A bill introduced by Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy has passed now allowing Texans to show proof of Auto Liability insurance on their cell phone or wireless device. Sen. Hegar says, “It is just another step into the 21st century for Texans.” 

The state’s Financial Responsibility Law requires that drivers carry minimum liability coverage on their vehicle. Liability insurance pays to repair the other driver’s car when that driver is not at fault. It also pays medical expenses for others involved in an accident.  Texas law, under Transportation Code 601.072, currently requires minimum coverage of $30,000 per injured person, up to a total of $60,000 for everyone injured in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage. This basic coverage is called 30/60/25 coverage.  

The new legislation amends Transportation Code Section 601.053 to allow Standard Proof of Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Form to be an image displayed on a wireless communication device. The bill also ensures the privacy of the wireless device by adding that the display of an image that includes financial responsibility information on a wireless communication device does not constitute effective consent for a law enforcement officer, or any other person, to access the contents of the wireless communication device except to view the financial responsibility information.

There are 6 other states that allow insurance verification with a cellphone: Alabama, Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, and Minnesota. Electronic proof of coverage is one of the hottest insurance-related legislative trends for 2013, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). Besides Texas, there are another 21 states considering adding this capability.

The Pros and Cons of Long Term Clients

It is certainly a blessing to have clients that have been with the agency long term. Some of our clients have been with us since the 1950’s. We have built relationships and watched as children were added to auto policies, went away to college then started families of their own. But along with that comes a bit of sadness.

It is becoming more and more prevalent that we receive a call from the child of one of our clients telling us “we’ve had to sell Mom’s home she’s moving to an assisted living facility” or “please cancel Dad’s auto insurance he can no longer drive”. These are tough times for many families having to make hard choices. Many of us at RHSB know firsthand how hard it is to obtain power of attorney documents and transition responsibilities to the next generation.

We’ve become very knowledgeable on how to assist families with their insurance during major life events. Whether it is a wedding and special event insurance or coverage for a vacant dwelling, often our services fall outside the typical personal auto or homeowner policy.

As we develop new relationships I hope they feel the difference here and we are able to cultivate trust in us so that they too will want to stay with RHSB for many years to come.

Jan Holcombe, CIC

VP of Personal Client Services

Assurex Global Launches Employee-Benefits Marketplace Platform -Businessolver®

RHSB partner Assurex Global announces a unique private marketplace platform that gives employers the widest range of administrative flexibility and employee health benefit options in the industry.

“Employers have been struggling for years with ever-increasing medical costs,” explained Assurex Global President and CEO Jim Hackbarth. “Health care reform requirements further complicate the decision-making process. This product not only helps employers budget for the future, it expands employee options, thereby allowing them to choose the best plan for themselves.”

The marketplace platform, in collaboration with employee-benefits outsourcing partner Businessolver®, provides the widest range of administrative flexibility available to employers, no matter what benefit decisions they make in response to new provisions of the Affordable Care Act in 2014. Those changes include the creation of insurance exchanges, which Hackbarth said have caused widespread confusion.

“Employers will need to decide how and where to direct employees in accessing medical benefits,” Hackbarth said. “Our product allows employers the flexibility to keep their current benefits program or choose from a wide variety of networks, plans and contribution strategies – including defined contribution strategies that limit employer costs.”

The Assurex Global marketplace platform allows employers to maintain a competitive advantage by offering best-in-industry benefits while removing the heavy lifting of benefits administration. Among the key advantages are:

• The ability to choose either a defined contribution or a defined benefits plan
• A prepackaged set of medical and ancillary benefits for employers and their employees
• Support for Affordable Care Act record-keeping responsibilities
• A single-source administrative packaging
• Marketplace business data integration
• Flexible decision support tools that make employee choice easier

“There is nothing like this in the market today,” said Assurex Global Board Member and Oswald Companies CEO Robert Klonk. “Our platform gives employers and their employees maximum choice in designing a benefits plan that works for them.”

Assurex Global, the world’s largest privately held commercial insurance, risk management and employee-benefits brokerage group,expects to begin adding employers to the marketplace platform by the second quarter 2013.

About Businessolver

 Businessolver delivers online benefits administration services via Benefitsolver – its proprietary single source technology – to deliver a complete benefits solution to employers. Businessolver’s benefits outsourcing capabilities include complete benefits administration outsourcing, health insurance exchange consulting and construction, benefits process consulting and engineering, and wellness consulting and integration.

