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Suffer Consequences if You Let Health Insurance Laps

If you are between jobs and you are considering not paying for COBRA health insurance benefits, you may need to look at alternative interim insurance coverage. COBRA is the law that allows employees to keep their health insurance coverage for 18 months once they leave their job by paying expensive premiums. While COBRA may not be your best option for health insurance, Less expensive medical plans may be an important and necessary expense.

All new health insurance plans are allowed to force new subscribers to suffer a 12 month waiting period for pre-existing conditions. Fortunately there is another law that allows for portability of coverage without having to suffer pre-existing condition waiting periods. That law says that if you have had CONTINUOUS COVERAGE for the 12 months prior to and leading up to the beginning of the new insurance coverage, you will be given credit toward any new pre-existing condition waiting period. If you had 6 months of continuous health insurance coverage prior to taking out your new policy, 6 months would be applied to the 12 month waiting period and bring the new pre-existing condition waiting period down to 6 months. If you had 12 months of continuous coverage, you will not have any waiting period for a pre-existing condition on the new health insurance plan.

CONTINUOUS COVERAGE is defined as continuous health insurance coverage with no lapse of more than 62 days. If you go more than 62 days without coverage, you may have to suffer the full waiting period for pre-existing conditions. For example, if you were taking High Blood Pressure medication, you may have to wait 12 months after starting and paying for the new insurance before the insurance would cover the High Blood Pressure medication.

COBRA might be too expensive for you. However you can get a high deductible individual plan that will satisfy the continuous coverage requirements at a much lower cost. Some short-term insurance plans do not meet the requirements to satisfy the portability law. Speak with a health insurance agent like those at http://www.thackeragency.com to make sure you maintain continuous insurance coverage at an affordable price. Tell the agent your particular situation and they’ll be glad to put you in the best insurance product for you.

About the Author

Brian Thacker is a health insurance agent and owner of two insurance websites. Http://www.thackeragency.com and http://www.short-termhealthinsurance.com. He has been serving clients for over ten years.

Read more: Suffer Consequences if You Let Health Insurance Laps

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is defined as insurance coverage that covers in increments of time, known as terms, such as one year, five years or ten years. The policy holder pays premiums during this time, but they are likely to increase as the term continues. At the end of each term, the policy is available to be renewed, but as the policy holder has aged, the rate is likely to be higher. While this is true, term life insurance is still considered one of the life insurance options.

What are the other life insurance options? There are four main categories of life insurance: term life, whole life, universal life and variable life. Whole life insurance covers your whole life span, as opposed to just a term. The premiums remain the same constant rate. Universal life and variable life provide methods of investment, such as stocks, bonds and mortgages.

So why is life insurance important anyway? The first thing to tell yourself when you begin searching for life insurance is that it is not about you, it is about your family and loved ones. The monthly payment that you make on your life insurance will fulfill several different monetary needs for your family.

The first of these monetary needs is funeral arrangements. Funerals are expensive, regardless of whether you are buried or cremated. This expense can be a huge blow to an already grieving family. These monetary expenses are extrapolated to an even greater extent if you are a homeowner. Life insurance, term life insurance included, can be used to pay for both funeral expenses as well as any debts, including mortgages that you may owe.

The best way to get the most information on different types of insurance is by working with an insurance agent. Choose carefully. Start by compiling a list of referrals given to you by family and friends. Don’t be afraid to interview and ask serious questions. Regardless of who you choose, remember that life insurance, whether it is term life insurance or another variety, is imperative, especially if you own a home and/or have a family.

About the Author

Sara Chambers is a marketing consultant and an internet content manager for http://www.termlifeinsuranceblog.com

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Term Life Insurance Defined

Term life insurance is by far the simplest form of life insurance. Term life insurance is simply that, insurance for a term or specific period of time. It pays a benefit only if you die in the designated period of time. On the downside, it pays nothing if the policy expires before you die. It is often referred to as temporary life insurance.

Policies generally last for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. Many policies are convertible, which means that you have option of switching to a permanent life policy. The main advantage of a term life policy is that they generally have lower premiums. They are good for covering needs that may disappear in time, such as car or mortgage loans.

They also have some distinct drawbacks. Premiums generally increase with time. This means that you will be paying considerably more in your later years, when your need for protection is generally lower. Another factor to consider is that your coverage may expire at the end of your term, leaving you with nothing to show for your investment. You are essentially back at square one.

Insurance agents often recommend that customers switch term companies every couple years, in order to take advantage of promotional pricing. One should be mindful of doing this, as you will be subject to a new contestability period. A contestability period is normally two years. If you die during this period, the insurance company will likely review the statements you made on your application. If you have made any inaccurate or incomplete statements, the insurance company will likely refuse payment.

Life insurance is no laughing matter. When you are considering purchasing life insurance, please do some research first. Spend some time considering questions, and pose them to a trusted insurance broker. Be especially wary of purchasing insurance from a door to door salesman, as they are likely trying to sell term life insurance which may or may not suit your needs. After all, it is your hard earned money that is being spent. And it is the well being of your family that will be impacted by your decision.

About the Author

Bill Mason is a retired insurance salesman, and is well versed in the ways of the industry. When he is not advising friends and family on the importance of insurance, he writes freelance articles for insuranceguide101.com – an independent insurance guide dedicated to helping you understand insurance, with information about cheap auto insurance, insurance for your boat, term insurance and more.

Read more: Term Life Insurance Defined

UK Sports Car Insurance

A large number of UK insurance companies offer specialized insurance for sports cars. These insurers require previous experience with a sports car along with the exact car specifications before offering a quote.

Insurance is a must in the UK for every vehicle driven on public thoroughfares according to the Road Traffic Act. People who are not covered by insurance are considered to be driving illegally and are liable to receive a penalty. The car must be at the very least covered by a third party insurance to avoid penalty.

UK insurance covers the vehicle against a number of things such as property damage, medical costs, and liability. Property coverage is helpful in case of theft or accidents that cause the vehicle to be damaged. Liability coverage also covers all the legal charges if a third party is injured in an accident. If the third party is at fault for the accident, the insurance must be able to recover charges from that party on behalf of the customer. Medical coverage takes care of the cost of medical treatment for injuries, rehabilitation and, sometimes also reimburses lost wages and funeral expenses.

