Author: agentinsure

Types of liability coverages to consider for your business

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Starting and running any business in Chandler, AZ involves taking major risks, which is why you may want to focus on different insurance policies to protect it. At  San Marcos Insurance Group, we recommend having adequate liability to protect your clients and workers. So, if it’s your first time buying insurance for your business, here are the top 3 liability coverages to consider.

General liability insurance

Often known as business liability, general liability helps cover against claims from other people due to property damage or injuries. It also protects you against reputational harm and lawsuits that could result from late deliveries, poor quality products or services, as well as errors made by your workers.

Professional liability insurance

Professional liability insurance was first designed for people offering professional services,  such as attorneys, carpenters, engineers, accountants, realtors, and insurance agents. However, today any business person in Chandler AZ can get this policy to protect what they do as it protects the end product or the service offered if found faulty. For instance, if you sell a hair product that ends up damaging your clients’ hair, the policy can help pay for legal fees if you’re sued.

Employer liability

Employer liability is a critical component of workers’ compensation that helps pay for additional legal fees if your worker sues you for injuries beyond workers’ compensation. For instance, if one of your chefs gets injured when cooking, workers’ compensation will help pay for their injuries and replace their lost income. However, suppose the chef decided to sue you for not providing protective clothing. In that case, employer liability can help cover the legal fees.

Your business needs liability insurance. Don’t wait till it has grown to buy a commercial policy. It might be too late. If you have any questions or have trouble choosing your ideal liability coverage, feel free to speak to an agent at San Marcos Insurance Group, and they will be happy to help.

Do I Need Home Insurance in Arizona?

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Your home in Chandler, AZ is an instrumental part of you and your loved one’s lives. Owning a home is an exciting experience, but most residents, unluckily, haven’t thought much about home insurance. Many homeowners regard home insurance as an option, but it should be an ultimate necessity in reality. Home insurance will not only leave you stress-free but saves you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run when unexpected perils strike. If you are willing to discuss your option for a home insurance plan, please liaise with San Marcos Insurance Group serving Chandler, AZ and its environs. We will help you design the right home insurance policy to protect your expensive asset.

Is home insurance mandatory in Arizona?

Home insurance isn’t mandatory in Arizona if you don’t have a mortgage for your dwelling serving as your lenders’ collateral. However, it’s wise to consider if you can afford to pay for the cost of repair or replace your home if covered calamities destroy it. With that being said, here are the benefits of buying home insurance:

Coverage for your home contents

Home insurance safeguards your personal property like electronic appliances, furniture and clothing if damaged by a covered peril like fire or storm. You can be reimbursed fully or partially, depending on your specific policy.

Provides liability protection

 Liability protection coverage shields you against probable lawsuits arising from bodily injury and property damage you and your family members propagate to other parties. It caters to medical expenses resulting from injuries sustained by your guests while on your property or elsewhere.

Protect your home 

Imagine if your house was ravaged by fire or hurricane, suffering immense losses? If you procure coverage for your dwelling, it will cater to repairing or reestablishing your house if it is ravaged by a covered event like hail and lightning, among others.

Provides additional living expenses coverage

 Suppose your house becomes uninhabitable due to destruction from fire, storm, or other covered incertitudes. In that case, your additional living expense coverage pays for the additional expenses such as hotel bills if you are residing elsewhere temporarily.

Contact San Marcos Insurance Group today for comprehensive information about obtaining spectacular home insurance in Chandler, AZ and how it works. We can assist you in making an informed decision and customizing a policy suiting your needs and budget.

7 Auto Insurance Phrases You Should Know

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Your auto insurance policy can be confusing when you start to read through it. Often terms are used and you may have heard them before, but you are not quite clear on what they mean. You can gain a lot of knowledge by discussing the details of your policy with a qualified insurance agent.

Understanding the key terms in your policy will help you get the most out of your insurance. The agents at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ are experienced professionals that know the key terms to help our clients understand the ins and outs of their auto insurance policies

Key Auto Insurance Terms

There are many auto insurance terms and some are not crucial to understand. Here are some common key terms that are used in policies often.

  • Premium – This term is heard a lot and simply means the amount paid to an insurance company so they will pay claims for your specific coverage.
  • Collision coverage – If your vehicle is damaged after hitting another car or object, collision is the part of the policy that protects you.
  • Bodily injury liability – This is what covers you if you are the cause of an accident where affected parties are killed or injured.
  • No-fault insurance – Regardless of if you caused an accident or not, no-fault covers medical expenses.
  • Personal injury – Protection in case of injury if you are in an accident.
  • Deductible – Out of pocket money spent before your insurance company covers the remainder of a claim.
  • Uninsured motorist – If another driver hits you and they don’t have insurance, this type of coverage protects you.

Professional Insurance Agents in Chandler, AZ

Contact us at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ to speak with one of our agents about your auto insurance needs. We are happy to help you understand the terms of your insurance coverage, so you know exactly what is in your policy.

