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With Valentine’s Day having passed, there are likely to be a few more engagement announcements out there, and though it seems hard to believe, wedding season is only a few months away! There is a lot of planning involved with weddings, yet it’s surprising that most brides and grooms-to-be are not all that familiar with Wedding Insurance.

Your wedding day is an investment. A lot of time, money, and resources go into fine tuning your big day. It’s important to protect yourself from circumstances that are beyond your control, because yes, it can rain on your wedding day, or worse: flood.

What is Washington Wedding Insurance?

A wedding can be a small to large event with many guests, and often alcohol. There are many liabilities involved as well as a lot of different aspects to balance. If something goes wrong before or on the day of your wedding then you’ll want to make sure you are prepared to handle it. Dealing with things on short notice is tough, but could you imagine doing it without any backup resources? What if someone trips and hurts themselves at your reception? What if your florist doesn’t show up? What if a snowstorm prevents everyone from getting to the wedding venue?

How does Washington Wedding Insurance Protect You?

In the event that something unfortunate and unexpected should happen, wedding insurance will be there to cover you in multiple ways.

Consider these scenarios for example:

• If your wedding venue is snowed in or flooded it can result in the unfortunate postponement of your big day.
• If a vendor goes out of business a month before the wedding and you lose your deposit.
• And wedding dress or tux gets lost or damaged on route to the wedding destination.
• Your limo driver fails to show up on the day of your wedding, which means you had to call a different limo company, last-minute, which cost double the amount of the original limo driver.

With the right policy and coverage in place, a Washington Wedding Insurance plan can protect you from multiple risks, and any money lost due to these kinds of events can be returned to you (less the deposit amount).

What does it Cover?

Wedding insurance can cover the loss or damage of things like:

• photos, video, presents, wedding gown, or wedding rings
• Services, deposits, venue issues, weather issues
• Injuries, illness, postponements, military duties or job relocation

Some of these fall under the category of requiring to be written as additional coverage. When speaking with your agent you can determine what coverage limits are best for you and what additional things you should consider insuring.

Also, you’ll want to speak with your wedding vendors and other service providers to get copies of their insurance policies so you and your agent can go over them to make sure you don’t pay out of your own pocket for any unnecessary overlapping coverage. You’ll also want to see where there are gaps in their coverages to know where you need to protect yourself on your own policy.

Wedding Insurance Does not cover:

• Cold feet or a change of heart
• Watches, jewelry, semi-precious stones or pearls (even if affixed to clothing)
• Wedding rings are covered, but often the engagement ring is not.

When is a good time to get it?

Because you are dealing with so many different aspects, things can go wrong at any point during the planning and day of your wedding. The sooner you can get insurance the better – don’t wait too long, since things begin to move fast once the wedding planning wheels start turning.

Additional Coverage

Supplemental policies can be attached to the wedding insurance plan to defend against damages incurred by other wedding-related things such as photography & video, medical coverage, or your honeymoon.

Your honeymoon can be another big expense when getting married. Why not take the extra steps to protect your sweet honeymoon as well?

Keep in Mind…

Every wedding is different which means every Washington Wedding Insurance policy will be different as well. Speak with your agent so that you may tailor your policy to suit the needs of your special day and to make sure that you have a firm understanding of your policy.

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Yes I said it – there are actual health benefits to eating dark chocolate. Dark chocolate sales have increased significantly over the last few years with the medical news that dark chocolate is actually “good for you”. Though I fancy myself a milk chocolate lover, I’m okay with going to the dark side a few times a month for the “health benefits”.  Plus, your health plays a major role in determining your Washington Life and Health Insurance, so who doesn’t like a chocolate-paved road to better health?

Want more good news!? Here are the ways that dark chocolate has its benefits:

♥It can lower blood pressure. It helps lower your blood pressure if you’re at a certain age where your blood pressure might be reading in the mild “high” category. It’s important to remember to balance the extra calorie intake with exercise and/or eating less of other things.

♥Dark chocolate also holds special Antioxidant properties. Antioxidants cause a chemical reaction that eliminates harmful “free radicals” from your body. Antioxidants have been known to prevent diseases like cancer and heart disease. But research says skip the milk when enjoying your dark chocolate. Studies have shown that its likely milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants in chocolate.

