Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Florida Health Insurance

Florida health insurance costs can prove to be a very real obstacle to many Florida consumers that are searching for a comprehensive and affordable Florida health insurance policy. Florida health insurance premiums can be pricey at first glance. However, when you consider that even some routine surgeries plus a week or more in a Florida hospital could cost upwards of six figures then the importance of finding a Florida health insurance policy that is both comprehensive and affordable cannot be underestimated.

The Florida health insurance market is a very competitive market. This is at once a very good thing and a very bad thing for the Florida health insurance shopper. The competitiveness of the Florida health insurance market is good for the Florida consumer because it forces the top companies to drive down their rates in an effort to maintain affordable health insurance policies as they compete against each other for your business. The negative aspect of the Florida health insurance market’s competitiveness is that many insurance companies are attracted to the strong demand for health insurance in the state of Florida and not all have the sterling reputation of an Aetna, Humana, or a United Healthcare.

Without mentioning names, this strong demand for Florida health insurance will attract health insurance companies to Florida that are forced to put calendar year limits in their policies or only cover benefits up to a certain amount (an indemnity style policy) in order to try and compete with stronger, more established companies.

Just to contrast the seriousness of this, imagine that you blow out your knee as you are exercising and you have to have arthroscopic knee surgery and a week plus in the hospital brings the total bill to $100,000.

With a strong reputable Florida health insurance company with an established dependable network such as one of the Florida health insurance “Big 3” (Aetna, Humana, and United Healthcare) you will have coverage of anywhere from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 per person without any calendar year limits and without limits on benefits payable for certain procedures. That $100,000 hospital bill is whittled down to your maximum out of pocket cost of probably around $3,000 to $5,000 depending on your policies deductible and coinsurance amount.

Now imagine that you had decided years back that you wanted to go with a Florida health insurance company that you had never heard of until then and purchase a seemingly attractive indemnity policy or a policy with a calendar year limit: if the limit on the policy is for say $10,000 for that particular procedure or maybe only up to $200 a day for every day in the hospital… guess what? Once you reach that limit threshold you are stuck with the rest of the bill. It is as if you do not even have insurance once you reach the limits in the policy.

The different Florida health insurance policies can be difficult to navigate without the assistance of an expert independent insurance agent. View Florida health insurance quotes from the top companies side by side and compare them to ensure that you have both affordable and comprehensive Florida health insurance.

About the Author:
Joel J. Ohman
http://www.RealtimeHealthQuotes.com
Article Source: Article Warehouse

How To Best Handle Health Insurance Plan Changes

Many economists have suggested and recent economic data indicates that the economy is steadily moving in the right direction. A combination of several factors has no doubt had a negative impact on the economy over the last several years.

The recent state of the economy, combined with the increasing cost of healthcare, has made it difficult for all size employers to continue to offer the same level of employee benefits. In the case of health insurance, future plan modifications may be necessary over the next few years.

After much consideration, these modifications may take the form of increasing deductibles, out of pocket maximums, office visit copays, and prescription copays. Employees may also be required to increase their contribution amount. A vast majority of employees understand the current strain facing employers. Employees are particularly aware of the difficulties faced by medium and small business owners.

If you find that plan changes are inevitable, several aspects are very important to pay attention to when modifying your group health insurance coverage. Modify the parts of your plan that provide a savings while having the least impact on your employees. Make sure the changes are fair to both the employer and employee. Develop and execute a strategy that clearly communicates the plan changes as well as the reasons for the changes.

When the outlook for your business does improve, your organization’s ability to capitalize will greatly be dependent on your ability to attract and retain productive employees during difficult economic times.

About the Author:
Michael Ertel the founder of http://www.MedicalInsuranceNow.com which is a website that assists individuals and small business owners by providing side by side comparisons of health insurance alternatives.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Monday, October 30, 2006

Know All About Life Insurance Before Buying It!

Life insurance is important but you must get your facts right before buying it. Before buying it you must know what the policy offers and what it does not offer. And for this you must make your agent sit and answer your questions.

Life insurance is important but you must get your facts right before buying it. Before buying it you must know what the policy offers and what it does not offer. And for this you must make your agent sit and answer your questions.

Life insurance gives you a secure future however you must not think that it will protect you against all the possible events. Such policies that protect you against all eventualities are actually not worth it. It addition to that they will also cost you a small fortune. So make a list of questions and get them answered before you buy the policy.

1. What are the prohibiting clauses?
You must know what your policy covers and what it does not. To avoid buying unnecessary coverage, you must fully understand all the clauses. If you do not understand a particular section, ask your agent or company representative. All this will make you feel comfortable and save you from unwanted nervousness.

2. Do you have an exchangeable policy and for how long?
If your policy is convertible, you must ask about this clause and all the clauses associated with it. You can exchange a convertible policy with another policy later on without providing further evidence of insurability.

3. Is there a loan clause in your policy?
A loan clause allows you to borrow from its cash value. People are often not aware of this clause, and so you must not forget to ask about it. Also ask about the tenure and interest.

4. What premiums you have to pay?
You must know whether you have to pay a fixed or a variable premium. Different companies have variable rates for premiums. You must know how much you will have to pay along with the due dates. This is the most important thing and you must get it clear before hand.

5. When does your policy expire?
You should know when your policy starts and when it ends. Check if your policy offers a grace period. Some renewable policies offer a grace period of 31 days after the expiry date. You must get yourself clear on this issue.

6. What change of plan provision does the policy have?
There are clauses which allow you to change over to a high premium policy during the lifetime of your plan. You must know if your policy offers this clause and you must also know the criteria for it.

7. How do you claim your policy and is your policy renewable?
You must know how to claim your policy. For this the contact person or agency must be clearly mentioned in the document along with the necessary guidelines. You must also know the basis on which the company can refuse your claim. Policy renew ability is another thing which is very important for you to know. You must know the criteria for renewal. Make sure that this clause is clearly stated in your policy.

Get all your doubts clear before you buy a policy. You want a safe and secure future for your family, and for that you must understand your policy properly.

About the Author:
George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including finance and wealth site. If you want to read more about life insurance, click over to George life insurance site.
Submitted on 2006-09-20
Article Source: http://www.articlesalley.com/

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Advice For Choosing An Insurance Company

Here’s a riddle for you: It’s out there for your cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even motor homes. They have it for your doctor visits, your little football player’s broken arm, and your handyman husband’s fall off the ladder. You can get it for theft, fires, and falling trees. It’s not always required, but it’s always good for peace of mind. What is it?

It’s insurance, and it’s everywhere, as are the insurance companies that sell it. Before you start searching for various insurance policies, though, you should consider this advice about choosing an insurance company:

1. Decide what kind of insurance you’re looking for. Health? Life? Car? Homeowner’s? Any combination of the above? If you choose the latter option, you need to begin your search for an insurance company by looking for one that specializes in more than just one kind of insurance. Since most insurance companies offer discounts when you purchase more than one insurance policy from them, purchasing two or more policies from the same insurance company can help you save money.

2. Do your homework. Shop around and check out several different insurance companies. Then, narrow that group to the three or four that best suit your needs. Once you have those chosen, research each company by checking out ratings from independent research companies as well as your state’s insurance bureau.

3. In the end, choose a company that’s going to allow you some wiggle room. Many insurance companies allow you a window of time in which you can cancel your policy, no strings attached. This window allows you a bit more time to read over what you’ve purchased, and think about whether it is really want you want and need.

