Madison Insurance Group

Insurance for you Colorado Medical or Doctor office

2012-02-22T13:57:00.003-07:00

Insurance products tailored to your medical office
	Madison Insurance Group has access to multiple A rated insurance carriers that have designed products to meet your needs. A medical office is much different from a cell phone store and the insurance products you purchase should be tailored to your business model. Please let a Colorado insurance agency help you with your specific insurance needs.
What insurance products does my Colorado medical office need?
	There are a few insurance products we would like to discuss with you including: General Liability, Property Insurance, Business Owners Policy (package of many coverage's), Workers Comp, Umbrella, Employment Practices Liability, Cyber Liability, Commercial Auto, and Employee Benefits.
Business Owners Policy for Medical Offices
	The business owners policy (BOP) designed for your business type has many features that are designed to meet your insurance needs. Coverage includes liability insurance for the business, business property coverage, accounts receivable, computers and media, valuable papers and records, business income coverage, equipment breakdown and much more.
What information should I have ready when I speak to an agent?
	Please have a copy of your current insurance declaration page handy. Additionally, be ready to discuss your business in depth including annual revenue, value of commercial property, payroll, and number of employees. We are looking forward to speaking with you.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

http://www.madisoninsurance.net/

Homeowner Insurance - Information and Advice from Madison Insurance Group

2012-02-17T13:19:00.003-07:00

Homeowners – Tips and Info

Madison Insurance Team wants to provide information to assist you with subjects ranging from protecting your house from mold to items to consider when remolding your home. One of our key homeowner’s insurance carriers, Travelers, has a few items on their website that we want to share. To visit the pages, please click on the links below.

Protecting your house from mold – advice on how to attack mold with a strong offense and what to do if you have water damage.

Pool Safety – if you own a pool there are steps you can take to reduce potential liability.

Remodeling your home – some key items to consider if you are planning on remodeling your home or cabin.

Seasonal Tips for Home Maintenance – tips for home maintenance for winter, spring, summer and fall.

For the entire list please click here.

Please let us know how we can help with any of your personal or business insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

http://www.madisoninsurance.net/

Colorado Workers Comp - Information for your Colorado Business

2012-02-17T13:18:00.002-07:00

As a Colorado based business you are required by the state to provide workers compensation for your employees. It may seem simple, but there are many questions that we hope to address below to help you navigate the program.

Does your business need coverage?

A majority of Colorado businesses need workers compensation for their employees. One of our key workers comp insurance partners Pinnacol Assurance has a informative web page that will help you gauge whether your business needs coverage. From the web site:

Do I Need Coverage?

Most businesses do. Colorado law requires companies to purchase workers' compensation insurance as soon as they hire their first employee. Your insurance policy is meant to protect both your company and your employees.

Sole proprietors and business partners, on the other hand, are not considered employees and aren't required to be covered on a policy.

Corporate officers and members of limited liability companies, who are active in the business, are considered employees and must be covered under a workers' compensation policy. The exceptions are officers and LLC members who own at least 10 percent of the business; they can choose to reject coverage for themselves.

For more information please visit http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=su9mnbeab&et=1109327801524&s=0&e=001QqHkW-OqnJPzPTzA8Z1u4HMbMuf09kvlr9k446TE9DYOlsaKacF9cnMay0EqYgVm4_OybZVOc_LCkIxJTfSBpZ0kT90IWMDO9TQlPWxA_SSUSb2IyJKSpI20FG88Lxj5hksJjckyFc1ab_TthE36ae__8VmdRvue.

Officer - Partner - Owner Opt Out

As mentioned above, in the state of Colorado owners, partners, and officers with a 10% or greater stake in the company have the option to opt out of coverage. If you provide workers compensation for your employees you will be given this option when you sign up for coverage.

However, if you are a small business whose entire workforce is only owners of the company you will most likely not have a workers compensation policy in force. Please click here to access the link for the forms that need to be submitted to the state for rejection of coverage.

Other Workers Compensation Links:

Workers comp documentation required for subcontractors

Return to work program

Workers compensation advice for a growing business

Safety Programs and Procedures

Posters for the workplace

State of Colorado Workers Compensation home page

For more information on the Colorado Workers compensation program please visit our workers comp web page by clicking here.

Please let us know if we can help you with your workers compensation questions.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=su9mnbeab&et=1109327801524&s=0&e=001QqHkW-OqnJPzPTzA8Z1u4HMbMuf09kvlr9k446TE9DYOlsaKacF9cnMay0EqYgVm4_OybZVOc_LCkIxJTfSBpZzfme0uDymH2n3I75I1kfXco5XM3xQFIRCyia375Dy5

Never a good time for a Colorado construction company to cancel thier GL policy

2012-01-30T13:55:00.001-07:00

A recent article and blog post written by David M. McClain outlines the dangers to a construction company of canceling their GL policy. It also paints a good picture as to why every type of company needs directors and officers liability. From the blog:

The two factors which militate against going bare can be traced to two Colorado appellate court decisions. The first of these is Public Service Company of Colorado w. Wallis and Companies.[1] While not a construction defect suit, this case adopted the time-on-the-risk analysis for the allocation of risk in cases involving continuous and progressive losses, such as construction defect suits. The way that the time-on-the risk analysis works is this, a court will divide the total amount of liability by the number of years at issue. The court will then allocate liability accordingly to each policy year. To determine the total number of years at issue, you typically add up the number of years between substantial completion of a home and the date of the statutory notice of claim under the Construction Defect Action Reform Act. For instance, if you received today a notice of claim on a home substantially completed on this date in 2006, there would be five years of time on the risk. Allocating the risk across the five years of time-on-the-risk would result in 20% of the claim being attributed to each year. Now here’s the rub. For each year during which you do not renew your CGL policy, you create an uncovered exposure. For instance, if you carried insurance for only year one from the example above, then had four years of uncovered exposure, your carrier would cover 20% of the ultimate indemnity award (assuming it is covered by the policy) and the remaining 80% of the loss would be uninsured and, as a result, the risk of that loss would fall on you.

The second factor which militates towards continuing coverage is the Hoang v. Arbess decision.[2] In that case, the Colorado Court of Appeals held that in cases involving construction defects, homeowners can hold corporate officers of the contracting company personally liable for the construction defects if they are directly involved in the tortious conduct either by approving of, directing, actively participating in, or cooperating in the negligent conduct of the corporation. In other words, while an officer of a corporation cannot be held personally liable for a corporation’s tort solely by reason of his or her official capacity, an officer may be held personally liable for his or her individual acts of negligence even though committed on behalf of the corporation, which is also held liable. In the Hoang case, Mr. Arbess was held personally liable because he “approved of, directed, actively participated in, or cooperated in the negligent conduct. For example, plaintiffs presented evidence that defendant was personally involved in each step of the construction, chose the individual home sites, oversaw the subcontractors, set policies and procedures for the subcontractors to follow, and visited the construction sites at least once a week.” How does this differ from your role in the homes you have built? Mr. Arbess was also found liable because of his decision to use slab-on-grade basement floors instead of the structural floors recommended by the geotechnical engineer.

For the entire blog post, please click the link below:

http://www.coloradoconstructionlitigation.com/2011/10/is-now-really-time-to-bare-it-all.html

Please feel free to contact Madison Insurance Group for all of your business insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

http://www.madisoninsurance.net/

Protect your cell phone from hackers

2012-01-30T11:57:00.001-07:00

The NYTimes has recent article that describes hacking of cell phones as the "scourge of 2012". Whether you use your cell phone for business or just personal use, protecting your phone is necessary. From the article:

How do you protect yourself? Yanking out your phone’s battery is about the only way to interrupt the flow of information if you suspect you are already under surveillance. As for prevention, a common ruse for making a man-in-the middle attack is to send the target a text message that claims to be from his or her cell service provider asking for permission to “reprovision” or otherwise reconfigure the phone’s settings due to a network outage or other problem. Don’t click “O.K.” Call your carrier to see if the message is bogus.

For the entire article, please visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/technology/personaltech/protecting-a-cellphone-against-hackers.html?_r=2

Please let Madison Insurance help you with your personal or business insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Garage Liability for your Colorado Business

2012-01-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

Who needs garage liability?

There are many types of Colorado business that need garage liability. A few examples include: Auto Body Shop, Auto Dealers (new and used), Repair Shops, Motorcycle Dealers, Mobile Home dealers, Mechanics, and Recreational Vehicle Dealers. Madison Insurance Group has multiple A rated insurance carriers with garage policies that will meet your insurance needs at a competitive price.

Why should you choose Madison Insurance for your Garage Liability Insurance broker?

Madison Insurance group has been selling and servicing garage liability policies in Colorado for well over 10 years. We understand the market and have multiple A rated carriers willing to provide a quote for your business. Please let us find you a comprehensive garage liability quote at a competitive price.

What does a garage liability policy consist of?

Property Coverage - Coverage for your business property including buildings, office furniture, machinery, inventory, business income, Inland Marine (tools), outside signs, and theft coverage.
Garage Liability - Coverage for owned, hired or non-owned vehicles.
Garagekeepers Coverage - coverage for autos which are the property of others and in the custody of the insured for storage, repair or safekeeping.
Dealers Blanket - coverage for new or used vehicles of any type that insures against loss resulting from damage to any automobile that is held for sale, held pending delivery after sale, or used in the business of an automobile dealer.
Additionally, we can assist your company with commercial auto, workers comp and even employee benefits.

What information should I have before I speak to a Madison Insurance Group agent?

Please have a copy of your current garage liability policy at hand. Additionally, please be ready to discuss your business in depth including revenues, employees, payroll, value of business property etc… We are looking forward to working for you.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Group Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Madison Insurance Group - A Colorado Independent Insurance Agency

2012-01-18T17:09:00.002-07:00

We hope that you and yours are off to a wonderful 2012. New Year we wanted to remind you of our mission and remind you that we are an independent insurance agency serving businesses and individuals.

Madison Insurance Group’s mission is to provide outstanding service and superior coverage to each and every one of our clients. We assist our customers identify their individual insurance needs in order to develop the most comprehensive and cost effective solution. We work as a team to develop exceptional programs for our valued customers built on a foundation of honesty, integrity and trust.

If you are looking for individual in Colorado looking for insurance coverage we can help with home and auto, rental properties, recreational toys, individual health, disability, and life. For more information on individual coverage please click here.

If you are a Colorado or Denver based business owner we provide property, general liability, professional liability, errors and omissions, directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, builder’s risk, and workers compensation insurances. For more information on business products please click here.

Additionally, we can provide employee benefits for your Colorado business including group medical, life and disability insurance, dental and vision coverage, voluntary benefits and much more. For more information on our employee benefits products please click here.

We consider each client as a partner in fulfilling our mission of providing outstanding service and appropriate cost effective coverage. We look forward to serving the individuals and businesses of Colorado.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

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How secure are your computer passwords?

2012-01-17T17:49:00.001-07:00

If you are like us at Madison Insurance Group you have to maintain multiple passwords for the various programs you utilize at work. While it may seem like a pain to update passwords, use numbers and capitals or even a symbol you and your office may need to rethink your passwords.

Check out the website linked below. It assesses your password and give you how much time it would take for a desktop PC to figure it out.

http://howsecureismypassword.net/

If someone were to use a weak password to access your office's files the company could be on the hook for various fines, data recovery costs, federal fines, state fines and much more.

We offer an insurance product that would help protect your business from a data breach called cyber liability. For more information on the product, please click here.

