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.

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 ​It’s that time of year again where the television is filled with commercials on what you can spend your tax refund on. Granted, with many folks still in rebuild after the weather events of 2020/2021, new furniture or a vacation sounds lovely.

But is that really the wisest use of your hard-earned dollars?
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Let’s look at a few ideas….

It’s “Life Insurance Awareness Month” and we’ve shared several articles with you over the years to encourage you to consider how important insuring your love (life) is. We’ve talked about juvenile life insurance, explored frequently asked questions and explained the differences in whole and universal life. There is no shortage of information on our blog and website to educate you on the importance of life insurance. So, instead of boring you with statistics and other useless data, I have a question for you….

How much IS your life worth?

The National Hurricane Center is considering changing Hurricane Season from June 1 to May 15th.

You’ve got to be kidding me – Right!?!

Let’s face it, many of us haven’t fully recovered from 2020 hurricanes and now, as if we don’t have enough to fret about, the powers that be in the Weather Center want to add 2 more weeks of hurricane worry upon us.

In our first post of this year, we talked about ways to take control of your life, one of which was taking control of your health.

Today we’re going to share a few ideas on ways to manage stress.

According to The American Institute of Stress, over 100,000 people die each year due to stress related illnesses and injuries.

Why are we so stressed?
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We’re so busy chasing things…career, new house, new car, new…bigger and better… half the time, many don’t even realize they are stressed until they’ve ended up in the doctor’s office or hospital with health problems related to their lifestyle. Add to this a global pandemic, two hurricanes and an ice storm and our friends and neighbors here in SW Louisiana are finding themselves with all sorts of stress-related symptoms. Headaches, stomach issues, insomnia, and depression are almost always connected to external circumstances.
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Here’s the rub: Stress is a mindset.

Think this isn’t true? Just check out these stress busters and you’ll see what I mean….

   We’ve made it through January and February is nearly 
   half over, but did you know in old Roman times, when
   the calendar only had 10 months, February was actually
   the end of the year and March the beginning? It is still
  unclear when that changed to twelve months with
  January and February beginning the calendar year, but I
  thought it was an interesting fact to share. Which leads
  up to the actual topic of this post….

Changes Curtis Insurance is making in 2021.

Although we will continue to service our existing clients, Curtis Insurance will no longer sell Home or Flood insurance policies. There are many reasons for this decision, the main one being changes to our staff, two of which are in the early stages of retirement and we wish them the BEST in their endeavors.

With this in mind, we no longer offer Permit or Notary Bonds either.

However, we’d be honored to be your #1 choice for Auto, Recreational Vehicle and Renters Insurance and are continuing to focus on meeting the needs of our community by offering Medicare and Life Insurance through our sister company, Curtis & Associates.

If we may be of service to you in any, or all of these areas, please give us a call or come by our office at 509 7th St. in Lake Charles and let us help you!

Until next time take care and remember…. Change is inevitable, how you handle it is up to you.

Tommy Curtis and Staff
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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}

Happy New Year!

It’s that time when most people ring out the old (goodbye 2020!) and ring in the new with goals and resolutions to improve their lives. Not sure how you feel, but these first few weeks of January … well, I’m not so sure about 2021.

Despite the circumstances around us, we are still pretty much in control of our destiny. How?

By the thoughts we entertain and the decisions we make. With that in mind, here are a few areas you can focus on to take control of and improve your life….

#1: Your Finances: Yeah, yeah, yeah, easier said than done. Right? Not necessarily! Small changes to your spending and saving habits can reap real results. Check out these articles written by one of our agents to get easy and effective ways you can take control of your financial health.

#2: Your Insurance: Yes, insurance is a major part of everyone’s life, and it is important to make sure yours is up to date with your current circumstances. Medicare Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – March 31) is a chance for some Medicare recipients to review and revise their Medicare options. February is “Insure Your Love” Month and a good time to review your Life Insurance. Did the new year bring new changes to your household? Got a new car, new recreational vehicle or newly licensed teen driver? Review these insurance  policies and make sure you are properly covered. Many have learned the hard way their home insurance isn’t up to par so now, more than ever it’s imperative your home is properly insured. Make sure your repairs are complete before you apply for additional or new coverage though, as pre-existing conditions can hinder your policy.

#3: Your Health: Whether number one or last on your list, taking control of your health is important, and like with your finances, small steps toward overall improvement can go a long way. Healthy eating/lifestyle is a billion-dollar industry but there are many changes you can make yourself for little or no cost. Here are a few ideas to get you started….

     Get Moving! Studies have proven that frequent 10-minute walks are just as beneficial as longer jaunts 3-5 times each week. Too cold? There are walking videos you can do in the privacy of your own home. Like to dance? Check out the numerous dance-type exercise routines. With the many options out there (fitness centers, videos, online classes, etc.), all the excuses for not exercising no longer apply.

     Make one change to your eating habits (notice I didn’t say ‘diet’) each week or month. Give up that extra serving or slice of bread. Make a list of things you’d like to eliminate from your diet (okay, I said it LOL!) and give up one or two a month. Watch your sugar intake, especially “added” sugars.

     Celebrate the small victories! Need to lose 40, 50 or more pounds? Don’t look at how far you have to go, look at how far you’ve come. An easy way to do this is to journal your weight-loss journey and goals. Keep a positive outlook and appreciate the good things that come from the small changes you make.     
 
  Get on a good nutrition and/or vitamin regimen. Make an appointment with a nutritionist or naturopath and work out a plan that fits your lifestyle and budget.
               
   Quit Smoking: Again, this is an area many feel powerless to overcome but that’s not true!

We’ve all heard the old adage, “Mind over Matter” and nothing holds truer than this when it comes to healthy changes to improve your life. For the most part, changing your habits is more of a mental thing than physical so think about how you can change your thoughts. Here’s where investing in a therapist or life coach can help.

We spend hundreds of dollars each year entertaining ourselves, why not invest in a living a healthy life? 

We here at Curtis Insurance/Curtis & Associates wish your a blessed and prosperous 2021.

Until next time take care and remember.... What you don't control, controls you....

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}

We've hardly had a chance to catch our breath after Hurricane Laura and here we are, facing Delta. 

We've shared with you tips on Hurricane Preparedness, travelling and moving but here are a few more tips we've learned since evacuating August 26th.....

Even if you were lucky enough to not have a claim due to Laura, take your home and flood insurance policies with you should you evacuate for Delta! Many folks were left unprepared to file their claim because they didn't think to grab that insurance policy when packing to evacuate. Your policy gives important details about your coverage as well as phone numbers you need in the instance of a claim. 

Make sure your auto policy is with you also, especially if you have Comprehensive and Collision coverage and be sure you have a current ID card on hand. 

If you evacuate and end up in the hospital - Do NOT allow anyone to change your Medicare plan! We've had this happen and the results are not always what is best for you. Your Medicare Supplement travels with you and your Medicare Advantage plan pays for emergency services whether you are in your network or not. Only in the instance of a permanent move outside your network area should you change your plan.

Please be careful allowing someone to "help" you by changing "part" of your Medicare plan. A Medicare Advantage plan usually includes RX so someone changing "only the drug portion" - changes your entire plan! You may end up with only basic Medicare and a drug plan leaving YOU to pay the 20% Medicare does not pay on covered charges and perhaps even more. This is especially important if you're on Medicare AND Medicaid!

Hope these tips help. Take care of your health and protect home as well as possible from further damage. I know, this isn't always easy, especially now, but do your best. We are praying with and for you.

Tommy Curtis and Staff

Life and Medicare Products marketed through Curtis & Associates Financial Services, Inc. {A Life and Health Agency} ​