http://www.heritageinsonline.com/blog/View Heritage Insurance Agency's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.heritageinsonline.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:066daca6-cdce-41f1-afe4-d026546fc288urn:uuid:c90e353b-392d-4759-a3b3-0dfadf82c56f<img src='http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000001659762XSmall.jpg' align='left' />One of the most important benefits that employers give their employees is the benefit of group insurance. For some, these group benefits are the only forms of insurance protection that an individual will ever have. But when possible, employees should...Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:30:26 -0500<p><img src="/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000001659762XSmall.jpg" style="width: 225px; height: 150px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" alt="Man falling down" />One of the most important benefits that employers give their employees is the benefit of group insurance. For some, these group benefits are the only forms of insurance protection that an individual will ever have. But when possible, employees should enjoy these group benefits not as a sole source of protection from all the financial risks they face, but as a supplement their personal insurance policies. </p> <p>If you aren&rsquo;t sure why you should have both individual and group insurance coverage, consider these points on three different types of group insurance policies:</p> <ul> <li style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><strong>Life insurance:</strong> Group life insurance benefits are very inexpensive and can be a great comfort to your family if they lose you while you are employed. But these plans are not portable&mdash;meaning you can&rsquo;t take them with you when you leave. Having your own life insurance policy allows you the comfort of knowing you are insured whether you are employed or not. In addition, group life insurance benefits do not generally include accruing cash values which can be a source of tax-free loans in the future.</li> <li style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><strong>Health insurance:</strong> Group health insurance coverage is especially helpful when you have a pre-existing condition that is hard to get covered with an individual health insurance policy. Group health costs can also be more affordable for those who have pre-existing conditions. However, group coverage can be less competitively priced for those who are young and healthy. It is also restrictive in options. You may not be able to see your existing doctors and have it covered in-network. And when you leave your employer, you can only carry the coverage for an additional 18 months in most instances. </li> <li style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><strong>Disability:</strong> When you are employed and covered by a group disability insurance plan, you will have an affordable premium along with the protection of either short- or long-term disability benefits&mdash;and in some cases, both. This will be especially helpful if you suffer an injury that is not covered by workers compensation. But if you leave your job and go to another employer who doesn&rsquo;t offer that benefit, you could be left without a disability benefit after a non work-related accident, illness or injury. </li> </ul> <p>It is up to you to fully protect yourself and your family from financial risks. Insurance policies offer you an affordable, reliable means for doing so. And while employer-sponsored group policies do offer some attractive benefits, they may not be suitable as your only source of protection. Contact us to discuss your options for <a href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/health/default.aspx" title="Health Insurance">Group Health Insurance in South Carolina</a> at (864) 269-6860.</p>urn:uuid:a6fbadd2-87b8-4ffd-9864-afbfad651a2a<img src='http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/~www.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000012934288XSmall.jpg' align='left' />Being a business owner is a lot like being a professional athlete in a competitive sport. Not only do you need to do that thing you do&mdash;and do it well, but you must also pay attention to everything going on around you and look out for potential ...Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:06:53 -0500<p><img src="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/~www.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000012934288XSmall.jpg" style="width: 225px; height: 150px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" alt="Commercial Auto - Truck" />Being a business owner is a lot like being a professional athlete in a competitive sport. Not only do you need to do that thing you do&mdash;and do it well, but you must also pay attention to everything going on around you and look out for potential problems before they occur. This can be an exciting and invigorating way to live, but it can also expose you to many risks that are easily covered if you invest in the right kind of insurance coverage for your company. </p> <p>Commercial auto insurance is one of the types of insurance policies that can offer your business protection, but it&rsquo;s often overlooked by business owners who underestimate the amount of risk they face by carrying the wrong kind of car insurance for the business use of their vehicle. </p> <p><strong>Customer-related Liabilities</strong></p> <p>If any of your client&rsquo;s property ever enters your vehicle, then you could be facing some major potential liabilities.&nbsp; Not only could an accident or theft result in the loss of the client&rsquo;s property and value, but depending on the nature of the property, that loss could lead to negative impacts on your client&rsquo;s business or personal life, which would increase your liability.