Save an additional 30% on Auto Insurance

With Snapshot, Progressive’s usage-based insurance program, you could turn your good driving into huge savings—of up to 30 percent—on your car insurance.

Here’s how our usage-based insurance program works*:

Enroll online.
Sign up for Snapshot when you quote and buy your Progressive car insurance policy.

Plug the device into your car.
We’ll mail your Snapshot device to you, along with details on where to plug it into your car.

Drive as you normally do.
For the next 30 days, you’ll keep track of your good driving habits with Snapshot. You can log in to your Progressive policy anytime to see your projected Snapshot discount.

Enjoying your savings
On day 31, your initial Snapshot savings—which can be anywhere from 0 to 30 percent— kicks in. After six months, you’ll send back the device, we’ll finalize your driving snapshot, and you can keep saving for as long as you’re insured by Progressive.

You can only save money with Snapshot—your rate won’t go up—but if at any point, you decide Snapshot isn’t right for you, just call us and then send back your device.

Quote and enroll in Snapshot to try usage-based insurance today!

www.lehninsurance.com

Call or contact via our website for a free quote.  Find out how you can save $$$ with Progressive.

Citizens Insurance Looking for More Money

Florida May Change Citizens’ Policyholder Assessments

Funding for the Florida’s state-run property insurer is likely to change as state lawmakers are looking to access the insurer’s total assessment base quicker and give it more time to collect funds in the event of a deficit.

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. currently has a three-tier assessment scheme that is triggered in a sequential manner based upon any deficits in the insurer’s three separate property insurance accounts. The insurer has a personal lines account, a commercial lines account, and a coastal account.

Initially, following a deficit in an account, Citizens can assess policyholders up to 15 percent of their premium for a maximum total of 45 percent. If that assessment fails to cover the deficit, Citizens can levy a 6 percent regular assessment for a total of 18 percent on all personal lines policyholders in the private market. If further funds are needed an additional 10 percent emergency assessment can be levied.

Under current law, insurers must pay regular assessments upfront and the recoup them from policyholders. However, emergency assessments can be charged to policyholders within 90 days of a deficit and collected over as many years as needed.

Florida lawmakers, however, are looking to change that assessment scheme to reduce the per year assessment percentage on policyholders by giving them more time to retire any Citizens’ deficit while reduce the immediate financial impact on private carriers that under current law have to pay any regular assessment up front.

The Florida House of Representatives approved a bill (HB 1127), sponsored by Rep. Ben Albritton (R-Bartow), who said he merely wants to cushion the impact of assessments without affecting Citizens’ ability to pay claims.

“This bill in no way limits Citizens’ ability to pay their claims on time,” said Albritton on the House floor.

According to a Senate House of Economic Affairs analysis, the elimination of the six percent regular assessment on the private market means that Citizens policyholders would likely see higher assessments while policyholders in the private market would end up just paying the assessments over a longer period of time.

The bill’s primary impact would be on private insurers.

Since private insurers would no longer have to pay regular assessments –except for the two percent assessment in the coastal account—upfront, the change would largely eliminate any impact on the insurers’ net worth. Lawmakers are hoping this will reduce the chance that any insurer will go bankrupt.

Citizens’ officials indicated the bill would have no negative impact on its ability to pay claims in a timely manner. However, since the insurer would no longer collect monies upfront in the form of regular assessments, it may invest more monies in pre-event bonding.

At this time,  it appears Citizens will  have substantial financial resources entering into this year’s hurricane season.

According to officials, Citizens is expected to have a surplus of $5.7 billion, an amount that could be augmented by another $6.5 billion in reimbursements from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. The insurer also has $575 billion in pre-event bonds that would cover losses located along the state’s coastline. In total, that gives Citizens roughly $12.8 billion in claims paying capacity before levying any assessments on policyholders.

That amount is expected to be able cover a 1-in-50 year storm.

SW Florida Traffic

Hello All!

It is officially season in Florida!  The restaurants and stores are full and so are the roads.  Everyday as I sit in my office I hear the sirens...heading to yet another accident.  Driving to appointments, I see another accident. While some are fender benders others are quite serious!  What can we do to help avoid these accidents or at least lower our risk.  Here are a few suggestions;
1. Hang up and drive..  Dont text or talk on the phone while driving.
2. Drive the speed limit.
3. Pay attention!!!!!
4. Distance....Dont follow to closely. Give yourself time to react.
5. Leave the house a little earlier. 
6. Dont blow the red light or stop sign. STOP!
7.PAY ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!


Drive safe!

Matt Lehn

Lehn Insurance
4478 N Access Rd
Englewood, FL 34224
http://www.lehninsurance.com/

Strange Insurance Claims

Weird Insurance Claims: Licking Cows, Naked People and More

Have you ever been hit by a frozen squirrel while driving?
Has a rabid magpie ever flown in your bedroom window, stolen your spectacles and made a break for it, glasses in beak?
Has a naked pedestrian ever jumped on your car, leapt onto the roof, jumped up and down and then run away, never to be seen or heard from again?
So say some insurance policyholders, who will do just about anything for money—including filing strange insurance claims.
Animal Insurance Claims
When real disaster occurs, insurance provides a vital and necessary lifeline that helps policyholders regain their footing and start life over.
But sometimes freak occurrences of nature happen so unbelievably that convincing the insurance company claims are viable becomes rather challenging.
Take the gardener who, buying plants at a local nursery, exited the store just in time to see a passing camel kick and damage his car. (That was random!)
While the man was trying to explain the situation to his insurance company, a local television crew just happened to be in the area filming nearby and accidentally caught the camel footage on camera—corroborating the man's story for his insurer.
Another woman filed with her insurance company, claiming she hit the car in front of her because it "barked suddenly." Apparently, the other driver's dog, riding in the rear window of the car, had decided to "speak" loudly, startling the driver behind and causing the collision.
Who needs a horn when there are barking cars?
In another case, a man approached his car following a fishing expedition and saw a cow chewing on something long and black. As he came closer, he realized it was his windshield wiper, which contained salt deposits from a long weekend at the coast.
Upon further inspection, it was discovered the cow had licked his vehicle from bumper to bumper, ruining every bit of rubber along the way.
"Cows like salt," the man later explained. "They saw the vehicle as a huge salt lick!"
Wonder what the insurance company thought about that one?
Bumbling Burglars—and Sore Losers
Insurers say they're constantly amazed at some of the bizarre situations for which policyholders file claims, ranging from the serious to the downright outrageous.
One??bumbling burglar robbed a house and, in the process, accidentally locked himself in the garage. Because the garage door opener was broken, and the homeowners were away on vacation, he was stuck there for more than a week and forced to survive on the dog food and soda stored inside.
When finally released from his prison, the man got away, then filed—and won—an insurance claim against the owner for undue mental anguish.
The payout? A cool half million.
A??Pennsylvania woman received a six-figure insurance judgment after claiming she fell in a puddle of soda and cracked her tailbone.
What didn't she tell her insurer? She had thrown the drink at someone else earlier in the evening. It landed on the floor—in the same spot where she later slipped and fell.
The Weird, Wild and Wonderful
Though sometimes hard to believe, incredible insurance claims like these illustrate the fact that almost anything can happen to anyone at any time, making insurance necessary for all.
Though who's to say which claims are real—and which ones aren't?
If you're looking for a way to make money in tough times, we don't recommend filing a claim as the route to riches. Oh, but do look out for those licking cows, frozen squirrels and naked people!

Happy Groundhog's Day

Phil Says 6 More Weeks of Winter! Hear Ye Hear Ye Hear Ye! On Gobbler's Knob on this magnificent Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2012, Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators, was summoned from his burrow in the old oak stump by the tap of President Bill Deeley. At 7:25 a.m. he greeted his handlers, John Griffiths and Ron Ploucha. After casting an appreciative glance toward thousands of his faithful followers, Phil proclaimed: As I look at the crowd on Gobbler's Knob, Many shadows do I see So six more weeks of winter it must be!

Auto Insurance PIP Reform moves forward.

    TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate's plan to reform the no-fault auto insurance program has already achieved what its counterpart in the House has not: unanimous approval from a committee. Insurers and business groups have sided in favor of the House proposal, while Democrats, consumer advocacy organizations and attorneys have lined up against it. But the Senate legislation received almost universal support from them all in its first committee hearing Thursday. Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, who sponsored the legislation, said reducing PIP fraud was his primary goal, but he also did not want to penalize people who file legitimate claims and receive treatment from reputable health care professionals. "Let's make sure that insurance companies are paying them in a timely manner with a reasonable rate," he told the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. The Senate plan excludes massage therapy and acupuncture from the list of allowable treatments under the personal injury protection, or PIP, system. It also tightens licensing requirements for medical clinics, requires long-form crash reports when someone is injured in a crash and creates a statewide organization to help fight PIP abuses. The House's approach is much more controversial, mainly because it requires people injured in an auto accident to be treated first in an emergency room. It also caps attorneys fees and allows insurance companies to examine policyholders and doctors under oath when investigating claims. Several speakers representing insurers suggested changes, such as removing chiropractors from the list of medical professionals that can provide PIP treatments or limiting "multiplier" provisions that allows attorneys to collect higher fees. Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, said the plan received bipartisan support because it reflects a series of compromises that appeases all sides while still leaving them wanting more. "People weren't totally unhappy, and people weren't totally happy," she said. "That means it's a good bill." The proposal must be approved by another committee before it reaches the Senate floor. If the two chambers cannot agree on an identical version of the legislation, one side will have to relent or, in rare instances, a joint House-Senate conference committee will be formed to review. Regardless if PIP reform passes in the State Legislature, make sure you have as much auto insurance coverage you can afford. You either pay now or pay.