Please let us know how we can help your Colorado based business with Cyber Liablity or any other insurance related products.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

http://www.madisoninsurance.net/

Pinnacol Closer to Separating From Colorado

2012-01-16T12:05:00.002-07:00

In his state of the state address Colorado Governor calls for Pinnacol to separate from the state of Colorado. Please see link below for more information:

http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20120113/NEWS08/120119941?tags=%7C305%7C73%7C340%7C304%7C92#

Please let Madison Insurance help your company with its workers compensation policy.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Cyber Liability Insurance Expected to Boom in 2012

2012-01-13T11:13:00.002-07:00

A recent blog post at the New York Times discusses cyber liability and a recent SEC requirement that should create a boom of cyber liability sales. The article also covers the need for the product and the potential impact to a business if they are not properly insured. From the article:

The average cost of a data breach hit $7.2 million last year and cost companies $214 per compromised data record, according to the Ponemon Institute. And that’s just for a data breach. If a company’s intellectual property is stolen, it could decimate an organization.
“It is now possible to suck all the information out of a company,” said Scott Borg, chief executive of the nonprofit United States Cyber Consequences Unit.

A comprehensive cyber insurance policy should cover intellectual property theft, said Emily Freeman, a cyber insurance broker at Lockton. Most policies, Ms. Freeman said, cover the “twin risks of privacy and security,” which include the cost of lost business, notification costs, credit-monitoring services, public relations and legal and investigation expenses. It may also cover class-action lawsuits, regulatory investigations, civil fines and even extortion demands.

For the entire article please visit http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/insurance-against-cyber-attacks-expected-to-boom/

If your company has information that could be vulnerable to cyber attack you should have cyber liability coverage. If you are interested in discussing or want to get a quote, please give Madison Insurance Group a call at 1-800-635-6185.

For more information on cyber liability, please visit our cyber web page http://www.madisoninsurance.net/business_type/cyber.html

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Tips to save on Workers Comp Premium

2012-01-13T11:05:00.002-07:00

A few helpful tips for your Colorado business on getting your workers comp premium lower. From www.crainsnewyork.com:

Invest in keeping your workers safe

When safety is an integral part of the business culture, firms experience fewer claims, less fraud and lower premiums, Mr. Friedlander says. "Management must make sure that employees go home from work in the same health in which they arrived by building a culture of caring,” he said.

How do you create such a culture? Depending on your line of work, it may mean taking steps such as enhancing the workstations of employees who sit at desks to prevent repetitive strain injuries or keeping floors dry in restaurants. Sometimes these measures will also help a company to increase productivity and boost revenues by as much as the cost of the insurance itself, he notes.

Establish a workplace safety committee

It should analyze past workers' compensation claims, isolate patterns and then establish protocols to eliminate unsafe acts and conditions that could cause future safety problems. When employees have a stake in the outcome, they are apt to care most about keeping rates low. You may want to note that the lower rates are, the more a company can afford to pay its employees.

Control what insurance carriers call your "experience modification"

A safer environment can lead to a 45% savings through so-called experience modification credits on your premium—something like a safe-driver discount for private car insurance. "Controlling your experience modification is a strategic and bottom-line imperative," Mr. Friedlander said. Keep good records of the steps you are taking.

If you have questions on your workers comp policy or if you would like to discuss any of your business insurance needs, please give Madison Insurance Group a call 1-800-636-6185.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Colorado Workers Comp Rates to Rise 5%

2012-01-11T12:12:00.001-07:00

Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado's largest provider of workers compensation coverage, will raise rates by 5% whether it becomes a private company or keeps its current relationship with the state. For more please visit:

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/morning_call/2012/01/pinnacol-says-workers-comp-rates-will.html?ana=e_den_rdup

Please let Madison Insurance Group help your company with its workers compensation insurance or any other business insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Team

http://www.madisoninsurance.net/

Madison Insurance now on Google+ for business

2012-01-05T14:18:00.003-07:00

Nothing to see yet but there will be soon. Happy New Year.

https://plus.google.com/108533871270100131372#108533871270100131372/posts

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance team

Simple way to protect your computer....don't use these passwords

2011-12-12T15:13:00.003-07:00

The 25 worst passwords in 2011 via insurancejournal.com. Please avoid the following passwords:

1. password
2. 123456
3. 12345678
4. qwerty
5. abc123
6. monkey
7. 1234567
8. letmein
9. trustno1
10. dragon
11. baseball
12. 111111
13. iloveyou
14. master
15. sunshine
16. ashley
17. bailey
18. passw0rd
19. shadow
20. 123123
21. 654321
22. superman
23. qazwsx
24. michael
25. football

For more from the article please visit http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/12/07/226606.htm

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Happy Holidays From Madison Insurance

2011-12-06T10:22:00.001-07:00

On behalf of everyone at Madison Insurance Group I would like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season. We have had another wonderful year due to our Colorado basedloyal clients. We are looking forward to a new year servicing our Denver and Colorado based personal and business insurance clients.

Our goal remains to build relationships and provide the best insurance products available at a competitive price. Whether you are a new customer or one that we have been servicing for years we hope that we meet or exceed your expectations.

As a reminder, Madison Insurance Group is a full service insurance agency. We offer business insurance, personal insurance, health insurance and much more. For more details on the products we offer, please visit www.madisoninsurance.net.

Please feel free to let us know how we can help and what we can do to better serve you.

And thank you again for your business.

Sincerely,

Tom Young

President

Madison Insurance Group

www.madisoninsurance.net

Frozen Pipes for home or business - some tips from Madison

2011-11-18T11:42:00.001-07:00

How would youhandle a burst pipe at your home or place of business? We are aware that time is of the essence butwe want to give you a few pointers to help you through the insurance and repairprocess.

If you have damage to your home or businesscaused by frozen pipes, please take the following steps:

· Reportthe claim to your insurance company as quickly as possible.

· Do what is reasonably necessary to protect the property fromfurther damage/minimize business interruption (if a policy for your business).

· Please be patient and save receipts fortemporary repairs. We advise strongly to wait for permanent repairs. The damageneeds to be viewed by a claims professional before any permanent work is done.

· If needed, please contact a local restoration contractor who canassist with the process of extracting water and dry out process.

· In order to restore water service please repair the damaged pipes.Please save the damaged plumbing parts for the claims professional.

· We encourage you to photo the property damaged and plumbingdamage. This will help to document the damage and with the claim process.

A few tips on hiring a plumber or restoration contractor:

Be wary of plumbers who show up unsolicited at your door offering to make repairs. Most reputable companies are too busy right now to solicit work in this manner.

Beware of price gouging. Some businesses may be marking up their products or services by as much as 500 percent due to the high demand of plumbing services in the cold weather.

Take time to shop around for plumbers get competitive bids, and check references and licensing requirements.

Request a written contract, detailing all services, materials and labor. Be sure the plumber signs your copy before you make any payments.

Never pay for all repairs in advance and do not pay with cash.
Request an insurance certificate before the work is started.

Pleaselet us know if you have questions or need anything. Also, please remember that Madison InsuranceGroup can help you with your commercialor personalinsurance needs.

Thank you foryour time.

The MadisonInsurance Team
www.madisoninsurance.net

Workers Compensation - Subcontractors and workers comp certificates

2011-11-04T09:26:00.001-06:00

Below is a link from one of our key Colorado workers comp partners Pinnacol assurance that outlines the steps your business should take to be ensure your subcontractors are in compliance with the Colorado workers compensation act. From the document:

Ensure that your subcontractor is in compliance by obtaining:

Certificates of workers’ compensation insurance valid during your policy period

Ensure that the certificates of insurance are valid. Refer to the sample certificate and look for the following:

Certificate comes from the producer – either the agent or the insurance company – not the subcontractor.

Name of the insured is the subcontractor you are paying. If a Professional Employers Organization (PEO) or leasing company is listed as the insured, the subcontractor’s name should appear at the bottom of the certificate (2A) in the description of operation box.

Certificate shows a policy number for a workers’ compensation policy and not a notation of applied for, pending, or to be determined.

Dates of policy cover the time the subcontractor works for you.

You are listed as the certificate holder.

Certificate was issued within a few days of your request.

To view the entire document please visit: http://www.pinnacol.com/acom_docs/documentation_required_for_subcontractors.pdf

Please visit Madison Insurance Group's workers compensation website for more information on Colorado Workers Comp: http://www.madisoninsurance.net/commercial/workers_comp.html

Madison insurance Group has been an independent Colorado insurance agency for over 15 years. We are here to help with your workers compensation and other insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Cyber Liability - Wonderful Overview of Coverage

2011-11-03T16:54:00.001-06:00

A recent article from www.networkworld.com does an outstanding job of over viewing Cyber Liability. The article includes information on the need for Cyber Liability, description of the product, and rating information. Below is the portion of the article which describes the types of coverage available under Cyber Liability.

Data breach coverage: This pays for expenses that result from a data breach. Covered expenses typically include notification of the victims, setting up a call center, credit monitoring and credit restoration services for the victims, and other crisis management services, says Ken Goldstein, vice president at the Chubb Group, an insurance vendor. "You might want to hire forensic experts, independent attorneys for guidance concerning the multiple state (data breach notification) laws, and public relations experts. The more thoughtful ones respond in a way that shows they are taking the situation seriously," he says.

Regulatory civil action coverage: Pays in cases where the insured is facing fines from a state attorney general after a data breach, or from the federal government after a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA,) or similar regulations. Some policies only cover the cost of defending against the action, while others may pay the fine as well, says Steven Haase, head of INSUREtrust, an Atlanta-based specialty insurance provider.

Cyber extortion coverage: For cases where a hacker steals data from the policy holder and then tries to sell it back, or someone plants a logic bomb in the policy holder's system and demands payment to disable it. Among other things, the policy should cover the cost of a negotiator, and the expense of offering a reward leading to the arrest of the perpetrator, Goldstein says.

Virus liability: Pays in cases where the policy holder is sued by someone who claims to have gotten a virus from the policy holder's system.

Content liability: Covers lawsuits filed by people angered over something posted on the Web site of the policy holder. Such coverage should also cover copyright claims and domain name disputes, Haase says.

Lost income coverage: Replaces revenue lost while the policy holder's computer system or Web site is down. But Kalinich notes that insurers often apply minimum downtimes of 12 or 24 hours, or require proof of actual losses. "They'll say that, after all, the customers who did not get through (during the outage) could have come back later," he says.

Loss of data coverage: Pays for the cost of replacing the policy holder's data in case of loss. "Backup policies are not always effective, and accidents and sabotage happen," Haase says.

Errors and omissions coverage: Otherwise known as O&M policies, this type of coverage predates cyber insurance, but is increasingly added to cyber policies to cover alleged failures by the policy holder's software, Haase says.

If you want to read the entire article, please visit http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/102411-cyber-insurance-252145.html.

Does your Colorado company need Cyber Liability? Please contact Madison Insurance either by phone, 1-800-636-6185, or visit our website www.madisoninsurance.net. We have been a Colorado based insurance company for over 15 years and are here to serve Denver and Colorado businesses.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Cyber Insurance Articles - Is your Colorado Business Covered for Cyber Risks?

2011-10-27T11:05:00.000-06:00

In the past few days there have been a few good articles on Cyber Liability that we wanted to share. Below are links to the articles and our best shot at giving a brief overview of each.

