Insurance carriers realize that offering additional lines of coverage to an existing customer is less expensive than trying to attract new customers. They also know that the more lines a given customer has, the longer they’re likely to stay with them.

While bundling policies is beneficial to insurance carriers, it is also highly beneficial to their customers. Similar to how bundling your personal home and auto policies may give you a discount, bundling your business policies can provide benefits way beyond cost savings.

Simplified Bookkeping

Most businesses require a number of insurance policies in order to properly insure their operations, including:

1. Workers’ compensation
2. General liability
3. Commercial property
4. Professional liability
5. Commercial auto
6. Business interruption
7. Cyber liability
8. Directors and officers

Keeping up with that many policies isn’t an easy task for business owners. Therefore, bundling multiple policies with the same carrier simplifies things for bookkeeping purposes. Besides having fewer bills to keep track of every month, it also makes it easier come renewal time if the bundled policies renew at the same time each year.

Your HR department will also appreciate having one number to call when you’re hiring a new employee, have claims questions, are adding a location, or making any other business decisions that impact your insurance.

Fewer Agents to Educate

Properly insuring your business requires explaining to your insurance agent exactly what your business does and the exposures that come with it. But without bundling your policies, you have more agents to educate, which takes time. The fewer agents you have to work with, the better equipped they’ll be to help identify and address your exposures.

Assurance That Your Policies Work Together

There may be circumstances when two of your business insurance policies have to work together. For example, you may assume that something not covered by your commercial auto policy would be covered by your commercial umbrella policy. However, many umbrella policies will only extend above an auto policy if the insurance company offering it has a specified financial strength rating. If your carrier’s rating falls below a certain grade, your umbrella policy may not cover an auto loss. That’s just one type of problem that could arise if you keep your policies under separate roofs, with separate agents.

Less Security Risk

When obtaining insurance, business owners are required to divulge sensitive personal information about their employees, as well as financial information about the business itself. When dividing your policies among multiple agents, you’re basically providing all that information to more people than you would have to if you’d bundled your policies with one agent. And in doing so, you’re increasing the risk of highly sensitive information ending up in the wrong hands.

This Coverage Insight is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice.

Observed every April, Alcohol Awareness Month is meant to raise awareness about alcohol use and break the stigma by discussing how alcohol-use disorders affect individuals, families, and communities. This year is especially critical as COVID-19 restrictions and stress can increase your susceptibility to substance misuse, addiction, and relapse. In fact, alcohol sales in the United States have grown nearly 30% in the last year.

Alcohol abuse can affect both your personal and professional life. Prolonged drinking puts you at risk for developing serious health complications—such as high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, and stroke— and can trigger other life-threatening consequences.

Know the warning signs

Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on the number of symptoms you experience. Keep in mind that symptoms often occur at the same time. It can also include both periods of alcohol intoxication and withdrawal symptoms—such as sweating, shaking, and nausea.

Common physical and behavioral signs and symptoms of alcohol misuse include the following:

1. Feeling irritable or experiencing mood swings
2. Having poor coordination
3. Showing signs of slurred speech
4. Experiencing blackouts or short-term memory loss
5. Isolating from friends and family
6. Failing to complete responsibilities and obligations at home or work
7. Drinking alone or in secrecy
8. Making excuses for drinking, such as to relax or deal with stress
9. Engaging in risky behavior, such as drunk driving

If you or a loved one are concerned about alcohol use, talk to a doctor or use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline by calling 800-662-HELP (4357).

Moving 11 Minutes Per Day Can Improve Your Health

There’s no denying that the pandemic has hampered activity levels. On top of exercising less, you are likely sitting more than normal too. However, a sedentary lifestyle can be hazardous to your health. Although this type of lifestyle may be a pandemic reality, there’s good news about the benefits of small move goals.

According to new research from the Norwegian School of Sports Medicine, just 11 minutes of daily, moderate exercise can provide long-term health benefits and increase your life span. Additionally, people who worked out at least 35 minutes per day saw the biggest results in terms of health, especially joint health.

Any movement, no matter the duration, is beneficial, as long as you accumulate enough of it. And, if you take your movement outside, you can improve your mental health in addition to your physical health. Start moving today, and talk to your doctor if you have questions about any lifestyle changes.

Mental Health Support During the Pandemic

Rarely has there been a greater need for mental health support than now. Before the pandemic, there were already shortages of mental health professionals. For example, there were 45 psychologists or psychiatrists for every 100,000 Americans. In some places, that ratio was just one professional per every 30,000 people. Additionally, Mental Health America data reveals almost a quarter of adults with a mental illness say they aren’t able to get the treatment they need.

As the pandemic continues to strain health care resources and take a toll on personal well-being, there are some ways to still receive mental health support. Telehealth is a great place to start receiving mental health care via video conferencing. Additional support resources include:

1. Your primary care doctor, who can point you in the direction of mental health resources
2. State psychological associations
3. Work-based wellness and employee assistance programs
4. The SAMHSA’s National Helpline, which is free, confidential and available
5. 24/7 by calling 800-662-HELP (4357)
6. The United Way’s free and confidential service for community resources

There’s hope on the horizon with COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, but the pandemic is still evolving. Continue to check in with yourself and reach out for help.

