How To Protect Your Business And Reduce Insurance Costs

How To Protect Your Business And Reduce Insurance Costs

No matter how large your organization security needs to be taken very seriously, a good quality security system can not only prevent an unauthorized act but can also help to reduce insurance payments and protect the workforce. Even if you run a small business it is possible to install and monitor security cameras at a very reasonable price. Many small businesses are now turning to the wireless camera networks for monitoring the inside and outside of the premises. Since new Wireless technology has evolved over the years and has become more accessible and cheaper for everyone. It is now possible to have a state of the art complete monitoring system in place and running within 10 minutes.

What do you need to have a good installation that will protect you? The first and most important part will be the actual cameras, you can get small cameras that will send crystal clear footage to the camera receiver, if you do not want to buy an external viewing monitor then it is possible to display everything on a standard television. Installation could not be more simple, mounting the cameras is a very simple process and can involve as little as two screws, plug it into the standard mains output and the job is near done. 
Then remains is to plug the video receiver into the television output and the system is installed. This eliminates any unwanted cabling and the expense involved in running it, the cameras are so good that they can even transmit through doors, floors, ceilings and walls. The cameras can be very small as well which can be useful if you need to monitor staff or if you are monitoring open access areas. The camera systems can even be more sophisticated and offer the ability to have motion detection and infra red should this be needed.

There are so many benefits to having security cameras for small business installed of which some are the theft prevention aspects, insurance benefits, peace or mind and the simplicity of installation. Any small business can benefit from an installation from Restaurants, small shops, professional offices and small warehouses. In terms of the business impact of having security cameras installed this can range from avoiding law suites, ensuring customer and employee safety, preventing theft, evaluating the staffs performance and monitoring the building while you are away. 
There are so many uses and cases for having a system installed that it could potentially be saving you money and time in the long run. As sated earlier in the article with the simplicity of the monitoring systems and the ease of use virtually every small business should be able to budget for a good quality low cost security system to install in their premises. Whether you choose to install a wireless one or a wired solution, cheap or expensive, the options will be able to provide you with the added security that is need when running a small business and help to prevent loss and safe money.

How to Make a Successful Home Insurance Claim, Life Insurance

How to Make a Successful Home Insurance Claim

To fill a successful home insurance claim is not always an easy task to accomplish. There are plenty of hoops to jump through when filing such a claim, and if you aren’t sure how your insurance company and adjuster calculate depreciation for your home and property, you can risk losing thousands. In order to get the most out of your home insurance, when you need it most, it is important to understand how to file your claim successfully.

Before filing a home insurance claim, you should know its main purpose. Homeowners insurance provides protection for you, as a homeowner. This type of insurance can help save you the financial loss experienced with the damage or loss of your home, and often, the contents within it. There is a wide array of home insurance plans available and many vary in your particular region.

When you are planning on filing a home insurance claim, it is important to know and understand what type of claim you will be filing. The approach homeowners should take when filing a home insurance claim will depend on what type of loss you have experienced; theft, damage to the property, or a combination of losses. The type of claim will also differ if the loss was caused by a natural disaster. Some home insurance plans also cover injuries that have taken place on the premises.

When you have experienced a theft or damage to property at your home, you must first and foremost inform the law enforcement authorities. This is very important, even if expensive items are not stolen or damaged. Always be sure to keep several copies of the claim for your records and the insurance company. Before heading to the police, be sure to make a complete list of the damaged and stolen items so that all are included on the claim. Only the items on the police claim will be covered. Once you have made the police claim, contact your home insurance company and always ask if there are any special steps you need to take to ensure that the process moves smoothly.

For filing home insurance claims involving injuries, you must ensure that prompt and proper treatment be administered. Injuries that are covered by home insurance usually include sudden falls or injuries caused by tools. Always be sure to keep a copy of any medical receipts and prescriptions for the insurance company.

Natural disasters are also covered by home insurance policies, although you will want to make sure before making a claim that you have coverage. Some home insurance policies offer natural disaster coverage automatically, whilst others only offer it as an extra. Once you have experienced a natural disaster, contact both the insurance company and your local government to ensure quick and immediate assistance. Always cooperate with authorities and follow all policies and don’t forget to fill out the necessary claim forms, otherwise your claim will be denied.

To make sure that you have plenty of documentation and backup is essential to filing a home insurance claim successfully. It is a great idea to keep a camera handy and take pictures of any damage, injuries, or items within the home, as this will help your claim go a little more smoothly. Also, it is important to keep a calm head and be patient when working with the police and insurance adjusters.

Do I need healthcare insurance? Insurence Terms

Do I need healthcare insurance?
 
With no health insurance, a person or family may be forced to incur the full costs of their doctor's visits and hospitalizations, which can quickly accumulate to a small fortune. It isn't enough to just get treatment when you are sick. Preventative care is another important element of healthcare and could save on costs in the future.

Getting regular checkups and physicals with a doctor within your healthcare network can ensure that you are keeping an eye on your body and maintain optimal health.

The last, people who are under a health insurance plan will pay less for doctor's visits and hospitalizations when compared to people who are not enrolled in a plan. And given the current state of the economy, isn't the name of the game being fiscally responsible?

How does this system work?
In a typical healthcare plan, which is called a fee-to-service plan, an enrollee pays a monthly premium (which is like a monthly subscription for a certain service) and when the patient has to visit a doctor or a hospital, the health insurance provider pays a portion of the bill.

Which plan is for me?
A Good question and it's one that only you can answer since there's a lot of different factors that go into choosing a healthcare plan.

The one thing to keep in mind is a term called "pre-existing conditions." When you had a known illness or injury prior to you signing up for healthcare, it may affect your coverage. Some plans only consider a condition pre-existing if treatment was involved. Other plans may have a wider definition.

It's important to determine what exactly you need from a healthcare plan. Older people may want coverage that includes surgeries and prescription medication while younger people may be more inclined to embrace a plan that's more about preventative care.

Another element to factor in is whether or not you have a certain doctor you are comfortable with or a family doctor who knows your medical history well. Some healthcare plans have specific networks that only allow you to visit certain doctors, while others allow you to see whoever you choose.

