For car insurance quotes
Be sure all vehicle discounts are applied (Anti-lock brakes, Alarm system, daytime running lights, vin-etching, etc.).
Take a defensive driving course.
Be very accurate about your mileage to and from work.
Ask about affinity discounts.
Click Here to Save Money with One Simple form for a fast, free, and accurate quote.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Save Money On Insurance
Compare Insurance Online with one Simple Form For Quotes
Title: Saving Money On Insurance
Author: Chemain Evans
Did you know that you could be overpaying for your insurance
by as much as hundreds of dollars? Most of us have a hard
time getting excited about shopping for different insurance,
but a little time invested can go a long way in saving you
money. Of course, the cost of premiums isn't the
be-all-end-all; quality of service, quick response to
claims, and financial soundness are all important factors to
consider. However, the focus of this article is on getting
and keeping those automobile, homeowner/renter, and life
insurance premiums down. First we'll discuss some
generalities; then we'll get down to some specifics for each
category.
Shop around. Shopping around for insurance will take some
time, but could save you a good sum of money. Ask your
friends, check the Yellow Pages or call your state insurance
department. You can also access insurance information for
your state on the Internet at
http://www.naic.org/1regulator/usamap.htm. States often make
information available on typical rates charged by major
insurers and many states provide the frequency of consumer
complaints by company. Also check consumer guides, insurance
agents, companies and online insurance quote services. This
will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which
companies have the lowest prices. But don't consider price
alone. The insurer you select should offer a fair price and
deliver the quality service you would expect if you needed
assistance in filing a claim. So talk to a number of
insurers to get a feeling for the type of service they give.
Ask them what they would do to lower your costs. Check the
financial ratings of the companies with AM Best or Standard
and Poor's.
Compare against your current policy. When comparing
companies, have your current policy handy when calling so
you can compare apples to apples. And if you do find a
better policy, absolutely make certain that your new policy
is in effect before dropping your old one.
Use a licensed, low-price insurer. You can save several
hundred dollars a year on homeowner or auto insurance and up
to $50 a year on renter insurance by purchasing from a
licensed, low-price insurer. Call your state insurance
department for a publication showing typical prices charged
by different companies. Then call at least four of the
lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn what they would
charge you for the same coverage. If such a publication is
not available, it is even more important to call at least
four insurers for price quotes.
Use the same insurer for multiple policies. Whenever
possible, buy your home and auto policies from the same
insurer. Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and
liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your
premium if you buy two or more policies from them. But make
certain this combined price is lower than buying the
different coverages from different companies.
Stay with the same insurer. If you've kept your coverage
with a company for several years, you may receive a special
discount for being a long-term policyholder. This is why it
is important to compare against your current policy. Some
insurers will reduce their premiums by 5 percent if you stay
with them for three to five years and by 10 percent if you
remain a policyholder for six years or more. Check to ensure
that you are getting the "renewal" discount. But make
certain to periodically compare this price with that of
other policies.
Look into group coverage. If your employer administers a
group insurance program, check to see if a homeowners or
auto policy is available and whether it is a better deal
than you can find elsewhere. In addition, professional,
alumni and business groups often work out an insurance
package with an insurance company, which includes a discount
for association members. Ask your association's director if
an insurer is offering a discount on homeowners or auto
insurance to you and your fellow graduates or colleagues. If
you are a member of an auto club, such as an affiliation
AAA, check with that organization as well.
With those general rules out of the way, let's move on to
some specifics.
Auto Insurance
Get your discounts. Make sure you get all the discounts you
may qualify for. Check on discounts for safety and security
features. Safety features can also lower your payments.
Heading the list of money saving safety features is antilock
brakes. Check to see if the insurance company you have or
are considering gives a discount for this feature. Automatic
seatbelts and airbags may also give you premium discounts.
Stay clean. Keep your driver's record clean; avoid tickets,
especially moving violations. Drive a car that is less
popular with thieves, inexpensive to repair, and/or an older
model. When shopping for a new car, check with your insurer
about insurance costs as well.
Raise your deductible. Talk to your agent or insurer about
raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive
coverages to $500 or more. Deductibles are the amount of
money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance
company starts to pay a claim, according to the terms of
your policy. The higher your deductible, the more money you
can save on your premiums. If you have an old car consider
dropping these coverages altogether. Taking these steps can
save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Check for a low-risk occupation discount. Insurance
companies collect information about what types of people get
into accidents. Over the years they have seen trends that
show that drivers in certain occupations tend to get into
fewer accidents. These occupations are then labeled
"low-risk". Since, on average, drivers in these occupations
have a lower chance of getting into an accident, insurance
rates for them are lower. Check with your insurance company
or agent if you are in a low-risk occupation.
