Fire up the grill, bring on the steak, it is time to barbecue. You might think you know all you need to know about BBQ safety and grilling. But why don’t you review this page, just to make sure. We want your BBQ experience to be fun and safe for the entire family. On average there are over 9,000 home fires annually directly related to barbecuing. According to the National Fire Prevention Association; 16,000 people went to the emergency room and there was $80 million in property damage in 2011 associated with barbecuing.

Home barbecue tips:

General Safety

• Never BBQ inside, in a garage, on the roof or on a second story deck
• Never leave your grill unattended
• If you’re using a charcoal grill, let the lighter fluid soak into the coals a few minutes before lighting them so that any vapors have time to evaporate. When you do light the coals, stand back
• Open the grill lid before you light it
• Don’t wear loose fitting clothing
• Keep a fire extinguisher outside or close by
• Make sure you use the grill 10 feet away from your house
• Have the BBQ close to a water source
• Don’t let raw meat sit out long without being chilled or cooked
• Always wash your hands before and after handling food
• Don’t over indulge in alcohol while barbecuing
• Let the grill cool down before you store or cover it

Gas Grills

• Before having an LP cylinder filled, check it for dents, gouges or other signs of disrepair
• If you have a gas grill, make sure the connections from the propane tank to the grill are tight
• Use porcelain rocks instead of lava rocks. Lava rocks are porous and can hold grease which can catch fire at worse and make for an uneven heating surface at best
• When you turn off a gas grill, remember to turn off the propane tank too

Always make sure that the barbecue is in a safe place, where children and pets won’t touch or bump into it. Remember that the barbecue will still be hot even after you finish cooking, anyone contacting the barbecue could be burned. Make sure your home owner’s policy is up to date. Have fun be safe and eat well!

Are you one of the people who think you don’t need life insurance? Please think again. Life insurance provides real security for those you care about. Life benefits can provide financial security and resources for your family or loved ones after you are gone. Let’s look at a few of the reasons to consider life insurance:

1. Payment on Debt- if you have any outstanding debt (like a mortgage) at the time of your death, it does not go away. Your estate will still be responsible to settle all accounts. Life insurance can give your family the peace of mind to know that they can still pay the mortgage if the unthinkable happens.
2. Continuation of Income- Life insurance can provide the funds to replace your income upon your passing. Family income will certainly diminish and there’s a very good chance that your family will experience a lower standard of living.
3. Unpaid Medical Expenses- It is highly likely that you will have medical expenses prior to your death. Some of which may not be covered by health insurance. Adequate life insurance proceeds ensure that these final expenses can be paid.
4. Funeral Expenses- Most people don’t plan for or fund the funeral expenses; again life insurance is there to help.

The good news is that life insurance rates are low and there are many different kinds of products from which to select. One question we often get is, “How much life insurance do I need”? That really depends on your individual situation, but here is a general guideline–We think you need to consider a life insurance limit of at least 10 times your annual gross income. For example if you earn $50,000 per year, your family would need to replace somewhere close to that amount. A $500,000 life policy could return $45,000 to $50,000 in annual interest depending on the rates.

Selecting the right insurance company is very important. Let Innovative Insurance help you with selecting the right plan and insurer. Innovative Insurance can provide competitive premiums for you today.

If you own a Recreational vehicle, motorcycle or other toys, insurance coverage should be part of your thinking. Remember, they are not automatically covered under your current insurance program.

Many State laws require you to maintain liability coverage on your vehicle. Here is a schedule of insurance coverage you might consider:

Liability Insurance

Liability coverage, also known as “property damage/bodily injury”, can help cover expenses from damaging a vehicle or injuring a person in an accident. 

Collision coverage

Collision coverage helps pay for damage to your vehicle if you hit another vehicle, another vehicle hits you, or your vehicle rolls over. Collision coverage can be required if your vehicle is financed or leased.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive insurance helps pay for damage to your vehicle not caused by collision. Examples include damage or loss due to theft, vandalism, falling objects, fire, storms, and flood.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

This coverage helps pay for repairs if your RV is damaged in an accident by an underinsured, uninsured, or unidentified driver. It also helps pay medical costs.

Medical payments coverage

Medical payments coverage helps pay medical costs for you and your passengers in the event of an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

Rental reimbursement coverage

This coverage helps pay for your rental car or other transportation if the RV cannot be driven due to an at-fault accident or comprehensive claim. This is really important especially if you are out of town.

Towing and labor coverage

Towing and labor coverage reimburses you for towing charges if an insured vehicle is disabled. It also covers on-site assistance, such as battery jump-start, tire change, and locksmith services. We recommend this on all recreation vehicles. Contact us today for more information. Innovative Insurance offers competitive pricing for all your RV, Boat, and Motorcycle needs.

Most people insure their material possessions—their homes and cars, for example. But many of these same people don’t insure what is probably their most valuable asset — their ability to work and earn income. Disability insurance is designed to replace your income should you become unable to work at your current job. Disability insurance is important because it can ease the financial burden on a household when someone has a serious illness or injury. There are two basic kinds of disability insurance:

Short-term disability insurance covers a percentage of your lost salary should injury or illness knocks you out of work for more than a few days. Payments generally kick in when you have exhausted any available sick leave. Duration of benefits varies by policy, but six months is typical.

Long-term disability insurance is a more typical insurance product in that it protects you from catastrophic illness or injury; including tragic twists of fate that permanently end your ability to earn a paycheck.  These policies usually pick up where short-term disability policies leave off. Some last only five or 10 years, but you want one that covers you until age 65.

Disability insurance may be right for you if:

1. You don’t have the resources to covers living expenses for more than 6-12 months
2. You want comprehensive, long-term benefits that would cover disability from an accident or sickness.
3. You are interested in protection that is portable throughout several years of your career, even up to age 67.

Your medical coverage helps to pay your doctor and hospital bills. Your disability coverage protects your income for housing, food and other needs. Call us today for a free review. We have options and are ready to serve you.