R&R Insurance Blog

One of our clients was driving home from work when another driver hit her 2009 Acura TSX 4-door sedan. Our insured and her older daughter were injured. Her newborn baby daughter was unharmed (thank goodness for the child safety seat). After a visit to the hospital, I am happy to report that the family will be fine. I wish I could say more for her car - her 2009 Acura was totaled. You can see from the picture that the front end sustained enough damage that it could not be repaired. The accident was so severe that several of the airbags went off.

So, when does $60 = $13,000? Recently, some insurance companies started offering 'Car Damage Replacement Coverage' on new cars. The cost for the endorsement is around $20-$35 a year. Our insured owned this car for 3 years and her cost to have this on her policy would have been $60 over 3 years. Our insured declined this coverage when she bought the car. She probably thought, "I’m a good driver”. Problem is, we don’t know about the drivers around us.

When the dust settled, our client will receive what the value of her car was worth (fancy insurance term is 'Actual Cash Value') right before the accident. This is how typical claims are settled. Had she added the Car Damage Replacement Cost endorsement, she would be driving in a brand new Acura TSX. The difference between the value of her car and a new Acura is around $13,000. This is when $60 = $13,000! Not all insurance companies offer this endorsement so please check with us when you add a new car to your policy.

Wisconsin residents, now is a great time to contact us about any questions you might have on your auto, home, or life insurance!

Insurance companies benefit when drivers don't have accidents and don't make claims. Conversely, they lose money when their customers have accidents and make claims. The insurance company wants to rate a driver as accurately as possible so they can correctly predict your driving patterns and how likely it is you will make a claim. If you are a higher risk for the insurance company, they will charge you more premium.

The following are reasons you could be charged more for your auto insurance:

• Buying a new car - it's worth more than your old car and will cost more to replace. Don't assume higher premiums are only associated with sports cars. If the new vehicle is more likely to be a stolen model, you could be getting charged more!
• Commuting Long Distances - The risk is greater for the insurance company that you have an accident if you are on the road more frequently, especially during rush hour traffic!
• Moving - Risk is determined by the zip code you live in and city residents typically have more people; more people mean more accidents.
• Marriage Status/Age - You are in a higher risk category if you are a younger driver and again when you are a seasoned driver. The same thing is true if you're unmarried.
• Broke up with Your Auto Insurance - If you've gone without insurance in an effort to save money, your premiums will be higher when you seek out insurance again. Insurance goes up even if you've been without insurance for just over a month.
• Law Breakers - if you've gotten a ticket or had an accident, your insurance premiums most likely will be higher. Insurance companies typically check your record whether you are a new or an existing customer. So the cleaner your record the less they will charge you!

Wisconsin residents, insurance rates are going to change based on certain factors, so if you' d like a free review of your current coverage, please contact knowledgebroker Kori Cumley.

Anything that diverts your attention away from the main task of driving is a distraction. Basically, anything that takes your eyes/mind off the road or your hands off the wheel. This includes cell phone usage, eating, talking, listening to disruptive music, applying make-up, tending to children and navigation systems.

Not Just Texting – Any Cell Phone Usage Can be Deadly

Research has shown that the distraction caused by a phone conversation is the same for hands-free or hand-held cell phones. Even more distracting is the act of text messaging. Now illegal in most states (including Wisconsin), texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds. At 55 mph, this translates into 120 yards without looking at the road.

Manage Your Distractions

• Recognize that driving requires your full attention.
• Ask a passenger to place a call for you and, if possible, speak in your place.
• Do not compose, send or read text messages while driving. In Wisconsin, texting while driving is illegal.
• Ask passengers to help with directions or adjust dashboard controls.
• Secure loose items in the vehicle so they don’t become projectiles or distractions in a sudden stop or crash.
• Avoid intense, complicated or emotional conversations when driving.
• Pull over to care for children.
• Stop to eat or drink, rather than trying to eat or drink while driving.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Program your GPS prior to starting your trip.
• Allow plenty of time for your trip.

R&R offers a free Stop The Distraction Campaign Kit for Wisconsin Schools and families in an effort to help prevent distracted driving. Contact us for your free kit if you are located in Wisconsin. 800-566-7007.

As an independent insurance agency servicing dozens of public and private schools, and tens of thousands of families in Southeastern Wisconsin, we know first-hand how life can change in an instant. For 2013, we've put some muscle behind our campaign to help schools and families prevent distracted driving.

R&R Insurance Services is offering a free Prevent Distracted Driving Campaign Kit to any school, business or family in Southeastern Wisconsin. Our kit includes a poster, two window clings and a pledge card.

Unfortunately, many accidents occur and lives are lost due to something that can be prevented - Distracted Driving! Let's stay focused behind the wheel and focused towards a common goal to prevent distracted driving.

Request your FREE Stop The Distraction Campaign Kit today and help spread the word. We can work together to Stop The Distraction and Save A Life!

Cyberbullying is still a topic that schools and parents continue to wrestle with. According to Francisco Negron, Chief Counsel for the National Association of School Boards, “Until the Supreme Court takes up this issue, the law still lags behind  the reality of how we live.”  See what districts around the country are doing to take a stand against cyberbullying.