Homeowner/Renter Insurance
Raise your deductible. Nowadays, most insurance companies
recommend a deductible of at least $500. If you can afford
to raise your deductible to $1,000, you may save as much as
25 percent. Remember, if you live in a disaster-prone area,
your insurance policy may have a separate deductible for
certain kinds of damage. If you live near the coast in the
East, you may have a separate windstorm deductible; if you
live in a state vulnerable to hail storms, you may have a
separate deductible for hail; and if you live in an
earthquake-prone area, your earthquake policy has a
deductible.
Make your home more disaster resistant. Find out from your
insurance agent or company representative what steps you can
take to make your home more resistant to windstorms and
other natural disasters. You may be able to save on your
premiums by adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof, or
buying stronger roofing materials. Older homes can be
retrofitted to make them better able to withstand
earthquakes. In addition, consider modernizing your heating,
plumbing and electrical systems to reduce the risk of fire
and water damage.
Get the right amount of coverage. Make certain you purchase
enough coverage to replace the house and its contents.
"Replacement" on the house means rebuilding to its current
condition. Don't confuse what you paid for your house with
rebuilding costs. The land under your house isn't at risk
from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in
your homeowners policy. So don't include its value in
deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do,
you will pay a higher premium than you should.
Improve your home security. You can usually get discounts of
at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or
dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by
as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated
sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at
the police, fire or other monitoring stations. These systems
aren't cheap and not every system qualifies for a discount.
Before you buy such a system, find out what kind your
insurer recommends, how much the device would cost and how
much you would save on premiums.
Seek out other discounts. Companies offer several types of
discounts, but they don't all offer the same discount or the
same amount of discount in all states. That's why you should
ask your agent or company representative about any discounts
available to you. For example, since retired people stay at
home more than working people, they are less likely to be
burglarized and may spot fires sooner. Retired people also
have more time for maintaining their homes. If you're at
least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a
discount of up to 10 percent at some companies.
Review annually. Review the limits in your policy and the
value of your possessions at least once a year. You want
your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to
your home. But you don't want to spend money for coverage
you don't need. If your five-year-old fur coat is no longer
worth the $5,000 you paid for it, you'll want to reduce or
cancel your floater (extra insurance for items whose full
value is not covered by standard homeowners policies) and
pocket the difference.
Look for private insurance if you are in a government plan.
If you live in a high-risk area -- say, one that is
especially vulnerable to coastal storms, fires, or crime --
and have been buying your homeowners insurance through a
government plan, you should check with an insurance agent or
company representative or contact your state department of
insurance for the names of companies that might be
interested in your business. You may find that there are
steps you can take that would allow you to buy insurance at
a lower price in the private market.
Buyer beware. When you're buying a home, consider the cost
of homeowners insurance. You may pay less for insurance if
you buy a house close to a fire hydrant or in a community
that has a professional rather than a volunteer fire
department. It may also be cheaper if your home's
electrical, heating and plumbing systems are less than 10
years old. If you live in the East, consider a brick home
because it's more wind resistant. If you live in an
earthquake-prone area, look for a wooden frame house because
it is more likely to withstand this type of disaster.
Choosing wisely could cut your premiums by 5 to 15 percent.
Remember that flood insurance and earthquake damage are not
covered by a standard homeowners policy. If you buy a house
in a flood-prone area, you'll have to pay for a flood
insurance policy that costs an average of $400 a year. The
Federal Emergency Management Agency provides useful
information on flood insurance on its Web site at
http://www.fema.gov/. A separate earthquake policy is
available from most insurance companies. The cost of the
coverage will depend on the likelihood of earthquakes in
your area.
Ask questions. If you have questions about insurance for any
of your possessions, be sure to ask your agent or company
representative when you're shopping around for a policy. For
example, if you run a business out of your home, be sure to
discuss coverage for that business. Most homeowners policies
cover business equipment in the home, but only up to $2,500
and they offer no business liability insurance. Although you
want to lower your homeowners insurance cost, you also want
to make certain you have all the coverage you need.
