Connecticut Insurance Exchange | Auto Home Business | Newington, CT
  • Home
  • get a quote
  • Insurance
    • Auto Insurance
    • Homeowners Insurance
    • Umbrella
    • Business Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Wedding/Travel Insurance
    • Pet Insurance
  • About CIE
    • Why Connecticut Insurance Exchange?
    • Meet Our Team
    • Community News
    • Careers
  • Customer Care
    • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • News

NEWS you can use

Winter Storm Harper

1/19/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Screen captures from The Weather Channel.
Winter Storm Harper can bring heavy snow plus high winds. And, that folks, can mean power outages. Here are tips to help you prepare:

  • Learn how to safely use alternative heat sources and generators during a power outage: disastersafety.org/disastersafety/build-a-plan-for-a-power-outage.
  • An Emergency Preparedness Kit should have three days of food, water, prescription medications and other supplies ready (ready.gov/build-a-kit).
  • For current weather conditions during a power outage, consider getting a NOAA Weather Radio.

Resources:
Cold Weather Tips

Up-to-Date Winter Storm Harper News
Winter Weather Safety
0 Comments

Do You Need Med-Pay or PIP?

1/4/2019

3 Comments

 
Picture
If you — the insured and the occupants of your vehicle — were injured in an auto accident, who would cover medical expenses? Two coverage options are available — Medical Payments (Med-Pay) and Personal Injury Protection (PIP).

Med-Pay covers the insured, family members and passengers in a covered car for medical and funeral expenses (subject to per person policy limits below) if they are injured in a car accident by a vehicle designed principally for use on public roads regardless of who is at fault (1). It also pays medical and funeral expenses arising from the accident including accidents in which the victim is a pedestrian or bicyclist.

Med Pay also covers ambulance transportation, which is NOT covered under an auto policy.
 
In Connecticut, Med-Pay Limits apply per person and range from $1,000 to $10,000 for Personal Auto Policies and from $5,000 to $25,000 per person for Commercial Policies.

PIP provides the same coverage as Medical Payments for your medical expenses in the event of a claim without regard to fault (2).  However, PIP can also provide lost wages, transportation expenses, and miscellaneous household assistance expenses, like cleaning or lawn care, while you recover from your injuries.

Because PIP provides more coverage than Med-Pay,  it's a little more expensive.  

Who would benefit from purchasing Med-Pay or PIP?
  • If the insured and passengers already have health insurance that cover similar expenses, Med-Pay may not be necessary. Check your health insurance policy for deductible and co-insurance requirements. Used in conjunction with health coverage, Med-Pay can pay health insurance deductibles and co-insurance, so Med-Pay may be worth buying even if you have health insurance should a car accident cause bodily injury.
  • If you don't have short-term disability insurance, consider PIP because of the additional coverage it affords, like lost wages. 
  • If you don't have any health insurance, then it is highly recommended to buy either Med-Pay or PIP.

Understanding Policy Limits
Minimum auto liability limits in Connecticut are 25,000 (bodily injury to one person), $50,000 (bodily injury total), and $25,000 (property damage). In many cases, minimum limits will not adequately cover losses. Considering the average cost of a new vehicle in the first quarter of 2017 was $31,400 (3), then these limits are inadequate for most people, especially when significant injuries result from an accident.

Read more about policy limits here or speak with a Connecticut Insurance Exchange agent.
    
Other Insurance
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists (UM/UIM) coverage is mandatory in Connecticut, at the above minimum limits of $25,000 bodily injury per person and $50,000 bodily injury total. UM/UIM does NOT apply to property damage. It's a good idea to purchase a UM/UIM limit equal to your own liability limits.

UM/UIM protects you in the event that you and/or your passengers are injured by someone who:
  • Does NOT carry insurance;
  • Carries insufficient limits to pay for your injuries; or
  • Is a hit-and-run driver

Resources:
Policy Limits
Car Insurance

  1. Coverage is available only when the vehicle is of a type designed principally for use on public roads. So, coverage would not apply if the individual were struck by a tractor, bulldozer, or snowmobile.
  2. PIP is not available to Commercial Auto customers in Connecticut because it is an 'at-fault' state, meaning the party responsible for the accident/damage is expected to pay.
  3. Source: Cars.com
3 Comments
    News you can use from Connecticut Insurance Exchange covering topics ranging from your home, auto, business, liability and more.

    Author

    Melanie Thomson-Tregoning is a Licensed Insurance Agent and VP of Marketing for Connecticut Insurance Exchange, Ltd.

    Categories

    All
    Auto
    Commercial
    Community Events
    Cyber Security
    Distracted Driving
    Flood Insurance
    Holiday Safety
    Homeowners
    Medical Coverage
    Pets
    Summer
    Umbrella Coverage
    Winter
    Workers Comp

    Archives

    March 2022
    July 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • get a quote
  • Insurance
    • Auto Insurance
    • Homeowners Insurance
    • Umbrella
    • Business Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Wedding/Travel Insurance
    • Pet Insurance
  • About CIE
    • Why Connecticut Insurance Exchange?
    • Meet Our Team
    • Community News
    • Careers
  • Customer Care
    • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • News