Holiday Wreath

                          ~ Celebrating 86 Years of Service ~

      Homer Yost Agency 

        HERALD  

 

  Issue #8                                                              December, 2013

~ Dedicated to the Memory of our Namesake, Homer Yost ~
In This Issue
Ask Anne
Crash Avoidance Technology
Home Fire Safety Tips
Shopping Safely Online
Health Care Reform Update

Ask Anne

Your Frequently Asked  

Insurance Questions

Homer Yost Agency Building     

Q. How will the Affordable Care Act affect my health insurance rates?  

     

A.  Under the Affordable Care Act, insurers can no longer charge a higher rate, nor deny coverage to a person with a pre-existing condition.  Insurers may vary rates based on age, where the applicant lives and whether the applicant smokes.  Additionally, insurers can vary rates based on provider networks.  Eliminating increased premium rates for individuals with illnesses and the limiting of premium variations due to age will lower premiums for older less healthy individuals and increase rates for younger healthier individuals.  Also, since insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, individuals who were previously excluded from coverage will now be included.   The effect of including these individuals with higher claim costs will increase premiums.

To summarize, premiums will be higher for some individuals and lower for others in 2014.  On average they will likely be higher in most states.  Premium subsidies inthe form of tax credits will be available for some.  More information on this topic will follow in our next edition. 
Crash Avoidance Technology
A Trend for the Future
Automatic braking, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, park assist and back- over prevention are a few examples of the latest technologies to help prevent vehicle crashes.  These features began as options on some luxury vehicles, and are rapidly becoming more prevalent on other vehicles.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, vehicles equipped with these features have fewer property damage liability claims.  Additional statistical information in the form of a rating system on these new technology systems is forthcoming and is expected to assist consumers in the decision as to which features to look for when considering a new vehicle purchase.  Having a rating system in place also creates incentive for manufacturers to continue developing and improving this type of technology.  Look for more advances in this area which will hopefully lead to a trend in fewer vehicle crashes, as well as reduced property damage and fewer injuries when crashes occur.

Peace, Joy and Cheer to You and Yours this holiday season!   

 

Sometimes the gift of your time is the most precious gift of all! 

Homer Yost Agency
 
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Homer Yost Agency
421 N. Market Street
Wooster, Ohio  44691
Tel: (330) 264-6603    
 Toll Free: (855) 301-6603
www.yostagency-ins.com

Welcome to the Homer Yost Agency Herald, a quarterly publication dedicated to providing timely information and tips to insure a better life!   

Home Fire Safety

Top 10 Tips    

 

Did you know that half of all home fires occur during the months of December, January and February?  With the cold weather season upon us, it is a good time for a reminder of some important fire prevention tips to keep you and your family safe this winter.

  1. Have smoke alarms on every level of your home.
  2. Test smoke alarm batteries monthly and replace batteries yearly.
  3. Keep flammable items at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, stoves, and space heaters.
  4. Never leave fireplaces or space heaters unattended and make sure fire is extinguished and heaters are off before going to bed.
  5. Have fireplaces, chimneys, wood stoves and furnaces professionally inspected and cleaned once a year.  Use only dry seasoned wood.
  6. Never leave burning candles unattended.
  7. Do not overload electrical outlets.
  8. Never leave cooking food unattended.
  9. Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.
  10. Plan and practice an escape plan.
Shopping Safely Online
 

As the holiday gift-giving season approaches, some of us will be heading out to the mall in search of the perfect holiday gift, while others would rather avoid the crowds and prefer the convenience of shopping online.  If you are planning to participate in the cyber shopping experience, you will want to protect yourself from criminals who are poised to steal your joy.  Here are some suggestions to help minimize the chances of becoming a victim of an online crime.

 

When shopping online, look for the address bar padlock symbol which indicates the website uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption.  You can also look for the "s" preceding the URL (i.e. https:// instead of of  http:// ).  SSL encryption is a privacy measure which helps protect the data being transferred between computers.

 

Use a credit card instead of a debit card to make online purchases.  Online purchases made with a credit card are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, thereby limiting your responsibility for fraudulent charges up to $50.  Fraudulent charges must be reported within 60 days.

 

Do not shop using public Wi-Fi which could leave your personal information at risk.  Instead, shop from home or use mobile apps that came directly from trusted retailers.  Keep your home computer protected by installing regular updates to your browser and operating system, and by using internet security software.

 

Be sure you are buying from a reputable online seller.  Reputable sellers will not need your social security number.  They will also never ask for your credit card information by email.  You should only give credit card information when you are on the SSL encrypted webpage of a trusted seller.

 

Save confirmation pages of your purchases for your records and track them with your credit card statements to make sure no unauthorized purchases appear on your statements.  You will be able to resolve any potential issues more easily by keeping proof of your purchases.

 

Follow these recommendations as you enjoy the advantages of shopping online and you will minimize the chance of a thief spoiling your joy. 

Health Care Reform Update  Medical Symbol

With the enactment of the Affordable Health Care Act, significant changes to the health care and health insurance industries will be implemented over the next several years.

Each quarter in the Homer Yost Herald, we address an issue relating to health care reform to help you understand the various changes brought on by the new legislation.

The many changes to health care and health insurance over the past year, and particularly the past few weeks, has left many people feeling confused, frustrated, and uncertain of how to proceed. 

Not to worry, we can help!  If you have questions about your health insurance or need assistance with evaluating your options and renewing your plan, our Health Benefits Department staff is ready and available to assist you.   Please contact:

Jamie Debenham, Vice President, Benefits             (330) 264-6603
jdebenham@yostagency-ins.com
or
Karen Potoczak, Health Benefits Manager
(330) 264-6603
kpotoczak@yostagency-ins.com 
 
Please Note Our New Email Addresses
_______________________________

Anne Wolf                     awolf@yostagency-ins.com
Melissa Feikert            mfeikert@yostagency-ins.com
Wendy Miller               wmiller@yostagency-ins.com
Sharon Hofstetter       shofstetter@yostagency-ins.com
Katie Van Zile               kvanzile@yostagency-ins.com
Jamie Debenham        jdebenham@yostagency-ins.com
Karen Potoczak            kpotoczak@yostagency-ins.com
Marty Stewart              mstewart@yostagency-ins.com