Cathy's Insurance Insight

Overdraft "100 Words" - The American Opportunity - Jay Fishman

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Travelers Chairman & CEO Jay Fishman shares his family's American opportunity story.

Avoiding Insurance Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Cash Call with Jean Chatzky featuring Jeanne Salvatore of the Insurance Information Institute.

http://www.iii.org

Save money on car insurance after getting a ticket

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Jeanne Salvatore of the Insurance Information Institute shares tips on how to save money on auto insurance.

For more information about auto insurance, check out http://www.iii.org

Top Wedding Insurance Claims of 2011 Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Vendor/Venue: 31%
The most common vendor- and venue-related problems include flowers and photos not being delivered, DJs not showing up and the facility or vendor going out of business.

“One of our customers booked a venue that flooded and they were unable to have their reception at the location,” says Griffin. “Because the wedding insurance was purchased more than 14 days prior to the event, the coverage helped them recover lost deposits from the flooded location and extra expenses from booking a new facility at the last minute.”

Vandalism/Theft: 13%
Guest made a getaway with your gifts? Wedding theft and vandalism made up 13 percent of wedding insurance claims filed to Travelers in 2011. Coverage can help compensate for those irreplaceable items that are ruined or go missing on your big day.

Sickness/Injury/Mishaps: 19%
According to Travelers, 19 percent of claims were related to key family members such as parents or grandparents being unable to attend a wedding at the last minute due to sickness, untimely death and travel delays.

Top Wedding Insurance Claims of 2011 Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Military deployment: 5%
Military deployment cannot be delayed for a wedding. However, a wedding can be delayed—or even canceled—for military deployment.

Attire: 8%
“We had a bride who purchased her dress and the bridal shop went out of business before she was able to pick it up,” says Gary Griffin, of Travelers. “Since she had wedding insurance, she was able to get a dress of like kind and quality without ruining her wedding budget.”

Weather: 10%
Weather can have an adverse effect on weddings: rain can put a damper on an outdoor wedding, a snowstorm can cause icy conditions and make a venue inaccessible and hurricanes and tornadoes can create catastrophic damage in an area.

Top Wedding Insurance Claims of 2011 Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Anyone who has tied the knot recently knows that the cost of weddings is sky-high. According to The Wedding Report, the total average wedding spending for 2011 was $25,631. That’s a lot of money to invest into an event where so much can go wrong, from flowers not being delivered and DJs not showing up to sickness and catastrophic weather-related events causing cancellations.

Travelers—which offers wedding insurance to cover items such as lost deposits, perishable materials, unavoidable cancellation, lost or damaged photographs, damaged gifts, host liability and more—recently analyzed its wedding insurance claims from 2011 and revealed the top claims.

Unavoidable cancellations: 4%

Sometimes a wedding cancellation is unavoidable—take, for example, the infamous “Runaway Bride” from a few years back. A case of wedding jitters caused Jennifer Wilbanks to disappear four days before her wedding, which was to be a “lavish” affair attended by approximately 600 guests. Cancelling the venue, catering and flowers alone can cost well into thousands of dollars in deposits and lost business.

Young Drivers Know Risks But Text Anyway: Survey

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Most young American drivers agree that it is dangerous to text while driving, but nearly a third admit they do it anyway, a survey by Consumer Reports shows.

While eight in 10 said they knew of the risks, about 29 percent of drivers 16 to 21 said they had used text messaging in the past month, the survey found. And, 47 percent said they had made a phone call while driving, without a headset or other hands-free device.

The same survey showed that 48 percent said they had seen one or both of their parents using a cell phone without a hands-free device.

Nevertheless, last year there were the fewest traffic fatalities in the United States in more than six decades.

The number would have been even lower if not for traffic deaths caused by drivers who were distracted by using a mobile phone or engaged in other types of attention-dividing tasks, said Rebecca Lindland, director of automotive research for IHS Inc.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that in 2010, some 3,092 were killed in “distracted-affected crashes,” or 9.4 percent of all road deaths.

A NHTSA survey earlier this year showed that younger drivers from ages 18 to 20 showed the highest level of phone involvement in crashes or near-crashes. Drivers of this age are three times more likely to read or send an email or text message while driving than those 25 and older, the NHTSA survey found.

Reports of texting while driving drop sharply as age increases, NHTSA said.

The Consumer Reports survey said that half the young drivers survey said they are less likely to text while driving or use a handheld phone while a friend is in the vehicle with them.

