Posts

Showing posts from 2010

Christmas Tree Safety - Merry Christmas

Make this Christmas is a great one but don't forget to be safe with your Christmas Tree. Make sure it's moist. Make sure your electrical circuits are not overloaded. Consider using timers to save money and to limit chance of fire. If you live in an older home pay attention to fuse boxes or circuit breakers. Don't forget to have a great time with friends and family this Christmas!!

Department of Nevada Motor Vehicles Dept. Website

When you GOOGLE search DMV you receive many unofficial websites and in Nevada our official DMV website is a dot com. The DMV of Nevada website is http://www.dmvnv.com/.

Buying Auto Insurance Local Versus Online

When you watch television and/or listen to radio advertisements about automobile insurance you hear a lot about saving money and little about value. The reality is the best of both worlds is waiting at your local independent insurance agency (www.ardentinsurance.com). As a Trusted Choice independent insurance agency our goal is to obtain the best insurance deal for your situation. In most cases we are simply matching the clients needs with the insurance company wants. Everyone wins. The insured obtains a great price, the right coverage, and someone to talk to if (some would say when) challenges arise. It's a long term relationship versus dating concept. So next time you see or hear the advertisements about price go one step further and look for the best value. Call (775-284-8200) your independent insurance agency to discuss your options.

Automobile Collision Deductible

Automobile collision coverage provides you protection in the event of physical damage to your own automobile (other than that covered under comprehensive insurance) resulting from collision with another inanimate object. Your deductible is the amount of money that you must pay out of your pocket before being reimbursed from the insurance company. The deductible is usually set as a fixed dollar amount. Such as: $250, $500, $1,000, $2,000 etc. The higher your deductible the larger the discount the insurance company will offer. Choosing higher deductibles is a strategy that allows you to save money on your insurance by SELF insuring smaller losses (loss amounts less than your deductible).

Comprehensive Insurance Deductible

What is a comprehensive auto insurance deductible? Answer: Comprehensive is also sometimes referred to as “other than collision” since it pays for damages to your vehicle caused by perils other than a collision. For example comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if stolen, damaged by animals, fire or flood.

Link: Faced with a loss - NV DOI

Copy and Paste Link Below: http://www.doi.state.nv.us/scs/faceloss.aspx

Living With FIre Link

Check out this link (please copy and paste): http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livingwithfire.info%2F&h=a3318

Reprint: Nevada Insurance Chief Quits; Assistant Named Acting Commissioner

May 13, 2010 Nevada Insurance Commissioner Scott Kipper resigned from the Nevada Division of Insurance after less than 17 months on the job, saying, "It's just time for a change." Kipper's resignation is effective June 2. He started work in Nevada on Dec. 29, 2008, two months after resigning as Oregon's chief insurance regulator (BestWire, Jan. 13, 2009). He served for one year in Oregon after a stint as a deputy commissioner for the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Aside from taking some time off, Kipper is uncertain about his future prospects. He said he will be seeking other opportunities as a regulator, elsewhere in the insurance business or out of insurance altogether. Kipper praised the Nevada insurance division staff and the state's "pro-business" climate. "The environment here is very good for insurers. It made it very easy to do my job," he said. "I think we struck a good balance." While praising his predecessors for st

Solvency: The Ultimate Consumer Protection Reprint http://www.doi.state.nv.us/

KipperWith health care reform at the forefront of national debate lately, the Division of Insurance has been receiving numerous inquiries regarding the how, what and why of rate approvals for health insurance policies. These questions are important to ask, and, as public servants, we are happy to continue to be a valuable resource on this topic. But I would also like to take a moment here on our Web site to shed some light on not just our recent review of rate approval requests, but the concept at the core of everything we do at the Division of Insurance: consumer protection. Included in the Division's mission are our duties to protect the rights of Nevada insurance consumers and to ensure the financial solvency of insurers. What many people don't realize, however, is that these concepts go hand in hand. When we approve an insurance company's rate adjustment requests, we take great care to make sure those rates are within the scope needed for that company to stay financiall

When faced with a loss - Reprint

How You Can Make the Claims Process Easier Important, but sometimes difficult, filing a claim can be one of the most frustrating processes during a crisis or following a major disaster. Delays in the claims process was the No. 1 complaint of insurance consumers in 2007, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). It is critical that at these times, you are prepared with the information your insurance company needs. To help you avoid problems getting your claims paid, we offer these tips: Know Your Policy Understand what your policy says. The policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. Know what's covered, what's excluded and what the deductibles are. File Claims as Soon as Possible Don't let the bills or receipts pile up. Call your agent or your company's claims hotline as soon as possible. Your policy might require that you make the notification within a certain time frame. Provide Complete, Correct Information Be certain t

Distracted Driving Link

(Please copy and paste) http://www.distraction.gov/stats-and-facts/#examination

Consumer TIps Link - SAFECO

(please copy and paste) http://www.safeco.com/insurance-101/consumer-tips

Healthcare gap lessened for to-be college grads

Link (if you cannot open copy and paste): http://www.rgj.com/article/20100422/BIZ/4220329/1071

What Alarms Americans Most About LTC (Long Term Care)?

