The individual market for insurance in 2014

   If you cannot obtain insurance through your employer or through  your spouses employer then the individual market will provide the same coverage as your would get through a group policy. With Obamacare, policies will still be regulated by the states, but the policies are required to provide minimal essential benefits, such as mental health and maternity coverage, the bad news is it will cost more because it has the taxation of health insurance and overhead allowances to insurance companies.

 Finally, price is determined only by four criteria:

1. Age – older people will not pay more than three times the amount younger people pay.
2. Premium rating area – high cost health areas will have more expensive insurance than low cost areas.
3. Number of family members getting coverage.
4. Tobacco use – this is the only lifestyle factor that is allowed to be considered.

Employer based Health Insurance 2014

       Something to start planning for....

         Starting in 2014, most people will be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty if they don't. Coverage may include employer-provided insurance, coverage someone buys on their own, or Medicaid. The penalty for people who forgo insurance is the greatest of two amounts: a specified percentage of income or a specified dollar amount. The percentages of income are phased in over time at 1% in 2014, 2% in 2015, and 2.5% starting in 2016.
      As far as employer based insurance, companies with more than fifty employees are required to offer health insurance or pay a fine.  There will be four premium packages offered according to the new Healthcare reform law: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires Insurers to offer plans within these four levels of coverage, although they don't have to offer all the plans they must offer at least one silver and one gold package and each plan must cover the minimum essential health benefits. The bronze, will cover 60% of health expenses. The Silver will cover 70%. The Gold will cover 80%. And the Platinum will cover 90%, leaving the insured only having to pay  %10 for their covered benefits.
        Some challenges consumers may face with these standardized choices would be, for people who have high health care costs there are significant implications for the plan level they choose. Gold and platinum level plans will have lower deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance for health care services, but will likely have higher monthly premiums. Conversely, bronze and silver plans will have lower monthly premiums, but could expose consumers to significant out-of-pocket costs for each health care service over time.

Summer auto care: Protect your vehicle from breakdown

According to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (NIASE), "the greatest cause of summer breakdowns is overheating. The biggest problem seen during the summer time is air conditioning units.  Air conditioners usually break down due to an improper amount of Freon in the unit or leaks in the hoses. Improper amounts of Freon  are usually due to inexperienced individuals putting too much Freon into their air conditioning units for leaks.  Drivers should also pay attention to their batteries during the summer time, as dry and dusty conditions could take their toll on engine parts. On the other hand, batteries are by nature weaker in the summer and  motorists should  take their batteries into a mechanic to have the battery load (the battery's power) tested, at least, once a year. 

Preventing Outdoor accidents: Trampolines

105,000 Kids are injured each year from playing on trampolines...

-Supervise children using trampolines at all times.
- Avoid jumping too close to springs or frames.
- Don't allow more than one person to use the trampoline at a time.
- Don't allow stunts on the trampoline.
- Do not let children under six to use the trampoline.

Get smarter about home theft prevention.

70 % of thefts are home burglaries. 
Give thieves the slip with these helpful hints: 
- Secure any sliding door. Put a steal rod in the door channel.
- Look into installing a burglar alarm system. Some alarms even link to a law enforcement agency.
- Plant rose bushes in front of your home. Thieves don't like thorns.
- Have a wide-angel door viewer or peephole installed in your front door so you can see whose there.
- Use automatic flood lights and keep the area well lit to discourage theives

Summer Safety Tips: Boating Safety

Every year, about 700 Americans die in recreational boating accidents. Not surprisingly, a disproportional number of those accidents occur in the summer months, when we're more likely to be out on the water. Here are the Coast Guard's top tips on boater safety.
 

Stay Afloat

You've heard it before: Life jackets save lives. According to Coast Guard studies, 90 percent of drowning victims were not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Of the remaining 10 percent, many were wearing a model that wasn't designed to keep the head out of the water after the wearer lost consciousness.

Stay Alert

It's a sad fact that 17 percent of all recreational boating fatalities are the direct result of drunk boating, or BUI (boating under the influence)."It's not illegal to drink in boats. The problem is, people often don't know when to stop," says Jennings, whose office has seen accidents in which drunk boaters plowed into bridges, jetties, as well as other boats. "Very rarely is a stone-sober mariner involved in a serious boating accident."In most places, boat operators can be cited if their blood-alcohol content is above .08, though punishments for BUI offenses remain less stringent than for DUI accidents.

Stay in Touch

Cellphone coverage is often spotty; phones can get wet, and batteries can die. A modern VHF marine radio, on the other hand, is a near guarantee that you'll be able to communicate with rescuers and guide them to your exact location in the event of an accident. (A good marine radio runs about $100, provides frequent weather updates and can be connected to your boat's GPS for even greater geographic accuracy.) All marine radios sold after June 1999 have a built-in feature called DSC, or digital selective calling, a button that sends an automatic mayday call with your vessel's name and location. The trick is that your radio must be properly registered, a step that many mariners neglect. Check out this site for a guide to setting up your radio

 
Read more: Boating Safety Tips - Summer Boat Safety Accidents - Popular Mechanics 

Summer safety tips: Campfire safety

To stay safe this summer, follow these guidelines when building your campfire:
- Use existing fire rings, a fire mound or fire pans to build your fire.
- Keep fires a safe distance from dwellings and vehicles.
- Be aware of overhanging branches, dry leaves or other objects nearby that may catch fire.
- Be aware of any unsafe weather conditions, such as high winds.
- Pile any extra wood away from the fire.
- Clear away any and all flammable material 10 ft around the fire, like trash, leaves or sticks.
- Teach fire safety habits to children.
- Keep your fire small.
- Be sure your match is completely out.
- Always monitor your fire-- don't leave it unattended.
- Keep water nearby in case the fire starts to spread-- use water to completely extinguish the fire.
- Shovel dirt onto the fire if you have no water.
- Do not bury your coals-- they can smolder and catch something else on fire.

This is a stack of mildewed rotten wood. Imagine if your house was built with this..... We cover that too. Ask about our Mold coverage buy back, with this coverage any damage done to your home through molded wood we will help to repair.

Since 1928, people have been trusting Farmers to provide them with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that their futures and their families are covered against risk. Farmers Insurance Group of Companies^® includes the country's third-largest Personal Lines Property and Casualty insurers.

We currently operate in 29 states with assets over $20 billion, offering attractive careers for more than 30,000 men and women.

A variety of strong, customer-tailored insurance products has made Farmers one of the nations' leading Property/Casualty, Life and Business insurers.

The Farmers brand name has come to be synonymous with top-quality insurance as well as excellent customer service. Farmers Insurance Group agents are immediately in an exclusive group of reputable insurance professionals – a feat that many business owners struggle for years to accomplish.