♥What’s the science behind it? A little something called cocoa phenols, which improve blood circulation, aka improve your blood pressure. These phenols are linked to reducing stroke and heart disease.

♥Keeping your heart healthy is important for multiple reasons. One of the many things taken into consideration when it comes to your heart health is how it affects your Washington Life and Health Insurance policies. If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or history of heart problems, this can limit you or even possibly result in denial for Life Insurance. Chocolate certainly isn’t the answer, but isn’t it nice to know that a little indulgence isn’t always a bad thing?

♥That indulgent romantic evening you have planned might not be as bad for you as you thought… It’s reported that red wine and popcorn also contain these heart-healthy phenols. An added benefit of popcorn: it has antioxidant properties too!

Don’t expect to see it working its way down the USDA’s food pyramid anytime soon, chocolate is still a candy. It’s important to remember that it shouldn’t replace healthy foods from your diet either. Don’t just run out on a chocolate eating binge. *Remember: some good things are usually best enjoyed in moderation!

Understanding the Risk: Facts about Heart Disease and Stroke

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February is American Heart Month, and this is our opportunity to bring some very important factors about the risk of heart disease and stroke to the table.

Unfortunately most of us know someone who has had heart disease or stroke; they are the leading cause of death in the United States. Sadly, heart disease affects people of all ages.

We’ll take a look at the risks, factors, and preventative measures so together we can fight back against heart disease and stroke! This is your chance to put your whole heart into it to make some seriously positive changes! Don’t become a statistic of heart disease!

• Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of disability in the US, preventing people from working or enjoying daily activities.
• More women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US.
• One in every three deaths in the US is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day.
• In 2010 heart disease and stroke hospitalizations cost the nation $444 billion in health care expenses and lost productivity.

What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type in the US is coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attack, severe chest pain, heart failure, and irregular heartbeat. Several factors contribute to heart disease including genetics, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and lifestyle choices such as smoking, unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise.

Prevention, Whether You Think You’re at Risk or Not

Many of the people who are at high risk for heart attack or stroke don’t know it. The good news is that many of the major risk factors for these conditions can be prevented and controlled. Improving health through diet and exercise are two simple ways to improve your odds.

Nutrition – Eating more fruits and vegetables and making the right food choices is vital to having a healthy diet. Cutting out high amounts of sodium and cholesterol are great heart-healthy choices. The American Heart Association has a great “Nutrition Center” where you can gather information on heart-healthy recipes, and healthy tips for dining out.

Exercise – Obesity can increase your risk. Make physical activity, particularly cardio exercise, a part of your daily routine. Try to fit in 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise at least 5 times a week.

Quit Smoking – Cigarette smoking can increase your blood pressure and cholesterol which puts you at a much greater risk of heart disease. Here are a few resources to help you on the path to quitting smoking.

Stress Management – Being stressed can raise your blood pressure which can put you at higher risk. Learn to manage your stress with helpful tips and advice from the American Heart Association.

Talk to Your Doctor – Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked by your doctor to know where your health stands and if you need to be taking more preventative measures.

Know the Warning Signs

Shortness of breath and discomfort in the upper body? Sudden numbness on one side of the body? Don’t ignore possible warning signs of a Stroke, Heart Attack, or Cardiac Arrest.

Talk to Your Insurance Provider

As a part of taking precautionary steps, you always want to make sure you have adequate health insurance. Navigating through it all can be daunting, that is why it’s important to contact a Washington State Health Insurance representative so they can help you decide what plan best suits your needs and those of your family.

With heart disease as the number one killer, affecting 1 in 3 Americans every day, you want to make sure your family and your finances are well taken care of.

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With the current economic situation, more and more homeowners are beginning to look for ways to save money. Understanding what can affect your Washington home insurance rates can better prepare you for making the safest and most cost-effective decisions for your home and your family.  Here are a few ways to save money on home insurance without sacrificing excellent coverage.

Security is usually at the top of most people’s list, but most homeowners don’t know all the benefits of adding extra security features and that it can also help you save money on your home insurance.  A common feature to consider is having a security alarm system installed in your home.  Or for an easy “do-it-yourself” option, consider dead-bolt locks. A third security item is hard-wired fire alarms and a fire extinguisher.  Adding any of these extra security features will protect your family and your home.

