What Coverage Is Included in Home Insurance?

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Home insurance has options

Purchasing a home is a significant milestone for many people. However, before finalizing your closing, it’s important to reserve time to choose the right home insurance policy. The team at Wenatchee Insurance Agency, serving Wenatchee, WA, is here to help you select the best coverage for your home and outdoor structures.

What Is Home Insurance?

Home insurance is a broad type of coverage that protects against damage, destruction, and loss to your home’s structure, personal assets and outdoor structures, like a shed, detached garage or fences. Most mortgage lenders require you to have enough property insurance to pay for all the structures that need to be rebuilt in the event of a disaster. Regarding your personal belongings, most home insurance policies offer worldwide coverage, including items in storage and in your vehicle.

Personal Liability Insurance Coverage Is Often Included

In addition to covering physical structures and belongings, your home insurance usually includes personal liability coverage. Liability coverage responds to claims resulting from bodily injury or property damage that you cause to others by paying for the injured person’s medical expenses and rehabilitation care, up to your policy’s liability limits. For example, if someone falls down and hurts themselves on your property, your home insurance would respond. It also covers legal fees and court-ordered awards up to the policy’s liability limit if you’re sued.

Home Insurance Doesn’t Cover Every Disaster

Property coverage reimburses policyholders for repairs and replacement costs for damage to attached and non-attached structures, such as your home, garage, and fences.

However, flooding, sewer backup, and earthquake damage are always excluded from standard property insurance. Some home policies exclude coverage for wildfire damage, especially if your home is located in a wildfire zone. To protect against these disasters, you’ll need to purchase separate coverage or add coverage to your existing home property policy.

Flood Insurance has separate policies and we have a portal set up if you want a fast quote. 

Call Us for a Home Insurance Review

If you’re unsure whether property insurance is necessary, consult with an insurance specialist here at Wenatchee Insurance Agency, serving Wenatchee, WA. Our team can help you determine the type of property coverage you need to protect your home and other structures on your property. Contact us to learn more about your options.

 

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Do You Need Commercial Insurance for a Leased Office Space?

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Leasing an office space is common for new businesses that may not be able to (or may not want to) invest in an entire office building. However, this does raise some questions when you don’t actually own the building that you’re working out of. For example, are you going to need a commercial insurance policy when you lease an office space, or is that something that’s covered by the building owner themselves? Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know about commercial insurance requirements when you’re renting an office space. Once you’re ready to find a commercial insurance policy, you can come to us here at Wenatchee Insurance Agency, serving Wenatchee, WA and surrounding areas.

Do You Need a Commercial Insurance Policy If You Lease an Office Space?

It can be easy to assume that you don’t need commercial insurance for a building you don’t own. After all, it’s highly likely that the owner of the building has their own insurance policy to cover any unforeseen disasters that might affect their investment. However, it’s very much like any other renter/landlord situation. The property owner’s insurance is designed only to protect them. If something should happen that results in the theft or damage of any of the furniture or electronics you own, or should a person slip and fall at your business and decide to sue you, the office owner’s insurance is not going to cover your business. Whether you own your office building or rent it, you’re going to need commercial insurance regardless. 

Seek Out Your Commercial Insurance With Wenatchee Insurance Agency

Wenatchee Insurance Agency, serving Wenatchee, WA, is here to help you find commercial insurance that meets your unique business needs. Our team will help you find and compare policies so that you can be confident you’re making the right choice. Give us a call now and protect your business.

 

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Making your payment during Open Enrollment

Posted on by Matt McColm

We help a lot of people in Washington State with their enrollment and education about health insurance. If you are using the Washington Healthplanfinder during Open Enrollment then you have a pay now button feature to get the initial payment completed. We are brokers and don’t charge fees for our work.

When you log into the desktop version. You will see a row of buttons across the top. You want the one labeled Payments.

Healthplanfinder screenshot of tool bar.

During most of the year, the payment tab will list payment options. However during Open Enrollment, the Washington Healthplanfinder will list a pay now button for most companies. When you click on the pay now button for it will create a pop up which goes to a secure payment site for the company.

