COVID-19 Insurance Issues and Small Business Resources

Our sincerest hope is that this message finds you well. As your insurance provider of choice, we want to continue to find ways to help you during these turbulent times.

First, we know that being available to you is valuable. Because we are an essential business as described by the federal government, our offices remain open and available to you. Your health and well-being continue to be our priority. We have implemented social distancing measures at our offices, and will continue to safely operate them for you.

COVID-19 and Insurance Issues

As your insurance expert, we also want to share insurance and related news that may be helpful to you. Over these busy weeks, the government continues to make policy and benefits changes in response to COVID-19. We will work to keep you informed and help you navigate these topics so that you remain covered and aware during these times.

  • With delivery services important to our communities and increasing, many people have taken new part- or full-time delivery jobs with companies like GrubHub, Door Dash, Amazon, or others. Please note that standard auto insurance policies do not typically cover this activity. You must inform your insurance carrier and make some adjustments to coverage options. If you don’t inform your carrier, you may risk voiding your insurance. Contact your agent today to ensure you stay covered.
  • Several carriers are offering refunds for the months of April and/or May due to reduced driving exposure. Our carriers that have announced some form of refund are Allstate, Encompass, Grange, Safeco, and Kemper. More carriers may offer refunds in the future but are currently waiting to see the longevity and severity of the shelter in place actions prior to making a determination.
  • Some carriers are offering payment arrangements if you are having trouble making your regular payments due to layoffs or lost employment. Please contact your carrier or our office if you need assistance.
  • If you are a small business, there are several different options for financial support. We have listed an excerpt below that details some of the programs available.

Our Referral Program is Still in Place

We are here to help you through these challenging times. Please don’t forget about our referral program. For every referral, we will donate $10.00 to a local charity. In light of our current situation, we will make sure those donations help to benefit our local families in need.

Please feel free to call or email us for any additional questions. Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you and we will get through this together.

“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Small Business Relief Resources

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act has four urgent priorities: delivering aid to small businesses to avoid insolvencies and to keep paychecks flowing, providing recovery checks and unemployment insurance directly to the American people, appropriating additional funding and resources for the healthcare fight against COVID-19, and stabilizing key industries. We’ve gathered extensive resources to help you benefit from the CARES Act and here are a few of the highlights:

The CARES Act is multifaceted and provides a range of solutions, but many independent insurance agencies could benefit from the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan/Grant and the Payroll Protection Program. To get started with utilizing the CARES Act Funding:

1. Apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and grant. SBA recommends completing the application online and the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center stands ready to assist your business through the application process out of their 17 offices. The Small Business Administration has also built a online portal
to walk applicants through the process for the EIDL program. The online application takes approximately two hours to complete.

2. Apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through your local lender. For more information about this program or to find a lender near you, visit the SBA’s website.

For additional information and a Paycheck Protection Program Calculator, visit IIAG’s updated Coronavirus Resources Page.

 

 

About Dawson Insurance

The first independent insurance agency in Dawson County, Dawson Insurance has a history of excellence since 1964. Located in Dawsonville, Georgia, we also offer unparalleled service and competitive quotes to personal and business insurance clients in Cumming, Gainesville, Alpharetta, and throughout the entire State of Georgia.

(The above article provides a brief overview of the terms and phrases used within the insurance industry. These definitions are not applicable in all states or for all insurance and financial products. This is not an insurance contract. Other terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please read your official policy for full details about coverages. These definitions do not alter or modify the terms of any insurance contract. If there is any conflict between these definitions and the provisions of the applicable insurance policy, the terms of the policy control.)