Batch Submission for Insurers
Insurers have two options for filing policy data through the MSLA Surplus Lines Information Portal (SLIP): (1) enter policy and transaction data manually, or (2) submit policy data as a single XML file through HTTP. Insurers reporting a relatively small number of policies are ideal candidates for manual entry in SLIP, while those reporting numerous policies may prefer to submit data in a batch format.
Please select SLIP from the main menu to enter policy data manually. Assistance with entering policy and transaction data manually is available through the SLIP Help menu.
The XML (Extensible Markup Language) Import method will allow insurers to submit policy data in a single batch process. Please refer to the XML Export Format & Schema for Insurers section on the right for detailed information regarding how to report the policy data as a single XML file.
The purpose of this documentation is to prepare architects, designers and developers with computer programming experience to prepare batch files for submission to MSLA. We assume the reader has an understanding of the XML and HTTP protocols.
We recommend testing new XML files on the SLIP TEST website to ensure validity prior to official submission through https://slip.msla.org. Contact MSLA for a link, username, and password to SLIP Test.
Note: The system will not accept Microsoft Excel files saved as XML Data or XML Spreadsheet file types. Please follow the format described in the XML Export Format & Schema for Insurers to create an XML file from your database.
Important: Starting Q1 2024, insurers will need to report either the name and license number of the agent or the agency name and MSLA number of the licensed agency under their respective data field. There will be no option for reporting a broker via SLIP or via XML batch submission.
Please refer to the following resources:
Agencies are assigned unique MSLA Agency Numbers in SLIP for identification purposes. Agency numbers are listed online.
Agency policies reported without corresponding MSLA Agency ID numbers will be rejected.
Batch submission alternatives to agency data include (1) agent data (surplus lines license number is required), or (2) other data (address details are required).
The ZIP file should only contain policy data for the insurer logging into SLIP.
The ZIP file should include a single XML file for the insurer. The XML file must contain data for one or more entities (agent, agency, or other contact) with one or more policies. Policy data must include the related agent or agency details.
ZIP files containing anything other than one XML file will be rejected.
The MSLA batch submission process allows insurers to efficiently report a large amount policy data. The process and related documentation assumes the XML developer has computer programming experience and is familiar with XML and HTTP protocols.
Individuals with no computer programming experience may better-served entering policy data manually through the SLIP. Insurers will find instructions for this method in the SLIP under the Search/Submit screen in the Help Files.
No. The system will not accept Microsoft Excel files saved as XML Data or XML Spreadsheet file types. Please follow the format described in the XML Export Format & Schema for Insurers to create the XML file from your database.
You may test your XML file through a special version of SLIP, which was designed for testing purposes only. Please contact MSLA for a link, username, and password to SLIP Test.
