How to Save on your Insurance Premiums

There is no doubt about the fact that insurance premiums are on the rise. They have risen so high, in fact; that many people simply feel they can't afford them. Of course, considering the fact that insurance is generally required for your home and vehicle if you are still paying on a loan for these items, you can really find yourself in a Catch 22 situation.

There is no doubt about the fact that insurance premiums are on the rise. They have risen so high, in fact; that many people simply feel they can't afford them. Of course, considering the fact that insurance is generally required for your home and vehicle if you are still paying on a loan for these items, you can really find yourself in a Catch 22 situation. The good news is that will a little work there are a few techniques you can use to actually lower the cost of your insurance premiums.

In terms of your homeowners insurance, always try to shop around whenever possible to get the best deal. Provide all the pertinent information including a description of your home, the type of basic as well as additional coverage you need and find out what is available in terms of rates for different companies.

Another way to save on your homeowners insurance is to make sure that you keep your home in tip top shape, thereby reducing the need for losses and claims. You can do this by replacing any wiring that is old and informing your insurance company, insuring your roof is in good condition and using anti theft and safety devices on your home.

In addition, discounts may be available if your home is newly constructed as well as if you install a monitored security system. This type of discount can amount up to 15% in some cases. Some carriers also offer what is known as a loyalty discount for customers who have been with them for several years.

By raising your deductible, you can also usually reduce your premiums. Even a $250 jump in your deductible could cut your premium by as much as 15%. Raise it even more and you could be looking at a 25% savings on your deductible.

By combining your auto and home insurance and purchasing it from the same company you also could be able to obtain anywhere from a 5 to 15% discount. Between the two policies that could amount to major savings.

Don't forget to look at your insurance policies and determine exactly how much you need. It's quite possible that you could be overinsured and may not need as much insurance as you think.

One factor many people are not aware of is that their land is typically included in the market value of their home, the often used to determine the amount of your homeowner's policy. In reality, the value of your land should not be included in your insurance policy except under very special circumstances. If you can cut it, do so and you'll save on the premiums.

Try to avoid small incidental claims whenever possible because they can drive up both the cost of your home insurance premiums as well as car insurance premiums. If it is a small loss and you can do without having it repaired for awhile or pay for it on your own without filing a claim on your insurance policy, then do it. The more claims you file, no matter how small, can often increase your premium amounts.

About the Author:
Joe Kenny writes for the Credit Card Guide, offering views on credit cards in the UK, visit them today for some great 0% balance transfer offers and start clearing credit card debt today.
Submitted on 2006-09-14
Article Source: http://www.articlesalley.com/

Oldsters Overseas - What Seniors Pay for Travel Insurance

While travel medical insurance for senior citizens generally carries a higher premium and a lower maximum level of coverage it is still widely available. In fact, some carriers offer travel medical insurance for senior citizens no matter what their age. One carrier we found offered travel medical insurance for senior citizens over 80 years old, with no maximum age. The maximum coverage for those older than 79, however, is a low $10,000. Another was a little more generous with its ceiling for elders through 79 years, although premiums for this travel medical insurance for senior citizens was still costlier than those for younger travelers. With this insurer a couple between the ages of 65 and 69 can still purchase up to $1 million of emergency medical coverage with their travel insurance, and as low as a $250 deductible. For this senior citizen couple travel insurance coverage for this single trip would cost $438. At age 70 the maximum drops way down to $50,000 and each policy must be purchased separately. The per-person cost for the same trip is now $219 each for only $50,000 of travel medical insurance for these senior citizens. Now, let's assume these folks are 80 years old. What a costly difference in this travel medical insurance for these senior citizens! Now the most coverage this couple could purchase is $10,000 each, at a whopping $518 each for the same $250 deductible. The deductible can be increased to $2500, which lowers the premium to $350.70. The best course of action for senior citizens who contemplate overseas travel and are considering travel medical insurance is to first peruse their current medical coverage. Seldom do these plans cover overseas travel but do check your policy and call your insurer if you are unsure. While your Medicare coverage will not help you outside of the United States, your Medicare supplement coverage might - or at least for some situations. If you're wanting to save on your travel insurance premium the two best things you can do for yourself are to first book your trip with a travel agent you trust, and then choose an airline, cruise or other vacation vendor that is well known and not in financial distress.

About The Author:
Steve Cogger is webmaster of http://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com. Visit the site today to receive all of the information on travel insurance you could possibly need.
This article was posted on August 13, 2005
Article Source: The Articles Directory

Are Your Pets Covered By Health Insurance?

When you think about purchasing health insurance, you probably only think about your children, your spouse, and yourself. You either buy into the health insurance package offered by your employer or your spouse's employer, or you seek an individual health insurance policy based your needs and the needs of your family.

But how many of you have thought about your pets when it comes to health insurance? Pets are, after all, members of the family, too. Do not feel ashamed if you have not thought of health insurance for your pets; when it comes to pets, most people choose to deal with health issues as they arise. While this may work for some pet owners, it won't work for all pet owners. What happens if your pet suffers from a health condition that a quick trip to your local vet's office just won't fix? Do you let your pet suffer, or have him put to sleep, because you can't afford to help him?

No. You purchase pet health insurance and protect your pets the same way you would protect all of the members of your family.

Pet insurance policies can cover a plethora of health needs for your pets, including, but not limited to:

* Treatments for accidents, cancer, and other illnesses. * Protection against fleas, heartworm, and other vaccinations. * Hospitalization, surgeries, MRI, CAT scans, and X-rays. * Basics such as annual check ups, prescription medication, and even having your pets spayed or neutered.

Some pets may live their entire lives needing only to be neutered and to wear flea collars; however, other pets may also be involved in serious accidents, such as being hit by a vehicle, or suffer severe health conditions, such as cancer. Don't just cross your fingers and hope your pet is one of the few who will remain healthy all his life. Purchase pet health insurance and be sure you can protect your pets.

About the Author:
Elizabeth Newberry
Affordable Car Insurance Home Owners Insurance Car Insurance Quotes
Submitted: 2006-09-27
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Meet The Cost With An Affordable Supplemental Health Insurance

Supplemental health insurance has become popular nowadays. People prefer to have health insurance policies so that they can meet the exorbitant cost of medical treatments. Cost of treatment of killer diseases like cancer can ruin a person financially.

Affordable health insurance policies help people to meet the costs to a very great extent. But in cases of unexpected accidents, the insurance scheme of the policy holder may not cover all the expenses. There are expenses of transportation, lost income from not going to work, expenses of domestic help which may not be covered and can be a drain on the pocket.

Affordable supplements help to cover the medical expenses not covered by the basic insurance scheme. Supplements enhance the hospital and the doctor or physician coverage. But all the insurance companies have their own network of hospitals and doctors, meaning, the claim will be valid only if the customer visits any doctor or hospital within the network. This is a standard practice for affordable healthcare and affordable supplements.

It is better to check the list of designated hospitals and physicians in this respect. Premiums vary according to the supplement plan. But generally, if the customer is of advanced age then the premium is higher. Broadly speaking the important aspects one must look into while choosing an affordable supplement coverage (this is generic, individual needs may vary):

Suitability of the supplement plan
Premium payable
Time span of the coverage
Medical and non medical benefits covered by the supplement plan
Network of doctors, pharmacies, hospitals or nursing homes covered by the insurance provider

Medical affordable supplement insurance is available for children, individuals or adults with family. The insurance provider needs some basic information before they can further process an application for affordable supplements.

