Woody's West Texas Commercial Insurance

Although they get far less attention than the massive ransomware attacks that have triggered a powerful government response, business email compromise (BEC) scams have been by far the costliest type of cybercrime in the U.S. for years, according to the FBI. , ,

Accounts Deceivable: Email Scam Costliest Type of Cybercrime It's a crime that siphons untold billions from the economy — but many people have never heard of it. Business Email Compromise scams involve criminals

As we begin Distracted Driving Awareness Month, employers should be especially aware that workers face distracted driving risks on every trip, from the driveway to the parking lot and back home again. Here are resources from the National Safety Council to promote safe driving among your workforce. , ,

Distracted Driving Awareness Month - National Safety Council April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and new NSC estimates show that our roads are the most dangerous they’ve been in years; on a typical day, eight people are killed and hundreds more are injured in distraction-affected crashes. Your workers face distracted driving risks on every trip, fro...

"Commercial insurance policyholders are often woefully and chronically underinsured, the result of a confluence of drivers. A hardening market means carriers are likely narrowing coverage as rates increase. Buyers have become habituated to shopping for insurance at the lowest cost possible, and agents are hesitant to contradict them." An Alera Group agent can review your coverage to ensure you're properly protected with an insurance program customized to your needs and budget. , ,

What to do about the crisis of underinsurance | PropertyCasualty360 The result is of woefully, chronically underinsured policyholders is uncovered risks and unrealized revenue.

In an increasingly litigious world, writes Alera Group's Alan Goodrich, every employer must be prepared to defend against an employment practices liability lawsuit, regardless of how thorough an organization’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and procedures are. If a current, former or prospective employee feels there’s merit in such a suit — or at least sees an opportunity to profit from one — the employer is going to be sued. Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) covers the costs of defending an employment practices lawsuit, and pays for judgments and settlements. It’s insurance coverage no employer should be without. , ,

Employment Practices Liability: Improving Insurance Market for Managing Ongoing Risks After making Page 1 headlines throughout the latter half of the past decade, social issues that drove employment practices liability news — especially the Black Lives Matter and movements — haven’t gone away. They have simply taken secondary positions in the public consciousness behind ...

Alera Group has specialists in construction and contractors insurance working around the country, providing clients with local services while offering national reach to come up with the best, customized solutions for your business. Here's a primer on contractors insurance from Forbes Advisor. Contact Alera Group to get to work on building your customized insurance program. , ,

Contractors Insurance: Cost And Types You Need Whether you have a job to remodel a kitchen, build a patio or install a whirlpool bath bathtub, plenty of things can go wrong in the process. For example, faulty plumbing could lead to a water leak and thousands of dollars in property damage. Or your employee might hurt themselves on the job. That’s why ...

"Company leaders must take inventory of their “architecture of preparedness.” This means focusing less at first on training, protocols, leadership, and communications and more on the company’s internal reporting and governance structure. The fundamental question for all companies now, in an era of recurring disasters, is whether their management and leadership design is safe. To design their company’s management structure to better respond to crises, leaders should focus on three areas: position, access, and unity of effort." , ,

Design Your Organization to Withstand Future Disasters The threats we face — to life, business continuity, property, and reputation — will not end as our masks come off.

Legal Alert: Deadline to Publish Certain Machine-Readable Files Pursuant to Final CMS Transparency Fast Approaching , ,

Legal Alert: Deadline to Publish Certain Machine-Readable Files Pursuant to Final CMS Transparency Fast Approaching On October 29, 2020, in response to President Trump’s executive order on Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare, CMS Released its Transparency in Coverage Final Rules (“TiC Final Rules”) which require, among other things, non-grandfathered group health plans and health...

“There is good news and bad news,” says Josh Yavor, chief information officer at software company Tessian. “The good news is that as an industry we've come a long way and technology has gotten better, so it's easier to actually be more secure by default. The bad news is that there's some hard decisions people still need to make that they’re struggling with.” , ,

The 5 best cybersecurity practices for a remote world Most companies have unprotected data and poor cybersecurity practices in place, making them vulnerable to data loss.

From Alera Group's compliance team: Supreme Court Stays OSHA’s ETS for Private Employers with 100 or More Employees; Upholds CMS’ Interim Final Rule for Healthcare Workers. , ,

Supreme Court Stays OSHA’s ETS for Private Employers with 100 or More Employees; Upholds CMS’ Interim Final Rule for Healthcare Workers This alert is of interest to all non-healthcare employers with 100+ employees and all health care employers who receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. On January 13, 2022, the United States Supreme Court released its much-anticipated opinions in the ongoing challenges to OSHA’s November 5, 2021 Eme...