Link (copy and paste): http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=179217&type=TopNews

Is in-flight theft, on the rise?

In a tough economy there are more people attempting to steal your high-value personal items. It is easy for criminals to spot items if passengers take things out in the full view of the isle, and then put them away in overhead compartments. Thieves take opportunities during the flight while passengers are sleeping or away from their seats (especially during trans-continental or red-eye flights). Criminals seize opportunities to remove items that they can get quickly, from overhead bins, and then casually disembark the plane with your valuables. Personal items such as lap tops, electronics, designer bags, expensive jackets, cameras, passports, etc., should be kept at your feet during a flight. If you have items they must put in the overhead compartment, place them in larger locking case or bag. It is important that you have a strategy before air travel to protect yourself from theft. Check your bags before you leave the plane and report missing items immediately. Your chances

Shop for auto insurance 14 days early and save!

Most auto insurance companies we represent offer a discount for people who plan ahead. It's called the advance quote discount and with some companies the discount keeps on giving after the first renewal. So if you want to save money on your auto insurance call us about 14 days before you need your insurance auto policy to start (effective date). Call Kevin or Tammy at 775-284-8200 fourteen days before you need your auto insurance and start saving today!

Do you have people?

In our fast paced world, we sometimes forget the importance of having access to people that work for US. Isn’t it a good feeling to be able to delegate important tasks that we are either too busy to handle, or feel uncomfortable handling to a trusted advisor? As independent insurance agents, our top priority is to be available to our clients when they need us. The insurance companies we represent are limited as to providing guidance or answering certain questions without taking action. For instance, because of government regulation or other legal requirements, the insurance company may not be able to discuss options pertaining to filing a claim, without actually placing the claim. When we make a decision to cut “our people”, such as buying insurance on line without an agent, we need to ask ourselves: 1. Does this choice really save me time? 2. Will this action better my situation in the long run? 3. Is eliminating my people (important resources) the best way to proceed? 4. No

First Dollar Defense Endorsement

The definition of First Dollar Defense: "Provides coverage for defense expenses related to a claim from the first dollar. Allows the deductible to be applied to the loss only." This endorsement should be considered for high deductible professional errors and omissions liability insurance deductibles to preserve out of pocket defense if your organization is named in a lawsuit. In most cases your deductible is required only if you company is liable for the damages. This endorsement may offer your organization protection against frivolous lawsuits.

Reprint: 9 Ways To Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs

Insurance Information Institute Cover of the publication 9 Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs One of the best ways to keep your auto insurance costs down is to have a good driving record. Listed below are other things you can do to lower your insurance costs. 1. Shop Around Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least three price quotes. You can call companies directly or access information on the Internet. Your state insurance department may also provide comparisons of prices charged by major insurers. (State insurance department phone numbers and Web sites can be found here.) You buy insurance to protect you financially and provide peace of mind. It's important to pick a company that is financially stable. Check the financial health of insurance companies with rating companies such as A.M. Best (http://www.ambest.com) and Standard & Poor’s (http://www.standardandpoors.com/) and consult consumer magazines. Get quotes from different types

Reprint: Nevada's new DMV insurance requirement goes into effect Monday

By Steve Timko • stimko@rgj.com • January 30, 2010 Beginning Monday, the state of Nevada will require people registering a vehicle at the Department of Motor Vehicles to present a card that proves they have car insurance. Technically, people will be required to have proof Monday for vehicle registration renewals, reinstatements and license plate changes done on the Web or at a DMV kiosk, but problems getting software written has delayed implementation there until March 15, DMV spokesman Kevin Malone said. The DMV's new Nevada LIVE program will capture insurance information at registration and instantly confirm it with insurance companies, the DMV said in a statement. Done at a cost of $378,000, it replaces the old program of insurance companies reporting policy information on mailed data tapes or data cartridges, which led to delays in verification. "We're going to get your policy information up front and validate it instantly," DMV Director Edgar Roberts said. "

Reprint: NU Online News Service, Jan.21, 11:56 a.m. EST

Nevada’s Insurance Commissioner Scott Kipper said he has approved an average decrease of 7.6 percent for workers’ compensation insurance rates. He also announced a 3.7 percent average decrease for workers’ comp assigned risk rates. The filing was submitted by the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI). The changes are effective March 1, and will apply to risks as of their anniversary rating dates. Mr. Kipper’s announcement said the reduction, specifically a reduction in loss costs, is based upon Nevada employers’ experience and future projections. NCCI loss cost is only one component of the rates charged by insurers. Each insurer must file a loss cost multiplier that is used to determine final workers’ compensation rates. More information regarding the filing, including links to the Assigned Risk Rates and Advisory Loss Costs are on online at the new Property and Casualty Workers’ Compensation section of the Division’s our web site http://doi.nv.gov/spc/workerscomp.as