The Dangers of Distracted Driving

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Distracted driving is any activity a driver engages in that shifts their attention from driving.

There are three main kinds of distractions:

•   Visual – taking your eyes off the road
•   Manual – taking your hands off the wheel
•   Mental – taking your mind off the task of driving

Driving safely is every driver’s responsibility. The use of cell phones, texting and other electronic devices including GPS navigation aids all pose great risk. The same goes for fatigue, eating or drinking, grooming, noisy passengers, misbehaving children, searching for radio stations, reaching for an object, and unrestrained pets.

Make a “not while driving” rule for using your devices and help lower crash rates. Drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to get in an accident. Plan to avoid distractions whenever possible and resist

temptations to watch outside distractions such as people and happenings outside your vehicle. Keep your mind clear so you are focused on driving.

(Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

 

WARNING: USING YOUR CELL PHONE’S GPS COULD EARN YOU A TICKET IN R.I.

 

 

Please note, this article was written to help you in general terms.  Please consult an insurance professional to discuss your specific situation as it relates to things discussed in this article.

David Brush, CIC

Nancy Mendizabal, CIC

Apple Valley Insurance

Greenville, RI

Apple Valley Insurance helps people and businesses with insurance needs.  We are a locally owned Rhode Island independent business that enjoys working with fellow small business owners.  We serve all of Rhode Island and have many options, providing personal and business insurance programs.  Contact us for a review or if you are concerned about having the right insurance coverage.

Medicare and Your Health Plan Options

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medicare-health-plan

Medicare and Your Health Plan Options

If you’re like most people, you are eagerly awaiting your retirement and ready to bask in its glow. It’s also a time where new worries about paying for healthcare arise. In fact, healthcare is often cited as one of the top three concerns retirees have about leaving the working world behind.

Having a thorough understanding of Medicare is extremely important, particularly for anyone who is turning or has turned 65. Medicare is a complex topic with various plans and enrollment specifications. As the number of people eligible for Medicare grows, confusion about Medicare likely grows as well.

Here are five basic questions that people typically ask about Medicare:

  1. When am I eligible for Medicare?

    You are eligible for Medicare the month you turn 65 or if you qualify on the basis of a disability or other special

  2. Can Medicare plans cover spouses or dependents?

    Medicare plans are individual plans and do not cover dependents or Spouses who are eligible for Medicare can enroll in their own plans. A couple who are both eligible do not have to select the same Medicare plan.

  1. What are the different types of Medicare choices?

    There are three major categories of Medicare choices: Original Medicare with a Part D plan; Medicare Supplement Plan (also known as Medigap); and Medicare Advantage Plan (also known as Part C).

  2. Do I have to enroll in Medicare when I turn 65 even if I continue to work?

    Individuals typically enroll in Part A (hospital) when they turn 65 and wait until they are ready to retire from work to enroll in Part B (outpatient), a supplemental plus Part D, or an Advantage

  3. If I don’t enroll in Medicare when I turn 65, will I be penalized?

    If you are covered under an employer plan and the plan is deemed credible coverage for both medical and prescription coverage, you will not be penalized as long as you stay on the employer plan.

Some healthcare providers have taken the initiative to provide education on the topic of Medicare. For example, United Healthcare created National Medicare Education Week (NMEW), which is celebrated annually. Once per year, Medicare holds an Open Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7, 2016) when beneficiaries can make changes to their plans.

It helps to have a personalized visit from a licensed consultant who can outline the basics of Medicare, available plan choices, and guidance on when to enroll. Apple Valley Insurance CEO Nancy

Mendizabal serves as a United Healthcare independent sales agent. With her training and background, she is a trusted leader in Medicare and helps people understand their Medicare and supplemental insurance plan options

Among those who recently relied on Nancy’s guidance for their health insurance needs are Alfred and Josephine Cardente, of Lincoln, R.I. As an insurance agent himself for over 44 years, Alfred understands health plans and Medicare options better than most. Yet when shopping around for a supplemental insurance plan for he and his wife, he decided to contact Nancy

Please note, this article was written to help you in general terms.  Please consult an insurance professional to discuss your specific situation as it relates to things discussed in this article.

David Brush, CIC

Nancy Mendizabal, CIC

Apple Valley Insurance

Greenville, RI

Apple Valley Insurance helps people and businesses with insurance needs.  We are a locally owned Rhode Island independent business that enjoys working with fellow small business owners.  We serve all of Rhode Island and have many options, providing personal and business insurance programs.  Contact us for a review or if you are concerned about having the right insurance coverage.

