Atlanta group health insurance: HMO plans and PPO plans

Two options for Atlanta group health insurance are HMO plans and PPO plans.

Two options for Atlanta group health insurance are HMO plans and PPO plans.

If you’re a small business owner in Atlanta, you might be considering offering group health insurance for your employees. Unfortunately, all the terms, abbreviations, acronyms, and so on can be bamboozling. In considering what sort of plan you want to offer, you’re wondering what the difference is between an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan and PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans. Well, apart from having different letters, that is. Anyways, we’ll explain what HMOs and PPOs are and why they’re different.

What is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan?

One type of Atlanta group health insurance is offering an HMO plan to your employees.

Basically, the Health Maintenance Organization creates a network of healthcare providers that work with them. These providers have agreed to be paid set amounts for the services they provide. This means that the HMO is able to keep costs fairly low for people who are on these plans, making it an affordable health insurance option. The premiums and copays (fees for visiting a doctor or professional) can be more affordable than those of a PPO plan.

However, there’s a catch:

Remember how we mentioned the network of healthcare providers? If your employees are on an HMO insurance plan, they can only go to doctors who are in that network in order for expenses to be covered. They can’t see a doctor who is out-of-network unless it’s a complete medical emergency.

So, employees could see lower costs as far as premium, copay, and out-of-pocket expenses, but they lose the flexibility of being able to see whichever doctor they please.

Another thing about HMO plans is that the employee will most likely to be required to choose a Primary Care Provider from the network provided. This doctor will become their doctor, who they’ll go to for check-ups, when they get sick, and so on. And if there’s ever a time that they need to see a professional, the Primary Care Physician would refer them to a professional in-network. (The referral is a must – kind of like a Golden Ticket.) The professional’s care would be covered after the copay and deductible are met by the employee.

So, HMOs could work for your employees if they’d rather pay lower premiums and they’re okay with being limited to choosing doctors in the network. Generally, HMOs can work for people who don’t need more than basic care in the form of checkups, vaccinations, and so on.

(We can help you get the Atlanta group health insurance that’s right for your business. Get started with your quotes by filling out our online form or giving us a call today.)

What is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan?

Another Atlanta group health insurance option is to offer a PPO plan to your employees.

A PPO plan also consists of a network of healthcare providers, and these providers have agreed to offer set rates for their services to members. However, the employee would have the option to go to a doctor or hospital that’s out of that network. (Although choosing one of the in-network providers will most likely cost less.) Basically, you can go to any doctor, in-network or out-of-network.

These plans offer more flexibility and options as far as doctors go, but the premiums can be higher, as can the copays. (But, like we mentioned, choosing an in-network doctor can help save money.) These plans usually require enrollees to pay a co-pay when they visit a provider, and there may be an annual deductible that needs to be met before insurance will cover certain claims. There are more options with these plans and it can be easier to see a provider when away from home or if there’s an urgent medical situation.

Another way that these plans offer more flexibility is that the employee doesn’t have to choose a primary care physician and don’t need a referral to see a professional. They can just go without needing a primary care physician to act as a liaison. If you offer a Preferred Provider Organization plan as group health insurance for your small business, employees would most like to be able to keep their current doctor, which is helpful if they wouldn’t want to switch.

So, PPOs can provide more flexibility and choices for your employees since they don’t have to visit an in-network health care professional, but they’re often a little more expensive. It’s a trade.

And that’s the difference between an HMO plan and a PPO plan. When selecting Atlanta group health insurance for your small business, it’s important to consider what your employees would prefer and how the plan will help them get the care they need. Your employees need group health insurance that will work for them.

If you’re looking for small business health insurance, we can help. We’ll go over your options for Atlanta group health insurance and help you find the right benefits package for your employees and your business. We can also help you get workers’ comp insurance, general liability insurance, and more. Get started with your Atlanta business insurance quotes by filling out our online quote form or calling us today.

Sources:

https://www.humana.com/all-products/understanding-insurance/what-is-hmo

https://www.humana.com/all-products/understanding-insurance/hmo-vs-ppo

https://www.humana.com/health-and-well-being/what-is-ppo 

What is the personal liability section of my Atlanta homeowners’ insurance?

Personal liability insurance can help you if you're found responsible for causing someone bodily injury.

