The American Trucking Association petitioned the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia asking the court to review the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s rule that changes  the hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.

This is quite a substantial change for Texas Truck Drivers.  According to the FMCSA, changes include limitations on the minimum 34 hour restarts, required rest breaks for each 8 hour period worked, along with changes to the definitions to on-duty time.

The new rules are effective February 27, 2012, and the compliance date of a few of the provisions is July 1, 2013.  Visit the FMCSA’s Hours of Service Final Rule here. The Department of Transportation announced the HOS changes last December as a way to help prevent fatigue-related truck crashes.

The American Trucking Association believes that  rules that have been in place since 2004 have contributed to improved highway safety improvments.  The ATA released the following statement on their website:

“We regret that the FMCSA and the Obama administration have put ATA and its member companies in a position to take this legal action…safety initiatives that will have a far greater impact on highway safety.”  Although the ATA is taking legal action, they openly  support FMCSA’s move toward mandated electronic on-board recorders to ensure greater compliance.

With the new rules, drivers  will have to take at least 2 nights rest from 1:00 am to 5:00am.  This is part of the “34-hour restart” provision.  Texas Trucking companies that allow drivers to exceed the 11-hour driving limit by three or more hours could be fined $11,000 per offense, and the drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense.

Commercial truck drivers and companies must comply with the new HOS requirements by July 1, 2013. The regulation is available on FMCSA’s website here.

If you’re shopping for insurance and need full coverage, you’d be surprised to find out that the term “full coverages” means different things to different people.  As a result, different insurance agents will quote different coverage combinations.  As a result, calling different agents could result in drastically different policy combinations.  It may surprise you to find that there is no standard definition for “full coverage”.  As a result, how do you know if you have the right coverage?  To answer your questions, we’ve broken down the Texas insurance policy into these manageable sections.  That way, you can easily decide which auto insurance coverages fit your needs.

Liability is a requirement in “full coverage”

Generally, while discussing coverages, I start with liability.  All registered vehicles must carry liability.  If you operate a motor vehicle without insurance in many jurisdictions like Dallas county, your motor vehicle could be towed and impounded until you provide proof of financial responsibility.  Texas minimum auto liability limits are as follows:

• Bodily Injury Liability – $30,000 per person / $60,000 per occurrence or per accident
• Proper Damage Liability – $25,000 per accident

While the 30,000 per person/  60,000 per occurrence is the minimum, it is wise to look at higher limits.  You should always consider carrying higher than the minimum limits for liability.  If you cause accident that exceeds your policy’s limits, you are still responsible for the damage you cause.  Therefore, it is always wise to talk to your local insurance agent about  carrying higher coverage.

Physical Damage covers damage to your vehicle

The second component that is required if you need full coverage car insurance is physical damage.  Physical damage is broken down into to main coverages; comprehensive (which is also referred to as “other than collision”) and collision.   If you need to drive a financed vehicle off the car lot, these are the two coverages that your finance company and car salesman want you to have when you leave.

Collision coverage provides protection in case your car collides with another object or is over turned over in an accident.  This coverage will pay for damage to your car regardless of whether the accident is your fault.  When choosing this coverage, you must choose a deductible.  The deductible is your portion of the of the insurance claim that you will pay.  So, if you have a $500 deductible during a claim, you pay the first $500 of damage done to your car.  Your insurance company pays the rest.

The second physical damage coverage you’re required to carry if you need full coverage is comprehensive coverage or “other than collision”. This cvoerage provides a form of “all risk” protection for your auto from perils or causes other than a collision or upset.  Comprehensive  protects you financially against perils like fire, theft, vandalism, glass breakage, hail, vandalism or damage caused by collision with an animal.  Just like collision, you must choose a comprehensive deductible as well.

Other important Texas car insurance coverages

If you’re looking for the minimum full coverage to get by, liability and physical damage are all you need.  However, if you really want to get the most protection for your insurance dollar, you should consider the following coverages.