Summer-homeowners-tips

SUMMER SAFETY TIPS

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Here are some helpful tips to keep your home and property safe during the summer months:

Vacation

vacation

Protecting your home from theft and damage while you’re away can save needless worry while you’re off relaxing. Update your designated emergency contact with our office – you’d be surprised how often a neighbor or family member has moved or changed phone and email contact information. Advise your alarm company and local police should you be gone for an extended period of time. Lock all windows and doors, set timers on interior lights and consider Apple Valley as a trusted “neighbor” with whom you can leave your vacation address and telephone number so you can be reached in case of an emergency

Storms

weather-protection-insuranceNew Englanders are hardy when it comes to riding out storms of all kinds. In the summer we can get power outages from strong thunderstorms, but could even experience more severe storms such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Protecting your home from damage is key, such as securing windows and glass doors from wind or potential flying objects. Repairing loose shingles and shutters is recommended. Check your insurance policy for loss due to power outages including refrigerated and frozen food.

Backyard

Grilling, swimming pools, trampolines, fish ponds, swing sets, fire pits, and sports activities are fun signs of summer but can turn hazardous, too. Supervising children is needed at all times. Repair rusty bolts and wood rot on trampolines and swing sets. Don’t grill or use a fire pit near your home, deck or low-hanging tree branches. Clean up toys and sports equipment to prevent injuries to people and pets should they be stepped on or become flying objects when mowing the lawn.homeowner-insurance

Car Trips

Hitting the road in your automobile for a family vacation? Safe driving starts before you leave the driveway. Be sure to secure luggage and cargo so the weight is well-balanced and that you have clear lines of sight from the driver’s seat. Know the height of your cargo so you can safely maneuver underpasses and parking garages. If you are towing a trailer, make sure the rear lights are working and the tires are in good condition. Drive carefully to avoid accidents and plan stretch stops for long trips.

 

Please note, this article was written to help you in general terms.  Please consult an insurance professional to discuss your specific situation as it relates to things discussed in this article.

David Brush, CIC

Nancy Mendizabal, CIC

Apple Valley Insurance

Greenville, RI

Apple Valley Insurance helps people and businesses with insurance needs.  We are a locally owned Rhode Island independent business that enjoys working with fellow small business owners.  We serve all of Rhode Island and have many options, providing personal and business insurance programs.  Contact us for a review or if you are concerned about having the right insurance coverage.

Hands-Free Cell Phone Use While Driving

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Hands-free cell phone use comes to Rhode Island

A bill criminalizing the usage of any “non- hands-free personal wireless communication device” was signed into law by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, one of the bills to make it past the Governors desk despite the budget dispute embroiling the General Assembly. The law will go into effect June 1, 2018 and prohibits usage of a phone to your ear while driving a vehicle, with a $100 fine if caught. Now is the time to equip your vehicle with bluetooth, ear pieces and other hands-free ways to use your cell phone for emergencies or navigation, as other New England states uphold these bans (CT, NH, NY and VT). Reminder that in both RI and MA, texting behind the wheel is not allowed by law.

 

Please note, this article was written to help you in general terms.  Please consult an insurance professional to discuss your specific situation as it relates to things discussed in this article.

David Brush, CIC

Nancy Mendizabal, CIC

Apple Valley Insurance

Greenville, RI

Apple Valley Insurance helps people and businesses with insurance needs.  We are a locally owned Rhode Island independent business that enjoys working with fellow small business owners.  We serve all of Rhode Island and have many options, providing personal and business insurance programs.  Contact us for a review or if you are concerned about having the right insurance coverage.

Summer-Toys_insurance

It’s Summer… Are Your Toys Covered?

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Our New England summer is fleeting. Back when we were kids, summer school vacations seemed to last forever, but as adults we realize there are only three short months to enjoy the Great Outdoors. Now is the time for motorcycles, boats, golf carts and more summer “toys” to come out of their winter hibernation to take advantage of the warm and sunny weather.

Many homeowners believe that their home or personal insurance policy covers their recreational toys but, in actuality, most don’t provide adequate or any coverage in the event of a claim. In some instances, specialty policies are available to help cover any gaps in coverage.Motorcycle-insurance-coverage

There are so many summer toys that come to mind. Here is a listing of what could or could not be covered by insurance: Operating these powered people-movers can involve accidents. You need automobile insurance for vehicles that can go on the road, which involves liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, medical payments and towing coverages.

Whether someone hits you, or you’re the one responsible for the mishap, proper coverage is recommended to protect your property as well as to fund medical or legal costs that could arise. For the newly popular drones, recreational use at your home is not the issue. Once the drone is used for business or outside of your home on other people’s property is when you need to review your insurance coverage. Drone insurance can provide that financial cushion you need to avoid risk to other people or to property of others.

