• How to create Assigned Risk/NCCI policies in Ascend

• Payment timeframes

• Assigned Risk FAQs

An assigned risk policy is an insurance policy provided through a state-mandated program for individuals or businesses that are unable to obtain coverage in the regular insurance market due to high risk. These policies can be processed through Ascend, however, they require a different workflow than standard policies.

To create an assigned risk policy in Ascend, these are the steps:

1. First create the policy within the relevant provider portal (ex: NCCI), and designate Ascend (support@useascend.com) as the Third Party Payer.

   • Make sure to select pay in full - you'll create the finance plan later through Ascend.

2. Create the program in Ascend and send our payment link to your insured.

   • Enter 0% in the commission field, as Assigned Risk carriers won't bind the policy without full payment.

3. Have the insured pay through the Ascend payment link immediately, otherwise the policy may be cancelled by the carrier and you'll have to re-quote.

   • Ascend will pay the Third Party Payer link after the insured's payment has cleared - see Payment Timeframes below.

4. Send the Third Party Payer payment link to support@useascend.com.

5. Contact Ascend again with the relevant carrier's information once a carrier has been assigned to the policy.

The insured has two payment options, which have different processing times:

• Credit Card (recommended): processed instantly

• ACH transfer: processed in 3-5 business days

Since Assigned Risk policy payments are time sensitive, we recommend your insured pays via credit card for fastest processing. Once the insured's payment is fully processed, Ascend will pay through the Third Party Payer link within one business day.

Yes, financing is available as long as the policies meet our financing requirements. When creating Assigned Risk policies you must select "pay in full" in the carrier portal - the financing plan (if available) will be through Ascend not the carrier. When the insured pays the downpayment in Ascend, we will fund the gross premium to the carrier.

Two payment links will be generated - the link that is created in Ascend is the one you send to the insured for payment. The link that is created by the provider (ex: NCCI) is for Ascend to pay after the insured's payment to us clears.

Ascend will always pay Assigned Risk policies in full, even when the policy is financed.

Cancellations for Assigned Risk policies are the same as standard policies. You can read more about cancellations and refunds here.

Renewals for Assigned Risk policies are the same as standard policies. You can read more about renewals here.