Why Motorcycle Owners Need Insurance and What It Can Cover

To hit the road on your motorcycle on a beautiful day can give you the feeling of ultimate freedom.  There are certain responsibilities that come with motorcycle ownership, however.  Similar to owning and operating a vehicle, all motorcycles in Illinois must carry insurance.  The team at The Insurance Outfit serves motorcycle owners throughout the Evergreen Park, IL area.  They will work with you to get the coverage you need whether the bike is your primary mode of transportation or for pleasure on the weekends.  

While liability insurance is mandatory for bike owners, the agents at Martin Insurance Team can discuss additional plans that provide options for more coverage.  It is important to understand that with liability insurance only, your medical expenses will not be covered should there be an accident.  Liability insurance covers the damages and expenses of injured parties should it be determined that you are at fault for the accident.  Additional coverage, such as personal injury protection, will cover your medical expenses.  Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is also available.  This provides protection if there is an accident with someone who does not have insurance.  Other policies will provide for the repair or replacement of the motorcycle due to an accident.  There are a wide variety of insurance tools available to you.  

The agents at The Insurance Outfit know that motorcycle owners in the Evergreen Park, IL area enjoy their bikes.  They also know what it takes to stay protected while on the road.  There are many types of policies available that provide coverage beyond basic liability coverage.  While this may seem daunting, they will work with you to get the coverage that you need.  Before you hit the open road, spend some time with your agent at Martin Insurance Team!

What Influences the Cost of my Health Insurance?

One of the most important types of insurance that someone can have is health insurance. Health insurance will provide you with a variety of types of coverage in the event you are sick or injured and is also required by law. The cost of your health insurance will vary based on a variety of different factors.  

Risk Factors

One factor that will greatly impact the cost of your health insurance coverage is your set of risk factors. Health insurance providers determine your premium costs based on a variety of factors including your age, pre-existing conditions, and overall current health. Those that are young and healthy will typically have much lower cost than those that are older and dealing with current health issues.

Deductibles

Another major factor that will influence the cost of your health insurance is your deductible. A deductible is a certain amount of money that you will have to spend out-of-pocket each year before receiving full health insurance coverage. Generally speaking, the higher your deductible is, the lower your premiums will be.

Types of Coverage

The types of coverage you have included in your health insurance policy will also have a big impact on your total costs.  Certain policies allow you to choose exactly where you can receive your healthcare while others will restrict you to a network.  Those that require you to belong to a network will typically cost less on a monthly basis.

For those that are in the Evergreen Park, IL area and in need of health insurance, speaking with Martin Insurance Team would be a great option.  Martin Insurance Team will be able to help people in and around Evergreen Park, IL to find a great health insurance policy that will provide good protection and at a reasonable rate.  

When to Choose Permanent Life Insurance Over Term Insurance

There are a variety of life insurance policies you can choose in Evergreen Park, IL, but the two main types are term and permanent insurance. They both come with a variety of benefits and disadvantages, so it helps to know more about the basics before moving forward with one type over the other. Martin Insurance Team wants you to know more about each type of insurance so that you can choose the right one for yourself and for your family. 

How to Decide

The two biggest questions to ask yourself about life insurance is how long you want it for and whether or not you want to rely on it as a financial tool. Term life insurance is for a set amount of time, so people usually choose it to support their children while they’re still minors. Once they hit a certain age and can provide for themselves, the life insurance policy is terminated. Permanent life insurance is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s usually chosen by people who want to care for their spouses in Evergreen Park, IL forever. However, it can also be used as a savings account if the policyholder hits a financial crisis that they need to take care of. 

Other Considerations 

Term life insurance is generally less expensive than permanent insurance, but there’s also no way to draw funds out of the policy either. Because of this, some people will choose permanent life insurance as a form of additional back-up that they can always count on — even if they don’t have any dependents. For more information about how to make the best decision, call Martin Insurance Team today. We’re here to serve the people of Evergreen Park so they can have the best possible protection. 

At What Age Should You Buy Life Insurance?

Here at the Martin Insurance Team, serving the greater Evergreen Park, IL area, one of the questions we are often asked is what age should someone begin to think about buying life insurance for themselves or for their spouses or partners. Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all answer and age alone should not be a determining factor for when a person should buy life insurance. Here is what you need to know about buying your first life insurance policy. 

As a general rule of thumb, if anyone depends on you for your income or services you provide, you should have life insurance. For most people, this occurs when they move in with a life partner, get married or have a child. Without the income that you have coming in, someone else, such as your spouse or child, would be unable to live the life they have become accustomed to. Likewise, if you provide a service, such as watching your children rather than working, your spouse or partner may be put into a tight position if you were to die and they would have to pay for child care. As such, you should take into account whether anyone is dependent or reliant on you or the money you have coming in. If they are, now is the perfect time to purchase your first life insurance policy. 

