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Operation Santa Paws: How to Make the Life of a Shelter Animal Merry and Bright for Christmas

November 29, 2021 By Forrest Dailey

If you’ve been following this blog, you know we already began to get into the Christmas spirit last month. But Christmas isn’t just for people, you know.

That’s why in the month of December animal lovers take up Operation Santa Paws. Well, from December 1^st through the 24^th in any case. If your household includes a pet, you surely can testify that they take up so large a place in our hearts already that they might as well have 77 percent of December too. It doesn’t take you that long to participate though. Along with the Christmas presents you’ve already gotten for your own furry friends, this is a chance to give a little extra love to a shelter animal in need.

Operation Santa Paws is not just for cats and dogs, and ironically, is not even limited to pets who have paws. Remember the fish, birds, snakes and lizards and whatever other loveable creature people might think to make a part of their family. With each of these types of pets comes special paraphernalia, of course. Consult a representative of your local shelter or even a pet store if you are looking for ideas appropriate to certain types of pets.

All is needed. All is appreciated.

But donations are just a part of Operation Santa Paws. If you want to take it to phase two or three, there is always volunteering at shelters or pet adoption.

Before we go any further, yes we’ve all heard the cautionary tales of adopting a pet from a shelter to give as a Christmas gift. For example, the kids want a dog sooooooo bad, so you give in. Christmas morning there is a dog chilling out under the tree. You’re a hero. By February the novelty has worn off, along with the kid’s interest in the responsibility of walking the dog in the winter. Perhaps the pet goes back to the shelter and the cycle continues.

Of course, this isn’t a universal law of nature but it is something that must be considered carefully. But if you have a loving home for a pet in need of a family, by all means give them that forever-home experience.

If you aren’t quite sure about the commitment involved with adoption or volunteering but want to brighten a shelter animal’s life a bit, still consider donating treats, toys, blankets or other supplies to a shelter.

Initiatives such as Operation Santa Paws do not get the attention they duly deserve without those who care spreading the message about it. If you’ve read this far, odds are you’re one of those people. By sharing this post far and wide along with the hashtag #OperationSantaPaws you’ll help make Christmas bright for who knows how many shelter animals.

We knew we could count on you.

When Christmas is Off the Supply Chain

November 1, 2021 By Forrest Dailey

You’ve probably been hearing the words “supply chain” a lot lately, and the big worry yet again this year that Christmas will be ruined by disruptions in said supply chain. I think we can all agree that holiday spirit cannot be thwarted by a ship or truck’s inability to deliver stuff to our doors, but that’s probably a matter for a blog post beyond our scope.

But one good thing coming out of all this is that people are more deeply considering the notion of showing someone how much you love them with a holiday gift that is a little more on the intangible side.

Maybe that means giving them an experience. Or perhaps it is a thoughtful gesture that’s needed. I’m not talking about washing the dishes (although if you’ve never done that before, it would likely have quite an impact).

Take them to visit a place they’ve always talked about going, or to do something they’ve always wanted to do but were never able to find the time. It doesn’t have to be a full-on tropical getaway. Maybe the kids have always wanted to learn how to ice skate and the nurturing and patient encouragement of a parent is the best way for them to learn.

Maybe you plan to do something with your spouse but schedule it on Super Bowl Sunday. You present the plan to them on Christmas so they have over a month to let it sink in how you’d rather be with them than watch the Super Bowl.

Is someone in your household trying to embark upon a project that is very meaningful to them? Maybe set up a space for them, expressly for the purpose of their pursuit of that project. Let them know if it’s important to them, it’s important to you.

Maybe it’s something else. Like, oh I don’t know, say, a life insurance policy. You’re putting insurance on your own life, but by doing so you’re ensuring their on-going security. Horihan Insurance would love to help you with that perfect gift.

Don’t have a beneficiary in your life? Have you ever thought of buying a life insurance policy with a charitable organization as the beneficiary? Even if you do have a loved one as a main beneficiary, you can have a charitable giving rider on your life insurance policy which specifies a percentage of the payout which goes to a qualified charity of your choice upon your passing.

Or you can just do a straight policy donation, usually a permanent policy rather than a term life policy.
A life insurance policy pays out a benefit much more than what you paid for it, so it’s a great way to maximize your (eventual) gift to the charity.

Whichever method is right for you, a life insurance policy is a substantial yet intangible gift to give. It won’t be the wrong size or color or style, and it won’t require a gift receipt because the recipient won’t be promptly returning it to the store on December 26^th.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Horihan Insurance always delivers on time, and with no shipping fees! To be clear though, yes, a life insurance policy is a long-term gift, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook next year and the next year and so forth. Come on, now….

