ECI Agency, Inc

The Ins and Outs of Debris Removal

2012-01-20T13:04:00.001-08:00

One of the benefits offered by most home insurance policies is debris removal. This benefit isn’t for the indiscriminate removal of items, branches and leaves lying around your property at any time of the year; it is about seeing debris as part of the damage caused by an insurable incident and helping to put you back into the position you were in before the incident caused the debris.

Here is some basic information you should know about your policy’s debris removal benefit:

Debris must generally be caused by a covered event: If the event that causes the debris is one that your policy covers you for, then you can expect for debris removal to be included, up to the limits of your policy. In some cases, policies will allow for an additional percentage above the limits for debris removal—usually no more than 5 percent.
Covered debris may be generated by certain other events, even if they do not directly damage the covered property: For example, a volcanic eruption and subsequent lava may not damage your home but if the ash from the eruption damages your property, then your policy may pay for the debris removal. Some policies will also cover the removal of hazardous materials, while others exclude it.
Fallen trees may be covered: In certain circumstances, a policy may cover the cost of felled tree removal if it blocks a driveway or ramp, or has fallen on your structure. It may cover a tree that has fallen due to natural events such as hail or windstorm. This may carry a separate limit.
Reasonable expenses: It is important to get a few quotes for debris removal and to go with a quote that offers a reasonable price. Your insurance policy likely limits the expenses covered to those considered reasonable.

If you aren’t sure what your Oklahoma City Home Insurance policy protects in terms of debris removal, or you want to add additional coverage, give us a call at ECI Agency today. We can work with you to create a policy that suits your family and your budget.

Does Your Commercial Policy have EIFS Coverage?

2011-12-16T07:49:00.001-08:00

There is no question that Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS) offer an attractive, flexible and affordable way to insulate and protect the outside of a home. While the materials themselves cannot be permeated by water, that doesn’t mean they actually create a waterproof exterior for your client’s home.

Post-Application Woes

When EIFS is installed properly, the system itself is waterproof. If improvements are made to a home later, they can cause cracks in or around the EIFS which will allow water to get between the building structure and the layers of finish system. EIFS repels water so well, it doesn’t allow for moisture to escape and that can lead to mold and rot. This mold and rot is often excluded from coverage in home insurance policies. Additionally, when an inexperienced or uncertified contractor installs it improperly, it can result in cracks that collect and hold water. This can result in the same mold and rot.

This combination of improper installation and post-installation damage has resulted in a lot of litigation surrounding EIFS, and is something that all contractors should ensure they have proper liability insurance protection against.

What to Look for in a Policy

Some general liability policies exclude coverage for EIFS application because of the number of recent claims, which has led many contractors to stop using it. Even if you are a certified, experienced installer with no history of complaints, you may find that insurers are reluctant to cover you. If you’re a certified installer whose general liability policy excludes coverage for these materials or places a steep limit on claims then you need an agent who can help you get a policy created specifically for EIFS.

Preventing Claims

One of the best ways to ensure that you never face a liability lawsuit regarding the installation of EIFS is to install a water management system to collect and divert any water that can get inside. It’s also important to let your clients know that any modifications they make to the home, doors, windows and roof can affect the effectiveness of EIFS. Follow this discussion up with the suggestion that they have a licensed and insured contractor complete all additional work done on the home.

Even with the implementation of water management systems and disclaimers, you can’t leave yourself exposed to potential liability. Contact us today and make sure your Oklahoma City Insurance agent at ECI Agency has you properly covered.

The Flexibility of Universal Life

2011-11-21T10:01:00.001-08:00

Permanent insurance is different from term insurance in that it’s a bit more binding. For example: term life may have a decreasing premium while permanent insurance generally has a fixed premium. Also, the death benefit on a term insurance policy may increase or decrease and a permanent policy generally has a fixed death benefit…at least until universal life insurance enters the picture. Universal life insurance offers more options than most other permanent policies. Here are a few to discuss with your life insurance agent.

