DarrasLiving

As many states across the country raise awareness of the dangers of severe weather, it is crucial to highlight one of its very dangerous and costly side effects: flooding. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness to discuss common flood insurance misconceptions and how to overcome them to ensure you’re protected against the effects of severe weather.

As you make your way through your spring-cleaning checklist, don’t forget one very important thing: now is a good time to review your homeowners insurance policy. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness to talk about life events that may prompt a policy review and which elements of your home insurance policy you should assess.

February is American Heart Month, so you've probably seen lots of news about identification and prevention of heart conditions. But what happens if you've already had a heart attack? Many people wonder if they can receive disability benefits for the aftereffects of a heart attack. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness to address the common myths and facts about filing for disability benefits due to a heart attack.

There are many myths floating around about disability insurance - the most common is that there isn't much of a difference between SSDI and private long-term disability insurance. Often, Americans will choose to skip the latter because they think the former will provide for them if they become disabled. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discuss the key differences between Social Security Disability Insurance and private long-term disability insurance.

  There are many myths floating around about disability insurance - the most common is that there isn't much of a difference between SSDI and private long-term disability insurance. Often, Americans will choose to skip the latter because they think the former will provide for them if they become disabled. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discuss the key differences between Social Security Disability Insurance and private long-term disability insurance.

Earlier this month, we discussed one new year's resolution that can help you find peace of mind: make January the time to review and update your insurance policies. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discuss our final tips for evaluating your insurance policies to ensure a smart start to the new year.

Many Americans begin the new year with a resolution of some sort, such as getting in better shape, traveling more, or learning a new skill. While many of these resolutions are rarely kept, there is one that can help you find peace of mind: make January the time to review and update your insurance policies. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discuss tips for evaluating your insurance policies to ensure a smart start to the new year.

New Year's Eve is often celebrated with parties, drinks, and a countdown to the dawn of a new year. However, a holiday meant to celebrate friends and family is often spoiled by mishaps that lead to insurance claims. In this podcast episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth, and Happiness to look at common New Year's Eve insurance disasters and how to avoid them.  

You thought you covered the essentials: your home, your car, and your health are all insured. What else could you need? Unfortunately, many Americans who insure their basic needs have gaps in coverage that can unexpectedly drain their savings if disaster strikes. In this episode, we team up with Gary Pozsik from Health, Wealth, and Happiness to discuss three common insurance problems you may not be prepared for and how you can fill the coverage gaps.

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a busy holiday season, which comes with a unique set of hazards.  In this podcast episode, we discuss insurance tips to help you have a safe Thanksgiving, whether you're staying home and entertaining guests or traveling far distances to spend time with loved ones.

Veterans Day is meant to honor those who served in the United States Armed Forces and thank them for said service. Unfortunately, respect for veterans does not always extend to them when they need it most. Veterans filing a claim for disability benefits experience overwhelming delays and unreasonable denials. The Center for Investigative Reporting found that the average wait time to evaluate a veteran's disability claim was at least 277 days. In this episode, we discuss why veteran disability claims are delayed and denied and whether veterans can increase their chances of approval.

Open enrollment is a critical time for employees, as it provides the opportunity to select or update health, disability, and life insurance coverage for the next year. However, many employees do not pay attention to changes in their existing plans for make time to reevaluate their insurance needs. In this episode, we discuss tips to help you make the most of open enrollment, understand your options, and find the best coverage to fit your ever-changing needs. Read the show notes for highlights from this episode.

Insurance companies keep records of everything, including what kinds of claims occur each month. This information helps us identify seasonal hazards that lead to insurance claims and understand how to avoid them. Data from the recent Farmers Insurance Seasonal Smarts Digest reveals several potential home insurance claims  that are commonly filed in the fall. In this episode, we discuss three fall hazards you may encounter and what you can do to avoid them.

Most adults know the importance of life insurance; after all, one in three households would have immediate trouble paying living expenses if the primary wage earner died, according to the 2016 Insurance Barometer Study by Life Happens and LIMRA. Did you know you can also purchase life insurance for your children? Some insurance agents say purchasing life insurance for your children is a smart financial move, but many financial advisors caution against it. In this DarrasLiving episode, we discuss the common reasons for purchasing life insurance and whether they make sense for your children.    