Certain personal life options that you might not expect can affect your premiums as well.  Looking to add a dog to the family roster? Consider that certain breeds of dogs affect your Washington home insurance premiums, and that some insurance companies may not even be able to write your home insurance at all because of a dog’s breed. This greatly affects the options you have for finding a great insurance rate.

Other personal choices to consider: property maintenance.  Delayed, and/or poorly completed repairs, or over-grown brush can result in higher rates and potentially result in damage to your home, which also means potential claims on your home insurance.

Lastly, your financial choices will greatly affect your premiums.  Keeping your credit in good standing, and paying your bills on time affects your personal life and your insurance rates.

Consider all of these options as solid and lasting investments.  Ultimately you will save more money in several aspects of your life including your Washington home insurance rates.

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You might be enjoying that beautiful winter landscape, but it’s best left outside of your home, not inside! Protect your home with a few simple steps to keep Jack Frost from potentially causing damage to your humble abode.

Clean the Gutters

Clean leaves and other debris out of your gutters using your hands, a scraper, or spatula and give them a rinse. We get a lot of rain here in the Northwest and lets not forget that snow brings on ice and eventually snow melt. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into your house.

When rinsing your gutters, check for leaks, misaligned pipes, and be sure that water is being carried away from your house’s foundation.

Wrap the Pipes

Pipes have the potential to burst from a winter freeze. Before a potential freezing night hits, make sure your uninsulated or exposed pipes are wrapped with pre-molded foam insulation sleeves available at hardware stores. Also remember to cover your outdoor faucets with foam faucet covers. Another handy trick is to leave a small drip in your taps to keep water moving through your pipes, which makes them less likely to freeze.

Clean the Chimney

Don’t put off cleaning or inspecting your chimney before using your fireplace. Chimneys should be inspected and or swept at least once a year. Old built-up particles or even unexpected and odd things like birds, or even tennis balls are fire hazards that obstruct the proper airway for a chimney to function properly and safely.

Woodstoves should be swept more than once a year. Built-up ash can be lye which is very acidic. It can cause the metal and mortar to rot.

Check out the NFPA’s Home Heating Safety video for more tips and safety guidelines.

Check the Alarms

This is a good time of year to check the batteries on your detectors and to see if they’re still properly functioning and up-to-date. Unfortunately with the use of fireplaces and woodstoves this time of year, home fires become more common.

Insulate the Roof

Adding extra insulation to your attic can give you major bang for your buck on heating cost savings. A minimum of 12 inches of insulation is needed for any home. If you end up adding insulation on top of existing insulation, it is very important to not use the kind that has “kraft face” (paper backing). It acts as a vapor barrier and can cause moisture problems like rotting which leads to mold and mildew.

At what point of the year do you decide to begin winterizing your home? Do you start early, or is it easier to start as soon as you start noticing all the “bugs”?

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The west coast is finally getting hit with winter, and the forecast only predicts it to get worse over the next few days. Though the idea sounds nice, not all of us can stay in to avoid driving in these freezing conditions. The best plan is to be prepared! You’re never too experienced of a driver to give our safety tips a look-over.

Remember: if you’re not confident driving in snowy and icy conditions, it may be best to take a bus or just stay home if you can avoid going out altogether.

Driving safely on icy roads

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid…

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid…

1. Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately.
2. As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck…

1. Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2. Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3. Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5. Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6. Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner’s manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Vehicle Emergency Kit:

1. Windshield scraper.
2. Tire chains and tow strap.
3. Blanket, winter hat, and winter gloves.
4. Chemical hand warmers.
5. Small folding shovel
6. Bag of cat litter. This helps to provide traction on a slick surface.
7. Read our Safety Awareness Blog posting for more great safety supply kits and tips.

In case of an accident:

• Call 911 if there is an injury/ emergency.
• Get the license number of the other vehicles involved in the accident.
• Get as much information as possible about the vehicle(s) and driver(s) of those involved in the accident.
• Get the insurance information from the drivers involved.
• Our claims service is available 24 hours. Call us at: 360-734-1161 and your call can be directed to our after-hours claims service in case of an emergency.

Contact your Rice Insurance agent to be sure you have the coverage and protection you need for your Washington Auto Insurance, before going out on these icy roads.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for local weather and safe driving information.

