Insurance For Writers Of Short Stories

Are you a writer who makes a living, or tries to, by writing short stories, poetry books, magazine articles, or even novels? Perhaps you make a pretty decent income, and perhaps you're doing well just to make ends meet. In any event, you most likely fall into the "self-employed" category, as most writers don't have a traditional employer or boss, and as a self-employed individual, you might be struggling with insurance.

Insurance, especially health insurance, can be quite expensive, and although your short stories may be paying the rent and putting food on the table, they may not be bringing in enough cash to pay any additional bills from insurance companies. Since most kinds of insurance are optional, many people choose not to purchase them; however, in the event of a serious health condition, these people wish they had purchased a health insurance policy.

There are insurance options for self-employed people - this includes you writers of short stories! Of course, you can always purchase an individual health insurance policy, which is more expensive than buying into an insurance policy provided by an employer, but it's better than nothing since health insurance is so important. You could purchase health insurance through an organization or association with which you are affiliated if it offers health insurance coverage to its members. Or, you could join an organization or association that offers health insurance coverage to its members if you don't already belong to one. More specifically, you could join a organization or association for writers.

Organizations and associations for writers understand that writing short stories, no matter how great they are, doesn't always cover every single bill - especially health insurance bills. Therefore, one of the benefits they offer for joining their organization or association is the option of purchasing a health insurance policy through them at a group rate. Research these organization and associations; for the sake of your health, join one today!

About the Author:
Elizabeth Newberry
Get Your Affordable car Insurance Quote Instantly Home Owners Insurance Louisiana Car Insurance Rate
Submitted: 2006-09-27
Article Source: Go Articles

Long Term Care Insurance Policy

Most young people ignore the fact that they will grow old one day. It is the wise ones who not only think about it but also provide for their future. Statistics show us that almost one out of two Americans require long term care when they grow old. Due to immobility and illness people become dependant on families and institutions to carry out normal daily activities such as dressing and bathing.

Long-term care refers to a system where this can be taken care of in your own home, a hospital, a home center or an assisted living facility. It could be a reality to many who have led a strong and active life earlier. This is why its importance is growing each day. Most Medicare programs and State Medicaid programs do not provide the necessary facilities for payment. Some only cater to those who fall below the poverty line. Therefore, it is prudent to consider applying for a Long Term Care Insurance policy early in life.

If you have worked all your life and have made a substantial saving, then perhaps you can fund your own long-term care. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky and therefore long-term care insurance is very vital to secure a safe future especially for those who have a history of health problem in the family.

Like for any other policy, it is best that you know all the details prior to buying one. Often times, people forget that premiums for life insurance policies increase over time. This makes it difficult to pay especially when there is no enhancement of the financial situation. Thus, policies are cancelled when they are needed most because policyholders cannot continue to pay high premiums. It is easy to get drawn into buying a policy because market savvy sales executives make it sound so easy. But, it is up to the individual and insurance advisors to properly instruct prospective customers.

One sure way of protecting yourself is to be sure of all the terms and conditions given in the long term care insurance policy document. If the insurance sector is not your cup of tea; you could hire an agent or a broker who will act on your behalf. They will be experts on quotes, claims, processes and other issues. You need to also be careful on selecting the right broker at the right cost. Long-term care insurance not only provides security for you, but for the entire family. So you can take their advice before buying a policy. Remember, to choose an insurance company that is reputable and trustworthy. You can take it for granted that sales people will only state the benefits of a policy. They will not tell you the flip side of the story. Do not rely on brochures and other sales oriented literature to make your decision.

To summarize, a long-term care insurance policy can be used for different types of long term care such as skilled nursing, intermediate nursing and custodial care. The kind of care you choose largely depends on your physical health and situation. This kind of insurance is definitely worthwhile and affordable when you think of life beyond 65 years of age.

About the Author:
Robert Lawrence co-founded Insurance4USA.com, an insurance quote shopping service, in 1999. He has been a licensed insurance agent in New York State since 1990.
Posted: 15-09-2006
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Insights Into Your Med-Pay Insurance Coverage

While Legal Romantics would like to characterize the trial of a lawsuit as a “Search For Truth” that’s not a reality! Cases are decided on the evidence. When reviewing cases before them, judges invariably use the phrase, “The evidence shows”, rather than, “The truth of the matter is”. That first phrase is a reality that filters from the courtroom down to the objective evaluation of each case tried. If Fred Fuddle is the town drunk, or if his conduct at the accident scene was provably abnormal than the value of your case should increase. If your injuries are visible and/or demonstrable, it’s likely your settlement will be larger. The conduct of both Fuddle and you before the accident may be significant. If you had been at a bar drinking heavily or raising holy hell out on the highway before the accident, you’ll get less regard from the jury than if you were driving to your house of worship with your family. So, the circumstances of your behavior before, during, or after the accident increases or decreases the value of your settlement. THE SIX MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN THE “EVALUATION PROCESS”: To be fully informed, you must know and understand the six primary evaluation elements that figure into the process of evaluation. They are as follows: (1) THE FACTS (2) THE EVIDENCE (3) THE LAW (4) YOUR INJURY (5) SPECIAL DAMAGES (6) THE INTANGIBILITIES. (1) THE FACTS: The gathering of the provable factual information is the first step in the evaluation. If you try to evaluate a claim without as complete a file of facts as possible, it’s like going hunting for a lion with a slingshot. (2) THE EVIDENCE: You must weigh all factual evidence known to you against the actual evidence you can produce to substantiate it. No matter what information you’re aware of, your position will always be stronger if you have the evidence to back you up. For example: You can talk until the cows come home about the unsightly black-and-blue marks you had on your face, ribs, and hips, the scar on your forehead, or the 75 feet of skid marks Fred Fuddle’s auto left on the highway before he smashed into you, but Adjuster I. M. Smart will never adequately comprehend, (nor want to believe you) unless you provide him with photographs. Providing Smart with the proof-positive of photographs will cause his Supervisor’s eyes to bulge as he inhales a deep breath of resignation and declares, “Hey, this one’s gonna cost us” . QUESTION: “How can Dan be so sure about that”? ANSWER: “Because before Dan retired, after spending over 30 years on that firing line, he was an Insurance Adjuster, Supervisor, Manager and Trial Assistant. He’s been there, saw that, plus heard (and felt) that many thousands of times”! Whenever possible you must help Adjuster I. M. Smart justify the settlement figure he wants to get approved by his immediate superior at Granite Mountian Insurance Corporation. (3) THE LAW: As proved in over 83% of the accidents in the United States in 2003 the impact you were subjected to is clearly the fault of “Fumbling” Fred Fuddle, so the law is on your side. Armed with the information found in my third book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) plus THE BASE FORMULA (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula) you’ll be able to do that. THE BASE FORMULA will correctly evaluate your “Pain and Suffering”. Because of this, you can settle your own claim without handing a huge percentage to an attorney. A lawyer who has done nothing more than have his secretary send Fuddle a letter of representation and then think it’s perfectly acceptable (after many moths, sometimes years, of hiding/stumbling/fumbling and verbally pitching his well-practiced answer when you asked, “Hey what’s going on with my claim?” with an answer like, “I’m right on top of it, hang in there, old friend and I‘ll make it come out right”, and then proceed to take a huge portion of your settlement dollars, for doing little or nothing to earn it. (4) INJURY TO YOU: The seriousness of your injury has to be considered. (Ole’ Doc Comfort, your attending physician’s Medical Report, should go into detail about that).Your age will have an effect on the time it takes you to recover. The time you lost at work will have a direct bearing on the length of your recovery. (5) SPECIAL DAMAGES: All of your direct and tangible losses are prime factors to be implemented in the consideration of the value of your claim.(Clearly stated details regarding Damages are found in Chapter Four of my book). (6) INTANGIBLE ELEMENTS: These include your reasonableness, your economic status, your standing in the community, the obvious sentiment conjured up when one considers the degree of the seriousness of your injury, plus the attitude of Fred Fuddle (and often your witness) regarding your case. Sympathy will come into play if you’re a widow or a highly respected Little League Coach, in contrast to your being identified as a raucous bum with a history of getting into scrapes with the law. Emotional factors often have considerable weight in the evaluation of your claim. Whatever the intangible elements may be, you must force yourself to investigate and then evaluate them just as objectively as possible. So, if what’s being contended is incorrect, you can deny them (plus you must prove the conclusions not to be true) when and where it becomes appropriate to do so. Copyright (c) 2004 By Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article INSIGHTS INTO YOUR MED-PAY INSURANCE CLAIM COVERAGE is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga nor ARTICLECITY.COM make any guarantee of any kind what whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Whenever such help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY to obtain such services.