There are probably as many insurance companies out there as there are used car dealerships, and just like those dealerships, they want your business. Take the above advice and choose the right insurance company for you.

About the Author:
Elizabeth Newberry
Get Affordable Car Insurance Information Online Home Owners Insurance Quote Car Insurance Quote
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

Saturday, October 28, 2006

The New Health Insurance - Avoid Diabetes and Heart Disease So Your Medical Retirement Account Can Grow

It is now estimated the average couple will need over $200,000 in retirement just to cover medical expenses. Health Savings Accounts are now giving people serious incentives to take care of their health so that money will be there when they need it in old age.

Health savings accounts are tax-favored accounts where someone with a qualifying High Deductible Health insurance Plan (HDHP) can deposit money to be used for future medical expenses. The money can be withdrawn any time to pay medical expenses tax-free. Those who stay healthy and don't withdraw the money benefit from tax-deferred growth, just like with an IRA.

Many experts now believe that 85-90% of all health problems are self-induced, and can be easily avoided if you understand how. By avoiding the most common diseases that affect modern Americans, you can delay having to take money out of your HSA, and take great advantage of the tax-deferred growth. Over a 20 year period, tax-deferred growth and tax-free use of your money to pay medical expenses during retirement could yield a 30% better return than a taxable investment.

Metabolic Syndrome: The Preventable Diseases That Almost Everyone Gets

One out of every five Americans, 45% of those in their 60's, and two-thirds of overweight people have metabolic syndrome. An astounding 70% of Americans have at least one symptom. The symptoms of metabolic syndrome include elevated fasting blood sugar, high LDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and a waist circumference of 34 inches or more. Three of the top five causes of death - diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease - are all related to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome could also be thought of as "pre-diabetes". Of the cancers, prostate and breast cancer are particularly correlated with metabolic syndrome. And metabolic syndrome will soon overtake cigarette smoking as the number one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Yet the diseases of metabolic syndrome are almost entirely preventable by simply eating a good diet, exercising, and maintaining a normal body weight. Do so, and you avoid paying for the medications that everyone else is taking. Even more importantly, you avoid the surgery, hospitalization, rehab, and all the other expenses that come with a heart attack, stroke, colon cancer, and other related health problems.

If you are withdrawing several hundred dollars a year from your HSA to pay for cholesterol medication and blood pressure medication and other drugs, you're going to have a difficult time growing the account. But if you stay healthy, and invest most of your money in a good mutual fund, you could easily accumulate over $500,000 in a 25 year period.

HSAs reward personal responsibility. Those who save for the future and maintain healthy lifestyle habits will be rewarded with both health and wealth in their old age.

About the Author:
By Wiley Long - President, HSA for America (http://www.health--savings--accounts.com/http://www.health--savings--accounts.com) - The nation's leading independent health insurance firm specializing in individual and family coverage that works with a Health Savings Account. Please link to this site when using this article.
Submitted: 2006-09-27
Article Source: Go Articles

Friday, October 27, 2006

Life Insurance Settlement ! Sale of a Life Insurance Policy!!

A Life Insurance Settlement is the sale of a life insurance policy to a third party in exchange for a cash settlement in excess of cash surrender value of the policy, even if none exists! This is also called as Life Insurance settlement, Insurance settlement or Senior settlement.

This innovative wealth and estate planning tool removes the burden of expensive insurance premium payments in addition to providing the lump sum cash settlement. This allows policy holders to get cash out of their policy, in an amount in excess of the it's cash value (if any), while they are still alive. To get the highest life settlements is to improve the quality of life during your retirement years.

Life settlement: When an individual who does not have a terminal or chronic illness sells a policy for other reasons, including changed needs of dependents, wanting to reduce premiums, and cash for meeting expenses, that is known as a Life settlement.

Viatical settlement: When an individual with a terminal or chronic illness sells his or her life insurance policy that is known as a viatical settlement.

Hitherto, elderly Americans with life insurance policies they do not need or cannot afford to keep up have had little option. They will let the policies lapse or sell them back to their insurers. Now lots of them are glad to have an alternative buyer. Clients may now be able to sell their policy for far more than the cash surrender value the insurance carrier would offer.

The life insurance policy owner sells his or her contractual rights under the policy at its present market value in exchange for a lump sum cash payment, which payment exceeds the cash surrender value of the policy. The purchaser of the policy will then become the new owner and the new beneficiary of the policy and is then responsible for making all of the future premium payments. The new owner now collects the full amount of the death benefit when the insured dies.

Life Insurance settlement or Life settlement present a unique opportunity to the policy holder to extract the maximum possible value from an existing life insurance policy and repurpose those funds for whatever financial needs may exist.

Clients will often ask if there are any restrictions on what the cash payment can be used for. The answer is that there are no restrictions whatsoever on what the cash payment can be used for. They can use the money to purchase new insurance, travel the world, start a business, buy a property or fulfill their dreams. The money is theirs to simply enjoy and use it for any reason they can think of. In fact, seniors can use the cash settlement for medical expenses, living expenses, or anything they desire, with no restrictions.

There are various reasons why individuals sell their life insurance policy.
Why sell a life insurance policy?

1. If you are chronically ill, selling your current life insurance policy provides needed funds to cover financial burdens caused by your illness. A viatical settlement gives you the ability to regain needed financial security.

2. If you are over the age of sixty-five, a life settlement maximizes your current assets by eliminating premiums and getting funds that can be used today.

3. Pay off debts

4. Make funds available for other investments

5. Turn a lapse insurance policy into cash

6. Pay your medical care bills

7. Finance your retirement

8. If you are a corporation, selling corporate owned life insurance lets you regain back premiums paid on no longer needed policies.

9. If you are a non profit organization, selling a gifted life insurance policy provides funds that can be used now and also eliminates premiums.

10. If you managing an estate, selling your current life insurance policy will help manage changes in estate size, eliminate premiums, and liquidate policies that no longer are needed.

How much money will the clients get when they sell their life insurance policy?

The value of a life insurance policy is determined by a number of factors, including, but not limited to,

1. Face value of the policy
2. The age and medical condition of the insured
3. Estimated mortality of the insured
4. Loans against the policy
5. Rating of the insurance carrier
6. Cash value of the policy
7. Type of policy and prevailing interest rates
8. The net death benefit
9. Premium payments required to keep the policy in force

Typically, a life settlement is about three to five times the cash surrender value of the policy.

What Life Insurance Policies Qualify?

To find out whether you qualify, here are some of the requirements.

(A) Must be at least 65 years of age
(B) The face value of the policy is at least $50,000
(C) The insured has experienced deterioration in health since the insurance policy was issued; life expectancy is under 15 years
(D) The insurance policy is in effect beyond the two year contestable period
But any policy owner, including individuals, corporations, charities or trusts, may sell any life insurance policy, including group and term policies.

What types of polices are purchased?

1. Government issued policies
2. Term Life
3. Universal Life
4. Survivorship policies
5. Many Group types of policies
6. Corporate Owned Life Insurance
7. Whole Life
8. Basically All Types of Life Insurance Policies

Experts at Financial-Ease assist in achieving the highest value for their client's life insurance policies. Their goal is to get you the highest price for your life insurance policy. Their mission is to serve clients with highest offers with honesty, integrity and confidentiality and get fast closings and payments

The life settlement value could be potentially much higher than the cash settlement of your life insurance policy. Don't continue to pay expensive premiums for coverage you no longer need, and don't surrender the policy or let it lapse. The Life insurance settlement solution is typically the Win-Win scenario that you have been looking for.

