There’s nothing like being out on one of Colorado’s beautiful rivers and lakes on a warm spring or summer afternoon. The cool breeze in your hair, sun glistening on the water and scenic beauty can bring a sense of peace and well-being. You can get that same feeling from knowing that your vessel is fully insured in case of a boating accident. If you have specific questions on what type of boat insurance would be suitable for your boat and desired coverage, call Colling Insurance Services in Lakewood, CO to get the answers you desire. In the meantime, here are some tips on what to do in case you get into one of the following accident situations.

Hitting a Submerged Object

Whether you hit a rock or other object, it can scratch or leave a hole. Experienced boaters stay clear of shallow, murky water, and this can lower the chances of running into underwater objects.

Grounding

Grounding occurs when you run aground on an unseen sandbar or object and cannot get free. It can wreak havoc with the haul of your boat. To avoid grounding followed marked channels, consult charts and invest in a depth sounder.

Weather Damage

 A boat operator always needs to be aware of current and expected weather before getting on the water. If you are already on the water when a storm hits, get to shore as safely and quickly as possible and tie your boat to secure moorings. 

Theft While Anchored

Theft while anchored is an increasing claim type, especially during the summer. Remove navigation equipment and belongings from sight when you are away from your vessel. 

Injury

Insurance claims for injuries are filed via your boat insurance medical payments coverage, which covers you and your passengers, or bodily injury liability, which covers injuries you caused to someone else. The latter typically involves inexperienced boaters.

Collision with Other Boats

A collision between two boats can cause major damage and generally occurs in an area densely crowded with boats. In these situations, stay alert and navigate slowly. Collisions usually occur when you are going too fast to react or not paying attention.

Fire

Fire is not a common claim on boats, but it’s nice to know you’re covered. Just in case, keep a fire extinguisher on board for emergencies. 

If you need help determining whether your current boat insurance policy covers you in these or other situations, contact an agent at Colling Insurance Services Inc. in Lakewood, CO. Feel free to schedule an appointment to discuss all your insurance needs and to receive a quote.

An umbrella insurance policy in Lakewood, CO can be a useful tool in avoiding financial ruin if you are sued. However, there is a lot of confusion surrounding these policies and that confusion leads to a lot of people not purchasing them, even though there are a lot of benefits. These commonly believed myths aren’t true and there are reasons why.

Myth 1: Umbrella insurance is your first line of coverage.

Your umbrella insurance is actually your second line of coverage and won’t kick in until your other primary insurance policies are exhausted. You aren’t even able to purchase umbrella insurance unless you already have a primary policy.

Myth 2: Umbrella insurance is just for rich people.

With the increase in the number of lawsuits filed, everyone can benefit from umbrella insurance. In fact, the wealthy may have more resources to ride out a lawsuit, whereas someone who is struggling wouldn’t, making umbrella insurance even more important for the average person.

Myth 3: Umbrella policies are too expensive.

It could depend on your risk and other circumstances, such as how likely you are to get sued, but many times umbrella insurance policies will be cheaper to get that if you want to raise the limits on your primary policies, such as home and auto.

Myth 4: It’s too hard to get an umbrella policy.

If you are getting policies from different insurers, there could be some confusion and it can be harder to get an umbrella policy. However, if you choose one insurance company, such as Colling Insurance Services Inc. then it’s easier to get a policy and you could save money by bundling policies.

Myth 5: There are too many exclusions.

Every policy has its own exclusions, but an umbrella policy can actually provide some additional coverage that you can’t get with a normal homeowners policy, such as protection against libel and slander.

Contact Colling Insurance Services Inc. serving Lakewood, CO, to get a quote on umbrella insurance. 

As we get older, the chances become greater that at some point we may need care services – approximately 70 percent of seniors over the age of 65 will eventually need some kind of long-term care service during their lifetime, and over 40 percent will require nursing home care for some period of time.  

Long-term care provides a variety of care services designed to help meet your health or personal care needs for either a brief or extended period of time. This care helps you live as independently and safely as possible when you determine you aren’t able to perform many of your daily activities on own. While you might be healthy and active now, you have no guarantee that will continue. Protecting yourself from the financial burden of paying for that care with a long-term care insurance policy through Colling Insurance Services, Inc., can give you peace of mind in the event you do eventually need care. 

What Does Long-Term Care Include? 

Long-term care services can include: 

Home-based services – You can remain in your Lakewood CO home and receive in-home health care, housekeeping/homemaking services, visitor/companion services, and an emergency response system 

Facility-based care – Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult foster care, board and care homes, and continuing care retirement communities 

Community-based services – Senior centers, adult day service programs, transportation services, meals program, and respite care 

I’m Active and Healthy — Why Should I consider Long-Term Care Insurance? 

You may never need long-term care. However, at any time, an unexpected slip or fall, injury, or illness can suddenly change your needs. The best time to think about how you’ll pay for long-term care is before you need it – allowing you to make important decisions while you are still able. 

