Three health insurance secrets that can help you find the right policy

Good health insurance coverage is a necessity if you want to protect both your finances and your health at the same time. At Hanneken Insurance Agency Inc., we can help you learn about your health insurance options in Little Falls, MN. 

The following are three health insurance secrets that can help you find the right policy for your needs. 

Look into discounts

You may be eligible for discount programs to reduce your health insurance costs. Some health insurance providers may offer a discount if you pay in cash or your premiums far in advance. 

In addition to your health insurance provider, you can also ask your doctor about discounts on health insurance premiums and prescription drug costs. 

Focus on preventive care

Preventive care is typically much less expensive than paying for treatment after you’ve developed a health problem. That’s why you should ensure that your health insurance policy covers all recommended preventive care for someone your age and has your medical history. 

Explore all the options

Make sure that you’re aware of all of your options before you select a health insurance option. Don’t assume you must use your employer-sponsored health insurance or another traditional health insurance option. 

Look for insurance through membership or professional associations in which you’re involved. Also, consider the advantages of health savings accounts and high deductible policies before deciding the best option for your situation. 

Do you have more questions about health insurance in Little Falls, MN? Get in touch with us at Hanneken Insurance Agency Inc. to learn more about health insurance tips you can use to find the best policy for yourself and your family.

What Are Some Of The Risks Associated With Not Having Farm Insurance?

There are roughly 2.04 million ranches and farms in the US. Farm insurance is a must-have whether you are a small-scale or large-scale farmer. At Hanneken Insurance Agency Inc., we help farmers like you in Little Falls, MN to access suitable farm insurance. Here are some of the risks you are exposing yourself to if you don’t have farm insurance as a farmer. 

1. You Could Lose Your Farm Machinery and Equipment to Theft and Vandalism

It’s no secret that farm machinery and equipment are a massive investment. Paying to repair your farm machinery and equipment out of pocket because you have no farm insurance after an act of vandalism can be financially crippling. If the machinery and equipment are stolen and you have no farm insurance, you might be unable to purchase replacements. 

Both theft and vandalism of your farm machinery and equipment can potentially bring your farming operations to a halt for a long time if you have no farm insurance. Most farm insurance policies cover the cost of repairing vandalized farm machinery and equipment and replacing stolen ones. 

2. You Could Lose Everything

Whether you are farming livestock or crops, your success largely depends on mother nature. This is because an unpredicted extreme weather event such as a snow storm can ruin your crops and deny you a harvest. On the other hand, an unforeseen natural occurrence such as a disease outbreak can wipe out your entire herd of cattle, a flock of chickens, e.t.c. 

If you had no farm insurance and lost everything, this can lead you to bankruptcy. However, if you have farm insurance, it will compensate you for the losses you incurred. 

Looking for Farm Insurance? 

As a farmer in Little Falls, MN, and the surrounding areas, Hanneken Insurance Agency Inc. offers you reliable farm insurance options. Call us today to learn more and get started with a quote.

When to Contact Your Insurance Agent

You understand you have to maintain homeowners insurance, but if you’re like many people you don’t want to use it out of fear your premium may go up. The short answer as to when you should contact your insurance agent is to say, “Whenever you have a home repair,” because it won’t be held against you to ask but rather the agent will give you practical advice as to whether you should file a formal claim. Keep in mind, the most basic insurance policy as required by your lender to assure the legitimacy of their investment is only intended for disaster damage you wouldn’t normally be prepared to pay for out of pocket, while more elaborate plans may be comprehensive and take care of common repairs or even routine maintenance jobs.

Typical Winter Storm Damage in MN

A common winter problem in Minnesota is for a gutter to freeze, causing a dam that prevents water from properly draining from your gutter system. In and of itself, the ice dam isn’t a big problem and has a simple solution but can cause roof leaks and water damage if not dealt with immediately.

Routine Maintenance versus Specific Repairs

Although this depends on the exact policy you decide to purchase, insurance usually covers specific repairs rather than routine maintenance. To further the example of the ice dam, removing the dam may be considered routine maintenance while water damage you were unable to prevent would be a specific repair.

It can’t be emphasized enough to always check with your agent when conducting work on your home. You may be surprised at what is covered, or what you may be able to apply toward your deductible, You’ll never know if you don’t ask. Contact Hanneken Insurance Agency, Inc. in Little Falls, Brainerd, Pierz or Pine River to learn more.

