Pet Insurance in Portland Maine – Our Newest Solution

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

Mainers love their pets. More than 60% of Maine households include at least one dog, cat, bird, rabbit, snake or other non-human family member. That puts us in the top 5 states for pet ownership. In fact, Maine ranks #2 in cat ownership at 46.4% of households, according to one survey.

Pet Ownership is a Responsibility

While the joy they bring is priceless, pets depend on us to do what’s best for them. That’s more than just giving them food, water and exercise. Our pets rely on us to manage their health. Veterinary medical care can be expensive, especially when they get sick or injured. Veterinarian treatment, ER visits and veterinary specialists can be budget-busters for pet owners.

Pet Injuries and Illnesses Can Be Costly

Here are a few of the most common conditions and treatments that pets might face:

  • Asthma, feline: inhaler and medication – $500 (plus visits every 3-6 months)
  • ACL surgery, canine (TPLO) – $3,500 to $5,000
  • Diabetes in cats – 1 day of hospitalization every 3 months to check glucose levels, once stable.
    Medication: about $50 per month.
  • Hip dysplasia, dog: Surgery, $2,000 to $4,000.

Pet insurance can help defray these costs. Yet, less than 2% of U.S. pets are covered by insurance.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

Most popular pet insurance plans cover treatment for diseases, illnesses and injuries. That includes:

  • Veterinary or specialist treatment
  • Hospitalization
  • Surgeries
  • Prescriptions
  • CAT scans, MRI, X-Ray
  • Cancer Treatments

Every plan has different limitations. Many insurance companies offer different levels of coverage. The higher the limit of coverage, and the lower the deductible, the higher the cost of the insurance.

What Does Pet Insurance Exclude (Not Cover)?

Most plans exclude regular veterinary checkups (well-care).  All pet medical plans exclude pre-existing conditions. If your cat has been diagnosed with asthma, those treatments would not be covered. But, if she was later diagnosed with feline leukemia, that treatment would be. Also, spaying, neutering, and “maintenance” items like ear-cleaning or gland expressing are usually not covered.

Portland Maine Pet Insurance – Our New Solution

We’re excited to now offer a discount for our clients through FIGO pet insurance, one of the top insurers in the U.S. You can choose any veterinarian or provider – you’re not limited to any network.

As a FIGO customer, you can download a free app and make claims on the go. The app also

  • reminds you about shots and appointments,
  • helps you find nearby services like dog parks, pet daycare and pet-friendly hotels.
  • offers a FIGO digital pet tag, so you and your lost pet can be reunited quickly. And, most FIGO plans cover lost pet advertising and reward.

Our clients receive a discounted FIGO rate by using a special link. Payments are made by convenient monthly withdrawals. For more information and a no-obligation quote, click the link below.

 

Unlike your home, auto, renters or business insurance, Noyes Hall & Allen can’t answer billing or coverage questions. FIGO handles all policy issuing, service and claims. We simply offer this discounted program as a service to our clients. Let us know what you think!

What Does Maine General Liability Insurance Cover?

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

Maine General Liability Insurance is a must-have for businesses and nonprofits. It protects and defends the organization’s assets agains many lawsuits.

Protection from Lawsuits

Maine business owners invest time and resources to make it successful. Nonprofit managers must also be responsible stewards of the organization’s assets. Maine general liability insurance (GL) can help preserve those resources.

Getting sued can damage your organization greatly. Loss of reputation and money are two of the greatest risks. It’s important to protect yourself. Do you run a business or nonprofit in Portland, ME? The trusted agents at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance can help protect it against losses with a GL policy.

Maine general liability insurance defends you against many lawsuits

Maine General Liability Policies: Broad Protection

  • Property Damage – includes any damage to others’ property caused by your operation.  
  • Bodily Injury – Including slips and falls, injury caused by your work, or 
  • Medical payments – Visitors may injure themselves on your property even if you do nothing wrong. Medical payments can pay their emergency medical bills, even if you’re not at fault. 
  • Product Liability – Injury caused by your product or completed work. A restaurant guest could get food poisoning. An improperly secured deck can collapse and injure someone. A GL policy that included product coverage will pay for these.
  • Personal Injury – claims of libel, slander, false arrest, invasion of privacy and similar charges.

