MAX's Insurance Blog | Faith-Based Value Insurance & Mutual Aid Ministries | Church Insurance | Anabaptist | Beachy Amish | Brethren | Dunkard | Mennonite | Quaker Insurance | Mutual Aid eXchange

© Aliaksandr Zabudzko / PhotoXpress

It’s easy for many married couples to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, not giving much thought to preparing for the unexpected. Purchasing life insurance can be one of the most critical decisions you can make as a couple to ensure your spouse is able to carry on financially in the event of your death.

Purchasing the policy is not a big expense, but the impact of having life insurance when you pass away is huge. By purchasing a life insurance policy you can ensure that those close to you will be able to live comfortably after you’re gone.

“When you’re single and without children, there is little need for life insurance since nobody is depending on your income but you,” says Jeremy Vohwinkle, About.com Guide for Financial Planning. “When you get married, you should discuss what would happen if your spouse was left to support your household alone, and consider whether or not life insurance would be appropriate. A sudden loss of income can be devastating to a family.”

Life insurance provides money to whoever you designate as a beneficiary upon your death. This money can prove to be a much-needed asset if your loved ones are faced with the burdens of debt, funeral costs, estate taxes or college tuition.

Don’t leave your spouse unprotected in the event of your death. Ask your insurance agent about life insurance today.

About MAX: MAX specializes in providing affordable life insurance from the top-rated insurance companies in the country. Let us do the shopping for you. Our simple process will help you get the life insurance protection that’s just right for you. We also offer home, farm, auto, renters, and other personal lines to help protect the members of the faith-based community. Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions about insurance. Visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Source: Vohwinkle, Jeremy. “Marriage and Money – Planning Your New Financial Life Together.” About.com. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from http://financialplan.about.com/od/gettingmarried/a/MarriageMoney.htm. 

Popularity: 39% [?]

© Byron Moore / PhotoXpress

Valentine’s Day may be an obvious reason for the heart-shaped decorations we see in February, but they also serve as a great reminder to take care of your heart during American Heart Month.

Heart disease is the #1 killer of Americans, according to the American Heart Association. The AHA recommends the following to take care of your heart:

1.) Improve your nutrition. Good nutrition is essential for your heart health. Work on eating more fruits and vegetables, fish, fiber-rich whole grains, and nuts, legumes and seeds. In the meantime, reduce your intake of sodium, sugar-sweetened beverages, processed meats and saturated fats.

2.) Get more physical activity. Physical activity improves quality of life and helps combat obesity. Just exercising as little as 30 minutes a day can help reduce your risk of heart disease. Studies even show that for every hour of walking, you may increase your life expectancy by two hours, according to the AHA.

3.) Lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Check your BMI, or Body Mass Index, using the AHA’s online BMI calculator. This is a good indicator of whether you’re at a healthy or unhealthy weight. Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight can help you reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

4.) Manage your stress. Stress can cause physical and emotional pain. Develop healthy habits to manage your stress. Instead of turning to eating, drinking or smoking to battle stress, try talking with family and friends, exercising and laughing. Get plenty of sleep and get organized. Remember, you must learn to accept the things you cannot change.

5.) Read up on fats and oils. Your body needs dietary fats for energy and cell growth, as well as protecting organs and keeping your body warm. Fats also help your body absorb some nutrients and produce important hormones. You need fat, but not as much as most of us consume. There are four major dietary fats. Learn about them so you know what to get more of — and what to avoid.

6.) Quit smoking. Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. Smokers are at a higher risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Get help quitting.

Don’t let heart disease sneak up on you. Start now to promote healthy habits to avoid this deadly disease and live a healthier life.

About MAX: MAX specializes in providing affordable personal and business insurance, including home, farm, auto, renters, and other lines to help protect the members of the faith-based community. Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions about insurance. Visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Source: “Getting Healthy.” American Heart Association. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/GettingHealthy_UCM_001078_SubHomePage.jsp. 

Popularity: 22% [?]

© Paul Paladin / PhotoXpress

Leftover Valentine’s Day chocolates hanging around the house? Go ahead and indulge! That is, with only dark chocolate and in moderation, of course.

Studies in two prestigious scientific journals cite dark chocolate for its health benefits. Dr. Dirk Taubert and his colleagues at the University of Cologne in Germany say dark chocolate lowers high blood pressure if you’ve reached a certain age and have mild blood pressure. In addition, dark chocolate can be a potent antioxidant, according to Mauro Serafini, Ph.D., of Italy’s National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome.

