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| Q: |
What are my coverage options? |
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Our agents have a wide range of coverage available, as well as an array of choices for limits and deductibles. If you own a small or large business, our agents will help you in tailoring a business package policy that may be more appropriate to you. Consider enhancing the basic coverage with specialty markets. |
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| Q: |
What are the benefits of Commercial Auto Insurance? |
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- Liability Coverage: In case you’re sued as a result of an auto accident.
- Collision Coverage: Helps cover physical damage to your vehicle due to collision or upset.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Helps cover physical damage to your vehicle due to fire, theft and glass breakage.
- Rental Reimbursement Coverage: Helps cover the cost of a replacement vehicle for a specified period of time when your vehicle is disabled due to an insured loss.
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| Q: |
What are the benefits of Workers Compensation Insurance? |
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Workers compensation insurance provides for the well being of your employee's and promotes a positive work environment. Be aware that some states have passed laws that makes Workers Compensation mandatory once a business expands to four or more employees on payroll. Workers compensation insurance was created in order to pay employees. medical expenses and loss of wages in the event of a job related injury or sickness. |
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| Q. |
What are the benefits of Business Owners Insurance? |
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Commercial insurance is designed to help protect many of the risks your business can face, including:
- damage or destruction to your business vehicles
- certain liability exposures resulting from the operation of your business vehicles
- damage or destruction to your office equipment or inventory
- loss of income in case you have to close-up shop temporarily because of a covered loss
- certain business related liability exposures such as, wrongful entry or search, libel, slander and even certain offenses arising out of your business’s advertising
- risks to your cargo while in transit or storage
- theft or loss of tools and equipment
- crime coverage including robbery, burglary, even employee dishonesty
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| Q: |
What are the Benefits of Liability Insurance? |
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General Liability Coverage includes:
- Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: Help protect you incase injuries occur to other people resulting from your operations.
- Property Damage Liability Coverage: Protection incase damage occurs to the property of others.
- Personal Injury Liability Coverage: Helps provide you with protection for offenses such as false arrest, libel, slander and wrongful entry.
- Advertising Injury Liability Coverage: Helps cover your legal liability for a variety of offenses arising out of the advertising of your business’s goods and services.
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about Individual Health Insurance? |
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"Health insurance" also known as .disability insurance. is insurance of human beings against bodily injury, disablement, or death by accident or accidental means. |
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about Group Health Insurance? |
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A group plan in one that is sponsored by an employer, association or other organization, as opposed to an individual or family. With the employee given the option to include other family members at employee expense. |
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about Managed Care Insurance: HMO, PPO, & and POS plans? |
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An HMO provides comprehensive health services to its members for a prepaid fixed fee, equivalent to an insurance premium. A PPO differs from an HMO in that the PPO has no separate physical facility in which to see patients. Patients visit their family physician and community hospital as they normally would, and if these service providers have contracts with the PPO, services will be paid for by the PPO at the contracted rates. |
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| Q: |
Do I need Hospital Insurance in addition to my current health insurance policy? |
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Depending upon the coverage being applied. Review the policy provision with your agent for additional information. |
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about Indemnity Insurance? |
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A principle of insurance which provides that when a loss occurs, the insured should be restored to the approximate financial condition occupied before the loss occurred, no better no worse. |
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| Q: |
What is Disability Insurance? |
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Line of insurance, which included coverages that are designed to protect the insured against a loss of income resulting from or sickness. |
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| Q: |
What is Long Term Care Insurance? |
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Long-term care refers to a broad range of medical and personal care services designed to assist individuals who have lost their ability to perform activities of daily living without assistance. In such cases, long-term care insurance provides coverage for both medical and non-medical services provided in a patient's home, a nursing home, or an assisted living facility. Unlike Medicare or most private health insurance plans, which pay primarily for hospital stays or doctor visits, long-term care helps pay for the cost involved in providing assistance with activities of daily living. |
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about Homeowners Insurance? |
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It is where you live and where your possessions are. Chances are, it's your asset. But more than possessions and assets, it's your home and you need protect it. Property insurance helps provide peace of mind. |
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about Condominium Insurance? |
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Owning a condominium puts you in a unique position. Unique because you have both common and individual insurance needs. Odds are, your condominium association has an insurance policy for common areas, like the building exterior and walkways. You're still responsible for insuring your interests such as your personal property, yourself from liability and your guest's medical protection.
Your Association
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How do I know how much coverage my association carries?
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Are there parts of the building or property they don't insure?
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What are my insurance responsibilities?
Your Home
- How much would it cost to repair the inside of my home if it were damaged?
- How can I make my home safer and possibly save money?
Your Property
You and Your Guests
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What additional protection can I get for special assessments?
