How Many Life Insurance Policies Can You Have?

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When you’re in Bailey, CO, it’s important to think about life insurance policies. You might have one policy from work and want to get another one personally. At some point, you have to wonder how many you’re allowed to have.

The quick answer is that there is no limit to the number of life insurance policies you can have. However, there can be a limit to the total benefit that you can obtain.

At Centennial State Insurance Agency, we can guide you through the life insurance buying process to determine if it makes sense for you to have multiple policies.

There are a few reasons why you might want additional policies. The first policy you have may not be enough. As such, you focus on getting another policy for additional coverage.

You may want to explore an advanced financial strategy where you stack term life insurance policies. It will allow you to pay lower premiums over time as you focus on paying off debts.

Then again, you may want to mitigate risks. If you worry that a life insurance company is going to go out of business, you may want the added layer of protection that comes with getting policies from multiple companies.

If there is no set reason for having multiple life insurance policies, it might be best to work with an insurance agent to decide what benefit amount will suit your family in the event of your death. Further, you can explore term, whole, and universal life insurance as viable options.

Ultimately, it’s all about having the right coverage in a life insurance policy. Whether you want one or ten, the options are out there. It’s a good idea to work with a professional insurance agent to ensure you’re making the right decisions so that you and your family are protected later on in life. Contact us at Centennial State Insurance Agency to help you with these decisions. 

What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

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When it comes to choosing an insurance policy in Bailey, CO, you’re undoubtedly faced with a number of potential plans. But because the coverage options are filled with all kinds of technical jargon, few people will read through their whole policy.

Many people choose based off of the price. Others choose based on the minimum requirement they’re supposed to have. (For example, a car owner with a lease or a loan will be required to have more car insurance than someone who owns their car outright.) Centennial State Insurance Agency wants you to understand more about how uninsured motorist coverage works — whether you’re required to have it or not. 

Uninsured Motorist Coverage 

Drivers on the road in Colorado are required to have some type of auto insurance. In the event they cause an accident, this insurance will cover property damage and bodily injury to the victims. But not everyone follows the rules on the road. Uninsured motorist coverage provides you with financial compensation in case someone without insurance causes an accident. (You are technically allowed to sue in a case like this, but it’s not always possible to recoup the money from the at-fault driver.)

Potential Perils

The people of Bailey, CO need to know what they’re signing up for. Shortcuts may be helpful when it comes to deciding between a dozen different policies, but they don’t allow drivers to dive into the nuances behind the clauses within the policy. Ultimately, this can lead people to make assumptions about their coverage that isn’t true.

If you want to learn more about uninsured motorist coverage, give Centennial State Insurance Agency a call today. We’re here to explain the differences between policies and give you more information about the smartest option you can choose for you and your vehicle. 

 

Why All Good Employers Have Commercial Insurance

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Getting commercial insurance for your business can often seem like just another unnecessary business expense. If you value your employees, however, nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that all good employers have commercial insurance for a variety of reasons. If you own a business in the Bailey, CO area, Centennial State Insurance Agency is here to help you get the commercial coverage you need. Here’s what you need to know:

Commercial Insurance Protects You and Your Business

A good commercial policy will keep you protected in a wide variety of scenarios, such as property damage from flood or fire, theft, liability lawsuits from clients, and employee injury. Because of this, there are different kinds of coverage you can have under your commercial policy, and we are happy to sit down with you to evaluate your specific needs. After all, you don’t want to be caught unguarded by an expensive and life-changing event. 

Commercial Insurance Reassures Employees

It can be downright dangerous to work for a business without a decent commercial insurance policy in place. Why? Because this means that things like employee injury (worker’s compensation) may not be covered should a person come into harm’s way at work, leaving them with devastating medical costs. Furthermore, it can also mean that the employees are unprotected if a client tries to sue them and the business, leaving them with legal expenses that aren’t rightfully theirs in the first place. Basically, good employees are more likely to stay longterm with an employer who is responsible enough to have commercial insurance. 

The insurance experts at Centennial State Insurance Agency in the Bailey, CO area have over 20 years of experience and are happy to discuss what you need (and don’t need) in a good commercial policy. When you’re ready, give us a call, shoot us a message, or drop by our offices to learn more. 

Practice Makes Perfect: How Often Should You Review Your Home Insurance Policy?

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Is It Necessary to Review Your Home Insurance Policy Annually?

If you are like most people you do not have a clue as to the details of your home insurance coverage. In fact, most people do not take the time to familiarize themselves with the details of any of their insurance policy coverages. Typically, consumers wait until calamity strikes before they search for the policy. In other words, people wait until they need the coverage.

It is a great idea to review your insurance policy each time a renovation is in the works or a new pet or family member joins your household. Any major life event should include a review of your policy to make certain that the ramification of the item do not involve additional liability. Staying covered FULLY in any event is the best policy. 

