Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency

Marinas Are Getting Busy, Time To Review Your Insurance On Your Watercraft

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:48:57 +0000

May is the month when the entire coastline from Connecticut to Maine starts to awaken after a long winter’s rest. The quaint seaside villages slowly become busy with visitors from both summer residents and day trippers alike. The true telltale sign that summer is near is when the marinas become crazy busy with the unveiling of boats from winter storage and slips quickly fill back to capacity. When this starts to happen, it’s a good time as any for you to start your Commissioning Checklist for your watercraft.

The following checklist was provided by Brewers Yacht Yards and consists of tips and recommendations to be used as a starting point to get any boat ready for a safe and enjoyable season out on the water.

Documents: Review your license, registration, insurance and other important documents pertaining to your boat and trailer and store them in a watertight bag or container. When reviewing your insurance coverage, contact your agent and ask if you are realizing all the available savings, if your coverage is comprehensive and for them to double-check that the geographic limits on your policy align with your boating plans for the season.
Life jackets: Each and every person on board must have a properly sized life jacket in good condition with no rips or missing parts.
Fire extinguishers: Check all onboard fire extinguishers making sure they are fully charged and properly mounted and are the correct class for your vessel. Turn dry chemical extinguishers upside down to loosen the powder. Replace or refill any expired units.
Flares: Replace out-of-date flares and keep the old ones on board as spares.
Charts and maps: Review and update electronics as necessary.
Plugs: Inspect and tighten drain plugs. Make sure rubber seals or gaskets haven’t cracked or dried out during winter storage.
Hoses and clamps: Inspect and replace as necessary.
Propellers: Inspect for dings, pitting, cracks and distortion. Damaged props can cause unwanted vibration and drive train damage. Make sure connectors such as cotter pins are secure, and grip the prop to check for looseness. If the shaft is loose, consider replacing the bearing.
Inboards: Examine the rudderstock to ensure it has not been bent or compromised.
Hull: Inspect for blisters, distortions, cracks and compromised rivets.
Water intake strainer: Make sure your strainer is secure, unobstructed and corrosion free.
Large inboards: Check the engine shaft and rudder stuffing boxes for looseness before and after launch. Make sure through-hulls don’t leak.
Outboards and outdrives: Inspect outdrive bellows for cracks, dryness or deterioration, paying careful attention to the folds. Replace questionable bellows.
Fluid levels: Check all fluid levels, including engine oil, power steering and power trim reservoirs. Replace worn-out zincs.
Control cables: Inspect the outer jackets and replace cables showing cracks, swelling, corrosion or deterioration.
Fuel lines: Inspect fuel lines, including fill and vent hoses, for softness, brittleness or cracking.
Fuel tanks: Check your tanks and pumps and replace filters annually. Consider using a fuel stabilizer.
Hoses: Inspect cooling, exhaust and blower hoses and pipes for stiffness, rot and leaks. Make sure hoses are connected tightly; double clamp them if necessary.
Electrical connections: Inspect for cleanliness and tightness. Corrosion, especially on battery cables, could indicate a poor connection. Remove the terminals, and wire-brush them along with the cable ends.
Running and navigation lights: Make sure all running lights work. Keep spare navigation bulbs on board.
Emergency lights: Inspect emergency lights and signal devices and make sure you have spare batteries.
Ignition kill switch: Ensure it’s working properly
Bilge pumps: Check for leaks and corrosion and make sure the float switch works.
Ropes and lines: Inspect for damage, chafing and deterioration and replace as necessary. Pay out and thoroughly inspect your anchor line. Keep lines untangled and coiled for ease of use.

Have a safe and worry-free boating season!

Here at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency our goal is to try to help our viewers by suggesting solutions for all insurance needs. By no means can we address each reader’s specific concerns in every incident. So, we strongly advise to check with an insurance representative to address your specific needs. However, you can also contact us for any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you. We are able to offer a complete line of personal & commercial insurance products for all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.

Social Security, What You Can Do To Prepare For Retirement

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:59:03 +0000

It is forecasted that in the year 2033 Social Security will only be able to pay 70% to 75% of the scheduled promised benefits when an individual is ready to retire. And as if the news about Social Security isn’t bad enough, Medicare’s hospital insurance fund is expected to run out starting in 2024. So now what??

For those of you who are already retired, you will not be affected by this shortfall. But anyone who is expected to retire in 2033 and beyond should start preparing for retirement now. Regardless of your current financial situation, it would be extremely prudent to take a good hard look at where you can cut costs in order to put away more towards your retirement years. The bottom line is that it is up to you to take care of your retirement future because the federal government does not have a plan or a solution in place at this time, in order to make up for the difference in benefits. You are on your own.

