Insurance Incorporated

I’m sure most of you can tell that summer is just around the corner, and the season hosts an array of fun-filled activities, such as, barbques and swimming. Summer is also responsible for an American tradition: road trips. Although rising gas prices may slow down this tradition this Summer, here are some tips to have a safe and successful road trip:

Check your fluid levels
There are various car fluids that should be checked before a road trip. You should check your vehicle to have the right amoutn of antifreeze, engine oil, power steering, brake, transmission, as well as, windshield washer fluid.

Look for leaks
Check for any suspicious leaks that might be on your car. Check your driveway to see if there is anything on the ground that could be from your car. You want to especially check if there are any leaks on the gas tank. This could really put a dent on your wallet!

Check the air filter
A clogged air filter can cause up to a 10% decrease in fuel economy. Make sure you have a clean air filter in place.

Check all seat belts and car/booster seats
Make sure all of your seatbelts are in working order. If you are traveling with a child, make sure the booster seat/child restraint are propely installed.

Plan your trip in advance
You want to plan ahead and take the time to map out your course. Make sure you choose the most direct route to your destination. Always have a map or GPS handy just in case you find yourself not knowing where you are.

Observe the speed limit
Make sure you drive at the legal speed limit. This not only saves money on gas, but also helps to keep you and your loved ones safe.

First aid kit and roadside assistance kit
It is really important to keep a first aid kit and roadside assitance kit ready. Accidents can happen at any time, and the best thing anyone can do is prepare for one when it does come. Make sure to pack extra water, blanket, cell phone charger, flashlight, non-perishable food, battery-operated radio and extra batteries in case of an emergency.

Pack a cooler
To avoid multiple food stops, fill a cooler with pop, water and snacks. This will not only help you save time, it will also help you save money!

Entertainment
If you are traveling with children, it is good to keep them entertained on your long road trip. Bring portable DVD players, music cd’s, handheld electronic games, etc. The long road trip could be tiring on your kids, so entertainment will help make the trip more bearable, not just for you, but for your children as well.

Proof of auto insurance
The more miles you drive, you increase your chances are of getting into an accident. Make sure you have the proper insurance in place. You want to make sure you have the right coverages.

Being underinsured is one of the worst predicaments one can see themselves in when it comes to homeowners insurance. That’s why it is important to take the time and review your homeowners insurance at least 1-2 times a year. In doing so, it prevents any unpleasant surprises when a loss occurs (when amount of coverage matters most). There are a few occurrences that should trigger the time for a policy review, such as, your renewal date, major improvements to your home, and major lifestyle change.

Policy Renewal – When your policy renews, it is a good time for you to review your coverages. Take the time and call your insurance agent to discuss things matter. Here are a few questions you can ask when reviewing your policy:

1. Has the company made any changes since last year?
2. Should I raise my deductible?
3. Am I taking advantage of all the available discounts?
4. Do I need to raise the limits on the dwelling? Liability? Personal possessions?
5. Do I need flood, earthquake, or an umbrella policy?

Major Improvements to Your Home – If you have done any improvements to the home, such as, adding another room, improved flooring, rebuilt kitchen, etc., you want to make sure you have the proper amount of coverage that will reflect the increase of building costs from the improvements.

Burgler/Fire Alarm Installation – If you have installed a new fire and/or burgler alarm, you may qualify for a discount. Check with your insurance agent to make sure.

Major Lifestyle Change – Marriage, divorce, addition of children are just some examples of major lifestyle changes that should trigger a policy review. With these changes comes increased value of property, such as, personal belongings, and increase of needed protection.

The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) declared Mainstay Business Solutions to be in default for failing to pay its self insured workers comp claims.  The (DIR) has revoked Mainstay Business Solutions Certificate to Self Insure effective April 18th.  The permissably, self insured professional employer organization (PEO) was essentially shut down by the Employment Development Department earlier this month in a dispute over employment taxes.  The dispute revolves around $16.4 million that EDD claims Mainstay owes for unemployment taxes, interest and penalties. Mainstay disputed that amount, but admitted earlier through its outside public relations counsel that it does owe the state millions.

All assets and liabilities of Mainstay Business Solutions have been ordered to be turned over to the Self-Insurer’s Security Fund who will begin paying claims by no later thant 30 days.

Employers that rely upon Mainstay may find themselves scrambling to replace workers compensation coverage and revise their employment and payroll structure. Employers should be cautious when selecting a Workers Compensation carrier and verify the financial status of the carrier or PEO prior to choosing a policy or plan.

In order for a child to be exempt from a surcharge on a child only health insurance  plan  the child must enroll within the month of their birthdates or have had prior continuous coverage during the 90 day period prior to submitting the application to be exempt from the surcharge.

Enrolling outside of an enrollment period may result in higher rates. as much as 20% for a period not greater than 12 months if the applicant did not have continuous coverage during the 90 days prior to the date of the application and is not a late enrollee compared to the rates available during an open enrollment period. 

Applicant may also qualify for late enrollment if they meet other qualifying events. Those events include:

* Loss of coverage due to:

1. Termination or change in employment status of the child or the person whom the child was cvovered

2. Death, of the person through whom the child was covered

3. Cessation of employers contribution.

4. Legal separation or divorce

5. Loss of coverage under Healthy Families Program, Access for Infants and Mothers Program or Medi-Cal Program

6. The adoption of a child.

* The child became a resident of California during a month that was not the childs birth month

*The child is born as a resident of California and did not enroll in the month of birth

* The child is mandated to be covered pursuant to a valid state or federal court order

* The child is within 63 days from their date of birth or adoption

Please note that children must apply for coverage within 63 days from the qualifying event in order to be considered a late enrollee.