&nbsp; </p> <p>And your &lsquo;customer&rsquo;s property&rsquo; doesn&rsquo;t just mean items that they hand over to you for your care or repair, it can also mean deliverables that your customer paid you for and expected you to deliver by an agreed upon date. This broadens the pool of what you can consider your client&rsquo;s property and, as a result, increases your potential liability. </p> <p><strong>Employee Liabilities</strong></p> <p>If you send an employee out on an errand for your business or have them carrying your customer&rsquo;s property in their vehicle, and they have an accident during this business-related travel, you are liable for their injuries and damage to their vehicle. If you have commercial auto insurance, then the claim can be put through your auto policy. If not, your business could lose money settling its responsibility.</p> <p>There is no benefit to not buying the right kind of insurance for your car and business. Commercial auto insurance is an affordable way to protect your business assets and ensure the continuation of your company. Without it, you could lose your business and your livelihood after just one uncovered accident. Contact us today to discuss your options for <a href="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/business/commercial_auto_quote.aspx" title="Commercial auto quote">South Carolina Business Auto Insurance</a> at (864) 269-6860.</p>urn:uuid:14397909-9994-40f4-acb1-87afe6f1e0ef<img src='http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000004041590XSmall.jpg' align='left' />If you have a whole life insurance policy then part of your annual premium payment is applied toward your policy&rsquo;s accumulating cash values. Cash values create the surrender and loan value of your life insurance contract, which means that your ...Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:10:11 -0500<p><img alt="Life Insurance" style="width: 225px; height: 150px; float: left; margin-right: 7px; margin-bottom: 4px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" src="/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000004041590XSmall.jpg" />If you have a whole <a title="Life Insurance Information" href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/life/default.aspx">life insurance</a> policy then part of your annual premium payment is applied toward your policy&rsquo;s accumulating cash values. Cash values create the surrender and loan value of your life insurance contract, which means that your policy has a value beyond its death benefit, and that value can be borrowed against. Before you decide to take a loan from your life insurance policy, there are some things that you should understand. </p> <p><strong>A loan is a loan:</strong> Cash value loans are just that&mdash;loans. They do need to be paid back. If you don&rsquo;t pay back the loan before death, your death benefit can be reduced by the amount of the outstanding loan balance and interest. Depending on the amount you&rsquo;ve borrowed, this could have a serious impact on your beneficiaries.</p> <p><strong>Interest charges:</strong> You will be charged interest on cash value loans, but that interest is paid back to you in your cash values. </p> <p><strong>Premium loans (APL):</strong> Your cash values can be applied to premiums due if you have this feature set up through your insurance company. It is called an applied (or automatic) premium loan (APL) and while it may prevent your policy from lapsing, it is still a loan and, if not paid back, can reduce your death benefit. Don&rsquo;t take for granted that your insurance company has automatically set your policy up for this process, call your agent to make sure.</p> <p><strong>Surrender value:</strong> While this post is primarily about cash value loans, it is important to clarify surrender values since they represent a different portion of your cash value reserves. Your actual cash value may not be the amount of money that you are entitled to if you decide to surrender your policy. Your surrender value represents the policyholder equity, and the amount of money you would be paid by the insurance company if you decided to surrender your policy. </p> <p><strong>Taxes:</strong> Loans from cash values are not taxable. Because they are loans to be paid back, they are not considered gains. Cash received through a cash surrender may be all (or partially) taxable.</p> <p>Cash value loans, while convenient and accessible, should not be taken lightly. The decision to borrow from your life insurance policy could have an impact on your heirs if you aren&rsquo;t able to pay it back before death. Additionally, if you take enough, you may wipe out any remaining balance, leaving your policy without the option for an APL if you miss a premium, which puts you in danger of lapsing. Take some time to evaluate your need for the loan and the possible consequences of taking it before you move forward. Call us if you have any questions or concerns about <a title="Life Insurance Information" href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/life/insurance_quote.aspx">South Carolina Life Insurance</a> at <strong>(864) 269-6860</strong>.</p>urn:uuid:5c0852e2-04bb-4190-87ca-f8e70a5018d5<img src='http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000014555140XSmall.jpg' align='left' />When you first contemplate buying insurance, there are many various terms and policy choices that can be easily misinterpreted. Many consumers don&rsquo;t realize the full scope of what their policies cover. What are the deductibles and limits on the...Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:43:45 -0500<p><img src="/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000014555140XSmall.jpg" style="width: 225px; height: 150px; float: left; margin-right: 7px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" alt="House flood" />When you first contemplate buying insurance, there are many various terms and policy choices that can be easily misinterpreted. Many consumers don&rsquo;t realize the full scope of what their policies cover. What are the deductibles and limits on the policy? What special situations are covered in the auto or homeowners policies? All of these questions are easily answered by calling your insurance agent or scanning your policy.