide robust benefits. 

 

"The absolute effect of COVID-19 on health care costs has yet to be realized," Commissioner Altman said. "However, as Pennsylvanians maneuver and assess the impact, the Insurance Department has worked diligently to keep rate increases low for consumer in the individual and small group markets. Last year's enactment of Act 42 creating the state exchange and Pennsylvania reinsurance program played a significant role in driving individual market premiums down for 2021 in fact, the reinsurance program is the reason individual market rates are decreasing rather than increasing this year.

 

"Increased options and lower costs will play a major role in helping consumers shop around for the plan that best suits their needs and these two positive changes are more reasons why the ACA must be protected."

 

As more Pennsylvanians file for unemployment due to COVID-19, coverage through the ACA may be an affordable alternative to COBRA for many people who have lost employer-sponsored coverage, especially in the event a consumer is eligible for tax subsidies, which can significantly lower the monthly cost of coverage. 

 

Nearly nine out of ten Pennsylvanians who are currently enrolled in the Marketplace receive financial assistance . All of these Pennsylvanians receive assistance to pay for their monthly premium based on their income, and many also receive assistance to lower out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles. 

 

Last month, Pennsylvania introduced Pennie™, the new state-based health insurance marketplace for 2021 coverage. Pennie is available to all Pennsylvanians and aims to improve the accessibility and affordability of individual market health coverage. It is also the only place that connects Pennsylvanians to financial assistance to reduce the cost of coverage and care, previously available on Healthcare.gov. 

 

Pennsylvanians can begin shopping for health and dental coverage through Pennie at the start of Open Enrollment on November 1, 2020. This year, Pennie extended the 2021 Open Enrollment Period from November 1, 2020 through January 15, 2021. Pennsylvanians currently enrolled through HealthCare.gov will be automatically transitioned to Pennie for their 2021 coverage. Pennie's goal is to make it easier for Pennsylvanians to access coverage through education, assistance, and improved customer service.

 

"Pennsylvanians will be able to shop for and purchase 2021 coverage through Pennie this Open Enrollment Period. Transitioning from HealthCare.gov to Pennie, the new state-based marketplace, gives us the flexibility to serve individuals and families in the way best suited for their needs," says Zachary W. Sherman, Pennie Executive Director. "In service to Pennie's goals of increasing access and affordability, we will generate millions in premiums savings for individual market customers through the Pennsylvania Reinsurance Program. Customers looking to learn more about Pennie and their options for shopping, financial qualification, and purchasing 2021 health coverage can visit pennie.com." 

 

Consumers looking to learn more about health insurance and key Open Enrollment dates should visit the department's website. 

 

Pennsylvanians with insurance questions can contact the Insurance Department Consumer Services Bureau online or at 1-877-881-6388.

Since 1907,  PAMIC has relied on a VITAL core of volunteers to serve on its many industry specific and educational committees. Volunteer recruitment is a critical aspect of PAMIC’s success and is only offered to PAMIC members! The committees are responsible for formulating the educational programs featured at the association's annual events by:

• Identifying emerging issues and trends in the mutual insurance industry at committee meetings

• Staying connected with other companies in the Mid-Atlantic region to ensure event dates and contents do not conflict

• Contributing leads and ideas to PAMIC’s Event Director and respective committee chairman on credible and engaging speakers or presentations

• Providing insight on logistical issues, extra curricular activities such as receptions or golf outings, how to raise attendance, etc.

• Promoting the event and it’s exhibition and sponsorship opportunities to those in the mutual insurance industry and its supporters 

So, what do you get out of volunteering on a committee? With over 200 mutual insurer member companies and countless associate members such as Tech companies, Law firms, Claims Adjusters and more, you are bound to make meaningful and worthwhile connections! In 2020, a total of 85 volunteers were recruited to serve on PAMIC’s committees and each annual event was met with great satisfaction from our attendees. Consequently, PAMIC strives to give special acknowledgement to those that dedicate their time and effort to ensuring success at our events. In turn, this is great exposure and recognition for your company in front of a large audience. 

 --> Click here to view a listing of PAMIC Committees, or to sign up.

*Please note: even if you had volunteered on a committee for the 2020 year, it will not be assumed that you are continuing in 2021. Please click the link above to re-register.*

Questions or comments? Contact Andrea Stroble, Director, Education & Events, at astroble@pamic.org or (717) 303-0197. 

Registration is open for the Underwriting and Loss Prevention Seminar!

Join PAMIC and the Underwriting Committee, led by Randy Fulmer of Donegal Insurance and Veronica Wilkins of PA Lumbermens Mutual Insurance, on Thursday November 12th for the annual Underwriting and Loss Prevention Virtual Seminar! This year the Committee has assembled an educational program that for all types of PAMIC members! Easily earn CE credits from your desk while listening to a variety of topics and relevant issues in the mutual insurance industry. Members are welcome to attend at a discounted rate. Nonmembers are also welcome to attend at full price. 

-->Click here to view the full agenda or to register. 

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for this event! The program sponsorship price has been reduced to $200 for exposure during the webinar and on pre-event e-communications.

--->Click here to sponsor or for more information.

Questions about the event or its sponsorship opportunities? Contact Andrea Stroble, Director, Education & Events, at astroble@pamic.org

Join PAMIC and the Insurance Technology Committee for the virtual IT Trends Seminar on Thursday, October 22nd! Led by Erin Selfe, VP of Information Technology at Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance, the committee has put together another great educational agenda with the membership in mind. This year, topics include:

• Replacement of core systems/legacy migration

• “Been There, Done That” roundtables to discuss various challenges in the Insurance IT arena

• Cloud Solutions: Preparation and Management

• COVID-19: Member Experiences for a New Normal

• Remote Workforce Strategies

• And more!

Attend sessions from your desk while earning CE credits! Sessions begin at 8:00am and the day will end at 3:30pm with break time and a lunch hour. Members may register for the day at a discounted rate , and non-members are also welcome to attend at full price. 

Program sponsorship will also be available for the seminar for $200 per company. Details will be released shortly.

Registration will open soon, PAMIC will send out event announcements with links for registration momentarily. "See" you on October 22nd!

The PAMIC Annual meeting took place via Zoom on Monday, August 10, 2020. Outgoing Board of Directors Chairman Art Meadows welcomed David Gautsche, President and CEO of Goodville Mutual Casualty Company, as the new PAMIC Board Chairman. John Foster of Penn National will serve as Chairman-Elect and Kevin Tate from the Philadelphia Contributionship will take over from Joe Sloan as PAMIC’s Treasurer. Todd Salsman of Tuscarora Wayne and Shawn Kain of Utica First will also join the Board. Outgoing PAMIC PAC Chairman, John K. Smith, announced that the PAMIC PAC Trustees elected Kathleen Dalton, Assistant Vice President of Operations at Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company, as the new PAMIC PAC Chairman.

View Annual Report