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What additional protection can I purchase for my personal property such as: jewelry, electronic equipment, cellular phones and other special items?
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How often should I reevaluate my coverages?
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Should I get flood insurance?
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Do I need or have reimbursement for additional living expenses if I can't live in my home due to loss?
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I'm getting married, can I get additional protection to cover wedding presents and other personal property I receive?
Enjoy peace of mind knowing your unique insurance needs are understood. Discover what discounts are available for condo owners. |
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about Renters Insurance, and what does it cover? |
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You might think, "Why do I need insurance, I'm renting?" Well, even though your landlord probably has an insurance policy on your building, you'll need to protect your personal interests too. And it only costs a little to protect a lot. Renter's insurance is less costly than you might think.
Your Property
You and Your Guests
Your Coverages
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What additional coverages are available for my personal property such as: sports equipment, electronic data processing equipment, jewelry or other valuables?
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Do I have an inventory and photographs of my personal possessions?
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I'm getting married, can I get additional protection to cover wedding presents and other personal property I receive?
Your Money
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| Q: |
Do I need flood Insurance? |
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Over 90% of all presidential-declared disasters in the United States are flood related. Leveling forests, overbuilding the land, and increasing use of asphalt all reduce the soil's natural ability to absorb excess water, compounding the risk of disastrous flooding. Most homeowner, renter, landlord and business insurance polices exclude coverage for flooding. |
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| Q: |
Do I need Earthquake Insurance? |
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If you live in an Earthquake zone. Yes! Typically most homeowners insurance insurance coverage would apply as rider. If it is not available under your homeowners insurance you will need to buy a separate policy. |
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| Q: |
How can I protect my Home Office? |
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Commercial insurance is designed to help protect many of the risks your business can face, including:
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Damage or destruction to your business vehicles.
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Certain liability exposures resulting from the operation of your business vehicles.
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Damage or destruction to your office equipment or inventory.
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Loss of income in case you have to close-up shop temporarily because of a covered loss.
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Certain business related liability exposures such as, wrongful entry or search, libel, slander and even certain offenses arising out of your business's advertising.
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Risks to your cargo while in transit or storage.
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Theft or loss of tools and equipment.
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Crime coverage including robbery, burglary, even employee dishonesty.
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about Auto Insurance? |
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Choosing the auto insurance requires consideration of many factors - Take into account everything you own and the reasons to protect them. The year of the vehicle and actual cash value of it also can help in determining the right coverage for your auto. Contact one of our agents and we will tell you which coverage options are optional and what are not. We will also identify the coverage that is important for you to carry depending on you circumstances and not ours; hence you will receive the quote you have always been looking for. |
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| Q: |
What should I do if I'm in an accident? |
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Stay Calm. Determine the injuries and or damage.
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Call the police. File an accident report and obtain medical assistance if needed.
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Limit Discussion. Talk only with the police or your insurance agent. Don't admit liability or fault on the scene of the accident.
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Get the facts. Write down names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance companies of individuals involved, and witnesses.
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Call your insurance agent to report the accident.
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| Q: |
How do I file an Insurance Claim? |
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Call your Insurance agent or Insurance Company "Claims Hotline" as soon as possible. Getting your agent's help, may speed things along. |
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about Motorcycle Insurance? |
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You need an insurance policy that is tailored in your needs in mind. Take liability for example. Guest passenger liability helps protect you bodily injury to a passenger on your motorcycle if you have an at fault accident. Protect your bike also by purchasing collision and or comprehensive coverage. You can also tailor your policy to include towing, rental reimbursement, and labor coverage.
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| Q: |
What do I need to know about RV Insurance? |
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Your motor home can be both your transportation and your home away from home. So like your auto and your home, you need to safeguard it with the proper insurance protection. Consider the risks you face when and where you use your motor home. Consider the high cost of repairs to your motor home if it were damaged and even towing expenses, which can run hundreds of dollars. |
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What do I need to know about Watercraft Insurance? |
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You need separate coverage for the variety of risks you face when storing, launching, hauling or running your seaworthy vessel. Boats, and other watercrafts can be large investments, and like any good investment they should be insured. Also protect yourself in case of accidents with good liability coverage. |
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| Q: |
What are the basic coverages provided by standard office insurance package policies? |
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- Fire and theft coverage on office equipment and inventory.
- Trip & fall and lawsuit coverage, in the event someone claims that something you did caused them to become injured.
- Lots of other related benefits, often utilized by small businesses. Two examples are:
- Certificates Of Insurance
- Additional Insured Endorsements
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| Q: |
What's the difference between General Liability and Professional Liability Insurance? |
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The two main types of liability insurance for professionals are General Liability insurance and Professional Liability insurance. Both coverages are important to properly protect a professional organization from financial loss.
