What Does Liability Mean on an Auto Insurance Policy?

Auto accident liability is critical to understand for all drivers. And at Bachmann Insurance Agency, we can help drivers in and near Flushing, MI get the policies they need and provide high-quality coverage that will meet your needs as a driver.

Auto Accident Liability Explained 

Liability is a term that, in essence, means that you caused the accident and are at fault for it. In auto insurance terms, this means one of two different types of damage. The first of these is bodily injury liability protection. It covers any injuries that you may have caused in an accident. 

So, if you hit somebody else’s car while driving and caused them serious physical injury, your liability coverage would pay for their treatment. This would also include lawsuit situations, such as if they attempt to sue you for mental and physical suffering alongside their medical expenses. 

The second liability element consists of property damage protection. It covers all damage to property in an accident at which you are at fault. It often applies to other cars and may help repair or replace a damaged vehicle if you were at fault or liable for the accident. 

However, this liability protection also helps fix any damage to other property you may have caused. For instance, if you crash into a home and damage it with your car, your liability will pay (up to your limits) for the repairs. You cover anything after your policy limit. 

Get the Help You Need 

Do you need auto insurance that can handle these liability concerns? Then, please call us at Bachmann Insurance Agency right away to learn more. Our team helps Flushing, MI residents manage the unique difficulties of buying the best policy possible for your needs as a driver.

When Should You Start Looking for Health Insurance?

At Bachmann Insurance Agency, many of our customers have found that they need health insurance more than they realized. But when should you seek out Flushing, MI area policies for your needs? And which work the best for you? Read on to find out more about this vital fact.

When to Search for Policies

We typically suggest that you start searching for health insurance policies when you get over the age of 25-30, as it is at this point, many lingering health issues might start becoming more common. And if you already have some health concerns affecting you, it might be a good idea to look into a policy designed to meet your specific needs. In our opinion, it is never too early or late to start shopping for insurance. 

Plan Types to Consider 

Typically, insurance plans come in a few different varieties, which can be carefully chosen to meet your needs as a person. These options often create a network of providers where you can work and give you coverage that you need:

  • HMO provides coverage for a specific area 
  • PPO lets you use out of network care
  • EPO requires you to work with a specific provider 
  • POS requires referrals for many types of care 

The option you choose should vary based on your needs, including how much coverage you need, the type of health issues you may need to be treated, and other critical factors to consider for your treatment needs. 

We Can Help You

At Bachmann Insurance Agency, we serve the Flushing, MI area with high-quality policies that work for your needs. So, please don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as possible to get the insurance you need. We’ll work with your situation to give you the most comprehensive policy possible.

Tips for Buying Auto Insurance

If you just bought a car in Flushing, MI, you are also aware that you are legally required to carry auto insurance. For first-timers, this can be confusing as to where you should start, especially with the many insurance companies around you. That is why Bachmann Insurance Agency takes you through some of the tips you should know when buying auto insurance.

Shop Around

You are always encouraged to compare rates from several insurance agencies to help you narrow down your search. Do not rush with the first policy you hear or what your friend has. Both of you might have different insurance needs. Take time and research and talk to about three agents from different companies. This allows you to make an informed choice.

Understand Which Coverage You Need

There are various coverage in the market, such as comprehensive, collision, and bodily injury liability coverage. Understand which coverage offers you adequate protection depending on your situation. You can also consult with an insurance expert if you are unsure, as they will help you decide.

Familiarize Yourself With Insurance Terms

Insurance terms can be confusing, especially for a first-timer. And if you do not get them, it will be impossible to know what you are buying. Familiarize yourself with terms like coverage, damages, deductibles, etc. If you do not understand anything, ask the agent to explain. After all, you are getting into a contract, and you have to know what you are getting yourself into.

Read The Document Before Signing

Before signing the policy document, please go through it and see that what you have agreed with the insurance company is what has been stated in the policy. Let the document reflect what you know you are buying as you are bound to the terms of that document.

Are you in the market for car insurance in Flushing, MI? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Bachmann Insurance Agency for assistance in picking the right coverage that provides adequate protection.

What Is Business Interruption Insurance?

When the daily business operations are interrupted, it can cause much stress for business owners in Flushing, MI. However, there is a relief for business owners fearing the possibility of operations being disrupted, which can negatively affect profits. Purchasing business interruption insurance offers peace of mind for businesses knowing they have protection against interruptions to their business operations. 

If you still have questions about business interruption insurance, call our agents at Bachmann Insurance Agency. 

What Is Business Interruption Insurance?