This first payment is important as it secures the insurance policy. Most companies wil then send the policy’s insurance cards and information booklet after this payment has been made. A few of the companies will allow you to schedule monthly payments using the popup while others you will have to set up with them at a later time. The booklets and cards usually arrive about two weeks after the payment.

At Wenatchee Insurance Agency, Matt and Suzie have been lending a hand to our community for over 13 years with Health Insurance. While our agency does a whole lot more, we get asked a lot of questions regarding Health because it is complicated.

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Are Customized Snowmobiles and ATVs Covered by Standard Policies?

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We insure your ATV, Snowmobile and motorcycle at Wenatchee Insurance

When you purchase insurance for your ATV or snowmobile, you expect it to cover your vehicle. But there are always exceptions and exclusions in insurance policies. Doing your due diligence when seeking out insurance for snowmobiles and ATVs is of the utmost importance. For example, if you have a customized ATV or snowmobile, is it going to be covered by the basic insurance policy you plan on purchasing? Here’s what you need to know about the limits of standard insurance policies for snowmobiles and ATVs, and how the team here at Wenatchee Insurance Agency, serving Wenatchee, WA, can help you get the coverage you need. 

Will a Standard Policy Cover Customized Snowmobiles and ATVs?

As is the case with most standard policies designed to cover various types of recreational and traditional vehicles, your standard policy isn’t going to offer the comprehensive coverage needed for customized snowmobiles or ATVs. This is because insurance is traditionally designed to cover the full value of the vehicle itself, not any aftermarket modifications that may bump up the value significantly. That being said, you don’t have to go without coverage or go without customizing your vehicle. Many insurance policy providers for snowmobiles and ATVs will offer policy add-ons so you can get the extra coverage you need for any modifications you make. Just remember to update your insurance company with these changes as they take place to avoid claim denials in the future. 

Not all all snowmobiles are the same especially in North Central Washington. We have events like Snowfest in Leavenworth where we can meet other powersport fans.  Or heading up the Methow and experiencing the trails around Winthrop. If you are dropping in a new can for a more aggressive sound or fine tuning your suspension to reduce body roll then you want those new parts covered. 

Cover Your Snowmobile or ATV With Wenatchee Insurance Agency

Whether your snowmobile or ATV is modified or not, you can rely on us at Wenatchee Insurance Agency, serving Wenatchee, WA, to find the appropriate insurance policy for you. Start now, and compare quotes with us!

 

 

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Healthplanfinder first look at 2026 Rates

Posted on by Matt McColm
Healthplanfinder 2026 Rates

The 2026 rates have been approved and are visible for the first time on the Washington Healthplanfinder. As I write this post the Silver plans were not loaded and you can not compare them side by side with your 2025 plans. All of the 2026 plans are listed on the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

2026 rates first look

This is off the main screen from the Washington Healthplanfinder. It is only an estimate. It can change depending on what Congress does regarding the enhanced tax credits and the Healthplanfinder. When the enhanced tax credits were introduced, the first month that they went into effect was June of 2021. It made quite a difference in keeping money in the pocket’s of American households.

Ambetter Gold without tax credits

Our household is no longer eligible for tax credits with the current plan from Congress. So we have to make the jump from a couple hundred dollars to approaching $1687 per month. As small business owners, we don’t have the luxury of a large group plan. It will be about 1/4 of our income for 2026 before we get into use.

The Health Open Enrollment Period is important to talk about. The plans have made some big shifts and if you are eligible for tax credits will be more manageable. It is important to talk with someone who has a greater understanding of insurance than “that Uncle” eight into a case at Thanksgiving.

  • November 1st through December 15 for health plans starting January 1st
  • December 16 through January 15th for health plans starting February 1st.

Medicare has it’s own enrollment periods and there are special enrollments. We run applications year round just in case we find a Special Enrollment that works or to prepare for the next open enrollment.

Every year it is important to look at your plan because of changes. There are times that plans do not automatically renew or need to be updated. If a plan leaves the area then you may have been moved over to a plan that doesn’t work as well.

At Wenatchee Insurance Agency, we like to review plans every year during the Open Enrollment Period. This is Matt’s 13th Open Enrollment. We walk through all the plans available. We do not charge broker fees and if any commission is available it comes from the insurance company.

