Tuesday Insurance Questions… Firearms Insurance, Insurance Discounts for Engineers, Insurance Company Ratings

Here is another round of our “Tuesday Insurance Questions”. If you haven’t already, make sure to jump into the conversation by ‘liking’ our Facebook Page.

Question: Are my firearms covered on my homeowners policy?

This is one of our most common questions and probably the subject with the greatest amount of confusion. Firearms are covered on your homeowners policy under “personal property” coverage and subject to special limitations.

Firearms are limited in coverage for losses caused by theft. The amount of coverage is often as low as $1500 depending on the policy.

If you have valuable firearms it is very important that you check with your agent to see the specific coverage your policy provides.

You may be best off to add either “scheduled” or “blanket” coverage to your policy. “Scheduled” list each specific firearm and a “stated value” to replace that firearm. “Blanket” coverage provides coverage for an entire collection of firearms up to a total limit without listing each firearm.

By “scheduling” and “blanketing” your firearms you coverage extends to “all risk” and is not subject to your deductible. “All risk” coverage provides coverage against all unintentional causes of loss including breakage and losing.

We have seen it before. Once a Beretta Onyx was dropped nearly 50′ off of rimrock while the insured was hunting. The second was a deer rifle was left leaning against a tree and was gone when the mistake was realized and the insured returned.

For more info you can view our previous post on this subject… 3 Questions Answered About Insuring Your Firearms or Is the NRA the Best Way to Protect My Firearm Collection 

Question: What kind of insurance discounts for engineers do you offer?

We offer both auto and now homeowners discounts for engineers. If you are employed as an engineer we offer up to a 17.5% discount.

Question: How can I tell what an insurance companies rating is?

We often talk about the “rating” of an insurance company in regards to its financial stability. Those ratings are given by companies such as A.M. Best. 

The importance of financial ratings is mainly the stability of the company. An insurance company with excellent financial ratings is more likely to have stable rates and less fluctuation than lessor rated companies.

In regards to the claims and customer service aspect of a specific company we think the best idea is to talk to a trusted agent. As an agent we deal with the claims and customer service aspect of insurance companies. That experience allows us to offer insight into what to expect from each specific company.

That completes this weeks questions. We hope it was helpful. We look forward to your comments or questions!

You can reach us @ 661-327-5531 or by email at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com

Crosby and Crosby Partners with Core Health to offer Guaranteed Issue Health Insurance to Those With Health Problems or Pre-existing Conditions

Crosby and Crosby has recently partnered with Core Health Insurance.  Together we can offer a health plan that is guaranteed issue- no underwriting!  Everyone age 18-65 automatically qualifies for coverage.  No pre-existing conditions, no health questions to answer, no medical records. 

There are 4 plans to choose from and coverage is available for individuals, single parents with children, married couples, or the entire family.

  These plans are designed to meet the needs of those who are unable to qualify for traditional health insurance due to pre-existing conditions or other medical underwriting, those who can’t afford traditional medical coverage, or as a supplement to a high deductible and limited major medical plan.  (This option is not designed to replace a traditional policy if available and affordable.) 

The coverage starts as low as $93.95 per month for individual coverage, $150.85 for a single parent and child(ren), $171.33 for a couple, and $242.99 for a family.  The rates are not based on age or medical history.  These plans include benefits for up to 12 doctor visits per year, hospital stays up to 31 days, a trip to the ER, and major medical procedures.  For a more detailed list of benefits and options please contact us at 661-327-5531. 

 Core Health Insurance is underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company and is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best.  Crosby and Crosby can offer this guaranteed issue health policy in California, Idaho and Wisconsin. 

Call Crosby & Crosby Insurance Services today at 661-327-5531, visit us at 111 H Street or email us at jenni@crosbyandcrosby.com.  Contact us today and you can be covered tomorrow!

Tips For Great Course of Construction Insurance

Is the new home of your dreams planned out, the builder is ready to start, and suddenly you are looking for the last piece of the puzzle, Construction Insurance?

Construction Insurance or Course of Construction Insurance is often relegated to the back of the line behind picking out great windows, the perfect master bath or the perfect builder to complete your new home. Don’t worry, here are some tips to make sure you are selecting the right insurance.

So what is Course of Construction Insurance?

We are all pretty familiar with homeowners insurance that provides coverage for our homes. Course of Construction Insurance is similar in many ways. The coverage is going to provide protection for your home as it is in the process of being built.

Generally the first consideration is going to be coverage for the structure from the foundation and framing to  roof, electrical, plumbing and interior features of our home.  You also need consider if you will have any additional structures like detached garages, shops, mother-in-law units and fences.

What other coverage options should I consider?

- Theft of building materials is a major cause of loss on homes under construction. Make sure if someone steals your property at the job-site their is adequate coverage

- Coverage of materials in transit or off-site. If you are going to store any materials off-site in another lot or storage area make sure to have coverage for off-site materials. Also check for coverage while your materials are in transit from the manufacturer or distributor to your job-site.

