Can I be Denied Coverage For a Pre-existing Condition?

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If you’re shopping for health insurance and have a pre-existing condition, it’s natural to wonder whether that might affect your ability to get covered. In the past, many people faced high premiums—or outright denials—based on their health history. Fortunately, the law in Illinois and across the country has changed, and Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen Park, IL, wants you to know that protections are now in place.

The Affordable Care Act Changed the Rules

Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect, insurance companies can no longer deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition. This includes chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or even a history of cancer. These rules apply to all ACA-compliant individual and group plans, which cover the majority of people in Illinois.

What Counts as a Pre-existing Condition?

A pre-existing condition is typically any medical issue you had before your new insurance policy started. This includes conditions you’ve been diagnosed with, treated for, or are currently managing. Whether it’s high blood pressure, depression, or a previous injury, it falls under the same legal protections.

Are There Exceptions?

While ACA-compliant plans must cover you, not all plans are created equal. Short-term health plans and specific limited-benefit policies are exempt from following the same rules. These alternatives may come with exclusions for pre-existing conditions, so it’s important to read the fine print before enrolling.

Help Navigating Your Options

If you’re unsure which type of plan is best for your situation, a licensed health insurance agent can help. They’ll explain your coverage options, ensure the policy fits your health needs, and confirm it complies with Illinois and federal laws. With the right plan, your health history won’t be a barrier to getting the care and coverage you deserve. At Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen Park, IL, we’re here to help. Contact us today.

How “Own Occupation” vs. “Any Occupation” Definitions Affect Your Coverage

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When shopping for disability insurance, understanding the fine print can make all the difference. At Martin Insurance Team, serving the community of Evergreen Park, IL, we often help clients navigate the often-overlooked definitions that can significantly impact their benefits, particularly the difference between “own occupation” and “any occupation” coverage.

What Does “Own Occupation” Mean?

“Own occupation” disability insurance protects your ability to work in your specific profession. This means that if an illness or injury prevents you from performing the duties of the job you were trained for—even if you could technically work in another field—you may still qualify for benefits. For example, if you’re a surgeon who can no longer operate due to a hand injury, you’d still receive benefits even if you could teach or consult.

How “Any Occupation” Coverage Works

On the other hand, “any occupation” coverage is more restrictive. It typically only pays benefits if you’re unable to work in any job for which you’re reasonably suited, based on your education, training, and experience. So, if you can’t perform your current job but could work in a less demanding role, your claim might be denied.

Why This Choice Matters

Choosing between these definitions isn’t just about cost—it’s about protecting your lifestyle and career. “Own occupation” policies are usually more expensive, but they offer greater security, especially for specialized professionals. “Any occupation” might save you money upfront, but it could leave you vulnerable when you need coverage the most.

At Martin Insurance Team, serving the greater Evergreen Park, IL region, we’re here to help you choose the right disability insurance policy for your unique needs. Contact us today to ensure you’re covered when it matters most.

Have You Reviewed Your Motorcycle Insurance Lately?

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Motorcycle ownership is a joy, especially when coupled with the right insurance and adequate coverage for your needs. Like other insurance types, motorcycle insurance needs periodic updates.

The team at Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen Park, IL, can assist you with the review process. Regularly updating your motorcycle insurance ensures that you have the right coverage level for your vehicle.

Why Review Your Motorcycle Insurance?

When you secure an insurance policy, the coverage level is determined by several factors, including your vehicle’s value and the repair or replacement cost. Over time, a motorcycle’s repair or replacement cost can increase, while your insurance coverage remains the same.

By reviewing and updating your motorcycle insurance regularly, you’ll have the assurance that your insurance is sufficient to repair or replace your motorcycle if a covered event occurs. It’s advisable to review your motorcycle coverage annually to ensure that it is adequate.

Steps to Take When Reviewing Motorcycle Insurance

There are several steps to take when reviewing motorcycle insurance:

  1. Request the policy. If you don’t have a copy of the policy, your insurance agent can provide it for you.
  2. Review the policy details. Examine the policy to see how much coverage it provides.
  3. Update the amounts as needed. If you’re unsure whether your insurance policy is adequate, consult your insurance agent. Engage in a conversation to determine if you have enough insurance for your vehicle.

Ready to Review Your Motorcycle Insurance? Contact Us to Get Started

The team at Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen Park, IL, is here to help you review your policy. Call today to begin your insurance policy review.

How would a transportation insurance plan help my business in Illinois?

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Operating a business in Evergreen Park, IL, can be a rewarding career choice. If you run a business here, it’s crucial to ensure you have the right insurance. One type of coverage that is essential in this area is transportation insurance. A transportation insurance plan can benefit your business in several ways.

