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Latest Insurance FAQs
What is the Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP)?
The Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) is mandated by state law to establish classifications of risks to fairly reflect the driving records of insureds and adjust premiums based in part on at-fault accidents. The Plan encourages safe driving by rewarding drivers who do not cause accidents or incur traffic law violations with a credit to their automobile insurance premiums, and discourages unsafe driving by requiring high-risk drivers to pay a greater share of insurance costs. Massachusetts, unlike many comparable jurisdictions that afford no or limited due process rights, provides the right to a hearing before an impartial hearing officer of the Board.
Surcharge points are incurred if you:
- cause an at-fault accident
- are convicted of or pay a fine for a traffic law violation
- are assigned to an alcohol education program
Company News
Certificates of Insurance - November 21, 2011
Certificates of insurance do not change the wording of a policy.
Who is Considered an “Insured” Under Your Home Insurance? - June 13, 2011
Who is considered an “Insured” under your home insurance?
1. The person “named” in the policy declarations
2. Any family or resident relatives living in the household (e.g. spouse, children even if away at school, foster child, etc)
3. Any other person, under age 21 who is in the care of any of the aforementioned insureds
4. Student enrolled in school full time (as defined by the school).
a. Must have been a resident of the household before moving to school
b. Must be under the age of 24
c. Must be your relative or 21 and in your care
Supply Chain Management - What Happens When the Chain Breaks Down? - June 1, 2011
Exposure to business income loss due to supply chain breakdown.Auto Glass Claims up 527%! - March 25, 2011
Alerting our policyholders to the dangers of 'windshield bullies'
Reinsurance Market Response to Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami - March 14, 2011
Prepare for a hardening of pricing. A word from our partner, Scott Sutter, at Howes Insurance New England.Howes is the "Google" of Insurance - February 2, 2011
One source for access to the entire marketplace
Ice Dams - Do It Yourself? - January 27, 2011
With all this snow, who doesn't have ice dams?Our Collective Health - January 20, 2011
Americans can’t move forward in the health insurance debate without a shared goal.Insurance Coverage for Condo and Homeowner Associations - January 12, 2011
The Professional Agents at Howes Insurance Group Navigate Condo InsuranceA Letter from MAIA President, Frank Mancini - January 10, 2011
Independent Insurance Agents v. Direct Writer Companies in Auto Insurance Market
Where do we stand three years later?
Small Business Branding - November 3, 2010
Branding a Small Business - Weeding Out the OptionsConcierge Service from Howes the Solution for Broken Water Heater - October 27, 2010
Concierge Service Helps Customer With Broken Water HeaterNo More Texting While Driving - October 1, 2010
Mass State Law Bans Texting While DrivingHurricane Preparedness - September 2, 2010
Preparing for Hurricane Earl - Governor Declares State of Emergency
Wedding Insurance a Good Idea - August 27, 2010
When I look back at the “what ifs”, I realize just how much could have gone wrong.
Your Home May Be Underinsured! - June 28, 2010
According to the experts, a majority of homes are undervalued by at least 25% on average.Important news if your home has an oil tank - June 23, 2010
On July 1st, 2010, Chapter 453 of the Acts of 2008 becomes effective. The new law will affect you in two ways.
First, you must make sure that your oil tank, above or underground, conforms to the new code requirement, and
Two, if your oil system DOES conform, your insurance company must make coverage for loss due to an oil spill available to you.
Mowing your lawn this weekend? - May 20, 2010
Consumer Article:
“Riding Mowers . . . Are You Insured?”
When the wording in a new version of an insurance policy is changed there can be a significant impact on the coverage provided. This can happen even if just one word is added, changed, or deleted. As a case in point, this article will look at the coverage provided for a riding lawnmower under a 1991 vs. 2000 edition of the "ISO standard" Homeowners policy.