About the Author:
Paul Sherman is a Cash Flow Consultant. He offers free, professional and independent advice to Individuals, Business owners and Seniors regarding Life Settlements, Structured Settlements, Mortgage & Business notes, Lawsuit funding etc.To sell your Life Insurance & Structured settlement please visit www.Financial-ease.com
Content Provider: http://www.my-articles.com

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Life Insurance. Cut the Pounds – Cut the Premium

Obesity is becoming a real problem in the UK. In the past twenty years the number of overweight adults has snowballed and latest figures estimate that more than half of the population of UK women are classed as overweight or obese. It's even worse for men, with six out of ten coming into the "tubby or worse" classification.

Unfortunately things don't look so good for the future, either. A survey of children ranging in age from two year old toddlers to the mid-teenagers reveals that more than one in five boys and in excess of one in four girls are in the overweight range.

Life insurance companies are aware of the health risks connected with the obesity problems. When working out quotations for life insurance it's common practice for them to charge up to four times the standard (ideal weight) premium. The bad news for the overweight population is that the limits are steadily being lowered.

The result of these altered requirements will put many people who are only slightly overweight into the higher premium bracket and for the extremely obese the news is really bad. They could even be refused life insurance altogether.

When filling in your life insurance application form, you'll be asked to state your height and weight. A new little box may have been added under the "weight" part – you may be asked what date you were last weighed. This is to counteract the amnesia caused by overweight – it is easy to knock off a few pounds (or more) here and there and when did you last weight yourself? From this height and weight information, the insurers will be able to work out your BMI, or body mass index. Should your BMI be higher than the normal limits you could be asked to have a medical check-up. If the news is bad and your weight be way over the normal you could find your premium raised by up to 400%. Even being slightly heavier than normal could increase your monthly premium by 50%.

You may decide to check your own BMI. You can do this in four simple steps.

1.Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.
2.Divide the result by your height in inches.
3.Divide this second result by your height in inches (again).
4.And the answer is your BMI

Normally, insurance companies would prefer to you to be in the 18.5 to 24.9 range of BMI to be considered normal. Over 25 and you're overweight and over 30 qualifies you as obese. Over 35 and medical research shows that your life expectancy would be in question.

Another of the criteria affecting the price of your premium relates to your age. The younger you are the higher will be the increase in premium. This shows an acceptance of the fact that people tend to weigh rather more as they age.

It's never too late to lose weight though. Whatever your age. The increase in health and vitality will be its own reward. There are lots of slimming club and health clubs and your GP should be able to give you advice and support if you show you really mean to take this important step.

Don't let the above facts stop you from going ahead and arranging some valuable life insurance. As the weight comes off you should be able to negotiate a reduction in premium.

Your insurers will be happier, too.

About the Author:
Michael Challiner
Life Insurance Quotes great articles based around life insurance quotes.
Posted: 21-09-2006
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

What is Life Insurance Awareness Month?

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month.

The children are going back to school, life is getting back to it's familiar routine as the lazy days of summer and coming to a close. As the seasons change there is one constant that doesn't .. family.

Hold on -- what if the family dynamic suddenly changed? The loss of a breadwinner or caregiver could be catastrophic to a family. Alone, the emotional rollercoaster shattering but coupled with financial strain could lead to mental and financial disaster.

There are plenty of reasons why so many Americans don’t have the life insurance coverage they need to protect their families. In my experience, procrastination tops the list.

“It’s on my to-do list” and “I plan to get to that soon” are common excuses people give to put off making what could be the most important financial decision they’ll ever make or, regrettably, not make.

There's a growing crisis in America of people not having enough life insurance coverage to provide for their loved ones in the event of their premature death. It is estimated that more than 60 million Americans lack sufficient coverage. When the worst happens and someone isn't prepared financially, the consequences can be dire. Those left behind are often forced to work additional jobs or longer hours, borrow money from friends and family, spend down retirement or college savings, and move to less expensive housing. It doesn't need to be that way.

Today, far too many American families endure severe financial hardship when a loved one dies. Your family deserves to be protected -- it's just a few dollars a month but well worth the investment.

About the Author:
Tracy Goldman is the Principal for CTM Insurance Group. She enjoys helping families protect themselves from unforeseen circumstances. http://www.ctminsurance.com
Article Submitted On: September 21, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Are You Cheating Yourself With High Insurance Rates?

Did you know that you could be saving loads of money on your different insurance policies? Sure you did – you hear about it on the radio, you see the commercials about it television, and you read about it on the Internet. Usually, the choices for saving money on various insurance policies include drastic measures such as making major home repairs or purchasing a new, safer, less-likely-to-be-stolen vehicle. However, there are simpler ways to save money on multiple insurance policies at the same time, and you may just be cheating yourself if you don’t take advantage of them.

One of the easiest ways to save money on different insurance policies is to purchase two or more insurance policies from the same insurance company, rather than purchasing each insurance policy from a different insurance company.

For example, let’s take a look at your car insurance policy and your homeowner’s insurance policy. Have you purchased the two different insurance policies from two different insurance companies? If so, you could be cheating yourself out of some major savings on insurance rates. Rather than install high-quality, and high-priced, alarm systems on both your vehicle and your home – which will help lower your insurance costs, but you just can’t afford at the moment – you could choose just one company from which to purchase both your car insurance policy and your homeowner’s insurance policy. Most insurance companies specialize in more than one kind of insurance, and offer discounts to policyholders who purchase more than one kind of insurance policy from them.

If you’re currently in the market for two or more different kinds of insurance policies, consider purchasing all of them from the same insurance company. And, if you currently have all of your insurance needs taken care of, consider merging all of your policies to just one insurance company. Call around and find out which insurance company offers the best deals for switching entirely to them.

About the Author:
Elizabeth Newberry
Buy Affordable Car Insurance Home Owners Insurance Florida Cheap Car Insurance
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

Monday, October 23, 2006

Getting The Best Homeowner Insurance Quote

How to find the best homeowner insurance quote online.

The online shoppers for home insurance have some powerful, distinct advantages. They don't need an appointment. They don't need to be intimidated by high-powered insurance salesmen. Nor do they need to be on the telephone. They simply need some time alone with a computer and to be prepared.

If you are planning to shop online, then you need to have some basic information at your disposal. The first resource in the list of necessary information would be a tax bill or an appraisal. The home appraisal has much of the information necessary to obtain an adequate quote. The market value of the home, the square footage, and the value of the property minus the value of the land are the most important criteria used to determine the amount of home owner insurance needed. The market value and age will dictate the type of policy to purchase. The renewal declarations page is a valuable source of information for the comparison shopper.

There are two primary types of home owner insurance: Actual Cash Value and Replacement Cost.

Actual cash value is one way the insurance companies settle losses. This method will calculate the actual replacement cost at the time of loss and subtract any depreciation because of age or use. You will generally see actual cash value policies written on older homes. Many of your older homes have a market value much less than the cost to rebuild. The homes built in the early 1900's are a good example, having ample amounts of ornate woodworking, as well as other architectural details. With this type of policy, these types or amenities will likely not be able to be replaced by the insurance proceeds in the event of a fire due to the depreciation component, which can be significant. Replacement of these design details can be very labor intensive, and thus costly. While the insurance proceeds would provide for the repair and rebuilding of the home, there will likely not be enough funds to pay for all of the previous fancy details. To be certain of their replacement, the other form of home owner insurance should be used.