A NHTSA observational study found that in the latest two years for which data was available, 2009 and 2010, 5 percent of drivers were seen talking on handheld phones.

Thirty-seven of the 50 U.S. states have totally banned using the keyboard – texting – on a mobile phone or other device while driving, and 10 states have outlawed the use of handheld phones.

The states, along with the District of Columbia, that have banned phone calls while driving – without using a hands-free device – are California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, West Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York and Connecticut.

The Consumer Reports survey questioned 1,049 people ages 16 to 21 and the NHTSA survey from earlier this year questioned 6,000 people of driving age. Both surveys were of U.S. drivers.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Jackie Frank)

Child Proofing Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:30:00 +0000

More than five millions infants and children each year are injured and more than 3,000 die from injuries and accidents that occur not outside the home, but inside. Heather Paul of the National Safe Kids Campaign says the home is really a hazardous place. One third of all deaths of children under the age of 14 occur at home. Appliance cords and table cloths pose hazards, so do telephone cords and window blinds. Toilets, bathtubs and cleaning buckets have been the cause of hundreds of drownings. Psychologist Bonnie Greenberg, says small children go through an oral phase in which they put things in their mouths as one way to learn about their world. According to the Insurance Information Institute, parents need to protect young children by putting dangerous objects out of reach and keeping emergency phone numbers handy.

Preventing Losses

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Regular home maintenance is the best way to prevent losses. Replace loose shingles, clean your gutters and make sure they are secure so that they drain properly, make sure your downspouts are draining water away from your house. Jeanne Salvatore of the Insurance Information Institute says properly maintaining your home to prevent losses is your responsibility. Inside your house, check the hoses to your washer and dishwasher. These hoses should be replaced every five years. Make sure drains in your basement are clear of lint or other obstructions, a common cause of basement flooding. The Insurance Information Institute offers tips to protect your home and prevent costly losses.

Boat Theft

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Don't help boat thieves steal your boat! Always lock your boat and take the keys with you, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Boat theft is big business says Robert Bryant, Institute for Business and Home Safety. Thousands of boats are stolen every year and half of them are recovered. Marine police says that leaving keys in the boat is the biggest mistake boat owners make. So if you like your boat, and most boat owners do, lock it and take your keys with you.

How Can Children Avoid Dog Bites

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0000

There are 4 million dog bites each year and 60% of the victims are children. Dr. Leslie Sinclair of the Humane Society of the U.S. says children often don't respect a dog's boundaries—they expect every dog to be friendly, and although most are some aren't. Dr. Tillman Jolly, an emergency room physician says he sees injuries every year because children often do things that they don't realize are annoying to dogs. The Insurance Information Institute cautions that parents should teach their children not to approach an unknown dog. Allow dogs to sniff you before petting them, never disturb a dog that's eating, sleeping or caring for puppies, don't try to run from a dog, and if one is chasing you, stand like a tree or look like a log. Insurance companies paid out $3.5 billion in claims in 2006 for dog bite claims.

LiveLifeLocal Chance To Win!

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Tell your friends, family and customers that their chance to win ends at 11:59 p.m. April 27

Just copy and paste the message below and send it in an email or post it to your Facebook page or your website.

Share this message
Win a trip for two! Post the fun things you like to do on www.livelifelocal.com and you could win an adventure with actor Ryan McPartlin for you and a guest. But hurry! The sweepstakes ends April 27, 2012.

Trip for two
Safeco Insurance will pay up to $2,500 for one winner and one guest to join McPartlin on an exciting activity chosen from LiveLifeLocal and filmed as part of the series of videos appearing on the website. The prize includes travel, hotel, transportation, meals, activity entry fee, a picture with and autograph of Ryan, and recognition on the LiveLifeLocal website.

Ryan McPartlin
Best known for his role as Devon "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb on "Chuck" and most recently appearing in "CSI: Miami," Ryan McPartlin has joined the LiveLifeLocal team.

You can check out his video on LiveLifeLocal.

For more information about the LiveLifeLocal Adventure Sweepstakes, click on the Sweepstakes Rules tab on LiveLifeLocal.

