User Preferences

Contact Information

When clicking the Settings tab, the user is taken to the Contact Information screen of the User Preferences section.

The Contact Information contains the address, email, and phone number of the SERFF user. Users can update their contact information at any time and will be prompted to review it each time they change their password.

Users must enter the required fields, denoted by an asterisk. To continue to the SERFF Workspace, users should click the Save button. To view or edit other settings, click the desired link or tab.

Message Settings

Users can also indicate which messages they wish to receive in the Message Settings section of the User Preferences. Simply move the types of messages to receive from the left box to the right box and click Save. Existing messages will not be deleted.

User Preferences

Each state user has two additional preference settings. The first is Selected State Instance. This setting allows a user with access to multiple instances to move between them. If a user has only one instance available, the system will default to that instance. To change the selected instance, the user clicks the drop down and chooses an instance. They will be directed to that instance immediately. The current instance for the user always displays just below the user name on the upper right-hand corner of the SERFF Workspace.

The state user may also choose a Default Business Type of Property & Casualty or Life, Accident/Health, Annuity, Credit. This setting is optional, but saves the user steps in areas of the application where a Business Type selection can be made.

Instance Preferences

Instance Preferences define state specific options for using SERFF. Most of the preferences here can be set by a State Configuration Manager, but a few must be set by the SERFF Help Desk.

Settings

The Settings section of the Instance Preference contains the following options for states:

• Profile - This section contains the Instance Name, State Name, and Prefix for the state instance. These are set by the SERFF Help Desk.
• Single company flags - If set to 'Yes', companies will not be able to submit multi-company filings for the corresponding Business Type.
• Disposition by Primary Reviewer - If set to 'Yes', filings can only be closed by a Filing Manager or the Primary Reviewer on a filing.
• Use State TOI Information - When enabled, states can set their own TOI and Sub-TOI on filings. See Lesson 4 in the user manual for more information.
• License Check Required & View of License Permitted - Available to SBS states only. Contact the SERFF Help Desk for more information.
• Non-Bypassable Requirements Allowed - This setting allows states to mark some requirements as non-bypassable by industry. The setting must be enabled by the SERFF Help Desk.
• Compact Participant - This flag must be set by the SERFF Help Desk and indicates whether a state instance is part of the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact.
• Default Business Type - An indicator of whether the current instance is for Property & Casualty, Life/Accident/Health, or both.
• Prohibit Note to Reviewer on Closed Filings - If set to 'Yes', companies will be unable to send a Note to Reviewer on a closed filing.
• Allow State Rate Data - If set to 'Yes', states are able to create state rate data that the industry does not see.
• HFAI Comment Period Limit - If left blank, the HFAI Comment Period will be set for an unlimited number of days. If a number greater than �0� is entered, the HFAI Comment Period will only be open for that specified number of days. The HFAI Comment Period begins on the date a filing is submitted to the state.
• Allow Anonymous HFAI Comments - If set to 'Yes', HFAI users will have the option to submit a comment to the state and opt not to have their name appear with their comment if posted to HFAI. State users will always see the submitter�s name within SERFF.
• Post-Submission Update Setting - If set to 'None', companies will not be able to submit Post-Submission Updates. If set to 'Open', companies will only be able to submit Post-Submission Updates on open filings. If set to 'Open and Closed', companies will be able to submit Post-Submission Updates on all filings.
• Post-Submission Update Setting Comment - This field is provided for states to supply information regarding their policy on Post-Submission Updates.

Status Options

The Status Options are state specific keywords used to assist the state in managing their filings. In addition, these status indicators communicate the progress of a filing to the Industry Filer.

Objection Letter Text

Objection Letter Text is used to create introductions and conclusions that are automatically added to an Objection Letter. This eliminates the need to type an introduction and closing or copy and paste from other sources. Objection Letter introductions and conclusions can be edited as needed.

There is no need to include salutations; SERFF will automatically include them when the state creates the Objection Letter.

EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) Options

Electronic Funds Transfer allows states to receive filing fees instantly and eliminates the need to match paper checks to filings. EFT implementation is optional for both state and companies.

EFT must be set up by the SERFF Implementation team. Contact the SERFF Help Desk for more information.

State Specific Fields

The Filing Fields button allows states to add state specific fields to their electronic and paper Filings. States can use these fields to capture information not already part of a SERFF filing. These fields appear on the State Specific tab of a filing.

Simply enter the field label desired into one of the available spaces. The industry filer will complete the electronic fields prior to submission of the filing. Paper fields will be completed by the state when processing the paper filing.

Public Access

This section is where states can configure settings that will assist them is marking their filings to be available through SERFF Public Access.

• Support Confidentiality - Set to 'Yes' to allow filers to mark that filings or parts of filings are requested to be confidential. States will be override their request as needed. If set to 'No', filers will not be allowed to make such a request.
• Confidentiality Policy Explanation - This field is provided for states to supply information regarding when and how they make filings available to the public. Properly formatted hyperlinks will work in this field. The field is required if the Support Confidentiality flag is set to 'No'.
• Default Public Access - Expanded in v5.4, these settings allow the state to indicate when a filing will become public so that SERFF can assist or automate in marking that filing.
  • If set to 'None', the application will take no actions.
  • If set to 'Upon Submission', all new filings and additions to filings will be marked Public Access at the time they are submitted. This includes Correspondence. States can unmark parts of filings as needed. Filings or part of filings marked confidential will be not marked Public Access automatically.
  • If set to 'At Disposition', the state will be prompted to indicate one or more Disposition Status options that would indicate a filing is to become Public Access. The system will automatically mark filings with this Disposition Status as Public Access when the Disposition is submitted.
• Schedule Item Prior Version Public Access? - If set to 'Yes', prior versions of schedule items will be marked for Public Access. If set to 'No', prior versions of schedule items will not be marked for Public Access.
• Reviewer Notes Public Access? - This setting helps the state indicate whether or not Reviewer Notes should be automatically marked as Public Access.