Health Insurance FAQs for Families

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Feeling overwhelmed with health insurance options? It seems like health insurance plans are always changing and evolving. Figuring out which type of health insurance is best for your family can be challenging. At San Marcos Insurance Group, serving Chandler, AZ, we aim to provide you with the information you need to make the best choices. We’ve prepared these FAQs to help you better understand health insurance for families.

When Can I Sign Up For Health Insurance?

You can sign up for a new health insurance plan, or change an existing plan during open enrollment. Open enrollment is a specific time frame each year. You will need to speak with your employer or an insurance representative to determine when open enrollment is active. 

Why Are Multiple Types of Plan Offered?

One of the most confusing aspects of health insurance is the many different types of coverage available. There are different types of coverage available because different families have different types of medical needs. A family with intense, ongoing medical issues will need a more intensive type of insurance coverage. A family with very few medical issues will not need as many services. Insurance companies provide different types of coverage so that you can choose the one that will best suit your family. This ensures that you are not paying for services you do not need, but you are getting the services you do need. 

Which Coverage Should I Choose?

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the different types of coverage available, and are not quite sure how they are different, you should talk with a representative. An insurance representative will be able to walk you through the details of each plan and help you pick the one that is best for your family. 

If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact our office at San Marcos Insurance Group, serving Chandler, AZ. 

What Does Business Interruption Insurance Do?

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Has the closure of the nearby amusement park led to a decline in your profits? Has electric or phone line disconnections of service led to a reduction of your income? If so, then you need to get some business interruption insurance. Business interruption insurance coverage safeguards your business by replacing the business income that gets lost whenever a sudden and disastrous event halts or slows your business.

The business interruption policy isn’t sold as a unique insurance cover. Instead, it is often added to the casualty/property policy or made as an add-on of a comprehensive package policy.  The coverage can help businesses replace lost income when they can’t run their operations temporarily due to property damage or service disruptions. 

What Does the Policy Cover?

When a business gets compelled to close its doors, the interruption insurance policy can cover its operating costs. Some of the expenses that can get covered include:

  • Relocation expenses if you have to move your business to a new location permanently or temporarily.
  • The income that your business would generate if it were open as usual.
  • Training for staff to use new work equipment after a covered peril occurs.
  • Additional expenses that get incurred in renting new space or equipment to keep business operations running a loss.
  • Payment for employee’s dues.
  • Tax payments that should get paid during the time of disruption
  • Loan payments that should get paid during the time of disruption
  • Lease, rent, or mortgage payments in the disruption time
  • What Can’t Business Interruption Insurance Cover?

Business interruption insurance covers San Marcos Insurance Group, and other insurance companies can cover many interruptions. Still, there are some incidents and losses that can’t get covered by such a policy. Here are some of the uncovered incidents:

  • Damage caused by earthquakes and floods
  • Broken items from a covered loss or event
  • Pandemics and epidemics that push businesses to shut down
  • Utility bills for utilities shut down when the company closes after a covered risk occurs. 
  • Undocumented income, which isn’t evident in financial records. 

Get Your Home Insurance Cover Today from San Marcos Insurance Group

If you’re a Chandler, AZ, resident, visit the San Marcos Insurance Group website to get the best business interruption insurance offers for your Chandler, AZ, business.

What Does Liability Auto Insurance Cover?

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Liability auto insurance is designed to protect other drivers and property owners who may incur damage as the result of a collision or accident that you are held responsible for. Liability insurance provides both financial and medical coverage for bodily injury and property damage to others. The San Marcos Insurance Group of Chandler, AZ takes pride in educating AZ residents when it comes to the benefits of liability insurance. 

Liability Insurance is Required by Law

Arizona residents who wish to legally operate a vehicle within the state of Arizona must meet the state minimum requirements for auto insurance. These requirements include liability insurance that covers bodily injury and property damage insurance as well as uninsured and underinsured insurance. However, each form of coverage has monetary minimums that must be met to legally drive within the state. Arizona drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 for bodily injury insurance per person. Drivers must also carry $50,000 worth of bodily insurance per accident. Property damage insurance must meet the minimum coverage requirements of $15,000 per accident. Residents must additionally carry uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance in the amounts of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Underinsured minimums include $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. 

The Benefits of Liability Auto Insurance

Liability auto insurance provides coverage for accidents a driver may be found at fault for by covering the financial costs for property damage and injuries.  This coverage takes care of property damage to others as well as provides medical coverage for others who may be injured by an accident where you’re at fault. Our San Marcos Insurance Group team is dedicated to making sure you understand the necessity as well as the benefits of liability insurance. Please give us a call. We’re standing by.

Preparing your home for an emergency

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An emergency is a serious situation and requires preparedness. The city of Chandler, AZ takes it so seriously that they have set up a section of their website to make suggestions to the residents. Getting ready for an emergency begins in the home and there are a few simple things that every homeowner can do to make sure they are ready no matter what emergency arises. At San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ, we have over 80 years of combined insurance experience that we share with our customers. 

In Chandler, AZ n emergency can come in the form of a heatwave, a wind storm, a flood, a power outage, or a fire. Not to mention any man-made emergencies. You need to make sure your home is prepared for any of these.