But don’t expect the same results from milk chocolate, white chocolate or even dark chocolate eaten with milk. Milk can interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from the chocolate, negating the potential health benefits from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate, Serafini says.

If you do indulge in dark chocolate, don’t forget to balance the calories. A 100-gram serving of Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Bar has 531 calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Don’t substitute chocolate for healthy foods. After all, most of our diets already contain plenty of sweets.

About MAX: MAX specializes in providing affordable personal and business insurance, including home, farm, auto, renters, and other lines to help protect the members of the faith-based community. Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions about insurance. Visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Source: DeNoon, Daniel J. “Dark Chocolate Is Healthy Chocolate.” WebMD.com. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20030827/dark-chocolate-is-healthy-chocolate. 

Popularity: 29% [?]

© faizzaki / PhotoXpress

If you recently gave your sweetheart jewelry, you may feel like you’ve just successfully conquered another romantic holiday. But there’s one thing you may have forgotten — insurance.

If something were to happen to this expensive gift, would you be covered under your current homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy? You’ll want to examine your policy carefully to see what type of coverage it offers for fine jewelry. It’s likely that your policy probably covers theft, but not loss from other reasons like lost or damaged jewelry.

“Usually, renter’s and homeowner’s insurance policies set limits for the loss of certain categories of personal property, including jewelry,” says Carly Wickell, About.com Guide on Jewelry Insurance. “Homeowner’s policies typically pay a maximum of $1,000 for jewelry theft. A renter’s insurance policy might have a lower limit for jewelry loss — $500 is common.”

If you have questions, call your agent and ask him or her to specify what types of losses are covered on your standard policy. Your agent can help you determine if it’s necessary to purchase additional insurance for your jewelry.

Wickell suggests asking your agent about the following topics:

• Is there a deductible? How much? Does raising or lowering the deductible change the cost of your policy?

• Do you need to obtain an appraisal on your jewelry prior to getting more insurance? Are there certain appraisers you must use?

• Are your jewelry items covered no matter where the loss takes place? For instance, would your policy cover a loss during domestic or international travel?

• Is the jewelry covered for full replacement cost? Do you have to replace the item or can you get a cash settlement?

• Does the policy cover repairs to damaged jewelry?

Knowing how your jewelry is protected in the event of a loss can help give you and your sweetheart peace of mind.

About MAX: Protect your investments in fine jewelry. Now is a great time to review your homeowners insurance and look into additional coverage if needed. We also offer  farm, auto, renters, and other personal lines to help protect the members of the faith-based community. Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions about insurance. Visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Source: Wickell, Carly. “Jewelry Insurance: Insuring Engagement Rings and Other Fine Jewelry.” About.com. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from http://jewelry.about.com/cs/jewelryinsurance/a/insure_jewelry.htm. 

Popularity: 31% [?]

© Brett Bouwer / PhotoXpress

In a recent post, we covered what’s usually included the property protection section of your home owners insurance policy. Knowing what is and is not covered is important for all home owners, but especially those purchasing a home for the first time.

In this post, we’ll talk about the liability protection part of your policy. If someone is injured on your property or if their property is damaged on your property, you may be held liable. This could be very expensive if you have to pay completely out of pocket, especially in the event of medical expenses or a lawsuit.

Bobbie Sage, personal insurance guide for About.com, says there are two parts to liability protection.

Personal liability usually provides personal liability coverage against a claim or lawsuit that happens as a result of someone being injured or their property being damaged by an accident on your property. This protects you and all family members who live with you, but it does not protect you against auto- and business-related accidents.

Medical payments include coverage to pay for medical expenses for someone who is accidentally injured on your property, regardless of whose fault it is. However, medical expense payments do not apply to your injuries or the injuries of family members who live with you. They also don’t cover activities related to your at-home business.

Remember, all policies have exclusions. Most home owners insurance policies do not cover injuries to animals, damage to motor vehicles, aircraft and parts. Read your policy carefully and ask your agent if you have any questions.

About MAX: Don’t get left out in the cold if an accident happens at your home or on your property. Now is a great time to be sure your liability insurance is adequate. Accidents happen, so make sure you’re protected. We also offer home, farm, auto, renters, and other personal lines to help protect the members of the faith-based community. Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions about insurance. Visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Source: Sage, Bobbie. Understanding Your Home Owners Insurance Policy. About.com. Retrieved January 27, 2012, from http://personalinsure.about.com/cs/homeowners/a/aa013004a.htm.