When a customer buys insurance for a sports car, the insurance company issues a certificate to the customer. This is to be followed studiously as it is one of the laws set by the state. Also, the customer must be notified well in advance before he insurance lapses to enable the customer to renew the same before time.

UK insurers try to cover many issues while providing the best policy. Hence the number of questions to be answered by the customer is high at first. This just shows the insurer’s thoroughness in the job and ensures that the insurance policy will cover a number of aspects rather than just higher premiums with bad service. The customer must be able to provide the insurer with all the requisite personal details to avoid any complications later on. If the data provided or is insufficient, the policy might become void in the future and might result in the loss of money.

A cover note is provided by the insurer as a temporary policy before the actually policy comes in. This is a requirement in the UK and the customer must ensure the receipt of this as soon as the policy is purchased.

Read more: UK Sports Car Insurance

Term Life Insurance vs. Permanent Life Insurance

Choosing a life insurance plan is difficult; it takes a lot of time and research in order to ensure that all aspects are thoroughly examined before making a final decision. There are basically two forms of life insurance to choose from: term life insurance and permanent life insurance.

Below you will find valuable information regarding both forms of life insurance as well as other helpful information which will assist you in deciding which form of life insurance is best suited for you and your situation.

The first thing to do is to research and understand the concept of both forms of life insurance. These two forms of insurance have been compared to buying or leasing a car. Term life insurance is much like leasing a car, you can purchase insurance for a specific number of years, but once those years are up, so is your insurance coverage. Permanent life insurance is similar to buying a car. When you buy a car, it’s yours and you can drive it forever if you like. Permanent life insurance stays with you until you die.

Depending on your situation, each form of insurance can be very beneficial and offer many great opportunities. Below you will find a more in-depth explanation of each form of insurance providing advantages and disadvantages of both.

Term Life Insurance

Benefits

• Term life insurance is inexpensive and can cost a considerable amount less than permanent life insurance.
• There are no strings attached with this form of insurance and you are free to stop paying whenever you want.
• You can begin using term insurance and if you feel like you want more coverage, you can then convert to permanent life insurance if you wish.

Downfalls

• Term life insurance only provides coverage. There are no other rewards and there is no cash value.
• Yes you are free to stop paying whenever you please, but should you choose to do so you will no longer have any life insurance coverage.
• Term prices increase at a rapid pace as you get older and as you get older, your need for this type of insurance will become more and more crucial.

Permanent Life Insurance

Benefits

• Permanent life insurance can accumulate into cash value and savings. Any cash value which you receive will be tax deferred.
• There is no risk involved in this form of insurance. Your loved ones will receive a death benefit regardless of when you pass away, whereas term life insurance will only pay out if you happen to be covered when you die.
• You can borrow the cash value you receive to pay for college, a vehicle, etc. You can do this without receiving a penalty for doing so.

Downfalls

• The most noticeable disadvantage to permanent life insurance is the cost. This form of life insurance will cost you a great deal more than term life insurance.
• Should you decide to forgo your permanent life insurance coverage, you will be required to pay a large penalty which will be bounded by law.

About the Author

Bill Mason is a retired insurance agent who now writes as a freelance writer for insuranceguide101.com – a site that offers information on auto insurance, pet insurance, boat insurance and more.

Read more: Term Life Insurance vs. Permanent Life Insurance

The Benefits of Short Term Health Insurance for Recent Graduates

If you are graduating from high school or college, congratulations! Graduation is an accomplishment that you will have for the rest of your life. One thing that is certain about this time of your life is that your life will change from this moment forward.

One typical change for our graduates is the status of their health and medical insurance coverage. Usually students are covered under their parents’ policy until graduation. Once they are no longer a full time student, the coverage ends without the graduate being notified. Hopefully graduates will have a job lined up that provides health benefits along with a stable paycheck. Many will not have that opportunity and will be forced to either risk going without coverage, or pay for high priced permanent health insurance.

A growing trend among graduates is for them to purchase temporary health insurance. Temporary, or short-term health insurance, is full major medical coverage for a fraction of the cost of permanent insurance. Although it costs less and has fewer benefits than plans with copayments, short-term health insurance offers the peace of mind that comes in knowing that if a health crisis occurs, policyholders can get the medical treatment that they need without having to mortgage their future.

Applying for quality coverage is easy at sites like this one http://www.short-termhealthinsurance.com. Coverage can start immediately, and you can apply directly online and pay by credit card. If you have questions, any health insurance agent will be able to explain which plan would be the best for your situation. Some people only need coverage for a single month, some for more than a year, and some graduates do not know how long they will need it. There are plans designed to meet individual needs.

Don’t be caught off guard or without health insurance after graduation. You don’t want to find out that you don’t have insurance when you are in a doctor’s office or hospital. Contact your insurance agent to make sure you have coverage until you get a job with health insurance benefits. If you don’t, seek a short-term health insurance plan to meet your needs.

About the Author

Brian Thacker  http://www.thackeragency.com,  http://www.short-termhealthinsurance.com brian@thackeragency.com

Read more: The Benefits of Short Term Health Insurance for Recent Graduates

Three Ways to Buy Long Term Care Without Paying Premiums Out of Your Pocket

Stop 100 people over 65 on the street and ask them if they will ever need to go to a nursing home and 99 will say, “No!” Folks tend to equate long term care insurance with nursing homes, but there are other aspects of long term care. Home care, assisted living, adult day care and hospice care are all forms of long term care which cost money where the person never sees the inside of a nursing home.

Planning for the many types of long term care just makes good financial planning sense.

However, long term care can be expensive, especially if a person waits too long to buy it. Age and health problems could make premiums prohibitive or even render the coverage unattainable.

What if there was a way to make sure you had long term care coverage if you ever needed it, but never had to take premiums to pay for it out of your income? Actually, there are quite a few. Let’s look at three of them…

1. Sell a life insurance policy.

Unbeknownst to many people, there is an “after market” for life insurance policies that have served their purpose and are no longer needed. There are companies that will buy policies on behalf of pension and institutional funds which hold them as part of their investment portfolio. The best part is that they will buy them for more than the cash value.

