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The Washwick Agency

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Bethlehem, NH 03574

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Riverhead, NY 11901

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What is umbrella insurance and why do I need it?

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If you are confused about umbrella insurance, you have plenty of company. Many people would be unable to explain exactly what this type of protection is all about. At The Washwick Agency, serving the Bethlehem, NH community, we take our responsibility to our customers seriously and will make an effort to make sure we answer your questions and provide the support you need. 

Why Umbrella Insurance?

Think of umbrella insurance as an umbrella. You are your assets, and the rain is all the hazards that face you every day. This insurance is excess liability coverage, and it protects your assets from all the bad things that can happen. Umbrella coverage is not a stand-alone policy. In order to purchase it, you must already have a policy with liability coverage. What this will do is add another layer of protection. 

Policies with liability coverage are home insurance, auto insurance, boat insurance, condo insurance, motorcycle insurance, and renters insurance. Liability insurance protects you from someone being injured on your property or by your property, having serious injuries, and suing you. If the judgment goes against you, you will need to get representation, which can be expensive, and you will have to pay the judgment. Again, this can be expensive. 

You work hard to accumulate the assets that you have, and the thought of losing them to an accident is hard to imagine. That is why you need umbrella insurance. After your primary policy pays up to its limit, the umbrella will kick in and most of them start at around a million dollars, which gives you quite a lot of protection. 

Contact Us Today

Give our office a call or stop by our offices at The Washwick Agency in Bethlehem, NH to get information or a no-obligation quote. 

Questions to ask before choosing a health insurance policy

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Health insurance makes staying healthy much easier. If you have a good health insurance policy, you won’t be afraid to go to the doctor and end up with a huge bill you can’t pay. At The Washwick Agency in Bethleham, NH, we take our responsibility to provide our customers with the advice they need seriously. We are an independent insurance agency, and we work for our customers. 

Picking the right health insurance policy is important and difficult.

These are some questions to ask to ensure you get the coverage you need:

Is my doctor in the network?

If you have a doctor whose services you don’t want to lose, it is important that you make sure that they are in the network of the carrier you choose. Not every doctor is in every network. 

What type of managed care is the policy?

Managed care comes in three basic types: HMO, PPO, and POS. HMO is the most restricted, it requires that you have a primary care physician, and you need to visit healthcare professionals within the network. PPO plans are less expensive for service when you choose within the network, but they will pay partially outside the network. POS is a combination of HMO and POS. 

Does the policy include prescription coverage?

If you take prescription medication, it is important to know if it is covered by insurance and what the copay is. Every carrier has a formulary of drugs listed in tiers. 

What is the yearly deductible?

The deductible is the amount you are required to pay out of pocket before the health insurance starts to pay for their part.  A high deductible is less costly but requires more out-of-pocket.  

Give Us A Call

Contact The Washwick Agency in Bethleham, NH when you are looking for health insurance advice. We will be glad to help. 

Two Main Types of Life Insurance

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When you need to make sure that your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone, it’s time to get life insurance. You may have no policy at all and need to have one in place, or you may already have a policy and want another one. In either case, it’s a responsible choice to have a life insurance policy.

When you need a policy, give us a call at The Washwick Agency in Bethlehem, NH to learn more. 

Two Main Types of Life Insurance

Term Life

A term life policy is one of the main types of life insurance. It is a popular insurance product because it tends to be far more affordable than the other main type. The low price makes it highly attractive to those who have a strict budget and need to stay within it. Term life insurance does have a drawback, however. It is only good for a specific term. That means that the policy is written to be in effect for a specific number of years. During those years, you’re covered. After they have passed, the policy is no longer good, and you have to apply for another policy to stay covered. 

Whole Life

Whole life insurance works very differently from term life. It doesn’t have a term of time that it’s good for. It can stay in place for as many years as you want it. In fact, if you continue to pay for the policy, the company can’t cancel it. This type of insurance also accrues a cash value. Policyholders can then borrow this amount if it is needed. Many customers love this aspect of these policies. 

Get Your Life Insurance

If you need more life insurance, we’re here to help. Call us at The Washwick Agency in Bethlehem, NH to get started with a policy of your own. 

