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Esurance Policyholder Newsletter | Winter 2008
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Dear Policyholder,
As the new year begins, it's the time when we all think about resolutions.
We hope that our first policyholder newsletter of 2008 helps get your year
off to a great start.
In this edition, you can learn more about homeowners and renters
coverage through Esurance, and some of the other products we offer through quality partnerships. With winter weather upon us, we also offer
tips on staying healthy and winterizing your home in environmentally friendly ways that may help you save money on heating costs.
On behalf of the 1,750 Esurance associates who are here to serve you,
I hope that you, your family, and friends enjoy a very healthy, happy, and prosperous 2008. As always, thank you for your business. We look forward to serving your insurance needs in the coming year, and for many years to come.
Until the next time, drive safely, and Happy New Year!
Best regards,
Gary C. Tolman
President & CEO
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Table of Contents
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Featured Article
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You Asked for It
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Other Insurance
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Esurance Happenings
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Your Survey Responses
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Did you know...
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Managing your Esurance policy is easy. You can update your policy online 24/7 by logging into mypolicy.esurance.com. |
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• Print your insurance cards
• Update your contact info
• Change your coverages
• Add a car or driver
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And much more— whenever it's convenient for you!
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Featured Article
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Your Home Energy Audit
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Winter's here again. But before you turn up the thermostat,
check out some ways you can winterize your home and keep your energy bill down. It's good for your wallet and the environment too!
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Insulate. One simple way to retain heat is to hang heavy drapes or curtains. However, if you live in an older home, you may also benefit from adding more insulation to your walls, floors, and attic. Tip: If you notice icicles forming on your roof, it may be a sign of poor attic insulation. Because heat rises, it's often more important (and less expensive) to insulate your attic than to insulate exterior walls.
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Mind the gap. By reducing drafts around your home, you could reduce your energy use by 5 to 30% a year! Along with openings around windows and doors, look for air leaks around pipes and wires, electrical outlets, baseboards, foundation seals, crawl spaces, fireplaces, and mail slots. Caulking and weather stripping are both effective ways to seal air leaks. However, in some cases, you can also use inexpensive materials, such as rigid foam insulation, duct board, foil-faced bubble wrap, aluminum flashing, wood, and even cardboard to fill leaks.
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Don't get yourself into hot water. Although nothing seems more appealing than a long, hot shower on a cold winter day, the energy it takes to heat that water may make you shiver. While shortening your
shower time is one way to reduce energy use, there are other steps you can take too.
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• Lower the thermostat setting on your water heater. Manufacturers often set water heater thermostats at 140ºF. However, most households require only 115 to 120ºF. For each 10º reduction, you can save 3 to 5% percent in energy costs.
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• Insulate your water heater and pipes. Adding insulation reduces heat loss and can raise water temperature by
2 to 4ºF. Also, you won't have to wait as long for hot water when you're using the shower or sink, which helps conserve precious H2O.
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• Install heat traps on your water heater tank. Heat
traps— valves or loops of pipe— allow water to flow
into the water heater tank, while preventing it from flowing out. Though heat traps should be professionally installed, they can save you around $15 to $30 a month on your water heating bill.
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Inspect your furnace. Along with having a
professional check and clean your equipment every year, it's wise to change your filters every couple of months, especially during periods of frequent use.
If your furnace is more than 15 years old, you may want to consider replacing your system with a
newer, more energy-efficient unit. A new furnace would greatly reduce your energy consumption,
and many states offer replacement rebates.
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There are also professional energy auditors who
can give you a thorough analysis of your home and help you find solutions. Check with your state or
local government's energy or weatherization office to find a company in your area.
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Now's the time to winterize your car too!
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Get a tune-up.
Make sure to check your brakes, tires, battery, spark plugs, belts, hoses, and wires.
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Check your antifreeze.
It should be changed every 2 years or 30,000 miles. Remember to recycle your old antifreeze, as it picks up heavy metals from your engine and can be harmful if dumped.
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Check your oil.
Most manufacturers have lighter-weight winter-grade oil, which makes it easier to start your car on cold winter mornings.
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Prepare your wipers.
Make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition and your washer fluid is full. (For best results, use a washer fluid that contains an antifreeze solution).
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Always carry an emergency kit.
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Table of Contents | Back to Top
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You Asked for It
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Beat the Winter Blues
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Winter— it's the season known for gloomy weather, bad colds, and unwanted weight gain.
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Thankfully, Esurance has some tricks to combat the winter blues to help keep
you healthy and happy all season long.
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Get outdoors: Exposure to sunlight and regular exercise are natural mood-boosters. Yet, when the temperature drops, many of us stay indoors and, consequently, feel more depressed. Try winter activities like snowshoeing and trail walking, or walk during the day when roads aren't as icy.
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Sleep well: Though you may be tempted to turn up the heat, you'll get a better night's sleep with the temperature between 65 and 70ºF. Also, when you raise your thermostat, you risk drying out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat, making you even more vulnerable to cold viruses.
