Tag Archives: Lakewood CO

The basic provisions of a health insurance cover.

It is a requirement to have basic health insurance in most states in addition to being a very important investment one can ever make. Medical setbacks can be very costly. Purchasing and maintaining health coverage is the only best way to cushion you from emergency medical costs out of pocket.

Before obtaining a proper health insurance cover, it is important to understand the basic provisions of a health insurance cover. Having knowledge of the fundamental concepts that govern health insurance will be of great help in ensuring you find an affordable health insurance that best suits your needs.

The basic provisions of a health insurance cover include:

  • Short-term or temporary health insurance

In general, short-term plans are not obligatory to offer you the same vital coverage advantages and rights as a long-term compliant plan. These types of plans can only be of help when you are transitioning an example being moving between jobs.

  • Supplemental insurance

Usually, this is considered as a minimum essential cover since it pays directly to you in the event that you fall sick or injured in order to fill the financial gap which you might be vulnerable to by your current health insurance coverage. The money you receive from a supplemental insurance plan can be used for payment of deductibles, out of pocket medical expenses among other eligible expenses that you choose.

The most common eligible expenses include services of a physician, optometrist, physiotherapist and ambulance services.

A basic health insurance cover protects you and your family the routine costs and other out of pocket costs of unexpected medical expenses. We at Lakewood, CO, based Colling Insurance Services, Inc. have a collective negotiation between our clients and insurance agents by offering specialized advice and services in order to make your insurance shopping easy.

Visit us today or give us a call for more information regarding the basic provisions of health insurance coverage.

Deciding What Dental Insurance Coverage to Get

Dental insurance can help to keep your smile healthy and attractive by helping you pay for the dental services you need, but it can be a bit daunting to know which dental insurance coverage to get. Here are some key tips on that, courtesy of Colling Insurance Services, Inc. serving the Lakewood, CO area.

Co-payments

Various dental insurance plans differ as far as what copayment the patient must pay for various dental services. Often, when you pay more per month for your premiums, the co-pays will be lower. So that’s a tradeoff.

Deductibles

Dental insurance plans also differ when it comes to deductibles, and typically the high-deductible plans require the patient to pay more out of pocket when dental services are obtained at a dentist.

Premiums

This is yet another area where there are differences from one insurance policy to another. High-premium dental insurance plans typically provide more and better coverage for services, as well as lower co-payments and deductibles.

When considering which dental insurance coverage to get, evaluate what types of services you foresee needing and how often. Of course, it is impossible to predict this with absolute certainty. But take a look at what coverage each plan offers and for what price, and look at what your budget allows when it comes to paying for premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.

When you are looking into dental insurance, it can help to have an expert who can sift through and sort out all the information. That’s where it helps to work with a company that provides insurance services. If you need help sorting out your dental insurance options, please feel free to contact us at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. serving the Lakewood, CO area.

Legal Issues About Worker´s Comp Insurance

Not everyone understands that workers’ compensation insurance is designed to protect both the worker and the employer. The protection for the employee comes from the fact that employers in the state of Colorado are required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. The employer must pay for this insurance and cannot deduct the expense from employees.

By having workers’ compensation insurance, employers are protected from lawsuits by employees due to on-the-job injuries. Employers who need help with workers’ compensation insurance should contact an agent at Colling Insurance Services Inc. serving Lakewood, CO.

Legal Responsibilities of Employees

If an employee suffers an on-the-job injury, the worker must promptly report the injury, file a claim with the help of the employer, and follow the rules. When an employee does this properly, the employee is entitled to compensation for medical expenses and may be entitled to lost wages for the time the employee is unable to work. If an employee dies due to an on-the-job accident, the employee’s surviving family members or beneficiaries receive a death benefit.

Legal Responsibilities of Employers

Employers in Colorado must have workers’ compensation insurance if they have a single worker or more.

Additional requirements for employers are:

  • The business must put up a poster called “Notice to Employer of Injury” in a prominent place where all employees are able to see it.
  • The employer must maintain records of all the on-the-job injuries and occupational diseases that happen and the work-time lost because of these.
  • Employers must report injuries that cause lost work-time within ten days of injury’s occurrence by using the “Employer’s First Report of Injury” form. This form is sent to the insurer and then the insurer forwards a copy to the Colorado State Division of Workers’ Compensation.
  • Upon an injured employee’s return to work, employers submit a “Supplemental Report of Accident” form to the insurer and then the insurer forwards a copy to the Colorado State Division of Workers’ Compensation.

The Extra Benefit of Maintaining a Safe Working Environment

Employers with a worker safety program in effect for one year and those that can document their safety record may qualify for a certificate that gives them a 10% reduction on the payments for workers’ compensation insurance.

Get a quote from your agent at Colling Insurance Services Inc. in Lakewood, CO for any workers’ compensation needs.

