Shopping Guide: Life Insurance
Your life insurance plan should be structured to meet your life circumstances (for example, a single person may need less life insurance than a couple or a couple with children).
Utilize the services of trained life insurance professionals. Check if your agent and company are licensed to do business in your state.
An agent is not allowed to be the beneficiary of a life insurance policy the agent has sold you – unless the agent is a family member or a funeral director. Nor is the agent allowed to misrepresent any aspect of the insurance policy being sold or a policy you already own or encourage you to put incorrect information on your application.
Decide what type of insurance policy you want: term, whole life, universal life or a combination of these insurance policies. Make sure you calculate your total premiums for the life of the policy. It is possible to pay more in premiums than the face amount of the policy.
Some insurance policies have an accelerated benefits feature, which is a policy provision that lets the policyholder, under certain conditions, collect part of the death benefit before he or she dies.
Be alert to any promise that you will never have to pay premiums again (the vanishing premium pitch). Also, make sure you are aware of any surrender penalties.
Don’t sign any insurance application that has not been completely and accurately filled in and dated, and make a copy for your files.
Immediately study the insurance policy once you receive it and make sure it’s exactly what you ordered: many life insurance companies will offer a “free-look” (or “right to review”) provision. Take advantage of it.
The policy owner is the only person who can cancel the insurance policy. If premium payments are not being made the insurer will generally send a payment notice before cancellation.
Make your premium payment check to the life insurance company, not the agent.
A failure to pay your premium will cause your life insurance policy to lapse or it could be terminated.
Review your insurance policy periodically. Your insurance needs change during different periods of your life.
Dec 30, 2008
Shopping Guide: Life Insurance
Dec 20, 2008
Home Insurance: Dwelling coverage
Home Insurance: Dwelling coverage
This home insurance coverage provides for the repair or replacement of your damaged or destroyed home and attached structures, such as a deck or garage. Most homeowner policies provide replacement coverage. This insurance coverage pays the actual cost to replace your home up to the limit of your policy. The amount of coverage is generally a percentage of the amount it would cost the home insurance company to completely rebuild your home.
Some policies offer guaranteed replacement cost. Under this policy, the insurance company will pay the full cost to replace your home, even if it is above the policy limit. Before you have a loss, discuss with your agent or company how replacement costs work and the conditions of the insurance policy limit for your specific coverage.
Dec 14, 2008
Some factors that impact your car insurance premiums
Some factors that impact your car insurance premiums
Car insurance premiums are linked to the type of car driven. If you’re buying or leasing a new vehicle, check the auto insurance rates before you make your final choice. For example, SUVs, convertibles and performance vehicles typically cost more to insure.
Safety devices on your vehicle can help reduce your car insurance premiums. If you’re buying or leasing a new vehicle, consider getting one with anti-lock brakes, side air bags, automatic seat belts and daytime running lights.
Anti-theft devices on your vehicle, such as an alarm system and global positioning system – so that your automobile can be located if stolen – can help reduce your premiums.
Where you park your vehicle can also impact premiums. If you have access to an indoor garage or locked parking lot – places that decrease the likelihood that your automobile will be stolen – you may qualify for lower car insurance premiums.
The geographic region in which you live may impact your premiums. For example, areas prone to extreme weather – hail, wind storms, hurricanes, etc. – higher traffic patterns or higher risk of theft may have higher auto insurance rates. If you live in an area prone to extreme weather, check whether your insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage on your vehicle to cover potential damage from storms.
Your driving record – tickets, accidents, DWIs/DUIs (driving while intoxicated / driving under the influence citations) – directly affects your insurance premium.
The number of claims you have previously filed impacts your auto insurance costs. Consider not filing claims for smaller events to avoid premium increases.
The cost of your insurance is linked to your policy’s deductible. The deductible is the amount of money that you agree to pay as part of a claim before your insurer pays the remaining amount toward that claim. For example, if your car incurred $1,000 of damage in an accident and your deductible was $250, you would pay the first $250 and your auto insurer would pay the remaining $750. The higher the deductible, the lower the insurance premium.
Dec 3, 2008
Tips to Help You Lower Your Medical Insurance Premiums
Tips to Help You Lower Your Medical Insurance Premiums
• If you're married and both spouses work at jobs that provide medical insurance, compare these policies and their costs to see which one best fits your needs. Look beyond the monthly amount you must pay and closely evaluate covered services, co‐pay requirements, deductibles and reimbursement levels so that you make the best choice for your family and your pocketbook.
• Stay in‐network when possible, making sure to get referrals and pre‐certifications as required by the plan.
• Keep all receipts for medical services, whether in‐ or out‐of‐network. In the event you exceed your deductible, you might qualify for a tax deduction for out‐of‐pocket medical bills.
• Consider opening a flexible spending account, if your employer offers one, which allows you to set aside pre‐tax dollars for out‐of‐pocket medical expenses.
Nov 22, 2008
Insurance: What is Financial Responsibility?
Insurance: What is Financial Responsibility?
