Introducing CAARP Online Courses via LunchtimeCE (3-10-08)
To become a certified producer with the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP), all licensed agents/brokers in California must fulfill their producer certification seminar requirement within 120 days of becoming certified with CAARP. (Per Section 19.A.4 of CAARP’s regulations)
In conjunction with LunchTimeCE, a leading online CE provider in California, producers can now fulfill CAARP’s certification requirements by completing its online courses. For those producers who wish to take the online courses, you must go to www.lunchtimece.com/CAARP and follow the website’s instructions.
· The CAARP Introduction CE Course is divided into 4 parts.
· Each part is a 1-hour course, approved for 1 CE credit. You must receive a grade of 70% or better on the exam.
· Each course costs $15.00 each. You only pay when you've passed the exam.
The four 1-hour online courses are:
· CAARP Introduction, Part I: What is CAARP?
· CAARP Introduction, Part II: Private Passenger
· CAARP Introduction, Part III: California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (LCA)
· CAARP Introduction, Part IV: Commercial Auto
When a producer completes all four of the 1-hour CE courses and passes the corresponding exams, CAARP will be notified by LunchtimeCE. CAARP will then update the producer’s file showing they have completed their producer certification seminar requirement.
The onsite classroom courses will still be conducted throughout California for the remainder of 2008. For those producers who wish to register for any of the onsite classroom seminars check the Forms Library for the latest schedule and seminar locations. Note, the cost to take the four online courses or to attend one of CAARP’s classroom Introductory Seminars is the same, $60.00.
Producers, choose the best seminar option for you!
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVELS HAVE BEEN UPDATED (02/08) – To coincide with the newly released Federal Poverty Levels, the corresponding Low Cost Eligibility Income Levels have also been updated for 2008. Click Here for the most updated Income Levels.
LOW COST PROGRAM EXPANDS TO FINAL 16 COUNTIES (12/12/07) – On December 10, 2007, the final 16 counties of Alpine, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Inyo, Lassen, Mariposa, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Plumas, San Luis Obispo, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity were added, making it a statewide program. Click here for the chart displaying the current rates for all counties.
LOW COST PROGRAM EXPANDS TO 20 NEW COUNTIES (09/28/07) – On October 1, 2007, 20 new counties will become eligible for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (LCA). The new counties of Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Kings, Lake, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Placer, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Sutter, Tuolumne, Yolo and Yuba will join the current counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Merced, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tulare and Ventura. This makes a total of 42 counties that will be eligible for the Program.
LOW COST PROGRAM EXPANDS TO 6 NEW COUNTIES (03/30/07) – On March 30, 2007, the new counties of Merced, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Tulare and Ventura will join the current 16 eligible counties.
2007 FEDERAL POVERTY LEVELS HAVE BEEN UPDATED (03/07) – To coincide with the newly released Federal Poverty Levels, the corresponding Low Cost Eligibility Income Levels have also been updated for 2007.
LCA RATE CHANGES (01/15/07) - The California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program Liablility, Medical Payments and Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) Rates for new business and renewals will be changed for all 16 eligible counties. The new rates become effective January 15, 2007.
LOW COST PROGRAM EXPANDS TO 8 NEW COUNTIES (06/01/06) – On June 1, 2006, the new counties of Contra Costa, Imperial, Kern, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Stanislaus joined the current counties of Alameda, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and San Francisco. This makes a total of 16 counties now eligible for the Program.
LOW COST PROGRAM EXPANDS TO 6 NEW COUNTIES (04/01/06) – In 2005, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 20. This legislation expanded the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program to six new counties effective April 1, 2006. The six new counties of Alameda, Fresno, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego will join the current counties of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Each county will have its own set rate for each of the coverages provided by the Program. The rates are based upon actuarial data provided by the Department of Insurance. SB 20 also authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to launch the Program throughout the state upon determination of need in each county. The Insurance Commissioner has already announced eight new counties that he has determined meet the needs of the Program. The new counties include Contra Costa, Imperial, Kern, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Stanislaus. While no effective date has been set for these eight new counties, it is expected to be sometime later in 2006.
LOW COST RATE CHANGES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 23, 2006 - On January 23, 2006, the Low Cost Bodily Injury/Property Damage Rates for new business and renewals were raised in LA County from $347 to $355. In San Francisco City/County the $314 rate was raised to $322. The optional Medical Payments and Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) Coverage rates were also raised. In LA County the Medical Payments premium has been raised from $26 to $29 and the UMBI Coverage premium is now $65. The SF County Medical Payment premium has been raised from $24 to $26, however the UMBI rate of $39 remains the same. Producers are advised to start using the new 1-23-06 applications which display the new rates.
WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR - INTRODUCING EASi - Electronic Application Submission Interface (11/04) -The California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP) is continuing its effort to address insurance industry demands involving technology changes, Internet communication and effective use of our websites. The recent introduction of EASi - Electronic Application Submission Interface, for the CA Low Cost Program is the first step in making the application process as simple and error-free for everyone involved.
Low Cost EASi, will allow a producer to complete a Low Cost application online. This new process will also allow producers to determine the applicant’s eligibility online prior to filling out an application. This will ensure that those applicants who are not eligible will be informed immediately that they do not qualify for the Low Cost Program. Producers will no longer have to guess about an applicant’s driving history and whether or not they meet the Program’s “good driver” requirements.
We are currently researching and developing future application processing enhancements including electronic payment, VIN verification and data integration. We know that enhancements such as these are expected in today’s hi-tech world and our office is dedicated in providing these additional features as soon as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns about this new feature, let us know. We want to hear from you. Email us at caarp@aipso.com and in the subject line say “EASi Comments”.
LOW COST RATE CHANGES EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2003 - On March 1, 2003, the Low Cost Bodily Injury/Property Damage Rates for new business and renewals were lowered from the original annual premium of $450 for LA County to $347. In San Francisco City/County the original $410 was lowered to $314. This change was due to the passage of SB 1427.
CAARP INTRODUCTORY SEMINAR - CAARP’s Introductory Seminar is an introduction to CAARP rules and regulations, general procedures, private passenger rating, with a special section devoted to the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program. All producers, their customer service staff and company representatives are welcome to attend…and it costs only $40 to receive four (4) Department of Insurance continuing education credits. For those producers interested in commercial assigned risk, there is a separate seminar designed just for commercial rating and procedures. However, you must attend CAARP’s Introductory Seminar before you can attend the Commercial (CAIP) Seminar.
GET ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE - The California Application Inquiry System will provide you with assignment information for CAARP and Low Cost applications assigned by the Plan within the past three months. If you are a certified producer with CAARP, all you have to do is call our automated procedures system at 800-555-0513, and follow the step-by-step prompts. When prompted, choose Option 3, provide the named insured or applicant’s California Driver License Number, and the following information will be given over the telephone:
Assigned Company Name
Company telephone number
Effective Date and Time given
10-digit Plan Assignment Number
SR22 filing information (if requested)
You will be asked to enter the numerical part of the license number that is written on the application. If you need information on assignments beyond three months, you will need to contact CAARP’s Customer Service Department at 800-622-0954.