</p> <p>But not all insurance misunderstandings are innocent. If you believe some insurable incident is covered by your existing auto or homeowners&rsquo; insurance policy and it really isn&rsquo;t, you could be exposing yourself to financial risks that you are unable to face on your own. One cause of this type of uncertainty involves <a href="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/flood/default.aspx" title="Flood insurance">flood insurance</a>.</p> <p>Many consumers believe that flood insurance is included in their homeowners&rsquo; policy. Unfortunately, this assumption is so common that many policy holders don&rsquo;t ask their insurance agent if their homeowners&rsquo; insurance policy will cover the destruction caused by flood waters&mdash;they just assume that it will.&nbsp; This assumption can turn out to be a very costly mistake after a flood actually occurs. Presuming that their homeowners insurance policy provides flood coverage stops them from taking the required steps to find out the truth about flood insurance and protect their family and their assets accordingly. </p> <p>Now that we know that homeowners insurance policies do not cover damage caused by flood waters, let&rsquo;s determine what actually comprises of flood waters. The National Flood Insurance Program defines a flood as:</p> <p><strong>&ldquo;A flood is a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow.&rdquo;</strong></p> <p>The definition of a flood is simple to understand, but the reason that many homeowners think it&rsquo;s included in their insurance policy is because many of the events that can cause floods cause other damages that <em>are</em> covered under a homeowners insurance policy. For instance, a hurricane may cause wind damage to your home that is covered in your policy, but it may also cause normally dry land to be briefly flooded by water, which could seep into your house and damage your floors and furniture&mdash;but because those are flood waters, they will only be covered if you have a flood policy. </p> <p>So call us to get your <a href="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/flood/insurance_quote.aspx" title="Flood quote form">flood policy</a> in place today, whether you live in a flood zone or not. It&rsquo;s protection that isn&rsquo;t covered in your homeowners policy but needs to be in place to keep your family safe. Call us today at <strong>(888) 269-6860</strong>.</p>urn:uuid:4e608c95-c5b2-4dd8-a181-61164ccc760d<img src='http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000003590222XSmall.jpg' align='left' />When you apply for an auto insurance policy, before the insurance company can issue the policy they must try to foresee how much risk you will be worth if the policy is written. This helps them to manage the claims experience they have, determine whe...Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:37:28 -0500<p>When you apply for an <a title="Auto Insurance Policy" href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/automobile/default.aspx">auto insurance policy</a>, before the insurance company can issue the policy they must try to foresee how much risk you will be worth if the policy is written. This helps them to manage the claims experience they have, determine whether or not to issue your policy and, if they do issue your policy, decide how much to charge you for it. <strong>The process during which they assess your risk is called underwriting.</strong></p> <p><img src="/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000003590222XSmall.jpg" style="width: 225px; height: 150px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" alt="Older drivers" />While underwriting your auto insurance policy for coverage, underwriters will take into account various criteria including your previous driving record. They will obtain a motor vehicle report (MVR) to see how many tickets, accidents and other driving incidents you&rsquo;ve had, what the tickets have been for, and decide how much influence those actions have on your current driving habits. Some of your past behavior&mdash;like speeding&mdash;will make you a riskier candidate to insure than others. This is because your past deeds and choices imply something about your personality and habits. Someone who has been cited with several speeding tickets in the past is more likely to have an accident and has also shown a propensity to ignore the legal speeding limit. This shows that the driver might be liable to disregard other driving laws and safe driving practices, therefore making him more likely to have an accident resulting in an insurance claim.</p> <p><strong>Other qualities underwriters consider include your age, gender and marital status.</strong> It may seem like these have no effect on whether you are a good driver, and in actuality, they don&rsquo;t. No random fact about you determines whether you drive well, but based on many studies and anecdotal evidence, underwriters can create assumptions about probability of whether you drive safely and conscientiously based on these aspects. For example, a married man who is in his thirties will be considered less risky a driver than a single girl who is sixteen. Why? Well, a 30-year-old of any gender will generally have more driving experience than a 16-year-old, and a married person is usual viewed as being matured and more responsible because he has people who depend on him. And while none of these assumptions are guarantees about the integrity of the driver in question, <strong>the practice of underwriting relies on both gathering evidence of actual driving history and making suppositions based on this data.</strong></p> <p>It is through this careful balance of assumption, statistical data and historical driving information that underwriters decide whether or not to issue your policy and how much to charge you for it. The only data you really have any say over in this instance is your driving record, so be sure to keep your record clean and free of citations that are avoidable if you just follow the posted laws. &nbsp;<br /> <br /> </p> <h2>Heritage Insurance Agency</h2> As an independent agency we can offer our clients what direct writers cannot; More Choices and Better Rates.