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Announcement - Dwelling Property on BriteCore, AAIS Forms Adopted

1/21/2021

 

BriteCore: Dwelling Property Policies

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We are pleased to announce that we are releasing the Dwelling Property line of business onto the BriteCore system. This is the last remaining line of business to be converted onto BriteCore.

The implementation will be in two stages.

The first stage will be new applications.
  • The new business quoting interface from BriteCore for Dwelling Property is now available to use. Please see these help videos for help specifically with Dwelling Property quoting. If you are not familiar with the BriteCore quoting interface overall, please see these help videos.
  • IMPORTANT: As of February 15, 2021, new Dwelling Property quotes will no longer be able to be created from the original quoting site. However, existing quotes will remain available and still can be submitted from that site.
  • New Dwelling Property applications submitted from the original quoting site on March 1, 2021 or after will be converted to the BriteCore system. IMPORTANT: This will cause a premium difference.

The second stage of the implementation will be renewal policies.
  • Dwelling Property renewals will be renewed from BriteCore beginning with April 1, 2021 policy effective dates.

AAIS: Dwelling Property Policies

Our current dwelling program uses relatively old forms and endorsements adopted from the Insurance Services Office (ISO). This is being changed. Along with the system conversion of this line of business to BriteCore, we are also adopting current forms and endorsements from the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS).

Note, our underwriting guidelines and procedures are not changing due to the adoption of AAIS forms. However, there is a new manual. You can find it here along with copies of all the program's forms and endorsements. 

Also, while the AAIS forms offer very similar terms, conditions, and coverages, there are some differences that you should be aware of. We have put together a Disclosure Notice to help you. IMPORTANT: For renewals, a Disclosure Notice similar to this will be mailed to each Dwelling Property policyholder a few weeks prior to renewal. Your agency will receive a copy of this notice. Also, upon renewal, the policyholder will receive copies of all forms that are applicable to their policy.

After reviewing the Disclosure Notice, you will find that many terms and coverages are expanding in the AAIS program compared to the ISO program. Also, the AAIS program has a completely different rating algorithm. Therefore, premium for some policies will go down and premium for some policies will go up. However, overall on average, premium for this line of business will increase by 6%.

Reminder - Homeowners on BriteCore

9/20/2019

 

BriteCore: Homeowners

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This is just a reminder that we have started implementing the Homeowners line of business into the BriteCore system.

The implementation will be in two stages.

The first stage will be new applications.
  • The quoting interface from BriteCore for Homeowners is now available to begin using. Please see these help videos for help specifically with Homeowners quoting. If you are not familiar with the BriteCore quoting interface overall, please see these help videos.
  • New Homeowners quotes are no longer able to be created from the prior quoting site.
  • Existing quotes in the prior quoting site will remain available to finalize and submit.
  • However, new Homeowners applications submitted from the prior quoting site will be converted internally by us to the BriteCore system.

The second stage of the implementation will be renewal policies.
  • Homeowners renewals will be renewed from BriteCore beginning with either December 1, 2019 or January 1, 2020 policy effective dates.
  • We will advise you later on the exact date the renewals will begin to be converted.

Announcement - Homeowners on BriteCore

8/23/2019

 
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​BriteCore: Homeowners Policies

As you know, Bremen Farmers Mutual has been working for a while to implement a new online software system called BriteCore. 

To date, the Agri-Pak, Businessowners, and Inland Marine policy types are fully on the BriteCore system.

At this time, we are pleased to announce that we are ready to begin releasing the Homeowners line of business onto the BriteCore system.

The implementation will be in two stages.

The first stage will be new applications.
  • As of today, the quoting interface from BriteCore for Homeowners is available to begin using. Please see these help videos for help specifically with Homeowners quoting. If you are not familiar with the BriteCore quoting interface overall, please see these help videos.
  • For the time being, you can still quote and submit new applications from the current quoting site.
  • However, new Homeowners applications submitted from the original quoting site and processed by us on September 16, 2019 or after will be converted to the BriteCore system.
  • Also, as of September 16, 2019, new Homeowners quotes will no longer be able to be created from the original quoting site (although existing quotes will remain available).

The second stage of the implementation will be renewal policies.
  • Homeowners renewals will be renewed from BriteCore beginning with either November 1, 2019 or December 1, 2019 policy effective dates.
  • We will advise you later on the exact date the renewals will begin to be converted.

​Corn and Pellet Stove Change

​Along with the release of Homeowners into BriteCore, we are also changing an underwriting guideline for this line of business regarding corn stoves and wood pellet stoves.

In the past, we have treated corn and wood pellet stoves like a wood stove on the Homeowners line. Beginning with policies that are issued from BriteCore we are changing this guideline.

Going forward, a properly installed, UL approved, corn or wood pellet stove will no longer disqualify a risk from the Preferred program and will also not be surcharged in the Standard program.

If you have current in-force policies that this guideline change affects, let us know and we will make the appropriate change on the next policy renewal.

Policy Search Screen

Last, we want to mention a change to the policy search interface in BriteCore for all lines of business. While the functionality of this screen is not changing much, the look and feel of it is being modernized. To help get accustomed to it, there is a ​​help video here.

Announcement - Submitting New Claims

4/17/2018

 
With this year’s storm season getting underway, we wanted to send a note regarding the submission process for new claims to be filed with us. This pertains to policies in both the new BriteCore system and the original processing system.