Personal liability insurance can help you if you're found responsible for causing someone bodily injury.

Your home insurance does a lot more than just fix your house if Mother Nature sends a disaster your way or you have a fire. It can also protect you financially with personal liability coverage – it’s a part of what your home insurance covers. We’ll explain how personal liability coverage works and how it can provide a safeguard around your bank account.

What is the personal liability insurance coverage section of my policy?

Personal liability insurance can protect you if you (or a member of your family who’s covered under the policy) are found legally responsible for causing someone bodily injury or property damage. For example, if a guest tripped while walking down your driveway, you could end up shouldering the legal blame. You could end up facing a lawsuit, and that lawsuit can become very expensive very quickly.

What does personal liability insurance cover?

No-fault Medical Payments.

Medical bills aren’t cheap. If someone gets hurt on your property, they’ll need to get the care they need. There could be a medical payments coverage included in your liability insurance, which allows the injured person’s medical bills to be paid without the ado of a lawsuit.

Your personal liability insurance can also help you if there's a lawsuit.

Legal expenses/Lawsuits.

Should the person who got hurt on your property decide they’re in a litigious mood, they might sue you. Which means you’d need a lawyer. Liability insurance could cover the legal costs – which add up very quickly. Whether or not you’re guilty of what you’re being accused of, you still need that lawyer. And you need to pay them.

Property Damage.

If you’re responsible for accidentally causing property damage to another person, your home insurance can help you cover the costs of a lawsuit. So, if your kid accidentally smashes your neighbor’s priceless, rare vase, you could get some help from your home insurance.

How much liability insurance is included in my home insurance?

Many home insurance policies offer $100,000 of liability insurance, but you can increase those limits. ($100,000 is often the minimum amount you can get.)

It’s important to check your limits of insurance to see how much liability coverage you have. If your current limit isn’t high enough, you can talk to your agent about raising it. You can also consider getting a personal umbrella insurance policy to really boost your liability coverage. (A personal umbrella policy sits on top of your existing liability coverage to provide additional coverage.)

Can personal liability insurance cover me if my dog bites someone?

It’s really important that you talk to your insurance agent about your dog and check to see what your policy says about dog bites. It’s better to know exactly what’s covered than to think something’s covered…only to find out it’s not. Dogs and home insurance don’t always mix.

Some insurance companies are leery of insuring homeowners who have dogs of certain breeds (like Pitbulls, Dobermans, or Rottweilers) because of their history of aggression.

Anyways, take care to understand how your insurance would handle a dog-bite situation.

So, that’s a brief look at how personal liability insurance can protect your finances. It’s easy to get caught up with the coverage for the house and for personal belongings, but it’s important not to overlook the liability portion of your policy. Don’t underestimate how expensive lawsuits can be!

If you’re looking to get quotes for home insurance, our team can help. We’ll shop for your insurance so you can get great coverage at a great rate. To get started with your quotes, fill out our online quote form or give us a call today.

Source:

https://www.thebalance.com/personal-liability-insurance-coverage-3957084

10 fall home maintenance tips to prepare your Atlanta house for winter

Prepare your home for winter with fall home maintenance.

Prepare your home for winter with fall home maintenance.

Fall in Atlanta is a great time to get some home maintenance done. Okay, truthfully our winters may not be as harsh as in other areas of the country, but still, it’s important to strengthen your home before the winter and do some fall home maintenance. Cold weather and maybe – yikes – snow is really hard on a house. We might want to think our home is an indestructible Super House, but that’s (unfortunately) not true. We’re going to go over several home maintenance tasks so you can prepare your home for winter.

Fall home maintenance tips.

1. Look after your roof.

Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against weather – kind of like a super fancy helmet. A helmet with cracks or holes in it isn’t super effective, right? And besides, your roof affects your home insurance rates.

2. Check around your doors and windows.

The weatherstripping around the doors and windows serves as a seal against the weather. The delightful, cozy warm air inside your house can leak out of the home. That makes your heating system work harder. Repairing any spots that need fixing can help you keep your home nice and toasty – and it can make your home more energy-efficient (and thus lower your heating bill.) Take some time to make necessary repairs.

