Snow & Ice Removal Insurance

Businesses and individuals that provide snow plowing and ice removal services need protection. W.A. George provides a policy that covers those who remove snow and ice from: 

• Gas Stations
• Interstate Highways
• Roofs
• Sidewalks
• Local Public Roads
• Parking Lots
• State Roads or Highways
• Private Driveways
• Condo Associations

Most state and local laws require insurance coverage if you provide snow plowing or removal services. So, protect yourself and your equiptment with and Snow and Ice Removal Insurance Policy from W.A. George today! 

W.A. George Insurance Snow Removal Suggestions for Snow Removal Contractors

Snow removal contractors should have written contracts in place with all customers, whether residential or commercial. These contracts should be drafted or reviewed by your legal counsel and should address items such as the following:

• Scope of the work performed (e.g. “when X inches or more of snow has accumulated as measured by the contractor at the pavement, not to include drifts”)
• Define specific areas to be plowed, shoveled and blown (schematics recommended and include pictures)
• Identification of any existing property defects
• Definition for the timing of service (i.e. you should specify your availability)
• Inclusion of a property damage liability limitation or hold harmless (e.g.” damage to landscaping caused by piling of snow”)
• Requirement that property owner report any property damage to you within a specified time
• Identification of the specific term (e.g. from 10/1/10 to 3/1/11)
• Appropriate indemnification/hold harmless provisions from the property owner

In addition to a written contract, you should also consider:

Maintaining a snow removal log to be completed by the person responsible for removing the snow/ice. The log should include items such as: driver name, time in, whether conditions, snow amount, lots plowed, amount of sand or salt used, time out. If you subcontract some of the snow removal work, any subcontractor should keep the same type of log, to be sent to you within a specified time after completion of work. Maintaining sidewalk/ice removal log to be completed by the person responsible for removing/treating the snow/ice. This should include the same elements noted above.

Maintaining a complaint log to be completed in the event either property damage or bodily injury occurs. If the customer includes contractual risk transfer elements within their contract, those conditions, at a minimum, should also be transferred to any subcontractors that you use. As with any contract, read it carefully and consult with your legal counsel before you sign.

When subcontracting work to a subcontractor;
You should have a contractual risk transfer program in place for any subcontractors you hire to perform any part of the snow removal for your customers. This program should include elements such as:

Signed contracts required for all subcontracted work which include;

• All elements noted above that are contained within your contract with the property owner.
• An acceptable hold harmless/indemnification agreement in your favor.
• Requirement to name you as an additional insured under general liability and commercial motor vehicle insurance policies for both ongoing operations and completed operations on a primary and non-contributory basis.
• Specification subcontractor cannot further subcontract or assign the work to another without your prior written consent.

Certificates or other proof of insurance should be obtained from subcontractors, before the job commences with stated minimum limits of liability. For example;

• General Liability: $1,000,000 Occurrence/$2,000,000 Aggregate
• Workers Compensation: $500,000/$500,000 Employer’s Liability
• Auto Liability: $1,000,000 CSL
• Umbrella Liability: $1,000,000
• A diary system in place to track expiration dates for certificates of insurance
• A subcontractor selection process.
• Requirement that the subcontractor maintain a snow removal log to be completed by the person responsible for removing the snow/ice. The log should include items such as: driver name, time in, weather conditions, snow amount, lots plowed, amount of sand or salt used, time out.
• Requirement that the subcontractor maintain sidewalk snow removal log to be completed by the person responsible for removing the snow/ice. This should include the same elements noted above.
• Requirement that the subcontractor maintain a complaint log to be completed in the event either property damage or bodily injury occurs.

Travel to Cuba Insurance

W.A. George Insurance Agency has partnered with Starr Companies to offer trip insurance and travel accident insurance to Americans traveling to Cuba.

With the easing of travel restrictions to Cuba, we expect that an increasing number of U.S. Citizens will visit the country. W.A. George Insurance Agency through Starr Companies can offer plans that meet both traveler demand and the U.S. legal requirements.

The Cuban Government requires all individuals traveling to Cuba to have travel insurance or a medical policy that covers medical expenses that may occur while traveling in Cuba. All medical bills must be settled prior to leaving the country.

Medical facilities in Cuba do not accept health or medical insurance plans, U.S. currency, credit cards or checks issued from the United States.

This is from Bridget Whalen, Vice President at Starr Companies.

Plan Benefits

• Common Carrier Benefit
• Critical Burn Benefit
• Traumatic Brain injury Benefit
• Exposure and Disappearance
• Therapeutic Counseling Benefit
• Bereavement Counseling Benefit
• Seat Belt Benefit or Seat Belt and Accident Hospital Income Benefit or Accelerated Benefit
• Air Bag Benefit
• Accident Hospital Income Benefit
• Accident Total Disability Benefit
• Anti-Inflation Benefit
• Covered Accident
• Paralysis Benefit
• Repatriation Benefit
• Intensive Care Unit Benefit
• Continuation of Medical Coverage
• Felonious Assault Benefit
• Outpatient Care Benefit
• (COBRA) Benefit
• Child Education Benefit
• HIV Occupational Accident Benefit
• Extended Dependents Coverage
• Day Care Benefit
• Dependent Child Dismemberment Benefit
• Rehabilitation Benefit
• Extended Care Facility Benefit
• Spouse Education Benefit
• Funeral Expense Benefit
• Common Disaster Benefit
• Adaptive Home & Vehicle Benefit
• Permanent Total Disability Benefit
• Survivor Income Benefit
• Coma Benefit
• Catastrophic Loss of Use Benefit
• Recuperation Benefit 

Basics of Medicare Supplement Insurance

The Basics of Medicare Supplement Insurance
Medicare is health insurance for

• People age 65 or older
• People under 65 with certain disabilities, including End Stage RenalDisease

You have two Medicare insurance coverage choices:

• Medicare Part A
• Medicare Part B
• May offer additional Benefits

What it covers

A Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) is another health coverage choice you may have as part of Medicare.

Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called Medicare Part C or MA Plans, are offered by private companies approved by Medicare.  If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, the plan will provide all your Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance) coverage.  In all plan types, you’re always covered for emergency and urgent care.

Not all Medicare Advantage Plans work the same way.  Out-of-pockets can vary; some plans require referrals to see specialists and many have provider networks.

Types of Medicare Advantage Plans include the following:

• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans
• Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans
• Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans
• Special Needs Plans (SNP)

Part D

Optional Prescription Drug Coverage

Medicare Part D is a prescription drug option run by privateInsurance companies approved by and under contract with Medicare to help cover the cost of prescription drugs.  It may help lower your prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future.

You have out-of-pocket costs with Original Medicare

Deductibles
The amount you must pay before any coverage pays.

Coinsurance
An amount may be required to pay as your share of the cost for services after you pay any deductibles.  Coinsurance is usually a percentage (for example, 20%).

Copayments
An amount you may be required to pay as your share of the cost for a medical service or supply.  A copayment is usually a set amount, for example, you might pay $10 or $20 for a doctor’s visit or prescription drug.

• Medicare Part A Coinsurance
• Medicare Part B Coinsurance
• Deductible Coverage Available

What it covers

Works with Original Medicare Parts A and B
A Medicare supplement insurance policy, also known as a Medigap policy, helps pay your share (coinsurance, copayments or deductibles) of the costs of Medicare-covered services.  Some Medicare supplement policies cover certain costs not covered by Original Medicare Parts A and B.

Companies Offer the Same Basic Benefits
Medicare supplement insurance companies can only sell you a standardized Medicare supplement policy identified by letters A through N. Each standardized Medicare supplement insurance policy must offer the same basic benefits, no matter which insurance company sells it.  Cost and customer service are usually the only difference between Medicare supplement policies sold by different insurance companies.

When You can Apply for Medicare Supplement Insurance

You can apply for a Medicare supplement insurance policy just about any time you’re eligible for Medicare and enrolled in Medicare Part B, including when:

• You’re in your open enrollment period
• You’re past your open enrollment period as long as you don’t have other coverage
• You want a Medicare supplement plan with a lower premium
• You leave your Medicare Advantage/Private Fee for Service plan
• Your employer discontinues its group retiree health coverage

Your open enrollment period lasts for six months and begins on the first day of the month in which you’re both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B(some states may have additional open enrollment rights under state law).  During the period, an insurance company cannot use medical underwriting.  This means you’re in a guaranteed issue situation and the company cannot:

• Refuse to sell you any Medicare supplement insurance policy it sells
• Make you wait for coverage to start (except in limited circumstances)
• Charge you more for a Medicare supplement insurance policy because of any past or present health conditions

In the six months prior to and following your Medicare Part B eligibility (typically age 65), you can be approved for a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy with answering a single health question.

Vacant Property Insurance

Insuring a vacant home is easy , if know where to get the right policy. Many brokers don’t like to cover a vacant home because it is likely to suffer certain kinds of damage, such as break-in by kids or vagrants, or damage that grows to a large scale, for example a water leak that goes undetected for weeks. 

When a home becomes vacant, a standard homeowners policy may give the carrier the right to cancel mid-term, lower coverage levels, or even deny a claim. What you need is a broker that has a policy that is specifically written for the risks of vacant property.

It apply to these common circumstances:                                                            

• You own rental property  and are between tenants
• You’ve moved for a new job but your house is unsold
• A property is undergoing renovations
• As executor, you are selling a house to close an estate

Call W. A. George Insurance and let them get the right coverage for your property.

A standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover an unoccupied home. Vacant property insurance is essential to ensuring the value of a property that is not currently being occupied. W.A. George can provide an affordable policy that will cover your residential or commercial property until the property is sold, moved into or rented.

Whatever the reason is for the property being empty, W.A. George can write a policy to protect your investment.

What happens when your property becomes vacant?

If a property is vacant for more than 60 consecutive days before a loss occurs, there may not be coverage for a loss caused by the following perils:

• Vandalism
• Building glass breakage
• Water damage
• Theft or attempted theft
• Sprinkler leakage

Some potential hazards posed by vacant property

• Fire
• Mold
• Water leakage
• Crime
• Theft
• Weather-related damage
• Environmental risks

Vacant properties may attract trespassers, arsonist, thieves or other criminals.
Copper thieves target vacant properties, especially those that are not secured and without power.
One of the side effects of the current economy is the increased likelihood of claims involving vacant property.

Vacant property losses often create difficult loss settlement situations for everyone involved.

Solution

W. A. George Insurance Agency vacant property program affords you the ability to cover all your vacant real estate exposures through a single source. A single point of contact and the strength of an A+XV rated carrier.