For more informationcontact one of our offices in Southern California (City of Industry, Fillmore or Riverside) for a free quote call our office at 877-898-9333

According to the Insurance Services Office and Insurance Informaton Institute, 3 states make up a 1/3 of the sum of all catatrophic losses since 1980! Check out this chart for a visual conception:

Maybe more can be done directed towards these THREE states? These losses are driven mainly by hurricanes. However, with the amount of earthquake activity in California, these numbers may soon change.

Its already covered.

Even the best homeowners policy may be limited in the protection of your valuables.  Generally homeowners policies have limits of $1,000 – $2,000 maximum on jewelry and coverage is limited.  A personal articles or jewelry policy provides broader coverage for theft, mysterious disapperance or damaged and offer higher limits of insurance.

It’s too expensive

Standard coverage for jewelry worn regularly costs one to two percent of the items appraised value. If you typically keep it in a bank vault the rates are considerably less, about one third the cost.  You are only charged the higher rate when you take your jewelry out of the vault.

It’s too much work

The prospect of obtaining appraisals for all your jewelry can seem daunting. Some carriers only require appraisals on items valued at $50,000 or more. A good description  and estimated value may suffice.

My Jewelry isn’t vulnerable.

Perhaps you have taken extra efforts to protect your jewelry, including the installation of a home security system and periodic maintenance with a professional jeweler. But there is still risk. Every year, nearly $1 Billion of jewelry disappears in the United States, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice. By itemizing your jewelry with a personal articles policy you don’t have to worry about an accidental loss, chipped or stolen item since a personal articles policy covers these perils. A Homeowners policy may not cover mysterious disappearance or damage.

For more information or a quote on jewelry, fine arts, musical instruments or stamp and coin collection contact our office at 877-898-9333 or log into www.insuranceinc.com for more information

Our agency will donate $20 to the Riverside Poly High School Marching Band when you insure with us!

How does your insurance company stack up with Mercury Insurance?

Contact us today for a fast, free quote to see how much you can save! If you are a college graduate don’t forget to ask about additional discounts!

Call 877-898-9333 or log onto www.insuranceinc.com today for more information!

Graduating from college is a huge accomplishment. In fact in 2007 only 29% of all Americans had earned a bachelors degree. So attaining a college degree puts you in a pretty exclusive club and hopefully, better prepares you for the exciting life ahead.  One downside to leaving campus and entering the “Real world” is losing your school sponsored health insurance benefits. So what is a new grad to do?

Unless you have a job lined up that offers benefits, you will need to find a way to cover yourself. Sure it’s easy to opt out of health coverage as you are probably a young health kid. But this is not a wise decision.

While you are in search of a new career you can get health benefits through your parents until age 26 under the new Obamacare. You can also consider going out and finding your own coverage. By utilizing the resources of Insurance Incorporated, an indpendent insurance agency, you can shop the top carriers in the country with one phone call to find you health coverage that is affordable and reliable. Our dedicated agents will take the time to find you a policy that you are comfortable with.

Contact us today at www.insuranceinc.com

Whats new at Insurance Incorporated you ask–well this month, we’re giving away 4 field level tickets to an Angel game! It’s easy to participate, just simply fill out our quick contest form. Drawings will be held on April 2nd, 2011.

How do you feel about your current auto, home, or business policy? Has it been updated recently to coordinate with any changes that have happened in the last year? Are you comfortable with your coverage? Do you think you could be getting a better value?

While you’re at insuranceinc.com to enter for a chance to win 4 tickets to the Angels game why not grab a free quote to see if we could be saving you more!

According to the California Earthquake Authority, “the tragic tsunamis and Magnitude 8.9 earthquake that have struck Japan – the fifth largest quake in the world since 1900 – are a stark reminder that earthquakes can happen any time and it’s essential to prepare.”

Boston-based catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide’s most recent statement, based on “currently available information, estimates that insured property losses from the Mw9.1 earthquake that struck Japan on Friday will range between 1.2 trillion JPY to 2.8 trillion JPY. Using today’s exchange rate of 81.85 JPY to the dollar, this translates to a range of between $15 billion and $35 billion.”

It is hard to bear the traumatic event that occured in Japan. It’s a reality-check of what could happen to virtually anyone, and not everyone is prepared to face such a tragic ordeal, which is why, it is a lesson learned for us Californians to be prepared. “Preparing for earthquakes is critical, not just in California but in all the other seismic regions throughout the United States,” CEA CEO Glenn Pomeroy said. “The simple truth is that our country is not adequately prepared for the destruction – and financial devastation – from the “Big One” that strikes closer to home.”

According to the Insurance Journal, “California houses two-thirds of the nation’s earthquake risk,with most residents living within 30 miles of a major fault. But just 12 percent of homes with fire insurance also have earthquake coverage.” We see the destructive damage that earthquakes can cause, so it is most important that we really consider purchasing earthquake insurance, as they have said, the “big one” is coming.

Earthquake insurance can be purchased through CEA or we could be of assistance. Here at Insurance Incorporated we offer many markets that have earthquake coverage. Keep in mind, your homeowners policy does not cover damages caused by earthquakes and floods. They are their own seperate policies!