Well, Halloween’s over, so it can’t be too early to say “Happy Holidays!”

Are You Health Literate?

September 28, 2021 By Forrest Dailey

For over 20 years, Health Literacy Month has been observed in October around the globe. This time is meant to shine a light on the importance of making health-related information and education accessible and understandable to all.

Health Literacy Month is important for the individual as well as organizations concerned with the wellness and well-being of its members. What better time then, as October begins the season when most of our agents are busy with health insurance Open Enrollment for Medicare recipients and the general public. Health insurance plans can be the most difficult to grasp, with the sheer scope of the information they contain, especially regarding Medicare.

Our agents hear it all the time from our clients.

But health insurance is also the most important type of insurance to understand. Because, to quote Count Rugen from the film The Princess Bride, “If you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.” And a big part of maintaining your health is understanding your health insurance coverage.

If your insurance policy has ever seemed like a load of gibberish, you’re not alone.

Horihan Insurance strives to make your search for affordable and complete health insurance as painless and uncomplicated as possible. With misinformation, and disinformation among the great perils of our time, we encourage all to do their part in seeking reputable sources of information. If you ever need someone to talk things over with, to make sure you understand what you are hearing or reading, we are always here to help.

It’s what we do.

When you meet with your Horihan Insurance agent, just as when you meet with your doctor, the most important thing you can possibly do is ask questions about the things you don’t understand. Can we define certain terms for you? Are there alternative options to explore with your policy? Things like that.

Maybe you don’t always know what to ask. Make sure you have a trusted friend or loved one with you who might be more likely to catch those things. As agents, we assume nothing, so it is up to you to help us help you understand your insurance as fully as possible.

We look forward to helping you along the way. Meanwhile, we wish you a graceful transition from summer to autumn, and we wish you health and wellness.

How to Avoid Being Cancelled

September 2, 2021 By Forrest Dailey

Your homeowner’s insurance policy is easily the largest policy most people carry. Apart from your health insurance, it’s the policy that has the most riding on it. Which is why it can’t be understated, and must be understood that your policy can be cancelled or voided, and your claims denied, for various reasons.

* A “voided policy” means not only do you no longer have insurance, but for all intents and purposes, at the time of the event leading to your claim, you did not have insurance.

For example:

If your home is burglarized and it was determined that a door was left unlocked, it is unlikely your claim will be honored. Similarly, if you fail to keep up with essential maintenance of your home which leads to damage, your policy may be cancelled. Your policy should outline what “essential maintenance” is.

Conversely, if you do make major renovations on your home without informing your carrier, or if you misrepresent your property, your claims may not be honored. Remember even small things like changing the locks or installing pet doors affect the security of your home, and any resulting break-in claim may not be honored if the changes are not reported and are deemed the cause of the break-in.

If you start a business out of your home and don’t talk to your agent about it, it could put your homeowner’s insurance in jeopardy if (1) you have foot traffic in your home due to the business, (2) you have heavy and valuable machinery in the home, or (3) you have large amounts of inventory stored at home.

You may not be aware that even if you own your home outright, renting out a room without notifying the carrier can void your policy. Because you’ve essentially turned your home into an apartment building without notice. You’re now running a business under a homeowner’s policy. The assumption here is that if you rent out a room, it will be to someone you don’t know. If it is a close friend or relative staying with you for an extended period, that may be different, but you still should report this change to your agent.

It probably goes without saying that damage done to your house in the course of illegal activity will not be honored and may actually lead to the cancellation or void of your policy. What many policyholders fail to realize, though, is that this can happen even if the policyholder is unaware that the illegal activity was going on.

Speaking of illegal activity, to make claims on damage that you intentionally caused is obviously a fraudulent claim. But people often forget that a claim on an item you can’t prove you ever owned cannot be honored. That doesn’t mean that a claim like that is necessarily fraudulent. It may be as simple as not having receipts, or not having photographic or video proof of ownership. With a little foresight, though, you’ll be sure to be covered on these items.

It all comes down to communication. Your insurance carrier is providing coverage on your home. It stands to reason that an up-to-date, accurate account of what they are covering is essential to providing that coverage. It is in the policyholder’s best interest to be meticulous about it.

Operation Santa Paws: How to Make the Life of a Shelter Animal Merry and Bright for Christmas

When Christmas is Off the Supply Chain

Are You Health Literate?

How to Avoid Being Cancelled

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