In the current hard market for Commercial Auto Insurance, the way to differentiate your business is to implement a rigorous loss-control program, document your results and make a convincing case to your underwriter during the policy renewal process. Important insights here from Alera Group's Brenton Kidd. , ,

Performance-Based Insurance: Loss Control and Commercial Auto A couple of years ago, a Texas company providing services to support the drilling and production of oil and gas wells had a problem. Its driver-safety record had become so troublesome that the state Department of Transportation had slapped it with the DOT’s poorest rating, and the company’s Comm...

Come for the fascinating linked video of former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly. Stay for the valuable Alera Group information about property and casualty insurance in 2022. , ,

Tackling Challenges in the Arena of P&C Insurance Amid a pandemic, a spate of catastrophic events and an ongoing trend of exorbitant litigation outcomes, managing your organization’s property and casualty insurance program requires traits found in a premier middle linebacker.  For those of you unfamiliar with American football, the middle ...

From navigating work-from-home challenges to providing critical feedback remotely to starting your day with a two-minute exercise to "fuel motivation and creativity," here are some bright ideas from 2021 to help guide you through 2022. Happy New Year! , ,

Our Favorite Management Tips of 2021 Ten picks from HBR’s most popular newsletter.

At last, some good news on the cyber insurance front! Given that Alera Group has been built on a culture of collaboration, seeing insurers and clients working together to improve cybersecurity and combat cybercrime is one of the most welcome developments of 2021. , ,

Cyber insurance in 2022: A year for collaboration | PropertyCasualty360 The cyber insurance industry is adapting quickly as policyholders increase their awareness of digital threats.

The start of a new year marks a new beginning for certain benefit components, including several account limits set by the IRS. From contribution limits to out-of-pocket amounts, here are 11 figures that employers need to know — all of which come into play in January. , ,

2022 IRS limits for HSAs, FSAs, 401(k)s | HRExecutive.com From health savings account contribution limits to HDHP deductibles, here's a look at what's changing, and what's not, come January.

For dealers of lumber and other building materials, a labor shortage is likely to be the next major disruption. Working with an insurance agent or broker who knows you business and industry and asks the right questions is vitally important to your ability to weather the next storm. , ,

What to expect for lumber clients in 2022 | PropertyCasualty360 Gain insights into the coverages that will be most pertinent for lumber and building material suppliers in the new year.

Labor shortages and rusty skills among workers returning to the live entertainment industry after pandemic-induced layoffs, as well as the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, make risk management more important than ever. , ,

Insurance outlook for entertainment and live events in 2022 | PropertyCasualty360 Strong risk management will keep venues open and patrons coming through the door.

As a result of the 6th Circuit’s decision, OSHA announced that it intends to move forward with implementing the ETS. OSHA indicated it will not issue citations for noncompliance with its November 5, 2021 ETS before January 10 (which is now the deadline for employers to, among other things, develop their written COVID-19 vaccination policies). , ,

Legal Alert: 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Dissolves 5th Circuit’s Stay of OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing; OSHA Plans to Implement Beginning January 10, 2022 On December 17, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit (6th Circuit) dissolved the stay of OSHA’s November 5, 2021 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for private employers with 100 or more employees issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit (5th Circuit...

According to InformationWeek, in just the first half of 2021, global cybercrime increased 29%, ransomware attacks rose 93% and demands increased by a remarkable 518%. Actual payments, they found, increased by more than 80%. , ,

Examining the evolution of cyber risk in insurance | PropertyCasualty360 The pandemic has elevated cyber risk, and insurers will need to shift their strategies to combat rising premiums and confusion in the marketplace.

Regional, as well as national, media know to turn to Alera Group for expertise on issues and events involving employee benefits, insurance and other financial services. When Hartford Business Journal needed insight on telehealth as an employee benefit, it turned to Alera Group's John Gilberto, a partner at Alera Group Northeast. , ,

CT insurers roll out virtual primary care plans as telehealth becomes mainstream The global pandemic forced healthcare providers to adopt virtual care almost overnight, bringing to the mainstream a service previously used by only a small percentage of people. But now telehealth is becoming a normal and important part of the healthcare delivery system, partly because employers ar...