Flexible Premium

Your universal life policy will spell out a range of premiums that you can pay. The minimum will cover only the cost of your insurance while the maximum will allow you to contribute the most possible toward cash value accumulation.

Flexible Death Benefit

Universal policies are built to accommodate death benefit changes you might want to incorporate in future years. As long as your health permits it, you may be able to increase your death benefit as your needs change. Of course, you should also expect changes to your premium if you do. Death benefits are guaranteed as long as the minimum payments are made, on time.

You also have the option to reduce your death benefit. So if you pay off your debt, get your kids through college or otherwise reduce your need for insurance death benefit proceeds, you can adjust the benefit accordingly, also reducing the necessary premium you must pay.

Flexible Sub-Accounts

Universal life insurance policies offer either fixed or variable sub-accounts that you can use to help grow your cash values. You can generally adjust them as needed. You can also change them according to your satisfaction with their performance.

When it comes to Oklahoma City insurance, there is no single type of policy that fits every individual. Give ECI Agency a call and we can discuss all the different options available to you and help determine the coverage to best fit your needs.

The Accelerated Benefit Rider: Benefits for the Terminally Ill

2011-10-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

Depending on how you structure it, a life insurance policy can be a pretty cut and dried product. On a most basic level, the policy guarantees that a death benefit will be paid out to the named beneficiaries after the death of the insured, provided the premiums have been paid on time and the death occurs within the term of the policy and not after an excluded incident. But life insurance policies are like blank canvases with many different coverage options in the form of riders, and these riders can create a unique work of financial protection for your family.

One helpful rider available on many life insurance policies is the accelerated benefit rider, sometimes called a terminal illness benefit. When your policy has an accelerated benefit rider, you pay a slightly higher premium (unless your insurer provides this rider at no cost) and in exchange you can access a percentage of your death benefit before you pass away, provided you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Some accelerated benefit riders may even provide access to a portion of the death benefits without the terminal illness diagnoses as long as you’ve suffered a medically incapacitating illness or injury or require long-term care—but you should talk to your agent to see if the insurers you are considering offer these benefits as well.

Before adding this valuable rider to your policy, find out how the benefit is paid, what the specific requirements for access are and what the additional premium cost is. In order to make the process easier for your family if they need to access the benefit that the rider provides, be sure to have the instructions for benefit payments somewhere that they can easily find them, should you someday become unable to explain them.

Check with your agent at ECI Agency to speak about your options for Oklahoma City Life Insurance.

Overview of Disability Insurance Options

2011-09-23T10:47:00.001-07:00

In the business world employees generally get paid when they work, when they take vacation or sick time, or when they have disability insurance coverage and a qualifying disability. If you want to secure disability insurance to ensure that your family still has an income to rely on should you become disabled, then you first need to get a handle on the many disability insurance choices out there so you can create a policy with options that suit you and the needs of your family.

Percentage of monthly income: Disability insurance policies generally pay out a percentage of your pre-disability income. Look at your family’s income needs and budget in order to get a good idea of how low a percentage you can survive on. The lower the percentage of your income they pay, the lower your premiums will be.

Definition of Disability: In some policies, the definition of disability is very specific and meets that of the Social Security Administration, which means you won’t have access to benefits unless you are totally disabled and unable to do the work of your career OR any other. Other policies offer broader definitions that allow more situations to meet the requirements including partial disabilities.

Waiting period: Disability policies have varying options for the waiting time between the date your disability occurs and the date you can begin receiving payments. If you have sufficient savings, you may opt for a longer waiting period. If your family has few resources to help replace lost income, then a shorter waiting period could be a better, albeit more expensive, option.

Benefit term: Disability insurance can have a benefit term that is short—six month to a few years—or can stretch all the way to retirement. The longer your benefit term, the more protection you have and the higher your premiums are likely to be.