Business interruption insurance is additional coverage added to an existing business owner’s insurance policy. This add-on policy covers loss of income the business may experience after experiencing a catastrophe, such as fire or natural disaster. This policy differs from property insurance because it does not cover physical items, but instead, it covers typical income earned if the catastrophic event never occurred. 

What Is Covered by Business Interruption Insurance? 

There are several scenarios where a business owner is covered under their business interruption insurance. These scenarios would include natural disasters and fire. Typical items covered include: 

  • Fixed operational costs, such as rent or utility bills
  • Temporary relocation costs, such as if the business needs to move to a new location while the existing site is repaired or rebuilt
  • Income loss due to government-mandated closures could cause a business to close early for a government-issued curfew or other covered events
  • Unforeseen expenses, such as expenses that are not fixed costs but incurred due to the interruption

If you are wondering how much business interruption insurance you need for your Flushing, MI business, give our agents a call today. Our experts at Bachmann Insurance Agency are ready to help answer all of your questions and get you the insurance coverage your business needs. 

Questions to ask when buying home insurance for the first time

Everyone has their own version of how their home should run. The same applies to buying home insurance in Flushing, MI.  While it may not be all fun as choosing the furniture and paint colors, your home depends on your home insurance for protection. It is a financial safety net that offers you the peace of mind you need in the event of a disaster. That’s why you need to know everything about your policy before buying it. Bachmann Insurance Agency recommends asking critical questions regarding your coverages, limits and other insurance regulations. Here are a few examples.

How much would it cost to rebuild my home in the event of a total loss?

Like the house value, the cost to rebuild varies from one house to another, and it changes with time. Your home insurance should cover the cost to rebuild in the event of a total loss. Your insurance provider should assess your neighborhood to know the cost of labor and construction materials.

What happens if someone gets injured in my home?

Many people don’t understand how the liability coverages in their home insurance policies work. They end up spending money on medical bills for guests or friends who get injured in their homes. Your home insurance covers every visitor who visits your home. In case of a slip and fall, you can call your insurance company for reimbursement.

What happens when I file an insurance claim?

When you file a home insurance claim, a series of events will follow depending on the details surrounding your loss. You can expect to receive some forms that you should fill as soon as you receive them and welcome an insurance adjuster to assess the damage.

Not sure where to buy home insurance in Flushing, MI?  Bachmann Insurance Agency has you covered. We provide you with all the details you need to make informed decisions when buying home insurance. Feel free to reach out.

Can you buy health insurance at any time of the year?

If you have used the US government website for shopping for health insurance, you probably noticed the short period of time during each year in which you can buy insurance. At Bachmann Insurance Agency serving Flushing, MI, we want you to understand that the open enrollment period applies whether you visit us directly or use the government portal.

US Congress set each year’s open enrollment dates in the law that created the health insurance portal. While the government created a fair method for each person to obtain affordable health insurance, it also included protection for the insurance industry. Providing an open enrollment period protects insurance companies from individuals who would only register for insurance if they fell ill and needed it.

Of course, since the same law created a mandate for employers to provide health insurance, it balanced that with provisions to protect employees. When an individual quits a job or gets fired, it triggers an exception to open enrollment. That lets the individual purchase their own policy to continue coverage, which saves them from paying for COBRA coverage, a traditionally expensive option.

Other exceptions to open enrollment exist, including the birth or adoption of a child and the need to move to a new area. If you must move to a new area for any reason, you can shop for new insurance since your existing policy may not have doctors or hospitals in the area to which you move.

Bachmann Insurance Agency serving Flushing, MI can help you find health insurance if you have experienced a qualifying exception. Otherwise, see us during open enrollment to find your new medical policy.

Why Is Health Insurance So Important?

Are you ill, but you lack the funds to see a doctor? Have you ever been in a medical emergency and had to call for a fundraiser from family and friends to cater to your medical bills? If you’ve been through such cases, then you should have realized the importance of having some health insurance coverage.

The Bachmann Insurance Agency in Flushing, MI provides health insurance coverage that can take care of you during similar tough times. The health insurance coverage allows you to access health care within its network of healthcare facilities at affordable rates.

What’s the General Importance of Health Insurance?

Health insurance allows the policyholders to get care, which often leads to improved health outcomes, low death rates, and better productivity at work and in life. Lacking health insurance coverage puts your mental, physical, and financial health at significant risk.

So, what are the benefits of such coverage? Read on to get the insights!

Health Insurance Reduces Your Health Expenses

Health insurance coverage allows you to pay less when you access in-network healthcare provided by medical facilities designated and networked by your insurance company. You may also get cashless treatment if your medical expenses don’t exceed the coverage caps.