A review is simply that – a review. It is important to have the initial view or reading as soon as possible. In the excitement of purchasing a home, it is easy to be preoccupied with the myriad of things that are going on all at once. Take the time to carefully read the policy so that you have an idea of what your protection is. You may want to add or subtract some items but should consult with Centennial State Insurance Agency in Bailey, CO first.

Don’t Stay in The Dark About What Coverage You Currently Have or Will Need

We are excited to help you with your questions regarding your home insurance policy. Please come in today to find our more about what your insurance options are. Centennial State Insurance Agency is located at 12 Rosalee Road, Bailey, CO 80421. If you prefer to contact us via telephone, our friendly and knowledgeable agents and staffers can be reached at 303-838-0554.

What are my auto insurance requirements?

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Driving a car is a responsibility and necessity for many people. If you drive a vehicle in the state of Colorado, it is crucial that you understand what your insurance requirements are. Most people have a variety of different requirements that they need to take into consideration when they are choosing a new auto insurance policy.

State Requirements

Similar to other states, the state of Colorado will require that you carry minimum liability insurance at all times. To drive legally in the state of Colorado, you will need to carry $15,000 worth of property damage coverage at all times. You will also need to have bodily injury coverage of at least $50,000 per incident and $25,000 per person.

Lender Requirements

While the state of Colorado will only require that you carry the minimum level of liability insurance, there are still other types of insurance that you may be required to have. If you happen to have a loan or a lease on your vehicle, the finance company will undoubtedly require that you carry collision and comprehensive insurance as well. This type of insurance will provide you with far more types of insurance coverage including if your vehicle is stolen, damaged in a storm, or involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. Even if it is not required by your loan, it is often a good idea to have this type of insurance. 

When you are looking for a new auto insurance policy in the Bailey, CO area, you should speak with the team at Centennial State Insurance Agency. The Centennial State Insurance Agency will be able to help you figure out what type of coverage is right for your situation. We will then get you into a policy that provides you with reliable protection. Contact our offices in Bailey, CO for a quote.

Commercial Insurance: Why Choose a More Comprehensive Policy?

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When you have a business, you know you need to protect it and your investment in it. But what is the best way to do that? One of the ways is to choose a commercial insurance policy because these policies reduce financial risk and liability if there is a claim made against the business you own. That claim could come from you, employees, customers, vendors, or someone else, but protection against claims matters. Fortunately, Centennial State Insurance Agency can help protect your Bailey, CO area business with the right commercial insurance policy, including one that is more comprehensive than you have now.

If you do not have a commercial policy, it may be time to get one. If you already have one, you may need to upgrade it to something that is more comprehensive in order to ensure that your business has the level of protection it really needs. There are several reasons you would want to have a more comprehensive policy, and these can include an expansion of your business, a high-risk type of business, and other factors that would make it more likely that a claim would be filed in, by, or against your company. By getting a more comprehensive policy, you will be covered more directly and have a higher level of peace of mind, as well.

Reach out to us at Centennial State Insurance Agency today, and get your Bailey, CO area business protected with the right level of commercial insurance. You might want to upgrade the policy you currently have, or you may want a new policy for a new business you are starting up. No matter where you are in the lifecycle of your company, having a more comprehensive policy can help protect you and your interests.

Cyber Insurance is a must have for any small business

Posted on by Doug Compton

Cyber Insurance is a must have for any small business
Cyber crime is the fastest growing crime in the United States and 60% are perpetrated against small businesses. Small businesses who have been hit often do not have the proper insurance coverage and a high percentage end up closing their doors after an attack. Many owners don’t fully understand what these attacks are, or the costs associated with them. Any small business needs to have cyber insurance coverage.
Malware or Ransomware attacks are the most common. Malware destroys information or makes it impossible to access. This kind of attack suspends your ability to do business. You can lose clients from the inability to access accounts and spend thousands of dollars to get your system back up and running. Ransomware attacks occur when a hacker encrypts or steals the personal information you have on file. This could include the client’s social security number, credit card or banking information, etc. The hackers demand payment in order to “unlock” your system and may threaten to publicly release the client’s information. When these attacks happen, you’re obligated to notify all clients that were affected, hire an IT investigator to find where the leak came from and how to secure your information in the future, and pay local, state and federal fines. Many states, including Colorado, have enacted strict laws on how your business is required to protect others information.
Hackers are not the only way a cyber crime can happen. Ex-employees can steal and distribute company data. Current employees can be tricked into breaking procedure or doing non-work-related tasks at the office. It can also be as simple as misplacing a flash drive or leaving your laptop in the booth at a restaurant.
A Cyber Insurance policy is two-fold in coverage. The 1st party liability coverage includes notification to those clients affected, the cost of a computer forensic expert, man hours involved in contacting the clients by phone or mail. Extortion costs, media liability and public relation costs can be included. Business interruption coverage is available to keep your business afloat while your doors are closed. The 3rd liability coverage helps with the cost of litigation if you find yourself in a lawsuit.
Cyber insurance is available with most carriers, and coverage limits can vary to your specific needs. Call us today to discuss your cyber exposure and insurance needs.