&nbsp; We combine old fashion values and service with only select companies that provide stable financial stability. Contact or call us today for a free <a href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/contact.aspx" title="Contact us">South Carolina auto insurance</a> quote at <strong>(888) 269-6860</strong>.urn:uuid:a1337b8c-72a7-422f-a23f-ef0ee0fce56f<img src='http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/~www.heritageinsonline.com/family_in_car.jpg' align='left' />Auto Insurance Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your pol...Fri, 20 May 2011 17:40:42 -0500<h2>Auto Insurance</h2> <a title="Auto Insurance Quote" href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/automobile/quick_insurance_quote.aspx"><img alt="Family in Car" style="width: 205px; height: 138px; float: right; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin-top: 7px; margin-left: 7px;" src="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/~www.heritageinsonline.com/family_in_car.jpg" />Auto insurance</a> protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.<br /> <p>It's really all about protecting yourself financially. </p> <ul> <li type="disc">If you're in an accident or your car is stolen, it costs money, often a lot of money, to fix or replace it. </li> <li type="disc">If you or any passengers are injured in an accident, medical costs can be extremely expensive. </li> <li type="disc">If you or your car is responsible for damage or injury to others, you may be sued for much more than you're worth. </li> <li type="disc">Not only is having insurance a prudent financial decision, many states require you to have at least some coverage. </li> </ul> An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements.<br /> <br /> Most auto policies are for six months&nbsp;or a year. Your insurance company should notify you by mail when it's time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.<br /> <br /> <h2>South Carolina</h2> <img alt="South Carolina Parks" style="float: left; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin-right: 7px; margin-top: 7px;" src="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/~www.heritageinsonline.com/sc_parks.jpg" />Can a state really be &ldquo;Made For Vacation?&rdquo; The answer is "Yes!" when that state is South Carolina.<br /> <br /> From Table Rock in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the wide sandy beaches of our breathtaking coastline, the Palmetto State is made for vacation. From the crystal clear water of Lake Jocassee to the cobblestone streets of historic Charleston. From delicacies like she-crab soup to more South Carolina events and festivals than there are days of the year to 368 emerald green golf courses and 47 unique and beautiful South Carolina state parks. From our quaint small towns to our Heritage Corridor to incredible shopping, entertainment and nightlife&hellip; if vacation is on your mind, it&rsquo;s time you put South Carolina vacations on your calendar.<br /> <br /> Maybe you&rsquo;re thinking about holding that next family reunion. Maybe it&rsquo;s time for a romantic escape, that long-overdue girl&rsquo;s getaway or an incredible guy&rsquo;s golf week in America&rsquo;s #1 golf destination. Or maybe what you really want is the best family vacation destinations in the country.<br /> <br /> <h2>Heritage Insurance Agency</h2> As an independent agency we can offer our clients what direct writers cannot; More Choices and Better Rates.&nbsp; We combine old fashion values and service with only select companies that provide stable financial stability. Contact or call us today for a free <a href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/contact.aspx" title="Contact us">South Carolina auto insurance</a> quote at <strong>(888) 269-6860</strong>.<br /> <br /> (Source and Photo: <a title="South Carolina Tourism Official Site" target="_blank" href="http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/">DiscoverSouthCarolina.com</a>)urn:uuid:5e4f9684-2cf3-4570-a82d-7fb823a77952<img src='http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000006962370XSmall.jpg' align='left' />Choosing auto insurance policy coverages can be confusing because there are so many different options available. This drives many consumers to simply choose the minimum coverages required by their state in order to satisfy the law rather than their n...Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:12:45 -0500<p><img src="/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000006962370XSmall.jpg" alt="auto insurance coverage" style="float: left; width: 300px; height: 209px; margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" />Choosing <a title="Auto Insurance" href="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/automobile/default.aspx">auto insurance</a> policy coverages can be confusing because there are so many different options available. This drives many consumers to simply choose the minimum coverages required by their state in order to satisfy the law rather than their need for financial security. </p> <p>But the states have very low requirements when it comes to auto insurance and leaving your family&rsquo;s future in their hands is a dangerous proposition. Instead, take a look at this guide with some common personal auto insurance coverage types and decide for yourself which are the most important to your family. </p> <p><strong>Bodily injury liability:</strong> If you are at fault in a car accident, you could hurt people within your car or outside of your vehicle. Bodily injury liability coverage offers insurance against the medical expenses and personal claims resulting from these injuries. It also has two different limits&mdash;one for single-person injuries and one for multiple person injuries.