Inflation protection: What $10 buys today, $10 might not buy next year. Inflation is a very real concern among those with a long-term disability because they can’t expect to get cost of living increases like a working employee. That is why some disability policies come with inflation protection benefits that increase disability income by a certain percentage each year.

No one can predict whether a disability is in their future. When you have a disability insurance policy structured to complement your family’s financial situation and needs, you don’t have to have a crystal ball because you can be confident that your way of life is protected, no matter what.

In the event that you ever need disability insurance coverage, make sure you're covered with Oklahoma City Insurance from ECI Agency today.

Could You Be Over Insured?

2011-08-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Insurance is a valuable product to have and, in some cases, you might not be able to get enough for the actual potential expenses and risks you face. For instance, personal property and bodily injury liability limits in auto insurance policies might not be high enough to make you feel comfortable that your risk is adequately covered, and that may prompt you to look at an umbrella policy. But there are instances in which you can be over-insured if you aren’t careful to watch your policies.

Home insurance limits: Your home insurance policy pays for contents that are damaged or stolen as long as the events surrounding that are insurable incidents. But if the limits of your policy exceed the actual or replacement value of your property, then you are paying of insurance that you don’t need. Find out whether your home insurance policy pays for actual or replacement value, and then re-evaluate the number to ensure that it works with the corresponding value of your property.

As for the structure of your home, the insurance benefits you pay for are to defray the cost of rebuilding your home. They do not reimburse your for the value of your property, which is comprised of the structure along with land that you still own and that still has value after an insurable incident. If the limit on the dwelling coverage of your home insurance policy exceeds rebuilding costs, you need to re-evaluate your policy.

Auto insurance: Many portions of auto insurance policies are immune to over insurance, but there is one place that you might be putting too much value. Your comprehensive limits should never exceed the actual (or replacement, depending on your policy) value of your vehicle. If they do, then you aren’t going to get a check for the extra amount if your car is totaled, so you should adjust that.

Business insurance: Your business owns property and that property has a value. If your business insurance policy limits are set higher than the actual or replacement values of your business property then you are likely over-insured.

The purpose of insurance is to make you whole after an insurable incident, not to make you profit. Any time the limits of your insurance policies exceed the dollar values actually at risk of loss, you should talk to your insurance agent about possible readjustments.

Contact us at ECI Agency today to find out your best options for Oklahoma City Insurance policies!

The Importance of Self-Employed Disability Insurance

2011-08-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

Disability insurance is an important insurance product for everyone—both self-employed and traditionally employed individuals can benefit greatly from its coverage. In the event that you have a disability that inhibits your ability to work according to the scope necessitated by the policy (which can range from total to partial disability for your job and all jobs), you can get a percentage of your former salary paid to you through the policy for a predetermined time limit.

If you are a self-employed individual, disability insurance is a vital protection to provide yourself with. As a self-employed person, you are responsible for creating and paying for your own benefits. If you want to give yourself maternity or sick leave, but still need to pay yourself a paycheck during the leave, then you need to have sufficient funds saved in order to do so. And because your business may suffer from your limited or non-accessibility, you also need to have enough funds saved to continue to pay payroll while you are back in the office drumming up business again. With disability insurance, you can receive payment through your policy and leave your business savings untouched.

But disability insurance for the self-employed isn’t just about ensuring that you get a paycheck without depleting business savings while you are ill or recovering from surgery, it is also about getting benefits for things like maternity leave or taking time off to care for a family member who is ill. And the impact of disability insurance for the self-employed can be even wider spread than that. Imagine if you were diagnosed with a chronic illness that had no cure, or were in an accident that impacted your ability to do your work and you actually had to close your business. Disability insurance can provide continuous benefits that keep you and your family afloat if you become unable to work or run your business on a permanent basis.

There are a lot of different responsibilities that you must face as a self-employed individual, but one of the most important is planning and implementing the current and future financial security of your family. As you grow your business and create more income, you are well on your way of doing that; disability insurance can step in to act as your safety net in the event that an accident or illness impacts your ability to continue to grow your business and get your family’s finances where you want them.