Be wary of exclusions that can exist for toys such as drones. For example, if you plan to use the drone to take aerial photos for business purposes, or plan to use your RV as your mobile summer office, you may need commercial insurance because homeowner policies are not intended for this type of activity. One local person shot a drone down in his backyard with his gun and no one claimed it or came for it. The homeowner planned to sue for invasion of privacy.

What if your son’s friend happens to ride your son’s new scooter around your cul de sac and gets injured from a fall? How about if your daughter lets her friend ride her Barbie Jeep she got last Christmas in your driveway or over to her friend’s house next door which involves taking the jeep into the street? Your homeowner’s policy does not cover any injuries that may occur for these two motorized toys. Does the jeep friend’s parents’ insurance take over in the event of an accident on their property once the jeep is in their yard?boat-watercraft-insurance-Greenville-Rhode Island

Summer may be a carefree time, but don’t throw caution to the warm summer breezes. These questions, scenarios and more are what you need to discuss with us at Apple Valley Insurance. As always we are here to review your existing policy (even if it’s not from us), answer questions and provide assistance for any type of insurance or situation that you can think of…..and for those that you may not be thinking of!

 

Please note, this article was written to help you in general terms.  Please consult an insurance professional to discuss your specific situation as it relates to things discussed in this article.

David Brush, CIC

Nancy Mendizabal, CIC

Apple Valley Insurance

Greenville, RI

Apple Valley Insurance helps people and businesses with insurance needs.  We are a locally owned Rhode Island independent business that enjoys working with fellow small business owners.  We serve all of Rhode Island and have many options, providing personal and business insurance programs.  Contact us for a review or if you are concerned about having the right insurance coverage.

 

 

Auto Insurance Discounts and Savings in RI

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Are you receiving all the discounts on your auto insurance?

 

In Rhode Island, you have many choices for auto insurance, and there are an assortment of discounts available.  Some discounts are offered by most insurance companies, while others are unique to one specific company.  Below are the common auto insurance credits and discounts available in Rhode Island listed and explained:

 

Auto Insurance Discounts

Account Credit

The Account Credit can also be called a multi-policy discount or bundle credit.  This credit is also available on other insurance policies like Home, Life, Boat, Renters, and Umbrella policies.  This is a discount that the insurance company provides for having more than one policy with them.

 

Early Quote Discount

Obtaining insurance options at least two weeks before the effective date of your policy allows you to take advantage of this discount.  The reasoning behind this credit is the idea that people that plan and get insurance options ahead of time are better insurance risks and have less claims.

 

Paid-in-Full Discount

If an insurance policy is paid in full, the insurance company saves the cost of mail and/or processing billing installments.  With the Paid-in-Full Discount, the insurance company shares this savings with you.

 

EFT Payment Credit

If you choose to enroll in EFT (Electric Funds Transfer), you’ll receive an additional savings.  Like the Paid in Full Discount, the insurance company saves bill processing costs that are shared with you.  This is both a savings and a great convenience.

 

Paperless Discount

An option to receive documents electronically can save you money, however this discount does increase your responsibility.  If you choose the Paperless Discount make sure you read and understand the terms and conditions of the agreement.  You need to have an email account to enroll in this program.  Sending you documents through the USPS costs money, and the saving of receiving documents electronically are passed on to you from the insurance company.

 

Loyalty Discount

Insurance companies offer a discount for being insured with them for a certain amount of time.  This is called a Loyalty Discount and is provided as an incentive or reward for being a faithful customer.

 

New Car Credit

The new car credit is applied to policies that have vehicles that are less than 3 years old.  The rationale is that newer cars have new safety technology and lack wear and tear issues that could affect driving.

 

Good Student Credit

If you have a driver on your policy that is enrolled in High School or College full-time, and has a B or better average, you should be aware of the Good Student Credit.  The insurance company will periodically ask for a copy of recent grades to continue this credit.  Data has proven that students with a B or better average are involved in less automobile accidents, and that equates to savings for you and the insurance company.

 

Driver Training Discount

The Driver Training Discount is a reward to young drivers that have taken behind the wheel driver training to improve their driving skills and ability.  The insurance company will require a copy of the drivers training certificate for the young driver.  In most cases, this credit will be applied until the young driver is 21. The savings over the years far exceeds the cost of the driver training class.

 

Safe Driver Discount

If all drivers on your policy have an excellent driving record, you are rewarded by insurance companies with the Safe Driver Discount.  The amount of a Safe Driver Discount depends on how long you have been insured with the company and how long all drivers have had an excellent driving record.

