Diabetes and Life Insurance-Do you know the facts?

Diabetes and Life Insurance-Do you know the facts?

November is Diabetes Awareness Month.  Do you know the implications of this disease with regard to obtaining Life Insurance?

Diabetes does not prevent you from buying Life Insurance but it comes with a significant price increase.  For example, a 57-year-old man with Type 2 diabetes and an A1C below 6.7 can buy a 20 yr. term policy for approximately $155 per month with a $250,000 death benefit, while the same man with an A1C above 6.7 and below 7.5, the premium would be approximately $232 per month for the same coverage.  The premium amounts are estimates but clearly show the difference between how the amount you would pay for Life Insurance differs.  The reason for this is that a person with a serious health condition such as diabetes is put in an insurer’s substandard class due to a higher risk of death.  Sounds frightening?  It is!

Is there anything you can do to avoid the higher premium and the high-risk category?  You can wait until your A1C is controlled for a minimum of 6 months before applying for Life Insurance.  There are also some companies that will accept proof that you have maintained a healthy diet and exercise program as well as maintained your medication schedule for a period of time and will make you eligible for the lower premium policy.  This information varies from carrier to carrier.  The best way to safely obtain this information is to purchase Life Insurance through a certified Life Insurance Representative.

If you would like more information on purchasing Life Insurance with diabetes or any other special health condition, contact Steven Visco at C.H. Edwards, Inc./Visco Family Insurance at 516-249-5200 or visit our website at www.chedwards.net.

by Denise Visco

Candy Corn Fun Facts

Candy Corn Fun Facts

Although everyone might seem pumpkin spice crazy at the moment, there is always one Halloween classic treat that will never be forgotten. And that is, candy corn. This sweet treat is a Halloween staple and often overlooked. We are going to give you some Halloween fun facts that you might not have known. And after reading our facts, let us know your favorite! And don’t forget to enjoy this classic treat on October 30th because that is National Candy Corn day!

• The original name for candy corn was “Chick Feed” and was marketed toward farmers.

• Candy corn has been around for over 130 years when George Renninger, a candy maker at the Wunderlee Candy Company, stumbled upon the perfect mixture of corn syrup, sugar and marshmallow flavoring, which invented the tri-color candy in 1880.

• Americans have debated on the style of how the kernels should be consumed. According to a survey, 46.8% of people think that the whole kernel should be eaten at once, compared to 42.7% that start at the white, narrow end. While the remaining 10.6% of people start at the wider yellow end.

• A recent CNN Facebook survey found that older people tend to like candy corn more than younger ones do. The study also found that 86% of females love candy corn compared to 14% of males.

• According to Google Insights, candy corn is the most searched for candy term in Google. Alabama has the highest about of candy corn searches out of all 50 states. The only thing sweeter than “Sweet Home Alabama” is the candy corn itself.

Written by: Sandra Costanzo

Driving Safely in Snow and Ice

Driving Safely in Snow and Ice

Winter weather is here and so is the task of driving in snow and ice.  Of course,  the best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all if it can be avoided. This is not always an option so try not to go out until snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work.  Make sure and allow extra time to reach your destination.

Here are some tips to keep in mind for driving safely on icy roads 

  1.  Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop.  You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
  2. Brake gently to avoid skidding.  If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
  3. Turn on your lights to increase visibility to other motorists.
  4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
  5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
  6. Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
  7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads which will freeze first.  Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
  8. Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks.  The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind them.
  9. Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions.  Even four-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

Try to incorporate some of these tips into your winter driving experience and have a safe winter weather driving season.

For more information on Auto, Home, Business, Life, and Flood insurance, visit our website at www.chedwards.net.

For more helpful insurance tips and information visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chedwardsinsurance

by Denise Visco