Replacement Cost - This method is used for newer homes or homes under construction. Replacement cost claim settlements use materials of like kind and quality when repairing or rebuilding the structure and there is no allowance for depreciation, guaranteeing identical replacement of the original state of the structure.

The correct square footage is very important as the online insurance calculators determine the actual cost to rebuild your home based on your square footage calculation. Any extras such as air conditioning and fireplaces are upgrades that increase the replacement cost value of your home. Finished basements and outdoor decking also add to this calculation.

Generous discounts are given for smoke detectors, security systems, dead bolt locks, and fire extinguishers. There are even larger discounts for burglar and fire alarms that transmit directly to the police station and fire department. Be prepared with this information and your online shopping for home owner insurance will be much quicker, easier, and more accurate.

About the Author:
Greg Roy is a widely recognized construction and real estate expert who specializes in environmentally friendly homes. To learn more about Home Owner Insurance, please visit his website at http://homeowner.insurance-deal-s.com.
Submitted on 2006-09-20
Article Source: http://www.articlesalley.com/

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Beat Your Competition By Controlling The Cost Of Your Health Insurance

As many of us expect, the New Year will bring both tremendous challenges and opportunities for all of us both personally and professionally. Employers continue to face the major challenge of controlling the cost of their health insurance and other employee benefit programs. Organizations that can best get a handle on the cost of their employee benefit programs have an excellent opportunity to gain an advantage over their competition.

What are some practical ways to control the cost of your health insurance? Here are a few suggestions:

1) Investigate all of your traditional and consumer directed health plan options. Many companies are easing into consumer directed plans by offering them as part of a "dual choice" program.

2) Out of network benefits. If your PPO network has adequate access to network providers, plan designs that strongly encourage the use of preferred providers save premium and claim dollars while the insured still gets the needed care at a discounted rate.

3) Prescription drug coverage. Rx plans that encourage the use of generics and require mandatory mail order for maintenance medications are an efficient use of your benefit dollars.

4) Encourage wellness. What is the old saying? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of gain.

5) Consumerism. Access to the tools necessary to be a “good” healthcare consumer will allow individuals to get the best care at the best price.

If you do not have time to personally handle the suggestions made above, consider enlisting the services of an independent insurance broker that specializes in designing and evaluating health plan options. A good insurance broker should be able to save you time, money, and ultimately serve as a trusted resource for plan recommendations now and in the future.

About the Author:
Michael Ertel the founder of http://www.MedicalInsuranceNow.com which is a website that assists individuals and small business owners by providing side by side comparisons of health insurance alternatives.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Employer Liability Insurance

Employer liability insurance is generally present in workers’ compensation policies. This form of liability insurance protects the employers against employee claims for accidents resulting from alleged employer negligence. Normally, employees do have the right to statutory benefits. Yet, there are instances when employees can file a lawsuit against their employers. An employer who is overtly negligent can be sued by his employees. Added to that are cases where the employer had the dual responsibility of the employer and the manufacturer. If one of his products is to cause harm to his employee, then the latter can sue under what is called the doctrine of dual capacity.

Lately, employer's liability insurance has become a lot more important, resulting in sharp rises in premium costs. One of the major issues over the years has been cancer claims from employees who are working with asbestos on a day-to-day basis and also in environments that have smokers. Such instances have spawned new policies to guard against any liability that could be put on the employer by the employee from injuries the latter could sustain during the course of his employment.

In several states, insurers are not allowed to include conditions in their policies such as that look at imposing unreasonable conditions precedent to liability. Also, the insured are required to take precautions or comply with prevailing regulations. In countries where such type of insurance is not obligatory, it can be disastrous for smaller companies, who are liable to go bankrupt when faced with such claims.

Liability Insurance provides detailed information on Liability Insurance, General Liability Insurance, Professional Liability Insurance, Pollution Liability Insurance and more. Liability Insurance is affiliated with Short Term Disability Insurance.
visit me at http://www.i-disabilityinsurance.com/

About the Author:
Steve Valentino
Article Source: Article Warehouse

Friday, October 20, 2006

Getting Cheap Motorcycle Insurance in the USA

Well-performing insurance agencies cater to every major need of its target clientele. And you can spot a well-performing insurance agency if it offers affordable motorcycle insurance plans. Cheap motorcycle insurance in the USA is readily available, so as soon as you register your new vehicle, you can just log in or pick up the phone book, and start shopping for the best bargains.

This should be no mystery to anyone who's living in the States. More and more insurance agencies offer cheap motorcycle insurance in the USA because the demand keeps growing. Yearly there are more and more people interested in purchasing motorbikes of different kinds. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s "Hurt Report" says the number of registered motorcycles has increased by 48% between the years 1995 and 2004.

Two other things mentioned in the "Hurt Report" are worthy of note. The first is that there is a remarkable increase in people over the age of 40 who purchased motorcycles in the year 2004. Another is that there is a greatly increased number of road accidents related to motorcycle driving. In fact, the figure has only been increasing. In the year 2004 alone, there were 4,008 fatalities - a remarkable jump from the previous year's 3,714 total.

By getting a good motorcycle insurance plan, you can minimize the damages that you, your motorcycle and the people you allow to ride on your motorcycle, incur during accidents. This is only being a responsible vehicle owner. Being a smart and responsible vehicle owner, however, requires a little more than the drive to protect one's valuables - it also required the patience and the smarts to pick out an affordable yet reliable insurance plan.

Now one of the best things about most types of motorbikes is being a "budget" vehicle. Many bikes are mostly low-maintenance and not gas-guzzling: ideal for the thrifty vehicle owner. And especially ideal for the free-spirited soul who doesn't like to be bound by limited road space and tight travel schedules. And since the owner of a motorbike knows all about saving, it's expected that he'll also want to save on the insurance cost.

Cheap motorcycle insurance in the USA is now so widespread, you can just ask your motorcycle-owning neighbor for tips and recommendations on what insurance companies to approach. But for the record, nothing beats doing your own research: go online and log into the official websites of different companies and gather quotes directly from the companies themselves - or spend some time in motorcycle forums. Ask questions and learn what the expert insured have to tell you.

About the Author:
GSET Publishing
Motorcycle-coverage.com provides you with information on cheap motorcycle insurance in the USA, progressive and motorcycle insurance, quotes and more to help you make an informed decision.
Content Provider: http://www.my-articles.com

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Life Insurance - Women Furious Over Insurer Gene Testing

Thousands of women with family histories of breast and ovarian cancer could pay higher insurance premiums or even be denied cover altogether under new proposals from the insurance industry.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is expected to lodge an application for permission for its members to ask women whether they have been tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

The faulty BRCA genes are responsible for about five per cent of the 41,700 new cases of breast cancer and 10 per cent of ovarian cancers diagnosed in Britain each year.

If the insurers are granted permission by the Genetics and Insurance Committee (the organisation that advises the Government on the issue), women who have tested positive could be forced to pay higher premiums. Some companies may even refuse high value life or critical illness insurance.

A notice published on the GIC’s website said, “The Committee expects that the Association of British Insurers will submit in late 2006/2007 four revised and updated applications for the use of adverse results from predictive genetic tests of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes (breast/ovarian cancer) in helping to determine insurance premiums for life and critical illness insurance.”