Maine General Liability Defends You from Groundless Suits

Most general liability policies include the cost of legal defense. That means hiring and attorney to defend you in court if necessary. Even better, defense cost doesn’t reduce the limit of coverage in many policies. It’s in addition to any damages you are liable to pay. 

Many Contracts Require Proof of General Liability Insurance

Whether you’re a contractor or provide a professional service, your client probably requires you to be insured. Your agent provides a certificate of insurance showing that you have the proper coverage. This is often required in order to get the best jobs. Larger companies and organizations require proof of insurance. They might even require to be named as an additional insured on your policy. 

A single lawsuit could destroy your organization if you are not protected.  Do you manage a business or nonprofit in Greater Portland, ME? Contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 207-799-5541. We offer a choice of many of Maine’s top insurance companies. We’re independent and committed to you.

Where to Live in Portland, Maine

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

It seems every week Portland, Maine appears on some “best of” list. Best restaurant and foodie towns, best places to retire, best small city, and so on.

College graduates want to live in Portland for the food, drink, entertainment and active sports scene. Retirees and empty-nesters relocate here for cultural options and top-shelf medical facilities. Portland, Maine is big enough to keep you busy, small enough to find your “tribe”, and see them often about town.

Many new Portland Maine residents want to be “on the peninsula”. Portland’s downtown is flanked by hills overlooking the east and west ends, and water access on the north and south. Almost anywhere on the peninsula, you can walk from grocery to gallery, beach to brewery, or concert hall to coffee shop. And you can’t spin a lobster without pointing to a restaurant.

What’s the Best Neighborhood in Portland Maine?

With so many great neighborhoods, it’s more about finding the best fit for you. We’ve broken down the choices to help you decide where to look. All the neighborhoods are in Portland, unless noted.

Portland, Maine Neighborhoods With Lots of Restaurants (walking distance):

map of Portland Maine neighborhoods
Some popular Portland Maine neighborhoods

  • Munjoy Hill
  • Newbury / India Street
  • Old Port
  • Meeting House Hill (South Portland)

Portland Nightlife and Music Venue Neighborhoods:

  • Old Port
  • Congress St – mid-town
  • Longfellow Square

Portland Neighborhoods Near Beaches and Trails:

  • Baxter Boulevard
  • Newbury / India Street
  • Ferry Village / Willard Square (South Portland)
  • Munjoy Hill

Portland Area Neighborhoods to Live Car-Free:

  • Knightville (South Portland)
  • Bayside & Parkside
  • Congress St. – mid-town
  • Longfellow Square

Portland, Maine Residential Neighborhoods:

map of South Portland Maine's east end
Popular neighborhoods in the east end of South Portland Maine

  • Oakdale
  • West End
  • Ferry Village (South Portland)
  • Meeting House Hill / Willard Square (South Portland)

Less Congested Neighborhoods That Are Close to Downtown Portland:

  • Deering Center / Rosemont
  • North Deering
  • Ferry Village (South Portland)
  • Meeting House Hill (South Portland)
  • Peaks Island

Portland Maine Suburbs With Cheaper Rents:

  • Westbrook
  • Old Orchard Beach
  • Redbank / Brick Hill (South Portland)
  • Riverton

Portland Neighborhoods With Older Apartments with Character:

  • West End
  • Oakdale
  • Deering Center
  • Old Port

Sleek New Apartments and Condos:

  • Munjoy Hill
  • Newbury / India Streets
  • Bayside
  • Commercial St.

What’s the Cost of Living in Portland Maine?

Like many popular coastal cities, Portland Maine’s cost of living is above average. But, it’s about 50% less than New York and almost 30% less than Boston. Housing is the biggest outlier in our cost of living: about 57% higher than the U.S. average. You might need to compromise on your “wish list” to find a place you can afford. And, because it’s so popular, it’s a seller’s market right now. If you see a great house, condo or apartment, it likely won’t be on the market for long.

RELATED: How to Register a Vehicle in Maine

Moving to Portland, Maine?