Personal Injury Protection or Medical Payments

Personal injury protection (P.I.P.) provides protection for bodily injury and up to 80% of lost income if you or your passengers are injured in an accident while in your automobile. The minimum limit available is $2500 per person per accident.  This coverage can be used regardless of whether you or someone else causes the accident.  Unlike other states, Texas does not require d this coverage.  However, you must reject coverage if you do not wish to carry P.I.P.   If you reject P.I.P, you can either reject medical coverage altogether or select medical payments coverage for you an your passengers.

Generally, most insurance companies will allow you to choose whether your want personal injury protection, medical payments, or no medical coverage at all.  If you choose to carry medical payments, your policy will pay for medical expenses  for an insured or passenger that is injured in an auto accident.  The minimum limit available for medical payments will vary based on the insurance company.  It is up to you and your insurance agent to discuss the right level of medical payments for your insurance needs.

Uninsured Motorists Coverage

Another coverage that you should consider when looking at full coverage auto insurance is uninsured motorists protection.  In Texas uninsured motorists coverage provides extra protection for you and the passengers in your vehicle in case you’re involved in an accident where someone is no insurance or insufficient insurance.  Just like the liability limits, this is written in split limits for bodily injury and proper damage.  However, you have the right to reject uninsured motorist protection just as you can reject personal injury protection.

Unlike other states, Texas uninsured motorist coverage is broken down into bodily injury and property damage.  That way, if your car has liability only, you can still have physical damage coverage in case you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver.  Uninsured motorists property damage carries a $250 deductible.

Towing, and Rental Reimbursement coverage

Towing coverage is coverage that adds lots of value for little cost.  Today, many standard and preferred companies offer emergency road service instead of towing.  That way, if you lock your keys in the car or need a jump on a cold morning, you can call your roadside assistance company with paying money out of your pocket.  Companies that do not have the roadside assistance version of towing, offer a reimbursement form.  In these cases, if you pay for the roadside assistance, you can submit your receipt to your insurance company’s claims department and they will in turn reimburse you after the claim is handled.

Rental reimbursement adds coverage for a rental car in the event of damage to your automobile.  While your car is in the shop due to a car accident , selecting this coverage gives you protection while your insurance company pays to have your vehicle repaired.  Like other coverages, you must select a limit you think is best for you rental coverage.

So the next time you’re looking for full coverage car insurance, remember that full coverage means different things to different agents and companies.   Bookmark this blog post so that you can make sure you understand what coverages are available to you.  If you have further questions, feel free to contact us at 214-717-4326.

Bobtail insurance is an insurance policy that provides non-trucking liability for large commercial vehicles.  You may have heard that while your truck is on permanent lease to a motor carrier, your insurance problems are solved.   However, most fleet policies only cover scheduled vehicles while they are under dispatch.  As an owner operator, what does that mean to you?   Here are a few insurance considerations you should consider when leasing your truck to a motor-carrier.

How often is your truck under dispatch?

Generally, when your truck is under dispatch, your motor carrier’s fleet policy covers your truck for liability and physical damage as described by the lease company’s insurance policy.  However, once your truck is no longer under dispatch, you no longer have coverage.  Your  fleet policy’s coverage ends at that point; causing  a gap in coverage for your truck.  From that point, you need to have bobtail insurance (or non-trucking liability) on your truck to fill in your gap in coverage.

Non-Truck Liability for Maintenance

Are you required to maintain your truck?  Did you know that even though your motor carrier has purchased coverage, their liability on provides protection when a truck is being operated for business.  Not only does your truck need liability, but you also need physical damage coverage to cover your truck against an accident.  Consider this, if your truck has to go to the shop for repairs and your driver has an accident on the way to the shop. Who covers your truck during this claim?  In this case, if your fleet policy doesn’t cover your truck, your bobtail non-trucking liability should cover your rig.  Again, in a case like this you and your company should carry non-trucking liability.

Consider Texas State Law

Since we’ve established that your fleet insurance policy probably does not cover you while you’re bobtailing, consider state law.   Consider this.  If you simply drive your truck to a truck wash during, you have to carry at least the minimum liability requirements for the state of Texas.  While this is a very small amount for such a large vehicle, non-trucking liability (or bobtail insurance) satisfies  Texas minimum auto liability requirements.

