Over the weekend, Governor Baker ordered all Massachusetts schools to close for 3 weeks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. He also mandated that restaurants serve customers only via take-out or delivery, and that no one gather in groups of 25+. More shutdowns may follow, and the impacts are already being felt across the board by businesses of all sizes, including ours.
As of February 23, 2020, Massachusetts law will prohibit drivers and cyclists from using any electronic device, such as a cell phone, unless the device is in hands-free mode. Police will give operators a grace period through the end of March, issuing only warnings to first time offenders rather than fines. Are you prepared for the change?
Massachusetts is one of the top ten states with the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths. While intervention has led to a recent downward trend in overdoses, they still occur at a much higher rate than 5 years ago. The opioid crisis has reached into every corner of society, catching family members and friends off guard. Some find themselves in additional peril when their life insurance claims are denied due to cause of death. This is new territory for insurance carriers, and the outcomes rely on a number of factors. If this happened to your family, would you be prepared?
Many of us look to a new year as a way to improve our habits—shed a few pounds, get more sleep, reduce stress, get our finances in order. But how often do you fine-tune your insurance policies? Here are some suggestions for achieving more peace of mind in 2020.
From a dry Christmas tree adorned with 20-year-old lights to a set of drapes dangling near a faulty heater, fire risks seem ubiquitous this time of year. With the holiday season around the corner, it’s the perfect time to address leading causes of house fires and how to prevent them. For the #1 most common source of house fires, look no further than the kitchen.
When it comes to purchasing insurance, most of us probably focus on auto, homeowners, and health coverage. After all, damage to our cars, our houses, and our wellness can cause catastrophe financial woes. With Halloween just around the corner, we thought we’d highlight some unusual, even weird, insurance policies that you probably didn’t know existed.
Many drivers assume that their auto insurance policies cover a lot more than they actually do, and they only learn the truth after their claims are denied by their insurance carriers. If you’re unsure what your policy does and does not cover, it’s best to go over your insurance agreement with a qualified agent. However, here are some of the more common auto insurance exclusions.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 773,139 cars were reported stolen in 2017—that’s one report every 40.9 seconds. On average 59.1% of locally-stolen vehicles are recovered, though their conditions can vary greatly. If your car was stolen, would you know what to do? Here are the general steps you should follow.
You’ve no doubt heard someone say “Sitting is the new smoking.” Numerous studies have shown the detriments of a sedentary lifestyle: increased risk for back problems, osteoporosis, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer, even double of the risk of premature death. Though office work won’t be found on any top 10 lists of most dangerous jobs, the negative impacts of too much sitting are detrimental to both employees and employers—the cost of absenteeism and extra health care due to the workers’ sedentary-related health problems runs into the billions each year. But sitting too much isn’t the only cause of poor health in office workers.
Do you heat with oil? Are you still using a black steel tank to store that oil? A leaking heating oil storage tank is not an issue to be taken lightly. The results could be catastrophic for you and your family.
Banas & Fickert Insurance Agency
