Not all insurance agents are the same! Choosing the right one can make a big difference – in price, service, and value.

With other agencies, you get one company that sells one brand of insurance. With an independent insurance agency like Macomb Insurance Mart you get choices.

Why? Because independent insurance agencies, like Macomb Insurance Mart, represent a number of different insurance companies, and can compare coverage and prices to find the best possible value for your individual circumstances. As independent agents, we are members of the Clinton Township, MI community, and we’re committed to doing business professionally and being your advocate in times of need.

Serving Macomb and Oakland Counties and the state of Michigan, here are a few reasons why Macomb Insurance Mart should be your first and last stop when looking for insurance.

• We work for you when you have a claim.
• We are not beholden to any one company. This means you don’t have to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change.
• We are your consultants, working with you as you determine your needs.
• We are value-hunters who look after your pocketbook in finding the best combination of price, coverage, and service.
• We offer one-stop shopping for a full range of products, including home, renters, auto, business, RV, watercraft, motorcycle/ATV, landlord and condo insurance.
• We can periodically review your coverage to keep up with your changing insurance needs.
• We are committed to customer satisfaction – it’s the key to our livelihood.
• We treat you like a person, not a number.
• We are licensed professionals with strong customer and community ties.

There is a difference. To find out how our independent insurance agency can help you find the right insurance coverage, please contact Macomb Insurance Mart today. Give us a call today at 586-263-0700 or email us at support@macombinsurancemart.com.

Our agency, like many others have started to receive calls from our clients and even new prospects asking many questions about the new reform bill that was passed at the beginning of June 2019. This law, which started in October 1973, affects everyone in the state of Michigan. The reform bill will start going into effect July 1, 2020 with some provisions not changing until 2021 & 2022. Like many other bills it can take years to figure out the details in a change of this magnitude.

The changes we are currently aware of include mini tort, non-driving factors, Michigan Catastrophic Claims Authority (MCCA) and state required limits. Other changes involve medical coverage/charges in an auto accident, but most importantly to the consumer is the premium decrease of an auto insurance policy.

If you have liability coverage ONLY on your vehicle you may currently go after the "at-fault" party of an accident for $1,000. This mini tort amount will increase to $3,000.

Non-driving factors including things such as marital status, owning a home, education level/occupation and postal code can no longer be used as rating methods. Membership associations will still be able to offer group discounts on insurance policies and territory codes will still be used by insurance carriers. Credit scores cannot be used for rating but credit report information can be used to calculate an insurance score. Also, Insurance companies will no longer be able to limit or refuse coverage based on a consumer not having "prior insurance" and they will no longer surcharge for this.

The MCCA is going to have to provide more detail as to how the annual fee is calculated for each vehicle. Currently, it is listed at $192 fee per vehicle. On July 1, 2019 (in 6 days) this amount is going to increase to $220 per vehicle, not policy, PER VEHICLE. We hope that next year’s assessment will be more reasonable with the new reform policy that is put in place.

Michigan, like many other states, has state required minimum limits for liability coverage. It is currently listed at $20,000 per person with $40,000 per occurrence. This will increase to $50,000 per person with $100,000 per occurrence. This increase is assumed because the new law allows people to sue at-fault parties for additional coverage needs.

Auto insurance in Michigan has had unlimited payout in medical coverage for almost 50 years. This means that there has been no limit to what or how much can be charged by individual entities as the result of an auto accident injury. Consumers purchasing auto insurance can now decide if they want to keep their "unlimited" coverage (most insurance agents should recommend this) or if they want a specific limit to be applied for medical coverage. Limits that can be chosen are $500,000, $250,000, $50,000 and opt-out. You can only choose $50,000 if you are a recipient of Medicaid and you can only opt-out if you are a senior or permanently disabled on Medicare. It is important to keep in mind that the consumer is responsible to check with their health carrier on ALL coverage because some expenses may have a limit and other expenses may not be covered at all. These can include physical therapy, medical equipment and services provided in or out of network. Medical providers will only be able to charge a maximum 200% of the Medicare base. This decreases to 190% by year three.

How much do you save on insurance? This law reduces ONLY the Personal Injury Protection (PIP), medical expense & work loss wages, on each policy. This is not a total policy reduction. I have listed the percentage that your PIP coverage can be reduced:

Opt-Out = 100% reduction

$50,000 = 45% reduction

$250,000 = 20% reduction

$500,000 = 10% reduction

Our recommendation is to make sure you carry enough coverage to help you in the event that you were catastrophically injured. Assume you have to pay for all procedures (including surgery if necessary), prescriptions and medical equipment not only for your vehicle but also your home. These medical expenses could last the rest of your lifetime so make sure you are prepared.

PLEASE SHARE & SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!!!