You’re going to love it! We’ve been here since 1933, and are proud to be active in our community. We sponsor local non-profits and events. We champion fellow small businesses. We volunteer and buy local. Find us in the Knightville / Mill Creek area of South Portland, across the Casco Bay Bridge from Portland. We love to share our knowledge about the place we call home.

graphic we love portland maine

Need insurance for your car, apartment, boat, snowmobile, home or condo? Contact a Noyes Hall & Allen agent at 207-799-5541. We represent many insurers and can compare rates and coverage to find you the best value. We’re independent and committed to you.

Not ready to talk to an insurance agent? You can get real insurance quotes online in 10 minutes from our website.

More Maine Home Insurers Cover Water & Sewer Lines

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

Portland Maine Water District is one of several that have offered a service contract for underground water and sewer lines. Available through a third party provider called HomeServe, the plans for both types of pipes cost $168.00 per year. We wrote a blog post in 2010 to help our clients decide if it was worth the cost for them.

Additional Reading: Water District Plans vs. Service Line Insurance

Off the Shelf Home Policies Don’t Cover Exterior Pipes

Homeowners, renters and condo unit owner policies cover water damage to your home from leaky or frozen pipes. But they don’t cover damage to pipes outside the home, like water supply or sewer lines between your home and the street.

Insurance Companies Now Sell Underground Line Coverage

Some Maine insurance companies now offer underground service line coverage. Like the water district plan, they have a coverage limit – often $10,000, with a $500 deductible. That’s more than the water district service contract, which covers up to $3,500 for water lines and $5,000 for sewer lines.

Insurers now selling this coverage in Maine include Andover Companies, Concord Group and Vermont Mutual. Some sell the coverage a la carte, while others include it in a special bundle of coverage. In all cases, you have to purchase it – it’s not automatically covered by homeowners policies.

Is the Coverage the Same?

Along with the coverage limits, there are other important differences. For example, the water district service plan has no co-payment, while insurance company policies usually have a $500 deductible.  Also, the water district service agreement covers unblocking clogged pipes, while insurance policies generally do not. The contract wording is different, too. Water district plans exclude “pre-existing conditions” and “acts of God”. Those exclusions are NOT found in property insurance policies.

Which is Cheaper? Homeowners Policy or Water District Plans?

Insurance companies charge different premiums for the coverage. Most are much less than the $168 per year charged by the water district – some as little as $25 per year!

If you live in Southern Maine and would like a quote for underground line insurance on your home, apartment or condo, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen agent at 207-799-5541. We can help you find the best overall value, with several quotes from top insurers. We’re independent and committed to you.

Uninsured Motorists Insurance in Maine

Posted on by admin

Every U.S. state except New Hampshire requires liability insurance. Makes sense. People should be able to pay for damage they cause to other people or their property. But there are always some who fail to get insurance for a variety of reasons. If you’re injured in an accident with an uninsured driver, it can be confusing and maddening. But the staff at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in Portland, Maine can help you make sure you’re protected by your own automobile insurance policy.

Maine is a “fault” state. A person ruled to be at-fault in an accident is responsible for all damages or injuries caused. Some states, including Massachusetts, are “no-fault”. Each person pays for their own vehicle damage in an accident regardless of who is at fault. Maine requires at least $50,000 per person of uninsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage pays for any injuries caused by someone else whose insurance will not cover it.  For instance, if your medical bills and pain & suffering are $100,000, and the other person has $25,000 of liability insurance, your own insurance will cover the rest of the charges. This could be very beneficial in an “at fault” state like Maine, especially if the other person has no coverage at all.

Contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in Portland, Maine to find out more about automobile insurance and learn what to do if you are in an accident with an uninsured motorist. Don’t wait until you are in that situation to learn what you need to know. Get information about a new policy, or come see us make sure your policy is up to date and that you have the coverage you need.

Not ready to talk to an agent yet? You can compare Maine car insurance prices by getting up to 6 quotes in 10 minutes from our website.

Does Commercial Insurance Cover Office Equipment?

Posted on by admin

One of the biggest decisions you will make when starting your business is selecting the right commercial insurance to cover your office equipment. Business insurance adds a layer of protection in the event of a covered loss. Some of the covered losses that your insurance protects you from include fire and theft. Your insurance policy will cover most items owned by the business, including office equipment.

