Thousands of people shared their experiences about shopping for auto insurance in a national study and Erie Insurance was awarded “Highest Satisfaction with the Auto Insurers Shopping Experience.”

The J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study ^SM provides an in-depth look at the auto insurance policy selection process. It explores why customers shop, their attitudes toward and perceptions of auto insurance brands and how they make their final purchase decision.

Related: Is ERIE auto insurance right for you? Find out.

For ERIE, it’s the sixth year in a row in the study’s top spot. Satisfaction is measured on three factors (in order of importance):

• Price: How customers rate their new auto insurance provider on the price of the policy given the level of coverage.
   
• Distribution channel: How customers rate their experience interacting with their new auto provider’s agent, call center reps and website.

Related: 6 Reasons You’ll Love Having an Independent Insurance Agent

• Policy offerings: How customers rate the variety of coverage options, the degree to which their needs are met and the ease of obtaining a new policy.

The study methodology
The study is based on responses from more than 15,000 shoppers who requested an auto insurance quote from at least one of the top 25 insurers that have the largest market share in the United States. Customers were surveyed in April, July and October 2017 and January 2018.

You’ve just weathered your way through another winter snowstorm. But just because school is canceled or the roads are bad doesn’t mean your family needs to be cooped up inside all day. 

In fact, playing outside is the perfect way to make the most of your next snow day. And despite what you may think… there are several reasons why it’s actually better for your kids than staying inside.
 

STAY HEALTHY

We all know winter weather can be harsh. As temperatures drop and the snow piles up, it’s tempting to let your kids spend the day playing video games or watching TV.  But making a habit of keeping your kids inside has been proven to affect a child’s weight and mood – not to mention the potential of causing a case of cabin fever. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children get 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. And that number isn’t limited to the season. 

You probably have fond memories of sledding and snowball fights from your own childhood. But the benefits of playing outside don’t stop there. If you’re wondering how it makes a difference, here are some health benefits of getting outside on a winter day: 

• Fresh air: The idea that cold air causes flu and colds isn’t true. In fact, staying indoors is more likely to expose kids to germs and bacteria. A short walk outside or a visit to your local playground can give families some fresh air — and maybe even improve your immune system.
  
  
• Vitamin D: Sunshine does more than warm you up. It can actually improve your health. Spending just 10 minutes in the sunshine will give your child their daily dose of vitamin D, which helps improve their mood and overall health.
  
  
• Muscle and bone strengthening: We all know exercise makes you stronger – but this is especially important for your child’s growing body. According to the CDC, regular exercise helps kids develop lifelong healthy habits and prevents serious health conditions like heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
  
  
• Boosting creativity: While kids are outside getting the physical benefits of fresh air and sunshine… their minds are being exercised, too. Imaginative play can help develop their creativity and problem-solving skills. The snow can turn parks, backyards and playgrounds into completely different worlds! Ice and snow present just enough challenges to help kids maneuver and expand their minds.
  

PLAY IT SAFE

Cold weather doesn’t mean you need to stay indoors. But it does mean you need to be prepared.

Before you step out the door, dress your child in multiple layers – more than an adult would wear. Cover them up from head to toe with hats, scarves, gloves and anything else that will warm them up. 

Wondering how cold is too cold? The best measure for when to stay inside is wind chill. If the wind chill drops below 32 degrees, be sure to take frequent breaks to warm up. And keep an eye out for shivering, drowsiness, numbness and other signs of frostbite or hypothermia. 

Use good common sense. The closer you move toward single digit wind chills, the more you may want to consider staying indoors.

KEEP MOVING

Once you get moving, your body will actually start warming itself. Keep your kids active and convince them to get in the snow with fun ideas like:

• Snowball fights
• Sledding
• Ice skating
• Making snow sculptures
• Playing summer sports with a winter twist
• Hide and seek
• Snow angels
• Shoveling snow 

Want in on the fun? Get ideas for kids and grown-ups alike in our list of 12 ways to stay active this winter. 

