In this week’s blog Kelly Reed begins a five part series on how to proactively manage risk.  The first is through the prevention of risk.  This can be accomplished in three ways: education, communication and by having a great culture within your organization. Education – Education can come in many different forms including: webinars, live seminars, podcasts and email blasts to name a few.  What we recommend is a personal development plan for key people within your organization.  This plan should be tailored to each individual and provide the education that they need to help your organization and to grow … Continue reading

Now that the cost of the average smart phone rivals the cost of your monthly mortgage payment, it is becoming a more common item of concern on peoples personal balance sheets. Have you been the person to lose your smart phone and feel like all connection to the world is gone? Over 300 million cell phones are active in the US and a surprising number of those phones are lost on a yearly basis. It is partially because of our extreme reliance on these devices that I am often asked about insurance options on them. People want to know that these high dollar items are … Continue reading

When parents call in to add teen drivers to their auto policies, the first thing they think about is the effect it will have on their rates.  Often, it is a pretty significant impact.  Is this fair?  We always assume that teen drivers pose a higher risk while driving a vehicle due to their lack of experience.  Recently, I came across some interesting information regarding teen drivers and it gave me a better grasp on just how much of a risk there is.  Here are five mind-blowing statistics on teens and driving: Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teen … Continue reading

What will tomorrow bring?  The ability to predict the future would be quite special, but how about an educated prediction based on data from other industries, the pace of change, and emerging trends in healthcare.  My prediction is “all patients will be able to obtain information (past disciplinary actions, medical malpractice history, personal information, etc…) in one fashion or another about their healthcare providers.” I say this for three main reasons: Transparency – in virtually every industry and all spaces of our lives we are becoming more transparent.   For example – Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, MySpace, LinkedIn, … Continue reading

You probably wouldn’t compare your agency company to a dating website, but there is a lot of similarity! Let me tell you how: Building a profile – no we don’t ask you to create a funny or descriptive username like “lovemachine” or “2HOT4U.” But we will get to know each other.  Questions will be asked about your current stage in life, what your goals for the future are and how we can design an asset protection plan that works for you in the long run. We help you find your perfect match – match.com has a lot of options for … Continue reading

Most people who purchase collision coverage on their vehicles do so to protect their out-of-pocket costs if in an accident. But what many people don’t know is that their out-of-pocket costs can change depending on how the vehicle is damaged. In the state of Michigan, there are three type of collision coverage to choose from. Below I will describe each of them in simple terms. 1. Broadform – it sounds the best, because it is the best. If you are the not at fault party in an accident, you don’t pay your deductible. Not a dime. This is important to … Continue reading

When considering a potential change in Medical Professional Liability carrier, there are many things to think about.  A traditional approach is to build a RFP and identify what items are needed|required from your future carrier and what information you would like to know about the carrier: A.M. Best rating Price of the product Limits of liability Percentage of claims settled vs. cases tried Historical experience in my state, region, and county With a Supreme Court decision pending, I believe it is safe to say that healthcare is in a state of uncertainty and is constantly changing.  Uncertainty and change yield the creation of … Continue reading

When it comes to giving clients advice on how to properly cover their vehicles, the first discussion point is this: if you got in your car, left the driveway, and got in an accident would you want your vehicle repaired? Most people say yes. This is always funny to me because usually that same person has told me two seconds earlier that they want the cheapest coverage available. It is always at this point where I transition into a little insurance education on the topic. The Three Layers of Coverage 1. Liability – aka “crash and burn” or “plpd.” In many states where insurance is … Continue reading

So I’m in Minnesota visiting with some friends and the insurance discussion comes up.  It usually does because my husband and I both work in the industry and our friends think we must have a lot of interesting table conversation.  Our friends live in a beautiful home – circa 1932, stucco on the outside, sprawling lawn and gardens, antique fixtures, lighting, and hardwood floors on the inside….you get the idea.  And when you step outside, every home in their neighborhood looks more beautiful than the next. When the home was purchased three years ago, it was a foreclosure – therefore, … Continue reading

Recent years have brought about an interesting shift in Medical Professional Liability programs for health systems.  Now more than ever, health systems are employing physicians.   Whether it is to improve the coordination of care or private practices aligning closer with a system due to the threat of decreasing reimbursements, it appears the future will yield more employed physicians than ever before.   What does this mean for risk?  The following thoughts are meant to challenge your thinking to see how the risks of the past differ from those of the future There are two primary areas of risk a health system … Continue reading