According to the article linked below from www.insruancenewsnet.com the demand for cyber insurance is surging along with the data breach epidemic that is sweeping through corporate America.
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=291218

Posted today on www.washingtonpost.com is an article linked below that discusses the vast amount of data being stolen on a daily basis in America. It also goes on to define Cybersecurity and three types of breaches. The breaches include; instruction, disruption, and attack.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/cybersecurity-and-the-missing-sense-of-urgency/2011/10/12/gIQAhlE3LM_blog.html

And the last article from www.propertycasualty360.com describes Cyber Liability as a fastly growing concern for attorney's. The threat of a security breach that results in a client's data being stolen is real and could potentially be a large liability. According to a person quoted in the article Cyber coverage "is a huge hole right now" for law firms.
http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2011/10/20/cyber-liability-emerging-as-top-concern-in-lawyers

Please visit Madison Insurance Groups Cyber Liability page:
http://www.madisoninsurance.net/business_type/cyber.html

Madison Insurance Group is an independent Colorado insurance agency that can help your company with Cyber Insurance or any of your insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Colorado Workers Comp Rates Increasing in 2012

2011-10-27T10:47:00.000-06:00

An article on www.denverpost.com today discusses the 3.7% increase in workers compensation rates for Colorado businesses in 2012. The increase was attributed to the ongoing increase in medical costs not to a rise in claims.

For the entire article please click on the link below:
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19205938

Please visit our Colorado workers comp insurance page: http://www.madisoninsurance.net/commercial/workers_comp.html

Madison Insurance Group is an Denver independent insurance agency that can help you with all of your insurance needs. Please feel free to call us at 1-800-636-6185 to discuss your workers compensation or other insurance programs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Professional Liability and Errors & Omissions for Colorado Business

2011-10-25T14:24:00.000-06:00

As you are certainly aware the economy has not been firing on all cylinders the past few years and businesses have had to cut costs in many different areas. Unfortunately employees are one of the biggest costs for any type of employer and adjustments to the workforce have taken place.

While this is not good news for the overall economy it can create a silver lining for higher educated and experienced professionals. Companies will now hire consultants to perform duties that used to be tasked to employees of the firm. This has led to a large increase in experienced professionals to start their own small businesses that are contracted by larger companies.

As the article from www.propertycasualty360.com linked below explains, this adjsutment to the workforce has increased the demand for professional liability and errors and omissions insurance. From the article:

With the global economy still suffering, businesses have been forced to re-evaluate their operations and cut expenditures to increase their bottom line. Unfortunately, one of a company’s largest expenses is its employees, and firms have downsized accordingly.
Many of these experienced professionals have now gone into business for themselves, and this has increased the volume of professionals in the workplace who need miscellaneous E&O coverage. This line of coverage is critical for professionals charging for their services because:

It provides coverage for mistakes and negligence that occur during the course of services which result in a financial loss for the client.
It covers the costs of defending a lawsuit and the resulting civil damages awarded when the insured is sued for an error or an omission.
It provides coverage where commercial general liability and other liability policies do not.
Nobody is perfect—the smallest oversight during business operations can cost a customer hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Today’s soft market makes finding ample coverage facile and affordable.

Some of the most popular miscellaneous E&O classes: business/management consultants, financial consultants, home inspectors, property preservationists, real estate agents/brokers and mortgage brokers.

http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2011/10/20/professional-liability-a-growing-insurance-need-as

If you are an experienced professional that recently went out on thier own to pursue a consultant business, you will run into contracts requiring not only professional liablity or errors and omissions coverage, but also general liability, workers compensation and automobile liability.

Madison Insurance Group has markets for any and all of thse products and is here to serve your Colorado business. Please feel free to call us to discuss your new venture and the insurance needs at 1-800-636-6185 or visit our website www.madisoninsurance.net.

Let us know how we can help with any of your insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Cyber Liability - Credit Card Information Stolen At Businesses in NYC

2011-10-20T16:14:00.000-06:00

A recent story from latimes.com details a recent bust in New York of a major identity theft and credit card stealing operation. The basic outline is that employees of restaurants and some retail businesses stole customers credit card information. Then the information was loaded onto blank credit cards. Lastly, the newly created cards were used to purchase large amounts of electronic equipment and luxury goods. For more information please visit:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/identity-theft-ring-busted.html

If something similar were to happen to your Denver or Colorado business you could face a lawsuit from the customers whose credit card information was stolen while in your businesses control. Typical general liability insurance policies will not provide protection for this type of potential liability. There is a product called Cyber Liability that would provide coverage for your business. For more information on cyber liability please visit our cyber web page:
http://www.madisoninsurance.net/business_type/cyber.html

Please let us know how Madison Insurance Group can help your Colorado business with any and all of your insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

What should you do if there is a potential liability claim at your business?

2011-10-14T12:22:00.001-06:00

Liability claims aresomething that we hope none of our clients has to deal with, but the reality isthat they do occur. We feel its best to be ready for these accidents by havingsteps you and your employees can take to best enable your insurance company toact on your behalf. Not all claims are the same but we feel these steps willsignificantly help you and your Coloradobusiness if you have to file a liability claim.

· If someone fallsor is hurt on your property respond with kindness and empathy. Ignoring the problemwill not make the situation better.

· Collect contactinformation from the anyone involved or any witnesses to the incident. Werecommend that you collect this information even if there does not appear to bean injury. Injuries can take time to surface and its better to be on the safeside.

· Take photos ofthe location and causes of the accident.

· Write down anyaccounts of the accident immediately after they are told to you.

· Report claims asquick as possible. Memories fade and witnesses can be less committal after sometime.

· Review anysecurity cameras that may have captured the accident. Regularly inspect thecameras and maintain footage.

· Correct the causeof the accident. If you can put up signs or barriers this will help to keepthese types of accidents from occurring again.

Every accident is unique butwe feel if you follow these steps you will be doing what you can to protectyour business from claims and future claims that hopefully do not arise.

Please let us know how we canhelp your Colorado or Denver business with any of your insuranceneeds.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Prepare Your Home for Winter

2011-10-14T12:19:00.001-06:00

As we all know fall weather in Colorado can be a footof snow one day and golf weather the next. Before we know it winter will be upon us and we would like a few minutesof your time to give you a few tips on preparing your house or cabin forwinter.

Maintain gutters
Remove leaves, pine needles, sticksand other debris from gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This canprevent "ice damming"–a condition where water is unable to properlydrain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water todrip from the ceiling and walls. You may also consider installing gutter guardsand extending your down spouts. Available in most hardware and home stores,gutter guards are screens that prevent debris from entering the gutter anddirect the flow of water away from the house and into the ground.

Trim trees andremove dead branches
Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break, damaging yourhome, car or injuring someone walking on your property. If you are questioning if you can reach thebranch, we would suggest hiring a professional tree trimmer.

Check insulation
Add extra insulation to attics,basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic it cancause snow or ice to melt on the roof. The water re-freezes causing more snowand ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof, and can contribute toice damming. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than theoutside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protectpipes from freezing.

Maintain pipes
Wrap pipes with heating tape andinsulate unfinished rooms such as garages that frequently have exposed pipes. We also suggest insulating any exposedexterior water pipes. Also, check for cracks and leaks. Have minor pipe damagefixed immediately to prevent much costlier repairs in the future.

Check heatingsystems
The proper use and maintenance offurnaces, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves can prevent fire and smoke damage.Have furnaces, boilers and chimneys serviced at least once a year. Make surethat smoke and fire alarms are working properly and consider installing acarbon dioxide detector. Daylightsavings is a good day to use as a reminder to change your batteries.

Maintain steps andhandrails
Broken stairs and banisters canbecome lethal when covered with snow and ice. Make repairs now to preventsomeone from falling and seriously being injured.

Get to know yourplumbing
Learn how to shut the water off andknow where your pipes are located. If your pipes freeze, time is of theessence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to theproblem, the better chance you have to prevent the pipes from bursting.

Plan for being away
If you are not going to be in yourhome this winter for an extended period of time, have the water system drainedby a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting. Also, have someonecheck on your home on a regular basis. If there is a problem, it can be fixedquickly, thus lessening any damage. Activity at your home will also reduce thelikelihood that it will be burglarized.

Damage to homes caused by flooding is usuallyexcluded from most standard homeowner policies. If you would like to see aquote, please contact us.

We hope you found the above information useful. Please contact Madison Insurance Group at 800-636-6185 to discuss your Colorado homeowners and auto insurance.

Thank you for your time.

The MadisonInsurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Cyber Threats - Is your Colorado business prepared?

2011-10-12T12:21:00.000-06:00

The article linked below is from insurancejournal.com and identifies three cyber threats that will be emerging in the next year. These threats include mobile phone related, search engine related and data theft. From the article:

According to GTISC, GTRI and the experts cited in the report, specific threats to follow over the coming year include, among others:

Search Poisoning – Attackers will increasingly use SEO (search engine optimization) techniques to optimize malicious links among search results, so that users are more likely to click on a URL because it ranks highly on Google or other search engines.
Mobile Web-based Attacks – Expect increased attacks aimed specifically against mobile Web browsers as the tension between usability and security, along with device constraints (including small screen size), make it difficult to solve mobile Web browser security flaws.
Stolen Cyber Data Use for Marketing – The market for stolen cyber data will continue to evolve as botnets capture private user information shared by social media platforms and sell it directly to legitimate business channels such as lead-generation and marketing.

For the entire article, please visit: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/10/11/219407.htm

Is your Colorado or Denver business properly protected from cyber related risks? Please visit our cyber liability insurance website http://www.madisoninsurance.net/business_type/cyber.html or give us a call at 1-800-636-6185 to discuss cyber liability insurance.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Data Breach and Cyber Liablity - Is your Colorado business protected?

2011-10-06T10:25:00.001-06:00

A recent article, linked below, from businessinsurance.com addresses the data theft risks for small and midsized companies. It also covers what companies should do to protect their data and potential liabilities.

http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20111002/NEWS05/310029999?tags=%7C299%7C305#

From the article:

According to a joint study by the U.S. Secret Service andNew York-based Verizon Communications Inc.'s forensics analysis unit, of the761 data breaches the unit investigated in 2010, 63% occurred at companies with100 or fewer employees.

What's a company to do? Aside from writing up a datasecurity policy and sticking to it, beefing up security by installingfirewalls, anti-virus and intrusion detection systems, and routinely upgradingsoftware with the vendor's patches, privacy and network liability insurance area way to mitigate the exposure.

Is your small or mid-sized Colorado or Denver based business properly protected for data theft and other cyber related risks? Please give Madison Insurance Group a call at 1-800-636-6185 to discuss our cyber liability insurance products and/or visit our cyber liability web page for more information by clicking here.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Workers Comp for Nanny in Colorado

2011-09-30T14:29:00.001-06:00

If you have a full time nanny in the state of Colorado you mustprovide workers compensation. The costper employee will run around $700 per year. In order to quote we need the following:

Your full name

Your social security number (this is the tracking number for the state)

Address

Number of employees and what duties they are performing.

Once we receive this information we will be able to providean insurance quote to you within 24 hours.

Please give us a call at 1-800-636-6185 for a workerscompensation quote.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison InsuranceTeam

www.madisoninsurance.net

Equipment Breakdown – Essential coverage for your Denver or Colorado business

2011-09-29T13:33:00.001-06:00

If a key piece ofequipment broker down could it cost you revenue?

Would an equipmentbreakdown send customers elsewhere?

How would you replacelost profits if you had to shut down or slow down for repairs?

