NAIW Event: Annual Luncheon @ Bellingham's Hotel Bellwether - you are invited!

If you haven't already, please RSVP for the upcoming to attend the National Association of Insurance Women's (NAIW) Region IX Annual Luncheon! This year it is being held at Bellingham's Hotel Bellwether.

Insurance Professionals of Yakima County (IPYC) is always looking for new members, so if you'd like to attend as one of our guests, please let us know!

Corrie Van Oostrum
IPYC President 2010-2011

L&I Postpones Annual Rate Announcement...until after the election

After a month's delay from its usual annual announcement in August, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has stated it will not be sharing their new 2011 "indicated rates" until after this year's election. 

Is this a case of politicians playing politics with the people, particularly regarding WA I-1082? 

The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Washington (IIABW) stated in their recent e-mail bulletin that they believe if the numbers look good for employers and the business community, surely L&I would release them like they have in the past instead of delaying.

To read more on this news, check out the Washington State Wire's recent article.

WA I-1082: increase competition, increase choice

Did you know Washington is one of only four states in the U.S. where employers are unable to buy industrial insurance coverage from the private sector?  We also have the second highest cost to business owners for employee workers' compensation.  Currently, an average injured worker in Washington misses more than 270 days of work (about 50% more than the National average) and is about 50% more likely to receive a pension if they've missed more than two years worth of work...a number that's increased 300% since 1996.  And even though the overall number of claims have decreased by 52% since 1990, the Department of Labor & Industries' administrative costs have seen an 82% increase between 1999-2009.  All in all, the State Auditor's 2009 report says Washington's Accident Fund faces a 74.4% risk of being insolvent within two years and an 89.5% chance within five years.

Initiative 1082 proposes private insurers also be allowed to sell workers' compensation insurance and programs to interested employers, increasing marketplace competition and improving Washington's economic climate while better assisting injured workers. 

For these stats and more information on I-1082, check out the video below and http://www.saveourjobswa.org/. 

Also, please feel free to contact us - the Insurance Professionals of Yakima County in Washington State - as we are able to connect you with local, independent, commercial insurance agents who can help answer any other questions you might have about I-1082's impact on business owners' insurance coverage options.

Welcome to our blog!

We're glad you found us!

We are the Insurance Professionals of Yakima County (IPYC), located in beautiful Central Washington State. 

The IPYC chapter's membership is currently comprised of about 20 local insurance professionals from five different insurance agencies and offices in Yakima, WA.  As part of the National Association of Insurance Women (NAIW), Region IX, we are dedicated to industry development and community service.

For more information about us, please visit our Facebook group and our Twitter page.

And please come back here soon, as we will be posting more information about us and our events!

Thanks again for visiting,
Corrie Van Oostrum
IPYC President 2010-2011