Understanding Common Flood Insurance Myths
DarrasLiving
As many states across the country raise awareness of the dangers of severe weather, it is crucial to highlight one of its very dangerous and costly side effects: flooding. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness to discuss common flood insurance misconceptions and how to overcome them to ensure you’re protected against the effects of severe weather.
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It's Time To Spring Clean Your Homeowners Insurance Policy
DarrasLiving
As you make your way through your spring-cleaning checklist, don’t forget one very important thing: now is a good time to review your homeowners insurance policy. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness to talk about life events that may prompt a policy review and which elements of your home insurance policy you should assess.
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Heart Attack as A Disability: Understanding The Facts and Myths
DarrasLiving
February is American Heart Month, so you've probably seen lots of news about identification and prevention of heart conditions. But what happens if you've already had a heart attack? Many people wonder if they can receive disability benefits for the aftereffects of a heart attack. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness to address the common myths and facts about filing for disability benefits due to a heart attack.
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The Difference Between Social Security and Private Long-Term Disability Insurance
DarrasLiving
There are many myths floating around about disability insurance - the most common is that there isn't much of a difference between SSDI and private long-term disability insurance. Often, Americans will choose to skip the latter because they think the former will provide for them if they become disabled. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discuss the key differences between Social Security Disability Insurance and private long-term disability insurance.
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The Difference Between Social Security and Private Long-Term Disability Insurance
DarrasLiving
There are many myths floating around about disability insurance - the most common is that there isn't much of a difference between SSDI and private long-term disability insurance. Often, Americans will choose to skip the latter because they think the former will provide for them if they become disabled. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discuss the key differences between Social Security Disability Insurance and private long-term disability insurance.
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Insurance Tips for a Safe & Smart New Year, Part II
DarrasLiving
Earlier this month, we discussed one new year's resolution that can help you find peace of mind: make January the time to review and update your insurance policies. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discuss our final tips for evaluating your insurance policies to ensure a smart start to the new year.
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Insurance Tips for a Safe & Smart New Year, Part I
DarrasLiving
Many Americans begin the new year with a resolution of some sort, such as getting in better shape, traveling more, or learning a new skill. While many of these resolutions are rarely kept, there is one that can help you find peace of mind: make January the time to review and update your insurance policies. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discuss tips for evaluating your insurance policies to ensure a smart start to the new year.
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New Year's Eve Insurance Disasters To Avoid
DarrasLiving
New Year's Eve is often celebrated with parties, drinks, and a countdown to the dawn of a new year. However, a holiday meant to celebrate friends and family is often spoiled by mishaps that lead to insurance claims. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness to look at common New Year's Eve insurance disasters and how to avoid them.
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Three Insurance Coverage Gaps You Shouldn't Ignore
DarrasLiving
You thought you covered the essentials: your home, your car, and your health are all insured. What else could you need? Unfortunately, many Americans who insure their basic needs have gaps in coverage that can unexpectedly drain their savings if disaster strikes. In this episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik from Health, Wealth, and Happiness to discuss three common insurance problems you may not be prepared for and how you can fill the coverage gaps.
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Insurance Tips for a Safe Thanksgiving
DarrasLiving
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a busy holiday season, which comes with a unique set of hazards. In this podcast episode, we discuss insurance tips to help you have a safe Thanksgiving, whether you're staying home and entertaining guests or traveling far distances to spend time with loved ones.
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Are you planning a getaway over Labor Day weekend? In this episode, we discuss the insurance and safety tips to consider before you pack your bags and hit the road.
Protect your home while you're away.
Unplug any appliances that do not need to stay plugged in, such as toasters, coffee makers, phone chargers, televisions and computers. Plugged-in appliances are known to cause home electrical failure fires.
Ask a friend or neighbor to stop by the house randomly, so they don't establish a pattern that would-be thieves could use to their advantage. Ask them to check the mail, pick up packages from the doorstep, and take fliers from the door.
If you are going away for a long time, reduce the risk of floods or leaks by turning off the water to your washing machine, dishwasher and toilets.
Avoid posting on social media while away on vacation. Many thieves pick their targets based on social media activity.
Consider travel insurance for costly or long trips.
One in six Americans has had their travel plans impacted by medical conditions, natural disasters or mechanical or carrier-cause problems, according to the US Travel Insurance Association. Of those affected, only one in five had travel insurance.
If you are traveling a long distance, taking more than a brief vacation, OR taking a costly trip, travel insurance may provide you with protection and peace of mind.
Here are some circumstances travel insurance may cover:
Trip cancellation. This is the most common concern for most travelers. Typically, travel insurance can reimburse you for pre-paid, nonrefundable expenses if you need to cancel your trip ahead of time.
Each insurance company will provide its own list of covered reasons for trips cancellation. However, common reasons may include:
- You are laid off from work or required to work
- A terrorist incident occurs in your destination city
- You are summoned for jury duty
- Your travel destination has been damaged by a natural disaster
Trip interruption. If a covered event occurs while you are on a trip and you are required to return home, travel insurance may reimburse you for the lost portion of the trip. It may also cover additional expenses for the last-minute flight home.
Medical cancellation, interruption or evacuation. If you must cancel or cut your trip short due to the sickness, injury, or death of you, a family member or traveling companion, you must purchase this specific coverage.
Medical treatment or evacuation while abroad can be costly, and many people mistakenly assume they are covered for these medical emergencies. Examine your health insurance policy to determine what coverage, if any, you have abroad, and supplement with a travel insurance policy to cover any gaps.
Tune up your auto insurance before you hit the road.
Review your auto insurance policy prior to travel. Double-check your collision and liability coverage prior to travel. If you don't already have roadside assistance coverage, ask your auto insurance agent if you can add it to your policy.
If you're leaving the state, ensure that your auto insurance coverage is likely valid in another state, even if your insurer does not sell there.
Consider rental car insurance. If you're renting a car for your trip, making sure that you have the right insurance coverage can be tricky. Car rental places will encourage you to get insurance through the, but you may not need it. Ask your insurance agent how your specific policy covers rental cars before you purchase additional coverage.