Life Insurance
The main purpose of life insurance is to replace your income
for your family if something should happen to you. If you
are single, you probably don't need life insurance. If your
kids raised and you have planned well for retirement, you
probably don't need life insurance. Anyone with children
still at home should carry life insurance, unless an
alternative plan is in place.
For savings, choose term insurance. If you want insurance
protection only, and not a savings and investment product,
buy a term life insurance policy. You will probably be quite
surprised at how reasonable it is. There are several
companies that can "shop" the rates for you and help you
narrow down the field. Select the longest term you can
afford and make sure the rates are set for the entire term.
For investment, choose other insurance. If you want to buy a
whole life, universal life, or other cash value policy, plan
to hold it for at least 15 years. It is, after all, an
investment. Canceling these policies after only a few years
can more than double your life insurance costs.
Check your public library for information about the
financial soundness of insurance companies and the prices
they charge. The July 1998 issue of Consumer Reports is a
valuable source of information about a number of insurers.
************************************************************
© Simple Joe, Inc.
Chemain Evans is a quality control specialist for Simple Joe,
Inc., makers of the popular Simple Joe's Expense Tracker PC
software. Expense Tracker is a quick and simple way to keep
track of your expenses and stay within your budget. Expense
Tracker (http://www.simplejoe.com/expensetracker/index2.htm)
is ideal for tracking personal, business, home and club
expenses.
This article may be freely distributed as long as the copyright,
author's information and an active link (where possible) are
included.
Title: Saving Money On Insurance
Author: Chemain Evans
Did you know that you could be overpaying for your insurance
by as much as hundreds of dollars? Most of us have a hard
time getting excited about shopping for different insurance,
but a little time invested can go a long way in saving you
money. Of course, the cost of premiums isn't the
be-all-end-all; quality of service, quick response to
claims, and financial soundness are all important factors to
consider. However, the focus of this article is on getting
and keeping those automobile, homeowner/renter, and life
insurance premiums down. First we'll discuss some
generalities; then we'll get down to some specifics for each
category.
Shop around. Shopping around for insurance will take some
time, but could save you a good sum of money. Ask your
friends, check the Yellow Pages or call your state insurance
department. You can also access insurance information for
your state on the Internet at
http://www.naic.org/1regulator/usamap.htm. States often make
information available on typical rates charged by major
insurers and many states provide the frequency of consumer
complaints by company. Also check consumer guides, insurance
agents, companies and online insurance quote services. This
will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which
companies have the lowest prices. But don't consider price
alone. The insurer you select should offer a fair price and
deliver the quality service you would expect if you needed
assistance in filing a claim. So talk to a number of
insurers to get a feeling for the type of service they give.
Ask them what they would do to lower your costs. Check the
financial ratings of the companies with AM Best or Standard
and Poor's.
Compare against your current policy. When comparing
companies, have your current policy handy when calling so
you can compare apples to apples. And if you do find a
better policy, absolutely make certain that your new policy
is in effect before dropping your old one.
Use a licensed, low-price insurer. You can save several
hundred dollars a year on homeowner or auto insurance and up
to $50 a year on renter insurance by purchasing from a
licensed, low-price insurer. Call your state insurance
department for a publication showing typical prices charged
by different companies. Then call at least four of the
lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn what they would
charge you for the same coverage. If such a publication is
not available, it is even more important to call at least
four insurers for price quotes.
Use the same insurer for multiple policies. Whenever
possible, buy your home and auto policies from the same
insurer. Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and
liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your
premium if you buy two or more policies from them. But make
certain this combined price is lower than buying the
different coverages from different companies.
Stay with the same insurer. If you've kept your coverage
with a company for several years, you may receive a special
discount for being a long-term policyholder. This is why it
is important to compare against your current policy. Some
insurers will reduce their premiums by 5 percent if you stay
with them for three to five years and by 10 percent if you
remain a policyholder for six years or more. Check to ensure
that you are getting the "renewal" discount. But make
certain to periodically compare this price with that of
other policies.
Look into group coverage. If your employer administers a
group insurance program, check to see if a homeowners or
auto policy is available and whether it is a better deal
than you can find elsewhere. In addition, professional,
alumni and business groups often work out an insurance
package with an insurance company, which includes a discount
for association members. Ask your association's director if
an insurer is offering a discount on homeowners or auto
insurance to you and your fellow graduates or colleagues. If
you are a member of an auto club, such as an affiliation
AAA, check with that organization as well.
