Are digital insurance ID cards valid in AZ

Are digital insurance cards on your cell phone valid proof of insurance in AZ? The answer, according to the AZ DMV, is YES.

Your life might someday depend on this free app for your cell phone.

And they say the best things in life aren't free.

I came across this free app about 18 months ago and truly believe EVERYONE should have it on their phone. It is called  ICE STANDARD ER 911 - IN CASE OF EMERGENCY and it allows you to put your emergency information on your phone's lock screen wallpaper, in case you are in an accident or have a medical emergency. Even if your phone is in the locked position, first responders are able to view your pertinent medical information

 On my phone, I have the following information:

• My name
• Blood type
• Emergency contacts name and numbers
• Health conditions
• Medications I take
• Allergies
• Medical insurance information
• Other info ( I list my doctor's name and phone number)

Pet's and hidden dangers

If you have a pet, it is likely you consider them to be a member of the family. We protect our human loved ones from danger, so it makes sense that we want to prevent any harm from coming to our animal loved ones as well. Take a look around your home to make sure that you are taking the right steps to help protect your pets.
Poisons – For cats and dogs, rodent poisons and insecticides are the most common source of poisoning. However, there are many others to keep in mind, including (but not limited to):

• Human medications – many can be toxic to your pet, such as ibuprofen, cold medicine and vitamins
• Antifreeze with ethylene glycol – this has a sweet taste and attracts animals, but can be deadly
• Certain plants – Lilies, mistletoe, azalea and hibiscus are just a few of the plants that can be harmful to your pet. For a more complete list, visit the Humane Society list

Around the House

• Birds are particularly sensitive to many household fumes, such as aerosol sprays, self-cleaning ovens and certain types of overheated cookware
• Open windows – cats have poor depth perception and can fall from an upper floor window, causing injury or even death. Open windows are also an easy escape route for a loose bird

Prevention Tips

• Keep an eye out – when you’re gardening, in the car, having a guest over, cleaning the house or doing any other activity, keep tabs on your pets
• Keep the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center hotline number near your phone (888-426-4435). It is available on a fee basis
• Keep your vet’s phone numbers (regular and after hours) handy as well

There are many more steps you can take to help prevent harm to your pet. Consider resources like the Humane Society or ASPCA websites for more information. 

Identity Theft Prevention

Now that the holidays are over and bills are arriving, it is an important time to review your credit card and bank statements, to make sure no mistakes appear and to be cautious about debt collectors calling about debts that do not belong to you. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these are all signs that you may be the victim of identity theft.
Here are some tips from the FTC that you can complete immediately to help in a situation where fraud is confirmed:

1. Order your credit reports – Order your credit report from one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. Review them carefully for errors or signs of fraud.
   • Equifax® 1-800-525-6285
   • Experian® 1-888-397-3742
   • TransUnion® 1-800-680-7289
2. Flag your credit reports – Call one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies and ask that they place a fraud alert on your credit report. The agency you call is then responsible for alerting the other two, and the initial alert is good for 90 days.
3. Create an identity theft report – File a complaint on the FTC website or by calling them at 1-877-438-4338. The completed complaint is called an FTC affidavit. Take the affidavit to the police department and file a police report. These two items comprise the identity theft report.

After completing the steps above, there are additional measures you can take that may help the situation:

1. Contact the issuers of your credit cards immediately – Prompt notice may help limit your liability.
2. Alert your bank(s) – If they have a process in place to do so, consider putting a fraud alert on your accounts.
3. Take steps to repair your credit – The FTC provides tips on things you can do to try to repair your credit after you have been the victim of fraud.

In the event that fraud is confirmed, Allstate’s Identity Theft Expense Coverage may be able to assist you with guidance and possible reimbursement of expenses. Regardless of whether you have this type of protection, finding out you are the victim of fraud is likely to create frustration, anger and worry. Being prepared and remaining vigilant are two good ways to help you fight it. Please contact me anytime with questions you may have regarding your coverage to ensure what matters to you is protected.

Renter's Insurance, do you really need it?

Many people are misinformed regarding the need for Renter's Insurance. If you rent an apartment, condo, or home, the owner of the property has insurance coverage protecting their property, their personal property (if any) and their liability (in case of a judgement against them or their property.

You, as the renter, have no coverage under the owner's insurance policy. That is why you need your own Renter's Insurance Policy. Most apartments and many homeowners require their renters to have their own Renter's policy with at least $100,000 in liability coverage. Their concern is only about LIABILITY COVERAGE in case of a lawsuit and judgement against themselves. YOU on the other hand as a renter, need to be concerned about the following:

• theft of your personal property
• damage to your property due to a fire, smoke, explosion, water
• liability if a guest is accidentally injured while on your property
• additional living expenses when a loss is covered and makes your residence uninhabitable

Renter's Insurance Policies are inexpensive, portable to other locations (if you move) and a requirement at most apartment complexes.