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Washington State and the new Prior Authorizations for Medicare

Posted on by Matt McColm
Prior authorizations in Washington state for original medicare

Beginning January 1st, 2026 some medical procedures under traditional Medicare will require Prior Authorization in six states before performing the service. Yes, Washington state has been selected. Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas.

This updates individuals with Medigap plans such as Plan G or Plan N, if they are using traditional Medicare coverages. While common in health plans and Medicare Advantage Plans these are new for original Medicare.

This change is part of a trial program called WISeR (Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction). It is designed to curb medical overuse and detect potential fraud.

What Procedures will require a Prior Authorization?

There were 17 types of procedures that were flagged to now need approval. Here is what made the list.

  • Facet joint procedures for back pain
  • Nerve and muscle tests (electrodiagnostic testing)
  • TENS units and similar electrical stimulation devices
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
  • Spinal cord stimulators
  • Deep brain stimulation (commonly for Parkinson’s)
  • Sacral neuromodulation (for urinary conditions)
  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
  • Arthroscopic knee cleaning or debridement
  • Vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty for spine fractures
  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Non-emergency ambulance transport
  • Botox injections for medical issues
  • Negative pressure wound therapy pumps
  • Hernia repairs
  • Lumbar spinal fusion
  • Skin graft substitutes for chronic wounds

Physicians will be required to submit documentation before the service is performed. If approval is not granted, coverage can be denied requiring the patient to pay out of pocket.

Who made this decision for Prior Authorization?

This was a rules change with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Huma Services. Every administration picks there team to implement programs that they feel will have the biggest impact for consumers. They did a press release in June regarding this matter and it is estimating that they spent 25% of healthcare on services that had little to no clinical benefit. HHS Secretary Kennedy, CMS Administrator OZ pledge to fix Prior Authorization system.

At Wenatchee Insurance we do our best to lend a hand in understanding and enrolling in Medicare and insurance Programs. We are an independent insurance agency. If you are looking at supplemental policies then let us know and there are enrollment periods.

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How does TrumpRX work and can it save me money?

Posted on by Matt McColm
How does TrumpRX work

OK, Tariffs are playing an important role in what the administration is doing with drug pricing. TrumpRX appears to be using them to inflate the price on medication for companies that don’t participate with the administration. 

Trump is imposing a 100% Tariffs. Effective October 1st, 2025 if a company reaches an agreement with the Administration then they will be immune to them. There is the common consensus that everyone participating in this deal will have customers paying inflated costs due to the tariffs. 

Companies working with TrumpRX

  Pfizer is one of the first companies to reach an agreement. They are one of the largest drug companies and Eliquis, Ibrance and the Covid vaccine are among the drugs that they manufacture. Eliquis was one of the drugs with the Medicare Negotiated price for 2026.  Ibrance was selected for the Inflation Reduction Acts Medicare negotiated price for 2027. So thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act from the Biden administration, 

It also sounds like Novo Nordisk and Bristol Myers Squibb have also signaled participation. 

They will be doing a Direct to Consumer Model with a yet to be launched website. There is a marked page at TrumpRX.com but it is not functional as of publishing this blog. 

It could be very similar in the direct to consumer model of AmericasMedicines.com  from a Pharmaceutical trade group PhRMA where people can go directly to the manufacturers. 

It sounds like a stepped up version of Mark Cuban’s CostPlus. Where they have a few drugs that they ship directly to the consumer. 

Only time will tell if it has more savings than GoodRX. 

Health Insurance Dates

Important Dates for Medicare and Health

Medicare Advantage and Prescription plans can be enrolled or changed October 15 through December 7th. 

Healthcare Plans can be enrolled or changed November 1st through December 15th. 

For Washington State select an appointment at the Wenatchee Insurance Agency. 

Wenatchee Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency. 

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Prepping Your Home for Storms: What to Do When a Flood is Likely

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Flood Insurance Washington

Floods can develop quickly and cause severe damage to your property. Taking proactive steps before and during a storm can help protect your home, belongings, and family. Here’s how to prepare when flooding is expected.

Safeguard Important Documents

Store essential items, such as insurance policies, IDs, medical records, and financial paperwork, in waterproof containers. Additionally, save digital copies on a secure cloud service to ensure you can access them even if the originals are damaged or lost.

