One of the most important things you can do as parents is to ensure the financial welfare of your children in the event of your death. life insurance is the best way to be rest assured that your children will be taken care of if you die. Although we never like to think of that kind of thing happening, but it does.
What is life insurance
Life insurance is a policy that you can enter with your insurance company, which promises a certain amount to your beneficiary(ies) in the event of your death. Usually, a spouse will name the other spouse as well as their children as beneficiaries of the policy. As part of the agreement with life insurance, your insurance policy will be a monetary value, that you will in return, pay a monthly premium for. Premiums usually depend on your age, gender, occupation, medical history and other factors.
There are other types of life insurance that may provide benefits for you and for your family while you are still living. These policies can accrue a cash value on a tax-deferred basis and can be used for future needs such as retirement or your child's education.
Do I Need life insurance
Earning an income allows you and your family to do many things. It pays for your mortgage, buys cars, food, clothing, vacations and many other luxuries that you and your family enjoy. However, certain situations can cause you to lose your income, and those who depend on you also depend on your income. If any of the following statements about you and your family are true, then it is probably a good idea for you to consider life insurance.
1) You are married and have a spouse.
2) You have children who are dependent on you.
3) You have a parent or relative who is aging, or disable and depends on you.
4) You have a loved one in your life that you wish to provide for.
5) Your 401K retirement plan, pension and savings aren't enough to insure your loved one's future.
What Are My life insurance Options
There are four basic types of life insurance that can meet you and your family's needs:
Term life insurance
This is the least expensive type of life insurance coverage, and at least at the beginning, the simplest. Term life insurance policies do not accrue cash value, and are fixed over an extended period of time - usually one to 0 years, and they can be renewed. This life insurance policy pays the beneficiary of your policy a fixed amount in the even that you die in the period of time that your policy includes. The premiums of term life insurance are lowest when you are young and increase as you get older
2007年11月29日星期四
The Importance of Travel Insurance
You've finally saved enough to go on that dream vacation you've been planning. Now you're wondering if you should buy travel insurance. Do I really need to go to the extra expense? All I can lose is my luggage, right?
Guess again! Anything can go wrong while you are traveling, and I strongly favor buying a policy.
Most travel insurance policies are designed for a variety of travel needs but, I emphatically advise reading the fine print of any policy you purchase regarding any deductibles and health situations. You many find your policy won't cover pre-existing conditions that may cause a problem, or that the medical coverage is only for an injury or an illness -- not both. For emergency aid, travel insurance polices are generally dependable and affordable, but there are still a myriad of gaps in the coverage provided.
You can find polices designed for almost any type of trip you may be planning, such as a single trip for hunting, backpacking, cruises, house rentals, and a host of others. But, the specific types and amounts of coverage you get depend on the policy you choose. It's important to remember that you will only be covered for what is specifically stated in your policy and for nothing else.
Most policies cover trip cancellation, lost baggage, medical, dental, and accidental death coverage. Other policies include emergency evacuation, 24 hour travel assistance, and trip or baggage delay. You may even find policies that include options for collision or damage to rented cars and Business conflicts. There are many options that can be covered, but you will have to ask.
The premiums for the policies are generally 5% to 7% the cost of your trip, but fees will vary depending on the your medical history and passengers ages. Many companies offer policies that will include coverage for children at no extra charge.
It is best not to buy your travel insurance from your tour operator. I've listed a few reasons why it may be better to purchase through an insurance company separately.
Most travel insurance policies offered by the operator are less flexible to your individual needs;
Provide a lower amount of coverage;
May only cover a portion of the trip;
Your coverage may be secondary and the insurance will only pay for what you own private health or Homeowner's insurance does not cover;
May duplicate coverage you already have;
In the event the tour operator liquidates and goes belly up, you would lose not only your trip, but also your premium.
Many travel agents are not fully knowledgeable when it comes to understanding the details of various travel insurance policies and may overlook something that could be important to you or your family and few offer suggestions. Buying travel insurance may be less expensive purchasing through your tour operator or cruise line, but for the reasons listed above, you should really check around.
If you do choose to buy your policy from your tour operator, be sure to use a credit card. Depending on the policy of the credit card issuer, you may be provided with protection against potential default of the operator.
When buying your policy from an insurance company:
Always get quotes from several companies
Ask if the plan is pre-packaged or if you can custom design your own
Can you waive the pre-existing condition exclusion
Ask if you are covered for cancellation due to a terrorist incident. Don't count of the company to provide information
Guess again! Anything can go wrong while you are traveling, and I strongly favor buying a policy.
Most travel insurance policies are designed for a variety of travel needs but, I emphatically advise reading the fine print of any policy you purchase regarding any deductibles and health situations. You many find your policy won't cover pre-existing conditions that may cause a problem, or that the medical coverage is only for an injury or an illness -- not both. For emergency aid, travel insurance polices are generally dependable and affordable, but there are still a myriad of gaps in the coverage provided.
You can find polices designed for almost any type of trip you may be planning, such as a single trip for hunting, backpacking, cruises, house rentals, and a host of others. But, the specific types and amounts of coverage you get depend on the policy you choose. It's important to remember that you will only be covered for what is specifically stated in your policy and for nothing else.
Most policies cover trip cancellation, lost baggage, medical, dental, and accidental death coverage. Other policies include emergency evacuation, 24 hour travel assistance, and trip or baggage delay. You may even find policies that include options for collision or damage to rented cars and Business conflicts. There are many options that can be covered, but you will have to ask.
The premiums for the policies are generally 5% to 7% the cost of your trip, but fees will vary depending on the your medical history and passengers ages. Many companies offer policies that will include coverage for children at no extra charge.
It is best not to buy your travel insurance from your tour operator. I've listed a few reasons why it may be better to purchase through an insurance company separately.
Most travel insurance policies offered by the operator are less flexible to your individual needs;
Provide a lower amount of coverage;
May only cover a portion of the trip;
Your coverage may be secondary and the insurance will only pay for what you own private health or Homeowner's insurance does not cover;
May duplicate coverage you already have;
In the event the tour operator liquidates and goes belly up, you would lose not only your trip, but also your premium.
Many travel agents are not fully knowledgeable when it comes to understanding the details of various travel insurance policies and may overlook something that could be important to you or your family and few offer suggestions. Buying travel insurance may be less expensive purchasing through your tour operator or cruise line, but for the reasons listed above, you should really check around.
If you do choose to buy your policy from your tour operator, be sure to use a credit card. Depending on the policy of the credit card issuer, you may be provided with protection against potential default of the operator.
When buying your policy from an insurance company:
Always get quotes from several companies
Ask if the plan is pre-packaged or if you can custom design your own
Can you waive the pre-existing condition exclusion
Ask if you are covered for cancellation due to a terrorist incident. Don't count of the company to provide information
The Great Value Of Accident Photographs
You were humming along on a bright and sunny day when suddenly Fred Fuddle, a local character from a nearby town, drunk as a skunk and zooming along in his pickup, flew through stop sign crashing into the right front of your motor vehicle. You had no choice to avoid him. Now the time has come to settle your claim for property damage and personal injuries. Let's talk about photographs one of the basics that should have been taking place - - just as soon as possible - - after that impact had taken place.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF INJURIES: Photographs are often the best evidence you can produce to increase the value of your claim. If your accident causes bodily injuries that are visible (such as bruises, deep cuts, swellings, lacerations, dislocations and/or black and blue marks) it's crucial, to the ultimate settlement value of your case, that you have photographs taken of those just as soon as possible! Take them from 3 feet away and also as close as you can so as to capture the seriousness of heir existence. When you hand those to Adjuster I. M. Smart from the Granite insurance Company believe me when I tell you he'll stare at them and blanch!
Question: "How does Dan know this to be so"?
Answer: "Because for 38 years Dan was there and felt that"!
PHOTOGRAPHS OF BOTH VEHICLES: You should take photographs of the damages to your vehicle from several different angles. If at all possible find the motor vehicle that hit you and take photographs of that damage also. When it comes to proving the impact your body was subjected to (and in many cases to prove who was at fault) those photographs could one day be worth their weight in gold.
HOW TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE: The pictures of each accident scene should be taken from at least three different angles: Snap several of a "general view" of the area from about 20 to 40 feet away; a couple more "medium range" shot's from 10 to 15 feet away, and then some "close up" shot's from 3 to 5 feet away. If it's at all possible all three different distances should have a common point or orientation. If, for example, you're snapping photographs of a skid mark, it should be taken from an angle so as to clearly show were that skid mark is, in relation to a landmark, like a street sign, a building, a fire hydrant, etc. Another photograph should then be taken with a closer view - - one clearly identifying the skid mark in detail - -and also, if possible, include this readily identifiable object or landmark (the street signs, building's, etc.).
Because they're such potent evidence you should blow up those photographs of the skid marks, taken from 3 to 6 feet away, into 8X10 glossies. A total of 12 to 15 photographs of the accident scene and/or the skid marks are not too many. When you hand copies of the 8X10 glossy photograph's of those skid marks to the adjuster, to help justify he payment he'll eventually make to you, it will absolutely increase the value of your claim.
"Why" you ask?
The answer to that one is, "Because it will tell both adjuster Smart and his supervisor (who, in the end, will usually call the shots on how much your settlement dollars should be) that you know what you're doing and you're not the type of individual who can be taken advantage of".
A WORD OF CAUTION: The individual engaged in the task of snapping photograph's of your body, the accident scene, etc., should be careful to make sure they're not undertaking this effort with a casual, hasty or careless attitude - - one that tends to leave it up to do the camera to do the thinking for them. Rather, the photographer ought to carefully consider the process the process slowly and seriously so that the photos produced will produce the maximum value.
If at all possible photos should be taken of the exact location on the road where the impact occurred, and shots of all relevant gouge and/or chop marks on the surface, plus traffic signs, etc., as applicable.
It cannot be emphasized enough that photographs of skid marks are invaluable evidence, since they can often indicate Fuddle's speed at the time of impact and can be a tremendous asset when it comes to establishing fault.
A good practice to follow is to make a brief notation on the backs of all photos, entering upon them a brief account of what the photo is showing, the date it was taken and by whom.
Photographs of injuries, the accident scene and the road surface if done correctly - - is money in the bank !
PHOTOGRAPHS OF INJURIES: Photographs are often the best evidence you can produce to increase the value of your claim. If your accident causes bodily injuries that are visible (such as bruises, deep cuts, swellings, lacerations, dislocations and/or black and blue marks) it's crucial, to the ultimate settlement value of your case, that you have photographs taken of those just as soon as possible! Take them from 3 feet away and also as close as you can so as to capture the seriousness of heir existence. When you hand those to Adjuster I. M. Smart from the Granite insurance Company believe me when I tell you he'll stare at them and blanch!
Question: "How does Dan know this to be so"?
Answer: "Because for 38 years Dan was there and felt that"!
PHOTOGRAPHS OF BOTH VEHICLES: You should take photographs of the damages to your vehicle from several different angles. If at all possible find the motor vehicle that hit you and take photographs of that damage also. When it comes to proving the impact your body was subjected to (and in many cases to prove who was at fault) those photographs could one day be worth their weight in gold.