About Assurex Global

Columbus, Ohio-based Assurex Global combines the local expertise and global reach of international brokers on six continents with more than $28 billion in annual premium volume and more than 500 partner offices.

Roach Howard Smith & Barton’s Senior Vice President & Principal Doug Jones received the 2013      Power Broker™ Award from           Risk & Insurance® Magazine again in 2013 for the Technology category. 

Doug leads our Technology, Life Sciences and Media Specialty Practice Group here at RHSB.  Risk & Insurance® Magazine has named Doug a Power Broker™ in its annual list of the nation’s top commercial insurance brokers for 2010, 2011 and 2013 for his exceptional service to clients in the technology sector.  Doug’s expertise includes highly targeted insurance products such as Directors & Officers, Errors & Omissions and Cyber Liability and he is frequently asked to speak on these topics.  Doug is a third generation insurance broker with more than 20 years of insurance and risk management experience, including his work at two large international brokerage firms. 

Click Here to read the Power Broker™ article where Doug’s “clients commend him for thinking like a detail-oriented risk manager as well as their big-picture broker.”

Doug currently serves as Chairman of TechAssure Association and is on the board of the Texas Council of TechAmerica.  He is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriters Society (PLUS) and serves on advisory councils for both Chubb and Travelers insurance companies.

To see Doug’s profile our website click here

The last week in January the Wellness Committee ran a campaign promoting awareness for heart disease in women and raising money for the American Heart Association.  Employees could buy a casual day for $5 or casual week for $20 and the money was donated to the AHA.  The week culminated in supporting the National Wear Red Day/Go Red for Women on Friday February 1, 2013.

“Heart Disease Doesn’t Care What You Wear – It’s the #1 Killer of Women”

Try these risk factors on for size: Do you have high blood pressure? High blood cholesterol? Diabetes? Are you inactive? Are you a smoker? Overweight? If so, this could damage your heart and lead to disability, heart attack, or both. Talk to your doctor and get answers that may save your life.

The Heart Truth is, it’s best to know your risks and take action now. More information at:

www.goredforwomen.org

www.hearttruth.gov

Dallas Office Go Red for Women Day 2013

Fort Worth Office Go Red Day 2013

]]> http://www.rhsb.com/blog/rhsb-go-red-for-women/feed/ 0 http://www.rhsb.com/blog/rhsb-joins-pro-bono-movement-3/ http://www.rhsb.com/blog/rhsb-joins-pro-bono-movement-3/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:23:27 +0000 RHSBLH http://www.rhsb.com/?p=4067 Roach Howard Smith & Barton Joins       A Billion + Change as Dallas Emerges as a Leader in National Pro Bono Movement

On Jan. 23 RHSB joined A Billion + Change, Entrepreneurs for North Texas, MEplusYOU and Commit! for a pro bono summit spotlighting the innovative ways that companies in Dallas are stepping up to meet critical community challenges through skills-based volunteer service.  Dallas companies are leaders in supporting A Billion + Change national campaign and to date have pledged $166 million worth of their time and talent to help nonprofits make a bigger impact in society.

Leaders in industry and civic engagement spoke and shared their unique insights and perspectives on the power of pro bono, including Mike Rawlings, Mayor of Dallas, Bradley Yates, Director of Public Affairs for AT&T, Jason W. Downing, Managing Partner, North Texas at Deloitte, Sandy Dochen, IBM’s Manager of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Monica Shortino, Capital One’s Senior Manager of Community Relations for Texas and Krista Nightengale, Managing Editor of D Magazine and Director of D Academy.

Local nonprofits are also part of this discussion, including the Aidmatrix Foundation, Executives in Action, the Volunteer Center of North Texas, Commit! and Educational First Steps. They discussed their perspectives on the impact pro bono projects can have on their organizations. According to True Impact, which helps organizations measure the social, and business impact of their operations, the value of skilled support in areas such as general operations, technology and professional services can be 500 percent greater than the value of traditional volunteering.

Senior Vice President Douglas R. Jones leader of the Technology, Life Sciences and Media practice group at RHSB spoke at the event.  He was on a panel discussing Skills-Based Volunteering: Perspectives from Small Businesses.

