Workers compensation provides medical, health and lost-time compensation for employees who suffer work related injuries or illnesses.

Sounds straight forward enough, right?

Suppose you’re a healthcare worker in one of our great Tucson hospitals, and you accidently contract hepititus from a needle stick. Your covered by workers compensation. Now, suppose you go home to Sahuarita and pass the illness to your spouse. The spouse gains coverage through employers’ liability. This claim type is Consequential Bodily Injury.

In some states, Loss of Care and Services claims can be made. Spouses claim "loss of consortium" or family members claim a loss for caregiving by the injured parent. Employers’ liability responds to these claims

Under all these described circumstances, employers’ liability pays for the employer’s legal expenses too.

Employers’ liability covers aspects of workers compensation which can be third party claims, a fancy term for someone other than the employer or employee, such as a family member who becomes injured or ill as a result of the employee’s exposures on the job.

Employers’ liability covers some other unusual circumstances. For example, an employee is injured by his employer’s product. Perhaps a heating system manufacturer uses his own product in his office. A maintenance staff member gets an electrical burn because a cut-off malfunctions. The policy pays as though it were workers’ compensation first, and then the employer’s liability coverage handles the incident like it was a third-party products liability claim. This type of claim is known as a Dual-Capacity claim.

As all-inclusive as the workers compensation policy tries to be, unusaual circumstance justify the need for employers’ liability. Since general liability policies usually exclude employee injuries or illnesses, work comp needed to fill this gap in coverage.

Call the 1 ^st Insurance Center of Green Valley Agency to explain in further detail about workers compensation and employers liability policies. And remember: a safe work place is the best employee benefit.

Owning a business in Arizona may require workers compensation insurance, but that does not mean you must purchase the coverage as soon as you get the company started. Depending on the company and your goals, the appropriate timing to purchase the policy may vary.

Before Hiring Employees

If you are planning to hire an employee, then you may need to start considering coverage and comparing your options. Even though it is not required to purchase workers compensation in Arizona until after you have hired an employee, having the coverage and getting ready to hire employees can help prevent any complications when it comes to coverage and getting started.

As a general rule, you will need the insurance as soon as you hire a single employee within the state.

After Hiring Workers

There are times when you may not be sure if you need to hire a worker. As a result, you may not feel comfortable buying coverage that you have not determined is necessary for your business.

In this situation, you will want to obtain coverage as soon as you hire a single employee. The state laws require that you maintain coverage as long as you have one employee. There are a few exceptions, such as working partners or domestic servants, but you should expect to purchase the policy if you have hired any employees. Even one worker requires some coverage that is appropriate based on the risks associated with your business.

It is important to protect your employees, even if you have only hired a single individual. The appropriate coverage and the timing can depend on the situation, but you will usually need the coverage before your new employee starts working. Contact us to speak to an agent to learn more.

As a general rule, most people don’t like to think about life insurance. That means that when an employer steps up and offers to provide life insurance, most people think "Okay, problem solved." As with many things in life, it is not really that simple. In most cases, employer sponsored life insurance is not enough.

The biggest inherent flaw with the idea of getting life insurance from your employer is that you probably won’t be with your employer for the rest of your life. In most cases, when your employment ends, your employer sponsored life insurance ends, too. This is especially problematic since life insurance tends to get more expensive as you get older, so the later in life you lose your job,the more expensive it will be to replace the insurance. If you lose your job too late in life, health issues may make you uninsurable to some agents, leaving you to search all over Green Valley, AZ and beyond for coverage.

Employers also often tend to give relatively minimal life insurance, rarely enough to cover your real needs. When you consider that your family is essentially needing to replace your income for many years, the popular employer’s life insurance standard of one year’s salary is not going to be enough to last your loved ones for very long, and certainly will not provide them much peace of mind about their future.

Life insurance is a personal thing, so it’s important to evaluate your own personal situation to determine how much you need. Odds are, you will need more insurance than you employer provides and you will need more dependable long-term coverage. To help evaluate your situation, you should call us today. As an independent agent based in Green Valley, we can answer your insurance questions and help you to make sure that you have the right coverage for you, whether you live in Sahuarita, Tucson or elsewhere in Arizona..

