#kurt kramer

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that life is unpredictable at best. That is why it is crucial to have life insurance regardless so that you can protect the ones you love.

At Kramer Insurance, we want to advocate for life insurance in honor of September being National Life Insurance Month!

When it comes to deciding on a life insurance policy, there are three major questions buyers need to answer:

1. Why should I get coverage?

Unlike other types of insurance, life insurance is not intended to protect the insuree, if you will, but rather protect their family. Anyone who supports a partner, child, or even an aging parent should strongly consider signing up for a life insurance policy. More often than not, certain life milestones such as getting married or graduating college trigger the interest in life insurance but the sooner you obtain a policy, the better.

2. How much coverage should I get?

Once you decide to move forward on a policy, you will need to calculate how much coverage you need. There are many factors to consider when deciding on the amount of coverage you need, check out our blog 5 Tips on Life Insurance to help guide you in the right direction.

As always, it is best to discuss this with your insurance provider to decide what plan will work best for you. Even though most Americans have life insurance, most of them do not have enough. Over 61% of Americans have life insurance coverage. But almost half of those customers have $100,000 or less in coverage.

3. How much coverage can I afford?

It is important that when picking a plan, you pick one that best fulfills your needs without putting you in a bad place financially. Did you know that 80% of consumers believe that life insurance is more expensive than it actually is? That is why it is crucial to talk to an insurance agent who knows what they are talking about!

A licensed insurance agent can offer trusted guidance when it comes to finding the right life insurance protection at the right price. At Kramer Insurance, we are happy to help you on your journey to finding a plan that best fulfills your needs.

Kramer Insurance is all about protecting you and your loved ones every step of the way, all year round. This time of year particularly can be a hectic one, and when everybody is trying to manage so many moving parts, accidents can happen. Here are 4 hazards that come about this time of year and how you can prevent them.

1.    Mold Makes for Less Merry-Making

Christmas tree mold is one of the subtler holiday hazards, but everyone would be much better off if it was not welcomed into your home this holiday season. When growing out in the forest or on tree farms, evergreens can gather mold, and the spores can trigger all kinds of allergic reactions. Make sure you spray down your trees with water and a mold-resistant sealant of some kind to keep it out of your home. If you own a fake tree, that very same mold can grow and develop in your basement, so stay on the safe side and give it the same treatment.

2.    Be Leery about your Lighting

Those tiny, sparkling lights are a huge risk, especially when hanging from a flammable tree! Try to inspect every line of lights you use this season if you can: to check for frayed wires or broken bulbs. If not properly looked over, the lights can overheat, explode, and sparks may fly. On top of that, make sure you and your loved ones are using proper ladder etiquette when hanging lights; avoid the top few rungs and make sure kids stay off.

3.    Fires are Festive – and Feisty

Who doesn’t love a cozy, roaring fire in the dead of winter? If a natural fire is being burned, insure that the logs that are being used are clean and don’t have anything else being thrown into the fire with them, like nuts or fungus. These things may pop and shower your living room with hot embers! If using a gas fire, double-check that the gas is turned off once everyone is done with it. No matter which kind of fireplace you have, don’t throw wrapping paper into it! It’s not as fun as it sounds and simply isn’t worth the risk of sending ashes and sparks hurtling out the hearth and into your house!

4.    Pretty Plants can be Poisonous

It’s nearly commonplace to hear this time of year how poisonous poinsettias are. Though they are mildly toxic, they aren’t deadly like other Christmas plants. Generally, if a child ingests a poinsettia, it will probably upset their stomach and irritate their mouth. However, if other Christmas plants like mistletoe, holly, and Jerusalem cherry are eaten, chances of surviving are much slimmer. All in all, keep all of these plants out of the reach of pets and children. Or, better yet, replace them with plastic versions if you need to have them in your house.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like summer! This year, make sure you and your loved ones are fully covered even while doing all of your summer fun. Before you take a dip in the pool, go out on the lake or take your motorcycle for a ride, be sure you and your loved ones are covered in any summer misfortune.

Just Keep Swimming

Pool insurance is something worth considering during these hot summer months. Regular homeowners insurance sometimes doesn’t provide enough coverage if you have a pool, and some policies might exclude pools all together. Pools increase your liability risk because they can be dangerous. It might be a good idea to boost your liability coverage when you get a pool.

All on board!

If you are planning on buying a boat for this year’s summer festivities, then be prepared to take on a boatload of risk. And if you purchase a boat that goes faster than 25 mph be prepared to get a separate policy just for that boat. Proper boat insurance will cover accidental damaged as well as, damage or injuries to others.

Wheelie Fun Time

Motorcycles help to make your summer a wheelie fun adventure, but it is crucial that you make sure you are completely covered. If you own a motorcycle, you are required to have liability coverage for property damage and bodily injury that you may cause to other people in an accident.

Road Trip!

Summer is the time for road trips and loads of fun! And it is always important to expect the unexpected when going on any trip. Unfortunately, emergencies and inconveniences can happen wherever you travel. Enjoy your vacation, even more, knowing that you are covered in case the unexpected happens!