Post your favorite things to do today!
Go to www.LiveLifeLocal.com

Swimming Pool Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Jonathon Rigsby can't function like a normal 20 year old. When he was just a toddler, he and his sister fell into their backyard swimming pool while they were in the care of a baby sitter. His sister drowned, Jonathon barely survived.
.Jonathon's mother, Nadina Rigsby says that the sitter was distracted and when she went looking for the children, they were face down in the swimming pool. The Consumer Product Safety Commissions says the most important thing a pool owner can do us create barriers around the pool. They include 4 foot fences and well maintained latches that will close automatically to keep children out. Door alarms are another safety device. Madeline Flannagon of the Independent Insurance Agents of America says many pool owners don't think this isn't a problem because they don't have children. But it is. If a child wanders into your pool, it's your liability, and it could affect you for the rest of your life.

Automobile Theft

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Every ten seconds a car is broken into somewhere in the United States. An experienced thief can break into your car in 5 seconds, and breaking into the trunk is even easier. Viet Nguyen of the Arlington County, VA police department advises parking in well lit areas. Another way to protect your car is by installing anti-theft devices such as wheel locks and ignition cut-off switches. The Insurance Information Institute urges drivers to always lock their cars. By making your car harder to steal than the one parked next to it, you lessen the likelihood that your car will be stolen.

Mercury Launches New Facebook Page!

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Mercury is proud to announce the launch of the company's new and improved Facebook page. Built on Facebook's Timeline technology, the new page celebrates Mercury's 50th anniversary and includes a variety of awards, photos and videos.

You'll find all kinds of interesting and helpful information, and it can all feed automatically to your own Facebook page when you "Like" Mercury's page.

This is a great opportunity to learn about Mercury's commitment to provide affordable insurance and top-notch service, as well as some little known facts, too. For example, did you know Mercury received its first A+ rating from global credit rating agency A.M. Best in 1967? Or did you know Mercury established the insurance industry's first Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in 1978 to help fight insurance fraud?

It's all here in the new Mercury Facebook Timeline page, so what are you waiting for? Like us on Facebook today at www.Facebook.com/MercuryInsurance and you'll notice some great new features.

· Applications (better known as "apps") like the Don't Text and Drive tab, Insurance 101 and Mercury videos have been expanded for a better experience.

· The timeline has replaced the wall and now shows current posts and Mercury 50th anniversary milestones.

· On the timeline, a featured post will be pinned to the top each week. This week's pin highlights Mercury's recognition as one of "America's Most Trustworthy Companies."

Remember to join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/MercuryInsuranceby liking the page.

Michael Bregder
Advertising Manager, Mercury Insurance Group

Grim Statistic: Auto Fatalities Spike on Tax Deadline Day

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0000

More than 200 years after Benjamin Franklin declared the only things certain in life are death and taxes, Canadian researchers have discovered a grimmer connection: U.S. auto fatalities spike on the deadline day for filing income tax returns.

The number of fatal crashes jumps 6 percent on the last day for U.S. taxpayers to file their federal income taxes statements, the study by the University of Toronto’s Sunnybrook Research Institute showed.

The 2012 tax deadline in the United States is Tuesday, April 17.

The stress of the tax deadline could be one reason for the increase in fatal accidents, along with altered traffic patterns, wrote the study’s authors, Dr. Donald Redelmeier and Christopher Yarnell.

“Although electronic submissions might be expected to lessen driving on tax day, we observed an increase rather than a decrease in fatal crashes in recent decades,” the study said.

Other factors might be lack of sleep, less tolerance of hassles and inattention. The typical crash victim was a young man driving “in a rural location,” it said.

The heightened crash risk is similar to that for Super Bowl Sunday, the day of the U.S. professional football championship game, another link that Redelmeier has studied.

He and Yarnell compiled crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 1980 to 2009. They matched the crashes that took place on tax days against those that took place one week before and after.

The data showed that 6,783 people were killed on tax deadline days versus a total 12,758 on the other days.

Redelmeier and Yarnell urged public campaigns for road safety on tax-filing days, including use of seatbelts.

The study was published in the letters section of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

(Reporting By Ian Simpson; editing by Christopher Wilson)

Tax Day Prefunds with The Messenger

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0000

The Messenger is Saving it Forward with Tax Day Prefunds. www.facebook.com/progressivemessenger

Five Reasons Homeowners Rates Are Rising

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Dr. Steven Weisbart, chief economist of the Insurance Information Institute, explains the five reasons why homeowners rates are rising.

