July 20, 2008 show

Topics

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Therapy Pets - The Animal - Human Partnership

Pets open up peoples hearts in a way no other treatment can

Insurance In The News:

Legislation will reverse a cut in Medicare reimbursement rates to doctors

Insurance Outrage of The Week:

Forty Nine people arrested, charged with stealing $194,000 in unemployment insurance benefits.

Insurance trivia:

Am I Covered:

Have a question or a comment.  Call the show.  480-949-1310

Special Guest

Laura Ibsen

Pet therapy gives hospital patients a lift

ABC Delta Pet Partner Program

Term of The Week: 

INSOLVENCY 
(definition by,  "Insurance Information Institute")

Insurer’s inability to pay debts. Insurance insolvency standards and the regulatory actions taken vary from state to state. When regulators deem an insurance company is in danger of becoming insolvent, they can take one of three actions: place a company in conservatorship or rehabilitation if the company can be saved or liquidation if salvage is deemed impossible. The difference between the first two options is one of degree – regulators guide companies in conservatorship but direct those in rehabilitation. Typically the first sign of problems is inability to pass the financial tests regulators administer as a routine procedure. (See Liquidation; Risk-based capital)

Larry's Tip of The Week:

I came across this tip on an insurance blog at "About.Com"  by, Bobbie Sage

We all keep a lot of valuable in our vehicles.  we keep things under our seats, we keep packages in the trunk and we keep our cars locked.  But is this really enough  to stop the car thief from targeting our vehicle.  Unfortunately these deterrents alone don't stop the car thief.

According to statistics by "the national crime Bureau", the most targeted cars for theft are Hondas.  And not just the latest high end models .  Early 90's and late 90's top the list of vehicles stolen  because these vehicles are long living vehicles and often the engines outlast the body parts. 

Even if you don't have one of those vehicles, you are still susceptible to car theft.  Vehicle theft is the number one property crime in the U.S. and it carries a price tag of more than 8 billion dollars per year, according to the "national crime Information center".    Auto thefts are paid for by all insurance consumers in the form of higher insurance rates. 

If your vehicle is easily accessible a thief will get some quick cash out of it. 
Here are some tips to protect your vehicle from being stolen.
Display vehicle theft deterrents.  If a thief sees a theft device used in your car they will seek out another car that is easier to steal. 

A popular theft device is "The Club".  It attaches to your steering wheel and a variety of stores carry it.  Another visual deterrent is to buy a, do- it- yourself VIN engraving kit.  The VIN number is engraved in the cars window and other parts of the car.  Because the VIN number is engraved it makes the part unusable to a thief because the VIN number can be tracked back to a stolen car.

Using vehicle theft deterrent items and hiding your packages and purses and locking your doors will help keep a thief away from your car and will help keep down insurance costs for everyone.