3. Maintain your heating system.

Enlist the services of a trustworthy technician and have them check over your heating system. It’s better to find out about a problem before the temperatures get super cold. Otherwise, you might find yourself with your teeth chattering as you shiver and wait for someone to fix the heat. By getting a maintenance check of your heating, you can make sure that your home will stay nice and warm all winter.

4. Put away garden hoses.

Before you put away any outdoor garden hoses, make sure to drain them of water. Then put them indoors.

5. Clean the gutters and downspouts.

Yep, we know that gutters are gross. Cleaning the gutters is on no one’s “favorite things to do” list. But it’s got to be done. Leaves and debris are problematic because they can block water that needs to escape. That water can cause damage to your home because it builds up and just sits there. Before the rainy, gross weather of Atlanta winter hits, clean out the gutters.

Cleaning the gutters is a part of fall home maintenance.

6. Take care of your trees.

If there are any tree branches that are getting too close to the house, you might want to have them trimmed before they crash-land into your house.  Though most likely your home insurance covers fallen trees, it’s best to not have to deal with it at all.

7. Get your chimney checked.

Who doesn’t love a warm, crackling fire in the fireplace in the winter? It’s great. But it’s a good idea to get your chimney inspected before you start a fire in the fireplace this winter. You don’t want to have any unexpected chimney problems.

8. Prevent your pipes from freezing.

Pipes that are exposed to cold temperatures can freeze if the weather gets cold enough. You may want to go ahead and take steps to prevent them from freezing when the temperatures drop.

9. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Make sure that you’re regularly checking your smoke detectors. The batteries also need to be changed regularly. It’s important to make sure that your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors can do their job.

10. Look over the outside of your home.

As part of your fall home maintenance routine, take a minute to walk around your home. Look at the roof, the siding, and foundation. Look at your driveway, your porch and steps, your walkway. Make sure to repair any areas that need to be repaired while the weather is still decent.

The winter can really put a beating on your home. By taking the time to put some TLC into your house and do some fall home maintenance, you can help it stand up better to the cold, rain, and maybe snow. Your house endures a lot. Take time this fall to baby it a little.

And of course, it’s important to protect your home with the right Atlanta home insurance. Our agents can help you get great coverage at a great rate. We’ll help you get the coverage you need to fully protect your home. Get started with your home insurance quotes by filling out our online form or giving us a call today.

 

Source 1 | Source 2

Why is my Atlanta car insurance so expensive?

If your Atlanta car insurance rates seem too high, these are some possible reasons.

If your Atlanta car insurance rates seem too high, these are some possible reasons.

If you cringe every time you get your car insurance bill or every time the payment auto-debits from your bank account, you’re probably dwelling on this question: why is my car insurance so expensive? You’re just about fed up, and thinking about Atlanta car insurance rates kind of makes you want to flip some tables. There are a lot of factors that affect the cost of car insurance, and there are a few reasons that your premium might seem high.

Read more

What is Atlanta renter’s insurance?

What is Atlanta renter's insurance

Atlanta renter's insurance can protect your personal belongings.

If you’re like many Atlantans, you might rent an apartment or a house. Lots of people are apartment dwellers. You love your place, but the question to ask yourself is are you properly insured? Sometimes Murphy’s law gets in the way and creates a bit of chaos. And when that happens, you might need Atlanta renter’s insurance to set things right.

What is renters’ insurance, you might ask? Why needs renter’s insurance? Does my landlord’s insurance cover me? These are just a few of the questions you might have, and we’re going to answer them.

What is renters’ insurance?

Atlanta renter’s insurance is like home insurance, but it’s intended for people who, well, rent an apartment instead of owning a home. It provides coverage for your personal belongings and liability. However, it won’t provide coverage for the building or structure. (Your landlord’s insurance would cover the building itself.)

So, renter’s insurance would help you build a financial safety net for your bank account so that you won’t get totally cleaned out if something happens at your apartment and things go a little haywire.

Who needs renter’s insurance?

If you rent an apartment or a house, you might want to consider it so you can protect yourself financially. Imagine if a fire tore through your apartment or a crafty burglar made off with your stuff. Imagine if a guest tripped and took a bad – and expensive – fall…and you’re found responsible.