With those general rules out of the way, let's move on to
some specifics.
Auto Insurance
Get your discounts. Make sure you get all the discounts you
may qualify for. Check on discounts for safety and security
features. Safety features can also lower your payments.
Heading the list of money saving safety features is antilock
brakes. Check to see if the insurance company you have or
are considering gives a discount for this feature. Automatic
seatbelts and airbags may also give you premium discounts.
Stay clean. Keep your driver's record clean; avoid tickets,
especially moving violations. Drive a car that is less
popular with thieves, inexpensive to repair, and/or an older
model. When shopping for a new car, check with your insurer
about insurance costs as well.
Raise your deductible. Talk to your agent or insurer about
raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive
coverages to $500 or more. Deductibles are the amount of
money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance
company starts to pay a claim, according to the terms of
your policy. The higher your deductible, the more money you
can save on your premiums. If you have an old car consider
dropping these coverages altogether. Taking these steps can
save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Check for a low-risk occupation discount. Insurance
companies collect information about what types of people get
into accidents. Over the years they have seen trends that
show that drivers in certain occupations tend to get into
fewer accidents. These occupations are then labeled
"low-risk". Since, on average, drivers in these occupations
have a lower chance of getting into an accident, insurance
rates for them are lower. Check with your insurance company
or agent if you are in a low-risk occupation.
Homeowner/Renter Insurance
Raise your deductible. Nowadays, most insurance companies
recommend a deductible of at least $500. If you can afford
to raise your deductible to $1,000, you may save as much as
25 percent. Remember, if you live in a disaster-prone area,
your insurance policy may have a separate deductible for
certain kinds of damage. If you live near the coast in the
East, you may have a separate windstorm deductible; if you
live in a state vulnerable to hail storms, you may have a
separate deductible for hail; and if you live in an
earthquake-prone area, your earthquake policy has a
deductible.
Make your home more disaster resistant. Find out from your
insurance agent or company representative what steps you can
take to make your home more resistant to windstorms and
other natural disasters. You may be able to save on your
premiums by adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof, or
buying stronger roofing materials. Older homes can be
retrofitted to make them better able to withstand
earthquakes. In addition, consider modernizing your heating,
plumbing and electrical systems to reduce the risk of fire
and water damage.
Get the right amount of coverage. Make certain you purchase
enough coverage to replace the house and its contents.
"Replacement" on the house means rebuilding to its current
condition. Don't confuse what you paid for your house with
rebuilding costs. The land under your house isn't at risk
from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in
your homeowners policy. So don't include its value in
deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do,
you will pay a higher premium than you should.
Improve your home security. You can usually get discounts of
at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or
dead-bolt locks. Some companies offer to cut your premium by
as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated
sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at
the police, fire or other monitoring stations. These systems
aren't cheap and not every system qualifies for a discount.
Before you buy such a system, find out what kind your
insurer recommends, how much the device would cost and how
much you would save on premiums.
Seek out other discounts. Companies offer several types of
discounts, but they don't all offer the same discount or the
same amount of discount in all states. That's why you should
ask your agent or company representative about any discounts
available to you. For example, since retired people stay at
home more than working people, they are less likely to be
burglarized and may spot fires sooner. Retired people also
have more time for maintaining their homes. If you're at
least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a
discount of up to 10 percent at some companies.
Review annually. Review the limits in your policy and the
value of your possessions at least once a year. You want
your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to
your home. But you don't want to spend money for coverage
you don't need. If your five-year-old fur coat is no longer
worth the $5,000 you paid for it, you'll want to reduce or
cancel your floater (extra insurance for items whose full
value is not covered by standard homeowners policies) and
pocket the difference.
Look for private insurance if you are in a government plan.
If you live in a high-risk area -- say, one that is
especially vulnerable to coastal storms, fires, or crime --
and have been buying your homeowners insurance through a
government plan, you should check with an insurance agent or
company representative or contact your state department of
insurance for the names of companies that might be
interested in your business. You may find that there are
steps you can take that would allow you to buy insurance at
a lower price in the private market.
Buyer beware. When you're buying a home, consider the cost
of homeowners insurance. You may pay less for insurance if
you buy a house close to a fire hydrant or in a community
that has a professional rather than a volunteer fire
department. It may also be cheaper if your home's
electrical, heating and plumbing systems are less than 10
years old. If you live in the East, consider a brick home
because it's more wind resistant. If you live in an
earthquake-prone area, look for a wooden frame house because
it is more likely to withstand this type of disaster.
