Florida Insurance Archives | All Nation Insurance

What Should Your Insurance Agent Do For You?

by Manuel Gonzalez | Sep 10, 2018 | Florida Insurance, Miami Insurance

Now that the internet has made it possible to do almost everything online, less and less people are finding themselves using an insurance agent to search around for the best prices and gather information. However, an insurance agent can be a very helpful person when trying to figure out what insurance is the best for you and your situation. An insurance agent can help you do all the work and safe you a lot of time and stress. With that being said, not all insurance agents are equal. You really need to find one that is willing to work for you.

Before you settle in with one insurance agent, you should talk to a few and find out who is going to be the best fit for you. Most insurance agents specialize in certain types of insurance. There are insurance agents who do property, auto, and homeowners policies, and then there are those who specialize in life and health insurance. Depending on the type of insurances you’re looking for, you may want to work with one or more agents. Additionally, you’ll want to decide if you want an independent agent of a captive agent. Independent agents sell policies for many companies, but captive agents only work with one insurer. Both types of agents have their benefits. Captive agents really know their product, but independent agents can help you shop around.

Your agent should help you find the right policy for you and help you to understand the buying process. A real life human being will always be able to explain and tailor things better than the internet. This is why working with an agent can be very beneficial. Your agent should prepare you for the buying process by loading you with information that is easy to assimilate. Overall, when you work with an agent you should feel like you are better prepared to purchase the right insurance policy for you.

Common Home Insurance Mistakes

by Manuel Gonzalez | Jul 5, 2018 | Florida Insurance, Miami Insurance, Uncategorized

Purchasing a house is typically one of the biggest purchases you’ll make in life. Homes are for the most part thought to be valuable assets or investments that require protection. This protection typically comes in the form of home owner’s insurance, but there are many aspects that go into purchasing the right insurance. Here are some mistakes that homeowners may make.

Not Having Insurance At All

One of the worst mistakes that someone owning a home can make is to not invest in any type of insurance. You not only have your home to protect, but also all the investments inside, so if any kind of accident happens, not having insurance will leave you in a tough spot.

Underinsured

You should always get enough home insurance so that it will cover the amount needed to build your home. Know how much that figure is, and if you are underinsured, be sure to add more coverage. You can find out how much it would cost to rebuild your house by using a professional cost estimator. It will probably be more accurate than going through a realtor to get the price.

Choosing the Cheapest Option

Even if you want to save money, going with the cheapest policy is probably not the best option. You need to look at more than just the price when you’re shopping around for an insurance policy because not all policies are created equal.

Not Understanding Your Policy

Insurance can be confusing, especially when it comes to home insurance. Be sure that you completely understand what your policy covers and look into the fine print when you are choosing a home insurance policy.

Ignoring Flood Coverage

You should always get a flood policy, even if you don’t live in an area that floors often. However, it’s important to have it just in case, and the good news is that if you don’t live in a high-risk area getting a flood policy should be inexpensive.

Could your home or workspace be exposed to asbestos?

by Manuel Gonzalez | Jul 5, 2018 | Florida Insurance, Miami Insurance, Uncategorized

Could your home or workspace be exposed to a cancer causing material?

Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that occurs naturally and was used frequently in building materials from 1930 to 1980. It was discovered that asbestos is dangerous to human health and can put people at risk for developing a cancer, mesothelioma.

You could potentially be at risk for asbestos exposure if you are living in a building that was developed between the 50-year span of 1930 to 1980. Asbestos can resist fire, heat, and similar extreme conditions, which is why it was used in many building materials such as insulation, cement, wallpaper, tiles, piping, and more. You might be wondering how dangerous it is if you are living or working in a building that has asbestos-containing materials, and fortunately there is little risk present as long as the materials remain undisturbed. However, if the material is disturbed it can cause dust to enter the airflow which can then get lodged in your lungs, putting you at risk for developing mesothelioma.

There is only one cause known for mesothelioma, and that is asbestos exposure. It can take over 20 years for symptoms of the illness to show and the illness can manifest itself in the lungs, the heart, or the abdominal cavity. There have been many lawsuits tied to asbestos exposure, but due to the complicated nature of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, the coverage available is largely dependent on the individual case.

There are certain steps that you can take to protect yourself and your workers from asbestos exposure. You can have the building tested if it was constructed between 1930 and 1980. Upon finding out that you do have asbestos containing materials, you can use a trained and licensed professional to approach the situation. If the materials are in “good condition” and remaining in place then they pose little harm to human health, but it is still important to have the building tested every now and then.

Remember, there is no safe amount of asbestos to be exposed to. Everyone is responsible for their workspace safety, so if you feel that your building is at risk of having asbestos containing materials, reach out to someone and be sure to get the building tested.

Types of Insurance for a Small Business

by Manuel Gonzalez | Jul 5, 2018 | Business Insurance, Florida Insurance

If you own a small business, you might be wondering what types of insurance you should have so that you, your employees, and your assets are protected. There are many different types of insurances out there, and it can be overwhelming to know how much protection is too little, and how much is just unnecessary for your particular business. However, there are some basic types of insurance that every kind of small business needs to consider.

General Liability Insurance

No matter how small your business is, you need to have liability insurance because it will protect you with defense and damages if you, your employees, or your products cause or are said to cause harm to anyone.

Worker’s Compensation

If you are employing anyone, it is very important to have worker’s compensation insurance. It will provide insurance to employees who are injured on the job and it provides them with financial replacement and medical benefits instead of allowing the employee to sue you for the incident. Even if you trust your employees and don’t think they would ever get hurt or do anything to hurt you, this is a type of insurance that you need. Things happen you don’t want to get into a lawsuit or a situation of non-compliance.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance is also known as professional indemnity insurance or errors and omissions. You need this type of insurance if your business provides any kind of service or advice. This insurance will protect you against a client who is making a negligence claim.

Property Insurance

This type of insurance is important if you own your own your own business building, but it can also be important if you have any sort of equipment that belongs to your business such as computers or inventory. Property insurance will protect you if your space or business-related property is damaged, stolen, or vandalized.

Florida Legislature Passes Insurance Claims Bill

by Manuel Gonzalez | May 6, 2014 | Florida Insurance

Insurance companies can no longer use credit information to deny a claim or cancel a policy under a new bill voted unanimously by the Florida House. The bill that would also create a “homeowner claims bill of rights” that requires insurers to spell out to homeowners what they can expect when they file a claim.

This much-needed bill of rights will notify Florida homeowners of their rights and responsibilities when filing an insurance claim and give them the confidence that they will be treated fairly during a stressful situation involving their home.

The legislation (SB 708) is a top priority for Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. He said he pushed the bill after getting thousands of calls from consumers confused about how to file a claim.

The Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights will be provided to any policyholder who files a claim and will reference current Florida law in order to provide policyholders with information about their rights in the claims process.

The bill of rights will also inform policyholders about what they should expect and provide advice on the steps they should take in the claims process.

Collectively, these bills help ensure consumer rights and protections, reduce regulatory burdens and fight fraud.