5 Tips for Reviewing Your Home insurance Policy

Home insurance is one of those things that you hope you never have to use, but it’s there for peace of mind in case the worst happens. Whether it’s vandalism, burglary, or an accidental kitchen fire, home insurance can help you rebuild your life. But when was the last time you reviewed your policy? Home insurance companies are constantly updating their policies and introducing new coverage, so it’s important to review your policy regularly to ensure you’re still getting the best coverage. Not sure where to start? Bachmann Insurance Agency in Flushing, MI offers this guide in navigating this important coverage.

Here are five tips to help you review your home insurance policy:

1. Know Your Coverage Limits

The first step in reviewing your home insurance policy is to know your coverage limits. The maximum amount that your insurance coverage will pay out if you have a claim is known as your coverage limit. Most home insurance policies have two coverage limits: one for the dwelling itself and one for your personal belongings. Make sure you know your coverage limits and that they’re adequate to cover the replacement cost of your home and belongings.

2. Know What Changes You’ve Made to Your Home

The next step is to take inventory of any changes you’ve made to your home since you last reviewed your policy. Have you renovated your kitchen or added a new bathroom? These types of changes can affect your dwelling coverage limit. If you’ve made any major changes to your home, let your insurance company know so that they can adjust your coverage limits accordingly.

3. Know What’s Covered and What’s Not

Now that you know your coverage limits, it’s time to take a closer look at what exactly is covered by your policy. Most home insurance policies cover damage from fire, wind, hail, and lightning, but there are some exclusions, so it’s important to read your policy carefully. For example, many policies exclude damage from flooding, earthquakes, and sinkholes. If you live in an area that’s prone to these natural disasters, you may need to purchase additional coverage.

4. Know When Your Needs Change

Your needs will change over time, and your home insurance policy should reflect those changes. For example, if you get married or have a baby, you’ll need to ensure your coverage limits are adequate to protect your growing family.

5. Read the Terms and Conditions

Last but not least, carefully read the terms and conditions of your policy. Home insurance policies are long and complex, so it’s important to understand all the details before making a claim. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact your insurance company for clarification.

Give Us A Call

By following these five tips, you can ensure that you’re getting the best coverage for your needs. Reviewing your home insurance policy regularly is the best way to ensure you’re prepared for anything. If you have questions about your policy or need help finding the right coverage, Bachmann Insurance Agency in Flushing, MI can help. Give us a call today to get started.

Do I Need To Visit A Doctor To Get Health Insurance?

You might need to visit your doctor if you want to get health insurance, but you do not necessarily have to have a diagnosis to qualify for health insurance. Many health plans, especially those offered through private vendors or exchanges, are "not-for-profit," which means that they are not required to make a profit for their investors. 

If you do not have any current health issues that would prevent you from obtaining health insurance and you plan to buy a plan from a non-profit organization, then you do not necessarily need to see a doctor. No, you can purchase health insurance from a private company as an individual. 

To purchase insurance from a public program, such as Medicaid, you will likely need to visit your doctor for a diagnosis. Some public programs do not require a visit to a doctor, but you will likely need to visit a doctor’s office to confirm that you meet the program’s requirements. For assistance, consult Bachmann Insurance Agency in Flushing, MI. 

How To Get Health Insurance

You may qualify for a reduced premium or no copayment or deductibles if you have a pre-existing condition. If your job provides you with health insurance, you can still buy stand-alone or "individual" insurance outside of open enrollment. 

Getting insurance as soon as possible if you are diagnosed with a chronic condition will help you get the best coverage and avoid any waiting periods. Some people may also need to shop around to find a plan that will cover their medication. You can also get a plan that will cover your medication if you have a specific plan that doesn’t cover it. 

Give Us A Call

You may need to see a doctor if searching for private health insurance. However, if you are looking for public health insurance, you may be able to get coverage without seeing a doctor. Health insurance comes in various shapes and sizes, each designed to suit the needs of a specific type of consumer. 