Other insurance policies that may be a candidate are those where the premium takes a huge hike because of the drop in interest rates, policies with maximum loans about ready to collapse and create a taxable gain but with no money to pay the tax or even term insurance policies that are nearing the end of their term.

When a policy is sold, one option would be to transfer all, or a portion, of the proceeds into an “asset based” long term care plan. Done deal. Ask your financial planner about asset based LTC plans.

2. Withdraw money from an annuity.

Over 90% of the people who own a non-qualified deferred annuity die owning it. It is never converted to a life income. Essentially it serves as a longer term “rainy day” fund than a CD. The fact that the interest earned is not currently taxable is an attractive feature and makes the money grow faster than a taxable CD.
However, at some point the piper must be paid. When someone dies holding an annuity and leave it to their children, the children are required to pay the tax on the gain. You may have heard this referred to as the annuity “ticking time bomb”.

There is a way to avert this time bomb tax, provide long term care for yourself and not take any money out of your budget. There are several ways to skin this cat…

a. If your annuity is large enough, simply take the 10% penalty-free withdrawals each year and move them into a 10-pay long term care plan.

b. The only mental deterrent that comes up on this suggestion is that there may be remaining surrender charges on the annuity. No problem. Most companies allow you to annuitize. If the annuity pay-out period is at least 10 years, most of them waive any surrender charges.

3. Exchange all or a portion of a CD, non-qualified deferred annuity, variable annuity or IRA for an annuity/long term care combination plan.

This entails simply moving money “from one of your pockets to another”. The difference is that the pocket to which the money is moved has long term care benefits in it as well. This technique also uses the “asset based” long term care plan approach.

So there you have it. Three ways to get long term care without a premium coming out of your pocket.

About the Author

Robert D. Cavanaugh, CLU is a 36 year financial and estate planning veteran and author of the free newsletter, ‘The Estate Preservation Advisor’. To subscribe and get the free video, ‘How to Sell Your Life Insurance Policy for More Than the Cash Value’, go to http://theestatepreservationadvisor.com/freevideo.htm

Read more: Three Ways to Buy Long Term Care Without Paying Premiums Out of Your Pocket

Tips for Finding the Best Insurance for Your Vehicle

Finding the vehicle of your dreams is just one part of the equation because after you buy it you will be required to insure it. So, when considering a vehicle you also need to consider insurance providers in order to end up with the best car insurance at the best price. There are literally thousands of insurance providers you can choose from and the last thing you want to do is simply choose to use your local insurance agent when you can do a little bit of research and find the best provider and save yourself hundreds of dollars on your monthly premium over the year. Consider the following insurance tips before you make a final decision and you will more than likely save yourself a lot of money and receive better service.

Compare
There are so many insurance providers there is no way you can compare them all. However, you can narrow down the list by asking friends and family members who they use, you can also compare policies on the Internet, and check out the companies running ads on television.

All you have to do is come up with the top 5 insurance companies from these locations and then sit down and compare them. The important information are their rates and the services they provide for the quoted rates. You want to compare similar policies to one another, not a liability only policy from one company with a full liability and collision policy from another. You need to compare similar policies in order to have a good comparison for the rates and what type of service you will receive. Be sure to also ask a lot of questions when you call for quotes because if you don’t know the answers to your questions you could be taking a lot for granted when it comes to your insurance policy. Only when all of your questions have been answered by all of the insurance companies will you be able to compare them adequately. More than likely you will see premium differences of hundreds of dollars for similar policies with similar services. This is not unusual in the insurance field, so as long as you have done your research and the policies and services are more or less equal you should buy the cheaper policy, enjoy the service and coverage, and save your hard earned money!

Your State’s Insurance Laws
Every state has its own insurance laws and in order to find the best insurance for your vehicle it would be prudent for you to research what your state requires in the way of insurance for your vehicle. Some states are stricter than others, so don’t just take for granted the type of insurance you will need. At the very least you will be required to carry liability coverage to protect others and their vehicles if you are responsible for an accident. However, many states do not require that you carry insurance for yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle. This is not a big deal if you are in an accident that is the fault of another driver because they will be required to pay for your damages, unless they are uninsured. And yes, this does happen. It is illegal to drive an uninsured vehicle in the United States , but it happens on a regular basis and these individuals are in accidents and there is no insurance to pay the victims. So, before you decide to forgo collision insurance you might want to consider this fact. If you don’t have collision insurance to protect your vehicle and passengers and are in an accident with an uninsured individual and can’t collect the damages, how will you pay to have your car repaired as well as medical bills? These considerations should be kept in mind when making the decision on what types of insurance you need.

Look Online
You already know to compare insurance providers, however you should know that many online providers offer rates that just can’t be beat simply because they reduce many of their costs by eliminating brick and mortar establishments by interfacing with consumers through their website. You will probably notice as you are comparing prices that many web only insurance providers have rates that are unbelievably low, however you are worried about fraud or not receiving the services you are paying for and frankly don’t trust the Internet. Don’t worry, there are a lot of other people in your shoes as well. Many Internet insurance providers are on the up and up, however there are a few out there that are not. As a result, when looking for an insurance provider online you want to search for one that has lots of good reviews and recommendations from past and present customers. This is not hard to find if you search one of the big search engines. Also, you want to look for certain features on the website like membership in professional organizations, secure transactions, and be sure to ask plenty of questions and talk to the customer service department to make sure they meet your needs. You want the online insurance company to be available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week because you never know when you might need them. So, test out their response at an odd hour just to make sure they are there and waiting to assist you. Then, when you are convinced the online insurance company is legitimate and offers great rates then you can purchase your policy while being assured the company will be there for you when you need them and you will save hundreds of dollars as well.

There are lots of tips to help you find the best insurance provider for your vehicle and these are but a few. However, keep these in mind when you are shopping for insurance and you will certainly find the best plan at the best rate for you. Many people say they don’t have time to shop for insurance, and if you are one of them then consider if you would do a couple hours of research to save $300-$500 on your insurance? You probably would, so that means you should do the research and save yourself the money that you would waste by not doing the research. When you consider it in those terms it is certainly a worthwhile investment of your time.

