March 23, 2020
The Honorable Tim Walz
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55155
Commissioner Steve Kelley
Minnesota Department of Commerce
85 7th Place East, Suite 280
St. Paul MN, 55101
Dear Governor Walz and Commissioner Kelley:
Thank you for all of your efforts to protect the health and safety of Minnesotans. We greatly appreciate your leadership in this time of crisis.
Minnesota’s Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers stand with you. We are committed to providing essential services to our policyholders while protecting the health of those policyholders and our employees. Insurance agents provide a critical link between consumers who need coverage or are filing a claim and the insurance companies that provide that coverage. Unfortunately, even while sheltering-in-place, Minnesotans will experience other incidents that require filing a claim—a business may experience a fire or family may experience a car accident. In addition, businesses may need to renew their coverage which requires their agent to help them navigate a hardening market. Lastly, policyholders rely on their insurance agents to help them navigate coverage issues, especially those relating to the current crisis.
While most agents and their staff can and are working remotely there are circumstances that will require the ability to access their offices. In order for larger agencies to continue to service their clients remotely, they will need their IT professionals to be able to fix any problems that may arise. Also, many agents receive premium payments and commissions by mail and they will need the ability to pick-up those checks both to make sure their clients coverage continues, but also to maintain their own income.
Rural agencies and agents will face some unique challenges under a shelter in place order. While most rural insurance agents are able to work remotely, many of their clients, especially seniors, cannot. For example, it is not uncommon for seniors in rural areas to drop off their premium payments in person at the agency. Enterprising agents are installing drop boxes, but agents and staff still need to come in to process payments.
To ensure that agents can continue to provide critical services to their policyholders we are respectfully requesting that you consider including not only the insurance industry but also including the role of agents and brokers as an essential business in the event of a shelter in place order. It’s imperative that agencies have the flexibility to determine the right staffing plan for their businesses—one that allows for the safety of their customers and employees. Please note that all of the shelter-in-place orders that have been issued thus far include insurance as an essential business and that includes the services of agents and brokers. In addition, the Treasury Department recently issued guidance that also designates insurance as an essential service. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you again for everything you are doing for Minnesota.
Sincerely,