What items do you prefer to keep in your vehicle for emergency supply?

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Recently I’ve really been thinking about how to keep my home safe and protected, but there’s another side to that coin – you can try your best to secure and safe-guard your home, but how do you secure your peace of mind when it comes to the valuables inside? What if something does happen? Not everyone has the means of installing a security system, or the ability to prevent a fire. Items in your home have personal value and a lot of them irreplaceable.

For many homeowners (and renters) it may be in your best interest to consider scheduling high-value items onto your policy. All of us feel that everything in our homes, to some degree, is irreplaceable, which is why it’s important to consider how your higher value items would be replaced in case of a loss.

Although personal property is covered in your home or renters insurance, it can’t exactly cover the value of specific items. Here are four great reasons to schedule items on your Washington Home Insurance or Renters Insurance:

• Scheduling items can allow you to get the Agreed Value or Appraised Value of an item.

• Scheduled items are not subject to a deductible.

• In most cases, items are covered for mysterious disappearance.

• Scheduling items allows for a broader spectrum of coverage.

Most insurance companies give a cap for certain categories of scheduled items and types of incidents. Some scheduled categories include jewelry, fine art, antiques, or specialty coins. Contact your Rice Insurance agent to discuss adding scheduled items to your Home or Renter’s Insurance.

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The holidays are a fun family-oriented time of year, but as many of my insurance agent friends remind me – it’s also a time of year to take extra safety measures when it comes to your home, auto, and health.

Break-and-enters, home fires, sports-related injuries, road conditions are only a few things to keep in mind. Scary! But it can also be reality if we’re not careful – or even in instances when we did take the extra precautions; sometimes things happen. Rest assured your Washington Home Insurance, Auto Insurance and Health Insurance are there to protect you when needed, but there are extra steps to take this time of year. I’ll help you cover the basics and make sure you’re armed to have a great holiday season!

Home Safety:

Oh Christmas Tree!

• Keeping your tree moist and watered is important. Your tree can become a huge fire hazard if it’s dried out.
• Consider buying ornaments that are made of a non-leaded material. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children or pets.
• Use lights that are tested for safety. These are identified by the UL label by a reputable testing agency. Also check lights for cracked sockets and frayed or bare wires. Don’t use indoor lights outdoors. Also, don’t use more than the recommended number of lights in one circuit.
• Plug-in decorations are very popular this time of year as well. Before you plug in your seasonal Leg Lamp, make sure you don’t overload a socket with too many electronics; this can be a fire hazard.

It’s Cold Outside!

• Cover outside faucets with faucet covers which can be found at any hardware store. This prevents cracking and splitting of pipes which can lead to flooding.
• On those extra cold days, leave a small drip in your taps. This helps prevent your pipes from freezing.

Vehicle Safety:

Christmas Gifts

• When doing any kind of shopping this Holiday season, keep all bags and purchases in your trunk. Make sure to lock all of your doors! Break-and-enters are most common this time of year.

Traveling

• For some the holidays involve lots of traveling to go see loved ones. Use safe driving practices in snowy weather and keep a roadside safety kit in your vehicle at all times.
• Don’t drink and drive! An easy one – we all know it, but sometimes we’re also traveling from parties. Arrange a designated driver, carpool with friends, or simply don’t drink if you have to drive.

Family Safety:

Winter Sports

• Practice sports safety. Be cautious when skiing and snowboarding. Stick to trails, and go with others.
• When your children go sledding, make sure the hills they chose are away from a busy street, free of boulders, rocks, and lots of trees. Silly as they may sound, these are common hazards for little sledders!
• When snowmobiling or ATVing, know your vehicles capabilities. Be cautious crossing roadways. Use a reasonable speed for trail conditions.
• Drinking and winter sports don’t mix!

Keeping Warm

• Bundle up! It’s also Cold and Flu season! Jackets, scarfs, and mittens – even if you’re just out to scrape the ice off your car!

What extra steps do you take to stay safe this holiday season? Any great advice you like to share this time of year?

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Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires in the U.S.  With all of the distractions and busy buzz of the holiday season, it’s important to take extra precautions when cooking an amazing Thanksgiving meal. This is also a good time to make sure your Home Insurance is in order.  Have you taken an itemized inventory of valuable items in your home? Are your coverages and limits enough to protect you and your family if something did happen?