Let ECI Agency help you better understand Oklahoma City Health Insurance and ensure you're getting the best coverage posible!

Factors at Play in Commercial Auto Insurance Premium Quotes

2011-07-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

If you are considering the purchase of a commercial auto insurance policy, then you may be concerned about how your premiums are going to be calculated. While there are many different factors that go into premium creation, here are a few of the more prominent:

Type of car: The type of car(s) you are insuring has a big effect on your insurance premium. Models that are expensive to repair and often targeted by thieves generally have a higher price tag attached to them when it comes to insurance.

Amount of weekly driving: The more you drive your company automobile, the more exposed you are to insurable risks. Your insurance company will ask for an approximate mileage each week, and that number will be integral in determining your rates.

Location: The location of your business can affect your premiums in terms of both crime rates and weather risks. Areas prone to flooding and hurricanes are likely to have higher premiums.

Storage: The location where you keep or park your vehicle when it isn’t in use will factor into your insurance rates. Parking the vehicle on the street offers more exposure to risk than garage or parking lot parking, and so on.

Deductibles: The higher your deductibles, the lower your car insurance premiums. Of course, the higher your deductibles, the more you must pay out of pocket when there is an incident. And remember—auto insurance deductibles are per incident, not per policy year.

Limits: The less money your insurer potentially must pay in claims, the lower your premiums will be. But if you choose a policy with limits that are extremely low, you could be underinsured and at risk for liabilities.

Antitheft devices: Commercial auto insurance premiums can be lowered if your automobile has antitheft devices in place as they reduce the risks that your insurance company will take on when insuring your vehicle.

The number of employees who drive: The more employees you have driving your vehicle for business purposes, the more your premiums are likely to be. Employees with poor driving records may send rates even higher.

While commercial auto insurance policies guard against different risks than personal policies, the factors affecting their premiums are not that different. Keep that in mind as you are shopping and don’t forget to ask for discounts that apply to personal auto insurance, since many of them apply to commercial insurance as well.

Contact us at ECI Agency today for your free quote on Oklahoma City Insurance coverage for your commercial vehicle.

Choosing the Right Term for You

2011-06-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

Term life insurance policies offer insurance customers the coverage they need only during the years that they need it. Because term life insurance policies do not guarantee coverage for life, but for a little slice out of the life of the insured, they are generally priced affordably. In addition, term life policyholders are paying only the cost of insurance with their premiums, rather than paying an additional amount to help cash values accrue.

One of the most challenging aspects of buying a term life insurance policy is determining what term is right for you. Here are a few questions that you can ask yourself to help decide what policy term to buy.

1. When do you expect your debt to be paid off? Life insurance death benefit proceeds are often used by heirs to pay off the debt left behind when a household wage earner dies. If you expect your debt to be paid off in the next ten to fifteen years then you can choose a term that just covers you for that length of time.

2. How old are your children? Life insurance death benefit proceeds are often used to help give children a head start in life. They can be used to help your children pay for a wedding, adjust to the addition of a child in their own family, and buy their own home. But these head starts might not be as vital to you as making sure your young children have adequate resources for college tuition, the ability to seek counseling if dealing with your death as youngsters, and access to medical and other services for any special needs. The age of your children, and their respective needs for the next few years, can help you narrow down an appropriate term.

3. What are the special needs of your spouse? Not every family has two wage earners. When you have young children, you may have one spouse who stays home to raise the children; this can make the death of the wage earning spouse especially devastating. Additionally, if a non wage earning spouse passes, then the working spouse must hire someone to take care of the kids and household duties that they don’t have time to do. These special needs may only be temporary, but they should be considered when buying term life insurance.

Remember, the term of your policy is meant to help you focus your coverage on your most important and vulnerable financial years. You don’t have to use the above guidelines as your only rules of thumb for choosing the term; you can use anything that makes sense to you.