You might be scratching your head and thinking, well my stuff isn’t all that expensive…But chances are you have more stuff than you think crammed into your place. Think about your electronics, furniture, clothes, shoes, and so on. It would probably cost quite a bit to replace all of your belongings. And if someone tripped and fell, like in our scenario above, their medical expenses (or even a lawsuit) could get super expensive.

Does my landlord’s insurance cover me?

Maybe you’re wondering: What’s the point of Atlanta renter’s insurance? Doesn’t my landlord’s insurance cover me?

Well, to answer the question simply, no. Your landlord’s insurance will probably not cover your personal belongings, and it might not cover your liability if someone gets hurt in your apartment or rented house.

Like we said earlier, your landlord’s insurance only covers the structure of the building itself. So, if there’s a fire, their insurance would pay to rebuild it, but it won’t pay to replace your belongings. You’d be on your own.

Atlanta renter's insurance provides liability insurance.

What does Atlanta renter’s insurance cover?

Your personal property.

If you have a covered loss (i.e. fire or burglary) your renter’s insurance can replace the belongings that were destroyed.

But a quick tip – check and see if the policy has actual cash value coverage or replacement cost coverage.

Here’s why:

Actual Cash Value will only give you the depreciated value of your belongings (their value at the time of the loss.) This may not be enough for you to replace your belongings at today’s prices.

Replacement cost coverage can allow you to replace your belongings at today’s prices.

So, that’s just something to be aware of when you’re choosing the renter’s insurance that’s right for you.

Liability.

You could be found liable if someone gets hurt in your apartment or if you cause property damage. Your renter’s insurance can help you cover the expenses you’re obligated to pay.

So, if a visitor trips in your apartment, gets hurt, and decides to sue, you might be responsible for their medical expenses. But your renter’s insurance can come to the rescue.

Additional living expenses.

What would happen if you’re apartment had a fire and you couldn’t live there anymore?

Here’s another cool trick that Atlanta renter’s insurance does:

Your renter’s insurance policy might cover additional living expenses. That means that if a covered loss forces you to leave your home because it’s uninhabitable, your “extra expenses” would be covered. For example, you might have to stay in a hotel. Those are expenses above your normal living costs, so your renters’ insurance may reimburse you. (Just be sure to hold onto your receipts!)

Those extra bills could become a real burden, but with renter’s insurance, you can put that money back into your wallet.

Am I required to have renter’s insurance?

Your landlord might want you to have renter’s insurance. This just ensures that you’re covered and that any potential liability situations would be taken care of.

And you can get an Atlanta renter’s insurance policy by working with our team of agents. We can help you get the coverage you need for your rented house or apartment. Getting started with quotes is easy – all you have to do is fill out our online quote form or give us a call today.

What are the minimum limits of car insurance in Georgia?

Georgia minimum limits of car insurance

Georgia minimum limits of car insuranceIf you’re planning on getting a car in Georgia, you’re probably wondering how much insurance you’re going to need. What are the minimum limits of car insurance in Georgia? We can answer that question, but we’re also going to talk about why you may want to get more than the legally required limit of car insurance.

What are the Georgia minimum limits of car insurance?

The magic numbers to remember for Georgia minimum levels of car insurance are 25/50/25.

The first number, 25, means that you need $25,000 of bodily liability insurance per person. If someone gets hurt in an accident and you’re at fault, you have legal obligations to that person (for example, this could be medical expenses.) The limit of coverage for each person in the other car is $25,000. Anything above that limit would come out of your own pocket.

The second number, 50, means that you must have $50,000 of bodily injury liability insurance per occurrence. That means that your car insurance would not pay out more than $50,000 per at-fault accident.

The third number, 25, means that you need $25,000 of property damage insurance. If you hit someone, the other driver’s car would be covered for repair or replacement up to $25,000.

So, that answers the question of the Georgia minimum limits of car insurance: you need $25,000 of bodily injury insurance per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per occurrence, and $25,000 of property damage liability insurance.

However, you may want to think about getting more than the Georgia minimum limits of car insurance (which only covers liability insurance.) We’ll explain why.

Why you might want more than the state minimum levels of car insurance.

Having higher limits of car insurance can protect you financially. We don’t like to think about it, but driving is dangerous. The expenses that could arise from a serious accident could be astronomical.

