DONOVAN INSURANCE SOLUTIONS

se U n a C u o Y ws e N e c n a r Insu
Volume 3 Issue 7 July 2, 2013
Inside this issue:
Sparks Fly on 4th of July 2014: A New System Begins Citizens Insurance Update Encouragement Chronicles 4th of July Trivia Breaking News 10 Deadliest Driver Distractions 1

S pa r k s F ly o n 4 t h o f J u ly

by Paul Donovan

Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, celebrates the adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. We typically celebrate our national holiday with sparklers, fireworks and cookouts with family and friends. I think we would all agree, weve come a long way as a country since our founding fathers created this democratic republic. One of the greatest privilege's we have as citizens is to honor our heritage and remember the who, what where, when and whys of our countrys origins (lest we fall into the trap of those that fail to remember history and are doomed to repeat it.). It would be very easy to create a list of all the things that are wrong with our country. Negativity sells newspapers and drives dissent. Conversely, it is more productive to list the great things that our country stands for, has to offer and that everyone can agree on.

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The First Amendmentfreedom of religion, speech, press, the right to peaceably assemble and ability to petition for a governmental redress of grievances Freedom to make a legal living doing what you want with the talents you have Freedom to live and travel wherever you want Freedom to vote for our government Freedom to eat whatever you want (dont you love the diversity) Freedom to choose how many children you do or dont want to have Freedom to own personal property including a pet Awesome entertainment and sports to watch and play Greatest healthcare in the world (notice I said healthcare, not healthcare system) Superman grew up and was raised in the USA

Our country is not perfect and we have our flaws just like every other country in the world. However, that doesnt diminish our biggest asset of being the most successful free democracy in world history. The cost of our freedom is extremely high and has cost the lives of millions. Dont forget to thank a veteran or a soldier for protecting your rights to be free and to exercise those freedoms bought for you.

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. Dwight D. Eisenhower

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INSURANCE NEWS YOU CAN USE

By Jennifer Hall

2014 A new System Begins

A set of rules that take effect Jan. 1, 2014, will make shopping for health insurance a completely different experience for those who buy it on their ownor those that are uninsured today. Guaranteed Issue This is the most popular part of health reform: Health plans must sell coverage to everyone, regardless of pre-existing conditions, and cannot charge more based on health history or gender. Health Insurance Marketplaces By Oct. 1, 2013, every state will have an insurance exchangean organized marketplace where individuals and small-business owners can select from among all the qualified private health plans available in their area. Its expected that most consumers will shop on their states marketplace online, but they can also shop by phone, through brokers, or with the personal assistance of trained helpers called Navigators. Individual Subsidies Afraid you wont be able to afford insurance? If you buy on your state's marketplace as an individual, you may qualify for a subsidy if your household income is between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. The subsidy will be a new kind of tax credit that you can use right away to lower your premium costs. (The tax system already subsidizes people who have coverage through a job by excluding the cost of their health plan from income taxes.) For instance, a family of four with an income of 200 percent above poverty, (about $46,000) will pay no more than $235 a month for health insurance. People with household incomes of less than 250 percent of poverty will also get subsidies to reduce their out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and coinsurance. Youll learn whether you qualify for a subsidy when you shop on your marketplace, and if you do, the amount you have coming to you. Individual mandate. Everyone will be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty. Almost any sort of legitimate coverage will satisfy the mandate: private insurance obtained on your own or through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Veterans Affairs, the Indian Health Service, or Tricare. Penalty. If you dont have health insurance, youll have to pay a tax penalty, starting at $95 per individual, $285 per family, or 1 percent of income, whichever is greater, for 2014. (That rises to $695 per individual, $2,085 per family, or 2.5 percent of income in 2016.) Because the vast majority of people will already have qualifying health insurance, few will confront the choice of buying a plan or paying a penalty. Moreover, you wont have to pay it if you make too little money to file a federal tax return or would have to spend more than 8 percent of your household income on the cheapest qualifying plan, even including subsidies. Americans living abroad, and those in prisons, are exempt from the mandate and associated fines.

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx Citizens Insurance Update
Citizens has approved an average statewide rate increase in 2014 of 7 percent. The Citizens Board of Governors on June 26 approved the rates, which include the continued phase-in of rate increases for sinkhole coverage. The approved proposed rates now head to the Office of Insurance regulation for approval. As the largest property insurer in Florida, homeowners not in need of sinkhole coverage are slated for an average 6.6 percent increase. This will bring the average personal residential premium in 2014 to $2,112. By law, rates hikes for non-sinkhole coverage cannot exceed 10 percent but sinkhole coverage is not subject to the statute. Actuaries at the state-run insurer have recommended a 27.3 percent rate increase. Dont forget: there is no coverage for pool birdcages, and if you leave your home unoccupied for more than 30 days the following coverage is removed, vandalism, water damage and theft. If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Winston Churchill

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 7

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By Paul Donovan

En courag em en t Chroni cl es

Turkey experts have confirmed, that when a turkey is wounded and has a spot of blood on its feathers, the other turkeys will peck at that spot until they literally peck the wounded turkey to death. Can you believe any animal would be so cruel and stupid to keep pecking at the wound of another. I wonder how many people got home at night pecked to death. In the middle of professional and personal difficulties, some people hear the following advice; Perhaps I shouldnt say this, but , or I dont mean to criticize , but, Then the critic justifies their actions by saying they were just trying to help. Continual or untimely pecking can immobilize and destroy the healthiest of people as well as those that are already bleeding. You have a choice to either encourage or criticize. Which would you rather hear from others?