About the Author

Steven Anderson is the Reservations Director for Hawaiian Discount Car Rentals, specialists in Maui car rentals. He has personally driven to the top of Mauna Kea and rates it as one of the most panoramic views in his travels to Hawaii.

Read more: Tips for Finding the Best Insurance for Your Vehicle

Top 5 Factors Determining Your Car Insurance Rate

Auto insurance can be confusing and mind boggling sometimes and it’s hard to determine exactly why some individuals are receiving rates which are lower than others. There are many factors which contribute to the rate of auto insurance, some you have control over and others you don’t.

Below you will find valuable information regarding the factors which are compiled in order to determine the rate of your car insurance. These will help you understand important aspects of auto insurance and why some individuals receive higher rates than others. Here are the top five factors which auto insurance companies will consider when determining your rate of insurance:

1. Age – Your age will greatly affect the rate of your car insurance. Teenagers and individuals who are just beginning to drive will have higher rates for no reason other than their age. There is nothing you can do about this, as you get older and become a more experienced driver your rates will go down. Although they will go down, they will not stay down. When you reach a certain age your car insurance rates will go back up because you are an elderly driver and your eyes and coordination may not be as effective anymore.
2. Auto Insurance Companies – This is a factor which you have control over. Some car insurance companies offer lower rates than others for many reasons. It is up to you to choose which one will benefit you the most both now and in the long run.
3. Gender – Whether you are male or female will also affect the rate of your car insurance. This is yet another factor which you have no control over. Females generally have lower car insurance rates because according to insurance companies men are seen as potential dangerous and careless drivers who are more likely to be involved in car accidents.
4. Type of Vehicle – As much as we would all love to be driving a shiny silver Porsche Boxter all around town, the insurance rates for these types of vehicles are unreal. If you want your auto insurance rates to be low, I would suggest driving a car with a lower price tag. The more money your car is worth, the higher your car insurance rate will be.
5. Driving Violations – This is another factor which you have control over. I know how tempting it is to race your friends the moment you get your license for the first time, but the amount of money you will pay in the long run hardly seems worth it. Any form of ticket you receive can potentially raise the rate of your car insurance. If you want to pay less for car insurance I would suggest abiding by the rules of the road.

Although these are the most important factors in determining your rate of car insurance, there are many other factors which also play a part in how much you will pay. Auto insurance is something we all have to pay for, but by researching and understanding the aspects of this form of insurance you are learning how to reduce your rate to your best ability.

About the Author

Bill Mason is a retired insurance agent who now writes as a freelance writer for http://www.insuranceguide101.com – a site that offers information on home owners insurance, auto insurance, low cost health insurance and more.

Read more: Top 5 Factors Determining Your Car Insurance Rate

Travel Insurance

There are many vendors who would try and convince you that going abroad without traveler’s insurance is downright foolish. However, most people going on vacation have already invested enough in their travel costs that they generally overlook extra costs they consider frivolous, at best. And there are arguments on both sides of the fence. If you have never encountered a flight or cruise cancellation, loss of personal property, or a serious medical malady outside of the United State’s borders, you perhaps have never seriously considered a travel insurance plan. But for those travelers who have had experience with the above, many experts agree that a well researched insurance plan may have helped.

Do You Need Travel Insurance?

Before you decide in favor of or against purchasing travel insurance there are some factors to consider. First, are you planning that amazing, once-in-a-lifetime vacation you’ve had on your To-Do list for the last decade? This type of trip might require some forethought when it comes to considering protecting yourself and your long awaited investment. Perhaps a little extra investment in flight cancellations, medical insurance, and luggage loss might pay off should something befall you on your travels.

Medical Travel Insurance

Traveling outside of U.S. borders? Make sure, especially if you are going for a long stay that your medical insurance will apply should a medical malady occur while you are in Tanzania, for example. You may be surprised to find when you actually ask your insurance provider how little coverage you have when traveling beyond the U.S. Many insurance plans only cover physicians and care within certain network areas. And a big reminder for seniors: Medicare does not apply outside of the United States. Also, make sure your vaccinations are up to date before you travel. And depending on where in the world you may be traveling, know what types of inoculations you may require above and beyond those you already have.

Most travel experts agree that travel insurance is not necessary for all travelers, but that for some it is definitely a wise idea. Long term stays outside of the United States would suggest some type of medical coverage. In the event of a medical emergency, you would want to secure some transportation back to The States. Your health insurance plan may cover the emergency medical care, but it most likely will not pay for your transportation back home for continued care.

Plans and Coverage

There are scads of companies just waiting to sell you all kinds of travel insurance packages, including insurance for terrorist events and accidental death. What you need to consider is exactly what could most likely go awry and plan best for that situation. Experts suggest you research a travel insurance plan thoroughly and make sure you are completely aware of the details of coverage before you pay. Comprehensive package deals will most likely cover a little bit of every major aspect of your trip including basic trip cancellation, luggage loss, and a basic medical and/or dental plan, but, once again, shop around and be sure you really are covered.

About the Author

Sara Chambers is a marketing consultant and an Internet content manager for http://www.travelinsuranceweblog.com

Read more: Travel Insurance

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Online – You can Save Money

It is not surprising that statistics show that most Britons simply do not shop around to get the best deal on their car insurance. The choice of motor insurance policies, and insurance companies, is almost bewildering.

However, if you do accept the first quote you are given, whether you are an experienced driver or not, you are simply giving away your hard earned cash to your motor insurance company far too readily.

There are a huge amount of car insurance policies advertised online, in your local press, and a myriad of deals available from the larger retail supermarkets. Yes you want to save time and money, but if you target your requests for quotes properly, you could save hundreds in less than an hour online.

Many car insurance companies claim to offer policies for all types of drivers. Simply asking just any random insurance company for a quote, isn’t going to save you money. If you are a new driver, a learner, a student, or a motorist with little driving history, you need to get a specialist number quotes.

So where do you find these companies?

You could start by using a search engine, asking a friend for a recommendation or phoning a company up for a quote, but before you do anything else -

Stop!

Decide what you want to achieve before you take any action.