HOW TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE: The pictures of each accident scene should be taken from at least three different angles: Snap several of a "general view" of the area from about 20 to 40 feet away; a couple more "medium range" shot's from 10 to 15 feet away, and then some "close up" shot's from 3 to 5 feet away. If it's at all possible all three different distances should have a common point or orientation. If, for example, you're snapping photographs of a skid mark, it should be taken from an angle so as to clearly show were that skid mark is, in relation to a landmark, like a street sign, a building, a fire hydrant, etc. Another photograph should then be taken with a closer view - - one clearly identifying the skid mark in detail - -and also, if possible, include this readily identifiable object or landmark (the street signs, building's, etc.).
Because they're such potent evidence you should blow up those photographs of the skid marks, taken from 3 to 6 feet away, into 8X10 glossies. A total of 12 to 15 photographs of the accident scene and/or the skid marks are not too many. When you hand copies of the 8X10 glossy photograph's of those skid marks to the adjuster, to help justify he payment he'll eventually make to you, it will absolutely increase the value of your claim.
"Why" you ask?
The answer to that one is, "Because it will tell both adjuster Smart and his supervisor (who, in the end, will usually call the shots on how much your settlement dollars should be) that you know what you're doing and you're not the type of individual who can be taken advantage of".
A WORD OF CAUTION: The individual engaged in the task of snapping photograph's of your body, the accident scene, etc., should be careful to make sure they're not undertaking this effort with a casual, hasty or careless attitude - - one that tends to leave it up to do the camera to do the thinking for them. Rather, the photographer ought to carefully consider the process the process slowly and seriously so that the photos produced will produce the maximum value.
If at all possible photos should be taken of the exact location on the road where the impact occurred, and shots of all relevant gouge and/or chop marks on the surface, plus traffic signs, etc., as applicable.
It cannot be emphasized enough that photographs of skid marks are invaluable evidence, since they can often indicate Fuddle's speed at the time of impact and can be a tremendous asset when it comes to establishing fault.
A good practice to follow is to make a brief notation on the backs of all photos, entering upon them a brief account of what the photo is showing, the date it was taken and by whom.
Photographs of injuries, the accident scene and the road surface if done correctly - - is money in the bank !
Life Insurance: Who Needs It And How Much Do You Need?
Your friendly, neighborhood life insurance agent is most likely to answer this question with the word "everybody."
The fact is, not everybody does need life insurance. If you don't have a family, you probably don't need life insurance unless, of course, you're a really nice person and just want to leave some money to a friend or a charity.
If you do have a family, the question isn't do you need life insurance. The question is how much do you need?
A life insurance sales representative may want you to apply some kind of formula. In years gone by, he or she might have told you that you need to buy insurance equal to four times your annual salary. So, if your annual salary is $50,000, you might have been told you need at least a $200,000 policy. Today, the same agent might tell you that you need eight times your annual salary or a $400,000 policy.
In most cases, this is probably too simplistic an approach, as it tends to assume that you are your family's sole provider.
Today, there are a number of other factors that should be taken into consideration. Does your spouse work or is he/she a stay-at-Home mom or dad? Are you a single mother or father? And where does that put you? How old are your children? Will your surviving spouse be raising kids for three years or 15? If your spouse works, how much does he or she earn? If something should happen to you, is there family nearby that could help raise your kids or is the nearest family 1,000 miles away?
Let's take a hypothetical example. Jim W. is 45 years old, earns $75,000 a year and has two kids age 15 and 17. Jim's wife, Martha is 43 and earns $50,000 a year. Jim and Martha believe their kids are college material. How much life insurance does Jim need? Let's assume $25,000 a year times the two boys, times four years. That's $200,000. Jim also wants to make sure Martha lives comfortably for the rest of her working life and figures she'll need an additional $25,000 a year to do this. Multiply this $25,000 by 22 and that's $550,000. Add this to the cost of the boys' college, and Jim needs at least a $750,000 life insurance policy ... and that doesn't include anything for Martha's retirement!
Now, compare this to Beth who is the single mother of a boy, Robbie, age eight and a girl, Kinsey, age 12. How much insurance does Beth need? There's no spouse but if anything happens to her, the kids will go to her sister, and the sister will need financial help. So, assume $10,000 a year to the sister for 16 years -- $160,000 - plus college for the kids at $200,000. This adds up to a policy of maybe $360,000. See the difference that circumstances can make?
Before you purchase a policy, sit down and figure out who will need to be taken care of, for how long they will need the help and, realistically, what that help should consist of. If you die this should not be like winning the lottery for your survivors. Don't buy so much insurance that you will be really strapped for all those years before you pass on.
The fact is, not everybody does need life insurance. If you don't have a family, you probably don't need life insurance unless, of course, you're a really nice person and just want to leave some money to a friend or a charity.
If you do have a family, the question isn't do you need life insurance. The question is how much do you need?
A life insurance sales representative may want you to apply some kind of formula. In years gone by, he or she might have told you that you need to buy insurance equal to four times your annual salary. So, if your annual salary is $50,000, you might have been told you need at least a $200,000 policy. Today, the same agent might tell you that you need eight times your annual salary or a $400,000 policy.
In most cases, this is probably too simplistic an approach, as it tends to assume that you are your family's sole provider.
Today, there are a number of other factors that should be taken into consideration. Does your spouse work or is he/she a stay-at-Home mom or dad? Are you a single mother or father? And where does that put you? How old are your children? Will your surviving spouse be raising kids for three years or 15? If your spouse works, how much does he or she earn? If something should happen to you, is there family nearby that could help raise your kids or is the nearest family 1,000 miles away?
Let's take a hypothetical example. Jim W. is 45 years old, earns $75,000 a year and has two kids age 15 and 17. Jim's wife, Martha is 43 and earns $50,000 a year. Jim and Martha believe their kids are college material. How much life insurance does Jim need? Let's assume $25,000 a year times the two boys, times four years. That's $200,000. Jim also wants to make sure Martha lives comfortably for the rest of her working life and figures she'll need an additional $25,000 a year to do this. Multiply this $25,000 by 22 and that's $550,000. Add this to the cost of the boys' college, and Jim needs at least a $750,000 life insurance policy ... and that doesn't include anything for Martha's retirement!
Now, compare this to Beth who is the single mother of a boy, Robbie, age eight and a girl, Kinsey, age 12. How much insurance does Beth need? There's no spouse but if anything happens to her, the kids will go to her sister, and the sister will need financial help. So, assume $10,000 a year to the sister for 16 years -- $160,000 - plus college for the kids at $200,000. This adds up to a policy of maybe $360,000. See the difference that circumstances can make?
Before you purchase a policy, sit down and figure out who will need to be taken care of, for how long they will need the help and, realistically, what that help should consist of. If you die this should not be like winning the lottery for your survivors. Don't buy so much insurance that you will be really strapped for all those years before you pass on.
Health Savings Accounts (HSA): Do They Vary From State to State?
The health Savings Account (HSA) is an amazing tool that a lot of people have been talking about. It is meant to help you save money on insurance and make your life simpler, maybe even help you be healthier.
Is this tool available in all states? And are HSAs in each state the same?
The health Savings Account (HSA) was passed in the U.S. Congress in December 2003. It was signed by President George W. Bush. That means it is a federal law. The HSA is available in every state in the Union.
However, the availability of the HSA may vary. Since this product is relatively new, not all insurance agents and financial advisors have caught on to it. Many do not know it exists yet, and not all of them offer it to their clients.
But as acceptance of HSAs grows, more and more insurance agents, advisors and even banks are beginning to offer them.
The simplest place to find an HSA is with an insurance agent. I say it is the simplest because it is easiest to purchase your HSA and your high-deductible health insurance policy in one place. If you do not purchase them in one place, you have to provide written proof to the HSA agent that you do, indeed, have a high-deductible policy. If you can't prove that you are insured, and that the deductible is over $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family, they cannot give you an HSA.
Insurance agents are also the most likely to have an in-depth knowledge of HSAs. I haven't tried to get an HSA at a bank, but I think it's likely that the expertise of personal bankers will not be as great as that of the average insurance agent. That's just my opinion.
health Savings Accounts are growing in popularity every day. They provide an excellent way to save thousands of dollars on insurance, and they are the true solution for the self-employed and the small Business owner. And HSAs are available today!
Is this tool available in all states? And are HSAs in each state the same?
The health Savings Account (HSA) was passed in the U.S. Congress in December 2003. It was signed by President George W. Bush. That means it is a federal law. The HSA is available in every state in the Union.
However, the availability of the HSA may vary. Since this product is relatively new, not all insurance agents and financial advisors have caught on to it. Many do not know it exists yet, and not all of them offer it to their clients.
But as acceptance of HSAs grows, more and more insurance agents, advisors and even banks are beginning to offer them.
The simplest place to find an HSA is with an insurance agent. I say it is the simplest because it is easiest to purchase your HSA and your high-deductible health insurance policy in one place. If you do not purchase them in one place, you have to provide written proof to the HSA agent that you do, indeed, have a high-deductible policy. If you can't prove that you are insured, and that the deductible is over $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family, they cannot give you an HSA.
Insurance agents are also the most likely to have an in-depth knowledge of HSAs. I haven't tried to get an HSA at a bank, but I think it's likely that the expertise of personal bankers will not be as great as that of the average insurance agent. That's just my opinion.
health Savings Accounts are growing in popularity every day. They provide an excellent way to save thousands of dollars on insurance, and they are the true solution for the self-employed and the small Business owner. And HSAs are available today!
Car Insurance Advice for Young Drivers in the UK
Over the course of the last ten years, car insurance for young drivers in the UK has increased substantially.
This has caused many problems for new drivers with premiums averaging 1300 for a newly qualified 17 year old male driver.
Young female drivers pay a lot less for their policies due to their reduced risk of being involved in an accident. EEC law is looking to make this a discrimination issue but insurance companies and representative groups are opposing this move.
The main factors which will effect your insurance premium are listed below;
The Vehicle - Choosing the right vehicle will have a massive impact on your premium. As a guide, look at the insurance group of the car. The grouping structure runs from Group 1 to Group 20 and your insurance premium will increase as you move through the groups. Use the link below to our web site and use the car grouping guide which will give you an indication of which vehicles fall into which groups. Do not however rely on either guesswork or a basic group guide when choosing a car. Even a subtle difference in model of vehicle could effect your premium massively - Get quotes on every type of car you are looking at before deciding on buying one.
Where you live - Not a lot you can do about this but in some areas of the UK you are twice as likely to have your car stolen. In London you are 50% more likely to be involved in an accident - Your premium will reflect where you lice.
Pass Plus - If you have just passed your test, seriously consider pass plus. This will give you discounts of up to 20% off your insurance premium. The course costs 120 so can be very effective at saving you money and improving your driving skills.
Type of Cover - As a first time driver you will normally be restricted to third party fire and theft cover because of the costs involved. Consider third party only cover also.
There are no shortcuts when insuring your first car but there is a silver lining to that horrible first premium. A safe years driving will result in a drop in your premium of around 50% in the following year.
17 to 40 is a web site dedicated to providing information and quotes for young driver insurance in the UK
This has caused many problems for new drivers with premiums averaging 1300 for a newly qualified 17 year old male driver.
