Because I like to mix it up a little on Fridays, I thought this MSNBC story would make some of you laugh—and start sliding comfortably into the weekend.

Last month, MSNBC got ahold of the four weirdest insurance claims of 2005 from London (via the Norwich Union) and all of them paint strange and funny pictures in my fragile little mind.

Here's the rundown:

• Weird Claim #1: Frozen Squirrel—the motorist said a frozen squirrel fell out of a tree and crashed through the windshield.

• Weird Claim #2: Stung in the Leg—the motorist claimed a wasp sting in the leg caused s/he to step on the gas and bump the car ahead.


• Weird Claim #3: Bad Potato—the motorist said a loose potato rolled under the break and affected the ability to stop.


• Weird Claim #4: Meat Head—"As I was driving around a bend, one of the doors opened and a frozen kebab flew out, hitting and damaging a passing car," the claim read. (I had to quote that one verbatim—there's just no good way to paraphrase that.)

The craziest part about these claims is that they were all found to be totally legitimate and were paid out accordingly.

So what's the moral of the story? Watch out for frozen falling squirrels, obviously. :)

Have a great weekend—we'll be back on Monday with more great insurance news and tips!

Posted by Megan Mahan at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
 

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has issued a warning advising consumers not to purchase health insurance before checking out their insurers.

Why? Because phony insurance companies selling phony coverage are taking some unsuspecting health insurance shoppers to the cleaners—to the tune of more than a quarter of a billion dollars.

Today's story in Yahoo! News reports that Insurance fraud is a growing problem these days, and one that is difficult to track. Because insurance watchdogs like the NAIC are set up to monitor licensed providers, "fake" unlicensed insurance carriers often fly under the radar, imperceptible to those affected most—those consumers who mistakenly buy their products with no clue they're getting ripped off.

The result? Buyers who think they're insured file a health claim, only to discover they really have no coverage. Many end up in debt, bankruptcy and total financial distress because they can't pay their medical bills.

If you're shopping for health insurance, take it from me and do yourself a favor: call or log on to your state insurance department and confirm the legitimacy of any company you're considering doing business with. You'll save yourself a lot of time, expense—and heartache.

Posted by Penny Hagerman at 10:08 AM | Permalink
 

If you're anything like me, you probably saw the price of gas jump $.15 in one week and wondered what it petroleum's name was going on.

After a little research (followed by the Cliffs Notes version from my 86-year old environmentalist grandfather,) I finally got it figured out. Here's the scoop, in laymen's terms, so everyone knows exactly what's going on and what to expect in the months ahead at the pump.

According to a recent article by the Associated Press (courtesy of MSN Money) the price of gasoline is up because of supply problems due to a phase-out of the fuel additive, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). MTBE is being removed from gasoline because it was found to contaminate groundwater. As a result, refiners are left at risk for lawsuits—and Congress has refused to grant them (refiners) protection from MTBE-related legal action.

Let's recap:

1. MTBE in our fuel contaminates groundwater


2. Congress won't protect refiners from MTBE-related lawsuits


3. refiners want to avoid legal recourse


4. the phase-out of MTBE is tightening the fuel supply in the US

So according to AP, the MTBE additive will be replaced with ethanol, which may pose an additional problem: the Energy Department and the oil industry are now concerned about whether there will be enough ethanol (a fuel derived from corn, which is produced in the Midwest) to meet the surge in fuel demand. Officials are also unsure whether the current fuel distribution system will be able to support these changes.

All these factors, as you might have guessed, have contributed (and will continue to contribute) to the increasing prices at the pump—some analysts predict that the price of fuel may hit $3 per gallon by this summer.

The good news is, analysts are also saying the impending gas crisis is a temporary one. The AP reports that the industry is trying to mitigate the situation by filling ethanol storage tanks on the East Coast before summer and contracting barges that can ship ethanol down the Mississippi River and then up through the Atlantic seaboard.

And while experts predict that the "supply tightness" will dissipate within two to five months, I'm sure this won't keep us all from sighing with discontent every time we fill up our gas tanks. But just keep in mind that the gas hikes are temporary—and necessary to keep our drinking water clean and free of contaminants.

Posted by Megan Mahan at 09:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
 

Getting kids to go to bed at night can be quite a chore. But according to today's article in Claims Guides, a leading insurance publication, our kids are not only getting insufficient sleep...they're falling asleep everywhere—in school, at their home computers and even behind the wheel.

Although research shows that school-age children and teenagers need at least nine hours of sleep per day, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) say they're getting on average much less: from 6.9 hours for high school seniors to 8.4 hours for sixth-graders.

No wonder their eyelids are drooping!

Without enough sleep, kids have trouble focusing and responding quickly, according to the NIH. There is even growing evidence that a chronic lack of sleep puts them at increased risk for obesity, heart disease, diabetes and infection.

And that's to say nothing about what happens when youngsters and their friends begin driving while sleep-impaired. Put a sleepy teenager behind the wheel with a car full of friends, and they're a disaster waiting to happen!

What can parents do to ensure their kids get a good night's sleep?

Well, there are always mama's old-fashioned remedies, like warm milk, a hot bath and a good book. But beyond those, here's a novel idea: reduce the number of electronic devices in their rooms. Yes, that means take out the television, phone, computer and CD players (unless, of course, music helps lull them to sleep). The more relaxing and soothing their surroundings (and the less tempting to jump out of bed to answer an instant message), the more likely they are to get to sleep sooner.

Want to see something other than the tops of your kids' heads at the breakfast or dinner table? Make sure they get to bed early and get a good night's sleep. They'll stay healthier and have better success in life—and your house might just get a little bit quieter. :)

Posted by Penny Hagerman at 03:59 PM | Permalink
 

Megan L. Mahan

Hometown: Cedar Falls, IA

InsureMe Profile: Affiliate Copywriter and master of all things insurance

Affinities: Writing, music, film, travel, the Chicago Cubs, Hawkeye football, Paris, green olives, ballpoint pens

Not a fan of: Rollercoasters, Country music, alarm clocks

I'd like to meet: David Sedaris, again. I embarrassed myself the last time.

Favorite quote: "Don't stop believing." -- The [powerhouse] group formerly known as Journey

Penny M. Hagerman

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

InsureMe Profile: Copywriter

Siblings: 2 brothers

Areas of Interest: Reading, Writing, Movies, Music, Art, Home Decorating, Animals, Comedy, Professional Football

A Few of My Favorite Things: Curling up by a warm fire with a good book; Penning my thoughts on paper; Watching "chic flicks"; Attending concerts with my daughter; Laughing at my husband's silly jokes; Playing with my dachshund, "Precious"; Watching Sunday afternoon football

When I Retire: I'll travel around the world...after I make my first million!

Jeb Foster

Hometown: Burlington, Vermont

InsureMe Profile: Copywriter

I'd like to meet: Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami

Vices: coffee, Tabasco Sauce, iTunes (occasionally for country music)

A good day includes: The Sunday New York Times, too much coffee, a trip to the mountains with my girlfriend, Mariah, and playtime with Puck, a Jack Russell Terrier.

Maribeth Neelis

Hometown: Olmsted Falls, OH

InsureMe Profile: Copywriter

I'd like to meet: Gloria Steinem

Favorites: National Geographic, the blues, thunderstorms, tree houses

I have yet to: hang glide and learn to sail

Posted by James Omdahl at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)