Central Insurance Companies

Carrier appetite summary

Commercial Small Business / BOP & Package: - Preferred business: Small commercial accounts placed in Central’s Small Business segment and BOP or Commercial Lines Package (CLP) programs. Eligibility is based on risk characteristics rather than premium or commission. Appetite spans 1,300+ classes, with 300+ classes specifically identified as CLP Small Business when the "Limit my search to Commercial Lines Package (CLP) Small Business eligible classes" filter is used in CLCG. Targeted occupancies include offices, retail, service businesses, animal care, lessor’s risk, and light contractors. - Key size & eligibility parameters (Small Business Appetite Guide 20-2609 07 24): • Commission: Generally ≤ $2,500 for small business segment accounts. • Offices: Buildings up to 6 stories and up to 100,000 sq. ft. • Lessor’s Risk: Office LRO up to 6 stories and 100,000 sq. ft.; other LRO occupancies up to 3 stories and 30,000 sq. ft. • Retail / Self‑storage / Service / Vehicle service / Wholesale: Annual receipts typically ≤ $5M. • Restaurants: Annual receipts typically ≤ $2.5M and premises size ≤ 10,000 sq. ft. • Construction-related: Payroll generally ≤ $1M and subcontractor costs ≤ $100,000. - Representative target classes where Central indicates they add the most value (subject to detailed class codes in CLCG): • Services: beauty & barber shops; funeral homes & crematories; laundromats & dry cleaners; printers/engravers; photographers. • Offices: medical offices; attorney offices; insurance agencies & brokerages; event/party/wedding planners; real estate agencies; auditors; accountants. • Retail: auctioneers; specialty boutiques; electrical supply; book & magazine stores; antique shops; janitorial & plumbing supply; hobby/craft/art supply; clothing and shoe stores; auto parts; hardware; nursery/garden centers; appliance stores. • Animal care: veterinarians, pet groomers, kennels (breeding, boarding, or sales), pet daycare (often on-premises/other than insured’s premises as allowed), pet stores, pet trainers. • Contractors (light trade): janitorial services; concrete flatwork; interior decorators; tile/stone/marble mosaic work; carpet/rug/furniture cleaning; floor covering installation; interior and exterior painting under 3 stories; electrical work; landscaping and lawn care; handyperson; fence installation. - Restricted/declined classes (operationally implied): • Large or complex risks exceeding the above size thresholds (e.g., high‑rise structures over 6 stories, very large receipts, or heavy construction with high payroll/subcosts) are generally outside the Small Business appetite and should be directed to other Central commercial segments, if available. • Higher‑hazard contractors (e.g., structural, roofing above 3 stories, heavy construction, or significant subcontracted operations over the stated limits) and large or complex restaurants beyond stated receipts/size likely require separate underwriting review or are out‑of‑appetite for the Small Business program. • Very large LRO schedules or high‑hazard occupancies within LRO (e.g., heavy manufacturing, habitational with difficult protection) may fall outside the Small Business guide and need referral. - Coverage & structure notes: • Central’s Small Business system is designed to automatically include many common optional coverages for eligible classes, making quotes more comprehensive for target accounts. • BOP is used when class and exposure fit BOP eligibility; if not, Central may still place the risk in a Small Business commercial package format subject to guidelines. Workers Compensation: - Central indicates Workers’ Comp as a supported product within its construction appetite materials, with value-add services such as a 24/7 nurse hotline, return‑to‑work support, and loss control. Workers Comp for qualifying small to mid‑size accounts is written alongside other lines where risk and loss control quality are acceptable and within industry appetite (e.g., light/medium hazard construction trades noted above, general small business service/retail/office accounts). Heavy industrial or high‑hazard classes are more likely to be restricted or require specialty placement. Commercial Umbrella / Excess: - Central references Commercial Excess as automatically generated with a $1M limit for certain small business classes in its appetite materials. This indicates a preference to attach excess limits over well‑controlled primary accounts that already fit Central’s small business profile (good loss history, light‑to‑moderate hazard classes, and within the BOP/CLP parameters). Accounts outside the small business parameters or with unusual/uncontrolled exposures likely need referral or are out‑of‑appetite. Commercial Property & Package (beyond BOP): - Commercial package is used for small business accounts that do not qualify for BOP but still fit Central’s risk characteristics. Preferred risks are those within the size and class parameters above, with good maintenance, acceptable protection (sprinklers/protection class where appropriate), and manageable CAT exposure as determined by underwriters. Very large TIVs, poor maintenance, or unprotected high‑hazard occupancies are likely restricted or declined. Personal Lines – Home & Boat / Watercraft: - Boatowners: Central’s Boatowners product provides property coverage for the boat, motor, trailer, and accessories, plus liability for covered boating operations. Typical insured perils include fire, lightning, windstorm, explosion, sinking/stranding, theft, vandalism, collision (including while loading/unloading/launching), and highway collision/upset. Medical payments applies to persons aboard (including skiers) for covered accidents. The Summit Boatowners Policy builds on the standard policy with expanded emergency service, personal effects, non‑owned boats, and substitute boat/animal‑damage physical damage coverages at specified limits. Risks are expected to fall within Central’s personal lines underwriting for acceptable vessels (size, type, usage, operator history); high‑performance, heavily modified, or commercial‑use boats may be restricted or declined. - Home: While the public site does not expose a formal personal homeowners underwriting guide, Central’s personal lines materials emphasize standard to preferred home risks in states where they actively write, with attention to dwelling condition, occupancy, protection class, and CAT exposure. Non‑standard occupancies (unoccupied, seasonal without proper protection, significant prior losses, or highly CAT‑exposed properties) are more likely restricted, subject to surcharge or higher deductibles, or declined. Geographic notes: - Central operates in selected U.S. states via appointed independent agents. Detailed geographic eligibility, state restrictions, and CAT‑sensitive limitations (e.g., coastal wind/hail, wildfire) are controlled within internal underwriting and rating systems and are not fully specified on public appetite materials. Producers should confirm state availability and any moratoria or CAT restrictions with their territory underwriter or marketing representative. Submission & producer instructions: - Commercial small business/BOP: Use Central’s commercial quoting platform and CLCG class search, leveraging the "Limit my search to Commercial Lines Package (CLP) Small Business eligible classes" filter to quickly identify eligible and preferred classes. Ensure that account size (receipts, square footage, stories, construction payroll and subcosts) fits the Small Business Appetite Guide thresholds before submission and that operations match listed preferred classes. - Multi‑line placement: Central positions itself as a partner for multi‑line small business accounts. When possible, package GL, property, auto, workers comp, and excess for in‑appetite segments to maximize competitiveness and alignment with appetite. - Underwriting partnership: Central emphasizes close collaboration between underwriters and appointed agents. Agents are expected to pre‑screen for appetite using the published guides and class filters, then engage underwriters on borderline or complex risks (e.g., classes near size limits, unusual operations, or significant loss history). - Personal lines (home/boat): Work through an appointed Central personal lines agent platform. For boat risks, provide boat specifications (year, make, model, length, horsepower), usage, navigation territory, storage, and operator history. For home, provide occupancy, construction, year built/updates, protection class, and loss history. Risks with questionable fit should be discussed with the underwriting team before binding. Operationally, treat the Small Business Appetite Guide as the primary public reference for Central’s commercial small business appetite and class/size thresholds, and rely on internal tools and your Central underwriter for workers comp, umbrella, and detailed state‑by‑state guidance.

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