About The Author:
Dan Baldyga is now retired and spends his time writing articles to assist those who are involved in motor vehicle accidentclaims so they won't be taken advantage of: AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com dbpaw@comcast.net
This article was posted on June 18, 2004
Article Source: The Articles Directory

Boat insurance - Salvation Or Devastation?

Here is a true story of a dream gone badly. Owning the Ranger Z22 Comanche Bass boat was a long cherished dream for them. They saved and envisioned the day they would be the proud owners of it. Finally after many years, that day came. They bought the boat of their dreams, all 22 feet, 300 horsepower of happiness. They were anxious to go to Lake Sinclair in Georgia to christen their new boat, but they knew the needed to take care of a very important matter first, boat insurance. They wanted to protect this dream and themselves from harm.

Their local boat insurance agent stated they needed guest passenger liability, property damage, bodily injury, theft, medical payment coverage along with coverage for physical loss. Now he is the boat insurance expert so no need to question, right? Well turns out they should not have been in such a hurry to enjoy their new boat and taken some extra time out to protect it.

Taking solace in the fact their life long dream was protected from damage or accidents, they proceeded to enjoy the dream that had turned into a reality. A rude awakening was about to happen. They lived near the ocean in Georgia. Severe storms are not common in the early summer months, but the ones that do occur are very severe and damaging. They found themselves hit by a powerful hurricane. Their dreamboat, the cover, trailer, and other equipment were all destroyed. They called their boat insurance agent and their world turned upside down. They found out after many unanswered phone calls and a visit that they did not have the coverage that they needed to replace their lost dream.

Now after experiencing the fury of a hurricane and the loss of a boat, they came face to face with the reality that a dream was lost and no hope of immediate recovery or for that matter recovery in the near future. Their boat insurance provider did not advise them about an option of 'natural disaster coverage'. This coverage was not standard with the company they chose. Then to top it off, they found out that nothing else was covered. The trailer, cover, fishing equipment, and other articles in the boat were also lost for good. This was also an optional coverage, and again was not mentioned or suggested.

The reason that we bring this story to your attention is to point out the importance of researching boat insurance policies and brokers. Even after you chose a broker, you need to discuss all the details of a policy to assure that your dream does not become a nightmare. By taking the necessary steps and finding a top boat insurance agent, you could possibly save money. Some will offer discounts for taking safe boating courses, if it has, a diesel engine could be some savings as well.

A few things that are essential, to completely protect your prized boat. You want to have a boat insurance coverage that will provide wreck and emergency removal services. Be sure it covers your equipment, motor, trailer, and of course the boat. Also, be sure of natural disaster coverage no matter where you live. All areas of the country have natural disasters like floods, fire, hail, tornados, lightening and windstorms. You also want to be sure you are covered for acts of vandalism or explosions

Summary:

It can be an exciting time on the water with that boat of your dreams. You worked hard to make the dream come true. Do not let it turn into a nightmare by not having an adequate boat insurance.

About the Author:
Brooke Hayles
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What Are The Different Types Of Auto Insurance?

Purchasing auto insurance can be a big decision for some consumers, especially with each individual state having their own minimum insurance requirements that they mandate vehicle owners have in order to legally drive their car. Prior to purchasing any type of automobile insurance it's important to know the various types of auto insurance services and coverage available from the insurance providers.

At a minimum every state requires all vehicle drivers to be insured with liability insurance. Basically, liability insurance covers the expenses that occur if you cause an accident and destroy someone else's car or auto. Liability insurance doesn’t pay for any damage that your automobile sustains in an accident that you cause. Almost every financial lender or loan provider will require a consumer to have full auto insurance coverage instead of just liability insurance in order to preserve the value of their loan against a new or used car that is financed by the bank.

Property damage is the amount of insurance needed to pay for repairs or damages to another motorist's vehicle if you are the root cause of an accident. This is one portion of the minimum required liability insurance as mandated by the individual states. Without this insurance the consumer responsible for the accident would be held accountable to pay for any damages or financial liabilities as a result of the accident. With the price of today's automobiles this could prove to be financially disastrous which is why every state requires a minimum amount of property damage coverage.

Personal injury protection is insurance coverage that pays for a percentage of any medical bills as a result of hospitalization or medical treatment received. It also provides some assistance with wages that are lost as a result of the accident and some death benefits.

Uninsured motorist insurance coverage provides relief to you in case you are involved in an accident without being at fault and the other driver has no car insurance coverage. Although every state requires a minimum amount of liability insurance there are still many drivers that don’t carry or have any auto insurance making this form of insurance almost a necessity in order to give you some peace of mind while driving on the road.

Comprehensive and collision coverage are additional types of insurance coverage that fall under the full coverage umbrella. Normally these types of insurance are required by banks and lenders for any consumer vehicle financing they intend to approve. Comprehensive coverage provides for any type of damage to your vehicle to include theft and vandalism. Collision coverage provides insurance coverage for your vehicle or car if you are found at fault in an accident. In most cases the cash value (as determined by the insurance institution, provider or company) of your vehicle is paid if a total loss of the automobile occurs as a result of the accident.

Finally, bodily injury is another of the minimum required insurance services (under the liability insurance umbrella) required by the states in order to legally drive your car. This insurance provides coverage against medical bills that are a result of an accident that you are found liable for as causing.

Understanding the many different types of auto insurance will help you find the auto insurance coverage you need at a price you can afford thereby allowing you to legally drive in the state you currently reside in.

About the Author:
Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Top Auto Insurance Providers. A website that specializes in providing auto insurance advice to include easy ways to find cheaper types of auto insurance that you can research in your pajamas from the comfort of your own home.
For more information go to this site http://www.topautoinsuranceproviders.com/article-2-auto-insurance.html
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Auto Insurance Company Policies

Auto insurance company policies are legal agreements between a company and its insured persons. In these agreements, the insured pays a particular amount as premium, and the company provides economic support to the person within the limits of the policy. It is mandatory in most of the states that a person operating a vehicle on the roads hold a policy of this kind.

