http://www.abcoics.com/blog/View Rosenkilde & Associates and Ripple & Associates's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.abcoics.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:b9539a7b-c0d3-4315-8d49-abcd2aa9c669urn:uuid:10bf0d5d-03fb-47c8-a963-6dd3615b29cf<img src='http://www.abcoics.com/img/~www.abcoics.com/motorcylce.jpg' align='left' />Are you riding safely? If you own or ride a motorcycle, you know that spring is near and the riding is about to begin. Motorcycle riding is a great hobby but can be dangerous. We want to make sure everyone is safe while enjoying a cruise in the nic...Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:00:37 -0600<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: verdana; color: #548dd4; font-size: 32px;">Are you riding safely?<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.abcoics.com/motorcylce.jpg" /><br /> <span style="font-size: 18px;">If you own or ride a motorcycle, you know that spring is near and the riding is about to begin. Motorcycle riding is a great hobby but can be dangerous. We want to make sure everyone is safe while enjoying a cruise in the nice weather! We recommend that all riders take a little time to look at what the M.S.F has to offer. M.S.F (motorcycle safety foundations) is a great way to ensure riders are being safe.<br /> Have fun and be safe this year and to learn more about the M.S.F and low rates on your motorcycle insurance call us today! <br /> </span>410-666-7666<br /> <span style="font-size: 13px;">Ask for a licensed agent.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p> </span></em></strong></p>urn:uuid:e63aa728-dcf8-466e-b4b4-899d1f82ba4e<img src='http://www.abcoics.com/img/~www.abcoics.com/motor.jpg' align='left' />ARE YOU BEING SAFE? Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:46:17 -0600<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: verdana; color: #548dd4; font-size: 32px;">ARE YOU BEING SAFE?<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.abcoics.com/motor.jpg" /></span></em></strong></p>urn:uuid:f6d5f163-da85-481f-89cc-a3fbb4ef5bc0Screeeeeeeeeecccch............. The sound of brakes in a busy neighborhood&nbsp;is scary! If&nbsp;a ball rolls out in front of your car, chances are there is a&nbsp; young child&nbsp; right behind it.&nbsp; Since the weather will be getting warm...Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:36:48 -0600<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffff00;"><span style="font-family: segoe ui; font-size: 24px;"><em><strong>Screeeeeeeeeecccch.............<br /> </strong></em></span><br /> </span><strong><span style="color: #e36c09; font-size: 18px;">The sound of brakes in a busy neighborhood&nbsp;is scary!<br /> </span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/img/~www.abcoics.com/child%20in%20road.jpeg" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: 16px;">If&nbsp;a ball rolls out in front of your car, chances are there is a&nbsp; <em><span style="color: #ffc000; text-decoration: underline;">young child</span></em>&nbsp; right behind it.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Since the weather will be getting warmer, and children will be playing in&nbsp;and around the street&nbsp;&nbsp;- be&nbsp;mindful of the kids in the 'hood!<br /> <br /> Just sayin...&nbsp;</span></strong></p>urn:uuid:f8277c6a-a50c-42b2-aeda-3fac9a7571cd<img src='http://www.abcoics.com/img/~www.abcoics.com/My%20Newsletters/horse_jumping_liberty.jpg' align='left' />My horse will never jump out ! &nbsp; Your horses&nbsp;never jump out.......Really ?&nbsp; &nbsp;If your are not sure, call us today to discuss this important issue. We know horses and insurance ! 410-666-7666 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:27:05 -0600<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 32px;"><span style="color: #92d050;"><strong><em><span style="background-color: #313131;">My horse will never jump out !</span><br /> <br /> </em></strong></span>&nbsp;<img alt="" style="width: 450px; height: 250px;border-color: #00b050;" src="/img/~www.abcoics.com/My%20Newsletters/horse_jumping_liberty.jpg" /><br /> <span style="font-size: 18px;">Your horses&nbsp;never jump out.......Really ?&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;If your are not sure, call us today to discuss this important issue.<br /> </span><br /> </span><span style="font-size: 24px;"><em>We know horses and insurance ! <br /> </em><br /> 410-666-7666<br /> </span></p>urn:uuid:5955a920-6e53-43ad-85cc-1b80f65e7b36Is your first bite free? Maryland is a one bite state.&nbsp; It does not recognize a separate cause of action for dog owner negligence, and will not permit a victim to recover if his own actions contributed even just one percent to the cause of ...Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:16:55 -0600<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 24px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 32px;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Is your first bite free?</span><br /> <br /> </span></strong></span><img alt="" src="/img/~www.abcoics.com/dog%20bite.jpeg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 24px;">Maryland is a one bite state.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">It does not recognize a separate cause of action for dog owner negligence, and will not permit a victim to recover if his own actions contributed even just one percent to the cause of the accident.<br /> <br /> If you have any questions about how your homeowners coverage would respond in the event of a dog bite, we are your experts. <br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">Please feel free to call us at 800-564-0169</span></p>urn:uuid:b75503dc-c737-444c-8404-47b080d51ae3Watch this short video - pretty powerful stuff about retiring in today's economy! Common sense answers to retirement At Rosenkilde &amp; Associates, we have the folks to help you. Plain talk, no nonsense ways to make you more comfortable about you...Thu, 13 Jan 2011 07:34:34 -0600<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fac08f; font-size: 24px;">Watch this short video - pretty powerful stuff about retiring in today's economy!<br /> <br /> </span><a href="http://www.metlife.com/annuityvideo"><span style="font-size: 24px;">Common sense answers to retirement <br /> </span></a><br /> At Rosenkilde &amp; Associates, we have the folks to help you. Plain talk, no nonsense ways to make you more comfortable about your nest egg!&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="background-color: #c3d69b;"><em><span style="color: #4f6128;">If I would use these services for my own mom, I would recommend them to you!&nbsp;<br /> She used it and loved it! &nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> </span><br /> </em></span>Jeff Rosenkilde,CIC<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 10px;">an abco/ics insurance services inc, co </span>&nbsp;</span></p>urn:uuid:32894e88-14ae-4f5d-ae81-569698267100<img src='http://www.roughnotes.com/in_action/v49.01.2011/745957crazehorse.jpg' align='left' /> The chain leading to the wrong conclusion The chain broke, the horse got loose, and Robert was injured. A clear c...Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:29:17 -0600<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="background-image: url(../titlebkgrnd.jpg);"> <div class="headline1" style="text-align: center;"><span>The chain leading to the wrong conclusion</span></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="12" align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><img width="225" height="158" alt="" src="http://www.roughnotes.com/in_action/v49.01.2011/745957crazehorse.jpg" /></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p class="body1">The chain broke, the horse got loose, and Robert was injured. A clear case of covered negligence &ndash; or was it? It turns out that Margaret had modified the trailer and later sold it to Robert. Robert claimed that the modifications caused the chain to break and sued Margaret for his injuries. </p> <p class="body1">Margaret's carrier denied coverage, stating that Margaret's actions were part of maintaining her owned vehicle. Margaret and Robert argued that the exclusion couldn't apply because Margaret did not own the vehicle at the time of the accident. </p> <p class="body1">Can anyone say &hellip; ambiguity? </p> Who wants to&nbsp;kow how the courts ruled on this one?&nbsp;<br /> send me an email at <a href="mailto:Jeff@RARisk.com">Jeff@RARisk.com</a> and I will send you the answer!!!!<br /> &nbsp;urn:uuid:b71dfac9-2718-4dd4-acd5-90fa2d5a780aAs the New Year rings in, so does the new state minimum liability limit that one must have on their car insurance. All policies that had the old limits will be issued with the higher limits. As our elected official states: &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Poste...Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:05:43 -0600<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;">As the New Year rings in, so does the new state minimum liability limit that one must have on their car insurance. All policies that had the old limits will be issued with the higher limits. </span><br /> <br /> As our elected official states:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; <div class="entry-header">Posted On: <strong>March 16, 2010</strong> by <a>Ronald V. Miller, Jr.</a> </div> <h3>Minimum Limits for Maryland Auto Accident Insurance</h3> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p>Tomorrow, the Maryland House of Representatives will vote on House Bill 825 which would raise the minimum limits of automobile coverage from $20,000.00/$40,000.00 to $30,000.00/$60,000.00. </p> <p>Is $30,000 enough coverage for a significant accident? Of course not. Maryland has had 20/40 limits since 1972. This is 102,000/204,000 in 2010 dollars. But Rome was not built in a day and this bill is good step in the right direction. </p> <p>As odd as it is for me to be carrying water for insurance companies, it is worth noting that the only way to protect yourself from an uninsured or underinsured motorist is to make sure you have adequate uninsured motorist coverage. The relatively modest increase in premium is worth the additional protection.</p> </div> <div id="more" class="entry-more"></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">We recommend a check up. Give us a ring and we can walk you through a policy design that may make more sense, based on your finances!</span><br /> </div> &nbsp;urn:uuid:d4f8f8c1-ee3a-4ad2-b2bc-72e031cebfffA new poll shows what Anne Arundel county voters are thinking about slots at Arundel Mills.&nbsp;Political reporter&nbsp;Pat Warren&nbsp;says the future of "Ballot Question A" is still up in the air.&nbsp;The TV ads swamp the airways, but predicting ...Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:05:54 -0500<span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>A new poll shows what Anne Arundel county voters are thinking about slots at Arundel Mills.&nbsp;Political reporter&nbsp;</em></span><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>Pat Warren</em></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>&nbsp;says the future of "Ballot Question A" is still up in the air.&nbsp;The TV ads swamp the airways, but predicting the outcome of slots at Arundel Mills is still a roll of the dice. The Cordish Company, which owns the license and leads the crusade for approval, is hammering home its message.&nbsp;"Jobs, jobs and more jobs," said one Maryland resident.&nbsp;"And the taxes. It's a&nbsp;winning situation for us," said another Maryland resident.&nbsp;The vision of what slots at Arundel Mills would look like depends on Ballot Question A. If voters think it's okay to put slots at Arundel Mill, they'll check "for." Those not in favor&nbsp;will check "against."&nbsp;In the latest Gonzales poll, the "for's" have it, 48 percent to 45 percent "against." That's good news for the Cordish Company, but is it good enough?&nbsp;"We're not going to let up,:" said David Cordish. "I'll be out door-to-door this weekend, next weekend. You much rather be in our position, which is ahead."&nbsp;While 56 percent of Democrats are "for" slots at Arundel Mills, the campaign against slots finds it's biggest support from independents, who polled 54 percent against. Followed by Republicans, 51 percent of whom say there are against slots at the mall.&nbsp;"It just tells us that it's going to come down to the bitter end," said David Jones, who is against slots at the mall. "We still have an opportunity to convince those 7 percent of undecideds that it's in their best interest to vote against Question A."&nbsp;</em></span><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>WJZ</em></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>&nbsp;found one&nbsp;those undecideds.&nbsp;When Anne Arundel County resident Kasey Kullman was asked if she decided on which way she was going to vote, she said " honestly, I really haven't. I'll just have to wait and see once I'm in there which way I'm going to go."&nbsp;"It's a hard decision," she added. "It's pretty split."&nbsp;The poll throws those for Question A a lifeline. Although supporters are merely hanging on by their fingernails while those against Question&nbsp;A keep sawing at the rope.&nbsp;Both campaigns say they will continue to go door-to-door in their efforts to win votes.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">http://wjz.com/local/casino.maryland.Arundel.2.1973120.html</span><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:916ffc02-d51e-4bcb-b820-7f669c87ef2eA new poll shows what Anne Arundel county voters are thinking about slots at Arundel Mills.&nbsp;Political reporter&nbsp;Pat Warren&nbsp;says the future of "Ballot Question A" is still up in the air.&nbsp;The TV ads swamp the airways, but predicting ...Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:05:53 -0500<span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>A new poll shows what Anne Arundel county voters are thinking about slots at Arundel Mills.&nbsp;Political reporter&nbsp;</em></span><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>Pat Warren</em></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>&nbsp;says the future of "Ballot Question A" is still up in the air.&nbsp;The TV ads swamp the airways, but predicting the outcome of slots at Arundel Mills is still a roll of the dice. The Cordish Company, which owns the license and leads the crusade for approval, is hammering home its message.&nbsp;"Jobs, jobs and more jobs," said one Maryland resident.&nbsp;"And the taxes. It's a&nbsp;winning situation for us," said another Maryland resident.&nbsp;The vision of what slots at Arundel Mills would look like depends on Ballot Question A. If voters think it's okay to put slots at Arundel Mill, they'll check "for." Those not in favor&nbsp;will check "against."&nbsp;In the latest Gonzales poll, the "for's" have it, 48 percent to 45 percent "against." That's good news for the Cordish Company, but is it good enough?&nbsp;"We're not going to let up,:" said David Cordish. "I'll be out door-to-door this weekend, next weekend. You much rather be in our position, which is ahead."&nbsp;While 56 percent of Democrats are "for" slots at Arundel Mills, the campaign against slots finds it's biggest support from independents, who polled 54 percent against. Followed by Republicans, 51 percent of whom say there are against slots at the mall.&nbsp;"It just tells us that it's going to come down to the bitter end," said David Jones, who is against slots at the mall. "We still have an opportunity to convince those 7 percent of undecideds that it's in their best interest to vote against Question A."&nbsp;</em></span><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>WJZ</em></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>&nbsp;found one&nbsp;those undecideds.&nbsp;When Anne Arundel County resident Kasey Kullman was asked if she decided on which way she was going to vote, she said " honestly, I really haven't. I'll just have to wait and see once I'm in there which way I'm going to go."&nbsp;"It's a hard decision," she added. "It's pretty split."&nbsp;The poll throws those for Question A a lifeline. Although supporters are merely hanging on by their fingernails while those against Question&nbsp;A keep sawing at the rope.&nbsp;Both campaigns say they will continue to go door-to-door in their efforts to win votes.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">http://wjz.com/local/casino.maryland.Arundel.2.1973120.html</span><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:b8ce6cdc-ff1a-461b-adfb-41e475814be7To Do Today Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands. Check if your water heater has an insulating blanket. An insulating blanket...Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:10:07 -0500<h1 class="Headline" style="font: normal normal bold 26px/26px arial, verdana, sans-serif; margin-top: 4px; display: block; text-decoration: none; color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; font-size: 15px; color: #ffffff;"><strong>To Do Today</strong></span></h1> <div class="StoryBody" style="font: normal normal normal 15px/20px georgia, times, serif; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; font-family: georgia, times, serif; clear: both;"> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <ul> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Check if your water heater has an insulating blanket. An insulating blanket will pay for itself in one year or less.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">If you have one of those silent guzzlers, a waterbed, be sure to make your bed every day. The covers will insulate it, and save up to one-third of the energy it uses.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Start using energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Survey your incandescent lights for opportunities to replace them with compact fluorescents. These new lamps can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> The best targets are 60- to 100-watt bulbs used several hours a day. Measure the clearance in the fixtures to make sure they will accommodate compact fluorescents, which are slightly bigger than incandescents.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator. You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient model before it dies.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Clean or replace furnace, air-conditioner and heat-pump filters.</li> </ul> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <strong>This Week</strong> <ul> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Visit the hardware store. Buy a water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and compact fluorescent lightbulbs, as needed.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Rope caulk very leaky windows.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Assess your heating and cooling systems. Determine if replacements are justified, or whether you should retrofit them to make them work more efficiently to provide the same comfort (or better) for less energy.</li> </ul> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <strong>This Month</strong> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <ul> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Collect your utility bills. Separate electricity and fuel bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Crawl into your attic or crawlspace and inspect for insulation. Is there any? How much?</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Seal up the largest air leaks in your house -- the ones that whistle on windy days or feel drafty. The worst culprits are usually not windows and doors, but utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumping penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> Better yet, hire an energy auditor with a blower door to point out where the worst cracks are. All the little, invisible cracks and holes may add up to as much as an open window or door, without you ever knowing it. <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Install a clock thermostat to set your thermostat back automatically at night.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;">Schedule an energy audit (ask your utility company or state energy office) for more expert advice on your home as a whole.</li> </ul> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <strong>This Year</strong> <ul> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;"><strong>Insulate.&nbsp;</strong>If your walls aren't insulated have an insulation contractor blow cellulose into the walls. Bring your attic insulation level up to snuff.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;"><strong>Replace aging, inefficient appliances.&nbsp;</strong>Even if the appliance has a few useful years left, replacing it with a top-efficiency model is generally a good investment.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;"><strong>Upgrade leaky windows.&nbsp;</strong>It may be time to replace them with energy-efficient models or to boost their efficiency with weatherstripping and storm windows.