The co-pay may be a bit higher for the out-of-network physician, but if it's with someone you trust, it may be worth it.

If you are between jobs and waiting for the start of your coverage from another health insurance, or if you are on strike or laid off, or if you are a seasonal employee or recent college graduate and your need is for only a specific period of time, short term health insurance may be a great option for you.

Who has these plans?
Most people in the U.S. get their healthcare insurance through the company they work for, which most likely has a relationship with a certain healthcare insurance provider.

However, some people like to investigate the kind of coverage a different provider has or may want to have health insurance that isn't tied to their job, in case they leave that company or get laid off.

Some people have employed a health insurance agent to help them determine which public healthcare plan might be best for them.

Staying with the same healthcare plan may also help people avoid experiencing gaps in coverage if they lose their job. Gaps in coverage can be a potentially dangerous situation because you will be solely responsible for any medical bills. 


Pet Insurance: The Companies, Articles, Choices and Savings


The Pet insurance is one of the fastest growing insurance fields. Finding sources to help you purchase pet insurance along with savings tips and more so you can get the best protection for your furry (or not so furry) friend.

Ten Pet Insurance Questions

A pet insurance is gaining popularity. With it's low cost and comprehensive coverages many pet owners are opting to insure their furry companions. But when looking to purchase a pet insurance policy there are a few questions you will want to consider.

Choosing the Right Pet Insurance

Have you thought about pet insurance? Find out more about pet insurance and information on five top companies.

Dangerous Dog Breed? You May Be Refused for Insurance

Then, what happens when insurance companies start classifying certain dog breeds as high-risk? Well, homeowners with those specific dog breeds may have a hard time qualifying for a homeowners insurance policy. Current policy holders are also affected by paying more to own a high-risk breed or possibly being dropped after a liability claim from a dog incidence.

Information and Options
Get the latest on pet insurance from the show. Multimedia video, insurance links, and a great article covering why you need it and coverage options.

State Specifics
All states have varying insurance laws. Do you have experience in the personal insurance industry?


Pet Insurance: The Companies, Articles, Choices and Savings

Driving without Auto Insurance, is it Legal in USA?

Driving without Auto Insurance, is it Legal in USA?

Finding the right auto insurance coverage may seem more of a hassle than it’s worth, but trust us. It is 100% necessary to carry adequate auto insurance. Not only is it the law to have auto insurance, but it’s also a wise means of protection for your vehicle and also for your loved ones. Auto insurance gives you the ability to call upon your insurer for financial help when you have been involved in an accident. They will walk you through the correct procedures to get your vehicle repaired and medical bills paid for. Knowingly not carrying the right of coverage is a foolish move on any driver’s part.

It is illegal to operate a vehicle on public roads without carrying adequate auto insurance. Each state within the United States has its own requirements that tell a driver what type of coverage is needed and how much coverage to purchase. This is only a minimum amount though. Any driver is invited to carry more than the minimum requirement of auto insurance. In fact, most experts recommend carrying double to triple the amount required by the state. This is due to the rise in medical costs and vehicle repairs.

Make sure you know your state’s minimum requirements before you purchase any auto insurance. While every state’s requirements vary, there are a few coverage options that are the same. Each state demands all drivers carry two liability coverage options, known as bodily injury and property damage. In both of these options, the bodily injuries and property damage that are sustained are covered for the other driver, not the policyholder. In the event of an accident where the policyholder is found to be at-fault, a claim is made to the policyholder’s insurance company, and that insurance company will pay for any injuries and physical damage sustained to the other driver.

How does the policyholder get covered by the insurance company? There are many coverage options available that will protect the policyholder and the vehicle the policyholder owns. However, these need to purchased in addition to the two above mentioned liability coverage. Then the policyholder and members of the policy and/or household will also be covered.

If looking at the state requirements for auto insurance, you will notice three numbers separated with a backslash, looking something like this: 25/50/25. These numbers explain the minimum amounts required to purchase for bodily injury and property damage liability. The first two numbers are referring to bodily injury, while the last number is for property damage. The first number, in this example it’s 25, indicates $25,000 was purchased for bodily injury per person in an accident. This means that for anyone who was injured in the other vehicle, the insurance company will pay up to $25,000 in medical bills per person. The second number, or in this case the number 50, indicates the insurance company will pay up to a total of $50,000 for all of the bodily injuries involved in the accident, but it must be the total medical bills of two or more passengers. Because $25,000 was purchased for bodily injury per person, either two people can have medical bills of $25,000 each or a combined number of people can have up to $50,000 in medical bills paid for by the insurance company.

The third number in the example, or 25, refers to $25,000 in property damage liability. When you damage another person’s property, say their car, a fence, a pole, a fire hydrant, etc, the auto insurance company will pay for the repairs of that property up to the amount of $25,000.

For any auto insurance coverage, including bodily injury and property damage liability, when the medical bills or repair costs have exceeded the amount the policyholder has purchased from the insurer, the policyholder is then responsible for the remaining balance. This is usually paid for using savings or other assets the policyholder has in possession. For this reason, experts recommend carrying a liability policy of 100/300/100 to help the policyholder avoid losing assets in court to help pay for the damages incurred.

In some states, more than just this basic liability is required. A coverage relating to under insured or uninsured is mandatory, mostly in the form of motorist but sometimes also in the form of property damage too. Under insured and uninsured motorist bodily injury is somewhat similar to bodily injury liability, except in this case it is protecting you and will cover your injuries if you happen to be in an accident with someone who does not carry enough insurance or who doesn’t carry any insurance at all. Because they don’t have insurance, if they are at-fault for the accident, you will have to pay for your own injuries. Because that isn’t fair to you, the state tells you to purchase this coverage so your insurance company will be financially responsible for your medical bills, up to the amount you purchase.

Under insured or uninsured motorist property damage liability is similar to the property damage liability discussed earlier, but here it is covering the policyholder’s property when the under insured/uninsured driver has damaged it. Just like with under insured or uninsured motorist liability, the property version will force your insurance company to pay for the repair costs of your property when it has been damaged by an under insured or uninsured driver.

