From All of Us at The Boccarossa Insurance Agency...

 

11 Travel Tips for Thanksgiving

With winter weather, freezing temperatures and rain forecasted for much of the country and more than 43 million Americans expected to be on the roads this week, the American Red Cross offers tips to help Thanksgiving travelers arrive safely at their destination:

AUTOMOBILES

 

1. Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels before you get on the road. Avoid driving when conditions include sleet, freezing rain or drizzle, snow or dense fog. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.

 

2. If winter weather is present, bring pets/companion animals inside before you leave the house.

 

3. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order. Fill your gas tank, check the air pressure in your tires and make sure you have windshield fluid.

 

4. Buckle up, slow down, don’t drink and drive, or text and drive.

 

5. Make frequent stops on long trips. If you’re too tired to drive, stop and rest.

 

6. If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible.

PLANES & TRAINS

 

1. It’s flu season. If you’ve been sick or been in contact with someone who is sick, consider postponing your trip. You could be contagious for a week before symptoms appear.

 

2. Remember that everything you touch has to be touched by someone else – luggage handlers, etc. Handle your own belongings as much as possible. Wash your hands often with soap and water.

 

3. Carry hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes with you. You can use them to wash your hands or wipe down surfaces such as armrests.

 

4. Bring your own pillows and blankets – they can act as a shield against the seat itself.

 

5. Avoid touching your face or eyes. If you have to cough or sneeze, do so into a tissue or your sleeve.

 

BONUS TIP

Download the American Red Cross First Aid App. The app provides users with quick, expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. This free app is available on the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores. See all Red Cross apps at redcross.org/mobileapps.

Your guide to Obamacare: Frequently asked questions about the Affordable Care Act

This FAQ provides expert answers to the key issues about exchanges, enrollment and more.

Americans have many questions about Obamacare. Here are the answers to some of the most common ones.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the exchanges.

 

Q. Who can buy on the marketplace? Can I buy on the exchange even if I am not eligible for subsidies?

A. The exchange can be used by individuals, families and small business owners who have 50 or fewer employees.

Q. If I have insurance from my employer, do I have to do anything?

A. You don't have to, but if you choose to do so, you can drop your employer's coverage and buy a plan from the exchange.

Keep in mind, depending on the type of employment coverage available to you, you might not qualify for certain savings offered by the exchanges.

Q. Can I buy insurance through the marketplace if I already have a serious health problem?

A. Yes. The amount you pay for a health plan will not be affected by your health status.
This means that you can't be charged more because of your health problem.

RELATED: YOUR GUIDE TO OBAMACARE: AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TO OPEN OCT. 1
It also means you will not have to wait to get the coverage you need.

Q. If I have Medicare, can I purchase a plan on the exchange?

A. Yes, but you can't get help paying for it.
Also, getting extra coverage on the exchange may not make sense.
That's because Medicare will be your main coverage, but you would still have to pay for a full health plan at New York State of Health.

Talk about this with an exchange helper to figure out the right strategy for you.

Q. Some groups are exempt from being required to have coverage. Who are they?

A. The categories include people who would have to pay more than 8% of their income for health insurance, people with incomes below the threshold required for filing taxes, those who qualify for religious exemptions, members of Indian tribes, undocumented immigrants, and people who are incarcerated.

SMOKE ALARM SAFETY TIPS

               

Smoke alarms save lives. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out.

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 year old or sooner if they do not respond properly.
• Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.
• If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.
• An ionization alarm with a hush button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.
• Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice.
• Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms
• Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.

Download these NFPA safety tips on smoke alarms (PDF, 219 KB).