Equipment Breakdown Coverage responds to the cost to repairor replace mechanical, electrical or pressure systems that suffer abreakdown. Additionally, the programwill cover loss of income by a business interruption due to the equipmentbreakdown. The coverage will alsoreimburse you for expenses to prevent further loss or to expedite repairsneeded to restore your business operations.

Coverage includes the following equipment:

Telephone systems

Electrical systems

Computers

Copiers

Production Equipment

Boilers

Refrigeration Units

Compressors

Pumps

Engines

Generators

Transformers

Switchboards

Does your Colorado or Denver based businesshave equipment breakdown coverage? Please give Madison Insurance Group a call at 1-800-686-6185 to discussequipment breakdown coverage for your business.

Thank you for your time.

The MadisonInsurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Business Owners Policy - BOP

2011-09-21T10:54:00.000-06:00

As a Denver, Colorado based insurance agencywe receive many requests for general liability insurance from clients or potential clients. While this coverage may help your Denver or Coloradobusiness meet a requirement of a lease or contract, there may be a betteroption that not only saves you money but provides much more comprehensivecoverage.

There is a insurance packageof coverages called a Business Owners Policy (BOP) that all Denver or Colorado basedsmall to medium sized businesses should request from their agent or from Madison Insurance Group.

What is a businessowners policy or BOP?

A business owners policy is a comprehensive insurance product that includesgeneral liability, property and many other coverage’s in one package.

What type of business should purchase aBOP?

The BOP is a good fit for small to medium sized companies.

Why buy a BOP?

Many small businesses only purchase general liability without knowing that theycould get property and the additional coverage for not much more premium. If you own a small Denveror Coloradobased business you should obtain a quote.

What does a BOP cover?

Business Owners Policies vary by insurance carrier but in general they cover:

Business Property
Covers business buildings and their contents, including — but not limited to — inventory, office equipment, furniture and computers, equipment leased or rented for business use, and property in your care belonging to someone else that is accidentally damaged.

General Liability
Covers damages that you are legally obligated to pay as a result of bodily injury, property damage or personal and advertising injury up to the policy limits and subject to your deductible.

What are the additionalcoverage features?

Coverage for various items including:

Tenants Glass

Business Income

Equipment Breakdown

Outdoor Signs

Money and Securities

Employee Dishonesty

Fine Arts

Business Property in Transit

And many more depending on carrier

Please feel free to contact Madison Insurance Group for yoursmall or medium Denver or Colorado based business’s insuranceneeds. We can be reached at1-800-636-6185 or visit our website www.madisoninsurance.netfor more information.

Thank you for your time.

The MadisonInsurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Certifcates of Insurance - Homeowners and Residential Contractors

2011-09-15T13:24:00.002-06:00

As a Colorado homeowner you will have various residential contractorscome to your house for many different services. These services range from simply washing the windows to adding the deckin the back. Most consumers will askthese various contractors if they are insured and take their word for it.

In the past few years the cost of insurance for residentialcontractors has risen significantly and these increases could lead a contractorto drop coverage in order to save money.

Madison Insurance Group highly recommends that you always ask the contractor for a certificate of insurance. This certificate will list the kinds ofinsurance that are in place, the amount of insurance, the insurance company andthe policy period. Our insurance agency processes hundreds ofthese requests throughout the year. Areasonable expectation for the certificate to be processed and sent is 24 to 48hours after the initial request.

If the contractor is using sub contractors, we alsorecommend that you request certificates of insurance for each sub that thecontractor is utilizing.

When requesting the certificate we recommend that you provide the contractoryour email address or fax number and haveit sent to you directly. This way,you are assured that the policy is current and in force.

Lastly, we recommend that you request this informationduring the bidding process. Finding outyour contractor is not insured on the day the project starts is an unnecessarycomplication.

Your house is most likely the biggest investment you willever make. It’s important to have theproper protections in place in case the unthinkable happens.

If you have any questions on your current insurance policiesor anything insurance related please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for you time.

The MadisonInsurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

General Liablity - What to do if there is an accident on your property

2011-09-14T15:24:00.000-06:00

Liability claims are something that we hope none of our Colorado or Denver clients has to deal with, but the reality is that they do occur. We feel its best to be ready for these accidents by having steps you and your employees can take to best enable your insurance company to act on your behalf. Not all claims are the same but we feel these steps will significantly help you and your business if you have to file a liability claim.

If someone falls or is hurt on your property respond with kindness and empathy. Ignoring the problem will not make the situation better.
Collect contact information from the anyone involved or any witnesses to the incident. We recommend that you collect this information even if there does not appear to be an injury. Injuries can take time to surface and its better to be on the safe side.
Never ask for someone to sign a release stating they are not injured. This has the potential to create animosity and are ineffective in court.
Take photos of the location and causes of the accident.
Write down any accounts of the accident immediately after they are told to you.
Report claims as quick as possible. Memories fade and witnesses can be less committal after some time.
Review any security cameras that may have captured the accident. Regularly inspect the cameras and maintain footage for up to three months.
Correct the cause of the accident. If you can put up signs or barriers this will help to keep these types of accidents from occurring again.

Every accident is unique but we feel if you follow these steps you will be doing what you can to protect your business from claims and future claims that hopefully do not arise.

Please let us know how we can help your Colorado or Denver based business with any of your business insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Workers Compensation - Frequently Asked Questions

2011-09-07T10:18:00.001-06:00

Vail Daily recently published an article that provides answers to questions that are frequently asked at Vail Medical Center's Occupation Health Clinics. The article does a good job helping Colorado workers comp claimants address questions that we would imagine are commonplace throughout the state.

A couple examples:

I hurt myself at work, but I was told it was not workers' compensation. How can that be?
Just because it happens at work does not automatically make it workers' compensation. A work-related illness/injury is one that occurs “during the scope of performing your job.” Certain illnesses/injuries do not fall into that category. Examples of this include walking down the hall and tripping on a shoe string or getting burnt when getting popcorn out of the microwave (if your job isn't to make popcorn.)

What if I chose to see my own medical provider and/or a specialist and the occupational health provider did not make the referral?
You do have the right to see whatever provider you chose. However, charges will not be paid through workers compensation nor your private insurance since it is a work-related injury. Outside treatments will not be covered if you don't receive a referral from a workers' comp provider.

For the entire article, please click on the link below:
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20110822/AE/110829952/1078&ParentProfile=1062

Please consider Madison Insurance Group as your company's workers compensation agent. We have hundreds of clients throughout Colorado and strive to provide comprehensive coverage at a competitive price.

For more information on workers compensation please visit our workers comp website http://www.madisoninsurance.net/commercial/workers_comp.html.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

New Weapon for Cyber Criminals - "search engine poisoning"

2011-08-30T10:34:00.000-06:00

The latest weapon for cyber criminals involves polluting your search engine results and directing you to a non related site that may entice you to purchase a product you don't need or install a virus on your computer. According to the article linked below from newscientist.com google is doing a reasonable job identifying and staying ahead of the cyber criminals but is having difficulty with breaking news stories. The article advises to be wary of image results at the top of a search page when checking on breaking news stories. Here is one interesting paragraph from the article:

Search engine poisoning is booming. Internet security firm Trend Micro estimates that in May 2011, more than 113 million users were redirected to malicious pages due to search engine poisoning. Hijacking image searches rather than text-based web searches is the fraudsters' latest twist on a popular scam.

The entire article can be found here: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21128276.500-image-searches-poisoned-by-cybercriminals.html

Is your Colorado or Denver based company insured for potential data loss, virus disrupting day to day activities or other cyber related liabilities? Please visit our cyber liability page by clicking here.

Let us know if you have questions on cyber liability or any other potential insurance questions for your Denver or Colorado based business.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Workers Compensation - Do you need coverage?

2011-08-25T11:02:00.002-06:00

Do I Need Coverage?

Most businesses do. Colorado law requires companies to purchase workers' compensation insurance as soon as they hire their first employee. Your insurance policy is meant to protect both your company and your employees.
Sole proprietors and business partners, on the other hand, are not considered employees and aren't required to be covered on a policy.
Corporate officers and members of limited liability companies, who are active in the business, are considered employees and must be covered under a workers' compensation policy. The exceptions are officers and LLC members who own at least 10 percent of the business; they can choose to reject coverage for themselves.

Learn more about the origins and details of the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act.

The entire page can be found at http://www.pinnacol.com/employer/do-i-need-coverage/.

For Madison Insurance Groups Colorado workers compensation specific web page please click here.

Please feel free to contact us regarding your workers compensation policy at 1-800-636-6185 or simply visit our website www.madisoninsurance.net for other methods of contact.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Colorado Workers Compensation - Return To Work Program

2011-08-25T10:54:00.000-06:00

On of our key insurance partners, Pinnacol Assurance, has a wonderful resource for your Colorado or Denver based business to help get employees back to work. The program is called Return to Work and details can be found at http://www.pinnacol.com/resources/cds/return-to-work/. Here is a brief overview from the website:

You have the power to control your workers’ compensation costs. Injury prevention is the best approach, but if a workplace accident does occur, good claims management is key, starting with a return-to-work program.

Oftentimes, injured workers can come back to work and contribute to your organization while their injuries heal. You, as the employer, need to plan for this possibility and offer modified duty tasks that take injured employees' physical restrictions into consideration.

As your workers’ comp insurer, we pay for medical treatment and wage replacement benefits; however, employers and injured workers can benefit greatly from offering modified duty work.

Pinnacol Assurance is here to help. This resource will provide step-by-step instructions and tools to implement your own return-to-work program. Throughout this resource, you will find sample documents that you can download and customize for your organization, which include sample policies, task lists and job offer letters. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call Pinnacol's return-to-work specialists at 303.361.4000.

If you have a injured worker or would like to do some due diligence we suggest you take the time to implement a return to work program for your business. Not only will it help save premium but it will also help your employee get back on their feet.

Please let us know if you have questions on workers compensation for your Colorado business. Our workers comp specific page can be found here.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

What Determines Your Auto Insurance Rates?

2011-08-18T08:46:00.000-06:00

As an independent insurance agency, Madison Insurance Group utilizes many auto insurance companies for our numerous Colorado and Denver based clients. Each company has unique factors based on their company history and losses but there are a few categories that apply to all insurance companies’ determination of rates for your policy. A few examples include:

Driving History – Having accidents or violations on your record will increase your insurance premiums. Most companies look back three to five years to determine driving history. Violations and accidents will fall off your record and decrease your insurance premium.

Location – Where you live makes a difference based on the collision and comprehensive (auto theft rates) in your zip code.

Mileage Driven – The more you drive the higher the chance of you getting into an accident.

Vehicle Type – Price, make, model and age of your vehicle will impact your premiums. An inexpensive car will cost less to insure than a brand new luxury vehicle.

Demographics – Age, marital status, occupation, and education all have an impact.

Number of Vehicles and Drivers – If you insure multiple drivers and vehicles this will impact your rates.

Credit Rating – Insurance companies perform a “soft” credit check that will not show up on your credit score. The higher your credit score, the lower your rate.

Deductible – If you are willing to take a higher deductible it will result in lower premiums.

Level of liability coverage – we recommend 250,000/500,000/100,000 and it has become the industry average. Higher or lower levels will affect the premium.

We are an independent Denver, Colorado based insurance company that can help you with any of your personal or business insurance needs. We have been in Coloroado for over 15 years and plan on being here for 15 plus more. Please feel free to contact us at 1-800-636-6185 or visit our website www.madisoninsurance.net.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Insurance Certificate - What is it and how do I obtain one?