New COVID-19 guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released under President Joe Biden’s administration signal a more proactive approach toward protecting U.S. workers from COVID-19.

The new guidance seeks to protect all types of workers, not just those deemed to be at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 depending on where they work. The guidance also asks employers to shield workers from retaliation if they have concerns about unsafe work conditions. The guidance also looks to establish ways for employees to voice work-related concerns anonymously. In general, OSHA wants employers to give their staff a bigger say in developing workplace safety protocols. Such protocols already require employers to enforce 6-foot distancing and face mask wearing, both of which are carryovers from former President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Biden administration is also pushing for some federal emergency standards that could carry more legal weight— something labor advocates have been wanting. OSHA has until March 15 to decide if it will issue those standards. OSHA also announced that it is resuming public announcements on workplace fines for unsafe conditions.

It is important that businesses remain vigilant during these unprecedented times, providing safe and healthy workplaces for all employees. This new guidance from the Biden administration may help workers in high-risk sectors maintain their unemployment benefits and avoid unsafe work, even if doing so puts added pressure on business owners.

For additional safety guidance and insurance information, contact Midwest Professional Insurance.

Workers’ Compensation Premium Audit Tips

At the end of every workers’ compensation policy period, insurance carriers conduct audits to ensure that paid premiums accurately reflected a business’s operations over the duration of the policy period. This is necessary because premiums paid at the beginning of the policy period are only estimates based on projected payroll and assigned employee classification codes.

These audits can be done by phone, mail, or in-person, depending on the assigned auditor. Workers’ compensation premium audits are very common and, once completed, can indicate if any additional premium is owed, or if any credits need to be returned or applied to the next policy. Some business owners select “pay as you go” workers’ compensation policies to help reduce their exposure to large audit balances. Premiums for these types of policies are based on actual payroll and are reported/paid in real-time, contrary to that of traditional estimated programs.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the audit process, thus affecting workers’ compensation premiums. It is important to know that there is no guarantee of the return of workers’ compensation premium credits due to the pandemic. To give your company the best chance of receiving a returned premium credit, it is critical to maintaining proper recordkeeping.

Other important items to note include:

1. Payments to paid furloughed employees—If you have continued paying employees to stay home and not work while your business operations have been suspended because of a federal, state, or local emergency order, you need to identify the wages your company has paid to furloughed employees and provide them to your auditor during your audit.
2. Temporary changes in your business operations—If you temporarily change your operations because of a federal, state or local emergency order, you must identify these changes. Such operational adjustments may affect the rating and classifications of your policy.
3. Employees working from home or being assigned different job duties—If your employees are temporarily being paid to work from home or have been assigned different job duties, you must note this on your payroll records and provide these new duties to your auditor.

It is in your best interest to know your workers’ compensation classification codes, payroll, and subcontractor payments prior to any audit. For more information on how to prepare for workers’ compensation audits, contact us today.

Audit Tip

Have all Independent Contractors provide a certificate of insurance stating that they purchased workers’ compensation insurance.

The foods and beverages you consume have a significant impact on your health. In fact, 60% of adults have one or more diet-related chronic diseases. The newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025) offers science-based nutrition advice to develop healthy eating habits and reduce chronic disease risk. For the first time, this edition provides recommendations by life stage, from birth through older adulthood.

The latest guidance provides four overarching guidelines that encourage healthy eating patterns and recognize that individuals will need to make shifts in their food and beverage choices to achieve a healthy pattern. Make every bite count and consider the following:

1. Follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage. Dietary needs and recommendations vary based on your age, sex and stage of life. Review the guidelines to ensure that you and your loved ones—whether they’re infants, children, teens, adults or elderly—are following a healthy diet.
2. Customize your foods and beverages to reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions and budgets. A healthy dietary pattern can benefit all people regardless of age, race, ethnicity or current health status.
3. Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient dense foods and beverages, while staying within calorie limits. Nutrient-dense foods are rich in vitamins and minerals, without too much added sugars, saturated fats an sodium.
4. Limit foods and beverages high in added sugars, saturated fats and sodium. Be mindful of the nutritional facts of the foods and beverages you consume—including alcohol. Men should limit alcohol to two drinks a day and women should consume no more than one drink per day.

Everyone can benefit from a healthy eating pattern, so start simple with modest changes each day. For healthy recipes or to learn more about the current guidelines, visit MyPlate.gov.

Prioritize Your Sleep

Sleep is just as important as nutrition and exercise to help you function at your best. But when you’re juggling work, kids and everyday life, a good night’s sleep may seem unattainable. In fact, 35% of people feel they don’t get enough sleep. Adults need seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night. In honor of World Sleep Day on March 19, consider the following tips to prioritize your sleep:

1. Avoid drinking caffeine within six hours of bedtime.
2. Stop watching television and using your phone and other electronic devices for at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
3. Create a relaxing bedtime routine to help your brain unwind and recognize that it’s time to sleep.
4. Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet.