- Premises Liability provides liability for the property owner at the construction site. If someone comes onto the job site and slips and falls or injures themselves you need to have adequate liability. Some homeowners companies will allow you to extend liability coverage to another location. If you have a homeowners policy for a home you are living in while the new home is being constructed you may be able to extend coverage. You may also be able to purchase course of construction insurance directly from the construction policy.

Two Options For Coverage

Homeowners Policy with a Course of Construction Endorsement

If you home would normally qualify for a regular homeowners policy, not in a brush area or previous claims, you can purchase a regular homeowners policy with an endorsement to cover course of construction. Many companies require that construction has not started and that construction will be completed within 12-months.

There are several advantages of the endorsed homeowners policy to cover course of construction. First you can combine with your auto and other property policies to maximize savings. Second generally the homeowners policy will renew after 1-year as a regular homeowners policy so you won’t have to shop around for insurance again. Third the coverage is comprehensive and we can include liability under the single policy.

1-Time Course of Construction Insurance

We can offer course of construction insurance on a policy specifically designed for homes under construction. Generally it is required to write this type of policy when the home is located in a high fire brush area, there are previous claims, construction has already began or construction will not be completed within 12-months.

Coverage on this type of policy is tailored specifically for the time period the home is under construction and will need to be rewritten into a full homeowners policy upon completion of the home.

We can help you secure the most affordable coverage that helps to best protect your new home and have a quote to you within 1 day

We write course of construction or builders risk insurance in the states of California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. We can provide a quote within the same business day. If you have any questions or would like Crosby and Crosby Insurance Services to help you with your coverage please call us at 661-327-5531 or send us an email at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com.

What about course of construction or builders risk policies in high fire areas?

We can help with your construction insurance even if you home is located in a high fire, brush area, or protection class 9 or 10. Please give us a call at 661-327-5531.

What about course of construction or major remodel on a commercial building?

We can help you with your commercial construction or major remodel projects. Our phone number is 661-327-5531.

What happens to your auto insurance when you get a California DUI?

Each year, in California, over 200,000 drivers are arrested for driving under the influence according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The penalties and monetary fines are steep.

What about your auto insurance? What happens to your auto insurance when you are convicted for drunk driving?

The first thing you probably will think of is that you will be cast off to buying insurance from some pirate, ringing a bell each huge broker fee he charges while slashing your coverages to nothing.

The good news is that many really great companies are now looking closer at drivers with a clean driving record other than an unfortunate DUI. With the nearly zero threshold for having a drink or two and getting behind the wheel many good and safe drivers are ending up being charged with DUI.

Can I keep good coverage and keep my home and auto insurance combined with a DUI on my record?

Yes! Some of our great companies now considering drivers with a clean driving record other than a DUI conviction there is no need to split off your home and auto insurance or slash coverages.

We can offer the liability and uninsured motorist protection that you need and extend multi-policy discounts to help you get the best value even if you have a DUI.

What is a SR-22 filing?

A Sr-22 filing is a filing the insurance company is required to make with the DMV. Normally insurance is tied to a vehicle but the SR-22 ties the insurance policy to the driver for  a period of 3-years from the conviction date. To keep your license active the SR-22 filing and the insurance policy must remain in-force for that period whether or not you own a vehicle.

There should be no “brokers fee” to issue a SR-22 filing.

The insurance company may charge an extra premium to issue the SR-22 filing.

How long does a DUI stay on my record?

A DUI will charge violation points for a 3-year period after your conviction. The DUI conviction will keep you from getting a “California Good Drivers Discount” and limit your insurance options with many companies for a period of 10-years.

How can Crosby and Crosby help?

Our agency is dedicated to helping clients that value great insurance. We understand that sometimes unfortunately some careful and safe drivers can make a mistake and end up with a DUI.

 We can also offer insurance from companies that have the same great coverages and multi-policy discounts that are available to “California good drivers” in addition to helping you complete all the SR-22 requirements.

You can give us a call at 661-327-5531 in California, 208-366-8366 in Idaho, email us, or complete an online quote.

If you have questions about your insurance with a DUI or a SR-22 filing please contact us. We can help!

Don’t Overlook Preventive Care Coverage When Comparing Bakersfield Health Insurance

In today’s marketplace finding health insurance is far from easy.  There are constant changes as Obamacare regulations take effect and companies try to meet the requirements and deadlines. 

 When looking for health insurance there are many factors to consider besides the monthly premium and deductible. 

One of the most common factors overlooked when purchasing individual or group health insurance is preventive care coverage. 

With the rising costs of medical care continuing to soar it is more important than ever to be proactive about your health care.  Getting the proper preventive care can help you avoid life threatening illness/disease by having early detection and treatment. 