Young female drivers pay a lot less for their policies due to their reduced risk of being involved in an accident. EEC law is looking to make this a discrimination issue but insurance companies and representative groups are opposing this move.
The main factors which will effect your insurance premium are listed below;
The Vehicle - Choosing the right vehicle will have a massive impact on your premium. As a guide, look at the insurance group of the car. The grouping structure runs from Group 1 to Group 20 and your insurance premium will increase as you move through the groups. Use the link below to our web site and use the car grouping guide which will give you an indication of which vehicles fall into which groups. Do not however rely on either guesswork or a basic group guide when choosing a car. Even a subtle difference in model of vehicle could effect your premium massively - Get quotes on every type of car you are looking at before deciding on buying one.
Where you live - Not a lot you can do about this but in some areas of the UK you are twice as likely to have your car stolen. In London you are 50% more likely to be involved in an accident - Your premium will reflect where you lice.
Pass Plus - If you have just passed your test, seriously consider pass plus. This will give you discounts of up to 20% off your insurance premium. The course costs 120 so can be very effective at saving you money and improving your driving skills.
Type of Cover - As a first time driver you will normally be restricted to third party fire and theft cover because of the costs involved. Consider third party only cover also.
There are no shortcuts when insuring your first car but there is a silver lining to that horrible first premium. A safe years driving will result in a drop in your premium of around 50% in the following year.
17 to 40 is a web site dedicated to providing information and quotes for young driver insurance in the UK
What to Look for in Good Health Insurance
Health insurance is a kind of protection that provides payment of benefits for covered sickness or injury. Included in health insurance are various types of insurance such as accident insurance, disability income insurance, medical expense insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Before sign the health insurance policy make sure that you have read thoroughly the benefit's section. Take note of any health care service that is not covered by your health insurance policy. Also, pay specific attention to how the health insurance policy is worded. Sometimes, health insurance companies hide the health insurance coverage exclusions within the definitions of words.
For instance, a health insurance company may define the term 'emergency' as anything that is life threatening condition that cannot be reasonably treated by a primary care physician. Whereas, your definition of 'emergency' may be anything that requires quick medical attention.
Clearly, there is conflict for the two definitions. If you find yourself in an emergency situation where you incur a broker arm, for instance, your insurance company may deny coverage for emergency room treatment of a broken arm for the reason that the broken arm does not fall under the life threatening category.
Therefore, you should read over carefully the health insurance policy definitions, paying close attention to the seven key words:
medical emergency medically necessary accidental injury experimental or investigational pre certification pre-existing condition, and reasonable and customary
These words and any words that are open to interpretation should be regarded with wariness. Find out how your health insurance company defines each of these.
Finally, find the section describing the procedures you must follow in order for your insurance company to reimburse you. These policy conditions or prerequisites are typically worded in a positive tone. Read through each condition carefully, make notes and call your health insurance company with any questions.
You should also compare health insurance contracts before you sign one. In order to compare exclusions, take two policy contracts and find the exclusions sections. If you want to compare a number of health insurance contracts then you could use an online service.
After you obtain your free quote for the health coverage you desire, apply for it online, and you'll obtain all the information that you'll need to compare exclusions of each health insurance policy (though sometimes this will require more research.)
Copyright 2005 Mike Spencer
Mike Spencer recently became unemployed and moved into self employment. He was forced to find his own health insurance plan to protect his family. It wasn't as easy as he first thought. Here he shares the pitfall
s of various plans and what you need to look out for when picking a good plan for you
Before sign the health insurance policy make sure that you have read thoroughly the benefit's section. Take note of any health care service that is not covered by your health insurance policy. Also, pay specific attention to how the health insurance policy is worded. Sometimes, health insurance companies hide the health insurance coverage exclusions within the definitions of words.
For instance, a health insurance company may define the term 'emergency' as anything that is life threatening condition that cannot be reasonably treated by a primary care physician. Whereas, your definition of 'emergency' may be anything that requires quick medical attention.
Clearly, there is conflict for the two definitions. If you find yourself in an emergency situation where you incur a broker arm, for instance, your insurance company may deny coverage for emergency room treatment of a broken arm for the reason that the broken arm does not fall under the life threatening category.
Therefore, you should read over carefully the health insurance policy definitions, paying close attention to the seven key words:
medical emergency medically necessary accidental injury experimental or investigational pre certification pre-existing condition, and reasonable and customary
These words and any words that are open to interpretation should be regarded with wariness. Find out how your health insurance company defines each of these.
Finally, find the section describing the procedures you must follow in order for your insurance company to reimburse you. These policy conditions or prerequisites are typically worded in a positive tone. Read through each condition carefully, make notes and call your health insurance company with any questions.
You should also compare health insurance contracts before you sign one. In order to compare exclusions, take two policy contracts and find the exclusions sections. If you want to compare a number of health insurance contracts then you could use an online service.
After you obtain your free quote for the health coverage you desire, apply for it online, and you'll obtain all the information that you'll need to compare exclusions of each health insurance policy (though sometimes this will require more research.)
Copyright 2005 Mike Spencer
Mike Spencer recently became unemployed and moved into self employment. He was forced to find his own health insurance plan to protect his family. It wasn't as easy as he first thought. Here he shares the pitfall
s of various plans and what you need to look out for when picking a good plan for you
Car Insurance Discounts
Trying to save money wherever you can is important to us all. Insurance should be no different. Do not assume that your agent knows everything about you and your vehicle. Carinsurance.com goes out of their way to find all the possible discounts that are available to each customer.
Drivers should take advantage of all discounts that many providers offer, that can significantly reduce the cost of car insurance. Understanding discounts and how they can affect auto insurance premiums can help smart shoppers make better decisions about their coverage and possibly save themselves some money in the process.
Read below to identify possible discounts that could help you save on auto insurance this year. Other than discounts, there may be some other ways for you to save on your insurance premiums. We will go over several discounts that can help with your current situation.
First, there are discounts for Auto Safety features. Certain states will give you discounts for anti-lock breaks. Make sure you know if it is two or four wheel anti-lock break vehicle. Automatic seatbelts and airbags are frequently discounted on your insurance premiums. In most states, a defensive driver class discount may apply. If the principal driver usually 55 years old or older has completed an approved defensive driving class a discount could apply. Keep in mind that most states will only approve this class if it is voluntary meaning that it was not the result of a violation or infraction.
Some insurers will give you a discount for having multiple vehicles. In some cases, this will only apply if you have two or more drivers. If you have a clean driving record, meaning you do not have any tickets, accidents or suspensions in the last three years (some companies require five years) then you could be eligible for a safe driver's discount.
Many companies will reward you with staying with the same insurance company for many years without any accidents reported. They will offer you a renewal discount. It makes sense, you have carried insurance with a company for several years, and have not had an accident, your insurance company likes you and wants to reward and keep your Business. Some companies honor you with a discount if you had prior limits on your previous policy. They discount you because they understand you are a better risk.
Conversely, if you do decided to change insurers a proof of prior insurance discount may apply. Most insurers request at least 6 months of consecutive insurance from the previous insurer. If you are a full-time student who meets certain grade requirements and are unmarried and usually under 25 years of age (some states the age is 21) you could be eligible for a good student discount. If you own a home, including condominium, town home, or mobile Home, which is used as a principal residence, a discount could apply. Military personnel either currently active or retired from any branch of the US military a discount could apply. If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device, a discount could apply.
You could lower the cost of your insurance in other ways. For people who own older cars, it may not be necessary or cost-effective to protect them with collision and comprehensive coverage. By comparing the book value of your vehicle and the premium that the insurer has offered, you may find that it cost as much for the insurance as it does for the vehicle. If the car is worth less than $2,000, you will probably spend more insuring it than it is worth. The whole idea of driving an older car is to save money, so why not get what is coming to you.
In addition, keep in mind that the type of vehicle you buy could greatly affect your premium. A flashy red sports car is usually going to cost more to insure than a mid sized sedan. This is also true of vehicles that are on the list of most stolen. There are many ways that policyholders can save on their insurance. Knowing more about auto policies and premiums can help consumers take advantage of less obvious discounts while ensuring that they have the appropriate protection for their vehicles. The last way to save is to assume more risk. If you chose higher deductible on your Personal Injury Protection or Comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premium as well. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company begins paying the rest.
Understanding how discounts affect your insurance rates is important to save you money.
Drivers should take advantage of all discounts that many providers offer, that can significantly reduce the cost of car insurance. Understanding discounts and how they can affect auto insurance premiums can help smart shoppers make better decisions about their coverage and possibly save themselves some money in the process.
Read below to identify possible discounts that could help you save on auto insurance this year. Other than discounts, there may be some other ways for you to save on your insurance premiums. We will go over several discounts that can help with your current situation.
First, there are discounts for Auto Safety features. Certain states will give you discounts for anti-lock breaks. Make sure you know if it is two or four wheel anti-lock break vehicle. Automatic seatbelts and airbags are frequently discounted on your insurance premiums. In most states, a defensive driver class discount may apply. If the principal driver usually 55 years old or older has completed an approved defensive driving class a discount could apply. Keep in mind that most states will only approve this class if it is voluntary meaning that it was not the result of a violation or infraction.
Some insurers will give you a discount for having multiple vehicles. In some cases, this will only apply if you have two or more drivers. If you have a clean driving record, meaning you do not have any tickets, accidents or suspensions in the last three years (some companies require five years) then you could be eligible for a safe driver's discount.
Many companies will reward you with staying with the same insurance company for many years without any accidents reported. They will offer you a renewal discount. It makes sense, you have carried insurance with a company for several years, and have not had an accident, your insurance company likes you and wants to reward and keep your Business. Some companies honor you with a discount if you had prior limits on your previous policy. They discount you because they understand you are a better risk.
Conversely, if you do decided to change insurers a proof of prior insurance discount may apply. Most insurers request at least 6 months of consecutive insurance from the previous insurer. If you are a full-time student who meets certain grade requirements and are unmarried and usually under 25 years of age (some states the age is 21) you could be eligible for a good student discount. If you own a home, including condominium, town home, or mobile Home, which is used as a principal residence, a discount could apply. Military personnel either currently active or retired from any branch of the US military a discount could apply. If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device, a discount could apply.
You could lower the cost of your insurance in other ways. For people who own older cars, it may not be necessary or cost-effective to protect them with collision and comprehensive coverage. By comparing the book value of your vehicle and the premium that the insurer has offered, you may find that it cost as much for the insurance as it does for the vehicle. If the car is worth less than $2,000, you will probably spend more insuring it than it is worth. The whole idea of driving an older car is to save money, so why not get what is coming to you.
In addition, keep in mind that the type of vehicle you buy could greatly affect your premium. A flashy red sports car is usually going to cost more to insure than a mid sized sedan. This is also true of vehicles that are on the list of most stolen. There are many ways that policyholders can save on their insurance. Knowing more about auto policies and premiums can help consumers take advantage of less obvious discounts while ensuring that they have the appropriate protection for their vehicles. The last way to save is to assume more risk. If you chose higher deductible on your Personal Injury Protection or Comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premium as well. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company begins paying the rest.
