Medicare Cards Without Social Security Numbers Coming In 2018

Tom KennedyMedicare, News

Coming Soon: A new Medicare card that will not display a cardholder’s Social Security number (SSN). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced it is preparing to issue Medicare cards that will use new unique numbers in place of cardholder SSNs. CMS said it would begin mailing new cards to beneficiaries in April 2018. Read the full article >>>

Four Companies Contracted For Border Wall Prototypes

Joshua EtemadiBonds, Construction, News

The Department of Homeland Security awarded four contracts for border wall prototypes, another crucial step in President Donald Trump’s plan to secure the border. Officials of Customs and Border Protection gave contracts to Texas Sterling Construction of Houston, Caddell Construction of Montgomery, Alabama, Fisher Industries of Tempe, Arizona, and W.G. Yates & Sons Construction of Philadelphia. Read the full article >>>

Data Breach Preparedness: Critical Risk Management Priority for Small and Mid-sized Businesses

Amy MitchellBusiness Insurance, Insurance, News, Risk Management

After hearing a lot lately about big companies suffering data breaches, it is important to remember that, according to inc.com, half of all cyberattacks target small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Based on a 2016 State of SMB Cybersecurity Report, CNBC reported that in the prior 12 months half of all SMBs in the U.S. had been hacked. Read the full article >>>

Above Devastated Houston, Armies of Drones Prove Their Worth

Denise GillinNews

Less than a week after the last drops of Hurricane Harvey fell, Houston is just beginning to assess the damage. At least 46 people have died. More than 30,000 houses are flooded and as many as a million vehicles waterlogged. Early estimates suggest the hurricane has inflicted $120 billion in damage on the region, making it the most expensive natural disaster in the country’s history. Tell me more >>>

Construction Schedules, Supply Chain to Feel Harvey

Joshua EtemadiBonds, Construction, News

Hurricane Harvey’s immediate impact on the construction sector will be a disruption in the supply chain for key materials, along with scheduling problems for projects that were under construction. As the cleanup and eventual rebuilding proceed, increased demand for materials and labor will push costs upward and contractors will be scrambling to secure supplies and workers. Read the full article >>>

Who Will Protect My College-Bound “Baby”?

Lisa SpencerNews, Personal Lines

By Cori Booth, Master Underwriter, Westfield Insurance, Pennsylvania Newsletter, August 2017 Many of our customers will face the worrisome prospect of sending their children off to college in the next couple months. It is a scary time for these parents because they know they cannot protect their ‘babies’ from the influences of newfound freedom and college life. We can alleviate at least one worry for these clients by automatically protecting their children and their children’s things while away at school. Home ‘Insured’ means: A student age 23 or younger who is enrolled in school full time and who was a resident relative of the household before moving to attend school. Personal liability and med pay is afforded. Premises liability is …

Why Small Business Owners Shouldn’t Underestimate the Risk of Power Outages

Kimberly WarnerBusiness Insurance, Insurance, News

By Alexander Huls for The Hartford When the electricity goes out at home, it’s often a simple inconvenience. Usually you can remedy this temporary situation with a flashlight and a good book or some board games. But for small business owners, the cost of power outages due to bad weather, accidents, or construction, can be severe – especially if they don’t have business insurance. Tell me more >>> If you have questions about protecting your small business during a power outage, contact Kimberly Warner, Small Business Solutions, Murray.

Opinion: Trump Infrastructure Plan Has Roots in Privatized Indiana Toll Road

Joshua EtemadiBonds, Construction, News

President Donald Trump’s $1 trillion plan to rebuild America’s infrastructure may be unprecedented in size and ambition, but it mimics a controversial scheme championed by Vice President Mike Pence when he was the governor of Indiana. That’s why Pence is the public face of the Trump initiative, and executives from financial firms that helped privatize Indiana’s toll road are in the White House, busily sculpting Trump’s national plan. Read the whole article >>>

Health Concerns Following a Hurricane or Flood

Denise GillinNews

A natural disaster can be one of the most devastating events in a person’s lifetime. Families can be uprooted and entire neighborhoods can be destroyed in the blink of an eye. If you ever have to endure such a crisis, it is important to know what resources can help you in the wake of a disaster. While many people are concerned with preparing for a crisis, the aftermath can be overlooked. Coping with the effects of a disaster are as important as preparing for the crisis itself. Unhealthy Conditions After a hurricane or large flood, there are huge amounts of water in places where there usually is not. This can cause a variety of health concerns for people living in …