How To Get The Right Coverage

When you start to look for business insurance, there are a few things to keep in mind. Find a commercial insurance agent you trust in your area. They’ll help you select the type of coverage your business needs, and avoid coverage you don’t. A good agent can help match you with an insurance company that understands your business. Make sure your policy includes all business assets. One way is to look at your balance sheet and make sure that you have enough coverage for inventory and equipment. This helps prevent gaps in your coverage that could lead to losses.

Documenting Office Equipment

It is important to include your office equipment in your coverage. One way to ensure that you adequately protect valuable office equipment is to save receipts or check your balance sheet. Photocopy all of your documents that figure into your insurance policy and keep them stored in a separate location or in the cloud. One highly respected insurance company that can help you step by step through the coverage process is Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in Portland, ME.

If you are looking for high quality and reliable commercial insurance, call Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in South Portland, ME at 207-799-5541. One of our knowledgeable agents will be glad to answer your questions and help you get started protecting your investment today. We represent several insurers, so we can help you choose the best value. We’re independent and committed to you.

A New Easier Way to Get Maine Home, Condo, Renters or Auto Insurance Quotes

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

 

Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance has offered online auto and home insurance quotes to Maine people since 2014. We’re excited to invest in a new platform that’s faster and easier to use. Best of all, if you find a quote you like, we can bind your coverage faster than ever.

Can I Get Quotes from Many Insurance Companies at Once?

Yes! In only 10 minutes, you can get quotes from up to 5 A-rated insurers, including:

  • Concord Group
  • MMG Insurance
  • Patriot Insurance
  • Progressive Insurance
  • Travelers

get Maine insurance quotes

Is It Safe to Enter My Insurance Quote Information Online?

Yes, our secure site protects your personal information.

 

Will an Insurance Agent Call Me?

If you request an online quote from one of “the big guys”, they will call or email you repeatedly, pressuring you to buy. We hate that as much as you do. We will only call you if you ask us to.

We will send one follow up email, in case you have any questions about your quotes. If you’d like to see quotes from other insurers that can’t yet provide “real time” quotes, you can let us know. If one of the quotes interests you, tell us and we’ll reach out with more information. No pressure or obligation.

 

Can I Buy Maine Home, Renters or Auto Insurance Online?

There’s no need to come into the office – or even talk to us on the phone – unless you want to. You can sign, pay and get proof of insurance electronically. Of course, not everyone’s insurance needs are straight and narrow. You may want the confidential advice of an experienced agent sometime. That’s where we shine. Our knowledge of the local area, our clients and the insurance market is why many of our clients choose to do business with us. Their insurance agent reviews tell the story.

 

Can I Get My Insurance Documents Online?

Yes! We’ve invested in a state-of-the art, secure client center, protected by two-step verification. You can:

  • Review your policy
  • Get proof of auto or property insurance
  • Request to change a driver, vehicle or lender
  • Update your contact info
  • Upload a document or photo to your agent.

You can learn more about our client center here.

 

What If I Need to Talk to an Agent?

The Noyes Hall & Allen team takes pride in providing personalized service and advice. We’re accessible by email, text, phone or in person. We’re small enough to know you and big enough to serve you. Whether you have a claim, a coverage question, or need to choose another payment option, we’re here to help. No call centers. No chatbots. No phone menus.

 

Access Your Maine Insurance Policy Info 24/7

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

We’re pleased to introduce a new feature for clients of Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance. Now, you can access policy documents and information from our secure web site, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Lost your Maine auto insurance card? Want to check on your coverage at night or on the weekend?  You can log on easily and get the information you need in two minutes or less. Here’s how.

Step 1 – Visit NoyesHallAllen.com


Look for the “My Account” icon on the upper right of the page (or in the list on a mobile phone). It opens to a drop-down menu. Select an option.

 

Step 2 – Log In Using Your Email Address

You must use the email address that our agency has on file for you. This is usually the one that we have emailed correspondence to in the past. Let us know if we should use a different email address.

 

Step 3 – Log In With a Secure Verification Code 

This is sent instantly to your mobile device or your email address. This code helps keep your personal information in your hands alone. It expires after 5 minutes.

