Self-Insurance Group Marks Milestone

In 2009, the Florida Association of Self Insurance (FASI) proudly marks its 40th year of service to our state's self-insured community.

FASI was formed in 1969 to promote and maintain a healthy environment for workers' compensation self-insurance in Florida. Due to market conditions, those early years were a time of rapid growth for individual self-insureds and self-insurance industry funds. These included public and private employers who eventually represented a very large percentage of workers' compensation premium in the state.

The Department of Labor, Division of Workers' Compensation had a Bureau of Self-Insurance whose chief was the late and very smart Joe Mastrovito. Soft-spoken and wise, Joe worked tirelessly to assist those employers who chose to be self-insured. His patience and advice helped many of us avoid some serious mistakes and missteps. I had his number on my Rolodex(R) for years, even after he moved from the bureau.

During the '80s, FASI continued to grow. To legislators, the membership became the “Voice of Self-Insurance” in Tallahassee and gained majority representation on the Florida Department of Labor's Self-Insurance Rules Advisory Committee. That involvement continues today, and often the entire FASI Board will attend the rules hearings.

In 1993, FASI's legislative proposal became a core instrument for the drafting of workers' compensation reform measures enacted by the Legislature. During this time of change, FASI was successful in persuading the state to keep the regulation of individual self-insured employers under the Florida Department of Labor in lieu of the Florida Department of Insurance.

Our Culture

For members, FASI is the go-to place for answers to “off-the-wall” circumstances and “How do I handle this?” questions. Our members freely exchange ideas — both the ones that worked and the ones that failed. We share experiences in dealing with regulators and auditors, and continually work to promote and enhance service to the claimants. This focus on communication has become a hallmark of FASI and is a significant benefit to our members.

FASI membership has ebbed and waned like a gulf tide over the years; there have been storms followed by placid and calm seas. In many ways, it has closely mimicked the rise and fall of the commercial workers' compensation insurance market. Some members have steadfastly held the tiller and, having once become self-insured, have continued that course.

Service partnerships have been integral to the success of the association. The insurance industry, excess carriers, and their agents and brokers have also played a role in the support of self-insurance. There have been some internal struggles, but dedication by all the stakeholders has kept the friction to a healthy level and promoted some needed changes over time.

Our Future

In recent times, we have attempted to change our focus from primarily workers' compensation to include the other lines of self-insurance available to Florida employers. Some public-sector members have elected to self-insure many of their liability exposures, such as automobile, general liability, even employment practice liability. Private-sector employers have also elected self-insurance to gain more control over their losses and costs; in some instances, companies have moved to self-insure their health coverages.

As we observe our 40th year, I wish a very happy anniversary to our members and encourage those who are not familiar with our organization to learn more about us. New or expanding employers opting to self-insure could help ease the pains of recession and stabilize Florida's economy. Now that is something we all could celebrate, not matter what our age!

Gail Shuffler is the 2008-2009 president of the Florida Association of Self Insurance. She is employed by the City of Tallahassee. Information about the organization is available at www.fasi-fl.org.