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BriteCore System
First, as a reminder, all Businessowners and Inland Marine policies are now being processed from the BriteCore system. Additionally, Agri-Pak policies that have renewed since 12/1/17 are also being processed from the BriteCore system.

For policies that are being processed by BriteCore, the system has an easy-to-use online interface for agency staff to file a new claim. This is the preferred method for the submission of a new claim for a BriteCore policy. (For more information on how to do this, see the “Filing a Claim” video in the Claims video section of the Agent Help Site.)

However, if filing a new claim directly from the BriteCore system described above does not work well with the current workflow in your agency, you may also email a loss notice to a dedicated email address of newclaim@bfmic.com.

If you are not able to submit a new claim via the above two methods, although it is not preferred, a loss notice can still be faxed to the Company.

Note, regardless of how the new claim is submitted, it will still be processed in the order it is received.


Original System
First, as a reminder, currently all Homeowners and Dwelling Fire policies are being processed from the original system. Additionally, Agri-Pak policies that have not renewed since 12/1/17 are being processed from the original system.

For policies that are being process by the original system, there are two preferred methods for submitting new claims. You can use whichever best fits your agency’s current workflow.
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  1. You can email a loss notice to a dedicated email address of newclaim@bfmic.com.
  2. You can use the Submit Claim form at our public website, bfmic.com.

If you are not able to submit a new claim via the above two methods, although it is not preferred, a loss notice can still be faxed to the Company.

Note, regardless of how the new claim is submitted, it will still be processed in the order it is received.


Non-Business Hours Claims
The BriteCore new claim submission interface, the dedicated newclaim@bfmic.com email address, and the fax line ARE NOT monitored during non-business hours.

Therefore, if you have a new claim that occurs during non-business hours, is critical in nature, and needs immediate assistance, please continue to follow your already-established procedures.

If you need to speak to someone in our office regarding that type of claim, you can call our after-hours emergency claim phone number of 877-488-7667.


Questions?
Please contact a representative in our Claims Department if you have any questions. Thank you.

Announcement - Staff Changes

12/15/2017

 
​We would like to let you know about some changes that are occurring in our staff.

First, after a 46-year career with the company, the majority of which in the Underwriting Department, Linda Westermann is retiring as of December 31, 2017. We thank Linda for her years of service and wish her the best in retirement!

Second, to take Linda's place, we have hired a new employee. Sydney Pralle began working for us on August 1. She is in the process of training and will soon be moving into the Underwriting Department.

Last, we have a new representative in the Claims Department. Anthony Ring was hired on September 1. Anthony also is busy training and will be up to speed soon.

If you have any questions, please contact us. Thanks!

BriteCore Announcement - Agri-Pak Policies

9/15/2017

 
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Announcement
​As you may know, Bremen Farmers Mutual has been working for a while to implement a new online software system called BriteCore. We feel BriteCore is on the leading edge of technology and is a substantial improvement over our current system.

Two small lines of business, Inland Marine and Businessowners, were released into the system as of October 1, 2016. Therefore, these lines are almost entirely converted. We hope that agents that have had a chance to work in the BriteCore system have been pleased.

At this time, we are excited to announce that we are now ready to begin releasing a larger line of business, Agri-Pak, into the BriteCore system. New Agri-Pak applications submitted on October 1, 2017 or after will be issued from the BriteCore system. Also, Agri-Pak renewals with effective dates of December 1, 2017 or later will be renewed into BriteCore.

As of today, we are turning on the quoting capability for Agri-Pak within BriteCore. We urge you to begin learning the new system. There is training and help material that is available that will be explained below. However, a good place to start is the Quoting & Submitting New Business Help Videos. 

IMPORTANT: Prior to October 1, you will still be able to start a new quote and submit an application from our original online quoting interface. After October 1, you will no longer be able to start a new quote from the original system, but you will still be able to complete quotes and submit applications that were previously created. However, these submissions after October 1 will be issued out of the BriteCore system. (Please be advised that due to premium calculation rounding differences, the annual premium calculated in BriteCore may be slightly different than what was calculated in the original quoting system.)

To help prepare for the rollout of a larger line of business, we have developed a new, dedicated Agent Help website. Please spend some time at this site over the next few weeks to familiarize yourself with the BriteCore system. Due to the size of our Agent force compared to our relatively small home office staff, we ask that, before calling us with a question, you consult the Agent Help site first. If you cannot find an answer there, then feel free to call us. Thanks!

Below are some links from the Agent Help site to get you started. (Once at the site, click on the question to see the answer.)

What is BriteCore?

How do you get an username and password (if you haven't already)?

What is the policy conversion schedule?

What training and help is available?

How will documents (declarations, billings, etc) generated from BriteCore be delivered?

Are manuals available online?



​Last, I want to mention that while our home office staff has spent a lot of time learning the system and preparing for the release, it is still a completely new system for us also. Therefore, there may be times when we have trouble answering certain questions you have. We ask for your patience in these circumstances while we gather an answer for you. Thanks!

Best Regards,

Curtis Holle, President

Mailed to Agencies on 9/5/17

8/31/2017

 

Office Closed July 3rd and 4th

6/29/2017

 
In observance of the Independence day holiday, our office will be closed Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 4th.

    Notice

    When we make a broadcast announcement to our agency force via email, letter, or otherwise, a copy of the announcement will be placed on this page so you can refer back to it later.

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  • Home
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