Understanding how discounts affect your insurance rates is important to save you money.
Do Insurance Premiums Increase Every Year?
Many people ask, "If I am supposed to get a renewal discount, why do my premiums seem to increase with each renewal?" The answer is not always so simple. Each year, new vehicles cost more then they did the previous year. It will probably cost more to fix a damaged vehicle than it did last year, or five years ago when you first bought your current policy. However, in many cases, your renewal premium will be less. Some factors that contribute to decreases in your premiums are straightforward.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), the cost of auto insurance is expected to rise only 3.5% in 2004, the smallest increase over the last four years. Why? The number of auto accidents is on the decline due to better drivers and safer cars as well as crackdowns on fraud and abuse. However, due to the rising costs for medical care, vehicle repairs and skyrocketing jury awards the potential of price increases remain a problem. Rising automobile theft rates and fraud will keep costs higher for motorists in some states, such as Florida, Massachusetts, and New York.
The projected increase represents a substantial slowdown from 2003 when auto insurance costs rose by 7.8 percent, the I.I.I. observed. The average cost for auto insurance nationwide for 2004 is estimated at $871, an increase of $29 per vehicle from last year.
Unfortunately, even though drivers are filing fewer claims these days, the claims that are filed are costing the insurance companies more than they used to. It is costing more to repair cars as the amount of damage sustained in crashes is up from what it was a few years ago. Some in the industry feel this is due to accidents involving sport utility vehicles.
The cost of medical coverage is also increasing. This year insurers could pay as much as $20 billion in medical claims. Higher costs for hospitalization, medical care, medication and associated legal costs are also to blame.
What can you expect to pay for insurance? In many cases, your renewal discount will offset a rate increase from your company. It can become hard to keep track of increases if you make many changes to your policy. When you move to a new residence or get a newer vehicle as these factors affect the rate you pay. Your driving record is also one of the factors the insurance company uses in determining your rate. Go to http://www.carinsurance.com. Not only will you get the rates of various insurance companies, you will see the A.M. Best rating for each company along side their rates for you personal situation.
Now is the time for your fingers to punch their way to a quick rate analysis and view the ratings at the same time.
Visit http://www.carinsurance.com to Check Out the Lowest Premiums Available!
According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), the cost of auto insurance is expected to rise only 3.5% in 2004, the smallest increase over the last four years. Why? The number of auto accidents is on the decline due to better drivers and safer cars as well as crackdowns on fraud and abuse. However, due to the rising costs for medical care, vehicle repairs and skyrocketing jury awards the potential of price increases remain a problem. Rising automobile theft rates and fraud will keep costs higher for motorists in some states, such as Florida, Massachusetts, and New York.
The projected increase represents a substantial slowdown from 2003 when auto insurance costs rose by 7.8 percent, the I.I.I. observed. The average cost for auto insurance nationwide for 2004 is estimated at $871, an increase of $29 per vehicle from last year.
Unfortunately, even though drivers are filing fewer claims these days, the claims that are filed are costing the insurance companies more than they used to. It is costing more to repair cars as the amount of damage sustained in crashes is up from what it was a few years ago. Some in the industry feel this is due to accidents involving sport utility vehicles.
The cost of medical coverage is also increasing. This year insurers could pay as much as $20 billion in medical claims. Higher costs for hospitalization, medical care, medication and associated legal costs are also to blame.
What can you expect to pay for insurance? In many cases, your renewal discount will offset a rate increase from your company. It can become hard to keep track of increases if you make many changes to your policy. When you move to a new residence or get a newer vehicle as these factors affect the rate you pay. Your driving record is also one of the factors the insurance company uses in determining your rate. Go to http://www.carinsurance.com. Not only will you get the rates of various insurance companies, you will see the A.M. Best rating for each company along side their rates for you personal situation.
Now is the time for your fingers to punch their way to a quick rate analysis and view the ratings at the same time.
Visit http://www.carinsurance.com to Check Out the Lowest Premiums Available!
The Many Benefits of Travel Protection Plans
Many people purchase insurance thinking I want full coverage and once I get it I will be covered for every event that may befall my vehicle. But then they begin to question if every type of incident is covered with full coverage. Some events that people question if they are covered for are: if my car breaks down what about towing costs or if I need a rental car does the insurance company pay? Towing service and rental service is not an automatic service that you are covered for but it can be easily added to a new policy purchase or during the renewal process.
There are many benefits for you with the travel protection plan that is offered with auto insurance policies. First of all this optional coverage does not cost you anything more on your initial down payment. That's right, nothing extra on your down payment. Whether you decide to add it or not you still pay the same down payment. This service is 100% financed into your monthly payments and for so much coverage the cost is very small!
The benefits for you are these:
If you are in an accident or if your car just breaks down, this service will reimburse you for towing service up to $50 each time you use it! If you need to be towed multiple times during your term no problem, you can use this towing plan as much as you need it. You are not required to use just one company either; you are able to use any company you wish.
Another benefit is that if your vehicle is disabled due to an accident or is stolen, you will be reimbursed for rental expenses up to $25 a day for as long as 10 days! If you are traveling, for example visiting family and are 250+ miles from home, this plan will also reimburse you for up to 5 days to get Home at $25 a day. Again you may use any company you wish for your rental. In addition any personal effects in a rental car that may be stolen or are lost due to fire in a rental car will be covered up to $300.
Many people, during their busy day, find themselves accidentally leaving his or her keys in their car just as they close the door. Normally one panics and wastes time trying to find a way to break into their own car or calling for some to come bring that extra key from Home. Most likely you still end up calling a locksmith to unlock the car and you won't be getting that money back. The travel protection plan saves you because it will reimburse you up to $25 for lock out service if this happens to you.
If you are unfortunate enough to be in an accident that requires you to be taken to a hospital, this plan is also helpful. When an ambulance is sent out to the accident site, you have to pay a service fee but the plan will reimburse up to $100 for this situation.
The final benefit worth mentioning is the bail bond service it provides. This plan will reimburse for up to $10,000 of bond expense if you are in a situation that would cause you to be incarcerated due to traffic violation. You may think you never get in trouble, but what if you were pulled over for driving with a suspended license because you failed to pay that old parking ticket you had forgotten about? Or what if you had a glass of wine at a nice restaurant and was stopped and considered to be over the local legal alcohol limit? You are not a criminal, but things like this sometimes do happen. If any of these examples occur, it is nice to know that you may be covered for bond service!
For just approximately 16 cents a day per car you can get all these great benefits. Peace of mind is also one of your greatest benefits from this plan. Again, your down payment will not go up at all! Why would you want to pay for any of these expenses and not get reimbursed? If any of these situations happen someone has to pay. It is either you or your insurance company so why not purchase this plan and have them pay.
There are many benefits for you with the travel protection plan that is offered with auto insurance policies. First of all this optional coverage does not cost you anything more on your initial down payment. That's right, nothing extra on your down payment. Whether you decide to add it or not you still pay the same down payment. This service is 100% financed into your monthly payments and for so much coverage the cost is very small!
The benefits for you are these:
If you are in an accident or if your car just breaks down, this service will reimburse you for towing service up to $50 each time you use it! If you need to be towed multiple times during your term no problem, you can use this towing plan as much as you need it. You are not required to use just one company either; you are able to use any company you wish.
Another benefit is that if your vehicle is disabled due to an accident or is stolen, you will be reimbursed for rental expenses up to $25 a day for as long as 10 days! If you are traveling, for example visiting family and are 250+ miles from home, this plan will also reimburse you for up to 5 days to get Home at $25 a day. Again you may use any company you wish for your rental. In addition any personal effects in a rental car that may be stolen or are lost due to fire in a rental car will be covered up to $300.
Many people, during their busy day, find themselves accidentally leaving his or her keys in their car just as they close the door. Normally one panics and wastes time trying to find a way to break into their own car or calling for some to come bring that extra key from Home. Most likely you still end up calling a locksmith to unlock the car and you won't be getting that money back. The travel protection plan saves you because it will reimburse you up to $25 for lock out service if this happens to you.
If you are unfortunate enough to be in an accident that requires you to be taken to a hospital, this plan is also helpful. When an ambulance is sent out to the accident site, you have to pay a service fee but the plan will reimburse up to $100 for this situation.
The final benefit worth mentioning is the bail bond service it provides. This plan will reimburse for up to $10,000 of bond expense if you are in a situation that would cause you to be incarcerated due to traffic violation. You may think you never get in trouble, but what if you were pulled over for driving with a suspended license because you failed to pay that old parking ticket you had forgotten about? Or what if you had a glass of wine at a nice restaurant and was stopped and considered to be over the local legal alcohol limit? You are not a criminal, but things like this sometimes do happen. If any of these examples occur, it is nice to know that you may be covered for bond service!
For just approximately 16 cents a day per car you can get all these great benefits. Peace of mind is also one of your greatest benefits from this plan. Again, your down payment will not go up at all! Why would you want to pay for any of these expenses and not get reimbursed? If any of these situations happen someone has to pay. It is either you or your insurance company so why not purchase this plan and have them pay.
Taking The Mystery Out Of Long-Term Care Insurance
enHere's the good news: with improvements in medical technology and healthier lifestyles, people are living longer. life expectancy today has increased to 83 years, up from 78 years in 1940 (The Shopper's Guide to Long-term Care Insurance from the National Association of insurance Commissioners).
However, the longer people live, the greater the chances they will need assistance due to chronic health conditions. Today, about 12.8 million Americans of all ages require some type of long-term care (National Academy on Aging, 1997). This number is expected to climb as the baby boomer generation moves into retirement. Over a lifetime, nearly 50 percent of all people will require some type of long-term care assistance.
One way to pay for some or all of your long-term care expenses is insurance. First introduced in the 1980s, long-term care insurance was originally designed as nursing home insurance. Today's long-term care policies now cover much more. They include Home health care, assisted living facility care, adult day care, Alzheimer's facility care, respite care and hospice care.
So how does long-term care insurance work? Long-term care insurance is not health insurance, and long-term care expenses are not covered under private health insurance, Medicare or Medicare supplement policies.
However, long-term care insurance is similar to health insurance in that an individual must apply for coverage by going through medical underwriting. The insurance company decides whether to offer long-term care coverage based on your current health conditions and age. In most instances, a person's medical records will be reviewed by the insurance company. Additionally, some applicants may be required to have a face-to-face or a telephone interview. Not everyone is insurable. People who already have health problems are likely to need long-term care but won't be able to buy a long-term care insurance policy. Your money may pay for long-term care insurance coverage, but it's your health that buys it.
Once a long-term care policy is issued, the insured individual becomes eligible to receive benefits once a healthcare professional certifies the insured is "chronically ill" -- unable to perform two of the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) for a period of 90 days or longer; or be severely cognitively impaired. ADLs include bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, transferring (moving into or out of a bed, chair or wheelchair) and continence.
"At what age should I apply for long-term care insurance?" Generally, experts suggest you apply between ages 50 and 55. The younger you are when you apply, the better the chance you will be healthy enough to qualify. It's also during these years prior to retirement that your income is normally at its highest and you're better able to pay the insurance premiums.
