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7 years ago · by · 0 comments

Keep That Rental Car Insured

car_rental_agency-smallYou’re at the airport car rental counter to find a convertible for the weekend — for business, of course. “No problem,” says the sales rep. But before handing you the keys, she asks if you’d like additional Physical Damage coverage. This leaves you with a problem: Should you pay the extra money or trust your own insurance?

Your Business Auto insurance will probably pay for your liability on the business rental, but coverage for damage to the rental vehicle can be more complicated. You might be covered under your Business Auto or Personal Auto policy, or even the credit card that you used to pay for the rental, Depending on the situation, it’s also possible that none of them will pay very much.

To make things even more confusing, laws in a number of states limit your responsibility for damage to the rental – if coverage applies under any of the above, there might still be exclusions and limitations.

To help cut through this confusion, here are a few tips:

  1. Rent from a reputable company. The national car rental firms tend to have standardized contracts with tested language. Local or smaller businesses often develop their own contracts, and without legal assistance it might be nearly impossible to determine exactly what you’ve agreed to.
  2. When in doubt, ask. The person at the rental counter might not be sure about what coverage she’s selling, so be sure to ask to speak to someone who can clearly explain what you are and are not responsible for. If you’re unsure, walk away.
  3. Talk with us before your trip. We’d be happy to explain your options.

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7 years ago · by · 0 comments

Comp Scams: Beware Of These ‘Red Flags’

workers-compensation-smallWorkers Compensation fraud is a widespread and serious problem that’s not only illegal, but leads to higher insurance premiums for all businesses – including yours.

According to industry experts, Comp-related scams often involve one or more of these “red flags.” Although no one sign should necessarily be cause for alarm by itself, two or more should raise suspicions and could trigger an investigation of the claim:

  1. Monday morning report of injury. The alleged injury occurs first thing on Monday, or late Friday afternoon, but is not reported until Monday.
  2. Change in employment status. The reported accident occurs immediately before or after a strike, job termination, layoff, end of a major project, or the conclusion of seasonal work.
  3. Suspicious providers. The claimant’s medical provider or legal consultant has a history of handling dubious claims.
  4. Lack of witnesses. No one else saw the accident and the employee’s description does not support the cause of the injury.
  5. Conflicting descriptions. The employee’s account of the accident doesn’t match with the medical history or injury report.
  6. History of claims. The employee has filed a number of questionable or litigated claims.
  7. Refusal of treatment. The claimant declines a diagnostic procedure to confirm the nature or extent of the injury.
  8. Late reporting. The employee delays reporting the incident without a reasonable explanation.
  9. Elusiveness. The allegedly disabled employee is hard to reach.
  10. Instability. The claimant changes physicians, addresses, or jobs frequently

If one of your workers files a claim that has some of these warning signs, be sure to let us know. We’ll work with you and your Workers Comp carrier to check it out.

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7 years ago · by · 0 comments

Uncle Sam Beefs Up Mental Health, Addiction Coverage

123beb9dc10c6d48e3a9d84a6e2667c5_5d195eb_image_slide_despair-smallNew federal regulations under the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) require insurance companies and health care providers to treat mental illness and addiction in the same way as physical ailments. That’s good news for everyone with health insurance.

The ACA prohibits denying coverage or charging higher premiums to due pre-existing conditions, which include mental illness, while expanding coverage for screening and behavioral assessments and eliminating co-payments or out-of-pocket fees.

The rules beef up the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 by closing loopholes and setting implementation guidelines– an advance that Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius calls “the largest expansion of behavioral health coverage in a generation.” Under the regulations, mental health benefits must match those for medical and surgical treatment, including copayments, deductibles, number of visits to providers, residential treatment, and outpatient services.

The regulations could affect 62 million people, including 23 million substance abuse addicts. Administration officials called the new rules a response to the need to help the mentally ill get help before they commit such violent acts as the massacres in Aurora, DO and Newtown, CT.

Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, Executive Director of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, and American Psychiatric Association President Jeffrey Lieberman praise the rules for providing expanded care.

“Health plans have supported MHPAEA and worked to implement these requirements in a manner that’s affordable, safe and effective,” adds Karen Ignagni, President of America’s Health Insurance Plans, a trade group of health insurance companies. “The new regulations enable patients with mental and behavioral health conditions to keep benefitting from the innovative programs and services that health plans have pioneered.”

To learn more about how these rules will apply to your health insurance, feel free to get in touch with us.

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7 years ago · by · 0 comments

Worker Safety Essential As Construction Industry Rebounds

8161017151_12cebb2c7a_z-smallA resurgent construction industry needs to do a better job of keeping workers safe. That’s the bottom line of a recent report by Marsh Risk Consulting.

Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the study, “Building Safety and Leadership in the Construction Industry,” notes that the industry’s 2012 fatality rate increased to 9.5 per 100,000 workers from 9.1 per 100,000 in 2011. The 775 construction-sector deaths in 2012 marks the first annual increase in work-related fatalities since 2006.

According to Marsh, fatalities will probably continue to rise without concerted industry-wide safety improvements, as an ongoing shortage of experienced construction workers leads to widespread promotion of unskilled workers into supervisory roles. “The increase in new construction activity is bringing an influx of new, inexperienced workers,” states the report. “In this environment, some contractors are stretching their hiring standards to meet project demands.”

Marsh recommends that construction firms focus on training management to ensure effective leadership and help build a culture of safety throughout their organizations.

“As the economy grows and the number of new construction projects picks up, now is not the time to be lax on safety,” warns John Moore, a construction safety specialist in Marsh’s workforce strategies practice. “Inadequate safety performance can lead to employee turnover and legal, financial and reputational risks. Investing in high-quality leadership will go a long way toward retaining valued workers and maintaining a safe work environment.”

The more you do to keep your workers, safe, the better for all concerned– and the lower your insurance costs. We stand ready to offer our advice on developing, implementing, and enforcing workplace safety standards. Just give us a call.

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Company information

Scurich Insurance Services
Phone: (831) 661-5697
Fax: (831) 661-5741

Physical:
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd., Suite7,
Aptos, Ca 95003-4700

Mailing:
PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170

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(831) 661-5697

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