The other coverage that is required by a few states is known as personal injury protection, or PIP. This is a coverage option that will pay for the policyholder’s injuries when the policyholder is the driver at-fault in the accident. It will cover not only the policyholder, but anyone in the vehicle at the time of the accident or any member of the policyholder’s immediate household.

There are additional coverage options to the ones mentioned here that can be purchased through your auto insurance company. They will  help protect you from having too little insurance and having to pay for the accident-related expenses yourself. While most accidents are minor with little expenses to pay, some accidents are deemed as major, costing thousands of dollars. When no insurance is carried, the driver is outright breaking the law and will be punished when caught. The punishments range from termination of registration to expensive fines to jail time. Auto insurance is always necessary to drive legally in the United States of America.

Auto Insurance for Teenagers

Auto Insurance for Teenagers
 
Teenagers looking for cheap auto insurance rates can complete a quotes comparison and sort out the companies which will offer low prices in a matter of minutes. Thanks to automated online technology, teens can answer a set of questions to get instant quotations from many recognizable brands offering a large variety and types of coverage.

You have to compare rates, then buy online to get proof of car insurance:
Teenagers who saved on auto insurance.   

Why is it important for a teenager to compare car insurance rates:


When it comes to teenagers, getting rates from a variety of carriers is important because it helps locate those who offer a cheaper rate to teens. In reality, some companies even target the teenage drivers because they are profitable in the young driver category. In the other hand, some coverage providers let you know that they find you too risky by quoting an outrageous premium.

For Parents:
Is it cheaper to add me to my parent's policy or get my own? The best way to answer that question is to get quotes from other companies to see the insurer to offer cheaper auto insurance for the desired coverage. Simply enter zip code above to begin providing the basic information needed for a teenager's quotes from multiple companies.

Frequently asked questions by teen's parents:

Should I add my child to my policy or have them open a new one? - Adding your child to your current auto insurance policyDetermining whether you should add a child to your current auto insurance policy or have them open a policy independently depends on a few factors. First of all, it is a good idea to have your agent or carrier give you a quote for the addition of the child. Remember that if you have multiple vehicles on your policy, he may cause an increase in premium for all vehicles on the policy.

Depending on the child's age, time licensed, driving record, marital status, occupation and commute, the

Teens with learner's permits - Teens with learner permits or driver's permit can search for they're own policy to be independent from their parent's policy.

Car Insurance

Car Insurance
Auto Insurance Financial Responsiblity Law?

When referring to auto insurance, financial responsibility is the ability of a driver to pay for any damages when involved in an accident. The law related to financial responsibility is that no driver in any state can operate a vehicle without proving financial responsibility. There are different ways to prove financial responsibility so that a driver may operate his/her vehicle. Each state has their own requirements as to what is an acceptable proof of financial responsibility.

Financial responsibility is necessary for all drivers. By accepting financial responsibility as a driver, you are agreeing to pay for any accidental damages you cause to another person’s body or property. State law requires this for protection to each driver. Although you may be secure in your own ability to drive carefully, you cannot predict the actions of others.

The most and easiest popular method of obtaining and proving financial responsibility is by purchasing an auto insurance policy. There are many auto insurance companies around the country that are willing to provide insurance to drivers. These drivers are charged premiums based on the kind of car they will be driving, where they live, and their driving history. This method can also be referred to as a motorist liability insurance policy.

If you do not have auto insurance and find that this method will be the easiest way to show your financial responsibility, we can help you find an auto insurance company that will provide their services. Simply type in your zip code and give us the required information, and we will in turn provide you with quotes from these companies. You can review the quotes at your leisure without any obligation to purchase a policy and without any fees to even obtain the quotes. It is an easy way for drivers to compare auto insurance companies without having to directly contact the companies themselves.

A surety bond is another form of financial responsibility that is accepted by some states. A surety bond is a three-party contract. The surety, or a specific person, agrees to be held responsible for any financial damage incurred by the driver to another person who has been injured or experienced property damage. This bond is in the required amount by the state in which the driver resides. It must be issued by an authorized surety or an insurance company.

A state Motor Vehicle Department bond held by real estate equity of a set amount is applicable to financial responsibility in some states. This equity money can be used to pay for damages incurred in an accident.

There are 2 certificates that could be accepted by your state, the first is namely a state Motor Vehicle Department certificate for money or government bonds. This certificate is regarding a set amount of money required by the state that is on deposit with the State Treasurer. Another certificate that might be allowed by the state is a certificate of proof of financial responsibility that has been signed by an insurance agent. This certificate is part of a form that is given by your state’s Motor Vehicle Department.

The third certificate of bond is one that is issued by the state’s Motor Vehicle Department and is in a set amount, which can be covered by two separate people.

The examples are types of bonds that can be used to show proof of financial responsibility; only one is usually required. Most states require to show this proof of financial responsibility upon registration of a vehicle or to obtain or renew a driver’s license. The driver must show that either they have maintained financial responsibility in the past or that they currently hold financial responsibility. The driver must not operate a vehicle without such proof of financial responsibility, as doing so is breaking the law.

When you will need to show proof of financial responsibility, such as when involved in an accident or when stopped by a police officer. Failure to show an insurance card or certificate of bond because you do not have one will result in heavy penalties. These penalties can include fines, suspension of a driver’s license or vehicle registration, or even jail time. When you receive your proof of financial responsibility, it is best to keep it in the vehicle so it readily available in the event you need to show it to a police officer. In some states, your vehicle can be randomly selected to check whether or not you are presently holding financial responsibility.

There could be a situation where a driver would need an SR-22, another type of proof of financial responsibility. This form is designated for high risk drivers, or those drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence or have been involved in a large number of automobile accidents or traffic tickets. They are considered high risk because there is a “high risk” that these drivers will be filing a claim with their insurance company to pay for any damages for reckless driving. These drivers pay substantially more than a driver who is cautious and is considered to be a low risk.

