Category: Good Student Discount

Prom and Graduation Safety

4/15/2016

Teen driving tips to keep prom and graduation safe

High school is full of defining moments for Colorado Springs teens and a couple of the highlights for most are prom and graduation. However, this time of year often sees other, more tragic defining moments - serious car accidents involving teens who are distracted or even under the influence of alcohol or drugs. At ALINK Insurance Services, we want to help make this season one to celebrate for you and your teen. So, with the help of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, here are some tips that can keep your teen safe. First, encourage your teen to follow these general safe-driving rules:

Absolutely no alcohol
Always use seat belts
No cell phone use (including texting) while driving

Special circumstances

Of course, special events such as prom and graduation often present special circumstances. There may be dinner with dates before the dance, and parties before or after either event. It’s a good idea to discuss your expectations well before each event, putting some guidelines into place before your teen heads out for the night. Here are some ideas:

Make sure you know the itinerary of the evening, as well as who else will be with your teen. You should have contact information for everyone.

Have a way to contact your teen at all times. You may want to require them to check in with you once or twice over the course of the evening.

Set a curfew, whether they are coming back to your home or staying with a friend. If they are staying elsewhere, make sure the curfew will be enforced by a responsible adult.

Discuss with your teen how to handle difficult situations, such as facing pressure to drink, or accepting a ride with someone who shouldn’t be driving. It’s a good idea to provide your child with money for a taxi just in case.

Offer a “no-questions-asked” ride home, should they need one during the evening.

If you’re worried about your teen driving, consider alternate transportation. A car service or limousine will provide a responsible, experienced adult driver. You also will be able to limit changes to the itinerary and contact the driver.

Prom and graduation are special times in a teen’s life; a little common sense will go a long way toward making sure your young adult is around to enjoy the other milestones that are sure to come. And fair warning...don’t blink, it goes by QUICK!

Have a teen driver? There are a variety of tools, benefits and discounts to help your teen become a safer driver — as well as manage the cost of adding them to your policy. Call ALINK Insurance Services at any of our offices for more information!

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States: 877-643-6148

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Insurance 101 for the College-bound

8/10/2015

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Preparing to send your child off to college can be exciting, but also stressful and a tad overwhelming. Just navigating through applications, admissions, acceptances, course registration, and financial aid and scholarships is enough to send any well-meaning parental adviser to the edge.

Depending on how independent (or not) your student is, you may also find yourself assisting and advising with other important decisions such as course of study, accommodations (on campus or off), the all-important decor, and necessary supplies (anything from laptops and printers to pots and pans). By the time you’re ready to send them out the door, you’ve invested a small fortune, not to mention the ENORMOUS amount of time and energy spent just getting them to this point.

The last thing on your mind might be insurance, but it’s an important time to evaluate and update your changing needs to ensure your student is fully protected.

According to an Associated Press article, these are some areas to consider:

AUTO – If your student is attending college more than 100 miles away from home and ISN’T taking a car with them, your insurance premiums will most likely go down. If taking the car is determined a necessity, most insurance companies may offer a Good Student Discount. Either way, it’s important to contact your agent or provider to determine your needs, and to obtain the best rates possible.

PROPERTY – It’s not unusual for students to have thousands of dollars of electronic gadgets and other belonging in their dorm rooms. Such items are typically covered by the parents’ homeowners or renters insurance if stolen. However, coverage varies. Photographing each expensive possession can help ensure receipt of its proper replacement value. If your student lives off-campus, he may need to get a separate renters insurance policy to cover personal belongings, as will each of his roommates.

HEALTH – Many colleges and universities require health insurance, and most parents can meet that by keeping their student on their plan. If the college is in another state, it’s important to check if your plan’s network of preferred doctors and hospitals extends there. School-sponsored health plans usually cost hundreds of dollars per semester, and often require that care be provided through the student medical center. An alternative would be an individual health insurance plan.

LIFE – Buying life insurance for a college student can make sense for parents who co-sign for tens of thousands in private student loans. Some lenders will forgive loans for co-signers if the student dies or is permanently disabled, so it’s a good idea to clarify your lender’s policy when you sign for a loan.

Call us at ALINK Insurance Services to discuss your changing insurance needs.

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States: 877-643-6148

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Prom and Graduation Safety

Insurance 101 for the College-bound

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