If you’re involved in a severe accident, those minimum levels might not be enough to fully cover your legal responsibility to the other driver (for example, medical bills.) You’d be left to cover the rest of the costs that you owe to the driver that you’ve injured or whose car you’ve damaged, and those could be some very big bills.

What are collision and comprehensive insurance?

The state minimum levels of car insurance only require liability insurance. That means that other driver’s medical bills, their car repairs or replacement, and even your legal expenses could be covered in case of an accident.

But what about your car?

Liability insurance will not cover your car if it’s damaged. So, whether you’re in an accident or something else happens to the vehicle – a tree falls on it, it gets stolen, you hit a deer – you would be on your own to cover the costs of repairing or replacing your car.

To protect yourself financially and protect your investment in your car, you would need to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage.

  • Collision coverage helps pay to repair or replace your car if you’re in an accident.
  • Comprehensive coverage helps repair or replace your car if something other than an accident damages it. So, if your car gets squashed by a tree, gets vandalized, gets stolen, catches fire, or hits an animal, you could be covered.

To conclude:

If you’re driving with the Georgia minimum limits of car insurance, you may not be fully protected financially if you get into a serious accident or if you get sued. Your car is also not protected if you forego collision and comprehensive insurance and only get liability insurance. So, we encourage you to think about getting higher limits of car insurance. Get some quotes. You might find that there actually isn’t too much difference in premium between the minimum limits and adding tens of thousands of dollars of car insurance to your policy.

And we can help you figure that out. We would be happy to help you get a quote for Atlanta car insurance – and help you save money on your car insurance. Get in touch with us and get started with Georgia car insurance quotes by filling out our online form or give us a call today.

Don’t fall for these 8 Atlanta home insurance myths

We'll explain the truth and debunk eight home insurance myths.

We'll explain the truth and debunk eight home insurance myths.

When you’re dealing with something as important as Atlanta home insurance, it’s crucial to have the facts. There are many assumptions and myths out there about home insurance. We’re going to turn some of these home insurance myths upside-down and discover the truth.

1. MYTH: I should use my home’s market value when I insure it.

The truth: You need enough insurance to completely rebuild your home from the ground up.

The goal is to have enough home insurance to completely rebuild your home from the ground up if it were destroyed, including building materials and the labor of the contractors. That means insuring your home for its replacement cost. The market value of the home, or the amount that a house would reasonably sell for, may not accurately reflect the amount you would need to rebuild the home.

2. MYTH: Home insurance covers flooding.

The truth: It doesn’t. This is one of those home insurance myths that is not true.

Many homeowners only find this out after their home sustains flooding due to heavy rain. But flooding simply isn’t covered by Atlanta home insurance, even though certain types of water damage are. To protect your home against flooding you would have to have a flood insurance policy in place. You can get flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through an agent.

3. MYTH: Home insurance covers all of my personal belongings.

The truth: Kind of. This is one of those home insurance myths that you need to talk to your agent about.

Yes, a typical home insurance policy will provide coverage for your personal belongings – furniture, clothing, and so on. But there are a few things to consider. First, you need to check and see what the limit of coverage is for your personal belongings (the maximum amount of money insurance will pay out.) You also have to check to see what losses and perils are covered under your policy.

Jewelry and valuables are something else you have to think about. Your policy may only provide limited coverage for jewelry, art, and other valuables – and this coverage might not be enough to fully protect your treasures. You might have to explore options for covering your jewelry, valuables, art, and collections.

4. MYTH: Home insurance will cover termite damage.

The truth: Termites are pestilential beasts and damage by these tiny demons is not covered by home insurance.

If termites go to town and turn your home into their own personal buffet, the damage and cost of extermination would not be covered by home insurance. Termite damage is considered to be a maintenance thing, and home insurance typically doesn’t cover maintenance-related issues.

Pro-tip: Have regular pest-control and termite inspections. Squash the bugs before they cause serious damage – or emotional distress.

Be aware of the home insurance myths that are out there.

5. MYTH: Home insurance will replace my belongings like new.

The truth: Well, it depends on your policy.

You can insure your personal belongings for their replacement cost value or their Actual Cash Value.

Actual cash value coverage means that your insurance company will give you the value of the belongings at the time of the loss as reimbursement. (This is the depreciated value, and it may not be enough to replace your belongings at today’s prices.)