Do you want a fancy car insurance policy with lots of extras? Policy add-ons that could cost you more are:

- Having a replacement courtesy car – Insisting on a protected no claims bonus – Extra Legal protection – Taking fully comprehensive insurance if you don’t need it

There are other services on offer from insurance companies, but if you do not really need it, why bother.

So do you want a really cheap price in the least amount of time instead?

Yes, if you simply want a really cheap price, you’re in good company because that’s what over eighty seven per cent of people said in a recent survey.

Follow this simple three step plan to reduce your car insurance premiums online:

1. Set aside just one hour to request your motor insurance quotes online.

2. Get four car insurance quotes (use three price comparison sites and one specialist insurer).

3. After you have received your quotations, telephone the insurance company with the cheapest quote and ask them to beat your best online quote (you don’t need to tell them where you obtained the quote).

The above three steps sound almost too easy, but using price comparison sites really is the most efficient way to begin your search for low prices.

There are a number of price crunching web sites online. To provide you with a rate, they will ask you some basic information about yourself, what level of cover you need, and then request quotes from up to 300 different car insurance companies in a single search.

With car insurance premiums climbing higher each year, particularly for learner drivers, students and young drivers, make the insurers work for your business.

If you are in a statistically higher risk driver group, for motor insurance, the more money you will save. If you follow the above simple three step guide – you will save time and money in your search for car insurance cover.

Read more: Compare Car Insurance Quotes Online – You can Save Money

Cheap California Auto Insurance

Californians are currently able to procure low cost, reduced limit automobile liability coverage. The California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (CLCAIP) is a new program that meets the financial responsibility laws of the State of California. These policies are accessible to competent citizens living in the counties of Los Angeles and San Francisco. To qualify, you need have a certain household income, driving record (the number of accidents and violations), and vehicle purchased value.

The voters of California enacted Proposition 103 (Prop.103) into law in November of 1988. Prop. 103 gives numerous consumer protections associated to buying and maintaining automobile insurance. Given below are some of the major provisions of Prop. 103 that protect your rights as an insurance consumer.

Prop.103 recognized a legal description of a “Good Driver” in this state. A Good Driver is someone who has been licensed for at least three consecutive years and has no more than one point on their driving record. Certain major violations may be considered for periods of seven years, such as a DUI (Driving under the Influence) conviction.

All automobile insurance companies licensed in California are required to tender coverage for Good Drivers. If you are a Good Driver and you are denied the opportunity to buy insurance from the company of your choice, then you can contact the California Department of Insurance for further action. Also, it is significant to note that your rates as a Good Driver should be lower by at least 20% to regular rates.

It also established new criteria that determine an insurer’s ability to cancel or non-renew your policy. There are only three bases on which an automobile policy can be canceled/non-renewed once it is issued: fraud/material misrepresentation, non-payment of the premium, or substantial increase in the hazard insured against.

Read more: Cheap California Auto Insurance

Travel Insurance rates

Probably the biggest factors when calculating travel insurance premiums is the length of the cover required. If you are taking a two-week vacation, there is a much lower risk than if you are making a yearlong voyage around the world. That said, there are many annual travel insurance policies that cover all the trips you make in a single year and if you make more than a couple of separate trips, annual protection may work out cheaper. Often family protection policies are not too much more expensive than a single person’s policy so if you get the whole family insured together you are also likely to save.

Another big factor is where you are travelling. While some countries represent more health risks, as they are more dangerous, it is also a fact that poorer countries often have far lower medical costs so insurance tends to be highest for travellers in North America and Europe, with the US specifically recognised as having high health care costs. If you plan special high-risk activities such as skiing or mountain climbing you will either need separate insurance for this occasion, or to have the activity specifically added to your policy, as there is a good chance it will be excluded.

Insurance premiums are calculated according to several risk factors. These are the factors identified by the insurance company as most likely to have an impact on the insured against risk occurring. Insurance is a significant cost associated with the item insured and should not be rushed into. It is always a good idea to shop around for the best price available. Insurance premiums will vary considerably from insurer to insurer so do your homework.

Look up the various insurance companies you are interested in and ask them for a quote. They can usually give you a rough estimate fairly quickly and even more exact quotes should also be possible if you provide more details and wait. You should also look up insurers online and get instant quotes from their website. This is a very fast and effective way of shopping around. You will get a good idea of what prices to expect. You can also experiment with the quotation websites to see what effect it makes to your premium price if you select different options. With all insurance policies you will have a number of options that affect the price of the policy. Therefore you should think about these options and if there are risks that you do not wish to cover then let the insurer know as your premium should become cheaper.

You should also try to make sure you do not double insure. It is a principle of insurance that you cannot benefit from the insured event’s occurrence. So you cannot get paid twice even if you have two insurance policies. So if a risk is already covered by one policy, again let your insurer know so they can remove it from their calculation.

About the Author

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the insurance site http://www.insure121.com/ where you will find information, news and links to the leading providers of travel insurance in the UK.

Read more: Travel Insurance rates

Types of Dental Insurance Plans for Employees

A dental insurance is an insurance that will provide the person having dental insurance protection with required financial assistance for normal dental care and damage occurred to teeth from accidents, this can be under an individual or group insurance plan. Dental insurance was once a neglected area, but the awareness about importance of dental insurance is increasing alarmingly. In the past dental insurance was treated only as a perquisite provided by the company to its employees, studies (Human Resource Management Survey-1999) show that 83% of the small business provides dental insurance to its employees.

It’s advisable for every one to go for dental insurance. Dental insurance is more affordable and cheap when compared to other medical insurance. In fact dental insurance costs less than 10% of the cost of the medical coverage. Like every other type of insurance dental insurance also offers a number of plans that you can select from. The major types of dental insurance for employees are discussed below:

Direct reimbursement plan
This plan works on the amount that the company set aside specially for this purpose. In this plan the employees are reimbursed the money that they have spent for dental care. The most positive aspect of this pan is that it is straight forward and not involves any complex calculations. This plan is widely recommended by American Dental Association. Direct reimbursement plan is considered as most expensive for the employers. Certain small business finds it difficult to go in tune with this plan because of the cost factor involved.

