Trees down everywhere!

What do you do when trees fall down in your yard? What if your trees fall in your neighbor’s yard? Who is responsible to pay for the clean up?  What if your neighbor had been telling you that your tree was rotten and going to fall someday?

So many questions and so much anxiety but it doesn’t have to be that way.

We have a plan for you:
Access the situation
Call your Insurance Agent
and explain the situation. Find out how your homeowners policy provides coverage for fallen trees. Each Insurance Company offers different levels of coverage, some are listed below:

          $500 tree debris removal
          $1,000 tree debris removal
          Unlimited tree debris removal
          Coverage only when a tree hits a structure or vehicle
          Coverage only when a tree blocks a driveway
          Coverage anytime a tree simply falls

The best situation is when you have unlimited coverage to remove the tree and the tree simply falls missing all the vehicles and structures on your property and your neighbors.

Call  a professional tree service company and set an appointment for them to come out and give an estimate and/or remove the tree.

Tree damage to a vehicle is comprehensive coverage and not part of coverage from a homeowners policy.

When trees fall it’s usually due to a storm or an “act of god” so the homeowner is not to blame or liable for the damage done.  However, if you know the tree is rotten and you don’t do anything about it and it falls on your neighbor’s home you are now liable because you were aware of a problem and didn’t take responsibility for it before hand. Now you’ve got a bigger claim on your hands and possibly some angry neighbors.

Given the amount of storms we seem to be having lately, it’s time to learn what your homeowners policy can do for you and how you need to take responsibility and prevent claims from occurring.  You’ll be glad you did.

Published in:  on February 26, 2010 at 9:46 am Leave a Comment
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Maine Personal Automobile Rate Decrease

You heard that right and I’m sure you’re surprised and a bit curious.

Concord Group announced a decrease in personal automobile insurance rates starting on March 15, 2010 for new policies and renewals beginning May 15, 2010.

The change represents Concord’s continued effort to provide fair and equitable rates to high quality accounts.

It’s one way for Concord to say “Thanks” to their current clients and any new clients. Thanks for doing business with them and thanks for their safe driving. Every accident avoided is one less claim to pay and service and that helps reduce the cost of insurance going forward.

Have you checked to see what Concord can do for you? You’ll never know if you don’t call. Come on, dig out your current policy, pick up the phone and call. Let your friendly, local and professional Independent Agent compare policies for you. Sometimes the review itself reveals some savings and sometimes you find you are missing some valuable coverage.

Don’t pay more than is necessary, make the call today.

Published in:  on February 25, 2010 at 11:08 am Leave a Comment
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To Be or Not To Be, That is The Question

Insured, Uninsured or Underinsured

Which are you? Well, that may depend on which state you live in. According to the studies by the Insurance Research Council, Maine has a 4% uninsured rate for automobile insurance while New Mexico has the highest at 29%. New Hamphire is unknown as they are the only state that does not have a requirement for auto insurance. Although Massachusetts has quite a strict insurance/vehicle registration law they still manage to have 1% of their drivers uninsured.

Why should you care?  Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage reimburses policyholders in an accident involving an uninsured, underinsured or hit-and-run driver. The reimbursement is for your medical bills not for your vehicle damage. It’s serious because although you need your car, the amount of risk is much higher than the value of your car. Based on the cost  of a quick visit to a hospital, the cost of a lenghty stay would take months maybe years to pay off, one month at a time. Surely if you didn’t injure yourself you wouldn’t be happy to be left paying that sizeable hospital bill either.

Underinsured motorist coverage works in your favor if the other guy had less coverage than you and did more bodily harm to you than their policy will pay. Your policy steps in and pays the difference in coverage for your medical bills.  Either way you end up in a much better financial position if you maintain the highest coverage possible on your policy.

The outlook is not good if you do nothing to protect yourself.  Statistics show that these days the number of uninsured or underinsured drivers is rising in each state due to a single reason, the economy. The Insurance Research Council (IRC) has recently done a study and found that a single percentage point increase in the unemployement rate is associated with an increase in the uninsured motorist rate of more then three quarters of a percentage point of uninsured motorists. The scary part is that as the unemployment rate projections rise the chance of your being hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist grows and is actually projected to be 18% on average during 2010. That is an increase of amost 5% since 2007.

How do we protect ourselves?  Two ways: Increase your uninsured motorist coverage to equal your liability coverage to start and if you are currently carrying the minimum amount of coverage for your state increase it to the maximum. You will find that surprisingly the amount of additional premium to increase your coverage is not that great compared to the price to get into the game to begin with. Breaking down the increase on a per month or per day figure, surely you can afford to provide better protection for yourself, your family and your passengers. It’s true that your major medical coverage will assist in the event of a hospital visit but with the increasing deductibles we are seeing on your health policy why should you pay that deductible amount out of your pocket when you could be actually saving money by increasing your auto insurance coverage. A $1,500 health insurance deductible works out to $125 per month and a $50 increase in auto insurance works out to $4.17 per month. The math speaks for itself. You decide.