Health Insurance Coverage Protects Your Savings

A health policy from Bachmann Insurance Agency can protect you from draining your savings or selling your property to pay your medical bills. Even when you have to pay some out-of-pocket payments, there are chances of you getting reimbursements.

Health Insurance Gives You Better Preventive Care

Michigan residents with health insurance plans are likely to get free yearly checkups and diagnostic tests that may detect serious medical problems and get them treated before they can worsen. Such policyholders may also get free vaccinations, screenings, lab work, and some diagnostic tests.

Health Insurance Covers Can Take Care of Medical Emergencies

Health insurance is vital in maintaining your good health, and it can help in cases of accidents where the costs of treatment are way beyond what you can afford.

Get Health Insurance Today

Health insurance coverage from Bachmann Insurance Agency in Flushing, MI is suitable for your mental, physical, and financial health. Call the agency today or visit our website to learn how to benefit by getting one of our health insurance coverage plans.

When Does Auto Insurance Cover Repairs?

Some drivers in Flushing, MI assume that since they carry the minimum required auto insurance, they’re covered on any repairs they need. This is incorrect for a few reasons. For your insurance company to cover your repairs, a few criteria need to be met:

  • You need to have collision coverage (for accidents) and comprehensive coverage (for non-accident damage) in order for your damages to be covered.
  • The damages need to be the result of a covered hazard, not simple wear and tear or neglect.
  • You need to file your claim in a timely manner, which will be about a month in most cases.

The more evidence you can gather, the better the odds of your claim being accepted. If you can take photos at the accident scene or you can record your version of the event immediately following the incident, this will make it easier to file your claim.

The truth is that your insurance company probably has no issue with recognizing a valid claim. They just want to make sure that you’re forthright and that they can accurately estimate the damages, so the more accurate the details in your claim, the better.

If you’re driving a brand new car, you may want to look into replacement coverage and gap insurance, as well as comprehensive and collision, to make sure that you’re completely covered.

If you have any questions or you’re looking to get covered in Flushing, MI, get in touch with Bachmann Insurance Agency. You can call or check out the Bachmann Insurance Agency website to see about getting a policy that will buy you the peace of mind you need.

Auto Insurance: What to do Before Making a Claim

Following an accident in Flushing, MI, your auto insurer expects you to promptly get in touch with them if you want to make a claim. However, there are a few steps that you will want to take before picking up the phone and calling your auto insurance provider:

  1. Call the Police. Right after an accident, unless you and the other driver both agree to forget about it and cover your own damages out of pocket, you will want to call the police and file a report. When you call your insurer, they’ll want a police report number. If you didn’t file a report at the scene of the accident, you could stop by the police station at a later date to file it.
  2. Decide if it’s Worth Filing. If there was no other driver involved, then you’ll want to consider whether it’s worth filing a claim. If the deductible would be bigger than the claim, then, of course, it’s not really worth it. But if you have serious damages to cover, that’s what insurance is there for.
  3. Take notes. Our memories have a way of changing over time. So make sure you’re clear on what happened. Take photos, read your police report, and make sure you’re clear on the incident so that you don’t wind up giving your insurer any conflicting information.

With all that out of the way, it’s time to file your claim. Just call your insurer, and they’ll let you know what to do next.

If you’re still looking to get covered in Flushing, MI, or if you have any questions, get in touch with Bachmann Insurance Agency. Call us, or hop on the Bachmann Insurance Agency website and see what we can do for you.

Do I need to get commercial insurance in Michigan?

A business owner that lives in the Flushing, MI area could find that it is a great place to run a company. This area of Michigan has a strong base of people as well as a good local economy. When you are looking to start a business here or continue to operate an existing one, it is imperative that you get proper insurance for it. There are a few reasons why a Michigan business owner needs to get a quality commercial insurance policy.

Insurance Protects Investment in Business

An important reason that anyone will need to get commercial coverage when they are in Michigan is to protect their investment in their business. If you are going to start a company, you will have to invest a lot of time and capital to get it off the ground. This whole investment could be lost quickly if you do not get proper insurance. When you get coverage, you can continue to protect your business.

Insurance Offers Continued Liability Protection

You will also want to get commercial insurance as it can offer ongoing liability protection. A business owner here should recognize their liability risks. If you are sued for liability, the effects could be devastating and even put a business into insolvency. When you have commercial coverage, you can receive liability insurance to mitigate this risk. 

There continue to be many reasons for a Flushing, MI business owner to get a commercial insurance policy. As you are looking for a new plan, you could find that picking one is complicated. Fortunately, when you call Bachmann Insurance Agency, you can learn a lot about your options and how insurance coverage can protect you. Bachmann Insurance Agency can then help you to build a great policy that meets your needs.