     

Safe driving tips for new drivers

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Our team of insurance experts at The Washwick Agency has been serving the Bethlehem, NH area residents with all their insurance needs, including auto insurance coverage. We are often asked for safety tips to maximize protection while driving. As a new driver, it can be difficult to find the right balance between caution and confidence on the road. There are many things that you can do to improve your driving skills and stay safe on the roads.

Here are some tips for staying safe as a new driver:

1. Always wear your seatbelt

This is one of the most important safety rules for new drivers, as wearing a seatbelt is an essential way to protect yourself in case of an accident. Make sure that everyone traveling with you is also wearing their seatbelt at all times when you are driving.

2. Plan ahead

One of the best ways to avoid dangerous situations while driving is to plan ahead and leave plenty of space between your vehicle and other cars. This can help to reduce your risk of being in a collision, and also gives you more time to react if something unexpected happens on the road.

3. Be aware

As a new driver, it is important always to be aware of what is going on around you while you are behind the wheel. Make sure that you are keeping an eye out for other drivers and pedestrians at all times, and always use caution when approaching intersections or making turns.

4. Learn from others

If you have friends or family members who have more experience driving than you do, take advantage of this by asking them for advice and tips on improving your driving skills. This can be a great way to pick up useful information that will help keep you and your passengers safe.

Get Auto Insurance Today

For more safe driving tips, give us at The Washwick Agency a call today. Make sure to add or update your auto insurance policy to get the best coverage for your needs. We proudly serve the Bethlehem, NH area. 

Choose the Right Insurance for your New Jersey Small Business

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After hours, weeks, and months of hard work — you’ve finally started the small business you always dreamed about. Embracing that entrepreneurial spirit hasn’t been easy, so the next step is protecting your business and doing it the right way. The Washwick Agency serving Bethlehem, NH knows exactly what it takes to get a business off the ground, and has some guidance on how to choose the right insurance for your needs. 

Commercial Coverage Basics

General liability insurance

The "everything and anything" of loss prevention, this policy can protect your business from financial losses across a range of occurrences from physical injury to libel.

Product liability insurance

If you sell products, this insurance can protect you from losses related to product failures or defects and consumer damage.

Professional liability insurance

For those providing professional services, this insurance helps protect against loss from mistakes or negligence on the part of your small business.

Commercial property insurance

If you have commercial space that could be at risk, this insurance will help with damage related to natural events like hail or fires or person-related events such as protests and vandalism.

Home-based business insurance

For those operating out of their home, consider this an add-on policy to your current homeowner’s insurance. It will act as an additional policy to protect against damage or injury in business-related ventures at the property.

Get The Right Coverage Today

Insurance agents can also help you obtain policies that bundle or cover multiple aspects of your small business. The Washwick Agency serving Bethlehem, NH is ready to help you protect your business today. Give us a call!

Home Maintenance Tasks that Can Minimize Your Risk of a Home Fire

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The Washwick Agency can help homeowners in the greater Bethlehem, NH region obtain the home insurance policies that they need. Home insurance can help to protect your home and the belongings in your home against many unexpected events, including fire. While home insurance helps to protect the investment you made in your home and belongings if a fire happens, it is still important to take action to minimize your risk of a home fire.

Here are a few home maintenance tasks you can complete to minimize that risk:

Cleaning Out Your Dryer Lint Trap Regularly

One of the best ways that you can minimize your risk of a home fire is to regularly have your dryer lint trap cleaned. It is recommended that you clean your dryer lint trap at least once a year or when your dryer is not drying efficiently. Lint that gets stuck in the dryer lint trap can cause a fire. In fact, this is one of the most common causes of home fires. 

Having an Electrical Inspection Completed      

Another way to minimize your risk of a home fire is to have an electrical inspection completed. An electrical inspection should be completed as needed. If you notice your lights are flickering, see burn or soot marks around electrical outlets, or smell an electrical burning scent, you should schedule an electrical inspection to help prevent an electrical fire. 

Routinely Check Your Smoke Detectors  

Lastly, also take the time to test your smoke detectors and change the batteries. It is recommended that you test your smoke detectors at least once each season. A smoke detector can alert you to a potential fire, giving you and your family the opportunity to get out of your home quickly if a fire does break out. 

Get Home Insurance Today

Here at The Washwick Agency, serving the greater Bethlehem, NH region, we can help you find the best home insurance policy for your needs and answer any of the questions you may have about home insurance. Reach out to us today to learn more or to obtain an estimate for a new home insurance policy. 

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