Today’s post will cover a little bit about a whole lot. Let’s begin with Medicare… As licensed agents, we receive information from the Department of Insurance. The latest was urging Seniors to “be vigilant against Medicare Scams during open enrollment (AEP) which ends on December 7th.” We can’t stress this enough. The newsletter also warned against “high pressure” sales tactics. It's cooling down here in SWLA and relief from 100 degrees is definitely welcome but don't be fooled. Cooler does not mean our drought is over. We are still dangerously lacking in annual rainfall and the humidity is severely low for this time of year, making fires of any sort, a hazard. In fact, the burn ban is still in effect across the entire state except for Allen and Ascension parishes! Check out last month's post for more information. One great thing about fall is the cooler temps will help us avoid hurricanes, although we still need to be aware and alert for Gulf storms. So, stay prepared! Some folks are not a fan of colder temperatures and will be using their space heaters from here on through winter. Please be aware of safety measures when it comes to heating your home. Many choose fall for their family vacations. If you're one of them, check out our travel tips and have a wonderful time! Medicare AEP is open and it's time for Medicare recipients to review their coverage. If you are in need of a local Medicare agent, give us a call. Remember, you only have until December 7th to make changes to your Medicare insurance coverage. Don't put it off until the last minute and risk losing out on benefits that may be available to you! With fall comes Halloween and then we barrel into the Holiday season. Remember, kids will be out and about more and more as the year comes to an end. Stay alert and practice safe driving and holiday safety. As we move into the last quarter of 2023, we here at Curtis Insurance know and understand the value of kindness and gratitude and we'd like to take this time to Thank YOU ALL for your patronage. We appreciate your business and ask if you are happy with our services, please consider leaving a Google review. Until next time take care and remember.... in life you receive what you give, multiplied, therefore give good things, loving thoughts, kind words and deeds. Tommy Curtis and Staff Disclaimers: ALL material on this blog is available for informational purposes only. Life, Health and Medicare Products marketed through Curtis & Associates Financial Services, Inc. {A Life and Health Agency} Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information. Not connected or affiliated with any United States Government or State agency. Calling this number will direct you to a licensed Agent/Broker. *By contacting us and providing information, you agree that an authorized representative or licensed insurance agent may contact you by phone, e-mail or mail to answer your questions and provide additional information about Medicare Advantage, Part D or Medicare Supplement Insurance plans. Article © 2023 Pamela S Thibodeaux Back in 2018 we did a blog post on fire safety. At that time, we referred to indoor/house fires. We’ve been in a drought for months and under a burn ban for nearly as long, so today, let’s look at outdoor fire safety. On August 14th, Gov. John Bell Edwards declared a state of emergency due to the impact of extreme heat and wildfires in Louisiana. The entire state is under a burn ban. The four major wildfires in SW & Central Louisiana are still active and have burned nearly 50,000 acres combined. For decades now, we’ve seen commercials with Smokey the Bear educating us on how to prevent forest fires. Seems those tips need to be uppermost in our minds until the fall rains appear and the drought is over. So how can we do our part to prevent wildfires and help those fighting them? *OBEY the burn ban! Even a “small” trash pile can become a raging fire with one tiny shift of wind. Do. Not. Start. One. PERIOD. According to officials those caught disregarding the burn ban will be fined or jailed or both. *LISTEN to the news and remain vigilant of evacuation orders in your area should a fire erupt. Firefighters and law enforcement have enough to worry about in protecting homes. They do not need to be concerned with recovering bodies too. Homes can be replaced. Lives can’t. *KEEP your own fire-fighting equipment on hand and up to date. Most of us have a fire extinguisher or two hanging around. Have them checked to be sure they are sufficient to use should the need arise. Water hoses and buckets of sand are quick and easy ways to put out a small fire. Once you extinguish the blaze, check often to be sure no embers or coals are still ignitable. *BE CAREFUL while using gas-powered equipment such as tractors, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, edge trimmers, etc. Starting them can cause sparks. Hot mufflers can ignite dry grass. This goes for riding four-wheelers and other ATV’s in dried out fields. *HAVE an evacuation plan and supplies ready. Just like leaving for a hurricane or another natural disaster, being prepared is your best option. Pack a couple of bags with clothing, personal items, medical and legal papers, nonperishable food, etc. and keep them in a place where you can grab them and go. Check out our previous tips for hurricane preparedness, moving and travelling for more ideas. *BE CONSCIOUS of water conservation requests or requirements in your area. Watering lawns, filling swimming pools and the like are not smart when in a drought or during a fire emergency. Firefighting crews need all the help they can get to contain and control the flames. *BE VIGILANT weather-wise. Although rain is much needed, lightning is one of the dangers of a storm system. Keep your eye on the sky and if you see lightning strike a tree or something, do what you can, but don’t try and be a hero. Call local authorities for back up. Although the burn ban on grilling has been lifted in some areas do not leave your grill unattended and keep the fire-fighting equipment/items mentioned above handy. I never thought I’d see fires like these burning up our state. Please be considerate, vigilant, and wise in everything you do to help ensure the safety of your family and neighbors. Thank You, Tommy Curtis and Staff Disclaimers:
ALL material on this blog is available for informational purposes only. Life, Health and Medicare Products marketed through Curtis & Associates Financial Services, Inc. {A Life and Health Agency} Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information. Not connected or affiliated with any United States Government or State agency. Calling this number will direct you to a licensed Agent/Broker. *By contacting us and providing information, you agree that an authorized representative or licensed insurance agent may contact you by phone, e-mail or mail to answer your questions and provide additional information about Medicare Advantage, Part D or Medicare Supplement Insurance plans. Article © 2023 Pamela S Thibodeaux Although "Summer" isn't officially over until September 23rd (first day of Fall) here in SWLA and around the country many consider summer's end when school starts. That said, let's look at some things to stay aware of as we move into the end of 3rd and last quarter of 2023. School is back in session in many states and communities so slow down and pay attention to your surroundings! Too many parents live the ultimate nightmare when their child is injured or killed while on his/her way to school or sports practice. Lots of teens get a license and/or new car which means more drivers on the road, many of them inexperienced. We've entered into the Holiday Season and we, here at Curtis Insurance, would like to take a moment to say how much we APPRECIATE our loyal and valued clients. You are more than a "customer" you are a friend and we honor your trust in us to fulfill your insurance needs. Our office is closed Thursday (11/25) and Friday (11/26) in honor of Thanksgiving and we certainly wish you and your family the most Blessed of days. We will re-open normal business hours (9-5) on 11/29. Before you leave our site, please take a moment to review some of our blog posts that are extremely relevant to this time of year. Beginning with Medicare AEP and Holiday Safety Tips, we've a host of information to benefit you in so many ways. Be sure and check out our Stress Buster post. Hopefully it'll help you stay calm and serene during the hustle and bustle of the upcoming weeks. Soon we'll be entering into a brand-new year! Our article, Take Control of Your Life will give you ideas on how to start 2022 in a healthy place. Once again, Happy Thanksgiving and Thank YOU...We appreciate your patronage! Tommy Curtis and Staff Disclaimers: Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information. Not connected or affiliated with any United States Government or State agency Life and Medicare Products marketed through Curtis & Associates Financial Services, Inc. {A Life and Health Agency} Due to the stay-home orders which have been in place for months now, insurance companies are receiving several claims from not unusual, but uncommon, damages. This led to some important information you need to know to help keep your home safe. Although Fire Safety was covered in our Jan. 2018 blog post, we need to reiterate some of that information here, mainly, keeping the batteries changed in your smoke detectors. One of the biggest sources of fires outside of winter months are candles. Therefore, it is imperative you do not leave candles burning unattended! Also, keep candles away from drapes, towels, rugs, and other flammable items. Another cause of fire claims lately – Dryer Vents. Dust and Lint are fire hazards so keeping your dryer vent clean and clog-free will help alleviate heat build-up which could result in a fire. Our office will be closed Thursday (11/22) and Friday (11/23) in observance of the Thanksgiving holidays. We will reopen on Monday (11/26) at normal business hours of 9am - 5pm. Medicare Annual Enrollment is coming to a close. Only 2 weeks left! (ends 12/7). If you're aging into Medicare or in the market for a new Medicare plan, please give one of our licensed agents a call at: 337-439-7730 Meanwhile, as the days get shorter and colder, please refresh yourself on Fire Safety, Holiday Safety and tips on Travelling Smart. We hope you enjoy our blog and find the posts beneficial and informative and we wish you a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving! Tommy Curtis and Staff Nearly every day in the news we hear of a disaster involving fire. Whether wildfires raging across thousands of acres or a single-family dwelling engulfed in flames, this kind of news leaves us feeling vulnerable and helpless. We’ve experienced colder-than-normal temperatures here in SW LA, many days bordering on frigid, therefore fire safety comes to mind. We mentioned a few tips in our Holiday Safety Tips article like checking the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and unplugging electric heaters, but let’s see if there are other things important to fire safety we can share with you…. |
Tommy Curtis
Is an insurance agent with integrity and your best interest in mind. Call to speak directly to him. Contact us Phone: 337-433-1683 Address: 509 7th Street Lake Charles, LA 70601 Office Hours: M-F 9a - 5p (CST) Follow Us
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