Long-term care insurance policies vary widely. A professional specializing in long-term care insurance can be a great resource to consumers in considering the many options available today.
Brent Dees, president of Brent Dees Financial, is a small business coach and financial planner w
However, the longer people live, the greater the chances they will need assistance due to chronic health conditions. Today, about 12.8 million Americans of all ages require some type of long-term care (National Academy on Aging, 1997). This number is expected to climb as the baby boomer generation moves into retirement. Over a lifetime, nearly 50 percent of all people will require some type of long-term care assistance.
One way to pay for some or all of your long-term care expenses is insurance. First introduced in the 1980s, long-term care insurance was originally designed as nursing home insurance. Today's long-term care policies now cover much more. They include Home health care, assisted living facility care, adult day care, Alzheimer's facility care, respite care and hospice care.
So how does long-term care insurance work? Long-term care insurance is not health insurance, and long-term care expenses are not covered under private health insurance, Medicare or Medicare supplement policies.
However, long-term care insurance is similar to health insurance in that an individual must apply for coverage by going through medical underwriting. The insurance company decides whether to offer long-term care coverage based on your current health conditions and age. In most instances, a person's medical records will be reviewed by the insurance company. Additionally, some applicants may be required to have a face-to-face or a telephone interview. Not everyone is insurable. People who already have health problems are likely to need long-term care but won't be able to buy a long-term care insurance policy. Your money may pay for long-term care insurance coverage, but it's your health that buys it.
Once a long-term care policy is issued, the insured individual becomes eligible to receive benefits once a healthcare professional certifies the insured is "chronically ill" -- unable to perform two of the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) for a period of 90 days or longer; or be severely cognitively impaired. ADLs include bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, transferring (moving into or out of a bed, chair or wheelchair) and continence.
"At what age should I apply for long-term care insurance?" Generally, experts suggest you apply between ages 50 and 55. The younger you are when you apply, the better the chance you will be healthy enough to qualify. It's also during these years prior to retirement that your income is normally at its highest and you're better able to pay the insurance premiums.
Long-term care insurance policies vary widely. A professional specializing in long-term care insurance can be a great resource to consumers in considering the many options available today.
Brent Dees, president of Brent Dees Financial, is a small business coach and financial planner w
The Awful Truth about Annuity and Insurance Leads
You see the websites, you see the ads: exclusive, never before sold, prospects eager to buy, insurance and annuity Leads. Some leads cost a few dollars - others are over one-hundred a pop.
I was curious, just how good are these insurance and annuity leads? I decided to find out.
I'm not going to name specific insurance and annuity lead websites, but I will give you a summary of how it all shook out.
insurance and Annuity Lead website A:
Cost: Cheap
Results: Terrible. 10% of the leads my staff called got number no longer in service recordings. The rest: the people had no idea what we were talking about. They were not interested in annuities, insurance or investments, nor did they remember filling out a request for information form on the internet.
sales: 0
insurance and Annuity Lead website B:
Cost: Average
Results: Terrible. Prospects didn't recall filling out request for information on anything related to annuities, insurance or financial planning. Most just hung-up.
sales: 0
insurance and Annuity Leads website C:
Cost: Expensive
Results: About twenty percent remembered filling out a request for info. However, they had been called numerous times by different agents. Most were getting sick and tired of the calls. A few had begun working with other agents. Most hung-up angrily.
sales: 0
I spent two-thousand dollars on this experiment. I did not find one-receptive buyer. I had thrown away my money, not to mention time spent by my phoning staff to contact these "hot prospects".
What the heck was going on? How could these websites sell such garbage?
I poked around, wrote a few e-mails to 'industry experts', not surprisingly, nobody got back to me. Luckily, I did end up making contact with a marketing person who had previously worked for a big lead selling outfit. She gave me the juicy details of how the majority of these lead companies operate, whether it is insurance leads, long-term care leads, annuity leads, or MLM/Work-from-Home leads. They all employ the same methods.
Method #1: You send cute E-card to your mother wishing her a happy birthday. You fill out name, e-mail and click send. Your name and e-mail are captured. If the site is a lead harvester masquerading as an e-card site, you will now be e-mailed by people looking to sell you annuities, Business opportunity offers, etc.
Method #2: Leads site buys huge database, often just regional phone book listings. They sell these 'leads', which are nothing more than names and numbers picked from the phonebook. Some of these people may even be on the Do Not Call list, which could land you in hot water.
I was curious, just how good are these insurance and annuity leads? I decided to find out.
I'm not going to name specific insurance and annuity lead websites, but I will give you a summary of how it all shook out.
insurance and Annuity Lead website A:
Cost: Cheap
Results: Terrible. 10% of the leads my staff called got number no longer in service recordings. The rest: the people had no idea what we were talking about. They were not interested in annuities, insurance or investments, nor did they remember filling out a request for information form on the internet.
sales: 0
insurance and Annuity Lead website B:
Cost: Average
Results: Terrible. Prospects didn't recall filling out request for information on anything related to annuities, insurance or financial planning. Most just hung-up.
sales: 0
insurance and Annuity Leads website C:
Cost: Expensive
Results: About twenty percent remembered filling out a request for info. However, they had been called numerous times by different agents. Most were getting sick and tired of the calls. A few had begun working with other agents. Most hung-up angrily.
sales: 0
I spent two-thousand dollars on this experiment. I did not find one-receptive buyer. I had thrown away my money, not to mention time spent by my phoning staff to contact these "hot prospects".
What the heck was going on? How could these websites sell such garbage?
I poked around, wrote a few e-mails to 'industry experts', not surprisingly, nobody got back to me. Luckily, I did end up making contact with a marketing person who had previously worked for a big lead selling outfit. She gave me the juicy details of how the majority of these lead companies operate, whether it is insurance leads, long-term care leads, annuity leads, or MLM/Work-from-Home leads. They all employ the same methods.
Method #1: You send cute E-card to your mother wishing her a happy birthday. You fill out name, e-mail and click send. Your name and e-mail are captured. If the site is a lead harvester masquerading as an e-card site, you will now be e-mailed by people looking to sell you annuities, Business opportunity offers, etc.
Method #2: Leads site buys huge database, often just regional phone book listings. They sell these 'leads', which are nothing more than names and numbers picked from the phonebook. Some of these people may even be on the Do Not Call list, which could land you in hot water.
Health Savings Accounts
Most people with health insurance, especially employer paid health insurance, really don't know what their health care costs are. Furthermore, in many cases, they are limited in which health providers (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies etc) they can use.
Most people are locked into a network of doctors. They know what the co-pay is, but have no idea what the doctor actually charges.
When insured consumers are hospitalized, they rarely see the bill. They don't know if the insurance company was overcharged or not. There are firms that audit hospital bills for insurers and self insured companies. They get paid a percentage of what they save on the bill payer by finding overcharges, duplicate charges and the like. The last I heard these firms were still making lots of money.
Overcharging, whether deliberate or not, by doctors and hospitals drive up health care costs for all. (So do malpractice suits, but that's another story.)
In order to give consumers more direct control not only over their health costs, but in the choice of which doctor they can see or which hospital they can enter, Congress enacted the health Savings Account Availability Act. As of the beginning of 2004, individuals who are not otherwise insured can have health Savings Accounts (HSA) , which carry with them some very attractive tax benefits.
An individual can set up an HSA for himself or his family. An employer can add an HSA option to the so-called cafeteria benefit plan it may already offer.
The money put into the plan is before taxes, including Social Security, if part of an employer plan. Otherwise it is a above-the-line deduction, meaning you don't have to itemize your deductions to get the tax break and that the deduction is not subject to the phase-out rules that make many itemized deductions unavailable to high wage earners.
The plan is set up like an IRA. A trustee approved by the IRS must be used. Money put in the plan grows tax free and funds withdrawn for qualified medical expenses are also tax free. Unlike the older Flexible Savings Accounts offered in employer cafeteria plans, you don't have to spend the money put into the account by year end or otherwise lose whatever's left. Money can be rolled over from year to year. This can allow for a nice chunk of money to accumulate that can be withdraw tax free at age 65.
In order to qualify, the individual or family must purchase a high deducible health insurance policy. These are special policies that have a minimum deductible of $1000 to a maximum of $5000 for an individual and $2000 to $10,000 for a family. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
Individuals can deduct the lesser of $2250 or the deductible on the policy: for married couples or families it is double that. If over 55, the deduction is $600 higher for individual and $1200 higher for couples and will continue to rise at $100 a year until 2009, where it will be capped at $1000 for individuals and $2000 for families.
The money in the HSA cannot be used to pay the premiums for this policy except in certain circumstances (basically when you're unemployed). It is meant to meet the deductible, co-pays, drug costs, eyeglasses or any other medical expense that could be itemized on an individual tax return as a medical expense.
Money withdrawn in excess of qualified medical expenses is taxed as income and subject to a 10% penalty, unless the owner is disabled or over 65. Any money in the account at death is added to the taxable estate.
There are no income limits on this plan. If started early, when you are still young and healthy a substantial amount of money could accumulate to either meet higher medical costs as you get older or to use to supplement your income.
Most people are locked into a network of doctors. They know what the co-pay is, but have no idea what the doctor actually charges.
When insured consumers are hospitalized, they rarely see the bill. They don't know if the insurance company was overcharged or not. There are firms that audit hospital bills for insurers and self insured companies. They get paid a percentage of what they save on the bill payer by finding overcharges, duplicate charges and the like. The last I heard these firms were still making lots of money.
Overcharging, whether deliberate or not, by doctors and hospitals drive up health care costs for all. (So do malpractice suits, but that's another story.)
In order to give consumers more direct control not only over their health costs, but in the choice of which doctor they can see or which hospital they can enter, Congress enacted the health Savings Account Availability Act. As of the beginning of 2004, individuals who are not otherwise insured can have health Savings Accounts (HSA) , which carry with them some very attractive tax benefits.
An individual can set up an HSA for himself or his family. An employer can add an HSA option to the so-called cafeteria benefit plan it may already offer.
The money put into the plan is before taxes, including Social Security, if part of an employer plan. Otherwise it is a above-the-line deduction, meaning you don't have to itemize your deductions to get the tax break and that the deduction is not subject to the phase-out rules that make many itemized deductions unavailable to high wage earners.
The plan is set up like an IRA. A trustee approved by the IRS must be used. Money put in the plan grows tax free and funds withdrawn for qualified medical expenses are also tax free. Unlike the older Flexible Savings Accounts offered in employer cafeteria plans, you don't have to spend the money put into the account by year end or otherwise lose whatever's left. Money can be rolled over from year to year. This can allow for a nice chunk of money to accumulate that can be withdraw tax free at age 65.
In order to qualify, the individual or family must purchase a high deducible health insurance policy. These are special policies that have a minimum deductible of $1000 to a maximum of $5000 for an individual and $2000 to $10,000 for a family. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
Individuals can deduct the lesser of $2250 or the deductible on the policy: for married couples or families it is double that. If over 55, the deduction is $600 higher for individual and $1200 higher for couples and will continue to rise at $100 a year until 2009, where it will be capped at $1000 for individuals and $2000 for families.