In many states it is illegal to drive any motor vehicle without auto insurance or other proof of financial responsibility. It is also illegal for any motor vehicle owner to allow anyone else to drive the owner's vehicle without financial responsibility (FR) proof. To comply with the FR requirements, individuals must maintain car insurance or get a bond. Some states requires the following for auto insurance coverage:
- Bodily Injury Liability Coverage as well as Property Damage Liability Coverage
- A motor vehicle liability insurance policy. Insurance cards are issued by an insurer to the policyholder for each vehicle insured under a vehicle liability insurance policy
- A certificate of proof of financial responsibility
Nov 14, 2008
Auto Insurance: Some Things You Should Know About Repairs
Auto Insurance: Some Things You Should Know About Repairs
The final choice of repair shop is yours. You may want to use a repair shop the company chooses. However, if you choose a different one, be aware you may have to pay the difference if your body shop’s estimate is higher than the insurance company’s, unless the increase can be justified and agreed upon by all parties.
If you choose to put a brand new part on an older car instead of a salvaged or remanufactured part, you may have to pay the difference in cost.
Check your deductible. If the damage to your car is minor, it may be less than your deductible. For example, if your bumper needs to be repaired and is estimated to cost $199, and you have a $250 deductible, you will be responsible for the entire amount. The insurance company will not owe you or the repair shop anything until the cost goes over $250.
If you have a $250 deductible and the repair estimate is $350, you would pay the first $250 and the insurance company would pay the remaining $100.
The insurance company will assign an adjuster to estimate the damage to the vehicle and how much the company will pay to have it fixed. Again, if the damage is determined to be less than your deductible, you will be responsible for all of the repair amount.
Nov 3, 2008
3 types of car insurance all drivers are required to carry in Delaware
3 types of car insurance all drivers are required to carry in Delaware
1. Bodily Injury Protection
($15,000 - $30,000)
If you are responsible for the injury or death of another person and have minimum coverage, your insurance company will pay:
- Up to $15,000 to one person involved in a single accident
- Up to $30,000 to all people involved in a single accident, with no more than $15,000 to any one person
($10,000)
If you are responsible for damages to another person’s property and have minimum coverage, your insurance company will pay:
- Up to $10,000 to a person involved in a single accident
($15,000 - $30,000)
Whether you are responsible for the accident or not, your insurance company will pay for the medical expenses and loss of wages for you and your passengers. If you have minimum coverage, your company will pay:
- Up to $15,000 to any one person involved in a single accident
- Up to $30,000 to all people involved in a single accident, with no more than $15,000 to any one person
Don’t Drive Uninsured
Uninsured drivers are against the law and cost other drivers money in higher insurance premiums. Registered vehicles are randomly checked for coverage and insurance companies will notify the state if coverage is dropped. Driving without insurance can cost you a fine, your license plate or your drivers license.
Oct 28, 2008
What you should know about foreign travel and health insurance
What you should know about foreign travel and health insurance
When you travel outside your health insurer’s regular provider network, your insurer may not pay your medical bills, except for emergency care. Before you travel abroad, check with your health insurer to make sure you understand the rules in your policy. In some cases, especially if you plan to travel for an extended period to study or work, you may want to buy additional coverage.
Medicare doesn’t cover medical charges you incur outside the U.S. Other health insurers also may exclude or severely limit coverage for medical treatment you receive outside the U.S. You may want to buy additional health insurance to cover yourself while you are traveling.
If you are traveling abroad for a short time, such as for a vacation, insurers offer reasonably priced policies. Insurers may sometimes link this coverage to your purchase of other types of coverage at the same time — such as trip-cancellation insurance that includes medical coverage. Vacation insurance policies also typically cover only short-term travel — such as two weeks. If you think you might stay outside the country for any length of time, be sure to specify any long-term coverage needs.
Oct 21, 2008
Review Your Auto Insurance Policy Before Your Student Goes to College
Review Your Auto Insurance Policy Before Your Student Goes to College
Tips for Parents: It can be an emotional and trying time for parents sending a student to college. Remembering to pack everything they will need while away from home is a challenge ‐ and so is ensuring they have adequate insurance protection.
A significant move away from home can have a big impact on your auto insurance policy. If your student is taking a automobile with them to school, check with your agent about the existing insurance policy. Ask about the rates for the college's city and state before deciding whether to keep your student's car on the family's car insurance policy.
In addition, the insurance company should be notified each semester if the student maintains good grades. Maintaining a certain G.P.A. might make your child eligible for a good student discount.
Oct 8, 2008
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance can protect you against financial loss if you are forced to cancel, delay, or interrupt your vacation. It can protect you against the loss of non-refundable travel costs, such as airfare, hotel, and tour expenses. Other types of travel insurance offer you protection against loss due to medical emergencies, damage to personal property, and even a death that may occur while on vacation. When you are planning your travel arrangements, it’s also a good time to evaluate your need for travel insurance.
Types of Travel insurance:
- Trip Cancellation – Reimburses you for pre-paid travel expenses if you cannot take your trip because you or a family member becomes sick or dies.