Gender, date of birth, spouse´s date of birth, interested affordable supplement plan types, whether the would-be customer has high blood pressure or does he or she use tobacco, any disability, any current insurance coverage, if so, then the name of the company, when would the customer like to start the supplement coverage. These are some of the preliminary questions that may be asked. Only after processing these, the company will get into the details.

An affordable supplement plan helps a beneficiary in times of need, indeed, that is the very reason why medical supplement policies have come into being along with the basic healthcare insurance.

About the Author:
Keith George always writes about valuable news & reviews. A related resource is Health Insurance Further information can be found at Sports & Travel
Content Provider: http://www.my-articles.com

Van & Commercial Vehicle Insurance - What You Need To Know

Many van drivers and commercial vehicle owners often rely heavily on their vehicles as a source of income. For this reason it is important that you look after your vehicle well and make sure you are sufficiently insured should anything go wrong.

One of the most important factors of insuring your commercial vehicle is making sure you have the right cover for you vehicle and it's intended use.

Commercial Insurance
Commercial vehicle use is often defined as:

The use of a vehicle for transporting goods or passengers for reward; hiring a vehicle, or use of the vehicle for paid driving instruction.

The second two points in that statement are fairly self explanatory, but the first part can be somewhat ambiguous. Transporting passengers includes services such as taxis or chauffeur driven vehicles. The transporting of goods can include delivery items such as pizzas or flowers or moving stock from a supplier to your shop. Some insurers can provide commercial insurance only for transporting light goods which can save you money.

Fleet Insurance
If you or your business has more than one van or commercial vehicle, you an save money (and time) by getting fleet insurance. This can be anything from a couple of delivery vans to an entire road haulage fleet. Again, make sure the cover offered is sufficient for the types of use of your vehicles.

Goods in Transit
Most commercial policies will not automatically provide cover for any goods or tools in your vehicle. "Goods in transit" insurance can normally be purchased separately and added on to your existing commercial insurance. Note that the amount insured may be a limited sum for each vehicle and will based on the value of the contents. Goods in transit insurance will provide cover for:

• Theft (while in transit)
• Loss (while in transit)
• Damage caused by accidents during transit
• Damage caused during transit
  

Commercial Insurance Costs
Because of the wide variety of commercial vehicles on the road, commercial insurance calculations and prices can be significantly different from regular private car insurance. Most vans and commercial vehicles have an increased capacity of to cause damage or injury because of their size and weight. This represents a higher risk for the insurance company as they are likely to be required to make a bigger payout in the event of an accident. Other factors considered include laden weight of the vehicle; nature of the load(s) to be transported, addition of special equipment etc.

Despite these factors, which can make commercial vehicle insurance expensive, there are still things you can do to try and get cheaper commercial vehicle insurance.

• Keep your can in a garage or other secure location overnight
• Increase your voluntary excess (but make sure you can pay it in the event of a claim)
• Fit a Thatcham approved immobiliser
• If you need other drivers to drive the vehicle, put them down as named drivers rather than having an "any driver" policy
• Try to avoid making claims where possible

About the Author:
Duncan Hall
For more information on commercial vehicle insurance, and tips on how to get cheaper van insurance, visit QuoteA.co.uk
Article Submitted On: September 20, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Health Insurance Companies: 5 Things to Look For

It's a simple fact that even some very good health insurance companies lack a few of the following 5 things. Be a discriminating health insurance buyer and make sure that the health insurance company that you choose receives a passing grade in all 5 of these areas:

1. Large, Stable Networks [If you have never heard of them before then it could be that your doctor never has either].

2. Excellent Customer Service [This should go without saying].

3. Comprehensive Policies [No Annual Caps or Limits - no indemnity policies or health discount plans unless all other alternatives are exhausted; TIP: Simply look up Discount Health Plan Warning in any major search engine and take a look].

4. Competitive Pricing [There is very strong competition amongst the "Big 3" that many other companies could have trouble competing with unless they give up ground on 1 or more of these other 4 things].

5. Claims-Paying Ability [Financial Strength] When it comes to being fully prepared why does it make sense to depend on one of the "Big 3" health insurance companies: United Healthcare, Aetna, or Humana? Aren't there some other good companies out there?
The answer is, "Yes, there are many good health insurance companies out there with great people working for them." However, in all practicality almost all people will find the best policy from one of the "Big 3" health insurance companies: United Healthcare, Aetna, or Humana. The "Big 3" are all very strong in each of these 5 areas.

Again, there are many other good companies out there but a health insurance company must be strong in each of these 5 areas to truly be a health insurance company that your family can depend on for years to come.Compare Health Insurance Quotes

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

7 Tips For Buying Individual Health Insurance

When you receive your health insurance benefits through an employer, it will seem so easy to qualify for coverage and to choose the best policy for your situation. However, once you leave the protected confines of an employer plan (if you are laid off or become self-employed), you may be shocked to learn about the overwhelming restrictions now facing you. Many people find it extremely difficult to purchase reasonable healthcare coverage on their own. If this is your task, here are some tips to help you navigate the complicated and worrisome world of private health insurance.

1. Start early. When you know you'll be needing new health coverage in the near future, begin your research at least 60 to 90 days before the new coverage is to begin. As you start researching and applying for potential plans, you may get the nasty surprise of being turned down for coverage. Unlike an employer-sponsored plan, in the world of private health insurance, an insurance company can simply refuse to cover you for any number of health situations. You don't want to learn about this just before your existing coverage is due to expire!

2. Cover children under other spouse's employee plan. Private insurance options are almost never as comprehensive or as affordable as the health benefits provided under an employer-sponsored plan. If either you or your spouse has access to health coverage through an employer, even when the parents are divorced, you should definitely research the terms of this coverage. Don't be afraid to cover family members under different plans in order to find the best health care coverage for each family member.

3. Consider routine vs. emergency coverage. As you begin comparing plans available to individuals and families, take a moment to consider your priorities for future healthcare. For example, does it make sense to have a $0 co-pay for office visits (saving you perhaps $50 per year), but with restricted hospital coverage for dealing with car accidents or the onset of a serious disease (possibly putting your life or savings at extreme risk)? It's not hard to see which benefits the insurance companies will play up in their sales materials!

4. Understand medical underwriting. Ahhh, here's the best kept secret in purchasing private health insurance. When a plan discusses the need for medical underwriting of the policy, they intend to screen your medical history (including covered family members) for any indications of problematic health conditions. Now, please be aware, they are not just screening for serious conditions. Rather, they are attempting to screen out all policy holders who might ever require significant health care. For example, if your weight is too high, you may be denied coverage! Obviously, if you or a family member has a serious issue such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, a disability, etc., then you can assume health insurance will either be denied or that coverage will be offered for all health care except for the specific health issue (known as a waiver of coverage for a specified condition).

