• Under the PPACA, beginning in 2014, an individual who violates the individual mandate is subject to a financial penalty. Federal law bars legal challenges to new tax provisions until those new tax provisions have been enforced. If the Court determines the individual mandate is a tax, then a decision on the constitutionality of the individual mandate may be deferred until the mandate takes effect.
• Assuming the Court determines the individual mandate is not a tax, the next issue is whether Congress has the authority to require individuals to buy health insurance. Proponents, of course, argue it does, opponents argue that Congress does not have the power to compel individuals to enter into commerce through the requirement to purchase health insurance.
• If the individual mandate is deemed unconstitutional, the Court will then have to determine whether any part of the law is found unconstitutional, in which case, the entire law is struck down (severability).

A June decision is anticipated.

This article originally appeared in a recent Executive Update, which provides MAIA members with the latest news covering legislative, regulatory, and company news.

There are also updates to the flood manual which will go into effect on May 1, 2012.  A copy of the May 1, 2012 manual can be found by clicking on http://tinyurl.com/may12floodforms.  This link was provided by Selective Insurance, a partner with IIABA in the Big I Flood Program.  Keep the Big I Flood Program in mind when you are working with your clients – it is an excellent resource for you if you need a flood market, and their commission structure for the standard market can’t be beat! 

If you are interested in learning more about flood insurance in general, MAIA is hosting three NFIP classes this April.  Go to our home page at www.michagent.org to check out the schedule to see if one fits your schedule.  Also, FEMA/NFIP has an excellent website for agents with a variety of tools for you to use at https://agents.floodsmart.gov/manageagent/. 

 And last, but certainly not least, don’t forget… the extension for the NFIP runs out on May 31.  Check back for updates!

Trusted Choice and Project CAP have been working on delivering a Trusted Choice branded mobile app to consumers which can also be co-branded by IIABA/MAIA members.  The app is now available for download in both the Android Market and iTunes stores.  Consumers can download the app for free and use it to  find a local Trusted Choice agent, perform a home inventory, document an accident, or ask an insurance-related question.  Trusted Choice members can purchase their own co-branded version of the app for as low as $20 per month through ProjectCAP, depending on the digital marketing program that they select through CAP.

Link to iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mobile-independent-insurance/id503030709?mt=8

Link to Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trustedchoice&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS50cnVzdGVkY2hvaWNlIl0.

For more information on Project CAP’s digital marketing packages which can include the Trusted Choice mobile app please visit www.projectcapmarketing.com

Among the key elements of Real Time Day are live broadcasts from the ACORD studio in Pearl River, New York and a series of interactive and recorded webinars hosted by carriers, vendors, users groups and others throughout the day. More information and links include:

• The studio broadcast can be viewed at www.acord.org.
• A listing of webinars targeting agents, brokers, carriers and others can be found by clicking on the “Real Time Day Schedule” link at www.GetRealTime.org/RealTimeDay.
• Tweeters and followers can track Twitter posts for the day using the hashtag #RTEddie. Eddie plans to update his Facebook page during the day, as well.

About the Real Time/Download Campaign

Launched in 2007, the Real Time/Download Campaign (www.getrealtime.org) is dedicated to improving the competitiveness of the independent agency distribution channel. The campaign isn’t advocating a specific technology, but a workflow approach that frees up more time for agencies to sell, process and service business. Most agents can leverage tools already contained in their agency management systems or comparative raters.

Campaign participants include agents, brokers, carriers, technology providers, user groups, and agent and industry associations. The campaign is led by industry groups and sponsored financially by: ACORD and the ACORD-User Groups Information Exchange (AUGIE); Allied Property & Casualty Insurance/Nationwide; Applied Systems; Applied Systems Client Network (ASCnet); Artizan Internet Services; CNA; EMC Insurance Companies; Erie Insurance; Grange Insurance; Harleysville; The Hartford; Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) and its Agents Council for Technology (ACT); IVANS; Liberty Mutual Agency Corporation; MetLife Auto & Home; Network of Vertafore Users (NetVU); PIA of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut & New Hampshire; Progressive; Travelers; Vertafore; and Westfield Insurance.

www.getrealtime.org

Facebook.com/RealTimeEddie

EddieSays.org

Mobile App
For the first time, MAIA created an app at http://magmito.com for convention attendees. It featured the convention agenda with links to maps to the classrooms; a Twitter feed, an RSS feed from the MAIA Blog, a contact page, attendee list, MAIA Partners list and links to MAIA Partner videos. The app was downloaded 106 times, five of which were from the QR code we put on the convention program. Not a bad first run considering the average age of association members.

Blog Postings
Prior to convention, MAIA staff wrote and scheduled 10 update/reminder articles for delivery during convention. Overall, it went well, with only two “hiccups”. First, an article about the scholarship awards presented during the conferment luncheon went out at 2 a.m. instead of 2 p.m. (I deleted it and rescheduled for the right time). Second, a very clever article about the Exhibitors Reception written by MAIA staff member Joy Hoskins, didn’t get sent out, due to operator error (mine). 

Tweet Success
In the few days prior to and during the convention, around 40 Tweets from 15 different staff, vendor and member Twitter accounts were sent and displayed on a large monitor using the hashtag #MAIA12Convention at http://visibletweets.com.  Unfortunately, some non-attending, non-member agents (guys who I personally have no ill-will toward, but who used, by any measure, some poor judgment) tried to post some unflattering remarks into the feed using the convention hashtag (c’mon guys…really??) Fortunately, I was able to override these tweets by placing in the search box at visible tweets an “operator” to remove the offensive remarks. (i.e., #MAIA12 Convention  –johnSmith -dDollar). It was a good learning experience, and those who wish to display twitter streams during events should get up to speed on the search operators that can help you purge similar saboteurs.

Quite a Hoot
Of course, many of these blog posts and tweets were forwarded to our Facebook and other social media accounts via HootSuite. What a time saver.

Some Unplanned Bonus
In addition to the success at this first effort, we also received some side bonuses that we never thought about in advance.

• Twitter followers on the michagents account during the last week increased substantially to 160 (I think before convention we might have been in the 130s?)
• MAIA’s LinkedIn group also hit another milestone. During convention, we reached 600 members  (it was only about a month ago that we hit 500.)

So overall, as a first effort to really utilize social media at convention, I think it – like everything else surrounding this year’s event (we are being told) – was a success. Thanks to the many agents who joined us in these efforts. We will look to build on this experience as we plan future events such as the YAC Spring Conference, Great Lakes Automation Day, and of course, our next annual convention.

As always we are interested in hearing your comments on how we can improve future conventions and events.

Toward that end, this Friday you should receive in your inbox a survey to tell us how we did.  When it arrives, please take a few minutes to give us your thoughts. We are always on the lookout for ways to improve.

We  look forward to seeing you February 27-28, 2013 at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant for MAIA’s 2013 Convention!

Be sure to thank them for their support of the MAIA Convention!