The Hartford Expands Program For AAA Towing and Repair Contractors

AAA and The Hartford have expanded the AAA Insurance Program to include all eligible AAA Emergency Road Service (ERS) and Approved Auto Repair (AAR) providers in the continental United States. The AAA-endorsed program is open to approximately 11,000 AAA service providers, but not to new-car dealerships.

The program includes commercial automobile, garage/garage keepers' legal liability, inland marine, workers' compensation, umbrella, property and crime coverages. The Hartford also offers what it describes as a unique coverage called "on-hook" to protect the insured's customers from certain losses that may occur to their vehicles' contents—such as damage to a cellular phone or golf clubs—when the customer's vehicle is under tow.

Controlling Losses, Covering Workers
To help prevent losses, The Hartford provides loss control engineers knowledgeable about the needs of AAA service providers. When a claim does occur, a 24-hour toll-free reporting, individualized claim coordination and claim-tracking system is available.

The program's workers' compensation coverage, which is available in most states, usually includes access to The Hartford's managed care services, including provider networks, utilization and medical bill review, nurse case management and return-to-work management. The company says that last year, its overall medical bill processing saved an average of 37.9 percent nationwide by uncovering duplicate bills, pricing errors and similar problems.

"The AAA program has been a resounding success at providing cost-effective insurance," says Jonathan Helitzer, program manager, specialty programs at The Hartford. "We are delighted to make it available to the greatly expanded number of AAA service providers. We believe AAA's decision to expand the program demonstrates their confidence in our program's coverages and services."

AAA service providers can go through their own independent agent to get coverage. The agent will work with Seabury & Smith, New York, NY, program managers, for info and quotes. Service providers without an agent may work directly with Seabury & Smith, which manages all aspects of the program relating to marketing, submissions and placement negotiations.