Got a Teen Driver? Check Out These Possible Discounts with Your Auto Insurer

It may be a milestone that your child is excited about, but seeing them become a licensed driver can definitely bring out some concerns for you as a parent–especially since your auto insurance is bound to go up. Fortunately, just because you have a high-risk driver now listed on your policy, it does not mean there are not ways to save money. Here are a few opportunities for discounts and savings you should check out with Hanneken Insurance Agency, Inc, an insurance company serving Little Falls, MN.

Good Student Driver Discounts

When you child obtains their learner’s permit, there could be even more of a reason for them to keep their grades up at school. Some insurance companies do offer good student driver discounts for teens who keep a good grade point average in school. 

Multi-Car Discounts

If bringing your child on as a licensed driver also means adding another vehicle to your insurance policy, there may be an opportunity for you to save. Multi-car discounts are applicable if you have more than one car to cover on your insurance policy. 

Driving Behavior Monitoring Discounts

One of the relatively modern ways to save with auto insurance is with companies that offer discounts based on usual driving behavior. For this discount, you usually have to plug a small monitor into your vehicle that keeps tabs on things like usual speed, sudden braking, and acceleration patterns. Not only will this give your teen a reason to stay cautious and safe while they drive, with good behavior, you could be rewarded with a discount. 

In the end, seeing your child get their driver’s license shouldn’t be a financial burden. Contact us at Hanneken Insurance Agency, Inc. serving Little Falls, MN to find out more about discounts you could b eligible for. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Winterizing Your Pipes

During the winter months, water left sitting in pipes can freeze. As water freezes, it expands. The hard ice is now pressing on your pipes and can cause them to burst. It is not until the ice thaws out that you realize that the pipe has cracked or burst and water may flood into your home. Winterizing your pipes prevents all of this from happening. Unfortunately, this is a term some homeowners may not be familiar with. Getting answers to the questions you have will help you to better understand it. Here are two frequently asked questions about winterizing your pipes.

What Does it Mean to Winterize Pipes?

When you winterize pipes, you are essentially pulling all of the water of the pipes. This should only be done on pipes that are not used during the winter months, such as pipes that lead to pools or sprinkler systems. If you have a summer home, you will want to winterize all of the pipes. And if you are planning on being away from your current home for longer than two weeks during winter months, it is wise to winterize them. Pulling the water out ensures there is no water that can freeze in the pipes.

Can I Winterize My Pipes Myself?

A plumber can help winterize your pipes. Some people will turn off water to the pipes and then drain water out. However, this doesn’t ensure all of the water is out of the drains. A plumber can suck out any standing water, ensuring the pipes are free off all water that can freeze. Obviously, it is important not to use those pipes again once they have been winterized or the process will need to be redone.

Winterizing your pipes can help protect your home against plumbing and flooding damage. If a pipe is not winterized, you may need to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance policy. If you have questions about whether burst pipes are covered under your policy or want to start a new homeowner’s insurance policy in the great Little Falls, MN area, contact Hanneken Insurance.We can help you with all of your homeowner’s insurance needs.

 

 

Important reasons for having auto insurance in Little Falls, MN

Located in the heart of Minnesota, Little Falls is a quiet community that allows residents access to all the Minnesota has to offer. It also gets the brunt of Minnesota winters, which makes for difficult driving for everyone in the area. When you take this into account, you quickly realize how absolutely important it is for people to have auto insurance on their vehicles in a place like Little Falls, MN. Below are some of the more specific reasons why this is the case.

PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE, YOURSELF AND PASSENGERS FROM COSTLY COLLISIONS

A car accident is expensive and auto insurance keeps this expense from crippling you financially in the future. If you hit a patch of ice and spin off the road into a tree, auto insurance will fix your vehicle so you don’t have to and cover the medical expenses, if any, incurred by you and your passengers due to the accident. Without this policy set up beforehand, you might end up paying tens of thousands of dollars you don’t have just to reset your life.

PROTECT OTHERS FROM AN ACCIDENT YOU CAUSE

Let’s be honest, sometimes accidents happen and we are at fault. Hopefully this doesn’t happen while you are on the road but if it does, there will thankfully be an auto insurance policy there to cover any damage the accident may cause, especially to others who are involved. These policies will cover the damage to their vehicle as well as any medical expenses they might incur due to the accident itself.

PROTECT FROM LAWSUITS

Sometimes just covering the expenses aren’t enough and people want more money, taking you to court. So that you won’t get sued directly, the insurance company takes the heat for you, protecting you from further financial loss due to a lawsuit.