People often assume that if they are not submitting a claim to their insurance company, they do not have to notify them about a minor accident. Unfortunately, that is not what should be done. Insurance companies should be notified regardless of whether a claim is going to be filed or not.

There are a number of reasons that an insurance company should be notified when a minor accident occurs, regardless of whether a claim is going to be filed. The main reason is because of the other party involved with the accident.

Just because you are not filing a claim with your insurance company, does not mean the other party involved with the accident will not try to recover damages from your insurance provider. Notifying them of a minor accident allows your insurance company to prepare in the event the other party should contact them.

Another reason to notify the insurance company after a minor accident is because it could be grounds for a non-renewal. If a minor fender bender or accident occurred, you did not report to the insurance company and they find out later, they can use that to not renew a current insurance policy.

Many people do not wish to notify their insurance company of a minor accident because they are afraid of a potential increase in premiums. It should be noted that not all premiums will be raised as a result of an accident or even if a claim is filed. There are a number of factors that play into premium increases, including previous driving record, number of claims submitted, and who is at fault for the accident.

Worried about potential rate increases on minor accident insurance policies? Contact one of our independent insurance agents that operate out of Sahuarita and Tucson, AZ to explore various auto insurance policies from different companies to determine which offer you the best rates and coverage for your current driving needs.

If you own property in Green Valley, Arizona, it is important to make sure that your insurance coverage will protect you from natural disasters. Droughts, lightning, and thunderstorms are among the disasters that can destroy your property and set you back financially if you don’t have the right type of coverage.

How Natural Disasters Affect Your Policy

Whether you are purchasing insurance for your car or home, purchasing the minimum will likely leave you without protection in the case of a natural disaster. Green Valley is known for its monsoons, and it doesn’t take a record-breaking year of rainfall to flood your home or destroy your vehicle. With risks like this in the area, you need to be proactive to receive protection. Most insurance companies only include coverage for these events with a comprehensive plan or a special rider to your policy.

The term "acts of God" is also a point of confusion for covered policyholders. An act of God is an extreme disaster, such as lightning or an earthquake, that leads to excessive damage to your property. Because these events are hard to predict, insurance companies typically exclude coverage for these types of natural disasters in your policy.

How an Independent Agent Can Help

Insurance Center of Green Valley can help you find the right level of coverage to protect your property during a major disaster. We are trained to determine what constitutes as an act of God and what types of disasters will be included in your policy. We can also help you determine the type of disasters that especially impact Arizona residents.

Severe weather events can strike at any time, so don’t be caught without insurance that provides you with adequate protection from natural disasters. Contact us today to compare quotes from leading insurance companies to receive the best coverage.

If you operate a business of any size in Green Valley, Arizona, it is a good idea to carry insurance that protects your employees agaist on-the-job injuries. Whether you have one employee or one hundred employees, it only takes one accident to create liability for your business and set you back financially. So it’s important to keep your insurance up-to-date with liability or workers’ compensation coverage for your employees.

How to Protect Your Employees on the Job

The type of insurance that you need to protect your employees will depend on the type of business that you have. For a small home-based business, liability insurance might be sufficient for protecting you against liability and covering the medical costs of injured employees. Liability coverage can be added to almost any commercial insurance plan.

If your business involved a hazardous occupation or hires several employees, the law might require you to carry workers’ compensation insurance. In cases where you need workers’ compensation insurance, the levels of coverage that you need will be outlined by state laws, which Insurance Center of Green Valley will help you navigate.

How an Independent Agent Can Help

When you own a business, it is always important to cut costs wherever you can. This is especially true when you are selecting a commercial insurance policy. Insurance Center of Green Valley carries commercial insurance from several policies so that you can compare quotes instantly and find the best rates on insurance for your organization.

An independent agent also can help you determine whether your employees are fully covered in the case of a workplace accident. Contact us today to provide full protection for your business and to make sure that your business is fully compliant with the law.

