Don’t Wait to Renew Your Passport

Americans planning international travel face processing delays

by Larry Bleiberg, AARP, Updated July 19, 2021 | Renew Your Passport | Shield Insurance

En español | If you’re planning an international trip, check your passport’s expiration date now. It could take more than four months to get a new one.

The U.S. State Department projects a wait of up to 18 weeks for renewals, and some customers are reporting even longer delays. Those paying an extra $60 for expedited service can still expect to wait up to 12 weeks for their document. Those processing times begin the day the department receives your application, not the day you mail it.

And appointments for last-minute, in-person processing are extremely limited.

The problem is — what else? — COVID-19.

In March 2020, when pandemic restrictions were first imposed, the State Department sent most employees home, and severely scaled back processing applications. When workers began to return to the office, in June 2020, they faced a backlog of applications. Now, a year later, they still haven’t caught up with the demand, a State Department spokesman said. There are also mail delivery delays, according to the State Department website, which notes that the 18-month processing-time estimate includes up to six weeks for mailing.

As more people get vaccinated and begin to plan international trips, the backlog is likely to grow, resulting in even longer processing delays. “Put your forms in as fast as you can,” says Jeremy Scott Foster of TravelFreak.com, a travel advice website. “Unfortunately, there is no workaround. All queues are long.”

The passport delay has caused some travelers to cancel trips. For example, Samantha Meabon, a physician assistant from western Pennsylvania, needed a new passport because of a name change. The process took four months, forcing her to cancel a planned trip to St. Lucia and Martinique in the Caribbean in May. “Although we planned much further ahead of time than we normally would, we ended up having to continue to postpone international travel,” she says.

Another reason to renew early: Some countries won’t admit travelers with passports that expire in less than six months.

How to apply for or renew a passport

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How to Bundle Home and Auto Insurance

U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

By Jim Travers | July 12, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. | US News.com | Bundle Home and Auto Insurance

Insurance bundling simply means buying your home insurance and auto or other coverage from the same company. Bundling insurance policies can have some advantages; most notably, potential savings on your overall insurance costs. It can also simplify your bill paying and record keeping. But bundling doesn’t guarantee savings, and it may not be the right choice for you. We’ll explain why below, along with how bundling works, the advantages and disadvantages, and the potential pitfalls.

What Is Insurance Bundling?

Purchasing more than one insurance policy from the same company is a common practice known as bundling. It can sometimes save customers money compared to buying homeowners and auto or other insurance policies through different companies. More formally known as a multipolicy discount or multiple line discount, insurance companies encourage bundling as a means of saving money on your overall bill. Most insurers advertise savings of between 10% and 25% when bundling two or more policies, compared to what they would charge for each policy individually.

Insurance companies like bundling as a way to generate additional revenue from the same customer. Research has also indicated that customers who bundle policies tend to stay with the same company longer.

If you’re buying your first home, bundling is especially worth considering. It’s also an excellent time to review all your insurance needs and get competitive quotes from several companies, especially if you haven’t reviewed your auto policy or other coverage in a year or more. As your situation changes over time, it’s important to make sure your insurance keeps up.

A good place to start is by seeing if you can get a better rate with your existing insurance company by adding a homeowners policy – just make sure you get competitive quotes from other providers first. You might end up switching to another company with lower overall rates, or you may be able to use a lower quote as a negotiating tool with your current insurance company.

While you’re getting quotes, think about all your insurance needs and consider any changes or updates you want to make to all your policies. The more types of insurance you bundle, the more money you may be able to save. It’s possible that not all insurers will offer all the coverage you need, so focus your search on companies that do.

Bundling insurance has other advantages, like allowing you to track and update your policies through one company website or app. It can also simplify paying your bills.

Finding a company that will give you the best discount will probably require some research, and rates will vary depending on the types of coverage you need, your location, your credit status, your claim history, and other factors. It’s worth doing your own research online, because everyone’s situation is different. Just because a friend or relative gets a good rate with one company doesn’t mean that you will.

Does Bundling Insurance Save Money?

