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travel insurance

I’ll have a blue….blue….blue skies vacation?

It is officially that time of the year again where the thermometer never rises as high as we like, and things like wind chill are deciding factors on what outfit we will choose for the day.  The sun seems to remain hidden for longer than we like, and the malls begin to get busier and busier until Christmas. Families begin to plan schedules for the holidays, and that free trip to a warmer climate that the telemarketer promises after stealing your identity seems to look like a more attractive offer all the time- I mean, after all, is a little bit of identity retention worth this kind of cold?  Fourteen days in the sun couldn’t sound more glorious at a time like this!

A few days away from home is something we all desire, but are there ramifications with your insurance if you choose to spend some time away?  Well, lucky you asked, as this is the very place to find out the answer to that very question.

If you plan to be away for more than 72 hours in the winter time, there are stipulations tucked into your home insurance product that state the importance of having a competent person checking on your home at least once a day to keep all coverage in place.

You see, the last thing the insurance companies want is for someone to leave their home for a number of months in the heating season and simply trust that their furnace will continue to work without being checked on.  Even with smart homes and remote temperature monitors being available, they still want little Johnny stopping by to make sure the pipes haven’t burst due to a furnace malfunction, and that everything remains in proper order.  Having someone stop in also ensures that an unfortunate event, such as the “wet bandits” stopping by for some free merchandise, hasn’t occurred (forgive me for the Home Alone reference). Things like theft, vandalism or accidents such as a broken window can cause big problems in the middle of winter.  Your furnace will have to work harder to keep the house warm, and there is no guarantee that it will be able to do that with a broken window in the house, or that it will continue to operate under increased load without malfunction.

Some home security companies install thermostats that they can monitor the temperature remotely. If the temperature of the home drops, they will send someone to inspect the home to see what has caused the issue. This is another alternative if you are unable to find someone you trust to check on your home. Most insurance companies allow this as an alternative if the “temperature of the home is monitored by a third-party vendor.” Please check your home wordings or ask us if your company allows this alternative.

This winter, if you should be so lucky to be heading away to bask in the warm sun for a few days, make sure to have someone checking into your residence daily.  It will keep your coverage in full force, and could mitigate a bigger loss if your “home-checker” stumbles across something unplanned or unexpected.

 

Saskatchewan Health Insurance 101

Good morning everyone. As you are well aware, the cooler weather is unfortunately upon us. Summer has come and gone, but it’s time to think about bundling up, and potentially going on a warm vacation to escape this transition of prairie grass to arctic tundra.

With the cooler weather and the beginning of the school year, you are bound to get sick. It’s not a matter of – if, it’s just a matter of – when. Health is something we take for granted until it is in question. Weather it is a slipped disc, kidney stone, cold & flu, broken bone or torn muscle. We don’t appreciate our health until it’s gone.

Therefore, we always recommend looking into your health benefits. Whether, it is through a work/group plan or by purchasing your own plan, health coverage needs to be a priority in your life. Some major checkpoints to review your plan would be:

Family Changes – Getting Married or having children are important times to review your health insurance policy. You will want to make sure all family members are added on the policy and that coverage is in place. When you have a child, you have 60 days with Blue Cross to simply phone into their call centre and add your child to your policy over the phone. If you miss that window, you can simply fill out a form to add your dependent to your policy.

Job Change – Switching roles or jobs can result in different benefits in your plan. It is important to make sure your coverage transfers and that you continue to be properly covered. Being on the payroll and then hired on as a contractor or consultant can change whether your are insured on their group plan or responsible for your own insurance policy. Please make sure you review these changes.

Retirement – Going along with the job change, when you retire, you will no longer be covered under your employer’s group policy. You will need to file for a individual plan for you and your family. Blue cross has a easy conversion calculator to see what your plan would cost with Blue Cross. You can access the quoting tool on our website here. Or go on blue cross site here.

Basic Health Plans generally include coverage for:

  1. Ambulance
  2. Hospital
  3. Private Nursing
  4. Accidental Dental
  5. Medical Equipment
  6. Hearing Aids
  7. Prosthetic & Medical Appliances
  8. Diabetic Supplies & Equipment
  9. Orthopaedic Shoes & Supplies
  10. Mobility Aids
  11. Blood Pressure Monitors
  12. Ostomy Supplies
  13. Out of Saskatchewan/In Canada Travel
  14. Vision Care

Many of these items have limits in coverage, please check your health plan to see what your policy covers. If you would like us to review your plan, please bring your policy into our office and we can take a look. You can also add other options to your plan. Such as:

  1. Prescription Drugs
  2. Dental
  3. Hospital Cash
  4. VIP Travel
  5. Critical Illness
  6. Term Life Insurance
  7. Student Accident*

If you have any questions about this coverage, please call your insurance provider, or come by with your policy and we can review it for you. Our Health Insurance providers include Blue Cross & Group Medical Services (GMS). We offer Allianz Insurance for more specialty plans.

If you’re staying home or heading south this winter; plan ahead.

Winter Vacation Blocks AgenciesPeople around the world often wonder how we survive the harsh winter in this “Arctic circle” that we call “Canada.” Jim Carrey had a great comedy set on what it is like to live in Canada from his earlier stand-up comedy days. I have attached the link here for your enjoyment.

It is all about preparation. Parking your car in your garage (if you have one), or plugging it in outside. You need to buy all the gear –  jacket, toque, mittens, boots, ski pants and keeping those with you at all times. You never want to be caught without those items if you have vehicle trouble in a cold winter day in Canada. Winter seems to drag on, (as the movie “Canadian Bacon” would infer, 11 months of the year) so make sure you enjoy the winter activities to pass the time. Otherwise, if you dread winter, it’ll just make it longer. That’s a fact.

If you are able, some people like to save their money and go on a winter holiday to escape this cold weather. Mexico, Hawaii, Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Florida, California are a few hot spots (literally). This helps to break up the winter nicely, so what do you need to know before you go on this vacation.

Surfing Block's AgenciesMake sure you scout out your destination. Many places were hit hard by the recent hurricanes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected. Please help them out in any way you can as they work to rebuild. Next, check out the resort rating. Each resort has different amenities, so it’s important to do some research on what they offer beforehand. If you are a beach bum, make sure their beach is top-notch. If you are a “foodie,” make sure the resort has highly rated cuisine and a number of good restaurants nearby. Don’t expect all resorts to be the same and offer the same experience. Some are designed for younger people, some are for older people and some are for families; so pick the one that fits you best. 

Once you have the resort you need to plan your luggage, flights, etc. This can be done easily online or through a travel agent, if you want reassurance. Travel agents will suggest other things you may not think about. Such as Trip Cancellation Insurance, Lost Baggage & Health Insurance. We can offer these options in our office as well.

We have a variety of companies that we can offer to help out with your needs. Such as Blue Cross, Group Medical (GMS) and Allianz Global Assistance. Please give us a call before your trip so we can set this up in advance. The last thing you want is to get hurt or sick on your vacation and end up with a medical bill that costs more than your trip itself.

We hope you enjoy this winter, whether you stick around in the cold and play some hockey or go to Hawaii to find some ‘gnarly’ waves. We want you to be prepared and stay safe.