At present, the only predictive genetic test the committee has allowed insurance companies to ask about is for Huntington's Disease. This is because of the lack of environmental influences on its development.

However, across Europe, several countries have banned insurers from using genetic tests to decide premiums. Also, in 2005, a voluntary agreement to avoid using such tests by British insurance companies was extended until 2011.

Under this agreement, insurers can ask potential customers only about genetic testing results for Huntington's Disease. However, they can only ask for the information for policies that are worth more than £500,000 for life insurance, more than £300,000 for critical illness and more than £30,000 a year for payment protection.

But the association's genetics working party has indicated that it would like to bring about a change seeking permission to ask about two cancer genes and wants approval by the end of the year.

Approximately one in 850 women in Britain inherits a faulty BRCA1 gene. Those women will have a 14 to 18 per cent chance of developing breast cancer at some point in their lives.

Meanwhile insurers are not allowed to ask prospective policyholders if they have HIV, but they can ask them if they have exposed themselves to the risk of infection through unsafe sex or sharing needles.

An alliance of 45 leading charities, unions, scientists and lawyers have called on the Government to ban this genetic discrimination.

A study carried out by the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer found 28 per cent of women with a family history of breast cancer said the would be deterred from having a genetic test if insurers had access to the results.

About the Author:
Michael_Challiner
Get great articles on life insurance quotes from Life Insurance Quotes
Article Submitted On: September 21, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Tips When Buying Life Insurance

Like most other industries, life insurance companies have created a major presence online, and consumers are the ones who benefit the most. You can now do most of the research online when you are looking for life insurance quotes.

The first step is to decide what type of life insurance you are looking for. Next, you'll need to seek no-obligation quotes from several companies that offer exactly what you are looking for. The premiums will often vary significantly from one company to another, so a ittle research can end up saving you a lot of money,

Here are a few helpful suggestions to assist you with your online life insurance research:

  • Make sure that you get the right information about various life insurance categories. For example, whether it is temporary or permanent, either short term or long term, and is clear about it. Do they have comparable features and rates which will help you determine the right life insurance that is compatible with your needs.
  • Are they helpful in guiding you towards finding what you need? This is when you need to evaluate their customer service standards. Also, are they industry accredited? How many years have they been in business?
  • They should provide clear, straightforward explanations of their products to assist your decision, and not have a long and confusing document full of fine print, that conceals information about the policy that you need to know.
  • Any company that requests private financial information should ensure that all the information you have provided is safely protected, both during the transmission of the information over the internet, as well as the following days, weeks, and months that the company retains this information. Be certain that it is used only for providing your quote and is never shared with a third party.
  • All reputable companies have permanently available internet information services, toll free numbers to call, and preferably sign up services available online as well. The best ones even have live human customer service representatives to speak to when you call, rather than a computerized menu of selections and pre-recorded messages.

Life insurance can be a complex subject for most people. Here are a few tips to help ensure that you end up with the policy that fits with your particular needs:

  • You should have a thorough review of your life insurance policy regularly, especially if you have sudden changes in personal conditions, health and your financial matters. Your CPA (certified public accountant) is an ideal candidate to assist with this review.
  • Joint policies can be tricky, and are not advised. There are several strong reasons to keep policies separate. The insured should never be the owner of the policy. The wife should own the policy on her husband, and the husband should own the policy on his wife. The reason is that when one dies, proceeds from the life insurance policy pass into estate of the deceased, if the deceased was the owner of the policy. In this instance, the survivor does not receive the life insurance check directly and immediately. It goes into the estate and must go through probate. Unfortunately, attorneys take more than their fair share during the probate process, reducing the amount of money that loved ones receive upon death. And all of this can be avoided with one simple step: the insured should not own the policy. The loved one who is to receive the proceeds should own the policy. Incredibly simple, but also incredibly important.
  • Check into the usefulness of a critical illness policy as well. It is usually much less expensive to combine critical illness with your life policy, than adding it on later. Illness can often be as financially debilitating as death.
  • Be aware of the tax relief incentives, but don't let the tax benefits distract you from the reason for actually having a life policy. First and foremost, life insurance is to protect your family in a time of need, and any tax benefits should be treated purely as a secondary bonus.
  • Always ensure that you policy is worded so that the benefits go directly to the beneficiaries and not to your estate. The tax benefits are significant, no to mention avoiding the delays that could occur in the probate process. The simple step to achieve this has already been mentioned, but is worth repeating: the loved ones should own the policy on the insured. The person insured should never own the policy on himself, as this send the proceeds into the estate and the probate system upon death.
  • It is highly recommended that you talk to an independent adviser, such as your CPA, to ensure you are purchasing the right policy at the right price to adequately protect your family.

Remember that not all insurance companies online are totally ethical, and to be very wary of any offer that looks too good to be true. Some simple research with the Better Business Bureau, your state's insurance commissioner, and the attorney general's office will soon tell you whether you are dealing with a reputable life insurance company or not.

About the Author:
Greg Roy is a business owner, writer, and father. Find out more about the benefits of life insurance at http://life.insurance-deal-s.com.
Posted: 19-09-2006
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Homeowners insurance: What’s covered, what’s not, and what to look for

Individuals planning on purchasing a home spend weeks if not months picking the perfect neighborhood, floor plan, and then home before they even consider purchase. In a similar way, buyers will shop around and compare the interest rates offered them on mortgages. Yet, when it comes to homeowners insurance, the norm is to still simply to defer the decision-making to the agent. But just as you wouldn’t consider purchasing your home without first researching and planning, so also should homeowners insurance buyers consider the major options available when it comes to buying a homeowners policy.

In its simplest form, homeowners insurance is an agreement between you, the homeowner, and an insurance company, that in exchange for you making monthly payments, they will compensate you for any significant damage that affects your home. This at least was the form of original homeowner’s policies. Today’s policies are more complex, both covering, and excluding a wide range of situations.

Broadly, a homeowner’s policy covers four major areas of liability. These include:

1. Coverage for the structure of the home

2. Coverage for the contents of the home

3. Liability protection

4. Temporary displacement costs in the event of disaster

Coverage for the structure

This structural protection is what most people commonly conceive of when they think about homeowners insurance. Purchasing a home is a major investment in the lives of most individuals, and as a consequence, the threat of loss of that property, would be so devastating financially that it motivates individuals to seek out insurance as a means of protecting their financial interest. But despite common perceptions to the contrary, homeowners insurance does not cover any and all damages to the home. While each policy varies slightly, most commonly floods and earthquakes are excluded from coverage. That means that if you have a standard policy and your home floods, you will not be recompensed by your insurance company for your loss. On the other hand, other disasters such as hurricane, fire, and hail are typically covered under the standard policy. In addition, most standard policies cover other structures that are fixed or attached to the home, most commonly garages or porches. While these general guidelines hold true for most policies, the variance between insurance providers is significant enough that you should investigate the particulars of what is covered, and more importantly what is excluded regarding coverage for the structure of the home.