 

Defensive Driver Discount

The Defensive Driver Discount is offered to drivers 55 and older who complete an approved accident prevention or defensive driving course.  The insurance company will require a copy of the certificate of completion and request an update every two to three years.

 

Auto Club Membership Discount

A discount is available for auto club membership.  The insurance company will require that you provide your auto club membership number and will check to see that your membership is active every few years.

 

Multi-Car Discount

The multi-car discount is automatically added to a policy that has more than one vehicle.

 

Home Ownership Discount

The Home Ownership Discount is given to people who own the home where they reside.  This discount is given to anyone who owns a home even if the home is insured by a different insurance company.

 

Student Away at School Credit

The Student Away at School Credit is available to people with a college student that is over 100 miles away at school without a car.

 

Safety Equipment Credits and Anti-Theft Discounts

The Safety Equipment Credits and Anti-Theft Discounts are applied using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).  These credits are automatically included on the auto policy if these features are factory installed.  However, you would need to provide proof of these devises if they have been installed after the car was manufactured.  Additional discounts and credits are available for the following devices:

  • Vehicle Alarm
  • Air Bags
  • Anti-Lock Brakes
  • Traction Control
  • Collision-Avoidance Systems
  • Electronic Stability Control
  • Automatic Seat Belts
  • Blind-Spot Detection

 

Savings Will Vary

Discounts and Credits are applied to the entire policy, only one vehicle, or only one coverage, and for this reason savings will vary.  For example, the Anti-Theft device credit only discounts the policy if you have comprehensive coverage for a specific vehicle.  The Paid in Full Discount and Account Credits apply to the entire policy.  In addition, the amount of savings may depend on how long you have been eligible and how long you have been insured with the same company.

 

The descriptions of the above credits, discounts, and savings are subject to specific insurance company policies, provisions, restrictions, guidelines, and limitations.  The details can only be expressed in the policy itself.  These discounts and credits and the availability vary by company and specific situations. Please note, this article was written to help you in general terms.  Please consult an insurance professional to discuss your specific situation as it relates to the items discussed in this article.

 David Brush, CIC

Apple Valley Insurance

Greenville, RI

Apple Valley Insurance helps people and businesses with insurance needs.  We are a locally owned independent business located in Smithfield, RI.  We serve all of Rhode Island and have many insurance options.  Contact us today for a review of your personal or business insurance program.

Electricians Insurance For Your RI Contracting Business.

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RI Electricians Insurance

 

As an electrical contractor and business owner in Rhode Island, you have many responsibilities.  Protecting your business and lifestyle is one of them.  Electricians insurance is one of the biggest expenses you have and provides protection for one of your biggest assets: your business.  The importance of the right insurance for your business cannot be overstated.  This is an overview of electricians insurance coverage to help those in the electrical trades understand and purchase insurance.  Continue reading →

Will my credit rating change my insurance rates?

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I was recently asked this question by one of our Apple Valley Insurance clients, and thought I would share the answer here for our readers.

There are a lot of things that go into homeowners and auto insurance rates, one of them being credit. I’ve heard a lot of complaints from people who don’t like the fact that insurance companies use credit in their underwriting.

Some people have absolutely no idea that it’s used in the rate at all.

At the end of the day, there’s not much we can do about it though. Insurance companies have been using credit in their rates for decades, and that’s not likely to change.

By the way, insurance companies don’t pull your credit like a mortgage company or credit card company does. There is no negative impact on your credit as a result of an insurance company looking at it.

When I say “pull” what I mean is that the insurance company is doing what’s called a soft inquiry, which is not the same thing as having your credit pulled (hard inquiry).

When does credit play a role in insurance rates?
It’s important to understand that insurance companies don’t continuously check or monitor your credit. Usually, they only check it when you first get a quote and/or sign up with them in the very beginning.

This means that if your credit score increases (or decreases) your insurance company does not automatically know about it.

So, to my customers question of whether or not his increased credit score will lower his rates, the answer is not automatically.

What has to be done on our side as the agent is contact the carrier the insurance and ask them to do what’s commonly referred to as a “re-score”. This is when the insurance company can re-run the person’s credit (soft inquiry) to see if there is any positive bearing on the rate.

This isn’t something that the insurance company is going to let the agency do every single year, so it’s not worth even asking unless there has been a significant change in your credit score, and only you as the customer would know if that was the case.

If you’d like to get a better handle on your credit rating, it could be helpful to setup credit monitoring. We hope this was helpful! As always, leave us comment below if you have any questions.