 Many health insurance plans offer preventive care at no out of pocket expense.  For example, Anthem Blue Cross of California, offers preventive care coverage at 100% on their individual health plans. 

This means that if you were covered by an Anthem plan in California and visited your general physician for an annual physical as preventive care the visit would be covered.  Other preventive care coverage may include vision screening, hearing screening, cholesterol screening, PSA test, breast exam and mammogram, PAP test, and many others used in preventive medicine (depending on age and gender). 

Immunizations may also be considered preventive care and covered such as the flu vaccine and HPV immunization.  It is important to speak to your doctor about which appointments and screenings are “preventive” and which are “diagnostic”. 

Preventive care is precautionary and diagnostic care is used to find the cause of existing symptoms.  For example, when your doctor suggests you have a colonoscopy because of your age it is considered preventive care.  If your doctor suggests you have a colonoscopy because of abnormal symptoms you are experiencing that is considered diagnostic care.

  Be sure you speak to your doctor prior to receiving the care and make sure he/she is coding it properly when billing your health insurance, it can make the difference of the bill being covered at 100% by health insurance or going towards your deductible or out of pocket expense. 

Also, make sure to check your health insurance policy to see if your policy covers preventive care at 100%.  

 If you have any questions or would like to review your individual or group health insurance policy with our agency please give Crosby and Crosby Insurance a call at 661-327-5531.

 Crosby & Crosby Insurance Services offers many different health insurance carriers such as Kaiser, BlueShield, Anthem, and Aetna and would be glad to give you a no obligation review of your current medical coverage. To submit your information for a comparion quote please click here.

Christmas Wishes from Crosby and Crosby Insurance and Holidays Claims Info

We wish our terrific customers a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

For those of you that are worried about possible reindeer damage or sleigh accidents our claims centers are open 24/7 even on Christmas to help you.

Our office will be closed December 26th and open at 9:00am on December 27th.

For Claims view our claims page:

http://www.crosbyandcrosby.com/claims/

Travelers Insurance Claims- 800-252-4633

Safeco Insurance Claims- 800-332-3226

Kemper Insurance Claims 888-252-2799

Thankful For a Great Partnership

Every person should have that once-in-a-life-time dog. For me I am enjoying the golden years of a great partnership with my buddy, a yellow-lab, named Decoy. Decoy is in his golden years. At 8, what Decoy knows, he knows.

My time as trainer and master has ended and now it evolves into a hunting partner that knows what I want before I have to say it. As an old-salty lab he has seen the tricks from chasing quail in Kern County to hunting the icy flows of the Snake River in single digit temperatures.

With each retrieve I get a little moist in the eyes just enjoying the fleeting moments of the next few years.

It got me to thinking about the similar relationship we have with so many of our clients. We are proud that over 90% of customers decide to stay with Crosby and Crosby year after year.

Many of our clients come to us from referrals. As the years go by we deal with our clients life events, getting married, having kids, sending the kids to college, retiring.

All of those times and years of knowing each other we become great partners with our clients. Many of them we know by voice and greet like an old friend when we see them in the office.

We hope to anticipate your needs and learn all the ways we can better serve you, our client.

Thank you for your continued business and referrals, we appreciate it and look forward to serving you in the future!

Packaging Your Bakersfield Home and Auto Insurance The Easy Way

A large majority of potential clients we meet say they are looking for a better deal on their insurance. Many of those potential clients aren’t taking advantage of the easiest way to save, combining their auto and home insurance.

Combining your home and auto insurance is the simplest way to get a better value for your insurance.

Crosby and Crosby Insurance has been helping Bakersfield residents combine their policies since 1963. Our great companies like- Safeco, Travelers and Kemper Preferred offer savings up to 20% for combining your home and auto policies.

Some benefits of combining your home and auto insurance are:

• Savings up to 20%
• Increased and enhanced coverages
• Our package policies with Kemper Preferred and Safeco provide a single policy for both home and auto
• A knowledgeable local agent to help you choose the correct coverage options and assist you with claims

It is now easier than ever to get a quote for combining your home and auto insurance. You can try Crosby and Crosby’s online rater now for a great comparison quote 24 hrs/day. You can talk to us at 661-327-5531 or stop by our office at 111 “H” Street.

The Best Way To Get Insurance On Your Classic or Antique Auto

Are you sure that antique beauty tucked away in the garage under a brand new coat of wax is properly insured? Classic autos have some unique coverage needs. First and foremost is the valuation of that vehicle.

Cash or Stated Value

The cash value of a vehicle is essentially the market value with standard depreciation. Companies use many different ways to figure out a fair cash value including averaging recent sell transactions for similar vehicles and Kelly Blue Book values.

You don’t want a cash value on your classic auto!!!