Coverage for Personal Belongings

Homeowner’s insurance policies cover not only the structure of a home, but much of its contents as well. Because the coverage to items within the home is not complete, however, it is important to know the limitations of your policy. The industry standard is between 50 and 70% of the value of the policy. That is, if you have the structure of your home insured for $100,000 that policy typically covers the value of your possessions up to $50,000 or $70,000 if they are stolen or damaged in non-excluded circumstances. But, just as with the structure of the home, this coverage is not all-inclusive. For example, there is typically a limit on the amount your insurer will pay out on high dollar items such as jewelry or expensive clothing. This limit can vary but typically maxes out at $2,000. An oft forgotten possession related to the home, is the landscaping. Under most standard policies insurance that will recompense the insured for up to $500 in landscaping damage is also covered. But once, again payment can only be attained if the causal factor (i.e. fire) was covered in the first place.

Liability Protection

Moving farther away from most common conceptions of a homeowner’s policy, it is important to note that policies also cover personal liability for you, your family members and pets. This means that by virtue of owning the homeowners policy you are covered in case, for example your dog tears up your neighbor’s lawn, or far worse, if your neighbor hurts himself while visiting your home. Even more in this aspect of the policy than in any others, the exceptions are vitally important to understand. The amount of liability coverage that comes with a basic policy is a rather standard $100,000. But depending on the exclusions, that similar number belies a world of difference when it comes to actual personal protection.

Temporary Displacement Compensation

If an accident befalls your home and you are unable to inhabit your home temporarily, your homeowners insurance provider will cover the costs of your housing and some additional costs during the interim. Included under this coverage, for most standard policies are things like food, and other basic living expenses. But some policies go farther by compensating you for slightly more extravagant costs like clothing purchases. The coverage for displacement costs varies here more than anywhere else. Some companies use a percentage calculation to determine how much in temporary displacement compensation you can receive to cover hotel bills, food, and the like. This number is most typically set at 20% of the value of the insurance on the structure of the home. Other companies take a different approach, however. They offer unlimited, or at least higher valued, temporary displacement compensation, however, these benefits are time-dependent. This means that once your coverage time expires, you receive no more benefits, no matter the costs you may still be incurring.

In all of these categories, insurers offer a wide variety of options dependant upon your willingness to pay. For example, you can up your protection for high-dollar possessions if you have a lot of jewelry. In the same way, if you are particularly concerned about liability you can pay extra for higher coverage and the same is also true of temporary displacement coverage. While what I have outlined here, provides you with a basic framework for understanding the various components of homeowners insurance and the general standards of the industry, the differences between individual policies can vary widely. Consequently, it is important for those considering the purchase of homeowners insurance that looking into the particulars of what has been covered here be made a priority. Only by understanding the precise offerings of competitors policies and understanding their functions, can you the customer come to find the policy that best suits your needs and those of your family.

Dan Johnson enjoys writing about homeowners insurance. Visit http://www.homeownersinsurancelowdown.com to learn more.

About the Author:
Dan Johnson
http://www.homeequityloanlowdown.com
Published 10/27/2005
Article Source: http://www.EzinePlug.com

Monday, October 16, 2006

RV Insurance Tips

Tips and helpful suggestions for getting the best value in RV insurance.

When most people think of RVs, pleasant thoughts of leisure and travel generally come to mind. What is usually never at the first of the list of thoughts regarding RVs is a tragic accident. RV insurance is one of those things in life that you are happy to have and hope you never use. Almost all states require that you have some form of insurance for your RV; it just makes good sense, regardless of the law requiring it. If you plan on buying RV insurance soon, here are a few tips to consider:

* If you don't plan on living in your RV, and you only use it for short, small trips, you may actually want to consult your current homeowners insurance and see if it is covered by that policy. If not, you may want to call your insurance agent and ask if there is a rider that can be purchased to include your RV on your homeowner's policy. If so, what is the coverage and for how much? Be certain to get a complete picture of exactly what is covered and what the limitations of the coverage are before proceeding.

Often you can save money by adding your RV onto to your homeowners policy, but certain restrictions apply. A common restriction is the the RV must not be registered for road use. If this is a restriction, be certain not to violate it. The financial damage of having an uninsured accident could be catastrophic.

* If you do live in your RV, you should clearly state that fact when getting the insurance quote. Some people think that telling the insurance company that you only use the RV for short trips occasionally will save them money if they live in it instead, and perhaps it will. But if you actually do have to file a claim at any point, the insurer has the right to deny the claim based upon false information, if the coverage is written for occasional use and you are actually living in the RV. Why put your entire insurance policy at risk just to save a few dollars? The risk simply isn't worth it. State what your exact usage will be and you should be fine.

* For those that spend a good deal of time in their RV, or possibly even live full-time in it, getting an insurance policy from an insurer that specializes in RV insurance would be a wise move. Most auto insurance companies don't really understand the special needs of the RV lifestyle. You can easily wind up with a policy that is not appropriate for a person who resides in an RV. Many special aspects of RV liability are not included in standard auto insurance. The coverage limits themselves can be very inadequate as well, so it is not advisable to simply go to your auto insurance company and accept what they offer. It would be wise to shop around and get some quotes from RV insurance specialists. Study these proposals to see how they differ from auto insurance and what extra coverage is included.

* It would be prudent to shy away from any insurance companies that are relatively new, and haven't had enough time to build up a track record of customer service. Unfortunately, con artists operate in nearly every field, and insurance is included in this group. The insurance industry has had some less than honest people set up a company, sell policies, collect the premiums, and then either just deny most claims or disappear altogether. Most states have an insurance commissioner to prevent this kind of activity as much as possible. Before you buy a policy, check to see how long the company has been in business and check with the insurance commissioner in your state as well, if you do not recognize the name of the insurance company. Be sure that the company is in good standing with them before you decide to buy. Using insurance companies endorsed by major RV groups like The Good Sam Club is usually a wise move for peace of mind as well.

Getting adequate RV insurance is much easier today than it has ever been in the past, and there are more choices than ever too, in large part thanks to the internet. If you are looking for RV insurance, shop wisely. If you use the suggestions given above, you will most likely make a wise and successful choice.

About the Author:
Greg Roy appreciates the pleasures and enjoyment of the RV lifestyle. Find out more about RV insurance at http://rv.insurance-deal-s.com.
Submitted on 2006-09-20
Article Source: http://www.articlesalley.com/

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Dental Insurance and Discount Dental Plans

Copyright 2006 Donovan Baldwin

There are two primary types of dental health care benefits. You may get dental insurance, or sign up for a discount dental plan. There are differences between the two of which you should be aware.

Dental insurance is sometimes difficult to get and somewhat expensive. This is because of the nature of dental health care. It tends to be somewhat predictable and structured over time. Because of this and other considerations, fees tend to be high relative to the savings. In many cases, the cost to you, the consumer, would be greater than the normal costs of the dental care itself.

This is a lose-lose situation. If the dental insurance company lowers its fees (premiums), it may wind up paying out more in claims. In other types of insurance, the insurance company bets, if you will, that you will stay healthy more than you will get sick. They make that same bet with a huge number of people. Statistics show that they are right more often than not, so, they get to keep a lot of the money they take in. Those who need to use the health insurance win, because they can get high cost services at lower prices if and when they need it. Even those who never use the services win in a sense because they have the comfort of knowing that should they need these services, they will be able to afford them.

Over the last several years, another type of dental health benefit has appeared. This is the discount dental plan. This more affordable dental plan is generally relatively inexpensive for both the member and the company, as well as providing some business benefit to the healthcare provider - the dentist.