Dog Liability

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0000

They may make good companions, and they may be man's best friend, but many dog owners are finding that aggressive behavior by their dogs could cost them money. Chuck Fritzell of the National Association of Independent Insurers says that it's unfortunate, but these days if your dog bites someone, you are more likely to be sued, and you could end up in court. Dog trainer Ken Garvey says if you put the wrong dog with the wrong owner it could be a disastrous situation. Research shows that dogs bite or become aggressive because of poor training, irresponsible ownership, or deliberate breeding practices that encourage dogs to be vicious. The key is to get proper training. Dog trainer Ginger Notche says we want good, stable, sound personalities, and that means good socialization around people, around children, are very important.

Top Reasons Happy Couples File Wedding Insurance Claims

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Vendor and venue problems are the most frequent causes of wedding day mishaps that result in insurance claims.

Wedding insurance experts at Travelers Insurance recently analyzed the company’s wedding insurance claims from 2011 and found that a total of 31 percent of all wedding claims were the result of problems associated with vendors and venues.

The most common vendor- and venue-related problems include the facility or vendor going out of business, flowers and photos not being delivered and DJs not showing up.

Sickness, injury and mishaps accounted for 19 percent of the wedding insurance claims and catastrophic weather-related problems accounted for 10 percent.

Vandalism and theft represented 13 percent of claims, a new category revealed in the 2011 analysis.

Other problems, such as military duty/deployment, unavoidable cancellation of weddings and issues with attire accounted for an additional 17 percent of the claims.

Travelers is hoping to help couples understand common wedding day problems so that they may take steps to minimize the typical risks that could ruin their special day.

“Given that the leading causes of wedding claims continue to be a result of vendor and venue issues, couples should seriously consider the financial risks associated with planning a wedding and protect their investment and budget accordingly,” said Chantal Cyr, vice president for Travelers Wedding Insurance.

The amount that couples spent on weddings in the U.S. decreased from $26,542 to $25,631 in 2011, according to The Wedding Report, a research company tracking the wedding industry.

But it’s still a significant investment. The average price tag of a wedding decreased last year by 3.4 percent, yet couples actually spent nearly 21 percent more on the reception location, said Shane McMurray, CEO and founder of The Wedding Report.

“Wedding insurance has become even more essential for any family looking to protect itself against vendor and venue mishaps – close to home or far away – from lost deposits to missing flowers,” said McMurray.

The Wedding Protector Plan from Travelers includes coverage for rehearsal events that take place within 48 hours of the wedding for as little as $160. It also covers items such as lost deposits, perishable materials, unavoidable cancellation due to weather or military leave, lost or damaged photographs, damaged gifts, host liability and more.

Article Source: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2012/04/02/241713.htm#.T3nuOVuw0-U.email

Jet Ski Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Personal Water Craft, also called Jet Skis and Wave Runners are the fastest growing watercraft on the waterways. Along with their popularity has come increasing numbers of injuries and deaths. Commander Tom Martin of the U.S. Coast guard says riders need to follow the rules of the road, as well as wear life jackets and have other safety equipment on board. John Birkinbine, Personal Water Craft Industry spokesman, says no one under 16 should be allowed to drive a PWC because they lack the judgement necessary to operate one safely. This video is from the Insurance Information Institute.

Flo Does Origami - Progressive Insurance Commercial

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Progressive makes it easy to shop and save. Did we just blow your mind?

Drive Carefully

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:00:00 +0000

This is a video taken by a state trooper dash cam. See how quickly your life could change by taking your eyes off the road, even for a split second? Think about this the next time you see someone texting, reading a book or putting on their makeup while driving. THIS IS REALITY!

Travelers Insurance - Good Job (Dog Commercial)

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Everyone likes to be recognized for the good things they do, including the Travelers Dog. Watch as he helps his owners by doing good things that maybe no one ever noticed and hear how the right coverage may come with discounts and advantages that recognize that good behavior too! To learn more about our multi policy discounts, safe driver advantage and accident forgiveness Call (707) 446-9864 or get a quote today

Disability Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Gateway Insurance) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Disability is something most people do not like to think about. But the chance that you will become disabled is greater than you probably realize. According to the Social Security website, a 20-year-old worker has a 3 in 10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.

Disability Insurance Overview

Disability insurance is a type of insurance policy that pays monthly benefits when you become unable to work because of a disabling physical or mental reason. You may be able to buy it at work or you can purchase it on your own and pay monthly premiums.
There are numerous types of disability insurance, from bare-bones policies to those with options galore. Your individual coverage will determine when your benefits actually begin, how much you receive, the limitations on your coverage and how long you can receive benefits.