Category: Liability Insurance

7 Simple Steps to Get More Value from Your Insurance Plan:

Chris

Let’s run through seven simple, cost effective tips and tricks to getting more value from your insurance plan!

  • BUNDLE your policies with one company

I hope that the insurance commercials have convinced everyone that putting all of your personal policies with one insurance company is beneficial; however, we still see many people that are reluctant to do it for one reason or another.  99% of the time you will save money on your costs if you package the policies with one company (be sure to look at the total plan’s price – not just the price of one policy!).  Furthermore, and just as important, it provides your agent with more leverage if you ever have a claim or renewal issue when an underwriter may be considering non-renewing a policy or rating the policy in a different tier.

  • Inform your agent of any utility and (especially) roof updates!

This one is easy – let your agent know if you’ve gotten a new roof, purchased a new furnace/air conditioner, or updated your electrical panel (more applicable to older homes).  Many companies offer discounts if you’ve updated these items and all companies have now started rating for the age of your roof.  So, it’s very important – and very easy – to make sure the age of the roof is correct on your insurance policy, especially if you’ve replaced your roof in the last few years!

  • Lower your comprehensive deductible.

Yes, you read that right, lower your comprehensive deductible.  But, won’t my price go up!?  Yes; however, it’ll go up minimally.  Furthermore, most comprehensive claims (animal hit, glass damage, hail damage, vandalism, etc.) are much smaller than if you’re involved in an accident with another vehicle (which is then a collision claim).  They are also much more common – which means if you want to keep filing claims, you’ll need to keep paying your deductible!  Unless you want to self-insure any damage to your vehicle (and at that point, remove all physical damage coverage from your policy) – it makes sense to lower your comprehensive deductible.

  • Increase your liability limits! PS – buy an umbrella policy!

Wait, won’t this also increase the cost of my insurance!? Yes.  But it will provide you with additional value and coverage at an exponential rate vs. the cost.  The cost of insurance may increase a few percentage points, but you can increase your protection by a multiple of 2-3 times.  Most people think they’ll never need that much liability protection; however, if you have to carry insurance (and you do in the state of Wisconsin) – you might as well purchase enough to protect you, your family, and your assets in case you ever do hurt someone or damage their property.  And, if you really want peace of mind – for less than $10/month (or less than 3 cups of coffee at Starbucks) – you can purchase an umbrella policy!

  • Additional Expense/Rental Car

If you are in a household where there are as many drivers as there are vehicles – it’s essential that you have additional expense/rental car coverage.  Contrary to what most people think, this coverage does not provide protection if you go on vacation and rent a vehicle (that coverage is extended elsewhere in most insurance contracts).   This coverage covers the additional cost of rental/loaner vehicle that you may need while your car is being repaired after being in a covered insurance claim.  For example, I hit a deer and file a claim with my insurance company.  I bring my vehicle to the body shop and they tell me they are backed up and it’ll be 2 weeks before my car will be repaired, but they will give me a loaner while my vehicle is being repaired.  You’ll be on the hook for this cost (usually about $30-$35 per day!) unless you have additional expense/rental car coverage on your policy!

  • Pay the premium in full, if possible!

Many companies are offering SUBSTANTIAL discounts if you pay the insurance premium in full.  We have companies that are offering up to 11-12% discount for paying the premium in full.  That is a considerable savings off any expense – especially insurance expenses.  It’s always painful to pay the full amount at once, but if the company is offering a meaningful discount to do so – it often makes sense.

  • Buy TERM Life Insurance

Yes, I think everyone needs life insurance and that it is an important part of any comprehensive and inclusive risk management program.  No, I don’t think the policy that your employer is providing is sufficient protection (topic for another day).  I do believe that TERM life insurance is the best option for most individuals.  Term life insurance is the most cost effective life insurance option and is the easiest to understand (pays a death benefit if the insured dies during the term of the policy).  Whole life insurance and universal life insurance policies both have their place in some risk management programs and may be the best option for some; however, for most people – term life insurance is the way to go.  But, Chris – my whole/universal life insurance policy builds cash value!  Yes – but it’s often at a minimal rate of return.  What we recommend doing is taking the cost difference between term and the other options and investing it with a professional – like Fox River Capital – that are experts at maximizing your rate of return.

Uber: “Criminal Enterprise” or Innovative Leader?

Chris

Uber Technologies Inc., a popular app-based transportation network, is quickly becoming one of the most controversial businesses of this decade.  Among millennials, Uber is a popular transportation mode – easier, quicker, and cheaper to use than normal taxis.  However, traditional taxi drivers, taxi cab companies, state insurance agencies and law enforcement officials are taking Uber to task.  Recently, a Philadelphia cab company called Uber a “criminal enterprise” in a lawsuit seeking to block the on-demand car service from operating in the city.

