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Although it has been around for more than a decade, usage-based auto insurance policies only recently began increasing in popularity across the United States. Usage-based auto insurance policies are ones in which policyholders agree to allow insurers to electronically monitor their driving and issue rate discounts based on the results. The insurers generally use either a combination of GPS and cellular technology, download info from the vehicle’s onboard computer or track vehicles using dash-mounted monitoring devices to determine how, when and where people tend to drive. People who drive safely and abide traffic laws can earn up to a 30 percent discount on their insurance rates.

Factors That Influence Discounts

Insurers generally are looking for how fast people go, how hard they brake, if they corner at high speeds and similar factors that indicate how safely people drive. Those who speed around corners are mostly likely to lose control and collide with another vehicle or object. Hard braking suggests the driver is following too closely to others. And speeders compound the risks of driving by going faster than allowed. If people drive often during peak traffic times, insurers will know and won’t give as much of a discount due to the increased likelihood of being in an accident, even if not at fault.

Rates Only Go Down, Not Up

Some people are concerned their auto insurance rates might rise if they sign up for a usage-based insurance policy. That’s not how the policies work. Standard underwriting practices remain when it is time to renew a policy. But the insurers realize that people generally drive in a safer manner when they know they can save money on their insurance rates by being safe behind the wheel. People tend to drive less and more cautiously. The average rate discount so far is about 15 percent, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. That’s about $150 per year.

Would you let an insurer monitor your driving to save $150 on your auto insurance bill?

Originally posted 2014-04-22 00:55:28.

Driving a vehicle on Nevada roads or any other public roads in other states requires having at least the minimum amount of state-mandated liability insurance. State officials requires the auto insurance coverage to compensate others for any injuries or property damage they might suffer due to the daily operation of the insured vehicle. Without the coverage, people would be forced to resort to lawsuits and other means to recover financial losses from injuries or property damage caused by other motorists. Having the insurance does not ensure no lawsuits would arise from any accidents that might occur. But it does provide a measure of protection for auto owners as well as accident victims while also keeping local courts free of the many lawsuits that otherwise would occur.

Three Levels of Liability Coverage

In Nevada as well as other states, there are minimum amounts of acceptable liability insurance coverage across three areas and represented by three numbers. In Nevada, the state-mandates limits are 15/30/10. That means the motorist has liability insurance coverage that will pay up to $15,000 per accident for injuries to one person, up to $30,000 total for injuries to two or more people and up to $10,000 for property damage. Injuries do not include any injuries to the named insured, whose vehicle is the one for which liability insurance coverage applies. Because the liability limits are among the lowest mandated in the nation, an accident easily can tally much higher medical and property-damage costs.

Some States Mandate Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Although Nevada is not among them, some states also require auto owners to carry uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage. The otherwise optional coverage protects drivers against injuries or property damage caused by hit-and-run drivers, motorists who have no insurance coverage and motorists who do not have enough coverage in place to pay the full cost of treating injuries, lost work, property damage and other potential expenses. If someone driving a costly luxury automobile has it totaled by another driver, the other driver’s insurance policy might only pay up to $10,000 toward damages on a vehicle that might be worth many times that amount. But underinsured motorist coverage would pay up to policy limits for what the offending driver’s liability insurance did not cover.

Do the liability limits you carry on your vehicle adequately cover the potential losses you might suffer if you cause a costly accident?

Originally posted 2014-04-09 18:39:28.

We get it; shopping around for the right life insurance policy can be intimidating; you’ll need to decide between a whole life policy or a term life policy, the amount of coverage you need, which carrier to use. . . need we go on?

But one thing you shouldn’t stress about is the inevitable physical exam that comes along with most life insurance policies. Why not stress? Sure, it’s important, and will generally effect your life insurance rates, but stressing out will raise your blood pressure – which is exactly what you want to avoid at your life insurance physical.

In fact, high blood pressure can be a good excuse for insurance carriers to give you higher rates than you’d otherwise receive, as it’s an indicator of current or future health problems. So when you’re ready to secure your policy, follow our tips for lowering your blood pressure.