The money in the HSA cannot be used to pay the premiums for this policy except in certain circumstances (basically when you're unemployed). It is meant to meet the deductible, co-pays, drug costs, eyeglasses or any other medical expense that could be itemized on an individual tax return as a medical expense.
Money withdrawn in excess of qualified medical expenses is taxed as income and subject to a 10% penalty, unless the owner is disabled or over 65. Any money in the account at death is added to the taxable estate.
There are no income limits on this plan. If started early, when you are still young and healthy a substantial amount of money could accumulate to either meet higher medical costs as you get older or to use to supplement your income.
How Does Credit History Affect Car Insurance Rates?
Many personal car insurance companies consider your credit information when determining how much premium to charge for your insurance. So if you are calling around for new car insurance, keep in mind that many insurers are looking at your credit history to determine your car insurance rates. I hope that we will be able to let you know why and how they do this.
The reason that some insurance companies use credit information is because they feel there is a direct correlation between consumer's credit history behaviors and expected claims that may occur. Therefore, they feel that people with better credit behavior are less likely to severe insurance losses.
Many insurance companies still use your age, driving history, type of vehicle, where you live in determining how much you should pay for your insurance. Therefore, if you have not established a credit history yet, the companies that use credit history may not be best for you. They may not allow you to be eligible for certain discounts, which could result in higher premiums.
The companies that do use credit scoring will still use other factors in determining your premium. They will also use your age, driving history, type of vehicle, where you live in determining how much you should pay for your insurance.
Is it fair for an insurance company even look at my credit information without my permission? The answer is yes. The Federal Fair credit-reporting act says "Reasonable procedures. It is the purpose of this title to require that consumer reporting agencies adopt reasonable procedures for meeting the needs of commerce for consumer credit, personnel, insurance, and other information in a manner which is fair and equitable to the consumer, with regard to the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper utilization of such information in accordance with the requirements of this title." This can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcra.htm
If you feel that your credit history is better then the insurer can find, make sure the insurer has your correct name, address, social security number, and date of birth.
Some insurance companies will look directly at your actual credit reports when determining your rate, however most will use what is called an "insurance credit score." An insurance credit score is developed by using statistical techniques and methods to predict the likelihood a consumer will have a higher than anticipated losses. These are similar to what lenders use to predict the reliability of an applicant repaying a loan. Credit History Factors and Car insurance Rates
insurance companies use many factors in determining your credit score. Here are some examples of those factors:
. Public records: bankruptcy, collections, foreclosures, liens, charge-offs, etc.
. Past payment history: the number and frequency of late payments and the days between the due date and late payment date.
. Length of credit history: the amount of time you have been in the credit system.
. Inquiries for credit: the number of times you have recently applied for new credit, including mortgage loans, utility accounts, and credit card accounts.
. Number of open lines of credit: the number of credit cards, whether you use them or not.
. Type of credit in use: major credit cards, store credit cards, finance company loans, etc.
. Unused credit: how much you owe compared to how much credit is available to you.
Your insurance credit score may differ from company to company, as they will use different factors in determining your premium. Notice that we call it an insurance credit score. This means that it encompasses many factors including credit.
Since each insurance company uses different techniques to determine your credit score it is hard to tell you what a good credit score is. Usually a good credit score will result in lower premiums.
Your agent or company is not obligated to tell you your credit score. In fact, they might not even know what it is. All they usually know is that your credit score qualifies you for a specific rate or policy. Some companies also offer better rates under each qualifying tier.
If you feel that there is incorrect information on your credit report, you should tell the credit bureau. If you report and error, the credit bureau must investigate the error and get back to you within 30 days. You can ask the credit bureau to send a notice of the correction to any creditor or insurer that has checked your file in the past six months. Once the errors are corrected, it is a good idea to get a new copy of your credit report several months later to make sure the wrong information has not been reported again.
The three national credit bureaus are:
. Trans Union (www.transunion.com or 800-888-4213)
. Equifax (www.credit.equifax.com or 800-685-1111)
. Experian (www.experian.com or 888-397-3742)
Tell your insurance company. Do not wait until the credit bureau investigates the errors to contact your insurer. Tell your insurance company right away and ask if the errors will make a difference in your insurance. If the errors are big, tell your insurer that you are disputing the information and ask if they will wait to use your credit information until the errors are corrected. Small errors may not have much affect on your insurance credit score. If the errors are big, it can make a significant difference in your premium. Some companies are unable to adjust the premiums until the score is corrected, but it does not hurt to ask.
If you have taken the steps to improve your credit, score you should ask your insurance company to re-evaluate your credit score at renewal.
Matt McWilliams is the Vice-President of Customer Relations for http://HometownQuotes.Com, the industry leader in providing insurance quotes for customers across the country. HometownQuotes.Com was founded in 2003 by insurance agents and has grown into one of the best-known ways for shoppers to find affordable insurance online.
Matt is originally from North Carolina where he spent way too much time playing golf.
The reason that some insurance companies use credit information is because they feel there is a direct correlation between consumer's credit history behaviors and expected claims that may occur. Therefore, they feel that people with better credit behavior are less likely to severe insurance losses.
Many insurance companies still use your age, driving history, type of vehicle, where you live in determining how much you should pay for your insurance. Therefore, if you have not established a credit history yet, the companies that use credit history may not be best for you. They may not allow you to be eligible for certain discounts, which could result in higher premiums.
The companies that do use credit scoring will still use other factors in determining your premium. They will also use your age, driving history, type of vehicle, where you live in determining how much you should pay for your insurance.
Is it fair for an insurance company even look at my credit information without my permission? The answer is yes. The Federal Fair credit-reporting act says "Reasonable procedures. It is the purpose of this title to require that consumer reporting agencies adopt reasonable procedures for meeting the needs of commerce for consumer credit, personnel, insurance, and other information in a manner which is fair and equitable to the consumer, with regard to the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper utilization of such information in accordance with the requirements of this title." This can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcra.htm
If you feel that your credit history is better then the insurer can find, make sure the insurer has your correct name, address, social security number, and date of birth.
Some insurance companies will look directly at your actual credit reports when determining your rate, however most will use what is called an "insurance credit score." An insurance credit score is developed by using statistical techniques and methods to predict the likelihood a consumer will have a higher than anticipated losses. These are similar to what lenders use to predict the reliability of an applicant repaying a loan. Credit History Factors and Car insurance Rates
insurance companies use many factors in determining your credit score. Here are some examples of those factors:
. Public records: bankruptcy, collections, foreclosures, liens, charge-offs, etc.
. Past payment history: the number and frequency of late payments and the days between the due date and late payment date.
. Length of credit history: the amount of time you have been in the credit system.
. Inquiries for credit: the number of times you have recently applied for new credit, including mortgage loans, utility accounts, and credit card accounts.
. Number of open lines of credit: the number of credit cards, whether you use them or not.
. Type of credit in use: major credit cards, store credit cards, finance company loans, etc.
. Unused credit: how much you owe compared to how much credit is available to you.
Your insurance credit score may differ from company to company, as they will use different factors in determining your premium. Notice that we call it an insurance credit score. This means that it encompasses many factors including credit.
Since each insurance company uses different techniques to determine your credit score it is hard to tell you what a good credit score is. Usually a good credit score will result in lower premiums.
Your agent or company is not obligated to tell you your credit score. In fact, they might not even know what it is. All they usually know is that your credit score qualifies you for a specific rate or policy. Some companies also offer better rates under each qualifying tier.
If you feel that there is incorrect information on your credit report, you should tell the credit bureau. If you report and error, the credit bureau must investigate the error and get back to you within 30 days. You can ask the credit bureau to send a notice of the correction to any creditor or insurer that has checked your file in the past six months. Once the errors are corrected, it is a good idea to get a new copy of your credit report several months later to make sure the wrong information has not been reported again.
The three national credit bureaus are:
. Trans Union (www.transunion.com or 800-888-4213)
. Equifax (www.credit.equifax.com or 800-685-1111)
. Experian (www.experian.com or 888-397-3742)
Tell your insurance company. Do not wait until the credit bureau investigates the errors to contact your insurer. Tell your insurance company right away and ask if the errors will make a difference in your insurance. If the errors are big, tell your insurer that you are disputing the information and ask if they will wait to use your credit information until the errors are corrected. Small errors may not have much affect on your insurance credit score. If the errors are big, it can make a significant difference in your premium. Some companies are unable to adjust the premiums until the score is corrected, but it does not hurt to ask.
If you have taken the steps to improve your credit, score you should ask your insurance company to re-evaluate your credit score at renewal.
Matt McWilliams is the Vice-President of Customer Relations for http://HometownQuotes.Com, the industry leader in providing insurance quotes for customers across the country. HometownQuotes.Com was founded in 2003 by insurance agents and has grown into one of the best-known ways for shoppers to find affordable insurance online.
Matt is originally from North Carolina where he spent way too much time playing golf.
How Much Car Insurance Should You Buy?
Car insurance is one of the most dreaded chunks in your budget. And depending on which state you live in, it could be a smaller or larger chunk of your budget than your neighbors across state lines.
How much insurance should you buy? Any insurance agent worthy of their salt will tell you that you should buy as much as you can afford. While this is a good rule of thumb, it's about as useful as a stock broker's tip to buy low and sell high. It might be sound logic but it doesn't get you any closer to an educated decision. There are a few filters that need consideration in order to make that educated decision. First, what is the state required minimum coverage where you live? Second, what does the minimum cover? Third, what other coverage is available and can you afford it? And fourthly, what are you protecting?
What do the minimums cover?
Now that you know what your state requires, what are you actually covered for once you purchase the minimum? Using the coverage definitions that follow, find the types of coverage required and see what your state says is the accepted minimum.
Coverage Definitions
Bodily Injury Liability
Covers other people's bodily injuries or death for which you are responsible. It also provides for a legal defense if another party in the accident files a lawsuit against you. Claims for bodily injury may be for such things as medical bills, loss of income or pain and suffering. In the event of a serious accident, you want enough insurance to cover a judgment against you in a lawsuit, without jeopardizing your personal assets. Bodily injury liability covers injury to people, not your vehicle. Therefore, it's a good idea to have the same level of coverage for all of your cars. Bodily Injury Liability does NOT cover you or other people on your policy. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.
Comprehensive Physical Damage Coverage
Covers your vehicle, and sometimes other vehicles you may be driving for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. For example, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if it is stolen; or damaged by flood, fire, or animals. Pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose. To keep your premiums low, select as high a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.
Collision Coverage
Covers damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle, or other object. Pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose. To keep your premiums low, select as large a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. For older cars, consider dropping this coverage, since coverage is normally limited to the cash value of your car. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.
Medical Payments
Covers medical expenses to you and your passengers injured in an accident. There may also be coverage if as a pedestrian a vehicle injures you. Does NOT matter who is at fault. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Covers bodily injuries to you and your passengers when the other person has no insurance or not enough insurance in a crash that is not your fault. In some states, there is also uninsured motorist coverage for damage to your vehicle. Given the large number of uninsured motorists, this is very important coverage to have, even in states with no-fault insurance. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy
Personal Injury Protection Coverage
Covers within the specified limits, the medical, hospital and funeral expenses of the insured, others in his vehicles and pedestrians struck by him. The basic coverage for the insured's own injuries on a first-party basis, without regard to fault. It is only available in certain states
How much insurance should you buy? Any insurance agent worthy of their salt will tell you that you should buy as much as you can afford. While this is a good rule of thumb, it's about as useful as a stock broker's tip to buy low and sell high. It might be sound logic but it doesn't get you any closer to an educated decision. There are a few filters that need consideration in order to make that educated decision. First, what is the state required minimum coverage where you live? Second, what does the minimum cover? Third, what other coverage is available and can you afford it? And fourthly, what are you protecting?