Battery backup

No matter which of these emergencies happen, losing power is a possibility. Having flashlights, battery-operated radio, extra batteries, solar lights, a generator, and portable chargers like a Halo can keep you working. You just want to make sure you can keep from sitting in the dark. A generator will make sure your food stays fresh, and you have ac which is pretty much of a necessity in Arizona. You also need to have a good size gas can so that you can run the generator. 

Water

When an emergency strikes, it may not be possible to have running water. You need to have enough bottled water to keep you hydrated for at least a few days. Filling a bathtub with water can make sure you can flush toilets. 

Food

You should have three days of food and in the event, you don’t have a generator, it should be shelf-stable food. Having a gas or charcoal grill to cook food is also very handy. A manual can opener is a necessity. 

Contact San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ for all your home insurance needs. 

What new drivers need to know about Arizona auto insurance requirements

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What new drivers need to know about Arizona auto insurance requirements

Whether you just moved to Arizona or looking to buy your first car in Chandler, AZ, you need to seriously think about auto insurance. All drivers are required to show proof of financial responsibility by carrying the minimum amount of liability. When you first visit us at San Marcos Insurance Group, we help you understand how the law works before helping you find a policy that matches your needs. Here is what you need to know before buying insurance in Arizona.

Arizona uses the old “Fault” system

The state follows the old fault system when it comes to accidents on the road. That means the person who caused the accident is held accountable for injuries, vehicle damage, and income lost. If you are the victim, you can sue the driver at fault to receive compensation from their insurance company.

You are required to carry the minimum liability coverage

The Arizona law requires drivers to buy minimum liability coverage for every vehicle in operation, to prove financial responsibility. That means your insurance company can pay for injuries and property damage in case you caused a car accident. The minimum liability coverage is not always adequate and policyholders are advised to buy enough to avoid out-of-pocket costs.

There are penalties if you don’t show proof of insurance

If you are stopped and the traffic officer asks for proof of insurance, you must produce one, or you will be penalized. If the law enforcement officer learns that you don’t have insurance, you could have your license suspended or even face a jail term, especially if you caused an accident.

There is a safety glass non-deductible option for Arizona auto insurance policies

When you buy a Chandler, AZ insurance policy with a comprehensive deductible, you qualify for the safety glass non-deductible benefit. This means you can have your vehicle replaced or repaired without paying.

Looking to buy insurance in Arizona? Contact San Marcos Insurance Group, for all your insurance needs.

Health insurance FAQs

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Health insurance provides one of the most vital types of protection. It is hard to imagine that just a generation ago it was not something most families had; now it is a necessity. Choosing your insurance plan is one of the most important decisions you make every year. It is literally life and death. Before you make this all-important decision you need to ask some questions to make sure that you are choosing a plan that provides the coverage you need while being affordable. In Chandler, AZ at the San Marcos Insurance Group, we strive to give every customer the personalized service they deserve and encourage them to ask all the questions they need to feel confident in their insurance decision. 

What is the difference between a PPO and HMO?

The most basic difference between a PPO and an HMO is the ability to seek medical care outside the plan network. With an HMO you have a network of healthcare providers you can use. If you go outside the network for anything but an extreme emergency, the plan will not pay for the services. With a PPO you get the best rates in-network but are able to go outside the network for care. 

What is a network?

The healthcare providers who have contracted with a healthcare plan to provide services to their members for a reduced rate are referred to as a network. It includes medical professionals across a variety of specialties. Check the providers to make sure your favorites are in the network. 

How much of a deductible should I have?

Most policies have a deductible that must be met before services are covered. High deductible policies are popular because they are less expensive and will cover a catastrophic illness but offer little coverage for routine services. Your overall health should determine the deductible you can live with. 

Contact San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ for all your health insurance needs. 

Should I get a life insurance policy?

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When you are a resident of the Chandler, AZ area there are going to be many different forms of insurance that you need to have. One important form of insurance coverage in this area is life insurance. There are a few different reasons why someone in this area of Arizona needs to have this coverage. 

Insurance Will Protect Dependents

A reason that you need to have a life insurance plan is that it can protect your dependents. If you have people that you care about and that rely on you, protecting their financial future is very important. A great way that this can be done is by getting life insurance. If you were to pass away, those that are named as beneficiaries on the policy will receive a payout from the life insurance provider. This could be used for any purposes that they see fit. 

Insurance Offers Investment Option

You should also consider getting a life insurance plan as it can provide you with an investment benefit as well. If you choose to get a whole life insurance plan, some of your monthly payments will build up in an account that can be liquidated in the future. This can make it a good addition to your personal investment plan as well as offer life insurance protection. 

Picking a new life insurance plan in the Chandler, AZ area will always be a big decision. When you are shopping for coverage, you could find that getting the guidance provided by the San Marcos Insurance Group is a great option. The team with the San Marcos Insurance Group understands the value of this type of coverage. They can help you better assess all of your personal needs and then help you choose a plan that offers you the right coverage.