5 Easy Ways to Save Money on Gasoline

Quick tips to save YOU money the next time you fill up:

• Combine trips.  Every time you start your car, your're using a lot of gas.  To avoid starting your car several times a day, plan ahead and combine your errands.
• Premium isn't always best.  Avoid paying for "premium" and "high-octane" gas unless your car requires it. For most cars, the cheapest gas will work very efficiently.
• Keep your trunk clean. Remember: the heavier an object is, the more energy it will take to move it from point A to point B. Don't store heavy objects in the trunck! The lighter the car, the more fuel effiecient it will be.
• Seek out the cheapest prices. We often choose convenience over logic. Gas stations often change their prices around noon, so try to fill up in the morning if possible.
• There's an app for that. Apps like GasBuddy or http://www.gaspricewatch.com/.

Do You Need a Personal Umbrella Policy??

Why You Need an Umbrella Policy

Unfortunately, bad things happen from time to time. And sometimes really bad things happen — a horrific car crash or a tragic accident.

These types of catastrophic losses could wipe you out financially, if you’re not protected properly.

A personal Umbrella policy provides an extra layer of liability protection.

It’s for times when the liability limits on your auto or home insurance aren’t enough. The policy offers an additional $1 to $5 million in coverage for you and eligible family members if you’re held liable for personal injury or property damage claims. The coverage comes at a very affordable price. 

Call your insurance Agent for a quote...the best rates usually are available with the carrier who also insures your auto and home.

Difference Between Health Insurance Deductibles and Co-Pays

The Difference Between Health Insurance Deductibles and Co-Pays

• Health insurance deductibles are not the same thing as co-pays.
• If a health insurance policy has a $50 co-pay and a $500 deductible, then the insured is responsible for paying for the first $500 of health care costs under his policy.
• After he has met the $500 deductible, then he is responsible for paying a $50 co-pay for each claim filed under his health insurance policy.
• The insurance company will pay the remainder of the charges due for each visit as long as the place providing medical care is covered under the health insurance policy.

How Health Insurance Deductibles Are Used

Health Insurance Deductibles Explained

• If a health insurance policy includes deductibles, then the insured must pay a certain amount of money toward his health care before the insurance company has to pay anything under the health insurance policy.
• For example, if an insured has a $1,000 deductible toward his hospital/surgical coverage, then he is responsible for paying the hospital for the first $1,000 of health costs incurred.
• After he pays the first $1,000, then the insurance company will begin paying toward health care costs after the first $1,000 as paid out under the agreed to terms of the policy.

Helpful Health Insurance Tips - Deductibles

Purpose of Health Insurance Deductibles

• Health insurance deductibles are a way to help offset the cost of health care.
• Health Insurance deductibles require the insured (the person who is covered under a health insurance policy) to pay a certain amount toward his own health coverage before the insurance company has to begin paying under the health insurance policy.
• The insurance company considers the amount of the health insurance deductible when determining how much the premiums for the health insurance coverage will be.
• The higher the deductible is, the lower the premiums are likely to be. 
• Deductibles -- it's an important feature the consumer has cost control over!

What TO do at the SCENE of an AUTO ACCIDENT

What TO do at the SCENE of an AUTO ACCIDENT:

1. STOP immediately, but do not obstruct traffic.
2. ASSIST injured. Have someone call police. Repeat after 5 minutes.
3. SECURE names, phone numbers, addresses of other drivers, witnesses, injured persons.
4. SECURE make, model, license numbers of all cars involved.
5. MAKE rough drawing of scene, showing position of cars and other details.
6. TAKE pictures.
7. DON'T hasitly accept claim settlement at scene of accident.
8. LET police or insurance adjuster determine fault.
9. REMAIN calm, courteous and consistent in your version of accident.
10. NOTIFY your insurance agent as soon as possible.

To be involved in an automobile accident is a very stressful situation; to know what TO DO can help mitigate the trauma and inconvenience associated with it.  SAFE TRAVELS!

Insuring your Vehicle - Factors Effecting the Rate

If you don’t have car insurance, you are exposing yourself to serious financial catastrophe if you get into an accident. Also, if you get pulled over, not having insurance may be an extra point on your record.
Some of the things that affect your insurance rate are:

• Your age is important. Older drivers tend to be safer more responsible, while younger drivers tend to have more accidents. This is according to statistics, not anybody’s opinion, so don’t take it personally. Obviously, there’s nothing you can do about your age. Just realize that it’s a factor.
• If you live in a crime ridden neighborhood, where cars are getting stolen all the time, you might have to pay higher rates. If you get an alarm, it might be a bit cheaper.
• The amount of miles you drive in a month is also a factor. More time out on the road means more chances of getting into an accident. Maybe you could take the bus occasionally or even better yet, ride your bicycle around. You could probably use the exercise.
• The value of your car also plays a roll. If you are insuring a Mercedes Benz, you’ll pay a little bit more than if you were insuring a Honda Civic that’s got a few dents in it. Of course, it doesn’t make any sense to switch cars just to get cheap insurance, but realize it’s a factor.
• If you are a safe driver, you don’t have any tickets and you haven’t ever crashed your car, then you can expect to pay much less for your insurance. If, on the other hand, you have several tickets and have totaled a few cars, then your insurance is going to be pretty expensive.

These are the things that have an effect on your insurance rates. If you drive safe, and keep an inexpensive car in the garage every night, then you should be OK.