Here are some options to consider about helping build up your retirement egg:

If you don’t have a retirement plan in place, begin one now.
If you do have a plan, increase the amount that you put into your retirement benefit.
Invest diversely – Stocks, IRAs, annuities
Consider purchasing long-term care insurance when the rates are good in your 40s and 50s.

When that retirement day comes, you may want to consider these options:

Raised your retirement age and delay in taking your Social Security benefit.
Work part time to subsidize your benefit amount.
Consider ways you can turn assets into income such as a home equity loan or reverse mortgage or cashing in the cash value of a life insurance policy.
Consider relocating to a “no individual income tax” state.

Surely, a fix for this problem will have to come sooner or later, but the question is whether Congress will do it in a sensible way with strategic planning or will they be driven to fix this by a crisis. Whichever one occurs, it is still wise to have your own retirement contingency plan in place.

Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.

Safe Ways To Enjoy Your New Jet Ski

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:16:09 +0000

Now you finally purchased that jet ski, so now what? It isn’t as simple as putting it in the water and going off riding, you know. Jet skiing is a very exhilarating, but potentially dangerous sport. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. There are jet ski models that can go as fast as 80+ miles per hour on the water and at that speed the water is just as hard as pavement and can do just as much damage to you and others, if in an accident.

It is important to remember there are techniques and skills you must learn first in order to attain the maximum amount of enjoyment and safety on your jet ski.

Take a Boaters Safety Course – This requirement varies by state, but is a good course to take regardless to understand the “Rules of the Water”.
Minimum Operator Age – Most states will recommend a minimum age of 16. Keep this in mind when letting children operate or ride the jet ski.
Review All Owners Manuals – Read and study all of the materials supplied with your jet ski. Become familiar with all of its features prior to riding.
Wear a Life Jacket – It may not be cool looking, but this is mandatory in ALL states.
Always Stay Alert – This is rule 101 in boating safety. Always be aware of your surroundings for there could be other boaters, swimmers or divers in your general area.
Wear Your Lanyard – Also mandated in ALL states, this safety device is worn around your wrist and is attached to the kill switch on the handlebars. In the event you fall off, the motor will be turned off and can be reached within swimming distance.
Don’t Be Riding After Sunset – It is illegal to ride between sunset and sunrise for jet skis do not have running lights and cannot be seen by other boaters.
Just Play It Safe – Use good sense and if something seems risky, do not attempt it for it probably is.
Get It Insured – If you have a loan on the jet ski, the bank will require that you insure it. Otherwise, it is your own discretion whether or not you purchase jet ski insurance. Do keep in mind however if you get into an accident you are personally liable for any injuries and/or damage(s) if you are found at fault.

Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.

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Renter’s Insurance, Why Aren’t You Covered?

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:41:06 +0000

It’s been a difficult year for apartment fires and the already high numbers just continue to grow. On Easter Sunday, a 16-unit apartment building in Dartmouth had gone up in flames, displacing thirty-five of the residents. After officials evaluated the damage yesterday, it was concluded that the upstairs apartments had lost everything, while the ground floor units were mostly affected with smoke and water damage. In a case like this, coverage is everything.

Many renters have little or no understanding as to the importance of renters insurance. Some assume their landlord has insurance, which is probably the case, but that doesn’t mean that the tenants’ possessions are covered. Others will just assume that this kind of tragedy will never happen to them and I’m sure that is how some of the Dartmouth Woods residents that are now without homes had once felt too. However, there was an exception. The article from South Coast Today indicated that Mr. Clarence Golembiewski, a 93 year old retired volunteer firefighter, did in fact have renter’s insurance to cover him and his wife’s losses. The fact that he was a firefighter makes him aware about the risks and how the tragedy strikes, it doesn’t discriminate. So, if you are a renter and reside in a multi-unit building, it is probably wise not to throw caution to the wind and begin to think about purchasing renters insurance coverage.

Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.

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Spring Is In The Air And It’s Time To Ride

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:06:02 +0000

The bike has been away all winter and now the weather is starting to get warmer and the days are longer. It’s a perfect time to start dusting off the bike and begin the new riding season. But before that first ride there are preparations that are needed to be done. Here are some good ideas to consider.

Have Your Bike Serviced First

I know this isn’t rocket science and it’s a given that this is a necessary step, but not everyone considers this important. Especially if the weather is pretty and going for that road trip becomes very tempting. Always have your bike serviced prior to your first road trip. No matter how diligent you are winterizing it, there may be some unforeseen issue that could occur and you don’t want to get stuck out in the middle of nowhere.