If you’re regularly feeling tired upon waking up, or throughout the day, you may be experiencing some underlying issues. Talk to your doctor about any concerns.

Properly Cleaning Your Earbuds

Listen up! Earbud use can lead to health issues such as excessive earwax, ear pain, ringing in the ears or infections. Dirt, debris and sweat can build up over time, so it’s important to clean earbuds after each use. Cleaning can also maintain sound quality and extend the life of your earbuds.

First, disconnect your earbuds. Then consider the following cleaning options:

1. Soft cloth—If you have single-piece earbuds, slightly dampen a cloth with fresh water and wipe clean.
2. Alcohol wipes—To clean and disinfect earbuds, use an alcohol wipe.
3. Soap and water—A simple solution of antibacterial soap and warm water paired with a soft cloth work well. If you need something more potent, use rubbing alcohol.
4. Small brush—A clean toothbrush or cotton swab can clean mesh grilles and other small grooves.

After cleaning your earbuds, allow them to dry completely before placing in a storage bag or case. If you’re experiencing ear pain, talk to your doctor.

Severe winter weather is wreaking havoc in many areas — accompanied by record-low temperatures, snow, and ice. These conditions have resulted in serious safety implications for many people.

Namely, this weather—combined with natural gas shortages, frozen wind turbines, and individuals using more energy than usual to keep their homes warm—has caused the power grid to fail, leaving millions of individuals without heat or electricity in the midst of dangerously low temperatures. These outages are likely to last for several more days, potentially keeping some people without power for much of the week.

What’s worse, hazardous road conditions due to snow and ice buildup have forced many individuals to remain in their homes, despite the lack of heat or electricity. As such, it’s important for people affected by these storms to practice the following precautions to stay safe and warm at home:

1. Be cautious with generators. These devices create deadly fumes and contribute to carbon monoxide poisoning if used incorrectly. Generators—which must only be used outside—should be kept dry and remain at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and vents. From there, you can plug appliances into a generator with heavy-duty outdoor extension cords.
   
   
2. Maintain household heat. Conserve the heat in your home by keeping all doors and windows closed. In addition, close any drapes or blinds, and use spare towels to fill door gaps and keep cold air from traveling inside.
   
   
3. Use adequate light sources. Light your home with battery-powered flashlights or lanterns. Use candles as a last resort, but never leave them unattended.
   
   
4. Keep the water flowing. To prevent your home’s pipes from freezing or breaking, turn your water faucets on just enough to allow for a continuous drip. Keep the cabinet doors under sinks open to ensure any warm air in the room reaches the pipes. If pipe problems do occur, use any bottled water or safe liquids you have for hydration. If no other water is available, the melted snow can be used as an emergency water source.
   
   
5. Ensure food safety. Keep your fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible to help preserve perishable foods. Never consume food that shows signs of spoilage (e.g., an off smell, color, or texture).
   
   
6. Know the signs. Seek immediate medical care if you or another household member displays signs of frostbite or hypothermia (e.g., shivering, confusion, numbness, pain when rewarming the skin or a whitish-yellow tint to the skin).
   
   
7. Stay inside. Remain indoors and off the roads as much as possible. If you must go outside, do so in short increments and dress in warm layers. If you must drive, take your cellphone with you and pack an emergency kit.

Lastly, stranded motorists and any other individuals in dire need of warmth are encouraged to go to warming shelters in your area.

When the weather gets cold, you may want to cozy up indoors by lighting a candle or two. However, it’s important to keep candle safety considerations in mind when doing so.

All it takes is a single candle mishap to quickly escalate into a devastating fire within your home. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association claims that there is an average of 21 home fires caused by candles every day—with 85% of them being avoidable.

Candle incidents can be avoided by practicing safe candle usage within your home. Learn to use candles safely in your home by following these simple tips:

1. Trim the wick—Trim the wick to a quarter of an inch to keep the flame from becoming too large.
2. Use a long match or lighter—To keep your hand from getting too close to the flame, always use a long match or long lighter.
3. Don’t walk away—Make sure the wick ember is completely out and no longer glowing before leaving the room.
4. Secure the area—Never burn a candle near anything that could catch fire. This includes furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper and flammable decorations.
5. Keep candles away from kids and pets—Make sure children and pets cannot reach burning candles.
6. Avoid drafts, vents and air currents—This will help prevent rapid burning or dripping of your candle.
7. Burn for no longer than four hours—Burning your candle for more than four consecutive hours can cause the wick to become unstable and the flame to grow too large.
8. Extinguish candles appropriately—Suffocate the flame by using a snuffer or putting the lid on the candle to prevent hot wax splatters.
9. Don’t touch or move it—Make sure the candle is completely cooled before touching or moving it.

For more home safety guidance and homeowners insurance solutions, contact Midwest Professional Insurance today.