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Want a scary statistic? 62% of bankruptcies are related to medical bills. Did you know that if you have life insurance with living benefits you could keep yourself out of bankruptcy? This week’s Friday Filmstrip explains:
Tags: friday filmstrips, life insurance
Californians who pay extra for flood insurance must be thanking their lucky stars this month, because even though temperatures have warmed up a bit, easing the rain and snow that have been drenching (and blanketing) the Golden State for a week, the National Weather Service was predicting yesterday that there was more to come.
Last week, California was deluged by heavy rains that, according to early estimates, have already racked up more than $10 million in damage, and resulted in a state of emergency being declared in eleven counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Barbara. 70 homes were damaged by the rains and five more were destroyed, in Highland, and so far there have been two deaths because of cars falling into waterways, as well as other storm-related traffic fatalities.
Meanwhile, there are other Western states also facing potential rain damage. In Hawaii, flash flood watches were issued through yesterday afternoon for Oahu, Kauai and Nihau, by the National Weather Service.
Tags: flood insurance, insurance news
Oklahoma state representative, Mark McCullough told the press last week that he was prepared to introduce legislation designed to improve his state’s workers’ compensation system. Representative McCullough also said that the legislation will be based on recent recommendations from The Task Force on Vocational Rehabilitation in Workers’ Compensation, including reforms that would return employees to work whenever possible, as a way to both control costs and reduce litigation.
In addition, the group recommended that vocational rehabilitation should begin much earlier than is currently required, and that medical guidelines that are evidence-based should be implemented in order to identify and confirm workplace injuries.
McCullough, an attorney, served as chair of the task force, which put the workers’ compensation system and the issue of vocational rehabilitation under review. In their report, the task force observed, “Vocational rehabilitation through our system is utilized infrequently, rarely successfully places an injured worker in a difference occupation, is not attractive to the injured worker for a variety of reasons, occurs much too late in the case timeline and is perhaps cynically used to settle a claim for a higher dollar amount with no real belief by either part that the funds will actually be used for the purposes of vocational rehabilitation.”
McCullough said that his legislation would include reforms to begin vocational rehabilitation before Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) in some cases, and may involve having a physician’s advisory council draft at set of fact-specific injuries to serve as a “trigger” for cases where earlier vocational rehabilitation may be advisable.
In addition, the legislation will also contain provisions from a bill McCullough originally filed last year. That bill, which was a product of a working group sponsored by The State Chamber, would turn Oklahoma’s Workers’ Compensation system into an administrative system, which all states except Oklahoma and Nebraska have already embraced.
Whether it’s MedStar in Washington, or a local provider in your own community, giving a membership to a flight-for-life service can save serious cash in the event of a medical emergency. Learn more by watching this video:
Homeowners in the UK risk losing more than Britons risk losing over £23 million worth of presents via burglary this Christmas, and sadly, that may not be covered by the usual contents clause in their home insurance coverage, at least according to HSBC.
To help protect consumers, the bank is urging them to read their policies and look for a so-called “Santa clause” which is meant to cover the additional value of goods in their houses during the Christmas period. Two companies, More Than and Tesco Personal Finance have increased their basic home contents coverage by ten percent during the holiday season, for example.
Also of concern to insurance companies is the increased risk from theives. HSBC says that as many as 64,600 British homes could be burgled over the holidays, and adds that only about fifty percent of the population follows basic security practices, like keeping their Christmas trees away from windows.
Stephen Young, head of general insurance at HSBC told the press that, “Every year, over 60,000 people have their Christmas ruined by opportunistic thieves. “Before starting your Christmas shopping, make sure your home is secure and check that your insurance policy has a ‘Santa Clause’ to cover all those extra gifts.”
While most American insurers don’t offer such clauses, temporary riders to cover additional value are available. If you go crazy with Christmas shopping, consider giving yourself the gift of security this year.
There are a ton of websites out there offering life insurance. Picking one as the source for your quote requires some analysis. Here are some tips:
It’s mid-December, and in places where there’s snow kids are playing in it, especially on sleds. (I remember sledding down the hill behind a local brewery when I was a kid – we always just managed not to end up in the busy cross street at the bottom. )
But a town in western Pennsylvania, citing concerns about liability raised by its insurance company, has voted to ban sledding in a popular local park, while also agreeing to lay out an actual sledding course in another.
The borough council of Beaver, PA, unanimously approved the restrictions, which banned sledding in a park that overlooks the Ohio River, but allows sledders to use a marked course in a different park, though they’re not allowed to start from the top of the hill.
According to the Beaver County Times, the sledding regulations also ban sledding after sunset, require children under twelve to wear helmets, and forbid metal and plastic disc sleds.
Councilwoman Shirley Sayers told the press that officials are merely trying to make the best of a bad situation, and that it was pending lawsuits against the borough for sledding incidents are what prompted the concerns from the insurance company.
I’m all for protecting kids, but is it just me, or is it really sad when something like sledding has to be regulated?
