FIRST IN CL AS S 2011 Annual Report Missouri Employers Mutual
EXECUTIVE TEAM James (Jim) C. Owen President and CEO OUR VISION Safe, healthy and injury-free workplaces Dear Partners... First, please allow me to introduce myself: I m proud to be the President and CEO of Missouri Employers Mutual, the state s No. 1 provider of workers compensation. I joined MEM in 2011, but insurance and MEM are not new to me. I ve spent more than 30 years practicing law in the insurance industry, including representing MEM in a Missouri Supreme Court challenge when it was first formed, and I previously served on the MEM Board of Directors. I have always known the many reasons MEM truly is first in class. MEM was created to solve the crisis of availability and affordability in the Missouri workers compensation market some 17 years ago. And solve it, we did. MEM now serves more than 10,000 small policyholders and is the leader in market share and service in the Missouri workers compensation market. We put our public purpose first then, and we still put it first today: serve small policyholders, work with all Missouri licensed agents and bring safety to the workplace. No other Missouri insurance carrier fulfills these obligations. The public purpose mandate comes with a price and a tremendous amount of responsibility we readily accept. Sound financial results for yet another year positioned MEM for the exciting and long-planned opportunity to share dividends with policyholders of this mutual company. Outside financial experts and the MEM Board confirmed the company now has the financial strength necessary to protect policyholders and pay $2 million in dividends in 2012. MEM s success wasn t created by and doesn t depend on a few. It s nurtured by a remarkable group of committed, educated and experienced employees who are simply first rate. The future remains very promising for MEM and our invaluable partners. We ll continue to focus on our tried-and-true strategy of safety as the best policy. We ll deliver our expertise with the same unmatched service and commitment. And we ll remain relentless in the pursuit of our vision of safe, healthy and injury-free workplaces. Sincerely, Tim Jackman Risk Management and Legal Services Michael Kravchick Sales and Marketing Doug Phillips Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance Joyce Underwood Policyholder Services BOARD OF DIRECTORS Judith S. Heeter Chair, Kansas City Charles Chuck Caisley Vice Chair, Kansas City James J. Jura Springfield MEM performed remarkably well again in 2011. Premium grew slightly an especially impressive feat at reduced policyholder rates. New business came in above plan at $22.6 million, a sign that with even more choices in Missouri for work comp, businesses are still choosing MEM. James (Jim) C. Owen President & CEO Missouri Employers Mutual Gary B. O Neal St. Louis Fifth board seat vacant www.mem-ins.com
2011 Highlights... Once again in 2011, MEM s service and safety focus earned us the No. 1 position in Missouri workers compensation market share. Premium increased even as rates decreased from $114.3 million in 2010 to $116.7 million in 2011. The 2011 rate reduction emphasized our commitment to small policyholders, making businesses with premium $5,000 or less eligible for rates 15 percent lower than standard rates. Of MEM s 12,000 policyholders, 10,000 were Missouri businesses with premium $10,000 or less. MEM remained a reliable choice for businesses of every size and in nearly all of the 600 NCCI class codes. With even more choices in the market, MEM secured nearly $23 million in new business in 2011, and 73 percent of policyholders chose to stay at renewal. The continued outstanding value of an MEM policy kept nearly 6,000 policyholders loyal to MEM for five years or more. Mutual Benefits As a mutual insurance company, MEM shares success with policyholders in a variety of ways, including services, reduced rates and for the first time dividends. After a successful 2011, MEM had the necessary financial strength to reduce rates and pay more than $2 million in dividends. More than 11,000 policyholders from 2009 received a dividend based on their safety results, the best business strategy of all. WorkSAFE the Most Important Strategy More than 80 percent of MEM s policyholders were injuryfree in 2011, and that s not happenstance. We deliberately delivered more workplace safety resources than other carriers because we know safety doesn t just result in fewer claims; it saves lives. MEM s safety experts conducted in-person consultations, customized training and partnered with other organizations to reach even more Missourians in 2011. Safety seminars alone reached more than 9,000 Missourians, a third more than in 2010. Receiving this dividend gives us a feeling of success that we re doing something right in making our employees aware of jobsite hazards. Carol Otke Griffin co-owner Ken Otke Construction, Jefferson City More than 80 percent