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You Catch More Flies With Honey Than You Do With Vinegar: Creating a Front-Line Defense for Managing Workers’ Compensation Claims by Gary Lavoie There is a significant driver of rising workers’ compensation costs in New Hampshire that has nothing to do with experience mod split-point changes or medical cost inflation. It falls into a category that I like to refer to as benefit preservation, which has a very specific cause, a simple remedy and almost every employer that we speak to has experienced. They key to managing benefit preservation,...

To our customers, friends and prospective customers: We know more so you can worry less. That’s our motto and it’s why people turn to Clark Insurance for solutions. Insurance is complex. We believe that our job is to understand what you value and then provide insurance solutions that protect you, your family and your organization. Car insurance, home insurance and business insurance in Massachusetts and in 36 other states in which we are licensed will give you the security you desire. We also believe that giving back to...

In our annual report for Clark Insurance, we illustrate a year of leadership transition, another record-setting mark for growth and profitability thanks to our customers who reward us with their business and their referrals for which we are truly grateful. 2015 Clark Insurance Annual Report pdf We hope you will enjoy this review of 2015 and get an even better understanding of our services, products and our role in supporting the Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts communities in which we live and work....

The most famous flood of all time prompted the Head of Risk Control to forewarn at least one resident to be prepared. You might say that Noah’s “insurance” came two-by-two to ensure recovery from the devastation. Unfortunately, today, too many of us discover we’re not insured only after a flood occurs. So what is flood insurance all about? Flood insurance is NOT part of a standard homeowners insurance policy. You have to buy flood insurance separately and there’s a 30-day waiting period for protection once the...

You hear about low-cost-insurance from advertisements all the time “In just minutes we can give you a lower price for your insurance coverage!” You need to take a long hard look at what you are buying for low-cost-insurance and understand what drives the promise of savings. I remember seeing an advertisement that declared “We can save you thousands of dollars on your Yellow Page advertising!” When I looked into how they could manage this extraordinary feat, it was quite easy – they reduced the size of...

It’s a beautiful weekend and you decide to go shopping in Kittery. You’re not thinking about being under-insured while crossing Route One in a crosswalk to get – THWACK! ZOWIE! KABOOM! A distracted driver hits you. Though your journey to recovery could be long and painful, you have the comfort of knowing that the driver’s insurance will pay for your hospital and medical expenses. Well, surprise, a high percentage of drivers in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are under-insured. What do you do now? In Maine,...

My doc told me I had slightly elevated cholesterol. He didn’t bother lecturing me. Instead, he told me to read a book: The China Study, a highly detailed and convincing explanation of the relationship between food and health (there’s a movie version called Forks Over Knives). Before finishing the first chapter, I was sold on changing my diet. In less than two months, I had moved my numbers dramatically – and sustainably. In doing so, I likely have reduced the drivers of disease and my...

If you’re renting an apartment and the guy upstairs lets the bathtub overflow – for a couple of hours while you’re at work – who’s going to pay for the damage to the “stuff” in your apartment? Not necessarily your landlord. In fact, it’s really your problem. Worse yet, what if a fire or smoke damage forces you out of your rental? You need to think about how much “stuff” you have and what’s it worth. Could you replace that “stuff” without dipping deeply into your...

At one of the Clark Insurance Breakfast Briefings in 2013, we invited a noted Maine physician to offer his analysis of the stubborn facts of U.S.health care system. While shocking, the facts suggest immense opportunity to take control of our health and the cost of health care. Dr. Daniel Landry, president of Spectrum Medical Group, provided a sobering context for understanding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). First and foremost is the magnitude of the nation’s financial challenge; persistent deficit spending and the cumulative...

Which of these statements is true? A. Politicians are all thieves. B. Insurance companies don’t pay claims. C. Lawyers are ambulance chasers. D. Chuck Norris made a mistake once but it corrected itself. Obviously, the answer is “D”. Too often, though, we accept something to be true and repeat it even though the facts are completely different. As our business at Clark is insurance, it’s time push back on those who imply insurers are reneging on their agreements to provide property, liability or health insurance payments. The fact is, from 2007...