Sunday, April 29, 2007

Cheap Insurance - Ten Ways


Cheap insurance? Auto insurance, life insurance, health insurance, liability insurance - whatever type of insurance you need, you can buy it for less. Try the following:

1. Raise you deductible. Why have a $100 deductible if a $1000 deductible won't break you? It may hurt to pay the first thousand someday, but what if meanwhile you saved several thousand? High deductibles mean lower rates. Of course, get quotes with various deductibles, to be sure you're saving enough for the higher risk.

2. Lower your coverage. Insurance agents secretly admit that people usually get sued according to policy limits. You'll be sued for more if your limit is a million than if it's a hundred thousand. A judgement beyond the policy limits is a scary thought, but this can happen no matter what your limits are. If you don't have many assets or much money in the bank, consider lowering your coverage to save money. Get quotes first, of course, to see how much you'll save.

3. Lower the insurance company's risk. Using seatbelts, not smoking, and having alarm systems can mean cheap insurance. Ask your agent about any discounts that are available.

4. Use an independent agent. Why limit yourself to one insurance company? Independents can show you the cheapest policy regardless of which company it's from. Just check a rating service to see if the issuing company is financially solid, especially when buying life insurance.

5. Drop your insurance. The insurance companies will hate me for this one, but consider eliminating some coverages. You need liability coverage on your car, but collision coverage on a $2000 car doesn't make sense. Invest the money elsewhere, and take the $2000 loss once or twice in your life, or maybe never.

6. Buy stocks instead of insurance. If you and your wife both have good incomes, it probably makes more sense to invest your money than to buy life insurance. If loved ones have enough income or assets, life insurance premiums are usually wasted money.

7. Get rebates. Some states that allows "rebating". California law, for example, allows agents to rebate part of their commission to you. If you live in a non-rebating stae, find a California company online!

8. Get the legal minimums. If you have no assets to protect, ask for state-mandated minimums on auto liability policies. Most companies give you their higher, more expensive "company minimums" if you don't push the point.

9. Review your policies. It is common for parents to still pay for health insurance coverage on adult children long after they are working and have their own coverage. See what other unecessary coverages you may be paying for.

10. Get several quotes. For cheap insurance, compare quotes from several companies, and ask about different policy options. One more thing: take notes.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Health insurance buying tips


Dealing with small businesses

Small businesses that have difficulty finding good coverage directly from insurers, would like to contact their state department of health insurance to get knowledge about small business group health providers in their area. Another alternative for small businesses could be to join an effective association, which offers group benefits for their members. Companies need to be very careful to scrutinize the operations of such organizations to make sure that all funds are taken care appropriately.

Avoid certain policies

One needs to be careful for hospital indemnity policies and dread disease policies. Hospital indemnity pays you each day as long as you are in the hospital. Unfortunately, most do not provide sufficient policy coverage to even cover the typically daily cost of hospital stay. Dread diseases policies do cover specific illnesses but then tend to be more expensive than the likelihood of contracting one of these diseases will suggest.

Employee's options

During 2004, according to a survey only 14% of companies with fewer than 200 employees offered more one health insurance care option. However 56% of companies with 200 to 1000 employees offered multiple options, and around 76% of companies with 1000 and above. Offering more than one plan gives your employees the freedom to choose their own plan, which is best suited. There may be little additional cost to you, so it could really improve employee satisfactions and you can make sure your small business look bigger.

Understand the law

If in case you decide to create your own health care plan, you need to make sure to do enough research to understand the need you have to meet. There are many laws and regulations attached when selecting health insurance that govern health care, and many state also have their own regulations, too.

Friday, April 27, 2007

What You Need to Know About Small Business Health Insurance Quotes


As with all types of health insurance, it is highly advised to obtain several small business health insurance quotes. For the average small business owner, this process may seem a bit overwhelming. However, by utilizing the free services of online health insurance brokers, the process can be completed much more easily.

Indeed, perhaps the best place to start the process is on the Internet. Within a very short period of time, small business owners can access multiple quotes from several insurance companies, making comparison of different plans a lot easier.

Since small business group plans cover multiple individuals and families, the process for obtaining online health insurance quotes requires more information than quotes for individual plans; however, in terms of convenience and efficiency, nothing can compete with using the Internet for your small business health insurance needs.

Today, you can easily access dozens of online health insurance brokers. The broker that we highly recommend at our site has a staff of over 100 licensed agents that will work with you through the entire process � all at no cost to you.

Whether online or offline, the process of obtaining small business health insurance quotes is quite straightforward. First, you will need to provide some basic information such as your zip code, the date you want the plan to take effect, and the number of employees that require coverage, and company information such as the year in which it was created and line of business as designated by a Standard Industry Classification (SIC) code.

The next step in the process is to provide some employee information. This may vary from one site to another, but typically includes name, sex, and age, and employee dependent information.

The next step allows you to identify your plan requirements. Here you can specify deductibles, maternity benefits (or not), and add-ons such as dental and vision coverage. Of course, as you add benefits, you increase the cost of the policy.

At this point, you have essentially finished the application process and will soon be able to evaluate several small business health insurance quotes. Whether online or offline, the time period can vary, but it shouldn't take more than one or two business days for an agent to get back to you.

Once you have your small business health insurance quotes, you can begin comparing the various plans by costs, deductible, and other features. This information is necessary if you want to obtain a good understanding of your small business health insurance choices and how they may, or may not, fit in with your budget.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

The 5 Basic Forms Of Life Insurance


If you're like I used to be, you can get confused with all the different life insurance policies. Trying to understand what is what can be difficult at times. Here's an easy to understand look at the 5 different types of life insurance and what they are.

Annual Renewable Term Policy

Without a doubt, this is the most typical form of life insurance sold. With its level death benefit it is generally used to satisfy any outstanding bills and debts in the unfortunate event of your passing away. This life policy is relatively inexpensive for younger people. As you get older the more expensive the policy costs. Annual renewable term life is the purest form of life insurance available.

Decreasing Term Life Policy

A decreasing term life policy decreases each year that the policy is in force. Why would you need a policy like this? It's mainly used to pay off a mortgage in the event of your death. Every other type of life insurance other than decreasing term has a level death benefit.

5-Year and 10-Year Term Life Policies

5-year, or 10-year term life policies are for people who need level protection for a set number of years only. They are generally very inexpensive and are non-renewable.

15-Year and 20, 25, and 30-Year Term Life Policies

More of these term policies combined are sold than any other type of term life insurance. You can choose the length of term life coverage you need and pay a set level premium for that number of years.

These policies work very well with families with children. For example: you have a child that is 5 years old and you want to be sure that your spouse and child are taken care of in the event of your death. Your family will need to have sufficient cash on hand to not only meet the day to day needs of life, but to also have enough for your child's education. This can be a substantial amount of money.

A 15 or 20-year term life policy would fill this need perfectly. The premiums for this type of policy are also very affordable.

Whole Life Policies

This category also includes universal life, variable universal life, and variable whole life insurance policies. These life insurance policies will cost you much more per month with their premiums, but they also help you accumulate cash over a longer period of time. You can think of these types of policies as life insurance with a savings account attached.

Premiums on whole life are set at the time you purchase the policy. Your age and health will determine the amount of your premium. As you pay your premiums you're also building cash value in your policy. Although the returns are not as high as you can get with other investments, you also have the life insurance benefit in the event of your death.

Variable life, and variable universal life policies, can give you an even higher rate of return due to their returns being based on various investments.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance


Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plans can be custom made to accomplish the requirements of every person, together with individual, family and group.There are also supplementary plans for seniors to complement medical care coverage as medical care doesn't cover the whole thing and seniors have to compensate prescription medications.It is fine to be familiar with all Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plans cover some prescription coverage for formulary and non-formulary medications. These insurance plans also suggest alternative to buy a three-month supply at a reduction price. There are lots of different plans existing that vary in deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket-expenses. Maximum lifetime benefits could also be different. There are many options rely on your plan if is a Health Maintenance Organization, Preferred Provider Organization or Point of Service plan.

Blue Cross-and Blue Shield Health Insurance Plans (BCBS) is a symbol of protection and tranquility of mind all over the United States for more than 70 years. Nowadays, BCBS is the world's largest family of health benefits companies jointly caring for 84.7 million - or above one in four Americans. If all BCBS members held hands, they may possibly circle the Earth three and one-half times.