</li> <p style="font: normal normal normal 15px/normal georgia, times, serif;"></p> <li style="background-image: none; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; position: relative; left: 20px;"><strong>Reduce your air conditioning costs</strong>&nbsp;by planting shade trees and shrubs around your house -- especially on the west side</li> </ul> </div>urn:uuid:4aaff0a3-7aa8-4fd8-aa08-93565a698673In a sign of the growing influence of Baltimore's bicyclists, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake&nbsp;will sign two bills Friday intended to promote safety on two wheels in the city.&nbsp;One of the measures, which recently cleared the City Council, woul...Sun, 10 Oct 2010 17:55:18 -0500<span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';">In a sign of the growing influence of Baltimore's bicyclists, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake&nbsp;will sign two bills Friday intended to promote safety on two wheels in the city.&nbsp;One of the measures, which recently cleared the City Council, would require the use of bicycle-safe storm grates on any new roads in the city. The other would increase the fine for motorists who park in bicycle lanes.&nbsp;The council passed both measures after hearings in which dozens of advocates showed up to urge tougher measures to make the city more bicycle-friendly.<br /> <br /> http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-bicyclle-bills-20101007,0,3135492.story<br /> </span></em></span><br /> <span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:5770b43c-a8ca-4022-ae70-3b885c72a273NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks finished Thursday's session lower, as investors treaded cautiously at the outset of earnings season and a day ahead of a key September jobs report that might determine whether more monetary stimulus from the Fede...Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:37:35 -0500<span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks finished Thursday's session lower, as investors treaded cautiously at the outset of earnings season and a day ahead of a key September jobs report that might determine whether more monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve is on the way. The Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJIA</em></span><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>&nbsp;</em></span><strong><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>10,949</em></span></strong><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>,&nbsp;-19.00,&nbsp;-0.17%)&nbsp;fell 19.07 points, or 0.2%, to end at 10,948.58. Shares of Alcoa(AA&nbsp;</em></span><strong><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>12.52</em></span></strong><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>,&nbsp;+0.32,&nbsp;+2.62%)&nbsp;fronted blue-chip losses, falling 1.4% ahead of the aluminum giant's earnings after the close. The S&amp;P 500 index&nbsp;(SPX</em></span><strong><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>1,158</em></span></strong><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>,&nbsp;-1.91,&nbsp;-0.17%)&nbsp;fell 1.91 points, or 0.2%, to 1,158.06, weighed down by telecoms and materials. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite(COMP</em></span><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>&nbsp;</em></span><strong><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>2,384</em></span></strong><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>,&nbsp;+3.01,&nbsp;+0.13%), however, finished slightly higher, gaining 3.01 points, or 0.1%, to 2,383.67.<br /> <br /> http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-end-lower-ahead-of-jobs-report-2010-10-07?reflink=MW_news_stmp<br /> </em></span><br /> <span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:a54aa6db-398d-43a4-8476-71a663a5a169Guest blogger&nbsp;Elizabeth Hurchalla:&nbsp;Since Tyler Clementi's suicide last week, there's been widespread media coverage about how to help your kids cope with cyberbullying. But what if you find out that your child&nbsp;is the one doing the bull...Wed, 06 Oct 2010 08:43:48 -0500<strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Guest blogger&nbsp;</span></em></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Elizabeth Hurchalla:</span></em></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">&nbsp;Since Tyler Clementi's suicide last week, there's been widespread media coverage about how to help your kids cope with cyberbullying. But what if you find out that your child&nbsp;is the one doing the bullying?! Ross Ellis&nbsp;of Love Your Children&nbsp;USA, an organization dedicated to ending violence against children, offers these tips on how to respond.<br /> </span></em></span> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Condemn the behavior, not your child.</span></em></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">&nbsp;Tell your child that you love him no matter what, but his behavior has got to change. If you haven't already, talk about why bullying is wrong, and let him know that it can even result in legal consequences.</span></em></span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Swallow your pride.&nbsp;</span></em></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't stick your head in the sand. It's not just about making things right with the victim; it's also for your own kid's sake. Better to work through this now than have someone kill himself over something your child did -- or have your child&nbsp;grow up to commit domestic abuse or other violence.</span></em></span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">If your child's school is involved, work with them.&nbsp;</span></em></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Forming a united front with the school sets the stage for positive&nbsp;results for your child. Support whatever the school's consequences are, and enforce your own punishment at home (this might include taking away online privileges).</span></em></span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Get counseling for your kid.</span></em></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">&nbsp;Even if it's "only" online teasing or name-calling, it's not a joke. A therapist can help you find out what's making your kid&nbsp;act this way -- and how to make it stop.</span></em></span></li> </ul> <span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Read more:&nbsp;</span></em></span><a href="http://www.momlogic.com/2010/10/what_if_your_kids_the_bully.php#ixzz11aNoaNkQ" style="color: #003399; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.momlogic.com/2010/10/what_if_your_kids_the_bully.php#ixzz11aNoaNkQ</span></em></span></a><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</span></em></span>urn:uuid:0c4029aa-dead-4e72-b4b6-943e678a3705The US State Department on Sunday issued a "travel alert" warning US citizens of "the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe," but a department official emphasized that it is "absolutely not" telling Americans to avoid traveling across the Atlanti...Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:35:17 -0500<p style="border:0px;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>The US State Department on Sunday issued a "travel alert" warning US citizens of "the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe," but a department official emphasized that it is "absolutely not" telling Americans to avoid traveling across the Atlantic.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters on a conference call Sunday, Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy said the alert, which falls short of an official "travel warning," was based on the "cumulative effect" of intelligence in recent weeks suggesting the threat of an al-Qaida-affiliated attack on a major European city.&nbsp;Japan's Foreign Ministry issued a similar warning, cautioning its citizens to be vigilant when using public transportation in Europe. The UK government cautioned its citizens traveling to France or Germany about a heightened threat.&nbsp;Kennedy said the intention of the alert is to prod Americans traveling in Europe to be "aware of possible incidents" and to "take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings." He encouraged US citizens traveling to Europe to register with US embassies or consulates "so that if you need help, we might be able to find you." He added, "We are not, repeat not, advising Americans not to go to Europe&hellip;We are not, not, not saying that they should defer travel to Europe at this time."&nbsp;But he did say that airline passengers should not "have lots of baggage tags on your luggage that directly identify you as an American." The State Department said the travel alert "expires on January 31, 2011." &nbsp;The US Air Transport Assn. said it is "business as usual" for US carriers operating transatlantic services Monday.<br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span><br /> <br /> </p>urn:uuid:2f16ddac-48a4-44c9-9128-5efd075889dbWASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. health policy makers say they're reinventing the familiar food pyramid to combat obesity and high blood pressure in Americans.&nbsp;The new guidelines won't be released until December but are expected to feature new w...Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:16:34 -0500<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. health policy makers say they're reinventing the familiar food pyramid to combat obesity and high blood pressure in Americans.&nbsp;The new guidelines won't be released until December but are expected to feature new ways to communicate lessons about healthful eating and make the food pyramid "more meaningful and engaging," Dr. Robert Post, deputy director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition and Policy Promotion, told The Washington Post.&nbsp;Developing useful guidelines is a challenge, health officials say, since they must apply to myriad ethnic taste preferences while providing enough guidance for shoppers who have to choose between tens of thousands of products on grocery store shelves amidst ever-changing nutrition information, the Post said Saturday.&nbsp;"This is the real test of whether this administration is serious about helping people to change their diets," said Margo Wootan, director of nutrition at the public health watchdog Center for Science in the Public Interest.&nbsp;"We can't load people down with different messages," the USDA's Post said. "We have to focus on practical, simple, easily applied messages that show action that consumers can take."&nbsp;An effective approach is critical, said Linda Van Horn, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University and chairman of the 2010 dietary guidelines advisory committee."What has been done till now isn't working," Van Horn said. "To do nothing more effective than we have means that five years from now we'll be in an even worse situation. And that would be unconscionable."<br /> <br /> http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2010/10/03/Health-officials-make-new-pyramid/UPI-23211286138625/<br /> </em></span><br /> <span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: large;">For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</span></em></span></p>urn:uuid:b4dd3b65-39db-4903-906b-9891ed8e368eWith the signature Thursday of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California&nbsp;became the first state in the union to begin work on a health insurance exchange, the online marketplace established by the federal Affordable Care Act where consumers can sho...Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:28:56 -0500<span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;">With the signature Thursday of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California&nbsp;became the first state in the union to begin work on a health insurance exchange, the online marketplace established by the federal Affordable Care Act where consumers can shop for insurance plans.&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;">"Today we are celebrating a package of legislation that moves California&nbsp;one giant step closer toward quality, affordable health care for all," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Health care reform has long been a priority for my Administration, and now that the federal reform is taking effect, it's critical that Californians have good information about the changes that are coming. This new website will help people understand how those changes will affect them."&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;">People will not be able to use the California Health Benefit Exchange until 2014, when healthcare coverage will be mandated for most Americans. That California is the first state to act may make its health insurance exchange a model for other states.</span>&nbsp;<br /> <br /> http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/67837/20101001/health-insurance.htm<br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;">For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</span><br /> </span></span> <div id="radePasteHelper" style="border:0px solid red;position: absolute; top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><br /> </div>urn:uuid:eb260e9a-867b-41b3-90d8-2f3ca71b4f35In a lawsuit filed against Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), Stella Benedetti Gurr, the mother of a 26 year old man who died in a high way crash, claimed that the design defect of the van caused the accident via making it susceptible to rollovers.&nbsp;Mi...Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:18:57 -0500<p style="border:0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><em><span style="font-size: large;">In a lawsuit filed against Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), Stella Benedetti Gurr, the mother of a 26 year old man who died in a high way crash, claimed that the design defect of the van caused the accident via making it susceptible to rollovers.&nbsp;Michael, her son, died in the accident on September 25, 2008, when the 1994 Ford (NYSE:F) E-Series van rolled over on the highway.&nbsp;If you&rsquo;re contemplating investing in Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) shares, make sure you take a look at this analyst advice, from a broad range of industry specialists.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> http://www.stockbriefings.com/ford-motor-company-nysef-legal-battle/3173900<br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</span></em></span></p>urn:uuid:7887f3af-829a-4a26-b040-ae4b2e114e79We know watching NFL football makes you feel manly, but you're going to have to deal with an overwhelming amount of pink on your TV screen this Sunday. There will be pink ribbons on the footballs, the players will have pink chin cups and towels, and ...Wed, 29 Sep 2010 23:30:25 -0500<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 8px; line-height: 23px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal arial;"><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>We know watching NFL football makes you feel manly, but you're going to have to deal with an overwhelming amount of pink on your TV screen this Sunday. There will be pink ribbons on the footballs, the players will have pink chin cups and towels, and refs will have pink whistles, all part of a Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. Peter O'Reilly, the league's vice president of fan strategy and marketing, says the NFL spent upwards of $5 million on advertising and apparel for the initiative.<br /> <br /> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704116004575522040245756252.html<br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span> </p>urn:uuid:358ab985-9ef0-4365-a4f0-1e7b586d0eb5SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Facebook, the world's largest online social network, is likely to go public sometime after late 2012, a board member said, satisfying investors' appetite for a slice of one of the Internet's biggest growth stories.&...Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:18:41 -0500<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6;"><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Facebook, the world's largest online social network, is likely to go public sometime after late 2012, a board member said, satisfying investors' appetite for a slice of one of the Internet's biggest growth stories.&nbsp;</em></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 28px; font-size: large;"><em>A stock market debut by a company valued in the tens of billions of dollars would be one of the most highly anticipated initial public offerings of the decade.&nbsp;</em></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 28px; font-size: large;"><em>But Facebook board member, venture capitalist and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel stressed on Monday that will not happen until after late 2012, and would depend on the company hitting certain revenue targets and how its business model develops.<br /> <span style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal;">http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2717146120100927</span><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span></p>urn:uuid:5494f147-addd-4d1a-86e8-cbb58548b73eSept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama signed legislation that will cut taxes and provide credit help for small businesses, calling it an essential step for job growth in a slow economy.&nbsp;Small businesses &ldquo;have borne the greatest br...Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:09:43 -0500<p class="indent" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; clear: left;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama signed legislation that will cut taxes and provide credit help for small businesses, calling it an essential step for job growth in a slow economy.&nbsp;Small businesses &ldquo;have borne the greatest brunt of this recession&rdquo; because of lower demand from consumers and less available credit, Obama said.&nbsp;The government &ldquo;can&rsquo;t create jobs to replace the millions that we lost in the recession, but it can create the conditions for small businesses to hire more people,&rdquo; the president said at the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House.</em></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-27/obama-signs-bill-to-cut-taxes-for-small-businesses-update1-.html</span><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</p>urn:uuid:b30f6505-3363-4dba-9c89-ca2c7c527c0eSept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama signed legislation that will cut taxes and provide credit help for small businesses, calling it an essential step for job growth in a slow economy.&nbsp;Small businesses &ldquo;have borne the greatest br...Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:09:42 -0500<p class="indent" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; clear: left;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama signed legislation that will cut taxes and provide credit help for small businesses, calling it an essential step for job growth in a slow economy.&nbsp;Small businesses &ldquo;have borne the greatest brunt of this recession&rdquo; because of lower demand from consumers and less available credit, Obama said.&nbsp;The government &ldquo;can&rsquo;t create jobs to replace the millions that we lost in the recession, but it can create the conditions for small businesses to hire more people,&rdquo; the president said at the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House.</em></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-27/obama-signs-bill-to-cut-taxes-for-small-businesses-update1-.html</span><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</p>urn:uuid:ac604c71-c8dd-454e-af5f-36f56bc51bf8Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama signed legislation that will cut taxes and provide credit help for small businesses, calling it an essential step for job growth in a slow economy.&nbsp;Small businesses &ldquo;have borne the greatest br...Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:09:40 -0500<p class="indent" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; clear: left;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama signed legislation that will cut taxes and provide credit help for small businesses, calling it an essential step for job growth in a slow economy.&nbsp;Small businesses &ldquo;have borne the greatest brunt of this recession&rdquo; because of lower demand from consumers and less available credit, Obama said.&nbsp;The government &ldquo;can&rsquo;t create jobs to replace the millions that we lost in the recession, but it can create the conditions for small businesses to hire more people,&rdquo; the president said at the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House.</em></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-27/obama-signs-bill-to-cut-taxes-for-small-businesses-update1-.html</span><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</p>urn:uuid:4c718960-f7c4-4773-a3f7-3fb02a6d0b46The cost of health insurance claims is expected to rise, according to a new report, but insurers say they are getting tougher when negotiating prices with hospitals. &nbsp;"The costs that dictate employer-provided health insurance plans will climb mo...Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:17:40 -0500<span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';">The cost of health insurance claims is expected to rise, according to a new report, but insurers say they are getting tougher when negotiating prices with hospitals. &nbsp;"The costs that dictate employer-provided health insurance plans will climb more than 10 percent within the next 12 months, and financially pressured companies may pass more of this increase along to their workers through next year's benefits plans, according to an Aon Consulting report...," The Associated Press&nbsp;reports. "In a survey of about 60 health organizations around the country earlier in the year, Aon Consulting, a subsidiary of insurance broker Aon Corp., found that insurers expect to pay out 10.7 percent more in claims for preferred provider organization, or PPO, managed care. &hellip; The premiums that workers pay may not grow at the same clip as the cost of claims. Premiums can be influenced by geography, an insurance plan's design, the health of the people covered and insurer profitability, said Tom Lerche, Aon Consulting's health care practice leader" (Murphy, 9/14).&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> </span><br /> <span style="font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman';">http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2010/September/15/Health-Insurance-Biz-and-Issues.aspx<br /> <br /> For more information contact, Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</span>urn:uuid:8a062dfb-ae61-413e-8ea3-847dfbc99375The new health care law's&nbsp;mandate&nbsp;are already causing health insurance premiums to rise 3 to 9 percent more than&nbsp;they otherwise would. Its price controls are pushing insurers to abandon the market for child-only coverage and will soon ...Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:37:22 -0500<span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>The new health care law's</em></span><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0322/Health-care-reform-bill-101-what-the-bill-means-to-you" target="_blank" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: #205d87;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>&nbsp;</em></span></a><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large;"><em>mandate&nbsp;are already causing health insurance premiums to rise 3 to 9 percent more than&nbsp;they otherwise would. Its price controls are pushing insurers to abandon the market for child-only coverage and will soon begin rationing care to Medicare patients, partly by driving nearly 1 in 6&nbsp;hospitals and other providers out of the program.&nbsp;Starting in 2014, when the full law takes effect, things will get really ugly. ObamaCare&rsquo;s &ldquo; individual mandate&rdquo; will drive premiums even higher &ndash; assuming the courts have not declared it unconstitutional, as they should. Because the penalty for violating the mandate is a fraction of those premiums, healthy people will wait until they are sick to buy coverage, driving premiums higher still. This is already happening in Massachusetts, which enacted a nearly identical law in 2006.<br /> </em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> &lt;http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0914/Should-health-care-reform-be-repealed&gt;<br /> </span><br /> <span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'times new roman';"><em>For more information contact, Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:0aa6da74-a044-464d-9409-c40b5a15ca99Verify the license status of the person selling the product. You can verify that the person selling you the product is licensed by checking licensee lists on the Maryland Insurance Administration's website, or call 888-204-6198. You should also check...Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:00:49 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Verify the license status of the person selling the product. You can verify that the person selling you the product is licensed by checking licensee lists on the </em></span><a href="https://www.mdinsurance.state.md.us/pls/jsp/pia/PIARequest.jsp?mode=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Maryland Insurance Administration's website</em></span></a><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>, or call 888-204-6198<strong>. </strong>You should also check for a history of complaints. To check for possible complaints filed against a discount plan, call the Maryland Attorney General's Health Advocacy Division at 877-261-8807, or the Maryland Insurance Administration at 800-492-6116<strong>.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.wbaltv.com/money/24399440/detail.html">http://www.wbaltv.com/money/24399440/detail.html</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800)564-0169<br /> <br /> </strong></em></span>urn:uuid:2d550bf0-2138-4cb2-83ca-f62a669e5efa This needs very little intro.....could make the difference between life and death! ...submitted from a childhood friend who now lives in Georgia..... Since you&rsquo;re in the insurance business, I thought I would share this with you. &nbsp; My ho...Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:58:17 -0500<div class="Section1"> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00b050;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">This needs very little intro.....could make the difference between life and death!</span><br /> </span><br /> <span style="color: #b7dde8; font-size: 18px;">...submitted from a childhood friend who now lives in Georgia.....</span><br /> <br /> Since you&rsquo;re in the insurance business, I thought I would share this with you.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>My house is equipped with an inter-connected smoke alarm system. Most houses built within the last 20 years are. One unit is hard wired and the other unit is hard wired with a battery back up. I&rsquo;m sure you&rsquo;re familiar with it. They essentially work in tandem. I change the batteries when ever we have a time change so I rarely even hear the warning &ldquo;battery low&rdquo; chirp. Out of curiosity, I decided to physically test them via the test button. The one directly hard wired without the battery worked fine and it set off the other one in tandem like it is supposed to do. Well, when I tested the one that is hard wired with the battery back up&hellip;.nothing. No beeping, not a peep. I held the test button for a couple of minutes and it wouldn&rsquo;t alarm. Who knows how long this has been going on? The green LED was lit so I assumed all was well with my smoke alarm world. After further investigating, all the green LED does is indicates that the unit is getting power. The Marv in me came out and I started investing and I was stunned to find out that one is supposed to periodically clean/dust them. Who knew? Well, I killed the circuit breaker and dismounted the unit, blew it off with a can of air and gently vacuumed it with a computer vac and now it&rsquo;s working like new again. Even though the other unit was working, I cleaned that one as well, just for my own peace of mind. I don&rsquo;t recommend that everyone blow compressed air and vacuum their smoke detectors, by all means one should follow their owners manual recommendations. My point is; there is more to smoke detector maintenance then popping a fresh battery every six months&hellip;And, green does not always mean everything is A-O-K. We are programmed to think that from the time we are old enough to conceive thought but it doesn&rsquo;t hold true in the smoke detector world. The owner&rsquo;s manual recommends that you test them (chirp them) once a week&hellip;Who knew? I was just strolling by them and thinking&hellip;Green light&hellip;cool&hellip;all set &hellip;Not! </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div>urn:uuid:dd1b0b63-bf77-47cf-a155-485ba4ac36d3 A New Jersey grand jury has indicted a Maryland insurance broker, his companies and an accomplice on charges they conspired to steal $2.5 million from the Perth Amboy school system, the state's attorney general said. Insurance broker Francis X. Gart...Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:48:23 -0500<span style="background-color: #313131;"> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;">A New Jersey grand jury has indicted a Maryland insurance broker, his companies and an accomplice on charges they conspired to steal $2.5 million from the Perth Amboy school system, the state's attorney general said. Insurance broker Francis X. Gartland, his companies &mdash; Gartland and Co. and E-Administrative Systems &mdash; and a second broker, Brian Foley, of Summit, N.J., were indicted for their role in the scheme. They face charges of conspiracy, money laundering, theft, making false representations for a government contract, falsifying or tampering with records and forgery. Gartland is also charged with misconduct by a corporate official. It's the second indictment in as many months for Gartland. He was indicted in June, along with his son-in-law, a business partner from Maryland, and their companies, with stealing $216,495 from the City of Perth Amboy by collecting payments for a non-existent "wellness program" for city employees. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. "These insurance brokers systematically stole more than $2.5 million from the Perth Amboy School District through a fraudulent scheme in which the district was billed for services for employees that were never provided or authorized," said Attorney General Paula Dow. "Those are dollars stolen from taxpayers and from the school children of the City of Perth Amboy."<br /> <br /> </span></em></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2010/07/23/111853.htm#ixzz0ukizpQLj"><em><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;">http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2010/07/23/111853.htm#ixzz0ukizpQLj</span></em></a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;">For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</span></em></p> </span>urn:uuid:888dfaaa-289e-44d6-8f69-2bcd5006ee63The folks in Ohio are staring down an increase in rates due to a total of $53,000,000 paid out in storm claims in May and June. Article Link&nbsp; Are Marylanders in for a rate increase? Who knows. There was a tornado warning last night in a numbe...Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:15:46 -0500<p style="text-align: center;">The folks in Ohio are staring down an increase in rates due to a total of $53,000,000 paid out in storm claims in May and June.<br /> <a href="http://www.property-casualty.com/News/2010/7/Pages/Ohio-Home-Auto-Rates-On-The-Rise-.aspx">Article Link&nbsp;<br /> </a><br /> <strong><span style="color: #ffff00;">Are Marylanders in for a rate increase? <br /> <br /> </span></strong>Who knows. There was a tornado warning last night in a number of metro counties. Don't think it isn't smart to be with an independent agent. We can shop your rates and <span style="color: #b8cce4;">"shelter you"</span> from the storm impact. We have national, regional and local carriers that have different rate structures based on where they operate.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Never been a better time to move away from those DIRECT WRITERS and seek an agency that has it's first loyalty to you, the client.<br /> <br /> Call me for a second opinion today...!<br /> <br /> Have a Wonderful Wednesday...<br /> <br /> Jeff Rosenkilde, CIC&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>urn:uuid:323e6217-41ab-4f05-b414-37ef7f2051beShareholders angry about BP Plc's battered stock price are heading to the courthouse in hopes of reclaiming some of their losses, but they face an uphill battle.Since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in April, several BP shareholders have filed...Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:31:56 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;">Shareholders angry about BP Plc's battered stock price are heading to the courthouse in hopes of reclaiming some of their losses, but they face an uphill battle.Since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in April, several BP shareholders have filed lawsuits accusing the company of breaking securities laws and hiding the risks of its drilling operations. The stakes are potentially huge, with the BP's market value down as much as $100 billion since the disaster.Some of the largest U.S. pension funds could join the battle. Already, the $132.6 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund has said it wants to be named lead plaintiff so it can direct the investor litigation.<br /> <br /> keep reading&nbsp;at <a href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/07/20/111724.htm">http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/07/20/111724.htm</a><br /> <br /> Fore more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</span></em></p>urn:uuid:4cac7359-460d-44ec-96a1-74ea88e460131. Reduce The Toxic Load: Keep Chemicals Out of the Air, Water, Soil and our Bodies 2. Reduce if Not Eliminate Off Farm Pollution 3. Protect Future Generations 4. Build Healthy Soil 5. Taste Better and Truer Flavor 6. Assist Family Farmers of al...Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:03:54 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em><strong>1. Reduce The Toxic Load: Keep Chemicals Out of the Air, Water, Soil and our Bodies</strong><br /> </em></span><strong><br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>2. Reduce if Not Eliminate Off Farm Pollution</em></span></strong><br /> <strong><br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>3. Protect Future Generations</em></span></strong><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em><strong>4. Build Healthy Soil</strong><br /> <br /> <strong>5. Taste Better and Truer Flavor</strong><br /> <br /> <strong>6. Assist Family Farmers of all Sizes</strong><br /> <br /> <strong>7. Avoid Hasty and Poor Science in Your Food</strong><br /> <br /> </em></span><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em><strong>8. Eating with a Sense of Place<br /> </strong><br /> <strong>9. Promote Biodiversity</strong><br /> <br /> <strong>10. Celebrate the Culture of Agriculture</strong><br /> <br /> To read more go to</em></span> <a href="http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-206">http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-206<br /> </a><br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:1a855d9c-a688-4c3c-a167-abb10288941fOne of the Stella Awards for Stupidity! Remember Folks - this is not an insurance company settling this claim, this a Jury Award. Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after sh...Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:35:14 -0500One of the Stella Awards for Stupidity! <br /> <br /> Remember Folks - this is not an insurance company settling this claim, this a <strong><em><span style="color: #ffc000;">Jury Award.<br /> </span></em></strong><br /> Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?<br /> <br /> Good ole American Tort System works great sometimes huh? <br /> <br /> Happy Monday!<br /> <br /> Jeff Rosenkilde, CIC<br /> Jeff@abcoics.com<br /> &nbsp;urn:uuid:a8607ea5-4b02-4dbf-8cfd-a25d172dbe56New health insurance plans being adopted by major insurance companies in the U.S. are coming with cheaper premiums, but will restrict the choice of doctors and hospitals patients can go to. Health insurance companies are approving a new plan that wil...Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:38:02 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>New health insurance plans being adopted by major insurance companies in the U.S. are coming with cheaper premiums, but will restrict the choice of doctors and hospitals patients can go to. Health insurance companies are approving a new plan that will lead to premiums that are 15% cheaper than current premium rates for many consumers. This is all part of the new health care plan put together by President Barack Obama and his administration. The good news out of all of this is the fact that users will soon be able to pay less than they are currently paying. The catch here though is that if you want to pick your own doctor or hospital, you are going to have to pay more to have that ability. If not, what you are going to be doing is picking from a restricted and highly-specific list of doctors and hospitals.These new plans are expected to be fully rolled out by the year 2014. This will lead to more affordability, but will restrict choice of patients overall.<br /> <a href="http://smartabouthealth.net/curiosity/2010/07/18/new-health-insurance-plans-will-restrict-choice-of-doctor/">http://smartabouthealth.net/curiosity/2010/07/18/new-health-insurance-plans-will-restrict-choice-of-doctor/</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169<br /> </em></span>urn:uuid:d4f0adec-92e4-4b41-bd64-5e83ec9aa5beEARTHQUAKE in Maryland&nbsp;? !!&nbsp; "Shake it Up" released in 1981 by The Cars Wow...3.6 on the Richter scale...right in Rockville Maryland..say it ain't so!&nbsp; Warning - your regular&nbsp;Home Policy DOES NOT cover the peril of Earthquake.....Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:21:44 -0500<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e36c09;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 32px;">EARTHQUAKE in Maryland&nbsp;? !!</span>&nbsp;<br /> <br /> </span></strong><span style="color: #ffc000;"><em>"Shake it Up" released in 1981 by The Cars</em></span><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span></strong></span><br /> Wow...3.6 on the Richter scale...right in Rockville Maryland..say it ain't so!&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Warning - your regular&nbsp;Home Policy DOES NOT cover the peril of Earthquake...<br /> <br /> If you want the coverage - call our office and we can endorse it right away....<br /> Get it before it's too late !<br /> <br /> It's more affordable than you think.....<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Happy Friday!<br /> <br /> Jeff Rosenkilde, CIC<br /> <a href="mailto:Jeff@abcoics.com">Jeff@abcoics.com</a></p>urn:uuid:752a53cb-7d66-4ab0-b6a8-76d16fa7e80bPublic utility crews in Baltimore County are scheduled to turn off water service to several hundred residences in Chase on July 25. A Baltimore County Department of Public Works statement released Thursday indicated that crews are scheduled to replac...Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:00:20 -0500<p itxtvisited="1"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Public utility crews in Baltimore County are scheduled to turn off water service to several hundred residences in Chase on July 25. A Baltimore County Department of Public Works statement released Thursday indicated that crews are scheduled to replace an old 4-inch water line with a new 6-inch line serving Chase Elementary School on Eastern Avenue. County engineers said the new water line will improve water pressure and upgrade fire protection at the school. The shutoff is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. on July 25 with water service restoration scheduled by 5 a.m. -- a seven-hour period when water demand is lowest. The temporary shutoff is anticipated to affect communities along Eastern Avenue north of Chase Elementary, and will also include Strawberry Fields, Cunninghill Cove, Harewood Park and Chase Manor. When water is restored, engineers advise residents to run their taps for a few minutes to eliminate air in the system and to flush any discoloration or sediment. <br /> <br /> </em></span><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38263814/ns/local_news-baltimore_md/"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38263814/ns/local_news-baltimore_md/</em></span></a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span></p>urn:uuid:a01e63fb-9603-41de-bf73-7727469f3622<img src='http://www.abcoics.com/img/~www.abcoics.com/homey.jpg' align='left' />Homey don't play dat! If you are operating a home based business, you may be one of the 60% of people who think their home insurance covers the business&nbsp;they &nbsp;operate. WRONG. They will take your house&nbsp;after a loss.....&nbsp; 11 mill...Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:35:00 -0500<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #fac08f;">Homey don't play dat!<br /> </span></strong><img alt="" src="/img/~www.abcoics.com/homey.jpg" /><br /> <br /> If you are operating a home based business, you may be one of the 60% of people who think their home insurance covers the business&nbsp;they &nbsp;operate. <strong><span style="color: #fac08f;">WRONG.</span></strong> They will take your house&nbsp;after a loss.....&nbsp;<br /> <br /> 11 million&nbsp;people are running businesses out of their homes and only 40% have the proper coverage.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> You can wait until the claims adjuster shows you the exclusion in your home policy or give us a ring. We can take care of this issue very inexpensively.<br /> <br /> <strong><span style="background-color: #dbeef3; color: #000000;">Don't wait another day if you are&nbsp;one of the 6,600,000 people that don't have it right.<br /> </span></strong><br /> Let's talk soon,<br /> <br /> Jeff Rosenkilde, CIC<br /> Jeff@abcoics.com<br /> 410-666-7666 x 102&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>urn:uuid:c060fdf9-cb93-460f-9f4a-c28bb4c9dd08Just when you thought BP was getting some bad press in the Sunshine State. "Along comes Allstate" Two Allstate subsidiaries in Florida are asking regulators to approve 33 percent and 18 percent average statewide rate increases for homeowners insura...Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:52:26 -0500<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong><em>Just when you thought BP was getting some bad press in the Sunshine State. <span style="color: #ffc000;">"Along comes Allstate"</span></em></strong></span> <br /> <br /> Two Allstate subsidiaries in Florida are asking regulators to approve 33 percent and 18 percent average statewide rate increases for homeowners insurance based on the fact that loss expenses are exceeding premiums, Allstate said. <br /> <br /> Castle Key Insurance is asking for the larger increase. Castle Key Indemnity, the subsidiary writing new business in Florida, is looking for the lesser rate hike. <br /> <br /> Allstate spokeswoman Amy Moore said the companies need the increases to offset rising costs of reinsurance and claims expenses for fires, thefts and storms. <br /> <br /> Castle Key has not received a rate increase in about five years, Ms. Moore added. She could not speculate on the consequences of not getting the rate increases. <br /> <br /> A hearing with the state&rsquo;s Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is set for July 27. <br /> <br /> The increases would amount to a $412 per year average increase on Castle Key policies and $243 per year on Castle Key Indemnity policies. <br /> <br /> <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">When will it end?</span></strong> <br /> <br /> Folks need to realize two things...Independent Agents can get you alternatives to the increases you may be seeing. Allstate is mainly a direct writer company - meaning - <strong><span style="color: #ffc000;">one agent and one carrier offering ONLY.</span>&nbsp;<br /> </strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> If you want to get TRUE Value - we have 10 carriers to pick from...!<br /> <br /> CALL US!</p>urn:uuid:137c8550-f2e6-48ce-b363-befa06b6f55b<img src='http://www.abcoics.com/img/~www.abcoics.com/Brooks_Robinson_1955.jpg' align='left' /> Mr. Good Ole Days! Ah...the good ole days! Brooks Robinson was selected as the All Star MVP in 1966. We recall days when there was no air conditioning, crabs and beer were a Saturday afternoon treat, and the Orioles were contenders on a yearly ...Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:48:32 -0500<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/img/~www.abcoics.com/Brooks_Robinson_1955.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Mr. Good Ole Days!</p> <br /> <br /> Ah...the good ole days! <br /> <br /> Brooks Robinson was selected as the All Star MVP in 1966. We recall days when there was no air conditioning, crabs and beer were a Saturday afternoon treat, and the Orioles were contenders on a yearly basis. &nbsp;My how things have changed. Brooks is still remembered, crabs and beer are expensive and risky - i.e. Gulf Oil laden crustaceans and alcohol poisoning. <br /> <br /> Insurance is not the product it used to be. Gone are the&nbsp;days when&nbsp;time was taken to actually meet with you, face to face, explain coverage and make sure you were minimizing risk. Most of the time, it's not the agent who doesn't want&nbsp;to review coverage, it's usually the consumer. Consumers are being barraged from all fronts. E-mail and voice mail solicitations, direct mail, phone calls, social networking, Linked In, Skype and Twitter to name a few.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> I am looking for a client that would like to sit down with me, have a cup of coffee and review their coverage. We have comfortable offices in Jacksonville Maryland and Reisterstown Maryland for those folks who will trade a short drive for some sound advice.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Heck, maybe we can even talk about the Orioles and the good Ole Days!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Call me....410-666-7666&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Jeff Rosenkilde, Sr. <br /> <a href="mailto:Jeff@abcoics.com">Jeff@abcoics.com</a>urn:uuid:50ee0094-155f-49c1-9215-f30879349716 This past Friday, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) shuttered another four US banks. That makes 90 bank failures so far in 2010. If bank failures continue at the same rate for the rest of 2010, you can expect perhaps 200 in total to f...Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:01:49 -0500<span style="background-color: #313131;"> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;">This past Friday, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) shuttered another four US banks. That makes 90 bank failures so far in 2010. If bank failures continue at the same rate for the rest of 2010, you can expect perhaps 200 in total to fail this year. That would represent a jump over 2009, when the FDIC closed 140 failed banks. &nbsp;In 2008, just 25 US banks were closed by the FDIC. (To keep the number of failures in perspective, we need to remember that the US has about 8,000 banks in total.)Tracking the number of bank failures represents another way to count up the casualties of the Great Recession. The FDIC is working&nbsp;through a grim sort of financial triage, separating the banks that have been mortally wounded by the US real estate meltdown from the healthy ones.</span></em><i><br /> <br /> <em><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;">Read more at the Washington Examiner: </span></em></i><a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/Examiner-Opinion-Zone/Bank-failures-An-important-economic-barometer-that-no-one-is-talking-about-98173914.html#ixzz0tRdhVPVE"><em><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;">http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/Examiner-Opinion-Zone/Bank-failures-An-important-economic-barometer-that-no-one-is-talking-about-98173914.html#ixzz0tRdhVPVE</span></em></a><br /> <br /> <em><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;">For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</span></em></p> </span>urn:uuid:0eaa91e8-a4bc-47f2-aafb-b11fc87fddbeSAN BERNARDINO, Calif.&mdash;A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who reported his Cadillac stolen has turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued for insurance fraud. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office said in a release F...Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:50:29 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.&mdash;A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who reported his Cadillac stolen has turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued for insurance fraud. </em></span><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office said in a release Friday that 31-year-old deputy Eugene Peter Boese turned himself in Thursday. </em></span><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Prosecutors allege that Boese said his 2005 Cadillac CTS was stolen from the driveway of his Rancho Cucamonga home on March 14, 2009, and said he had both sets of keys to the car. </em></span><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>The car was later recovered in Mexico, but an insurance adjuster said there were no signs of tampering with the lock or ignition. </em></span><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>The release says a subsequent investigation revealed that Boese gave false information to the insurance company.<br /> <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_15481012?nclick_check=1">http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_15481012?nclick_check=1</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:fbfc9a5b-7b15-48e8-a8e0-b0733a7530b3Another Friday of&nbsp;the "Beat the Heat" summer. Those that are following&nbsp;us on TWITTER and Facebook know that I am always looking for suggestions in improving ways that we can help our current clients. Please hit me on Jeff@abcoics.com&nbsp; ...Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:17:33 -0500Another Friday of&nbsp;the "Beat the Heat" summer. Those that are following&nbsp;us on TWITTER and Facebook know that I am always looking for suggestions in improving ways that we can help our current clients. Please hit me on <a href="mailto:Jeff@abcoics.com">Jeff@abcoics.com</a>&nbsp; and let me know how things are going in general and specifically with you. <br /> <br /> We will take inquiries&nbsp;under advisement.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> On another front.....<br /> <br /> Liberty Mutual has got to be going crazy over this one....&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;it looks like Liberty Mutual is suing Goldman Sachs for the $62 million - YES....$62 million with an M&nbsp;for allegedly offering Liberty two garbage stocks under&nbsp;Fannie Mae.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Go figure - $ 62 million is&nbsp;of 2.5% of BP's annual profit.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Happy Friday all!<br /> <br /> Jeff Rosenkilde, CIC<br /> &nbsp;urn:uuid:ded37a6c-224e-4b2b-ae28-9d417d670870<img src='http://www.wbaltv.com/sh/images/ibs_icon/hearst/video.gif' align='left' />OCEAN CITY, Md. -- While shallow water seems like the safest place to play in the surf, swimmers suffer serious neck injuries close to shore every summer. &nbsp; 11 News reporter Kerry Cavanaugh shows how the Ocean City Beach Patrol is saving lives w...Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:32:30 -0500<strong>OCEAN CITY, Md. -- </strong>While shallow water seems like the safest place to play in the surf, swimmers suffer serious neck injuries close to shore every summer. <p>&nbsp;</p> 11 News reporter Kerry Cavanaugh shows how the Ocean City Beach Patrol is saving lives with a life-saving technique. Watch the video below: <p>&nbsp;</p> <a href="http://www.wbaltv.com/video/20014243/index.html"><img width="22" height="12" alt="" style="border: 0px solid;" src="http://www.wbaltv.com/sh/images/ibs_icon/hearst/video.gif" />Technique Saves Beach-Goers From Neck Injuries</a> <p>&nbsp;</p> Cavanaugh's report first aired last summer, so it's currently been two years since Ward's accident. He told 11 News recently that he's doing very well, is back to work and has gone back in the water. <p>&nbsp;</p> Check out more of how the lifeguards do their job in this clip: <p>&nbsp;</p> <a href="http://www.wbaltv.com/video/20008910/index.html"><img width="22" height="12" alt="" style="border: 0px solid;" src="http://www.wbaltv.com/sh/images/ibs_icon/hearst/video.gif" />Lifeguards Demonstrate Neck Injury Technique</a> <p>&nbsp;</p> And even if you're a strong swimmer, rip currents are a silent summer danger that trap thousands of swimmers every year, sometimes with a deadly outcome. Cavanaugh shows how you can live through them in this important clip: <p>&nbsp;</p> <a href="http://www.wbaltv.com/video/13634066/index.html"><img width="22" height="12" alt="" style="border: 0px solid;" src="http://www.wbaltv.com/sh/images/ibs_icon/hearst/video.gif" />How To Handle A Rip Current</a> <p>&nbsp;</p> The report won several industry awards.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 18px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman;"><em>&nbsp;</em></span><a href="http://www.wbaltv.com/news/24111841/detail.html"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman;"><em>http://www.wbaltv.com/news/24111841/detail.html</em></span></a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:4a5de558-424b-40c8-937c-8b3d2715d947Myth 1: Americans have the highest cholesterol in the world Myth 2: Eggs are evil Myth 3: Kids can't have high cholesterol Myth 4: Food is heart-healthy if it says "0 mg cholesterol" Myth 5: Cholesterol is always a bad thing http://health.msn.com/hea...Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:33:38 -0500<p itxtvisited="1" xmlns:gc="http://schemas.microsoft.com/msn/granite/cm"><strong itxtvisited="1">Myth 1: Americans have the highest cholesterol in the world<br /> </strong><strong>Myth 2: Eggs are evil</strong><br /> <strong>Myth 3: Kids can't have high cholesterol<br /> <strong>Myth 4: Food is heart-healthy if it says "0 mg cholesterol"</strong><br /> <strong>Myth 5: Cholesterol is always a bad thing<br /> </strong><a href="http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cholesterol/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100242619&amp;gt1=31007">http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cholesterol/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100242619&amp;gt1=31007<br /> </a><br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</strong></p>urn:uuid:7aa1824a-22b4-436b-a501-7f57a6748f53A new Kaiser Family Foundation national poll shows support for President Barack Obama's health care bill bumping up in a significant way over the past month, data that seems to affirm the idea pushed by Administration officials that the legislation w...Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:41:42 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>A new Kaiser Family Foundation national poll shows support for President <strong>Barack Obama</strong>'s health care bill bumping up in a significant way over the past month, data that seems to affirm the idea pushed by Administration officials that the legislation will ultimately be a net political positive for their party. Forty eight percent of adults tested in Kaiser's June survey had a favorable view of the law while 41 percent had an unfavorable view. That marks a reversal from the May Kaiser numbers where those who saw the legislation in a favorable light (41 percent) were outnumbered by those who viewed the law unfavorably (44 percent). Interestingly, the favorable/unfavorable numbers for the health care law are remarkably consistent in the Kaiser numbers even when the sample is slimmed down to registered or even likely voters -- both of which are far more predictive of electoral outcomes than an "adults" sample.<br /> <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/health-care/is-health-care-getting-more-po.html?wprss=thefix">http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/health-care/is-health-care-getting-more-po.html?wprss=thefix</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:8f206cea-ff7d-4356-b1e8-f2e33a3cbfe0The Obama administration is launching a special coverage program for uninsured Americans with medical problems this week, the most ambitious early investment of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. But here's the catch: Premiums will be a s...Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:22:49 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>The Obama administration is launching a special coverage program for uninsured Americans with medical problems this week, the most ambitious early investment of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. But here's the catch: Premiums will be a stretch for many, even after government subsidies to bring rates close to what healthier groups of people are charged. And $5 billion that Congress allocated to the program through 2013 could run out well before that. The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will begin accepting applications in many states on Thursday, with coverage available as early as Aug. 1, an administration official said Tuesday. Consumers can check availability in their states on a new website, healthcare.gov, starting Thursday. The goal is for all states to be enrolling people by the end of the summer.</em></span><br /> <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j_FD-2u63jjxDrm2KbfHLdjHOb3AD9GL7R600">http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j_FD-2u63jjxDrm2KbfHLdjHOb3AD9GL7R600</a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800)564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:dfc1375c-eefc-40ea-9823-1f40628bffc0News outlets examine how states are coping with covering hard-to-insure people, confusion about insuring young adults and a COBRA subsidy extension. The New York Times: "The Obama administration is poised to award contracts worth hundreds of million...Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:39:15 -0500<em><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;">News outlets examine how states are coping with covering hard-to-insure people, confusion about insuring young adults and a COBRA subsidy extension. <br /> The New York Times: "The Obama administration is poised to award contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to about 20 states to run new insurance pools for people with serious medical problems. Applications will be available to the public in many states on Thursday, and coverage could start as early as August, said Richard A. Popper, deputy director of the new federal Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. The temporary program for uninsured people with pre-existing conditions was supposed to be established within 90 days after President Obama signed the health care law &mdash; that is, by last Monday. Thirty states have informed the federal government that they want to run their own high-risk pools with federal money" (Pear, 6/25).<br /> <br /> The Associated Press/MSNBC: "Illinois may be one of the first states to start providing health insurance in a new high-risk pool funded under national health overhaul, but enrollment will be limited, eligibility requirements tight and coverage may not begin until late summer. ... Illinois expects to receive nearly $200 million from the federal government to start covering people with medical problems who've been uninsured for at least six months. The state estimates that 4,000 to 6,000 people will be covered in the new program. Many more are expected to apply for coverage" (Johnson, 6/25).<br /> <a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2010/June/27/health-insurance.aspx">http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2010/June/27/health-insurance.aspx</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169<br /> </span></em>urn:uuid:c834797c-c59c-4c2b-9340-df0185a7d21aWBAL reports that Maryland is one of 37 states that saw its unemployment rate fall in May. According to the U.S. Department of Labor the jobless rate fell 3-tenths of a percent to 7.2-percent. Officials say the state added 11,200 jobs, but only 4,800...Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:57:47 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>WBAL reports that Maryland is one of 37 states that saw its unemployment rate fall in May. According to the U.S. Department of Labor the jobless rate fell 3-tenths of a percent to 7.2-percent. Officials say the state added 11,200 jobs, but only 4,800 were in the private sector. The rest of those jobs were government jobs, mostly those of temporary U.S. Census workers. The Labor Department says the unemployment rate fell in 37 states. Christian Johansson, Maryland&rsquo;s Secretary of Business and Economic Development, said that relatively speaking Maryland did extremely well in creating jobs in the private sector...</em></span> <br /> <a href="http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=18422&amp;Itemid=35">http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=18422&amp;Itemid=35</a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:fb372bdd-ac15-4987-b1c2-31c556f411db"Two more school zone speed cameras will become operational at 6 a.m. Monday. The cameras will be located in the 3900-block of Hollins Ferry Road near Lansdowne High School, and in the 200-block of East Padonia Road near Dulaney High School. Under st...Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:23:27 -0500<p><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>"Two more school zone speed cameras will become operational at 6 a.m. Monday. The cameras will be located in the 3900-block of Hollins Ferry Road near Lansdowne High School, and in the 200-block of East Padonia Road near Dulaney High School. Under state law, speeders caught traveling more than 12 m.p.h. above the speed limit on these cameras will only receive warnings for the next 30 days.&nbsp; Beginning July 21, violators will be subject to a $40 fine. This brings the total number of speed cameras in Baltimore County that are operational to four.&nbsp; Since early May, two other cameras have been snapping pictures.&nbsp; They are located near the&nbsp;Arbutus Middle School and the Dundalk Middle School/Elementary School. The county is expected to place cameras at 11 other locations. Baltimore County Police Lt. Rob McCullough told WBAL News that he expects more cameras to go online in time for the start of the new school year at the end of August.&nbsp; However, he did not know how many&nbsp; more cameras will become operational. Under state law, the cameras can only snap pictures between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. weekdays, but they do operate year round. McCullough said that schools are used in the summer for summer school and youth sports, and he notes there is a lot of pedestrian traffic around schools during the summer."</em></span></p> <a href="http://www.wbal.com/absolutenm/templates/story.aspx?articleid=53258&amp;zoneid=2">http://www.wbal.com/absolutenm/templates/story.aspx?articleid=53258&amp;zoneid=2</a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span><br /> <br />urn:uuid:47b67cc1-72d2-4124-a993-727f39b56b03Small firms may not keep current health plans after White House decision. Although President &nbsp;Obama and many Democrats promised during the health care reform debate that &ldquo;if you like your health plan, you can keep it,&rdquo; the health ins...Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:26:20 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Small firms may not keep current health plans after White House decision.<br /> Although President &nbsp;Obama and many Democrats promised during the health care reform debate that &ldquo;if you like your health plan, you can keep it,&rdquo; the health insurance plans that are now offered by small businesses probably will not survive the transition to a regulated marketplace. The Obama administration acknowledged this on Monday, when it proposed regulations for determining what insurance plans can remain exempt from market reforms. And while participants in those plans will probably be grateful for it, business owners may be less sanguine about the outcome.<br /> <a href="http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/small-firms-may-not-keep-current-health-plans-after-white-house-decision/?src=busln">http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/small-firms-may-not-keep-current-health-plans-after-white-house-decision/?src=busln</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:d723235d-d695-439c-934d-b8037381bdc3AUDIT -- it's a five letter word that is merely a nuisance to some - and terrifying to others.&nbsp; Of course, unless you are a business owner, or an accountant, it's probably not something you lose a lot of sleep over.Until now. As a sign of the ve...Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:51:37 -0500<p><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em><strong>AUDIT </strong>-- it's a five letter word that is merely a nuisance to some - and terrifying to others.&nbsp; Of course, unless you are a business owner, or an accountant, it's probably not something you lose a lot of sleep over.Until now. As a sign of the very-expensive-health-costs times, your employer may decide to do an audit of its own -- an audit of the dependents on your health insurance.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Because health costs have become a major expense to employers, and they are looking to rein in those costs as much as possible. Here's what happens:&nbsp; you get a letter from your employer telling you they are doing a <strong>dependent audit</strong>.&nbsp; Specifically they are looking to see if you have claimed anyone on your health insurance who shouldn't be there.&nbsp; People like: </em></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>a <strong>child who is over the age of 18 </strong>and out of school</em></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>a <strong>partner you aren't legally married to </strong>(although in some states partners do share benefits)</em></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>an <strong>ex-spouse</strong></em></span></li> <li><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>anyone who is <strong>not legally entitled </strong>to be there according to your policy.&nbsp; </em></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>According to the "New York Times", 69% of large employers plan to conduct one of these dependent audits during the next year.&nbsp; Their anticipated savings?&nbsp; Thousands of dollars to millions of dollars.&nbsp; Certainly worth their cost to run such an audit.<br /> </em></span><a href="http://patients.about.com/b/2010/06/15/whos-on-your-insurance-plan-do-they-belong-there.htm"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 13px;"><em>http://patients.about.com/b/2010/06/15/whos-on-your-insurance-plan-do-they-belong-there.htm</em></span></a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more Information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span></p>urn:uuid:e2017061-9bdf-4f20-b690-f0e81f42a60a"President Barack Obama's massive health care overhaul, passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, is about to cost us all a fortune. Insurance expenses to employers will soar next year--and those costs will be passed along to all of us...Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:21:52 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>"President Barack Obama's massive health care overhaul, passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, is about to cost us all a fortune. Insurance expenses to employers will soar next year--and those costs will be passed along to all of us. A consulting firm says U.S. companies a huge increase in medical costs next year and many workers will be expected to pay a bigger share. The PricewaterhouseCoopers report says that for the first time, most of the American workforce is expected to have health insurance deductibles of $400 or more. Employees who are asked to pay more through things like higher deductibles help keep cost growth in check because they use less health care. PricewaterhouseCoopers found that medical costs are expected to rise 9 percent next year."<br /> </em></span><a href="http://www.newsfirst5.com/news/expect-huge-increases-in-medical-insurance-in-2011/">http://www.newsfirst5.com/news/expect-huge-increases-in-medical-insurance-in-2011/<br /> </a><br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:b1a73be1-bf84-4048-89ba-96ca6b9cc7b4(Reuters) - An estimated 45 million Americans do not have dental insurance, according to a government report released on Wednesday, and recently passed healthcare reform offers little direct help. Overall most non-elderly people who already have priv...Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:15:27 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>(Reuters) - An estimated 45 million Americans do not have dental insurance, according to a government report released on Wednesday, and recently passed healthcare reform offers little direct help. Overall most non-elderly people who already have private health coverage also have a dental policy, but roughly 70 percent of those who have to buy their own health plan do not, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. Under the health reforms passed in March, adults must buy health insurance or pay a fine starting in 2014. The law does not require them to buy other types of coverage like dental or vision, although some comprehensive health care plans include the additional coverage. While health plans must cover at minimum services like emergency care and prescription drugs, they do not have to cover oral care for adults. Dental care for children is required. Some advocates pushed for a wider dental component in the bill, pointing to the larger impact of oral health on conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Among the 172 million people under 65 who already have private health insurance, nearly three-quarters have dental insurance too, mostly through an employer, the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics said. The survey found that among those with dental coverage, 33 percent had a comprehensive plan with dental coverage, while 26 percent had a stand-alone plan. Fourteen percent had both. Among those with employer-sponsored care, just 20 percent lacked a dental plan. The CDC's statistics unit analyzed data from its 2008 nationwide survey of 65,495 people under age 65.<br /> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6584F820100609">http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6584F820100609</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800) 564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:b5e36040-cbb0-4e4b-8f52-6bf65c081038HARRISBURG, Pa., June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that the Insurance Department is investigating Pennsylvania's nine largest health insurance companies to determine the reasons behind a pattern of controver...Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:32:41 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>HARRISBURG, Pa., June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that the Insurance Department is investigating Pennsylvania's nine largest health insurance companies to determine the reasons behind a pattern of controversial rate increases, and especially the extent to which those increases are driven by the use of questionable health profiling tools.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Federal health reform brings many opportunities for health insurance companies, starting with 32 million new customers," Governor Rendell said. "So I am disappointed to see these companies hiking premiums for those most in need of health care, especially when they know that all discrimination against sick people will be prohibited in 2014 under the federal reform law."&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier this week, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new grant program to help states strengthen oversight of insurance premiums and rate hikes. The grants, worth $1 million, will be awarded to states that demonstrate how the grant funds will be used to develop or enhance their processes of reviewing and approving, disapproving or modifying health insurance premium requests. Pennsylvania will apply for a grant by the July 7 deadline.</em></span> <br /> <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governor-rendell-announces-new-investigation-of-health-insurance-companies-95954799.html">http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governor-rendell-announces-new-investigation-of-health-insurance-companies-95954799.html</a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800)-564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:63130caf-3b9b-4623-a38a-a04f59b264d7HARRISBURG, Pa., June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that the Insurance Department is investigating Pennsylvania's nine largest health insurance companies to determine the reasons behind a pattern of controver...Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:32:34 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>HARRISBURG, Pa., June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that the Insurance Department is investigating Pennsylvania's nine largest health insurance companies to determine the reasons behind a pattern of controversial rate increases, and especially the extent to which those increases are driven by the use of questionable health profiling tools.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Federal health reform brings many opportunities for health insurance companies, starting with 32 million new customers," Governor Rendell said. "So I am disappointed to see these companies hiking premiums for those most in need of health care, especially when they know that all discrimination against sick people will be prohibited in 2014 under the federal reform law."&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier this week, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new grant program to help states strengthen oversight of insurance premiums and rate hikes. The grants, worth $1 million, will be awarded to states that demonstrate how the grant funds will be used to develop or enhance their processes of reviewing and approving, disapproving or modifying health insurance premium requests. Pennsylvania will apply for a grant by the July 7 deadline.</em></span> <br /> <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governor-rendell-announces-new-investigation-of-health-insurance-companies-95954799.html">http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governor-rendell-announces-new-investigation-of-health-insurance-companies-95954799.html</a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800)-564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:4e08df4a-3b48-4422-b1d2-c010fb3576a9Jim Sullivan lost his job as a manager at a wholesale distributor in June 2009, but he kept his health insurance thanks to the stimulus bill, which lowered his monthly premium from $638 to $223. Unfortunately for anyone laid off after May 31, House D...Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:37:49 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Jim Sullivan lost his job as a manager at a wholesale distributor in June 2009, but he kept his health insurance thanks to the stimulus bill, which lowered his monthly premium from $638 to $223. Unfortunately for anyone laid off after May 31, House Democrats decided to forgo reauthorizing the 65 percent subsidy for COBRA, the federal program that allows laid off workers like Sullivan to continue their former employer's health insurance for 18 months -- but at full cost. Without the subsidy, COBRA is prohibitively expensive in most cases. According to a new report from Families USA, unemployed workers who choose to buy health insurance via COBRA have to hand over 84.3 percent of their monthly unemployment benefit. "The elimination of COBRA subsidies means that people losing their jobs will also lose their health care coverage," said Families USA director Ron Pollack in a statement. "Such a loss of health coverage flies in the face of the recently enacted health reform legislation that is intended to expand health coverage to tens of millions of people." The Treasury Department reported in May that 15 percent of people receiving unemployment benefits are taking advantage of the subsidy. That's roughly 1.5 million people (67 percent of the 15 million unemployed receive benefits). "[T]he subsidy appears to have been especially important for maintaining health insurance coverage for middle-class families during the recession," said Treasury's report, which noted that families earning between $30,000 and $134,000 accounted for most of the people using the subsidy. "Indeed, the availability of the program may have significantly slowed the growth of the uninsured population, which had been skyrocketing through February 2009."</em></span> <br /> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/07/layoff-victims-now-ineligible_n_599426.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/07/layoff-victims-now-ineligible_n_599426.html</a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at (800)-564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:3e745cbd-d8be-4fff-b3b0-5d94fa602543Health insurers writing policies in Maryland can change their forms to say &ldquo;age 26,&rdquo; instead of &ldquo;age 25,&rdquo; for their dependent coverage without the prior approval of the Maryland Insurance Administration. &ldquo;To extend the c...Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:14:25 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Health insurers writing policies in Maryland can change their forms to say &ldquo;age 26,&rdquo; instead of &ldquo;age 25,&rdquo; for their dependent coverage without the prior approval of the Maryland Insurance Administration. &ldquo;To extend the coverage to the greatest number of dependents as the soonest possible date, it has been determined that a form filing will not be required at this time,&rdquo; states MIA Bulletin 10-14, signed by Brenda A. Wilson, associate commissioner of the life and health section at the MIA. Several insurance companies have indicated their intent to implement the change sooner, thus preventing a coverage gap for dependents, including college students. These dependents may not qualify to remain on their parent&rsquo;s plan until the September effective date of the new age 26 federal mandate. The MIA agreed to permit insurers to act without the usual form approvals to smooth out the variance between state law, which requires coverage for dependent children to age 25, and the health care reform requirement. To employ the exemption, carriers must be following current state law on dependents and should substitute &ldquo;age 26&rdquo; for &ldquo;age 25&rdquo; on forms. The insurers must be prepared to file a form when the Secretary of Health and Human Services promulgates regulations regarding the definition of a dependent and must notify the MIA of its intent to cover dependents to age 26, according to Wilson&rsquo;s notice.<br /> <a href="http://ifawebnews.com/2010/06/01/mia-allows-health-insurers-to-tweak-forms-to-26-without-approval/">http://ifawebnews.com/2010/06/01/mia-allows-health-insurers-to-tweak-forms-to-26-without-approval/</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at 800-564-0169<br /> </em></span>urn:uuid:5ecaaf4f-d46a-4aab-88f5-fa579765b166Florida's governor vetoed a property insurance reform bill Tuesday. Gov. Charlie Crist said in a memo that he was concerned the legislation would make it easier for insurers to increase residential premiums in Florida. He said he also had a problem w...Thu, 03 Jun 2010 06:45:28 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Florida's governor vetoed a property insurance reform bill Tuesday. Gov. Charlie Crist said in a memo that he was concerned the legislation would make it easier for insurers to increase residential premiums in Florida. He said he also had a problem with changes to mitigation discounts, meaning homeowners who have already made improvements to harden their homes against hurricanes could be unfairly penalized. "During these difficult economic times, Florida's consumers should not have to be concerned with an additional premium increase to their policy," Crist said in his memo. Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has said the bill would add more regulatory tools to ensure the solvency of private insurers. Sponsors of the legislation have said it would reduce regulatory pressure on insurance companies and create more competition in the marketplace - a factor they hoped would stabilize rates for consumers.<br /> <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9G372CG0.htm">http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9G372CG0.htm</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at 800-564-069</em></span>urn:uuid:ec9a9369-9de2-4bf7-b8b8-8614f669e8bdIt might not translate into better behavior on the highways, but a national driving test shows that Maryland's drivers made a remarkable improvement in their knowledge of the rules of the road over the past year. After lagging in the bottom fifth the...Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:37:03 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>It might not translate into better behavior on the highways, but a national driving test shows that Maryland's drivers made a remarkable improvement in their knowledge of the rules of the road over the past year. After lagging in the bottom fifth the past two years, Maryland drivers ranked 20th in the 2010 version of the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. Maryland's jump from 41st place in 2009 was the largest improvement of any of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Maryland had ranked 42nd in 2008. The state's average score jumped from from 74.8 in 2009 to 78.2 this year. The top performers were Kansas drivers at 82.3 percent. The lowest were New York's at 70 percent, narrowly beating the infamous New Jersey drivers in the race to the bottom of the barrel. According to GMAC, 18.4 percent of the drivers tested would not be able to pass a written driver's exam if they were&nbsp; to take it today.&nbsp; That would work out to about 38 million motorists nationwide. The highest-scoring states were concentrated in the Midwest and Northwest; the lowest scores were found in the Northeast and South.&nbsp; <br /> <a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/2010/06/are_maryland_drivers_the_most.html">http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/2010/06/are_maryland_drivers_the_most.html</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde and Associates at 800-564-0169<br /> </em></span>urn:uuid:f785f7ef-1e65-4193-9994-deac9eeb6d1aGov. Martin O'Malley was expected to announce an administrative and legislative initiative to spur venture capital investment in Maryland's technology sector. The program is called "InvestMaryland" and it will be run by the Maryland Department of Bus...Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:39:26 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Gov. Martin O'Malley was expected to announce an administrative and legislative initiative to spur venture capital investment in Maryland's technology sector. The program is called "InvestMaryland" and it will be run by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The governor called it "a public-private partnership to fuel venture capital investment in our innovation economy, such as bioscience companies," according to prepared remarks given to The Baltimore Sun.&nbsp; </em></span> <p><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>How will it work? According to O'Malley: Insurance companies will be eligible for state issued tax credits and in turn they would invest dollars today in Maryland&rsquo;s venture infrastructure. These credits will be deferred until 2015. A minimum of half these investments will flow into the Maryland Venture Fund. The balance will flow into Maryland based venture capital firms for the purposes of getting critical capital to Maryland businesses so they can create jobs and advance innovation in fields like the biosciences.