2011-08-16T11:10:00.000-06:00

An insurance certificate is a document issued by an insurance company/broker that is used to verify the existence of insurance coverage under specific conditions granted to listed individuals. More specifically, the document lists the effective date of the policy, the type of insurance coverage purchased, and the types and dollar amount of applicable liability.

As a Colorado or Denver business you may be required by business partners or your customers to provide evidence of insurance coverage. Madison Insurance Group will provide you with this document within 24 hours of request. In order to speed up our processing, please obtain the following information:

Name of your business
Insurable interest - what is insured doing for company requesting certification
Name of business or individual requesting the certificate
Address of business or individual requesting the cert
Email or fax for business or individual requesting the cert for delivery
Project or Reference # (please forward copy of contract if available)
Does the business or individual wish to be listed as additional insured, loss payee, or mortgagee?
Waiver of subrogation required?
Coverages Required - General Liability, Auto, Umbrella, Property, Workers Compensation, Other
Comments or any special requests

If you would like a form containing all of this information please contact your client service rep or call our main number 1-800-636-6185.

Please let us know if you have questions or need anything. Also, please remember that Madison Insurance Group can help you with your commercial or personal insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Cyber Liablity - Who needs it and why?

2011-08-15T10:24:00.000-06:00

Below we have linked an article from a Canadian organization that does a wonderful job over viewing the need for Cyber Liability coverage and explaining how general liability policies don't cover cyber risks. From the article:

Very few organizations operate today without taking advantage of the benefits of cyber technology. Yet a remarkable number fail to adequately address the liability insurance needs that arise as a result of simply accessing the Internet.

Any organization with a website, online storage facilities or even just an email account is vulnerable to a claim that it has caused damage to another’s computer software or data, whether through the inadvertent distribution of malevolent code, inadequate protection against hacking or otherwise. The Internet also provides a ready forum for the commission of various other torts, such as defamation, breach of privacy and infringement of copyright.

For the entire article, please click on the link below.
http://www.lawyersweekly.ca/index.php?section=article&volume=31&number=14&article=2

If your Colorado or Denver based business is interested in cyber coverage, please check out our cyber liability insurance page http://www.madisoninsurance.net/business_type/cyber.html.

Please feel free to contact us for your cyber or any other insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Workers Compensation and a Growing Business

2011-08-10T10:34:00.000-06:00

As your Colorado or Denver business grows we understand that the last thing on your mind is your Workers Compensation policy and premium. Workers Comp policies are typically paid off an estimation of salary and job duties for the entire year. If your salary doubles and/or you expand your business into new areas and hire new positions you didn't account for previously, you may end up owing your Workers Compensation insurance provider a large amount of money at audit that you didn't budget for.

In order to avoid this scenario, we recommend that as your business grows you keep in mind your insurance policies. The above situation could apply to other insurance coverage including but not limited to general liability and commercial auto.

We will do our best to follow up with you as much as possible but if your company grows please contact us so we can adjust your polices mid-term. This will take away the potential large one time bill that could come with the audit.

If your Colorado business has any questions on Workers Compensation or any other business insurance products, please do not hesitate to contact Madison Insurance Group 1-800-636-6185 or visit our website www.madisoninsurance.net.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team.

Colorado Rockies Partner Up To Prevent Auto Theft

2011-08-10T10:25:00.000-06:00

Good article from AGjournal.com that describes the efforts of Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT), Coors Field and the Colorado Rockies in preventing auto theft. There are over 11,000 auto thefts in Colorado every year and the campaign is to help make Coloradans more aware of the issue and how to prevent it. A few more items from the article that we found interesting:

What Can You Do?
The Lockdown consumer website, www.lockdownyourcar.org, provides important tips:
• Always lock your car
• Never leave your car running unattended
• Never leave any keys in the car, even a spare set
• Never leave valuables in plain sight
• Always park in well-lit, high-traffic areas
• Get windows, doors and fenders etched with the VIN
• Consider installing a tracking and recovery device

Hot Cars: Colorado's Top Ten Stolen Vehicles in 2010 (NICB)

1. 1996 Honda Accord
2. 2000 Honda Civic
3. 1995 Acura Integra
4. 2001 Dodge Ram
5. 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
6. 1990 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
7. 1998 Jeep Cherokee
8. 2004 Ford F150 Series/Pickup
9. 1989 Toyota Camry
10. 2002 Ford Explorer

For the entire article, please click here.

Please let us know how we can help you with your insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Top 10 Most Stolen Cars in the US

2011-08-04T09:47:00.000-06:00

From insurancejournal.com the 10 most stolen vehicles in the US.

For 2010, the most stolen vehicles in the nation were:

1994 Honda Accord
1995 Honda Civic
1991 Toyota Camry
1999 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
1997 Ford F150 Series/Pickup
2004 Dodge Ram
2000 Dodge Caravan
1994 Acura Integra
2002 Ford Explorer
1999 Ford Taurus

For more information please click on the article below:
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/08/03/209303.htm

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Colorado Issues New Guidelines for Workers Compensation Audits

2011-08-01T13:29:00.000-06:00

State of Colorado issues new guidelines for workers compensation audits. The main issue is communication of fees assessed for insureds that do not participate in the audit process. For more information please click on the article from insurancejournal.com below.

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2011/08/01/208834.htm

If you have any workers compensation related questions for your Colorado or Denver based business please give Madison Insurance Group a call 1-800-636-6185.

For more information on Colorado Workers Compensation, please visit our workers compensation site http://www.madisoninsurance.net/commercial/workers_comp.html.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

What insurance does my small business need?

2011-07-22T11:36:00.002-06:00

Below is a great article from the Las Vegas Review Journal that outlines what insurance products your small business may need and a brief description of each product. This is a great article for your Denver or Colorado based small business to get introduced to the products you may need. These products include General Liability, Business Property, Workers Comp, Professional Liability, and Commercial Auto.

http://www.lvrj.com/sponsored/how-to-know-what-kind-of-insurance-your-small-business-needs-126003578.html?ref=578

For more information please visit our homepage www.madisoninsurance.net. We have additional detail on each of the products mentioned in the article.

Please let us know how we can be of assistance.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Sony to Pay $178 Million in Data Breach Costs

2011-07-22T11:27:00.000-06:00

Sony was a recent victim of hacking and more than 12 million credit and debit cards were compromised, including 5.6 million in the United States.   Sony has general liability coverage through Zurich but did not purchase Cyber Liability coverage.   Zurich recently filed with the court that they are not liable for the damages because they are covering general liability risk not cyber risk.

Sony estimates that the data breach costs to be $178 million.

For more information please click on the article below from computerworld.com:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9218577/Sony_insurer_says_it_s_not_liable_for_breach_related_costs

Is your Colorado or Denver business properly protected for cyber related risks? Could your company afford a large data breach?   Please contact Madison Insurance for a cyber liability quote.

For more information, please visit our Cyber Liability page:
http://www.madisoninsurance.net/business_type/cyber.html

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Do You Really Need to Purchase Insurance When You Rent A Car?

2011-07-20T10:25:00.000-06:00

When you walk up to the rental counter you most likely have priced out your car online, just got off a plane in no mood to barter and are ready to sign and drive off. However, the rental car employee behind the counter gives you a last minute pitch on insurance for the vehicle. Should you purchase the coverage they offer? There are a few things to consider:

Check your personal auto policy - The same coverage and deductibles you carry on your car apply, in most cases, to a vehicle you rent for pleasure. If you do not have comprehensive and collision coverage on your personal auto you will not be covered if your rental car is stolen or damaged in an accident.

Check with your credit card company - Credit Card companies may provide yet another level of coverage for your rental car. Please call your credit card company for details. We recommend that you contact them every time you rent a car because the offerings on credit cards change frequently.

Check your company's corporate travel policy - if you are traveling for business chances are your company provides coverage for your rental car. We recommend double checking with your company before you purchase the rental car insurance.

What exactly do rental car companies offer?

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) - Relieves you of the financial responsibility if your rental car is damaged or stolen.It may be voided if you cause the accident while speeding, on unpaved roads or if you are intoxicated.This coverage should include "loss of use" coverage which would reimburse the rental car company for lost rental receipts while in the shop.Most auto policies and credit card companies will not cover.However, we recommend checking with us or your auto insurance company.

Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) - Excess liability coverage up to $1,000,000.Your personal auto, homeowners and umbrella should provide adequate coverage.However if you were to cause a serious accident this would help to alleviate the substantial costs.

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) - Covers you and all passengers in your vehicle for any medical expenses.This is not necessary for most renters due to the medical coverage under the personal auto and their health insurance policies.

Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) - Coverage for theft or damage to personal items inside the rental car.Again, this replicates coverage provided through most homeowner's insurance policies.Please note deductible will apply.

What does Madison recommend?

Every insurance company and credit card will have different levels of coverage. We recommend calling both to see what level they provide. The one important thing to note is the "loss of use" charge that the rental company will charge. Please ask if this is covered under your auto policy and credit card. If not, we do recommend that you purchase the CDW or LDW with the rental car company.

Please let us know how we can help with any of your insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Colorado Man Arrested by FBI for Cyber Attack on Paypal

2011-07-20T08:42:00.000-06:00

From the Denver Business Journal:

The FBI on Tuesday arrested a 27-year-old Fort Collins man for his alleged involvement in a cyber attack on the PayPal website.
The Justice Department claims Vincent Charles Kershaw, who’s also known as “Trivette,” “Triv” and “Reaper,” was part of group called “Anonymous” that retaliated against PayPal late last year. PayPal was targeted because it had suspended WikiLeaks' account after WikiLeaks published classified U.S. State Department cables. WikiLeaks relies on donations, such as those made through PayPal, to continue operating.

For more please click below.
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2011/07/19/coloradan-arrested-in-paypal-case.html

For more information on cyber liability insurance, please visit our cyber website:
http://www.madisoninsurance.net/business_type/cyber.html

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Cyber Liablity - Overview of Madison Blog Posts

2011-07-19T13:52:00.000-06:00

Below are links to previous Cyber Liability posts. Please let us know if you would like to discuss Cyber Liability for your Colorado or Denver based business.

Overview of product and need for Cyber Liability:
http://madisoninsurancegroup.blogspot.com/2011/06/cyber-liability-insurance-great.html

Report on data breach at Citi Bank:
http://madisoninsurancegroup.blogspot.com/2011/06/citi-reports-data-breach-is-your.html

Article on need for Cyber Liability and recent hacker attacks:
http://madisoninsurancegroup.blogspot.com/2011/06/cyber-insurance-article-related-to.html

Denver Post article on Spam and Malware:
http://madisoninsurancegroup.blogspot.com/2011/07/spam-emails-and-malware-article-from.html

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Workers Compensation - Safety Programs and Procedures for your Colorado Business

2011-07-13T09:08:00.000-06:00

One of our Workers Compensation Insurance carriers, Employers, provides through their website some suggestions to help your Colorado or Denver business have an effective safety program in the workplace. A few items include:

Incorporate safety rules and procedures into operations
Periodically review and revise your safety program for effectiveness and implement corrective measures immediately
Identify the person(s) in your organization with the responsibility and authority to manage your safety program
Investigate every accident and injury
Establish emergency procedures
Report all injuries within 24 hours
Implement Safety and training programs specific to the hazards your employees may encounter and maintain records of all training provided to your employees
Keep records of training, injuries, and accident/injury investigations

These are just a few examples. For the entire list and additional resources through Employers please visit http://www.employers.com/business/Safety_Promotion_Programs.aspx.