</p> <p><strong>Collision:</strong> If you hit another vehicle or if another vehicle hits you, your collision coverage will pay the damages. </p> <p><strong>Comprehensive coverage:</strong> There are some very real threats to your vehicle that don&rsquo;t involve driving, including theft, flood, fire and vandalism. Comprehensive coverage from your insurance company covers the claims they bring in. </p> <p><strong>Medical payments:</strong> If you are in an accident and are injured, the medical payments coverage will pay for your medical expenses. </p> <p><strong>Personal injury protection:</strong> If you are in an accident, no matter who is at fault, personal injury protection (or PIP) will pay your medical expenses. &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Property damage liability:</strong> If you are at fault in an accident you may cause damage to someone else&rsquo;s personal property (this includes their car, residence or other property) property damage liability can pay off claims associated with the damage.</p> <p><strong>Uninsured (or under-insured) motorist coverage:</strong> Unfortunately, even if your state requires it, not every driver has the proper auto insurance coverage. If you have uninsured or under-insured motorist coverage, then your insurance company will reimburse you in place of the other driver&rsquo;s missing (or inadequate) policy. </p> <p>The next time you are in the market for an <a href="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/automobile/car_insurance_quote.aspx" title="Car insurance quote">auto insurance policy</a>, consider the types of risk you and your automobile are exposed to each day and then, instead of buying insurance because your state says you must, buy insurance that will actually protect you from those risks. That is the only way to ensure that you have the coverage you need and your family deserves. <a href="/contact.aspx" title="Contact us">Email</a> or call us today for a free auto insurance quote at <strong>(888) 269-6860</strong>.</p>urn:uuid:666337b9-eff9-4843-a3fe-897ad351ab19<img src='http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000000577124XSmall.jpg' align='left' /> Anderson is the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina. Anderson is the smallest of the three primary cities that makes up the Upstate region and is nicknamed "The Electric City" and "The Friendliest City in South Carolina." Anderson's spir...Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:16:11 -0500<img alt="Anderson SC Home Insurance" src="/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/iStock_000000577124XSmall.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Anderson is the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina. Anderson is the smallest of the three primary cities that makes up the Upstate region and is nicknamed <em>"The Electric City"</em> and <em>"The Friendliest City in South Carolina."</em> Anderson's spirit and quality of life has earned national recognition as Anderson County was named an "All-America City" in 2000.<br /> <p><strong>History and Description</strong><br /> Anderson was named for General Robert Anderson, a Revolutionary War hero who was born in 1741 in August County, Va. He came to South Carolina to help his good friend, Andrew Pickens,in surveying some land that had been given to the English Colony by the Indians. The City was founded in December 1826 and incorporated by an act of Legislature, December 19, 1833. Anderson was the first city in the south to have an unlimited supply of electric power. The first cotton gin in the world to be operated by electricity was in Anderson County in 1897.</p> <p><strong>Location</strong><br /> The City of Anderson is located in the northwest corner of the state of South Carolina on the Piedmont Plateau. It is the county seat located in the geographical center of the county and principal city in Anderson County. The City is ideally located on the busy Interstate 85 corridor, to which much of its economic growth can be attributed. The City lies on the southern border of Interstate 85 and is approximately 127 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia and 132 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina. The City encompasses approximately 14 square miles and is located in the geographical center of the county. The I-85 corridor from Atlanta to Charlotte is now known as one of the nation's hottest growth areas. Anderson County, South Carolina lies midway between Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. This stretch of highway is one of the heaviest traveled highways in the southeast. Business leaders and development officials in Anderson have taken advantage of this asset, and visible progress is the result. Anderson County was ranked 14th out of 50 as on of the "Hottest American cities for business location," (based on a survey of leading site consultants) according to the January 2001 issue of Expansion Management.</p> <p>Anderson is a major contributor to the success of the upstate. Anderson offers all of the basics upon which to build a thriving economy, including affordable land, a good transportation system, infrastructure, and a large number of recreational amenities. In June 2000, Anderson County was one of only ten communities to be designated an All-America City by the National Civic League. The Anderson community offers the feel of small-town living with the attractions and business opportunities of larger cities only a short drive away. </p> <p>Heritage Insurance Agency, located in Piedmont just 20 miles away offers comprehensive coverage including home and auto insurance in Greenville, Easley and surrounding areas. Contact us today for a <a href="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/category.aspx?id=QUOTE" title="free insurance quote">free insurance quote</a> at <strong>(888) 269-6860</strong>.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 10px;">(Source: <a title="Wikipedia.org" target="_blank" href="http://www.wikipedia.org"><span style="font-size: 10px;">Wikipedia.org</span></a> and <a target="_blank" title="City of Anderson SC.com" href="http://www.cityofandersonsc.com/news/finance_news.html"><span style="font-size: 10px;">CityOfAndersonSC.com</span></a>)</span></p>urn:uuid:40838d83-6312-41ea-b493-38749ceb7514<img src='http://www.citytowninfo.com/images/education-news/south-carolina-unemployment-benefits-will-transition-to-debit-cards-10071601.jpg' align='left' />July 16, 2010 Compiled by Heidi M. Agustin Those who are unemployed in South Carolina will see a change in their unemployment benefits come Monday. According to WCBD News 2, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce will begin phasing out pape...Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:57:20 -0500July 16, 2010 <em>Compiled by Heidi M. Agustin</em><br /> <img width="250" alt="woman holding a debit card" style="margin: 8px; float: right;" src="http://www.citytowninfo.com/images/education-news/south-carolina-unemployment-benefits-will-transition-to-debit-cards-10071601.jpg" /><br /> Those who are unemployed in South Carolina will see a change in their unemployment benefits come Monday. According to <a target="_blank" href="http://www2.counton2.com/cbd/news/local/article/changing_from_unemployment_checks_to_debit_cards/154875/">WCBD News 2</a>, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce will begin phasing out paper checks and will replace them with Visa debit cards. Because the old process required the department to process and print checks, which resulted in bank processing fees, the new process is expected to save more than $4 million a year, reported Clark Newsom, a spokesperson for the Department of Employment and Workforce. The department printed and mailed more than 100,000 checks just last week. <p>Unemployment recipients also have the option of direct deposit if they do not want to receive a debit card.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/35080-south-carolina-unemployment-benefits-to-go-paperless">Charleston Regional Business Journal</a> reported that the department wants to make the process easier for individuals. It has been testing the new debit card program in three areas for the last two months. "These new methods of delivering unemployment benefits are part of a conscious effort to streamline our service delivery system in a more efficient and cost effective manner. The use of debit cards and direct deposit offers a faster and more secure option for claimants and helps them avoid check cashing fees," said Executive Director John L. Finan. New claimants will be the first to receive the debit card and the department hopes to complete the transition by October 1.</p> <p>The department has partnered with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Visa. South Carolina unemployment claimants will be presented with the Visa debit card option when applying for unemployment insurance benefits. Once a claimant is determined eligible, payments will be deposited directly to their debit card account and recipients will have the option of withdrawing money from any ATM or bank accepting Visa cards or using it to make purchases anywhere Visa debit is accepted. While there is no fee to receive the card, fees may apply for certain transactions. Information on these fees will be sent to the recipient along with the card.</p> <p>The transition to debit cards is expected to also benefit the employment department. According to <a target="_blank" href="http://www2.wspa.com/news/tracking-economy/2010/jul/13/3/unemployment-debit-card-program-expected-save-mill-ar-573656/">WSPA News Channel 7</a>, the department experienced several problems with the old system, including errors that caused the agency to send out duplicate checks on two separate occasions last year. "It will take away a lot of these factors that have been problems in the past," said Newsom.</p> <p>WSPA News Channel 7 also reported that S.C. Department of Social Services moved to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards in 1995 to replace food stamps, which saved the state close to $25 million over a nine-year period. The Department of Employment and Workforce hopes to see similar results.</p> <a href="http://www.citytowninfo.com/career-and-education-news/articles/south-carolina-unemployment-benefits-will-transition-to-debit-cards-10071601" target="_blank">Source</a>urn:uuid:2ed5cfe7-8d58-4de4-9adb-1acee52283c3<img src='http://www.heritageinsonline.com/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/hurricane_insurance.jpg' align='left' />Many people view their homeowners insurance policy as a comprehensive document that protects their home regardless of the peril behind the insurable event. While this is true in theory, your homeowners policy actually has many different layers and di...Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:39:42 -0500<p><img src="/img/%7Ewww.heritageinsonline.com/hurricane_insurance.jpg" style="float: left;" alt="Hurricane Insurance" />Many people view their <a href="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/homeowners/default.aspx">homeowners insurance</a> policy as a comprehensive document that protects their home regardless of the peril behind the insurable event. While this is true in theory, your homeowners policy actually has many different layers and different deductibles that must be covered for different insurable events. One of the most misunderstood deductible is for hurricanes.</p> <p><strong>Hurricane Coverage and Deductibles</strong></p> <p>Hurricanes offer their own set of problems. You could lose out buildings, roofs, inside contents, windows and more as a result of hurricane damage. As such, they have their own deductible within your homeowners insurance policy. A hurricane deductible is typically a percentage of the dwelling amount.</p> <p>It is important that you do not confuse hurricane damage with flood damage, as the two fall under different coverage terms. If your home were to lose its roof as a result of hurricane damage and a flood should occur inside the house because of the lost roof, then the damage would be considered hurricane damage rather than flood damage. If, however, a hurricane should cause a lot of rain which causes your neighborhood and home to flood, the damage would be considered flood damage and not covered by the hurricane coverage. </p> <p>Get a free <a href="http://www.heritageinsonline.com/homeowners/insurance_quote.aspx">homeowners insurance quote</a> or call <strong>(888) 269-6860</strong> today. </p> <p></p>urn:uuid:c85c1b9a-7aab-425e-b0f1-27674b6428beTime for the Greenville Insurance Blog Round Up. This is a summary of all the blogs I have published this month. A Salem man admitted Thursday that he wrecked his car and bought car insurance an hour later to try to get the damages paid for. ...Thu, 27 May 2010 10:29:12 -0500Time for the Greenville Insurance Blog Round Up. This is a summary of all the blogs I have published this month.