- Travel Delay – Reimburses you for pre-paid expenses if you cannot take your trip due to a travel delay, such as a flight delay or cancellation.
- Trip Interruption – Reimburses you for pre-paid expenses if your trip is cut short because you or a family member becomes sick or dies, or due to any other misfortune listed in the policy. Covered reasons might include bad weather, airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, jury duty, or fire or flood damage to your home.
- Medical/Health – Reimburses you for emergency medical and dental expenses because you are sick or injured while traveling.
- Medical Evacuation – Provides you with emergency transportation to take you to a hospital in the area where you are traveling, or if specified in the policy, for transportation back to a hospital near your home.
- Accidental Death – This coverage is usually split into three parts:
2 - Common Carrier: Covers death or dismemberment while you travel on public transportation such as a plane, ferry, train, bus, or taxi.
3 - Accidental Death: Covers death, or if specified in the policy, dismemberment at any time during a trip.
- Baggage Loss – Reimburses you for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items. If you buy baggage insurance, review the policy for the list of property it does not cover. Some of your property may exceed the limits allowed. Also, if you fly, baggage loss usually doesn’t cover personal items an airline may lose or damage.
- Rental Car Damage – Reimburses you for damage or loss to a rental vehicle. Check with your insurer, you may already have this coverage through your auto insurance policy. If so, you may not need the “collision damage waiver” that rental car companies offer. This coverage does not provide liability protection.
Check your other policies for coverage - Before you buy travel insurance, review the policies you have now. If you have life, health, or homeowners insurance, you may not need to buy certain types of travel insurance. Read your policy and speak with your insurance company or agent to find out what personal property and medical coverage you have to cover you while you’re traveling. If you use a credit card to pay for your trip, ask what insurance benefits are available through your credit card company.
Look at the refund policies - Also, before you buy travel insurance, check the refund policies. Some policies will refund your money if you cancel months in advance, but few will offer any refund if you cancel at the last minute.
Ask for recommendations - If you’re working with a travel agent you trust, ask about his or her experiences with any recommended travel insurance companies. Ask if their customers filed claims, and if the companies paid those claims. If you’re planning an adventurous vacation, such as skydiving or scuba diving, ask if the insurance will cover those activities.
Review the policy - Travel insurance polices are not all the same. Before you buy, be sure to review the policy, especially the list of covered reasons for canceling your trip. For example, a travel insurance policy may not reimburse you if you decide not to make a trip because a conference was canceled.
Ask about pre-existing health conditions and age limits - Some policies cover pre-existing health conditions if you buy the coverage within a week or two of booking your trip. Others won’t pay for pre-existing conditions or they charge higher premiums to cover them. Some insurers also charge more for older travelers.
Find out about cancellation waivers - Cruise and tour operators may offer cancellation waivers. This means for a fee, they will reimburse you a portion of your cost if you cancel for any reason up to 24 hours prior to departure. Remember, waivers are not insurance policies and they are not regulated. Read all of the restrictions before you buy a cancellation waiver.
Sep 1, 2008
Managed Medical Insurance
Managed Medical Insurance
by Dana Smith
Medical insurance is very important to each and every one. Although there are several types of plans it is essential to select the right one for you. This might prove to be very tricky as you might not be able to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each and every plan while making a decision.
The broad categorization of medical insurance is into two groups, the indemnity plan and the managed care plan. With indemnity plans, one can get a return of costs incurred towards medical treatment although only to a fixed limit. This plan also known as reimbursement plan will require the patient to bear a portion of the bill incurred whatever be the total charges. With this plan, the insurer needs to shell out a particular amount on a daily basis for some fixed number of days. Though the amount provided through the plan does not depend on the actual total costs, the amount paid is never above the expense incurred.
The other type of medical insurance is the managed care plan. This again is further divided based on the type of policy taken and is categorized as HMOs, POSs, and PPOs. Many people opt for managed care plans over indemnity insurance plans as the flexibility provided by the former is much better. Here you get to pay a monthly fee regardless of the number of visits to the physician or hospital or you make a co-payment every time you make a visit and pay no fee every month. Also, you get more choices to select the type of care that you can afford. Depending on your abilities, you can choose to select the number of doctors in your network that you have the freedom to visit. Some types of managed care plans like the PPOs provide sponsorship programs that cover a huge network of hospitals and other medical services. This kind of insurance is usually provided by the employer where you work.
For an average person, it is best if he or she sticks on to opting for a managed health care plan as the economics are far better. Although indemnity plans provide more options in allowing the insurer to visit any hospital or physician of their choice, it is more expensive. With managed health care plans, the patient is made to visit the hospital or physician within the network of the insuring company. This causes a problem only if you have to visit a specialist not within the network for any specific problem. A managed health care plan will however be more economical than indemnity plan but the latter is better in case of any emergency especially when you are away from town.
Before you opt for any type of insurance plan covering your health, it is best to consider the advantages and drawbacks of each and every type of coverage available to you before making the right decision. Your choice should provide you the best kind of coverage at the lowest costs incurred by you.
