1. Give Your Policy an “Annual Check-up”
2. Enjoy your Retirement! ISMIE’s Reporting Endorsement Allows You to Retire without Boredom
3. Receive Risk Rewards for Office Staff Participation
4. New Chief Justice for Supreme Court

1. Give Your Policy an “Annual Check-up”

Have you taken a look at your ISMIE Mutual policy lately? Have there been changes in your practice this year? Many policies will be up for renewal soon. This is the perfect time to give your policy an “annual check-up.”

The first step in your “check-up” process is to visit MyPolicy, ISMIE’s on-line system. There you can find a complete overview about the details of your ISMIE policy. And, navigating MyPolicy is easy. Just click on Policyholder Tools. Utilizing your username and password, you can obtain your personalized information. Having problems with your username and password? Get assistance at onlinehelp@ismie.com or call 888-476-7776.

Then, after reviewing your MyPolicy information, if you have questions or believe you need to make changes to your policy, contact ISMIE’s Underwriting Division via e-mail at uwtg@ismie.com or via telephone at 800-782-4767. They will work with you to make sure you have the right policy for your practice. Check up completed!

2. Enjoy your Retirement! ISMIE’s Reporting Endorsement Allows You to Retire without Boredom

Many Illinois physicians are choosing to remain active in medicine after retirement. No shuffle board for them! This has been made possible because ISMIE’s reporting endorsement allows you to perform in professional activities without jeopardizing your tail coverage.

Are you thinking about retirement? Did you know if decide to retire and are either 55 years of age and have been insured with ISMIE for the last five years or have been insured with ISMIE for the last 10 years (regardless of your age), your retirement tail is FREE? This cost free option requires your full retirement but still allows you to participate in:

• Providing health care services to patients without remuneration.
• Providing health care services to patients outside the United States, its territories and possessions, Puerto Rico and Canada.
• Serving in an administrative role or academic position.

Enjoy your retirement! For more information on ISMIE’s tail coverage, contact the Underwriting Division at uwtg@ismie.com or call 1-800-782-4767.

3. Receive Risk Rewards for Office Staff Participation

ISMIE Mutual recognizes the value in your staff’s participation in helping your practice manage liability risk. That is why our policyholders can receive a maximum 3% premium discount annually, when their office staff participate in ISMIE sponsored staff seminars.

Office staff participants may attend each program only once. Successful completion of any seminar by one of your staff members may earn you a 1% premium discount toward your Risk Rewards. Additional staff members are welcome to attend, but only a single 1% discount will be applied for each activity. For more information regarding these seminars, contact our Risk Management staff at 800-782-4767, ext 3300 or email us at riskmanagment@ismie.com.

4. New Chief Justice for Supreme Court

Thomas Fitzgerald will serve as the next chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. Considering the importance of the constitutional challenge, the question is raised -- Will this change have a dramatic effect on how the court views tort reform? The short answer is No.

Ed Murnane, President of the Illinois Justice League (ICJL), stated, “It’s not changing the balance of the court. It’s the same seven justices who are sitting there today (and who) will be sitting there in September when Justice Fitzgerald becomes the chief. They will just switch seats, and he will be in the center chair.”

Justice Fitzgerald will replace Justice Bob Thomas, who completes his three year term in September 2008. However, Justice Thomas will remain on the court. Fitzgerald’s key duties will entail the oversight of the state’s high court and set its schedule.

Fitzgerald’s position on medical liability reform remains unclear. However, ICJL did endorse Fitzgerald for his successful 2000 bid for a position on the state’s high court. For more information on Fitzgerald’s appointment to the Illinois State Supreme Court, visit Illinois Civil Justice League.

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