Insurance Insights ~ February 2002

Avoiding Driving Hazards That Could Drive Up Your Insurance Premium

Did you know the driving habits of those employees you hire now might directly affect the insurance premiums you pay later? It’s true. Automobile insurance premiums are based on a number of factors, one of which is claims experience -- your claims experience!

How well do you know your employees? You may think you know them fairly well. You probably trust them with your business vehicles to perhaps make daily deliveries or run errands for your business. Have you ever thought about their personal driving habits? Do you have a checklist to review their driving history when you employ them?

What types of vehicles are they driving? Are they familiar with the size and type of vehicle? Do they operate the same vehicle each day, or do they tend to switch from one type to another? Being unfamiliar with a vehicle’s design can create a distraction that could cause an accident. How familiar is your driver with the area he is driving in? Have an experienced route driver along the first few times, until the employee becomes familiar with the surroundings and area traffic patterns. Another distraction we are encountering more and more is the cell phone. Special precautions should be taken when using these phones. Whenever possible, you should try to pull off the road to make your call. Hands-free cellular phones create less of a nuisance, and should be considered. Also use phones with memory dial to minimize telephone dialing.

These are very important issues to consider. Many insurance companies offer their policyholders brochures, videos, posters, and related materials to raise awareness of driver safety. Set goals for your drivers. Reward drivers that have demonstrated good driving records. Set out to establish an overall safety program that encompasses both on the road training and classroom courses.

All of these tips can help toward you goal of claims-free auto insurance. Erie Insurance offers assistance through their Commercial Services Department, This free service is provided to our clients to assist in education and development of programs such as these. If you would like more information regarding these services, please call our commercial lines department at 215-257-9171, or e-mail us at info@gcwinsure.com.

Preparing for a Paramed Exam

You’ve finally applied for that much needed life insurance policy, taking the first step towards securing a policy that provides financial relief to your loved ones when it’s most needed. Now what happens?

Depending upon your age and the amount of insurance you have applied for, you may be asked to have a medical examination done. This examination is generally takes 20 to 30 minutes and is performed by paramedicals who are licensed health professionals and who are often independent contractors hired by an insurance company.

A basic exam consists of questions pertaining to your medical history, height and weight measurements, blood pressure and pulse. A urine specimen will also be collected during the exam. This exam can be done at your home or office and most of the time at your convenience. Your personal physician however, is unable to perform the exam; therefore, the exam is not optional. There is no cost to you because the insurance pays the paramedical company directly.

A laboratory performs all of the diagnostic tests that are done and the results will be sent only to the insurance company for underwriting purposes. All of the information obtained during the exam is strictly confidential. Some insurance companies may offer you the results if you submit a written request with results being sent to your physician for review.

Depending on your application, amount you have applied for and age, additional testing such as treadmills, ECGs and X-rays may be ordered and performed by a physician.

A paramed examination can tell an insurance company many things about your health for underwriting purposes. Blood and urine specimens can confirm smoking status, HIV virus, cholesterol and related lipids, diabetes, hepatitis antibodies, liver and kidney functions and immune disorders. Also screening for certain medications and illicit drugs can be detected.

Before you have an exam, the following suggestions may be helpful and may produce favorable results:

• Get a good night’s sleep before your examination day. Schedule the appointment as early in the day as possible, to minimize the effect stress has on the outcome of certain tests.
• Eat light. Avoid eating rich, fatty foods the evening before or the day of the exam. Specifically, try to avoid eating 4 to 6 hours prior to the exam.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages for at least 10 hours prior to the exam.
• No caffeine (coffee, tea, or caffeinated soft drinks) or tobacco (smoke or chew) use for at least one hour prior to the exam.
• Limit salt intake and high cholesterol foods for 24 hours before your examination. Try to avoid eating 4 – 6 hours prior to the exam.
• Drink one glass of room temperature water at least one hour prior to the exam. If you are having an ECG, avoid drinking a large amount of cold water, as the results may be affected.
• Don’t engage in any strenuous physical activities 24 hours prior to the exam.
• If a blood specimen is required, the paramed will provide fasting instructions.

A paramed exam is one tool used by an insurance to help determine your eligibility for the policy you have applied for. Your insurance agent can answer any questions you may have regarding the testing company and individual underwriting requirements.

INSURANCE INSIGHTS is an electronic newsletter published monthly (except for January and August) by G. C. Weimer Associates, Inc. Information contained herein is accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief as of 2/1/2002. If you have a topic of interest for a future issue, e-mail us at info@gcwinsure.com.