Indemnity plans
These plans are more feasible. Under this plan the amount of premium is paid to the insurance company and the company in turn pays the amount to the dentists for their treatment. Under this plan the insurance company generally uses UCR (usual, customary, and reasonable) for making payment to dentists. In case if the UCR rate used to pay dentists falls short of dentist’s rate, the patient has to make up the shortfall. The insurance

coverage under this plan are 100% for preventive measures like cleanings, 80% for basic work like a crown or cap, and 50% for major procedures like oral surgery.

Managed care plans
These plans are treated as the least expensive. These plans include some cost control measures and are best suited for small business. This plan wants the patients to pay a certain amount as co-payment and the co-payments vary according to the procedure. Preventive procedures are normally performed without a co-payment and advanced procedures are carried out with a higher co-payment.

The managed care programs are of two types, they are:

Preferred Provider Organization (PRO) Program
Preferred provider organization program consists of a network of dentists. The dentists who fall under this plan have reduced their charges with a view to participate in this plan. The employees can select the dentist from this pool, if the employees have to go to a dentist not in this pool they have to pay penalties.

Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) Plan
In this plan also the employees have the right to choose the dentist from the pool, but in this plan instead of discounting the fees the dentists provide certain treatments free of cost. The dentists are paid a fixed amount as fees per individual even if the patient never ever receives the payment.

The above stated are the various plans of dental insurance provided by the employer to the employees. It is possible for the employees to select the best suited plan after analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the available options. By selecting a proper dental insurance it is possible for the employees to assure the health and safety of their teeth.

About the Author

Dentalinsurancehelper.com is an easy and exact way to find the complete dental insurance for individual, family and group. This site helps you to save much of your time by providing guidance to select right type of insurance for the right people.

Read more: Types of Dental Insurance Plans for Employees

Understanding Insurance Contracts

Almost all of us will have taken out some sort of insurance. Whether it be car insurance, home insurance, health insurance or travel insurance to name just a few, we will all have paid over considerable sums of money to an insurance company in exchange for the peace of mind that comes with knowing that should disaster strike, you are insured. However, how many of us have fully understood the details of the agreement we are entering into?

Within all the documentation that comes with any new insurance contract, there is contained some of the most complex legal provisions and contractual terms that you are likely to find anywhere. Insurance companies spend millions on lawyers fees and have teams of professionals constantly up dating and amending the terms of their contracts to cover for every possible eventuality. You on the other hand, probably have very little time to spend getting familiar with the contents of your insurance contract and will simply glance over the main points that are highlighted by the insurance company.

However, there are a couple of things that you can do to make sure you have at least a reasonable understanding of the contract you are signing. All insurance contracts basically have the same purpose and methods. They take on the risk of an event which may or may not occur and pay the cost of it if it does. This may be any event, but the most common are car accidents, house damage, medical treatment and the like. Life assurance is slightly different in that it guarantees to pay out on your death, which unfortunately is still a certainty that is bound to occur. However, the timing of death is uncertain and in this sense there is still a very real risk that you will die at a time when your children or spouse is completely dependent on you.

There must also be some financial cost to the occurrence. The insurer must be able to have a reasonable idea of the cost of the loss if they are to be able to calculate the price of the premium accurately. Therefore, while medical expenses and lost earnings are recoverable under insurance, the pain and suffering, or the sadness of losing a loved one will not be recoverable under an insurance contract.

Therefore, what you will really be looking for in an insurance contract is what exactly is covered. In which circumstances will the policy pay out and which occurrences are not covered. Then there are the exclusions and conditions you must meet to keep the policy valid. This might include keeping your door locked or having health checks. Make sure you understand what you have to do under the contract and do it.

About the Author

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the insurance site http://www.insure121.com/.

Read more: Understanding Insurance Contracts

Why Buy Travel Insurance?

When you choose to travel, you take the risk of lost luggage, flight cancellations, reservation cancellations, theft and many other situations which may cause anxiety. Planning a vacation is stressful enough without having to worry about something going horribly wrong. Purchasing travel insurance will ensure that you are compensated if anything goes wrong on your trip. When trying to determine whether or not to purchase travel insurance, keep in mind the points listed below which may make your decision much easier.

Many forms of travel insurance will cover you in the following areas:

1. Medical Emergencies – Travel insurance will provide you with financial help should you encounter a medical emergency while traveling. If you become ill or are injured while on vacation, your travel insurance will provide you coverage in both situations.

2. Cancellations or Delays – If for any reason (beyond your control) your trip is cancelled or delayed your travel insurance will provide you with financial coverage. This includes coverage if your airline goes bankrupt or out of service. Your travel insurance will either compensate you for the money you lost or provide you with new means of transportation.
3. Theft – If anything belonging to you is stolen while you are on vacation, your travel insurance will provide you with financial assistance to replace the items which were stolen.
4. Damage or Loss of Personal Property – This is likely to happen while on vacation. If your luggage is lost or damaged while on vacation, your travel insurance will definitely cover at least some percentage of the property that is missing. Depending on the insurance plan, it may financially cover all the items that are missing.
5. Lost Passport – If you lose your passport or it is stolen while you are on vacation, travel insurance will provide you with the means to get a temporary one. Your travel insurance company will inform you on how to get in contact with your country embassy so that you can arrange to receive a temporary passport.

Depending on the insurance plan you choose, you may be fully or partially covered in the areas listed above. Choose your policy according to what you think the possibility will be that you will require the assistance on your trip.

For many vacationers, travel insurance eliminates any worry that an unforeseen circumstance may arise in which you do not have the money or means to take care of.

Travel insurance helps you relax and enjoy your trip without agonizing over things that may or may not go wrong. Relaxing and enjoying? Isn’t that why you planned the vacation in the first place?

About the Author

Bill Mason Is A Retired Insurance Agent Who Now Writes As A Freelance Writer For Insuranceguide101.Com – A Site That Offers Information On Rv Insurance, Renters Insurance, Long Term Care Information And More.

Read more: Why Buy Travel Insurance?

Why Not to Pay PPI (Payment Protection Insurance)

One way to save money on your credit card bill is to not take the payment protection insurance, this is a waste of money and the only one who will benefit from this is the credit card company.

