Longview Washington Business Directory Blog

After my Fiance’s father had a stroke while covered by Medicare Insurance, he and his wife found out they did not qualify for any extended in home care. At that time we all did some research into Medicare Insurance and found out that those types of benefit’s were not available to him due to the type of Medicare he was signed up for. We also found out that it costs around $4,000.00 to have an in home nurse come in and take care of him while his wife was at work. I thought I would compile a short version of the different types of Medicare Insurance coverage and policies available.

The Original Medicare Insurance Programs

1. Part A, If you are receiving Social Security at the time you become eligible for Medicare and if you are qualified for Part A and not paying a premium you will automatically be signed up for Part A and Part B. Three months before you are eligable for Medicare Benifits you will receive Medicare Insurance information and your card. In the scenario you are not receiving Social Security Benefits when you become eligable for Medicare Insurance you must apply for benefits. Applying for Medicare is easy and can be accomplished by going to your Local Social Security Administration office (SSA). In the Longview Washington area the address is 1145 14Th Avenue, Longview Washington 98632. You are eligable to enroll three months prior to turning sixty five years old.
2. Part B, Medicare Medical Insurance or commonly known as Part B, helps pay for Physicians services and outpatient care. It is also designed to pay for necessary services and most supplies that Part A does not cover. Hence extended in home care. Note Part B is supplemental and optional and has a premium attached to it. If you are Qualified for Part A, you are also qualified for Part B.

Supplementing Original Medicare Insurance

The original Medicare Insurance both Part A and Part B, do not cover all of your costs for health care. Be advised if not warned there are other ways available to fill the gaps that Medicare does not cover. Just a few of your choices available to you to supplement your Medicare Insurance are as follows:

• Employment Based Plans
• Medicare Supplemental Insurance Coverage
• Medicare Advantage Plans see part (C)
• The Medicare Prescription Drug Program see part (D)

When considering these options to supplement your Medicare Insurance, the best information can be provided by your Insurance Agent, or contact an Agent here locally in Kelso or Longview Washington.

Here are a few additional links for more information concerning Medicare Insurance or Supplemental Insurance that is available.

Washington State Insurance Commisioners Website http://www.insurance.wa.gov/publications/medicare/Your_Medicare_Choices.pdf

Medicare  http://www.medicare.gov/

Medicare Advantage Plans http://www.insurance.wa.gov/

Longview Washington SSA-Medicare Insurance Information http://www.superpages.com/yellowpages/C-Social+Security+Services/S-WA/T-Longview/

Commercial Insurance or commonly called Business Insurance  

Commercial or Business Insurance in Kelso and the Longview Washington area is not hard to obtain. Your Insurance Agent who supply’s your Home Insurance or Auto Insurance usually can advise and obtain a quote for you. As a owner of a Commercial enterprise or small Business, you have several options for purchasing a Commercial Insurance Policy.

Riders and Endorsements, If you operate your Business out of your home or if your Business is small, you can possibly just add a endorsement or Rider to your existing Home Insurance Policy. For example a home office that does website work or marketing such as we do can put a endorsement on our Homeowners Policy. This a option that your Insurance Agent has the information for as all Insurance Companies have their own Policies on such Riders.

Commercial or Business Insurance Options

• Securing a Separate Commercial Insurance Policy, The small Business Owner or Shopkeeper can purchase Commercial Coverage in separate Policies to cover the needs of the specific nature of Business it may be doing. You may buy the different types of Insurance from different Insurance Agents, but usually if you feel comfortable with your present Insurance Agent they can write you Policies that address all the Liability you may incur.

Types of Commercial Insurance Available

1. Business Property Coverage,The buildings and property that your Business is operating in needs to be covered if owned by you or not. The fixtures and equipment with in the property can be covered against, fire, theft, vandalism, and other natural disasters. Earthquake and Flood Damage are usually written as a separate Policy. See http://longviewbiz.com/blog/2008/08/guide-to-homeowner-insurance-in-longview-washington/ for more information on Flood Insurance and Homeowner Insurance. In Longview and Kelso Washington we don’t need to worry about Earthquake Insurance too much, so I wont go into depth on that subject but feel free to talk to your Insurance Agent about any concerns you may have.
2. Business Interruption Insurance, If the case ever arises when a fire or other loss interrupts, or makes you close your Business until the issue is rectified, this Insurance Policy will pay your fixed expenses. This would include payroll, rent or mortgage, or other ongoing expenses you may have until you reopen your Business.
3. Commercial Auto Insurance, Most Auto Insurance Policies do not cover Business operations in that vehicle. Meaning if you use your personal car to do business errands it may not be covered under your Auto Insurance Policy in the event of a accident or other issue. Check with your Insurance Agent concerning this matter as it is a serious issue.
4. Business Liability Insurance, This type of Commercial Insurance covers any legal fees that may incur should someone make a claim against you for injury, or property loss. This would cover you in the event any work you did causes any damage to property or persons and there is a claim a claim of loss against you.
5. Professional Liability Insurance, This Insurance Policy covers you in the event of a negligence claim against you. It is sometimes referred to as Malpractice Insurance, or Errors and Omissions Insurance. Lawyers, Doctors, professionals and even Insurance Agents and Brokers need this type of insurance.
6. Employee Benefits Packages, Insurance options for employees can make your workplace a environment that keeps your good employees from looking elsewhere for work. Most employee benefits plans must meet the Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974. Before you instill or layout a employee benefit package refer to the Labor Employee Benefits Administrations website at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/ These links can be very useful to guide you in the right direction as to the law here in Longview Washingtonof nationwide. Another terrific Website in Washington State is the Insurance Commissioner of the state of Washington.  This site has good information for Commercial or Business Insurance for reducing your liability in Longview Washington or any other city in Washington.

