Blog & Helpful Articles

Here our experienced insurance agents will share their thoughts and advice about your property insurance needs.

Update on Florida Legislative Session

March 9, 2012 by Pat Keenan

The Florida Legislative session close with many unresolved issues including PIP and homeowners insurance reform. Here are a few articles to help you understand the issues and what the future holds.

  1. Rick Scott, Jeff Atwater continue to push no-fault auto reform
  2. Lawmakers scrambling for answers on PIP issue
  3. Senate introduces last-minute plan to trade insurance tax breaks for storm-fund contributions
  4. Fix PIP now
We will keep our eye on the issues and keep you informed. Check back often for updates.
| Make a comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories: Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance

Texting and driving laws are coming, Where is Florida’s?

March 5, 2012 by Lauren Haemmerle

Florida is one of 15 states without a texting and driving law. As the Florida legislative calendar comes to a close this week, Senate Bill 416 is still under consideration and was recently approved by a Senate Committee. With studies showing that texting and driving more dangerous than drinking and driving, action is necessary to keep our streets safe. Auto insurance companies are supporting any bill the creates a deterrent to the practice. You can be sure that there will be provisions in policies that limit their exposure to accidents caused by texting and driving.

If you support SB 416, contact your representatives and let them know your thoughts.

The video below is from today’s Today Show where parents of an Idaho teen killed by a driver texting and driving make a plea for harsher penalties for texting and driving.

| 2 Comments
Tags: , , , , , ,
Categories: Auto Insurance

Homeowner’s Insurance Reform in Florida

March 2, 2012 by Kelly E. Vaandering

As the legislative session nears it’s March 9th end, it appears that a resolution on downsizing Citizens insurance is no closer at hand. While this would reduce the size of the state back insurer of last resort, it would by unregulated providers. According to former state Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher, “The insolvency surplus line carrier is vastly different from that of an authorized insurance company” and “policyholders have no safety net in the form of the guaranty fund to help pay for their claims”.

While the legislature is clear on their desire to reduce the size and state’s financial exposure from citizens, they are uncomfortable opening the market to unregulated companies that can adversely affect the lives of Florida’s citizens. If you are currently a homeowner with a Citizens policy, contact one of our specialist to learn about what options are available to you at 954.340.2323.

| 1 Comment
Tags: , , , ,
Categories: Homeowners Insurance

Auto Insurance Crackdown in Miami-Dade Today

February 29, 2012 by Jessie Brozic-Ago

If you are driving in Miami-Dade county today, be aware that there is a coordinated effort by law enforcement today. As with all traffic stops, drivers will be asked to produce an auto insurance card. The difference today is the officer will now call a command center to verify the authenticity of the produced document. Drivers with altered or fraudulent insurance  will now be charged with a third-degree felony as it is illegal to drive without or fake insurance.

Before you get in your car today, please make sure your auto insurance is up to date. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 945.340.2323

| Make a comment
Tags:
Categories: Auto Insurance

Long Term Care: Ignored by Presidential Hopefuls

February 23, 2012 by Sal Franco

As Presidential hopefuls go around the country asking for your vote, one item seems to be off their agenda: Long Term Care. As the baby boomers enter retirement age, our country will be face with increasing medical costs for seniors. Given that the youngest of the group are now in their late 40s, this is going to be a long term problem versus a short term one. One of the things a consumer can do to ensure they control their medical well being as they get old is to purchase long term care insurance. Long term care insurance is not a replacement for your health insurance or Medicare and does not pay medical providers for health expenses. What it does pay for is long term care in a nursing home or other comprehensive facility and in home care with an aide.

With premium prices rated based on medical history and age, the early you begin to learn about your options the better of you will be in the long term. Estate planning attorneys, financial advisors and insurance specialists all agree long term care insurance should be a part of your financial planning as it aims to protect your assets.