When you are ready to purchase life insurance in the greater Evergreen Park,, IL area, Martin Insurance team can assist you. Contact us today to inquire about various policies and let us help you to find the one that best meets your needs, including policy limits, terms, conditions and the cost of the policy. 

What Affects Your Long-Term Disability Insurance Pricing?

Long-term disability insurance protects you in the event that you’re disabled for longer than 90 days. There’s a 25 percent chance that you’ll experience a disability period of 90 days or longer over your entire career. This type of insurance usually costs about one to three percent of your annual salary, however, there are a variety of factors that influence the actual price. If you’d like to get a quote or ask questions to a knowledgeable representative, contact Martin Insurance Team, which serves Evergreen Park, IL.

Factors That Affect Long-term Disability Insurance Cost

Coverage amount refers to how much money you’ll receive each month that you’re not getting a paycheck. As you pay your premiums after taxes, the money you get from your long-term disability policy is tax-free. It’s recommended to have a coverage amount at about 60 percent of your gross (before-tax) salary.

Benefit period refers to the length of time that your benefits will last. The longer this period is, the more your premium will be. On average, long-term disabilities last for three years, so it’s a good idea to use that number as a baseline. If it’s affordable, it’s recommended to choose a benefit period of at least five years.

Waiting period refers to how long you have to wait after becoming disabled before receiving your benefits. The shorter your waiting period is, which is referred to as the elimination period, the higher your premium is. Also, the longer the waiting period is, the less your premium is.

Age, health, your occupation, and location are also factors that influence your premium. The older you are, the more expensive your policy will be, and the younger you are, the cheaper your policy will be. Likewise, the healthier you are, the less your premium will be. If you have a risky career, your policy cost increases, as the chance of injury is greater. Finally, location is a factor, too. Generally, premiums are higher in states where people file more claims, but this isn’t always the case.

If you want to get a long-term disability insurance quote today, call Martin Insurance Team, which serves Evergreen Park, IL.

What Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover?

Motorcycles are a great way to have fun on the road. But in case of an accident, your insurance specialist will be there to help. The Martin Insurance Team in Evergreen Park, IL will answer all your questions about your bike.

Even if you have your eye on a trike or moped, there is good news: motorcycle insurance will likely cover it. Motorcycle insurance covers motorcycles and the following vehicles:

-mopeds
-scooters
-sport bikes
-high-performance bikes
-custom bikes
-ATVs
-Cruisers
-Motocross bikes
-Vintage bikes
-Off-road bikes
-Touring bikes

What Is Included In My Motorcycle Insurance Plan?

Most insurance packages require two parts. These are bodily injury coverage and coverage for property damage. Both of these come into action if your are ever found to be at fault after an accident.

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

Comprehensive coverage will help you in the even that your bike is stolen. It will also help if are in an accident where you are not at fault. Collision insurance kicks in when you are in an accident with another vehicle. This type of coverage will help you repair your bike and replace your helmet and riding gear.

Total Loss Coverage

In the even that your bike is totaled, total loss coverage will pay for your bike at it’s current suggested retail price.

Coverage for Medical Payments

This type of coverage will help you pay your medical bills in the event that you are injured in an accident.

Optional Equipment

If you have made customizations to your bike, you will be able to cover them up to $30,000 for models less than 25 years old.

If you have any questions about motorcycle insurance, be sure to contact the Martin Insurance Team in Evergreen Park, IL.

How Much Life Insurance is Needed?

Being properly insured is a very important responsibility that all people share. While most people have auto insurance, home insurance, and medical insurance, there are other types of insurance that are necessary as well. One type of very important insurance to have is life insurance. For those that are in the Evergreen Park, IL area, there are several different factors to take into consideration when determining how much life insurance is needed.

Income Replacement

When you are looking to build a life insurance policy, your first thing to think about how much of your income will need to be replaced by your loved ones. Ideally, you should have a life insurance policy that is at least 10 times the amount of your annual income. This would provide a substantial amount of money for your family to live off of if you pass away untimely.

Mortgage and Other Debt

Another factor to take into consideration when you are building a life insurance policy is the amount of money you have on your mortgage and other debt. It would be very beneficial for you to have an additional amount on your life insurance policy to pay off this amount. This would take off a significant financial burden for your family.

Future Expenses

Finally, you also need to factor in future costs that your family will incur.  This can include providing additional life insurance proceeds to pay for college education costs or help support your spouse in retirement.  

