If you are looking to purchase health insurance, you have two options. You can buy health insurance from the health insurance marketplace, also known as Obama Care medical insurance, or purchase private insurance. Here at Linda Dugan Insurance, serving the greater Astoria, OR area, we can help you find the insurance plan that is right for you. Here are a few benefits associated with buying health insurance outside the health insurance marketplace. 

You Can Purchase Health Insurance Any Time of the Year

The health insurance marketplace is only available for open enrollment for a few weeks in the winter months. Unfortunately, unless you have a qualifying life change, such as moving or having a new child, you cannot enroll in health insurance through the health insurance marketplace outside of open enrollment periods. When you select a private health insurance policy, you can enroll in that type of policy anytime throughout the year. 

You Have More Plans Available To You

The other significant benefit of purchasing private health insurance outside the health insurance marketplace is that you have more health insurance plans. Some health insurance companies do not offer health insurance through the marketplace or may limit the plans they offer. As such, you have more plans and insurance companies available to select from when you purchase health insurance away from the health insurance marketplace. 

If you are in the market for a new health insurance plan in the greater Astoria, OR region, the team at Linda Dugan Insurance would love to help you find the best insurance policy for your needs. Reach out to us today to get started. 

Umbrella insurance is an important type of insurance to carry for complete financial protection. Misconceptions are common when it comes to umbrella insurance. 

At Linda Dugan Insurance, we want our clients in Astoria, OR to be adequately informed about umbrella insurance. The following are three common misconceptions to be aware of about umbrella insurance. 

It costs a lot of money to purchase an umbrella insurance policy.

You shouldn’t forego umbrella insurance coverage under the assumption that it is too costly. Get a quote on an umbrella insurance policy, and you’re likely to find that this is one of the most affordable types of insurance available. 

You don’t need umbrella insurance unless you are a high-net-worth individual.

Umbrella insurance is often associated with very wealthy individuals. However, anyone with considerable savings can benefit from having an umbrella insurance policy.

Umbrella insurance coverage protects anyone who has more in savings than they carry in coverage maximums on their standard insurance policies. This makes umbrella insurance coverage advantageous to many consumers out there. 

No one needs umbrella insurance if they have home insurance.

Home insurance is very valuable to have. However, this doesn’t mean that home insurance offers so much coverage that it makes umbrella insurance unnecessary.

Umbrella insurance offers coverage in addition to that offered by a consumer’s home insurance policy. Although home insurance is helpful in the event of a situation like a lawsuit, home insurance has policy maximum coverage limits.

Umbrella insurance coverage takes over for lawsuits that cost more than the policy maximums on a consumer’s home insurance policy. 

Don’t believe misconceptions about umbrella insurance in Astoria, OR. Please message us at Linda Dugan Insurance to learn more about umbrella insurance.

No matter what business you run, it’s essential to have the right insurance coverage in place. Not only will this protect your business from financial loss in an accident or lawsuit, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing that you’re prepared for anything. But with so many different types of business insurance available, it can be challenging to know where to start. To help you understand it all, here are the ABCs of business insurance coverage.

1. What is Business Insurance?

Business insurance is a type of insurance that businesses purchase to protect themselves from financial losses stemming from risks such as accidents, natural disasters, theft, and legal liabilities. In other words, it’s a safety net that businesses can fall back on if something goes wrong. 

2. Types of Business Insurance Coverage

Many different types of business insurance are available, each with its specific purpose. The most common types of coverage are property insurance, liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and professional liability insurance. 

• Property Insurance: Property insurance covers the physical assets of your business if they are damaged or destroyed by a covered peril (e.g., fire, windstorm, theft). 
• Liability Insurance: The policy protects your business when you get sued for damages arising from injuries or property damage resulting from your business operations. 
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance: This policy covers the medical expenses and lost wages of employees who are injured on the job. In most states, businesses must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have employees. 
• Professional Liability Insurance: Professional liability insurance protects your business from being sued for negligence, errors, and omissions. This type of coverage is significant for companies that provide professional services (e.g., accounting, consulting, engineering). 