Protection for Vital Auto Assets

If your business owns vehicles such as cars or vans, they are likely crucial assets on which you depend. Moreover, these vehicles might be transporting valuable cargo for you. A transportation insurance plan protects both the vehicles and the cargo. This can help maintain your organization’s financial stability if an accident or theft occurs.

Liability Risk Management for Your Vehicle

A transportation insurance plan can also help manage any liability risks that you have. There is some liability risk if you have drivers operating your vehicles. The right insurance can help manage or reduce these risks, as you will receive liability coverage.

Compliance with Illinois Vehicle Laws

Insurance is also likely a requirement for you and your business. There are various legal obligations to carry insurance to comply with state insurance laws regarding commercial vehicles. Any lender or investor will require you to carry sufficient insurance, including transportation coverage.

It’s always important to ensure that you have the right insurance for your business when you are in the Evergreen Park, IL area. If you are considering a new plan here, you can contact our team at the Martin Insurance Team. Our professionals will help you evaluate your business needs and secure the right coverage, including a comprehensive transportation insurance policy.

Homeowner’s Liability Insurance: What is and isn’t Covered

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Homeowner’s liability insurance is a crucial part of any homeowner’s insurance policy, and lenders will require that you purchase this form of insurance if you take out a loan to buy a home. Even so, homeowners in Evergreen Park, IL, should understand how the policy works to ensure they always have sufficient coverage.

What’s Covered?

Homeowner’s liability coverage provides personal liability and medical expense coverage. These forms of insurance cover legal costs if a homeowner is sued for an accident that happens at his or her home. It may also cover incidents involving accusations of libel and slander. Furthermore, homeowner’s liability insurance covers medical bills if a third party is injured on a homeowner’s property. Coverage can include not just hospital bills but also lost wages, pain and suffering (if the case goes to court), and death benefits.

What Isn’t Covered?

Homeowner’s liability insurance doesn’t cover the homeowner and family members living with him or her in the house. It also doesn’t cover intentional injuries or damage to property. Dog bites may or may not be covered by some policies, so pet owners would do well to read the fine print before picking a policy. Furthermore, homeowners in Evergreen Park, IL, who run a business from home should bear in mind that homeowner’s liability insurance will never cover accidents or other incidents related to business operations.

Contact Martin Insurance Team for More Information

Martin Insurance Team serves homeowners in and around Evergreen Park. We offer multiple homeowner’s insurance options to make it easy for you to pick the policy or policy bundle that best meets your needs. Contact us to find out more or to get policy quotes.

Does Commercial Insurance Cover Natural Disasters?

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Evergreen Park, IL, is a fantastic place to run a business, but it is also susceptible to thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding. In addition to implementing measures to protect your business from damage, you’ll also want to ensure you have the right commercial insurance policies to protect your commercial assets if disaster strikes.

Natural Disaster Coverage

Coverage varies depending on your chosen policy, and your deductible will determine how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket before the insurance company provides compensation. However, generally speaking, commercial property insurance typically covers wind damage. It won’t cover flood damage, so you must purchase a separate flood insurance policy.

Other important coverage forms include comprehensive commercial vehicle insurance and business interruption insurance. Commercial property insurance won’t cover damage to business vehicles, even if they are parked on the business premises. Business interruption insurance provides compensation to keep your business afloat until the disaster passes and you’re able to resume regular business operations.

If you run a business from home, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover damage to business assets or inventory in your home. Talk to an insurance agency about commercial policies to keep all your assets properly covered.

Contact Martin Insurance Team for Expert Insurance Advice

Martin Insurance Team offers insurance policies and policy bundles to business owners in and around Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Naples, and Evergreen Park, IL. We’re a full-service, one-stop shop that’s ready and able to meet all your commercial insurance needs at the best possible price. Contact us today to learn more about what we offer or get quotes on specific policies.

What is the importance of having uninsured and underinsured motorists on an auto policy?

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At Martin Insurance Team in Evergreen Park, IL, we frequently encounter clients asking if it’s important to have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on their auto insurance policy. The answer is a resounding "YES!" When you’re on the road, you can’t be sure if the driver next to you has sufficient insurance coverage to cover damages if they cause an accident that harms you or your vehicle.

Understanding Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is an additional feature you can add to your policy to ensure you and your passengers are protected if you’re involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver. This coverage will cover bodily injuries to you and any passengers up to the policy limits and repair any damage to your vehicle. However, this coverage is subject to policy limits (usually mirroring but not exceeding your liability bodily injury and property damage limits). Under UM coverage, you are required to pay a property damage deductible to have your vehicle repaired.

Understanding Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the party at fault for the accident doesn’t have enough liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage to cover the extent of the injuries and damages they caused. UIM will pay up to the policy limits (typically below or at the same limits of liability you carry).

For More Information

To learn more about uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages or if you have other questions about your auto insurance policy, give us a call at Martin Insurance Team in Evergreen Park, IL, at (780) 330-4404. We also have offices in Fort Myers, FL, and service the Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and Naples areas.