It is easiest to think of the discount dental plan as a sort of club. Shopping clubs such as Sam's Club are somewhat similar. For a membership fee, the member gets to purchase goods and/or services at a cost lower than would be paid without the membership.

The "club" managers find dentists who agree to provide their regular services at reduced rates for members. These reduced rates may be expresses in terms of a percentage off what is referred to as the provider's "normal and customary" fees, or a specific price lower than the normal and customary fees may be agreed upon.

Unlike insurance, where claims may have to be filed, participation percentages computed, prior authorization may have to be obtained, among other bureaucratic procedures, most discount dental plans are active upon receipt of the first membership fee, which is normally paid monthly. The member is now able to search through the participating providers, find the one they want to see, and make an appointment.

One other difference with discount dental plans is the payment.

Under an insurance policy, the patient is generally responsible for a deductible amount, and then, once that deductible has been met, will pay a percentage of the following bills until another limit has been met, and then the insurance company will assume responsibility for paying all additional charges. At the provider's office, they may ask for payment upfront letting the patient deal with getting the insurance company to pay its share, or, the provider may bill the insurance company for its share and then bill the patient for the portion not covered.

Additionally, particularly in the last few years, the insurance companies have begun to assume part of the decision making process for the provider and the consumer. They have begun to require prior authorization for certain procedures or for referrals to other specialists or health care providers.

Discount dental plans, however, generally agree that you, the member, and the provider (dentist) will determine the course of treatment, including referrals. In fact, their main area of interest is in making certain that the provider bills you at the agreed upon rates for the services rendered. Be aware, however, that under most dental plans, you are responsible for the provider's fees at the time of service. You may be paying a lot less than you would have, but you must still pay.

Everybody wins with an affordable dental plan. The plan wins because they are getting paid a monthly fee for linking consumer to provider. The member wins because they can get the dental services they need for themselves or their family at discounted, sometimes greatly discounted, prices.

How does the provider win? Well, the provider is in business just like an attorney accountant, or auto mechanic. They need customers to keep their business going. Since many dentists are limited by law and custom from pursuing normal advertising methods, they find their main source of customers, i.e. patients, comes from three main sources; the telephone book, word-of-mouth, and some sort of referral service. The discount dental plan serves as a referral service. Their list of providers is much shorter than the yellow pages generally, and someone who is getting a discount at a certain dentist's office will most likely return to that dentist.

Once someone becomes a satisfied patient at a particular dentist's office, they will begin bringing in family members and recommending the services at that office to friends, extended family, and coworkers. So, you see, in a way, becoming a provider for an affordable dental plan is actually almost like buying advertising for the dentist.

As you have seen there are differences between discount dental plans and dental insurance. As in anything, if you are going to bear the cost yourself, it would be good to shop around to determine whether one or the other is best for you and then shop within that group for what appears to be the best deal. If you are employed, check first to see if your company offers either dental insurance or a discount dental plan as a health care benefit. Getting some sort of coverage or benefit through your company will usually be cheaper. In fact, if they do NOT offer any sort of dental coverage and you find a good policy or plan, tell the benefits people at your company. They may be able to not only arrange for that to be a cheaper way to go for you, but this may be something that several other people at your company could use.

About the Author:
Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. He would like to recommend http://realworldbenefits.com for your dental care needs.
Submitted: 2006-09-27
Article Source: Go Articles

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Insurance-Necessary For Peace Of Mind

There are many various types of insurance. Insurance is apolicy where you invest a certain amount, that you do notget back, that will pay you in the event of a predeterminedevent. The specifics vary greatly according to the kind ofinsurance.

Health insurance is designed to help you with your medicalcare. You will typically pay in a certain amount every monthcalled premiums and you may have to pay a certain percentageon your doctor's visits or prescriptions but the insuranceis designed to help you with the costs. It will also helpyou in emergencies such as an accident, a broken bone, or asudden illness. Insurance is there to help you if you arehaving a baby or another time where you need regular care.

Car insurance is intended for accidents; either your faultor someone else's. You pay on your car insurance premiumevery month (or quarterly or yearly) and if you are in anaccident, the insurance can cover damages. There are twobasic kinds of car insurance; liability and full-coverage.Liability will only cover what you are liable for.Full-coverage will cover anything that happens to your car,your body or to the other party in an accident.

The main purpose of life insurance is to cover the survivorsof the person who dies. Life insurance can be used to payoff debt, cover burial expenses or take care of survivingchildren. Life insurance can be very important, especiallyif you are leaving a spouse that doesn't work, youngchildren, or debts. In the event of your death, the lifeinsurance company would award the amount of the policy toyour beneficiaries.

Home insurance, as the name implies is meant to protect yourhouse and property. There is home owner's insurance and alsorenter's insurance. Renter's insurance will cover yourbelongings that are in the residence and most often coverdamages to the house itself if there were a break in orsimilar claim to the home. This will keep the renterfrom having to pay the owner out of pocket if damage to theresidence occurred from something like a burglary.

The home owner's insurance will cover for the same things;damage to personal property and also to the residence.Many insurance plans cover natural disasters such asstorms or earthquakes. Some plans cover fire and some willnot. Usually fire is covered if not set by the owner.

There are many other types of coverage that are importantfor business owners, including business interrruptionand disability insurance. The only way to assure propercoverage is to consult with a professional that has yourbest interests at heart.

About the Author:
Martin Shiverman is the webmaster of FGA Insurance, a website dedicated to helping people have the proper insurance coverages. FGA Insurance - Insurance Made Easy , a great resource for everything related to Insurance.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Meet Your Insurance Needs Through The Classifieds

For many of us, the classifieds are those few pages of our local newspaper that list apartments for rent, houses for sale, help wanted ads, and litters of kittens to give away. Some classifieds have huge, half-page ads taken out by car dealerships across the area, and most often you will find a local business or three advertising certain services.

However, the classifieds can help you do some shopping, too. You know, aside from finding your daughter a kitten for her birthday. Many, if not all, of your local insurance agencies, as well as independent insurance agents, have probably placed ads in the classifieds section of your newspaper advertising their services. This is helpful for those of you searching for some kind of insurance, whether it is homeowner’s, automobile, health, or life insurance. It is also helpful in reminding those of you who aren’t searching for insurance that you should be searching for insurance.

Classifieds are not just limited to newspapers, though. There are many online classifieds, too, aside from the classifieds found in the online version of your local newspaper, or even newspapers throughout your state. Your area may have a Web site or two that offers classifieds-type services. If so, you will most likely find advertisements for insurance agencies as well. You can even find online classifieds covering your region and state, as well as the entire country. Some of these classifieds are guaranteed to have a couple of advertisements placed by insurance agencies and insurance agents, and a few of them may even be of interest to you, depending on your particular insurance needs.

So, the next time you are in the market for insurance, whether it is homeowner’s, automobile, health, or life insurance, don’t limit your search to the couple of insurance agencies your family members, friends and co-workers use. Remember to check your classifieds, both print and online. You never know what you might find.

About the Author:
Elizabeth Newberry
Buy Affordable Car Insurance Home Owners Insurance Florida Cheap Car Insurance
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

Friday, October 13, 2006

Online Auto Insurance Quotes: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Chosing the right auto insurance these days can be pretty tough. After all, we have so many different options available to us. All of them claim to have the best plans or coverage, but in general, like most other things it all comes down to price.

One reason, why choosing the right insurance is so important, is because people simply can't afford to pay the extra money. With the cost of gas and electricity rising, it is getting much harder to cover all of the expenses, and some things unfortunately have to be cut from the budget.