The Cyberbullying Research Center estimates 20 percent of students admitted to cyberbullying someone.  The most common forms of cyberbullying is posting mean comments and spreading rumors online.

Where does the responsibility lie?  With the parents?  With the principals?  Today, the standard is that a principal can take action only if it causes a "disruption" in a school environment.  Example: a cruel text is sent on a cell phone that results in a fight in the school cafeteria.

This leaves a lot of gaps in responsibility and lawmakers are stepping up to develop discipline procedures.  Schools and officials are doing their best to hold students accountable.  Below are some interventions in an attempt to fill the gaps:

• Legislation: 49 states have anti-bullying laws (up from 20 in 2003)
• Technology: educate kids where they spend their time - in social media platforms
• Prevention: incorporate social and emotional skills in to curriculum and daily school life

Read more about how to protect yourself and your children on social networks.

According to Kiplinger, there are five medical conditions that will affect your life insurance rates the most. But it's the rankings that will most likely suprise you!

1. Heart disease - is the number one condition that will affect your life insurance rates!
2. Diabetes - will cause higher premiums but if it is manageable with medication your rates will be lower.
3. Cancer - the  type and severity will affect the bottom line.
4. Obesity - weight is taken into consideration because it does affect other health conditions.
5. Pulmonary disease - life long asthma will also increase life insurance rates.

Whether or not you have a condition, we'd like to have the opportunity to assist you with your life insurance needs and we make it as easy as 1, 2, 3!  Wisconsin residents, please contact us today for a free review of the protection we are able to offer!

Virtual doctors, once use only for very secluded areas, has become part of the solution to control health care costs. Employers are now using virtual doctors for their employees - connected right in their office. It's all about lowering health care costs and making employees more productive.

This is a quick and facinating read in Inc. magazine about new virtual doctor resources available to employers. The employers are not only giving their employees access to quality care, they are saving the employees time and money by not having to take off of work to drive to the doctor and then sit and wait.

Full article in Inc. Magazine: Point, Click, Cough: The Benefits of Virtual Doctor Visits - For Employers and Employees Alike.

Virtual Doctor Services:

Remote doctor services work in different ways and have varying fee structures. Here's how some of them are set up.

MeMD
Cost: Employers pay $1-$2 per employee each month, plus an average of $35 per visit.
How it works: Employees complete an online medical-history form and can then visit with an online doctor from any computer.

NuPhysicia's Medicine at Work
Cost: Employers pay an average of $25 per employee, per month.
How it works: A paramedic is stationed at your office to assist a remote doctor in completing online exams.

MDlive
Cost: Employers pay 75 cents to $1.50 per employee, per month, plus $38 per visit.
How it works: After completing a medical-history form online, employees connect to local doctors via phone or computer.

Teladoc
Cost: Up to $38 per consultation.
How it works: Employees complete an online medical-history form and then request a consultation via phone or computer. A doctor responds within an average of 22 minutes.

While furniture, clothing, and electronics are covered under your homeowner's or renter's policy;  jewelry, works of art, valuable collections (coins, etc.) may not be covered up to their full value depending on the type of loss and endorsements included in your policy.  That means, that unless it is specifically scheduled on your policy, the beautiful necklace your husband gave you last Christmas, if lost, may not be replaced by your insurance company.  These items are considered luxury or collectibles by insurance companies and are only covered for a minor dollar amount (often around $1,000) for loss by theft on most standard policies.  You may have no coverage at all if they are simply lost or misplaced.  As anyone who owns a nice engagement ring or a pair of grandma's diamond earrings knows, $1,000 is not usually enough to cover one piece let alone a few if you are fortunate enough to have them.

Through your existing insurance policy, you can schedule your items to cover the cost of your prized valuables.
Surprisingly, coverage isn't as expensive as you would imagine! Coverage is usually available between 30 cents and a $1.50 per 100 dollars of appraised value.

Say you want to insure $10,000 worth of jewelry, the policy could be less than $100 dollars a year! Knowing that your precious valuables will be covered in their entirety from theft, flood, or mysterious disappearance (losing a diamond from your engagement ring) is well worth the money spent.

Wisconsin residents, if you are interested in finding out what other items you may want to consider scheduling other than jewelry (fine art, guns, hearing aids, bikes silver, musical instruments, etc.), please contact us.

Everyone likes a good deal! You also need to make sure you are getting good quality before you just fall for the price. We have a few tips to help you be a savvy shopper:

• Make a list ... and stick to it!
• Check price-comparison sites, such as PriceGrabber or Shopzilla to get a manageable number of prices on products! PriceGrabber says it includes merchant ratings to help consumers filter out questionable stores.
• Remember to ask for a price match. Major retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot will match competitor's prices if you can show the circular ad!
• Plan out big purchases.  If you can wait a little while, track the prices of the item and grab a great deal when it comes around.
• Find online coupon codes that apply discounts when you check out (like Retailmenot.com)!

Once your new purchases are home, make sure you log it in your personal home inventory.

Wisconsin residents, contact a R&R knowledgebroker to ensure all aspects of your home are properly covered.