Brigitte has devoted her career to SAIF, starting more than 20 years ago as an administrative assistant in claims. Since then she’s held many roles in IT, including lead web designer and developer, business services manager, and director of portfolio and project management, and most recently director of business and software solutions.

Brigitte has been involved in many agency-related IT projects over the years and understands the importance of our agency partnerships. She is looking forward to meeting our agent partners in her new role.

“Brigitte’s strong leadership skills and potential made her stand apart. I know she’ll do a wonderful job of leading claims,” CEO Chip Terhune said. “She’ll bring her talent and valued perspectives to our executive leadership team. Her strengths in relationship building, technical expertise, and strategic thinking will serve us well.”

Kim Turner returns as director of agency program and agent experience

Industry veteran Kim Turner has rejoined SAIF as our new director of agency program and agent experience. In this role, Kim will provide strategic vision and leadership to the agency program that will enhance how we interact with our agent partners to provide the best experience.

Kim (CPCU, ARM, CIC, AFIS) understands the unique needs and challenges of our agency partners, having spent the majority of her 35-year insurance career working for a handful of SAIF’s agency partners in various roles. She has a passion for the customer and agent experience and looks forward to reconnecting with SAIF’s appointed agents and learning how we can best serve their needs. Kim is excited to return to SAIF and begin this collaborative work.

An Oregonian for over 45 years, Kim lives in Salem and spends time outside of work appreciating our beautiful state by paddle boarding, kayaking, bicycling, hiking, and camping. She also loves traveling to new places and spending time with family.

Please feel free to reach out to Kim at kimtur@saif.com.

SDAO to stop writing workers’ comp June 30

The Special Districts Association of Oregon (SDAO) will discontinue writing workers’ comp on June 30, 2023.

Agents should begin submitting their business for July 1 quotes via saifQuote if they have not already done so. SAIF underwriters will do their best to meet requested-by dates from the agent for regional non-OGSERP business. Service center non-OGSERP submissions should receive a proposal within one business day of the completed submission.

For regional and service center submissions that meet the underwriting eligibility criteria to be in the OGSERP group discount program, tentative quotes will be issued after the OGSERP is filed with DCBS. We expect that to occur in May.

SDAO will provide safety and health services to OGSERP group discount and servicing group accounts and will continue to offer the multiline discount for those members in the property/casualty program for those opting into the SDAO service group offered by SAIF. Please [see the FAQs] for additional information related to SDAO.

If you have further questions, please contact your agency marketing specialist.

AGC retro return timeline

The AGC group retro is evaluated every year on July 1.

During the week of July 17, SAIF agency marketing specialists will be in contact with agents representing employers participating in the AGC group retro product for the 2021-22 policy period. They’ll provide the relevant facts about the retro return as well as each agency's list of participating employers. They’ll also provide information on how to easily sort and retrieve the retro evaluation documents from the agency inbox that will be available on July 25 via Business Online.

Checks will be mailed the week of July 31. The check will include a brief letter, but the evaluation will not be included with the check. It will be the agents' responsibility to provide the retro evaluation to the employer.

All steps in the AGC evaluation process are documented in the timeline.

If you have questions, please contact your agency marketing specialist.

Proposal materials

Did you know that SAIF has an assortment of proposal materials that are updated annually and available for you to use to showcase SAIF’s value? These materials are ready for you to use with prospects or renewals.

Covering a wide variety of topics, there is a tool for every need. They can be found here.

SAIF is reviewing applications for psilocybin services in 2023

In November 2020, Oregonians passed Measure 109 which is now codified into Oregon law in ORS 475A (ORS 475A). It establishes a licensing and regulatory framework for psilocybin services in Oregon.

The Oregon Psilocybin Services Section began accepting applications for licensure on January 2, 2023, and expects new psilocybin service centers to open their doors to clients and for licensed facilitators to begin offering psilocybin services this year.

SAIF is learning about this new industry, its exposures, and processes. We’ve identified some primary class codes that will apply to operations but know there is more to learn. We have a team working on all aspects in our review of the industry: audit, industrial hygiene, safety, and underwriting the exposure itself. We’re now accepting applications and are looking forward to the journey of this new industry.

Update: Claims system implementation project

To modernize our system, the claims and information technology (IT) divisions have partnered to implement Guidewire’s ClaimCenter. The goal is a sustainable and flexible system that enables the claims division to provide the best outcomes for workers and policyholders.

Where are we now?

From the onset, the goal of the program has been focused on delivering a quality solution. We have completed most of the system changes and are in the testing phase. The team is working diligently to complete the testing and prepare for training and implementation.

The team is working to finalize an implementation date that will meet the needs of SAIF and our customers. We’ll let you know once it has been confirmed.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to CSIProgram@saif.com with any questions related to this project.

New process for policyholder registration

Improved registration | Policyholders with a SAIF policy number and FEIN now have access to an improved process to register for an online account.

The change moved the account registration application to the cloud, improving the security of online accounts and the overall user experience.

Like before, policyholders can view policy and claim information, file payroll reports, make payments, and create certificates of insurance when they register.

Existing customers with a valid policy number and FEIN combination can go to saif.com and send a request for access. They will then receive a system-generated email with a link to create a profile in Business Online.

Registration now in Spanish | Converting our registration process to Spanish gives SAIF’s customers who prefer Spanish the ability to complete registration with just a click.

Registration hasn’t changed, we’ve simply added a button (on the top right side of all pages) that gives policyholders the ability to toggle between English and Spanish.

All interactions with customers regarding the registration and profile-creation process (emails, validation and error messages, etc.) would also switch to Spanish. SAIF staff who support customers can send registration invitations in Spanish as well.

Another successful Workers’ Comp Seminar

More than 130 people gathered at the Salem Convention Center on April 4 for SAIF’s 31st annual Workers’ Compensation Seminar.

On the agenda were updates about SAIF’s recent performance, a review of Oregon’s economic outlook, legislative updates, as well as several learning opportunities.

This year’s breakout session topics were: What's a return-to-work program?; Voice of the customer: Building connection through powerful moments, and Cool tools: Capitalizing on safety and efficiency.

Christina Lincicome and Toni King-Byous from SAIF’s diversity, equity and inclusion program led a discussion on how communicating across cultures strengthens companies.

Two themes were noted from the legislative session: Governor Kotek is focusing on increasing the performance of state agencies; and there’s a continued need for education around the importance and function of the Management-Labor Advisory Committee.

Comp Quotes | Spring 2023

Comp Quotes articlesIn this issue:

Comp Quotes archive

Brigitte Hamilton named new VP of claims