PRODUCTS: ProSeries: GaragePro®, ArtisanPro® and PremierPro®
COMPANY: United Fire Group, Inc. (UFG), written through United Fire & Casualty Company (UF&C)
BEST RATING: A (Excellent) for members of the UF&C Group
AVAILABILITY: Coverage is available through UFG-appointed independent agents.
FOCUS: UFG recently launched ProSeries—a series of business owners policies and proprietary insurance products to address the needs of small business owners, while also offering its independent agents a streamlined quoting process and personalized service from regionally focused underwriting experts.
Each product—GaragePro® for garage operations, PremierPro® for Main Street-type businesses and the new ArtisanPro® for contractors—offers streamlined quoting and customizable insurance options that combine property, liability and crime coverages into a broad, simple package.
Karen Harpole, UFG corporate manager for commercial small business, adds that the company offers agents access to a service center for assistance in handling their small commercial accounts—“helping agents reduce the servicing load that often accompanies a book of small business,” she explains.
Although UFG has a long history of protecting small businesses, the company’s recent launch of ArtisanPro® for contractors completes its current goal of developing unique, innovative coverages created for specific industries.
COVERAGE DETAILS: Coverage highlights include:
- Special causes of loss
- Automatic valuation adjustment on buildings
- Inflation guard on contents
- Replacement cost loss settlement
- Business income for actual loss up to 12 consecutive months
- Extra expense for actual loss up to 12 consecutive months
- Water backup and sump overflow
Broadened and optional coverages are also available for contractors errors & omissions, internet security, limited pollution and more.
For example, the ArtisanPro® Liability endorsement offers basic coverages such as voluntary property damage and care, custody and control, as well as more specialized coverages such as aggregate limits of insurance per project and location, and broadened named insured status.
UNDERWRITING: The streamlined quoting process means agents can submit, bind and issue a risk within minutes. In the event of an underwriter referral, UFG small business underwriters will respond promptly. There is no need to send in separate ACORD applications when quoting online.
Specific underwriting guidelines, state minimums and exceptions are available online through UFG’s agency portal.
MINIMUM PREMIUM: Varies by risk and state.
TARGET: Best-in-class risks that are proactively managed and demonstrate fiscal responsibility and favorable loss history.
COVERAGE TERRITORY: Standard to the ISO 2013 BOP 0003 form.
COVERAGE AVAILABILITY: Varies by state and product.
GaragePro® is available in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NM, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI and WY.
ArtisanPro® is available in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI and WY.
PremierPro® is available in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI and WY.
CONTACT: Karen Harpole, corporate manager - commercial small business, UFG; 319-286-2600.
Jacquelyn Connelly is IA senior editor.