Replacement cost value coverage can replace your belongings at today’s prices.

The point is you need to read your policy to see how your personal belongings are covered and to determine if you have enough insurance.

6. MYTH: If an injury occurs in my home, it’s covered.

The truth: Liability coverage takes care of your legal responsibility to your guests if they’re injured, not your family.

If a guest trips over your garden hose and breaks an arm, your liability would probably be covered by home insurance. (For example, their medical bills or expenses if they sue you.) But if a member of your family trips over the same hose and breaks an arm, you would have to use your health insurance.

7. MYTH: Home insurance covers my home-based business.

The truth: You need to check your home insurance policy (as with many of these home insurance myths.)

You need to make sure your home-based business is properly insured. You might need to add coverage to your home insurance policy through an endorsement, get a home-based business policy, or get a business owner’s policy.

8. MYTH: Home insurance is too expensive to be worth it.

The truth: Home insurance is a financial safety net.

The house you live in is a big investment, and insurance can help you protect that investment. Consider what would happen if your home was burgled, caught fire, or got in the way of a falling tree.

As far as home insurance being overly expensive, we’re happy to bust that myth. Our agents are pros at helping people save money on home insurance and get great coverage at a great rate. We can shop your rates and get you the insurance you need to protect your home. All you have to do to get started with Atlanta home insurance quotes is fill out our online form or give us a call today. Let’s crush these home insurance myths together.

Source:

https://www.thebalance.com/ignore-these-6-myths-about-homeowners-insurance-coverage-4177282

What you need to know about Georgia’s graduated license program

The Georgia graduated license program places restrictions on young drivers.

If you have a teenager who’s about to get their Georgia learner’s permit or driver’s license, there are a few things you need to know about the Georgia graduated license program. See, when your teen gets their license, they can’t just go driving around all hours of the night with as many passengers as they want. Their license has restrictions until they turn 18. As time goes by, those restrictions are loosened until the driver turns 18 and all limitations are lifted. We’ll explain how the Georgia graduated license program works.

Georgia’s Graduated License Program: TADRA

Before we break down each “step” in the Georgia licensing process, let’s talk a little about the program itself.

TADRA, or the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act, is the system that allows drivers aged 15-18 to “graduate” to less restrictive licensing as they gain driving experience. TADRA places limitations on when newly licensed drivers are allowed to drive and how many passengers they can have in the car. It was passed in an effort to prevent accidents and fatalities among young, teenaged drivers. The restrictions placed on these newly licensed drivers are meant to increase their safety and lower their likelihood of being in a crash.

(Note: TADRA is also known as Joshua’s Law.)

The Three Steps of Georgia’s Graduated License Program:

Phase One: The learner’s permit.

The first step is to get a learner’s permit (a.k.a. instructional permit.) In Georgia, a teenager can get a permit when they’re 15 if they successfully pass the written exam. As they’re learning to drive, the teenager must be accompanied by a driver who has a valid Class C license and who is over 21 years of age.

The first step of the Georgia graduated license system is getting a learner's permit.

Phase Two: The Intermediate License (Class D)

Teenagers aged 16-18 are eligible for a Class D license if they’ve had their learner’s permit for 12 months and passed their driving test. If the teenager is 16, they cannot get their license unless they’ve completed an approved driver’s ed class. Seventeen-year-olds do not need a driver’s ed class.

(However, any driver aged 16 or 17 must have completed 40 hours of supervised driving experience, and six of those hours must be at night.)

There are restrictions for drivers who have a Class D license:

  • They cannot drive between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m.
  • They can only have a certain number of passengers in the car.
    • For the first six months after getting their license, no passenger that is not an immediate family member can be in the car.
    • For the second six months, only one passenger (who is not immediate family) that is under age 21 can be in the vehicle.
    • After one year, no more than three other passengers (under age 21) who are not immediate family members can be in the vehicle.
  • They have to meet Joshua’s Law requirements.
    • Any sixteen-year-old who gets a Class D license must have completed a driver’s ed class approved by the Dept. of Driver’s Services.
    • They also must have completed 40 hours of other supervised driving with at least six hours of night driving.

Phase Three: The full license (Class C)

When a teenager reaches age 18, they can graduate to a Class C license and the driving restrictions are lifted. Their Class D license must be valid and they cannot have been convicted of any major traffic violations to get a Class C license.