Is Home Insurance Different From State to State?

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Home insurance is a necessity that many people neglect to learn about fully. There are hundreds of different coverage types, kinds of policies, and needs that are part of creating a home insurance policy. Though many home policies are similar, they are also different, and needs may differ from state to state. For those in the Bailey, CO area, the agents with Centennial State Insurance Agency can help you find the policy that works best for your home.

Home policies, though they all cover the same basic things like fire and theft, they also include different things based entirely on where the home is located. A home in Colorado, for instance, is going to need more coverage for something like snow or ice than a home in Arizona would since there are no snowstorms typically in Arizona. It is vital that when you create your home policy, you take not only your actual home and its value into consideration, but also the special circumstances that are particular to where you live.

Another thing to keep in mind is that when you are taking out a home policy, you may also need to add specialty policies based on where you live as well. If you live in an area where flooding is a regular occurrence, you may need flood insurance as well. If you live where a hurricane is likely to happen, you may need a hurricane policy as well. While the basic home policy does not change from state to state, the particular needs of the policyholder may vary. For those that live in the Bailey, CO area, the agents with Centennial State Insurance Agency may be helpful regarding creating your perfect policy dependent on where you live and what your home needs.

What Happens If You Drive Without Auto Insurance?

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While it is technically possible to drive your car without insurance for years, it is never a wise decision. We, at Centennial State Insurance Agency, have helped residents of Bailey, CO, and the surrounding area avoid this danger by providing them with fair and high-quality insurance. If you or someone you love is somehow driving without insurance, they are likely putting themselves at risk for nothing.

Penalties Will Vary

Driving in any state without insurance is a major mistake because you will experience some pretty stiff penalties. The exact penalty will vary depending on where you live. You can expect to get at least two tickets (one for the lack of insurance and one for the reason you were pulled over) and you may even lose your license or vehicle registration.

In this situation, you’ll not be able to drive and nobody else will be able to drive your vehicle as well. While you can obviously get both of these items back after your suspension is over, it will be a major challenge to get through your day-to-day life without them.

And if you cause an accident or injure somebody, you are going to be sued and may lose some of your assets, such as a car or even a house. Beyond that, you’ll have to get an SR-22, which is a paper saying that you can get insurance. Qualifying for one of these is a difficult and strenuous process. 

Your Insurance Rises

Even worse, insurance companies will usually have no choice but to increase your premiums as a result. Therefore, it is critical for you or anyone else who lives in Bailey, CO or the surrounding area to just buckle down and buy auto insurance. It just isn’t worth the risk you take every time you get behind the wheel.

Contact the offices of Centennial State Insurance Agency for more information and a quote.

Auto Insurance Premiums-How to Save Money

Posted on by Doug Compton

Below are some suggestions from Centennial State Insurance Agency.

There are ways for you to lower your insurance premium without lowering limits and protection.
First, what are your deductibles? Do you have an older vehicle where the deductible you are carrying is equal to greater than the value of the vehicle? If this is the case, you may not get anything from the insurance company if the vehicle is damaged or totaled. Can you raise your deductible? Can you afford more out of pocket if the vehicle is damaged? If so raising your deductible will lower your premium.
Policy discounts:
Are you getting all the discounts that you qualify for? Some of the more common ones that can impact your rate:
Good Student discount: Your teen driver will need a GPA of 3.0 or better but an important discount.
Defensive Driving discount: Most companies will offer this to teens drivers that have completed a certified class, and some will offer it to older drivers.
Multi Policy discount: Companies will offer a discount to both the home and auto for placing both lines of business with them You can a discount from 10% to 20% on both your home and auto by doing this.
Telematics: This is a new program being offered by insurance companies. You plug a device into your car for 90 days and they track your driving habits (speed, braking, time of day driving to name a few). At the end of the 90 days they evaluate the date and offer an additional discount. We have seen these range between 5% and 20%.
Annual miles driven: It is important to give the accurate miles you drive a vehicle. Companies will offer lower rates for fewer miles driven. They will often verify the miles each year so be accurate.
Pay plans: Companies will give you a discount for paying your premium in full. They will also give discounts on monthly pay plans if you set it up on EFT or credit cards with some companies
Give us a call at Centennial State Insurance to review your insurance policies and coverages. We will make sure you have the right coverages for the right premium.
303-838-0554 or on the web at centennialstateins.com.