Make sure you're you have the best Oklahoma City Insurance that ECI Agency has to offer!

Personal Property Coverage and Intangible Electronic Property

2011-05-06T07:25:00.001-07:00

When you think about the personal property coverage in your home insurance policy, you probably conjure images of your furniture, clothing and electronics. But did you know that many policies also consider your digital data to be personal property?

While this might have been unheard of 20 years ago, these days many people have digital data that costs money to buy and has value that can be reimbursed when lost in an insurable incident. This includes:

Downloaded Software- After buying the software your home insurance policy will likely consider its value as part of your claim against the personal property coverage in your policy. In order to prove purchase, be sure to keep all paper and electronic receipts in a place that will be protected from fire, water and other hazards. Examples of downloaded software include games, tax and accounting programs and word processing programs. And the software needn’t just be on your computer; items stored on discs, external hard drives or thumb drives can also be included as long as you have proof of the value.

MP3s- Many people purchase digital music files in the form of MP3s and download them directly to their computer, laptop or music player. While intangible as downloaded software, MP3s still have value and, since you paid for them, are still considered a possession. As with downloaded software, make sure that you retain some receipts for your MP3 purchases so that you can include them in insurance claims.

Software on discs- Not all software that is purchased is downloaded. Some of it is still bought in a store and has a tangible disc for installation. Be sure to keep records of these purchases as well so that you can include them in claims.

It’s a new day and age in digital purchasing, but the old fashioned advice to save your receipts still rings true. Luckily, many online companies are able to send you copies of receipts after an insurable incident. However, it’s never a bad idea to reach out now and start gathering these receipts together so that you don’t have the additional burden of tracking them down when you make a claim. Also, be sure to consider their value carefully as it might cause you to increase your limits.

Be sure you know what's covered with your Oklahoma City Insurance from ECI Agency today!

Identity Theft Insurance

2011-04-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

Did you known that as many as 10 millions Americans were victims of identity theft in 2009?

38-48% of victims find out about the identity theft within 3 months of it starting
9-18% of victims take 4 years or longer to discover that they are victims of identity theft
Victims spend from 3 to 5,840 hours repairing damage done by identity theft
70% of victims have trouble getting rid of (or never get rid of) negative information in their records
47% of victims have trouble getting credit or a loan as a result of identity theft
19% of victims have higher credit rates and 16% have higher insurance rates because of identity theft
11% of victims say identity theft has a negative impact on their abilities to get jobs

Protect your identity and MORE with CNA's NetProtect Essential Policy.

COVERAGES INCLUDE:

Privacy injury
Identity theft
Network damage
Theft of others' information in their care, including trade secrets
Infection of others' networks or dataCosts to comply with applicable laws requiring clients to notify their customers or users if a security breach could potentially compromise private information
Cost to remedy privacy law compliance deficiencies if so notified by a regulator

Give us a call and we will find the coverage that will be the best fit for the protection you need.

Click to read the full article. Learn more about Oklahoma City identity theft insurance including types of coverage and factors that affect your insurance premium. Contact us to get free auto insurance quote at (405) 373-2977.

Creating a Distraction-Free Driving Environment

2011-02-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

There is no way any driver can completely protect him or herself from accidents. After all, you can’t control all the actions and reactions of the other drivers out there and many times they are responsible for accidents you are involved in. But one thing we do have within our control is our inner-car driving environment and with that control, we have the responsibility of creating a distraction-free zone.

The following tips will help you keep your driving environment free of unnecessary distractions so you can focus on the road.

1. Do not eat while driving: You know those mornings when you are running late and you grab something to eat behind the wheel? Well according to a 2009 article on NYDailyNews.com, that little maneuver is responsible for causing 80 percent of all the accidents on the road. Can you imagine how much cheaper auto insurance rates would be if there were 80 percent fewer accidents?

