Health Benefits of Doing Yardwork

The beautiful fall colored leaves are falling gracefully to the ground. While you and your family enjoy the spectacular array of autumn colors, you may dread the grueling yard work that comes with the territory. But did you know that the National Institute of Health classifies raking leaves as a moderate intensity aerobic activity? With all of the squats, back and forth walks and rowing of the arms, raking leaves is equivalent of walking at a moderate pace.

To help fight obesity, The National Institute of Health recommends yard work or gardening 3-5 times a week for 30-45 minutes a day. Just 30 minutes a day will provide an adequate workout. While performing yard work, major muscle groups are used such as the legs, back and arms. A moderate cardiovascular exercise, 45 minutes of yard work can burn as many as 250-400 calories per hour.

When raking leaves, the ground provides a resistance as it mimics a weight machine such as the rowing machine found in most gyms. As you bend to pick up leaves, your glutes, hips and entire lower body are being strengthened. Consider how many calories and body fat you burn as you walk back and forth to dispose of the leaves. So, the next time you think about using a leaf blower- think twice.

Mowing the lawn also helps women burn 250 calories and men burn 350 calories. Other yard work such as weeding and planting shrubs, flowers or trees offer the same exercise benefits. Besides, the whole family is involved in exercise activities that help fight obesity and weight related health problems.

Happy Autumn, and remember in every season to keep fit & fabulous!

Tips to Make Driving through Deer Country as Safe as Possible

No matter where you drive – from rural roads to suburban streets and even highways around our cities – the threat of a collision with a deer is real. Deer collision accidents are on the rise, partially because the deer are being displaced from their natural habitat by urban sprawl but also because the deer population is growing.

In fact, the Insurance Information Institute reports that over 1 .6 million deer-vehicle collisions occur each year and these accidents cause vehicle damage, injuries and even fatalities at a cost in the neighborhood of $4.6 billion.

A Few Facts…

• Deer collisions are most likely to occur during deer breeding season – from October through early January.
• Prime times to find deer near the roadside are around dawn and from dusk to late evening.
• Deer are pack animals. So if you see one, be assured that others are usually close by.

Deer Season Driving Tips

1. Always wear your seatbelt – Sixty percent of fatal animal crashes occurred when the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

2. Know the likely deer-crossing zones – Whether or not a road is marked with a "Deer Crossing" sign, be especially alert for deer when driving on roads or highways on the outskirts of town and in rural areas – especially where roads divide farm land from wooded land. 

3. Use your high beams – When driving at night, especially during peak hazard times, use your high-beam headlights when there is no on-coming traffic. This won’t necessarily deter the deer from entering the roadway, but it will increase visibility so that you can more easily spot the deer sooner.

4. Don’t rely on devices – Items like deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors have not been proven effective at deterring deer crossing roadways.

5. Brake firmly if you notice a deer near the road – Slow down and stop if necessary. Be careful not to swerve out of your lane either into on-coming traffic or off the shoulder and into a ditch.

6. Keep your distance – If you do strike a deer, don’t approach it. An injured deer is frightened and can injure you as well as further injuring itself. If the deer is blocking the roadway, it poses a threat to other drivers; so call the authorities immediately.

7. Contact your insurance agent at MIM – If you strike a deer and have damage to your vehicle or damage to some else’s property, notify your insurance representative as soon as possible and provide the necessary details.

Landlord Insurance - Get The Necessary Coverage To Help Protect Your Rental Property

As a landlord renting out your investment property, we know you've got a lot on your mind. Finding the right tenants, keeping up with repairs; the list goes on and on. With landlord Insurance, you'll have one less thing to worry about. Rental property insurance protects your property from damages, and you from losing income should covered damages make your property unlivable.

What does Landlord Insurance cover? 

• Your residential rental property; single-family, duplex, triplex and quad
• Other structures on the property such as sheds, garages, etc.
• Items on the premises you own such as microwaves, washers and dryers being used by your tenants - even tools you keep handy for repairs

A comprehensive landlord insurance policy will protect your investment property, so you can rent it out with confidence. Landlord insurance provides all the coverage you need to protect your property from damage and to protect you from personal legal liability.