Safely Burning Candles

Keep your personal time special (and safe)

Candles can be a special part of a holiday tradition , celebration, a romantic dinner or atmosphere.   Never forget that you’re dealing with an open flame.

CandlesUse these reminders to keep yourself, your family and your guests safe:

  • Never leave a burning candle unattended. This is especially important if you have children or pets in your home.
  • Place your candles well out of reach of children and pets; and don’t let teens burn candles in their bedroom.
  • Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that will burn and away from a draft. Many fires are started when a moving curtain touches the flame.
  • Use sturdy, safe, candleholders and place your candles on an uncluttered surface where they won’t be bumped or brushed against.
  • Avoid using candles with combustible materials (pinecones, twigs, etc.) embedded in the wax.
  • It’s very dangerous to use a candle as light to look into a closet or when fueling equipment such as lanterns or kerosene heaters. The flame could ignite the vapors.
  • During a power outage, use flashlights, battery-operated lamps and glow sticks rather than candles for light.
  • Place candles at least 3″ away from each other to ensure they don’t melt one another or burn unevenly.
  • Discard taper and pillar candles when they burn to 2″ from the candle holder. Votive and container candles should be extinguished before the last 1/2″ of wax melts.
  • Consider electric or battery-operated candles as an alternative.

Adhering to these tips will prevent your home from becoming a statistic with the National Fire Protection Association.

  • Thirty-eight percent (38%) of home candle fires started in the bedroom, resulting in 41% of the associated deaths.
  • Falling asleep was a factor in 12% of home candle fires and 26% of the associated deaths.
  • The top five days for home candle fires are Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Halloween.

Where does the time go?

It seems that just yesterday we were enjoying the warm sunshine of fall and now we find ourselves in the dead of winter with storms approaching every few days. The winterly weather we are having lately brings on concerns of the weight of ice and snow as well as winter flooding since the ground is frozen and simply can’t absorb the run off.  Because of this, January is always a good time of year to consider the amount of snow that has fallen and possibly take some time to clear any snow and ice from your gutters, “rake” the snow off the edge of your roof and dig out your street drains and fire hydrants. Winter in Maine often brings high winds, ice, rain and street flooding which can all lead to a mess if a home is not properly maintained.

Please be sure and do your part to prevent claims by removing the snow, that you can reach, on your roof, watch your sump pump to be sure it’s working properly and be prepared to bail a bit of water if you lose your power.

If you are unable to care for the snow on your roof yourself you may want to consider hiring someone to shovel, just be sure to request a Certificate of Insurance and look for Workers Compensation and Liability coverage before you let them perform any work at your home.

Also take extra care while driving as hydroplaning could be an issue as any trapped rain water starts rising on the streets.   Maybe a better idea to stay safe is to stay home and use these chilly winter days to plan a nice vacation to a warm and sunny spot a little further south!

Happy Holidays from Holden Agency Insurance


Happy Holidays from Holden Agency Insurance

Holiday Hours

12/24/2009 Closing at Noon
12/25/2009 Closed in observation of Christmas

Published in:  on December 21, 2009 at 11:54 am Leave a Comment

Why do I need to insure my RV differently than my car?

RV’s are a specialized vehicle and require special coverages and claims handling.

Recreational VehicleIf you thought you could just insure your RV on your car’s policy, you’re not alone.  According to a survey of RVers performed by The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies more than half of RVers add their RV to their car insurance policy.

For example, what if …

… your RV breaks down on a trip?

While a lot of car insurance policies offer roadside assistance, many may not include coverage for your RV. Even if your policy covers some roadside expenses, it may not cover them all. For example, it may pay for towing only up to the amount it costs to tow a car. RV tows can cost three times more. That means out-of-pocket expenses you’re responsible for paying.

… your RV is involved in a crash?

Auto insurers typically have someone who normally handles car insurance claims inspect your RV. Specialty RV insurers train claims rep to look for damage and write estimates specific to RVs. They also work with repair facilities that know how to repair an RV and guarantee the work.

… the stuff in your RV is stolen?

You may keep things inside your RV that you never keep in your car like jewelry, laptops and camcorders. Your auto policy won’t pay to replace these items if they’re lost, stolen or damaged. Specialty insurers offer “personal effects” coverage that will pay to replace them if they’re used with your RV.

To be sure your RV is properly covered and for a free quote on RV insurance, contact us today.

Published in:  on at 9:13 am Leave a Comment
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Can you be liable when guests drive drunk or get food poisoning from your party?