Getting a reliable online auto insurance quote, might be a little tricky, due to the many different options available to you. One of the things you want to keep in mind when searching for an online quote, is that you will have to give up some personal information about yourself before you can reciveve your quote. Now when dealing with the big insurance companies such as Allstate or GEICO,things are prety safe. However what about getting quotes from other insurance websites?

When searching for an auto insurance quote you will probably run into three types of websites. The first ones being the big well known insurance companies like GEICO, Allstate etc. These are the companies that you've heard of and have a reputation to maintain. However, if you just stick with these you will be limiting you options, and your information.

The second kind of sites that you will run accross in your search , are those that claim to keep a database of auto insurance quotes, or can get you quotes for all of the top insurance companies. They may also have a few helpful articles that will give you additional information.

And finally the third kind of sites, are those that are fakes and are set up to capture your personal info. These are the ones that you want to watch out for. It's always a good idea to check to see how many years a website has been going and exactly who endorses the web site. Generally, information like this is found on the home page of the website. And more important info can be found on the about section of a site. It never hurts to do a little research on who's providing the information. You probably won't have to worry about these kinds of sites, but they do exsist.

Having a good auto insurance plan is a good thing, however in my opinon the system really hurts good drivers. Because they pay a large amount of money every year to a company that is doing nothing for them in return.

That's why it is so important to get the cheapest rate available. In recent years it has been made a lot eaiser for consumers to find the best rates through the use of free online quotes. So take advantage and find the right auto insurance for you.

About the Author:
Herbert Redd is a writer for onlineautoinsurancequote.5star-ratings.com/, if you're looking for more auto insurance information, then checkout our growing online auto insurance quote resource page. It is full of helpful information and many links to other auto insurance resources.
Content Provider: http://www.my-articles.com

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Life Insurance - Your Family, Who Cares?

Like the ostrich, are you sticking your head in the sand when it comes to insuring yourself? According to recent statistics from the insurance industry, sales of the most basic personal protection insurance products, i.e. life insurance and income protection, have been falling, despite reductions in premiums.

Maybe people think if they ignore the need for such insurance, it may go away. It’s never going to happen to them – it can’t. But it can and it does. Lack of income protection may be a disaster for you and your family. Lack of life insurance would mean devastation for them and there would be nothing whatsoever that you could do about it.

The insurance industry are quite right to be concerned about the reasons for the decline and are clearly making a great effort to communicate the value of both health and income protection and life cover. As one critical illness provider stated, they have received a lot of negative media coverage regarding rejections of claims and payment delays. However, they also make the comment that “Providers are now publishing their claim statistics, and this transparency is helping to improve consumer trust.”

The industry feels that some of the problem may lie in their application forms. These are not particularly user-friendly and people can be discouraged from filling in long and complicated-looking forms. Some of the definitions in the policies are very difficult to comprehend and frankly uninspiring. Maybe what is needed is a new look at the marketing of these products with a view to producing more simple and easy to understand literature.

Critical illness cover is designed to pay out an agreed sum should you be diagnosed with any of a list of serious illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, strokes, diseases of the nervous system etc.,

It’s a worrying fact that one in three people will suffer from some type of cancer in their lifetime. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment are encouraging, but taking some types of leukaemia as one example, the treatment can last as long as 18 months or more and return to full time work could be delayed for some time after that. The medical conditions covered will be clearly shown on the policy and this should be studied carefully. The cover is designed to give you and your dependants a cash sum at a critically important time, leaving you to get on with your treatment and recovery. It is extremely important that you disclose all previous illnesses, no matter how trivial. As soon as a claim is made, the first thing the insurer will do is to go through your medical history with a fine tooth comb. Tell them everything and you’ll not have a problem.

The effect of critical illness can be far-reaching. You may need to change your career, your car or even your home. It’s not a time to be worrying about where your next pay cheque will be coming from. Do consider this really important form of insurance.

A shocking fact is that almost 50% of the population of the UK have absolutely no form of life cover. If you are single, have no debts and absolutely no dependants in need of support in the event of your death, then you probably have no need of life insurance. How many people are in this position?

It’s possible that you have some form of insurance through your employment. Check this with your employer. There may be an element of income protection or life assurance but almost certainly this will need topping up.

There are several types of life cover. Term insurance means that your life is covered for an agreed term. Commonly this fits in with the life of your mortgage, or maybe a loan. A whole of life policy is payable on your death.

As far as your family is concerned, would they be able to continue with their current lifestyle if the worst was to happen? Provision should be made for them. At the very minimum you need to cover the period until the youngest child can reasonably be expected to become fully independent.

Don’t delay. Take advice on the amount of cover you need. Critical illness and life insurance are imperative if your family is to have financial security. Unless by any chance you happen to be a millionaire!

You’ll find all the advice and help that you need if you go online. It’s no use going to an individual insurer, it’s better to find an experienced broker who’ll compare the various companies and come up with some options for you. There’ll only be one session of form filling and then you can relax and know that you’ve taken the first important steps to protect your family.

Good health and long life.

About the Author:
Michael_Challiner
Get great articles on life insurance from Life Insurance Protector
Article Submitted On: September 21, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Health Insurance - Your Back-Up Plan During Distressing Times

Hunting for an affordable health insurance as soon as possible is one of the first things you should do. It is more important than you think. Having a health insurance pays when you are sick and you know you have something as a back up. Without a good health coverage plan the bills will pile up and make you even sicker!

Not having a health insurance can, in the worst of cases, be a cause of death, as the treatments you require for your illness may be too expensive for you to cover. And a life threatening crisis – if late is too late.

Let me tell you a real life incident of a friend of mine, which made me realize the importance of having a health coverage plan. I am sure it will help those people avoid the mistake he did. My friend who was in his twenties never believed in the concept of getting an affordable health plan. He thought he was too young to be besieged by any sort of health problem – till he was diagnosed with a rare cancer.

Now illnesses such as cancer require expensive treatments. If he was covered under an affordable health insurance, it would have helped him undergo sufficient treatment. But now without a proper health plan, this was impossible.

If only he had realized this earlier. His loved ones did provide financial assistance and even raised money from fund raising, but even that didn't help him. The terrible part is that that when you become sick, you come under what is called a prior condition, which means that insurance companies do not cover you because you are already sick. I hope this is an eye-opener for all of us.

However, a piece of advice for those looking out for a health coverage plan. Be thorough in your search for affordable health insurance and don't give up until you find the right one. The most affordable health insurance programs are extended by employers. This is because they get discounted rates for buying their health care in bulk.

For those who are self-employed, getting affordable health insurance can be difficult. You will have to shell out a lot of money for the coverage that you can find. An alternative to escape this is to club together a few self-employed people and purchase a group rate plan in the same way as most businesses do. But this can prove to be a tedious task. Whatever approach you take make sure that you are covered under some affordable insurance plan so that you are prepared for any worst case scenarios.

Summary:

Hunting for affordable health insurance as soon as possible is one of the first things you should do. It is more important than you think. Having an insurance coverage pays when you are sick and you know you have something as a back up. Without a good health coverage plan the bills will pile up and make you even sicker!

About the Author:
Brooke Hayles Check Out More Helpful Information About Health Insurance For FREE! Visit Health Insurance Vault now!
Posted: 22-09-2006
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com