Wear The Proper Gear

The day may start off warm, but spring brings a fluctuation of temperatures. So be prepared with extra layers that can be removed or added as the temperatures vary. Also, it’s a good idea to cover up as much as possible. Shorts and sandals may seem more comfortable on those warmer days, but there is no protection between you and road. Road rash is not only painful but can leave serious scarring or worse.

Carry An Emergency Tool Kit

Think about the situations you could get into and fortify your emergency kit with the proper tools. Flat tires, fouled up spark plugs or a blown out light are all things that are possibilities that could happen. Always carry a flashlight and some road flares in the event of a breakdown at night.

Tell Someone Where You’re Going

The true story of the hiker who was trapped for 23 days made quite the impact on anyone who heard the story or watched the movie. Point made is to always tell someone of your whereabouts and when you are expected to return. Also, always carry a cellphone on you at all times.

Now You’re Ready To Cruise

You’ve finish your to-do list and now you’re prepared. Always ride responsibly and make some great memories.

We Would Love To Hear From You

If you have some great road trip pictures or stories to tell, we would love to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to post your stories and pictures on our blog to share. Or better yet, like us on Facebook (see link below) and share your stories there.

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Website

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Take the Pledge: Safe Texting Campaign

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:51:46 +0000

There isn’t much of a difference between drinking & driving and texting & driving, both are deemed dangerous and have been known to be fatal. Numerous studies have shown that talking or texting on a cell phone has the same effect on your driving ability as drinking. While many states have adopted the law restricting cell phone usage during driving, the problem still continues to exist. According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 1.6 million crashes occur each year from drivers using cell phones and/or texting.

The best solution to the problem is to have self-discipline and leave the phone alone while driving. There are so many hands-free solutions that are available that there is no reason for anyone to have to handle a cell phone while in the car. If you’re guilty of having been known to text or talk on your cell phone while driving, consider the fact that you’re not only putting yourself at risk, it’s your passenger(s) and other motor vehicles on the road as well.

So, I challenge each and every one of you to take the pledge “Don’t Text and Drive”. You can take the challenge by clicking on this link to the Safe Texting Campaign. Also, on the site, you will be able to download a SafeTexting App for both the Blackberry and Android phone (app for iPhone will be available shortly). These apps use GPS technology and when your driving speed exceeds 10 miles per hour, the application will shut off the texting feature as well as eliminate all incoming and outgoing calls (emergency calls are allowed) while the car is in motion. The application will deactivate once the car has been stopped over a period of time. Note to parents of young drivers, this is especially handy if you want to limit or eliminate your teen’s access to the cell phone while driving. There is a parental password protected feature included in the app so that it cannot be turned off unless you sign in the application on the phone and turn it off.

Take the pledge and be safe. Don’t text and drive.

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Money Lessons 101: Insuring Your College-Bound Student

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:50:20 +0000

There is no age limitation to purchasing life insurance. While our children are young, most parents don’t consider this because it is not something they think about long term. While it is true that our children ages is not as high of a risk as an older adult may be, it is still possible for them to pass away prematurely, leaving a large amount of debt for parents to contend with. There are funeral expenses, possible medical bills and college loans that would still have to be paid. At a time when grief and stress would be at an extreme level, life insurance is a way of taking care of the added burden of the financial impact on a family.

However difficult this subject is to consider, for no parent wants to think about funding their child’s possible demise, it is an unfortunate reality that does happen, and the chance that there will be debt as a result of it is quite good. This fact holds particularly true for college-bound students. Student loans, regardless of their low interest rates, run into the tens of thousands of dollars over time, sometimes much more if they pursue even higher educations. In this circumstance, it is certainly better that the life insurance funds this situation than having the parents try to afford to.

As for the choices of life insurance options available, in most cases, because of the young ages, the premiums are relatively reasonable. But, because there are so many options to be considered, it is best to speak directly with your agent about the best choice that would fit your budget.

Personally, this was an extremely difficult purchase for me to make when I decided take an insurance policy out on my son. However, the superstitious fool that I am, I figured that according to “Murphy’s Law” that if I purchased the policy, nothing will ever happen to him. So, that made it the best money I had ever spent!

Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.

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People Helping People, This Is What An Independent Agent Is All About.

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:33:15 +0000

In the last year, Mother Nature has been pummeling the United States with the most extreme weather patterns of flooding, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes, causing major catastrophes in her wake. Disaster sites are littered with the devastation along with emergency vehicles and emergency response vans providing assistance and comfort to the victims and their families.

Among the Red Cross vans, victims could also be seen at insurance disaster response buses as well. These mobile disaster buses are state-of-the-art customer service centers that house satellite communication equipment and computers that are equipped to process insurance claims immediately and onsite. These insurance teams are not only trained to assist the victims with their claims process, but are also there to hand out water bottles, blankets, food and toys for both customers and non-customers alike. The victims are able to use the satellite phones or the computers to go online as means to contact their family members.