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Fill up on fiber: When the weather turns cold, we often turn to calorie-rich comfort food. Instead, stock up on vegetables and nuts, which will fill you up faster and for longer. Nuts are loaded with protein
and healthy fats. Vegetables high in carotenoid, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, winter squash, and kale, can raise your immune-cell count by a third, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Control carbon monoxide: Many people report feeling sick during the winter due to low-level exposure
of carbon monoxide poisoning (which can be deadly at higher levels). Make sure your furnace is well-maintained and avoid using the kitchen stove to heat your home.
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Protect your pets too!
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Our four-footed friends also need special care in the winter.
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Watch for frostbite: Your dog or cat can get frostbite, particularly on its paws, nose, and ears (the tissue on a cat's ears is particularly fragile). Frostbitten skin may turn red, white, or gray, and may slough. Apply warm, moist cloths and contact your veterinarian immediately.
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Hide the antifreeze: Antifreeze may be highly poisonous,
but it tastes good to pets. Keep containers out of reach and
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clean up any spills. Also, make sure you clean your pet's paws after a walk.
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Knock on the hood: Small animals may try to stay warm by sleeping near your car's engine in winter. Be sure to knock on the hood before starting your car to avoid injuring an animal.
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Table of Contents | Back to Top
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Other Insurance
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Homeowners Insurance
While you're thinking about winterizing your home, it's also a great time to think about
your homeowners insurance.
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You don't have to wait for your current policy to expire to switch. In some states, we even offer a multi-line discount to auto insurance policyholders who also buy homeowners insurance through EHIP. Get a quote to see if you qualify, and be sure to check back often as more states become eligible for this discount! |
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Renters Insurance
Renters also need protection. Yet, many renters don't know that their landlord's
insurance policy won't cover the loss of their clothes, furniture, or other items if they're stolen or damaged.
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Fortunately, renters insurance is more affordable than you think and can even protect items stolen from your car. Protect your stuff and save with renters insurance from the Esurance Homeowners Insurance Program. |
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Motorcycle Insurance
You asked for it. We delivered! For those of you who love to feel the wind in your hair
and the freedom of the open road, we now offer motorcycle insurance through the Esurance Motorcycle Insurance Program.
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Health Insurance
Even if you already have health insurance, you owe it to yourself to see if more
affordable options are available for you or your loved ones. With Esurance's trusted partner, eHealthInsurance, you can compare multiple quotes online and find coverage that fits your needs!
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Life Insurance
You've probably already made (and maybe even broken) your New Year's resolutions,
but it's never too late to resolve to protect your loved ones. Whether you're just starting
out or have spent years building a secure, comfortable life for your loved ones, life insurance is a worthwhile investment for your family's future.
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Table of Contents | Back to Top
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Esurance Happenings
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We "jumped" at the chance to sponsor Esurance ICER AIR for the second year in a row.
The extreme ski and snowboarding competition brought together world class athletes to compete on a
full-scale, snow-covered
ski jump at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.
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Esurance was excited to team up with EarthCorps for Seattle's very first Carbon Offset Day. The event took place all over the Seattle area on November 10, 2007. Volunteers planted trees, received education and resources to plant their own yards, and learned about other ways to offset their carbon emissions. |
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We proudly sponsored Lights Out events in San Francisco and Los Angeles— the first of their kind in the U.S. Lights Out encourages everyone to turn off their lights for one hour to promote energy conservation. Lights went out on the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, the Hollywood Sign, government buildings, restaurants, and more. Look out for Lights Out America coming Saturday, March 29, 2008. |
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Esurance is proud to hold official Associate Volunteer Days (and some unofficial ones too) in its offices nationwide. Our associates have planted trees, built homes, and picked up litter in an effort to build stronger communities. To see what our individual offices have been up to, check out our volunteer page. |
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Table of Contents | Back to Top
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Your Survey Responses
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What’s the craziest thing you've seen on the road?
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In our last newsletter, we wanted to know the craziest thing you've seen other drivers do on the road. Many of your answers were bizarre, to say the least. While we can't repeat some of them in this newsletter, we can share our favorite "G-rated" responses:
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Heading the wrong way
"…the scariest thing I've seen someone do was drive
40 mph down the WRONG lane. I would have pointed and laughed but they happened to be in MY lane coming TOWARD me!"
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- Angela, Marietta, GA
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"I saw an 18-wheeler going the wrong way on a one-way
(2 lane) street. He was also on his cell phone and just passed me like I was not there."
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- Veronica, Irving, TX
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Multi-tasking
"A driver applying makeup AND talking on her phone."
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- Rebecca, Los Osos, CA
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"A driver was reading a book to her children who were in the back seat. Perhaps this was to keep them from distracting her from her driving???"
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- Andrea, San Francisco, CA
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"I once passed a woman doing about 85 on an interstate through a major metro area, and she was CROCHETING while she was driving."
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- Rachel, Garden City, MN
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"… A driver using his laptop while driving 80 miles an hour! Once he swerved across 4 lanes because his attention was on the laptop screen."
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- Lorry, Vista, CA
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And the unusual
"A driver kissing his pet bird, which wasn't in its cage."
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- Charlene, Orlando, FL
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Of course, we know that Esurance drivers would never be so reckless! To read more about your fellow policyholders, check out Policyholder Corner. |
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Table of Contents | Back to Top
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