Some people don’t realise that they are actually paying the payment protection insurance it can be hidden in with other costs, those of us that do realise we pay it think it’s a must why! Because the credit card company says so, we assume that if we loose our jobs or fall ill and have to have time of work, that with the (PPI) in place that we are covered well this is not all ways the case. Most people who take this cover with their credit card think they’re totally covered if something bad should happen, well I am here to tell you that you’re not a lot of people think their debt will be paid off for them, but most companies only pay a years payment then you have to pay the rest of the balance. Even if you’re still off sick or not working it’s your responsibility.

Most companies take a while to sort your claim out so at the start you will still have to find the money for your payment, and if you’re only off sick or out of work for a few months, you’ll properly find you’ll be back at work before your claim is sorted.

The amount you pay for your payment protection insurance is usually between 70p-80p for every £100 owed, these charges are usually hidden in with other charges for your credit card, and only come to light when the amount that you owe is at a high level. This is another way the credit card companies gain their profits.

If you pay your balance off in full at the end of every month I would not bother even looking at this policy, and if you’re self-employed I would not bother with this policy either as you’ll not be covered if you become unemployed.

I understand that when you take out a credit card you’re looking for a bit of security, but nine times out of ten times these payment protection insurances will not cover you and will only cost you money in the end. There are some companies that are more trustworthy than a (PPI) including Pay-protect and Good insurance they will pay more to your debt and at half the price you would pay on an payment protection insurance cover.

About the Author

Peter Kenny is a writer for creditcards-gb For additional articles and an extensive resource for everything about credit cards, please visit us at http://www.creditcards-gb.co.uk and http://www.creditcards2go4.com

Read more: Why Not to Pay PPI (Payment Protection Insurance)

Why you Need Uninsured/Underinsured Insurance Protection in Charlotte.

When it comes to the mandatory car insurance categories, people in Charlotte, often settle for the minimum amount necessary to satisfy the legal requirements of driving a car in North Carolina.

Tragically, this is sometimes the cause of much suffering and heartache if the unthinkable should happen, and they become involved in an automobile accident in Charlotte, without sufficient insurance coverage to cover the damages and injuries that could result.

The focus of this article is uninsured motorist coverage (often referred to as UM coverage) and underinsured motorist coverage (often referred to as UIM coverage), which is not a legal requirement of every state, but should be seriously considered by every driver where this is an option.

Uninsured motorist coverage kicks in when an uninsured driver causes injury to you, or others designated in your policy. (Such as passengers, household residents and designated drivers.) Underinsured motorist coverage is similar, but takes effect when someone who is insured and is legally responsible for the accident that causes injury to you or others designated by your policy, does not have sufficient bodily injury liability insurance to cover the full cost of your medical bills, lost income and other expenses. (Be sure to read and understand the fine print on your policy, as each insurance company often offers something slightly different from another.)

These types of coverage also offer protection to you and your designates in cases of hit-and-run type accidents and injuries that could be sustained as a pedestrian involved in an automobile accident. UM and UIM insurance coverage will protect you, up to the coverage limit that you purchase.

An important point to mention is that uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance usually deals specifically with injuries and not with vehicle and property damage resulting from an uninsured or underinsured driver who is at-fault in an accident. Some states do allow uninsured motorist property damage coverage, but damage to your car would typically be covered by collision coverage and damage to other property by Property Damage Liability insurance.

There are several reasons that drivers in Charlotte should seriously consider adding this kind of insurance protection or even increasing it if you already have it.

Consider the following scenarios, and ask yourself what impact a similar event would have on your life, your family’s lives and your financial well being:

A) Many drivers in Charlotte, seeking to save money on their insurance costs opt for the minimum amount of auto insurance required by law. Unfortunately, one of these minimally insured drivers is the cause of a serious accident involving you and your family. After exhausting the limits of their coverage, you are still out of pocket for a large sum of money for your medical expenses, not to mention lost wages and pain and suffering. You sue the other party and win, but you find out that one of the reasons that they have the minimal insurance coverage is because they have no financial resources to speak of.

B) You’re driving home from a short weekend getaway with your spouse and kids. It’s become dark outside and has begun to rain quite hard. Being the conscientious driver that you are, you slow down and make sure that you come to a full stop at all stop signs and traffic lights, being careful to check for oncoming traffic before going through intersections. Halfway through one such intersection, your vehicle is violently impacted and that is the last thing you remember. When you come to, there is initially no one around to witness the carnage. The other vehicle that was being driven without their lights on and by a thoroughly drunk driver is nowhere to be found. You are the victim of a hit-and-run accident. There is no one to sue for your losses.

While we sincerely hope nothing of the sort ever happens to you, in both of the above scenarios, Underinsured and Uninsured motorist coverage would be there to help, where (depending on the state) the terms of basic auto insurance would likely leave you in an extremely severe financial situation.

Thankfully, adding Underinsured and Uninsured motorist coverage will not typically add that much extra to your auto insurance bill in Charlotte. And, for this small additional cost to your premium each month, you can rest easier knowing that you and the people you care about are as well protected from disaster on the roads and highways of North Carolina as you can reasonably plan for.

Disclaimer – The above description/explanation is intended as a guideline only, and is not to be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance products, or to provide legal or financial advice of any kind. Also, Kanetix Ltd. does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed.

Our articles cannot be reproduced or republished in any way or form without consent from Kanetix Ltd. You may request our consent to republish the articles by emailing editor@kanetix.com. © 2006 Kanetix Ltd. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Kate Phillips is a contributing writer at kanetix.com, serving Charlotte car insurance quotes / Auto insurance quotes Charlotte.
For the Car Insurance Charlotte needs, visit kanetix for Free Quotes.

Read more: Why you Need Uninsured/Underinsured Insurance Protection in Charlotte.

Recognizing Important Anxiety Panic Attack Symptoms

A common part of life that affects many people is panic attacks. From some people in today’s stressful and busy world an anxiety panic attack symptom is a normal part of life unfortunately. Are you one who suffers from panic attacks? Do you have a greater chance of getting anxiety or panic disorders? Do you know what the anxiety panic attack symptoms are? Some of these symptoms will be outlined in this article along with information on exactly was a panic attack is and how they happen.