These are one of the many ways that separate the good insurance companies from the rest. It’s taking the extra mile to service a customer, the neighbor and the community. It’s not about promoting a discounted price or the cheapest price for insurance, for the lives that they are covering cannot be discounted, they are valued. This is value at its best; there is no price you could find that can match it.

The staff at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency would like to extend to all the family and friends of the victims of the last week’s tornado tragedy our heartfelt prayers and condolences. If you would like contribute to the tornado relief efforts for the victims, the following link to msnbc.com has numerous organizations that are involved.

Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.

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Good News for Rhode Island Auto Owners: New Competitive Insurance Rates Are Now Available To YOU!

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:37:34 +0000

We are pleased to announce that for all Rhode Island auto owners that we are able to offer attractive new rates through one of our insurance carriers. Here is what we can offer to you from the latest Auto product:

Good Student Discount – This new discount is for youthful drivers who are on their parents’ policy and they maintain a 3.0 grade point average or who meets some scholastic ranking criteria.
Education Discount – A new discount with lower rates for customers based on their education levels including: vocational/trade certificates (including military training), college degrees or those pursuing a college degree.
Comp and Collision Options – A new option that offers no deductible glass coverage and $2,000 Comprehensive/Collision deductible
Rental – A new feature with a $50 per day rental option for customers who want more choices from their rental coverage.
Advance Quote Discount - We no longer remove the discount at three years and this applies for as long as the customer keeps the Auto policy.
Minor Child Discount - This discount is now available at new business for customers who have the Continuous Insurance Discount and are at the Gold or Platinum levels.
Low Mileage Discount - Our new discount is our biggest yet, up to 30 percent for good driving habits.
Add a Homeowners Policy – For multi-policy discounts will offer you an even bigger savings to both your auto and home.

If you would like to take advantage of these great discounts, give us a call at 508-678-1271 or come in and visit us at 245 Peckham Street, Fall River, Massachusetts. If you prefer a web quote, visit our website at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Here at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency our goal is to try to help our viewers by suggesting solutions for all insurance needs. By no means can we address each reader’s specific concerns in every incident. So, we strongly advise to check with an insurance representative to address your specific needs. However, you can also contact us for any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you. We can offer a complete line of personal & commercial insurance products for all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Also, if you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros. Occasionally, we’ll run a contest that you can participate in for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate!!

Insurance Coverage, Don’t Compromise On It For A Better Price

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:07:23 +0000

There are better ways to save on your insurance bill then lowering your insurance coverage. Considering asking your agent about any discounts that are available to you and these will vary by company and by state. The largest savings that usually can be obtained is by combining your auto(s) and home all with one company. However, there are consumers that feel when it comes to insurance “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is the best case scenario. That is not the case for they are paying more in the premiums in the long run having their insurance separate.

Here are some ideas to consider.

Raise your deductible amount – This is what you would have to pay out in the event of a claim, BEFORE your insurance kicks in. So, if your deductible is $500 and the costs of the damage runs around $400, then you would have to pay the $400. If the damage is more than your $500 deductible, the insurance will pay anything over the $500. The higher your deductible the lower your insurance premium will be. But a word of caution, you must make sure you can afford to pay the deductible amount if and when the time comes.
Install Alarm and Burglar Systems – If you have a burglar alarm installed it can help reduce your premium. Same goes for sprinkler systems.
Stay with one insurer – In most cases if you spend your time bouncing from one insurer to another, your premium will end up being higher because of you are considered a risk for losing you as a client. So if stay with one insurer that you become comfortable with, they will in the end be able to offer you credit in the form of a long term customer discount.
Obtain your credit rating – Always knowing your credit score can help you with just about anything. Car loans, insurance premiums, etc. The higher your credit score the better your rate is going to be.
Combining the auto and home insurance – Once again, this will offer you the largest of the discounts overall whether through combined billing and the discounts for the multi-policies. Ask your agent about combining your auto and homeowners insurance and see the savings on your premium.
Lastly, if you have switched over to a company that was able to save you a significant amount on your premium, do yourself a favor and check to be sure it isn’t a 6 month policy period. Also, take the time to compare your new and old policies to make sure you didn’t compromise on coverage.

Here at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency our goal is to try to help our viewers by suggesting solutions for all insurance needs. By no means can we address each reader’s specific concerns in every incident. So, we strongly advise to check with an insurance representative to address your specific needs. However, you can also contact us for any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you. We can offer a complete line of personal & commercial insurance products for all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.

Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Website

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