October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 10/04/2011
 Breast Cancer effects millions of women and their families every year. About 1 in 8 women in the United States (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. The Susan G. Coleman Foundation has developed a calender of events to encourage involvement, support, and education during October. This month is to bring awareness to ways to prevent, diagnose early, and treat breast cancer, so that our mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives can live longer and healthier lives. Please take this month to schedule your yearly health exam (Women AND Men). If money is what keeps you from making your appointment, check with your insurance agent, most health plans fully cover preventive health screenings. You can also ask about specific cancer policies to give you more protection and coverages if you or a family member becomes sick. For more information about Breast Cancer visit the Susan G. Coleman Foundation and The American Cancer Society. For information on local Cancer Support Groups Please Call 731-668-1668 Add Comment  Almost 73 million American homes have a pet and 70% of these owners say they would pay whatever it takes to take care of their beloved companion. For pet owners, there are more procedures and options available to chose from than ever. As pet care has increased exponentially, so has the cost. Some of these devoted owners have found that now an overnight trip to the vet can cost well over 500 dollars and if it's an extended illness the costs can reach well in to the thousands. Many owners are unable to pay the costs associated with the care and have to make difficult decisions. 1% of pet owners however, do not have to make any decisions based on costs. These owners insured their pet. Policies range from accident-only policies to other policies that pay for checkups and preventive care. Policies are very affordable and available for all types of animals. Check out our page on Pet Insurance and call us today for a free quote! Personal Catastrophe Planning 09/23/2011
The prevalence of major catastrophes such as tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes drive home the point that personal catastrophe planning is an essential part of any personal risk management program. Catastrophes, whether natural or man-made, can strike individuals and families at any time without warning. You should develop a comprehensive disaster plan that addresses the following ten items.
Copyright 2008, International Risk Management Institute, Inc. September is National Preparedness Month 09/16/2011
What would you do if a disaster happened tomorrow? You may know what to do if there is a tornado but what if the disaster is a flood? A winter storm? An earthquake? FEMA has a whole section devoted to determining what risks are highest in your area. They provide maps, assessment tools, and worksheets to help you decide what disaster plans you need. You may have an emergency bag made up but many people prepare an emergency bag and then put it up and forget about it. When it is finally needed five years later many things are out of date and may even be hazardous to use. Go to 72 Hours to see a comprehensive and individualized list of items needed. What about after the disaster. Many people are grateful to make it through one but what happens when it is time to rebuild and resume life. Will your insurance cover the risks you are exposed to? Make an appointment to talk to your insurance agent to go over your risks and be sure that you will be able to recover from any disaster situation. What if you own a business and it is damaged or destroyed? You have property insurance but it may take a year to rebuild a business. Can you afford to be out of business that long? What about your employes? Your customers? 40 to 60 percent of businesses NEVER reopen after a disaster. Dont be one of them. Visit Prepare my Business for webinar's and pdf's to help make a plan for your business. Ready Business also has a whole section devoted to things you can do as a business owner to plan on staying in business no matter what happens. Once again when you complete your plan make a meeting with your insurance agent to ensure that you can stay in business for years to come. So remember these three steps to be prepared: Make your plan. Prepare your kit. Call your agent. Reduce Your Exposure to Mold Losses 09/09/2011
Mold can be defined as a growth of minute fungi forming on vegetable or animal matter, commonly as a downy or furry coating, and associated with decay or dampness. Growth of mold may begin with or become exacerbated by water damage that is inadequately repaired. Increasingly, airtight building construction (for purposes of improving energy efficiency) and the recirculation of contaminated air can contribute to the growth of mold as well. Mold claim costs have increased dramatically over the years. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the typical mold claim costs between $15,000 and $30,000, compared to only $3,000 to $4,000 for an average homeowners claim. Part of this reason is the additional living expenses component of the claim. Frequently, a home owner must temporarily move out of the home due to necessary and major remediation work. Active mold is fuzzy, velvety, or slimy, and is orange, green, black, brown, pink, or purple in color. If you suspect you have a mold problem in your home, here are some tips to consider.