Aug 11, 2008
Affordable Medical Insurance Choices
Affordable Medical Insurance Choices
by Peter Craske
Tip 1: Any premiums quoted will be based on individual circumstances
The first aspect to appreciate about medical insurance is that it is based purely on your own personal situation. Your age, sex, general well-being and social demographic will all have a bearing on the quotation you receive from the insurance company. Therefore, just because your neighbor has a low premium it stands to reasons that you may not necessary get the same deal. This leads me onto my next tip.
Tip 2: To find affordable medical insurance shop around
One of the best ways to find affordable medical insurance these days is simply to do the legwork yourself and shop around. As with any kind of purchasing, you should always get at least three quotes, based on what your medical insurance requirements are.
Tip 3: Compare and contrast your options carefully
Comparison sites on the Internet can help a great when you are trying to work your way the maze of your affordable medical insurance choices. This is a complicated area and what may seem like a very good premium may not be the one for you after all if your existing physician will not agree to accept your new medical insurance policy.
Aug 5, 2008
Differences Between Health Cards and Medical Insurance
Differences Between Health Cards and Medical Insurance
by Sheila Guilloton
Health Cards claim to offer access to high quality and affordable medical care, dental care, prescription drugs, vision and other health care services. The rates vary but may be as little as $20 a month to as high of $125 a month for a family. The two big selling points of these plans are that they are affordable and that you cannot be turned down.
Exactly what are you buying? Health cards can also be called discount medical programs or plans. This industry has grown so large that they even have their own trade association, the Consumer Health Alliance. Here is the definition of a health card given by the Consumer Health Alliance. "Our member companies make health care products and services, including prescription drugs, dental, chiropractic, eye care, physician, hospital and laboratory services, available to millions of Americans by providing opportunities for consumers to directly purchase health care services and products at discounted rates." According to the Consumer Health Alliance more then 28 million consumers have purchased these plans for various companies.
The problem lies not in the concept of the programs but in the sale and execution. The most important fact you must know about these health cards is that they are NOT medical insurance. Many consumers have failed to understand what they are buying and as a result have been saddled with hundreds and even thousands of dollars in medical bills they assumed would be covered by their health card.
These plans advertise that they are affiliated with networks of medical providers. That is generally true. Their affiliation may even be with some of the national networks that insurance companies use themselves. The plan representative tells you that if you use the services of a network provider, you will get a discount on the service similar to the discounts that insurance companies negotiate when providers join their networks.
One company, for instance, gives you an example. If you see a network provider, that doctor's normal charge for an office visit may be $120. But with your discount health card, you will only be charged $90 thus saving you $30 each time you visit the doctor, On the surface that may sound good, but remember, the consumer and only the consumer, has to pay the provider $90 every time he visits that doctor.
What happens if we discuss a hospitalization rather than a doctor's visit. You find you need a hip replacement. According the the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the average cost of a hip replacement in 2006 was $42,000. You see a doctor who is in the network used by your $29.95 a month health card. You expect to get a significant discount for the procedure because you used a network provider. Remember your doctor visit. You got a $25% discount and only had to pay the doctor $90 of the $120 bill.
But now you have a bill from the hospital for your hip replacement for $42,000. It is also discounted at 25%. That means you owe the hospital $31,500. And you have to pay it. It's better than owing $42,000 of course, but $31,500 is still a pretty significant amount of money that the consumer has to pay out. Unfortunately, the companies that sell these cards focus your attention on the small services. But, if consumers are smart, they will focus on the big items, which is the real risk of not having medical insurance.
For some people who don't qualify for health insurance, discount cards may be the only option. Individual medical insurance generally is medically underwritten which means if a person has a medical condition that the insurance company does not want to insure, they will be unable to get medical insurance. Most states have what are called pool plans, which will insure persons with medical conditions, but as you can imagine, these plans are extremely expensive.
The real danger of these cards is the aggressive methods used to sell them. Many of these plans are actually sold as Multi Level Marketing plans. The sales representatives do not have to be licensed insurance agents, because the plans are not insurance. There interest is in adding people to their downline as that is how they make money. Learning the programs and carefully advising consumers as to what they are buying may not be the most important thing to these sales representatives.
If you are considering buying a health plan, be careful and ask questions. Understand first and foremost, that you are NOT buying insurance. Be wary of extravagant promises of discounts up to 60%. In our hip replacement example, for instance, a 60% discount would mean the service would only cost you $16,800. It is unlikely that a provider hospital would give you that kind of discount. Ask for specifics about hospitals, doctors and procedures. Ask if all the providers honor the advertised discounts. Sometimes doctors and other providers are not even aware they are listed as participants in these plans.
Ask about hidden fees. Often there are administrative fees hidden in the fine print. Be especially careful if there are fees charged for each use of your card. These fees may eat up almost all of your discount.
Discount health cards are never a substitute for medical insurance. Before you consider buying one, think about how you will use it. If your need is for less expensive services, such as routine doctor's visits, dental or vision discounts, they may be worth it. Remember, if you need an expensive procedure such as a hospitalization or surgery, you will be paying most of the bill yourself. No matter what the representative tells you or the advertisements imply, your card will never pay one single cent to any provider. The consumer will always be responsible for the amount of the charge less any discount that might be applied.