The Blue System is a federation of 42 independent, locally operated plans combined all the way through membership in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance Association (BCBSA). The Blue Cross health insurance association and its Member Plans are devoted to bringing significant alterations and moves ahead to the U.S. health care financing and delivery system.

Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plans put forward health insurance coverage in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Blues wrap all fragment of the population, together with large employer coverage, small businesses coverage, in addition to individual health coverage for covering families with no access to group health insurance.More than 80 percent of U.S. hospitals and almost 90 percent of U.S. physicians believe Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance cards. More than three-quarters of Fortune 100 companies and half of all Fortune 500 companies suggest Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance coverage to their employees. Famous Blue corporate customers include AT&T, Boeing, United Airlines and Wal-Mart. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Insurance Association national performance pilot take on 18 established evidence-based measurements. Some of the actions are amazingly simple; such as confirm that a heart attack patient be given aspirin upon arrival at the hospital, or that a pneumonia patient gets counsel on refrain from smoking.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Insurance Costs and how to reduce them


If you are thinking of cutting down your insurance costs then you will definitely have to put in some efforts. You will have to explore all the possible options and resources if you want to save money on insurance. Here are some ways of cutting costs and saving money:

1. Get as many quotes as possible from several insurance companies or agents. This will help you to decide which company will be the most economically viable for you. This is the best way to cut down the cost, because there are many companies competing with each other for your money, so take advantage of this competition to get the best insurance provider.

2. It is advisable to get your car, home or health insured from one insurance company. If you opt for different companies to meet your various insurance needs, it will prove to be very expensive. By selecting a single company, chances are that you will get special discounts along with lower premium rates.

3. Try to avoid double coverage when you get your car or home insured. If you are living on rent, you need not get the house insured, as the property owner would cover that.

4. Before purchasing any insurance policy you are advised to assess your need for that policy. You can cut down the insurance policy cost if your needs are minimal. For instance, you can take a simple life insurance policy if you have no family dependent on you, and there are enough resources with you to take care of any personal or business debt after your death. So, choose a suitable policy, keeping an eye on your needs.

5. Look out for the various discount offers insurance companies provide. If you want a life insurance policy, you can take advantage of discounts that are given to people with good health. If you are healthy and do not smoke, you will be preferred for discounts on life insurance policies. Make use of various safety measures in your house because you may get discounts on home insurance.

6. You can cut down the cost of insurance by reducing the money that is spent in processing the insurance. For example, you can make annual payments, which will decrease the administrative costs.

7. Make use of professional discounts that are offered by various professional associations.

8. You can also cut down insurance costs by paying your bills in time and maintaining a good credit record. For example, insurance companies set the price of a home insurance policy depending on the kind of credit record their clients hold.

Remember, that when you purchase insurance policies for your automobile or home, you are making a kind of investment. This should not be considered as a waste of money and resources, since this investment will protect your other investments too. Any ill-fated event can take place in your life in an unexpected manner so be ready to face it with an insurance policy. Look around for an insurance company that not only provides a good policy, but is easy on your wallet as well.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Interesting Facts You May Not Know About Group Health Insurance Coverage


In an atmosphere of ever-growing health care and health insurance costs, group health insurance coverage is becoming critical for many employees. In fact, surveys consistently show that employees value health insurance benefits above all others.

Studies have shown that a solid majority (over 60%) of Americans receive their health insurance benefits through group health insurance coverage through their employer (or their spouse's employer). Of course, from the employee's point of view, this is the least expensive option for securing health insurance. Nevertheless, whether you are a business owner or employee, what follows is a discussion of some interesting aspects of the group health insurance market.

There are two main reasons that employers offer group health insurance coverage. The first is to attract talented employees. The second reason is related to the first: To reduce employee turnover. It's not uncommon for employees to become "dependent" on their health insurance. That is, an employee who may otherwise leave their job to become self-employed may not do so because of health reasons. That is, he or she may not be eligible under an individual policy due to a preexisting condition. Preexisting conditions are typically not covered under individual health insurance plans.

The primary difference between individual and group health insurance is that group plans are "guaranteed issue", while individual plans are not. "Guaranteed issue" means that an insurance company cannot deny coverage due to any preexisting medical conditions.

Some individual health insurance plans are issued to individuals with preexisting conditions, but usually only with what is called an "exclusionary rider." This "exclusionary rider" will exclude coverage for treatment related to the preexisting condition. It's interesting to note that in California, insurance companies are not allowed to practice this policy. As you might expect, the result is a much higher rate of declined applications for individuals, since insurance companies choose simply not to issue coverage for individuals with preexisting medical conditions.

For group health insurance coverage, premium cost sharing between employer and employee has pretty much become a common feature in today's labor market. In the vast majority of cases, insurance companies require employees to pay a minimum of 50% of the premiums, although many choose to pay a higher percentage. In general, the larger the company, the greater the percentage paid by the company. Not all insurance companies require coverage for dependents, although again many businesses elect to offer this coverage as well.

There are tax incentives available to both employer and employee for qualifying group health insurance plans. Employers can typically deduct 100% of the premium costs, while employees can pay their portion of the monthly premiums with pretax dollars. Both practices can result in significant savings over the course of a year.

Lastly, group health insurance coverage is available as either an indemnity (fee-for-service) plan or managed care plan (HMO, PPO, or POS). Indemnity plans are the oldest, as well as the most expensive, type of health insurance. As a result of their high costs, indemnity plans have all but disappeared from the landscape, and been replaced by managed health care plans.

Managed group health insurance plans come in various forms: Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), or Point of Service (POS) plans. The HMO was the first alternative to traditional insurance (indemnity) and became popular for its ability to reduce costs for both employer and employee by creating networks of doctors and hospitals and thereby being able to apply cost saving measures.

The PPO plans have in recent years become the most popular type of group health insurance. PPO's (as well as POS plans) combine many of the freedoms enjoyed with indemnity plans while still being able to implement many of the cost saving features of an HMO.

The struggle to offer employees affordable group health insurance coverage is an ongoing process for most employers in today's health insurance market. Part of the process is education, from the standpoint of both the employee and employer. It's important to understand that retaining affordable and quality group health insurance is vital to both sides of the labor market � employer and employee. Indeed, when done properly, this can be a win-win situation for all concerned.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Retirement Health Insurance


Health care is a priority at any given age. After retiring however, health care probably becomes the most important focus as one tries to stay in good health; this means more visits to the doctor for routine checkups and preventative tests. There's also that chance of ones health declining as they grow older and the increasing need for expensive prescription drugs and medical treatments. This is the main importance of retirement health insurance.

Retirement health insurance allows for those aged sixty-five or older to be lessened with worries when it comes to paying health care when they retire. Most retirees presumably are eligible for certain health benefits from a federal health insurance program, Medicare, when they reach the age of sixty-five. But if one retires before this age, then they'll need some other way to pay their health care until Medicare benefits take effect. Some generous employers may offer extensive retirement health insurance coverage to their retiring employees, but this is most of the time and exception rather than a rule. If employers do not extend health benefits, then there is a need to buy a private retirement health insurance policy, which will be expensive, or extend the employer �sponsored coverage through COBRA.

But take note, Medicare will not pay for long-term care if one ever needs it. They'll need to pay that out of their own pockets or depend on benefits from long-term care insurance (LTCI), or for those whose assets and/or income are low enough to allow them to be eligible for Medicaid.

Nearly all Americans automatically qualify or become entitled to Medicare when they reach the age of sixty-five. Factually, for those who have been receiving Social Security benefits does not need to apply for Medicare because they will be routinely enrolled. However, they will have to decide whether they need only Part A coverage, which is premium-free for the majority of retirees, or if they want to also buy Part B coverage. Part A, frequently referred to as the hospital insurance portion of Medicare, helps pay for hospice care, home health care, and inpatient hospital care. Part B assists in covering other medical care such as laboratory tests, physical therapy, and physician care. Persons who want to pay a fewer out-of-pocket health care costs may opt to enroll in a managed care plan or private fee-for-service plan under Part C of Medicare or Medicare Advantage.