One out of every three Americans suffers from some sort of panic or anxiety disorders according to many sources. As the demands of life in the global economy become strenuous and harmful this number in steadily rising. Sudden urges of overwhelming emotions are the basics of panic attacks and often include fear or heavy stress that comes without warning. An estimated 75 million people every year throughout the world are affected by these attacks.

Symptoms

In and of itself an anxiety panic attack symptom can be dangerous and very different. The symptoms themselves can be harmful, but also having a full-on panic attack and its outcome can be deadly. To get help with your symptoms and deal with your problem you should talk with your medical professional. Therapy or medication may be two solutions but there can also be variations on a combination of the two.

A raging heartbeat, hot flashes or chills, choking, chest pains, sweating, trembling, shaking, difficulty breathing, sudden overwhelming fear, fear of sudden death or injury for no reason, anxiousness, fearfulness, general feelings of dread, dizziness, light-headedness and any number of other similar symptoms are ones that come with a panic attack.

Of most afflictions, panic is the one that makes the fastest changes to the human bodies makeup. This is because the body is often overwhelmed from the attack which is so sudden and overtakes many of the bodily systems so that is just shuts down. Panic attacks generally appear as other medical problems which makes very doctors and other medical professionals unprepared and ill-equipped to diagnose chronic anxiety and panic attacks properly.

Seek Professional Help

There are a variety of anxiety panic attack symptoms and they typically represent a variety of other afflictions. Gathering a variety of opinions is important for this reason in case you believe you are having frequent panic attacks. Panic attack is often incorrectly diagnosed by many medical professionals as a symptom or a surface problem. To properly diagnose an anxiety or panic attack as a chronic problem it can often take several visits to a physician.

Read more: Recognizing Important Anxiety Panic Attack Symptoms

Year-end Health Savings Account Tax Strategies

Year-end Health Savings Account Tax Strategies
 
2007 is just around the corner, and there are several issues to consider if you currently have a Health Savings Account (HSA), or are planning on getting one in the near future.

100% of the deposit you place in your HSA is deductible on your federal income taxes.  All but four states also make HSA contributions tax-deductible on state income taxes.  If you are looking to reduce your 2006 tax burden and put away more money for retirement, your HSA is the first place you should put your money if you have not yet maximized your contribution.

The maximum you can contribute to your HSA in 2006 is the lesser amount of your deductible, or $2,700 for singles and $5,450 for families.  Individuals who are 55 or older may contribute an additional $700.  Note that contribution limits are pro-rated, based on the number of complete months during the year in which you have a qualifying HSA health insurance plan.

You have until April 15 (or later if you file for an extension) to make your 2006 contribution.  If you do not fully fund your account for the current year, you cannot make a catch-up contribution for 2006 after this deadline.  However, you can reimburse yourself in later years for qualified expenses incurred in 2006, even if you do not have the funds in your account to reimburse yourself at this time.

In 2007, the maximum annual HSA contribution will go up to $2,850 for individuals and $5,650 for families.  Individuals 55 or older will be allowed to contribute an additional $800.

To maximize your tax benefit for 2007, it is important to have your HSA-qualified health coverage in place no later than January 1.

In order to pay for a medical expense from your HSA, it must be a qualified expense.  Some of these qualified expenses include dental expenses, eyeglasses, chiropractic visits, over-the-counter medications, and sometimes even nutritional supplements. 

Now is a good time to make sure you have an accurate record of your medical expenses for the year.  Make sure you separate the expenses for which you have reimbursed yourself from your HSA from those that you paid for out-of-pocket.  You’ll want to keep receipts for all medical expenditures paid from your HSA with your 2006 tax records.  Place the “non-reimbursed medical expenses” in a separate file, keeping them with the concurrent year’s tax records in whatever year you decide to reimburse yourself.

The penalty for over-funding your HSA is a whopping 6%.  You have until April 15, 2007 to withdraw excess funds for the 2006 tax year to avoid the penalty.  Your HSA administrator may notify you of any over-funding, but they are under no obligation to do so.  It is your responsibility, so make sure you check into this if you think your may have over-funded you account.

The minimum deductible for HSA-compatible health insurance plans in 2006 was $1,050 for individuals and $2,100 for families.  In 2007 this will increase to $1,100 for individuals and $2,200 for families.  If you currently have an HSA-qualified plan with the lowest eligible 2006 deductible, that deductible will automatically go up on January 1 to the new minimum.

Strategies to Maximize Your Tax Benefits

There are basically three different strategies you can take when deciding how to fund your health savings account.

1. Put no money in the account, except when you incur a medical expense.  This strategy allows you to legally “launder” any money used to pay medical expenses.  In other words, by depositing money into your HSA, then immediately withdrawing it to reimburse yourself for medical expenses, you are making your medical expenses all tax-deductible.  You may want to use this strategy if you are on a tight budget and want to keep your cash outlay as low as possible.

2. Fully fund the account, or at least put in as much as possible based on your budget.  Take money out of the account any time medical expenses are incurred, and let the rest grow tax-deferred.  This strategy will maximize your tax deduction, while making your HSA funds available to pay any non-covered medical expenses before your deductible is met.

3. Fully fund the account, but pay all medical expenses from a non-HSA account.  Reimburse yourself for medical expenses at a later date.  This strategy will allow you to maximize your tax deduction, and will also allow you to maximize the tax-deferred growth of your HSA.  You can then reimburse yourself, tax-free, at any time in the future for medical expenses incurred over the ensuing years.

To maximize the potential growth of your funds, you may want to make your 2007 deposits as early in the year as possible.  Any growth in your account is tax-deferred, like an IRA.  If possible, you should plan to make your deposit the first week in January.

About the Author

The Article is written by Wiley Long – President, HSA for America (http://www.health–savings–accounts.com) – The nation’s leading independent health insurance firm specializing in Health Savings Plans that works with Health Savings Accounts.

Copyright information…. This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included. Visit http://www.health–savings–accounts.com for Health Savings Plans and Health Savings Accounts.

Read more: Year-end Health Savings Account Tax Strategies