DONOVAN INSURANCE SOLUTIONS

se U n a C u o Y ws e N e c n a r Insu
Volume 4 Issue 4 April 1, 2014

Z o m b i e S u rv i va l

by Paul Donovan

Inside this issue:

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If youre like me, you probably know a few people that would be safe from the zombie apocalypse (mainly because zombies feed on brains and they dont have much = Congress). However, there are some great techniques that Ive observed from studying these Preppers. The main thing that survivalists all agree on is that, preparation and organization before a threat arrives is the key. Whether youre preparing for hurricane season or the zombie apocalypse, risk management through contingency planning can help. Here are my top 5 tips: 1. Organize before they rise! - Proactive thinking, and planning of your family or business team is critical to survival. Use your head, (dont end up undead) creating a plan is the first step. 2. No place is safe, only safer! - Do you have a planned evacuation route or an area where you will all gather to meet? Once youve established a destination, make sure its communicated to all to avoid confusion. 3. Avoid the gore prepare to restore! - During a disaster most lines/towers of communication and energy will be down. Make sure your critical records and data are backed up (C drive). Is your generator (hopefully a quiet one) the right size to keep your vital power equipment up and running? Dont forget to keep some extra fuel on hand in case of a prolonged recovery time. 4. Have no fear pack your gear! - Supplies save lives. Depending on your time frame, resources vehicle situation and terrain, at a minimum you should have: ample clean drinking water, can opener, first aid kit, flashlight, knife, pot/pan, compass, emergency flares and a heat source (a crowbar is a bonus). Dont forget to take your medications with you. 5. Remain vigilant be alert! Local radio and television will broadcast safety information and emergency shelter areas. Your level of confidence/preparedness, the strength of your residence/business and the location of the danger will dictate your response. When in doubt. Run man run! Property is easily replaced but lives are not. Disasters and accidents (man made and otherwise) occur on a daily basis and we always think its going to happen to the other guy. A false sense of security has led to the demise of many, so lessen your chances of becoming the victim. Our most precious asset is life and the first key to survival is to not lose your head (think ).
Zombie Survival The Employer Health Sponsorship Dilemma FL Supreme Court blocks caps on lawsuits Encouragement Chronicles Pithy Quotes Flood Insurance Reform Insurance News

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My doctor told me to have a few drinks and get some rest. ... I said to a bartender, 'Make me a zombie.' He said 'God beat me to it.'" -- Rodney Dangerfield.

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INSURANCE NEWS YOU CAN USE

By Michael Weiskirch

The employer health insurance sponsorship dilemma

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has created some unique challenges for employers in both the large middle and small markets.

A small employer is identified as an employer employing 50 or less employees A middle market employer has between 51 99 employees (rules kick in 2015)and A large employer employs 100+ employees (rules kick in 2016)

As the new rules concerning shared responsibility of employers inside specific group sizes emerge, this years renewal season will require some difficult decisions. Here are some of the key questions employers will be asking:

Does my part-time (PT) workforce classify me as an applicable large employer and if so, will I pay penalties?

A companies size will determine if theyre eligible for shared responsibility penalties. It includes the hours of their PT workforce and will exclude employees that are Medicare & Medicaid eligible. 2. Does my affordability equation play out? Companies that apply a surcharge on their wellness plans or a tobacco credit need to consider how those initiatives factor into what is the measured employer contribution. 3. Does my affordable plan negatively impact my employees? ACA rules disqualify employees from receiving subsidies if the employers plan is considered affordable (9.5% of W2 income). These subsidies as well as plan cost-sharing (out-of-pocket) adjustments through the ACA can be so generous they could consider changing jobs. 4. Does it work out better financially if some employees peel off and go to the exchange? Some employees may be better off going to the exchanges rather than being covered through the employers plan. This may also be more advantageous for some employers depending on premium, cost sharing and penalties 5. How do you determine equitable contribution with individual rates? New ACA plans hit the small marketplace this year. If they are offered as a composite rate (blended versus age banded) they could hurt older aged employees. 6. How do employers plan for the excise (or Cadillac) tax? Most plans are not projected to hit the excise tax in 2018 until you consider spending account contributions (FSA, HAS and HRA). Both employee and employer contributions count towards the limitation and should be monitored in the coming years.

"According to a new report, more than 700 fake Obamacare websites have been created. Security experts say it's simple to identify the phony sites because they are easy to log on to." Jay Leno Florida Supreme Court Blocks Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
The courts struck down a 2003 medical malpractice law that placed a $1,000,000 limit on the amount of money people can be awarded in wrongful death cases caused by medical malpractice. Supporters of the law at the time said that the law was needed to keep medical malpractice insurance rates at a reasonable cost and incentivize doctors to stay in Florida. In its ruling, the court said the limits violate the right of equal protection under Floridas constitution. The statutory cap on wrongful death non-economic damages does not bear a rational relationship to the stated purpose that the cap is purported to address, the alleged medical malpractice insurance crises in Florida, the court wrote. The case arose from a lawsuit filed by the parents of Michelle McCall who died in 2006 at the age of 20 while being treated at Ft. Walton Beach medical center after giving birth. Her family sued the Federal government because McCall was a military dependent and she died of severe bleeding complications after being treated by Air Force doctors. A federal judge awarded her parents $750,000 each and her son $500,000. However, the judge had to cut the total in half because of the cap on non-economic damages under the Florida law. The FL Medical Association defends the caps and view the decision that many Florida trial lawyers will be intensifying their focus on physicians cases.