One in three households would have immediate trouble paying living expenses if the primary wage earner died, according to the 2016 Insurance Barometer Study by Life Happens and LIMRA. 85% of survey respondents said most people need life insurance, yet only 62% have coverage. Many people do not purchase life insurance due to misconceptions - they think it's too expensive, it's not right for their needs, or they don't understand the available options. In honor of Life Insurance Awareness Month, this DarrasLiving episode explores five questions to ask before buying life insurance.

Are you planning a getaway over Labor Day weekend? In this episode, we discuss the insurance and safety tips to consider before you pack your bags and hit the road. Protect your home while you're away. Unplug any appliances that do not need to stay plugged in, such as toasters, coffee makers, phone chargers, televisions and computers. Plugged-in appliances are known to cause home electrical failure fires. Ask a friend or neighbor to stop by the house randomly, so they don't establish a pattern that would-be thieves could use to their advantage. Ask them to check the mail, pick up packages from the doorstep, and take fliers from the door. If you are going away for a long time, reduce the risk of floods or leaks by turning off the water to your washing machine, dishwasher and toilets. Avoid posting on social media while away on vacation. Many thieves pick their targets based on social media activity. Consider travel insurance for costly or long trips. One in six Americans has had their travel plans impacted by medical conditions, natural disasters or mechanical or carrier-cause problems, according to the US Travel Insurance Association. Of those affected, only one in five had travel insurance. If you are traveling a long distance, taking more than a brief vacation, OR taking a costly trip, travel insurance may provide you with protection and peace of mind. Here are some circumstances travel insurance may cover: Trip cancellation. This is the most common concern for most travelers. Typically, travel insurance can reimburse you for pre-paid, nonrefundable expenses if you need to cancel your trip ahead of time. Each insurance company will provide its own list of covered reasons for trips cancellation. However, common reasons may include: You are laid off from work or required to work A terrorist incident occurs in your destination city You are summoned for jury duty Your travel destination has been damaged by a natural disaster Trip interruption. If a covered event occurs while you are on a trip and you are required to return home, travel insurance may reimburse you for the lost portion of the trip. It may also cover additional expenses for the last-minute flight home. Medical cancellation, interruption or evacuation. If you must cancel or cut your trip short due to the sickness, injury, or death of you, a family member or traveling companion, you must purchase this specific coverage. Medical treatment or evacuation while abroad can be costly, and many people mistakenly assume they are covered for these medical emergencies. Examine your health insurance policy to determine what coverage, if any, you have abroad, and supplement with a travel insurance policy to cover any gaps. Tune up your auto insurance before you hit the road. Review your auto insurance policy prior to travel. Double-check your collision and liability coverage prior to travel. If you don't already have roadside assistance coverage, ask your auto insurance agent if you can add it to your policy. If you're leaving the state, ensure that your auto insurance coverage is likely valid in another state, even if your insurer does not sell there. Consider rental car insurance. If you're renting a car for your trip, making sure that you have the right insurance coverage can be tricky. Car rental places will encourage you to get insurance through the, but you may not need it. Ask your insurance agent how your specific policy covers rental cars before you purchase additional coverage.

As many young adults prepare to head off for college, insurance is probably the last thing on their mind. However, leaving home without proper insurance coverage can spell financial disaster for students and their parents alike. In this podcast episode, we discuss insurance coverage tips that parents and their college-bound students should consider.    

According to U.S. News and World Report, only 100,000 traditional long-term care insurance policies were sold in 2015, compared to 700,000 in 2000. People aren't buying long term care insurance policies for many valid reasons, but the increasing cost is the most common. However, 9 million Americans over the age of 65 needed assistance in 2012. That number is expected to grow to 12 million in 2020. Is there a way for millions of Americans to fund their long term care without buying an insurance policy? In this podcast episode, we join Gary Pozsik of Health, Wealth and Happiness to examine the true need and cost of long term care insurance, as well what your alternative solutions are.

Although self-driving cars have garnered various kinds of media attention lately, one thing is clear: the revolution is underway and won’t slow down any time soon. In fact, BMW has joined the ranks of other auto manufacturers developing self-driving technology and has announced it will deliver a self-driving car by 2021. A future of self-driving cars could change many things. In this episode, we discuss what changes this revolution could bring to your auto insurance.

Frank Darras join Nathan Bachrach, Ed Finke, and Amy Wagner, hosts of 55KRC Cincinnati’s Simply Money, to discuss how parents can combat the high costs of insuring a teenage driver.