Insurance

How Do I Insure The Family Farm In North Central Washington?

Posted on by Matt McColm
Farm Insurance is a thing

Not everyone has the opportunity to grow up with chickens, hoeing weeds and running irrigation lines. It is important to protect the farm for the next generation.

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When insuring a farm, it’s important to consider a range of coverages to protect your property, assets, and operations. The specific coverages you need can vary depending on the size and type of your farm, but here are some common types of insurance coverage to consider:

Farm Property Insurance: This provides coverage for damage to your farm’s physical structures, including barns, silos, equipment sheds, and your farmhouse. It can also cover the loss of farm equipment and machinery.

Crop Insurance: Not all crops can do this however for some crops like apples, pears, cherries, and wheat it can be to your benefit. If you are a crop farmer, crop insurance can protect against losses due to hail, disease, pests, and other factors that can damage or destroy your crops.

Livestock Insurance: This coverage protects your livestock (cattle, poultry, swine, etc.) from risks such as disease outbreaks, accidents, or theft.

Health Insurance: Farming is dangerous having health insurance so when people get sick or injured is critical for a sustained operation.

Liability Insurance: Farm liability insurance protects you in case someone is injured on your property or if your farming activities cause harm to others. It can also cover legal expenses if you are sued.

What about the Orchard Truck?

Farm Auto Insurance: If you have vehicles used for farming, such as tractors, trucks, or ATVs, you’ll need insurance to cover them. This can include coverage for accidents, theft, and liability.

Equipment Breakdown Insurance: This type of coverage helps repair or replace farm equipment that breaks down due to mechanical or electrical failures. If you have ever had a well pump go out in July or a harvester break down in the middle of harvest then you know how critical this coverage is.

Farmers’ Personal Property Insurance: This covers personal property items used in farming, such as tools and equipment, that may not be covered under your standard homeowner’s insurance.

Umbrella Insurance: This provides additional liability coverage that goes beyond the limits of your other policies. It can be valuable if you have significant assets to protect.

An Alpaca hobby or gentleman farm is a very different operation than a U-Pick Orchard with a Hayride. When you have fewer than 10 horses with no boarding or breeding then your ranch has more options. Barndominums are also making a surge as people combining the home with an agriculture lifestyle.

Farms and Ranch can be tricky and we like to have conversations to see if something is missed during the application. We can help you assess your risks and tailor a policy that provides the appropriate coverage for your specific farm operation. The specific coverage you need will depend on your farm’s size, location, and the type of crops or livestock you produce.

Whether you are running a Lavender Farm up the Methow, Black Angus out of Aeneas Valley, or putting in a vineyard in Chelan. We want to work with you to make sure that you are a success for years to come.

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Topics: Farm Insurance, Healthcare, Crop Insurance, Apple, Wheat, Mi Seguro, Seguro de Salud, Chelan, Okanogan, Ranch Insurance, Wenatchee Insurance, Independent Insurance Agent

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Medicare and Health Insurance Appointments

Posted on by Matt McColm
We have your insurance

October 15th through December 7th is the Annual Open Enrollment Period for Medicare. This allows people on Medicare plans to make an adjustment for plans that start the following year. If you had a big change in health or want to review plans then this is your chance to do so.

Book your appointment now

Medicare Appointment

Health is different. Health starts November 1st and runs until December 15th for plans that start January 1st. Then there is a bonus enrollment from December 16th through January 15th for plans that start February 1st.

Book Health or Medicare with Suzie in Wenatchee

Health appointment with Suzie

With our past enrollments we know that space is going to be limited. To give you a better understanding.

We have grown a lot!

We have sped up considerable. As the following is new policies that we have written for just 2023. This is not our full list as renewals grow every year for us.

We provide all of our clients with the opportunity to understand and change policies every year. This is why we request clients that want this opportunity to set their appointment ASAP. Yes, we have grown 241% since 2019. We run 7 days a week for most of the enrollment period.

PEBB and other retirement plans

If you want information about a PEBB Plan then you have to go to the Healthcare Authority. They do not contract with brokers and do not provide training for your plans. We recognize that they can use additional customer service but we can not answer your retirement plan questions during Enrollment Periods. Go here for PEBB & SEBB information and contact your state representative for more customer service for your retirement plan.

Apple Health at Wenatchee Insurance

The Apple Health Unwinding has a huge amount of people looking for insurance.

Apple Health started verifying their clients in April this year. This was after several years of pause due to the medical emergency. We set up a website and have been working hard at assisting everyone that we can in Central Washington keep their Apple Health or transfer into a plan that they can afford. Suzie and Matt work with Apple Health out of our office at 413 Mission in Wenatchee.