Choosing wisely could cut your premiums by 5 to 15 percent.
Remember that flood insurance and earthquake damage are not
covered by a standard homeowners policy. If you buy a house
in a flood-prone area, you'll have to pay for a flood
insurance policy that costs an average of $400 a year. The
Federal Emergency Management Agency provides useful
information on flood insurance on its Web site at
http://www.fema.gov/. A separate earthquake policy is
available from most insurance companies. The cost of the
coverage will depend on the likelihood of earthquakes in
your area.
Ask questions. If you have questions about insurance for any
of your possessions, be sure to ask your agent or company
representative when you're shopping around for a policy. For
example, if you run a business out of your home, be sure to
discuss coverage for that business. Most homeowners policies
cover business equipment in the home, but only up to $2,500
and they offer no business liability insurance. Although you
want to lower your homeowners insurance cost, you also want
to make certain you have all the coverage you need.
Life Insurance
The main purpose of life insurance is to replace your income
for your family if something should happen to you. If you
are single, you probably don't need life insurance. If your
kids raised and you have planned well for retirement, you
probably don't need life insurance. Anyone with children
still at home should carry life insurance, unless an
alternative plan is in place.
For savings, choose term insurance. If you want insurance
protection only, and not a savings and investment product,
buy a term life insurance policy. You will probably be quite
surprised at how reasonable it is. There are several
companies that can "shop" the rates for you and help you
narrow down the field. Select the longest term you can
afford and make sure the rates are set for the entire term.
For investment, choose other insurance. If you want to buy a
whole life, universal life, or other cash value policy, plan
to hold it for at least 15 years. It is, after all, an
investment. Canceling these policies after only a few years
can more than double your life insurance costs.
Check your public library for information about the
financial soundness of insurance companies and the prices
they charge. The July 1998 issue of Consumer Reports is a
valuable source of information about a number of insurers.
************************************************************
© Simple Joe, Inc.
Chemain Evans is a quality control specialist for Simple Joe,
Inc., makers of the popular Simple Joe's Expense Tracker PC
software. Expense Tracker is a quick and simple way to keep
track of your expenses and stay within your budget. Expense
Tracker (http://www.simplejoe.com/expensetracker/index2.htm)
is ideal for tracking personal, business, home and club
expenses.
This article may be freely distributed as long as the copyright,
author's information and an active link (where possible) are
included.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Save Money on Lab Tests - Even if your Insurance doesn't cover lab tests
It's a common complaint. Lab Tests can get expensive, even run into the hundreds of dollars, and it they just aren't covered very well by a lot of insurance.
You can take matters into your own hands by deciding who will do the tests!
Click here for Lab Tests Direct, and Control your Medical Testing Expenses!
You can take matters into your own hands by deciding who will do the tests!
Click here for Lab Tests Direct, and Control your Medical Testing Expenses!
Car Insurance Buying Tip
When it comes to auto insurance, you want to be adequately covered if you get in an accident but you don't want to pay any more than you have to. So how can you navigate your way through this murky subject?
Keep telling yourself there is money to be saved. How much? Hundreds, even thousands, per year. For example, one of the editors at Edmunds typed all of his insurance information into a comparative insurance service. The quotes (for very basic coverage on two old cars) ranged from $1,006 to $1,807 — a difference of $801 a year. If you're currently dumping thousands into your insurance company's coffers because of a couple of tickets, an accident or a questionable credit rating, shopping your policy against others may be well worth the effort.
Look at it this way — you can convert the money you save into the purchase of something you've desired for a long time. Hold that goal in your mind.
One short Form can save you hundreds of dollars on your car insurance - click here
Keep telling yourself there is money to be saved. How much? Hundreds, even thousands, per year. For example, one of the editors at Edmunds typed all of his insurance information into a comparative insurance service. The quotes (for very basic coverage on two old cars) ranged from $1,006 to $1,807 — a difference of $801 a year. If you're currently dumping thousands into your insurance company's coffers because of a couple of tickets, an accident or a questionable credit rating, shopping your policy against others may be well worth the effort.
Look at it this way — you can convert the money you save into the purchase of something you've desired for a long time. Hold that goal in your mind.
One short Form can save you hundreds of dollars on your car insurance - click here
Disability Insurance for Self Employed and Business Employees
Everybody is concerned with health insurance. However statistics show that many people who have financial trouble because of an illness do have health insurance. What they lack is the ability to "keep the lights on" if they are sick or injured and cannot work.