For the month of JUNE Macomb Insurance Mart will be holding a charity drive to support Rejoyceful Animal Rescue. This is a no-kill, foster-based cat and dog rescue and always needs help from the surrounding communities.

Our agency is supporting the Big "I" with the GIVE Movement by giving back to our community not just June 1^st-8^th but the whole month of June!!! We want to show everyone how much we care! You may donate directly to Rejoyceful Animal Rescue by visiting our facebook page and clicking on our donate button!

For the MONTH OF JUNE Macomb Insurance Mart will be collecting the following:

*Kitten Food (Wet & Dry)
*Adult Cat food (Wet & Dry)
*Puppy Food
*Dog Food
*Clumping Cat Litter

*Litter Pans
*Newspaper
*Wee-Wee Pads or Blue Medical Chux
*Dog Beds
*Cat Beds
*Blankets/ Sheet-Towels
*Office Supplies
*Stamps
*Printer Ink
*Papertowel
*Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
*Cat Carriers
*Dog Kennels
*Leashes
*Collars
*Baby Scale
*Micro-Chip Scanner
*Insulated Dog Houses for Feral Colony
*Toys
*Bones/Treats
****You can also drop off cans and bottles to help support Rejoyceful Animal Rescue****

Please drop off your items at Macomb Insurance Mart, 42946 Garfield Rd, Clinton Twp MI 48038
Help show your support to all the homeless, neglected, and abused animals in need!

#TCAGENTSGIVE

Due to severe winter weather conditions in our area, Macomb Insurance Mart, Inc. will be closed Wednesday Jan 30th. If you need immediate assistance, please call:
Citizens Insurance: 800-628-0250
Safeco: 877-566-6001
Progressive: 800-274-4499
Foremost Auto: 888-274-7865 ...
Foremost Speciality: 800-527-3907
We will continue to do our BEST to serve your insurance needs!
Thank you for your patience!

Happy National Pie Day!

National Pie Day Fun Facts!

• One out of four Americans prefers apple pie, followed by pumpkin or sweet potato (17 percent), anything chocolate (14 percent), lemon meringue (11 percent) and cherry (10 percent). 

• Three out of four Americans prefer homemade pie! 

• If you lined up the number of pies sold at U.S. Grocery stores in one year, they would more than circle the globe! 

• Pie was not always America's favorite dessert – in the 19^th century, fruit pies were a common breakfast food eaten before the start of a long day!

 Please share your favorite pie with us!

 Peanut Butter Pie – Shelly's Favorite

 Ingredients:

Graham Cracker Crust

1 cup confectionery sugar

½ cup peanut butter

1 8 oz cream cheese (softened at room temperature)

1 container Cool Whip (at room temperature)

 Mix until smooth. Spread over crust evenly. Refrigerate until firm. Enjoy!!

Libby's Pumpkin Pie – Becky's Favorite

 Ingredients:

¾ cups granulated sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp ground cloves

2 large eggs

1 can evaporated milk (12 fl oz)

1 unbaked 9 inch deep dish pie shell

Directions:

Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin, sugar and spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell. Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 40-50 minutes more or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Top with whipped cream and enjoy!!

Grandma Bondy's Banana Cream Pie – Dana's Favorite

 ¾ cup sugar

1/3 cup all purpose flour

¼ tsp salt

2 cups milk

3 egg yolks, beaten

2 Tbsp butter

1 ¼ tsp vanilla extract

1 9 inch pie crust

4 bananas sliced

 Directions:

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, flour and salt. Add milk in gradually while stirring gently. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is bubbly. Keep stirring and cook for about 2 more minutes and then remove the mixture form the stove. Then, add butter and vanilla. Stir until it has a smooth consistency. Slice bananas into the cooled baked pastry shell. Top with pudding mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Chill for 1 hour.

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cream Pie – Dana's

1 cooked pie crust

5 oz dark chocolate chips

12 oz cream cheese divided, softened

½ cup sugar

1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream

1 3 oz. Package raspberry Jello

1 cup fresh raspberries plus more for garnish

whipped cream for garnish

chocolate curls or grated chocolate for garnish

Directions:

Melt the chocolate chips in a small saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. Alternately, you can melt them in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds.

Blend 8 oz cream cheese and sugar in a mixer. Slowly pour the melted chocolate into the mixer while blending on low speed.

Once everything is mixed well, pour the chocolate mixture into the baked pie crust.

In another mixing bowl, put the 4 oz cream cheese with ½ cup of the heavy whipping cream. Whip until the lumps are almost gone.

Add the rest of the heavy whipping cream along with the raspberry Jello powder. Whip until stiff peaks form.

Gently fold in the raspberries.

Spoon over the chocolate crust and refrigerate for several hours.

Just before serving, top with whipped cream, raspberries and grated chocolate or chocolate curls.