An SR-22 is a type of proof that you have insurance. This form is filed by your auto insurance company to your state’s Motor Vehicle Department that will state your auto insurance is in effect. It is typically issued to a driver who was previously unable to show proof of financial responsibility, and is used as an extra way to make sure the driver now holds financial responsibility.

To avoid any legal action taken against you as a driver, always have and carry proof of financial responsibility. No matter what sate you live in, there are options for every driver to maintain financial responsibility. If you have the assets available and are financially sound enough to not carry auto insurance, look there. However, it may be more beneficial and less of a risk to look into using an auto insurance company to see what they can do for you as a policyholder.

Anyone Needs Life Insurance

Anyone Needs Life Insurance

Life insurance is designed to protect your family and other people who may depend on you for financial support. If you die and lose your income, the people that are dependent on your financial support will lose that income, so life insurance can help cover some or all of that loss depending on the policy you choose. However there are instances where life insurance can be beneficial even if you have no dependents, such as your desire to cover your own funeral expenses. Here are some guidelines to help you decide if life insurance is the right choice for you:

1. Children: Children do not need life insurance. Yes, there have been cases where life insurance for one's child has been a blessing, but in the majority of cases, children do not need life insurance since no one depends on income from them. Learn more at Don't Buy Insurance You Don't Need

2. Families: Life insurance should be purchased if you are considering starting a family. Your rates will be cheaper now than when you get older and your future children will be depending on your income. Learn more at Parents: How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?

3. Established Families: If you have a family that depends on you, you need life insurance now! This does not include only the spouse or partner working outside the home. Life insurance also needs to be considered for the person working in the home. The costs of replacing someone to do domestic chores, home budgeting, and childcare can cause significant financial problems for the surviving family. Learn more at Parents: How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?

4. Young Single Adults: The reason a single adult would typically need life insurance would be to pay for their own funeral costs or if they help support an elderly parent or other person they may care for financially. Otherwise, if one has other sources of money for a funeral and has no other persons that depend on their income then life insurance would not be a necessity.

5. Non-Child Working couples: Both persons in this situation would need to decide if they would want life insurance. If both persons are bringing in an income that they feel comfortable living on alone if their partner should pass away, then life insurance would not be necessary except if they wanted to cover their funeral costs. But, maybe in some instances one working spouse contributes more to the income or would want to leave their significant other in a better financial position, then as long as purchasing a life insurance policy would not be a financial burden, it could be an option. For a low cost life insurance option look into Term Life Insurance

6. Elderly: As long as you do not have people depending on your income for support, life insurance at this stage in life would not be necessary, unless again, you do not have any other means to pay for your funeral expenses. But, be aware that purchasing a life insurance policy at this age can be very expensive. Before doing so, first talk to a financial advisor or accountant about looking into other saving options to pay for your funeral costs before considering life insurance. 

Insurance Information

The Top Ten Insurance.

1: Insurance Should be Bought and Used for Every Disaster
Insurance is designed to protect one from catastrophic disasters. An insurance rule of thumb: If you can pay for the loss or damage without a financial hardship then pay it, otherwise expect your insurance premium to eventually show an increase. Also, buying every type of insurance just isn't necessary. Sometimes the risk is worth taking rather than paying a premium.
US Expat Health InsuranceMedical insurance for US expats.

2: If I am Alive, I Must Need Life Insurance!
Life insurance is designed to take care of one's dependants after the caregiver's death. If you have no dependants, then you probably don't need life insurance. This includes children and retired persons. usually they don't have people that depend on their income so life insurance for these groups can, in rare instances, be beneficial but is usually unnecessary.

3: I'm the Breadwinner in the Home, So Only I Need Life Insurance.
Have you seen the cost of childcare lately? Add that along with housekeeping, food preparation, home accountant, and school transportation. From that list alone one can see how much a spouse really contributes to the household budget. It is estimated a non-working spouse contributes at least, but usually more, the equivalent of a full time job. For this reason it is important to buy life insurance for everyone in the household if the absence of their income would cause a financial hardship.

4: Whole & Universal Life are the Best Since I Can Get My Money Back
Term life insurance is probably the best choice for most. Term life is set for a specific term, like 10-30 years, with a much lower premium than whole and universal life. Your best bet?

5: The Flood Insurance is Only for People Who Live in a High Risk Area.
Everyone who lives in a National Flood Insurance Program area is eligible and can buy flood insurance. These areas are not always prone to floods so even if you think your area is low risk you may be eligible.

6: Our Insurance Will Cover My Son When He is Delivering Newspapers
If your vehicle is used for anything but personal use, then you will probably need to extend your personal auto policy to cover business use of your vehicle. Don't think just because you were unaware of your coverages this will get your accident paid for--your insurance policy is a contract that you agreed to adhere to. If you don't understand all the coverages in your contract you need to contact your agent about the questions you have.

7: I Don't Need Disability Insurance Because I can Get Social Security.
Don't count on Social Security to take care of all your needs if you become disabled. If you are able to get Social Security for your disability (not all get approved to receive disability benefits so don't assume you will) then you will still have to wait months before you receive benefits and your disability needs to be long-term to qualify. And even if you qualify for benefits, will it match your current salary? Probably not.

8: If I Need Nursing Care When I am Older, The Government Will Pay for it.
Again, don't count on Medicare or Medicare Supplemental Insurance to pick up the bill. If you can qualify, Medicaid may pay up to half of the cost. Choosing long term care insurance can help you pay for the costs of a nursing facility or home care if the need arises. Also, do you really want your family to have to pick up the bill if you acquire a long term illness or disability? Long Term Care Insurance is a great option and if started early in life the premiums can be very reasonable.

9: Umbrella Insurance Coverage is Just for Rich People.
The Umbrella insurance is not just for the wealthy. With the common occurrence of lawsuits, umbrella insurance is a must for every home, auto, and watercraft owner. Umbrella insurance is designed to give one added liability protection above and beyond the limits on homeowners, auto, and watercraft personal insurance policies. With an umbrella policy, depending on the insurance company, one can add an additional 1-5 million in liability protection.