Disability Insurance has become a hot topic with self employed people like plumbers, accountants, truck drivers, doctors, and of course Insurance agents.
Disability Insurance is usually designed to fill in the gap between an injury or illness and the time it usually takes for social security disability to kick in. Social Security and Medicare take time - months to years - so a long term disability insurance plan can fill in this gap.
CLICK HERE TO COMPARE AND QUOTE DISABILITY INSURANCE IN YOUR AREA.
Disability Insurance has become a hot topic with self employed people like plumbers, accountants, truck drivers, doctors, and of course Insurance agents.
Disability Insurance is usually designed to fill in the gap between an injury or illness and the time it usually takes for social security disability to kick in. Social Security and Medicare take time - months to years - so a long term disability insurance plan can fill in this gap.
CLICK HERE TO COMPARE AND QUOTE DISABILITY INSURANCE IN YOUR AREA.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Insurance - QuoteUs has a face Lift
If you haven't visited 247QuoteUs.Com for awhile, please stop again. My insurance quoting website just got a facelift so it's a lot less busy! It should be easier for you to find the insurance and benefit information you are looking for .... PLUS You can compare insurance policies, get local quotes (as they vary by zip), and find a local insurance agent.
Car Insurance Quotes
Health Insurance QUotes
Homeowners Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance
Life Insurance
Renters Insurance
Check out the new look of 247quoteus.com
Car Insurance Quotes
Health Insurance QUotes
Homeowners Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance
Life Insurance
Renters Insurance
Check out the new look of 247quoteus.com
Insurance - QuoteUs has a face Lift
If you haven't visited 247QuoteUs.Com for awhile, please stop again. My insurance quoting website just got a facelift so it's a lot less busy!
You can compare insurance policies, get local quotes (as they vary by zip), and find a local insurance agent.
Car Insurance Quotes
Health Insurance QUotes
Homeowners Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance
Life Insurance
Renters Insurance
Check out the new look of 247quoteus.com
You can compare insurance policies, get local quotes (as they vary by zip), and find a local insurance agent.
Car Insurance Quotes
Health Insurance QUotes
Homeowners Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance
Life Insurance
Renters Insurance
Check out the new look of 247quoteus.com
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Do you need car rental insurance.
I know this subject comes up a lot when people are renting a car. The car rental company will usually offer you extra insurance when you are checking out a rental car. Do you need it?
I found a good article on the subject at the Colorada State University Extension Website.
Click Here for Do you need car rental insurance?
I found a good article on the subject at the Colorada State University Extension Website.
Click Here for Do you need car rental insurance?
Do you need car rental insurance.
I know this subject comes up a lot when people are renting a car. The car rental company will usually offer you extra insurance when you are checking out a rental car. Do you need it?
I found a good article on the subject at the Colorada State University Extension Website.
Click Here for Do you need car rental insurance?
I found a good article on the subject at the Colorada State University Extension Website.
Click Here for Do you need car rental insurance?
Do you need car rental insurance.
I know this subject comes up a lot when people are renting a car. The car rental company will usually offer you extra insurance when you are checking out a rental car. Do you need it?
I found a good article on the subject at the Colorada State University Extension Website.
Click Here for Do you need car rental insurance?
I found a good article on the subject at the Colorada State University Extension Website.
Click Here for Do you need car rental insurance?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
U.S. Lags beghind in Medicine
U.S. trailing other nations in medicine
The U.S. falls short of other nations in outcomes and quality of medical care, even though it spends 16% of its gross domestic product on health care, totaling much more than what other countries spend. A new health care scorecard from The Commonwealth Fund gives the U.S. a grade of just 66 out of 100, based on key indicators, such as measures of preventive and primary care, universal health coverage, efficient delivery of care and equity in the health system. The U.S. is not a leader in the adoption of health information technology, the Commonwealth Fund notes. The scorecard is based upon 37 scored indicators in the areas of health outcomes, quality, access, efficiency and equity.
"The overall picture that emerges from the scorecard is one of missed opportunities and room for improvement," the authors write. "While the top tier of the system achieves excellence in some areas, the uneven performance across the country indicates a need for major improvement."