Renters Insurance - April 26, 2010
If you are renting an apartment we strongly recommend you purchase an “HO4” Renter’s Policy. This inexpensive insurance will provide you with excellent protection of your personal property compensate you for increased “living expenses” after a claim and provide you with liability protection. For more details, read this consumer article from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.
"Insuring Property in Storage" - April 20, 2010
Now that the weather is improving, many of our clients are beginning significant home renovation projects. Some of the larger projects require the client to place their property in storage and move out of the home for several months. Thanks to our friends at the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, here is a discussion on insuring your personal property.
Rental Cars & Insurance - April 14, 2010
The April school vacation week is upon us and many families will be renting cars at various vacation spots. We are constantly asked: "Does my auto policy protect me in a rental car?" and "Should I buy the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) from the rental car company?" Here is some information from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.Fuel Oil Leak - April 13, 2010
One of our clients called yesterday and found that a fuel oil line running from their house to a heated pool has been leaking. The oil has migrated into wetlands and the property of their neighbors. The EPA is involved as are insurance companies and other local authorities. As with all insurance claims, the first step is to determine the cause of loss. Once this has been confirmed, the insurance company will review the policy to determine if the cause of loss is a "covered peril". We have done some research and here is some information on how insurance deals with this scenario.Your home insurance and your college student - April 13, 2010
Many of our client's children have been receiving their acceptance letters to various colleges and universities throughout the United States and Europe. The following is a helpful article on some of the insurance issues involving a child away at school. Please call contact us with your specific questions.Timeline for Health Reforms - April 2, 2010
National Association of Health UnderwritersTimeline of Health Insurance Reforms that Will Impact Private Health Insurance
Coverage under H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (Senate Bill)
and How These Reforms Could Potentially Be Impacted by H.R. 4872, the Health Care
and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, (Reconciliation Bill)
How Health Reform Will Impack You - March 25, 2010
National Association of Health Underwriters
How the Health Care Reform Legislation Will Impact Your Individual and Employer Clients
Report: Insurance industry faces major changes next 5 years - December 8, 2009
The insurance industry will undergo increasing consolidation as part of the fallout from government intervention and potential tax law changes following the financial crisis, a consulting firm is advising.
And insurance industry stability and certainty may not return for a few years as insurers react to regulatory reform, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP said.
Consumers Missing Out on Discounts - November 12, 2009
Americans are not utilizing all of the discounts that may be available to them in their homeowner and auto insurance, according to a new national survey conducted for Trusted Choice and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA).
Patriot Ledger: Keep senior driver discount but make sure it's earned - November 4, 2009
QUINCY — It’s frustrating that a generous insurance discount for the state's oldest drivers means higher rates for the rest of us, but addressing that injustice now would further weaken the push for tougher testing standards for this accident-prone group.
Flu Cases Could Spur Homeowner Claims, Lawyer Says - October 30, 2009
Property and casualty insurers can expect to be hit by a swirl of claims arising from swine flu that include actions against homeowners and businesses, a medical malpractice defense attorney is predicting.
Charles Kutner, whose New York-based law firm defends individuals and institutions in the health industry, said he believes that p&c insurers may have to modify coverage to limit liability.
Insurance Covers Fantasy Football Nightmares - October 7, 2009
It is a common fear of fantasy football players: If my No. 1 pick goes down with an injury in the first game, the whole season—and my $50 entry fee—could be lost.
Not to worry—there’s insurance for that.
For Congress, Massachusetts Serves as Model and Warning - September 2, 2009
As Congress jousts over how to reform the nation’s health care system, many experts say that the Massachusetts model, which has reduced the state’s uninsured rate to the lowest in the nation, is a good place to start. Yet those reforms, while doing wonders for coverage, don’t tackle the longer-term issue of cost-containment, which is largely the reason federal policymakers are pushing for reform this year.
Friday humor - insurance ads from the Netherlands - September 2, 2009
The Dutch insurance company Centraal Beheer is well known in Europe for their humorous TV commercials in which the characters are put in precarious positions - the implied message being "Is your insurance up to date? Call us."