The likelihood of prolonged stay in a nursing home ponders heavily on minds of many senior Americans and their families, so does the thought of health conditions that may need expensive treatments; however, with the aid of retirement health insurance, this burden is lightened.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Life Insurance - Advantages From An Agents Point Of View


Life insurance isn't what many people want, it's what almost every family needs. Life insurance protects families from the financial burdens that may be caused by an unexpected death. While nobody wants to think or talk about dying, anybody that has loved ones should plan for the their financial future.

As a life insurance agent, I ran into many prospects that wanted to avoid life insurance. Even though I knew that they hated the though of it, or the though of dying, I still tried to find a way to enter it into the conversation. Some people thought that talking about death was bad luck. For some, avoiding the topic just was a matter of comfort.

So why did I press on the topic of life insurance? If the family didn't have any financial protection, how would it effect the loved ones left behind? This question doesn't have an impact unless you internalized it. If you had a love one and all of a sudden, they were in an unfortunate life-taking accident, what emotional impact would that have? What would that do to your financial situation?

I've seen a bunch of articles and heard from friends that life insurance agents are just trying to get the big commission. They try to sell so hard so that they could get the benefit. I also read an article that says that these agents use emotions to sell insurance. It was put in a way that life insurance try to take advantage of peoples emotions to close the deal.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. I'm not speaking for every agent. However, don't you think that emotions can effect your financial decisions? Of course! When a loved one is suddenly removed from the picture, how does that effect your ability to work? How many days do you need to recover? How does that impact your role in your family and in your work place?

I've also read articles that families don't need life insurance because they'll have enough money by the time that their loved one will most likely die. This is assuming that the family will have sufficient funds to pay for any expenses related to death.

From my point of view, I see life insurance as a wealth optimizing tool. If you think about the monthly cost of life insurance compared to the death benefit, in many cases, the death benefit will be a lot more than what is paid into the policy. So in many cases, the client would be just paying pennies for the dollars they'll be receiving in the future. There is no guarantee that this will always be the case. If the client starts the policy too late in life, or if they live too long, the life insurance could be profiting from the deal. However, if this isn't the case, don't you think that your family would tremendouly benefit from having a large sum of money at hand?

There are a lot of variables - most of which are controlled by how you feel and your health. So next time you ask for a life insurance quote, don't just think about getting the cheapest quote. Consider the needs of your particular situation and determine if the life insurance you have will meet it.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Life Insurance Settlement


Why Buy Life Insurance?
Life insurance is generally offered as part of a benefits package with employment. For the most part, however, these policies are rather small, usually in the ten thousand dollar range. People buy life insurance policies so that their families will not have to bear financial burden when a loved one passes on.

There is another reason to buy life insurance, however, and it is the life insurance settlement. Your life insurance policy can be settled for a large sum before the end of your lifetime, though many people are not aware of this. Others buy life insurance specifically with this reasoning in mind.

Purchasing a Life Insurance Policy
Though it may sound strange, it's actually a good idea to buy life insurance while the policyholder is still in good health. Rates are usually cheaper when this is the case, which makes buying a life insurance policy a whole lot easier. Also, rates are less expensive if you buy life insurance while still young. If you're young and in good health, it's actually the best time of your life to purchase a life insurance policy � as strange as that may sound.

Don't be afraid to do your own shopping around to find the best rates, and the best life insurance settlement. Comparison shopping is the way to make sure you get the best life insurance policy, and life insurance settlement, possible. Don't rely on your employer to give you all the life insurance coverage you need. Generally, life insurance policies and life insurance settlements offered as part of a benefits package will not have good payoffs.

The Life Insurance Settlement
There are many reasons that you may want to settle your life insurance policy. Sometimes, a life insurance settlement is the best thing you can do for your family. For instance, when the policyholder has reached the age of seventy and there is a need for a new life insurance policy or long-term care, your best option may be a life insurance settlement. A change in health status, estate tax charge, or when the policy has outlived the beneficiaries may all be reasons to consider a life insurance settlement, as well.

A large factor in the life insurance settlement is the need for liquidation of assets. This may be due to bankruptcy or other financial reasons, or simply that the policy holder would like to acquire the sum of the life insurance settlement early. Your reasons for settling your life insurance policy are your own, and if you feel the need for a settlement then you should pursue one.

Be sure to discuss your life insurance settlement options with your insurance company. If needed, have a new life insurance policy in place before going forward with your life insurance settlement. There is no reason you cannot have two or more life insurance policies at the same time.

A life insurance settlement can allow you to enjoy some of the benefits of your life insurance policy, and be a good source of income when long-term care or extra income is needed. Be sure to discuss the exact amount that you will receive from your life insurance settlement with your insurance company, and find out the payment scale and time frame for receiving your settlement. When you agree on a life insurance settlement, the paperwork that you sign should include all of this information. Be sure to look over any paperwork very carefully before signing, because you can never be too careful with insurance companies.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Term Life Insurance No Exam - Is It Right for You?


Are you in search of term life insurance no exam required? Have you been looking for life insurance online, but maybe you're overwhelmed with so many choices? So many websites to choose from.

Why put yourself through endless hours of searching online when you already know buying life insurance is the right choice for you and your loved ones? And, term life insurance protection provides you with the maximum amount of protection for your family at the lowest rates.

Today, with the technology available online - it's quick, easy and affordable for almost everyone to get term life insurance with no medical exam required. There are several insurers who offer Instant Approval Life Insurance, if you qualify.

You can apply online and find out if you qualify in about 15 minutes. That's right! No more paperwork. No more painful needles or medical exams. No more pushy insurance agents to deal with. And, no more delays of between 4 to 6 weeks to receive your life insurance policy through the mail.

Today, you can buy your life insurance policy online and print your policy immediately after you pay your first premium online, usually with a credit card. With some insurers you can actually get your life insurance coverage "In Force" today, if you qualify.

Not everyone qualifies for coverage though. You do have to be in good health, generally. But, even if you're on medication, over weight, or a smoker - or even if you may not qualify with other life insurers - you might qualify for no exam life insurance.

You need to know that term life insurance no exam required may cost you a more money than coverage through other life insurers.

However, the benefits may outweigh the cost for you. Several benefits include: Instant Approval, No invasive needles, No medical tests, No mailing delays, Coverage "In Force" today, No doctors, No pushy insurance agents to deal with.

As we mentioned before, there are two drawbacks - the premium may be a little higher. And, not everyone qualifies for coverage.

It's easy to find out if you qualify for term life insurance with no exams. You just answer a few easy health questions to get your instant quotes. Then, you decide if you like the rates. If so, you can apply online in about five minutes. You usually get a response within 10-15 minutes as to whether you're approved for life insurance coverage. Then, you can pay your first month's premium online, and print your policy right away. It's that simple. No time delays, no mountains of paperwork and no bothersome medical exams.

Make sure to check the financial rating of your life insurer. It's usually provided on their web site or with your life insurance quote. Also, paying an annual premium for your life insurance coverage is usually less expensive than monthly payments. Finally, when you buy your policy online, you're cutting out the uncomfortable, pushy sales person at your dinner table trying to talk you into the policy.

Term life insurance no exam policies can provide the protection you and your family need at affordable rates that fit your budget. It's worth a few minutes to get an instant quote and decide if you want your coverage today. There's no hassle, and no sales pressure. It's your choice.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Small Businesses and Health Insurance Needs


How many times have you heard potential entrepreneurs who are unwilling to give up their day jobs and take the plunge, "because I'd lose my benefits"? That wimpy cop-out just doesn't look at the big picture, and by spending the rest of your life working for other people, you may well be losing more than you gain. The fact is, those benefits aren't just goodies that big companies can give you. You can give them to yourself and your employees.

In most states, insurance carriers offer health insurance for businesses with as few as two employees. For companies on a slim budget, you may wish to provide health insurance for yourself and your family at your own expense, while giving your employees the opportunity to buy into the plan as well. You can usually offer this option at no extra cost to your business, you just collect the premiums from your employees and pay the bill every month.

Small business insurance doesn't have to be costly. Many smaller companies choose to purchase high-deductible plans in conjunction with a Health Savings Account, which lets you (or your employees) set aside tax-free money to cover medical expenses up to the deductible amount.

When looking for a small business health insurance plan, start by checking with whatever business associations you may belong to. You may be able to purchase it through your local Chamber of Commerce or other business affiliation.

