Here are Bella and Reagan, my favorite Yorkies getting ready for a road trip! They’ve got their little bandanas, their cozy bed and….their pet insurance! Continue reading “Does Your Pet Need Health Insurance?”
Fires and Floods: 2017 Year in Review
2017 wasn’t very happy for the insurance industry thanks to three nasty grinches named Harvey (in Texas), Irma (in Florida) and Maria (in Puerto Rico). Because coastal development has been so strong over recent decades, these hurricanes could result in total losses of $100 billion! Despite that massive number insurance carriers are not forecast to be overly stressed because only 18-20% Florida and Texas residents have flood insurance, and carriers have their own insurance (called reinsurance) to cover excessive loss. Continue reading “Fires and Floods: 2017 Year in Review”
Vital Data Map is a Great Risk Management Tool and its Free!
Who could forget the scenes of devastation as hundreds of California homes burned to the ground by wildfires? Imagine for a moment driving up to your home and finding everything gone: house, furnishing, computers, files, safe… maybe even your wallet and cell phone. Continue reading “Vital Data Map is a Great Risk Management Tool and its Free!”
What You Need to Know About Health Insurance
Fall will be here soon and with it comes open enrollment for many health plans. Today I’ll cover issues for employers, employees who get insurance at work, individuals who aren’t covered at work and Medicare participants. Before I start, here are some general points to consider: Continue reading “What You Need to Know About Health Insurance”
Motorcycle Accidents | What You Can Do to Help Prevent Them
Did you know that 75% of all motorcycle accidents involve a car or that 67% involve a car driver who fails to see a motorcycle? For most motorcycle accidents, it takes two. It’s no surprise that riding a motorcycle is dangerous: fatality rate per mile driven is 35 times higher than when in a car! Only 25% of motorcycle accidents don’t involve cars, typically slide out on turn from inexperienced riders. So if most motorcycle accidents are caused by car drivers not seeing motorcycles, what can we do?
Continue reading “Motorcycle Accidents | What You Can Do to Help Prevent Them”
Exclusions and Sublimits | What You Need to Know
“Apples to apples” is an idea that affects billions of dollars of insurance advertising spending, even though it doesn’t really work. A more useful phrase is “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. Continue reading “Exclusions and Sublimits | What You Need to Know”
Obamacare Under President Trump | What You Need to Know
This month brings us a new president who has pledged to change the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. The details of the changes are yet unknown, but I wanted to give you some background in case you’re concerned. Continue reading “Obamacare Under President Trump | What You Need to Know”
A Guide International Travel and Your U.S. Insurance Coverage
International travel is one of the most interesting experiences life has to offer. And although terrorism has been in the headlines recently, you are much more likely to be hit by lightning than die in a terrorist attack. In this article I talk about the real risks of international vacations, and the fact that your US insurance coverage may be of limited value overseas. If you are moving or considering buying property overseas, call me because the issues are more complicated. Continue reading “A Guide International Travel and Your U.S. Insurance Coverage”
Protecting Your Adult Children’s Future
Last spring a hummingbird built a nest outside my window so I was able to watch the whole process from egg to first flight. After the new hummingbirds leave the nest the mother spends two days showing them how to get nectar then she chases them off for good to live on their own. If only it were that easy. In this post, I’ll cover liability risk issues related to adult children and steps you can take to protect your assets and theirs. Continue reading “Protecting Your Adult Children’s Future”
Valuable Articles | Making Sure Yours are Properly Insured
As thoughts turn to gift-giving and holiday cheer, it’s a good time to talk about valuable articles, those special objects that represent an expression of love, an appreciation of beauty or a store of value. More specifically, valuable articles are jewelry, fine art, collectibles (like stamps, coins or wine), silver items and furs. Because we have an emotional attachment to our valuable articles it always hurts to lose them, but believe me it will hurt more if they are not properly insured. Continue reading “Valuable Articles | Making Sure Yours are Properly Insured”