Do I Need Life Insurance for My Mortgage?

Do I need life insurance for my mortgage?  The simple answer is yes.  Lets face it for the average person today in the United States the largest expense will be the home that they purchase for themselves and their family to live in.  Most people choose the home they live in for the location, school district, night life, etc.  Regardless of the reason why a home was chosen, the home is very important to a family’s stability.  Most families require dual incomes to afford the home that they are living in.  Ask yourself, could you afford your mortgage payment on a single income?

Why protect my home with Life Insurance?

Regardless of your answer to if you could afford your home on a single income, what will be the emotional impact if you had to leave your home in the midst of the loss of a loved one because you couldn’t afford the mortgage payment?  We make sure that we can replace our homes in the event of a fire, flood, or any other choice of disaster but we far too often don’t take the measure to protect our homes in the event of the loss of a loved one.  It only makes sense to protect your home in the event of losing a loved one to not add to the emotional stress involved when someone passes on.

How much Life insurance do I need to protect my home?

It depends.  You will want to make sure that you will be able to pay off your mortgage if you are planning on staying in the home.  Also keep in mind the other expenses that also go with a home such as property tax, home owners insurance, utilities, and maintenance as these expenses will affect the amount of insurance you will need to ensure that your family will be able to stay in your home.  It’s important to take action today to protect your family so they can stay in their home because of being prepared for the unexpected.  Give us a Call at TxInsurancePro.com so we can help your family be prepared with all of your insurance needs.

A consumer group on Monday issued a study that alleges “disparate treatment” of low-to moderate-income families by auto insurers nationwide. The group is asking state insurance commissioners to consider lowering minimum liability coverage requirements and creating low-income purchase programs.

The study from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) concludes that the auto insurance marketplace “denies important economic opportunities, especially those related to employment, to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households.”

The study’s intent, and message, was immediately attacked by several national insurance associations claiming the CFA report is misguided, infers “malicious intent,” makes incorrect assumptions about underwriting and even gets some of the facts wrong.

The CFA study asks state insurance regulators to ensure that auto insurance is fairly priced and affordable for LMI families so that they have greater access to car ownership and jobs.

“We think these solutions are fair and practical and can be delivered by state insurance commissioners,” said J. Robert Hunter, one of the report’s authors, a former Texas insurance commissioner. CFA’s Executive Director Stephen Brobeck co-authored the report.

According to the group, it worked with Santa Monica, Calif.-based Consumer Watchdog on the study. Consumer Watchdog is working to get signatures to qualify its Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act for California’s Nov. 6, 2012 ballot. The initiative would “ensure fair and transparent rates for health, home and auto insurance,” prohibiting “unfair pricing” for auto based on prior coverage and credit history, according to its backers.

The CFA study cites several examples that its authors say prove “disparate treatment” of LMI households. It also shows that the bottom rung of families considered to be low-income pay 8 percent of more of their annual income on auto insurance.

One example, taken from a study by Consumer Watchdog, was a 30-year-old man in St. Louis with a Ford Taurus and a perfect driving record who commutes 20 miles per day. He carries comprehensive and collision insurance and a $500 deductible. If he were an executive with an MBA degree living in an upscale suburb, his average annual insurance rate would be around $558, according to the study.

But change his profile a bit, and the numbers rise dramatically, the study shows. Give the St. Louis man a mere high school diploma and the rate goes up $71 per year, and if he’s unemployed, tack on another $84, the study shows. Relocate him to a ZIP code with a lower median income, and the rate goes up $347, according to the study.

Additional considerations the study uses for altering the man’s profiles are: paying in installments, up $60; uninsured for period of time, up $638; possessing no car for a time, up $337.

“This goes to $2,095,” Hunter said. “The rate went up fourfold. Insurers have never provided a thesis on many of these factors on how they measure risk.”

He added, “We think these factors are surrogates on income.”

