Rosemary Palmer

OVER $68K PAID TO OUR CUSTOMERS IN 2023 BY TEXAS MUTUAL

Jul 052022
 

$68,443.50 IN DIVIDENDS PAID TO OUR AGENCY’S WORKERS COMP CUSTOMERS IN 2023 BY TEXAS MUTUAL!

Texas Mutual paid $68,443.50 earned individual dividends to our agency’s qualifying worker’s compensation insurance policyholders in 2023. That’s an average of $1342.03 paid to our customers.

We encourage you to read this article from Texas Mutual complete with tips and resources on preventing heat-related illnesses.

Your Guide to Keep Your Employees Safe in the Extreme Texas Heat.

With summer upon us, so are the heat-related hazards for outdoor workers and indoor workers in hot environments. Each year, heat exposure leads to thousands of work-related injuries and dozens of fatalities. These incidents can be prevented by understanding heat-illness prevention methods, early symptom recognition and basic first-aid procedures. See how you can be prepared and ensure you and your employees know what to do to stay safe in the summer heat. . . . . .

SAVE ON HOME ENERGY COSTS

Jun 222022
 

You can save money on your home energy costs during the hot summer months by following these simple steps.

1. Install a programmable thermostat. This will allow you to set automatic temperature controls for maximum comfort and energy efficiency alternatives to air conditioning during hot summer months. Keep temperatures higher when your family isn’t home to keep costs low.

2. Replace your air filter. Your HVAC system’s air filter gets a lot more use during the summer. Check it every thirty days throughout the summer; replace it when necessary.

3. Practice smart landscaping. Strategically planting shrubs and leafy trees near your home’s windows is an excellent way to prevent those same windows from transferring excess heat into your home.

4. Install exterior window coverings. If you aren’t able to use nature to your advantage, another great way to protect windows is by adding awnings or screen shades to shade their exterior side.

5. Update your home’s insulation. Pay close attention to your attic and the levels between your home’s conditioned and unconditioned spaces. Extra insulation can be added on top of existing material, but consider contacting a professional for appropriate installation and removal.

6. Use smart door techniques. When the air conditioner is on and running, every opened door and window leaks out valuable energy. Keep unnecessary trips to and from the house at a low to keep your energy bill similarly low.

7. Clean your refrigerator coils. Refrigerators can cause surprisingly high energy usage, especially when they’re not operating efficiently. To get the best performance from your unit, dust it off and clean up those condensing coils.

8. Install ceiling fans. Ceiling fans operate on a wind-chill effect by pulling warm air up against the ceiling and then pushing it down against the walls to simulate a chilled breeze air circulation. For this effect to work, you’ll want to ensure your home’s fans are turning in a counter-clockwise rotation.

9. Search out and seal any air leaks. Stop cooling the outside by ensuring your home is properly sealed. Test the stripping and caulking around your doors and windows and replace where needed.

10. Call in the professionals. While many of these preparation tips can be easily done by a handy homeowner, a professional energy assessment can discern the best techniques for your home. By calling in-home energy experts, you’ll better understand where your home is losing energy, how to remedy the situation, and which rebates and discounts are available to make your upgrades both energy and cost-efficient.

FREE SAFETY RESOURCES

May 062022
 

GET FREE SAFETY RESOURCES FROM TEXAS MUTUAL

Texas Mutual policyholders have access to thousands of free training materials in their multimedia safety resource center.  This includes access to their robust safety catalog with up-to-date resources, 400 free e-Learning online training courses and more.  With e-Learning, you can assign safety courses to your employees to help train them and keep them safe.

To access the free materials, log in to your texasmutual.com account and select Safety.  If you need help accessing the safety resource center or you have a workplace safety question, call Texas Mutual toll-free at 844-WORKSAFE (967-5723).

 

UMBRELLA INSURANCE POLICY

Apr 082022
 

An umbrella insurance policy is extra liability insurance coverage that goes beyond the limits of the insured’s general liability, commercial auto and workers’ compensation insurance. Umbrella insurance can provide coverage for injuries, property damage, certain lawsuits, and personal liability situations.  Small businesses use an umbrella insurance policy as an additional layer of security to guard against potential monetary damages arising due to claims.

For example, if a driver runs a red light and accidentally hits another car, there might be significant damage to the vehicle and several people might be injured.

With car repairs totaling $50,000 and the treatment of the injuries eclipsing $500,000, the driver at fault may be liable for expenses that go far beyond the coverage limits of their insurance. An umbrella insurance policy will pick up the additional liability costs beyond the limits of car insurance coverage.