Roach Howard Smith & Barton has developed a corporate culture of giving back to the community we serve.  Entrepreneurs for North Texas makes it easy for businesses to be good corporate citizens by organizing events that sponsor companies like RHSB join by providing employees that donate time, services or needed items.  RHSB is especially proud of our involvement in Freedom Day every September 11 to honor lives lost by changing lives today.  RHSB volunteers participated in other EFNT sponsored events in 2012 for North Texas Food Bank, Captain Hope’s Kids and Senior Source. RHSB also participates in several events throughout the year to benefit the American Heart Association.

Karen Farris, Chairman of the Board at RHSB is President of the Board of Directors for Attitudes & Attire a nonprofit agency dedicated to promoting personal growth for women seeking self-sufficiency.  Their program expands the traditional job training curriculum to include positive self-image, appropriate workplace behavior and appearance.  They also provide image consulting to help clients select professional clothing and accessories for the workplace from the Attitudes & Attire Boutique.

Other examples of the power of pro bono abound:

•  Through two “Weekends of Love” a year, MEplusYOU invites multiple nonprofits to participate in a pro bono marathon to help meet their strategic planning, creative execution and tech implementation needs. Since 2009, MEplusYOU has supported more than 25 nonprofit clients and has provided $2 million in pro bono services.
• AT&T has launched Aspire Mentoring Academy and a 1-million hour pledge to mentor at-risk youth and address the high school dropout crisis. The company offers job mentoring, skills mentoring and e-mentoring opportunities, providing a wide range of volunteer options for the different skill-sets and time availability of AT&T’s workforce.
• Chad Houser, a former chef who spoke at the pro bono summit, started Café Momentum, an innovative social enterprise that transforms the lives of Dallas community’s most at-risk youth. Through life and social skills, culinary training and employment opportunities, Café Momentum helps them achieve their full potential.

Since November 2011, more than 260 companies across the country have pledged $1.9 billion to nonprofits as part of A Billion + Change, a swiftly growing national campaign to mobilize billions of dollars in SBV and pro bono services from corporate America. The excitement and support for A Billion + Change represents a sea change in the way companies view employee volunteering that invests in nonprofits by aligning business interests with community needs.  

Any business that wants to give back by volunteering their skills and talents can take the pledge for free at www.abillionpluschange.org. Together, we will inspire the largest pro bono commitment in history.

Coping with Power Outages

Sudden power outages can be frustrating and troublesome, especially when they last a long time. If a power outage is 2 hours or less, don’t be concerned about losing your perishable foods. For prolonged power outages, though, there are steps you can take to minimize food loss and to keep all members of your household as comfortable as possible.

To help preserve your food during a power outage, keep the following supplies in your home .

• One or more coolers—Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers work well
• Ice—Surrounding your food with ice in a cooler or in the refrigerator will keep food colder for a longer period of time during a prolonged power outage
• A digital quick-response thermometer— With these thermometers you can quickly check the internal temperatures of food to ensure they are cold enough to use safely

 It’s always a good idea to have an emergency kit handy in case of power outages or other emergencies — especially with the threat of stormy weather in fall and winter. See recommendations from the American Red Cross below.

Emergency kit basics

• Water (one gallon per person, per day; keep a two-week supply at home)
• Food (non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items; two week supply at home)
• Flashlight and battery-powered radio, along with extra batteries
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• First-aid kit, toiletries, medications and medical items
• Multi-purpose tool
• Copies of personal documents, along with family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash, clothing and blankets
• Cell phones and chargers
• Maps of the area
• Medications (7 day supply) and medical items
• Personal hygiene items

Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit. Suggested items to help meet additional needs are:

• Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc)
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Games and activities for children
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
• Two-way radios
• Extra set of car keys and house keys
• Manual can opener

To learn more visit http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/power-outage

There are steps you can take in your daily life to help protect you from getting the flu.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Flu symptoms include:

• A 100 degrees F or higher fever or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
• A cough and/or sore throat
• A runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches and/or body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (most common in children)

Treatment

If you have been diagnosed with the flu, you should stay home and follow your health care provider’s recommendations. Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist about over-the-counter and prescription medications to ease flu symptoms and help you feel better faster.

• You can treat flu symptoms with and without medication.
• Over-the-counter medications may relieve some flu symptoms but will not make you less contagious.
• Your health care provider may prescribe antiviral medications to make your illness milder and prevent serious complications.
• Your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics if your flu has progressed to a bacterial infection.