</em></span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/technology/2010/06/omalley_invest_maryland.html">http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/technology/2010/06/omalley_invest_maryland.html</a>&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em><strong>For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at 800-564-0169</strong></em></span></p>urn:uuid:0528334c-197e-4102-b291-125aac02b7be"In general, everyone is required to have insurance starting in 2014, even people who are unemployed. But you&rsquo;ll be exempt from the requirement if your income is below the tax-filing threshold (in 2009, that amount was $9,350 for singles under ...Fri, 28 May 2010 11:26:32 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>"In general, everyone is required to have insurance starting in 2014, even people who are unemployed. But you&rsquo;ll be exempt from the requirement if your income is below the tax-filing threshold (in 2009, that amount was $9,350 for singles under age 65), or if buying even the lowest cost plan on the new health insurance exchanges, set to open that year, would exceed 8 percent of your income."<br /> <a href="http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/are-the-unemployed-required-to-buy-insurance/">http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/are-the-unemployed-required-to-buy-insurance/</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at 800-564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:012e50d1-eb94-4f71-b613-398af320db52"U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson says the federal Labor Department has approved nearly $11.8 million to help South Dakota's unemployment insurance system. The South Dakota Democrat says the state qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of federal s...Thu, 27 May 2010 10:15:00 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>"U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson says the federal Labor Department has approved nearly $11.8 million to help South Dakota's unemployment insurance system. The South Dakota Democrat says the state qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of federal stimulus money by enabling certain part-time workers to be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits and by providing additional weeks of benefits to people enrolled in training or education programs. State Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says the economic recovery is gaining momentum, but many workers still face a challenging job market."<br /> <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FUKLKO3.htm">http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FUKLKO3.htm</a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates toll free at 800-564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:94310764-24a3-495c-bba0-f73a3bef67f8"School districts across Maryland are being asked this week to engage in discussions and activities addressing the issue of school bullying after several recent high-profile cases in Baltimore and the nation. Maryland first lady Katie O'Malley and st...Wed, 26 May 2010 07:02:43 -0500<em><span style="font-size: 18px;">"<span style="font-family: times new roman;">School districts across Maryland are being asked this week to engage in discussions and activities addressing the issue of school bullying after several recent high-profile cases in Baltimore and the nation. Maryland first lady Katie O'Malley and state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick have designated May 24-28 as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. O'Malley, along with state education officials, will kick off the week Monday morning with a visit to Pikesville Middle School. Pikesville students and school officials will present programs the school developed to prevent and intervene in cases of school bullying and harassment."<br /> <a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-05-23/news/bs-ci-bullying-week-20100523_1_bullying-safe-schools-reporting-act-school-system"><span style="font-size: 13px;">http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-05-23/news/bs-ci-bullying-week-20100523_1_bullying-safe-schools-reporting-act-school-system</span></a><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp;Associates toll free at 800-564-0169</span></span></em>urn:uuid:6a73b6fb-9f76-4452-bd7c-748bff1d9aec"As hurricane season looms, forecasters, scientists and residents along the Gulf Coast worry that a major storm could make the oil spill worse. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says a hurricane, or a succession of them, may bring o...Tue, 25 May 2010 19:05:49 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>"As hurricane season looms, forecasters, scientists and residents along the Gulf Coast worry that a major storm could make the oil spill worse. The <span style="color: #ffffff;">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</span><span style="color: #ffffff;"> says a hurricane, or a succession of them, may bring oil up from the depths of the Gulf of Mexico </span><span style="color: #ffffff;">and then push it ashore. Forecasters say a season with multiple storms could send oil farther inland and spread it as far as </span><span style="color: #ffffff;">Cape Hatteras</span><span style="color: #ffffff;">, N</span>.C."<br /> <span style="font-size: 13px;">(</span></em></span><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/hurricanes/2010-05-19-hurricanes-oil-spill_N.htm"><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 13px;"><em>http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/hurricanes/2010-05-19-hurricanes-oil-spill_N.htm</em></span></a><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em><span style="font-size: 13px;">)</span><br /> <br /> For more information, contact Rosenkilde &amp; Associates at 800-564-0169</em></span>urn:uuid:b501a7ee-2e15-4366-8b8a-b467f2105effChildren exposed to pesticides known as organophosphates could have a higher risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pesticide exposure at levels commonly found in a child&rsquo;s environment may contribute to the development of atte...Mon, 17 May 2010 11:26:46 -0500<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>Children exposed to pesticides known as organophosphates could have a higher risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pesticide exposure at levels commonly found in a child&rsquo;s environment may contribute to the development of attention deficit disorder, according to a study published in the June issue of the journal Pediatrics. The food supply is the major source of pesticide exposure for infants and children, according to the National Academy of Sciences. Frozen blueberries, strawberries and celery, for example, have been found to contain detectable levels of the pesticide organophosphate malathion, one of about 40 organophosphate pesticides registered in the U.S., according to the study. In the Pediatrics study, the researchers measured pesticide levels in urine samples in 1,139 children between the ages of 8 and 15. After controlling for other factors, such as socioeconomic status, sex, and age, they found that the higher the concentration of organophosphates, the higher the risk of ADHD in children.</em></span> <p>&nbsp;</p>urn:uuid:1a436e78-da9a-43d1-a779-ea8e3eb6a6cbThe National Federation of Independent Business is joining a federal lawsuit filed in Florida by 20 state attorneys general and governors against the health care overhaul. The nation's most influential small business lobby is joining a court challeng...Fri, 14 May 2010 10:05:25 -0500<span style="background-color: #313131; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 18px;"><em>The National Federation of Independent Business is joining a federal lawsuit filed in Florida by 20 state attorneys general and governors against the health care overhaul. The nation's most influential small business lobby is joining a court challenge that argues Americans cannot be required under the Constitution to obtain insurance coverage. With 350,000 members, the NFIB boasts a far-reaching network of local activists. One of its pillars of the new health care law, which will be effective in 2014,&nbsp;is the requirement that most Americans carry health insurance. The Obama administration argues that the coverage requirements rest on a solid constitutional foundation, the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce.</em></span>urn:uuid:da283f7f-1749-4438-887c-e469b1fa1ca7In Annapolis on&nbsp;May 4, 2010 Gov. Martin O&rsquo;Malley put his signature to a series of new laws, including HB 825. The new law increases the minimum amounts of coverage for bodily claims or death from a motor vehicle accident from $20,000 to $3...Thu, 13 May 2010 10:25:42 -0500<em>In Annapolis on&nbsp;May 4, 2010 Gov. Martin O&rsquo;Malley put his signature to a series of new laws, including HB 825. The new law increases the minimum amounts of coverage for bodily claims or death from a motor vehicle accident from $20,000 to $30,000 for one person, and from $40,000 to $60,000 for any two or more individuals. The law applies to all vehicle liability insurance policies issued, delivered or renewed in the state, starting Jan. 1, 2011.<br /> <br /> For&nbsp;further knowledge and&nbsp;information pertained to the subject&nbsp;contact<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rosenkilde &amp; Associates, at (800) 564-0169</em>urn:uuid:f6575a56-b8c0-4072-9423-34c3a9b62beehttp://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Rosenkilde-Associates/201625421123?ref=ts Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:03:31 -0500<a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Rosenkilde-Associates/201625421123?ref=ts">http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Rosenkilde-Associates/201625421123?ref=ts</a> urn:uuid:976c5967-395c-4e41-894c-6baf6b4692a8Click on the link below to complete your free home inventory! www.knowyourstuff.org Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:40:57 -0500Click on the link below to complete your free home inventory!<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.knowyourstuff.org/" title="http://www.knowyourstuff.org/">www.knowyourstuff.org</a> urn:uuid:5b8b7689-76be-4b91-9600-61f11c608201Most homeowner policies provide very limited coverage for jewelry. The reason for this is that jewelry is high-valued (especially in relation to its size), is easily lost or destroyed and is vulnerable to theft (as well as fraud). If you only own a m...Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:24:08 -0500<p>Most homeowner policies provide very limited coverage for jewelry. The reason for this is that jewelry is high-valued (especially in relation to its size), is easily lost or destroyed and is vulnerable to theft (as well as fraud). If you only own a modest amount of jewelry (say just a few hundred dollars), perhaps the limited coverage provided by a basic policy is adequate. However, when high values are involved, consider buying special insurance coverage. A few options are available such as buying supplemental insurance that is attached to your homeowners or tenant's policy or purchasing a separate jewelry policy.</p> <p>Discussing what is needed and expected from separate coverage is very important. Does the coverage consider jewelry values that increase over time? Does it cover mysterious disappearance (when you know the property is gone, but can't pinpoint when and how the property was lost) and other causes of loss, or just fire and theft? Discussing the coverage also helps you understand the steps you must take to make sure that you keep the maximum coverage in force and whether the coverage you receive is worth the additional price.</p> <h5>Documenting The Jewelry's Value</h5> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If the jewelry has just been purchased, a store receipt or certificate should establish the insured value. However, as time passes or circumstances change, the insured value must be reevaluated, perhaps by seeking an appraisal (expert opinion). Getting an appraisal that affirms your jewelry's current value is an excellent way to assure that your property is properly protected. Of course, make sure that you work with a competent appraiser (check their credentials and number of years of experience). It is also helpful to talk to a potential appraiser. Does she seem to have the necessary expertise? How willing and able is she to explain her work? There are several professional jewelry and appraisal associations that can give you information on appraisers and appraising methods. All of these items are important, especially since you have to pay a fee for an appraiser's services.</p> <h5>Handle With Care</h5> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Once you're certain about the value of your jewelry and the adequacy of its insurance coverage, you need to properly handle your jewelry. After all, who wants to actually file a claim? If you own a significant amount of expensive jewelry you may want to look into other precautions such as: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Get new appraisals every two or three years, sending a copy to your insurer </li> <li>Take photos of your jewelry from several angles; again, share copies with your agent or insurance company </li> <li>Consider a quality in-home security system, including a hidden vault or storage area </li> <li>Take care on where and when your jewelry is worn to try to avoid becoming a theft target </li> <li>Keep original receipts and all appraisals, especially if they demonstrate that the jewelry's value is appreciating </li> <li>Ask your jeweler whether they have access to "Gemprint," or a similar jewelry identification system that documents a jewel's distinctive markings much in the manner of fingerprinting. </li> <li>Consider storing jewelry that is rarely worn in a bank or saving institution’s vault. (Note that such special storage often qualifies for an insurance premium discount) </li> </ul> <p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Again, your first step is to talk to an insurance professional since he or she shares your concern that you have the protection you need at a price you can afford.</p> urn:uuid:52a53e87-3533-4272-96c4-488a79371d3fBy JULIE PACE P { MARGIN: 12px 0px 0px } WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is promoting his health care law's benefits for small businesses as he tries to rally public support for the massive overhaul. During a speech Thu...Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:47:34 -0500By JULIE PACE <p itxtvisited="1"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" width="210" align="right" itxtvisited="1"> <tbody itxtvisited="1"> </tbody> </table> <style> P { MARGIN: 12px 0px 0px } </style> </p> <div class="KonaBody" itxtvisited="1"> <p itxtvisited="1">WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is promoting his health care law's benefits for <a href="http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100401/D9EQ4TC80.html#" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: darkgreen 0.07em solid; padding-bottom: 1px !important; background-color: transparent !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: darkgreen !important; font-size: 100% !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: underline !important; padding-top: 0px;" class="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="19089539">small businesses</a> as he tries to rally public support for the massive overhaul. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">During a speech Thursday in Portland, Maine - the second stop in a series of appearances to sell the reforms - Obama was to focus on the plan's short- and long-term impacts on small <a href="http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100401/D9EQ4TC80.html#" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: darkgreen 0.07em solid; padding-bottom: 1px !important; background-color: transparent !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: darkgreen !important; font-size: 100% !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: underline !important; padding-top: 0px;" class="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="16914355">businesses</a>, many of which have suffered during the economic downturn. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">Under the plan, businesses with 25 or fewer employees with average annual wages of less than $50,000 will receive tax credits this year if they provide health care coverage to their workers. Those credits are expected to increase by 2014, with 3.6 million small businesses benefiting, according to Democrats. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">Also starting in 2014, <a href="http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100401/D9EQ4TC80.html#" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: darkgreen 0.07em solid; padding-bottom: 1px !important; background-color: transparent !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: darkgreen !important; font-size: 100% !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: underline !important; padding-top: 0px;" class="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="19368176">companies</a> with up to 100 employees will be able to buy insurance through new state-based purchasing pools, or exchanges, with the goal of giving small businesses the same kind of purchasing power as employees at larger companies. Twenty-two million self-employed Americans will also be able to purchase insurance through the exchanges. </p> <p itxtvisited="1"> <table border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="0" align="left" itxtvisited="1"> <tbody itxtvisited="1"> <tr valign="top" itxtvisited="1"> <td align="center" itxtvisited="1"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Overall, the 10-year, nearly $1 trillion overhaul Obama signed into law last week will extend coverage to 32 million people who are currently uninsured and will shape how almost every American receives and pays for medical treatment. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">The law doesn't require businesses to offer insurance, but hits employers with 50 or more workers with an annual fee if the companies don't insure them and the government ends up subsidizing workers' coverage. Those fines have troubled critics of the overhaul, who argue that the increased <a href="http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100401/D9EQ4TC80.html#" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: darkgreen 0.07em solid; padding-bottom: 1px !important; background-color: transparent !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: darkgreen !important; font-size: 100% !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: underline !important; padding-top: 0px;" class="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="19344863">costs</a> could bankrupt companies already trying to recover from the recession. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">Many Republicans are predicting that the overhaul will prove devastating in the November elections for Democrats who voted for it. Some in the GOP are calling for the revisions to be repealed. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">But in Maine, Obama will be preaching to the choir in a state that has been a leader on health care reform, establishing programs to lower prescription drug costs and extend health <a href="http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100401/D9EQ4TC80.html#" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: darkgreen 0.07em solid; padding-bottom: 1px !important; background-color: transparent !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: darkgreen !important; font-size: 100% !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: underline !important; padding-top: 0px;" class="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="18995532">insurance</a> to the working poor. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">After speaking in Maine, Obama planned to travel to Boston to attend two fundraisers for the Democratic National Committee. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">--- Associated Press writer David Sharp in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.<iframe style="width: 8px; height: 12px;" height="250" marginheight="0" src="http://view.atdmt.com/MON/iview/193487740/direct/01/8070261?click=http://ad.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh%3Dv8/396f/3/0/%2a/o%3B223516689%3B0-0%3B0%3B45601539%3B4307-300/250%3B34865932/34883787/1%3B%3B%7Eaopt%3D2/1/1c/1%3B%7Esscs%3D%3f" frameborder="0" width="300" allowtransparency="true" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"></iframe></p> </div> urn:uuid:f94d8150-4b89-4ffa-95f2-d03fb647c9a9National Flood Insurance Program expired — again The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) cannot issue new policies, increase coverage on existing policies or renew policies. The U.S. Congress failed to extend the program (as well as COBRA) by the...Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:32:03 -0500<h1>National Flood Insurance Program expired — again</h1> <p>The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) cannot issue new policies, increase coverage on existing policies or renew policies. The U.S. Congress failed to extend the program (as well as COBRA) by the March 28 deadline and adjourned for Easter recess until April 12. </p> <p>We are  hopeful that the Senate will pass a House bill that would retroactively reauthorize the program during a tentatively scheduled April 12 evening vote. </p> <p>Until that time, you are encouraged to follow FEMA's recommendations and guidance, available on FEMA's Web site. Companies have been directed to pay claims for policies in force. </p> <p>Besides lasting considerably longer than the early March lapse, this lapse could wreak more havoc since it stretches over the end of the month, when many mortgage closings — which sometimes hinge on flood insurance — occur. </p> urn:uuid:61fb360e-ff2f-4671-b2a6-19424e9a6bfeApril newsletter.pdf Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:05:41 -0500<a href="/img/~www.abcoics.com/Email_Attachments/April newsletter.pdf">April newsletter.pdf</a> urn:uuid:59360998-714b-424c-b8a5-75d07e3325c4Insurance industry agrees to fix kids coverage gap Email this Story Mar 30, 4:53 AM (ET) By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR P { MARGIN: 12px 0px 0px } WASHINGTON (AP) - If you can't beat them, join them. After nearly a year battling P...Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:19:39 -0500<b itxtvisited="1">Insurance industry agrees to fix kids coverage gap</b><br itxtvisited="1" /> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" itxtvisited="1"> <tbody itxtvisited="1"> </tbody> </table> <a href="javascript:eMail_Friend(540, 540);">Email this Story</a><br itxtvisited="1" /> <br itxtvisited="1" /> Mar 30, 4:53 AM (ET)<br itxtvisited="1" /> <br itxtvisited="1" /> By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR <p itxtvisited="1"> <style> P { MARGIN: 12px 0px 0px } </style> </p> <div class="KonaBody" itxtvisited="1"> <p itxtvisited="1">WASHINGTON (AP) - If you can't beat them, join them. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">After nearly a year battling President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats over the health care overhaul, the <a href="http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100330/D9EOSK0O0.html#" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: darkgreen 0.07em solid; padding-bottom: 1px !important; background-color: transparent !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: darkgreen !important; font-size: 100% !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: underline !important; padding-top: 0px;" class="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="18995532">insurance</a> industry says it won't block the administration's efforts to fix a potentially embarrassing glitch in the new law. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">In a letter to Health and Human <a href="http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100330/D9EOSK0O0.html#" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: darkgreen 0.07em solid; padding-bottom: 1px !important; background-color: transparent !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: darkgreen !important; font-size: 100% !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: underline !important; padding-top: 0px;" class="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="18961691">Services</a> Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the industry's top lobbyist said Monday insurers will accept new regulations to dispel uncertainty over a much-publicized guarantee that children with medical problems can get coverage starting this year. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">Quick resolution of the doubts was a win for Obama - and a sign that the industry has no stomach for another war of words with a president who deftly used double-digit rate hikes by the companies to revive his sweeping health care legislation from near collapse in Congress. </p> <p itxtvisited="1"> <table border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="0" align="left" itxtvisited="1"> <tbody itxtvisited="1"> <tr valign="top" itxtvisited="1"> <td align="center" itxtvisited="1"><noscript></noscript><iframe height="0" marginheight="0" src="http://cdn.turn.com/server/ddc.htm?uid=8778715227350801017&amp;stu=false&amp;rnd=4476598694225332105&amp;nu=n" frameborder="0" width="0" allowtransparency="true" name="turn_demo_frame" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><object style="width: 300px; height: 250px;" id="ebStdBanner0" name="ebStdBanner0" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <PARAM NAME="_cx" VALUE="7937"> <PARAM NAME="_cy" VALUE="6614"> <PARAM NAME="FlashVars" VALUE=""> <PARAM NAME="Movie" VALUE="http://ds.serving-sys.com/BurstingRes///Site-651/Type-2/078a433a-e10e-4c1d-8e01-394e61ae7701.swf"> <PARAM NAME="Src" VALUE="http://ds.serving-sys.com/BurstingRes///Site-651/Type-2/078a433a-e10e-4c1d-8e01-394e61ae7701.swf"> <PARAM NAME="WMode" VALUE="Opaque"> <PARAM NAME="Play" VALUE="0"> <PARAM NAME="Loop" VALUE="-1"> <PARAM NAME="Quality" VALUE="High"> <PARAM NAME="SAlign" VALUE=""> <PARAM NAME="Menu" VALUE="0"> <PARAM NAME="Base" VALUE=""> <PARAM NAME="AllowScriptAccess" VALUE="always"> <PARAM NAME="Scale" VALUE="ShowAll"> <PARAM NAME="DeviceFont" VALUE="0"> <PARAM NAME="EmbedMovie" VALUE="0"> <PARAM NAME="BGColor" VALUE=""> <PARAM NAME="SWRemote" VALUE=""> <PARAM NAME="MovieData" VALUE=""> <PARAM NAME="SeamlessTabbing" VALUE="1"> <PARAM NAME="Profile" VALUE="0"> <PARAM NAME="ProfileAddress" VALUE=""> <PARAM NAME="ProfilePort" VALUE="0"> <PARAM NAME="AllowNetworking" VALUE="all"> <PARAM NAME="AllowFullScreen" VALUE="false"></object><img style="width: 0px; display: none; height: 0px;" alt="clear pixel" src="" /> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> "Health plans recognize the significant hardship that a family faces when they are unable to obtain coverage for a child with a pre-existing condition," Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, said in a letter to Sebelius. Ignagni said that the industry will "fully comply" with the regulations, expected within weeks. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">The industry still has plenty of other objections to the new health care law, including concerns that it will raise premiums and skepticism that it will achieve its stated aim of covering 95 percent of eligible Americans. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">On coverage for kids, however, there will be no quibbling. Ignagni's letter to the administration followed a sternly worded missive from Sebelius to the industry earlier in the day. The administration's top health care official forcefully tried to put an end to questions about the law's intent and wording. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">"Health insurance reform is designed to prevent any child from being denied coverage because he or she has a pre-existing condition," Sebelius wrote to Ignagni. "Now is not the time to search for nonexistent loopholes that preserve a broken <a href="http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100330/D9EOSK0O0.html#" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: darkgreen 0.07em solid; padding-bottom: 1px !important; background-color: transparent !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: darkgreen !important; font-size: 100% !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: underline !important; padding-top: 0px;" class="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="18961664">system</a>." </p> <p itxtvisited="1">Sebelius specified that a child with a pre-existing medical problem may not be denied access to parents' coverage under the new law. Furthermore, insurers will not be able to insure a child but exclude treatments for a particular medical problem. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">"The term 'pre-existing condition exclusion' applies to both a child's access to a plan and his or her benefits once he or she is in the plan," Sebelius wrote. The new protections will be available starting in September, she said. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">The fine print of the law was less than completely clear on whether kids with health problems were guaranteed coverage starting this year - as Obama had repeatedly claimed in extolling the legislation that he signed last week. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">If the problem had persisted, some parents and their children may have had to wait a long time for coverage. The law's broad ban on denying coverage to any person on account of a health condition doesn't take effect until 2014. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">The problem on the issue of covering kids was that the law could also be interpreted in a more limited way. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">Narrowly read, it seemed to say that if an insurance company accepts a particular child, it cannot write a policy for a child that excludes coverage for a given condition. For example, if the child has asthma, the insurer cannot exclude inhalers and respiratory care from coverage, as sometimes happens now. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">But that meant the company could still turn down the child altogether. </p> <p itxtvisited="1">Indeed, House and Senate staffers on two committees that wrote the legislation said last week it stopped short of an ironclad guarantee. House leaders later issued a statement saying their intent in writing the legislation was to provide full protection. <br itxtvisited="1" /> </p> </div> urn:uuid:43c2129b-5867-4ef4-a8db-a271edcd3044  As your benefits advisor, I would like to take this opportunity to provide you a summary of the key components of the health care reform legislation and how it may impact you and your business. I expect that given the number of years that it will t...Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:31:09 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="InsideAddressName"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">As your benefits advisor, I would like to take this opportunity to provide you a summary of the key components of the health care reform legislation and how it may impact you and your business. I expect that given the number of years that it will take to fully rollout these reforms, there will continue to be changes to many elements of the legislation. However, for the first time in over a year, we have a much clearer view of the changes that will potentially take place. This bill will:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Mandate that everyone must have insurance.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Result in more than 30 million additional people becoming insured.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Provide for subsidized coverage for people that can’t afford it and increase the number of people that will qualify for Medicaid.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Make cuts to Medicare Advantage Plans and change their payment formula.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Increase taxes and fees to many individual Americans and Corporations.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Make many changes to the way Insurance Companies do business from not allowing them to use pre-existing conditions to limiting their rates based on medical loss ratios.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">Many of these elements do not phase in for many years.  Those that are most immediate and are expected to occur in 2010 are:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 37.75pt;" class="ListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">        </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Tax credits for certain small businesses.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 37.75pt;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">        </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Elimination of pre-existing conditions and an increase in dependant coverage to age 26.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 37.75pt;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">        </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Creation of a temporary reinsurance program to provide coverage for retirees over 55 who are not eligible for Medicare.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 37.75pt;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">        </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">The further creation of a temporary national high risk insurance pool.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 37.75pt;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">        </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">The prohibition of lifetime limits on benefit payments.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 37.75pt;" class="ListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">        </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Closing the so called “doughnut hole” by providing immediate tax credits for Medicare patients who face a gap in prescription drug coverage.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">The real impact in the health insurance system won’t occur until the year 2014.  During the interim, there will be the phase-in of additional new taxes that will provide added government revenue to pay for these changes.  The four most significant changes occurring in 2014 are:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Insurers will be required to take all applicants.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Insurance will be mandated for all Americans.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Tax credits to help pay premiums will start flowing to middle-class working families.  The most aid – including help with copayments and deductibles – will be made available for those individuals and families on the lower end of the income scale.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;" class="ListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: symbol;">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">         </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Insurance exchanges will be created to help administer subsidies for those individuals that require them.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">When fully implemented, I believe that the majority of working-age Americans and their families will continue to have employer-sponsored coverage as they do today. In addition, through mandates and other subsidies, the number of people insured can grow by more than 30 million.  </span></p> urn:uuid:e29454a2-6903-4a51-8d9d-4af18c4835edMost homeowners recognize the importance having snug, dry home. Now there’s a reason to put more emphasis on keeping it dry….toxic mold. A certain form of mold, called Stachybotrys (pronounced stakki-botris), is appearing in more headlines. Unfortuna...Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:21:17 -0600<p>Most homeowners recognize the importance having snug, dry home. Now there’s a reason to put more emphasis on keeping it dry….toxic mold. A certain form of mold, called Stachybotrys (pronounced stakki-botris), is appearing in more headlines. Unfortunately, the mold, which is capable of causing illness in humans, is also becoming a familiar topic in courtrooms.</p> <p>Toxic mold, like other more common molds (such as penicillin), is found indoors and can grow on nearly any type of damp or wet surface including wood floors, carpeting, tiles, drywall, paneling, insulation, etc. The only conditions necessary for its formation is moisture, food (organic material) and time. Besides mold’s ability to physically damage a home (staining, warping, deterioration), the spores from this type of mold can become airborne, making people susceptible to developing allergic or respiratory symptoms. Research is ongoing to determine whether mold exposure may also cause more serious health problems.</p> <p>Damage to a home or its occupants that is caused by toxic mold is typically excluded. Insurance policies are designed to handle accidental causes of loss and items such as mold infestation, rusting and rotting are seen as home maintenance issues. However, in one notorious court case, a family in Texas was awarded several million dollars because its insurer allegedly mishandled a loss, creating a condition that allowed the growth and spread of toxic mold.</p> <p>Rather than be concerned over the possibility of insurance coverage, prevention is the best course of action. Inspect in and around your home, looking for indications of moisture. Correct any conditions that could cause moisture build-up such as leaky roofs or plumbing, condensation, leaking appliances, etc. Keep your home snug and dry and avoid a moldy problem</p> urn:uuid:9581ed9c-c333-42a9-b266-2a5605d722e1 Dealing with Ice Dam Ice dams are formed by either the sun, or loss of heat from your home causing the snow on your roof to melt. Water begins to flow under the snow as it travels down the roof. When the air temperature is significantly below freezi...Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:44:57 -0600<div> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dealing with Ice Dam</span></p> <p>Ice dams are formed by either the sun, or loss of heat from your home causing the snow on your roof to melt. Water begins to flow under the snow as it travels down the roof. When the air temperature is significantly below freezing, the temperature of the roof deck, gutters, flashing and downspouts are below freezing as well and when the melted water hits these cold surfaces it begins to rapidly freeze and eventually, the gutters and downspouts are clogged with ice. This ice buildup continues at the gutter level and the ice becomes thicker. Meanwhile, the melted water continues coming down the roof. Depending upon the rate of melting vs. the rate of freezing, you may or may not have a problem. If the water is melting at a faster rate than it can freeze, it begins to back up underneath the roofing materials. This water then finds its way to the roof deck and eventually can find its way into your home. Although ice dams can form anywhere on a roof, they form most readily at the bottom edge of roofs, valleys and areas where the slope might change on a roof. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Preventing the Leaks</span></p> <p>It is virtually impossible to stop ice dams from forming. Some methods attempt to use heated electrical wire which is applied to the lower edge of your roof or which sits in your gutter. Often these methods have little effect and they are installed well in advance of the winter so are of little use once the problem is here. And they pose a potential shock and fire hazard as well as require someone to climb a ladder to install them. </p> <p>Newer technology has leaned in the direction of not trying to stop the ice dam from forming, but to simply stop the water from entering a home. Roofing manufacturers have developed products designed to do just that and are modified asphalt products and are commonly applied as required by newer building codes, especially in northern climates. These type products help prevent leaks caused by ice dams as well as wind driven rain. Some of these products are rubberized, while others include styrene. Some are reinforced with fiberglass mats. They work by creating a solid barrier to water wherever they are applied. It is similar to shrink wrapping that portion of your roof. When applied according to manufacturer's specifications, they can be highly effective in preventing leakage from ice damming. </p> <p>Unfortunately, these products are placed during original roofing or reroofing and not in the middle of winter. These products generally have one side which is very sticky and are designed to be installed directly on the wood decking of the roof starting at the gutter line. Often these materials are installed at other potential trouble areas: low slope roofs, valleys, slope changes, hips, rake edges, dormers, skylights, flashing areas. These products are designed to have other roofing materials applied over them. Since these materials are very pliable and manufactured with different compounds, any nails which penetrate the products seal themselves. In ice dam situations, most leaking occurs within 3 feet of the gutter line. Because of this, you generally do not have to cover the entire roof with these products. However, low slope roofs, shaded roofs, and roofs that have a northern exposure are candidates for complete coverage. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fast Fixes</span></p> <p>Hacking away at ice dams with a hammer, chisel, or shovel can be bad for your roof—and dangerous. And throwing rock salt on them will do more to harm to your plantings than to the ice. Short of praying for warm weather, there are two stop-gap measures that are usually recommended: <br /> <br /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Blow in cold air</span>: Take a box fan into the attic and aim it at the underside of the roof where water is actively leaking in. This targeted dose of cold air will freeze the water in its tracks. "You'll stop the leak in a matter of minutes.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Rake it:</span> Pull off snow with a long-handled aluminum roof rake while you stand safely on the ground. </p> <p>While a permanent fix for ice dams usually requires increasing the insulation, sealing, and ventilation in the attic, there is another simple way to diminish the damage after the dam has formed that I have never used but have heard it works. </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Fill the leg of discarded pair of panty hose with a calcium chloride ice melt. Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter. If necessary, use a long-handled garden rake or hoe to push it into position. </li> </ul> <p>The calcium chloride will eventually melt through the snow and ice and create a channel for water to flow down into the gutters or off the roof. Calcium chloride filled ice melt socks will not damage shingles. Supposedly, snow melt socks is a tried and proven method and work on sloped or flat roofs. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">DO NOT</span> use rock salt because it has iron in it that leaves stains on the roof.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">For the brave</span></p> <p>Properly removing an ice dam can be quite dangerous. Some people suggest hiring a contractor to pull the gutters off the home so the whole ice dam process would be solved. This suggestion may be well intended but is wrong. Removing gutters can cause significant damage to the roofing materials and guttering systems and when the snow melts and is dropped next to the homes foundation, it can cause basements to flood. Gutters are there to remove the water.</p> <p>WARNING! Performing ice dam removal is risking severe personal injury and damage to the roof if not done properly. Never walk on a snow covered roof and if you are using a ladder you follow the proper safety procedures. I highly suggest contacting professionals with the proper equipment and roofing experience to carry out this job.</p> <p>Removing snow and ice dam from the roof will eliminate the main ingredients necessary for the formation of another ice dam and will usually stop the water from coming in within an hour. Using a roof rake and push broom (not water) remove the snow by carefully pulling it down the slope of the roof line. Never pull snow across the roof or it may break off the shingles and other damages. After removing some snow, carefully chip away a channel through the ice dam so the water will be able to flow through, just make sure you stop when you get close to the roofing. It's not necessary to remove all of the ice in the gutters or the ice dam itself if you have removed the snow from the roof, it will melt when the temperatures rise.</p> <div> <p>While I would not recommend anyone climbing on their roofs and there is not a simple solution to permanently correct an ice dam problem once the problem exists. Basically, the poorer the insulation and ventilation, the worse the ice damming because of heat loss through the roof. I've provided a couple of suggestions-some more dangerous than others and one that I have only heard works but some people swear by. Unfortunately some of the ways commonly suggested to correct ice dams may require someone to climb a ladder to reach the gutter or roof line, truth is there are some things people can do after the fact but preventing them in the first place is the best solution.</p> </div> </div> <div> </div> urn:uuid:a8669659-b98c-430c-a48b-85221a159d89Is Your Car Worth Less Than Your Loan? The economy has made financing cars more difficult and lease arrangements are scarce, car loan and existing leases may last as long as  four to six years. Whether your vehicle is a coupe, sedan, van, sports util...Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:12:27 -0600<p><b>Is Your Car Worth Less Than Your Loan?</b></p> <div style="text-align: center;">The economy has made financing cars more difficult and lease arrangements are scarce, car loan and existing leases may last as long as  four to six years. Whether your vehicle is a coupe, sedan, van, sports utility vehicle, or truck, your vehicle’s value will depreciate very quickly. A rapid loss of actual value accompanied by a longer loan obligation spells trouble.</div> <p>It isn't’t unusual for the amount of the unpaid loan and lease  balance becomes much larger than the vehicle's value. This disparity exists over much of the loan or lease period. Making matters worse is that this gap is usually only discovered after a total loss. After the insurer pays its obligation, you may have to pay the bank or leasing company thousands of dollars out of your own pocket.  The situation is an unfortunate side effect of the need to extend financing to accommodate extremely expensive vehicles. However; there is a solution to the dilemma.<br /> <br /> <strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Buy Loan / Lease Gap Insurance <br /> </span></em></strong><br /> It's as simple as adding it to your car insurance - however - it needs to be done sooner rather than later. <br /> <br /> Please check with us for more details....<br /> <br /> <br /> Jeff Rosenkilde, Sr.  CIC<br />  <br /> <br />  </p> urn:uuid:ab8f779f-5a03-43df-8ea5-ae97a97eeda2Hi All: The linger of winter tends to have us all wishing for greener pastures and time away from home. In that vein, we must be extremely wary of posting personal information about our whereabouts on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking ar...Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:25:58 -0600Hi All:<br /> <br /> The linger of winter tends to have us all wishing for greener pastures and time away from home. In that vein, we must be extremely wary of posting personal information about our whereabouts on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking areas. Economic times are tough and with that, desperate times usually expose desperate measures. <br /> <br /> From Identity theft to breaking into your home, social networking can give away a plethora of information that you would otherwise count as confidential. Use social networking as a tool to communicate with people, but not as a "giveaway" of your minute by minute location. <br /> <br /> Believe it or not, there is site that promotes awareness of empty homes....I will connect you with the link...<br /> Check it out....it's called  <a href="http://pleaserobme.com/" class="ApplyClass">Please Rob me</a>  !<br /> <br /> Please use common sense !<br /> <br /> Best Regards,<br /> <br /> <br /> Jeff Rosenkilde, Sr - CIC       urn:uuid:dfd52420-d003-4019-a05f-137429e0d496"The Fatal Attraction" What Is An Attractive Nuisance? This is a term originated by a judge to describe property that attracts youngsters and, because of their dangerous nature, creates a special obligation to property owners. Examples are: sw...Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:37:31 -0600<p><b><span style="font-family: garamond; font-size: 18px;">"The Fatal Attraction"</span><br /> <br /> What Is An Attractive Nuisance?</b></p> <p>This is a term originated by a judge to describe property that attracts youngsters and, because of their dangerous nature, creates a special obligation to property owners. Examples are: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>swimming pools</li> <li>trampolines</li> <li>empty buildings</li> <li>appliances kept outside</li> <li>excavations</li> <li>construction materials</li> </ul> <p>All of these can lure children onto property and they all have the potential to cause serious injury.</p> <p><b>Why Do Attractive Nuisances Create A Special Obligation?</b></p> <p>A special obligation exists because of such property's child endangering nature. Children do not have the reasoning ability of adults. When an opportunity to have fun pops up, it's a rare child who thinks about the chance of being injured. A property owner with an attractive nuisance on his property cannot escape liability because of a trespassing child. When an attractive nuisance is involved, adults have to make a special effort to protect children from their blind sense of adventure or face the consequences.</p> <p><b>How Do You Handle Attractive Nuisances?</b></p> <p>The answer is…do whatever it takes to prevent a child's access to the nuisance. Therefore, in order of their effectiveness: </p> <p>1. Eliminate the nuisance - examples:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>have old appliances hauled to a junk yard </li> <li>tow old, non-running vehicles away </li> <li>get rid of construction materials immediately after a building project is complete </li> </ul> <p>2. Secure the nuisance - examples: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>take off doors or covers from large appliances awaiting garbage pickup </li> <li>keep sharp tools, especially power tools and equipment, locked away </li> <li>store construction materials in a garage or shed </li> </ul> <p>3. Reduce the chance for injury from a nuisance – examples: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>install a pool cover and have a locked fence to prevent access to pool </li> <li>do not allow younger children to use equipment such as trampolines </li> <li>make sure there's adult supervision of children using play equipment </li> </ul> <p>If you're not certain about whether you have an attractive nuisance situation, discuss the situation with an insurance professional.</p> urn:uuid:5cb61e60-b1d0-4ce4-ace4-91eeba1ac41d Hi All:   If you know of a business looking for a GREAT insurance at a reasonable cost, please have them view this important video below - It highlights one of our carriers PUSH to be the "Carrier of Choice" in Maryland. Good stuff and a fine compan...Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:09:45 -0600<br /> Hi All:<br />  <br /> If you know of a business looking for a GREAT insurance at a reasonable cost, please have them view this important video below - It highlights one of our carriers PUSH to be the "Carrier of Choice" in Maryland. Good stuff and a fine company!<br /> <br /> <strong><em>They love any type of Contractor / Auto Repair / Food Services! <br /> </em></strong><br /> Regards,<br /> Jeff Rosenkilde, CIC  <br /> PS: Have them call me on my cell 443-324-3294<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.erieinsurance.com/images/Flash/Commercial.html" onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'width=632, height=471'); return false" target="_blank">Protect Your Business with ERIE</a> urn:uuid:7741162f-b7c7-49fe-a420-b05012e59ccaNothing beats the new car smell when you sit in a brand new car. But how do you know how safe your new car will be if you are ever in an accident? It is simple: before you buy a new car, research the crash rating tests for that vehicle and check fo...Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:28:46 -0600<p>Nothing beats the new car smell when you sit in a brand new car.<br /> <br /> But how do you know how safe your new car will be if you are ever in an accident?<br /> <br /> It is simple: before you buy a new car, research the crash rating tests for that vehicle and check for some important safety features.<br /> <br /> The easiest way to check for safety of a model of car is to go to the government-sponsored web site, www.safercar.gov.<br /> <br /> Here you will find the results of safety tests for every model of car sold in the US through a simple search.<br /> <br /> How do they rate auto safety?<br /> <br /> Three tests are conducted and models are rated from one to five stars for each test with five being the best.</p> <ol> <li>The first test is for a head-on collision with a fixed barrier at 35 mph. To get five stars, the auto needs to have less than 10% chance of serious injury to front-seat passengers. </li> <li>The second test measures a side impact crash with another automobile travelling 38 mph. To receive five stars, there needs to be less than a 5% chance of serious injury for any passenger. </li> <li>The last test is a rollover test since more than 10,000 people die of rollover crashes each year. Again, to get a five-star rating, there needs to be less than 10% chance that any passenger will suffer serious injury during a rollover. </li> </ol> <p >Finally, at the same site, you can see descriptions of the latest safety equipment you may want for your vehicle:</p> <dir><dir> <p>Electronic Stability Control </p> <p>Side Impact Airbags </p> </dir></dir> <p>Remember that wearing a seat belt reduces your chances of serious injury by up to 75% if you are in an accident.<br /> <br /> All of us here at Abco wish you safe driving.</p> urn:uuid:919aea33-37c7-4891-a229-9f41f8e647c7I have a feeling we won't see another storm like the two we had in the last week in our lifetime. We now need to re-focus our efforts in making sure that all of the claims received as a result of the snow storm are adjusted efficiently and expedientl...Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:47:07 -0600I have a feeling we won't see another storm like the two we had in the last week in our lifetime. We now need to re-focus our efforts in making sure that all of the claims received as a result of the snow storm are adjusted efficiently and expediently. The reason you purchased insurance was for just this type of major catastrophe. <br /> <br /> We are pleading with all of our clients to take extra care when driving over the next several weeks. Snow drifts in the country and icy roads in the city will continue to cause accidents.   Several years ago there was a fatal accident within walking distance of my home when two young people hit a snow drift and swerved into an oncoming truck. This was an unnecessary loss of life by an inexperienced driver.   <br /> <br /> On the home front, please be aware that sidewalks will be slippery as melting and freezing continues on a nightly basis. Tree limbs will continue to fall, and power will be intermittent in a number of places. Now is the time to prepare to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Take the shoveling duties lightly. There is no reason to rush through the chore of moving snow as it looks like it may be around for awhile. Your health is more important than any snow pile.<br /> <br /> In closing - may you experience the best for the rest of the winter and learn a valuable lesson from this "History in the Making"  An old Greek Proverb states - <strong>“</strong><strong>One minute of patience, ten years of peace</strong><strong>”<br /> </strong><br /> The ABCO / Rosenkilde &amp; Associates Team<br />     <br />  <br />        urn:uuid:a86c5acc-45df-4632-99c2-a9ff490d8dc6Good Day All: Our agency will be closed today due to the adverse weather conditions. However, we are sensitive to your needs regarding any claims issue you may have. Use our emergency claims "hotline" numbers listed on our website in case of extreme...Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:48:41 -0600Good Day All:<br /> <br /> Our agency will be closed today due to the adverse weather conditions. However, we are sensitive to your needs regarding any claims issue you may have. Use our emergency claims "hotline" numbers listed on our website in case of extreme emergency.  Please follow this <a href="http://www.abcoics.com/claims.aspx" class="ApplyClass">HOTLINK</a> to find a list of our emergency claim numbers.<br /> <br /> We are hoping to get back to our offices - with full staff, by Thursday at some point.<br /> Please know that we are hoping that you are safe and coping with this storm of historic proportions.<br /> <br /> Kind Regards,<br /> <br /> The Rosenkilde &amp; Associates Team <br /> <br />    urn:uuid:9989bc5b-adad-40b0-8f20-b469ce66e0e3So you awake to face another winter morning. You know how it goes, you take care of washing up, brushing what needs to be brushed, throwing down something edible so you can check off “eat healthy breakfast” from your to-do list and then you march out...Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:54:40 -0600<p>So you awake to face another winter morning. You know how it goes, you take care of washing up, brushing what needs to be brushed, throwing down something edible so you can check off “eat healthy breakfast” from your to-do list and then you march out to your car. If you’re among the lucky ones, it may be just a matter of opening the garage door and heading out….but perhaps you’re not so lucky and you’re staring at a large, four-wheeled ball of ice. Okay you start the engine, turn on the heater, the defroster, dig around for an ice scraper or snow brush and you get to work on de-icing your vehicle. Here’s the critical question: How thorough are you going to be?</p> <p>Chances are it depends on how you are doing on your daily schedule. If you have time, perhaps all snow and ice are cleared from all surfaces. If you’re running late, maybe you’ve taken shortcuts on the task. Don’t! It’s better to be late than to drive in a rolling tunnel!</p> <p>Yes it may be understandable, but failing to spend time to properly clear ice and snow from your car, truck, or van is a true losing situation. Driving is, under the best of circumstances, perilous. To minimize the dangers, you need to be able to clearly see traffic. You also have a responsibility to operate your vehicle in a way that makes it safer for other drivers. Clearing a small patch of windshield and hitting the road causes problems.</p> <p>It is impossible for a driver to have an adequate field of vision to safely operate a car when only a portion of a vehicle’s windows are clear. At best you’re only able to see what is directly in front; but you drive in a 360 degree world and dangers surround you. Winter driving also means tricky, slick road surfaces. If you lose control of your car, substantially limiting your view dangerously reduces your ability to handle the emergency. And let’s point out another problem.</p> <p>That snow and ice you leave on your vehicle acts quite predictably when you’re moving along the road. It is subjected to wind and that causes additional eddies of snow that can obscure the view of nearby drivers. Worse, chunks of hardened snow or ice can be dislodged and either damage other vehicles directly or cause traffic accidents.</p> <p>The increased danger posed by drivers who neglect to properly clean off their cars has prompted some safety officials to pull cars over and issue tickets. Some areas have specific fines, treating the situation as public endangerment.</p> <p>Yes, it’s cold, yes you’re in a hurry, yes it’s a pain to brush and scrape ice and snow, but do it. The inconvenience isn’t worth the consequences…..the possibly deadly consequences of driving with tunnel vision.</p> urn:uuid:f12e0872-e857-4c05-be88-825985d721d5The “Group Life” Nightmare   Don't Depend On This Coverage In A Down Economy! It's the abyss of cash flow. Times are still tough and may get more interesting as we move into the spring of this year. Health Care Reform is looming on the horizon and ...Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:42:45 -0600<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: underline;">The “Group Life” Nightmare </span></b></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; text-decoration: none;"> </span></b></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Don't Depend On This Coverage In A Down Economy!</span></i></b></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><i></i></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It's the abyss of cash flow. Times are still tough and may get more interesting as we move into the spring of this year. Health Care Reform is looming on the horizon and there isn't a program the Feds in Washington don't like. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">With the new “spend at will” Congress, employers may be facing tough decisions related your workplace benefits. Those that have the luxury of a workplace that offers Group Life Insurance may see that coverage disappear or get reduced. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There are two ways that the coverage may end. If you face a layoff you will lose the benefit, or the  employer may terminate the plan due to economic conditions.  At that point, you must make a decision that may leave you lying awake at night. At the time the plan is terminated, you may have a right to convert the amount life insurance you have to a policy offered by the same carrier. The pitfall of this alternative is simple. Most companies will only offer you a certain type of policy that is usually more expensive than you anticipated. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The second option is to look around for your own life insurance. In this case, you will most likely go through a medical exam and will be rated at your current age. This can wind up costing you more that you expected. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In this economy, strange things happen overnight. The Colts left town in Mayflower Moving vans on a cold March night over 25 years ago. Your coverage can sneak away at the blink of an eye.   The quick answer to avoid this nightmare is to ALWAYS own your own policy – regardless of what your employer offers you at work. Buy it now, and keep it. Then you own it! </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">About the Author:</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Jeff Rosenkilde is a Certified Insurance Counselor and has owned his own firm for over 25 years. He is also a graduate of the University of Baltimore – School of Business and is an expert on Small Employer Business Programs. Jeff works with over five hundred businesses in the Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania area.     </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">  </p>