Also, keep in mind that Georgia does not tolerate underage drinking and driving. Any underage (under 21) driver with a blood-alcohol level of .08 grams or more will have their license suspended for 12 months on the first offense.

Teen driver safety.

As a parent, it’s important that you explain these restrictions to your teen and make sure they know to respect them. As we said, the restrictions are to keep the teenager safer and reduce traffic accidents among newly licensed drivers.

The reasoning behind the restrictions is sound. Night driving is a different story than driving during the day. Bright headlights make it tricky to see and react to hazards in time – teens just don’t have a lot of experience with night driving. As for passengers, they’re distracting. They can cause a teenager to lose focus on driving.

Along with ensuring that your teenager follows the restrictions of their license, you as a parent can do the following to keep your teen driver safe.

  • Talk to them about the dangers of texting and driving.
  • Have them practice a lot.
  • Set a good example.
  • Set some rules for driving and using the car.
  • Get them a safe vehicle.
  • Encourage seatbelt use.
  • Make sure they don’t drive tired.

Georgia’s graduated license program (TADRA) is intended to keep newly licensed drivers safe by placing limitations on when they’re allowed to drive and how many passengers they can have in the car. Be sure to talk to your teenager about the restrictions and understand why it’s so important to follow them.

And, of course, it’s important to get great Atlanta teen auto insurance. Our agents can help you shop for quality coverage at a great rate. Yes, teen auto insurance can be expensive, but we can help you save money while getting your new driver the coverage they need. Get started with car insurance quotes by filling out our online form or giving us a call today.

Source:

https://dds.georgia.gov/teen-drivers

Does Atlanta home insurance cover burglary?

Home insurance should cover burglary.

Home insurance should cover burglary.

Your Atlanta house is more than just a structure with a roof and walls. It’s your home. You know you need to protect it with the right insurance, even though it’s scary to think about what-ifs – like burglary and what would happen if your home is burglarized. The thought is terrifying. But you might have this question – does home insurance cover burglary? We’re going to answer that question and give you some quick tips to prevent a break-in at your home.

Does Atlanta insurance cover burglary or theft?

Most home insurance policies do cover theft. Your policy should include personal property coverage, and that will provide insurance for your belongings. So, if someone breaks into your home and steals some of your possessions, you could file a home insurance claim and you should be covered. You’d have to read your policy carefully to find out exactly how your insurance would handle a burglary.

Your policy will probably have a limit for coverage for your personal property. That limit could be a percentage of the dwelling coverage on your home. Anyways, it’s really important to make sure that you have enough coverage to replace all of your belongings, so you need to check that your personal property coverage limit is high enough. (And we can help you make sure that you have the home insurance you need. Get started with Atlanta home insurance quotes by filling out our quick online form.)

To get an idea of how much coverage you need for your belongings to protect yourself against burglary, you can take a home inventory, which is basically a list of all of your belongings and their value. This will come in handy if you ever need to file a home insurance claim for burglary because you’ll easily be able to tell what’s been taken. You’ll know exactly what you need to include in your claim.

What if my belongings are in my car when they’re stolen?

If you have a bunch of stuff in your car and your car gets broken into or burglarized, your home insurance should cover those belongings and replace them. Most policies will cover your personal belongings even if they’re not in the home (although there could be limitations.)

Now, if your car is stolen from your driveway, however, your home insurance probably won’t cover it. You would have to have comprehensive coverage for your vehicle, which is a type of car insurance that will repair or replace your car if it’s damaged by something other than an accident (such as fire, falling trees, animal strikes, vandalism, and yes, theft.)

How to prevent a burglary at your Atlanta home.

No one wants to see their home get broken into, and it’s important to secure your house. The following tips can help you prevent a burglary at your house:

  • Keep the doors and windows locked. Contrary to popular belief, a lot of burglaries occur during the day – not at night.
  • Consider getting timers for your indoor lights.
  • Make sure you have plenty of outdoor lighting.
  • Consider getting a security system.
  • Secure your valuables.
  • Keep your bushes and trees trimmed to eliminate and potential hiding places for burglars.
  • Be familiar with your neighbors.
  • Don’t leave boxes from expensive purchases outside on the curb.