      • An umbrella insurance policy is a type of personal liability coverage that goes above and beyond the amount that regular business insurance offers.
      • To own umbrella insurance, you must own standard general liability, commercial auto, or workers comp policy first; the umbrella policy kicks in after the regular coverage has been exhausted.
      • Businesses usually purchase an umbrella policy to fulfill contracts calling for limits of more than $2 million. In the case of a $5 million contract an umbrella policy with a limit of $3 million would be added to a policy with a $2 million limit to meet the requirement.

Commercial umbrella insurance doesn’t cover every kind of claim. It also doesn’t extend the limits of certain types of policies, like commercial property insurance.

Let’s say a fire significantly damages your business’ equipment. The cost to replace and repair your property exceeds your commercial property coverage limits. You’d have to cover the difference out of pocket because commercial umbrella insurance doesn’t cover business property claims.

 

C.O.I. – TIMING IS IMPORTANT

Feb 112022
 

C.O.I. – TIMING IS IMPORTANT

Certificate of Liability Insurance - sample

Our agency provides Certificates of Insurance for our policy holders upon request at no extra cost.  We email or fax COIs directly to the cert holder and we always cc our customers.

We take great pride in our quick response for our customers. Every time we can issue a Certificate of Insurance in a timely manner, we know that translates into your company being able to get back to work.

“In our plumbing business we require Certificate’s of Insurance regularly. Timing is important when requesting a COI and these guys respond so fast. Very grateful they understand our needs and meet them quickly. Thanks” ~ Tim C.

Property Insurance: 3 Levels of Coverage

Feb 102022
 

Three basic levels of Property Insurance Coverage:

  • Actual Cash Value
  • Replacement Cost Value
  • Extended Replacement Cost/Value

ACTUAL CASH VALUE (ACV) provides the policyholder’s actual cash value coverage — typically reimbursing for the depreciated value of an item. For example, if a fire damages your TV, a policy with ACV coverage reimburses you for the depreciated value, which may be less the cost to purchase a new TV.  ACV coverage premiums are usually lower than RCV coverage premiums.

REPLACEMENT COST VALUE (RCV) restores the policyholder’s property in a manner closest to what it was before the loss. The insurer provides the policyholders with money to replace the damaged items at current prices.

EXTENDED REPLACEMENT COST/VALUE (ERC) extends the policyholder’s Home Insurance Policy coverage by 10%-50% of the cost to rebuild your home.  For example, if your policy limit is inadequate at the time of your loss,  ERC will pay beyond that limit.

 

Are My Tools and Equipment Covered?

Jan 072022
 

Are My Tools and Equipment Covered?

This is perhaps the most commonly forgotten part of protecting your business. Many have the misunderstanding that Commercial Auto will cover items stolen from your work vehicles or General Liability will cover equipment stolen from the jobsite. Wrong! Tools and Equipment will only be covered on a Tool & Equipment Policy. Usually we will need the bulk value of all your hand tools and small equipment. Then separately we will need an itemized list of all tools or equipment valued over $1500. On this list you will need the name, make, model, value and serial # for each item. We have some excellent prices to offer you!

ONGOING AND COMPLETED OPERATIONS

Jan 072022
 

Ongoing and Completed Operations – It is standard practice for an already listed additional insured contractors to require that coverage to extend to ongoing and completed operations. This practice protects the contractor and owners from losses that occur during the course of construction, as well as claims arising out of the completed project (damages found after the project is completed). Often times, damage resulting from a subcontractor’s work isn’t apparent for years after the work has been completed. When that claim occurs, a suit is often filed against both the general contractor and the subcontractor, and the general contractor will tender the defense back to their subcontractor. Thus, the reason for the requirement. They are “building walls of defense” to hurdle through before the claims actually need to payout through their own policy and be counted as a loss against them.

PRIMARY AND NON-CONTRIBUTORY

Jan 072022
 

Primary and Non-Contributory – only required from a person or entity already added as an additional insured to your policy. It is an endorsement that makes your policy the first to pay in the event of a claim and does not allow your policy to seek contribution from another policy. The reason your contractor requires that is because they do not want your insurance to seek contribution (shared expense) from their insurance policy after it pays a claim on their behalf.

WAIVER OF SUBROGATION

Jan 072022
 

Waiver of Subrogation – prevents one party’s insurance carrier from pursuing a claim against the other contractual party in an attempt to recover money paid by the insurance company to its insured or to a third party in resolution of a covered claim. Usually in favor of the Certificate Holder.

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