HARRISBURG — Whether summer plans involve swimming, travel or simply entertaining at home with family and friends, Acting Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario today reminded consumers to put an insurance coverage “check-up” at the top of their summertime to-do list.

“Just as summer offers special opportunities for fun, the season also carries its own unique risks,” Ario said. “Planning ahead to make sure your leisure activities are properly insured can really save time, money and stress in the long run.”

With Independence Day this week, fans of home pyrotechnic shows should obey laws restricting the use of fireworks, as well as consider how their insurance coverage could be affected by a firework-related accident.

“Besides the obvious caution of personal safety, homeowners using fireworks and sparklers need to worry about avoiding insurance claims because of damage that could be prevented,” Ario said. “Insurers can use a homeowner’s claim history to surcharge their insurance policy, so one slip-up could prove very costly for years to come. Be sure to buy fireworks legally and, unless you have a permit, never use fireworks that are restricted.”

If you’re hitting the road for vacation, do some research on your health insurance policy—especially if your sojourn takes you out of the country.

“Some health insurance plans limit coverage when the policyholder is outside the plan’s geographic area, especially when they’re outside the United States,” Ario said. “It’s always a good idea to check with your insurance company before setting out for a trip.”

Pet owners have another set of insurance-related concerns. Dog bites now account for one-third of all homeowner insurance liability claims, costing $356.2 million in 2007, or 10.5 percent higher than the previous year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Homeowners should take steps to secure backyard swimming pools, especially if they plan to be away from home.

“All pools, even a small kiddy pool, can be dangerous and need to be properly secured as well as insured,” Ario said. “You don’t want unattended children wading in by themselves, and you want to be sure your pool complies with local safety standards.”

Consumers with questions are invited to visit www.insurance.state.pa.us, call the Insurance Department’s toll-free, automated consumer hotline at (877) 881-6388, or contact any of the department’s Bureau of Consumer Services’ regional offices: (717) 787-2317, Harrisburg; (215) 560-2630, Philadelphia; or (412) 565-5020, Pittsburgh.