What factors can affect homeowners insurance premiums?

·         Home Features and Characteristics — Your home's age, type of structure, wiring, roof, garage, etc., can affect your homeowners insurance premium. Older homes can often cost more to insure, and those costs can differ depending on whether your home is brick, frame, masonry.  Or if the roof was replaced.

·        
Location — Where your home is located can change your homeowners insurance premium. For instance, your home insurance rate can be affected if your home is in close proximity to a fire station; is exposed to extreme weather, such as hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes; or is in a neighborhood more prone to theft.

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Protective Devices — Burglar alarm systems, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and deadbolt locks can lower your homeowners insurance premium.

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Personal Factors — What you do can affect your homeowners insurance premium, too. For instance, smokers may pay more for home insurance than nonsmokers. A good credit history also can lower what you pay for home insurance.

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Claims History — If you have a history of claims on a homeowners insurance policy, you may pay a higher premium.

Health Care Reform Questions & Answers

Will Health Care Reform have any effect on my tax filings?

Beginning with your 2014 tax filing (that is filed by April 15, 2015), all individuals will have to report information about their health insurance coverage to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). What you report will depend on whether or not you were covered in 2014, what type of coverage you had (individual, employer-sponsored, or government program), and how many months of the year you had the coverage.

The information you report on your taxes will help determine if you are required to pay a penalty, are eligible for a subsidy, or are exempt from coverage.

For more answer to you questions contact E&S team

juan.espinosa@es-insurance.com

www.es-insurance.com

Health Care Reform Questions & Answers

Do I have to purchase health insurance?

Beginning 2014, most people were required to have health insurance or pay a penalty. Coverage may include employer-provided health insurance, individual health insurance, or health insurance through a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid.

People without health insurance could face tax penalties that will be phased in and increased over several years, starting with the 2014 tax filing. The penalty for the 2014 tax year was $95 per adult ($47.50 per child) or 1 percent of household income (whichever is greater) and family maximum of $285. In 2015 the penalty increases to $325 per adult ($162.50 per child) or 2 percent of household income (whichever is greater) and family maximum of $975.

If you need to purchase health insurance or need more answers to your questions, Contact E&S Team

juan.espinosa@es-insurance.com

www.es-insurance.com

Health Care Reform Questions & Answers

What is Health Care Reform?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), officially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) but commonly referred to as “Obamacare,” is a collection of new laws. You may have heard people talk about it as “Health Care Reform.” The laws affect most people, including employers, health care providers, individuals, and health insurance plans such as Optima Health. The goal is to improve access to affordable health insurance coverage for everyone, including those currently uninsured.

For more questions and answers do not hesitate to contact me

Juan.espinosa@es-insurance.com

www.es-insurance.com

What Is a Wind Mitigation Report?

As a homeowner with windstorm insurance, state law entitles you to certain premium reductions, but without an inspection, you can’t get them! If you haven’t had a windstorm insurance inspection at your current home, you are probably paying too much for homeowner insurance.

During a wind mitigation inspection, a certified inspector reports on the key features that may decrease the amount of damage your home suffers during a hurricane or strong windstorm. These features fall into several categories, such as exterior construction type, roof shape and construction methods, age of roof covering, door and window opening protection as well as the actual year the home was built.

For more information contact me,

Juan D. Espinosa

E&S Insurance

www.es-insurance.com

6 tips to prepare for a hurricane

These 6 tips can help you plan ahead so you never have to face a storm unprepared.

1. Check your insurance coverage to make sure it reflects the current state of your home. Consider adding flood insurance and coverage for additional living expenses in case your home is uninhabitable after a storm.

2. Doing a home inventory can save you time and make filing a claim easier, ensuring you don’t forget anything. Document the contents of your home with a video camera or other home inventory tool. Keep receipts for valuable items and consider separate coverage for these things.

3. Protect your property by installing the following items in your home:

• Hurricane shutters or keep ¾ inch outdoor plywood boards for each window. If using boards, be sure to install anchors and pre-drill holes so you can put them up quickly.
• Head and foot bolts on doors for extra protection.
• Hurricane straps or clips to help hold the roof to the walls of your home.
• A safe room that can withstand high winds and flying debris.

Also, be sure to keep up with your landscaping; diseased and damaged tree limbs can become serious hazards in high-speed storm winds.