How to Insure a Second Location as Your Business Expands

Having a successful small business is terrific. Many business owners who find success with a particular business style do well by expanding it. They take a successful style and copy it by establishing a second branch in another location. Work with your agent at Colling Insurance Services Inc. serving Lakewood, CO and the nearby areas, to replicate your business success with a commercial insurance review that incorporates the needs of the original and the new location(s).

If the new location is within the state of Colorado, it is possible to combine coverage in ways that are beneficial to the business owner. If the new location is not within the state of Colorado, your agent can help with recommendations of how to get commercial insurance coverage in another state.

Commercial Insurance Review

In general, having a yearly review of commercial insurance is a good idea. A review is critical before establishing a new location(s). Commercial insurance needs to be put in place prior to starting the business operations to make sure there is no gap in coverage. Even during the period when a business sends staff to get a new location(s) ready for operations, there needs to be commercial insurance already in place.

It is important when considering the impact on the business by a new location to think about business interruption insurance. If a business has two locations or more and there is a business interruption, it can take substantial resources to keep the business from failing. This type of commercial insurance helps the business survive if there is no cash flow coming in to the business.

Compare Increasing Policy Limits with New Policies

Increasing policy limits may be an alternative that may be possible and advantageous when compared to getting a brand new policy for the new location(s). Other considerations include thinking about the use of any commercial vehicles that may be driven by employees from more than one business location.

It is an exciting time when a business wants to open a new location. Contact your agent at Colling Insurance Services Inc. in Lakewood, CO to make sure you have adequate commercial insurance in place for your business expansion.

How Much Auto Insurance Coverage Do I Need?

Getting the right amount of auto insurance coverage protects you from financial losses in case of a car accident. It helps you to pay for liability claims and the costs of repairing or replacing your car after an accident. Protect your vehicle in Lakewood, CO by getting the help of Colling Insurance Services, Inc. The trained and experienced agents will help you to find the right type and amount of auto insurance based on your needs. The following are some of the coverage options and how much you need.

Liability Coverage

Colorado drivers must have a minimum of $25, 000 per person for bodily injury liability, $15,000 for property damage liability, and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. You should, however, try to carry liability coverage that is above the state’s minimum requirement. The amount of liability coverage you take depends on your assets and how much you have to lose in case of an accident. If you do not have enough liability coverage, you may have to sell your assets to settle payments when you are held liable for an accident

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage compensates you for the cost of repairing or replacing your car after an accident. Consider the amount of money it takes to repair or replace your vehicle and get the appropriate amount of insurance coverage. If you have a new or expensive, you should get as much collision coverage as possible. The same applies to comprehensive coverage.

Extended Coverage

Some people need more than the basic auto insurance coverage options. Extended coverage options such as umbrella insurance offer supplemental protection.

Speak to your insurance agent to find out how much auto insurance is enough for your needs.

Contact Colling Insurance Services, Inc. for your auto insurance needs in Lakewood, CO.

What Does a Homeowners Insurance Policy Cover?

Homeowners insurance is a policy that not only protects your home, the structures on your property and their contents, it can also provide liability protection for accidents that occur on the property or damages to someone else’s property.  Most policies will carry coverage for a broad spectrum of threats such as from fire, weather, theft and damage from falling objects.  While this list of known perils is extensive, you need to understand the realm of what is covered and what isn’t.  For instance, while the policy may cover damage from failing plumbing, it won’t cover flooding from a weather event.  The agents at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. know the Lakewood, CO area well and are able to help you understand the policy’s protections.

While the homeowner’s policy will cover the house, it will also cover other structures on the property such as a garage or toolshed.  The policy also covers your personal belongings such as clothing, furniture, computer equipment, jewelry, etc.  The personal belongings category also includes plants that are damaged on the property with the exception of disease or high winds.  If you have collections of valuables such as firearms, jewelry or artwork, you should discuss this with your agent to ensure that you have enough coverage.  If your home is deemed uninhabitable because of a disaster, the policy will provide you funds for additional living expenses such as hotels and restaurants while your home is being repaired.  Lastly, it should be noted that the policy will provide liability coverage.  This covers medical expenses and legal fees should someone have an accident on the property and decide to sue.

Following a disaster, the right insurance helps you recover quickly.  In the Lakewood, CO area, visit Colling Insurance Services for all of your home insurance needs. 

3 Questions You Need to Ask Yourself Before Purchasing Life Insurance

If you are shopping for life insurance in Lakewood, CO, you may be overwhelmed. It seems like a complex process but it does not have to be. Your decision to invest in life insurance is a great one because it protects your family. You must, therefore, choose the right type of insurance from the right insurance provider. Contact a reputable insurance agency such as Colling Insurance Services, Inc. The agents will explain to you the different types of insurance and their extent of coverage. Understand how each insurance policy works before making a decision.

Important Questions When Buying Life Insurance

How much life insurance do I need?