Many churches take communion once per month reasoning that they dont want the sacrament to become over familiar and lose its significance. I wonder if they feel the same way about the offering?

F o u rt h o f J u ly t r i v i a

via the mind of Paul Donovan

(Correct answers are listed on page 4) 1. What was the main reason the U.S. declared independence? Hint: Had nothing to do with Jefferson losing a bet. 2. How many people signed the Declaration of Independence? Hint: More than 4 times the colonies that existed at the time 3. What are the first seven words of the Declaration of Independence? 4. How did the name Uncle Sam originate? 5. Who wrote the words to the National Anthem? Hint: The guys name is not Eddy 6. Why were the stars in a circle on the first flag? 7. How tall is the Statue of Liberty 8. In what city was the Declaration of Independence signed 9. Who was the king of England when the colonies declared their independence? 10. Approximately how many people were living in the U. S. in 1776? 11. How many hotdogs are consumed on July 4th each year? 12. When did the Fourth of July become a national holiday? Hint - This is the only threepart answer to the Fourth of July Trivia Questions. 13. Our national bird is the bald eagle, what did Ben Franklin want it to be instead? 14. Poor Richards Almanac was written by? a. John Hancock b. Ben Franklin c. Samuel Adams d. Nathan Hale 15. What is written on the back of the Declaration of Independence? a. A treasure map b. nothing c. signatures of the delegates d. Original declaration of Independence 4th of July

Unleash hell. Marcus Aurelius, Gladiator... Alternatively, every mother in law overnight sleep over.

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Breaking News
1. 19 Firefighters from the Arizona Hotshots group died this weekend battling a lightning caused wildfire. Its the worst firefighting tragedy in over 80 years. Every community throughout the U.S. owes part of its existence to the people that keep us safe through their brave dedication. 2. A new state law effective 7/1/2013 makes it a $60 fine to drive 10 mph below the posted speed limit in the left lane on major Florida roadways. 3. Insurance companies react to President Obamas climate change initiative. The 3 prong plan focuses on funding science in renewable energy development, Flood Ins. With a possible stronger role in privatization of the program, and using executive powers to require reductions in the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the nations power plants. The cost to Americans is going to be $$$$$ - determined. 4. Insurers have so far fielded over 70,000 claims costing $687.9 million from the tornadoes that hounded Oklahoma in May. 5. Following Super storm Sandy, more business are preparing for business continuity planning. The top 3 keys involve getting rid of paper, considering the cloud and choosing the right vendor. 6. In its 2013 Storm Surge Report, CoreLogic listed Florida as the state with the most property susceptible to storm surge damage with 1,478,858 properties at risk. Factors included trends in population, residential development, geographic risk, and length of the coastline. I
We can be reached at 10 N. Pinellas Ave Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 727-935-4858 (Office) 877-226-9304 (Fax) 727-656-5371 (cell) www.DonovanInsuranceSolutions.com E-mail: Donovan.solutions@gmail.

10 Top Driver Distractions

Of the more than 65,000 people killed in car crashes over the past two years, one in 10 crashes involved at least one distracted driver, according to police report data analyzed Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Any activity that can take your eyes off the road for even a split-second can put the driver and others in jeopardy.
10. Smoking-related (includes smoking, lighting up, putting ashes in tray) about 1% 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Moving objects (pets or insects) About 1% of police reports analyzed, alluded to moving objects. Using other device or controls integral to the vehicle. Seemingly innocent behaviors, such as adjusting rearview mirrors, seats, or using an OEM navigation system Adjusting audio or climate controls - 2% of distracted drivers admitted that switching radio stations or adjusting the stereo or vehicle temperature led to a fatal mistake. Using or reaching for device brought into vehicle, such as navigational device or headphones Eating or Drinking (non-alcohol) Other occupants (talking with or looking at other people in the car) Outside person, object or event (such as rubbernecking) Cell phone use (talking, listening, dialing, texting) Legislation working through all 50 states currently. Generally distracted or lost in thought Detaching from reality can prove useful when recharging creative energies or simply taking a respite from a hectic day. However, driving doing so while driving can be fatal.

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Trivia Answers from Page 3:
1. Declared independence because we were taxed without representation. 2. 56 People signed originally, 3. When in the course of human events." 4. In 1812, when a meat packer by the name of Sam Wilson provided meat to the U. S. Army. Someone saw the meat shipments that were stamped with U. S. and joked that the initials stood for Uncle Sam and the name stuck., 5. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the National Anthem, 6. The stars were in a circle on the first flag to show that all the colonies were equal. 7. 151 feet tall, 8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 9. George III, 10. Approximately 2.5 million people living in the US in 1776, 11. Americans consume 150 million hotdogs on July 4th each year, 12. The Fourth of July became an unpaid holiday for federal workers in 1870. In 1938 it became a paid holiday, and in 1941, it was declared a federal holiday., 13. The Turkey, 14. CBen Franklin 15. DOriginal declaration of Independence 4th of July