Does Your Home Insurance Cover Extreme Weather Events in Evergreen Park, IL?

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The increasing frequency of extreme weather events across the country has prompted homeowners to reassess their current home insurance policies. They want to ensure they have sufficient coverage to protect their most valuable assets from such events.

With advice from the insurance professionals at Martin Insurance Team in Evergreen Park, IL, you can discover how to safeguard your home from the escalating threat of extreme weather.

Does Your Home Insurance Cover Extreme Weather Events?

A robust home insurance policy is one of the best ways to shield your home from the devastating financial impact of blizzards, heavy snowstorms, wildfires, and other extreme natural disasters. A comprehensive home insurance policy can cover your home’s structure, including roofing, siding, plumbing, and other essential components. Without adequate insurance, you could face costly out-of-pocket expenses for repairs, replacements, relocation after severe weather events, and even liability claims.

Consult with a knowledgeable and trusted local insurance agent to determine if your existing home insurance policy covers damages caused by tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, such as burst pipes, flooding, fire damage, and wind damage.

Secure a Comprehensive Home Insurance Quote in Evergreen Park, IL

With spring rapidly approaching, the potential for severe storms that can cause property-damaging tornadoes and devastation increases. Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect your home and family from the devastating effects of extreme weather events in Illinois.

Contact the insurance professionals at Martin Insurance Team in Evergreen Park to review your existing home insurance policy, determine if you have sufficient homeowner’s insurance coverage, and get a quote for a comprehensive home insurance policy today.

When Your Auto Insurance Policy Needs Gap Coverage

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Most auto insurance policies include comprehensive coverage and collision coverage to protect your vehicle from damage. However, these may not cover the full amount you owe on a car loan or lease. That’s where gap coverage comes in.

Understanding Comprehensive, Collision, and Gap Coverages

The two main coverages that protect against vehicle damage are comprehensive and collision. Comprehensive coverage is generally for incidents not involving another vehicle (e.g., animal strikes, falling trees, burglaries, etc.), and collision coverage is generally for accidents with other vehicles.

Each of these protections usually provides coverage up to your vehicle’s fair market value at the time of the incident. That amount isn’t necessarily equal to what you owe on a car loan or lease, however. In many cases, the value of a vehicle is less than what’s owed.

Gap coverage is so-named because it can fill in this gap—the difference between what you owe and what your car is worth. If your vehicle is totaled in either a comprehensive or collision claim, it’s gap coverage that may help pay off the remaining loan or lease.

When Gap Coverage is Needed

Gap coverage is typically required if you have a vehicle loan or lease and your outstanding obligation is more than the vehicle’s value. There are several reasons why this is often the case:

  • Vehicles have become more expensive to purchase in recent years
  • Vehicles still depreciate in value quickly after purchase
  • Loan and lease down payments can be quite small
  • Loan and lease monthly payments can also be relatively small

When these factors make you "upside down" on your vehicle, meaning you owe more than it’s worth, lenders will almost certainly require gap coverage. We at The Martin Insurance Team have helped many drivers determine whether they need this coverage.

Get the Auto Insurance Coverages You Need

Gap coverage is just one auto insurance protection you might need. For help insuring a vehicle in Evergreen Park, IL, contact us at the Martin Insurance Team.

Why You Should Update Your Home Insurance When Remodeling

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A remodeling project is often the result of years of hard work and saving, bringing joy upon completion. However, remodeling not only increases risk during the process but also generally enhances your home’s value. Therefore, it’s crucial to protect the value of the work and your home overall. The Martin Insurance Team, serving the Evergreen Park, IL area, will work with you to provide insurance coverage to protect your family throughout your time in your home.

Updating Your Insurance Before Remodeling

While home insurance policies generally provide basic protection during the remodeling process, you should consider supplementing your policy before starting the work due to the increased likelihood of accidents. Some home insurance policies require you to notify the agent before the job begins, and failing to do so can affect your coverage. Since remodeling brings certain hazards and injury risks, you should enhance your home insurance policy or add umbrella insurance.

After the work is completed, you may have more square footage, enhanced appliances and fixtures, or other changes that increase your home’s value. It’s important to update your policy to reflect those changes, ensuring everything is properly insured.

Some home additions, like pools and hot tubs, increase risks and must be identified on your policy. Conversely, updating your home’s plumbing, HVAC, and wiring can lower your risks and premiums.

Regardless of your planned changes, speak with your agent to ensure your home has the right coverage before, during, and after the process.

Working with the Martin Insurance Team

Your home is likely one of your most significant investments and should be protected against unforeseen events. Let the Martin Insurance Team, serving the Evergreen Park, IL area, assist with your insurance needs. Call (708) 330-4404 today to discuss your options.