10: If I Don't Purchase Health Insurance it Won't Affect Others.
The people who don't purchase health insurance eventually affect the lives of every American. When many people in a company choose not to purchase health insurance, it sends a message to the employer that health insurance may not be an important benefit, which in-turn could cost other workers a loss of their health insurance benefits. Also, when healthy people don't buy health insurance, the costs raise for others because the risk is spread through less people. For these and other reasons, many have encouraged the government to switch to a universal health care system where the government would help manage health care. 

Supplemental Health Insurance

Five Reasons You May Need It

If you have a job that provides health insurance benefits as part of your compensation plan. In today's economic world, having these benefits may make you feel as though you've won the lottery. But before you pop the champagne, take a minute (or an hour) to read over your policy.

There's a good chance that your employer has had to make some compromises in the coverage in order to provide the policy at all, so you may find that you are responsible for more of your medical expenses than you had thought. This is where supplemental health insurance can be life-saver (or at least save your savings account).

Supplemental health insurance, or "gap" insurance, is a secondary policy that pays for out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered in your primary plan such as deductibles and co-payments. Some supplemental policies even pay you a cash benefit for lost income due to illness or injury.

If you fall into any of the following five categories, you may want to think about supplemental insurance as part of your overall health insurance strategy.

1. Are you self-employed? If yes, you aren't covered at all by an employer's health plan and you need to provide all coverage yourself. For your primary insurance, you may want to consider a catastrophic policy -- which only covers major medical events and requires you to pay for office visits, prescriptions, and other minor medical care -- but which comes at a much cheaper cost than comprehensive health insurance. A supplemental policy would help cover your out-of-pocket costs, and perhaps more importantly, provide a cash benefit if you become too ill or injured to work.

2. Are you responsible for your family's health care? Remember, each person who is on your primary health plan is subject to an individual deductible and co-pay maximum, making your out-of-pocket expenses larger than an individual's health plan might be.

3. Do you lack savings? If even a few weeks off work could mean financial disaster for your family, you may need additional insurance to provide cash benefits. These cash payments can be used to make mortgage payments and buy groceries when you're off work because of illness or injury.

4. Are you concerned about the risk of cancer? There are certain supplemental policies that provide cash benefits to policy-holders for cancer treatments and the related expenses of treatment.

5. Do you have a pre-existing medical condition? Most health insurance plans will not provide benefits for medical conditions that existed before coverage became effective. However, a supplemental policy can sometimes be purchased to specifically cover a pre-existing condition. Not all insurers offer such coverage, but with careful shopping, you should be able to locate one to meet your needs.

As you can see, supplemental coverage is not always necessary for those who are fortunate to have a comprehensive primary policy. But for certain situations, a supplemental policy can be the difference between financial disaster and financial health.

Life Insurance Quotes

Life Insurance Quotes

The Life insurance quotes don’t always come cheap. That’s because insurance companies are taking a gamble when they decide to insure your life and, like all gamblers, insurers need to know how much of a risk they are taking when deciding whether or not your life is a safe bet.

With high insurance premiums, it can be tempting to be “economical” with the truth or just to downright lie as you fill out your policy form. However, omitting the full truth either by choice or ignorance can lead to your policy being declared void, which leaves those left behind with nothing, even if you have continued to make your monthly payments. Truth is always the best policy, so here are 3 top “don’ts” that you should bear in mind.

Don’t be coy about your age

The age is a determining factor when it comes to life insurance quotes, as the older you get, the more your premium is going to go up. Your age is an easy thing for insurers to check once a claim is made using information from your birth certificate. If the age on your policy doesn’t match that on your other documentation, then your policy is nullified. As incredible as it sounds, some people lie to insurance companies for no other reason than vanity – it simply isn’t worth the risk.

Don’t lie about your health

There are certain health factors that contribute to your lifestyle which will affect life insurance quotes . If you are a smoker for instance or if you have smoked before, then you must declare this to the insurance company. Smoking is a recognised danger to your health and will push your premium up. By not declaring to the insurance company that you smoke, you are in fact committing fraud, which is a sure-fire way to not receiving a payout after your death. Similarly, be honest about the number of units of alcohol you consume in an average week and the amount of exercise you do.

Don’t be ignorant of family health history

Ignorance is not an excuse for giving false information about health problems in your family’s history. Take the time to research your family tree properly for as many generations as you can and see if there are any hereditary illnesses. Assuming the best is not a smart thing to do with health problems, and could lead to your insurer refusing to pay for a claim.

Who Needs Life Insurance?

Life insurance is designed to protect your family and other people who may depend on you for financial support. If you die and lose your income, the people that are dependent on your financial support will lose that income, so life insurance can help cover some or all of that loss depending on the policy you choose. But there are instances where life insurance can be beneficial even if you have no dependents, such as your desire to cover your own funeral expenses. 
 
Some guidelines to help you decide if life insurance is the right choice for you:

1. Children: Children do not need life insurance. Yes, there have been cases where life insurance for one's child has been a blessing, but in the majority of cases, children do not need life insurance since no one depends on income from them. Learn more at Don't Buy Insurance You Don't Need

2. Beginning Families: Life insurance should be purchased if you are considering starting a family. Your rates will be cheaper now than when you get older and your future children will be depending on your income. Learn more at Parents: How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?

3. Established Families: If you have a family that depends on you, you need life insurance now! This does not include only the spouse or partner working outside the home. Life insurance also needs to be considered for the person working in the home. The costs of replacing someone to do domestic chores, home budgeting, and childcare can cause significant financial problems for the surviving family. Learn more at Parents: How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?

4. Young Single Adults: The reason a single adult would typically need life insurance would be to pay for their own funeral costs or if they help support an elderly parent or other person they may care for financially. Otherwise, if one has other sources of money for a funeral and has no other persons that depend on their income then life insurance would not be a necessity.