Healthcare Regardless of Immigration Status.

Matt at the Enrollment Center has been waiting for nearly a decade. November 1st we start Enrolling. A person can set their appointment now. Selection your appointment now and you can have a plan that starts January 1st 2024!

Suzie Appointment

An Home, Auto, or Business Policy in Wenatchee or start a quote on our Website.

Topics: Health Insurance, Medicare, Prescription, Plan D, Medicare Advantage, Enrollment Center, Wenatchee Insurance, Quincy, Immigrant Health Insurance, Medicaid, Apple Health, Unwinding, Molina, Community Health, Amerigroup,

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How does insurance bundling save me money?

Posted on by Matt McColm

Insurance bundling, also known as multi-line or multi-policy insurance, refers to the practice of purchasing multiple insurance policies from the same insurance company. Instead of buying individual policies for different types of coverage, such as auto, home, and life insurance, a customer can bundle these policies together.

While this used to be common in captive insurance companies, it has expanded into independent agencies as well. Some insurance providers will provide a bundling discount if another policy is within the same agency!

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Insurance bundling is convenient and can save money. Insurance companies typically offer discounts to customers who bundle multiple policies with them. This can lead to reduced premiums compared to purchasing each policy separately from different providers. Additionally, bundling simplifies the administrative process, as customers only need to deal with one insurance company for their various policies.

Common types of insurance policies that are bundled include:

Auto and Home Insurance: Combining these two policies is a common example of bundling. Customers who own both a vehicle and a home can benefit from a discount by purchasing both policies from the same insurer.

Life and Health Insurance: Some insurance companies offer life insurance and health insurance bundles. Yes, we can assist with Dental, Life, Health, and Medicare Insurance along with property.

Business Insurance Bundles: For business owners, insurance companies often offer packages that combine different types of business insurance, such as general liability, cyber coverage, commercial property, and business interruption insurance. These are often referred to as a Business Owner’s Policy or BOP.

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Umbrella Insurance: An umbrella policy provides additional liability coverage beyond the limits of your underlying auto or home insurance. Bundling an umbrella policy with auto insurance can provide comprehensive protection.

While insurance bundling can offer financial and administrative benefits, it’s essential to carefully review the terms, coverage limits, and costs associated with each bundled policy. Sometimes, the cost savings from bundling might be outweighed by limitations or higher premiums for specific coverage types. It’s good practice to compare bundled prices with the total cost of individual policies to ensure that you’re getting the best value and appropriate coverage for your needs.

chat with Shayla
We make quotes easy

Topics: Wenatchee Insurance, Insurance Quote, Home Insurance, Car Insurance, Mobile home insurance, Apple Health, Medicare, Wenatchee, Chelan, Fire Insurance, Okanogan, Douglas County, Independent Insurance Agency, Insurance Shopping,

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When can I enroll in Medicare?

Posted on by Matt McColm
Turning 65 then we can help with Medicare
You can enroll in Medicare before your 65th Birthday.

Suzie McColm has been assisting people to enroll in health insurance and Medicare for over a decade. If you are local in the Wenatchee Valley, then you might have even seen her during her Safeway or Shopko days as a Pharmacy Technician. She is a licensed insurance producer in the state of Washington.

appointment with Suzie

The top question that she gets is when can I enroll in Medicare?

To enroll in Medicare, including the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), here is what you need to know:

The initial enrollment period for Medicare typically starts three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after your birthday month. This seven-month period is called the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). During the IEP, you can enroll in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance).

For example: if your Birthday was July 4, 2023 then you could start enrolling with your IEP starting in April and have Medicare coverage starting July 1st. You would have until all the way until the end of October for your Initial Enrollment Period.

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), also known as the Fall Open Enrollment Period, occurs every year from October 15th to December 7th. During this period, you can make changes to your Medicare coverage. Set an appointment early if you would like assistance.

Here are some actions you can take during the AEP:

  1. Switch from Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) to a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C).
  2. Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
  3. Change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another.
  4. Join, drop, or switch Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

It’s important to note that the AEP is primarily for making changes to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. If you are satisfied with your current Medicare coverage and don’t need to make any changes, you don’t have to do anything during the AEP.

appointment with Suzie

Remember we answer questions year-round about Medicare and Healthcare. The state of Washington does not contract with us regarding SEBB or PEBB options for those questions please go directly to the Health Care Authority.  

Topics: Suzie Health Solutions, Medicare, Chelan County, Health Insurance, Wenatchee Insurance, Enrollment Period, Wenatchee Medicare Insurance, Pharmacy, Enrollment Center, PEBB, SEBB

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