So, that’s the scoop about home insurance and burglary. Your home insurance policy most likely covers burglary and theft. There is a section of your home insurance that covers your personal belongings, and that’s the piece that’s going to replace your belongings. So, hopefully, you can find a little peace of mind knowing that your home insurance covers burglary.

Want to save money on your home insurance? We’d be happy to help you get an Atlanta home insurance quote. Our agents are professionals at helping people get great coverage at a great rate. To get started with your quote, fill out our online quote form or give us a call today.

Does Atlanta home insurance cover my personal belongings?

Your home insurance covers your personal belongings.

Your home insurance covers your personal belongings.

You purchased Atlanta home insurance to be an invisible financial safety net in case you have some sort of loss to your home. That house was a big investment, after all. But you might have this question floating in your mind: does home insurance cover personal belongings? We’re going to answer that question, but we’re also going to explain how much insurance you need for your personal belongings and how to insure your belongings.

Are personal belongings covered by Atlanta home insurance?

Yes. A typical Atlanta home insurance policy should pay to replace the contents of your home (such as your furniture, your electronics, your clothes, and so on) if they are destroyed by a covered loss. Your policy should have a certain “limit” for personal belongings coverage. Home insurance is there for you – it’s got your back. (And if you’re looking for Atlanta home insurance quotes, we can help. Just fill out our online quote form or give us a call and we can help you get the insurance you need to protect your house.)

What losses are covered?

Well, that depends on your policy, which will outline the losses that are covered. However, some examples of losses that are usually covered by home insurance are:

Like we said, you really have to go over your policy carefully to understand exactly what is covered and what is not. There’s a lot of helpful stuff in your insurance policy. Admittedly, it might not be the most riveting read, but still – you’ve got to read your policy.

Taking a home inventory can help you find out how much insurance you need for your personal belongings.

What losses aren’t covered?

Some losses are typically not covered by Atlanta home insurance. The following are excluded from most policies.

  • Flooding: To protect your home against a flooding disaster, you would need flood insurance. You can purchase flood insurance from the NFIP through an agent, and you would have to make sure to include coverage for personal belongings in your flood insurance policy.
  • Sump pump failure/Sewer backup: To be protected against losses stemming from a sewer backup or sump pump failure incident, you would have to add coverage for sewer backup to your policy.
  • Jewelry: It’s not that home insurance excludes jewelry and other valuables, but usually policies offer a very limited amount of coverage for them. You may need to add extra coverage for your valuables.

These are just a few home insurance exclusions to be aware of. You need to spend some quality time with your policy to find out how certain losses are handled.

How much coverage do I need for personal belongings?

The next question is how much insurance you need for your personal property.

Taking a home inventory can help you find out how much coverage you would need to replace your belongings. A home inventory is basically a list of all the items in your home and their values. The easiest way to organize it is to break it down room by room.

Having a home inventory can also come in handy if you ever have to file a home insurance claim. It’ll be a lot easier to list the items that need to be replaced because you’ll have a prepared, detailed list of your belongings. Just make sure to keep your inventory somewhere safe – maybe consider a safe deposit box or Google Drive to ensure it doesn’t get destroyed if something happens to your home.

Pro tip: Pay extra attention to jewelry and other valuables. Like we said, you may need to add coverage for these things.

How should I insure my personal belongings?

You can insure your belongings for their Actual Cash Value or their Replacement Cost Value.

Actual Cash Value (ACV): If you insure your belongings for their ACV, your insurance company will reimburse you for the value of your belongings at the time of the loss (meaning the depreciated value.)

Replacement Cost Value: Replacement cost value does not take depreciation into account and can allow you to replace your belongings at today’s prices.

The bottom line is that you might want to insure your belongings for their replacement cost value to ensure that you receive enough reimbursement to replace your belongings at today’s prices.

So, that’s the scoop about home insurance and your personal belongings. While your home insurance should have coverage for your belongings, you have to read your policy to find out which losses are covered and which aren’t. Having a loss to your home could be a huge financial blow, but that’s why home insurance is there – to be your safety net.

To get started with some Atlanta home insurance quotes, you can fill out our quote form or give us a call today. Our team can help you find great coverage at a great rate. And we’ll help you make sure that your house and all of its contents are fully covered by insurance.