NEW! How To Search For and Find Carrier Filings

​Several years ago, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) made insurer form, rate and rule filings accessible to the public online. The records go back only to 2010, but they are a treasure trove of information. Want a copy of a specific carrier's Businessowners Policy form or additional insured endorsements? With a little digging, you should be able to find them.Click the image below for a slideshow tutorial in PDF format on how to use this valuable tool. ​ ​SERFF-tutorial.pdfSource

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Lenders Can’t Require Limits Greater Than Home Replacement Cost

​​The question comes into the Geek CaveTM often enough that I thought it would be worth posting a reminder here. In New York and Connecticut, the law prohibits lenders from requiring home mortgage borrowers to buy dwelling insurance limits that are greater than the home's replacement cost. Your Resident Insurance GeekTM has not had to answer this question since ... yesterday.​Here is chapter and verse. First, New York Banking Regulations  Section 38.9 states:No mortgage banker or exempt organization shall require any mortgagor, in connection with the granting of a mortgage loan, to obtain a hazard insurance policy in excess of the replacement cost of the improvements…

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When Can a Homeowners Policy Be Cancelled for ‘Willful or Reckless Acts or Omissions’?

​Question from a Big I New York member: We have a client who has a homeowners policy with [Carrier X], which was not supposed to be renewed by the carrier due to a 1/1/2020 loss involving "under-age drinking".  The policy was due to be non-renewed at its March 4th, 2021 expiration date. On February 5th, 2021, the underwriter notified us that the policy was inadvertently renewed; however, a mid-term cancellation will be issued for "Increase In Hazard" surrounding the 1/1/2020 loss.  A copy of the Cancellation Notice is attached. I'm concerned about the legality of this.  Is a carrier allowed to mistakenly renew a policy when…

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