When comparing small business plans, make an apples-to-apples comparison. Lower rates don't necessarily mean cheaper insurance; those low rates may come at the cost of needed coverage. Some insurance carriers decline to cover self employed persons, although state regulations usually require carriers to offer coverage to small businesses. However, there are very few laws that regulate the price the carriers charge, and policies are not standardized. As a result, you may be able to find a low rate, but before you buy into it, make sure that you're still getting the coverage you need.

Still, health insurance rates go up every year by a staggering amount, and many small businesses just can't keep up. Some alternatives to providing some benefit to your employees, and still staying in business include providing low-cost health discount cards, which employees can use to purchase services at discounted rates.

Another option is a medical reimbursement plan, which lets you provide money directly to employees for medical expenses. Your employees buy their own individual health insurance policies, and you decide how much you are willing to provide. The medical reimbursement plan payments are tax-free to employees, and are tax-deductible items for the business owner.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Before Getting An Affordable Term Life Insurance Quote


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Monday, April 16, 2007

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Sunday, April 15, 2007

Looking After Your Dog, Part Six - Dog Health Insurance


Pet health insurance is not a novel idea by any means. The concept has been around for 15-20 years. Many people believe that having medical insurance for a pet is not justified, and is rather something that depicts indulgence. However, the truth is that pet health insurance has nothing to do with being lavish. It purely depends on how much you care for your pet. It is the question of whether you consider your pet a part of your family, and therefore, would want to have it insured.

Pet health insurance plans take several aspects into consideration before awarding an insurance cover. The decision may be based on several considerations - species, age, pre-existing health conditions and lifestyle of the pet (i.e. a docile one compared to one of a sports dog). A few of the pet insurance companies don't have an age limit. However, it's easier to get pet health insurance if your pet isn't too old. Therefore, insurance schemes typically start off at an early age of around 6 weeks for a dog.

The decision to have pet health insurance also depends a lot on your pet's current health. If, God forbid, your canine is suffering from a fatal ailment, then there is no point having him insured. Moreover, getting insurance in such a case is all the more difficult to say the least. Pet health insurance costs vary widely owing much to the broad variety of insurance packages available. Comprehensive pet health insurance schemes cover the costs of annual checkups, vaccinations, routine care and preventive medications, and spay/neuter surgeries. Partial plans only cover accident and illness costs.

Insurance schemes are not for everyone. It might be the case that your dog's current health condition does not satisfy the requirements of the insurance company. But you should not be disheartened in such a scenario. Some medical facilities offer pet wellness packages, which allow you to avail vaccinations and pet health checkups at discounted prices. You could go ahead for one such scheme.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Cheap Insurance Secrets


Can you find cheap insurance? Yes. You can not only spend less on all types of insurance, but you can get more of the coverages you need for less. Here are a few insider secrets to help you out.

Cheap Life Insurance

- Purchase multiple policies. Instead of buying one large policy, save money by buying two, or even three, and staggering the terms. Have one run until the kids are out of the house, for example, and the other until your retirement fund kicks in.

- Investigate the company. Visit www.naic.org/cis, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners site. It has links to check out companies, including their financial condition, and the complaints filed against them.

- Ask about rebates. Some states allow agents to rebate a portion of their commission to you. Check online or by phone. You don't have to be from the state to buy insurance there.

Cheap Auto Insurance

Get several quotes, of course. You probably know that having as high a deductible as you can afford will also reduce the rate. Here are some money-saving tips you may not have known.

- Get the legal minimum for liability coverage if you have few or no assets. Many companies try to sell their "company-recommended minimums" on liability, and even pass them off as the legal minimums. Just get the legal minimums. If you have no assets, you're not a target for a lawsuit.

- Once a year, review your policies. Have a policy review and get new quotes every year or so. If the ticket you had is past the three year mark (or whatever the company thinks is important) they will drop the rate, but not automatically, so ask.

- Remove your kids from your policy. If your kids are at a college that's more than 100 miles away, you can have them taken off the insurance policy and save a lot of money. You can't let them drive the car when they come home to visit though.

Other Cheap Insurance Secrets

- Health insurance tip: Find a group to join. If you don't have health insurance through your employer, join a group that enables you to get a better policy rate. A fraternal organization or the chamber of commerce sometimes have arranged for group policies.

- Home owners insurance tip: Consider higher deductibles. Insurance is for disasters, not small stuff. Plan to pay the first $1000 someday when something happens. In the meantime you'll save money every year on your policy.

- Credit life insurance tip: Just say no. These policies pay the balance of your auto, home or other loan if you die. If you feel you need it, regular life insurance for the same amount is much cheaper.

Whatever type of insurance you are buying, be sure to get several quotes. Ask questions about every part of the policy, and don't pay for things you don't need. Ask about any special discounts you might be eligible for. Asking many questions and really understanding the policy is the key to getting cheap insurance.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Top 8 Life Insurance Mistakes to Avoid


By Katherine Ly

Mistake #1
Don't forget to update the beneficiaries on your life insurance policies regularly. Update it every few years or when there's a major life event such as marriage, divorce, new babies, death of beneficiary, etc. I hear sad stories all the time from people who's husband, father, or wife forgot to update the beneficiary on their policy. Instead of the deceased's family getting the money it's some ex-wife, ex-husband, cousin, distant relative, ex-girlfriend and the current family and kids are left penniless. That's tragic.

Mistake #2
It's important to not let your life insurance lapse when you're switching bank checking accounts. Most people have their life insurance premiums taken out by EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) every month and forget to notify the insurance company of this change. And guess what? Murphy's law strikes when you least expect it and can't afford it. It's a high chance that something will happen when you've been paying 20 years for insurance and then when it has lapsed for 3 months there's a car accident. Notify the insurance company when closing and switching bank checking accounts.

Mistake #3
When requesting life insurance quotes most people aren't aware that they don't have to set up an appointment with the first agent that calls to give them a quote. You can receive a quote over the phone or through email. And you don't have to buy life insurance from the first Insurance Agent you talk to. It's ok to shop around, but please be polite when you turn down the other agents. Selecting an Insurance Broker is often easier than working with an agent that only represents one life insurance company. A broker will try to find the lowest rate for you and the best policy to fit your situation. An agent that only works for one company called a "captive agent" can only offer you the products from that one company.

Mistake #4
Buying life insurance that does not require a medical exam. It's often 2-3 times the price of normal life insurance and not worth it if you are perfectly healthy. A medical exam can be inconvenient but it can save you several hundred of dollars a year. Now think of how much you can save if you multiply that by 30 years or whatever length you plan to keep that life insurance policy.

Mistake #5
Buying the life insurance policy with the intent to commit suicide. Ok, this is silly but there are people that face depression and have suicidal thoughts. First, this idea isn't going to pay because most insurance company and policies have this suicide clause that states if you commit suicide within the first 2 years the company won't pay the death claim. Don't do it, please get help if you are thinking this.

Mistake #6
Canceling your old life insurance policy when you're purchasing a new life insurance policy with another company but the new policy hasn't been issued yet. Wait until you have received the new policy before canceling your old one. You don't want a few months where you don't have life insurance. You don't know what can happen during that time.

Mistake #7
Not getting enough life insurance coverage. It's hard to understand why some people would spend money to buy $10,000-50,000 of life insurance. That is such a small amount, certainly not enough to pay off a mortgage, send a kid to college, pay off loans or debts, and can't support someone for a few years. At least find out how much it cost for $250,000-300,000 of coverage. It may be cheaper than you think.

Mistake #8
Lying on the life insurance application. The insurance companies have a way of finding things out. If you lie on the application then insurance company may not pay the death claim and just refund the premiums if they find out. Be honest about all medical conditions and list all the medication you're taking.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Shopping For Health Insurance


Health insurance is always a good thing to have. Some might say that it is mandatory to have one for you and your family. With the ever-rising medical costs, having an insurance (or load and loads of money!) seems to be the only way with which one can afford decent medical care.

But getting the right health insurance is not so easy.

There does not exist a perfect insurance plan provided by a perfect insurance company. There only exists a whole myriad of insurance plans covering some form or another of your medical needs. Sifting through these choices and finding the choice that suits you best can be an art in itself.

Basically, the first thing to consider when looking for a health insurance plan is the cost. With a budget in mid, you can already filter through the many choices and only consider the ones that you can afford. Be realistic with your budget and stand firm on your decision as your choices are based on your needs the choices presented to you by insurance agents are normally based on other needs.