While you’re out playing in the snow with your family, don’t forget to enjoy the time you’re spending with each other. 

At Erie Insurance, we know living well means feeling confident and calm. When the investments you’ve made in your home and the things you value most are protected, you can relax and enjoy more of what makes you and your family happy.
 Want to talk to somebody who’s committed to helping you protect what you value most? Call your local Erie insurance agent. They can answer questions on what yourhome insurance will cover and help you find a policy that’s right for you.

Life insurance isn’t for the people who die. It’s for the people who live.

If you never thought a stay-at-home parent needed life insurance, you might want to think again.

That’s because in addition to being full-time caregivers, stay-at-home parents are often also cooks, housekeepers, tutors, psychologists, chauffeurs, nurses and more. That’s a lot of responsibilities that often demands life insurance protection.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one in five primary caregivers for preschool age children is a man. Recent economic trends that saw big layoffs in traditionally male sectors such as construction, finance and manufacturing only ushered along that trend.

Regardless of whether it’s a mom or a dad, stay-at-home parents add to a family’s bottom line in a big way. According to salary.com, stay-at-home parents work an average of 92 hours per week and contribute a salary of $143,102 to the family.

Another cost stay-at-home parents often assume is caring for elderly relatives as well as young children. Pew Research reports that one in seven adults falls into this “sandwich generation.”

This list makes it easier to see the hole a stay-at-home parent’s premature passing would present. In addition to footing the bill for the mortgage, car and credit card and funding any college and retirement funds, the surviving spouse will likely need to pay for more childcare, buy more prepared meals and hire more household help.

“If there’s no money, there are no options,” says Greg Wieser, business initiatives leader, Strategic Marketing. “A family might have to split up, look at nursing homes if there are elderly relatives in the picture, sell possessions, drastically cut expenses and/or move to a less expensive house in a different school district. These are painful realities to confront during an already trying time.”

Luckily, even a small amount of life insurance can help in these sorts of situations—so no excuses about not being able to buy a big policy.

So now that you know a stay-at-home parent needs coverage, how do you figure out how much is needed for how long? Start simple by considering the four L.I.F.E. questions:

Liabilities. What’s your total debt?
Income. What will your income needs be—and how long do you need that income?
Funeral. Figure $8,000 for a very simple service.
Education. How much do you want to contribute toward your children’s education?

While no policy can replace a parent, it can help your family in a big way if the unthinkable happens. Your ERIE Agent can help you get an accurate picture of your family’s needs and which coverage would work best.

Easy, affordable life insurance for stay-at-home parents
A term life policy that provides coverage for a set number of years is usually the best bet for stay-at-home parents. That’s because it’s ideal for handling expenses during the high-cost childrearing years in a more cost-effective way than a whole life policy.

A great term life option for stay-at-home parents is a term life policy from Erie Family Life, a product that lets you easily and affordably get $90,000 worth of term life coverage – without a medical exam.*

Applying for an Erie Family Life term policy is easy. Instead of a physical exam, there’s just a simple application that asks a few medical questions. All told, most people can get approval in as little as 15 minutes.

Connect with an insurance professional like an ERIE Agent to discuss life insurance that fits your needs and budget.

ERIE® life insurance products and services are provided by Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home office: Erie, Pennsylvania) and are not available in New York. Additional terms, conditions, exclusions, licensure and territory information are available at erieinsurance.com/life. The insurance products and rates described in this letter are in effect as of July 2013 and may be changed at any time. Eligibility for insurance coverage will be determined at the time of application, based upon applicable underwriting guidelines and rules in effect at that time.

*Issuance of policy is dependent on answers to medical questions.

Life Happens is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers take personal financial responsibility through the ownership of life insurance and related products. Life Happens Pro furthers its mission of educating the public by making its resources customizable and putting them directly into the hands of agents.