You may not want to think about the need for life insurance, but it is coverage that no one should be without — even people who are single. Often, life insurance is marketed to families or people with dependents who rely on them for income. But a life policy is beneficial for single people too. Examples of ways life insurance money can be used include:

• Debts – Many people have personal debts, whether for credit cards, medical bills, or loans from family or friends. Life insurance can help settle these debts in the event of your untimely passing.
• Funeral Expenses – The cost of a casket, burial, funeral service, viewing, and transfers can soar into the thousands. In Sahuarita and Tucson, Arizona, these costs average more than $4,100.
• Medical Bills – Often, an untimely death is followed by expensive medical bills. Being rushed to a medical facility or spending time in a hospital can leave behind burdensome coinsurance payments and deductibles that your parents, siblings, or other loved ones may be responsible for paying.
• Legacy – Everyone has something they are aspiring to become or a cause they support. A premature death doesn’t have to mean that you cannot fulfill your wishes. The money from life insurance can be designated toward the cause of your choice — whether that be a charity or putting a niece or nephew through college.

Here at the Insurance Center of Green Valley, we help clients discover life insurance needs they may otherwise be unaware of. Whether you are single, married, or have more complicated relationship statuses, we can help you find affordable coverage that will protect the people and causes closest to your heart long after you are gone. Get a free quote today from an independent agent who can help you compare premiums and policies from Arizona’s leading life insurance providers.

When you are starting up a business, you may not have the available funds to offer your employees benefits and insurance coverage. As your company grows and thrives, you may determine that it is time to start thinking about appropriate commercial insurance policies to address the needs of your employees in Green Valley, Arizona. Although you may be ready to offer coverage, it is important to learn about the options before you make any decisions on new policies.

Health Coverage

The cost of group health insurance policies for small to mid-sized companies can seem costly at first. That is because the price per person tends to reduce as you hire more employees and a larger number of individuals are added to the plan.

When it comes to health coverage for your employees, it is important to select a plan that is appropriate for the needs of your company as well as your employees. Take your time to compare options with the help of an agent so that you can find a reasonable rate.

Worker’s Compensation

It is usually a good idea to obtain worker’s compensation insurance. Even though it is not a direct benefit, it can help if your employees are injured on the job.

Life Insurance

In general, term life coverage is less costly because it has a specific time period that is covered. You can compare a variety of life insurance options before you make a decision about the best option for your employees.

Benefits are not only limited to insurance options, but having life insurance and health coverage can make your company attractive to potential employees. Contact the Insurance Center of Green Valley to talk to an independent agent for more information.

Nothing is more worrisome than finding out that your physician or doctor had died or has retired when you are trying to obtain life insurance. When your doctor dies or retires, a life insurance company in Green Valley, Arizona does have options to obtain your medical reports and ensure that you are covered in case an accident occurs.

Asking a New Doctor

One option that may be available is asking a new doctor to check on your current health and send a new report to the insurer. A new medical doctor can run all of your tests and may become your new physician if your health insurance allows you to work with that doctor.

Asking the Facility

Another solution is working with the facility where your previous doctor worked. Even though your doctor may have retired, the facility should have a copy of your medical records available. Depending on the situation, the ability to obtain those records can vary.

Every medical facility is required to keep your reports for a set period of time. Either you can ask for a copy and send it directly to the life insurance provider or your insurer can make a request. If your insurer makes a request for the records, then you may need to give your permission before the records will be released to the company.

It is not impossible to obtain life insurance just because your doctor has passed away or is no longer actively working in the role of a physician. In some cases, you may be able to get a copy of your records by making a request. Contact the Insurance Center of Green Valley to talk to an independent agent for more information.

Owning your own business offers you a lot of flexibility in your lifestyle. You can work when, where, and how you want. But, what would happen in the event of your death or a serious disability?

There are two types of insurance policies that every small business owner should consider purchasing: life and disability.

Life insurance is designed to protect your assets after your death. Having a policy could help your business operate until it is either sold or a replacement for you is found. This can often take weeks or months, so having a policy is important. This type of insurance can also help cover any debts owed by the business, which would be passed on to your family after your death. Life insurance can also help a your family pay for everyday expenses that are no longer covered by the income from your company.

Disability insurance is available in short term and long term policies. This type of insurance is similar to life insurance, but different in that it pays out if you are seriously ill or injured and unable to work. Funds from this type of policy can be used to help run the business or take care of everyday expenses.

As you can see, both insurance policy types are incredibly important. Each business owner will have different needs in terms of the amounts of each policy, which an independent agent can help you decide.

As your local independent agent, we would be happy to speak with you about your business insurance and other commercial insurance needs. Tucson, Sahuarita, Green Valley, and other Southern Arizona business owners can contact us via telephone today.