The next things to look at are the benefits that come with the health insurance plans that are within your budget scope. Pay attention to the types of doctors, hospitals and medical providers that are part of the plan to see if the kind of health care services covered meet your needs. Take note of the medical service locations and the conditions to be fulfilled if specialist care is needed. Make sure you know where the payout limits of the health insurance are when dealing with major illnesses.

Last but not least is to seek out other references and see what they have to say about the health insurance plans that you would be considering. You could consult with independent government organizations to see how they rate the health insurance plans. These organizations would have done a lot of research and gathered a lot of feedback leaving you with less work to do in rating an insurance plan. Friends and family would also be good parties to refer to when gauging health insurance plans. Their experiences will help you decide a little better. Those of you that have family doctors could get their opinions on health insurance plans as well.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Life Settlements- Life term Insurance quote


An Insurance policy is a very significant financial decision. People are looking for life insurance, Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, even Health Insurance needs. Getting a life term insurance quote is something like you are deciding your life expectancy!! Sure, it is known by the name of life insurance, but shall we call it a death insurance quote!

The sales person selling the insurance policy asks you, "Who will look after your family if you met an accident tomorrow while going to office?", isn't it ridiculous? Well, it's not�..things are really bad. Getting a life insurance has become very important for every body. Getting a life term insurance quote is much easier, thanks to Internet. Life insurance companies are now ready to serve their customers online, saving form the hassle of meetings and discussions without ever talking to a representative. You can easily get a universal life insurance quote in some seconds now!. And you can do it all from the comfort of home.

There are some points to remember while getting an online insurance quote or an instant life term insurance quote.
1. Be Exact: it is necessary that you should have accurate information about your life term insurance quote, try not to hide any particulars, the more accurate your life quote will be. Never hide information like whether or not you smoke. This is important because the life insurance companies will provide you with obligations in the event of your death, so it wouldn't even make sense to have insurance if you?re not as accurate as possible.

2. Never Base Your Choices on Price Alone: Low prices are always attractive, but find out for sure that a policy will suit your needs. Ask for the details involved in Universal life insurance quoteand whole life insurance plans. Don't take anything for granted. In addition, research the insurance companies. Find out how long they have been in business and how fast their usual turn around is for pay-offs.

3. Compare from at Least Three Companies: You should be open to many life insurance quotes from different companies. Obtaining life term insurance quotes is easy, so you should shop around and find out what other insurance companies have to offer.

4. Start with the same set of questions: If you are looking out for different term life insurance quotes , the first thing you should take is that they belong for the same policy you are searching. There are some things that you should be clear with like, type of life insurance policy, time period for term policies, and the insured amount can all have a huge impact on a quote. It is important that you get the answers for these questions before you decide for your best life term insurance rate quote.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The Role of the "Health Insurance Broker"


A health insurance broker is just like any other type of broker; this one just happens to specialize in the field of health insurance. A broker is somewhat like a matchmaker. His responsibility is to match up those seeking health insurance with health insurance companies that most closely match that person or group's needs.

Quality is better than quantity. It is of no use writing numerous pages of nonsense for the reader. Instead, it is better to write a short, and informative article on specific subjects like health insurance. People tend to enjoy it more.

Health insurance brokers are sought by those individuals who, for various reasons, do not belong to a group insurance policy. These individuals are often the self-employed, or those with pre-existing conditions. However, a health insurance broker will also work with the coordinators of group insurance benefits in much the same way he works with an individual. The broker is given a list of desired benefits, either by an individual or a group coordinator, and the broker shops around to find the best match. The health insurance broker then presents what he feels is the best plan based on the list of needs, and if the person or group benefits coordinator agrees, the broker usually works to get a contract signed by both parties.

Who Does the Health Insurance Broker Work For?

It's important to understand that a health insurance broker does not work for a health insurance company. Instead, a broker makes it his business to know all about the different health insurance companies in the area including their reputations, their frequency of rate increases, and even such things as the way they treat policy holders who submit a lot of medical claims. But even though the health insurance broker is different from a health insurance company, it often does happen that a broker is given an incentive (usually a financial incentive) to recommend one health insurance company over another.

There has been a gradual introduction to the world of health insurance projected in this article. We had done this so that the actual meaning of the article will sink within you.

Nothing abusive about health insurance have been intentionally added here. Whatever it is that we have added, is all informative and productive to you.

Will it Cost More to Use a Broker?

We have not actually resorted to roundabout means of getting our message on health insurance through to you. All the matter here is genuine and to the point.

Does the cost of health insurance differ if it is secured by a broker? That's difficult to answer in general terms. A health insurance broker might be able to get an individual included in a group plan that is offered by the state or a trade union or organization and in such a case, an applicant might find the rates are lower and the coverage better than if he had attempted directly applying via a health insurance company. Most health insurance brokers work on commission and only make money when they've matched up insurer and insured. That means that one party or the other (and in some cases, both parties) typically is responsible for paying the broker's fee.

Because the rates and the rules regarding health insurance are continually changing, health insurance brokers are few and far between. Most states do have licensing requirements that brokers must meet before they're allowed to work as a health insurance broker. And because these requirements are issued at the state level, they differ from state to state. But if you find yourself lost in the tangled web of health insurance red tape, consider working with a health insurance broker. That person might just turn out to be your best ally.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Health Insurance - how to search for affordable options


Everyone admits that health insurance is a helpful thing that makes our lives easier. But it is also a costly thing and this fact doesn't make our lives happier. Some people think they are in a good health condition and do not need to spend their money on health insurance. But this is not the correct way of thinking. No one knows what will happen in the future and one day you may become in need of health care service. And if you have no health insurance policy, you will have to pay all medical bills on your own, which may become burdensome.

Many people think they are not able to afford health insurance. However, there are different ways to reduce health insurance cost and get an affordable policy for you and your family. All you need is to arm yourself with patience and learn about the methods that will allow you purchase health insurance policy at an affordable price.

Every state offers a Medical program for people with low income and you can be qualified for it. You may think you have no chance, but the surprising thing is that lots of people that think the same way can find themselves as an ideal candidate for these programs. All you need to do is go to the local Division of Family Services office and obtain an application form. You'll be also asked to provide some documentation about your financial state. The program provides insurance not only for you, but also for your entire family. It includes doctor visits, prescriptions, emergency care, dental and eye care, as well as other covers. If you do not participate in your employer's group health insurance program, this would be an interesting option for you.

Another way to lower your insurance costs is to use the Internet. This is the place where hundreds and thousands of insurance companies, brokers and agencies offer their services and compete with each other for the every single client. From the standpoint of an average customer it is a perfect condition to look for a cheap health insurance. However, to choose the right insurance plan that fits all your needs, you need to do a thorough research of the insurance market. Do not confine your searches to one company. Get insurance quotes from several insurers and compare them. Additionally, you can always call or visit an insurance broker and the broker will get even more options to choose from. Plus, you can ask your friends about any particular insurance company. May be, they know something about it and can give you a valuable advice. It is also not a bad idea to check the credibility history of the insurance company you got interested in. Bear in mind that old companies with a strong and long presence on the insurance market should always be a preferable choice for you. And when you have selected the plan that best meets your requirements, make sure the company providing insurance is licensed to operate in your state, otherwise there may be no use in such a choice.

Watch press and TV for alternative health care plans. It may happen that you'll find a suitable plan for you. You have to put some effort to find a suitable insurance plan.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

How to Find Affordable Health Insurance for individual?


Shopping for affordable health insurance can certainly be an eye-opener. If you have always had a health insurance benefit where you work - especially a state or federal employee - and now have to buy your own, you may not be able to afford the level of health insurance coverage you have become used to.

Affordable health insurance - it seems, especially today, those words just don't belong together in the same sentence. Health insurance monthly premiums have become the biggest single expense in our lives - surpassing even mortgage payments. In fact, if you have any permanent health problems, such as diabetes, or have had cancer at one time in your family history, your monthly cost could easily be more than the house and car payment combined.

Affordable health insurance, however, is definitely available -if you know how and where to look.

When you are looking for affordable health insurance, you want the lowest cost per year that will fit your budget, of course. But, even more importantly, you want a company that has a good record for paying without fighting with you on every detail. Just as there is a car for just about any budget, there is also affordable health insurance. You may not be able to afford a "Cadillac" policy - but then you probably don't need all the frills anyway.