If having a pre-existing condition and seeking to buy health insurance, you will likely need to visit a doctor to get a letter proving that condition and/or get a "go-private" quote to help you purchase a policy.  Contact us at Bachmann Insurance Agency in Flushing, MI for health and other insurance-related advice. 

What are the benefits of health insurance?

Many of us would be unprepared to cover a health emergency if we had to pay for it. Emergency room visits can be extremely expensive, just as routine doctor visits can be. Health insurance helps cover some of the cost of healthcare. This is a benefit that is helpful to both the young and the old. However, there are additional benefits as well. 

What is Health Insurance?

Health insurance or medical insurance, like any other insurance, is designed to offset or alleviate some of the financial strain of medical costs. This type of insurance is designed to cover or pay for a partial amount of medical costs. In other words, health insurance helps you manage or control the cost of healthcare emergencies and routine doctor visits. Health insurance usually partially covers preventative healthcare, screenings, vaccines, and check-ups. Most health plans have a network of doctors you can choose from. You pay a deductible/partial fee to see an in-network doctor. However, if you opt to see a doctor who isn’t in your network, you may pay more or your care may not be covered by your insurance. This means that you may be required to pay the full cost of your doctor’s visit. 

What are the Benefits of Health Insurance? 

The first obvious benefit of health insurance is financial. Health insurance makes healthcare much more affordable. Bachmann Insurance Agency is committed to helping Flushing, MI residents understand health insurance. In addition to the financial benefits, health insurance makes it easier to practice preventative health and get the help you need in the event of financial emergencies. Routine doctor visits with a personal doctor make it easier to manage your health and any unexpected health issues that may arise. Often, potential issues can be caught before they become serious. If you have questions about health insurance, give us a call. We’d be happy to answer all of your questions.

Underrated Auto Insurance Facts

Bachmann Insurance Agency proudly serves Flushing, MI residents. We are committed to helping our clients obtain the coverage to manage risks. We strive to provide service using trust and integrity. We will sit down with you and formalize a strategy. This allows us to offer you custom policies that align with your situation.

Underrated Auto Insurance Facts

Traveling around Michigan in your car may seem a regular occurrence. However, it’s essential to stay alert while on the road. That’s why auto insurance is an asset. Auto insurance covers you during emergencies. The policy covers any damage to your vehicle due to a collision with another car or object. In the unfortunate event that you are held responsible for the damages, liability coverage steps in to protect your assets. Liability coverage covers the necessary repairs for any property damage you’ve caused and any medical treatment if your vehicle hurt someone. Comprehensive coverage protects your car if it is stolen or damaged due to inclement weather. While looking over your policy, here are some underrated auto insurance facts.

Animal Collisions

If you are traveling through the Upper Peninsula, you may encounter some deer and other animals on the road. Comprehensive coverage protects you if your vehicle suffers damage from a collision with an animal.

Modified Coverage

Perhaps you plan to modify your engine in the future or have other accessories installed. You can add modified coverage to your auto insurance policy. This ensures that you will be fully covered if your car is damaged after the upgrades are installed. Having your vehicle appraised is also recommended.

Bachmann Insurance Agency Will Help You Protect Your Assets

Contact our office in Flushing, MI to learn more information about auto insurance.

What’s included Flushing, MI auto insurance policy?

Auto insurance isn’t just encouraged. It’s the law.

Like most states, Michigan has defined auto insurance requirements. In fact, their minimum coverage limits are more strict than most. And these guidelines are constantly evolving. Luckily, Bachmann Insurance Agency stays current. Serving Flushing, MI, their agents are experts at navigating these regulations. 

Using this knowledge, Bachmann Insurance Agency lists four essential items that any auto insurance policy must include.

Bodily injury liability

Michigan mandates liability coverage for all drivers. The first part of this protection is for bodily injury. If a collision results in serious injury to another motorist, this reimburses those expenses. By law, drivers must carry $50,000 for any single person involved. A total of $100,000 is needed per incident for all people.