2. Don’t apply makeup or shave: At one time or another, on a busy Monday morning, we’ve all been behind the person who thinks their rear view mirror is a substitute for their bathroom mirror and, naturally, uses it for makeup application or shaving with an electric razor. Unfortunately, this kind of intense and inappropriate facial scrutiny is very distracting and can easily result in an accident, even when you are only driving at low speeds.

Click to read the full article. Learn more about Oklahoma City auto insurance including types of coverage and factors that affect your insurance premium. Contact us to get free auto insurance quote at (405) 373-2977.

History of Fire Insurance in America

2011-02-02T16:21:00.001-08:00

In 1666, the Great Fire of London was responsible for the destruction of over 13,000 homes and 87 churches. This massive blaze also caused the displacement of over 70,000 residents. Since the death of the poor was not well documented at this time, the fate of an unknown number of individuals remains uncertain. And while it was mostly poverty stricken residents who were affected by the fire itself, the disaster had some major fall out that affected the entire country economically. After the fire, the number of homeless people climbed exponentially, businesses lost both workers and customers, and disputes arose over whose responsibility it was to pay for damages and rebuilding.

The Great Fire of London pointed out the need for some insurance to be made available to individuals to help recover from this type of disaster, and many different fire insurance schemes were attempted in the years that followed. They weren’t particularly well thought out and eventually, they failed. Marine insurance was the only real functioning type of insurance at this time, and it was used as a model to develop a successful and functional fire insurance company in England in 1681.

It wasn’t until 1732 that an insurance company in the United States issued a fire insurance policy—and it still didn’t really catch on. Click to read more about how fire insurance eventually became a part of a standard homeowners policy.

Contact us today at 405-373-2977 for a Free Oklahoma City home insurance quote.

Educational Video on Shopping for a Safe Car

2011-01-03T16:14:00.000-08:00

The internet has created a world of opportunities for consumers who are interested in becoming educated about keeping their family safe. However, at times, it can be overwhelming to try and figure out which sources to listen to and which to disregard.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, is an independent, non-profit group that researches data that can help reduce highway accidents, injuries and crash deaths. The group is funded by auto insurers and provides a wealth of educational materials and videos to better educate consumers.

Today, I am going to discuss one of their videos, Shopping for a Safer Car. This video gives an overview of all the safety features that you should look for when you go to buy a new car.

1. Crash Avoidance Technologies
Certain vehicles are built with special crash avoidance technologies. The first of these technologies is ‘Daytime Running Lights (DRL)’. DRL can help others see your car from further away which lessens the chance of them running into you. Another crash avoidance technology is called ‘Electronic Stability Control (ESC)’. ESC auto engages to control your vehicle if you lose control after turning to sharply. Buying a vehicle with these technologies could be a great step to take in reducing your risk of accident.

2. Vehicle Size and Weight
Large, heavy vehicles offer more protection in crash because they have more structure with which to absorb the crash energy around you. With that in mind, extra-large vehicle offer little additional protection and can actually will actually cause more harm to other vehicles when involved in an accident. Finding a happy medium in terms of size and weight will keep your family safe while not increasing the potential damage you could cause others.

Read more tips on Oklahoma City auto insurance from ECI Agency today.

5 Tips for Getting the Best Insurance Policy Quote

2010-11-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

Insurance is a valuable asset within any financial plan, but that doesn't mean that the premiums can't hurt your budget if you aren't careful. Fortunately, there are several ways to save money on insurance premiums. Here are five suggestions to help you get the coverage you need at a price you can afford:

Stick with the same company: Everyday, insurance companies send out messages and commercials to vie for your business. To encourage customers to purchase all of their insurance in the same place, they will often provide discounts for people who hold multiple policies with them. Be sure to let your agent know of any existing coverage you have while you shop so he or she can help you take advantage of these multi-policy discounts.
Have your current policy on-hand: When switching insurance carriers, know what your current insurance limits, deductibles, coverage options and premiums are. This will help you avoid becoming over or under-insured with your new policy and will help you determine an appropriate premium for your budget.