Protect Your Property

Move furniture, electronics, and valuables to higher floors whenever possible. Elevate appliances and utilities such as HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels to minimize the risk of costly flood damage. Use sandbags or flood barriers around doors and low entry points to help keep water out.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Pack essentials such as bottled water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, and first-aid supplies. Having a kit ready ensures your family can stay safe and comfortable if you lose power or need to evacuate quickly.

Plan for Evacuation

Familiarize yourself with local evacuation routes and create a plan for pets, family members, and vehicles. Fill your car with gas ahead of time and keep emergency contact information easily accessible.

Review Your Insurance Coverage

Standard homeowners’ policies typically don’t cover flood damage. If you live in a flood-prone area, flood insurance is essential. Reviewing your policy before a storm strikes ensures you have the right protection in place when you need it most.

At Wenatchee Insurance Agency, We’re Proud to Serve Wenatchee, WA

Flood insurance can provide the security you need to feel confident that your home is protected. At Wenatchee Insurance Agency, we’re here to help you find the insurance products that make sense for your needs. Contact us today to learn more.

 

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Health Insurance and Your Privacy Rights

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Privacy is important to Matt and Suzie at Wenatchee Insurance

Maintaining your health can be a challenge, and paying for healthcare costs can make that challenge even harder. If you don’t get health insurance through your job, purchasing private health insurance can make a big difference to your budget. Privacy plays an important role. If you are in the Wenatchee, WA area, our team at Wenatchee Insurance Agency would like the opportunity to explain the benefits of health insurance.

Health Insurance and Your Privacy Rights

Today’s increases in technology use have brought many advantages, but they have also created opportunities for unauthorized access to personal information. Your health status and healthcare information are very personal. When you visit a healthcare provider, you don’t want to worry about whether your diagnosis, treatment, and medication information will be shared with anyone except the companies that need that information to work with you.

According to the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, you have a right to privacy when it comes to your healthcare information. This means that your personal information can be shared only with sources that need to provide service to you. The same website assures you that you can have sole access to your healthcare information. Privacy is especially important for clients under the age of 18 who are legally entitled to consent to healthcare procedures, including procedures related to their reproductive rights.

Call Us for an Appointment Today

You never know when you’ll need an emergency medical procedure. Our team at Wenatchee Insurance Agency can help you find a policy that fits your needs and budget. Clients in the Wenatchee, WA area have discovered that our team is knowledgeable and provides consistently excellent customer service. Call us for an appointment today, and let’s work together to find the right insurance policy for you.

 

 

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Please note during the Fall Enrollment Periods.

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 through December 7.

Healthcare Open Enrollment Period is November 1 through December 15 (for plans starting January 1).

There are only so many hours in the day. Please select an appointment as early as possible or give us a call.

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How Term Life Insurance Works

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term life insurance is important

Term life insurance is one of the most popular types of life insurance. It works very differently from another type called whole life insurance and comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Many people choose this type of insurance to protect their loved ones after they pass away. However, term life may not be right for everyone interested in life insurance. Some people prefer the benefits of whole life policies, while others find that term life better suits their needs. To learn more about term life insurance, contact Wenatchee Insurance Agency in Wenatchee, WA.

A Set Period

Term life insurance gets its name from the set term of time during which the policy remains active. These policies have a specific expiration date, which can range from 10 to 25 years, among other options. Once that term has passed and the policyholder is still alive, the policy expires. At that point, the policyholder would need to purchase a new policy to maintain coverage. The trade-off is that term life policies are highly budget-friendly and more affordable for many people who may not be able to afford a whole life policy.

The Death Benefit

Term life insurance functions similarly to other types of life insurance, as it pays a death benefit to beneficiaries upon the policyholder’s passing. This is the primary purpose of life insurance, as it provides financial support for loved ones left behind. The amount of the death benefit is determined at the time the policy is written. Generally, higher coverage amounts are accompanied by higher premiums.

Get Life Insurance in Wenatchee

If you don’t have life insurance, now is the time to get a policy to protect your loved ones. To get started with a policy of your own, contact Wenatchee Insurance Agency in Wenatchee, WA today.

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