5. Non-Child Working couples: Both persons in this situation would need to decide if they would want life insurance. If both persons are bringing in an income that they feel comfortable living on alone if their partner should pass away, then life insurance would not be necessary except if they wanted to cover their funeral costs. However, maybe in some instances one working spouse contributes more to the income or would want to leave their significant other in a better financial position, then as long as purchasing a life insurance policy would not be a financial burden, it could be an option. For a low cost life insurance option look into Term Life Insurance

6. Elderly: As long as you do not have people depending on your income for support, life insurance at this stage in life would not be necessary, unless again, you do not have any other means to pay for your funeral expenses. But, be aware that purchasing a life insurance policy at this age can be very expensive. Before doing so, first talk to a financial advisor or accountant about looking into other saving options to pay for your funeral costs before considering life insurance. 

Understanding Health Insurance Terms

When searching for a health insurance plan or after one has already signed up, the plan terms, or descriptions of provisions and coverages can be hard to understand. When one is reviewing the terms they often confusingly say, “What does that mean?”

Deductible
The deductible refers to the amount of money that the insured would need to pay before any benefits from the health insurance policy can be used. This is usually a yearly amount so when the policy starts again, usually after a year, the deductible would be in effect again. Some services, like doctor visits, may be available without meeting the deductible first. Usually there are separate individual deductible amounts and total family deductible amounts.

Co-insurance
This is the amount that would need to be paid by the insured before the insurance pays and in addition to the deductible. Some health insurance plans will let the insured use some services with just the coinsurance payment, like visiting the doctor, even before the deductible is met.

Co-payments
This is another term used for, or in place of, coinsurance.

Out-of-Pocket
The cost one would pay out of their own pocket. An out of pocket expense can refer to how much the co-payment, coinsurance, or deductible is. Also, when the term annual out-of-pocket maximum is used, that is referring to how much the insured would have to pay for the whole year out of their pocket, excluding premiums.

Lifetime Maximum
This is the most amount of money the health insurance policy will pay for the entire life. Pay attention to individual lifetime maximums and family lifetime maximums as they can be different.

Exclusions
The exclusions are the things that the insurance policy will not cover.

Pre-existing Conditions
This is something someone had before obtaining the insurance policy. Some plans will cover pre-existing conditions while others may completely exclude them and, in addition, some health insurance plans will cover pre-existing conditions after a certain time period.

Waiting Period
This is the time one would have to wait until certain health insurance coverages.

Life Insurance Choices and Annuity Investments



Life Insurance for the Stay-at-Home Spouse

Most families purchase minimal life insurance for the stay-at-home spouse. They feel this would be sufficient to take care of the basic tasks, at least until the youngest child is out of school. But what about the child's emotional loss from their deceased stay at home parent? 
Can hired help really take care of those needs? 
What if the working parent realized they needed to be the stay-at-home parent for a while... would there be enough life insurance to cover the working parent's wages?

Could Your Life Insurance Company Fail?
Life insurance is supposed to be the back up plan for our losses. But, have you ever thought about what would happen if your life insurance company went bankrupt? 
Unfortunately most people don't realize life insurance companies could fail just like the bank failures we have been through.

Shopping for Life Insurance Quotes


You have decided to shop around for life insurance quotes. Want to save a few thousand dollars on your next life insurance policy? Well, think about how long you pay for life insurance and how much of a life insurance quote difference of $5 per month would make over a 30 year term life insurance policy. Now take that figure ($1800) and think about how much more that would be if you would have had it to invest. It really adds up!

Tough Times and Life Insurance: When is it Time to Cancel the Life Insurance?


When tough economical times come, many households find ways to cut expenses. Salary cuts and job losses are among the many reasons why expenses need cut, but when the question to cut life insurance arises you may want to think twice before you choose to cancel your life insurance policy.

What You Need to Know Before You Meet with the Life Settlement Company

Do you have a life insurance policy and have considered cashing out or a life settlement? If you have a severe medical condition, terminal illness or are facing your later years in life you may have considered such options as life settlements or viatical settlements. Understanding what is the best option for you starts with research.

You Purchased an Affordable Life Insurance Policy, Now What?

Maintain my life insurance policy? Yes! It is great that you found an affordable life insurance policy but purchasing your affordable life insurance policy is just the first step in being a responsible life insurance policy holder. If you want to get the most out of your life insurance policy there are steps you need to do in order to make sure your life insurance policy stays current and safe.

A Senior Citizen's Guide to Insurance Planning

Unfortunately, senior citizens are sometimes lured into insurance marketing proposals by insurance agents who only care about making money and not what is best for their customer. There are a lot of complex choices now when it comes to buying a new insurance policy or changing a current one so doing so should not be something a senior citizen should take lightly.

Life Insurance

A life insurance policy is so important, I feel it should be a law in all fifty states that parents and anyone who has someone depending on them should be required to purchase it. Life is so unpredictable and leaving your loved ones to grieve the loss of you on top of no financial support should never be an option.

Your Life Insurance Medical Exam

Now that you have decided to purchase life insurance you may be required to undergo a medical exam. The primary reason life insurance companies need to administer medical exams is to judge how much premium to charge a potential policyholder.

Finding Financial Peace and Freedom: A Five Step Guide

There are thousands of financial tips and secrets out there to scare away anyone just trying to find the basics of how to find a way to find a financial balance. Finding freedom from debt and having the right insurance protection will assure anyone a long-term financial freedom and peace.

How to Know if You Need Life Insurance

Life insurance is designed to protect your family and other people who may depend on you for financial support. Here are some guidelines to help you decide if life insurance is the right choice for you.

Term Life Insurance Shopping Guide

Term life insurance is an effective way to make sure your survivors will be well provided for without a hefty cost to you in premiums. It is very straight forward too: You buy a certain $ amount of insurance for a "term" of time (such as 10 or 20 years) for a specified monthly, quarterly, or yearly premium. Although term life seems simple enough, here are some term life shopping hints to help you save money and get the best policy for your buck.

Change Your Life Insurance Policy

If you are approached by a life insurance agent and asked to consider canceling your current life insurance policy in order to purchase a replacement policy there are a few things you should know first. Learn how to understand how changes will affect your life insurance and the warning signs to watch for.