Court: Homeowner's Policy Won't Pay Damages for Overdose Death - August 31, 2009
A homeowner's policy will not pay damages to the mother of a teenager who died after overdosing on painkillers he stole from the man with whom he and his mother lived, a panel of justices from the Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled.
DOI Issues Executive Summary: Results of the Survey of the Auto Insurance Market After One Year of Managed Competition... - July 16, 2009
On April 1, 2008, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance inaugurated the change to a more competitive auto insurance market. In doing so, the state transformed from a fixed rate setting by state regulators to “managed competition.” Massachusetts is the last state in the country to move from state-set auto insurance rates to a competitive rating system.
GEICO Enters Market - June 2, 2009
GEICO entered the MA private passenger auto insurance market and wrote its first policy on Monday, May 18, 2009. As soon as we were permitted by the Division of Insurance to do so, MAIA obtained a copy of the filing — as we do with every company filing — and began the tedious task of reviewing the forms, endorsements and rules.Progressive Agrees to Pay Massachusetts Fine - May 29, 2009
Progressive Direct Insurance Co., which has long compared its rates to competitors, agreed to pay the state $120,000 to settle charges that it inflated the rates for rival companies, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.
Massachusetts Senate Budget Bans Texting while Driving - May 27, 2009
The Massachusetts Senate approved an amendment banning all Internet use while driving as part of its version of the state's upcoming budget.
Drivers would be banned from sending text messages, e-mailing or reading the Internet while behind the wheel under the terms of the budget approved late Thursday night.
Technology Helps Parents Monitor Teen Drivers - May 8, 2009
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A car that can't go faster than 80 mph may be a good thing for some, especially parents.
The new technology from Ford is called MyKey. The idea is to allow parents to set limits on teenage drivers.
Competition Still Reigns In Healthy Personal Automobile Insurance Market - April 29, 2009
The personal auto market remains competitive across the country, even as rates begin to creep upward. Experts in the field said they expect competition to continue throughout the year and into 2010.
As with most other industries, the economy continues to be a factor in the personal auto market. Most observers said this is primarily being seen in the spending habits of consumers, as they forego the purchase of a new car or seek to save on insurance coverage.
Auto Insurance Fraud on the Rise, officials say - April 21, 2009
Investigators know the tricks of insurance fraud trade
Insurance officials say they have noticed an increase in fraud as people become desperate in the tough economy.
Mass. Ranks Last Again in US For Use of Seat Belts - April 8, 2009
Massachusetts ranked last among the states in its rate of seat belt use last year, extending a dismal trend that has prompted renewed calls for a tougher seat belt law.
The rate, 66.8 percent, was down 1.9 percent from 2007 and well below the national average of 83 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Massachusetts' rate, which has been last or near last for years, has improved from a rate of 56 percent in 2001.
Mass. House Approves Bill That Would Make Auto Insurance Appeals Board Permanent - April 3, 2009
BOSTON - The state House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill that would make permanent a state board that rules on drivers' appeals of motor vehicle insurance surcharges.
The 155-0 vote in the House moved to enshrine the state Division of Insurance's Board of Appeal in state law and strip away the power of an insurance commissioner to unilaterally abolish the board.
New Registry of Motor Vehicle Fees 2009 - April 2, 2009
This list reflects the transactions that will change in price Friday, April 3, 2009 at 5:00 pm:
A Milder Hurricane Outlook From AccuWeather - March 19, 2009
The 2009 hurricane season will see three hurricanes impacting the U.S. coast, compared with four that arrived last year, and a lower total number of named storms, according to an AccuWeather.com early forecast.
Are You Covered? - February 23, 2009
Will your home insurance really protect you in case disaster strikes? Find out if your policy fits your needs -- plus how to reduce its cost.
Like many people, Nancy Dalrymple and Michael Flannery never thought much about their homeowner's insurance. Every so often they put a check in the mail for their agent and figured coverage would be there if, God forbid, they ever needed it.