Auto insurance company policies are more expensive than other kinds of insurance because it has a savings plan combined with auto insurance company coverage. You have to pay a very high rate of premium at the beginning to get a policy. But after that, the premium stays constant throughout the life of the policy. There are other scenarios when the premium is paid for a certain number of years until the policy is paid up. The savings portion or cash surrender value included in auto insurance company policies is considered a major advantage. This savings portion has a low return rate and is made available for retirement planning, in most companies.

Auto insurance company policies consist of mainly six types of coverage or benefits, including bodily injury, property damage liability, medical payments coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage. Liability, in which the insured person is protected from claims and other court suits in case of accidents, is an integral part of an auto insurance company policy. Comprehensive coverage pays if damage occurs due to fire, falling of other heavy objects on vehicles, and other natural calamities. The coverage can be purchased as group or individual.

One of the most commonly sold auto insurance company policy is PAP (Personal Automobile Policy), which offers coverage for liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments, and physical damage protection. Auto insurance company policies, in general provide, protection from almost any kind of physical loss.

About the Author:
Peter Emerson
Auto Insurance Companies provides detailed information on Auto Insurance Companies, Types of Auto Insurance Companies, Top Auto Insurance Companies, Auto Insurance Company Ratings and more. Auto Insurance Companies is affiliated with Car Insurance Policies.
Article Submitted On: September 19, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Health Insurance 101 For Individuals And Families

The changing healthcare and health insurance landscape in the United States has resulted in more individuals and families purchasing health insurance coverage on their own. Rather than touch on the number of reasons why this is the case, I would like to provide individuals and families finding themselves in this position with ten basic ideas to assist them with getting the best health insurance policy for their specific situation. Below is a combination of ten questions and suggestions that will provide the tools necessary to get a medical insurance policy that will best work for you and your family.

1)What are your typical health and medical care expenses in a calendar year? Most people are surprised when they go through this exercise to learn that they would be financially better off in most years to purchase a high deductible health insurance plan and use the premium savings to directly offset heath care expenses throughout the year.

2)How long do you anticipate needing the health insurance coverage? For example, many companies sell temporary policies that can be put in force for 1-6 months and they are relatively inexpensive. If you are in between jobs or in a waiting period for employer coverage, this may be your best option.

3)What is your budget? If your budget is tight, having a $1000, $2500 or even $5000 deductible is better than having no coverage at all. The ability of doctors and hospitals to save and prolong life in the United States is in many cases extraordinary. However, their treatment is not free and going without health insurance coverage can in some cases result in you and/or your family losing an entire life’s worth of savings and assets.

4)Be careful to choose a plan that covers the “big stuff”. It is nice to have a policy that covers items such as: physician office visits, routine physicals, outpatient testing, and blood work. However, it is essential to have coverage for major services such as cancer treatment, transplants, critical illness, traumatic accidents, and infectious diseases. Find out the lifetime maximum amount as well as if the policy contains “internal” dollar limits.

5)Always carefully read and understand the pre-existing condition clause and policy exclusions so that you will not be surprised down the road if a claim is denied. This is important whether you are purchasing a standard medical, temporary, or student health insurance policy.

6)Does the insurance company you are considering have a substantial network of preferred doctors and hospitals in your area? In addition to family doctors, what type of access will you have to specialists and the best hospitals in the event you or a family member is diagnosed with an illness that requires specialized care? Also, what are your options for preferred health care providers when traveling?

7)If you need to go “out of network”, will you still have coverage? Most insurance policies will have coverage in the event you need to go outside of their network for care. However, review how these out of network claims will be paid. Will there be an additional deductible? How are reimbursement levels determined for out of network claims? What is your maximum out of pocket for out of network claims?

8)Are you looking for an opportunity to reduce your taxable income? If so, make sure your plan qualifies as a high deductible health plan and look into all of the aspects of a Health Savings Account. In the right situation, HSAs can be an excellent way to pay for eligible health care expenses, reduce your taxable income and save for retirement.

9)What are the financial ratings of the insurance company you are considering? A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, and Moody’s are organizations that rate the financial stability of insurance companies.

10)What type of customer service will you get from your insurance agent? Do they specialize in health insurance? Do they have a staff that is willing and able to assist you in the event you have a claim, billing, or other customer service problem?

If you do not have the time or patience to look into all of the items mentioned above, develop a relationship with an independent insurance agent that specializes in evaluating and servicing health insurance policies. A good independent insurance agent will be able to save you time, money, and be an excellent resource for evaluating all of the items mentioned above.

About the Author:
Michael Ertel is the founder of http://www.MedicalInsuranceNow.com . This is a website that assists individuals and small business owners by providing side by side comparisons of health insurance alternatives. He can be reached at MErtel@medicalinsurancenow.com.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Should You Purchase Travel Insurance?

The determination of whether you should purchase travel insurance is a determination of whether you want to assume nothing bad can happen during your travels, or whether should something bad happen you can adequately resolve these unforeseen events. None of us think something bad will happen. We assume incorrectly that fire, flood, earthquake and terrorism will happen to others. We assume we won't have a heart attack or stroke, we won't be felled by illness. We assume wrong. The question, "should you purchase travel insurance" is perhaps answered by asking yourself why you purchased homeowners insurance, or medical insurance or life insurance. You purchased them so that your consistent small payments would assure you of having someone else provide help in case of a catastrophic event for which you are unprepared. Purchasing travel insurance, just like purchasing any other insurance, is not just about receiving the funds to recover. It's also about having the professional assistance of those who know what has to happen for you and your family to recover, and who do make that happen. It's about cooler heads prevailing. Should you purchase travel insurance? Well, let's look at a few things that could, and do happen, to overseas and even domestic travelers. Then, you decide if you should purchase travel insurance. You're from Minnesota. You've never been to the ocean. You book a hotel room in Florida for a week but you are then ordered to evacuate due to an expected hurricane. But you have non-refundable airline tickets, and your hotel and rental car are already paid for. How do you replace the airline tickets and get reimbursed for your stay? If you had known this was going to happen, what would your answer have been to the question, "Should you purchase travel insurance?" You're on an island in the Caribbean, ready for your cruise back home. You find out that the cruise ship company has gone bankrupt and there will be no return cruise. What do you do? How do you get your money back? Most importantly, how do you get back home? If you had known this was going to happen, what would your answer have been to the question, "Should you purchase travel insurance?" You're ready to take your family on a much-needed vacation to Hawaii. Your daughter is felled by an attack of appendicitis and must have immediate surgery. But your airline tickets are non-refundable. How do you get your money back? If you had known this was going to happen, what would your answer have been to the question, "Should you purchase travel insurance?"

About The Author:
Steve Cogger is an avid traveler offering a wealth of travel information. For more information or to purchase travel insurance visit http://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com.
This article was posted on August 08, 2005
Article Source: The Articles Directory

Why Should I Apply For Car Insurance Quote Online UK

Getting a car insurance quote online in the UK can save you a lot of money on your auto insurance. The process is simple, quick, and extremely convenient. All you need to do is to fill out a simple quick quote provider form, submit it, and the online insurance company will do the rest and generate your car insurance quote within minutes. On top of that, you can also obtain multiple online quotes in the UK from various different insurance providers, allowing you to make comparisons between them, all these within the privacy and comfort of your own home.