General Liability insurance will protect an organization in the event the insured causes bodily injury or property damage to others and becomes legally obligated to pay damages. Liability for Bodily Injury can occur when a physical injury to a person is caused by third party. Liability for Property Damage can occur when a third party causes direct or indirect damage (such as loss of use of property) to another person's property.
General liability insurance is standardized and relatively easy to obtain. It is often provided in a package policy with other coverages, sometimes called a business office package policy. Most general liability policies issued to professional organizations contain exclusions for professional liability claims.
Professional Liability insurance is designed to provide coverage to professionals for claims arising out of their professional activities or services provided to clients. It is also called errors and omissions insurance or E&O (or medical malpractice for doctors). Coverage is typically provided by stand-alone professional liability policies and includes coverage for the defense costs associated with a claim. Coverage is not usually provided for intentional or dishonest acts. |
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| Q: |
What's the difference between Claims Made and Occurrence Policies? |
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There are two primary forms of liability insurance policies - claims-made and occurrence policies. Most professional liability insurance, including directors and officers and employment practices liability insurance, is written on a claims-made basis.
An occurrence policy obligates the insurance company to pay for claims arising out of occurrences during the policy period regardless of when the claim is reported. The policyholder is covered for any incident that occurs during the term of the policy regardless of when the claim arising from the incident is reported to the company. In some situations the claim might be made many years after the incident occurred. This leads to uncertainty for both the insured and the insurer.
A claims-made policy protects an insured against claims or incidents that are reported while the policy is in force. Normally, a claims made policy provides coverage for acts occurring prior to the claims-made policy period. Coverage for acts occurring prior to the policy period is called "prior acts coverage," and the period prior to the policy period for which claims are covered is called the prior acts period. Prior acts coverage is usually only provided when a claims-made policy has been in force immediately prior to the current claims-made policy on a basis consistent with the prior policy. Prior acts coverage is defined as "full prior acts", covering acts occurring at any time prior to the current policy period, or is defined by a "retroactive date." When a retroactive date is used, prior acts coverage is provided from the retroactive date to the current policy period.
"Tail coverage," also called an "extended reporting period," provides protection for claims that are filed after a claims-made policy has been non-renewed or canceled. This coverage is optional, and the need can arise if the professional organization is acquired or goes out of business, or a decision is made not to purchase insurance. The terms and pricing for tail coverage vary greatly and are usually defined in the policy. |
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| Q: |
What should I look for when shopping for insurance coverage? |
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What are the principal risks being insured? Is it business interruption, property damage due to fire or flood, employee claims for harassment or unlawful discharge, director and officer liability? The list can grow quickly. You must be sure the policies you have cover the risks identified.
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Do your insurance policies fully cover the risk? Are your coverage limits high enough? What are the deductibles? Will losses at separate facilities or at separate times be considered a single loss or multiple losses for purposes of the coverage limits and deductibles? Are there exclusions that preclude coverage? Is the policy an occurrence policy or a claim made policy? If a claim is made, is there a retroactive date? Do the costs of defending a claim, if borne by the insurer, reduce the total limits available to cover claims?
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If there are gaps in coverage, can they be filled? Different insurance companies use different language in their policies. A recent review of several director and officer liability policies for a client found that coverage for negligent misstatements related to the sale of shares in a cooperative was expressly excluded in some policies and not in others. Many insurers are willing to negotiate endorsements to their policies that broaden coverage, usually for an increased premium. The trick is to recognize there is a deficiency and ask for the extended coverage.
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Will the policy be handy when a claim comes in? Every company should establish a means of keeping insurance policies forever. The increase of pollution claims has given rise to a cottage industry in reconstructing insurance policies, often going back decades, where businesses have failed to keep copies of their policies. Purchasing insurance is complex and not to be taken lightly. Take the time to carefully review your company's coverage requirements. Seek the guidance of experienced professionals. Working with a knowledgeable insurance broker and seasoned insurance counsel will go a long way to preparing your company for any contingency.
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| Q: |
What are Return to Work Programs? |
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A Return to Work (RTW) program is an important component in a Workers' Compensation Management Program, second only to an Accident Prevention Program. Once an injury has occurred, the goal of a RTW program should be to return the injured employee to work as quickly as possible. To accomplish that, the employee's job may have to be reevaluated considering the following two alternatives:
Modified Work: The employee returns to his original job, but some restrictions are placed on the job by the treating physician. Restrictions may include reducing the amount of work time, and/or restricting certain activities such as bending or lifting. Modified Work is also referred to as Light Duty.
Temporary Alternate Work: The employee returns to work, but because the original job cannot be modified to conform with the physician's restrictions, he or she performs another job that accommodates the injured employee's abilities.