Party dogAs millions of Americans host and attend holiday parties across the street or across the country, many are unaware of the risks they may be taking on and their own responsibilities to ensure their guests don’t hit the road drunk.  According to a national survey on homeowner’s insurance issues by Trusted Choice® and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, of which Holden Agency is a member, homeowners were asked if they believed they were legally liable if a guest caused an alcohol-related traffic accident after leaving a holiday party at the respondent’s home.

The Trusted Choice® survey found that almost 46% of homeowners thought they weren’t liable in the event that a guest became seriously ill from catered food consumed at the host’s home, and about 22% didn’t think they could be held responsible if a guest was injured on the sidewalk in front of their property.  More than one-third of homeowners either didn’t think they could be held responsible or admitted they didn’t know they could be liable if they destroyed someone’s home with a careless act.  The bottom line is that homeowners could, in fact, be held responsible in any of these scenarios or accidental incidents.

Consider the following tips to prevent holiday party accidents and protect yourself:

  • Limit your guest list to those you know.
  • Host your party at a restaurant or bar that has a liquor license, rather in a home or office.
  • Provide filling food for guests and alternative non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Schedule entertainment or activities that do not involve alcohol.  If the party centers around drinking, guests will likely drink more.
  • Arrange transportation or overnight accommodations for those who cannot or should not drive home.
  • Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party is scheduled to end.
  • Do not serve guests who are visibly intoxicated.

Depending you your situation you may need additional coverage though the purchase of an inexpensive Personal Umbrella insurance policy.  Our educated and dedicated employees are eager to help you identify if there is a need for you to consider this coverage.  Often times, Umbrella insurance policies are under $200/year for $1 million worth of coverage.

Published in:  on December 11, 2009 at 1:50 pm Leave a Comment
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Getting to know your Health Plan Acronyms

With all the recent talk about Health Care Reform, you may be hearing a lot of acronyms being thrown around when people talk about health insurance.  Some of the more common acronyms include HMO, PPO, and POS.  But what do they all mean?

Healthcare Plan DocumentsHMO (Health Maintenance Organization) – An HMO is a health organization that provides health services to individuals known as subscribers or members.  HMO’s generally contract with a group of doctors and medical providers to provide services at an agreed-upon, or negotiated, cost.   This group of doctors and providers is known as the HMO’s network.   With an HMO plan you select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) who coordinates your care and refers you to specialists when needed. There is generally a strong emphasis on preventive care under an HMO.   If your health insurance is provided through an HMO, you must receive services from providers who are in the network, in order for the plan to pay benefits.   If you go outside the network, you will be responsible for paying the cost of services received.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) – A PPO is a select group of hospitals and medical practitioners in a given area who have contracted with an insurer to provide services at a pre-arranged cost.   Similar to an HMO, this group of doctors and providers is known as the PPO’s network.  Unlike an HMO, however, if you are covered under a PPO you don’t have to designate one doctor as your PCP.   In addition, with a PPO you can go out of your network for services.   If you do go out-of-network, though, you will be required to pay more in out-of-pocket costs for those services. Under a PPO plan, you usually have to meet a deductible each calendar year.   This means that, for services that are subject to the deductible, the plan will not pay until you have satisfied the calendar year deductible for that year.   In order to satisfy your deductible, you will have to pay out of your pocket for the services.

POS (Point of Service) –A POS plan is a managed care plan that allows the member to receive care from either in-network or out-of-network providers.   A POS plan is similar to an HMO in that you will be required to choose a Primary Care Physician, who will coordinate your care and refer you to specialists within the network.  A POS is also similar to a PPO, though, in the fact that you may choose to receive services either within the plan’s network or outside the network.   If you receive services from an out-of-network provider, you will be required to pay more in out-of-pocket costs.  In addition, some services may not be covered out-of-network.

There are many other acronyms that you may wish to learn about, including FSA (Flexible Spending Account), HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan), HSA (Health Savings Account) and HRA (Health Reimbursement Arrangement).  We’ll cover these and other topics in future postings on this blog.   We’ll also spend some time explaining the difference between deductibles, copays, and coinsurance – and why you need to know what all these terms mean.

If you have a particular question, please feel free to post it below, or for more information on Health & Life plans visit our Employee Benefits division website, Employee Benefits Solutions.

Published in:  on December 4, 2009 at 3:55 pm Leave a Comment
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Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving holiday

Here at the Holden Agency, we are thankful for YOU.  Thank you for being part of our 2009.  We wish for you a happy holiday and wonderful memories.

Happy Thanksgiving from Holden Agency Insurance

Please note:  Our office will be closed both Thursday and Friday in recognition of Thanksgiving.

Published in:  on November 25, 2009 at 8:51 am Leave a Comment