 

Step 4 – Choose the Policy or Documents You Want

The default view is “policies. This allows you to view the details of your coverage by clicking “view policy” below the snapshot.(click on the image for a larger version)

Note that there’s an option to switch to “documents” as well as the default “policies”.

 

If you want to download your insurance cards, choose “documents” click “download” on the right. You can print or save them to your device from there. By law, Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, city and town halls and law enforcement officers accept electronic proof of insurance. You aren’t required to produce a paper copy.

(click on the image for an enlarged verson)

 

We hope that you enjoy the convenience of 24/7 access to your insurance policy information.

Please note:
1) Most insurance companies share their information with us electronically in a compatible form with this feature. If your documents aren’t available, call us and we can send them to you.

2) The policy information on the Client Center is a very simplified recap of your policy. You may have purchased endorsements that the Client Center can’t show, so your coverage might be different. Your insurance policy is always the definitive document of your insurance coverage.

Finally! Insurance for Maine Uber & Lyft Rideshare Drivers

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

Since Uber and Lyft launched in Portland 3 years ago, rideshare drivers have had a big insurance gap. Personal auto policies exclude coverage for “Periods 1, 2 and 3” of a driver’s availability. Rideshare companies cover Period 2 and 3, but not Period 1. When a driver turns on their Uber or Lyft app, they turn off their personal insurance coverage.

Progressive just introduced a gap-closer for Maine Uber and Lyft drivers: the Transportation Network Company (TNC) Endorsement.

How Does the TNC Endorsement Provide Auto Insurance for Maine Uber and Lyft Drivers?

  1. Period 1 (logged onto TNC app, no trip accepted). Progressive now covers drivers during this period if you’ve bought the TNC Endorsement.
  2. Period 2 (trip accepted, driver en route to pickup). Progressive’s TNC Endorsement covers your full policy liability limit, not the skimpy coverage provided by many TNC insurance programs.
  3. Period 4 (on a trip). Progressive’s TNC Endorsement covers the difference between your policy deductible and that provided by Uber or Lyft. The TNC policy remains primary. This helps reduce your out-of-pocket expense.

How Much Does Uber or Lyft Driver Insurance Cost in Maine?

The cost for Progresssive’s new TNC Endorsement varies. We’ve seen prices as low as $6.00 per month. Your rates will depend upon your driving record, insurance score, and whether or not you’ve maintained consistent insurance.

If you’re driving for Uber or Lyft in Maine, and you’re not certain you have insurance coverage for it, you probably don’t. Many drivers have been afraid to call their insurance company to ask about it, for fear that their insurance might be canceled. Our agency represents more than 10 auto insurers, none of which has offered a solution until now. Kudos to Progressive for living up to their name in this case.

If you live in Southern Maine and have questions about your auto insurance, call a Noyes Hall & Allen agent at 207-799-5541. We’re independent and committed to you.

How to Secure your Home with Insurance

Posted on by admin

A home is a place where you go after a long day of work. It is where you raise a family, and share and creates memories. To most people, home is the most important place and thus an investment. But life is unpredictable; you never know what to expect. You may wake up one day to find your house on fire or damaged by weather. What do you do then?

At Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in Portland, ME, we are experienced and have been in the insurance business for quite some time, and within that time, we have had the chance to work with different clients and handle a multitude of different situations. We understand the risks that can affect a home, and so, we have various coverage options that are designed to fit your needs and provide the protection you want.

Here is a glimpse at some of the options available:

Structure Coverage

With our home insurance policy, we may be able to rebuild or repair your home if it gets damaged by hail, winds, fire, or any other disaster. Note, however, not all home insurance policies protect your home from floods, and so it is essential to make sure you know and understand your coverage.

Personal Belongings Coverage

Home is where you keep all your personal belongings. It is where you have your clothes, shoes, furniture, electronics, and just about everything in between. So, if your home is destroyed, all your possessions may become destroyed as well. With a personal belonging coverage, we help you recover all your lost or damaged personal items. It is also wise to make an inventory of your more important items for the insurance company.

Additional Coverage

If your home is destroyed, you may have to find a place to live while your home is being repaired. Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance can cover all additional living expenses which include restaurant and food bills. With that, you get to continue living your life without worrying about the costs.

If you are in the Portland, ME area, please feel free to contact us for more information and to have your questions answered.