5. Research state sponsored plans. Because of the numerous restrictions experienced by consumers in pursuing individual healthcare coverage, many state governments have stepped in to offer reasonable plans and health coverage for their citizens. These plans may cover children, low income families, the self-employed and small businesses, or the hard-to-insure (known as a risk pool). These plans are not strictly limited to low-income families as you might assume, so take the time to see what your state government has in place for people just like you.

6. Read the fine print. When you zero in on a health insurance plan you like, take the time to read the fine print. All insurance policies have restrictions and exclusions, and they will hold you to every comma in the policy. You'll want to understand what services are covered or excluded, if there are waiting periods, and what doctors, specialists or labs you'll be authorized to visit under the plan.

7. Never cancel prematurely. Health insurance coverage is closely regulated by Federal and state laws which have put various protections in place for consumers. These protections are often negated when you willingly cancel a policy in writing. For this reason, and due to the various complications noted throughout this article, you should always have your new confirmed coverage in place before canceling any existing policies.

About the Author:
JM Bauer. Website: Texas Health Insurance Guide.
Posted: 15-09-2006
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Health Care And Health Insurance Costs Can Be Controlled Through Lifestyle Choices

As you probably know all to well, the cost of healthcare and health insurance premiums continue to increase at levels substantially above the general inflation rate. The reasons given for these extraordinary cost increases are numerous and include: technological advancements in the medical field, increased demand for medical services and prescription drugs, the aging of the population, cost shifting caused by the uninsured and governmental reimbursement rates, state and federal mandates, and costs associated with medical related lawsuits.

As individual consumers, we have very little control over some of the factors contributing to the cost of healthcare. However, all of us have control over lifestyle related health insurance claims. A simple formula of eating a balanced diet, getting the appropriate amount of daily exercise, participating in annual physicals and other recommended routine care, limiting alcohol consumption, and eliminating the use of tobacco products will no doubt reduce our personal healthcare costs. In addition to reducing medical costs, the other benefits of following such a formula include more energy, self confidence, less stress, and increased productivity. If you are not doing so already, I encourage you to consider practical ways to promote a healthy lifestyle for you and your family. For example, one of the individual health insurance companies my organization works with has an option that will offset 25% of the annual cost of a health club membership. Simple things such as taking a walk, bike ride, or going swimming promote both a healthy body and mind. If you have a sweet tooth, consider limiting yourself to eating desert once a week. You will enjoy it more and your body will thank you.

Health insurance premiums will continue to increase as long as the cost of healthcare continues to go up. The best way to reduce the overall cost of healthcare is to decrease our need for healthcare. Healthy lifestyle choices and prudent use of the healthcare system are the best and easiest ways to get a handle on our healthcare expenditures. Perhaps the greatest benefit of a healthy lifestyle is our ability to enjoy our precious time here on earth to the fullest.

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

Do You Need Payment Protection Insurance?

Almost every time you try to buy a financial product someone tries to sell you an add-on. It doesn't seem to matter whether you are signing up for a mortgage, loan, credit card or store card.

Almost every time you try to buy a financial product someone tries to sell you an add-on. It doesn't seem to matter whether you are signing up for a mortgage, loan, credit card or store card. Most lenders try to get borrowers to sign up for payment protection insurance but do they really need it? Here is what you need to know about payment protection insurance.

What Is Payment Protection Insurance?

Payment protection insurance (PPI) is a form of insurance to make sure that borrowers can keep up repayments on mortgages, loans, credit card, store cards and other financial products if they face financial hardship.

Why Would I Need PPI?

1. If they have an accident that prevents them from working
2. If there is an illness that prevents them from working and earning
3. If they are made redundant or become unemployed

Any or all of these situations could make it difficult to keep up repayments. Payment protection insurance could cover repayments for up to 12 months in these cases, depending on the policy taken out.

People in the UK are borrowing more and saving less and redundancies are often in the news. It takes longer and longer to qualify for state benefits, so without some form of insurance people might end up in court and might even lose their homes if they were unable to keep up repayments for long periods. These are many of the reasons that sales people use to persuade borrowers to get PPI.

It is worth noting that most policies have exclusions relating to medical conditions and drug and alcohol abuse. There is also usually a period of 60 to 120 days after taking out the policy during which time borrowers cannot make a claim.

What To Look For With PPI

Payment protection insurance has often been slated for being unfair to consumers and there are some issues that borrowers should pay attention to. For example, it is worth checking whether the cost of the insurance will be added to the amount borrowed. This would mean that you pay interest on the insurance as well.

It is also worth paying attention to the actual cost of the insurance. This can vary quite widely, so borrowers should look beyond the low interest rate on a loan or credit card to see what the total cost of borrowing will be.

Alternatives To PPI

Although PPI has been criticised for being no more than a money-making scheme for lenders (it is currently under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading), there are very good reasons to take out some form of insurance against ill health, accident or unemployment.

What most borrowers don't know is that they can take out separate insurance policies which will cover not just the particular financial product, but a substantial part of their income. This type of income protection policy may be a better bet if you usually make debt repayments from your earnings.

About the Author:
Joseph Kenny writes for the UK Loan Store who offer the latest loan comparisons and more information on Payment Protection Insurance on site.
Visit today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/
Submitted on 2006-09-14
Article Source: http://www.articlesalley.com/

Cat Insurance

Cat insurance can help you afford expensive medications for your cat. There are a lot of things that can happen to your cat as it gets older - from injuries to illnesses. For that reason, many cat owners have found it worthwhile to pay for cat insurance. Cat insurance is basically health insurance for your pet, and it is actually fairly affordable. This insurance payment has a low monthly fee, which varies depending on the type of pet you have. For instance, cats generally have a lower insurance fee than dogs do. This fee is also lower if you enroll your cat while it is still relatively young, and will remain low if the cat does not get seriously ill. However, if the cat does become ill, this insurance will help you to pay for the vet bills that you might not ordinarily be able to afford. Cat insurance is an especially good deal when your cat continues to grow older. After all, not only will the insurance pay for any veterinary procedures that must be done, or for routine check ups, but it will also pay for prescription drugs. Anybody who has ever had an aging pet will agree that the prescription drugs are where most vet bills start to get really expensive. Prescription drugs for arthritis could range anywhere up to $100 per month for just one cat! If you have cat insurance, however, you will not have to pay for the medication. Instead, after going to the vet, you just fill out an insurance claim and the prescription will be paid for. Cat insurance is also a good deal if you have a pure-bred cat. Most pure-bred cats and dogs will end up having some sort of trouble later in life. Cat insurance will mean that you don't have to worry about those health problems nearly as much - since the veterinary bills will not be a problem. Don't wait until after your cat is already sick to get ready to treat it. By paying for cat insurance now, you can prevent a lot of hard decisions in the future - now there will be no decisions made about your pet's health based on whether or not you can afford to pay the vet bills. Even though it might seem like a lot of money is being spent on cat insurance each month, you'll definitely get your money's worth out of your cat insurance as your cat gets older.

About The Author:
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.
This article was posted on August 06, 2005
Article Source: The Articles Directory

Protect Your Finances with a Life Insurance Policy

If you’re married and/or have a few kids running around the house, you’re probably a little concerned about your finances, if not outright worried. And who wouldn’t be? With the cost of gas constantly rising, the high prices of child care and education, and the monthly bills that seem to overflow your mailbox each month, it’s only natural to worry about your finances. It’s a tough enough struggle to make sure ends are met while you’re alive. What happens to your family in the untimely event of your death?