How Divorce Changes Insurance Needs

Substantial life changes such as divorce bring about the need to reassess one's finances and insurance should be an important part of that financial reassessment. Here is help to start organizing your divorce insurance reassessment.

How to File a Life Insurance Claim

After a loved one dies, filing the life insurance claim can be confusing and difficult. Find out here what simple steps to take and find out who to contact if you cannot find your loved one's policy.

Life Insurance Needs

How much life insurance do you need? Use these two simple and quick estimate ideas along with suggestions for parents about choosing the best policy.

Is an Annuity Right For You?

Have you maxed out your 401K and IRA and need another tax-advantaged retirement vehicle that doesn't force you into contribution limits? Are you a doctor, lawyer, CPA, architect, or financial planner? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you may want to look into an annuity.

Insurance Companies that Provide Domestic Partner Benefits

Here is a comprehensive list, by state, of insurance carriers that provide insurance for domestic partners. Providers on this list are for individuals and companies looking for group health plans and include various coverages such as medical, dental, and life.

State Specifics

All states have varying insurance laws.

Life Insurance Choices and Annuity Investments


Changing Your Life Insurance Policy


If you are approached by a life insurance agent and asked to consider canceling your current life insurance policy in order to purchase a replacement policy there are a few things you should know first.

What agents typically do in a change like this is take the cash value of the current life policy and use that to buy more insurance or obtain a new policy. Sometimes the decision to replace an existing life insurance policy may be a good one, but not in every case. Before replacing or changing your life insurance policy, it is best to first assess your needs and decide what will be the best decision for you long term, including what is best for the one's you are protecting.

Before changing your life insurance policy, consider these:
= Extra costs that may be involved to start a new policy

= Depending on your age, you may pay more over the lifetime of a policy because of purchasing a new policy later in life

= Your new insurer may not be as financially strong

= Your new agent may not be as adequately trained or educated

= The tax consequences and/or advantages may be different

= When and how you can take a loan on a new policy may be different

= The cash value you use for your current policy may not be enough to pay the entire new policy in the future, which may result in additional payments

= You may have a policy or loan waiting period

It is  wise to consider converting your current policy to a new policy with your current insurer before switching to a new insurance company. This may help you avoid any extra fees and may be cheaper in the long run. And when choosing to make any changes in life insurance always obtain a second opinion and be aware of the warning signs.

What You Need to Know Before Changing Your Life Insurance Policy

Life Insurance and Annuity Investments


Choosing life insurance and annuities for retirement investments can be a complicated task, but because of the many choices, they should be thoroughly researched. Here you can find life insurance and annuity policy information, articles, ways to estimate need, and investment information along with news and more.

Life Insurance for the Stay-at-Home Spouse
Most families purchase minimal life insurance for the stay-at-home spouse. They feel this would be sufficient to take care of the basic tasks, at least until the youngest child is out of school. But what about the child's emotional loss from their deceased stay at home parent? Can hired help really take care of those needs? What if the working parent realized they needed to be the stay-at-home parent for a while... would there be enough life insurance to cover the working parent's wages?

Could Your Life Insurance Company Fail?
Life insurance is supposed to be the back up plan for our losses. But, have you ever thought about what would happen if your life insurance company went bankrupt? Unfortunately most people don't realize life insurance companies could fail just
Health Care InsuranceFull Cover

Insurance LifeReviewing Your Insurance Coverage?

Shopping for Life Insurance Quotes
You have decided to shop around for life insurance quotes. Want to save a few thousand dollars on your next life insurance policy? Well, think about how long you pay for life insurance and how much of a life insurance quote difference of $5 per month would make over a 30 year term life insurance policy. Now take that figure ($1800) and think about how much more that would be if you would have had it to invest. It really adds up!

Times and Life Insurance:
When is it Time to Cancel the Life Insurance?...
When tough economical times come, many households find ways to cut expenses. Salary cuts and job losses are among the many reasons why expenses need cut, but when the question to cut life insurance arises you may want to think twice before you choose to cancel your life insurance policy.

What You Need to Know Before You Meet with the Life Settlement Company
Do you have a life insurance policy and have considered cashing out or a life settlement? If you have a severe medical condition, terminal illness or are facing your later years in life you may have considered such options as life settlements or viatical settlements. Understanding what is the best option for you starts with research.

Purchased an Affordable Life Insurance Policy, Now What?
Maintain  life insurance policy?
Found an affordable life insurance policy but purchasing your affordable life insurance policy is just the first step in being a responsible life insurance policy holder. If you want to get the most out of your life insurance policy there are steps you need to do in order to make sure your life insurance policy stays current and safe.

A Senior Citizen's Guide to Insurance Planning
Unfortunately, senior citizens are sometimes lured into insurance marketing proposals by insurance agents who only care about making money and not what is best for their customer. There are a lot of complex choices now when it comes to buying a new insurance policy or changing a current one so doing so should not be something a senior citizen should take lightly.

Life Insurance 101
A life insurance policy is so important, Life is so unpredictable and leaving your loved ones to grieve the loss of you on top of no financial support should never be an option.

Your Life Insurance Medical Exam
Now that you have decided to purchase life insurance you may be required to undergo a medical exam. The primary reason life insurance companies need to administer medical exams is to judge how much premium to charge a potential policyholder.

Finding Financial Peace and Freedom: A Five Step Guide
There are thousands of financial tips and secrets out there to scare away anyone just trying to find the basics of how to find a way to find a financial balance. Finding freedom from debt and having the right insurance protection will assure anyone a long-term financial freedom and peace.

How to Know if You Need Life Insurance
Life insurance is designed to protect your family and other people who may depend on you for financial support.

Term Life Insurance Shopping Guide
Term life insurance is an effective way to make sure your survivors will be well provided for without a hefty cost to you in premiums. It is very straight forward too: You buy a certain $$ amount of insurance for a "term" of time (such as 10 or 20 years) for a specified monthly, quarterly, or yearly premium. Although term life seems simple enough, here are some term life shopping hints to help you save money and get the best policy for your buck.

