Know AAA

Save on prescriptions
Save on home financing
PetBook for iPhone: update
What’s my name again?
AAA’s travel specialists
Colorado GEM: Mesa Verde National Park
Dog bites and your insurance
Recycle your batteries

Save on prescriptions

AAA has a simple solution to rising drug costs: the AAA Prescription Savings program. All AAA members are automatically eligible for savings on prescription medication for the entire family (even pets). The discount is offered by nine out of ten pharmacies, including those at chains such as CVS, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Safeway and Target. This is a discount program, not an insurance plan. Participants save an average of 15% on brand-name drugs and 35% on generics.

To save more, ask your doctor to write your prescription to allow for generics. Also, consider using the AAA Prescription Savings home delivery service. This option is especially convenient if you need medications on an ongoing basis. You can have a three-month supply of your medications delivered to your door, and standard shipping is free. The home delivery option doesn’t sacrifice service: a pharmacist is on call to answer any questions.

Unlike most AAA discounts, which can be obtained simply by showing your AAA card, the Prescription Savings program has its own card. The card is available free to all AAA members. To get your card and start saving, call 866-222-7283 or visit www.AAA.com/prescriptions. The website also makes it easy to check coverage and pricing on specific medications, or to find participating pharmacies in your neighborhood.

Home financing

First-time homebuyers have witnessed a difficult period of time these past 18-24 months. With the economic downturn, the underwriting guidelines for home loans became much more stringent and many first-time buyers were declined for loans. In addition, “move up” purchasers have also had a difficult time because they have not been able to sell their existing homes.

But there is good news. Some of the restrictions in the residential lending arena have been eased and there has been something of a return to normal. Things are starting to stabilize, though the economy is still in a fragile state.

For example, nine months ago it was very difficult to even find an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). Now there are many investors offering 3, 5, 7 and 10 year ARMs. Rates on both fixed rate mortgages (FRMs) and ARMs are remaining at 40-50 year lows. In addition, the federal government has extended and expanded the Housing Tax Credit through the first quarter of 2010. The combination of relatively low housing prices, low interest rates and this tax credit make 2010 a viable year for both first-time and move-up buyers to purchase a home.

If you are considering a real estate purchase, a wise first step is to meet with a mortgage banker and get preapproved for a specified loan amount. Secondly, meet with a realtor and begin to view properties that meet your requirements. The homebuying process can take 30-90 days to close, from meeting with the mortgage banker to getting the property you desire under contract. It takes about two to three weeks of that process to get the loan approved.

AAA Colorado has partnered with Borrower’s First Choice, a division of Cherry Creek Mortgage, to offer members a significant savings on the financing of a new or existing home, or the refinance of your current property.

For more information, contact Kathy Clark, CML, at 720-468-1000 or kclark@borrowersfirstchoice.com. (Colorado DORA license number: MB100018192. To check the license status of your mortgage broker, visit www.dora.state.co.us.)

PetBook for iPhone: update

In the previous issue, we mentioned that the popular book Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook is now available for Amazon’s Kindle e-reader, and Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch.

We left out an important clarification about how to get the book for iPhone and iPod Touch. Because the book is a Kindle product, it’s available for these devices only if the user has the Kindle reader loaded on their iPhone or iPod Touch. The book is purchased through www.Amazon.com, not the iPhone app store. Thanks to readers who contacted us to point out this omission.

The AAA PetBook is a comprehensive guide to pet travel, listing more than 13,000 pet-friendly accommodations and attractions, travel tips and other important information. The print version can be purchased at AAA offices.

What’s my name again?

Over the last few years, air passengers have had to keep track of a lot of new details in the security process. Here’s another recent change to remember: as of this year, the name on an airline ticket must exactly match the name on the passenger’s ID. Sure, you know your own name, but do you remember how it’s written on your passport or driver’s license? Even a small change such as adding or leaving out a middle initial will lead to problems at security checkpoints.

Using a travel agent can help ensure you haven’t forgotten anything important when planning your trip, so you’re up to date on all the latest security requirements. AAA Colorado can also take passport photos and provide forms for getting or renewing a passport.

AAA’s travel specialists

The beauty of travel is that the world changes constantly. A traveler is always learning, and that’s why travel agents are always continuing their education.

AAA Colorado’s travel agents are all trained and certified in two specialties (North America Destination Specialist and Hawaii Destination Specialist). Agents are also encouraged to become certified in other destinations or types of travel. This means that when a member wants the latest information and the most useful advice for their specific needs, AAA Colorado has an agent who knows the answers.

Some of our agents specialize in destinations such as Europe, Mexico or Alaska. Others specialize in lifestyle travel categories, which include accessible travel, adventure travel, gay and lesbian travel, golf vacations, destination weddings and honeymoons, luxury travel, skiing and spas. Cruising is another area of travel where multiple specialty certifications are available, held by many of our agents.

A specialist travel agent is much more than someone who merely books a ticket for you — in today’s world, anyone can do that. In-depth knowledge and the ability to plan and coordinate a complete trip (even a wedding) to match your needs perfectly is what sets the AAA specialist apart.

Colorado GEM: Mesa Verde National Park

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde
© NPS

AAA TourBooks include a listing of “GEMs” (Great Experience for Members): a state’s most exceptional and recommended attractions. Colorado has 28 GEMs.

Mesa Verde National Park, nine miles east of Cortez in southwestern Colorado, is one of the nation’s major archeological preserves. The park contains nearly 5,000 sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.

Large canyons seam the mesa, and in the shelter of hundreds of alcoves eroded in its cliffs are some of the world’s largest and best-preserved cliff dwellings. Visitors can enter a few of the most outstanding sites, such as Cliff Palace and Balcony House, on ticketed guided tours. Other sites can be seen from roadside overlooks. The Mesa Top Loop Road provides views of about 40 cliff dwellings, two pit houses and six pueblos.

The park has a museum and visitor center. Camping is available, and a range of accommodations are available in Cortez, Durango and other nearby towns. There is only one hotel within the park, Far View Lodge, which also offers fine dining at the acclaimed Metate Room restaurant.

AAA TourBooks are free to members. Get this year’s edition at any branch office or at www.AAA.com/travel. For more information on Mesa Verde, visit www.nps.gov/meve or call 970-529-4465.

Dog bites and your insurance

Ever wondered why insurance agents ask if you have any pets? Even the best-behaved dog can sink its teeth into your insurance costs.

The fact is that dog bites account for a third of all homeowners’ insurance liability claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute. A dog owner whose pet causes injury to a person or property may be held legally responsible for reimbursing the injured person for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage — and the cost can run to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A typical homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy will cover dog bite liability. Most policies provide $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage.

However, if the claim exceeds the limit, the dog owner is personally responsible for all damages above that amount. A single lawsuit can end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. A personal excess liability policy (also known as an umbrella policy) protects against personal liabilities that exceed the limits of homeowner’s insurance. Talk to your insurance agent for more information.

Recycle your batteries

April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and AAA Colorado is supporting the environment again with its annual battery recycling campaign. From Thursday, April 22 through Saturday, April 24, used car batteries will be collected by a number of AAA battery service providers, auto repair facilities, towing contractors and Show Your Card & Save partners.

A typical car battery contains 21 pounds of lead, plastic and sulfuric acid. Almost all materials in a car battery can be recycled and reused in new batteries, but improper disposal puts these toxic substances into landfills and groundwater instead.

Used automobile batteries can be dropped off April 22–24 at these locations. For the first time, a battery pick-up service will also be offered for Denver metro area residents. Call 303-753-8800, ext. 8196, to schedule battery pick-up from your home or business.

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