May Is Skin Cancer Prevention Month – Know the Facts

The warm weather is upon us…finally!  This weekend is going to be a hot one!  And with Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, just around the corner it is time to enjoy the outdoors. The sun feels amazing after a cold winter and rainy spring.  While we are outdoors more of our skin is exposed and we are at a greater risk of getting skin cancer. May is Skin Cancer Prevention Month.  Know the facts, there are 3 types of skin cancer: melanoma (the most serious), basal cell and squamous cell. Melanoma may form from an existing mole or may be a new mole. It is important with melanoma to look at the ABCDE’s of the mole:

Asymmetry
Border is irregular
Color is uneven
Diameter is increasing
Evolving

skin cancer

With basal cell and squamous cell a bump can form that may get a scab or bleed. It can be scaly or tender also. If you see any types of changes with lumps or moles on your skin, have your doctor check it out. Early detection is essential to successful removal of the cancer before it spreads (melanoma).

Prevention is the best course of action with skin cancer. Prevention is easy. Stay out of the sun between 10am and 2pm (if possible), use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily and reapply often when sweating or swimming, wear a hat, use umbrellas at the beach, wear long sleeves and pants while doing yard work. Regular skin checks are important year round.

Summer is fun, just protect your skin and you can enjoy the season!

Does Homeowners Insurance Go Up Every Year?

The short answer is yes.  Think about what your homeowners insurance covers.  If there is a loss the cost to repair your home increases every year, especially this year!  We are seeing significant increases in home insurance premiums.  The cost of wood is up, the cost of labor is up, the cost of gas to transport goods and labor is up.  

Aside from the cost to repair your home, the likelihood of damage to your home increases with age.  If you have out dated HVAC, your premium can be higher.  You are more likely to have a loss when your home systems are not current.  If you have made any updates to your your home systems, let us know, it could affect your premium.

What can you do to offset increases in premium?  You can increase your deductible.  The deductible is how much you will pay before your insurance coverage kicks in.  We have been seeing customers with $2500 deductibles because they want to save money.  The thought behind a high deductible is that you are only planning to use your insurance for larger claims.  You save on your premiums every year and are willing to pay out of pocket for claims under a certain threshold.

Also smart home technology is helping to lower home insurance premiums.  There are devices that detect if you have a water leak, or security systems that alert you when a door or window is opened in your house. Finally, if your home and auto are not bundled together with the same company, you are losing out on a significant discount.

If you have any questions about your homeowners policy, please let us know.  We are happy to answer all of your questions and give you advice on how to best cover your biggest asset. www.mancuso-nowak.com