What you are looking for is a stated value policy! That is a policy that states in the event of a total loss of your vehicle in a collision or other than collision loss the insurance company will pay you a settlement based on the stated value on your policy. For example your vehicle had a stated value of $20,000 and the vehicle was stolen the company would pay you $20,000 minus any applicable deductible.

Determining the “stated value” of your vehicle is best done with a professional appraisal of your vehicle.

Not only is it better coverage but a stated value policy might save you money

Most classic autos are being driven on a part-time basis and aren’t regular commute vehicles. By listing a vehicle as a classic auto, with stated value, you can take advantage of company discounts for part-time vehicles.

If you have another vehicle for your regular commute you may qualify for a discount.

Our Solution… Combine You Accounts

A quick google search shows that there are quite a bit of companies offering coverage for classic autos. Most of those are policies are specifically for your classic auto and are going to be an addition to your current auto policy.

Our solution is several of our great companies like Safeco Insurance that can put your classic auto on your regular auto policy. This allows you to take advantage of discounts with your other policies like your home, umbrella, motorcycle and boat policies.

You have the great “stated value” policy that you need with a lot less paperwork and added savings.

Contact Us About Your Classic Auto Insurance

If there is anything that we can help you with or questions we can answer for you, just say the word. We are easy to reach in California at 661-327-5531, in Idaho at 208-366-8366 or by email at agent@crosbyandcrosby.com. You can also complete an online quote 24 hrs/day.

Confused by Health Insurance? Let Us Provide Some Common Definitions to Help!

At Crosby & Crosby Insurance Services we understand health insurance can be complicated.  There are so many abbreviations and codes used it can be a full-time job just to keep up with the constant changes. 

Here are a couple of definitions that we get asked about most often:

Coinsurance -

• A form of medical cost sharing in a health insurance plan that requires an
  insured person to pay a stated percentage of medical expenses after the deductible
  amount, if any, was paid.
• Once any deductible amount and coinsurance are paid, the insurer is responsible
  for the rest of the reimbursement for covered benefits up to allowed charges: the
  individual could also be responsible for any charges in excess of what the insurer
  determines to be “usual, customary and reasonable”.
• Coinsurance rates may differ if services are received from an approved provider
  (i.e., a provider with whom the insurer has a contract or an agreement specifying
  payment levels and other contract requirements) or if received by providers not
  on the approved list.
• In addition to overall coinsurance rates, rates may also differ for different types
  of services.

Co-payment -

A form of medical cost sharing in a health insurance plan that requires an
insured person to pay a fixed dollar amount when a medical service is received. The
insurer is responsible for the rest of the reimbursement.

• There may be separate co-payments for different services.
• Some plans require that a deductible first be met for some specific services
  before a co-payment applies.

Deductible -

A fixed dollar amount during the benefit period – usually a year – that an
insured person pays before the insurer starts to make payments for covered medical
services. Plans may have both per individual and family deductibles.

• Some plans may have separate deductibles for specific services. For example, a
  plan may have a hospitalization deductible per admission.
• Deductibles may differ if services are received from an approved provider or if
  received from providers not on the approved list.

Health maintenance organization (HMO) -

A health care system that assumes both
the financial risks associated with providing comprehensive medical services
(insurance and service risk) and the responsibility for health care delivery in a
particular geographic area to HMO members, usually in return for a fixed, prepaid
fee. Financial risk may be shared with the providers participating in the HMO.

Maximum out-of-pocket expense -

The maximum dollar amount a group member is
required to pay out of pocket during a year. Until this maximum is met, the plan and
group member shares in the cost of covered expenses. After the maximum is reached, the
insurance carrier pays all covered expenses, often up to a lifetime maximum.

Point-of-service (POS) plan -

 A POS plan is an “HMO/PPO” hybrid; sometimes
referred to as an “open-ended” HMO when offered by an HMO. POS plans resemble
HMOs for in-network services. Services received outside of the network are usually
reimbursed in a manner similar to conventional indemnity plans (e.g., provider
reimbursement based on a fee schedule or usual, customary and reasonable charges).

Preferred provider organization (PPO) plan -

An indemnity plan where coverage
is provided to participants through a network of selected health care providers (such
as hospitals and physicians). The enrollees may go outside the network, but would
incur larger costs in the form of higher deductibles, higher coinsurance rates, or non-discounted
charges from the providers.
For additional definitions please see http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/sp/healthterms.pdf . 

Contact Crosby and Crosby to help with your health insurance needs.

If you have any questions or would like Crosby & Crosby’s help in finding you or your family health coverage please call us at 661-327-5531, complete a quote online, email our health department at benefits@crosbyandcrosby.com, or stop by our office at 111 H Street. 

Crosby and Crosby Insurance Services offers health insurance plans through great carriers like, Anthem/Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna and Kaiser. We have been helping families in Bakersfield and throughout Kern County since 1963!