Online Self-Service Feature Allows Insurance Department Licensees to Print Duplicate Copies of Licenses

NEW YORK, NY (05/05/2011)(readMedia)-- The New York State Insurance Department today announced that its licensees are now able to obtain and print duplicate copies of their licenses by accessing this location on the Department's website, http://www.ins.state.ny.us/dup_license_req.htm.

The online feature is available to most of the Department's approximately 250,000 licensees, including insurance agents, brokers, adjusters and others. Insurance professionals had requested the online feature as a way to cut red tape and speed their ability to obtain copies of their licenses.

"This online capability is a win-win for both the insurance industry and the Insurance Department. It's convenient for licensees because they can now obtain duplicate licenses right away and automating the process will help the Department operate much more efficiently," Insurance Superintendent James Wrynn said.

Previously, a manual system based entirely on an exchange of paperwork was used to receive licensee requests through the mail, process the requests and then mail the duplicate licenses. The time-consuming process was used to handle approximately 100 requests a week.

The new electronic capability now allows licensees to immediately download duplicate licenses in a secure .pdf format. This will allow licensees to replace lost licenses or obtain the duplicates typically needed to apply for insurance licenses in other states or seek appointments with new insurance companies.

Licensees are able to access the new feature by logging onto the Department's website online producer services page using their licensee number and password. The $15 charge for the duplicate license service has not changed. Licensees can pay the charge online by credit card.

Duplicate licenses can be printed or saved to the licensee's computer. The license format, which has not been changed, shows the licensee's name, mailing address, lines of authority, license number and its effective and expiration dates.

In addition to agents, brokers and adjusters, Department licensees able to use the system include consultants, reinsurance intermediaries and life settlement brokers. Insurance companies and licensing service agencies can also use the system.

Previously, the process of obtaining a duplicate license was done entirely through an exchange of paperwork. Licensees mailed requests to the Department, which, in turn, processed the requests and then mailed the duplicate licenses.

Implementing the automated capability was among the recommendations proposed by the Insurance Filings Modernization Initiative working group that Superintendent Wrynn launched last year. The joint industry-Department working group recommended ways to help cut unnecessary red tape.

The Insurance Department is also looking at other ways of automating licensing processes to make them more user-friendly. This includes examining how to improve the processing of such things as new license applications and license renewals.

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