Shopping for health insurance on the internet is the easiest and best way to find affordable health insurance. Here are five reasons why.

1. You don't need a local agent to help you submit the claims for health insurance. The medical provider does it for you. You save money because the health insurance company saves money by not paying the agent commission. This could amount to an 8% to 12% savings to you.
2. All the top health insurance companies are at your fingertips on the internet. Most local agents can only quote you from the few companies that they represent. They may not offer you what is best for you financially or health-wise but only what they happen to have available.
3. Health insurance companies have to be extremely competitive because it is so quick and easy to compare them with their competitors on the internet today. In the past you would have had to visit physically eight to ten agents to do a similar comparison. Most folks just didn't have the time or desire for that.
4. You can change your coverage, deductibles, and payment options with just a few clicks rather than going through the paperwork delay with a local agent (and then finding out he/she made a mistake - more delay).
5. Charging to a credit card means you aren't going to forget a payment and be without insurance. Also, it gives you another 30 days before you actually have to pay. Also, many companies today give an additional discount for "auto-pay".

The key, however, to finding affordable health insurance is realizing that the purpose of any health insurance is to protect you from a major financial loss - not to protect you from spending small money on clinic visits and sliver removal. These small expenses may be cumbersome but they generally will not hurt you. It's the $100,000 heart operation that will break you. That's the financial disaster health insurance was originally designed to prevent.

Also, keep this in mind. Health insurance, as with any insurance, is a gamble. You are gambling that you will draw out more than you pay in. Your health insurance company is gambling they will pay out less. The odds are in their favor for two reasons. They have all the facts for millions of families to average out, so they know the risk in advance. Also, they get to set the rules and the prices. The higher you set your deductible, the more risk you take. This is not a bad thing at all. You will most likely be the winner in the long run.

Yes, finding affordable health insurance is much easier than most people think.

Taking more of the risk with higher deductibles, spending a little time on the internet comparing eight to ten different companies, and deleting coverage that you will not likely need (such as maternity for many folks) will make it very possible to find your own affordable health insurance.

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Individual Health Insurance vs. Group Health Insurance


Individual health insurance is very different from group health insurance in some respects. Many people have had group health insurance from a large corporate group plan and that is all that they have ever known. Many have never had to actually pick and choose between different insurance companies and different health plans as all of the decision making was done on their behalf by their employer. Here are a few quick things to keep in minding when searching for individual health insurance.


The underwriting for individual health insurance is different than the underwriting for group health insurance.

This is great news if you, your spouse and kids are healthy as individual health insurance rates are much cheaper than a comparable group health insurance plan. It could be a cause for concern if you have some health issues in your past as there is the possibility that the application will be declined due to what is called "pre-existing conditions" in your medical history. Most individual health insurance companies will look back into your health history going back about 10 years. If the application is on a fully underwritten basis and there are major health issues such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. then the application will be declined. (What do you do at this point? Make sure that you keep your current coverage and elect COBRA benefits or any other form of continuation coverage and when that coverage expires you will want to look for a HIPAA eligible health insurance plan).

Individual health insurance is much cheaper than group health insurance.

Think of it kind of like; in individual health insurance the insurance company gets to pick and choose who they will extend coverage too. They choose those who are healthy and have the lowest risk to the company. Therefore, the rates are much lower than in a group health insurance plan where no matter who applies for coverage, whether healthy or unhealthy, they are offered coverage (and of course everyone that is unhealthy wants health insurance � this principle is called the law of adverse selection if any super technical people just love knowing the actual name of insurance principles). A good way to think about it is if you are healthy and on a group health insurance plan then you are in a sense subsidizing the cost of all of the unhealthy people on the group health insurance plan.

Getting quotes for individual health insurance is very easy.

Obtaining group health insurance quotes is sometimes a long drawn out process of filling out a census form with all of the employee information and other administrative time consuming tasks. With the ease of the Internet and the simplicity of individual health insurance rates all it takes is a few moments to enter in basic health insurance information and you can view individual health insurance rate quotes online.

Friday, April 6, 2007

Pet Insurance


Are you a pet owner? Do you love your pet? Do you consider them as a valued member of your family? Then maybe it is time for you to consider getting health insurance for your pet if you have not already done so.

If you love your cat or your dog then you must be constantly concerned about its health. One of the best ways to ensure the health of your pets, apart of course from taking very good care of them, is to get them pet health insurance.

There are many advantages to having a pet health insurance. Aside from the fact that it ensures the health of your pets, a pet health insurance can also save you lots of money. Healthcare, even for animals, can be very expensive.

Veterinary fees alone can rival that of a regular physician. Then there are the medicines and supplements to worry about. All of these come on top of the daily cost of maintaining pets. Having a health insurance for your pets can dramatically lessen the cost of health care for them.

So have you finally decided to get a health insurance for your pets? Below are some guidelines on how to get pet health insurance.

1. Determine if you really do need pet health insurance. If you are planning to have a pet for the rest for your life, then getting a pet health insurance is indeed a very wise decision.

2. The best place to get information on pet health insurance is through the Internet,. You can research and compare pet ehalth insurance companies online. Just open any popular search engines such as Yahoo. Google or Microsoft Network and type pet health insurance and you will be led to thousands of information regarding pet healthy insurance.

3. Consult your veterinarian first. Your veterinarian is the best person to talk when it come to the health of your pet. Talk to him about what exactly is needed to be covered by the insurance. If you trust your veterinary, he or she will be able to give you valuable information for you or make a wise decision on getting a pet health insurance.

4. Compare different pet health insurance companies. The best way to do this is to ask for quotes from several companies. This way, you will be able to get a clear view on what these companies are offering.

5. Keep in kind the needs of your pet then choose a pet health insurance policy accordingly.

6. Consider also the life expectancy of your pet.

7. Consider the total cost of getting pet health insurance and determine if your budget can accommodate the cost. Pet health insurance policies cost anywhere between $1,000 to $5,000 so be very honest on assessing your finances. The price depends on the age of your pet. As in health insurances for people, the premium for insurance policies for pets gets higher as the [pet gets older.

8. Do not be ashamed to ask for discounts. Most companies will be more than willing to give you a generous discount if only to get you to sign for their policy.

9.Most pet health insurance polices have clause and fine prints regarding exclusions, deductibles, and surcharges so read the policies very carefully.

Just follow the guidelines above and you are on your way to getting the best health insurance policy for your pet.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Fundamentals of Travel Insurance


Travel insurance is planed to defend your wellness, property, and your fiscal investing in your catch. It provides peace of brain for you and your home while on your holiday.

Travel policy is something that more mass oasis't taked. Sure, it's potential that you may never have to access your move policy, but only having it can very have you peace of idea. As it then much happens, there are more other lot or situations that could have you to offset your catch, interrupt your plans and perhaps take family early or drive you to search pinch medical discussion while traveling.

The important cause you need move policy is that when you go to other countries the healthcare helps, among new matters, can be really other. Sometimes you never know what to ask when you go overseas, and depending on the special state, helps offered can change greatly. You have to be maked to care any site that might grow. If you find to be pain or get bad in an area that has valuable wellness work you could get yourself with a card you did non ask and likely cannot provide to pay. If you are in this form of problem move policy fits the card and ensures that you get the discussion you need.

Most travel insurance policies are planed for a change of move wants but, I definitely notify taking the small mark of any insurance you get regarding any deductibles and wellness situations. You more get your insurance won't back pre-existing conditions that may have a job, or that the medical reporting is but for a hurt or a sickness -- non both. For pinch help, move policy polices are mostly good and cheap, but there are even a countless of gaps in the reporting provided.

But, the special types and amounts of reporting you make look on the insurance you take. It's important to think that you will but be reported for what is specifically sayed in your insurance and for zero else.

When choosing a move policy insurance you will take to be a mind between the point of reporting you want and the price of the insurance. Make positive your insurance covers most of the being: Personal Belongings & Money, Personal Accident, Medical Expenses, Personal Liability and Legal Expenses.

But think like all new forms of policy feel around and control away the options as you can keep yourself a good hand of money.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Life Insurance: Tell Me About It And How It Works ?


