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
​
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} ​

 
​ Many States have enacted a moratorium preventing     insurance   companies from cancelling and non-renewing     policies for non-   payment to the insurance carriers during     the Covid-19 crisis. 
 
 DON'T LOOK AT THIS AS FREE INSURANCE!
 
​The insurance carriers are only delaying your payment due date. This does not apply to automatic payments via bank draft/EFT. Know also, delaying your payment due date does not mean you won’t have to pay at all. What it may do is cause a “balloon” payment to be due when you least expect it. Any unpaid amounts could eventually be turned over to collections if not paid when expected.
 
Don't let your credit history take a hit.
 
What can you do to keep your insurance affordable and still pay on-time?
 
Look at a reducing your insurance coverage.  With auto insurance, you must (at least) have minimum liability as required by most state laws. If your vehicle is financed, you must secure the lien holder’s interest by having comprehensive & collision coverage.  However, you can increase your deductible on these coverages. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium. Talk with your insurance carrier or insurance agent about possible options. 
 
If you can't afford the EXTRA coverage and are not required to have it, do without during this time. You can modify your coverage when you are back on your feet and financially able.  
 
What about the young drivers on your policy who are home-bound during this quarantine period? You can contact your insurance carrier to see about excluding drivers who are NOT driving during this period of time. Be careful with this option though. If your young driver is behind the wheel at any time, they need to be listed and removing them then letting them take the vehicle somewhere is not a good idea! Also, remember to change them back from an excluded to rated driver once the stay-home order is lifted and life returns to normal.
 
These are strange and scary times but whatever you decide, protecting what’s important should be top on your list of priorities. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can get by without proper insurance on your auto(s), home or even life!

Until next time, take care, be safe and stay informed!

Tommy Curtis & Staff
 
DIsclaimer:  NOT everyone will fall under this moratorium. You can still be cancelled for nonpayment if your new policy effective date is during the moratorium. In doubt, always talk with your insurance carrier to see if you qualify for this moratorium. You will also be cancelled or non-renewed for fraud and/or misrepresentation.  

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined writing a post like this one, but, with the world gone crazy over this Corona Virus, I thought I’d let you know how we, here at Curtis Insurance, and the Home/Life/Medicare companies we represent are handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although our office is remaining open - as of now - we are taking precautions like everyone else. We limit our exposure to outside traffic, encouraging our clients to pay their premiums online or directly to the company by phone when possible. We’re asking our patrons to be as cautious as we are by not coming into the office if you are currently experiencing any flu-like symptoms or have any reason to believe you may have been inadvertently exposed to this virus.

Our regular contacts at Home and Auto insurance companies are working remotely – from home – but still active. Turn-around time is slower than normal, but we are still in business.

Our Medicare clients are urged to stay inside! Order your medications and OTC items directly through the company and avoid being in the public for things you can have delivered directly to your door. All of the Medicare companies we represent have sent notices of waived co-pays, early and/or extended RX refills, online and telephonic support for their/our members. Many are also waiving co-pays for diagnostic testing related to the COVID-19 virus and some are offering their Virtual Doctor Visits at $0 co-pays. If you’re one of our Medicare clients and are unsure of your particular plan’s response or guidelines regarding this virus, please give us a call and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

New-to-Medicare clients, have no worries! Give us a call. We can mail or email you the product information you’re requesting, do Medicare Compliant presentations over the phone and enroll you over the phone or through email!

In this time of uncertainty, rest assured we are still here to serve you and will do so to the best of our ability until life gets back to normal, as surely it will.

Tommy Curtis & Staff

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

  As we move into the second month of 2020, there are so many things to consider when thinking about your insurance.

  We're going to take a moment and direct you back to some of our most important and most informative posts throughout the past couple of years.

It’s that time of year again…time when the kids are going back to school. And time when many young drivers will be out on the road, driving to class or extra-curricular activities. Perhaps even an after-school job.
​
As adults, we’re used to road rules and know where everything is in our vehicles should we need to access them quickly. But our teenage and young-adult children aren’t. So, we’ve compiled a short list of things to do and check to provide a safe and confident environment for inexperienced drivers.

Our office will be closed Monday, Dec 24th & Tuesday, Dec. 25th as well as Monday, Dec. 31st and Tuesday, Jan. 1st in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

We will resume normal business hours (9am - 5 pm) on Wednesday, Dec. 26th and Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019.

As we move through the holidays and into a new year, we hope you'll take some time to browse the many blog posts we've shared over the past year or so and that you'll find a wealth of information beneficial to your life, home, auto and/or Medicare insurance concerns.

When faced with life, home or work changes, we certainly hope you'll give us a call and let us service your insurance needs. It's especially important to insure those new toys you got for Christmas! (ie; boats, jet skis, ATV's, jewelry, artwork, etc.)

Meanwhile - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We look forward to serving you in 2019 and beyond....

Tommy Curtis and Staff