For more information and specifics on Colorado Workers Compensation please visit Madison Insurance Group's Colorado Workers Compensation website http://www.madisoninsurance.net/commercial/workers_comp.html.

Please let us know how we can help.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Colorado Workers Compensation - Creating a Safety Culture

2011-07-07T10:07:00.000-06:00

The following is from one of our key Colorado Workers Compensation Insurance carriers Pinnacol. Its a brief overview of how your Colorado business can keep workers comp costs down by creating a safety culture at work.

Experts agree that creating a strong safety culture within your company can have a greater impact on reducing injuries — and holding down workers' compensation costs — than anything else.

Here are the necessary steps in establishing a safety culture:

Management support and direction — Management must be a role model for safety. This includes establishing the company's safety vision, goals, and rules, as well as "walking the talk" in everyday safety practices.

Active safety committee — Safety committees should serve as a conduit for all safety efforts and company wide communication regarding safety. That's why all areas of the company must be represented on the committee.

Employee accountability and participation — Everyone must be accountable for safety in the workplace, and feel empowered to take steps to ensure their own safety and the safety of their fellow employees.

Ongoing safety training — Routine, effective training must be available (and mandatory) for all employees.

Comprehensive claims management — Having a written claims management policy and a return-to-work program are instrumental in helping you control costs if an injury occurs.

Continuous improvement — Safety efforts should be reviewed routinely and adjusted when necessary. This includes investigating all injuries to identify causes and implementing prevention measures.

Celebrating success —Individual employees and teams should be rewarded in order to to acknowledge and build upon positive safety achievements.

Link for the page can be found below and it includes additional safety resources.
http://www.pinnacol.com/employer/creating-a-safety-culture/

Madison Insurance Group's workers comp page can be found here.

If you have any questions on Colorado workers compensation or would like us to review your current policy please contact Madison Insurance Group at 1-800-636-6185 or info@madisoninsurance.net.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Colorado Workers Comp - A how to from ehow.com

2011-07-06T08:35:00.000-06:00

The article below is from Ehow.com. It does a wonderful job summing up what a Colorado or Denver based business needs to do to get quotes for their workers compensation policy including what information to ask for from the current carrier. If you have a moment please check it out:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7305822_obtain-colorado-workers-comp-insurance.html

Also, please check out Madison Insurance Group's workers compensation page:

http://www.madisoninsurance.net/commercial/workers_comp.html

If you would like to see a quote or discuss workers compensation please give us a call at 1-800-636-6185.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Spam Emails and Malware- article from Denver Post

2011-07-05T11:30:00.000-06:00

Did you know Spam emails account for just under 90% of all emails? That is a very large amount of junk floating out there. The article also states that 1 in 284 emails are malware. Malware, or malicious software, can allow the sender to gain access to your data and contact information. For the entire article please click on the link below:

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_18403584

The article is yet another example of how there is a need to protect your Denver or Colorado business from this and other threats with a cyber liability insurance product. Please feel free to contact us regarding your company's cyber liability insurance needs.

Please visit our cyber liability page for more information www.coloradocyberinsurance.com.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Happy Fourth of July from Madison Insurance

2011-06-30T10:50:00.000-06:00

The employees at Madison Insurance Group want to thank all of our Colorado and Denver clients for thier business and take the opportunity to wish you a Happy Fourth of July.

As you know we are an independent agency that values helping our Colorado and Denver based insureds make good decisions for their families and businesses. We are thankful to live in a country that gives us that independence and freedom. We hope you enjoy a safe and fun weekend with your friends and family.

Please let us know how we can help you with any of your insurance needs.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Is your Colorado Business Properly Protected from Employment Related Lawsuits?

2011-06-23T14:48:00.000-06:00

Employment related lawsuits have risen dramatically in the past twenty years. Colorado and Denver employers are exposed to the risk of being sued by current, former or prospective employees for a number of employment related practices such as:

Workplace Harassment
Workplace Discrimination
Wrongful Discharge
Emotional Distress
Breach of Employment Contract
Negligent Evaluation
Failure to Employ or Promote
Wrongful Discipline
Deprivation of Career Opportunity

Fortunately there is a product called Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) that can help protect your company from the substantial cost of lawsuits related to employment. EPLI will protect your company from the above offenses if it is found liable. Depending on the program selected the coverage will cover defense costs and possibly settlement costs.

Many of our insurance providers include a small amount of EPLI with a Business Owners Policy or offer it as an endorsement to their liability products. Additionally, EPLI can be sold on a stand alone basis and these policies generally offer more comprehensive coverage.

While you may feel your employees and your company are not exposed, these lawsuits have increased dramatically over the years and if you own a company that has employees you have a potential liability that needs to be protected.

If your Colorado business would like to discuss EPLI, please contact Madison Insurance by visiting our home page www.madisoninsurance.net.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Lose your smart phone? There are security apps that will find it.

2011-06-16T20:11:00.000-06:00

Not at all insurance related but an interesting article on how to find your smart phone if you lose it.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/tips/how-to-get-your-missing-phone-back?click=pm_latest

Home Inventory - For your Colorado Homeowners Insurance Policy

2011-06-16T14:15:00.000-06:00

Would you be able to remember all of your possessions accumulated over many years if your home was destroyed in a fire? If your basement flooded would you be able to add up the value of the items ruined in the flood?

Madison Insurance Group recommends that all of its Colorado and Denver based homeowners insurance clients create an up-to-date inventory of the possessions contained in their home and we hope they never have to use it. There are a few reasons for the list including: to ensure you are properly reimbursed when you file a claim, to make certain you are properly insured for value of your possessions, verify losses for income tax purposes, and to speed up the claim process.

Below we want to provide a few tips for creating a home inventory that we hope you will find useful.

Ideally you will want to create a list that contains description of each item, date purchased, purchase amount, and any other relevant information. We understand that this can be a daunting task but an incomplete list is better than no list at all. Start with the expensive items then work you way down.

If you can, do an inventory room by room. Don’t forget to include hallways and closets. This will break up the process and keep the list organized.

Some big ticket items, jewelry for example, may need to be insured separately or properly accounted for in the policy. We suggest making a separate list of these items and check with Madison Insurance Group to make sure they are adequately insured under your policy.

Don’t forget clothes, dishes, and other items that may be easily missed or not thought of.

Pictures - we highly recommend that you take photos of big ticket items and every room in the house. If possible walk through your house and photo or video tape each room. This may seem a bit overboard but come claim time it will help to trigger your memory of items that may have been overlooked.

Once every 6 or 12 months please update your inventory. Even better if you can keep a list of newly purchased items that includes a description, date purchased and purchase amount it will help to keep your list up to date.

Lastly, please store the list at your place of business, a safe deposit box or electronically. The list does no good if you kept it in the now flooded basement.

One of our insurance partners, Chubb, provides a free Home Inventory Guide. Please feel free to click on the link below. This will help you navigate the process of creating the inventory for your home.

https://www.chubb.com/personal/documents/Home%20Inventory.rtf

If you have any questions or need anything please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Creating a Business Inventory for your Colorado Based Company

2011-06-16T14:13:00.000-06:00

If your business had a total loss would you be able to account for all of your business property? Chances are you would be able to list the big ticket items but you could miss some items that are expensive and vital to your business.

We recommend that you create a business inventory for your Denver or Colorado based business and hope that you never need to use it. Below we outline a few steps to creating a business inventory. This can be very time consuming but will be more than worth it if you unfortunately have a substantial loss.

Make a list of the various property and equipment that your business uses and would need to replace if a disaster took place. We recommend going room to room with a list or computer document for each room.

For each item please include, if possible, model numbers, original purchase price, date purchased and any other distinguishing characteristics. There is no need to account for every paperclip but we suggest you record the general idea of the assets that make up your business property

Please take pictures of the items. Not only will this provide visual documentation it will help to trigger your memory for items that were not documented or simply overlooked. We strongly suggest you take pictures. If you skip the list or computer document the pictures alone will help you to remember your property come claim time.

Include an estimation of the costs you will face to get your business back up and running. Some policies will pay to get your business back on its feet. An estimation of these costs will help the claim process.

Keep a copy of your product inventory with the overall business inventory. Product inventory is part of your business property and needs to be properly accounted for.

Keep the list updated and note new equipment or property as you purchase it.

Lastly, please keep these documents in a safe place. Whether that is at your home, in a safe deposit box or saved electronically the list will do no good if it’s destroyed with the items on it.

We hope that you find this information useful. It will be a chore to gather all this information but once it’s completed you will have a head start in the claim process.

Please let us know if you have any questions or need to discuss anything for your Colorado or Denver based company.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Cyber Insurance article related to recent surge in hacking attacks

2011-06-16T09:28:00.000-06:00

As mentioned in previous posts there have been numerous hacking attacks in the past few months that have made national headlines. A few examples are Sony, Citi Bank, and the CIA . Below please find a linked article from www.insurancejournal.com that does a wonderful job summing up the latest attacks, describing the need for cyber liability insurance and includes a brief overview the product. From the article:

The recent string of sensational hacker attacks is driving companies to seek ”cyberinsurance” worth hundreds of millions of dollars, even though many policies can still leave them exposed to claims.

Companies are having to enhance not just their information technology practices but also their human resources and employee training functions just to get adequate coverage against intrusion — and in some cases, they are also accepting deductibles in the tens of millions of dollars.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/06/15/202601.htm

Is your Colorado or Denver based business properly protected from a hacker attack? Is your data properly protected? What would your Colorado company do if you lost all your data? Please visit our cyber website for more information - http://www.coloradocyberinsurance.com/. We understand that these attacks have been large companies or organizations but your data is very valuable and needs to be properly insured and protected.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Citi reports data breach - Is your company properly insured for data breach?

2011-06-09T13:48:00.000-06:00

It seems like a data breach story has been breaking every few days in the past few weeks. The latest to report a breach is Citi Bank. Hackers got access to "hundreds of thousands" banking customers information. Breach notification and credit monitoring is required by law after one of these breaches with costs up to $200 per customer. Please see the article below for more information:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/citi-breach-may-compromised-customer-data-report-013407925.html

Is your Colorado or Denver based business properly insured for a data breach? Please visit our cyber web page by clicking here.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Workers Compensation resources for Colorado Businesses

2011-06-03T10:12:00.000-06:00

One of our key Colorado Workers Compensation partners Pinancol Assurance provides a library of free resources for its customers. As a Colorado Workers Comp Insurance broker we feel its very important for our customers to have access and be aware of the access to these resources. Some examples include:

Brochures, booklets, and posters (click here for the entire library)
A few of the most requested materials by employers include: Injured on the Job? What to Expect, Employee or Independent Contractor, Safety Services, and Documentation Required for Subcontractors.
Free training on topics including workplace safety, cost containment, and premium savings

For more information on the resources provided by Pinnacol to its Colorado Workman's Compensation clients please click here.

Madison Insurance Group is an independent Colorado insurance agency. We have been a workers compensation insurance agency for over 10 years and understand the marketplace. For more information on Colorado Workers comp please visit our comp specific site by clicking here. If you would like to find out more about our agency please visit our home page www.madisoninsurance.net

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Cyber Liability Insurance - Great Overview and Information on the Product

2011-06-02T15:00:00.000-06:00

What are your liabilities if your company gets hacked? What is the responsibility to your customers, vendors, service providers etc.? Is there an insurance product to protect your company from a data breach or hacking of important company data?

