Checklist of tasks to prepare for old man winter

• Turn off water to hoses and lawn sprinklers. When temperatures fall below freezing, water in the pipes freeze and pipes burst. Turn off water from the indoor supply valve and drain all residual water out of faucet and systems.
• Cover your room air conditioner or take it down and store it.
• Cover outdoor central air conditioner unit to protect from winter weather and debris.
• Clean out gutters – clogged gutters can lead to ice dams which can create leaks along the roof edge.
• Move piles of leaves, compost and wood away from house or other structures. Wood attracts termites which may migrate into your home, and rodents and small animals like to nest in leaves and debris.
• Check windows and doors for air leaks. Leaks can be sealed with caulking, expanding foam, foam board, or weather stripping.
• Have furnace checked and serviced. Remember to change furnace filters monthly.
• Have your chimney inspected and cleaned. If you have a wood stove make sure to move all combustibles away from the appliance and make sure floor protection extends at least 18” on all sides of the appliance.
• Check smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
• Prepare for power outages with flashlights and fresh batteries as well as non-perishable food staples.
• Keep cell phones charged but also have a corded phone in the event cell towers experience outages.
• If you have a generator, test it. If you are considering purchasing a generator, make sure it is properly installed.
• Have snow shovels, sand and ice melt handy.
• Test your snow blower.

Tips for winter insurance from New Jersey Commissioner Considine

In a recent article, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI)  commissioner issued several updates for insurance policy holders in the state. A few key points that are worth mentioning deal specifically with homeowners and auto insurance.  Most principle of those notes were the following:



Homeowners and Renters Insurance 


At home, it is important for property owners to understand the types of winter storm-related damages covered by their homeowners policy. Standard homeowners policies typically cover damage caused by falling trees and limbs, collapses caused by the weight of ice and snow or ice dam leakage. 


Homeowners policies also generally include liability coverage for accidents such as slip and falls on snow or ice as well as medical payments for others, up to certain limits, regardless of liability. 


Before heading to the ski lodge, you should check your homeowners or renters policy. Your ski or snowboarding equipment will generally be covered by your homeowners or renters policy up to a certain limit. Check the limit in your policy and decide if that will be enough to replace the gear if it is damaged or stolen. When checking, remember to factor in your deductible. 


Auto Insurance 


Standard auto insurance policies do not include coverage for snowmobiles. If you are planning to purchase a snowmobile, consult with your insurer about your coverage needs. Be aware that if you plan to take your snowmobile off your private property, you should probably maintain a separate snowmobile policy and carry proof of insurance. If you are traveling and plan to rent a snowmobile, you may want to consider rental insurance. 


Helping friends by volunteering to remove the snow in their driveway with your own plow should not lead to problems. Your personal auto policy should cover any liability or property damage you might cause but check your policy to make sure. However, if you use the plow commercially, you should contact your auto insurance company to determine if a commercial auto policy is required. 

Winter weather brings an emphasis on home owner's insurance

It is important for home owners to know what is and is not covered by their homeowner's insurance policy, especially during the winter months. In the parts of the country in which there are severe storms, it is smart to check with your local insurance agent to make sure that the potential severe weather damage they could face is not excluded in their policy.

Contact your local Mainline Insurance agent and make sure you know exactly what is included in your home owner's insurance policy.

Important Workers Compensation Changes in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB) has filed and the Insurance Commissioner has approved Manual revisions to Section 1, Rules, and adoption of a countrywide endorsement (WC 00 03 10) in recognition of the enactment of Act 20 of 2011.

These revisions are effective 12:01 a.m., August 29, 2011 with respect to new, renewal and outstanding business.

Act 20 of 2011 provides for the issuance of standard workers compensation insurance coverage for sole proprietors, partners and members of Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), if and as agreed upon by any licensed insurer (including State Workers' Insurance Fund) and the individual(s) subject to such coverage. The effective date of Act 20 of 2011 is August 29, 2011.

The language changes shown below conform the PCRB’s Basic Manual with the authorization for issuance of workers compensation insurance policies for sole proprietors, partners and/or members LLCs. Endorsement WC 00 03 10 is already in use in many other jurisdictions and will facilitate the issuance of the newly authorized statutory coverage, while applying a form already familiar to many PCRB members through its prior application elsewhere. A copy of the endorsement is attached to this circular.

MANUAL REVISIONS
(New wording underlined and deleted wording bracketed.)
SECTION 1
RULE II – EXPLANATION OF COVERAGES AND METHODS OF INSURING
B. COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS
1. Compulsory as to all employments
Exceptions:
a. Individual proprietors
b. Partners of a partnership (including members of a Limited Liability Company (LLC).
Note: Pursuant to Act 20 of 2011, a sole proprietor, partner of a legal partnership or member of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) may be able to purchase and/or be insured under a standard workers compensation insurance policy. If a sole proprietor, partner or LLC member wishes to obtain such coverage, a written request must be submitted directly to the carrier providing the existing or new
policy under which coverage for the individual in question will be provided. Use WC 00 03 10 - Sole Proprietors, Partners, Officers and Others Coverage Endorsement.
Refer to Rule IX, A., 6. for purposes of determining remuneration in computing the premium charge.
c. through i. remain unchanged

RULE V – PREMIUM BASIS
Item 4 of the Information Page - continued
E. PAYROLL LIMITATION
1. How Payroll Limitation Applies
For executive officers, sole proprietors, partners and members of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) that have obtained coverage and classifications with notes which indicate payroll limitation, the payroll on which premium is based shall exclude that part of the employee's average weekly pay in excess of the applicable weekly limitation, provided:
a. Books and records are maintained to show separately the total payroll earned by each employee whose average weekly pay for the total time employed during the policy period exceeds the weekly payroll limitation and
b. Separate records are maintained in summary by classification for such employees.

RULE IX – SPECIAL CONDITIONS OR OPERATIONS AFFECTING COVERAGE
A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
6. Premium Determination
Premium for executive officers, other than elected officers of Pennsylvania or its political subdivisions, shall be based on their total payroll, subject to the following:
(For further information refer to Section 1, Rule IX.)
a. through e. remain unchanged.

D. SOLE PROPRIETORS [AND], PARTNERSHIPS AND MEMBERS OF LIMITED LIABILITY
COMPANIES
Sole proprietors [and], partners and members of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) are not mandatorily covered by the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act or the Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act. A sole proprietor, partner or member of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) may be able to purchase and/or be insured under a standard workers compensation insurance policy. When such coverage is provided, attach WC 00 03 10, Sole Proprietors, Partners, Officers and Others Coverage Endorsement, to the policy, naming the individual(s) so insured. Minimum and maximum payrolls on which premium is based for sole proprietors, partners and members of a Limited Liability Company shall be the same as those set forth in Rule IX, A., 6. for executive officers.

Questions about the Manual revisions or endorsement should be directed to Betty Ann Campbell, Director -Rating Rules & Policy Reporting, at Extension 4425.
The Manual will be updated on our website (www.pcrb.com) at a future date.
Timothy L. Wisecarver
President
kg
DCirc
Remember to visit our web site at www.pcrb.com for more information about this
and other topics.

For questions about this update, or for general insurance related questions, please contact us at our website.

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