The leading cause of death for males in Canada is cancer – followed closely by heart disease. Combat this statistic by adhering to a healthy lifestyle.

1. Watch What You Eat

What you eat and drink can make a significant difference in your overall health. Eating five or more fruits and vegetables a day, little saturated fat and avoiding trans fats can improve health, reducing the risk of cancer and other chronic disease.

2. Know Your Risks

Your parents, grandparents, work and home habits, environment and lifestyle all contribute to your health and health risks. These factors may put you at an increased risk for certain diseases or conditions. Since you can’t change many of those factors, focus on addressing any behaviours you do have control over, such as your diet, activity level or quitting smoking. Make as many healthy changes for your body as you can.

Deciphering all of the parts of your auto insurance policy can be a difficult task. Here, we’ve broken it down section by section so you can understand the information that is included in each part.

A 2013 study showed that 65 per cent of Canadians do not take the time to review their auto insurance policy every year. Don’t fall into this group!

Declarations Page

The declarations page of your auto insurance policy provides an overview of all details of your contract. Included on the declarations page are the following:

• Name of the insurance company
• Your name and address
• The policy number
• Effective and expiration dates of the policy—your policy covers you between these two dates
• Description of all vehicles included on the policy, including year, make and model
• Coverage information—expect to see the different types of coverage you have selected listed here along with your deductible and the limits for each line of coverage
• Premiums—this is how much you will pay each month for coverage
• Premiums will be listed by vehicle as well as by coverage type.
• Name of the lien holder—this is the person or institution that issued your car loan
• If you paid for your vehicle without a loan, this area will be blank.
• Name of the loss payee—this is the person or entity that is entitled to all or part of the insurance proceeds when a claim is paid out
• Any special conditions or changes made to the policy

When you receive a copy of your policy, it’s important to review all of the information on the declarations page for accuracy. Keep a copy of your declarations page in your files in case you find yourself with questions about your policy. If you change or revise your policy at any time, a new declarations page will be issued to you reflecting the changes. Make sure to review and keep this new declarations page as well.

The Insuring Agreement

The remaining pages of your policy document are called the insuring agreement. The insuring agreement section of your auto insurance policy explains the risks you are covered for, the people covered under the policy and the amount of time the policy covers you for. The purpose of the insuring agreement is to state the terms of the policy explicitly and clearly, leaving no room for misunderstandings.

Definitions

The insuring agreement always includes a definitions page. This is where the “fine print” of your policy is located. The definitions page defines vocabulary you will find in your policy to make it easier to understand. It also states your rights as the policy holder.

Conditions

Your responsibilities and the responsibilities of the company insuring you are outlined here. Conditions include payment requirements, the proper steps for filing a claim and the process for resolving disagreements. If you have any questions about the conditions of your policy, make sure to contact Armour Insurance Group Ltd. right away to prevent issues.

Exclusions

This section of the insuring agreement lists the events and circumstances which are not covered as part of your policy. The intent of the exclusions section is to make your policy as clear as possible and prevent any surprises in the event of a claim. A solid understanding of what your policy excludes is crucial in determining any additional coverage you may want to purchase. Contact Armour Insurance Group Ltd. if you need any clarification on the items that are excluded from your policy.

Make sure to set aside some time each year to review your policy and ensure that the limits and coverage you have selected are right for you. Evaluate your needs based on your provincial regulations, the value of your car, the money you have in savings and the amount of risk you feel comfortable taking. Then, make sure to read the entire insuring agreement—especially the exclusions—to guarantee that you are covered in every situation that is necessary for your lifestyle. If you have questions about your auto insurance policy, contact Armour Insurance Group Ltd. today!

If changing eating habits was easy, everyone would be fit and healthy. One key to making lasting improvements is to make changes in stages. Start with something simple and stick to it for a week. After your family has mastered one change, add another.

Some Ideas to Get You Started

• Eat breakfast.
• Substitute water for one sugary drink each day.
• Eat one to two more fruits or vegetables each day.
• Plan a healthy snack for each day of the week.
• Switch to a low-fat version of a favourite food.
• Plan three meals and two snacks every day.
• Plan a home-cooked meal, which usually has fewer calories and more reasonable portions, and costs less than typical meals eaten at restaurants.