Property damage liability

Another form of liability, property damage extends to any damage to someone’s property. While this applies most often to vehicle damage, it also includes the destruction of buildings and other structures. Michigan requires at least $10,000 in property damage coverage. However, in 2019, the state became a no-fault state. For this reason, property damage liability is most relevant for accidents occurring outside of the state.

Personal injury protection

Abbreviated as "PIP," personal injury protection specifically produces benefits for these no-fault claims. Unlike liability, this applies to you personally. It can pay a portion of lost wages, medical expenses, and other needed services that result from an incident.

Property Protection Insurance

Similar to property damage liability, this covers damage to "tangible property." But, it also applies to in-state destruction only. Any Michigan auto policy requires $1 million coverage.

Contact an agent serving Flushing, MI

Bachmann Insurance Agency knows that auto insurance is more than just a legal requirement. It protects you, your family, your assets, and other drivers on the roadways. Schedule an appointment immediately.

Commercial Insurance Options in Michigan

If you own a business in Michigan, you will want to protect the investment of time and money you have made into your business by having an adequate amount of commercial insurance in place. The agents at the Bachmann Insurance Agency serving the Flushing MI area are here to help you with all of the commercial insurance needs you have for your business.

Required Coverage

In Michigan, you must have worker’s compensation in place to cover any employees you have at your business who could become injured while on the job. This type of coverage will help pay their lost wages and medical bills.

If you own any vehicles through your business or use personal vehicles for business purposes, you must have at least a liability auto insurance policy in place to legally drive in Michigan. You can obtain a commercial auto insurance policy in addition to your other coverage options for your business insurance.

Other Options

You will definitely want to have commercial general liability insurance in place to protect you from any potential lawsuits if a customer of your business is injured while on your property or if a person is injured due to an incident that occurs while your employees are out in the field working depending on the nature of your business.

There are many different other coverage options available under commercial insurance that the commercial insurance agents at the Bachmann Insurance Agency serving the Flushing, MI can explain to you. Some of those include professional liability commercial insurance and cyber insurance. Call for your appointment today to get your commercial insurance policy started to protect your Michigan business!

Do You Need Home Insurance in Michigan?

Whether you owe money to a bank or mortgage company for the purchase of your home or do not owe anything at all on it, the state of Michigan does not require you to have home insurance in place, but it is a good idea to have a home insurance policy in place anyway.

Home Insurance Coverage

A home insurance policy can help to repair or rebuild your home if it is destroyed or damaged by a fire, a natural disaster, or an act of vandalism.

A home insurance policy will cover the structure of your house as well as outbuildings, including decks and sheds. The policy can also cover your personal belongings, such as your appliances, clothing, household items, and furniture. If your home is robbed, your home insurance policy will help cover the cost of things that are lost. If someone is injured due to a fall or other incident while visiting your property, your home insurance policy can help cover the costs of any medical bills that are incurred.

Your insurance agent at Bachmann Insurance Agency in Flushing, MI can explain to you some of the other home insurance-related policies that you can choose from in addition to your main home insurance policy, including flood insurance and earthquake insurance. If your property is located in an area that is prone to earthquakes or flooding, it is important to have these types of coverage options in place along with your main home insurance policy.

The agents at the Bachmann Insurance Agency in Flushing, MI are ready to assist you with all of your home insurance needs. Call for a quote or to make an appointment today and get your home insurance policy started.

Michigan Health Insurance: Are You Using Your Health Insurance Properly?

It is easy to be confused by the health care system, as there are so many different kinds of health care, and each insurance company has its own set of procedures. You may be wondering if you are using your health insurance properly and to the fullest. You may not even be wondering about that, and not know that you could use your health care to your advantage a little more.

At Bachmann Insurance Agency, we know how important health care is to every Flushing, MI resident. We want you to make the most use possible of your health insurance.