Get your own Oklahoma City Insurance policy and read the rest of this article with ECI Agency today!

Laws reduce teen traffic fatalities

2010-10-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

by Nicole Marshall | Tulsa World | October 25, 2010

Laws designed to ease teens into driving have reduced traffic fatalities involving younger drivers in Oklahoma and across the country, statistics show.

Graduated driver's license laws have also seemed to help change the attitudes of many teens as they take on the responsibilities of driving, local traffic authorities said.

In recognition of National Teen Driver Safety Week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report last week showing a decrease across the U.S. in the percentage of drivers involved in fatal crashes.

During 2004-08, the percentage of 16- to 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes decreased by 36 percent, according to the CDC. Despite the drop, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens.

Graduated driver's license laws provide for longer practice periods, limit newly licensed drivers under high-risk conditions and require greater participation of parents in their teens' driving process.

In May 1999, Oklahoma became the 33rd state to pass such a law. The statute was strengthened in 2005.

After the law went into effect, the number of 16- to 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes decreased from a high of 69 in 2000 to a low of 35 in 2008, according to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety's Highway Safety Office.

In 2009, 16- and 17-year-old drivers were involved in 37 fatal crashes, the Highway Safety Office reported Friday.

Also, the number of crashes involving drivers age 16 and 17 decreased 34.6 percent from 10,917 in 2000 to 7,077 in 2008.

Greg Nash, who has worked for the Oklahoma Driving School in Tulsa since 1996 and has taught driver's education for 25 years, said he believes that the graduated driver's license law has made a difference.

It just took teens some time to get adjusted to the change, he said.

"I think a lot of kids, when they first started, were a little upset because their older brothers or sisters did not have to do the same things," Nash said.

But over time, the teens have come to accept the law, he said, and many have become more responsible in their driving behaviors.

"I think most kids want to be responsible and don't want to get the sad news if they know someone who is killed in a car crash," Nash said.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. George Brown said he also believes that the law helped reduce fatalities because it limits the amount of time teens can be driving.

"That limits the number of places that they can drive to," Brown said. "By narrowing the scope of their driving habits, hopefully that creates safer driving for everyone."

Make sure your teenage is covered by Oklahoma City auto insurance from ECI Agency today!

Health care reform to be challenged

2010-09-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

by Trevor Brown | September 27, 2010 | for EnidNews.com

If voters approve State Question 756 in November, Oklahoma could join more than 20 other states battling to overturn part of the federal health care reform law.

SQ 756 would prohibit mandates that residents or employers participate in a health care system. The proposal, which will be on the Nov. 2 general election ballot, is a direct response to the health care overhaul President Barack Obama signed into law in March. But legal experts and SQ 756 critics argue passage would do nothing more than create a court challenge.

Andrew Spiropoulus, an Oklahoma City University law professor who directs the school’s Center for the Study of State Constitutions Law and Governments, said the federal law would supersede any changes done at the state level.

“It could make it harder (to implement),” he said of the federal law that requires most Americans to purchase health insurance starting in 2014. “But the federal government would just go around by doing it themselves. When you have a state law that does not obey the federal law, the federal law is going to trump it.”

However, some lawmakers hope approval of the state question will cause Oklahoma to join states challenging the legality of the health care bill. Twenty state attorneys general filed a lawsuit shortly after the bill passed arguing the legislation is unconstitutional. Virginia is pursuing a separate case. Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson opted to not bring Oklahoma into the legal battle.

Gov. Brad Henry vetoed a bill last session that would have authorized the state to hire a lawyer to fight the constitutionality of the health care package.

Rep. John Enns, R-Enid, said Oklahoma joining the legal challenge would increase the likelihood the health insurance mandate eventually will be overturned. With more support, he said, courts will determine the federal government is exceeding its authority.