It is an established fact that the reason most people in the UK and other parts of the world overpay on their insurance policies is due to a lack of shopping around. Online car insurance quotes prevent this from happening. With online quotes, consumers also have the freedom to start, save and complete their insurance applications according to their convenience. In addition, a single application usually contains several free online quotes, so that you don't have to be worried about the cost associated with receiving multiple car insurance online quotes in the UK.

To obtain your car insurance quote online in the UK, you'll first need to have access to a PC that is equipped with a reliable connection to the internet. Normally, you don't need to spend more than 30 minutes, but this could also depend on the number of free insurance quotes you wish to receive. Also remember that if you already have some other form of insurance with a particular provider (such as such as home or life insurance), you can qualify for a bigger discount for having multiple insurance policies.

There's no need to be concerned about the security and privacy of the information that you provide to the insurance company, because all the information you fill out on the form is kept confidential, and encrypted with special software. Without your permission no one can gain access to this information, and your current credit score remains as it is when you apply for a car insurance quote online in the UK.

Generally, you have two options when receiving your online car insurance quote in the UK. You can either accept the online quote instantly, or choose to have the insurance company email the rate to you. You're guaranteed to save money either way. Just remember, you are not under any obligation to accept any online auto insurance policy that is offered to you, and take caution not to make any errors, which can adversely affect the online car insurance quote.

Deciding which online car insurance provider to choose is the most challenging task when applying for a free online car insurance quote in the UK. Prioritize online car insurance companies using a couple of factors, such as the number and quality of their customer service reviews, if they include a simple application process that provides multiple money saving online quotes, and if their online quotes cover the area you currently reside in.

About the Author:
James M Taylor
Get car insurance quote online UK and find out how much you could save. Get free tips and information about auto insurance for your family, children & seniors.
Posted: 15-09-2006
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Life Insurance - One more step on the insurance ladder

The recently over 60's are the post-war baby boomers. Their insurance needs are very different from that of a young family or someone just starting out in their first job.

A typical 60 something couple will have raised their family, finished paying off their mortgage and are into or nearing retirement. More and more of this age group of people spend part of their year abroad or maybe are planning to move to the sunshine on a permanent basis.

Maybe it would be a good idea to assess their insurance needs at this stage in their lives. Something that is almost certain to crop up is the worrying matter of inheritance tax. House prices have risen considerably over the past years and the family home that suited their lifestyle some years ago will probably be worth an amount approaching or over the inheritance tax limit. Even if they downsize their property, they may invest in something like a holiday home and the actual capital is still there.

Inheritance tax is charged on taxable estates with a value of more than £300,000 in the 2007/8 tax year. This amount rises annually - 2006/7 was £285,000 for instance.

To work out the value of their estate, they will need to take the value of their home, savings, investments, life insurance policies, any business interests and any other assets which they have accumulated. When the total of this has been reached, any liabilities will need to be deducted. Typically this will be any mortgage outstanding, loans and other debts. The remaining figure, less the amount exempt from Inheritance Tax is the one that Inheritance tax will be calculated from.

Inheritance tax would be charge on the death of the second partner. There is no inheritance tax between spouses.

To put it simply, if their estate - their assets minus their liabilities - is worth around £400,000, then using the 2007/8 allowance of £300,000 there would be £100,000 which would attract a tax of 40%. That's £60,000 to their beneficiaries and £40,000 to the taxman.

You may think this is a fairly large estate, but do consider what your home could be worth at today's values.

Now this couple may be quite happy to potentially give £40,000 of their hard earned money away, but we think probably not!

The couple would be advised to take some specialist advice at this stage, but a solution could well be to take out some whole-of-life insurance cover. An amount that would cover the estimated inheritance tax bill would relieve their beneficiaries of any worries when the inevitable time comes. The policy must be written "in trust" and the result will be that the payout will not be counted as part of the estate. By using this important proviso, there should be no delay in the payment of the policy to beneficiaries.

Most policies designed to help with inheritance tax dues are investment linked and offered on a reviewable basis. The plan will be reviewed at five or maybe ten yearly intervals. If the investment part of the plan has not performed as hoped, then the cost of the premium could rise and our couple need to be aware of this.

For an easy way to get some advice on this important subject, an on-line broker will be able to steer our couple towards the right product for them, at the right price.

About the Author:
Michael Challiner
Cheap Life Insurance Broker great articles based around Cheap life insurance.
Submitted: 2006-09-27
Article Source: Go Articles

Boat Insurance - How to Steer Clear Of Getting Cheated

It does not matter if it is a fishing boat, a high speed ski boat, or any type of boat as long as it is the boat you have always wanted. You are so anxious to put it on the water you may forget a few necessary things that need to be taken care of. One of the most important things that you need to address immediately is the purchase of boat insurance. You have waited and dreamed of this day. You certainly want to protect your investment. The unfortunate thing is today some insurance agents will sell you another dream, and then when something does happen, you are left all alone and may be responsible for the entire amount yourself.

You do not want this to happen to you. So what do you need to do to keep from being an insurance agent victim? All boat owners should consider a few simple suggestions so they are not ripped off purchasing boat insurance.

First, you need to do your homework.

Now we do not mean the type of homework you did when you were in school. However, you do want to use every resource available to research boat insurance and boat insurance brokers. The Internet is a great place to start. Its wealth of information will help guarantee that you will not be ripped off when the time comes that you put your money down for the insurance policy.

At this point, we will give you a bit of a head start. Be sure to visit the site ambest.com/ratings/ which will assist you in researching a reputable insurance company and boat insurance broker. It rates insurance brokers and their strength financially.

A Brokers Reputation

Trusting the dream you have had for many years is not something you would want to do with someone who has a questionable reputation. One of the first things you may want to do is ask friends or family members that carry boat insurance themselves for recommendations and opinions. Service and reputation testimonials are the best source of information.

If you do not know of anyone who has boat insurance, you then must decide for yourself whom to trust your boat insurance needs with. First, try to choose a broker who puts your needs at the top of the priority list. They can do this by customizing a policy that fits your specific situation and has no hidden surprises. Try to find a boat insurance broker that has a good reputation of getting the best possible policies for his clients and a good record of doing what was promised, in the case of a claim.

Do not combine your boat insurance with your homeowners insurance. If a broker was to recommend this and you accepted it could lead to problems. If you were to make a claim, it may not be honored since more than likely there are limits what is covered and what is not. This is a broker you would not want to choose.

Summary:
Your dreamboat is worth not only a large monetary investment but also a lot of hope and hours of working hard to achieve. You want to make sure it is protected from all possible harm with a boat insurance provided by a broker who will not cheat you.