Below is a link to an article from the Fox Small Business Center that addresses these questions and much more. It not only covers the need for Cyber Liability but outlines the areas of protection provided including Breach Notice Costs, Damages and Defense Costs, Service Provider Breach, Crisis Management, Business Interruption and Data Restoration, Denial-of-Service Attack, and Cyber Extortion. Please click on the link below for the entire article:

http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/legal-hr/2011/05/23/hacker-liability-risk-company/

If your Colorado or Denver based company is looking for Cyber Liability insurance please contact Madison Insurance Group. Our contact information can be found here. Also please visit our Cyber Liability Insurance page by clicking here.

Let us know how we can help.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Colorado Workers Comp - Creating a safety culture at workplace

2011-05-25T14:28:00.000-06:00

Is your Denver or Colorado based company creating a safety culture? One of our key Colorado Workers compensation partners Pinnacol Assurance provides the following tips on creating a safety culture in the workplace.

Creating a Safety Culture

Experts agree that creating a strong safety culture within your company can have a greater impact on reducing injuries — and holding down workers' compensation costs — than anything else.
Here are the necessary steps in establishing a safety culture:

Management support and direction — Management must be a role model for safety. This includes establishing the company's safety vision, goals, and rules, as well as "walking the talk" in everyday safety practices.
Active safety committee — Safety committees should serve as a conduit for all safety efforts and company wide communication regarding safety. That's why all areas of the company must be represented on the committee.
Employee accountability and participation — Everyone must be accountable for safety in the workplace, and feel empowered to take steps to ensure their own safety and the safety of their fellow employees.
Ongoing safety training — Routine, effective training must be available (and mandatory) for all employees.
Comprehensive claims management — Having a written claims management policy and a return-to-work program are instrumental in helping you control costs if an injury occurs.
Continuous improvement — Safety efforts should be reviewed routinely and adjusted when necessary. This includes investigating all injuries to identify causes and implementing prevention measures.
Celebrating success —Individual employees and teams should be rewarded in order to to acknowledge and build upon positive safety achievements.

More safety related info can be found at http://www.pinnacol.com/employer/creating-a-safety-culture/.

For more information on Madison Insurance Group please visit our homepage www.madisoninsurance.net. For information specific to Colorado Workers Compensation, please visit our workers comp page http://www.madisoninsurance.net/commercial/workers_comp.html.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

What business decisions should I inform my insurance agent about?

2011-05-19T12:18:00.000-06:00

As you operate your Colorado or Denver business we understand if insurance isn’t in the forefront of your day to day or even quarter to quarter business decisions. However there are some business choices that you make that we will need to be aware of to properly insure and give you appropriate insurance advice. The examples below are very general. If you have specific questions or wish to discuss any of the items below please contact a Madison Insurance Group agent or customer service representative.

A few of these include:

Moving to a new location
Mailing address change
Purchasing equipment, vehicles or property
Remodeling
Merger, acquisition or purchase of another company
Change in employee count
Change in revenue (20% or more)
Operational or change of business direction
Large business property purchase including computer related equipment
Any item not mentioned that you think may have an impact on insurance coverage
Change of email address or phone number
Change of contact for insurance communication

We would like to know ahead of time if any of the changes above are being considered or going to occur. We want to take the proper steps to act as your trusted insurance advisor by helping your business find the best coverage at the best price in a timely manner.

As a reminder Madison Insurance group is a Denver, Colorado based independent insurance agency. We are able to offer a whole array of products for your Colorado business. Please visit our business insurance website by clicking here. We look forward to working with you.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

When should I contact my homeowners and automobile insurance agent?

2011-05-19T12:06:00.000-06:00

There are certain decisions that that have an impact on your homeowners or auto insurance coverage. We would like to make sure you are insured correctly and have an opportunity to give our advice from an insurance perspective. If there is something that you think could be insurance related that falls outside of the examples below or if you wish to discuss any of the items below, please feel free to contact your Madison Insurance Group agent or customer service representative.

A few of these include:

Purchasing or selling a vehicle or home
Change in marital status
Mailing address change
Permanent or temporary relocation
Adding a teenage driver to your policy
Remodel or renovation of your home
Child or children taking a vehicle to college
Birth of a child
Change of email address or phone number

Please let us know ahead of time, if possible, if any of the above changes are being considered or going to occur. We want to take the proper steps as a trusted Colorado based insurance adviser to make sure you are properly insured for any decisions you and your family make that have a direct impact on your insurance policies.

Lastly, please click here for more information on Colorado homeowner and auto insurance.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Colorado Workers Compensation - Posters In Workplace

2011-05-18T10:15:00.000-06:00

The state of Colorado requires that employers display Workers Compensation posters in the workplace. Below is the link from Colorado Department of Labor and Employment that includes the posters in pdf and word format.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=CDLE-WorkComp%2FCDLELayout&cid=1251567053489&pagename=CDLEWrapper

If you have additional questions or need more information on Colorado Workers Compensation, please feel free to visit Madison Insurance Group's workers compensation page by clicking here.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Updated Madison Insurance Workers Compensation webpage.

2011-05-12T10:52:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we updated our Workers Compensation webpage. Our goal is to educate current and potential Colorado and Denver businesses on the Colorado Workers Compensation program.

If you have a minute please check the website out and let us know what you think.

http://www.madisoninsurance.net/commercial/workers_comp.html

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Colorado Workers Comp - what can you expect if you are injured and filing a claim?

2011-05-11T10:53:00.000-06:00

Being injured at work and not having an income can be a very stressful time. One of our key Colorado Workers Compensation partners Pinnacol has a brief outline that will let you know what to expect. The outline includes timelines, paperwork, and other relavant information. Please find the link below:

http://www.pinnacol.com/employee/medical-and-lost-wage-benefits/

If you would like to visit Madison Insurance Group's Colorado Workers Compensation page, please click here.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team
http://www.madisoninsurance.net/

One of our key workers compensation partners - giving back to CO businesses

2011-05-10T13:30:00.000-06:00

Pinnacol announced yesterday that they are paying over $40 million in dividends to 50,000 Colorado and Denver based businesses. This is one of our key Colorado Workers compensation partners who are doing a great job for our state. For more please click on the link below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2011/05/09/pinnacol-to-distribute-41m-in-dividends.html?ed=2011-05-09&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pap

For more information on Workers Compensation from our website, please click here

Fake Osama pictures and malware - another Cyber Liablity related article

2011-05-04T11:11:00.000-06:00

The past few weeks we have seen numerous articles on Cyber Liability related breaches and data hacked. The latest is fake pictures of Osama that if opened will hack your personal or business contacts.

Please click here for more information on Madison Insurance Group, Cyber Liability, and how to protect your Colorado or Denver based business.

Please see the philly.com article below for more information.

http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-03/news/29499271_1_malware-viruses-fbi

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Sony under cyber attack - Is your business properly protected from cyber attack?

2011-05-03T11:25:00.000-06:00

Is your Denver or Colorado business properly protected from cyber attack or any sort of data breach? While Sony is a large company even your small business is vulnerable to loss of data. With costs up to $200 per customer please consider adding cyber insurance to protect your business.

Click HERE for Madison Insurance Group's cyber liability page.

The article from the WSJ is below.

Sony Corp. said computer hackers breached security for a second online service, gaining access to personal information for 24.6 million customer accounts as part of a broader attack on the company that has compromised data for more than 100 million accounts
Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704436004576299491191920416.html#ixzz1LJLCsYTm

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Colorado Workers Compensation Rules for Independent Contractors

2011-04-27T11:15:00.000-06:00

Independent contractor or employee? This is a question that could determine your need for a Colorado workers compensation policy or if you need to add employees to your current policy. Pinnacol Assurance has a document on their website www.pinnacol.com that outlines the rules under the Colorado Workers Compensation Act.

Is the individual "free from control or direction"?

- Do you tell the individual when or how to do the job?
- Do you provide tools and equipment?

If the answer is NO to these questions, the facts indicate the individual is free of control and more likely a independent contractor depending on the answers to the second question below.

Is the individual "engaged in an independent trade, occupation, profession or business"?

Does the individual:
- Have a business name?
- Carry business insurance?
- Offer this service to any other business?
- Submit invoices?
- Supply the tools and vehicle?
- Work alone? (If not, they may need to carry Colorado Workers Compensation)
Are payments made to the business name?
Is the individual paid by a fixed rate?

If the answer is YES to all the above questions and they are free of control the facts indicate the individual is an independent contractor under Colorado Workers Compensation rules.

For more information regarding the rules outlined above please visit: http://www.pinnacol.com/acom_docs/employee_or_independent_contractor.pdf

Additionally, please visit our Colorado Workers Compensation page by clicking here.

Madison Insurance Group is an independent Denver, Colorado based insurance agency. We can help you with all of your commercial or personal insurance needs. We are looking forward to hearing from you. Before your renew, let us provide a quote.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Insurance Audit - What is it and what do I need?

2011-04-21T10:39:00.000-06:00

What is an insurance audit?

Audits are typically performed after the renewal date on commercial insurance policies providing auto, general liability, garage liability, umbrella, property insurance and workers compensation coverages. These policies are based on estimated premiums and allow the insurance company to collect information on the actual exposures and operations. Based on the information gathered premium adjustments are determined. (Inspection is very similar to the audit but is done just after the policy is written. The insurance company sends an inspector to make sure that they are insuring the risk correctly.)

What info do I need for my audit?

These will vary by insurance product but payroll information, employee records (number of employees, hours etc.), sales records, subcontractor costs, material costs, evidence of subcontractor certificates of insurance, and income statements.

How will this be collected?

For smaller companies it will be done over the phone or with a mailed form. For larger companies an on site in person inspection may or may not occur.

As usual, please feel free to contact Madison Insurance Group for any of your commercial or personal insurance needs. Please let us know how we can help your Denver or Colorado business.

Thank you,

The Madison Insurance Team

What to do at the scene of an auto accident?

2011-04-20T11:01:00.003-06:00

What to do at the scene of an auto accident

Most of us have unfortunately been there before. Madison Insurance Group wants to give you a few pointers of what to do at the scene:

Stop immediately in a safe area not obstructing traffic
Assist injured, have someone call the police. Keep calling every five minutes if they haven’t arrived.
Obtain names, phone numbers, addresses of other drivers, witnesses and injured persons
Write down make, model, and license numbers of all cars involved
Make a rough drawing of scene, showing position of cars and other details. If you have a camera or cell phone with camera we highly recommend taking a few pictures
Don’t hastily accept claim settlements at scene of accident.
Remain calm, courteous and consistent in your version of the accident.
Notify your insurance agent as soon as possible

Please let us know if you have any questions on your auto or home insurance policy.

As usual, please feel free to contact Madison Insurance Group for any of your commercial or personal insurance needs.

Thank you,

The Madison Insurance Team

Prepare for the unexpected - Street Sweeper Runs into Denver Restaurant

2011-04-18T10:45:00.000-06:00

From www.denverpost.com, a street sweeper plows into Denver restaurant. Are you properly insured for the unexpected? Please contact Madison Insurance Group for your Denver or Colorado restaurant insurance needs. Entire article below:

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_17871858

Please check out our Colorado and Denver restaurant and bar insurance page by clicking here.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

US Shuts down major cyber theft ring - via insurancejournal.com

2011-04-15T11:36:00.001-06:00

US shut down major cyber theft ring that infected over 2 million pcs and stole an estimated $100m. Is your Colorado or Denver based company properly covered for cyber insurance risk? Please check out our cyber website http://www.madisoninsurance.net/business_type/cyber.html for more information.