By purchasing a life insurance policy now, you can make sure your family’s finances will be taken care of after you’re gone. Many people don’t like to think about purchasing a life insurance policy, because life insurance policies make us think about death, and death can be an unpleasant topic; however, life insurance policies themselves shouldn’t be unpleasant topics, since they’re responsible purchases to help cover your family’s finances once you pass on.

There are two main kinds of life insurance policies – term life insurance policies, which cover you for a specific number of years, and whole life insurance policies, which cover you for the duration of your life. Despite the differences between these two different kinds of life insurance policies, one thing remains the same – both term life insurance policies and whole life insurance policies will pay your beneficiaries, usually your family members, a certain amount of money in the event of your death. The money from your life insurance policy can be used to pay off debts, cover your children’s day care or education expenses, or simply act as a supplemental income since your spouse will have lost yours.

When purchasing a life insurance policy, you should think about both your current finances and possible future finances, such as funeral costs and the children’s educations. Purchase enough life insurance to help your family avoid financial burdens in the future.

About the Author:
Elizabeth Newberry
Low Rate Student Health Insurance Company
Home Owner Insurance Online Quote
West Virginia Car Insurance
Article Submitted On: September 21, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Homeowners Insurance Coverage: Are You Really Protected?

Most homeowners think, or hope, that they have enough coverage on their homes to take care of just about any sort of contingency. However, waiting until a disaster strikes – like Hurricane Katrina – could find yourself uncovered for an event that you thought was covered. Are you really protected? Read on and we’ll take a look at what is typically covered under the average insurance plan. If in doubt, pull out the policy and call your insurance representative today to make certain that your policy meets your needs.

Tree Damage: If a tree falls on your house, you are covered. However, what if your neighbor’s tree falls on your house? Worse, what if their coverage is inadequate or nonexistent? Rest assured, you are covered…through your own policy that is.

Water Damage: Your home is damaged from wind and from rain. Are you covered? Good question! If the water came into your home via damage to the roof then you are likely okay. If the water came in due to a rising creek or storm surge then you are out of luck unless you purchased a separate flood insurance policy from the federal government. Think Katrina: many homeowners are grabbling with insurance providers as they learn that they weren’t covered at all.

Volcanic Activity: Surprisingly, if a volcano erupts and takes your home away with it, you should be covered.

Nuclear War: If you home is vaporized during a nuclear incident you are not covered by your homeowner’s insurance.

Earthquake Insurance: Better hope that you have separate earthquake insurance in the event you live someplace where the ground is prone to seismic movement. Your regular policy will not cover you so take out a separate earthquake insurance policy to make certain that you are well covered.

Even if you have the right kind of coverages do you have enough coverage for everything that you own? Will your current insurance plans provide enough coverage for a home fire or will deductibles limit your ability to rebuild? In addition, should you opt for an umbrella policy in the event that you need something beyond homeowners and auto insurance coverage? One lawsuit could empty out your bank account with one whack of a judge’s gavel as the courts rule against you.

Regardless of where you think you stand an occasional “check up” with your insurance provider should reveal whether your coverage is sufficient. Assume nothing; to do so could mean that your coverage is inadequate for every sort of contingency.

About the Author:
Joseph Hanoa is the proud owner of Finance Guides, a website that will explain everything you need to know about cash Management. We invite you to visit our site today and see what we have to offer.
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

Things to Consider When Requesting a Motorcycle Insurance Quote

A motorcycle may be a "budget" vehicle, but it is still a vehicle, and you need to be a responsible vehicle owner by getting insurance for your new bike as soon as you can. Request a motorcycle insurance quote from a reliable company and make your vehicle a great deal safer on the road.

Let's say this is your first motorbike, and your first time to scout around for a good vehicle insurance company. How do you know which companies will give you a fair motorcycle insurance quote? The answer is simple: ask them for it. Getting a good insurance deal relies on a person's readiness to shop around, be patient, and meticulously pit the benefits offered by one plan against another from within the same insurance company, or else a rival. You don't need to take the first or the cheapest insurance offered to you - that wouldn't be smart at all.

If you don't know where to start, listen and ask around. Word of mouth is usually enough as a source of useful information, so pay attention to the things that other motorcycle owners are saying about THEIR insurance companies. Ask questions from people who have experienced doing their own shopping for insurance plans, and gather tips on the benefits you need and how to properly approach insurance agents. It wouldn't be good to listen to just one person, though this person is a trusted buddy or relative - the more

But if you want additional information - say you don't know many other motorcycle drivers, or there are simply not that many bikers in your community - there are other ways to gather it. Other owners of insured vehicles also give feedback on their providers via the Web. In fact, the Internet is the best place to get info on competitive pricing schemes posed by insurance companies. Don't be daunted by the anonymity: many reviewers are honest and willing to help out other first-time insurance shoppers, just as they were helped by anonymous reviewers when they were shopping around too.

The Internet is also a good place to learn about how to properly manage your budget in order to accommodate an attractive plan. You can find advice on the occurrences that should be covered by the plan you'll get, and even checklists on the things you have to make sure of when asking for a motorcycle insurance quote.

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

Life Insurance - It's Not Just About Death

We know the obvious reason for purchasing life insurance, and that is to leave some money behind to our loved ones to cover the costs of funeral and burial expenses, to take care of unpaid debts we leave behind, to act as a supplemental income until they can get back on their feet again, and to pay for future expenses such as medical costs and education. Many people choose not to think about, much less purchase, a life insurance policy because they don't want to think about their eventual, and inevitable, death. However, many people fail to realize that life insurance policies can be used other than in the event of your death. They can be used while you're alive.

Depending on the kind of life insurance policy you purchase, you may have the option of "cashing in" on your life insurance policy. This means, you can take out the money when you and your family members need it during your life, rather than after your death. For example, you may find yourself in financial hardship due to a job loss or some other unexpected emergency. Rather than suffer financially, you can cash in on your life insurance policy. The money you receive can act as a supplemental income until you find a new job, or can pay for whatever emergency has caused you to financial strain.

Don't push the thoughts of purchasing a life insurance policy to the back of your mind just because you don't want to think about your death. Life insurance policies can be used during your life, too. Remember, life insurance policies can be cashed in should you find yourself and your family financially burdened, so, by purchasing a life insurance policy now, not only will you be helping out your family members and loved ones in the event of your death, but you may just end up helping them out while you're still alive.

About the Author:
Elizabeth Newberry
Buy Affordable Car Insurance Home Owners Insurance Florida Cheap Car Insurance
Submitted: 2006-09-27
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

The ABC's Of Health Insurance Plans

In today's health insurance marketplace, three primary types of healthcare coverage are available. They are the Indemnity plan, the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), and the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Each approach offers consumers the opportunity to choose between flexibility and control in their healthcare choices vs. the expense of their healthcare coverage. Almost universally, healthcare plans that offer more consumer flexibility and control are also more expensive, while plans allowing the insurance company to control healthcare delivery choices are usually more affordable. Let's look at each of these plans.