What do the minimums cover?
Now that you know what your state requires, what are you actually covered for once you purchase the minimum? Using the coverage definitions that follow, find the types of coverage required and see what your state says is the accepted minimum.
Coverage Definitions
Bodily Injury Liability
Covers other people's bodily injuries or death for which you are responsible. It also provides for a legal defense if another party in the accident files a lawsuit against you. Claims for bodily injury may be for such things as medical bills, loss of income or pain and suffering. In the event of a serious accident, you want enough insurance to cover a judgment against you in a lawsuit, without jeopardizing your personal assets. Bodily injury liability covers injury to people, not your vehicle. Therefore, it's a good idea to have the same level of coverage for all of your cars. Bodily Injury Liability does NOT cover you or other people on your policy. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.
Comprehensive Physical Damage Coverage
Covers your vehicle, and sometimes other vehicles you may be driving for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. For example, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if it is stolen; or damaged by flood, fire, or animals. Pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose. To keep your premiums low, select as high a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.
Collision Coverage
Covers damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle, or other object. Pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose. To keep your premiums low, select as large a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. For older cars, consider dropping this coverage, since coverage is normally limited to the cash value of your car. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.
Medical Payments
Covers medical expenses to you and your passengers injured in an accident. There may also be coverage if as a pedestrian a vehicle injures you. Does NOT matter who is at fault. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Covers bodily injuries to you and your passengers when the other person has no insurance or not enough insurance in a crash that is not your fault. In some states, there is also uninsured motorist coverage for damage to your vehicle. Given the large number of uninsured motorists, this is very important coverage to have, even in states with no-fault insurance. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy
Personal Injury Protection Coverage
Covers within the specified limits, the medical, hospital and funeral expenses of the insured, others in his vehicles and pedestrians struck by him. The basic coverage for the insured's own injuries on a first-party basis, without regard to fault. It is only available in certain states
Is Your Auto Insurance Company Rated?
Several national rating institutions rate insurance companies. Do coverages, rates, and service vary from company to company? Why can you pay less with one company than another can for the same coverages? Choosing the best insurance company for you is a crucial financial decision. Does your insurance company have the financial strength to safeguard you and your family? If the company cannot pay future claims or benefits, other issues become far less relevant. Financial strength ratings are an analysis of a wide variety of risks that could affect an insurance company's long-term viability. insurance companies have failed or ceased to operate due to inadequate financial strength, competitive forces, or changing dynamics in the marketplace.
Standard & Poor's Ratings (http://www.standardandpoors.com) Financial strength ratings of insurance companies, plus detailed financial Insurer Profiles on nearly 4,000 companies.
Fitch Ratings (http://www.fitchratings.com) Financial strength ratings of insurance companies.
Have you heard of the company where you are considering purchasing coverage? Do you have any experience with the company?
Ask your peers what experiences they have had. What is your sense of the reputation of the company? How quickly and easily are claims processed? Is there 24-hour claims service? Is the claims management in the house of the insurance company or have they outsourced? Auto insurance is meant to make you whole in the case of an accident with injury or property damage. It is to protect your assets and protect you from liability. You will want the peace of mind of a superior rated company when it comes time to manage and pay the claim. The financial health of a car insurance company is an often-overlooked area when shopping for the best auto insurance rate. It is human nature to make your comparison solely on the rates for the coverages. While this is certainly important, you should be aware of the company's overall rating and level of satisfaction. Consulting insurance company ratings is crucial. Each company issues quarterly reports that are publicly accessible. You cannot always tell the future from the past. However, the past performance is a valuable insight into what expectation to have for your future coverage. One of the factors that are used in order to determine the companies' ratings is how long they have been in Business. If there is no history, you may be taking an unnecessary chance. Look for a company that has a history and make sure that history shows good performance.
What about the reputation of the insurance company? It is very simple to find this information. Just ask around. There are your peers, the BBB, and family. Many times these resources closest to you will be able to share experiences that are favorable or unfavorable regarding the company you are considering. In addition, each state has a Department of insurance that keeps public information about companies. Use all the resources you can to determine which company is best for you. Once you have paid for the policy, you will then become keenly interested in Customer Service. Be aware of what the source of information is regarding the insurance company. Many companies put our information about themselves in the form of illustrations that are intended to make them look as good as possible. Of course, while these illustrations must be factual, you should be aware that you are not receiving objective information.
How can you quickly check the company rating? You are on the internet now. Surely, there is a quick way.
Go to http://www.carinsurance.com. Not only will you get the rates of various insurance companies, you will see the A.M. Best rating for each company along side their rates for you personal situation.
Now is the time for your fingers to p
unch their way to a quick rate analysis and view the ratings at the same time.
Standard & Poor's Ratings (http://www.standardandpoors.com) Financial strength ratings of insurance companies, plus detailed financial Insurer Profiles on nearly 4,000 companies.
Fitch Ratings (http://www.fitchratings.com) Financial strength ratings of insurance companies.
Have you heard of the company where you are considering purchasing coverage? Do you have any experience with the company?
Ask your peers what experiences they have had. What is your sense of the reputation of the company? How quickly and easily are claims processed? Is there 24-hour claims service? Is the claims management in the house of the insurance company or have they outsourced? Auto insurance is meant to make you whole in the case of an accident with injury or property damage. It is to protect your assets and protect you from liability. You will want the peace of mind of a superior rated company when it comes time to manage and pay the claim. The financial health of a car insurance company is an often-overlooked area when shopping for the best auto insurance rate. It is human nature to make your comparison solely on the rates for the coverages. While this is certainly important, you should be aware of the company's overall rating and level of satisfaction. Consulting insurance company ratings is crucial. Each company issues quarterly reports that are publicly accessible. You cannot always tell the future from the past. However, the past performance is a valuable insight into what expectation to have for your future coverage. One of the factors that are used in order to determine the companies' ratings is how long they have been in Business. If there is no history, you may be taking an unnecessary chance. Look for a company that has a history and make sure that history shows good performance.
What about the reputation of the insurance company? It is very simple to find this information. Just ask around. There are your peers, the BBB, and family. Many times these resources closest to you will be able to share experiences that are favorable or unfavorable regarding the company you are considering. In addition, each state has a Department of insurance that keeps public information about companies. Use all the resources you can to determine which company is best for you. Once you have paid for the policy, you will then become keenly interested in Customer Service. Be aware of what the source of information is regarding the insurance company. Many companies put our information about themselves in the form of illustrations that are intended to make them look as good as possible. Of course, while these illustrations must be factual, you should be aware that you are not receiving objective information.
How can you quickly check the company rating? You are on the internet now. Surely, there is a quick way.
Go to http://www.carinsurance.com. Not only will you get the rates of various insurance companies, you will see the A.M. Best rating for each company along side their rates for you personal situation.
Now is the time for your fingers to p
unch their way to a quick rate analysis and view the ratings at the same time.
Seven Steps to Filing Your Car Insurance Claim
Having even a teeny-tiny car accident can be one of life's least enjoyable moments. However, accidents happen, and sooner or later, we all have the experience of meeting one of our fellow road travelers up close and personal. Using the following seven steps to filing your claim will help you get over this speed bump as smoothly as possible.
Step 1: Understand your policy
Before a loss, sit down and carefully read your insurance policy. Call your agent or company if you have any questions about what is or is not covered.
Step 2: Exchange information
If you are involved in an accident, get the other driver's name, address, phone number, insurance carrier, and insurer's phone number. Be prepared to give the same information about yourself to the other driver. You can find insurers' telephone numbers on the proof-of-insurance cards that should be carried on your person when operating a motor vehicle.
Step 3: Identify witnesses
Ask witnesses to the accident for their names and phone numbers in case their account of the accident is needed.
Step 4: File an accident report
Contact local law enforcement officers to have an accident report prepared. If law enforcement is not reachable, accident reports and detailed instructions are available at all police departments, sheriff's offices, your local Department of Motor Vehicles office, and on your local Department of Motor Vehicles' web site.
Step 5: Notify your insurer
Contact your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. An insurance adjuster will review the accident report to determine who caused the accident. If the accident was not your fault, you can have either your insurance company or the at-fault driver's insurance company handle the repair or replacement of your vehicle. If you use the other driver's company, you will not have a claim on your automobile policy and you will not have to pay a deductible.
Step 6: Do not release insurers too early
Do not relieve your insurance company of its responsibility until the damages are settled to your satisfaction. For example, have your insurance company handle the claim if the other party's insurance company questions its policyholder's negligence or offers an unacceptable settlement.
Step 7: Consider these settlement factors
. Bodily injuries: You may be entitled to a monetary settlement for injuries caused by another at fault (liable) party. It can take several days for some injuries to become apparent.
. Damages: The insurance company is responsible to pay for the reasonable cost of repairs to your vehicle. An insurance adjuster will assess the damage. Usually, insurance companies and auto body shops negotiate disagreements about what should be repaired. If you disagree with their conclusions, you have the right to obtain another appraisal at any auto body shop.
. Appraisal clause: Most auto insurance policies include an appraisal clause, which can be used to help settle disputes about physical damage claims between you and your insurance company. (The appraisal clause does not apply for claims you file with the other party's insurance company.) If you cannot reach an agreement with your company, you or your insurer can initiate the appraisal clause. Your appraiser and your insurer's appraiser then select an independent umpire to try to resolve the dispute. Check your policy or ask your agent or insurance company for more information about the appraisal clause.
Step 1: Understand your policy
Before a loss, sit down and carefully read your insurance policy. Call your agent or company if you have any questions about what is or is not covered.
Step 2: Exchange information
If you are involved in an accident, get the other driver's name, address, phone number, insurance carrier, and insurer's phone number. Be prepared to give the same information about yourself to the other driver. You can find insurers' telephone numbers on the proof-of-insurance cards that should be carried on your person when operating a motor vehicle.
Step 3: Identify witnesses
Ask witnesses to the accident for their names and phone numbers in case their account of the accident is needed.
Step 4: File an accident report
Contact local law enforcement officers to have an accident report prepared. If law enforcement is not reachable, accident reports and detailed instructions are available at all police departments, sheriff's offices, your local Department of Motor Vehicles office, and on your local Department of Motor Vehicles' web site.
Step 5: Notify your insurer
Contact your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. An insurance adjuster will review the accident report to determine who caused the accident. If the accident was not your fault, you can have either your insurance company or the at-fault driver's insurance company handle the repair or replacement of your vehicle. If you use the other driver's company, you will not have a claim on your automobile policy and you will not have to pay a deductible.