Additionally, he said, no study has ever been done on aggregate impact of insurance rates on low and moderate income families. The authors are asking insurance commissioners to collect this data, as well as data on how rates are calculated, from insurance companies in their states.

“It’s going to be hard, but the states have the authority to do this,” Hunter said. “States have subpoena power—they should require the data and get it.”

The study’s authors are asking commissioners to consider taking three specific steps:

• Lower minimum liability coverage requirements
• Eliminate “disparate” treatment
• Create low-income purchase programs

Aside from factors that are included in rates, Hunter said miles driven are not adequately factored into pricing, and that state liability requirements do not benefit lower income drivers, as they only get liability for damages done to another’s property or person.

As such, “states should look into the possibility of creating low-income insurance plans,” he said.

As an example, he cited California’s state-sponsored Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program, which is designed to give greater access car insurance to low-income families.

“States should look at this model and develop similar models for their state,” Hunter said. He noted the California plan uses no government subsidies, “but we think a case can be made for subsidy in some circumstances.”

State-sponsored efforts to provide income-eligible persons with liability insurance protection at affordable rates have not gained a significant following, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The program in California had fewer than 12,000 policies in effect as 2011, according to I.I.I.

It’s not clear if the CFA group has worked with any specific state insurance commissioners on its plan. A spokesman for California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said neither Jones nor his staff had been contacted by CFA.

Jones’ department is looking into why more people aren’t using California’s low cost auto insurance program, the spokesman said.

Rich Roesler, a spokesman for Washington’s insurance commissioner, said he knows of no one in his department who has been contacted.

“I checked with our staff,” he said. “We’ve been getting their emails, but as far as I can tell after checking with half a dozen people here, I can’t find anyone who’s been directly involved with the study.”

Jilene Whitby, a spokeswoman for the Utah Insurance Department, said no one there had been contacted, and that CFA’s announcement last week that it would release its study was the first news they had heard of the study. “Friday was the first he had heard of it, and today was the first our P&C director had heard of it,” she said.

Nevada Insurance Department spokesman Jake Sunderland, who said the group had not reached out to his department, said the state had a low cost auto insurance program bill introduced in state legislature last year that passed Assembly but died in the Senate.

“The commissioner’s office was neutral in the issue,” he said. “That’s kind of where we stand on that right now.”

Sunderland took exception to the CFA study’s assertion that rates are based on incomes–that’s at least not the case in Nevada, he said. “We don’t see that in Nevada,” Sunderland added. “We’re a prior approval state. We require justifiable data regarding a rate change, and that’s not something we would allow.”

In 2011 the Nevada state legislature did approve a bill that provided credit history exceptions for certain insureds for what is considered “an extraordinary life event.” Certain insureds could have their credit history prevented from being taken into account in ratings calculations if they were laid off, deployed by the U.S. military, or had a medical emergency that negatively impacted their insurance credit score.

To help carry its request to the nation’s insurance commissioners, CFA is asking the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to request that its property/casualty committee examine the suggested changes in the study.

“They should hold a hearing on the matter so all stakeholders can be heard,” Hunter said.

An NAIC spokeswoman, who would not allow her name to be used, stated that NAIC has received the letter and study from CFA, and the matter “will be referred to the appropriate committee(s) to discuss what, if any, recommendations are necessary.”

According to Hunter, CFA asked NAIC CEO Terri Vaughn to distribute the study to commissioners. However, the NAIC spokeswoman would not confirm whether Vaughn has been in contact with CFA.

Jim Whittle, assistant general counsel and chief claims counsel for American Insurance Association, said he believes CFA’s study overlooks some important factors in underwriting, and their study and statements assume “malicious intent.”

“There may be actually real reasons why there’s different outcomes,” he said, referring to the alleged disparity in rates between drivers in low-income neighborhoods versus more upscale communities.

Take ZIP codes, for example, he said. “You may just have more people driving in that lower-income area, maybe more vehicles, maybe it’s an area with higher density,” he said. “In other words, a higher likelihood you will have higher vehicle-to-vehicle accidents.”

Other rate factors include crime rates in different neighborhoods, including vandalism and theft, he said.