About the Author:
Brooke Hayles Check Out More Cool Tips Here About Boat insurance
Content Provider: http://www.my-articles.com

Insuring Your Travel on a Shoe String

Cheap travel insurance isn't necessarily about who's asking the lowest premium. Cheap travel insurance is about knowing your choices, perusing all the options and discarding the coverage you don't need. If you end up with cheap travel insurance that doesn't help you out of an overseas medical or evacuation jam, you haven't gotten a bargain. However, if you're a U.S. resident traveling within the United States you aren't going to need travel insurance that offers medical evacuation coverage. If you're touring the country by car you don't need lost luggage protection. Travel insurance can offer much more than medical care while you're traveling. Some of the other features of some travel insurance plans are translation services, travel assistance, lost luggage, trip interruption, replacement of lost or damaged eyeglasses, repair of damaged or stolen rental vehicle, emergency medical evacuation coverage, flight cancellation due to bankruptcy of the airline, flight accident and terrorism. For purposes of comparison there are four levels of travel insurance coverage - the most all-encompassing being total trip coverage. Some of these plans have a coverage ceiling as high as $500,000. Along with the above-mentioned travel catastrophes these plans also provide payment for return of traveler's remains to home in the event of death, as well as emergency dental coverage and reimbursement for financial default of your travel agency or any other provider of your trip, such as cruise company. The next level down, comprehensive, can provide up to $1 million in coverage with some carriers. The range of coverage incidents and the ceilings are often a little lower than total trip coverage, however. When it comes to cheap travel insurance there are two options. You can choose the economy level of trip coverage or, if you travel extensively, you may do better paying an annual premium. You can also end up with cheap travel insurance if you mix and match your various issues, choosing only the coverage you need. You can, for instance, choose to purchase only flight ticket protection (in case of trip interruption, for reimbursement of your non-refundable ticket). Perhaps you might want to purchase AD&D (accidental death and dismemberment) coverage in case of airline accident. Or you might want to add, or purchase alone, some cheap travel insurance for medical care, and/or medical evacuation. You may choose to add reimbursement protection for lost or delayed baggage. Cheap travel insurance is about making good choices and buying only what you need as you need it. It's also about comparison shopping.

About The Author:
Steve Cogger is an avid traveler offering a wealth of travel information. For more information on travel insurance visit the http://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com website.
This article was posted on August 03, 2005
Article Source: The Articles Directory

Home Insurance: Once You've Got It, Should You Forget About It?

Most of us get our home insurance when we buy our house. It often becomes part of the monthly mortgage payment and is easy to forget about. However, it's a good idea to think about your home insurance from time to time. Here's why.

Your coverage needs may have changed. There are lots of things that can happen to change your home insurance coverage needs. One of the most obvious is major remodeling. If you've redone your kitchen, added a room or built an outside structure such as a workshop you may not have enough coverage under your current policy.

Also, if you've made any major purchases such as a computer system, or received any gifts such as jewelry, you may need to get a floater or endorsement for those extra items. This will make sure they are covered by insurance in case of a loss.

Life events may have also changed the coverages you need. For example if someone has moved in or out of your home, they'll probably have personal items that will need to be covered by the home insurance policy, or in the case of moving out, no longer need to be covered.

You may now qualify for discounts. If you've added burglar and fire alarms, updated electrical and plumbing and done other improvements that make your home safer, you may qualify for a discount.

Your home insurance company may have made some changes. It's easy to overlook the details in the policy declarations that your home insurance company sends you at renewal. They may have made some changes that could affect your coverages or even your rate. Make sure to read your policy declarations carefully.

The bottom line is that you should not just forget about your home insurance once you've taken out the policy. You should review your policy at least every year -- when you get your renewal documentation is a good time -- and contact your insurance company with questions.

If you feel that you are not getting the best service or value from your home insurance, you should do some comparison shopping. When you comparison shop, compare coverages, premium and consider the service records of the companies. It's a good idea to get at least three quotes when comparison shopping.

About the Author:
Scott Lunt is a freelance writer with over 15 years experience writing insurance-related articles. You can compare home insurance quotes and find more tips on saving on car, home, life, health and long-term care insurance at LowerYourInsurance.com.
Article Submitted On: September 20, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Maternity Insurance and the Cost of Pregnancy:Fact and Fiction

If you are pregnant, are considering becoming pregnant, or have someone on your health insurance plan that is pregnant or will become pregnant and especially if you live in the state of Florida then this is "The Maternity Insurance Article" for you. The aim of this article is to explain some of the maternity options available to you and to debunk some common myths concerning maternity insurance, maternity riders, maternity discount plans, and other types of maternity coverage.

First of all, if you are a Florida resident and you are pregnant and do not have maternity coverage then you will not be eligible for maternity coverage under an individual health insurance plan. Those with the foresight to plan ahead and purchase some type of maternity coverage before they become pregnant are rewarded while those who wait until they are actually pregnant are of course not afforded individual maternity coverage. (If you are pregnant and have access to a group plan through you or your spouses' employer then now is the time to seriously inquire about your enrollment options as many group health insurance plans usually cover maternity just as they do any other illness). Naturally, sick people always want health insurance and people with a pregnancy in the family always want some form of maternity insurance.

If you are not pregnant and would like to add on additional maternity coverage to your individual health insurance plan then there are a few things that you should know. Most individual health insurance policies will allow you some measure of maternity coverage in the form of a rider for an additional cost. It is quite common for a maternity rider to have a waiting period of at least 12 months before they pay out any type of maternity benefit. Still some other maternity riders, such as the one that Golden Rule/United Healthcare offers in Florida allow full benefits to be paid up to a set amount after 12 months and 50% of the benefit paid out beginning immediately.

So how much does a pregnancy in our example state of Florida really cost anyway? How much of a maternity benefit should I be certain to have? How much can I anticipate paying out of pocket for the pregnancy and related expenses? These are all important questions and the answer may be, "Not quite as much as you at first think." According to FloridaCompare.gov the statewide average charge for a normal delivery is $1,689 while the statewide average charge for a cesarean section is $14,458. As you can see there is quite a range in the cost depending on if there are any complications present during the pregnancy.

The important thing is to know the options that are available to you and to obtain maternity insurance and health insurance before you need it!

To compare multiple quotes from top health insurance companies like United Healthcare, Aetna, and Humana simply view free health insurance quotes.

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

High Deductible Health Insurance Plans For Individuals And Families

Do you pay more attention to your car than your body? You change your oil every 3000 to 4000 miles. You have your tires rotated every other oil change. Your air filter and brake pads are changed at the appropriate intervals.

Now, what about your body? You follow the recommended AMA guidelines for routine check ups and other healthcare services. You pay special attention to make sure you eat a balanced diet and always take the time to get enough exercise. The reality is many Americans pay more attention to the maintenance of their car than they do their body.

From an insurance perspective, your automobile insurance company has a certain expectation that you will take reasonable care of your car. Things such as the routine maintenance of brakes and making sure your turning signals work properly are expected by your insurance company. Basic common sense says that proper automobile maintenance reduces traffic accidents and saves both you and your insurance company money.

Health insurance consumers can benefit by taking a similar approach to taking care of their body. For the average American, regular exercise, routine check ups and following your doctor’s advice will reduce your healthcare costs in the long run. It is really very simple. By doing the things necessary to stay healthy, you will need to seek medical care less frequently.

Even with a commitment to stay healthy, you will still need health insurance coverage to take care of the unexpected and sometimes unavoidable catastrophic situations. However, instead of paying the insurance company for a $250 deductible, many individuals would benefit by purchasing a high deductible health insurance plan. Depending on the specific situation, it is not uncommon for individuals and families to save up to 25% on premiums with a high deductible plan. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can then be set up to coordinate with the high deductible plan. Approaching health care and health insurance wisely will benefit both your body and pocketbook.

About the Author:
Michael Ertel is 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

Life Insurance – Doctors Reports Improved

Insurance companies are not in the business of taking on risks without first obtaining as much background knowledge as possible. This applies whether they are insuring your house, your car, your possessions or your life. There is however a difference in the operation of such policies. Whilst there is nothing surprising in those seeking competitive prices being prepared to change insurers as necessary for cover for the material items in their lives, a change of insurer for life cover is much less likely.