Different people need different amounts of life insurance. Before buying life insurance, consider your financial responsibilities including mortgage payments and debt. If your family may have many needs in the future such as the costs of education, you need more life insurance. People who do not have a lot of debt or future family responsibilities may not need to buy much of it. What works well for one person may be insufficient for another.

Who are my beneficiaries?

Your life insurance policy goes to your beneficiaries after you die. You need to be careful when making that decision. Take time to think about it. Your beneficiaries could include your spouse, parents, kids, or siblings. However, you do not need to choose a person. You could choose an organization or a charity.

What policy is appropriate for my needs?

The basic life insurance policies are term life insurance and permanent life insurance. Term life insurance is for a specified length of time while permanent life insurance is a lifelong insurance. The type of insurance you choose depends on your needs.

Contact Colling Insurance Services, Inc. today for your life insurance needs in Lakewood, CO.

Protect Your Business with Business Insurance

When running a business in or around Lakewood, CO it is important to do what you can to protect the investment. While you put your best foot forward to help grow the company, there are always unforeseen issues that might spring up at any time. This is where proper business insurance is critical. With the team at Colling Insurance Services Inc. you’ll discover what insurance options are available and what you should do to improve the security of you and your employee’s livelihood. 

Property Business Insurance

There is a host of business insurance options you need to consider. Property business insurance isn’t just if you own the building. It also goes into protecting valuable equipment and resources you use during a production process. So whether you use a meat slicer for sandwiches or plastic injection molding hardware for container manufacturing, this is an important form of insurance protection to consider. 

Business Insurance Add-Ons

Depending on where your building is located you may want to consider flood insurance. Other insurance add-ons can include protecting your windows. A broken window is expensive to repair, so having protection for this is desirable. You may also want to consider an umbrella business insurance. This way, if someone attempts to sue your place of business you will have financial protection in this case. No matter what kind of business you have, having the right insurance coverage is critical for your company’s wellbeing. 

At Colling Insurance Services Inc. it doesn’t matter what kind of business you have. If you’re in need of business insurance the team of insurance agents will sit down with you and go over your options. This way, whether the company is based out of Lakewood, CO or a surrounding community, you’ll discover just how insurance can protect your company. 

Finding Adequate Insurance When You Have a Bad Driving Record

Are you a driver with a bad driving record in the Lakewood, CO area? Past mistakes should not prevent you from securing the adequate car insurance that you need to protect yourself and your family. The team at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. are here to help you secure appropriate insurance and move forward with your life!

A Less than Perfect Driving Record Should Not Hold You Back from a Bright Future

One of the most helpful actions that you can take to improve the quality of auto insurance options that are available to you is to enroll in a Safe Driving Course. Whenever possible, take the necessary steps to reduce the "points" associated with your driving record as they can have a negative impact on you during your quest to obtain insurance. In the worst case scenario, you may be placed into a high-risk pool that will provide coverage but is less than ideal position to be in. If this happens to you, we recommend that you meet with one of our qualified agents to learn more about the steps that you can take to improve your driving record and secure appropriate auto insurance outside of the high-risk pool.

We all make mistakes, and while there must be accountability, there is no reason for a bad driving record to hold you back from a bright future. Our team is knowledgeable about the options available to clients with a less than a stellar driving record, and they can also help you to improve your overall profile. A proactive approach that includes a plan for the future is highly recommended.

Don’t let a bad driving record hold you back, contact Colling Insurance Services, Inc. today to learn more about your insurance options in the greater Lakewood, CO area.

My Neighbors Tree Fell on My House: Whose Home Insurance Policy Should the Claim Be Filed With?

At Colling Insurance Services Inc. serving the greater Lakewood, CO area, we realize that there is a lot of confusion over filing certain types of homeowners insurance claims. One scenario is when a tree falls from one person’s property onto another person’s property and causes damage, such as hitting their home. The parties may be unsure as to whose homeowners insurance policy the claim should be filed with. 

Unfortunately, though, there is not a one size fits all answer to this question and the answer as to which insurance company the claim should be filed with varies. 

As a general rule of thumb, if the tree fell because of strong wind gusts or floods, the neighbor whose home was damaged would file a claim with their insurance company. Their insurance company covers random acts, such as wind gusts, and is designed to cover these events. On the other hand, if the tree toppled over because it was not properly cared for and maintained, and the tree owner was negligent, the claim should be filed with their homeowner’s insurance company. 

If your home was damaged due to a neighbor’s tree hitting it, you may be unsure as to which company to file a claim with. When in doubt, file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance. if the other party has liability for the damage, your insurance company can go after them or their insurance company to recoup the money. 

Having the right amount of homeowners insurance is key in the event something unexpected like this occurs. Do you have the right amount of coverage? Contact Colling Insurance Services Inc. serving the greater Lakewood, CO area today to discuss your insurance needs with us.