The publication Business Insurance is believed to be the first to report on Alera Group's "Property and Casualty 2022 Market Outlook." It won't be the last. , ,

Price hikes expected to continue in 2022: Alera - Business Insurance Commercial insurance pricing will continue to trend upward in 2022 but at a slower rate than in 2021 and with great variation between lines, Alera Group Inc. said Tuesday.

Organizational leaders will find Alera Group's 2022 Property and Casualty Market Outlook to be a key resource in anticipating market conditions in the year ahead. You can download the report here: https://cloud.aleragroup.com/2022-market-outlook/. , ,

http://cloud.aleragroup.com/2022-market-outlook/ The difficult hard market forecasted in 2020 continues as the pandemic rages on throughout the United States. As leaders look ahead and plan for the future, it is challenging to use historical assumptions and data to drive decisions, since key factors continue to change quickly.

Standard & Poor's predicts more miles driven, along with inflation, supply shortages, a shortage of experienced drivers and rising litigation costs will delay any positive momentum for the commercial auto insurance sector, at least in the short term. , ,

U.S. Trucking Sector Struggles with Rising Rates, Driver Shortage - MyNewMarkets.com Articles about Property Casualty Insurance Coverages U.S. Trucking Sector Struggles with Rising Rates, Driver Shortage December 1, 2021 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print U.S. commercial auto insurers continue to face disruptions on their road to profitability due to inflation and the spotty post-pandemic economic recovery, according to a Standard....

National Employer Pulse Study Provides Insight into the Impact of the Pandemic on Attracting and Retaining Employees, Mental Health and Return to Work Strategies , ,

National Employer Pulse Study Provides Insight into the Impact of the Pandemic on Attracting and Retaining Employees, Mental Health and Return to Work Strategies Deerfield, IL (December 7, 2021)—Alera Group, a top independent, national insurance and wealth services firm, today released the third edition of its COVID-19 Employer Pulse Survey¹. The survey offers insights into how employers are navigating employee health, benefits and human resources issue...

It's not too late to register! During Wednesday's Alera Group webinar, attendees will gain: a better understanding of major changes in employee benefits law in 2021; knowledge of court cases most impactful to employee benefit plans in 2021; and an understanding of potential changes and guidance expected for 2022. , ,

End of Year Compliance Roundup During our final webinar of our 2021 Educational Webinar Series, Stacy H. Barrow, Esq. provides an overview of significant compliance topics in 2021, along with a look at what to expect in 2022. Stacy will review legal and regulatory changes under the ACA and other laws applicable to health and welf...

Trucking businesses hiring young drivers are likely to encounter difficulty getting commercial auto insurance, as many insurers require long-haul and tractor-trailer drivers to be at least 25 years old. , ,

Safety Advocates Are Worried As Teen Truckers Hit the Road Dezjion Henson has wanted to be a truck driver his whole life. When he turned 18 last year he jumped at the chance and signed on as an apprentice with

Alera Group's compliance specialists are rigorously examining the latest developments regarding federal vaccine mandates. Whether or not you've viewed our Nov. 9 session, you'll want to attend our Dec. 2 update, which will include information relevant for employers of all sizes. , ,

Federal Vaccine Mandates: Legal Challenges Learn about the status of current legal challenges against federal vaccine mandates, and what it means for enforcement deadlines.

Small and medium-sized businesses have turned to new technologies such as QR codes to adapt to COVID-19-era challenges, but many have failed to increase their cyber security or protect themselves with cyber insurance. Organizations with robust cyber-security programs are better prepared to quickly and effectively respond in the event of a breach. Small and medium-sized businesses who lack cyber insurance are more likely to close after being victimized by cyber crime. , ,

Experts Say Cyber Risks Present 'Significant' Threat for Small Businesses The idea that cyber criminals only target large companies with a wide footprint and more assets is "profoundly wrong," experts say, as cyber attacks are

Most business owners in the construction industry appreciate the value of a good attorney. Working closely with a knowledgeable, experienced insurance professional is tremendously beneficial as well. The terms in your insurance policy are critical to your financial situation in the event of a lawsuit. Alera Group's construction industry insurance specialists work with clients to proactively reduce losses, paying strict attention to policy terms regarding the insurer's obligation to defend. , ,

Help! My legal fees have maxed out my insurance | PropertyCasualty360 This is often the lament of contractors embroiled in the litigation of costly claims.