There’s a good chance you will save money by bundling your home insurance with another policy such as your automobile, boat, RV, or life insurance. Your specific savings will vary, depending on where you live, how many policies you bundle, your credit rating, your claim history, and other factors.

Click here for more on Bundle Home and Auto Insurance..


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Farmers Market in Hudsonville, MI

Visit Shield Insurance at the Farmers Market
on July 28, August 25, and September 25

Register to win a RoboVac 35C Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum Regularly priced at $300 !

The weather was beautiful for a morning out and about for the first Hudsonville Farmers Market. The food and people were fabulous and it was fun to meet a lot of new people. Come and see us!

Click here to visit the Farmers Market web site for all the details!

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How Big Data Drives Insurance Innovation and Better Experiences

How big data drives insurance innovation and better experiences

As advanced technologies continue to fuel disruptive changes in many industries today, insurers are intent on leveraging the benefits of big data, also known as data analytics, to help improve everything from customer service to underwriting.

Here are three areas where the value of data analytics and technology is already fueling insurance innovation and better customer experiences.

  • AI-based underwriting
    Artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating the technology revolution currently underway in insurance. In fact, according to one forecast, the transformative effect of AI and machine learning on the insurance process just can’t be overstated. As AI continues to evolve, the report concludes, it’s likely to shift insurance from the perspective of “detect and repair” to “predict and prevent.” In our connected world of big data and digital devices, for example, insurers already are leveraging usage-based information to better understand customer risks and coverage needs. This predictive data is inspiring new products, more tailored underwriting, and real-time service delivery. Consider a manufacturing facility where information from wearable-equipped employees and fleet telematics is connected to an actuarial database. Using AI algorithms, an insurer could calculate the business’s risk based on employees’ and vehicles’ activities, as well as the probability and severity of potential events. The benefits of a data-driven approach help both customers and insurers by:
    • Encouraging safety;
    • Delivering more accurate risk assessments and underwriting;
    • Helping to reduce claims costs; and
    • Changing the customer-insurer relationship from reactive to proactive.

The bottom line? When first-hand data informs the insurance situation, the benefits can include better risk identification and underwriting evaluation and more tailored solutions

Proactive policy management via big data automation

Technology is also creating easier access to more reliable data and speedier evaluation of risk.

Liberty Mutual Insurance and its technology partners are harnessing this power of big data to more accurately identify account opportunities and develop proactive coverage solutions for customers. Through its latest relationship with Intellect SEEC, for example, thousands of third-party data sources – like court filings, industry data, and government records, – are analyzed and packaged into actionable information so underwriters can more quickly identify, underwrite, and service potential accounts. The result is a win-win for brokers and customers, providing:

An enhanced ability to understand each potential customer’s insurance service and product needs,

An ongoing window into an account to identify new needs, which can help to customize coverage options and solutions to meet changing risks.

With these deeper insights, Liberty Mutual can more quickly understand current and potential customer needs and create product solutions that help customers better manage their exposures. 

  • Smart contracts powered by blockchain
    As blockchain technology continues to matu

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Hello 2020-21 NBA Season!

Things you need to know about the 2020-21 NBA season

Here are some common questions and answers about the format, rules, scheduling, structure, and health protocols of the 2020-21 NBA season.

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced on Nov. 9 that they’ve struck a deal on rules for the 2020-21 NBA season, which will start on Dec. 22. On November 10, the NBA’s Board of Governors approved the amended Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2020-21 by a unanimous vote, allowing the 2020-21 season to begin. The NBA announced the 2020-21 season structure and format, including a playoff Play-In Tournament on Nov. 17.

In anticipation of the new NBA season, here are some common questions and answers about the 2020-21 NBA season.


Q: When does the 2020-21 NBA season begin and end?

Dec. 22 is the start date. The end of the 2020-21 season is tentatively scheduled for May 16.

Q: When did training camps open? When was the preseason?

Individual player workouts ran from Dec. 1-5 with Media “Week” taking place during the same time frame. Group player workouts went from Dec. 6-10 and the preseason ran from Dec. 11-19. In the preseason, each team played a minimum of two and a maximum of four games as part of the NBA’s 49-game preseason schedule. The game schedule for the 2020 preseason is available here.

