Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1476161
TIP: Claims can sometimes take years, especially if medi- cal bills are involved. As long as your claim is open, keep all paperwork . Throw it out after you have received the payment. Vehicle insurance card Keep your auto insurance card in your wallet or glove compartment, even if you have digital access to it. Hard copies are useful if you are pulled over by law enforcement or need to exchange the information with another driver after an accident. TIP: Keep the hard copy of your auto insurance card as long as your policy is active. Dispose of it when the policy renews and you receive a new card. Billing statements You will receive regular billing statements from your insurer, either by mail or online. TIP: Keep your billing statements for tax purposes if you have a home business or use your car for business purposes. If you're audited by the IRS, you may need to show your bills for the last 7 years. How to store documents Keep paper copies of documents in good, readable condition: • Never store important papers in a basement in case of flooding. • Keep documents in a safe container in a climate-con- trolled space to reduce the possibility of mold and fading. • Store papers in a waterproof and fire-resistant container. Consider a home lock box or safe or a filing cabinet. • Consider digital storage as backup — store copies of papers on a flash drive or on services such as Dropbox and iCloud (for a small fee). TIP: Use plastic page sleeves for documents for protection. How to dispose of documents The general rule is that once a policy is done, you don't need to keep the paperwork. (See exceptions for claims documents and billing statements above.) But insurance documents have personal information that could lead to identity theft. To avoid this, shred old papers in a crosscut shredder that cuts in two directions. You can use a home shredder, or find a free shredding event in your community. Local banks and other companies also may shred papers for a fee. Remember to permanently delete old digital copies as well. From California Casualty, a CTA preferred provider for auto and home insurance to educators; calcas.com. P A I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T 53 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 www.TechSafeSchools.org A growing number of students, teachers and staff are experiencing the symptoms of debilitating electromagnetic sensitivity from radiofrequency (RF) radiation. Learn more about the science of RF radiation and how it may be affecting you and your students at TechSafeSchools.org. Headache? Dizziness? Brain Fog? It could be your classroom's wireless technology.