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 47,000 fires occur during the winter holidays and end up costing more than $771 million in direct property damage.  They also list Thanksgiving as a peak day for home cooking fires in the U.S.: three times the national average of fires per day in 2009.

If you’ve ever cooked a Thanksgiving meal, or at least watched a family member assemble the turkey feast, you’ll know there is always a lot going on at one time. Here are a few ways to eliminate distractions while cooking your meal:

Keep it Simple:

-Deep frying a turkey is extremely dangerous. Although delicious, there are many hazards to be aware of.  If you must deep fry your bird, then keep it outside and well away from your home and cars.

-Enlist the help of a (adult) family member.  It’s easy to get overwhelmed and distracted while cooking many things at once.  Asking for help is one way to keep you focused on what’s going on.

Take Extra Safety Measures:

-Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

-Keep all smoke alarms detected. Yes it might be frustrating that you’ve set the smoke alarm off twice by slightly burning homemade dinner rolls, but smoke alarms save lives in the event of an emergency.

You stay, they go!

-Keep children out of the kitchen. It’s far too dangerous for everyone if they are running in and out or playing too close to hot things.

-Never leave cooking items unattended. Most fires in the kitchen are from things left unattended.

Keep it neat:

-Don’t wear loose-fitting clothing. Long open sleeves, or a billowy top can catch fire easily on a hot burner.

-Keep the cooking range and work surface free of clutter. Even though you have multiple dishes to prepare, don’t overload the work surface or cooktop. Greasy things could get spilled or if something accidentally gets too close to a hot burner, it can result in fire.

The NFPA’s website explains what to do in the event of a cooking fire.

Take the extra safety measures and you can have a (hopefully) relaxing and great Thanksgiving Day. And don’t forget important safety tips for storing your amazing meal! Happy Thanksgiving!

Call Rice Insurance today for a Home Insurance Quote or if you have any questions pertaining to your home policy.

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With the holidays fast approaching I think it’s a sure thing that we’re all looking for ways to save an extra dollar or two. Here are some great suggestions to help you save on your Washington Auto Insurance.

• Contact your Rice Insurance, LLC agent for quotes. As an agency, Rice Insurance, LLC provides insurance from many insurance companies. Your agent can shop the best prices for your car insurance to help you get the best coverage to suit your needs for the best price. Rice Insurance is your one-stop shop!

• Select a higher insurance deductible. Usually people choose a lower deductible so their out-of-pocket expenses are lower if they need to file a claim. However, the higher your collision and comprehensive deductibles are, the lower your auto insurance premium is. Sometimes the savings can be quite significant. It’s possible to save almost hundreds off of your insurance premiums.

• Pay your premiums in full when possible. I know this one may be a bit tough, but some insurance companies offer savings if you opt to pay your policy premium in full or in shorter terms than if you make your payments monthly.

• Go green! Some companies offer a small monthly savings if you opt for automatic bank withdrawals versus being billed by mail.

• Combine and Save! Discounts can be offered if you have mutliple vehicles on a policy. Another way to save is by seeing if you are eligible for savings by bundling Renters or Home Insurance with your Auto Insurance with the same insurance company.

• Ask about other discounts.Most insurance companies offer discounts. Discounts do depend on many factors for eligibility like where you live or your driving record, to name a few. It never hurts to ask for the potential of saving money so check with your Rice Insurance agent to see if you may be eligible. Some common insurance discounts include:
  • Mutli-Vehicle Discount
  • Multi-Line Discount
  • Good Driver Discount
  • Good Student Discount
  • Safe Driver Discount
  • Anti-Theft Discount
  • Safe Vehicle Discount
  • Retiree Discount
  • Low Milage Discount
  • Auto Club Discount

• If purchasing a vehicle, find one that costs less to insure. If you’ve narrowed your options down to two or three, get comparisons on the rates for each vehicle. Vehicles with high theft rates, high repair costs, or even high milage cost more to insure.

• Drive safely! Driver’s with no history of accidents, claims, or tickets pay less for car insurance. Your driving record is a huge determining factor when it comes to your insurance premium. Driving safely can help you save money in the long term, plus it’s always a good idea to drive safely!

Contact Rice Insurance to speak with an agent and see if you may be eligible for any of the savings mentioned above!