by Downey Insurance Group | Jul 11, 2011 | Blog
According to a study done by The Heartland Institute the Vermont Insurance Market has more choices and less regulation than any other state. Most insurance regulations are controlled at the state level with some broad Federal Regulations in place. Therefore there can be a vast difference in controls and regulations from state to state. This can affect the type of insurance products that companies can offer their clients.
The study published June 26th focused on the free market ability of the consumer and the companies insuring them across the country. It specifically examined how free consumers are to choose the property and casualty insurance products they want, and how free insurers are to provide the property and casualty insurance products consumers say they want. They also looked at the right of insurance companies to choose their own underwriting guidelines for Vermont auto insurance and other products and to set competitive policy pricing driven by the free market of that state.
Heartland is known for their mission to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. Such solutions include parental choice in education, choice and personal responsibility in health care, market-based approaches to environmental protection, privatization of public services, and deregulation in areas where property rights and markets do a better job than government bureaucracies.
Top and Bottom Ten States for Property and Casualty Insurance Regulation
Top Ten Grade Score
Vermont A+ 24
Ohio A+ 22
Illinois A 15
Maine A 13
Wisconsin B+ 10
Arizona B+ 8
N. Dakota B+ 8
Utah B+ 8
Idaho B+ 7
S. Carolina B+ 7
Bottom Ten Grade Score
Colorado D+ -14
Tennessee D -14
Alaska D -15
Michigan D- -16
New York D- -17
Massachusetts D- -18
Hawaii F -22
Texas F -25
California F -28
Florida F -35
You can read the full article at Heartland.org
by Downey Insurance Group | Jul 8, 2011 | Blog
Have you had the pleasure of working with our Vermont Insurance office in Brattleboro, VT? Leslie Aprea and Tonja Chase both have been called the best of the best by our customers and by the Insurance Companies that we represent. Both customer service representatives have received the CSR of the year award from Co-Op Insurance Company of Vermont for outstanding customer service, support and product knowledge.
By handling both Commercial and Personal Insurance they will be able to help you with all of your insurance needs from a Vermont Personal Auto policy to a complex Commercial Policy for your business. There are many places to buy Insurance in Vermont, but if you are looking for true professionalism and ease of doing business Downey Insurance Group is where you want to be.
Here are some of our most popular products we can offer you:
Vermont Homeowners Insurance
Vermont Auto Insurance
Vermont Life Insurance
Vermont Umbrella Insurance
Vermont Business Insurance
Vermont Workers Compensation Insurance
Vermont Commercial Auto Insurance
Vermont Farm Insurance
by Downey Insurance Group | Jul 5, 2011 | Blog
New Hampshire law does not require individuals to carry New Hampshire personal auto insurance. Some people may decide that they can shoulder the risk of damaging their own car or truck, and are willing to risk being held personally liable for damage that they cause to other vehicles.
But what if someone is seriously injured in an accident that was caused by your vehicle? You may be liable for their medical bills after the accident. As we all know the cost of medical care is growing every day and depending on the injury the costs can be unpredictably high. If you are involved in an accident and you are at fault the cost to replace or repair the other vehicle may be static, but personal injury is a whole other ball game.
It’s really not worth the risk. The folks at Downey Insurance can help you put together an affordable Insurance policy with a respectable New Hampshire Insurance Company.