Photographer of the Week: June 4 ~ 8, 2018

Weekdays, Monday through Friday, Photofocus curators share a great photograph in the categories of Travel, Beauty, Outdoor, Sports, and Street, respectively. Each selected picture earns its maker the title “Photofocus Photographer of the Day.” Their work has impressed us and we hope, it touches, inspires & invigorates you as well. Our curators explain what they love about the image they have…

Photographer of the Week: April 21 ~ 25, 2018

Weekdays, Monday through Friday, Photofocus curators share a great photograph in the categories of Travel, Beauty, Outdoor, Sports, and Street, respectively. Each selected picture earns its maker the title “Photofocus Photographer of the Day.” Their work has impressed us and we hope, it touches, inspires & invigorates you as well. Our curators explain what they love about the image they have…

By Tara Maciulewicz

Students who leave their cars at home—or those who take them to campus while keeping the car’s permanent address at their parents’ home—can stay on their parents’ auto policy. (If the student garages it at home while away at school, ERIE will knock up to 25 percent off the premium.) Things change, however, when the car permanently moves with the young adult.

“When you go out on your own, you’ll need to purchase your own policy under the new address and change your driver’s license if you’re moving permanently out of state,” says Dave Freeman, ERIE’s vice president and regional underwriting officer. Like all ERIE auto Customers, less experienced drivers enjoy knowing they have additional extra protection coverages, such as pet coverage, along with their standard coverage at no additional charge or premium.

“Young people are more likely to take advantage of our lockout coverage that pays up to $75 off a locksmith’s fee if keys are accidentally locked in your covered vehicle. This extra protection is available when you purchase comprehensive or collision coverage,” says Freeman. “We’ll also pay for a rental car or a taxi if the car is out of commission due to a covered comprehensive loss. And we’ll even waive your deductible if a covered windshield chip is repaired rather than the entire windshield being replaced.” (Learn more about these and other built-in extras at ERIE’s website.)

Freeman adds that drivers should also consider optional coverages such as Roadside Assistance,* which provides reimbursement for towing, labor or transportation expenses; uninsured or underinsured coverage, in case the other driver involved in an accident doesn’t have auto insurance or enough of it; and medical payments to cover medical or death benefits in the event of an accident.

Tips to keep your car safe

Lower the odds of experiencing any of these unwanted situations by following a few smart pieces of advice. (They’ll also help lower your premiums and the chances you’ll have to shell out money to cover your deductible—an added bonus since, like most insurers, ERIE doesn’t offer drivers the more inexpensive adult rate until they turn 24.** ERIE will use the adult rating at the renewal date following a driver’s 24th birthday, while many other insurers don’t offer adult rates until a driver is well into his or her late 20s.)

Be a conservative driver. You’ll not only keep yourself and other motorists safe, but you’ll also give your wallet a boost. “The biggest things that drive up premiums are accidents and tickets,” says Freeman. Obey posted speed limits, observe the rules of the road and, most important, avoid distracted driving.

Stick to a maintenance schedule. Mom and Dad aren’t taking care of things anymore, so show your car some love by maintaining it. Check the air filter, automatic transmission fluid level, accessory belts, brake fluid, battery, power-steering fluid and coolant. Also check the windshield wipers and amount of windshield washer fluid, hoses, wiring and the oil level on the dipstick. And last, regularly check the tires and keep them properly inflated.

Guard your key or key fob. More often than not, cars get stolen when owners leave keys out in the open or somewhere obvious like under the mat or visor.

Take extra precautions with used cars. Some—like inexpensive reconstructed title cars that have been rebuilt after being damaged—may be unreliable. “For about $50, you can know for sure by having a mechanic look it over before you buy, or purchase a vehicle history report,” says Freeman.

Keep an extra long distance from—or just avoid—certain vehicles. It’s common to see windshield damage that results from debris escaping from landscaping and dump trucks. If you’re in that situation, either safely pass the vehicle or pull over so you aren’t riding right behind the vehicle.

Hide the high-value stuff. Experts say most thefts occur when items like GPS devices, computers and smart phones are left out in plain view of passersby. Reduce temptation by putting them in a bag or storing them in your trunk.

Insurance 101

There’s no doubt about it—insurance can be as much of a head-scratcher as a trick question on a final exam.

While we can't make insurance any less complicated, we can help it make more sense. To understand how ERIE’s policies can safeguard you and give you peace of mind, check out these ERIE resources:

ERIE’s website–You'll find lots of helpful information and insurance glossaries along with a free online auto quote tool, a life insurance calculator and plenty of FAQs.

Eriesense blog–Here, you have access to hundreds of stories to help you live better and safer. For example, you can search on a variety of topics and find everything from the latest trends in cars and tech to interactive quizzes and videos.

Your ERIE agent– Kramer Insurance is there to help you, so don’t hesitate to throw any questions our way. If you don’t have an ERIE agent, you can find an agent at erieinsurance.com.

Your policy–For the final word, consult your individual policy. And if you still have questions, talk to your agent.

Another great resource for insurance info is the Insurance Information Institute’s website.

Read about protecting your crammed dorm room or first apartment, too.

*Road service—see policy for details. Additional restrictions apply in North Carolina.

**Not applicable in North Carolina.