of policyholders were injury free in 2011. We know that safety doesn t just result in fewer claims; it saves lives. Thousands more took advantage of the free, yet invaluable, workplace safety resources on MEM s new website, worksafecenter.com. Launched late in 2010, worksafecenter.com resources grew dramatically in 2011, with the addition of 39 Expert Insight articles and 11 step-by-step tutorials for various industries and topics. Visitors also found easy-to-use sample policies and safety rules that are making a big difference in workplaces everywhere. Claims Outcomes In 2011, MEM s seasoned claims experts continued to provide the right resources at the right time to help injured employees make a speedy, safe recovery and return to productive work. MEM s prompt attention and personal touch continued to change people s minds about the work comp claims experience. All the while, MEM helped policyholders control the costs of expensive workplace injuries. Our outstanding medical network and innovative programs, such as pharmacy benefit management and active nurse case management, resulted in gross medical cost savings of more than 50 percent. Firm on Fraud While one team of MEM experts helped policyholders and injured employees effectively manage claims, another was focused on fighting fraud that costs businesses so much every year. Once again in 2011, MEM led the state s insurance carriers in workers compensation fraud prosecutorial actions and reporting suspected fraud to the State s Fraud and Noncompliance Unit. OUR MISSION We provide innovative, cost-effective solutions employers need to create safe, healthy and injury-free workplaces, and are committed to building long-term, sustainable growth to maximize policyholder value. OUR VALUES We Believe: In treating customers and partners with integrity and fairness. In working as a team to deliver superior service to every customer. In using best practices. In seeking win-win solutions. In treating one another with dignity and respect. In offering employees opportunities for growth and development. In responsibly managing the resources entrusted to us. In being a good corporate citizen.
Of MEM s 198 employees, 120 volunteered at more than 60 charitable organizations across the state, logging more than 2,200 hours of service. Successful Partnerships MEM s results in 2011 can be attributed, once again, to outstanding partnerships. The business of creating and maintaining safe workplaces takes a dedicated team, and ours is made up of thousands of Missouri businesses, their independent insurance agents, a cast of critical business partners and stakeholders, and MEM s talented employees. Serving Our Communities Like the businesses we serve, MEM s community involvement and charitable giving in 2011 benefited organizations of all sizes and types. Of MEM s 198 employees, 120 volunteered at more than 60 charitable organizations across the state, logging more than 2,200 hours of service. MEM fulfills its corporate value to be a good citizen by making significant charitable contributions, and our employees make that impact even stronger. MEM employees opened their wallets along with their hearts, contributing more than $42,000 to charitable organizations. First-Rate Team It s no wonder MEM provides the best service and value in the work comp market: we start with the very best employees. For the benefit of employees and our customers, again in 2011 we rewarded experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated employees with competitive salaries, benefits that encourage wellness and work-life balance, and an investment in their growth and development. By the end of 2011, more than 70 MEM staff held the designation of Registered Work Comp Specialist. MEM s overall culture earned the company a nomination in 2011 for One of the Best Places to Work by Inside Columbia CEO magazine. For the third straight year, MEM also was named one of the 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in the nation by the Dave Thomas Foundation. Underwriting Operations Gross Premium Revenue 2011 116.7 2010 114.3 2009 116.6 Net Premium Revenue 112.7 107.8 109.9 Net Losses and Loss Adjustment Expense 82.3 78.3 71.0 Net Income (Loss) 7.5 10.0 12.9 Investment Operations Net Investment Revenue 13.9 14.3 14.2 Realized Investment Gains (Losses) 1.5 2.1 (0.9) Cash and Investments 364.3 350.7 336.9 Financial Position Total Assets 404.9 364.0 350.8 Unpaid Losses (Reserves) 164.4 158.3 153.1 Policyholders Equity 167.7 163.1 154.4 Ratios Loss Ratio 73.0 72.7 64.6 Expense Ratio 26.0 33.2 36.6 Combined Ratio 99.0 105.9 101.2 If you would like a copy of MEM s 2011 audited financial report, please visit our website at www.mem-ins.com or contact us at: Finance Department Missouri Employers Mutual 101 N. Keene Street Columbia, MO 65201 1.800.442.0590 custsrv@mem-ins.com Financial highlights (Dollars in millions)
08/12 8/12 www.mem-ins.com 101 N. Keene Street Columbia, MO 65201