Consider your needs and the needs of your family. If you can afford it, buy medical insurance. Even a plan with a high deductible such as an HSA will be a better option because at some point after the deductible is met, the insurance will pay the balance of the bill. If you can't afford insurance or you cannot qualify because of medical problems, a health card may be useful. But before your buy, understand what it is and what it can really do for you.
Aug 1, 2008
How To Get Low Cost Ohio Medical Insurance Coverage
How To Get Low Cost Ohio Medical Insurance Coverage
by James Robinson
There are a number of different things that you can do to find low cost Ohio health insurance coverage, but it is important to first of all educate yourself on the importance of medical insurance and how it works. Medical insurance is a different from other types of insurance. It is different because there is not a question of if you will use it but when. So, when searching for cheap Ohio medical insurance plans you need to remember it is the costs will be different from those other insurance forms.
Recognizing the reality of the need for medical insurance is the first step you have to take when you begin searching for coverage. You have to understand that even it the costs seems higher, it is much better that the cost of being without medical insurance.
Your goal isn't necessarily to find the cheapest Ohio medical insurance policy out there. Instead, make it your goal to find an affordable policy which will allow you to meet your family's need for preventative and acute health care. With all that in mind, you can begin searching.
You want to decide the type of coverage you need first. You may have to choose between high deductibles or high premiums. You will also need to consider your co-pays. These are all costs associated with your policy. Here is an explanation about deductibles, premiums and co-pays:
- Deductible: This is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance will pay anything. It's usually set on an annual basis. For example, you may need to pay for the first $500 on an individual policy before the company starts to pay.
- Premium: The amount you pay to be covered by the provider. It is usually billed monthly, but can often be paid in different installments or all at once.
- Co-Pays: The amount you pay after reaching your deductible for each service covered by your insurance. Typically it's $10-$40 for a non-specialist appointment.
Let's say that you rarely visit the doctor and are carrying medical insurance just in case of an emergency. You would be better off with a high deductible which will lower your premiums. Since you are unlikely to ever reach your deductible, the co-pays can also be high. This should result in a very low premium charge. Just be sure that you can cover the costs in a worst case emergency scenario.
If, however, you know you will use your insurance often then you may do better with a lower deductible. You would also want lower co-pays. This will help keep the overall cost down.
You have to look at your own situation and choose an insurance policy based upon that. What may work for you may not work for someone else. Medical insurance is a very personal thing. Cheap shouldn't mean that it doesn't cover your needs.
The single most important thing that you can do to find affordable Ohio medical insurance is to shop around. Be sure that you compare quotes from at least 3 different insurance companies before you decide to purchase.
Jul 27, 2008
Major Health Insurance
Major Health Insurance
by Donald Saunders
Major health insurance is the name given to one particular type of what is normally referred to nowadays as indemnity or fee-for-service health insurance.
Climbing medical costs in recent years mean that we are gradually moving away from traditional types of health insurance and the original fee-for-service health insurance plan is rapidly being replaced by a variety of other plans including HMO (health maintenance organization) plans, PPO (preferred provider organization) plans and POS (point of service) plans.
In essence fee-for-service health insurance plans are designed to cover unanticipated medical bills due to injury and illness and give plan holders significant freedom in choosing where treatment is undertaken and by whom that treatment is given. Fee-for-service plan holders are also frequently responsible for making payment for their treatment and subsequently claiming back the cost from their insurer.
The newer plans by contrast focus far more on routine medical care with the intention of avoiding unnecessary costs by keeping plan holders in good health and spotting conditions at a very early stage when they are hopefully simple to deal with. These plans simplify administration for plan holders but at the same time take away much of the freedom to decide where and from whom treatment is to be received.
The majority of people nowadays are covered by the newer types of health insurance rather than by traditional fee-for-service plans largely not only because of their lower cost but also because there is a lot less administration when it comes times to make a claim against your plan. Additionally, a rising number of employers who provide group health insurance plan membership to their employees are also opting for these newer types of plan. All the same, there is still a substantial number of individuals who prefer the freedom of choice that an indemnity plan allows them and it is here that you may wish to consider major health insurance coverage.
Fee-for-service plans provide three types of coverage; basic health insurance, major health insurance and comprehensive insurance.
Basic health insurance plans will vary from one health insurer to the next but will commonly cover treatment in hospital (plus the cost of room and board), some hospital services (like x-rays and medicine), surgery (whether done in a hospital or another recognized surgery center) and some doctors visits.
Major health insurance plans by contrast are designed to cover treatment for long-term and high cost illnesses and injuries as well as in and out-patient bills associated with these illnesses and injuries.
Finally, comprehensive cover is merely a plan that encompasses both basic and major medical coverage.
Perhaps not surprisingly major health insurance is a popular choice as most individuals are quite happy to bear the day to day cost of medical care but are worried about what they would do in the event of a significant injury or illness which could involve substantial medical expense that might drag on for weeks, months or years.