The Indemnity plan approach represents healthcare as it was offered in the days before managed care. In an Indemnity plan, the policyholder is free to go to any doctor, specialist, hospital or laboratory to pursue the medical care they believe they need. These healthcare services are billed to the insurance company at the individual rate set by the healthcare provider. The insurance company pays a fixed proportion of the fees (usually 80%) and the consumer pays the remaining percentage (usually 20%) of the billed medical fees. Each healthcare provider is free to set their fees at a level they choose, and the consumer has little incentive to consider overall medical expenses. While Indemnity plans are still available today, they are not widely utilized since they are too expensive for the average consumer. The monthly premium for an Indemnity plan is generally 50% to 100% higher than premium for a PPO or HMO plan.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Health Maintenance Organizations or HMOs were introduced by insurance companies as a way to combat the rising costs of healthcare being experienced by employers providing health benefits to their employees. In an HMO, the policyholder selects or is assigned to a Primary Care Provider (PCP) such as a family practitioner, internist or pediatrician. The PCP is responsible for coordinating all healthcare services delivered to the policyholder (except for emergency care). The policyholder can only see a specialist, use a lab service or check into a hospital if they are referred for such services by the PCP. Any services that are not referred by the consumer's PCP are not reimbursable under the health insurance policy. Within the HMO network, healthcare providers agree with the insurance company on negotiated rates for specific services. Once approved, these healthcare providers become part of the network available to the PCP for referring patients when additional care is required. Based on the insurance company's strict control of the healthcare providers used and the rates they will charge, an HMO is usually the least expensive alternative for a healthcare plan.

In the middle between the wide-open Indemnity plan and the strictly-controlled HMO, insurance companies also offer a third alternative called a Preferred Provider Organization or PPO. In a PPO plan, a policyholder is free to go to almost any healthcare provider they choose, including doctors, specialists, labs and hospitals, and usually without a medical referral. However, the amount reimbursed by the insurance company for the delivered medical services will vary depending on whether the healthcare provider is within their negotiated network or not. As with an HMO, the insurance company negotiates fees in advance with selected healthcare providers and approves them for inclusion in the plan's preferred provider network. Healthcare services delivered by these in-network providers are generally reimbursed to the consumer at high rates of 70% or more. On the other hand, when the consumer uses a non-network healthcare provider, the reimbursement will be much lower, ranging from 0% to 50% of the incurred medical expenses. Since the vast majority of PPO policyholders use in-network providers to reduce their out-of-pocket expenses, PPOs are very cost-effective for insurance companies. As a result, PPOs are somewhat more expensive than HMOs, but are still very reasonably priced for the average person.

About the Author:
JM Bauer offers unbiased consumer information on today’s healthcare choices. For more information visit the California Health Insurance Guide.
Posted: 17-09-2006
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

What Is Credit Insurance?

Are you wondering what is credit insurance? Very simply, credit insurance is an insurance policy that protects a loan on the chance that you are unable to make the repayments. The next time you have occasion to apply for a loan or mortgage, you will be asked if you want to buy credit insurance, or it might already be included in your loan proposal. If so, it will increase your loan amount and you'll pay additional interest.

Credit insurance usually is optional, which means you don't have to purchase it from the lender. Before deciding to buy credit insurance from a lender, think about your needs, your options, and the rates you're going to pay. You may decide you don't need credit insurance.

If you decide to get credit insurance be aware that it can be an expensive form of insurance. For example, it may be less expensive and more practical for you to get life insurance than credit insurance.

Before deciding to buy credit insurance, ask the lender the following questions:

How much is the credit insurance premium?

Will the credit insurance premium be financed as part of the loan?

Can you pay monthly instead of financing the entire premium as part of your loan?

How much lower would your monthly loan payment be without the credit insurance?

Will the insurance cover the full length of your loan and the full loan amount?

Can you cancel the insurance? If so, what kind of refund is available?

Prior to signing any loan papers, ask the lender whether the loan includes any charges for voluntary credit insurance. If you don't want credit insurance, tell the lender. If the lender still insists that you take out credit insurance, find another lender.

About the Author:
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Find The Best Insurance Coverage That Is Right For You

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

Liability insurance is the portion of homeowner or auto that pays for expenses such as the injured persons medical bills, therapy, and lost wages due to the negligence of the accident. The liability portion of the insurance policy also covers a legal defense representative if the negligence would happen to get taken to court. Almost all states have financial responsibility laws that will hold drivers accountable for bodily injury and property damage resulting from car accidents and the fault of the driver could be sued for damages.

Life insurance is a must for just about anyone. Not only is it important to have so that your loved ones left behind can afford to pay for your burial, but is also a good thing to have so that they can be taken care of. For some people when they die they still have obligations to loved ones. When the person that dies has life insurance, the beneficiary will receive the money and they can distribute as they are told or as they wish. This will help to ensure that people left behind are able to care for themselves in the future without the loved ones being around.

You will be able to shop around for all the different insurances that you want to purchase. There are many different companies available to give you quotes. It is easy to obtain a quote and you can do this at anytime that you want. Most of the time a consumer will have the right to cancel a policy with someone and open a new one with another company. You have the right to get the best coverage that has the best deal that you can get. Take the time to shop around and compare prices.

If you are educating yourself on how the different insurances will help you, you can find the best insurance coverage that is right for you. You will be making a good decision about protecting your investments. This will mean you, your home, your automobiles, and your dependants. This is a responsible decision that needs to be made for every individual. This is a decision that will make a person feel better about everything and have fewer worries.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole insurance story from informed sources.

There are people suing everyone these days. There are limits to all the different policies that people hold on everything. If an accident happens and it is your fault, you have to make sure that you have enough coverage to cover the cost of your negligence. There is no way to predict what is going to happen and there are many people who want a lot of money if you injury them. Umbrella insurance is something that can help you in these situations. This is something that everyone needs to consider for him or herself.

You can usually have as much homeowners insurance that you want within reason. You are going to need to have homeowners insurance if you have any type of loan on the home. You will need at least enough to cover the market value of the home. You will then be able to have as much insurance on the contents and any other improvements on the home that you have made. It is always better to have more than enough insurance than not enough when it comes to your home.

Make sure that you understand all of your insurance policies. You need to read over the paper work and make sure that you are aware of everything that is included in them. If there is something missing in your policy or if you have any questions, you need to contact your agent and find out what you are in need of and how to change it. Make sure that you have an agent that you trust and that you can feel comfortable with.

Before a person decided to purchase their new vehicle, they should check with their current insurance provider about gap insurance. It may already be included in the auto premium. If is not, this will be something that you can purchase for a decent cost. There are some insurers that do not offer this type of insurance at al

Now that wasn't hard at all, was it? And you've earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert's word on insuran

About the Author:
Gaetane Ross has thoroughly researched the Internet to locate the best High Income Business Opportunities that will enable you to start making money from your own home. http://4instant-online-business.com
Submitted on 2006-09-19
Article Source: http://www.articlesalley.com/

Insurance Haters Anonymous

Hello, my name is Chris, and I hate insurance. My father hated insurance before me, and for all I know his father before him. More...Kind of a family tradition I suppose. I have insurance for my home, insurance for my car, insurance for my life, insurance for my boat, insurance for my kids, insurance for my health, insurance for my teeth, insurance for my prescriptions, insurance for my bank loans, and insurance for when I travel. Wow! It's a wonder, I don't have insurance for my insurance. Don't laugh, I'm sure I heard somewhere that there is an insurance company that insures other insurance companies. Someone must be making a killing off of all this. The only insurance I don't have these days, is pet insurance. Only because we don't have a pet, and the kids are lobbying hard on that front.