An RTW program is beneficial to both management and employees. Such a program:
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Allows an injured employee to continue to be productive and to contribute to the company.
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Maintains communications between injured employees and management.
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Reinforces the company's interest and concern for an injured employee.
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Improves communications between company, the employee and the treating physician.
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Discourages malingering.
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Reduces the disability associated with an injury and its related costs.
Another benefit of developing a RTW program is that it helps a company comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. By following the steps listed below, specifically those in Job Descriptions, the essential components of each job will be identified and classified. This will help management identify jobs which potential employees with disabilities may be able to perform.
Steps to a Successful RTW Program
Top Management Support and Commitment:
In order for a RTW program to be successful, it is imperative that management make a firm commitment to "drive home" the need of the program and its benefits to all employees. Once the program has been developed, management should develop a strategy for communicating its enthusiasm for the program throughout the company.
Job Descriptions:
A written description should be developed for all present jobs as well as potential alternate jobs. The description should include a listing of the job's essential functions, the location where it is performed, length of shift, etc. Job functions such as lifting, carrying, bending, walking, standing, and other repetitive motions should be classified according to severity and recurrence.
Policies and Procedures:
Top management should develop policies and procedures by which RTW programs will operate. A variety of issues must be addressed, including: Who administers the program, and how is that administrator selected? When can the program be used, and by whom? What sort of forms (job demands, doctor's release to work, standard letters) should be developed? How long should Temporary Alternate Work last? How long should Modified Work last?
Communication and Training:
Once the program is developed, top management must develop a strategy for communicating with employees about the importance of the program and their role in it. This communication may take the form of training for management and supervisors, and group discussions or seminars with employees. Top management may also want to meet with treating physicians or other medical personnel to get their input and involvement.
Follow Up and Evaluation:
Top management should establish a timetable for periodic follow-up and evaluation of the program. This will ensure the program's continued use, identify any incorrect procedures, and reveal concerns that may not have been addressed in the original program. |
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| Q: |
What is E & O insurance? |
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Errors and omissions insurance is coverage that protects those people that give advice, make educated recommendations, design solutions or represent the needs of others. "E & O" is also referred to as Professional Liability or Malpractice Insurance. The original name, Errors and Omissions came from "doing something they shouldn't have done (an error) or not doing something they should have done (an omission)".
Who Needs E&O?
Today, many business trades and professions require the coverage. Teachers, consultants, software developers, ad copywriters, web page designers, placement services, ISP’s, telecommunications carriers, inspectors, realtors, insurance brokers, lawyers, doctors and just about everyone else.
What is the difference between E&O coverage and General Liability coverage?
General Liability is intended to cover physical injury to people or physical damage to things (your product causes physical injury to the user of your product or your client trips over your foot and breaks their face)
E & O is intended to protect you, the consultant or designer, in the event your client alleges that something you did on their behalf was done incorrectly, which resulted in some kind of financial loss or business interruption to your client. Contracts can help to limit your real liability, but the big expense in this kind of claim is the legal defense to prove your true liability or innocence. E & O policies are designed cover many of these defense costs and ultimately the final settlement if you do not prevail.
3rd Party Fidelity Bonds:
REMEMBER: Always refer to your policy and review all papers carefully to be aware of any limitations or exclusions which may apply. Remember, ALL policies contain certain limitations and exclusions, a policy is nothing more than a contract between you and an insurance company. Consult your policy and ask your Agent, just to be certain that you are clear on issues which may affect you. |
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| Q: |
What is the coverage for terrorism and Acts of War? |
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Question: Are "acts of War" covered by normal home and business insurance?
Answer: No, such acts are normally excluded due to the catastrophic nature of war risks. "Catastrophic" risks are those that are so severe that a major occurrence could threaten the solvency of insurance companies.
Question: Are "terrorism acts" considered "acts of war"?
Answer: Usually not. The courts have generally held that "war" can only be conducted between sovereign governments. Acts by a radical political group, without the vestige of sovereignty, can be expected to be covered, but difficulty in identifying the responsible party could complicate coverage issues.
Question: If "warlike actions by a military force" are excluded by many policies, does this mean that actions by guerilla groups are excluded?
Answer: Not necessarily, but the answer may require a thorough investigation into the background of the particular group. If the group was not acting on behalf of a sovereign authority, coverage would probably apply.
Question: What long-term effects might result from terrorist attacks in the United States?
Answer: That remains to be seen, however, if insurance companies expect future acts to occur they may seek specific exclusions on certain kinds of policies.
Question: Will this mean my home owners premium will go up, or a terrorist exclusion will be added?
Answer: Probably not. The acts of Sept. 11, 2001, were against major landmarks known to be possible targets for terrorists. It would be inappropriate for insurance companies to assume average homes and properties would be terrorist targets |
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