Popularity: 33% [?]

© MAXFX / PhotoXpress

In a recent post, we discussed the importance of understanding insurance for first-time home buyers. Part of this process is knowing what a typical policy covers. A typical policy is divided into property and liability protection. In this post, we’ll discuss property protection.

Bobbie Sage, personal insurance guide for About.com, says property protection is usually broken down into four sections:

Dwelling usually covers your home, attached structures, fixtures such as built-in appliances, plumbing, heating, permanently installed air-conditioning systems and electrical wiring.

Other structures often covers detached structures like garages, storage sheds and fixtures attached to the land like fences, driveways, sidewalks, patios and retaining walls.

Personal property usually covers the contents of your home and other personal items owned by you or family members who live with you. You’ll need to choose protection based on actual cash value or replacement cost. Most home owners insurance policies do not cover motorized vehicles unless they are unlicensed and used only at your home. There are often coverage limits for items like firearms, artwork, business property, electronic data, jewelry and money. You can add coverage through endorsements to your policy.

Loss of use typically covers living expenses over and above your normal living expenses if you cannot live in your home while repairs are made or a government order denies you access.

Remember, all policies have exclusions. Most home owners insurance policies do not cover losses due to floods, mudslides, water damage from sewer backups, damage from war or nuclear hazard, neglect, earthquakes, power failures, seepage, dry rot or vermin. Read your policy carefully and ask your agent if you have any questions.

We’ll cover liability protection in our next post.

About MAX: Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions abouthomeowners insurance. We also offer home, farm, auto, renters, and other personal lines to help protect the members of the faith-based community. Visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Sage, Bobbie. Understanding Your Home Owners Insurance Policy. About.com. Retrieved January 27, 2012, from http://personalinsure.about.com/cs/homeowners/a/aa013004a.htm.

Popularity: 35% [?]

© Larry Lawhead / PhotoXpress

The process of purchasing a first home can be an overwhelming, but exciting process for first-time home buyers. Before you can close on your new home, you must acquire a home owners insurance policy. For the inexperienced, this can prompt many questions.

A home owners insurance policy helps protect you from certain perils, says Bobbie Sage, personal insurance guide for About.com. Your new home and its contents can be damaged or suffer loss from weather, fire, theft and other unexpected hazards. The type of policy you choose will determine what you can recover in the event of a loss.

When shopping for home owners insurance, do your homework and ask questions — a lot of questions. Your policy will state exactly what is and is not covered. Your agent also can help clear up questions on unfamiliar topics.

Don’t assume that in the event of a loss the funds will start rolling in. Remember, there usually is a deductible when filing a claim, which means you must pay a certain amount out of pocket before your policy kicks in.

In the next few posts, we’ll discuss what a typical policy usually covers.

About MAX: Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions about homeowners insurance. We also offer home, farm, auto, renters, and other personal lines to help protect the members of the faith-based community. Visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Sage, Bobbie. Understanding Your Home Owners Insurance Policy. About.com. Retrieved January 27, 2012, from http://personalinsure.about.com/cs/homeowners/a/aa013004a.htm.

Popularity: 28% [?]

© Mike & Valerie Mille / PhotoXpress

Venturing outdoors this winter? Perhaps it’s for recreation such as snow skiing or building a snowman with your family after a peaceful snowfall. Yet many of us also must travel to work or take care of outdoor chores despite the nastiest winter weather. Bitter cold, strong winds, snow and ice can all discourage even the hardiest of us from leaving the comfort of our homes. However, if you must spend time in the elements, a few precautions can help make the winter a more bearable and a much safer season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the following tips to protect yourself against the hazards of winter weather:

• Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: layers of light, warm clothing; mittens; hats; scarves; and waterproof boots.
• Sprinkle cat litter or sand on icy patches.
• Learn safety precautions to follow when outdoors.

• Be aware of the wind chill factor.
• Work slowly when doing outside chores.
• Take a buddy and an emergency kit when you are participating in outdoor recreation.
• Avoid traveling when the weather service has issued advisories.
• If you must travel, inform a friend or relative of your proposed route and expected time of arrival.
• Carry a cell phone.

A little preparation can help keep you warm and safe during the chilly winter months.