Why Do We Hate Insurance So?

Everyone hates insurance, because it always feels like we never get anything in return for it. Normally, when I buy something, I get to walk out the door with it, or hear it, or see it, or just plain enjoy it. Insurance does none of that. It certainly seems like a pretty one sided deal. "Thank you for the cheque Mr Campbell. Oh, and just to be sure, we'll be taking a little more next month, and the month after and the month after that. Have a nice day." Great I think. And do I get to enjoy anything for writing all those cheques. Nope, but don't worry your very securely insured now. I cringe just thinking about how much I've spent on insurance over the years. And, feel even worse when I think how little the insurance companies have actually paid out to me. In hindsight, it seems like just a really bad investment. I feel like I've been buying stock in all these crappy companies over the years that just keep going bankrupt. The biggest scam of all, is that most people who buy insurance, are paranoid to actually file an insurance claim, because their rates will skyrocket. Not to mention that all those previously oh-so-friendly insurance company employees treat you like a leper, who just ran over their puppy three times, and stole all their kids halloween candy.

What Is Your Deepest Fear?

We all want guarantees, we all want to know everything is going to be alright. We hope that things remain status quo, and their are no major disruptions in our lives. That's what insurance buys. Peace of mind. Protection from the unknown. Salvation from disaster. And when it works, that's great. Insurance is kind of a socialist sort of thing. Everybody chips in a little bit to protect the unfortunate. And that's good. I do feel better, if I think of my insurance premiums saving someone else from a life altering disaster. And the optimist in me believes that is what truly happens most of the time. It's when insurance companies refuse to pay out for people that really need it, the irks me the most. Especially when it's done just to line the pockets of shareholders and greedy CEO's. That's really not what insurance is for. So, be smart with your insurance purchases, and remember, we're all in this together.

About the Author:
Chris Campbell
For more on insurance visit insuranceinformationonline.com or read other insurance articles at foolishmumbles.com/category/insurance/
Content Provider: http://www.my-articles.com

Long Term Care Insurance and Household Finances

No one ever wants to become so sick or disabled that they cannot manage to take care of themselves. No one wants to have to rely on the assistance of others just to get out of bed in the morning, get dressed, use the restroom, and make breakfast. Unfortunately, this becomes a way of life for many people, and when it does they usually have one of two options – they may have family members look after them, or they may have hired professionals to look after them.

If the chosen option is to have hired professionals look after them, these hired professionals can visit them at their homes, or they can be taken care of at long term care facilities such as nursing homes. If hired professionals are going to be providing the care, regardless of the location, it’s going to cost money. This is where long term care insurance comes into the picture.

Many people choose not to purchase long term care insurance frankly because it’s not an insurance everyone needs. The odds of eventually using car insurance, homeowner’s insurance, health insurance, and even life insurance are greater than eventually using long term care insurance. Therefore, many people opt not to add another bill to their lists of household finances; however, in the event that you do need long term care, how are you going to pay for your household finances and the cost of long term care? Having long term care insurance will take care of paying for your long term care.

Before you head to your local insurance agent, research your family history. Have there been any family members who have ended up needing long term care? For what reason, and for how long, did they need the long term care? How did they pay for the long term care? Use these answers to help determine whether or not long term care insurance is right for you.

About the Author:
Elizabeth Newberry
Buy Your Student Health Insurance Policy Today
Home Insurance Tampa
Kentucky Car Insurance
Article Submitted On: September 21, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Florida Health Insurance: Take Advantage of the Internet’s Price Transparency

Florida health insurance companies are now feeling the effects of the increased price transparency that the Internet brings. Now longer is it a process of days or even weeks to obtain multiple health insurance quotes from top Florida health insurance companies. The simplest and most efficient way to obtain health insurance in Florida is simply to make the top health insurance companies in the state (Golden Rule/United Healthcare, Aetna, and Humana) compete for your business!

If you cringe at the thought of a United Healthcare agent, an Aetna agent, and a Humana agent all clustering around you amongst a swarm of other Florida health insurance agents and trying to push their company’s policy upon you then read on; for health insurance shopping on the Internet has simplified everything. There are numerous Florida health insurance websites that offer Florida health insurance quotes but there are quite a few very important distinctions between the different types.

There are two main types of websites that offer Florida health insurance quotes to Florida health insurance shoppers: Marketing Organizations and Insurance Agencies.

Marketing Organizations do not sell insurance, are not regulated by any insurance department, and generally have no knowledge whatsoever concerning Florida health insurance. However, they can offer consumers a somewhat appealing service. How can they assist in purchasing health insurance?

They act as a middleman between Florida health insurance shoppers and Florida health insurance agents. When Mrs. Smith in Tampa, FL requests a health insurance quote then the marketing company sells her information as a lead to 5 or more Florida insurance agents.

Ignoring the privacy issues and the issue of the qualifications of the health insurance agents that will be purchasing your information there is the larger and more practical issue of do you really want to have 5+ insurance agents aggressively seeking your business?

Imagine that each health insurance agent is taught in their sales training to call you at least 5 times and email you at least 3 times before “giving up” on you as an insurance prospect: that means that you have received 25 phone calls and 15 emails from various insurance agents!

The second type of website that offers Florida health insurance quotes is the website that is run by an insurance agency (note that it is very important to find only an independent Florida insurance agency – meaning an agency that is not tied to working with only one health insurance company but can show you health insurance quotes from all of the top Florida health insurance companies. This is also why we will ignore the quasi third group of websites that offer Florida health insurance quotes: the health insurance carrier websites themselves. These can be a good service but very time consuming. There is a better way to shop for Florida health insurance. Read on-).

Most independent insurance agency websites offer a feature that will allow you to request Florida health insurance quotes. However, there is a much better way to shop for Florida health insurance! Rather than waiting for your request for health insurance quotes to be filled; look for a website that offers instant and LIVE Florida health insurance quotes from top Florida health insurance companies.

With instant LIVE Florida health insurance quotes you have the best of both worlds: you receive the benefits of competitive pricing by viewing the top Florida health insurance companies quotes side by side (the strong point of the marketing organization website model) as well as personal, expert help (the strong point of the insurance agency website model). Not to mention the added benefit of viewing the health insurance quotes from the different health insurance companies in the same format – enabling easy side by side comparisons of benefits. This allows for a true “apples to apples” comparison.

View up to 20 LIVE Florida health insurance quotes from top Florida health insurance companies like Aetna, Humana and Golden Rule/United Healthcare all in less than 20 seconds! View LIVE Florida health insurance quotes now and take advantage of the Internet’s price transparency!