Don't Change Your Life Insurance Policy Until You Read This
If you are approached by a life insurance agent and asked to consider canceling your current life insurance policy in order to purchase a replacement policy there are a few things you should know first. Learn how to understand how changes will affect your life insurance and the warning signs to watch for.

How Divorce Changes Insurance Needs
Substantial life changes such as divorce bring about the need to reassess one's finances and insurance should be an important part of that financial reassessment. Here is help to start organizing your divorce insurance reassessment.

How to File a Life Insurance Claim
After a loved one dies, filing the life insurance claim can be confusing and difficult. Find out here what simple steps to take and find out who to contact if you cannot find your loved one's policy.

Life Insurance Needs
How much life insurance do you need? Use these two simple and quick estimate ideas along with suggestions for parents about choosing the best policy.

Is an Annuity Right For You?
Have you maxed out your 401K and IRA and need another tax-advantaged retirement vehicle that doesn't force you into contribution limits? Are you a doctor, lawyer, CPA, architect, or financial planner? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you may want to look into an annuity.

Life Insurance and Annuity Investments

Dental Insurance



Policy Information, Savings...

Dental insurance is very inexpensive and the coverage can be invaluable if a dental emergency happens to arise. Furthermore, most plans do not have deductibles like health insurance.
 
Your Dental Insurance Plan

Does your dental insurance plan cover orthodontic care such as braces? Many people who currently have dental insurance assume that they have some coverage for orthodontic care but that is not always the case. If your children will soon need braces you will now want to start the search for a good dental insurance plan to help offset the costs of orthodontic care.

Choices in Dental Insurance Plans

Everyone needs dental care. Unfortunately, not everyone knows there are a variety of ways to pay for a dentist and dental care. There are more choices than just traditional dental insurance and those choices can save you money on your dental care. If you need a way to pay for your dental care and dentist fees, here are 4 dental care and dental insurance options you may want to consider.

The Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Dental Insurance

Dental insurance can be an effective way to prevent damage to your teeth and gums, but when determining what policy would fit you best, there are some questions you may want to ask yourself first before purchasing your next policy.

Understanding Medicaid and Medicare

These government and state funded insurance programs benefit low-income and the elderly. Find out differences, coverages, and eligibility information.

The Personal and Business Insurance Tax Do's and Don'ts

When tax time comes there can be an array of questions about deductions and what to report as income. The Insurance Tax Do's and Don'ts list of tax tips will hopefully help many with tax questions regarding insurance whether on a personal or business level.

Insurance Companies that Provide Domestic Partner Benefits

Here is a comprehensive list, by state, of insurance carriers that provide insurance for domestic partners. Providers on this list are for individuals and companies looking for group health plans and include various coverages such as medical, dental, and life.

State Specifics
All states have varying insurance laws.

Dental Insurance:

Auto Insurance

Types of Insurance:

Any risk that can be quantified can potentially be insured.
Specific kinds of risk that may give rise to claims are known as "perils".
An insurance policy will set out in detail which perils are covered by the policy and which are not.
A single policy may cover risks in one or more of the categories set out below.

For example, auto insurance would typically cover both property risk (covering the risk of theft or damage to the car) and liability risk (covering legal claims from causing an accident).
A homeowner's insurance policy in the U.S. typically includes property insurance covering damage to the home and the owner's belongings, liability insurance covering certain legal claims against the owner, and even a small amount of coverage for medical expenses of guests who are injured on the owner's property.

Business insurance can be any kind of insurance that protects businesses against risks. Some principal subtypes of business insurance are 
(a) the various kinds of professional liability insurance, also called professional indemnity insurance, which are discussed below under that name; and
(b) the business owner's policy (BOP), which bundles into one policy many of the kinds of coverage that a business owner needs, in a way analogous to how homeowners insurance bundles the coverages that a homeowner needs.

The Auto insurance

The auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company.
You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.

Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:


1. Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.
2. Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
3. Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

An auto insurance policy is comprised of 6 different kinds of coverage. Most countries require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements. Most auto policies are for six months to a year.

In the United States, your insurance company should notify you by mail when it’s time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.

Auto Insurance

Understanding Health Insurance Terms

What Does that Mean? Understanding Health Insurance Terms

When searching for a health insurance plan or after one has already signed up, the plan terms, or descriptions of provisions and coverages can be hard to understand. When one is reviewing the terms they often confusingly say, “What does that mean?”

Deductible


The deductible refers to the amount of money that the insured would need to pay before any benefits from the health insurance policy can be used. This is usually a yearly amount so when the policy starts again, usually after a year, the deductible would be in effect again. Some services, like doctor visits, may be available without meeting the deductible first. Usually there are separate individual deductible amounts and total family deductible amounts.

Co-insurance

This is the amount that would need to be paid by the insured before the insurance pays and in addition to the deductible. Some health insurance plans will let the insured use some services with just the coinsurance payment, like visiting the doctor, even before the deductible is met.

Co-payments

This is another term used for, or in place of, coinsurance.


Out-of-Pocket

This is the cost one would pay out of their own pocket. An out of pocket expense can refer to how much the co-payment, coinsurance, or deductible is. Also, when the term annual out-of-pocket maximum is used, that is referring to how much the insured would have to pay for the whole year out of their pocket, excluding premiums.

Lifetime Maximum

This is the most amount of money the health insurance policy will pay for the entire life. Pay attention to individual lifetime maximums and family lifetime maximums as they can be different.

Exclusions

The exclusions are the things that the insurance policy will not cover.

Pre-existing Conditions

This is something someone had before obtaining the insurance policy. Some plans will cover pre-existing conditions while others may completely exclude them and, in addition, some health insurance plans will cover pre-existing conditions after a certain time period.

Waiting Period
This is the time one would have to wait until certain health insurance coverages are available.

Coordination of Benefits

If the insured has available two or more sources that would cover payment for certain conditions, such being under a spouse's insurance plan along with their own, the insurance company would not pay double benefits. In this case the health insurance company would coordinate benefits to make sure each plan pays a portion of the service.

Grace Period

This is the amount of time one has to pay their health insurance premium after the original due date and before insurance coverage would be canceled.

Understanding Health Insurance Terms