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company. George Washington

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By Paul Donovan

En courag em en t Chroni cl es

According to Dr. Anthony Compolo, What you commit yourself to be will change what you are and make you a completely different person. What you commit yourself to become, determines what you are, more than anything else. What are your commitments? Where are you going? What are you going to be? You show me somebody that hasnt decided yet and Ill show you somebody that has no identity, no personality and no direction. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation there is one elemental truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and plans. The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could ever have dreamed would come his way. I have learned a deep respect for Goethe who wrote, Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Bad quotes what a pithy

by Paul Donovan (just the messenger)

A real woman is a mans best friend. She will never stand him up and never let him down. She will reassure him when he feels insecure and comfort him after a bad day. She will inspire him to do things he never thought he could do; to live without fear and forget regret. She will enable him to express his deepest emotions and make sure he always feels as though hes the most handsome man in the room. She will enable him to be the most confident, invincible no wait SORRY, Im thinking of whiskey. Its whiskey that does all that. Never mind. Uncle Dick After a failed assassination attempt, President Ronald Reagan said to the operating surgeons, I hope you are all Republicans. If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing. Benjamin Franklin.

No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country. George S. Patton Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies. Groucho Marx
I believe if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka and have a party. Ron White

As a child my familys menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it. Buddy Hackett I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific. Lilly Tomlin

A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, Im afraid of widths. Steven Wright I used to be Snow White, but I drifted. Mae West Be thankful were not getting all the government were paying for. Will Rogers Happiness is having a large, loving, caring close-knit family in another city. George Burns

Before you criticize somebody, walk a mile in their shoes. Then, youll be a mile away from them and youll have their shoes. Anonymous A couple was asked what was the secret to them being married for 65 years. Response: We were born in an age where if something was broken you fixed it, not throw the thing away. My children love my mother and I tell my children that is not the same woman I grew up with. That is an old woman trying to get into heaven now. Bill Cosby

The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground. G.K. Chesterton

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Flood Insurance ReformThe Grimm Waters Act

The President has signed the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, also known as H.R.3370 or Grimm-Waters. You would have thought they could come up with a better name than that! Heres what it means to you. New rates will not be in effect for another 9-11 months. FEMA needs six months to develop regulations and mandates a 45-day consultation period with Write Your Own (WYO) carriers before final implementation. Carriers will need several months to rewrite software; address process changes; and train staff before sending out renewals 45-60 days before the law's effective date.

Biggert-Waters will continue to be in effect for almost another year - some property owners may pay higher BiggertWaters rates for two premium terms. The legislation caps annual rate increases at an average of 15 percent for most residential policies. Recently, the full actuarial rate went into effect under Biggert-Waters, bringing annual premium increases of 18 percent for primary homeowners. New policies on pre-firm properties will not require elevation certificates and photos. Homebuyers do not need to pay the full-risk rate for pre-FIRMS at the time of purchase. Grandfathering is restored. Cap rates are increasing between 5-15 percent. Newly mapped properties will be treated like subsidized, grandfathered properties. The new legislation will require FEMA to issue a refund to policyholders who have overpaid premiums under Biggert Waters. FEMA has not determined when and how this will happen. Businesses, secondary homes and severe-repetitive properties will continue to see their premiums go up by 25 percent a year until reaching a level consistent with their real risk of flooding. Most homeowner policies will include an annual $25 surcharge, while businesses and second homes will accrue a $250 fee.

I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. W. C. Fields Top Insurance Headlines for April 2014
Man charged with defrauding over 270 Floridians in insurance scam - David Glincher was charged with white col-

lar theft of up to $300,000 for allegedly filing auto claims on behalf of consumers who were either unaware of the filings or never received claim payouts.
Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 - On March 8th 2014 a Boeing 777-200 ER took off from Kuala Lumpur bound

for Beijing China and disappeared with 12 crew members and 227 passengers. The planes transponder and automatic messaging systems went down (or were shut off) and the plane has not been heard from again. As of this print, no evidence of wreckage has been found. Life insurance companies have already started processing claims.

Earthquake rattles southern California - A 4.1 magnitude earthquake near Rowland Heights CA struck shortly after a 5.1 magnitude on Friday March 28th. After shocks have numbered in the 100s and Californians are bracing for the next Big One. No significant damage has been reported. triggered by heavy rains, released a mud-slide with horrific results. Rescuers continue to search through the debris.

In Oso Washington Mud-slide kills 22 with 26 still unaccounted for - On March 22nd a large expanse of land Russia occupies and annexes Crimea from the Ukraine - The Crimean peninsula was part of the Ukraine as of

March 1st. However, as of March 16th, the people of Crimea have voted to secede from their original country and become part of Russia. The international ramifications could affect trade sanctions and the flow of natural resources. We will wait, watch and see how the international community reacts. As the Crimea is a critical shipping port area, multiple billions in insured property assets could be at risk.
GM to recall 2.6 million vehicles with ignition system problems - a damaging report states that GM knew about, but

failed to act on, an expensive fix to a potentially lethal ignition switch problem (resulting in 13 deaths). Predictions are, that legal firms are gearing up for a class action suit.

Id rather regret the things Ive done than regret the things I havent done. Lucille Ball