Is this a case of a traditional modeled business lashing against an innovative, disrupting company – or is there any legitimacy to the cab companies claim?

uber blog

After raising $1.2 billion last month, Uber is currently valued at $40 billion (which, hypothetically, makes it more valuable than Delta Airlines, CBS, and General Mills).  At that kind of valuation, the company will be the target of much scrutiny.  In the case in Philadelphia, cab companies are arguing that only taxis that have a certificate of public convenience and a medallion valued at $520,000 are allowed to operate in the city – which Uber does not comply with.  In other cities, there have been other disputes about insurance requirements and whether or not Uber carries adequate insurance protection.

Is this a smear campaign or are these legitimate concerns?  One thing is clear:  nothing is clear when an innovative company leveraged with investor’s capital disrupts an industry and operates prior to getting approval from regulatory agencies.  I do not know who is in the right or wrong nor whether Uber is a ‘criminal enterprise’.  We’ve written extensively about the insurance implications with ride-sharing companies previously (read here).  Regardless of how this plays out, it’ll be a fun ride.

Wisconsin boasts impressive hunting safety numbers

Chris

Wisconsin is one of the safest places in the country to hunt – and it’s not an accident, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

“Wisconsin has such a passion for deer hunting, and this passion extends from generation to generation,” said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. “Through hunter education programs and important lessons being passed down to younger hunters, Wisconsin continues to stand out as a great example of safe and ethical hunting.” (http://host.madison.com)

deer hunting

Experts account the impressive safety record to two items:

  1. The mandate of hunters wearing blaze orange in 1980

  2. Increased hunting safety training and an expanded hunter education program

The hunting incident rate has dropped to 4.04 injuries per every 100,000 hunters – a reduction of more than 90% from the 1960s.  Even more impressive, Wisconsin has experienced four gun-deer seasons free of fatalities (1972, 2010, 2011, and 2013).

As a friendly reminder, follow the basics of firearm safety – TABK:

Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.

Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

Be certain of your target and what is beyond it.

Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you’re ready to shoot.

These tips and some common sense will go a long way in continuing Wisconsin’s impressive safety record.  Hunting is a favorite pastime of many Wisconsin residents, and for good reason.  The scenic views are second to none and the abundant wildlife provide fantastic opportunities.  From our deer camp to yours – enjoy a safe and successful deer hunting season!

Cyber Liability Seen as Top Emerging Risk for 2015

Chris

The Insurance Journal posted an article yesterday regarding the top risks for 2015.  The survey was completed by top insurance and reinsurance executives.  According to 40% of respondents, cyber liability is the most threatening emerging risk.  Terrorism came in second, with 31% of the respondents identifying it as a top emerging risk (climate change was 3rd).

cyber liability

“Cyber attacks are one of the most serious economic and national security challenges facing not only the insurance industry, but governments and businesses around the world,” said Andrew Marcell, managing director and chief executive officer of U.S. operations at Guy Carpenter.

In this interconnected world, cyber liability is probably the least understood and most underinsured risk a business faces.  As witnessed first hand by major international retailers (see Target, Home Depot) – the risks are present no matter the size of your business.  Furthermore, protection against cyber liability threats continues to prove more difficult as threats become more sophisticated.

Inc. Magazine posted an article (read here) that points out 5 reasons you should have cyber liability insurance:

1.  It’s more affordable thank you think.

2.  It can cover more than you think (most policies offer ‘first party’ coverage – which covers business interruption and the cost of notifying customers of a breach).

3.  You probably don’t have a risk management team.

4.  Even if you don’t host your data yourself, you’re still responsible.

5.  Your general (liability) policy won’t cover you.

Most times, especially for small businesses, the expenses created by a data breach can be enough to put a company out of business.  These costs can include:  notifying customers of a breach, possible regulatory fines, and public relations expenses related to a breach.

There are few businesses left that don’t have some type of cyber liability exposure. Consequently, it’s always in your best interest to discuss your exposure with your insurance agent and determine if coverage is appropriate for you.  If you don’t have ANY cyber liability insurance, we recommend you take a good, hard look at your exposure and realize that a simple cyber attack may be more costly than you think.

 

IL Passes Rideshare Insurance Law – Is it enough?

Chris

“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be”. – John Wooden

The IL legislature passed legislation that provides regulation for transportation networking companies (TNCs) – which should eliminate many insurance gaps, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. The measure will require background checks on drivers, vehicle inspections and chauffeur licenses for drivers who work more than 36 hours in any two-week period. It also requires clear disclosure to TNC drivers about insurance coverages.

The key component of the legislature is that the commercial liability insurance policy will be the primary policy from the time the driver’s app is on or he/she is available to accept a passenger. The bill has been sent to the governor for approval.

The goal of the legislation is two-fold:

1. Increase clarity on which policy is primary (personal auto vs. commercial).

2. Avoid increases in personal insurance rates

 

While increased legislation usually creates more problems than it solves, the goal of this legislation is noble. Ideally, an insurance company would step up and provide a unique and differentiated product customized for this exposure; however, it doesn’t appear as though there is any interest from any company. As the quote from John Wooden at the beginning of this post emphasizes, failure to change may be fatal. I’m hopeful that insurance companies become more flexible with their products and policies offered in this ever-changing world. It’d be a shame to let the barbaric coverage forms provided by insurance companies hinder the entrepreneurial spirit of this country.