3. How to Choose the Right Business Insurance Coverage

The best way to determine which type(s) of business insurance coverage you need is to speak with an insurance agent or broker who can assess your unique risks and recommend the right policies for your business. You should also review your insurance needs regularly (at least once annually) to ensure that your coverage is still adequate. 

Get Business Insurance in Astoria, OR

At Linda Dugan Insurance, we understand the importance of having the right business insurance in place. We offer a wide range of business insurance policies, and our experienced agents will work with you to find the coverage that best meets your needs. Contact us today to get started.

Having life insurance in place is an excellent way to give yourself peace of mind about what will happen to your loved ones once you are gone. A life insurance policy pays a death benefit to your beneficiaries after you’re gone so that they are in a better financial position. Two main types of these are available in the insurance marketplace. You need to know about each to choose when you get your policy. Call us at Linda Dugan Insurance in Astoria, OR to find out more.

Term Life Insurance

This type of life insurance is the least expensive of the main types and fits into more people’s budgets. It is insurance that is only good for a specific term of time. This may be 20 years or so. During this term, the policy is good and will pay out if you die at that time. However, it will expire at the end of the term, and you will have to find a new insurance policy at that point if you still want to be covered by life insurance. 

Whole Life Insurance

This type of insurance is more expensive but has some essential benefits. It isn’t good only for a specific term. Instead, it stays good for your entire life even if you become quite advanced in age. This type of insurance also has a cash value that many people appreciate having available. It’s an amount that you can borrow if you ever have a financial need for it. It is paid back just as any other type of loan would be. 

Protect Your Family With Life Insurance

To get a life insurance policy of either type, you can call us at Linda Dugan Insurance in Astoria, OR.

States mandate their own insurance laws for required coverage. In Oregon, boat insurance isn’t required, but it’s recommended that all boaters have boat insurance to protect themselves. Boats are an expensive investment, and you must also protect them. If you’re in Oregon and have a boat that isn’t insured, call us at Linda Dugan Insurance in Astoria, OR to find out more and get started. 

Accidents While Boating

When you have your boat on the water, it’s possible for it to get into a collision. When this happens, and you are at fault, you will be held responsible for all the damage caused by the accident. This can be highly expensive, and it can be challenging for many people to come up with. To prevent an accident from ruining you financially, there is boat insurance. This coverage can protect you against your liability when you cause an accident. With this coverage, you can go boating with better peace of mind. 

Other Boat Insurance Coverage

In addition to liability coverage for your boat, there are other types of boat coverage that you can use to protect yourself against several expenses. If you get comprehensive boat insurance, this protects your boat against other accidents and events that can happen when it isn’t on the water. Another coverage type is property damage coverage, which will pay for lost items due to an accident. If you have bodily injury liability, it will pay the medical bills for other parties who get into an accident with you. 

Get Boat Coverage

When you own a boat, getting boat insurance is the smart choice. Call us at Linda Dugan Insurance in Astoria, OR when you have a boat and need insurance coverage.

If you’re thinking about buying a used RV around Astoria, OR, it can be a lot to take in. There are a lot of different styles, sizes, features, and price ranges to consider. This can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for. We at Linda Dugan Insurance present this article to help you understand the different types of used RVs, their features, and their price ranges.

Know what you want before you start looking.

Taking the time to figure out what RV fits your needs will help you narrow your search and ensure you get precisely what you want. What is your budget? What features are a must, and what are you willing to live without? What size are you comfortable driving? All of these are important questions to ask yourself.

Research and shop around.

Online sites like Craigslist and eBay can be great resources for researching what types of used RVs are available in your area and give you a general idea of what you can expect to pay for. You can also score good deals on RVing forums. Also, check local dealers, who may offer some good discounts on used RVs they want to move.

While you are looking online, research the models you are interested in. Check-in with the owners and find out why they are selling. Sellers who might not be willing to discuss their RV’s history could be hiding something. Websites like RVchecks might have a vehicle history report if you have suspicions. Don’t buy a used RV that you’re unsure about, even if the price is right. You’ll probably end up spending more money on repairs and maintenance.