Sadly, the choice and security which is provided by a major health insurance plan is reflected in the cost of fee-for-service plans in general and so it is increasingly becoming an option that a lot of individuals would wish to select but that is simple becoming too expensive.
Jul 24, 2008
High Risk Auto Insurance
High Risk Auto Insurance
by James Robinson
What constitutes a high risk driver?
Demographics
The cold hard facts are that auto insurance companies consider women less of a risk than men, urban dwellers less of a risk than rural folks and adults less of a risk than teen drivers. More specifically when it comes to men, being under the age of 25, definitely means high risk auto insurance.
Credit History
You wouldn't necessarily think that having poor credit would be cause for high risk auto insurance, but sadly it is. Studies have shown that drivers with poor credit are more likely to file a lot of claims. Insurance companies use that data as backup when it comes to charging higher premiums. If you have poor credit, then this might just be good motivation to clean it up a bit.
Driving Record
You knew this one was coming, but did you know that speeding tickets and other road violations could raise your rates as well? It's not just about accidents. Basically, insurance companies require continuous violators to pay for high risk auto insurance. Why? Because statistics show that violators are more likely to be involved in a car accident. As a general rule, watch your speed and adhere to driving laws.
Lack of Coverage
Driving without auto insurance is taboo. If auto insurance companies see that you've been on the road without coverage or that your previous provider canceled your coverage, then you can expect to pay for high risk auto insurance now. Always get your car insured. Doing so will let insurance providers know that you're a responsible driver.
So, how can you improve your status as a high risk driver? Keep in mind that changing your status will take time. Here are some suggestions to avoid high risk auto insurance in the future.
Change Vehicles
If you're looking to save some money, you may want to trade in a newer car for an older one. Mature vehicles cost less to cover. In many cases, insurance providers only require you to have liability insurance.
Shop Around
The Internet is a wonderful tool. Take the time to scout out high risk auto insurance companies in your area. Just doing some research may help you find a company with rates more bearable for your wallet.
Alter Your Behavior
If you have a history of poor credit, accidents and traffic violations, it's time to clean it up. Sure, it will take time, but it is very possible to do. Most insurance companies drop insurance premiums if a driver has had a stellar driving record for at least three to five years. Think about taking a safety driver course. Sometimes insurance companies need to see that you're serious about making a change.
For those with poor credit, make sure you pay your bills on time. Consider debt consolidation to make it easier on yourself. Be frugal and stay within your budget. If insurance companies see you making an effort, they might waive your high risk auto insurance.
Jul 20, 2008
Health Insurance For Your Pets
Health Insurance For Your Pets
by Mikael Rieck
A lot of people reading this probably think that health insurance for pets must be some type of new fad and craze suddenly popping up, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Health coverage plans for pets have been around for the last 20 years or so, but are just now starting to become common place amongst pet owners.
Most people have the wrong view of their pet's medical expenses. Most people are oblivious to the high expenses of paying for a visit to the vet and a pet's medicinal needs. The shock usually sets in when they get the bill in the mail and realize just how much money these bills are going to cost. Over the last few years the price of a visit to the vet has risen considerably. This leaves many people in a hard position when it comes to their pet needing serious treatment done. Some people even have to let their dogs be put down because of not being able to afford a life saving operation. This can be devastating for a family to go through, especially children.
If you aren't sure where to look for health coverage plans for your pets you should try searching on the Internet. The Internet has a wealth of information on just about any type of pet medical insurance need you may have. It may take you awhile to find the right company with the right plan, but isn't your pet worth it? Make sure that you shop around and that you don't settle for the first company and plan that comes along. Try contacting these companies and getting as much information as possible about their plans and how much the deductibles will be.
Sit down with the whole family and take a look at your family budget. See how much cash you really have to work with before picking a plan. Make sure it's a plan that will fit within the family budget and will not put any unnecessary strain on you financially. Once you've got your budget adjusted it's time to contact the company and sign up for the plan you want.
There are a lot of different plan options for you to choose from and each one has it's benefits and it's down sides. You can always opt for a plan with a higher deductible that will be cheaper than some other plans. You can always go for a co-payment type of plan as well. This is a lot cheaper than some other plans.
Taking care of your pets is a must if you want them to have a happy, healthy long life with you and your family. You should definitely think about the financial costs of having pets before going out and purchasing one. This will benefit both you and the potential pet you could've had by realizing you may not be financially secure enough to pay for all the high costs of a healthy pet. Remember to shop around and try to find the best deal you can that will help you to be able to pay for your pet's medical care.
Jul 9, 2008
Minnesota Auto Insurance Guide
Minnesota Auto Insurance Guide
by James Robinson
With over 14,000 miles of highway, and magnificent scenery, there's a lot to see and do in Minnesota. But before you hit the roads, you might want to make sure you have the proper MN auto insurance coverage and the cheapest Minnesota auto insurance.
The state of Minnesota is a no-fault auto insurance state. This means that your insurance company will pay for your and your passengers reasonable and necessary injury claims as the result of an accident up to the amount specified on your auto insurance policy.