Entire article from insurancejournal.com below.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/04/14/194527.htm

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Cyber Insurance - Don't Run a Business without it

2011-04-14T09:46:00.000-06:00

Great article from http://www.networkworld.com/. Worth the read and something to consider adding to your Colorado or Denver business.

http://twitter.com/#!/madisonins/status/58555948733702145

Home Inventory - resource from Travelers for our Colorado homeowners clients

2011-04-13T10:44:00.000-06:00

From travelers.com:

Conducting a Personal Property Inventory

Take the time to compile an inventory of your home now, and it will save you precious time and frustration later. A personal property inventory helps to:

Ensure you have the coverage you need
In the event of a loss, it makes it easier for you to file a complete and prompt claim, supported by accurate documentation
Helps determine the replacement cost of your lost or damaged possessions to settle your claim quickly (subject to the provisions of your homeowners or renters policy)

Please click here for the entire article and other free resources.

A few key things we would add is to take pictures along with an inventory list and be sure to save the document(s) outside of the home either electronically or in a safe deposit box.

Please let us know if you have quesitons or need anything.

Thank you for your time.

Madison Insurance Team

3 common teen driver errors that lead to crashes via insurancejournal.com

2011-04-11T14:33:00.000-06:00

Teen drivers get into serious accidents at a high rate because they fail to scan for possible hazards, go too fast for road conditions, or become distracted by something inside or outside their cars.
Click on the link below for more.
http://twitter.com/#!/madisonins/status/57516103328473089

Madison Insurance Group - Emailing commmunication with our clients

2011-04-08T09:18:00.000-06:00

Madison Insurance Group just launched this morning a marketing/informational campaign for our clients. Our goal is to inform, educate and continue to solidify our relationship with our Colorado Business clients and personal clients. Please click link to see our first go.

http://twitter.com/#!/madisonins/status/56368591674671104

Thank you,

The Madison Insurance Team

Colorado Cyber Liability - cost per compromised record up to $214.00

2011-04-04T14:38:00.000-06:00

@madisonins - Symantec study on data breach and the need for cyber liablity insurance

Study breaks down the cost of data breach, the increased cost for necessary rapid responsse, and other relevant data breach information.

To propertly protect your Colorado business please give Madison Insurance Group a call. We are working with multiple carriers to help protect your arguably most important asset data.

Please let us know how we can help.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

www.madisoninsurance.net

Insurance Certificate - What are they and what info do you need?

2011-03-30T15:29:00.001-06:00

Insurance Certificate - A document issued by an insurance company/broker that is used to verify the existence of insurance coverage under specific conditions granted to listed individuals. More specifically, the document lists the effective date of the policy, the type of insurance coverage purchased, and the types and dollar amount of applicable liability.

As a Colorado business you may be required by business partners or your customers to provide evidence of insurance coverage. Madison Insurance Group will provide you with this document within 24 hours of request. In order to speed up our processing, please obtain the following information:

Name of your business
Insurable interest - what is insured doing for company requesting certification
Name of business or individual requesting the certificate
Address of business or individual requesting the cert
Email or fax for business or individual requesting the cert for delivery
Project or Reference # (please forward copy of contract if available)
Does the business or individual wish to be listed as additional insured, loss payee, or mortgagee?
Waiver of subrogation required?
Coverages Required - General Liability, Auto, Umbrella, Property, Workers Compensation, Other
Comments or any special requests

Thank you,

The Madison Insurance Team

Colorado Workers Compensation - Officer Partner Owner opt out forms

2011-03-23T10:19:00.000-06:00

If you are a small business in the state of Colorado you are required to provide workers compensation coverage for your employees. However, as an owner, partner or officer you can opt out of coverage. Typically this is done through your Colorado Workmans Compensation insurance company.

If you are a small business without employees or sub-contract work to companies that provide their own workers comp coverage what do you need to do to be in compliance with the state?

You will need to submit a form to the state of Colorado that opts you out of the program. Those forms can be found here on the official Colorado workers comp website.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have regarding your workers compensation needs. Additionally, please check out our website http://www.madisoninsurance.net/ to see the other insurance products and services we offer.

Thank you for your time.

The Madison Insurance Team

Insurance Audit - What is it and what do I need?

2011-03-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

What is an insurance audit?
Audits are typically performed on commercial insurance policies providing auto, general liability, garage liability, umbrella, property insurance and workers compensation coverages. When these policies are issued they are based on estimated premiums. The audit allows the insurance company to collect information on the actual exposures and operations. From this information, premium adjustments are determined. (Inspection is very similar to the audit but is done just after the policy is written. The insurance company sends an inspector to make sure that they are insuring the risk correctly.)

What info do I need for my audit?
These will vary by insurance product but payroll information, employee records (number of employees, hours etc.), sales records, subcontractor costs, material costs, evidence of subcontractor certificates of insurance, and income statements.

How will this be collected?
For smaller companies it will be done over the phone or with a mailed form. For larger companies an on site in person inspection may or may not occur.

As usual, please feel free to contact Madison Insurance Group for any of your commercial or personal insurance needs.

Thank you,

The Madison Insurance Team

Classification of Your Business for Insurance Purposes

2011-02-24T10:00:00.002-07:00

Insurance companies use standardized classifications for businesses in their pricing, risk evaluation, and ongoing management of their in force customers. Two businesses that have very similar operations can have very different classifications and pricing. A few examples:

A landscaper that primarily mows lawns with minimal tree trimming versus a tree trimmer that does minimal mowing.
A company that manufactures workout clothing versus a company that manufactures wearable weights for resistance training.
A bar that primarily serves alcohol with minimal food service versus a restaurant that primarily serves food and has minor liquor receipts.
A costume jewelry store versus a upscale jewelry store.

Each of the examples above has similar operations but for insurance purposes are very different risks. The difference in annual premium for these like business can be substantial. The price differential can create a situation where misclassification can save the company considerable premium dollars.

In order to save money on premium the wearable weight company may decide to purchase an insurance policy that classifies them as a clothing manufacturer instead of a athletic equipment company. Doing this will save premium but it brings up some what if scenarios that really should be avoided. If the business is incorrectly classified will the insurance company pay the claim? If they pay the claim will the insurance company terminate the policy or non-renew? What if the insurance company has had significant losses with athletic equipment manufacturers but has had a good experience with clothing manufacturers?

You purchase insurance to protect you from what ifs. What if someone slips and falls in your store? What if we get sued for something your product allegedly caused? What if an employee gets into an accident in the company car? Why would you purchase an insurance product that has its own what ifs?

When you purchase an insurance policy you want to make sure you are purchasing a product that meets your insurance needs. While it may be more expensive to classify a business correctly, it’s better to have insurance that is tailored and underwritten for your business and its associated potential liabilities.

Do You Need to Buy Rental Car Insurance? | Insurance Automobile Insurance from AllBusiness.com

2011-02-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

Good article that should help you next time a rental car company tries to upsell you. Chances are your personal auto and credit card have more than adequate coverage.

Do You Need to Buy Rental Car Insurance? Insurance Automobile Insurance from AllBusiness.com

Please contact Madison Insurance with any of your personal or business insurance needs.

Thank you,

The Madison Insurance Team

Damage from Frozen Pipes - for Homeowners and Commercial Insurance

2011-02-22T11:34:00.002-07:00

With Thanksgivingjust around the corner the temperatures are starting to drop to well belowfreezing in our amazing state of Colorado. Frozen pipes are legitimate concern inthe Denver areaand even more so up in the mountains. Whether it’s your primary home or a cabin in the mountains we want youto be prepared just incase your home is damaged due to pipes freezing thiswinter.

If you have damage to your home or businesscaused by frozen pipes, please take the following steps:

· Report the claimto your insurance company as quickly as possible. Our common carriers contactinformation can be found on our website HERE.

· Do what is reasonably necessary to protect the property fromfurther damage/minimize business interruption (if a policy for your business).

· If needed, please contact a local restoration contractor who canassist with the process of extracting water and dry out process.

· In order to restore water service please repair the damaged pipes.Please save the damaged plumbing parts for the claims professional.

· We encourage you to photo the property damaged and plumbingdamage. This will help to document the damage and with the claim process.

Pleaselet us know if you have questions or need anything. Also, please remember that Madison Insurance Group canhelp you with your commercial or personal insuranceneeds.

We hope youhave a wonderful Thanksgiving with you and yours.

Thank you for your time.

The MadisonInsurance Team

Madison Insurance Group - New Cyber Liability Page

2011-02-22T10:46:00.002-07:00

Please take a look at our new Cyber Liability page on our homepage HERE.

Highlight from Cyber Insurance article

2011-02-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

Nonetheless, there is also a moral here for brokers. Here is the reality in 2010: most companies of all shapes, sizes and wealth profiles use information technology and handle sensitive information including personal information and credit card numbers. That means they face potential direct losses due to a data breach (the biggest risk being having to provide notice under breach notice laws and provide credit monitoring/call centers). It also means that most organizations face potential lawsuits and liability arising out of data security and privacy breaches (e.g. consumer lawsuits, employee lawsuits, lawsuits by banks if credit cards are lost, and regulatory actions).
Click here for entire article

Why your company should consider cyber liablity

2011-02-15T15:43:00.001-07:00

http://twitter.com/#!/madisonins/status/37642424717156352

5 steps to protect your business from Cyber Liability

2011-02-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

Because cyber crime has developed into a problem with potentially catastrophic consequences, cyber risk is arguably one of the single greatest threats facing companies today. The 2009 Computer Crime and Security Survey conducted by the Computer Security Institute found that 43 percent of U.S. businesses experienced some kind of cyber security incident last year.

http://twitter.com/#!/madisonins/status/37579270431703041

Workers Comp - What is it? Why do I need it?

2011-02-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

One of our insurance partners, The Hartford, has released a guide to Workers Compensation. They describe it as:
"The interactive guide clearly describes what workers' compensation insurance is, why business owners need it, who it covers and how much it costs. The guide provides a straightforward overview of claims and audits and highlights relevant facts and statistics about workers' compensation issues. "
Please click here for the document. If you have any questions on Colorado Workers Compensation, please give Madison Insurance Group a call.

Colorado Bar and Tavern Insurance

2011-02-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

Madison Insurance Group has partnered with insurance companies to provide comprehensive coverage for Colorado and Denver Bar and Taverns. Please click on the link below for more details on the program or to contact one of our agents.

Madison Insurance Bar and Tavern Insurance

Insurance Fraud - if you own a car or home please click the link

2011-02-08T16:18:00.002-07:00

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/02/08/183800.htm

Each year consumers pay more for their auto and homeowners insurance policies as a direct result of fraud. Unnecessary auto glass repairs, exorbitant towing charges, needless home repairs, total roof replacements, sinkhole damage, solicitation of accident victims — these and other kinds of insurance scams contribute to an annual loss amount estimated to be $30 billion just within the property/casualty industry

Microsoft Explorer - Cyber Insurance

2011-02-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

Article from across the pond describes a critical flaw in Windows Explorer that puts 900 million users at risk. How safe is your data? Cyber Insurance would protect you if your data was breached.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12325139

Madison Insurance on Facebook and Twitter

2011-01-26T18:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Madison-Insurance-Group/189631891055590

www.twitter.com/@madisonins

Madison Insurance Group

2011-01-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

Madison Insurance blog is starting today. There will be more coming in the next few weeks.