<br /> <br /> <ul> <li>A Salem man admitted Thursday that he wrecked his car and <a href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/blog/Insurance_Fraud_doesnt_Pay.aspx">bought car insurance an hour later</a> to try to get the damages paid for.</li> <li><a href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/blog/Texting_and_Driving_does_not_mix.aspx">Texting and Driving does not mix</a></li> <li>Did you know <a href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/blog/Did_you_know.aspx">your car effects your rates</a>?</li> <li>After the recent flooding in the Nashville area, people need to be reminded&nbsp; to <a href="http://www.heritageinsuranceagency.com/blog/99_of_Folks_that_lived_in_Iowa_in_2008_didnt_have_flood_insurance_What_about_Nashville.aspx">consider optional flood insurance</a>.</li> <li>Nothing kicks up the adrenaline and puts you in fight-or-flight mode faster than a car accident and that survivalist, reactionary state of mind can make it extremely difficult to act in the most responsible and self-preserving manner after an accident. <a target="_blank" href="http://heritage-ins.livejournal.com/949.html">Find out what to do after an auto accident</a>.</li> <li>Southwest Airlines said Tuesday that <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&amp;friendId=531242987&amp;blogId=534553841">it will start flying to Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.</a>, starting in 2011.</li> <li>South Carolina is the <a target="_blank" href="South%20Carolina%20is%20the%20third-most-affordable%20state%20in%20which%20to%20own%20a%20car">third-most-affordable state in which to own a car</a>.</li> <li>Homeowners building <a target="_blank" href="http://heritageinsuranceagency.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/senate-debating-fire-sprinkler-bill-this-week/">new homes won&rsquo;t have to install residential fire sprinklers</a> if the S.C. Senate passes the fire sprinkler bill this week. </li> </ul>urn:uuid:8ec1005b-67d3-458f-8a67-ce13ce7b1a0fAfter reading about the recent flooding in the Nashville area, I again find myself reminding people to consider optional flood insurance. First, some background. Most homes that are in 100-year flood plains are required to buy flood insurance. This i...Tue, 18 May 2010 13:20:21 -0500<p>After reading about the recent flooding in the Nashville area, I again find myself reminding people to consider optional flood insurance. First, some background. Most homes that are in 100-year flood plains are required to buy flood insurance. This is because the banks know that this designation means that you have a <a href="http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2009/09/100-year-floods-are-more-common-than-you-think.html">26% chance of a 100-year level flood within a 30 year span</a>.</p> <p>However, even if you are outside these areas, you may still be in danger of a serious flood. Often these areas are shown on flood maps as 500-year flood plains. Many people read this and think something like &ldquo;&hellip;last flood was in 1909, we&rsquo;re good for another 400 years!&rdquo; Actually, having a 0.2% chance of a flood each and every year works out to a 6% chance of occurring at least once over a span of 30 years, or 1-in-17. According to an article from from <a href="http://cnmnewsnetwork.com/112961/nashville-flood-photos-2010-and-catastrophic-disaster-cleanup-begins/">CNM News</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>The flooding in Nashville has been deemed a &ldquo;500 year&rdquo; flood, as the Cumberland River rose to over 51 feet (floods occur at 40 feet). The flood waters took over portions of Downtown Nashville, as well as the Opryland area.</p> </blockquote> <p>What if it happens to you? <strong>Most homeowner&rsquo;s insurance policies don&rsquo;t cover flood damage.</strong> More from <a href="http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20100509/ISSUE01/305099976">BusinessInsurance.com</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>The National Flood Insurance Program, which is run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, may cover some losses experienced by businesses and homeowners that purchased the coverage. <strong>However, Mr. Costner and other insurance experts said flooding reached areas that are not federally designated flood zones. According to FEMA, Nashville and Davidson County, Tenn., had 4,100 NFIP policies in force as of March.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p>All of Nashville only had 4,100 policies? This means that not very many people were even required to buy it. This <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/weather/floods/2010-05-06-nashville-flood_N.htm">USA Today</a> piece tells the stories of several riverfront homes that weren&rsquo;t covered.</p> <blockquote> <p>Tiffany Wiggers says she doesn&rsquo;t have flood insurance and, in fact, she paid $15,000 extra to be closer to the river. &ldquo;Everybody on this side of the street, we paid lot premiums to be near the river: $15,000. You have to laugh to keep from crying,&rdquo; [...] She says she and her husband questioned the real estate agent, builder, lender and an insurance agent about flood insurance, but all said it wasn&rsquo;t necessary. &ldquo;They all said, &lsquo;You&rsquo;re not in a flood plain, so you don&rsquo;t need it,&rsquo; &rdquo; recalled Wiggers for USA Today, who was taken from her home via rescue boat. &ldquo;I was like, &lsquo;FEMA and the bank said we won&rsquo;t need it, so we&rsquo;re in the clear.