Under Minnesota state law, you must have bodily injury liability coverage of a minimum of $30,000 per injured person up to a total of $60,000 per accident. If you or another driver under your MN auto insurance policy is found to be at fault in an accident resulting in injury or death you are covered for such things as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and legal defense if the drivers listed on your policy are involved in a lawsuit as a result of an accident. In other words, bodily injury coverage pays for damage to a third party.
Minnesota law also requires you to carry a least $10,000 of property damage coverage. If you or a driver listed on your auto insurance policy is found to be at fault in an accident, property damage liability coverage will pay for damage to another person's property, such as a fence, car, or home, and any legal costs associated with that accident.
If you are registering a car in Minnesota you are also required to have personal injury protection, or PIP coverage in an amount no less than $40,000.
Personal injury liability covers your reasonable and necessary expenses if you or your passengers are injured in a car accident. The medical portion of your personal injury protection auto insurance will pay for any medical or surgical treatment, dental and optical treatment, ambulance and nursing services, and necessary medications, medical supplies, and prosthetic devices.
The economic portion of your personal injury protection coverage will pay for lost wages if you or any of your passengers are unable to work because of the accident. It also provides for substitute services for you and/or your passengers. Substitute services is available if you or one of your passengers need help performing household chores or other tasks due to the accident.
If you or another covered person dies from accident related injuries, your personal injury protection coverage will help pay for funeral related expenses.
Minnesota allows you to increase the limits on your auto insurance for medical and economic personal injury by the number of cars you are insuring. This is called PIP stacking.
For example, if you insure two cars and select stacking, your personal injury protection medical limits would increase from $30,000 to $60,000 and your economic limit of $20,000 would increase to $40,000. Your deductible would not be affected if you elect to stack your personal injury protection, but your auto insurance premium would increase.
Minnesota also requires that you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage in the minimum amount of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for any bodily injury caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. The uninsured/underinsured coverage will pay for medical expenses, lost wages, other general damages, and any injuries in a hit-and-run accident. This coverage protects you, other drivers listed on your auto insurance policy, and passengers.
In the state of Minnesota there is a number of optional auto insurance coverage features you might want to consider.
If your car is leased or financed, your lending institution may require that you carry collision coverage. This coverage protects you for repair or replacement costs of your car that has been involved in an accident with another car or object, or has rolled over.
Comprehensive auto insurance while not required in Minnesota will provide you protection for damage not resulting from damage resulting from anything other than a collision such as fire, falling objects, certain natural disasters, and vandalism. Comprehensive must be included on any auto insurance policy that also has collision coverage.
You might want to consider adding rental car reimbursement coverage. In order to obtain rental car reimbursement you must also have collision and comprehensive auto insurance as well. Your rental car coverage will reimburse you for the cost of renting a car if your car is in for repair.
If you have a lot of customized equipment on your car, such as running boards, brush bars, roll bars, undercarriage lighting, fog lights, bed liners, camper shells, trailer hitches, customized wheels, spoilers, suspension, custom paint or decals, etc., you might want to consider obtaining customized equipment coverage to protect your investment.
Some auto insurance companies in Minnesota also offer loan/lease gap insurance coverage. This coverage can only be purchased if you have collision and comprehensive coverage on your car. This coverage protects you if your car gets damaged. You will reimbursed for the difference between the actual cash value or your car at the time of the loss, minus your deductible and the car's salvage value, any greater amount owed on your car at the time of the loss, less any unpaid finance charges, excess mileage or wear and tear charges, or any other expenses associated with the loan or lease, and your car's salvage value.
Jul 3, 2008
Virginia Auto Insurance Guide
Virginia Auto Insurance Guide
by James Robinson
How does one find the cheapest Virginia auto insurance rates? What is the best auto insurance company in Virginia? What are the Virginia minimum auto insurance requirements? These are all basic questions that one must answer if they want to get the best auto insurance coverage in VA. Read on to learn some of the common auto insurance rules in Virginia and find some ways to obtain low cost Virginia auto insurance for you and your family.
Auto insurance in the United States is something that most people now understand. However, there are often questions that are left unanswered to many. Why do some people get to pay lower premiums than other when they are the same age? Why do people with old cars tend to pay lower rates than those with brand new ones? Why do people in towns have to pay more in automobile insurance than do those living in farms or rural areas? All these questions have answers that in some way or another offer an explanation to what the automobile insurance business is all about: "Risk".
Auto insurance consists of a signed deal between a company and an insured in which the auto insurance agency will pay the policy holder in case of an accident in exchange for monthly payments. In other words, the insurance company is covering the insured for the "risk" of driving the roads of the United States. Because some areas have more accidents than others, some cars require less coverage than others, and some vehicles have better safety and theft ratings; premiums in the automobile insurance business tend to change from person to person.
The same can be assumed for each state. While some states have the advantage of not having big cities where accident rates are high, some others have plenty of populated areas that have a high degree of accidents and theft. The state of Virginia is one of those states that falls in the middle in both categories. While is does have some major cities like Richmond, it offers residents peaceful and quiet places in which to live like Williamsburg.
