November 2015
Newsletter
insurance information for your
auto, home, life and business
insurance. We hope to inform
and sometimes entertain you
with the mountain of data
we’re exposed to day to day.
We Need to
Hear from You!
If you answer yes to any of the
following questions, we need to
hear from you!
»» Have you moved?
»» Is anyone driving your car
who is not listed on your
insurance policy?
»» Are you engaged and your
fiancé is insured with another
company?
»» Have you made any major
additions or changes to your
home?
First Edition
Gary L. Donius
Founder and
Principal Agent
Over the years, we’ve sent
individual notes to you with
your renewal policies; however,
this year, we’re beginning a
new tradition by sending an
annual newsletter.
Erie Insurance doesn’t
advertise like some companies
do. Some companies use
their advertising to inform
customers of new products
and services. Many of the
features touted by these
companies have been available
from Erie Insurance for years
with broader coverage and at a
better price!
We hope that this newsletter
can help keep you apprised
of these things over the years.
And, of course, you can always
call us to speak directly with
us about any questions you
have about your policies and
coverages. It’s why we’re here.
»» Have you purchased or
inherited any furs, guns or
silverware or jewelry with a
value of $5,000 or more?
The newsletter will contain
»» Have you changed jobs and
distance you drive to work, or
have you retired?
Update your Contact
Information
A proud partner of:
We’d like to update your contact
information with your cell phone number
and email address. We store this
information on our secure, cloud based
server, and we never use it for solicitations
or share it with anyone other than the
carrier with whom you’re insured. Send
us an email with your updated info:
[email protected]
www.doniusinsurance.com
The Importance of Life Insurance When You’re Young
Emily B. Sachek, CIC
Co-Owner and Principal Agent
about but the reality is that if
something happens to one of us—
or both of us—there is a financial
impact on our lives and the lives of
our children. If something happens
to me, my husband still has a
mortgage, childcare expenses,
college, final expenses for me
and other costs of which I can no
longer share. And in the unlikely
event something happens to both of
us, it will become necessary for our
appointed guardian to care for our
boys—which can be an extreme
financial burden.
With the upcoming arrival of our
second son, my husband and I
decided to finally get our estate
planning in order. It is not a
pleasant thing to think and talk
Luckily, we’re (somewhat) younger
so life insurance is an easy,
affordable way to meet these
potential needs. Did you know
that a 28 year old male can buy a
What is
Catastrophe
Liability
Insurance?
How much coverage is
enough?
A catastrophe liability insurance
policy, also known as an umbrella
or excess liability policy, is a layer of
coverage above your auto insurance
liability and home insurance liability
limits. Typically, a catastrophe
liability policy provides an extra
$1 million in coverage above your
underlying policies.
While the vast majority of claims
you’ll experience will be settled
within the liability limits of your
underlying policies, you should carry
enough liability coverage to protect
the value of your bank accounts,
retirement accounts and real
property. Those assets are at risk
when you’re sued after an accident
or an injury on your property.
30 year term policy for $100,000
for less than $200 per year? And
a 28 year old woman can buy
one for less than $150 per year?
That’s the cost of one entrée at
a restaurant per month! Young
families often don’t think they
need life insurance but we’ve seen
instances where it has really helped
a grieving family, or where it might
have really helped if they had taken
the time to buy a policy.
Life insurance is for everyone!
There are many different kinds of
policies—whether you are looking
for an inexpensive way to protect
your family or supplement your
savings. Please talk to us about
your options.
If you have a high net worth or if you’re
a parent of young driver on your auto
insurance policy, you should consider
increasing your liability limits or
obtaining a catastrophe liability policy.
How much does it cost?
A typical $1 million policy can cost
between $150 and $250 per year,
depending upon your underlying
policy limits and rating factors.
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Commercial Insurance
For years we’ve offered our customers great service and coverage
for their homes and autos, but did you know we also offer business
insurance? Even if you’re working from your home, you should
consider insuring your business. Contact Christian if you’d like to
learn how we can help protect your business.
Employee or Subcontractor?
program to these changing needs,
or you could be left with serious
coverage gaps.
You may have read or heard
about the challenges that some
businesses are facing with regard
to classifying employees as
independent contractors. When is
someone an independent contractor
vs. an employee?
Christian A. Sachek, CPCU
Co-Owner and Principal Agent
The insurance needs of a small
business can change quickly,
whether from new projects with specific insurance requirements, new
property and equipment purchases
or new regulatory requirements. It’s
important to adapt your insurance
From an insurance perspective,
paying an individual via 1099 is not
sufficient to classify that individual
has an independent contractor. The
insurance coverage for the prime
contractor is always responsible for
the subcontractors, whether we’re
talking about liability claims or
workers compensation claims. The
question the insurance company
wants answered is this: does the
subcontractor have their own
insurance policy?
If the answer is No, there is a
chance that your “independent
contractor” is exposing you to
financial loss through excess claims,
increased insurance premiums after
claims caused by them, increased
premiums from audits and more.
While sole proprietors in many
states are not required to carry
workers compensation insurance on
themselves, they do need liability
insurance to be considered an
independent contractor in the eyes
of your insurance company.
If you have an employee and
you’re not sure how to classify that
employee, call me. It’s worth a 10
minute conversation.
Home Maintenance Tips
Owning a home is a tremendous,
ongoing responsibility, and lots can
go wrong along the way. That’s why
it’s important to plan for the future,
whether for a roof replacement
or a new refrigerator. Here are
some items to keep in mind while
planning the maintenance of your
home. Deferred maintenance
can lead to costly claims. And,
unfortunately, the insurance market
place is still a hostile environment
for someone with multiple insurance
claims on their record.
»» Budget to replace your roof
before it ages and causes a leak.
»» Cut down large or dead trees on
your property.
»» Check your sump pump often,
and install a battery backup to
prevent a basement flood.
»» Replace your washing machine
water hoses regularly or upgrade
to steel braided lines.
»» Ensure that your downspouts
are draining at least 20 feet from
your foundation walls.
»» Caulk the exterior of your windows
and doors once per year.
»» Clean your gutters twice per year.
»» Check skylights for leaks from
deteriorated seals or sealant.
»» Check your water heater for signs
of age like rust or corrosion.
»» Check your decking for loose nails
and rotted wood.
Coverage and New Features Checklist
Erie Insurance has a number
of new products and features
that may interest you. Please
contact us if you have any
questions about these coverages
or features.
»» Rate Lock: lock in your rate
»» New car replacement coverage
»» Rental car coverage by class of
vehicle
»» Diminishing Deductible
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PRESORTED
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U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT No. 135
Millersville, MD
8258 Veterans Highway, Suite 19a
Millersville, MD 21108
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