To request a landlord's rental property insurance quote, call MIM at 1-800-762-4646.

Don't Take Risks with Your Space Heater

Did you know that space heater fires make up half of all winter home heating fires? Based on 2007-2011 annual averages, space heaters, whether portable or stationary, accounted for one-third (33%) of home heating fires and four out of five (81%) of home heating fire deaths.

Play it smart and follow all the rules to ensure your family and home are safe.  With a few simple safety tips and precautions you can prevent most heating fires from happening.

Space Heater Safety Tips

• Buy new heaters that have been tested and given a safety certification.
• Select a heater with an automatic shut off in case it is accidentally tipped over, or overheats, and screens to prevent accidental touching of the heating coils.
• Inspect heaters and heating cords to be certain they are in good order. If not, hire an appliance service professional to fix them.  Do not use electrical tape on cords or attempt to fix a heater yourself.
• Do not place anything above the heater that could fall onto it and burn.
• Never set a space heater on top of a counter or table where it could be knocked over.
• Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Have a 3-foot "kid-free zone" around space heaters.   
• Plug heater directly into the wall, do not use extension cords.
• Be certain that the space around the heater is clear of items that could catch on fire, including bedding, paper, walls and people.

The use of space heaters in the Pacific Northwest is quite common in the winter.  While these seemingly harmless devices may be an efficient way to heat a cold or drafty space, they can pose certain safety hazards when used incorrectly. Taking appropriate safety measures is vital in preventing an accident and keeping your family safe.

Are you a Road Rager?

Aggressive driving has been a problem on our roadways for a while, and it seems to only be getting worse. Incidents of screaming, rude gestures, and sometimes even violence are reported frequently on our roadways to the point where it has earned its own name: road rage. Did you know 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving?

Answer the following questions to find out if you need a chill pill behind the wheel.  And Be Honest!

1. Do you speed (as in, drive more than 5 miles per hour over the posted limit)?
*YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO*

2. Do you tailgate "slow" drivers?

*YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO*

3. Do you make angry gestures or yell at "bad" drivers?

*YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO* 

4. Do slow drivers make you really angry?

*YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO*

5. Do all cars in front of you seem to be "in your way"?

*YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO*

6. Do you become very angry and express it out loud when you get stuck in traffic?

*YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO*

7. Do you deliberately align your vehicle with another in an adjacent lane in order to hold up a driver who is following too closely behind?

 *YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO*

8. Do you find yourself slamming on the brakes a lot when driving?

*YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO*

9. Do you often switch lanes when driving?

*YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO*

10. Do you feel bad drivers need to be taught a lesson and you are the teacher?

*YES* *SOMETIMES* *NO*

Give yourself 3 points for each YES answer, 2 points for each SOMETIMES, and 1 point for each NO.  Add up the points and see below.

10 points - You are not a Road Rager.  Congrats!  

11-30 points - Uh Oh!  You are a Road Rager!  Take a deep breath and think before you react.  A careless or aggressive act threatens your safety as well as the safety of everyone around you.  Always remember, be cautious, be courteous, and drive happy!!!

Medicare Open Enrollment October 15 - December 7th

Each year, you can make changes to your Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. There are 2 separate enrollment periods each year. 

See the chart below for specific dates:

During this enrollment period...	You can...
October 15–December 7 Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) (Changes will take effect on January 1.)	■ Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. ■ Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare. ■ Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan. ■ Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage. ■ Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage. ■ Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. ■ Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.  ■ Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.
January 1–February 14 Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period	■ If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can Medicare Advantage leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare. Your Original Medicare coverage will begin the first day of the following month. ■ If you switch to Original Medicare during this period, you’ll have until February 14 to also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your prescription drug coverage will begin the first day of the month after the plan gets your enrollment form. Note: During this period, you can’t: ■ Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. ■ Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another. ■ Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another. ■ Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Medical Savings Account Plan.

Special Enrollment Periods 

You can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage when certain events happen in your life, like if you move or you lose other insurance coverage. These chances to make changes are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) and are in addition to the regular enrollment periods that happen each year. Rules about when you can make changes and the type of changes you can make are different for each SEP. This list doesn’t include every situation.

For more information about OEP's, SEP's and the ABC's of Medicare, call MIM @ 1-800-762-4646.