Step 6: Do not release insurers too early
Do not relieve your insurance company of its responsibility until the damages are settled to your satisfaction. For example, have your insurance company handle the claim if the other party's insurance company questions its policyholder's negligence or offers an unacceptable settlement.
Step 7: Consider these settlement factors
. Bodily injuries: You may be entitled to a monetary settlement for injuries caused by another at fault (liable) party. It can take several days for some injuries to become apparent.
. Damages: The insurance company is responsible to pay for the reasonable cost of repairs to your vehicle. An insurance adjuster will assess the damage. Usually, insurance companies and auto body shops negotiate disagreements about what should be repaired. If you disagree with their conclusions, you have the right to obtain another appraisal at any auto body shop.
. Appraisal clause: Most auto insurance policies include an appraisal clause, which can be used to help settle disputes about physical damage claims between you and your insurance company. (The appraisal clause does not apply for claims you file with the other party's insurance company.) If you cannot reach an agreement with your company, you or your insurer can initiate the appraisal clause. Your appraiser and your insurer's appraiser then select an independent umpire to try to resolve the dispute. Check your policy or ask your agent or insurance company for more information about the appraisal clause.
Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Premium
Many factors affect the premium you will pay for auto insurance. Each is a statistically based risk for a specific population. The higher the risk associated with a person, the more he or she is likely to pay for coverage. We have elaborated on some of the risk factors below, but there are numerous others, including driver's gender, miles driven per year, purpose for using the vehicle (commuting to work, using for work, leisure only), etc.
Factors you CANNOT easily change that affect your car insurance rates:
Age Statistically, drivers under the age of 25 are at greater risk of being in an accident than those over age 25. Drivers between the ages of 50 and 65 generally have the safest records.
Gender Women are statistically safer drivers.
Marital Status A married person will pay less than a single person with an identical driving record. Factors you CAN change that affect your car insurance rates
Geography Where you live makes a difference. Folks living in areas with little or no traffic are likely to spend less on insurance than those living in congested cities or suburbs because areas with a lot of traffic tend to see more accidents. Some neighborhoods also have a higher rate of vehicle thefts, which can result in a higher premium.
Driving Violations Having an accident or moving violations on your record (speeding tickets, DWI, reckless driving, etc.) put you at a higher risk for accidents and will likely mean a higher premium. Some insurance companies will penalize you for your record for as many as five years from when the incident occurred. However, keep in mind, as your record improves, your premium will get lower.
Vehicle Type El cheapo car will cost less to insure than that status symbol SUV sitting on 24" rims baby.
Accident Claims A driving record that is clean and free of accidents will hold fare better for you than lots of tickets and/or accidents.
Credit Rating Many insurance companies view having a poor, or even no credit history as suggestive of higher risk and thus, charge you a higher premium.
Occupation Insurers have statistically found a correlation between your occupation and risk. For instance, a newspaper delivery person is most likely a higher risk than the personal banker sitting at their desk all day.
Other factors that help determine premiums:
. Driving distance to work . Miles driven each year . Years of driving experience . Business use of the vehicle . Whether or not you currently have auto insurance . Theft protection devices (often results in discounts) . Multiple cars and drivers (another opportunity for discounts)
What can I do right now to make sure I have the lowest premium?
Shop around and compare quotes from different insurers. They base their premiums on their claims experiences, which naturally differ. One company may see your area as a higher risk than others may. Another may charge more because of your occupation. Shopping at http://www.carinsurance.com makes it easier because you can quickly see multiple companies and their rates for your particular situation. Where do I go for quotes?
One stop can take care of it all. Go to www.carinsurance.com where you can receive multiple quotes, pick the best price, and then purchase. Get covered immediately on-line or over the phone. It REALLY is the easiest way to purchase car insurance.
Factors you CANNOT easily change that affect your car insurance rates:
Age Statistically, drivers under the age of 25 are at greater risk of being in an accident than those over age 25. Drivers between the ages of 50 and 65 generally have the safest records.
Gender Women are statistically safer drivers.
Marital Status A married person will pay less than a single person with an identical driving record. Factors you CAN change that affect your car insurance rates
Geography Where you live makes a difference. Folks living in areas with little or no traffic are likely to spend less on insurance than those living in congested cities or suburbs because areas with a lot of traffic tend to see more accidents. Some neighborhoods also have a higher rate of vehicle thefts, which can result in a higher premium.
Driving Violations Having an accident or moving violations on your record (speeding tickets, DWI, reckless driving, etc.) put you at a higher risk for accidents and will likely mean a higher premium. Some insurance companies will penalize you for your record for as many as five years from when the incident occurred. However, keep in mind, as your record improves, your premium will get lower.
Vehicle Type El cheapo car will cost less to insure than that status symbol SUV sitting on 24" rims baby.
Accident Claims A driving record that is clean and free of accidents will hold fare better for you than lots of tickets and/or accidents.
Credit Rating Many insurance companies view having a poor, or even no credit history as suggestive of higher risk and thus, charge you a higher premium.
Occupation Insurers have statistically found a correlation between your occupation and risk. For instance, a newspaper delivery person is most likely a higher risk than the personal banker sitting at their desk all day.
Other factors that help determine premiums:
. Driving distance to work . Miles driven each year . Years of driving experience . Business use of the vehicle . Whether or not you currently have auto insurance . Theft protection devices (often results in discounts) . Multiple cars and drivers (another opportunity for discounts)
What can I do right now to make sure I have the lowest premium?
Shop around and compare quotes from different insurers. They base their premiums on their claims experiences, which naturally differ. One company may see your area as a higher risk than others may. Another may charge more because of your occupation. Shopping at http://www.carinsurance.com makes it easier because you can quickly see multiple companies and their rates for your particular situation. Where do I go for quotes?
One stop can take care of it all. Go to www.carinsurance.com where you can receive multiple quotes, pick the best price, and then purchase. Get covered immediately on-line or over the phone. It REALLY is the easiest way to purchase car insurance.
Should I Buy Rental Car Insurance?
Rental car agencies have a menu of insurance policies they would like to sell you. While each policy could be of some benefit under the right circumstances, you should review each plan (its provisions, limitations, and exclusions) before making a purchase. It is a good idea to request the detailed information from an agent at the rental office, as most companies only provide a summary on their Web sites.
Keep in mind; you may not need to buy this additional car insurance because you have auto insurance from your own car insurance company. Generally speaking, when you rent a car, the liability coverage limits you have in your own auto insurance policy remain in effect with the same limits. In addition, the comprehensive and collision coverages you have in your own auto insurance policy remain in effect with the same deductibles. You do have comprehensive and collision coverage don't you? See our article, "How Much Car insurance Should You Buy?" for a listing of coverage types and definitions.
You may also have some kind of additional auto insurance coverage through your credit card but it is important that you check your credit card information for specific details. Some cards only offer coverage if you rent your car from a particular agency. Some limit the days for which coverage is available. Some will only provide coverage for certain types and/or classes of cars. With some cards, the coverage is not automatic and you must enroll in a program to get coverage. Some cards that advertise automatic rental insurance really only reimburse you for the deductible that you would have to pay under your regular insurance policy. Still others may provide only collision and comprehensive coverage, leaving you exposed for personal injury or property damage to others. Rental car agencies typically offer liability coverage in two parts - a supplemental liability policy protects against claims from others and a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers the rental car. LDW is not technically insurance; rather, it is a company's agreement not to hold the consumer liable for loss from all or part of any damage to merchandise.
Before you rent a vehicle, realize the charges you could be responsible for and how these charges are covered or not covered by both your own auto insurance policy and the car insurance the rental company is offering.
If you suffer a loss that is not covered under your auto policy, check your other insurance policies. For example, if personal property has been stolen from your rental car, it may be covered under your Homeowners or renters policy. Similarly, certain medical policies may cover costs of injuries not covered by your car insurance policy.
As always, check with your insurance company to find out exactly what is covered under your own auto insurance policy.
Keep in mind; you may not need to buy this additional car insurance because you have auto insurance from your own car insurance company. Generally speaking, when you rent a car, the liability coverage limits you have in your own auto insurance policy remain in effect with the same limits. In addition, the comprehensive and collision coverages you have in your own auto insurance policy remain in effect with the same deductibles. You do have comprehensive and collision coverage don't you? See our article, "How Much Car insurance Should You Buy?" for a listing of coverage types and definitions.
You may also have some kind of additional auto insurance coverage through your credit card but it is important that you check your credit card information for specific details. Some cards only offer coverage if you rent your car from a particular agency. Some limit the days for which coverage is available. Some will only provide coverage for certain types and/or classes of cars. With some cards, the coverage is not automatic and you must enroll in a program to get coverage. Some cards that advertise automatic rental insurance really only reimburse you for the deductible that you would have to pay under your regular insurance policy. Still others may provide only collision and comprehensive coverage, leaving you exposed for personal injury or property damage to others. Rental car agencies typically offer liability coverage in two parts - a supplemental liability policy protects against claims from others and a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers the rental car. LDW is not technically insurance; rather, it is a company's agreement not to hold the consumer liable for loss from all or part of any damage to merchandise.
Before you rent a vehicle, realize the charges you could be responsible for and how these charges are covered or not covered by both your own auto insurance policy and the car insurance the rental company is offering.
If you suffer a loss that is not covered under your auto policy, check your other insurance policies. For example, if personal property has been stolen from your rental car, it may be covered under your Homeowners or renters policy. Similarly, certain medical policies may cover costs of injuries not covered by your car insurance policy.
As always, check with your insurance company to find out exactly what is covered under your own auto insurance policy.
Term Life Insurance Help
Life insurance can be a very scary thing. If you buy insurance when you're 30, but don't die until you're 90, chances are you're going to come out on the loosing end of insurance. However, what if you can't afford expensive life insurance like whole life insurance, what are your options?
This is where about 95% of the population fit in. Whole life insurance, that acts not only as life insurance, but as an investment vehicle, is simply out of the reach of most people. It's too expensive.
Term life insurance was designed for with these people in mind. Term life insurance is cheap insurance that runs for a specific period of time and then expires. Usually the term of the insurance is during the years of your life when you are expected to be the most healthy and least likely to die. This allows you to protect your loved ones in the event of an accidental death, where something happens to you unexpectedly.
If you need help finding term life insurance, one of the best places to look is online. There are websites specifically about term life insurance that are designed to simplify the process of applying and getting insurance. They will walk you through the process and even give you tips along the way.
insurance is one of the hobbies of John Jonas, as he has many of them. Others include his family, mlm Businesses, and golf.
This is where about 95% of the population fit in. Whole life insurance, that acts not only as life insurance, but as an investment vehicle, is simply out of the reach of most people. It's too expensive.
Term life insurance was designed for with these people in mind. Term life insurance is cheap insurance that runs for a specific period of time and then expires. Usually the term of the insurance is during the years of your life when you are expected to be the most healthy and least likely to die. This allows you to protect your loved ones in the event of an accidental death, where something happens to you unexpectedly.
If you need help finding term life insurance, one of the best places to look is online. There are websites specifically about term life insurance that are designed to simplify the process of applying and getting insurance. They will walk you through the process and even give you tips along the way.
insurance is one of the hobbies of John Jonas, as he has many of them. Others include his family, mlm Businesses, and golf.
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