4. Stock your emergency supply kit with basic survival items. You’ll want to have a 2-week supply of water and ready-to-eat, non-perishable food for every family member and pet. If you evacuate, you’ll want a 3-day supply of the same. Other items to add to your supply kit include:

• Manual can opener
• Essential medicines including eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Personal hygiene items such as toilet paper, toothbrush and toothpaste
• Change of clothing
• Paper towels, hand sanitizer, and eating utensils
• First-aid kit
• Battery-powered flashlight and radio with extra batteries
• Blankets, pillows and sleeping bags
• Mosquito repellant and citronella candles
• 2 coolers—one for food, one for ice
• Plastic tarp for roof/window repairs and tools
• Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members

5. Have an established evacuation plan to help reduce stress. If you don’t have transportation of your own, make arrangements now with friends or family members and don’t forget about the pets!

You want to make sure the whole family is covered, so identify an out-of-state contact that everyone will call if separated and establish a meeting location at least 50 miles inland.

Lastly, gather important papers to take with you:

• Driver’s license or personal ID
• Social security card
• Proof of residence (deed, lease or utility bills)
• Insurance policies (home, auto, flood, wind)
• Birth and marriage certificates
• Stocks, bond and other negotiable certificates
• Wills, deeds, and copies of recent tax returns
• Personal checkbook and any unpaid bills

6. Don’t take silly risks like running back into a home that’s been destroyed or refuse to evacuate when you’ve been ordered to, just to salvage material possessions. Things can be replaced, but people cannot.

Contact me for more information
www.es-insurance.com

Hurricane Preparedness - Be Ready

Hurricane Preparedness - Be Ready Two keys to weather safety are to prepare for the risks and to act on those preparations when alerted by emergency officials. These are essential pieces to the Weather-Ready Nation. Refer to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Ready.gov/hurricanes for comprehensive information on hurricane preparedness at home and in your community. Some highlights on how to prepare and take action are available below: Gather Information Plan & Take Action Recover Resources Gather Information Know if you live in an evacuation area. Assess your risks and know your home's vulnerability to storm surge,flooding and wind. Understand National Weather Service forecast products and especially the meaning of NWSwatches and warnings. Contact your local National Weather Service office and local government/emergency management office. Find out what type of emergencies could occur and how you should respond. Contacts Keep a list of contact information for reference. Local Emergency Management Office County Law Enforcement County Public Safety Fire/Rescue State, County and City/Town Government Local Hospitals Local Utilities Local American Red Cross Local TV Stations Local Radio Stations Your Property Insurance Agent Risk Analysis Online hazard and vulnerability assessment tools are available to gather information about your risks. Check your hazards risks with FEMA's Map Portal. Rate your flood risk with the FloodSmart.gov portal. Plan & Take Action Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected. Your friends and family may not be together when disaster strikes. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children or parents are safe? You may have to evacuate or be confined to your home. What will you do if water, gas, electricity or phone services are shut off? Supplies Kit Put together a basic disaster supplies kit and consider storage locations for different situations. Help community members do the same. Emergency Plans Develop and document plans for your specific risks. Protect yourself and family with a Family Emergency Plan - [PDF] Be sure to plan for locations away from home Business owners and site locations should create Workplace Plans Make sure schools and daycares have School Emergency Plans Pet owners should have plans to care for their animals. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention offer information on animal health impacts in evacuation shelters. Prepare your boat and be aware of marine safety if you are on or near the water. Health & Environment Follow guidelines to guard your community's health and protect the environment during and after the storm. Review the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) health considerations before, during, and after a storm. Remember to follow the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) food and water safety guidelines during disasters. Review the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggestions for health and environmental safety in disaster preparedness. Evacuation Review the FEMA Evacuation Guidelines to allow for enough time to pack and inform friends and family if you need to leave your home. FOLLOW instructions issued by local officials. Leave immediately if ordered! Consider your protection options to decide whether to stay or evacuate your home if you are not ordered to evacuate. When waiting out a storm be careful, the danger may not be over yet... Be alert for: Tornadoes – they are often spawned by hurricanes. The calm "eye" of the storm – it may seem like the storm is over, but after the eye passes, the winds will change direction and quickly return to hurricane force. Recover Wait until an area is declared safe before returning home. Remember that recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process. Contact me for more information www.es-insurance.com