This factor makes it more important for insurance companies to obtain the most accurate information available relating to the medical history of the prospective customer. Information available however makes it clear that the specific information needed is not always what has been provided.

What insurance companies need (and in fact what they pay for) is specific information relating to their potential customer's past illness which will have, or is likely to have a bearing on their life expectancy. This is after all what life insurance is all about.

What has been supplied by GPs has not always met this core requirement, and in some cases the insurance company has simply been supplied with a copy of the patient's records. To a GP these records should read like an open book; their training enables them to take a broad view and provide the most accurate summary available relating to the length of life which the patient should be able to expect.

Whilst insurers may have experience of life insurance cases, they are not trained to be able to assess the effects of an illness on an individual, which is why they pay doctors to provide such information. It must be remembered that the future of their company depends very much on them getting reliable facts, which can be used to assess the risks and enable them to do their calculations correctly.

An additional factor is that, in supplying patient's notes to insurers, GPs are going against the rules on patient confidentiality. They are permitted to respond to insurers requests for information as this will be done with the full knowledge of the patient. The patient will not however expect the insurer to be supplied with extraneous information which has no bearing on the life insurance question.

Now the good news is that the BMA (British Medical Association) and the ABI (Association of British Insurers) have concluded discussions which have resulted in agreement being reached on a way forward which should be satisfactory for all concerned.

On behalf of GPs, the BMA have agreed that reports to insurance companies which are prepared for life insurance applications shall be of the high quality patient specific type required. In return the ABI have agreed that the charges for these reports shall increase by 6% per annum over the first five years of the agreement.

Compounded, this means that in five years the amount per report which is paid by the insurance company will rise by around 34%. This will give hard pressed GPs the incentive necessary to make time for the preparation of accurate medical reports. This point has been made by the BMA in advice to GPs regarding the new agreement. They have pointed out that improvement in the accuracy of life insurance information on which quotations are based is an important consideration, impinging as it does on the quality of life for those patients.

It is good to see an apparently satisfactory outcome to a problem which has been a thorn in the flesh for both the BMA and the ABI for some time.

About the Author:
Michael Challiner
Life Insurance Library great articles based around life insurance.
Posted: 15-09-2006
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

INSURANCE CLAIM: COLLECTING FOR YOUR LOST WAGES

A couple months ago you were toolin' on down the avenue, minding your own business, when out of nowhere, this fumbling, stumbling man by the name of Freddie Fuddle flew through a Stop Sign and plowed into you with a gigantic, rip-roaring, screeching broadside. You were wearing your seat belt but it was still a thundering crash that wrenched and whipped you around the inside of your motor vehicle something fierce! Now, after a long recovery period, Fuddle’s carrier, Granite Mountain Insurance is clamoring to close the case and they've assigned Claims Adjuster I. M. Strong, to handle your case. You and Strong are sitting at your kitchen table talking about your settlement dollars. It turns out he’s got some hang-up’s regarding your lost income. Well, here are some things you need to know: Lost wages are one of the most important element's of your damages. Listen to me carefully when I say, "You should not think about the days you missed from work as Lost Time and Earnings. It's not Lost Time and Earnings - - it’s Lost Earning Capacity“ You ask, “What‘s Lost Earning Capacity all about? I thought I could only collect for my Lost Income?” The answer to that is, “In many situations you can claim lost income EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T LOST ONE SINGLE PENNY “. For example, this can happen when your salary is paid because you've elected to apply for the sick leave that‘s due you, or because of an Accident and Health Policy available for you to take advantage of, or some other such arrangement. In most instances - - even if you were paid while out of work - - you should still get that money routinely identified as Lost Wages. Why? Because that's your Lost Earning Capacity. Your Lost Earning Capacity is what’s called a Compensatory Damage. Don't let Strong swindle you out of that Compensatory Damage. Even if you’ve received an income, in some other way, you're still entitled to it. Strong will do everything he can to take advantage of you, especially when it comes to getting paid for your Lost Earning Capacity. During the course of every settlement negotiation he gets involved in, he‘ll try that tactic on for size, and it’s mind-boggling how often he gets away with it. The typical statement made at that point, by the unsuspecting claimant is, “Hey, I understand I’m to be paid for my lost wages.” Strong answers, “You collected $200.00 a week from your Accident and Health Policy didn’t you?” “Yeah, but my average weekly income last year was $275.00 a week.” “Okay”, I. M. Strong flashes a well practiced, winning smile, that tells you he’s a fair insurance claim adjuster, when in his black heart, he knows he isn‘t, “We’ll pay you that $75.00 a week difference. Let’s see, you were laid up and unable to work for 5 weeks. 5 times $75.00 is $375.00. Don’t worry my friend, I’ll see to it you’re paid that $375.00.” “Wow!” you think, “that’s terrific !.” You’re thrilled to death with this great turn of events.But what you don’t know is that the $200.00 a week you’ve received from your Accident and Health Policy has absolutely nothing to do with your lost income.The bottom line is that Smart has just cheated you out of a thousand dollars! And, worse than that, the $275.00 a week income you lost (for a total of $1,375.00) would have (in a court of law) given your case $4,000.00 to $5,000.00 more value in settlement dollars. DOCUMENTING LOST INCOME: Ask the company you work for to write a letter on their official stationary declaring your gross salary income and the days you lost from work. GROSS PAY VS. NET PAY: You should collect the "gross" wage's you lost, not the "net". TOTAL DISABILITY and/or PARTIAL DISABILITY: For every week of Total Disability (a fact which must be stated in your doctors Final Medical Report) you should use your gross weekly income - - even if you were paid! (For every week of Partial Disability your doctor states in that Final Medical Report, you have the right to claim a substantial percentage of your income, during that period, even if you didn't lose any). Because the following five points give value to your claim be ready to talk with Smart about and, wherever possible, prove: (1) If your work demands heavy labor and/or lifting. (2) If you lost any vacation time or sick leave. (3) If there was any possible loss of money you could have earned in the future - - either with your company or maybe other income you've got bubbling and boiling on the side. (4) If you had to forgo any bonuses. (5) If you lost an opportunity that would have led to a better job. If any of the above five points are true than your claim is worth more money! THE CRUCIAL MEDICAL REPORT: The Granite Mountain Insurance Company and Adjuster I. M. Strong know that the longer your recovery period, the greater your "pain and suffering", therefore the higher the settlement value of your bodily injury claim. Your Chiropractor or Attending Physician must also note this in his Final Medical Report. Tell him to state exactly how long it will be, before you can get back to routine activities like golf, hunting, fishing and/or rockin' and rollin' with your lady friends. As long as you have problems keep right on going back to see your doctor, again and again, even if it drives the poor bugger nuts! Do this because the fact that your records show a visit to him, four, eight, or twelve weeks after the accident, proves your injury needed constant attention, therefore you were unable to work. Also because, when you visit your doctor and tell him there's no let-up of your pain, discomfort, stiffness or immobility - - those continuing problems must be written into the Medical Report he'll provide for you when you've finished treatment. That's the one you'll hand to Adjuster Smart when the two of you begin to talk turkey. As he reads it you’ll watch him frown, then blanch as that cocky smile disappears from his face. When you see him do that you‘ll know, "ya got him"! DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this claim tip is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga nor Article City make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is the INDIVIDUAL’S RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services. Dan Badyga’s latest book Auto Accident Personal Injury Insurance Claim (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) can be found at http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com.