Life insurance offers you an opportunity to ensure the financial

security of your family and loved ones, no matter what happens. Life

insurance can be used to:

* Pay off any final expenses or personal debts like credit cards, car

loans or a mortgage
* Offset the loss of your income for those who rely on you for

financial support
* Contribute to the future education of your children
* Protect your estate by helping to pay the taxes due on an estate

upon death
* Leave a legacy to your favourite charity

Who should buy life insurance?
The purchase of life insurance is often associated with major life

events like getting married, buying a home, or having children.

However, if these don't apply to you ask yourself the following

questions. If you answer yes to any of them, you'll want to consider

life insurance:

* Does anyone rely upon you for financial support? Whether it's a

spouse, child, grandchild, parent or dependent adult, life insurance

will help them protect their financial well being no matter what

happens.
* Do you have a mortgage, or any other debts? If so, a life insurance

policy can provide a way to take care of these outstanding bills along

with any others like funeral expenses, legal fees and taxes, and

medical expenses.
* Do you own a business?
o For sole proprietors, you're accountable for the debts your

business owes. If you do not have enough life insurance to cover

these debts, your personal assets could be liquidated to pay them off,

possibly leaving little left for your family.
o If you're in a partnership, a life insurance policy where the

other partner is the beneficiary means the surviving owner has the

cash easily available to buy out your portion of the partnership from

the estate.
* Do you want to leave a legacy? Life insurance policies can be used

to leave money to your favourite charity.

How much will life insurance cost?
There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all insurance policy.

Insurance professionals need to look at a lot of different things before

they come up with a final insurance rate. They'll consider your age,

gender, whether you're a smoker, and your past and current health

record and family history. Then they'll balance all that with the

amount and type of policy that you're applying for.

What types of life insurance are available ?

There are two main types of life insurance, level life insurance also

known as term life insurance and decreasing life insurance or

mortgage life insurance.

Level life insurance as it suggests is level cover that stays constant

during the full term of the insurance and a level lump sum pay out

would occur upon death. The sum assured is decided from the outset

of the policy.

Decreasing is most often used to cover a mortgage and works exactly

the same as level life insurance however the sum assured decreases

over the term of the policy this is ideal cover for a mortgage or any

decreasing debts that maybe paid off over a period of time.


Life insurance is now more accessible than ever with the advent of the

internet. The best online brokerages offer instant online quotes, thus

avoiding any hard sell tactics the industry was associated with in the

past. A good example of this is Unbeatable Quote UK if you visit their

website www.unbeatablelifeandcriticalinsurance.co.uk you will find an

instant online quote with generous discounts and an online

application.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Getting Insurance for Your Business is Worth It


Getting the proper insurance is a necessary expense in running your business. Various types of insurance policies are also extremely helpful in attracting and keeping good employees. Everyone needs health insurance, and other types of insurance are helpful including life insurance, long-term care insurance, dental insurance and eye-care insurance.

Your business itself can face many calamities that require proper insurance. It's just an additional expense you need to factor in. For example, whether your business is located in your house, an office, or another building, you need fire insurance and possibly flood and other types of disaster insurance. This is collectively known as property and casualty insurance.

Some of your jobs could be considered to cause your customers problems that cannot be solve by fixing an order or replacing an item. If you are doing medical billing and your actions are believed to cause a major foul-up for your customer you could actually be sued. The same is true for various phases of the construction business, goods production business trucking and many other types of business. Almost any type of business from goods distribution to maid service can be the subject of a killer lawsuit. If you obtain legal liability insurance, the policy will cover your expenses on lawyers up to a certain limit. They also can give you coverage of any liability settlements you have to make, up to a previously agreed upon limit. Then there are other types of insurance that include damages to third parties in a professional capacity, when you are acting as an accountant, a doctor, etc. This is general malpractice insurance, and in the medical field this is compulsorily.

Business owners and key employees themselves are subject to sickness, accidents and death. Whether your injury or death can be replaceable in terms of operating a business is one question, which cannot necessarily be dealt with purely in money terms. However, if you are a sole proprietorship, if you are forced to close down your business, you or your heirs are personally responsible for all your businesses debt. You need insurance in the event of your death, illness or injury to prevent you or your estate from being totally financially wiped out. To deal with this potential circumstance, you can buy life and disability insurance for yourself, or any other key employee, and name the business as the beneficiary of the policy.

Monday, April 2, 2007

Student Health Insurance


Students are typically more prone to go without health care coverage than those who are older because of their perceived invincibility. However, students often place themselves and their family's financial security in jeopardy because of this "devil may care" attitude.

Health insurance for students is often quite cheap as one of the largest determining factors in pricing insurance rates is age. Everything else being equal, the older an individual is the more they will pay in monthly premiums. Cost should not be a deterrent for students in finding adequate health insurance coverage. Even on a tight budget there are low cost options for students to investigate.

Here are a few quick steps to take in searching for cheap student health insurance:

1. Look for a temporary health insurance policy. If a job offer with benefits is on the horizon then a temporary health insurance policy may be a good route until the job is realized. Temporary health care coverage is usually major medical only and does not come with copays and other extras � this will help to keep the monthly premiums low.

2. Check with the student's college or university to see if they offer any health care plans or discounts. If the school offers a health plan then view the plan with a critical eye and be sure to compare its benefits and coverage to a few other comparable plans from reputable insurance companies.

3. Compare individual health insurance quotes from at least 3 different health insurance companies. Competition among insurance companies is the key to finding the lowest rates. (Watch out for fly by night insurance companies that you have never heard of and also steer clear of discount health plans which are not true insurance and are tremendously risky � leaving you unprotected for most of the cost of a large medical bill).

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Medical Insurance : Your Safeguard Against Contingency


If you go for medical insurance, you will be insured against the astronomically high medical costs if, God forbid, you have to go for any major surgery because of illness, or accidents. Your insurer can either be a government agency or a private agency.

Insurance sounds like a good idea, giving you a stamp of security, however, for many of us, the idea of medical insurance means rising costs and something not affordable. Many consider it an unnecessary expense. However, the fact is that this insurance is as important to leading a safe and satisfied happy life as it is to have an annual income. It is your protection against unseen times. Reality is that things are unpredictable, and safeguarding your health is your paramount responsibility. Not having any health care coverage at all is too vile a risk to be taken. Moreover, it is a pill easier to swallow once we realize that it if the insurance scheme is judiciously chosen, it would not so hard on our pockets.

There are also special provisions guaranteed by the government for those with low income. The benefits herein may include covering your charges on your visits to the dentist, regular health checkups and also emergency care.

These days, reasonable medical insurance quotes are available on the internet as well. Not only are these easy to check out, but also easier to apply for. With enough market research, you can stumble upon various deals and packages that should cater best to the insurance plans you have in mind. Asking for quotes from various sources, can help you compare them as much as to give you a fair idea which one should suit you best.

Local insurance agencies can also be contacted to give you further insight into medical insurance schemes. And you also look out for advertisements that offer alternative health care plans or other schemes that would suit your budget.

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Travel Insurance Tips � Understand the limits, excesses and exclusions to avoid huge bills and get the best price


Travel insurance is a 'must' for anyone going away whether on holiday or for business so it is wise to check that the insurance you take out is relevant to the type of cover you need. The last thing you want is a huge bill after your trip, medical or otherwise, because your policy did not cover you for what you thought. There are many different areas to take into consideration when you buy travel insurance. If you don't make sure the travel insurance is right for you, you may not be covered, so follow these simple tips to help ensure you get the right travel insurance for your needs, what to look out for, and how to compare travel insurance prices for when you buy travel insurance.

A standard travel insurance package should normally provide compensation for a range of holiday and travel mishaps such as:

* Cancellation or curtailment of your trip
* Medical emergencies and repatriation
* Loss or damage to personal possessions
* Loss or theft of money
* Personal liability
* Compensation for permanent disability or death

Often these areas of cover can be subject to limits, excesses and exclusions so do check your policy carefully so you know what you may or may not be covered for. If you are the energetic or adventurous type, check that dangerous activities such as snowboarding, skiing, white water rafting or journeys to remote areas are included in your insurance policy � you may need a special type of insurance or an endorsement to cover your needs. Expenses caused by a terrorism event may be excluded or an expensive item of luggage or equipment may need to be insured separately. Some insurers do not cover people over the age of 65 or 70, and if you have any existing medical conditions, these also may not be covered.