Avoid Caffeine: Sorry, coffee fiends; consuming caffeine before your insurance exam can give you artificially high blood pressure. Schedule your exam for first thing in the morning, or else plan to have your “morning coffee” after your appointment.

Calm Down: Just being in a doctor’s office can be stress enough to spike your blood pressure. While you wait, take some deep breaths and practice some quick meditation. Staying calm will help the nurse get an accurate blood pressure reading.

Kill the Smokes: A smoking habit will give you higher life insurance premiums anyway, but you can at least help improve your blood pressure score by nixing the cigarettes for a day before your exam. We suggest nixing the habit altogether, but that’s just us.

Follow the instructions: Many doctors will suggest fasting prior to your exam. This is a great idea, especially because several types of food can contribute to higher blood pressure.

Time it right: Some studies indicate that your blood pressure is the highest during the early afternoon, so try to schedule your appointment first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon for the lowest reading.

Don’t let the stress of life insurance get your blood pressure up! We’re happy to help you find the policy that’s right for you.

Originally posted 2013-02-21 12:22:41.

With people’s incomes often times fluctuating and car insurance rates rising every year, it is important to take the right steps to ensure auto insurance rates are as low as possible. Those who don’t have a car but still drive from time to time and who eventually want to buy a car need to maintain liability insurance for themselves. If they don’t, they will be stuck paying high-risk rates for their auto insurance for at least the first six months they own it, and that greatly increases the cost of owning a vehicle.

Auto Insurers Require Continuous Coverage

When going without a car for a period of time and not having any kind of auto insurance coverage, auto insurers will hold that
against people when they start to drive their own vehicles. A simple solution is to have a relative or friend carry someone as a named insured on their auto insurance policy for liability coverage only when possible. That gives the individual a recent history of being insured and won’t cause auto insurers to make them pay for high-risk car insurance. Individuals also can buy open auto liability insurance to any vehicle they might be driving for low rates and help to ensure they won’t have to pay high-risk rates for up to a year when they get their next vehicle.

Motorcycle Insurance Does Not Count

Motorcycles can be fully licensed, insured and ridden regularly, but if the owner of the motorcycle does not also have at least liability auto insurance, the motorcycle insurance will not count as maintaining auto insurance. Because motorcycles generally pose a greater risk to motorcycle riders than other vehicles or property, insurers want to see auto insurance coverage in place to help ensure no accidents or other driving mishaps have occurred involving the potential driver and policyholder. So if only riding a motorcycle, it is wise to also carry minimal levels of auto liability insurance.

Are you looking to buy a car but don’t have current auto insurance coverage?

Originally posted 2014-08-01 21:08:41.

Because every day is the perfect day to lower your risk of breast cancer.

Everyone knows someone who has suffered from cancer. Breast cancer, the fourth most common form of cancer, is diagnosed in over a quarter million people in the US every year and ranks second as the leading cause of death among women. At AMS Insurance, we know that breast cancer is not completely preventable – things just happen. But there are things you can do everyday to minimize your risk of breast cancer.

Keep Your Weight Healthy

Though the research on this is somewhat incomplete, there does seem to be a relation between excess weight and breast cancer – particularly for post menopausal women. Avoid the tendency to gain weight over time. If you need to lose weight, make a goal to reduce your weight by a half pound ever week. If you need smaller increments, that’s fine too.

Throw Out the Alcohol

Or at least drink very little of it – no more than one drink per day. Women who have two or more drinks a day double their risk of breast cancer (when compared to women who don’t drink at all).

Make Exercise Part of Your Daily Routine

This is no surprise; exercise is good for everything, and breast cancer is no exception. Something as simple as speed walking a few times a week can reduce your risk significantly. Spread your exercise out through the week for optimal results.

Just Take Care of Yourself

This might seem like something we’ve already covered, but simply living a lifestyle that is happy and healthy will help prevent cancer. Don’t smoke, get your sleep, and live a life of healthy moderation. Keep your stress down, work and live in a healthy environment, and treat yourself right.

Of course, none of these steps can guarantee a long, happy, cancer-free life. There are genetic and environmental factors to take into account – things that are out of your control. But do what you can do to take control of your life.

Originally posted 2014-01-23 15:50:27.