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

Understanding Different Types of Auto Insurance

Auto Insurance policies can be divided into different categories according to the coverage they provide. Broadly speaking there are four kinds of policies known as Collision Insurance, Comprehensive Coverage Insurance, Uninsured and underinsured Motorist Coverage policies and No Fault Automobile Insurance policy. Besides these, there are policies that take care of other needs like covering an auto loan, paying for towing expenses or paying for the cost of a rented car while your vehicle is being repaired.

The most common insurance policies are:
Collision: Any property damage caused to your vehicle due to an accident caused by any other vehicle or object is covered under this policy. The claim amount cannot exceed the actual cash value of the vehicle and is subject to any deductible.

Comprehensive: Any property damage to your vehicle that is caused by non-collision factors like fire, theft, vandalism, and even natural disasters like flood, hurricane or earthquake is covered under this policy.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage: takes cares of any injury that may result to you or to persons insured in your policy from an accident that takes place with another uninsured or underinsured driver or vehicle owner. Generally only body injuries are covered under this policy.

No Fault Auto Insurance Policy: Irrespective of who caused the accident, the insurance company pays for the medical expenses and for the loss of wages that the insured suffers on account of a collision under this policy.

Some other additional coverage that an auto insurance policy holder can buy are:

Property Damage Liability and Bodily Injury Liability: These two policies protect the insured from any claims made against him for causing damage to property including vehicle belonging to another person or for causing any bodily injury or loss of life to other individuals up to the amount mentioned in the policy.

Auto Lease Protection: is an additional protection that you may add to your collision or comprehensive auto insurance policy to take care of any gap that exists between your auto loan amount and the cash value of your vehicle.

Full Tort and Limited Tort: available only in the state of Pennsylvania allows the insured to retain unrestricted rights to bring a lawsuit against a negligent party or recover expenses incurred for certain damages.

Rental Expense: Known as Extended Transportation Expense Coverage, the policy pays for a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired or replaced.

Medical Payments Insurance covers medical expenses for injuries sustained in an accident involving any vehicle for the insured, his passengers and other parties irrespective of whose fault it is.

Towing and Labor: An additional coverage option that can pay for all necessary towing and labor costs to tow your damaged vehicle to a work shop or another location.

About the Author:
Marcus Dubois is a veteran in the insurance industry, and recommends InstaQuoter to get an instant auto insurance quote. See http://www.instaquoter.com/auto/ for more information.
Published 11/25/2005
Article Source: http://www.EzinePlug.com

Types Of Dental Insurance

There are several basic types of dental insurance plans offering a range of cover from the most basic dental care plans to complete all encompassing dental insurance plans.

Basic dental care plans aren't effectively an insurance but rather a ‘club' that enables you to obtain discounted dental care from participating dentists. The level of discount is largely dependant on the monthly fee you pay but unlike dental insurance there is no limit to the amount of discounted treatment you can receive. One thing to check with dental care plans is the amount of local dental coverage (if any!). You can join a dental care plan for just a few dollars a month.

Indemnity Insurance Plans are a type of dental insurance whereby you pay the insurance company a fixed monthly fee who, in turn, will reimburse your dentist for services rendered. However, the dental insurance company doesn't normally cover the whole cost with the policy holder be liable for 20 – 50% of the total cost. If you take out an indemnity plan you need to check the level of deductibles and the maximum amount the insurance policy will pay out in any given year. Also find out the length of any probationary period during which the dental insurance company won't pay out and whether you are able to use your own dentist. Expect to pay around $14 to $26 per month.

One of the increasingly popular dental insurances is the direct reimbursement plans which are self funded by employer's rather them paying dental insurance premiums. As a general rule the person receiving the dental care will pay the fee in full and reclaim all or part of the cost (depending on what level of cover their particular employer provides) from their employer. Annual benefits of this dental insurance option are usually capped with the capped level varying quite significantly from one employer to another

Capitation dental insurance plans (HMO's) are when the dentist is paid an annual fee per patient rather than on a treatment basis. However, the dental insurance policy holder may be required to contribute towards the cost of any treatment. The cost of HMO insurance plans are generally targeted at preventative and emergency care and can vary from patient to patient following an initial examination.

Preferred provider organisations (PPO) offer an insurance plan that allows you to visit dentists from a preferred supplier list at a heavily discounted rate. If you choose to use a dentist that is not covered by the dental plan you will still receive some element of discount but nowhere near as much as you will receive from a ‘preferred' dentist. As with most dental insurance plans an annual cap will apply. Expect to pay up to about $25 per month.

UCR (Usual, Customary & Reasonable) indemnity dental insurance plans have a database which contains average prices for each dental procedure you might undergo. When you submit your bill for payment the dental insurance provider will check the cost of your treatment against the average. If you paid more than the average you will have to incur the additional cost with the insurance company only paying the insured percentage of the fee shown in their database. If the cost of your treatment is lower than average you will receive the agreed percentage of the amount you paid. There is no control over how dental insurance companies calculate the UCR cost and the insurance company always pockets the benefit of lower fees.

About the Author:
Terry Ross
For more on dental insurance visit my website 1st-4-teeth.com
Posted: 19-09-2006
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

How do you know when to cash in life insurance?

When you cash in your life insurance it is often called a Senior settlement, a Life Insurance Settlement or sometimes just an Insurance Settlement. The way it works is that you are trading the cash value (i.e. surrender value) of your policy to a third party for cash. This may happen even though the insurance policy does not have an actual surrender value. At times the cash you receive may be in excess of the cash surrender value of the life insurance policy.

This is usually done at or near retirement age in order to obtain additional cash for living expenses. Not only is cash received but the premiums you have been paying for the life insurance are no longer paid by you thus increasing your cash value.Basically this is a wealth and estate planning method.

In prior years seniors who had life insurance policies and felt that the premiums were a burden or that they no longer needed a life insurance policy just dropped the policy or turned it back to the life insurance company itself.But now they have an alternative.They can sell their insurance policy to someone other than the life insurance company.In this way they get much more cash.

Furthermore persons who take advantage of this method can use the money they receive for any purpose whatsoever although many people assume that such restrictions exist. In fact they can use the money for travel, buy another life insurance policy, purchase real estate, develop their hobbies,invest in a business venture. It is their money to dispose of as they wish.

The question now becomes: just how much money will you get from cashing in your life insurance policy? In most cases you will get about five times the cash surrender value of the life insurance policy. However other factors enter into the computation also.

Not all policies or people qualify for a Life Insurance Settlement. The restrictions are:

You must be at least 65 years old.
The policy itself or what is known as the cash value must be at least $50,000.00
The health of the holder of the policy must not be as good as it was when the life insurance policy was issued and his or her life expectancy must be under 15 years.
The life insurance policy must have been in effect longer than the probationary period.

Almost any type of life insurance policy is subject to being purchased. For instance: charities, individuals, trusts, term and group life insurance policies.

It is recommended that seniors take advantage of this great cash generating tool because the life insurance settlement may be substantially higher than the cash value of the policy. It is a mistake to let such life insurance policies lapse while this cash producing method is available. It is a no loose decision and should be seriously considered by all those eligible.