Since building a life insurance policy is such a big decision, those that are in the Evergreen Park, IL area should consider working with the Martin Insurance Team.  The Martin Insurance Team will be able to provide you with support to better understand your insurance needs and get you into a policy today.  

How Much Life Insurance Coverage Do You Need?

Before selecting a life insurance policy, consider your income and the ongoing cost of living.  It’s recommended that you obtain benefits equal to five to eight times your current salary.  Other factors, such as your age, the number of dependents you have, and your financial goals (like retirement) will help you decide on a policy that’s right for you.  A Martin Insurance Team agent serving the Evergreen Park, IL area can advise you about the different types of coverage available.

Calculate Income and Expenses

First, calculate the amount of income you will need to pay for annual expenses (mortgage, utilities, food, clothing).  Next, add the sources of income that would be available to your family upon your passing, such as your spouse’s earnings, pensions, and Social Security.  Subtract the total annual income from the annual amount of income you need (Step 1 minus Step 2).  Multiply the result by the number of years you want to provide coverage for your dependents.  Add to that figure the full amounts of any lump-sum expenses that your family would be responsible for, such as funeral costs, medical bills, or student loans.  The final number gives you the amount of coverage you need.

Other Considerations

Other factors, such as marital status and the ages of your children, may affect how much insurance you purchase.  Single parents with young children may opt for a higher level of coverage, especially if they are the family’s sole breadwinner.  If you’re married and your children are grown and able to support themselves, you may want a plan that provides only for your surviving spouse.

If you live in Evergreen Park, IL, and have questions about life insurance, a Martin Insurance Team agent can help you explore your options.

Do you need a motorcycle insurance?

If you are a new owner of a motorcycle, you are probably so excited to take it for a ride. Do you pause and think about the risks you may encounter or do you just assume you are a great motorcycle driver? Well, as much as you are excited, it is good that you protect yourself and the bike before you start riding it.

However, not so many people may see the need of getting motorcycle insurance because it is just an additional expense. But life is unpredictable. You may try to reduce costs by not taking an insurance cover, but in the future, you end up losing so much that you could have saved. So, we as Martin Insurance Team seize this opportunity to educate you more on the reasons why you need to take this policy.

All the information you may need will be in the Martin Insurance Team. Here we explain to you the different coverage options you may need once you own a motorcycle. However, first,  let us look into detail the reasons why you need this cover.

It is a requirement by law

As long as you own or drive a motorcycle, the law requires you to have an insurance cover. That is to protect you and other third parties.

To protect you against liabilities

While on the road, you may cause an accident that ends up injuring your bike and other third parties. You may cause damage to their bikes or even cause injuries to them. As long as the court finds you liable, you will be required to cater for all the other party’s medical bill as well as any damages caused to their motorcycle. With this cover, all that is catered for.

To protect your motorcycle and yourself

If you get into an accident where no one is liable for it, we help you pay for the damages as well as all your medical bills.

Martin Insurance Team is always here to guide you. Do not hesitate to contact us in case of any questions.

Is Disability Insurance Good for Both Short and Long Term Illnesses?

Many people in Evergreen Park, IL have misconceptions about the different types of disability insurance available to them.  Some believe disability insurance is only for short-term issues. Others only know about long-term disability insurance. The Martin Insurance Team believes both types are important. Here’s why you would choose one, the other, or both.

Short Term Disability Insurance and What It Covers

Short-term disability coverage can last from a few weeks to a year. These benefits come into play if you suffer from a lengthy illness or injury that needs a little time to heal.

When the disability insurance starts providing coverage, it will only do so for the length of time specified in the policy, or until you max out the coverage amount. Short-term disability insurance can also cover things like childbirth.

Long-Term Disability Insurance and What it Covers

Long-term disability insurance works in much the same way, but it covers you over a greater length of time. After the claim process, a long-term plan can pay out benefits for years, or even a lifetime.

The types of disability claims long-term coverage supports can include things like musculoskeletal disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. In many cases, a long-term plan can kick in when a short-term claim ends.

Evaluating Your Need for Individual Disability Insurance

Many people receive disability insurance through their employers. Unfortunately, employer group plans aren’t always enough coverage if you find yourself with a short or long-term health issue. And it’s just as unfortunate many people don’t find this out until it’s too late.

Evaluating your need for disability insurance in Evergreen Park, IL requires a thorough review of your occupation, lifestyle, and budget. No one policy will work for everybody.

That’s why it’s important you speak to the Martin Insurance Team about which options will work for you specifically. Whether it’s short or long term, we can help you get the coverage you may need. Contact us today for more information about individual disability insurance.