Doesn’t Medicare Cover Long-term Care Costs? 

Medicare may cover part of your first 100 days in a nursing home, but contrary to what many people think, it doesn’t cover the majority of long-term care costs. For example, if you are bound to your Lakewood, CO home, it will pay for some part-time services and short-term skilled nursing care, but not personal care such as help with bathing. For more information about how long-term care insurance can help you plan your long-term care goals, call the insurance experts at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. today.

Life insurance is an important part of planning for the inevitable, but it is important to make sure that your policy is fully compliant with local laws. For Colorado residents, the good news is that most laws are designed to make things more efficient and beneficial for policyholders and their loved ones. So whether you’re looking to get a life insurance policy or simply want to learn more about the one you already have (and perhaps how it could be improved), here’s what you should know about Colorado life insurance laws:

The Basics

All Colorado life insurance laws are regulated under state statutes Title 10. At Colling Insurance Services Inc. (serving the Lakewood, CO area and beyond), for example, our policy underwriters ensure that all of these laws are strictly followed. Insurers who do not comply with these laws may be subject to strict fines and/or further litigation. 

The Details

Now let’s get to specifics. First, all life insurance claims must also be settled in a timely manner, meaning most in this state will be settled within two months. Additionally, Colorado law states that should a payment be missed, the life insurance policy must stay in place for at least a month after the payment was due. This mandatory grace period ensures that the policy will still be paid out should the policyholder die shortly after the payment is late. It also just helps buy people more time if they run into financial difficulty. 

Moving Forward

It’s worth noting at this time that the Colorado Life and Health Insurance Protection Association works to protect policyholders by guaranteeing life insurance funds against potential insurer bankruptcy of up to $300,000 (essentially, if you’re insurer goes broke, your policy will still be paid out). If you still need to set up a life insurance policy, however, and are based in Lakewood, CO or surrounding areas, Colling Insurance Services Inc. is here to help. Our insurance experts are happy to sit down with you to discuss your specific needs (and those of your family). With the right policy, you can rest easy knowing that your loved ones will be taken care of should anything happen to you. 

It is a requirement to have basic health insurance in most states in addition to being a very important investment one can ever make. Medical setbacks can be very costly. Purchasing and maintaining health coverage is the only best way to cushion you from emergency medical costs out of pocket.

Before obtaining a proper health insurance cover, it is important to understand the basic provisions of a health insurance cover. Having knowledge of the fundamental concepts that govern health insurance will be of great help in ensuring you find an affordable health insurance that best suits your needs.

The basic provisions of a health insurance cover include:

• Short-term or temporary health insurance

In general, short-term plans are not obligatory to offer you the same vital coverage advantages and rights as a long-term compliant plan. These types of plans can only be of help when you are transitioning an example being moving between jobs.

• Supplemental insurance

Usually, this is considered as a minimum essential cover since it pays directly to you in the event that you fall sick or injured in order to fill the financial gap which you might be vulnerable to by your current health insurance coverage. The money you receive from a supplemental insurance plan can be used for payment of deductibles, out of pocket medical expenses among other eligible expenses that you choose.

The most common eligible expenses include services of a physician, optometrist, physiotherapist and ambulance services.

A basic health insurance cover protects you and your family the routine costs and other out of pocket costs of unexpected medical expenses. We at Lakewood, CO, based Colling Insurance Services, Inc. have a collective negotiation between our clients and insurance agents by offering specialized advice and services in order to make your insurance shopping easy.

Visit us today or give us a call for more information regarding the basic provisions of health insurance coverage.

Dental insurance can help to keep your smile healthy and attractive by helping you pay for the dental services you need, but it can be a bit daunting to know which dental insurance coverage to get. Here are some key tips on that, courtesy of Colling Insurance Services, Inc. serving the Lakewood, CO area.

Co-payments

Various dental insurance plans differ as far as what copayment the patient must pay for various dental services. Often, when you pay more per month for your premiums, the co-pays will be lower. So that’s a tradeoff.

Deductibles

Dental insurance plans also differ when it comes to deductibles, and typically the high-deductible plans require the patient to pay more out of pocket when dental services are obtained at a dentist.

Premiums

This is yet another area where there are differences from one insurance policy to another. High-premium dental insurance plans typically provide more and better coverage for services, as well as lower co-payments and deductibles.

When considering which dental insurance coverage to get, evaluate what types of services you foresee needing and how often. Of course, it is impossible to predict this with absolute certainty. But take a look at what coverage each plan offers and for what price, and look at what your budget allows when it comes to paying for premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.

When you are looking into dental insurance, it can help to have an expert who can sift through and sort out all the information. That’s where it helps to work with a company that provides insurance services. If you need help sorting out your dental insurance options, please feel free to contact us at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. serving the Lakewood, CO area.