Q: How many games will each team play in the 2020-21 NBA season

Each team will play 72 regular-season games, which is 10 games fewer than in a typical, 82-game NBA season.

Q: What does the 2020-21 schedule look like?

The schedule will be released in two segments, with the First Half of the schedule coming around the start of training camp and the Second Half of the schedule coming out during the latter part of the First Half. For now, the plan is for each team to play three games against each intraconference opponent (42 total), and two against each interconference opponent (30 games).

Q: How will the Play-In Tournament be structured?

The Play-In Tournament, which will take place after the regular season and before the first round of the playoffs, will include the teams with the seventh-highest through the tenth-highest winning percentages in each conference. For further information on the Play-In Tournament, click here.

Q: What are the Key Dates for the 2020-21 NBA season?

• Dec. 1-5: Individual player workouts and Media “Week”
• Dec. 6-10: Group player workouts begin• Dec. 11-19: Preseason games
• Dec. 22 – March 4: First Half of regular season
 March 5-9: All-Star break
 March 10-May 16: Second Half of regular season
 March 25: NBA Trade Deadline
 May 13-15: Class of 2020 Hall of Fame Enshrinement
 May 18-21: Play-In Tournament
 May 22-July 22: 2021 NBA Playoffs

Click here for the rest of the story…


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Careful when choosing your deductible

Choosing Your Deductible | Shield Insurance Agency Blog | Start A Quote Today!

Careful when choosing your deductible

A high deductible is often a great way to keep your insurance premiums down.  However, you shouldn’t set a deductible that is so high that you cannot afford to pay the deductible when you have a claim.  I’ve seen people change their collision deductible from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible because money was tight and this allowed them to save about $10 per month on the premium.

Wouldn’t you know it, but not even 2 months later they ended up in an At-Fault accident.  Money was tight so they didn’t have that $1,000 to get the vehicle repaired. It took forever to save up that $1,000 so they were down to one vehicle which made it tough getting back and forth to work.

Please make sure you have something in savings for an emergency.  Whether it’s a car accident or your furnace breaks down. Emergencies will happen, but if you’re prepared, you can transform that emergency into an inconvenience.

submitted by Joe


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Healthcare.gov Encouraging Latino Enrollment

HHS Announces Partnerships to Encourage Latino Enrollment through HealthCare.gov

Today, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra announced commitments from national organizations to support Latino outreach and enrollment efforts during the current Special Enrollment Period (SEP) made available on HealthCare.gov by President Biden due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. As part of the Latino Week of Action, April 18 – 24, these organizations and HHS will share information with Latino consumers and use social media to encourage them to enroll in affordable, quality health plans through HealthCare.gov.

“Helping communities take advantage of reduced costs on quality health care coverage is a priority for this Department. In addition to putting our money where our mouth is, we are partnering with key organizations representing the Latino community to engage their knowledge and network to promote enrollment in quality, affordable health insurance coverage during this Special Enrollment Period,” said HHS Secretary Becerra. “To the many Latinos who may have lost health care coverage during the pandemic, I am here to tell you that ‘help is here.’ Health care coverage is more affordable for people and assistance is available if you need help finding a health plan that best meets your needs.”

To read the HHS press release in Spanish, visit:
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/04/19/hhs-announces-commitments-from-partners-to-encourage-latino-consumers-es.html

To read the HHS press release in English, visit:

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/04/19/hhs-announces-commitments-from-partners-to-encourage-latino-consumers.html

Health Insurance Marketplace sent this bulletin at 04/19/2021 02:05 PM EDT


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Anchoring Your Mobile Home - Shield Insurance Agency Blog

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Is your mobile home anchored and secured? Here are some great tips on anchoring your own mobile home! Shield Insurance Agency represents almost 40 insurance companies and will work to find you the best price for the most insurance. Call or Text 616.896.4600 for a free quote today!

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Remember the time when you tried to carry all the groceries inside with only one trip? Yep, people are busy. Shield Insurance Agency represents almost 40 insurance companies and will work to find you the best price for the most insurance. Call or Text 616.896.4600 for a free analysis and quote today!

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