“If there’s an area that has a higher crime rate against property, it’s entirely appropriate that that gets factored into underwriting,” he said.

He added a caution against going down a path of “cross-subsidization.”

“The price ought to reflect the risk,” he said.

Based on the information CFA provided, Whittle believes the authors of the study made one too many assumptions about not only the methods the industry uses to establish rates, but also the intentions of those in the industry itself, he said.

“From the information they received, they assume a malicious intent,” he said. “But there are perfectly good, actuarially justifiable reasons why differences may exist.”

I.I.I. put out a statement following the release of the study countering CFA’s basic claims about auto insurance affordability and accessibility, saying both coverage and accessibility have actually grown more affordable in recent years.

“A highly competitive auto insurance marketplace is making coverage more widely available and affordable for all drivers,” I.I.I. stated.

The group stated it “vigorously contested” the CFA study, which asserts that insurance rating practices are driving up auto insurance prices for low- and moderate-income households.

I.I.I noted that the CFA analysis came weeks after an NAIC study showing that the typical U.S. motorist had seen auto insurance expenditures drop every year between 2005 and 2009, paying an average of $785 to insure a private-passenger vehicle in the U.S. in 2009, which is $4 less than in 2008.

The ratio of auto insurance costs to family income, an index developed by Risk Information Inc., dropped from 1.27 percent in 2004 to 1.05 percent in 2009, I.I.I. noted.

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) also hammered the report and its authors.

“The Consumer Federation of America’s misguided public policy prescription to increase affordability of auto insurance would be counterproductive and hurt the low- and moderate-income motorists they claim to represent,” said Paul Blume, senior vice president of state government relations for PCI. “Their approach would result in higher costs and fewer choices for all consumers.”

Blume added that while the low minimum liability coverage requirements CFA is proposing “would produce lower costs for some consumers, the CFA’s other recommendations would make insurance more expensive.”

source:  The Insurance Journal Consumer Group Charges Auto Insurers with ‘Disparate Treatment’ of Low Income Families.

General Lines- Property Casualty Agent’s License**

The General lines’s P&C license is the one most people think about when they’re looking to become an insurance agent.  This license helps you sell personal lines auto, home and umbrella as well as most commercial insurance products.  Also, if you want to own your own agency, this license is the minimum requirement to be an agency owner in the state of Texas.

As for the best licensing organizations, I looked at the usual suspects.  Most places offer, online pre-licensing classes online.  Prices for self-study course range from $100 to $300.  Of all the licensing organizations I reviewed, one stood out from the rest.  The Texas Insurance Training Academy based in Dallas, Texas, really puts their money where their mouth is.  They guaranty that if attend their classroom training and don’t pass the General Lines licensing exam on the first try, they’ll pay for your second test.  Not only do they make this guaranty for Property and Casualty, but they offer the same guaranty for the General Lines Life Accident and Health.

Other companies to consider:

• Kaplan Financial

General Lines  – Life, Accident, Health, and HMO**

The life, accident, and health license allows the license to sell any non-variable life insurance product available in the state of Texas.  Again, the Texas Insurance Training Academy offered the best combination of pricing and guarantees.  They also offered a 100% money back guaranty if you decide to follow the online prelicensing program.  Also, unlike 100% of the other organizations Texas Insurance Training Academy focuses only on passing the Texas Insurance licensing exam.

**Please note, exams for all General Lines licensing exams my be taken at Prometric.

Other companies to consider:

• Kaplan Financial

Texas County Mutual Agent’s license

The Texas County Mutual Agent’s license allows the licensee the ability to write insurance for a county mutual company.  This license is usually reserved for newbies to the insurance game that want to be a producer before they become an agency owner or general agent.  As a county mutual agent, you have the ability to write auto, and home insurance written under the direction of a general agent (like me.)

In order to obtain this license, you must first find an agency that has the proper county mutual company appointment.  Once you’ve found the agent, you can either self study for by going to www.cceducation.com and searching for the proper course under P&C, or finding a company that has a one day class.  This is the only insurance agent’s license that will allow you to take a proctored online licensing exam or at the appropriate testing location.  Either way, the abreviated tested allows you limited authority as an insurance producer.  Simply put, this license is reserved for beginning producers.

