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News
Kane Awarded Certified Insurance Counselor Designation
 Grand Rapids, MN (Jan. 6, 2009) —Mike Kane, owner of Greater Insurance Service (GIS), has been awarded the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation by the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers.
Kane is a 19-year veteran of the industry. He has been a licensed agent since 1990 and owner of GIS since 1995.
Kane earned his CIC designation through a series of rigorous written examinations focusing on all major fields of insurance, agency management, commercial casualty, commercial property, personal lines and life and health. This achievement signifies a commitment to continuing education, required of all those who have earned the CIC designation.
Greater Insurance Service Employees Earn Certified Insurance Service Representative Designation
Grand Rapids, MN (Jan. 1, 2009) — Mike Kane, owner of Greater Insurance Service (GIS), has announced that Kim Richardson, Business and Commercial Lines Agent, and Angie Broberg, Personal Lines Agent, received their Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) designation.
"Kim and Angie's experience and professionalism, coupled with their designation as a Certified Insurance Service Representative's, enhances the level of customer service offered by our agency," says Kane.
Richardson and Broberg earned their CISR designation after successfully completing highly specialized education curriculum that teaches the complexities of personal and commercial property insurance and auto insurance. The CISR program was developed by the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research in order to educate customer service representatives about commercial and personal insurance policies, coverages and risks.
Sherry Frick Joins the
Greater Insurance Service Team
 Greater Insurance Service (GIS) announced the appointment of
Sherry Frick as Life, Health and Employee Benefits Sales Representative. "GIS
is proud to add Sherry to our team," stated, GIS owner, Mike
Kane. "Her background in insurance, coupled with her experience
running a successful business, is a natural fit into our life,
health and benefits department."
A native to Grand Rapids, Sherry and her husband, Paul Frick,
returned to Grand Rapids from Baraboo, Wisconsin in 2000 to open
and operate Minuteman Press. Prior to working in the printing
industry, Sherry was a customer service and sales representative
for Schwartz Insurance Agency in Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin.
Sherry graduated from Rasmussen Business College with a degree
in Sales, Marketing and Business Management. She recently obtained
her insurance license, which allows her to sell property casualty,
life, health and employee benefits coverage. Sherry has been
very active in the community, serving on several Itasca County
Family YMCA committees, as secretary/treasurer for the Rapids
Referral chapter of Business Network International (BNI) and
as the Chair of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Board
of Directors.
Over the next several years, George Wilbur will train Sherry
on all aspects of the life, health and benefits department in
order to ensure a smooth transition upon his retirement from
the agency.
GIS is an independent Insurance agency with offices in Deer
River and Grand Rapids. GIS offers products for business and
personal property and liability coverages, life and health insurance
and employee benefits.
Individual Dental Insurance
Now Available
Until now, the only dental insurance available has been that
made possible through employee benefit plans. We're now proud
to announce the availability of an individual dental insurance
plan for you and your family.
Covered services include exams, cleanings, fillings and extractions,
as well as crowns, bridges, dentures, and even ortho services.
You can choose any dentist, and there are no waiting periods.
Reimbursements are based upon a percentage of the reasonable
and customary fees for covered services after a $100 lifetime
deductible has been satisfied. Reasonable and customary means
the usual, customary and regular charges for the area where such
expenses are incurred. The maximum benefit is $1,000 per year
for each individual family member, with the option of increasing
that limit to $1,500. Ortho services have separate $1,000 lifetime
maximum benefit per child.
Individuals to age 65 are eligible, plus their dependents (spouse
and unmarried children from birth to age 19, extended to age
23 if a full-time student). Best of all, the plan is affordable
for you and your family: $23.41 per month for applicant, $52.34
for applicant plus 1, and $76.35 for family coverage. For individuals
age 65 and over, a special senior plan is being introduced at
the same time.
This is a brand new "one of a kind" plan in the area, so be
sure to give us a call for additional information or to have
a free informational brochure mailed to you.
Rental Car Damage Waivers Revisited
Independent Agent - July 2008
In 1998, the Tennessee state association published an article entitled the "Top 10 Reasons to
Purchase the Rental Car CDW/LDW." That article was reprinted in the Big ''I'' Virtual University
in 1999. along with a consumer-friendly version that Big "I" member agencies could distribute
to their customers. In the past 10 years, this article was reproduced probably thousands of times.
Because of emerging issues with rental cars, this article has been revised (including the consumer version)
and agents should replace their past editions with the updated one...Read More.
Is there coverage?
Our insured's toddler left a plastic bottle of grape juice lying on the wall-to-wall carpet. The family dog found the bottle, and used it for a chew toy. Now there are stains on the carpet which cannot be removed. The insurer is denying coverage, citing the exclusion for damage caused by animals owned or kept by an insured.
Our insured has an HO 00 03 04 91, and we think this is just the sort of loss the HO 00 03 is intended to cover. What do you think?
Our Response:
We agree that the loss is covered. The juice caused the loss; the dog merely enabled the juice to get to the carpet. The list of HO 00 03 exclusions, beginning with wear and tear and ending with animals owned or kept by an insured are those things that will happen over time and therefore cannot be insured against.
Metal furniture subjected to weather outdoors will rust; painted woodwork will become scratched and worn over time. Pets, particularly those that are poorly trained, may damage carpeting or drapes. These direct losses are excluded. Note, though, that ensuing loss to property described in Coverages A and B that is not excluded or excepted is covered. It is this exception that provides coverage. If Fido continually digs at a corner of the carpet so that eventually there is a large hole, the damage is not covered. But if in the course of the digging he manages to take the insulation off a light cord, and the cord causes a fire, the resulting fire is covered.
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