&rsquo;</p> </blockquote> <p>If you haven&rsquo;t already, take some time and check if you are in a <a href="http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/info?storeId=10001&amp;catalogId=10001&amp;langId=-1&amp;content=firmHelp_1&amp;title=How%20to%20Find%20Your%20Flood%20Map">flood plain here</a>. But it could be that the any flood maps are outdated or inaccurate. Add in some common sense if you are near a body of water. In the end, you may consider <a href="http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2008/03/should-all-homeowners-buy-flood-insurance.html">buying flood insurance even if you are not required to by your mortgage lender</a>. We carry a modest amount of optional building coverage from the <a href="http://www.floodsmart.gov/">NFIP</a>.</p>urn:uuid:5da77418-df26-4aa8-8419-362107d33d15Your car effects your rates. The car you drive will&nbsp;effect what you will have to pay to get your car insured. If you have a fast, small car you will probably find yourself paying a higher&nbsp;premiums to get your&nbsp;auto covered for insurance...Mon, 17 May 2010 13:16:59 -0500<strong>Your car effects your rates.<br /> </strong>The car you drive will&nbsp;effect what you will have to pay to get your car insured. If you have a fast, small car you will probably find yourself paying a higher&nbsp;premiums to get your&nbsp;auto covered for insurance. On the other hand, if you are driving a mid-sized car with all the safety features, your rates will be significantly lower.urn:uuid:43569359-11b6-4d6c-8200-4ee619897ff2Nighttime driving is becoming more hazardous for American teenagers and the likely cause is talking and texting on cell phones while operating a vehicle, according to a study released May 6. The report by the Texas Transportation Institute said the p...Mon, 17 May 2010 10:14:40 -0500<p>Nighttime driving is becoming more hazardous for American teenagers and the likely cause is talking and texting on cell phones while operating a vehicle, according to a study released May 6.</p> <p>The report by the Texas Transportation Institute said the proportion of fatal crashes at night involving drivers 16 to 19 years old nationwide increased 10 percent from 1999-2008. The percentage of nighttime fatal crashes involving drivers 20 years and older rose nearly 8 percent from 1999-2008.</p> <p>This article can be found at:</p> <p><a target="blank" href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2010/05/07/109651.htm"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2010/05/07/109651.htm</span></a></p>urn:uuid:e3c5f959-4edf-4a65-abdd-8ada888d9af2May 4, 2010 WYFF4.com SALEM, S.C. -- A Salem man admitted Thursday that he wrecked his car and bought car insurance an hour later to try to get the damages paid for. Robert Porter, 24, pleaded guilty to presenting a false claim for payment of $1,00...Wed, 05 May 2010 17:59:00 -0500<strong class="Dateline">May 4, 2010 <em>WYFF4.com</em><br /> <br /> SALEM, S.C. -- </strong>A Salem man admitted Thursday that he wrecked his car and bought car insurance an hour later to try to get the damages paid for. <p></p> Robert Porter, 24, pleaded guilty to presenting a false claim for payment of $1,000 or less. Porter was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $500, suspended to payment of $200 to be made within 30 days. <p></p> Investigators said on Jan. 15, Porter was in an automobile accident in Walhalla. The Walhalla police responded and completed an incident report. <p></p> One hour later, Porter contacted Progressive Insurance and took out an automobile insurance policy. He then attempted to report the wreck as having happened during his coverage period. <p></p> The claim was denied, and the case was investigated by the State Law Enforcement Division and Progressive. According to the attorney general&rsquo;s 2009 report on insurance fraud, Richland County reported the largest number of complaints made, with 88, in an amount of $1,628,174. Greenville County had the largest dollar value of fraud reported, with $2,226,496.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.wyff4.com/news/23451320/detail.html" target="_blank">Source</a>urn:uuid:a69fae5a-8797-435d-a6f5-7f1dc2802381There are many ways to connect with so join one of them or all of them! Yahoo Live Space Facebook Twitter MySpace Blogger Typepad Live Journal Linked In Wordpress Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:59:12 -0500There are many ways to connect with so join one of them or all of them!<br /> <br /> <ul> <li><a class="ApplyClass" target="_blank" href="http://profiles.yahoo.com/heritageinsonline">Yahoo</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://heritageinsuranceagency.spaces.live.com/default.aspx">Live Space</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heritage-Insurance-Agency/111399415558898">Facebook</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/heritage_ins">Twitter</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.myspace.com/heritageinsuranceagency">MySpace</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://heritageinsuranceagency.blogspot.com">Blogger</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://heritageinsuranceagency.typepad.com/">Typepad</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://heritage-ins.livejournal.com/">Live Journal</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.linkedin.com/companies/heritage-insurance-agency">Linked In</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://heritageinsuranceagency.wordpress.com/">Wordpress</a> </li> </ul>urn:uuid:804d04fb-aa35-4fc2-932b-ed732bb0339dWe offer more choices and better rates on your auto, home, business, life and health insurance needs. We are licensed throughout the east coast of the United States and are partners with some of the largest insurance companies available. Please conta...Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:57:56 -0500We offer more choices and better rates on your auto, home, business, life and health insurance needs. We are licensed throughout the east coast of the United States and are partners with some of the largest insurance companies available. Please contact us to discuss your insurance options.