Acord Forms - Keeping you informed!

[Jim Jensen]

Many know that there's a been quite a few Acord forms updates in the last 2-3 years. Not all have made into TAM yet, but some that aren't there are in EPIC and should be in TAM soon. There's some particular topics to bring to your attention, to help you understand why some things may change, but also to ask for some expertise.

Mobile Home Application Update
The ACORD P&C Forms Working Group recently completed work on stand-alone Dwelling Fire and Personal Inland Marine Applications, to compliment the section-based variations of these forms.   The group is now completing the Mobile Home Application, and we need your feedback.  Click http://www.acord.org/standards/forms/fac/Articles/2011-06-28_Mobile_Home_Application.pdf to read the article and offer your opinion.

We can really use input from agents who work with mobile home policies - because most carriers do little mobile home business, our committee is a bit short on people with good knowledge of what items are important to have on the application for underwriting.

Dynamic Forms                                
Because of the length of some of the forms and the amount disclaimer language that needs to be included now, ACORD is hoping to be able to introduct 'dynamic forms' where only the sections needed are printed. For example, if the form has 6 States that require specific notices, they would only print for policies in those states. Currently it is required that the form be printed in its entirety with nothing omitted.

The ACORD Dynamic Forms Working Group is making good progress defining what a dynamic form is and how it behaves.  We've identified parts of a form that can change, parts that can move, and parts that will remain as they look today.  However, some critical ingredients for a successful effort are missing, and we need your help!  Read about what you can do to help bring dynamic forms to reality.

FYI - Regulatory Fraud Warning Update
While ACORD makes every attempt to keep our form pages to a minimum, new fraud warning paragraphs on national forms are having an impact.  Recently introduced regulatory wording in state fraud warnings increased the length of these notices on several ACORD forms.  While it was possible on some forms to maintain the current number of pages by reducing the size of the Remarks section, or gain space by trimming a blank row or two from a schedule table, in other cases there was no alternative but to add another page to the form.

Remember to print on both sides of each page to conserve trees!  Let us know if you have any other conservation tips by emailing us at forms@acord.org.

It appears that this issue will continue to grow as more states add specific notices or warning that must be included. Until we can have dynamic applications, the length of an application may grow. The alternative is having state-specific applications for more than just auto, which becomes a logistics and programming difficulty.

[Jan Regnier]

Wow...thanks for the update info (and your hard work on this project!), Jim.