by Downey Insurance Group | Jun 29, 2011 | Blog
Our friends at New England Excess Exchange have a great Convenience – Deli – Grocery Store program. Whether you are looking for Vermont Insurance, Massachusetts Insurance, or New Hampshire Insurance we can help place you with the appropriate Company or Broker. Here is some information that New England Excess Exhange has shared with us about their Convenience – Deli – Grocery Store Program…
Convenience – Deli – Grocery Store BOP
*Liquor Liability is available on a Businessowner’s coverage form
*Non Owned and Hired Automobile Coverage available if there
is no delivery
*No coinsurance clause
*Availability of equipment breakdown coverage with food spoilage
sublimit of $250K
*Employee Dishonesty up to $25K
*Business Income available on an Actual Loss Sustained basis for
12 months, up to the Business Income Limit
*Crime Coverage available
*Value Plus endorsement (13 property coverage additions/extensions)
*Inspection costs paid
General Liability
Property
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*New Ventures
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*Risks up to $3M in total property value per location ($1.5M with commercial cooking)
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*Risks with commercial cooking exposure
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*Risks open 24 hours
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*Risks that have up to four apartments
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*No more than two losses or claims (excluding closed without payment) incurred in the past three years
by Downey Insurance Group | Jun 27, 2011 | Blog
As a Travelers Insurance Agent we are happy to share their new TV commercial with you, our clients! J Enjoy the show, and some interesting facts about the commercial that Travelers has shared with us…
Travelers’ new commercial “Cat Burglar” is the first in a series of four television commercials, starring the dog from “Prized Possession.”
Setting the Scene
In “Cat Burglar,” the dog is at home, waiting for the mail to be delivered, when a newspaper is delivered with a front page story – “Cat Burglar Strikes!” The dog is so alarmed, he runs to his dog house to check on his possessions and continues to stand guard – in spite of opportunities to fetch a ball or go for a walk. Finally, once he has the Travelers umbrella floating above his dog house, he can begin to romp and play again.
About the Dog
· Breed: Mutt
· Age 12
· Adopted from an animal shelter by his owner/trainer
· Featured in Pirates of the Caribbean (he was the dog with keys)
· Known as a “one-take wonder” on the set
· Had a stunt double for some of the tricky shots
About the Commercial
· Director: Danny Kleinman
· Shot Prized Possession
· Directed James Bond Intros
· Song: Be OK sung by Ingrid Michaelson
· Location: Filmed in San Francisco, at a location next door to the filming of “Prized Possession”
by Downey Insurance Group | Jun 20, 2011 | Blog
Downey Insurance offers Massachusetts Auto Insurance in conjunction with Massachusetts Homeowners Insurance, Umbrella coverage, Renters Insurance and many other products to form a comprehensive Insurance program for our clients. Massachusetts Auto Insurance can be very confusing and nothing can act as a subtitle for one of our agents expertise. With that said, here is a brief overview of coverage’s included in the Massachusetts Auto Insurance Policy.
Compulsory Coverage’s that are required by MA law:
1. Bodily Injury to Others – This will cover injury’s to others caused by your vehicle during an accident in Massachusetts and on public roads up to $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. This coverage will not cover the driver of your vehicle or passengers in your vehicle.
3. Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto – This coverage will cover bodily injury to anyone in your vehicle that was caused by an uninsured vehicle A minimum of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident is mandatory, but higher limits are recommended by our Agency.
4. Damage to Someone Else’s Property – This coverage will pay for damages caused by your auto to another person’s auto or property. A minimum of $5,000 is mandatory, but higher limits are recommended by our Agency.
5. Optional Bodily Injury – This coverage will extend coverage 1 (bodily injury to other) to any US state, territory, possession, or Canada. It also will extend liability to private roads, to any passenger in your vehicle. This coverage protect you in the event of a Lawsuit. A minimum of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident is mandatory, but higher limits are recommended by our Agency.
7. Collision – Covers damages to your vehicle from an accident. A deductible will apply in certain situations. $500 is standard by higher deductible are available.
9. Comprehensive – This coverage will pay for damage of your vehicle due to the following causes of loss: Fire, theft, vandalism. It also pays for glass replacement with the option of zero or $100.00 deductible.
11. Towing and labor – Will pay up to $50 each time your car is Towed or disabled whether or not there has been an accident, any service performed at the scene is considered labor. A limit of $100 may also be purchased
12. Bodily Injury Caused by and Underinsured Auto – This will cover bodily injury to you, household members, or your passengers over and above the limits of the at fault vehicle. A minimum of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident is mandatory, but higher limits are recommended by our Agency.
