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Posted on October 24th, 2012 by admin

You know the value of providing health insurance to your employees, but it can be a real challenge for small businesses.  On average, small businesses pay about 18% more than large firms for the same health insurance policy.  And small businesses lack the purchasing power that larger employers have.  The health care law provides tax credits and soon- the ability to shop for insurance in Exchanges that help close this gap. Top Things to Know for small Businesses: If you have up to 25 employees, pay average annual wages below $50,000, and provide health insurance, you may qualify for a…Read More

Posted on October 19th, 2012 by admin

Halloween can be a fun-filled time for children and adults alike.  This Halloween be sure to pay attention to certain fire safety guidelines to keep trick-or-treaters safe and sound. How can I keep my child’s costume safe? Whether buying one or makign your own, be sure fabrics for costumes and decorative materials are flmae resistant.  Don’t permit your child to go trick-or-treating with candles; instead, outfit each with his or her own flashlights.  To be more festive, there are Halloween-themes flashlights created just for this purpose.  Costumes should be made without billowing or long-trailing features that present a higher risk…Read More

Posted on October 17th, 2012 by admin

Although there is controversy behind this statement, it is axiomatic that not every type of loss is covered by insurance. In fact, in order to obtain coverage for a particular loss under a standard liability insurance policy it must first be considered an “occurrence.” In an insurance context, an occurrence is usually synonymous with “accident.”  It is important to understand the difference between the two most common types of professional liability insurance plans — “Claims-Made” and “Occurrence.” Occurrence coverage is the most desirable form of coverage.  It is complete when you purchase it and on cancellation continues to provide coverage for future…Read More

Posted on October 15th, 2012 by admin

In this article, which recently published on mint.com, Tony Hare, managing product director for Travelers Personal Insurance, discusses Travelers’ mileage-based auto insurance program.  If you put relatively few miles on your car or are a parent and worry about your teen-aged driver, you may appreciate a mileage-based auto insurance program. The program works much like it sounds—and it makes sense for people who drive less, want to do so, or own another, much less-used car. At the heart of the program is a palm-sized device that plugs into your car’s diagnostic port, which is usually found under the steering wheel….Read More

Posted on October 10th, 2012 by admin

The first in a series of online, interactive flood- preparation maps designed to assist emergency management personnel and keep residents in the Passaic River Basin informed about flooding events in real time has been launched, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced last Monday. The Saddle River Flood Inundation Map, covering a nearly three-mile stretch of the river in Lodi, is the first map prioritized for the Passaic River Basin in response to recommendations made by Governor Christie’s Passaic River Basin Advisory Commission. The map was developed in partnership between the DEP and U.S. Geological Survey. Seventeen additional interactive…Read More

Posted on October 5th, 2012 by admin

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports teens have the highest crash rate of any group on the United States. Also young licensed drivers, age 15 to 24, account for the highest fatality rates, as well. Alarmed by the high number of serious accidents involving teen drivers, our agency urges you to help your teen drivers slow the transition to the road and give him or her more time to learn and mature. What can I do as a parent of a teen getting ready to hit the road? As a concerned parents, there is much you can do to…Read More

Posted on October 1st, 2012 by admin

New Jersey’s health-insurance option for auto injury costs- If I am injured in an auto accident, who will pay for my medical expenses? Before Jan. 1, 1991, your auto insurance company automatically had the primary responsibility for paying these medical bills.  But, for auto insurance policies written after that date, many policyholders have a choice. What type of choice? If you have a health insurance policy, a group health insurance plan at work, a health maintenance organization contract of other similar health-coverage provider, you may be able to assign that provider the primary responsibility for paying such medical bills. Why…Read More

Posted on September 28th, 2012 by admin

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated annually from September 15 through October 15 in major cities across America, is the celebration of the valuable contributions of Latino culture that have been incorporated into the American society. By learning about Hispanic heritage, we learn about the history of Latinos and the struggles they face as a society, and gain respect and appreciation for what they bring to our society in terms of work ethic, gifts and family spirit. Create your own Hispanic heritage memories by celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. The observation had started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson…Read More

Posted on September 26th, 2012 by admin

You know the value of providing health insurance to your employees.  But it can be a real challenge for small businesses.  On average, small businesses pay about 18% more than large firms for the same health insurance policy.  And small businesses lack the purchasing power that larger employers have.  The health care law provides tax credits and soon- the ability to shop for insurance in Exchanges that help close this gap. Top Things to Know for small Businesses: If you have up to 25 employees, pay average annual wages below $50,000, and provide health insurance, you may qualify for a…Read More

Posted on September 21st, 2012 by admin

I always lock my doors when I leave my house.  What else can I do to prevent a break in? Make your home appear occupied.  Times are inexpensive and can be effective at fooling thieves. Use them to turn lamps and radios on and off at various times of the day and night in different rooms of the house.  Light-sensitive times are good for turning outdoor lights and flood lamps on and dusk and dawn.  This will make it more difficult for thieves to hide.  Use an answering machine or call forwarding, if possible, to quite ringing phones. Have a…Read More