How to Use Your Health Insurance Policy

Every insurance company has a set way of doing things when it comes to taking advantage of your health care benefits. When you are enrolling, be sure that you make notes of what your benefits and limits are. Many plans will want you to use specific doctors, clinics, and hospitals.

When you go to the doctor or clinic, you will provide your insurance information. The first time, the clinic may take a copy of your policy card, or enter your information into their system.

This is the information that your doctors and practitioners will use to get paid. You may have a co-pay with your services. That means you may have to pay a nominal fee every time you go to the doctor, and your insurance covers the rest.

There is also a phone number on your insurance card that you can use any time you have questions about your health care.

Kinds of Health Care

There are a few different kinds of health care that you can choose from, depending on your budget. A fee-for-service model is typically the most flexible and allows you to choose your providers and doctors. A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) will offer a co-payment system and covers preventive care such as cancer screening, vaccinations, cholesterol screening, and programs like smoking cessation programs. 

A PPO or preferred provider organization will offer co-payments as well, but also offers more options for clinics and doctors.

Talk to Your Insurance Company

There may be a lot of things included in your health care plan that you can take advantage of that you don’t know about. At Bachmann Insurance Agency, we want Flushing, MI to get the most out of their plan. Give us a call today and we’ll walk you through the process.

What Does Liability Mean on an Auto Insurance Policy?

Auto accident liability is critical to understand for all drivers. And at Bachmann Insurance Agency, we can help drivers in and near Flushing, MI get the policies they need and provide high-quality coverage that will meet your needs as a driver.

Auto Accident Liability Explained 

Liability is a term that, in essence, means that you caused the accident and are at fault for it. In auto insurance terms, this means one of two different types of damage. The first of these is bodily injury liability protection. It covers any injuries that you may have caused in an accident. 

So, if you hit somebody else’s car while driving and caused them serious physical injury, your liability coverage would pay for their treatment. This would also include lawsuit situations, such as if they attempt to sue you for mental and physical suffering alongside their medical expenses. 

The second liability element consists of property damage protection. It covers all damage to property in an accident at which you are at fault. It often applies to other cars and may help repair or replace a damaged vehicle if you were at fault or liable for the accident. 

However, this liability protection also helps fix any damage to other property you may have caused. For instance, if you crash into a home and damage it with your car, your liability will pay (up to your limits) for the repairs. You cover anything after your policy limit. 

Get the Help You Need 

Do you need auto insurance that can handle these liability concerns? Then, please call us at Bachmann Insurance Agency right away to learn more. Our team helps Flushing, MI residents manage the unique difficulties of buying the best policy possible for your needs as a driver.

When Should You Start Looking for Health Insurance?

At Bachmann Insurance Agency, many of our customers have found that they need health insurance more than they realized. But when should you seek out Flushing, MI area policies for your needs? And which work the best for you? Read on to find out more about this vital fact.

When to Search for Policies

We typically suggest that you start searching for health insurance policies when you get over the age of 25-30, as it is at this point, many lingering health issues might start becoming more common. And if you already have some health concerns affecting you, it might be a good idea to look into a policy designed to meet your specific needs. In our opinion, it is never too early or late to start shopping for insurance. 

Plan Types to Consider 

Typically, insurance plans come in a few different varieties, which can be carefully chosen to meet your needs as a person. These options often create a network of providers where you can work and give you coverage that you need:

  • HMO provides coverage for a specific area 
  • PPO lets you use out of network care
  • EPO requires you to work with a specific provider 
  • POS requires referrals for many types of care 

The option you choose should vary based on your needs, including how much coverage you need, the type of health issues you may need to be treated, and other critical factors to consider for your treatment needs. 

We Can Help You

At Bachmann Insurance Agency, we serve the Flushing, MI area with high-quality policies that work for your needs. So, please don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as possible to get the insurance you need. We’ll work with your situation to give you the most comprehensive policy possible.