Note: Dealerships might have higher prices, but they often have better quality and have done thorough inspections.

Once you have purchased your RV, you’ll want to have it insured. That’s where Linda Dugan Insurance comes in. We can help all Astoria, OR find an RV insurance policy that fits their needs. Contact us today for more information.

Choosing your health insurance is not only difficult. It is one of the most important decisions you make every year. If you get it wrong, you will be living with that decision for 12 months. At Linda Dugan Insurance in Astoria, OR, we understand how important this decision is. As independent insurance agents, we are uniquely qualified to provide you with the choices you need and the information to make an informed decision. 

Deductible

These days you will likely hear a lot about high deductible policies. Before the health insurance policy kicks in, a high deductible policy means paying a designated amount, usually at least $1400 for an individual and $2800 for a family. If you meet the minimum, you can then set up an HSA (health savings account) tax-free to help pay for those expenses. 

Network

Every health insurance carrier has made contracts with providers to offer services to their customers. You may not be able to go outside this network if you want the insurance to pay for the service. When you choose your policy, it is vital to ensure your preferred doctor and hospital are within your network. 

Formulary

Another important aspect of your coverage is your prescription medication. The formulary is the list of medicines covered by that policy and what the co-pay will be. Drugs are listed in tiers, and some of the tiers also come with a yearly deductible.

Co-pay

This is the amount you are responsible for when receiving a particular service. This is after you have met the plan deductible. 

Contact Linda Dugan Insurance in Astoria, OR when it is getting near the time when you have to choose your health insurance and let us help you get the most for your money.

Many people are not very knowledgeable when it comes to life insurance. If you have lots of questions, you are not alone. In Astoria, OR, the knowledgeable agents at Linda Dugan Insurance are here to answer the questions that you may have and help you to come up with the right life insurance combination for you. 

Whole life or term, what to choose? 

Whole life insurance is insurance that lasts for your whole life. Once you buy it you can keep it at the same premium forever. It also earns dividends, so it is a way to accumulate some extra savings and you can borrow from the money you have. Term life insurance has a term. When the term is over, the life insurance is over, or at least it is over at the previous rate.  All you get is the death benefit, nothing more.

When to purchase life insurance? 

The obvious answer is before you need it. But, if you are young and healthy, the premium will be the lowest and that is a good time to invest in whole life insurance. When you have heavy obligations and the need to provide for dependents, that is the time to get term life in the amount you need. 

Do I need to buy life insurance if I get some from work?

Do you know exactly how much you get from work and the type of insurance you have? Will you be able to bring it with you if you leave their employ? This is something important to consider. What if you get sick and can’t work or the business closes? It is always best to be in control of something as important as your life insurance. 

Contact Linda Dugan Insurance in Astoria, OR when you have questions about life insurance.

The greater Astoria, OR area business community relies on Linda Dugan Insurance for all of its insurance needs. If you want to make sure that your OR company has the protection it needs, call us today.

The many benefits of a comprehensive commercial policy

With a comprehensive commercial policy, you will enjoy benefits above and beyond those provided by basic policies. If you want to make sure that all of your inventory, equipment, and cash flows are protected, it may be time to upgrade your current commercial policy. In fact, we recommend that all of our business clients carefully review their policies at least once a year for completeness. You never know what gaps there may be in your policy until you take a closer look.

Comprehensive policies can provide additional features such as cash flow interruption, key employee coverage, and a number of different benefits that can keep your company growing. Life is full of unexpected events, and many can be detrimental to your bottom line. When you have the right commercial policy in place, you can rest assured knowing that you have the protection you need.

As your company grows, so too will its insurance needs. Don’t become complacent with your coverage! The coverage that was a perfect fit when you were first starting out may no longer be sufficient for your needs. It only makes sense to learn more about your options.

Now is the right time to find out more!

If you are a business owner in the greater Astoria, OR area, it’s time to get to know Linda Dugan Insurance. We can help you find the right policy that provides your company with the protection it needs. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation and find out more!