The health and safety of our members, employees, and partners is our highest priority.

After careful consideration, and in light of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments, NYIA is postponing the 2020 Annual Conference–the premier New York property and casualty insurance industry event of the year, scheduled for May 27-29. We are currently considering alternate options. We may expand the program for the November Annual Meeting to a format similar to the conference (minus the golf tournament). Postponing the event will enable us to provide the experience that our members, and partners expect and deserve in a safe environment.

Nobody knows how the COVID-19 situation will continue to unfold. What we do know is that we believe we’ve made the best decision under the current circumstances to put our attendees, partners, and staff’s well-being first. 

We will keep members informed as plans develop. We look forward to hosting the next NYIA event.

Until then, stay safe and healthy! 

NYIA continues to monitor the quickly changing circumstances identified with the spread of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus). We understand that worries for health and safety, the effects on event participation, among many other concerns, are influencing decisions. There is no greater importance than the health and safety of our association community. As NYIA monitors and follows the recommended guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York State Department Health and the World Health Organization, we encourage all to do the same.

According to the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, guidance offered regarding attendance at large gatherings is limited to those at highest risk — the elderly and those with severe underlying medical conditions.

NYIA is proceeding on schedule with the annual conference as of now. The conference hotel is in Rye Brook. The major concerns center around New Rochelle, which is a different city in Westchester county. At this time, there are no advisories against holding public events or large gatherings in Rye Brook. NYIA is working closely with the conference hotel to ensure all appropriate sanitary, health, and safety measures are met and maintained; and to implement additional safeguards to protect those attending.

NYIA will continue to update and provide necessary information as the situation develops and any changes to the conference schedule. Please contact the association at 518.432.4227 or info@nyia.org with any specific questions about the conference.

Contact:
Cassandra Anderson
(518) 432-4227 or (518) 312-3315

NEW YORK TAKES A STAND AGAINST ROOFING SCAMS

ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 26, 2019—New York has put statewide protections in place for residents to help prevent roofing scams. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed S1405/A7531, sponsored by Senator David Carlucci and Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon, into law helping ensure New Yorkers homes and businesses are properly and safely repaired.

New consumer protections include:

• Providing additional time to cancel a roof repair contract.
• Preventing a roofing contractor from abandoning a contract without cause. 
• Guarding against kickbacks for claim services referrals.
• Forbidding advertisements or promises to rebate an insurance deductible.
• Restricting a requirement for a deposit with payment for materials being due upon receipt by the customer.

In recent years, New York has seen instances where con artists flock to an area hit by a storm or natural disaster, posing as legitimate roofing contractors. These scam artists, known as storm chasers, take advantage of people to make some quick cash. They perform substandard work or simply take a homeowner’s money and run. New York saw this occur with a number of extreme weather events experienced across the state.

“The overwhelming majority of roofing contractors are honest and principled, but there are a select few whose sole goal is to cheat disaster victims,” Ellen Melchionni, president of the New York Insurance Association said. “These scam artists target the elderly and the vulnerable and profit at their expense. This new law will help consumers at a time when they are in the greatest need.”

The New York Insurance Association helped advance this legislation after insurance companies heard from concerned customers, working with a wide range of stakeholders to call for enhanced consumer protections.

The New York Insurance Association, Inc. (NYIA®) is a state trade association that has represented the property and casualty insurance industry for more than 135 years.

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