Copyright (c) 2003 by Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved

About The Author:
For 30 years Dan Baldyga was a claims adjuster, supervisor, manager and also a trial assistant.He is now retired and spends his time attempting to assist those involved in motor vehicle accident claims so they will not be taken advantate of. Mail to: dbpaw@attbi.com
This article was posted on March 14, 2003
Article Source: The Articles Directory

5 Reasons Why Life Insurance Is Important To You

Life Insurance. Doesn't it just conjure up some insurance salesman knocking on your door trying to sell you a policy that covers you for accidents only, for a small amount and costs you the earth? No? It doesn't too me either because those days are long gone!

I prefer to call it "Life Assurance" anyway, because it is assuring you that your life is convered in the event of death and that what your life is insured for, will be paid out to your estate or policy owner.

But how many of you actually have this cover in place? I know of lots of my friends, who are in their 20's who don't have the cover because 1) they don't know anything about (lack of education) and 2) they don't think they need it and see it as an extra cost. How little they know... like anything, the earlier you start, the cheaper it is...

Following are 10 important reasons why YOU should have life assurance and why those around you too should invest in this:

Reason 1
Hello? Do you have any bills, like maybe a mortgage?? This alone is a pertinent reason to have life assurance... it means that should you die, this major bill will be paid off and not left to your survivors to deal with!

Reason 2
Young, fit and healthy? No ailments? Then this is the best time to get life assurance! Your premium will be small and if you take out a policy that allows you to keep the same premium until the age of 65, you will have considerable savings... the earlier you start, the better. And then if you develop any health issues throughout your life, it doesn't matter, because you already have the cover in place!

Reason 3
Are you married? Do you care about your spouse? Then is it not thoughtful to make sure that your spouse does not have to worry about money should you pass before they do and vice versa? I know a couple who cancelled their life insurance and then 6 months later he was diagnosed as having stomach cancer, and died 18 months later... leaving behind a wife and two children still at home and a mortgage... and no monetry relief for his family. Is this what you want to put your partner through?

Reason 4
Want to leave a legacy for your future grand children? What better way then ensuring your estate will actually have some legacy to pass on! You can elect in your will to have the proceeds of your life assurance paid directly to your estate and then as per your will, divy up the proceeds.

Reason 5
Peace of mind... yours that is. If you can't afford health insurance or any other insurance, you can afford life insurance... and should you develop a terminal disease... your life insurance will pay out a lump sum upon confirmation of this, allowing you to fulfil any dreams you have not achieved or to get your affairs in order.

There are many more reasons I could go into here, but you get the gist... just like you wouldn't risk not having your car insured or your house or contents... how can you not insure your number one asset... yourself?

There are plenty of fantastic financial advisers out there. If you don't have one, a great place to start is your bank, they have trained staff that can guide you... just make sure you read through any quotes you receive etc and make sure you understand just what you are being covered for.

My 2 cents worth :-)

About the Author:
Kat Beechum is a passionate writer. Much of the inspiration for Kat's work comes from her varied and many interests and hobbies.
Kat lives in New Zealand with her partner and their two cats, Cooper and Phoenix.
If you found this article useful, please visit http://www.money-or-excuses.blogspot.com
Article Submitted On: September 19, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Are You Happy With Your Mega-sized Dental Insurance Company?

Large dental insurance companies have grown enormous over the last twenty years. The largest of these companies boasts over 47 million people in over 81,000 employer, veterans and retiree groups across the nation. Their provider network is contracted with 118,000 dental practitioners in all fifty states and Puerto Rico. The second largest claims over 9 million members.

These numbers are rather impressive considering dental coverage has significantly lagged behind health maintenance organizations (HMO) in popularity for years. It is believed that the reason for this slow growth is that providers are asked to take significant discounts to be a part of the dental provider network.

Research has shown that patients' relationships with their dentists seem to outweigh out-of-pocket cost in importance to the end consumer. Understanding this, the dentists may not feel a need to join a managed care plan, and accept discounted reimbursement, when they know that the patients they have built relationships with will likely continue to visit their offices for dental services regardless of network membership. Accordingly, there has not been the demand for these insurance plans from employer groups because the employees and their dependents may not want to join a plan in which their dentist is not a contracted provider. For this reason, employers may choose to offer traditional dental benefits to employees, that bear little, or no, significant cost to the employer.

Internet research showed only a few complaints about these plans. Among the complaints posted on an insurance consumer website noted that there seemed to be problems with the timeliness and accuracy of documents shuffled between the insurance company, the providers and the members. There was also a complaint about being able to reach a live customer service representative and having problem issues addressed in a timely manner. One of the complaints found - and this probably has less to do with insurance company than with the providers - that there were not enough providers in the area that accepted the plan's insurance. (Incidentally, this is normally just a consequence of rapid growth. Most insurance plans are responsive to member requests to add providers) Finally, there was a complaint about having difficulty in understanding and gaining information about the schedule of benefits for the member's specific plan.

However, finding only a few complaints among 47 million members leads one to conclude that the vast majority of members are satisfied with these plans. The complaints forum on this consumer website are typical of those one would find regarding any insurance plan, so it is hard to verify that these companies are doing a poorer job in these areas than their competitors.

Certainly the continued growth of these companies is a clear indication that there is a demand for their products, and that customers are satisfied with the job they are doing. This, in and of itself, would lead one to conclude that in this case, the biggest probably is the best.

About the Author:
Vaughn Balchunas writes about affordable dental insurance plans and what to look out for. You can read more about this important topic at dental-ins.info
Content Provider: http://www.my-articles.com

Life Insurance - Plan for life

The very best time to arrange life insurance is when it's furthest from your thoughts. Take a typical young man. He's at the start of his career, possibly still living at home, but thinking of looking around for a flat. He has a car and the insurance that he arranged for it was probably his first step in the insurance ladder.

If he decided to take out some life insurance, whilst he's still young, fit and healthy he'd get the best possible rates. Probably the most valuable insurance at this stage is Critical Illness (CI) cover.

Whilst life insurance is designed to pay out to your beneficiaries if you die, CI cover will give you valuable support if you become critically ill. For our young man, starting on his career, an illness of this type could be a financial disaster. It is a fact that one in three people will develop cancer at some time in their lives, but the good news is that treatment and cure rates are improving all the time.

Advances in medical science thankfully mean that more and more people will survive many of the major serious illnesses. Unfortunately this recovery can take many months, or even years and necessitate long period of time off work. It may not be possible to carry on with the same work, meaning a change of career. In some cases it may be necessary to change your home and car.

Without CI cover, he'd probably find that his company would pay his salary for around three months and after that he'd have to rely on incapacity benefit. For those on contract work and the self-employed the situation is even worse. CI insurance will pay out a lump sum to cover your expenses and leave you to concentrate on your treatment and recovery.

There's a very wide range of CI policies available. All will cover what are know as "Core Conditions", which are Cancer, Stroke, Heart Attack, Coronary by-pass surgery, Kidney failure, Major organ transplant and Multiple sclerosis. Some will cover up to 30 additional conditions.

At the time of purchase of the policy, the medical conditions for which you would be covered should be fully listed. Go through this carefully and make sure that you understand any exclusions within the cover.

