Personal/Family Archives - Page 12 of 14 - Premier Insurance Services

Six Most Common Errors Medicare Enrollees Make

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:August 5, 2019
Post category:Personal/Family Senior Care

Choosing the right Medicare plan is one of the most important decisions you have to make as a senior. Since there are hundreds of policies to consider when choosing, and an overabundance of information to plow through with each one, most people just get frustrated and guess when they choose a policy. But by taking that approach, they can end up hurting themselves by paying too much for a plan that does not cover their needs. These are the six most common errors to avoid when enrolling in Medicare: Signing up too late or too early The initial enrollment period…

Keep Your Family Safe from Heat Illness This Summer

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:July 29, 2019
Post category:Personal/Family

As summer approaches and the number of hot days increases, you have to pay attention to the temperature gauge and how long your kids are out playing in the sun. Heat illness kills hundreds of Americans every year, and it is the number one weather-related killer. Also, heatstroke is the top cause of exercise-related deaths among high school students. But that doesn't mean you should keep the kids indoors during the summer. There are steps you can take to reduce the chances of getting heat illness - and most of it just plain common sense. What you can do Preventing…

Buying a Motorcycle? Make Sure You Secure the Right Coverage

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:July 22, 2019
Post category:Personal/Family

If you are one of the Americans who have purchased a motorcycle in the last 10 years, you're clearly far from alone: Ownership has risen steadily in the past decade and over 13 million people across the U.S. are now riding motorbikes. And of that total, nearly 20% of all riders are women. Just as for car drivers, motorcycle riders are required to secure insurance and you want to make sure you have proper coverage in case you are in an accident or your bike is stolen. And if you've purchased a quad, three-wheeler or dirt bike, you should get…

That Texting-While-Driving Ticket Will Likely Increase Your Premium

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:July 12, 2019
Post category:Personal/Family

One of the main reasons that car insurance rates are going up is the increase in distracted driving, which has led to a significant jump in vehicular deaths and accidents in the last five years. Despite most states in the country now having laws barring the use of your phone for talking or other tasks such as messaging or taking pictures, accidents from distracted driving continue mounting. So, what if you are one of the ones who gets a ticket for distracted driving? Be prepared for a significant increase in your insurance, according to the "2019 Distracted Driving Report" by…

Two Popular Medigap Plans Closing to New Beneficiaries in 2020

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:July 9, 2019
Post category:Personal/Family Senior Care

Two of the most generous and popular Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans are getting phased out starting next year, but only to new beneficiaries. Beginning in 2020, plans F and C will no longer be available for those just joining Medicare. Plan F has been the top-selling Medigap plan for years, as it provides the broadest coverage of any of the Medigap plans. While premiums are relatively high, once you are enrolled you won't have to pay anything out of pocket for medical services covered under Medicare. What do Plan F and Plan C cover? The two soon-to-be discontinued plans both…

Risks of Uninsured Property Losses Are Growing for Affluent Households

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:July 5, 2019
Post category:Personal/Family

A family that has accumulated substantial assets knows that it needs insurance protection. However, they may not be aware of how their risk of loss has changed over the last few years. Their home and assets have all become more expensive to replace, and they are facing growing threats of loss from natural catastrophes. Homes in coastal areas, particularly remote locations - on mountainsides, near forests or overlooking the ocean - may have inflated construction costs due to the expense of rebuilding in those spots. In some states, the cost of rebuilding a home is increasing at a 6 to…

Disabled man in wheelchair and girlfriend in the park

Getting the Most out of Disability Insurance

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:July 2, 2019
Post category:Personal/Family

Your ability to make a living is your most valuable asset. Without being able to earn a paycheck, most people will quickly run out of funds and be destitute, particularly considering their financial obligations like a mortgage and expenses for their kids. Whatever your career, having a source of income if you suffer a debilitating work event – or an illness or injury that is non-work related but keeps you from earning – can be the difference between staying in your home or losing it altogether. Why you need disability insurance Disability insurance pays a portion of your income in…

New Rule Allows Employers to Pay Workers to Buy Their Own Health Coverage

Post author:Mark Kofalt
Post published:June 30, 2019
Post category:Business Personal/Family

The Trump administration has issued new rules that allows employers to provide workers with funds in health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) that can be used to purchase health insurance on the individual market. The rule reverses a long-standing part of the Affordable Care Act that carried hefty fines of up to $36,500 a year per employee for applicable large employers that are caught providing funds to workers so they can buy insurance. The rule was put in place to keep employers from shunting unhealthy or older workers from their group health plans into private insurance and government-run marketplaces. Under the rules…