About the Author:
Matthew Meyer
For more information on life insurance see the life insurance section of TheFreeAdForum.com http://www.thefreeadforum.com/infowizards/CAT/Personal-Injury-Attornies_56_1.html
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

How to Buy Classic Car Insurance

If you are fortunate enough to own a classic car - or any collectible automobile - then you want to ensure that your luck does not run out because of having inadequate insurance coverage. Call it covering your butt - or covering your "asset" - but by all means, call one of the major providers such as American Collectors, Haggerty, or Parish Heacock insurance companies and let them put you in the driver's seat in terms of professional protection of your cherished automotive investment.

How to Kick the Tires on Classic Car Insurance

The whole idea of insurance is that it needs to do what you expect of it in an emergency, when the rubber really hits the road. And classic car insurance is as different from conventional auto insurance as, well, a classic car is from your run of the mill generic vehicle.

When you buy a classic car insurance policy, you are essentially purchasing protection for those times when - God forbid and knock on wood it doesn't happen - disaster strikes in the form of a fire, a collision, or an act of theft or vandalism. Just as we now have modern airbags to save us in the event of a crash, we also have collector's car insurance, to protect us with adequate moneybags when calamity throws a wrench in the works.

The time you invest in choosing the right classic car insurance coverage is well worth the value and peace of mind that a quality collector's insurance policy delivers for owners of classic motor cars.

The Nuts and Bolts of Classic Car Insurance Coverage

Collector car insurance is not the same as the insurance you buy for normal coverage of your daily transportation. Collector car insurance, or classic car insurance, is made especially for the needs of the car collector. And while ordinary insurance does offer some protection, no matter what you drive, it can leave you high and dry in the event of a loss that it not effectively covered by the terms of the insurance contract.

For example, you may have a garage-kept Cadillac Sedan DeVille with swooping fins your grandparents bought for $7,000 brand new back in the 1960s. But dealers have offered you three times that much, and you saw another one sell at an auto show for $35,000. If you don't have special collector car insurance or classic car insurance, and the car is totaled, you will be lucky to get $7,000 for it. With depreciation calculated in, the insurance statisticians may decide that it is worth only half that much, or less, and you could wind up with two or three grand in exchange for your dream machine.

Stipulations or requirements normally encountered while shopping for collector car insurance or classic car insurance:

* A decent driving record. * At least 10 years driving experience * No teen drivers on the policy or drivers with poor driving records * Secure and out of the weather garage * Proof that you have another car for daily transportation * Collector vehicle insurance is sometimes limited by the age of your car, and if your car is too young it may not qualify for a particular policy. * Limited mileage. You probably don't want to drive your creampuff car all the time, and your insurance company doesn't want you to either. Mileage limits have increased recently, though, so if you can live with 250 miles a month you're probably okay.

Coverage with collector car insurance or classic car insurance:

Three kinds of value are important to understand when buying your policy.

10 Actual cash value:

This is what you usually get with ordinary insurance, and is based on replacement cost minus depreciation.

20 Stated value:

The insurance company pays up to the stated value of the car, but may not guarantee the full stated value. And deductibles of up to $1,000 usually apply.

3) Agreed value:

In most jurisdictions, those who provide collector car insurance or classic car insurance are allowed to insure for a value that you and your insurer agree upon. And for most autos, there is no deductible. If your $100,000 vintage Rolls get trashed, you get a check for 100 grand, plain and simple - which is exactly why collectors use special classic car insurance coverage.

Do a periodic review of your coverage limits, because classic car prices are rising. What you insured your cherry classic for ten years ago may be a fraction of what it's worth today. And if you are restoring a vehicle, ask your agent to give you appropriate insurance. There is no need to pay extra based on mileage statistics, if your car is up on blocks with no engine inside it. And as the car's value increases thanks to your hard work of restoring it, you should raise the coverage to keep up with the added value of the restoration.

Keep all your receipts and paperwork - for everything from parts and labor to expenses incurred to take it to a classic car show - so that you can document the total investment your collector's car represents. And take photos and keep them updated, for the same reason.

And Last But Not Least: Special Savings Opportunities

As long as you meet the criteria in terms of how you use and take care of the car, you can usually buy a policy.

Traditional insurers will either refuse coverage, offer only a replacement value based on the nuts and bolts (minus heavy depreciation) of the car, or will charge you a prohibitive amount for the premium. But many collectors find that special collector's coverage saves them money - as much as half - while insuring them for higher limits, sometime three or four times what a traditional company gave them.

Yes, it's possible to get collector's insurance coverage for full market value for your car, and save up to 50 percent off of the premium you'd pay with ordinary insurance. That makes classic car insurance a must-have for any serious car buff.

Below is information about three of the most reputable and dependable collectors and classic car insurance companies in the USA (All information listed below subject to change, please contact the insurance companies listed to be sure.):

Hagerty Insurance P.O. Box 1303 Traverse City, MI 49685-1303

Email: auto@hagerty.com Toll Free: 800-922-4050

Qualifications:

* Similar to the others listed below, but please contact Haggerty for details.

American Collectors Insurance P.O. Box 8343 Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

Email: info@americancollectors.com Toll Free: (800) 360-2277 Qualifications (subject to change or regional laws so check with the company for specific up-to-date information).

* At least 15 years old * Garage-kept * Driven on a limited, pleasure-only basis (up to 5,000 annual miles - available in most states)

You may also qualify by:

* Having at least 10 years driving experience * Having a good driving record * Having at least one "regular" vehicle for every licensed driver in the household

You may request a policy application either directly from American Collectors Insurance or through your local insurance agent (rates are the same either way).

Parish Heacock Classic Car Insurance P.O. Box 24807 Lakeland, FL 33802-4807

Email: info@parishheacock.com Toll free: (800) 678-5173

Qualifications (subject to change or regional laws so check with the company for specific up-to-date information).

* Each household member of driving age must have at least 10 years driving experience or be excluded. * Each household member must have a regular use vehicle less than 15 years old that is insured with liability limits equal to or higher than the limits being applied for on the collectible vehicle. * All licensed members of household and any other drivers of the vehicle must be listed on the application. * Maximum of two accidents or violations in the household, maximum of one per licensed household member in past 3 years. No major violations permitted in past 5 years. * A Driver Health Questionnaire must be completed for all drivers over 70 years old. * Auto must be stored in a locked permanent garage facility when not driven. * Auto may not be used for commuting to or from work or school, used for business purposes or as a substitute for another auto. * Autos not covered while on a racetrack or when being used for: racing, speed, driver's education, or timed events. * Must display pride of ownership: well maintained, in restored or well-preserved condition. * Vehicles under restoration must be stored at residence or a restoration shop, with a target date for completion. Agreed value coverage is not available on cars under restoration. Eligibility subject to company review. * Replica Vehicles and Pro Street vehicles are subject to company review. * Trucks and Jeeps must be over 25 years old, and not be used for towing, hauling, off-road or utility use. * Generally do not require appraisals, but may ask for one if vehicle value is difficult to determine.

About the Author:
Michael Modica is an avid muscle car fan. He appreciates all classic muscle, but his real passion is the Second Generation Chevrolet Camaro (1970 - 1981). Mike is the webmaster of NastyZ28.com as well as this reference site for automotive paint codes. He can be reached by email at mikem79@nastyz28.com.
Submitted: 2006-09-27
Article Source: Go Articles