How do I care for the sick person?

Make sure the sick person follows any instructions given by his or her health care provider and takes all medications as directed. You can make the sick person more comfortable by following our treatment recommendations.

Get immediate medical care if the sick person experiences:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Purple or blue discoloration of the lips
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Seizures
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

For more information go to flu.gov

Flu in Texas for week ending December 29, 2012

Celebrate the season safely

Holiday activities are what make the holiday season so enjoyable. While you are planning your holiday activities, don’t forget to plan for safety. Here are some tips that will make your holiday season safer:

Decorations

Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass “angel hair.” It can irritate your eyes and skin. A common substitute is non-flammable cotton. Both angel hair and cotton are flame retardant when used alone. However, if artificial snow is sprayed upon them, the dried combination will burn rapidly. When spraying artificial snow on windows or other surfaces, remember to follow the directions carefully. These sprays can irritate your lungs if you inhale them. Use only non-combustible or flame resistant materials.

Fireplaces

Do not burn evergreens or wreaths in the fireplace or in a wood stove to dispose of them. They are likely to flare out of control and send flames and smoke into the room. Also, do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace because it often contains metallic materials which can be toxic if burned. Use care with “fire salts,” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.

Candles

Never use lighted candles near trees, boughs, curtains/drapes, or with any potentially flammable item.

Toys and Gifts

Be especially careful when you choose toys for infants and small children. Be sure anything you give them is too big to get caught in the throat, nose or ears. Avoid toys with small parts that can be pulled or broken off. If you are giving toys to several children in one family, consider their age differences and the chances that the younger children will want to play with the older kids’ toys.

Trees

Many artificial trees are fire resistant. If you buy one, look for a statement specifying this protection. A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard then a dry tree. When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that the tree is too dry. Place the tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Because a heated room will dry out a tree very rapidly, keep the stand filled with water while the tree is indoors. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. Use thin wires to secure a large tree to walls or the ceiling. These wires can be almost invisible.

Lights

Indoor or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory which indicates conformance with safety standards. You should check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections and throw out the damaged sets. Before using lights outdoors, check the labels to make sure they have been certified for outdoor use. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

Security

You should not carry large amounts of cash when shopping. Keep packages in your car out of sight. Be aware of your surroundings. Use your home burglar alarm. If you plan to travel for the holidays don’t discuss your plans with strangers and have a trusted neighbor keep an eye on your home.

Parties

Never drink and drive. Provide non-alcoholic drinks for designated drivers and other guests. Remember more than half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.

Top PTO users and losers

Some 17% of Americans waste their paid time off, according to a survey by American Express. However, your boss and hairdresser? Not among them. Those are just two on a list of positions that are less likely to leave unused vacation days at the end of the year. On the flip side, employees in other job spheres — such as personal trainers and PR representatives — are chronic PTO neglectors. Check out positions on each list, and see which — perhaps some at your own company — could use a nudge toward better work-life balance.

Doctors vs. Nurses | Doctors as a group generally use up all their PTO days; nurses (taking up the slack, perhaps?) tend to forego time off.

Administrative Assistants, Managers and Executives | Office leaders are more likely to take all the time off they’ve been given, and their assistants seem to follow their example.

Investment Bankers | This field boasts many famous (and infamous, i.e., Gordon Gecko) workaholics, explaining why Investment Bankers are among top positions that neglect PTO.

IT Specialist | Information Technology Specialists are in the top echelon of PTO users.

Domestic employees (Housekeepers/Nannies) | A parent’s job is never done, and apparently neither is the nanny’s. Domestic employees are less likely to use all the PTO they are offered.

Customer Service/Sales Representatives | On the other end of the spectrum, these position types are more likely to use up all PTO.

Lawyers |Lawyers as a group tend to neglect PTO.

Other top users and neglectors | Other positions that use up all PTO include Server /Barista, Realtor, Cosmetologists, Accountants.  Additional top job titles that forego PTO are Account Managers, Teachers/Professors, Public Relations/Marketing Representatives, Pilots/Flight Attendants, Firefighters/Police Officers, and Personal Trainers.

Source: © 2012 Employee Benefit Adviser and SourceMedia, Inc

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