Because of the complexity of this announcement, we've broken our guidance into two sections: a summary and a full analysis, both available here. , ,

Legal Alert: Biden Administration Announces Details of Two Major Vaccine Policies Because of the complexity of this announcement, we have broken up our guidance into two sections: a Summary and a Full Analysis Summary Guidance On November 4, 2021, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS...

When your business insurance renewal comes, we want you to feel prepared. Our Alera Coverage GPS simplifies the process by outlining your existing policies, their renewal dates and their limits, while also identifying gaps in your current coverage. And our Alera Group cyber insurance consultants regularly monitor changes in the market and work with clients to ensure their coverage is up to date. , ,

Few SME owners fully read policies, understand insurance costs | PropertyCasualty360 Around 20% admit to being uncertain how their insurance purchases are handled.

"There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to communications" regarding employee benefits open enrollment, Alera Group's Pauline Sobelman writes in the October 2021 issue of America's Benefit Specialist. "Top-performing companies actively work to meet their employees where they are -- from the newest generation's digital alternatives to the Boomers who still print every document. Investing in communication methods that are culturally aligned with your workforce is money well spent." Read Pauline's entire article on open enrollment best practices, beginning on Page 37. , ,

ABS Magazine Digital Archive

Before you can determine the underlying causes of turnover at your organization, it’s critical to quantify both the scope of the problem and its impact. Next, identify the root causes and develop tailored retention programs. , ,

Who Is Driving the Great Resignation? An analysis of 9 million global employee records sheds light on key trends around which employees are most likely to quit.

Employers should keep the four pillars of nondiscrimination in mind when it comes to group health plan design, operation and administration. Read the full alert to review the four pillars: , ,

Legal Alert: Employee Benefit Nondiscrimination Basics There are four main regulations that employers should consider when they are ensuring their employee benefit plans are not discriminatory in design, participation, or in operation. Regulation: HIPAA General Rule: Prohibits group health plans and health insurers from discriminating with regard to el...

The insurance industry publication PropertyCasualty360 reports that, according to a study by Net Diligence, Ransomware accounted for 32% of all small-and medium-size enterprises' (SMEs’) cyber claims going back five years, while hackers made up the second most with 10% of claims. These two were followed by business email compromises, staff mistakes and phishing, respectively. , ,

Ransomware drove cyber losses for small, medium businesses | PropertyCasualty360 Over the past five years, SMBs have faced an average ransom of $247,000 and around $350,000 in recovery costs per incident.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “CAA”) was signed into law on December 27, 2020 and includes several provisions impacting group health plans and health insurance issuers. Here is a summary of the most pertinent pieces and the status of its implementation or effective date. , ,

Legal Alert: CAA Provision Status Update The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “CAA”) was signed into law on December 27, 2020 and includes several provisions impacting group health plans and health insurance issuers. Below is a summary of the most pertinent pieces and the status of its implementation or effective date. CAA ...

The IRS has released Rev. Proc. 2021-36, which contains the inflation-adjusted amounts for 2022, used to determine whether employer-sponsored coverage is “affordable” for purposes of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer-shared responsibility provisions and premium tax credit program. , ,

IRS Issues Affordability Percentage Adjustment for 2022 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Rev. Proc. 2021-36, which contains the inflation-adjusted amounts for 2022 used to determine whether employer-sponsored coverage is “affordable” for purposes of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer shared responsibility provisions and premium...

If the author had worked with an Alera Group agent or broker, he wouldn't have these regrets about past insurance decisions. Alera Group representatives are consultative, as well as collaborative, in their work with clients, offering a range of services including Property and Casualty Insurance, wealth management, retirement plan services and employee benefits. (And, yes, Life Insurance.) , ,

All the insurance I wish my agent would have sold me | PropertyCasualty360 Agents are in a unique position to effectively educate and prepare customers for future risks that insurance could cover.

We know that Benchmarking is a powerful way for employers to get real-time insight into what peers and competitors are offering their employees. Don't miss our 2021 Benchmarking Survey with an overview of key findings, trends and insights for employers. Download the report below: , ,

http://cloud.aleragroup.com/2021-benchmarking-report/ Alera Group’s 2021 Benchmarking Survey surveyed around 2,500 businesses around the country about their employee benefits offerings.

Taking appropriate steps at the time of, or as soon as possible after, a workplace accident will benefit all parties. Ensuring an injured worker receives beneficial and necessary medical treatment is of the utmost importance. , ,

Mitigating workers’ comp costs with proper claim handling | PropertyCasualty360 Learn the steps to take in the event of a workplace accident to ensure a fair and prompt outcome for all parties.