It is true that your household insurance will offer cover for personal items and you may be able to remove these from your travel insurance cover to save you money. Also your credit card providers may offer some limited cover. A European Health Insurance Card will entitle you to reduced-cost or sometimes free medical treatment in the European Economic Area countries, but will not normally cover rescue costs or repatriation. If you are travelling for business your employer may offer some travel insurance cover. So where do you go to find the most suitable travel insurance for you? You can buy travel insurance from many different sources, travel agents, tour operators, banks, the post office, credit card providers or direct from insurance companies. The easiest and quickest method is online and Heathrow travel insurance offers a comprehensive service which is easily accessible.

In short, if you follow these steps, you can be sure that you have the right cover for you and that you have not paid over the odds for this peace of mind.

* Consider what cover you need
* Consider where you are going and what you are going to do
* Take into account the cover you may already have
* Tell your insurer all the relevant facts i.e. your age and any existing medical conditions
* Shop around and compare travel insurance prices
* Check your policy carefully

When you go to buy travel insurance, you want to make sure you have got the right price for the cover you need. One way to do this is to use an online travel insurance Heathrow Airport price checker, where you can compare travel insurance prices online. The best travel insurance Heathrow airport price checker that I have found to compare travel insurance prices is www.heathrowinformation.co.uk. This website also provides lots more information and suggestions as to where to buy travel insurance.

Finally, before you go away on your trip, make sure you take a copy of your policy and a note of the telephone number in a safe place, and of course, take good care of yourself and your belongings whilst you are away. You can now look forward to your trip safe in the knowledge that you have done everything necessary, and that if anything were to go wrong, you would be fully covered. But of course we all hope it won't and thankfully the majority of the time it doesn't � but you should always be prepared! This article is free for republishing.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Why Bother with Travel Insurance if you're a Canadian Travelling Within Canada?


Whatever your politics, whatever your religion, and whether you're wealthy or not so well off, we Canadians are indeed a blessed people when compared with most of the rest of the world. Anyone who doesn't recognize this obviously hasn't done much travelling outside of Canada, or simply has a very particular grievance of some sort against some aspect of Canada.

For the most part, Canada works, and from sea to shining sea, from our southern border to the icy north, we are collectively better off than most of the rest of the worlds population. You know this to be true if you've been outside of our borders for any length of time.

Physically, our great land is so varied, and so vast, that in fact it would be possible to spend every vacation right here in Canada, never leaving the country, and barely even scratch the surface of what there is to see and do, and still have a great vacation every time.

One of the things we can be most proud of is our health care system. Yes, it's not perfect, but how many things are? And, fortunately, as a Canadian traveling within our own borders, our various Provincial and Territorial health care plans cover us for the most part, in the event of accident or tragedy that injures our health while travelling outside of the province or territory of our residence, but still within Canada.

However, it may interest you to know (especially if your next vacation is going to be within Canada), that there are gaps in the Provincial and Territorial Health Care Plans, that may leave you considerably out of pocket under certain conditions, and this is precisely why smart travellers opt to purchase travel insurance even when traveling within Canada.

Using the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) as an example, an Ontario resident travelling to Alberta, who had an accident which resulted in chipped teeth, but did not require a hospital visit, would have to bear the full cost of repairing the damaged teeth themselves. This could add up to substantially more than the few dollars a day that it would typically cost to purchase travel insurance. There are many similar scenarios.

Although OHIP covers a wide range of medical services, it does not pay for services that are deemed not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery. It is unlikely that OHIP would pay the full cost of cosmetically restoring the disfigurement that many accidents cause.

Many other health care services are only partially covered, or may not be covered at all. Medical services such as Podiatrists and Osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists, may or may not be covered depending on a variety of factors. Even ambulance services, prescribed medications and long-term care services may only be partially covered depending on the circumstances.

The facts are that OHIP is not unique in this regard. Each Province and Territory has it's own rules and regulations, and it's often quite a challenge to figure out exactly what they are.

This is one good reason that smart travellers within Canada arm themselves with Travel Insurance.

There are other reasons for purchasing travel insurance for travel within Canada,
Some of these include:

Baggage Insurance � What difference would it make if you were traveling from Vancouver to Halifax or from Toronto to Singapore if your baggage was lost or stolen? Baggage insurance would protect you either way.

Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance � Imagine that you've reserved expensive hotel rooms and other services for your vacation within Canada, and you are forced at the last minute to cancel or abandon your trip. You could be out of pocket a great deal of money. This kind of travel insurance could restore your out of pocket expenses.

Emergency Medical Insurance � It would be comforting to know that if the unimaginable were to occur, and you were involved in an accident while on vacation, that you and/or your family members/fellow travelers would not have to worry about the costs of prescription drugs from pharmacies, home care services, ambulance services, long-term care services, dental and cosmetic surgery if needed, and other health care services that may be needed or desired. � Especially when this kind of coverage can be as little as a couple of dollars daily.

For the few extra dollars per day that it costs, travel insurance is easy to obtain, and buys enormous peace of mind while on your trip.

Remember, in the event of tragedy, you will "submit for consideration" the costs associated with your treatment to your particular Provincial or Territorial Health Ministry. They will decide the extent of your re-imbursement.

Given how inexpensive these kinds of insurance can be, do you still want to "not bother" with travel insurance when travelling within Canada?


The information collected and compiled here is for general reference only. Always speak with a licensed insurance representative to answer your specific questions.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Get A Life Insurance Quote Online


The technical definition of life insurance is a system that provides compensation in case of the individual's demise. In other words it means having a back up in case you or the person insured dies. This is in terms of a sum of money that is then payable to the surviving nominee by the life insurance companies who provide these policies.

There are a number of people who mistakenly believe that buying a life insurance policy means inviting death and bad luck. In fact it is just the opposite. By buying a life insurance policy you actually secure your surviving nominees in event of your death. Life insurance policy is therefore a good thing to have.

This process usually begins by the life insurance quotes, many of which are obtained online. An applicant simply has to log on to the websites of the many life insurance companies and fill in the relevant details. You are also required to answer some specific questions that pertain to your health and medical history as well. However the first thing you need to do is actually decide which type of life insurance you need and what is the amount you require to insure yourself with.

There are basically two types of life insurance policies- Term life insurance policies and Cash back life insurance policies. Term life insurance policies are active as long as you pay the premiums. Cash back life insurance policies are those where you are assured of a sum on policy maturity.

Your life insurance policy sum is actually an amount that your family will receive and that will take the place of the loss of income that will result due to your death.
This would mean that this sum would have to take care of some urgent and other important needs. The urgent needs would probably be the funeral expenses, final medical expenses, repayments of any loans and outstandings due to the insured name, any mortgages that need to paid off and such others. The important needs which may not be urgent but which would still be required would be the educational expenses of the children, the medical expenses of the surviving family members and the like.

If you are a single parent then it is all the more important to get a life insurance online quote at the earliest and buy the best and most suitable life insurance policy thereafter, Your life insurance amount is also decided by your economic and family situations. Your earnings and capacity to pay premiums will be taken into consideration along with the number of dependants you have and their ages.

Remember all Life insurance companies that offer you a life insurance online quote require very specific information regarding your medical history. Smokers are generally considered a high risk proposition for insurance companies and this increases the premium you would pay. Your age is also another very important factor. The higher the age, the more the premium payable as the quality of your life and your health generally deteriorates with age.

Once you decide on the two basic choices you can get your life insurance quote online.
Run a search for the life insurance companies that operate in and around where you live. When you log onto the relevant websites you are asked some general questions like your name, age, gender, height, weight, usage of tobacco or nicotine, the amount of insurance you are seeking, mode of payment of premium etc, Click on the submit button. You will receive the life insurance online quote specific to your requirement.

If you are not happy to receive one quote at a time, there are many websites that provide you with multiple life insurance online quotes as well. This is a great way to get many online quotes from different life insurance companies and gives you a good choice. If you get your life insurance online quotes and find that they are too expensive you must review them. There are some ways to reduce your life insurance costs.

You can choose to buy one large life insurance policy instead of several. You can be a part of group life insurance policies which come cheaper. When you are searching for life insurance online quotes, enter your premium payment options as annual. You can save a lot here. Lastly make sure you shop online across several websites to obtain the best life insurance online quote there is.