Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, wildfires, flooding, wind storms, and overall severe weather has affected millions of people and all kinds of businesses throughout the U.S. economically and logistically in the past decade. According to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, 2017 was the costliest year on record for weather-related disasters, which included 16 different billion-dollar disaster events that resulted in over $300 billion in losses. So far for 2019, as of April 9, we’ve already experienced 2 events exceeding $1 billion in costs in the U.S. Extreme weather events are unfortunately becoming the norm, and it is important to know what … Continue reading

With the Fourth of July in our rear view mirrors, it is safe to say we’re in the Dog Days of Summer! Summer is such a great, fun time of the year, but there are important things to remember to be sure everyone has an enjoyable time without any of the dangers the warm months can bring. Stay hydrated. Water is such a simple, vital part of life, and in the summer it’s even more important! It may sound silly, but plan your water. Be sure to pack enough for whatever your outdoor adventure may be, and plan your water … Continue reading

It’s flu season, and you have unfortunately come down with the dreaded sickness. You have been fighting body aches, fever, and nausea that won’t cease, and are unable to get in with your primary doctor.  This is a common situation that many of us run into, and the question is always “Should I go to the urgent care or emergency room?”  It’s important to understand the difference between the two, which can possibly save you money and time in the long run. An urgent care facility specializes in treatment of minor to moderate medical symptoms. In most cases you will … Continue reading

You may have heard the term “Essential Health Benefits” used in discussions regarding health insurance, however, you may not know what it refers to. Per the Affordable Care Act, there are a list of services that are required to be covered. These services include: Outpatient Services Emergency Services Hospitalization Maternity and newborn care Mental health and substance use disorders (including behavioral health treatment) Prescription drugs Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices Laboratory services Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management Pediatric vision To receive additional information on how these benefits will be covered under your policy, please consult with … Continue reading

How important is it when choosing an insurance carrier that they be admitted (standard market) vs. non-admitted (excess or surplus lines)? Although it may be important, it may not be as important as choosing an insurance company with financial stability. For example, an admitted company with an A.M. Best rating of C may be more of a risk than a non-admitted carrier with a higher A.M. Best rating. Typically, insurance will not be placed with a non-admitted carrier unless it has been declined by admitted carriers (the agent is required to do their due diligence in seeking a standard market … Continue reading

Summer has arrived! And with summer comes traveling, especially for northerners who have endured a very long winter. It’s very nice to escape the inconsistent up and down temperatures, maybe a late season snowstorm, and the soggy melting season! Surprisingly, many Americans leave vacation days unused. Studies report that it is estimated that 429 million paid vacation days go unused every year, and 30 percent of Americans do not use all of their vacation days. One of the major reasons why Americans leave vacation days unused is the fear of losing their jobs, which is a shame, because there are … Continue reading

Insurance for caregivers is a topic that is often overlooked, or it is often assumed there is coverage on the homeowner’s policy, but usually that is not the case. First, let’s cover who is considered a caregiver. A caregiver could be a nanny that watches your children, someone who looks after an elderly parent in their home most or all of the time, or even a housekeeper. Caregivers can be paid by W2 or 1099, but they do not work for a separate business that has its own insurance. They are considered an employee, which is essentially what excludes them … Continue reading

If you had to guess what the fastest growing line of insurance for business is, what would you guess?  I’d like to contend that it is cyber liability.  In fact, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) cited cyber insurance as the fastest-growing line for 2017.  The reason for this jump in cyber liability popularity is many-fold.  The prevalence of smartphones, and the growing number of computer hackers put us all at risk both personally and through the businesses we interact with and own.  Large and small businesses deal with cyber security breaches on a daily basis.  Names like Target, … Continue reading

I remember those feelings of my first day at VAST like it was yesterday. I was extremely nervous and excited, because it was such a big change for me. A new job, new industry, and even a new building to navigate. I had never worked in the insurance industry before, but I knew I was up for the challenge. When I walked through the door that morning, I was more than pleasantly surprised. All that worrying was completely unnecessary, because I immediately felt welcomed.  The very first thing I did that Monday morning at 8 am was meet the entire … Continue reading

Every day here in the office my colleagues and I answer plenty of questions our insureds have. One of the areas that we receive a lot of questions on is workers’ compensation. This blog will outline how workers’ compensation premiums are calculated. The primary purpose of workers’ compensation is to pay for medical and loss of wages to employees that have been injured in the course of their employment. The system is a “no fault” system, which helps provide coverage for medical expenses and lost wages to injured employees regardless of negligence. Workers’ compensation varies from state to state, but … Continue reading