As costs continue to increase, it is never to early to begin the planning process. Contact our long term care specialist to learn more about your options at 954.340.2323

| Make a comment
Tags: , , ,
Categories: Long Term Care Insurance

Florida property insurance on the national stage

February 20, 2012 by Elizabeth d'Erizans

During the open Florida legislature sessions, the issue of property insurance has been discussed at length, and it’s not looking good. There are lots of reasons and now it appears the debate is getting some national attention. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) recently had an editorial where it discusses the issues faced by the Governor and legislation. If a resolution is not achieved by March 9th, the end of the legislative session, no changes will be made to the ever rising insurance costs.

The reason this is so important is because so many Florida homeowners have the government back Citizens Property Insurance Corporation insurance. If a serious storm affects the Florida peninsula, many claims would go unpaid as the fund is not fully funded at this time. As Florida’s insurer of last resort and government back, it is possible that the fund  will not be able to meet it’s financial obligations.

To speak to one of our specialists about your property insurance policy, please contact us at 954.340.2323.

| 1 Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Categories: Homeowners Insurance

Florida Texting and Driving Gets Started and Stalls

February 14, 2012 by Sandra 'Naranjo

Every time it seems like Florida’s bill to ban texting and driving gets going in the legislature it stalls out. It’s hard to understand why this would be such a divisive issue when you consider that you are 23 times more likely to be involved in an auto accident if you are texting and driving than if you weren’t.

Consider what has happened in New York as a result of the newly enacted anti-texting and driving bill: over 119k tickets issued statewide with 73k in New York City alone.

Reducing the number of accidents will impact the prices we all pay for auto insurance. Contact your legislator and let them know how you feel about SB416 and HB299.

| Make a comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Categories: Auto Insurance

Florida insurance legislative updates

February 10, 2012 by Allison Griffith

There is a lot happening in the Florida legislature regarding various types of insurance reform bills, specifically homeowners and auto insurance. Here are a few articles to help you keep up to date on the happenings.

  1. Florida Insurance Commissioner: ‘This Is Year for PIP Reform’
  2. Citizens reform passes Florida House
  3. Opinion column: We must rid fraud from PIP system
| Make a comment
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Categories: Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance

When to buy long term care insurance?

February 8, 2012 by Sal Franco

A recent Chicago Tribune article tackles the question of when is the right time to purchase long term care insurance. Most experts say the best time to purchase is between the ages of 50-59. Two main reasons are 1. As you get older, you increase the likelihood of being denied coverage and 2. As you get older, the costs get to a point where it looks unaffordable. A CBS News report cites the insurance industry say that 2/3 of all people over the age of 65 will need long term care in their lifetime.

Whether you are of the recommended age or not, it is clear that long term care insurance should be a part of your retirement plan. For more information about long term care plans available, please contact our office at (954) 340-2323.

| Make a comment
Tags: , , , ,
Categories: Long Term Care Insurance

Insurance fraud and how it affects the consumer

February 7, 2012 by Candy Mesmer

According to a Miami Herald article, one of the major reasons for increases in auto insurance premiums is the rise in auto insurance fraud increases. Gov. Rick Scott calls it a billion dollar scam on Floridians as the increase in lawsuits related to P.I.P. claims has risen 275% in the past 5 years. In many instances, the coverage for $100,000 is less than the coverage fo $10,000 in P.I.P.

Insurance fraud is a serious issue and is being dealt with in a serious way by the state CFOl Jeff Atwater. Last week, a Miami man was charged with filing a fraudulent P.I.P. claim as is being help on $65,000 bond. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

| Make a comment
Tags: , , , , ,
Categories: Auto Insurance

Blog Search

By Author

Categories

Archives

Auto Insurance | Boat Insurance | Motorcycle Insurance | RV Insurance | Commercial Auto Insurance | Homeowner’s Insurance | Renter’s Insurance | Flood Insurance | Life Insurance | Long Term Care Insurance | Business Liability Insurance | Commercial Property Insurance | Business Owners Insurance | Professional Liability Insurance | Contractor’s Insurance | Condo Association Insurance | Workers Compensation Insurance |