Copyright 2011 International Risk Management Institute, Inc. Avoid Water-Logged Cars 09/02/2011
Flooding and hurricanes are a fact of life in the United States, leaving thousands of ruined cars in their wake. Unethical individuals will often try to capitalize on this situation. Unwary consumers may inadvertently purchase a seemingly fine used car, but with hidden water damage lurking beneath its surface. Flooded automobiles are notoriously unreliable vehicles and proactive steps should be taken to avoid purchasing one. Here are some tips for you to consider that will help you avoid unknowingly purchasing a flooded vehicle. ● Perform a careful examination of the used vehicle. For example, look for a well-defined line or watermark on the inside and outside of the car. Inspect the vehicle in difficult-to-clean areas, like the gaps between panels in the truck or SUV and under the hood, where water-borne materials and debris may still cling. ● Be wary of used cars with new or mismatched upholstery. ● Avoid purchasing cars through auctions because flooded vehicles are often cleaned and then sold at these events. ● Be wary of individuals who buy and sell cars as a sideline business. It is better to buy from a reputable dealer or an individual that has owned and actually driven the vehicle for an extended period of time. ● Review the auto title closely. Some jurisdictions require that totaled or flooded vehicles be designated as “flood damaged” on the title. ● Consider ordering an online vehicle history report (e.g., CARFAX), which provides unlimited vehicle history reports for $25. ● Before you buy the vehicle, be sure to have a trusted mechanic inspect it. Trained professionals know what to look for when it comes to previous flood damage on autos. They can also spot vehicles that were previously involved in major collisions. Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI. Copyright 2008, International Risk Management Institute, Inc. Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day! 08/31/2011
The Tennessee Highway patrol has increased their drunk driving enforcement campaign statewide in preparation for the Labor Day Weekend. The annual nationwide attack on impaired driving effort known as, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, begin Friday 19, at 6 p.m. and end Monday, Sept. 5, at 11:59 p.m. “The Tennessee Highway Patrol has partnered with several local law enforcement agencies and highway safety advocates, including the Governor’s Highway Safety Office and Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, to educate the motoring public of the consequences of impaired driving this holiday weekend. Our collective goal is to prevent injury crashes and reduce roadway fatalities at all costs. Together, we hope to protect Tennessee roadways from those who make careless decisions.” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons Last year 10 people were killed in fatal crashes on Tennessee roadways during Labor Day weekend. This is down from previous years but officials would like to see that number eventually become 0. “The consequences of drinking and driving are deadly,” said GHSO Director Kendell Poole. “To avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving, do us all a favor…don’t drink and drive. Our goal is to make Tennessee’s roadways the safest in the nation for everyone.” The highway patrol will have numerous sobriety checkpoints in high volume and high crash corridors across the state to look for aggressive and impaired drivers as well as safety belt violators. For more information on the national crackdown, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org Is Pet Insurance Really Necessary? 08/26/2011
Veterinary bills are increasing much faster than the overall rate of inflation. Part of this reason lies in the advancements of medical techniques and the increasing number of veterinarian specialists. These trends, however, come at a price. Performing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam on the spine of a cat can cost $1,300. Removing a tumor on a dog can cost $3,700 and implanting a pacemaker can cost $5,500. Even dealing with a dislocated ankle can cost upwards of $5,000. As a result, pet insurance sales are increasing rapidly. Is this a wise purchase? If the answer to any of the questions below is yes, you should seriously consider purchasing this coverage. ● Are you willing to go into debt to provide health care for your pet? ● Do you consider your pet an integral member of the family? ● Are you on a fixed or limited income? ● Would you be willing to spend over $4,000 to save your pet in a life-threatening situation? If you decide to purchase this protection, you should carefully compare the rates and policy provisions of at least three well-established pet insurers. Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI. Copyright 2008, International Risk Management Institute, Inc. The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) recently honored Suzanne Seaton of The Allison Insurance Group, Jackson Tennessee for dedication and leadership in the insurance industry. Ms. Suzanne Seaton was awarded a certificate of achievement, recognizing five consecutive years of active affiliation with the Society of CIC. The CIC designation carries meaningful prestige in the insurance profession as it signifies commitment to advanced knowledge and customer service. The Society's president, Dr. William T. Hold, CIC, CPCU, CLU, cited, "This accomplishment denotes outstanding achievement within the insurance profession. The high standards maintained by Suzanne Seaton will reflect positively on clients, associates, and the insurance profession as a whole." The Society of CIC is the founding program of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, the nation's leading source of continuing education programs for the insurance and risk management industries. Other members of the organization include the Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives (CISR), the certified Risk Manager Program (CRM), and The National Research Academy. Proper Coverage for Your Jewelry 08/19/2011
Many people overlook the need to properly insure their expensive jewelry, believing that it is automatically covered by their homeowners policy. While homeowners policies do cover jewelry, this insurance usually is subject to a much lower limit than the overall contents coverage. This is called a “sub-limit,” and a typical sub-limit is $1,500 for loss by theft of jewelry, watches, and precious and semiprecious stones. If your jewelry is worth more than the sub-limit in your homeowners policy, you should consider purchasing specific insurance to cover it. The following six steps can help you ensure that your jewelery is properly covered under your policy.
Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI. Copyright 2008, International Risk Management Institute, Inc. | Allison InsurancePeriodically staff members will write and post articles covering our products, insurance news, and how you the consumer can reduce and manage daily risks. ArchivesApril 2012 CategoriesAll |
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