“The federal government should not be in the business of providing health insurance, and they should not be mandating that you have health insurance,” he said. “To me, having health insurance is a privilege and not a right.”

Dr. Sharon Zang, chief executive officer of Northeastern Oklahoma Community Health Centers, said more than 600,000 Oklahomans are uninsured and many more are underinsured. She said with such a critical need for care, opting out of the health care program would be a step backward.

“At my level, I see people with needs all the time,” Zang said. “They have health conditions, injuries and illnesses, and they have a hard time accessing health care.”

Zang said having the state opt out would be silly because the federal government, rather than the state, largely is covering the costs. She said many medical professionals agree the old health care system was flawed, and the reform goes a long way in addressing the problems.

The resolution that put the state question on the ballot overwhelmingly cleared the Legislature last session. It passed 88-9 in the House and 30-13 in the Senate.

Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman, said he opposed the measure because he views it as a distraction and a political ploy. Collins said he worries it will cause the state to spend money on a “frivolous lawsuit.”

“Why would we waste money on something that is clearly unconstitutional when we could go help the mentally ill or help retain state services?” he said. “I believe it is just politically motivated and is being used mainly for campaign fodder.”

See about your own Oklahoma City Health Insurance with ECI Agency today!

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Holland to Face Doak in November

2010-08-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

By Sean Murphy
August 26, 2010

Longtime insurance agent John Doak of Tulsa has defeated former Insurance Commissioner John Crawford of Oklahoma City for the Republican nomination for state insurance commissioner.

In the only statewide race on the ballot, Doak kept Crawford from returning to the office he held for one term in the 1990s. Doak will face incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland in November.

In his campaign, Doak, 47, opposed the new federal health care law and emphasized his 20 years as an insurance agent and executive.

"I think an Okie-Doak landslide is what it ended up being,'' Doak said. "I think folks around the state have been very receptive to a new candidate who is educated and can speak on the issues."

Doak said he believes he can be successful in an effort to repeal health care legislation recently passed in Congress.

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Officials Tour Flooded Homes in Oklahoma City

2010-07-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

July 16, 2010 - ClaimsJournal.com

As electric fans hum and garbage piles up on the curb, Rhonda King goes about picking up the pieces from the July 6 flood that left her father-in-law's home in shambles.

King's father-in-law, George King, did not have flood insurance. Inside his home at 5101 S. Harvey, carpet has been torn up and valuables sorted for possible salvage. Rhonda King said the fans will come out soon and they will find out how much mold is on the wallboard and insulation.

"It's going to take a long time to get through everything,'' Rhonda King said. "We haven't gone through things in the back of the house that may or may not be able to be replaced or repaired. The main thing is getting carpet up and everything dried out.''

The cul-de-sac was hammered by the storms that swelled nearby Lightning Creek. At a neighbor's house, mounds of damp carpet and discarded furniture are piled by the curb waiting to be hauled off.

Officials visited about two dozen homes on July 14. The goal is to find out what kind of insurance the home and business owners have and the overall level of damage to their property.

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Oklahoma City Home Insurance

2010-06-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

We are ECI Agency, Inc., specializing in Oklahoma City home insurance as well as auto and motorcycle insurance in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Yukon and Piedmont and surrounding areas in Oklahoma.

ECI Insurance Agency, Inc. is dedicated to providing insurance products that provide quality protection with value pricing. We wish to establish a successful partnership with our clients, our staff members, and our insurance companies, that respects the interests and goals of each party. Success will be measured by our clients choosing us and referring us to others because of their belief in our ability to meet their expectations of price, service and expertise.

After over 45 years in business, our #1 goal is to provide you with the BEST SERVICE, the most COMPETITIVE PRICES and the COVERAGES that you need.

We have been a proud member of the Piedmont, Yukon and Greater Oklahoma City community since 1964. We are long time members of the Independent Agents Association as the Trusted Choice for your insurance needs.

We take great pride in growing with organizations and individuals by modifying their insurance as their business changes.