According to the United States Census Bureau the state of Virginia had an estimated population of 7,642,884 for the year 2007 (an increase of 8% since the year 2006) and experts predict that it will continue to grow. The population number didn't seem to matter that much because back in 2003 the state of Virginia was found in the lower end of the spectrum when concerning automobile insurance, since the average premium was that of $752 a month in comparison with the nation's average of $914.
All of the states in this country require drivers to have a minimum coverage before having the privilege of circulating the roads of this great nation. Virginia is no exception and in case of an accident in this state someone must always be found to be at fault. This means that the person found liable for the accident and their insurance company will be the one responsible for paying the accident related expenses. The state mandates what they call a 25/50/20 coverage and it falls in the middle of the pack when compared to those of the other states. What that means is that a person behind the wheel of an automobile in the state of Virginia must have a $25,000 bodily injury per person and $50,000 bodily injury total in case of an accident; and a $20,000 property damage liability coverage also in case of an accident. Keep in mind that these is only the minimum coverage required to drive in this state and that if you wish you can purchase more than these amount from your Virginia automobile insurance company.
The Virginia State law does not mandate a person to have Personal Injury Protection or PIP like the laws in many other states. Personal Injury Protection aids you and the passengers in your vehicle for medical expenses after an automobile accident and it is always good to have it. On the other hand the state does require a person to have the uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage just to prevent this from happening. A driver must have $25,000 per person and $50,000 total for uninsured motorist coverage in order for them to be able to drive in the streets of this state.
Although it sounds like a lot of required coverage that you will need if you are a resident of VA, keep in mind that the average premium is well below the nation's average. Not everyone in the state of Virginia is going to be able to just purchase the minimum coverage that the state mandates. People that are leasing a car or that are still making payments on their vehicles are going to be forced to have collision and comprehensive coverage. This is due to that same "risk" of accidents and theft associated with driving.
However, a person that has to purchase more than the mandated coverage can try to lower their deductible for a lower premium. Lower deductibles result in higher out of pocket expenses for the driver in case of an accident. This means that an automobile insurance company will be paying less when the driver gets in a wreck and because of this the rate of your policy will decrease.
A policy holder can also refuse to purchase or simply drop coverage that they don't necessarily need from their policy. The medical coverage of an automobile insurance policy is a perfect example. If have independent health insurance and you know that the medical part of your policy wont cover anything that the health insurance policy doesn't, then it is time to get rid of the medical part of your auto insurance policy.
The state of Virginia is a pleasant state to live or even to own a vacation home. The state itself is not an expensive one to live in when speaking about automobile insurance. There are many ways in which a resident of this state can save some money when speaking about auto insurance; however, the most important thing to have is the required coverage. Lowering your deductibles and getting rid of excess coverage can help much when it comes to saving you money on your auto insurance. After all this you will find that living in Virginia and driving a vehicle in this state is not as expensive as it seems.
Jun 24, 2008
Health Insurance: Critical Illness Cover
Health Insurance: Critical Illness Cover
by David Thomson
Critical illness cover can be taken out to protect against the possibility of you falling ill and a policy usually contains a long list of illnesses that are classed as being critical. The cover would pay out not only if you were seriously ill because of one of the illnesses, providing you have waited a certain length of time from contracting the illness, but would also pay if you become disabled as a result.
A policy would usually take into account around 30 illnesses which could include cancer, heart attack, suffering a stroke and kidney failure or transplant. Of course you have to check out the terms and conditions of the policy before taking it on as they do differ. There are also many exclusions which have to be checked and these can apply to the various illnesses. For example while in the majority of cases critical illness cover would payout if you were diagnosed with cancer, not all forms of cancer would be covered. Skin cancers are usually exempt from the cover as is prostrate cancer unless it is advanced. There are also exclusions for such as a heart attack and different policies will have different exclusions in them. Therefore you should never skip over the small print however tempting it might be.
When you are looking into choosing critical illness online you are able to take out a policy for any number of years. As long as you pay the premiums each month then the policy can continue running. There is always a period in which you cannot claim when taking on the cover and this would normally be around three months. While the advancement in technology means that you can live longer when being diagnosed with a critical illness it also means that insurance companies are putting up the cost of the insurance and as more advancements are made, premiums will continue to rise.
There are many factors that you have to take into account when choosing critical illness and when you look around you will find that there are many different policies offered by insurance companies. Never just take the first policy you find without looking into what is covered and is not, while you might get the cover cheap it would probably not cover many illnesses.
One thing to look for when deciding which critical illness cover to go for is whether or not the premiums will be fixed. If they are not fixed then you can expect the insurance company to raise them perhaps every other year. This could mean that what once was affordable cover now becomes a burden. A large number of policies will also provide cover for any children you have as standard. Sometimes the company will include children in the policy as standard while other providers could ask for a small premium. If you allow a broker to search around on your behalf for premiums then you can compare these easily for the best cover. All insurance found this way should come with what are called the key facts and these will tell you important information about what the policy entails.