Other Considerations

Kaplan Financial also offers a combination of online and in personal pre-licensing courses across the state of  Texas.  Similar to  the Texas Insurance Training Academy, if you fail your licensing exam, they will allow you the chance to take the class 3 additional times.  However, the money backed guaranty is still the best deal I’ve seen so far.

Hopefully, this will give you additional insight into becomiing an insurance agent in Texas and the best licensing organizations.  Once you’ve gotten that license and are looking for an agency home, consider talking to us at TXINSURANCEPRO.COM.

Texas Insurance Pre-Licensing Links

• Texas Insurance Training Academy -online and classroom prelicensing available in Texas
• Kaplan Financial - online and classroom pre-licensing available in Texas
• Learn Insurance - online pre-licensing courses only
• Center for Continuing Education - online pre-licensing education and testing for Texas County Mutual Agents only.

Imagine consulting your business insurance agent prior to building a website?  If done properly, your website could yield business for years and years to come.  However, have you ever considered how your website affects your business insurance rates?  This blog post should shed a little light on the best insurance practices for small business websites.

Focus on Your Primary Money Maker

The first thing any business owner should do is focus on the product that yields them the high potential for profit.  Odd are, if you’re a plumber, you want a website designed to get you more plumbing business.  The same holds true for other businesses like electricians, painters, and many others.  Unfortunately, because  small businesses want to ensure they get as many money making opportunities as possible, many entrepreneurs break this rule.

Instead of focusing a primary business service or trade, many startups and small business owners will list every possible  thing they know they can do on their website.  Most do this in hopes of someone stumbling across their site and saying, “Hey!  This guy does roofing, electrical, and carpentry! Maybe I can get them to do all my work!”

From a small business perspective, this is understandable.  From a commercial insurance underwriter’s perspective, these means more exposure to losses.  In cases like this, adding every possible exposure to your website will actually increase your business insurance premiums.  Think of it this way.  Which of the following risks should get the lower rates:  The plumber that does plumbing only; or  the plumber that does plumbing, electrical work, and A/C work.

If you said the plumber who only lists plumbing should get the lower rates, then you’re correct.  In business insurance, the underwriting department is limited to the amount of information he can get.  Therefore, commercial underwriters now ask for a company’s website to determine if there’s anything (ELSE) they should worry about covering.  In the case of the plumber, more is not necessarily better.

Remember Social Media

On top of looking at a company’s website, business insurance underwriters will also look for a company’s social media accounts and profile on places like Google+, LinkedIn, and Facebook.  Today, additional information gained from these new sources play a large role in commercial underwriting for business insurance policies of all sizes.  As a result, not only should you pay close attention to your website or blog’s content, you should also pay attention to your social media accounts as well.  Your online resume could ultimately cost you money if you make a mistake.

So remember, if you’re in the market to build a new website for your business, be sure to consult with a business insurance agent that understands what commercial underwriting departments look for.  Remember , your insurance agent can be an advocate for helping your business focus profitable and ahead of your competition.

Finding Affordable Health Insurance In Dallas Tx can be quite a challenge in today’s market regardless if you are an individual or a company.  If you are like most people, you probably have experienced an increase in the past year of at least 20 -30%.  Over time consistent increases to the cost of your health insurance premium can make coverage no longer affordable, which puts you and your family at risk in the event you require coverage and are no longer able to afford it.  More and more people are entering this category because of rising costs.  The question is what is it that you can do about finding affordable health insurance here in Texas.

There are two main options that you have available in selecting affordable health care.  The first choice which is what most people do first is to reduce the benefits selected with your Major Medical Insurance plan.  Most people will elect to eliminate features that they are not using in their plan, or increasing the deductible to where it is in the thousands of dollars.  Ask yourself this, if your deductible for your health insurance plan was $10,000 could you afford to pay that amount, and this does not include any co-insurance amounts yet.  The sad reality is that more people than ever are choosing this route and putting their families at financial risk because of taking on these costs.  While this is effective in helping to reduce premiums, you can only raise the deductible so high, and you can only eliminate so many benefits from the plan before it defeats the purpose of having it.  There is another solution to this problem depending on your situation.

