NIMA Surplus Lines Clearinghouse-Sponsored Webinar: An Introduction to the Surplus Lines Information Portal’s Electronic Filing Process
Jul 17, 2012
How does the electronic filing process work for Non-Admitted Insurance Multi-State Agreement (“NIMA”) Surplus Lines Clearinghouse (“Clearinghouse”) users and what are the steps involved to file? A recent Webinar held by the Clearinghouse outlined the process using detailed tutorials available on the Clearinghouse Web site.
The Webinar reviewed the following tutorials (click on a hyperlink to access each):
- Common terms and phrases used in the Surplus Lines Information Portal (“SLIP”)
- Registration and login
- SLIP Settings
- Users and Security
- Submitting a New Policy
- Filing Endorsements
- Renewals, Cancellations and Reinstatements
- Transactions in Questions
- Editing, Correcting and Backouts
- Batch Filing via XML to the Surplus Lines Clearinghouse
To view the Clearinghouse video tutorial page in its entirety, click here.
The Webinar’s goal was to teach users how to properly submit information to the Clearinghouse. During the Webinar, a narrator reviewed each of the above tutorials, covering the various functions of filing process with the Clearinghouse. The tutorials are located under the “education” tab on the Clearinghouse Web site.
Key terms with definitions specific to actions related to the Clearinghouse’s electronic filing platform are covered in the first tutorial, which explains that data is submitted to the Clearinghouse in two parts: Policy information, which includes the policy number, the insured’s name, and the expiration date; and the Home State of the insured.
It was explained that “transaction information” is the data that can change, such as premium coverage costs, effective dates and transaction types.
Policies that have never been filed with the Clearinghouse are to be submitted as “renewal business” or “new business.”
Activity on a policy is known as an “endorsement.” Endorsements might include an additional premium, return premium or cancellation of coverage altogether.
NIMA defines “premium tax” as any tax, fee or assessment or other charge posed by a government entity directly or indirectly based on any payment made as consideration for any insurance contract for such insurance, including premium deposits, assessments and regulatory fees.
Clearinghouse lingo includes the term “backout.” A backout function refers to transactions filed incorrectly that contain financial-related errors.
Transactions in Question or “TICs” are those that have not yet been accepted or invoiced by the Clearinghouse because they do not meet one or more of the business rules, it was explained.
“Batch filing” is a term that refers to a process used by entities that need to file large quantities of transactions for a given time period. Some agency management systems provide the capability to export information to the Clearinghouse in batch format, it was noted.
Using the above-listed tutorials, the Webinar outlined the process of filing policies with the Clearinghouse using a step-by-step format. The tutorials include answers to possible questions on all aspects of Clearinghouse usage.
A SLIP inbox is available for the Clearinghouse to send communications to the user. The SLIP inbox does not work like an email account because the user cannot send return communications to the Clearinghouse, it was noted.
User settings can be customized, allowing users to select small subgroups of insurers and eliminating the need to scroll through hundreds of items. The system also is password-protected.
One tutorial focuses on correcting and backing out a submission in SLIP. It explains that financial policy information cannot simply be updated if entered incorrectly. Because such a revision would cause policy changes, the information must be “backed out” and then corrected and re-entered. The tutorial explains how to do this.
The Clearinghouse deployed its filing platform services on July 1, 2012. Its toll-free customer service number of 877-267-9855 also is available for those in need of assistance.
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