It is essential to fill in the application form very carefully. If you fail to disclose a previous illness or condition, then you may find that the insurers will refuse to pay out. Our typical young man should be fine here, as long as he makes sure that he discloses all illnesses, no matter how minor they seemed at the time. The older you get, the more conditions and illnesses there are to remember and the greater chance you'll forget something which you thought was trivial.

Having got CI cover sorted, this would be an excellent time for our young man to arrange some simple life insurance. Simple life insurance is reasonably priced and offers important cover. A term insurance policy will run for a set number of years. If the policyholder should die during this period, a lump sum would be paid to his dependants. Even if there are no dependants when the young man first takes this cover out, there may be loans and other debts and maybe some fairly "light" cover, for a limited term would be a good step to take. It can be topped up as circumstances change. Certainly his insurance will never be cheaper - when it comes to insurance, it's a case of the younger the better.

Our smart young man doesn't even have to waste his valuable time chasing up insurance. A quick visit to an on-line broker will give him all the advice he needs and the very best of quotes, with on-line discounts too.

About the Author:
Michael Challiner
Cheap Life Insurance Bureau great articles based around Cheap life insurance.
Submitted: 2006-09-27
Article Source: Go Articles

The Importance of Travel Insurance

You've finally saved enough to go on that dream vacation you've been planning. Now you're wondering if you should buy travel insurance. Do I really need to go to the extra expense? All I can lose is my luggage, right? Guess again! Anything can go wrong while you are traveling, and I strongly favor buying a policy. Most travel insurance policies are designed for a variety of travel needs but, I emphatically advise reading the fine print of any policy you purchase regarding any deductibles and health situations. You many find your policy won't cover pre-existing conditions that may cause a problem, or that the medical coverage is only for an injury or an illness -- not both. For emergency aid, travel insurance polices are generally dependable and affordable, but there are still a myriad of gaps in the coverage provided. You can find polices designed for almost any type of trip you may be planning, such as a single trip for hunting, backpacking, cruises, house rentals, and a host of others. But, the specific types and amounts of coverage you get depend on the policy you choose. It's important to remember that you will only be covered for what is specifically stated in your policy and for nothing else. Most policies cover trip cancellation, lost baggage, medical, dental, and accidental death coverage. Other policies include emergency evacuation, 24 hour travel assistance, and trip or baggage delay. You may even find policies that include options for collision or damage to rented cars and business conflicts. There are many options that can be covered, but you will have to ask. The premiums for the policies are generally 5% to 7% the cost of your trip, but fees will vary depending on the your medical history and passengers ages. Many companies offer policies that will include coverage for children at no extra charge. It is best not to buy your travel insurance from your tour operator. I've listed a few reasons why it may be better to purchase through an insurance company separately. Most travel insurance policies offered by the operator are less flexible to your individual needs; Provide a lower amount of coverage; May only cover a portion of the trip; Your coverage may be secondary and the insurance will only pay for what you own private health or homeowner's insurance does not cover; May duplicate coverage you already have; In the event the tour operator liquidates and goes belly up, you would lose not only your trip, but also your premium. Many travel agents are not fully knowledgeable when it comes to understanding the details of various travel insurance policies and may overlook something that could be important to you or your family and few offer suggestions. Buying travel insurance may be less expensive purchasing through your tour operator or cruise line, but for the reasons listed above, you should really check around. If you do choose to buy your policy from your tour operator, be sure to use a credit card. Depending on the policy of the credit card issuer, you may be provided with protection against potential default of the operator. When buying your policy from an insurance company: Always get quotes from several companies Ask if the plan is pre-packaged or if you can custom design your own Can you waive the pre-existing condition exclusion Ask if you are covered for cancellation due to a terrorist incident. Don't count of the company to provide information Ask any question you can dream up and Do ask for suggestions A good site to reference for multiple travel insurance quotes is InsureMyTrip.com. (I am not affiliated with this site in any way. I just like the site!) Enjoy your next trip and I hope the odds are with you and that you will never have to file a claim on your travel insurance policy.

(c)2004 Karen Zastudil

About The Author:
Karen Zastudil is a graduate of Cleveland State University and is a freelance writer. Visit her website at http://www.womenatthesummit.com - A site of general interest to women. Topics include: Pregnancy, Children, Parenting, Health and wellness, Diet and Fitness, Relationships, Money, Travel and more. webmaster@womenatthesummit.com
This article was posted on December 01, 2004
Article Source: The Articles Directory

How to Get Cheaper Motor Insurance

Motor Insurance

Driving your motor vehicle without insurance nowadays may be likened to life and work in a city without any form of police protection. It is also illegal to do so. Its one of those things you’d like to ignore but can't afford to, since driving without insurance would amount to breaking the law, it cannot then be overstated that finding the right policy is paramount. The right Sort of policy should be a policy that gives you the protection you need without clearing out your bank account or forcing to labor more than you have to, so as to cover costs.

I am going to list a few of the things you need to know when getting a policy.

• Shop around before you commit to buying any policy, you'll find that the amount you pay will vary from premiums may vary for similar cars.

• It is probably better for one to get as many quotes as is possible before you make a final decision

• If you are not able to do the shopping around on your own or you are just unsuccessful in your guest for an affordable policy, it may be a good idea to hire a broker or use a broker's services.

• It is probably a good idea to have and use a car immobilizer and vehicle theft alarm in your car. If you have a secure parking space like a locked garage, put it to good use and ensure that your insurer uses this information while setting your premium. Installing tracker devices, like the GPS system can also help.

• Motoring organizations sometimes organize discounted insurance. If you are a member, ask and take advantage of it if available. Join in if it is reasonable for you to do so and you are not already a member.

• If you are in a relationship, you may find that obtaining the cover on the woman's name might fetch you a lower premium.

• Limit the number of drivers on the policy to one or two. For example, you may include your spouse's name while leaving out your adult children who may be away at university for months at a time.

• A fixed mileage policy may be an option for you if you make limited use of your car.

• Many insurance agencies offer discounts for online policy purchases, so it may be a good idea to buy online.

• New drivers should take an advanced driving course, as insurers recognize the benefits.

•Depending on the value of your vehicle and other considerations you may get a third party cover.

• As most insurers offer no claim bonuses, it may be a good idea to avoid claims whenever possible if your policy offers no claim bonuses. This practice can reduce your premium by up to 70 percent.

• If your insurer requires a compulsory excess or your policy already includes one, you may choose to increase your compulsory excess to get lower premiums.

• You may opt for a one time payment or use direct debit payments, whichever gives you access to discounts.

Useful insurance terminology

Compulsory excess: is an amount which you must pay in a claim. Whatever is left (above) this amount will be paid by your insurer.

Comprehensive cover: this type of cover gives you full cover; your vehicle is covered in the event of accidents, fire or theft and other damages regardless of which party is at fault.

Third party cover: This type of cover helps you pay damage claims in the event of an accident where you are the party at fault. This however, does not allow you any damage claims for your own vehicle. You also have no access to claims in the event of theft and fire. Third party is the minimum legal requirement for any vehicle on the road.

Third party fire and theft: This covers you if your vehicle is stolen or damaged in a fire in addition to the cover for any damage you cause on other person's vehicle or property.

About the Author:
Alex Jameison
Find out more about motor insurance
Article Submitted On: September 20, 2006
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com