The other option you have available for Affordable Health Insurance in Dallas Tx is what is known as a limited benefit indemnity plan.  The name of the plan does not do it justice as limited benefits refers to the plan pays out a set amount of dollars for a procedure.  Here is the hidden news about Major Medical plans, they have the same limitations.  Health insurance carriers all have schedules they use to determine how much they will pay for a given procedure, the difference here is that you know what these amounts are up front.   Ask yourself this question, if you were having trouble with your car, would you go to a mechanic to work on it without knowing how much it was going to cost for them to work on it?  Probably not, but the majority of Americans do this every day when it comes to Health Care.  You would shop around to find the best mechanic at the best rate to take care of your vehicle to get it back in working order.  A limited benefit plan lets you know how much it will pay for a procedure which then allows you to become a better consumer through shopping around for who will give you the best rate.  A benefit with these plans is that there is no deductible.  When set up properly these plans may limit or eliminate out of pocket expenses with certain procedures, which for many families can help reduce financial turmoil when it comes to covering health care expenses.

If you would like to know if a Limited benefit indemnity plan is the right fit for you, contact Byron Ingraham with TxInsurancePro.com

Did you know that there were over 80 traffic fatalities in the city of Dallas alone, this is not including any of the neighboring cities.  If you look at the statistics of underinsured households in America, it’s a good probability that 50% of those who lost their life in the accidents either did not have any life insurance or were underinsured.

Far too often we assume that the accidents will happen to someone else, and not us.  I’m almost certain that the individuals who were in those accidents did not wake up the morning they lost their life thinking it was going to be their last day on earth.  The important fact about life insurance is that its there when we need it because when life is lost, usually its unexpected. 

Many people will have some level of life insurance through work, but lets face it how many people have changed jobs recently?  Many employers provide a base level of coverage that does not go far enough to protect a family.  Ask yourself how much money do you spend in a year, how much is the mortgage, how much is the school for children’s education?  If you start adding these numbers up you will soon realize that you have to have your own coverage to protect your family.

Protecting your family from financial disaster in the event someone loses their life is a very straight forward process.  We take the time to find out your specific financial needs and come up with the appropriate combination of coverage to protect you and your family so in the event that there is a loss of life, your family will be taken care of financially.   There is no better time than the present to start the year off right by protecting your family from financial injury with having a lack of life insurance, lets get started today in changing that!

The leading cause of Christmas tree fires and property damage was short circuit or ground fault (21%). In this category, electrical failure other than short circuit ranked second in number of fires, injuries and property damage with the exception of the “other known” category.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cords and plugs were the leading type of equipment involved in the ignition of Christmas trees.

Safety points to remember:

• Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used.
• Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and place them well away from tree branches.
• Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles.
• Choose a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.
• When purchasing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from any heat source and try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances.
• Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
• Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.

Holiday Fire Safety

The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire due to heating equipment.

• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. When cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
• Provide plenty of large, deep ashtrays for guests who smoke and check them frequently. Cigarette butts can smolder in the trash and cause a fire, so completely douse cigarette butts with water before discarding.
• After a party, always check on, between and under upholstery and cushions and inside trashcans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.
• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of sight and reach of children (preferably in a locked cabinet). When smokers visit your home, ask that they keep smoking materials with them.

 
Candle Fire Safety
December is the peak month for candle fires, with nearly twice the average number of incidents.
44% of reported candle fires in the home started in the bedroom.
Safety points to remember:

• Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Keep candles away from items that can catch fire.
• Use candleholders that are sturdy, won’t tip over easily, are made from a material that can’t burn and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Don’t place lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over them.
• Place candleholders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.
• Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
• Keep candlewicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votives and containers should be extinguished before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
• Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them.

Via: http://www.dallasfirerescue.com/holidaysafety.htm