          Washington State Insurance Commissioner http://www.insurance.wa.gov/

          Commercial Insurance Washington State with pollution as a concern website

           http://www.plia.wa.gov/ust/reinsurance.htm

As a Business owner in Longview Washington, I was concerned about Commercial Insurance for our Business, Hence this Post. It is not meant to be definitive, rather enlightening. Any Insurance Agent that has more to add feel free to post a comment to this Blog.

Understanding Your Homeowner Insurance Policy 

 Your Homeowner, or Home Insurance Policy for all residents of Longview Washington, and Washington State in general is a contract between yourself and your Homeowners Insurance Policy issuer. It should define exactly what the Insurance Company agrees to compensate you for in the case of a loss, in exchange for the premium that you are in contract to pay. The Homeowners Insurance Policy is divided into two main sections. The first is a declarations page and the second section is the Insurance Policy. This of coarse should be read in its entirety prior to signing as well as fully understanding what you coverages are under the Homeowners Insurance Policy.

The Declarations Page, This section of the Insurance Policy should include details of the contract. Information in this section should be checked for accuracy, as to the dollar amounts of coverage, and any specific additional coverages are fully outlined. In the declarations page of your Homeowners Insurance Policy, it will outline the following information.

• Name of the Homeowner insured
• Name of the Insurance Company
• Location of the Home that is covered by Insurance
• The Homeowner Insurance Policy number
• Policy period
• The location and the specifics of the Home covered
• A detailed outline of the individual coverages outlined in this Insurance Policy
• The limits of liability for each coverage in the Insurance Policy
• Any applicable Deductibles and their amounts
• And lastly your premium you will owe

The actual Homeowners Insurance Policy, The second section of the contract is the Insurance Policy itself. Your Homeowners InsurancePolicy will outline and describe the property covered and the losses it covers. Here in Longview Washington we really don’t need to worry about Earthquake Insurance, but in some areas of Kelso And Longview Washington Flood Insurance is a issue, some mortgage companies will mandate Flood Insurance if your Home is in a Floodplain. Meaning that the Home is in a geographical area that is prone to flooding. This part of the policy will include:

• The insuring agreements (Remember this is a Contract)
• The Conditions of this contract
• All the definitions of terms used in the Insurance Policy
• The Liability Coverage, outlining any or all coverage against claims someone might make against you or the property.
• Medical insurance if you elect to include this in your Homeowners Insurance policy. This pays for the damages if someone might slip and fall on your property. Remember here in Longview Washington it rains a lot and gets slippery!

The Types Of Homeowners Insurance Coverage

There are a wide variety of Homeowner Policies available. Be sure to read the Policy your Insurance Agent prepares for you prior to signing. A Homeowner Policy is designed to be a package providing coverage the dwelling itself, personal property, and possibly other structures on the property such as detached garages, storage sheds, barns and the like.

• Dwelling or Home Coverage, This part of of the Homeowners Insurance Policy outlines the coverage provided by the insurer in the event of a Fire, Theft, or any damage from storms. This coverage will pay for the loss, meaning it will either repair, or rebuild your Home in part or entirely to put you the Homeowner back to the condition it was in before the loss. Most Insurance Company’s offer a Policy to replace the home at actual replacement cost. This is even if in the event of a loss, it will cost more to replace than the Insurance Policy was written for. Meaning if it was above the Policy limit.
• Other Structures Also On The Insurance Policy, This part of the Policy covers structures like detached out buildings, garages, barns, and shops. Most Insurance Company’s set a limit to around ten percent of the main building allowed to be covered. If it exceeds that it will usually need a separate Policy.
• Personal Property Insurance, This section of your Homeowners Insurance Policy covers the Personal Property contained in your Home. Most Insurance Companies limit the coverage allowed to around seventy percent. The amount of coverage is usually limited to the ACV, or actual cash value at the time of loss. Yes this means basically garage sale prices! You may elect to put Replacement Cost Insurance on your contents. This means that the Insurance Company will have a adjuster, with your help determine what it will cost to replace the items at today’s value. It is usually advised by most Insurance Agents Kelso and Longview Washington to document your items and contents. Take pictures and keep receipts of the larger items.
• Flood Insurance Policy’s, Your Homeowners Insurance Policy in Longview Washington will not cover Flooding. Separate Flood Insurance can be issued by your Insurance Agent. It will provide coverage and cover the loss due to , Flooding, Flood related erosion, Mudslides, and abnormal tide surges. Once again if you reside in a area that has a high likelihood of flooding like in a floodplain your Mortgage holder will make it mandatory to carry Flood Insurance. You may go int this website http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/ for more information on Flood Insurance and where the Floodplains are inKelso and Longview Washington areas. Here is a Cowlitz County website with more information on the floodplains in our local area, http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/buildplan/planning/floodplain.html

Another Post in this Blog that you may find interesting is http://longviewbiz.com/blog/2008/08/auto-insurance-agents-in-longview-washington/

 For more information on purchasing Homeowners Insurance in Washington State feel free to go to the Washington State Insurance Commissioners website. http://www.insurance.wa.gov/index.asp

This Blog Post is not represented to be definitive, only as a source of information and hopefully good reading!