About MAX: Don’t get left out in the cold if an accident happens at your home or on your property. Now is a great time to be sure your liability insurance is adequate. Accidents happen, so make sure you’re protected. We also offer home, farm, auto, renters, and other personal lines to help protect the members of the faith-based community. Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions about insurance. Visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter.” Retrieved Jan. 11, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/features/winterweather/.

Popularity: 30% [?]

© dinostock / PhotoXpress

Many of us have a habit of starting the new year with a vow to eat healthier. However, with our busy lifestyles, we can quickly disregard this pledge as we get swept up with our daily schedules. However, the effort to eat healthier doesn’t have to be daunting.

According to Let’sMove.gov, making small changes in a handful of key areas can create real results:

Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fresh, frozen and canned varieties all count. Snack on fruit or carrot sticks, and mix vegetables into dishes. You could add peas and carrots to rice or tomatoes and cucumbers to a sandwich.

Reduce fat and sugar. Switch to low or non-fat milk, yogurt and cheese, and choose lean cuts of meat such as skinless chicken or extra lean ground beef. Try baking or grilling instead of frying, and substitute olive or vegetable oil for butter. Swap sodas and sweetened beverages for water or low-fat milk, and in general, try to drink less soda and sugar-sweetened drinks. Even switching to lower sugar breakfast cereals and replacing desserts like ice cream and cake with fruit-based desserts can all help.

Rethink your snacks. Reduce the number of snacks consumed each day. Leave a bowl of fruit or carrot sticks out where you can see it. Drink water with snacks and save treats for special occasions.

Portion size. Cut back portion sizes and serve food on smaller plates. Start with a small portion and only have seconds if you’re still hungry.

Eat together as a family. Slow down to enjoy meals and time together.

Just a few small changes can create noteworthy results. Which changes will you try this week?

About MAX: We’re a faith-based insurance company committed to creating and sustaining WHOLENESS through preserving and restoring property, lives and communities. Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions about insurance. To find an agent in your area, visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Source: LetsMove.gov. “Healthy Families.” Retrieved Jan. 11, 2012, from http://www.letsmove.gov/healthy-families.

Popularity: 30% [?]

© percent / PhotoXpress

Winter may be known for bringing its share of injury and illness, but a little preparation and common sense can go a long way in mitigating these risks.

Even though it may be virtually impossible to entirely avoid getting sick or becoming injured, there are a few things you can do to help minimize these risks, says Dr. Henry Schuitema, Medical Director of Kennedy Health System’s Stratford Emergency Department in New Jersey. He offers the following tips:

• Wash your hands, especially after sharing toys, coughing or blowing a runny nose. Wash for at least 15 seconds (hum “Happy Birthday” to keep track of time).
• Get a flu shot if you haven’t already. It’s not too late. Adults ages 75 and up should also get a pneumonia shot.
• Be careful shoveling. It’s strenuous, so don’t overdo it. Older, school-age kids can help, but don’t let young children shovel (they could strain their muscles).
• Minimize your time outside. Kids have a tough time knowing when to come inside from the cold. Avoid hypothermia or frostbite by checking on children often to ensure gloves are warm and dry and their noses aren’t too red.
• Take your time. Don’t rush when walking, even short distances. Ice can be difficult to see and quite treacherous. A little extra caution and time could help save you a trip to the emergency room.
• Use sunscreen. Even in the winter, you can still get sunburned. A sunscreen with at least SPF 15 will help.
• Be careful with cold-weather sports. Know where your kids are playing and be sure they wear protective equipment when sledding or doing other potentially hazardous outdoor activities.

Winter can be difficult enough for some folks without a trip to the emergency room or doctor’s office. Take precautions ahead of time to keep you safe and healthy despite the weather.

About MAX: We’re a faith-based insurance company committed to creating and sustaining WHOLENESS through preserving and restoring property, lives and communities. Our friendly, experienced agents can help answer all your questions about insurance. To find an agent in your area, visit www.faithbasedinsurance.com/contact-us, email wholeness@faithbasedinsurance.com or call us toll-free at (877) 736-5681.

Source: Schuitema, Dr. Henry. Kennedy Health System. “Winter Safety – Keep Healthy During Cold Winter Months.” Retrieved Jan. 11, 2012, from http://www.kennedyhealth.org/health-news/186-winter-safety-keep-healthy-during-the-cold-winter-months.html.

Popularity: 30% [?]