As a response to the continued severe weather Canada is experiencing, Intact Insurance released a notice to brokers outlining changes to their After Loss Underwriting Practices. The flooding in Southern Alberta this summer was noted as particularily devastating, affecting thousands of people in many Alberta communities.

Most of us remember the feeling we had when we took the car out on the road for the first time alone. This is often the first taste we get of real independance when growing up. You may also recall the naivety that you had as a new driver and making some mistakes that would have been better avoided. This is where a document like a teen driving agreement comes in. It will bring to light some areas that will hopefully prevent your teen from making some of the same mistakes on the road.

With statistics like the ones below, letting your teen take the wheel for the first time can be a scary experience for parents. It's important to ensure that your son or daughter is given the tools to keep them as safe as possible on the road.

Providing car insurance for a teen driver can be an expensive endeavour. The fact is that as new drivers, teens are perceived to be a higher risk for insurance companies. Our brokers hear questions like these on a daily basis: 

Towing a large load with your vehicle such as a travel trailer, fifth-wheel trailer or cargo trailer is a great way to carry additional items without making lots of trips. Trailers are also convenient to use when your personal vehicle is not large enough to carry the items you want to transport. Motorists must be careful when towing, though, to prevent accidents and remain safe on the roadways.

According to GM Canada, an airbag propels out of a dashboard at up to 320 kilometres per hour – faster than the blink of an eye. Though they are designed to absorb the impact of a crash for adult motor vehicle passengers and drivers, children can suffer major injuries from an air bag.

Air Bag Safety Recomendations

To keep children injury-free while riding in your car, consider these safety recommendations:

• Place small infants in rear-facing child safety seats in the backseat.
• Place toddlers over 1 year old and at least 9 kilograms in forward-facing convertible safety seats in the backseat of the vehicle. Since these car seats would situate the child several centimetres closer to the dashboard, they pose a risk for air bag injuries if they are placed in the front seat. Therefore, they must be placed in the backseat only.
• Place children who have outgrown convertible safety seats but do not fit correctly with a lap/shoulder seat belt in a car booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
• Children under age 12 should ride in the backseat of the vehicle with a seat belt securely fastened.

After a disaster strikes, returning to your home can be an emotional experience. Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, it can also be a dangerous one. The disaster may have caused damages to your home that now present a safety hazard to you and your family. It is important that you properly inspect your home for potential hazards before you resume your life there.

Hazards to Look For

• Natural gas. If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, open a window and leave immediately. Alert the gas company as soon as possible. Do not smoke or make use of any other items that have an open flame inside a damage house unless you are sure there are no gas leaks or other flammable materials present.
• Sparks and broken or frayed wires. Use a flashlight when first entering your home if you are unsure of the condition of your electrical system. Do not turn on any lights until you are sure they are safe to use. If you suspect damage to any part of your electrical system or if there is standing water in your home, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box if you can safely do so.
• Roof, foundation and chimney cracks. A close examination of your home’s structural integrity is very important. If you feel that there is a chance for collapse, leave immediately.
• Appliances. If appliances are wet or appear to be damaged, turn off the electricity running to them at the main fuse box and then unplug them. Check that they, and your electrical system, work properly before plugging them back in.
• Water and sewage systems. If any pipes are damaged turn off your water at the main valve. Check with local authorities before using any water for cooking or cleaning as it may be contaminated. If you are supplied by your own well have a sample tested before use. Also, make sure sewer lines are intact before using toilers.
• Food and other supplies.  Throw out all food and other perishable items that may have been contaminated. This is especially important when goods have come into contact with standing water.
• Clean up hazardous materials. Household chemicals, raw sewage and other hazardous substances that have spilled or leaked throughout your home need to be cleaned up as soon as possible. Make sure you take the proper care to protect yourself from the substance during this process.
• Call your insurance agent. Take pictures of damages before you begin cleanup and keep good records of repair and cleaning costs.