Eight Things You Should Know About Car Isnurance

8 things you should know about auto insurance

 How Knowing More Can Help You Save on Automobile Insurance

Trying to understand auto insurance can be as tricky and confusing as trying to untie the Gordian knot. (We hear the knotty Gordian problem can be solved with a sword.) However, some "insider" knowledge can help you understand your options and what you can do to save money and get the most out of your auto insurance.

[ 1) Some of the most helpful coverages are the cheapest.

Auto insurance may be expensive, but if you're already spending a lot, shouldn't you get a lot? Optional coverages such as gap coverage, roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and comprehensive coverage can provide a lot of protection for a little price increase. Comprehensive coverage is usually the most expensive of these coverages, but is still usually about half the price of collision coverage and a third the price of liability coverage.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is especially important, considering the benefits it offers and the number of uninsured drivers on the road, particularly during this period of economic hardship. Take a look at your coverage options. Paying a little more now may save you a lot in the future.

2) Many factors can affect your car insurance rate.

Auto insurance companies use many different criteria when evaluating an insurance application during a process called underwriting. Each car insurance company has many guidelines regarding which groups of drivers they want to accept and how much they will charge those groups they consider a greater risk. The guidelines are different for each company, meaning that two companies comparing the same driver can arrive at vastly different conclusions.
During the underwriting process, car insurance applicants are placed in a group based on how much money and how many claims the insurance company believes it may have to pay. Underwriting is done automatically by software behind the scenes. At this time, the insurance company will look at motor vehicle records to see how many accidents or tickets a driver has received. Many insurance companies also use an insurance history report to see if the driver has made any car insurance claims, and how much money was paid. Although accidents and violations can only affect the rates you receive for three years, many companies will look back five or more years when deciding if they want to offer you insurance. In addition, many auto insurance companies look at the credit history of the applicant. Although they use credit history to determine which group an applicant belongs to, they don't actually look at a credit report.

3) Insurance prices vary (a lot) by company.

You've probably seen commercials saying you can save money by switching to a certain car insurance company. How can so many companies make this claim? The reason is that "auto insurance is a highly competitive business and one of the most effective ways to reduce insurance costs is simply to shop around," according to Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president of the Insurance Information Institute. "Drivers should look for an insurance company that will provide a good price along with excellent service."
Prices for the same policy from the same company, however, are set by law. They are approved by the state and can't be changed by an agent, so you can't get a better price for the same policy simply by going to a different agent or trying to negotiate the price. The best plan is to decide what coverages and options you need and comparison shop to get the best price.

4) If you let your policy lapse, you'll pay more in the long run.

Most insurance companies view drivers who are licensed but don't have insurance as risky or irresponsible. Because of this, if you let your policy lapse, you'll probably pay more when you go to buy car insurance. To avoid this, if you don't want to pay for insurance or are planning to let your policy expire because you want to switch companies, make sure to purchase car insurance before your current policy is cancelled.

5) Higher deductibles can lower your premium.

Insurance prices are based on how much money the insurance company believes it could have to pay. If you agree to pay for a larger portion of your own damages by raising your deductibles, your car insurance company automatically knows they won't have to pay as much for your claims. Because of this, they will usually give you a lower premium. If you decide to raise your deductibles to save money, be sure you can afford to pay the deductible if you have to make a claim.

6) Insurance discounts can make a difference.

Most insurance companies offer auto insurance discounts for things like a safe driving record, car safety features, anti-theft devices, electronic payments, payment in full, and more. Make sure you're getting rewarded for being a safe driver and for having a safe car by shopping around for car insurance that appreciates your record.

7) Coverage affects what you pay.

The majority of your car insurance premium generally goes toward the legally-required liability portion of your policy. It's typically not a good idea to reduce this portion in an attempt to save money, because you'll be responsible for any amount of damages above your policy limits. However, other coverages, although generally helpful, could be reduced or eliminated to lower your premium. If you have an older car that's not worth very much, or if you won't have a problem paying for a new car, collision and comprehensive coverages may not make economic sense. Talk to your car insurance company or agent about the best options for you.

8) The car you drive can affect your auto insurance rates.

The Highway Loss Data Institute compiles insurance accident statistics for most types of cars. Many insurance companies use data like this when setting prices on your insurance. For example, if the car you drive is very expensive to repair, the company is going to have to pay more if you get in an accident. Conversely, if the car you drive is extremely safe and protects occupants well, your insurance company will not have to pay as much if you're involved in a crash. If your model of car is generally less likely to be stolen, your car insurance company is less likely to have to pay to replace it. All of these car related factors can raise or lower the auto insurance quotes you receive, so it makes sense to keep insurance in mind when purchasing a car. Of course, since rates are based on much more than just the car you drive, your overall rate may be more or less than someone driving the same car.

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Call or click for a free insurance quote or review

http://www.lehninsurance.com/

941-698-8876

Lehn Insurance
4478 N Access Rd
Englewood, FL 34224