The scorecard shows especially low scores for U.S. health care at the beginning and end of life. It ranks the U.S. 15th out of 19 countries in deaths potentially preventable with excellent medical care. Furthermore, it finds less than half of adults in the U.S. received preventive and screening tests according to guidelines for their age and sex. At least 34% of adults under age 65 have problems paying their medical bills or have medical debt they are paying off over time.
The U.S. falls short of other nations in outcomes and quality of medical care, even though it spends 16% of its gross domestic product on health care, totaling much more than what other countries spend. A new health care scorecard from The Commonwealth Fund gives the U.S. a grade of just 66 out of 100, based on key indicators, such as measures of preventive and primary care, universal health coverage, efficient delivery of care and equity in the health system. The U.S. is not a leader in the adoption of health information technology, the Commonwealth Fund notes. The scorecard is based upon 37 scored indicators in the areas of health outcomes, quality, access, efficiency and equity.
"The overall picture that emerges from the scorecard is one of missed opportunities and room for improvement," the authors write. "While the top tier of the system achieves excellence in some areas, the uneven performance across the country indicates a need for major improvement."
The scorecard shows especially low scores for U.S. health care at the beginning and end of life. It ranks the U.S. 15th out of 19 countries in deaths potentially preventable with excellent medical care. Furthermore, it finds less than half of adults in the U.S. received preventive and screening tests according to guidelines for their age and sex. At least 34% of adults under age 65 have problems paying their medical bills or have medical debt they are paying off over time.
Health Insurance - Doctor Copays for Office Visits - Are they Worth it?
Almost everybody who buys insurance from me wants health insurance with a copay for doctor's office visit. They seem to think this is a standard part of any health insurance plan. However, more and more health insurance for individuals is being sold without a doctor copay, OR it has an option to leave the copay off.
WHAT DO I THINK ABOUT DOCTOR COPAY?
Personally, I think that people should consider leaving this option off. A few companies also include testing with the doctor's copay BUT MOST COMPANIES only use the copay for the actual doctor's visit. Any shots, testing, or treatment may fall under the deductible.
In addition, the premium for the doctor's copay, can add 25% to your monthly bill! If you visit the doctor a couple of times a year, does it make sense to pay an extra $100 a month so you can pay $40 to go to the doctor? Of course, if you tend to visit the doctor several times a year, you may find a doctor's copay to be worth it to help you budget.
COMPARE HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTES OR FIND A LOCAL AGENT
WHAT DO I THINK ABOUT DOCTOR COPAY?
Personally, I think that people should consider leaving this option off. A few companies also include testing with the doctor's copay BUT MOST COMPANIES only use the copay for the actual doctor's visit. Any shots, testing, or treatment may fall under the deductible.
In addition, the premium for the doctor's copay, can add 25% to your monthly bill! If you visit the doctor a couple of times a year, does it make sense to pay an extra $100 a month so you can pay $40 to go to the doctor? Of course, if you tend to visit the doctor several times a year, you may find a doctor's copay to be worth it to help you budget.
COMPARE HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTES OR FIND A LOCAL AGENT
Health Insurance - Doctor Copays for Office Visits - Are they Worth it?
Almost everybody who buys insurance from me wants health insurance with a copay for doctor's office visit. They seem to think this is a standard part of any health insurance plan. However, more and more health insurance for individuals is being sold without a doctor copay, OR it has an option to leave the copay off.
WHAT DO I THINK ABOUT DOCTOR COPAY?
Personally, I think that people should consider leaving this option off. A few companies also include testing with the doctor's copay BUT MOST COMPANIES only use the copay for the actual doctor's visit. Any shots, testing, or treatment may fall under the deductible.
In addition, the premium for the doctor's copay, can add 25% to your monthly bill! If you visit the doctor a couple of times a year, does it make sense to pay an extra $100 a month so you can pay $40 to go to the doctor? Of course, if you tend to visit the doctor several times a year, you may find a doctor's copay to be worth it to help you budget.
COMPARE HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTES OR FIND A LOCAL AGENT
WHAT DO I THINK ABOUT DOCTOR COPAY?
Personally, I think that people should consider leaving this option off. A few companies also include testing with the doctor's copay BUT MOST COMPANIES only use the copay for the actual doctor's visit. Any shots, testing, or treatment may fall under the deductible.
In addition, the premium for the doctor's copay, can add 25% to your monthly bill! If you visit the doctor a couple of times a year, does it make sense to pay an extra $100 a month so you can pay $40 to go to the doctor? Of course, if you tend to visit the doctor several times a year, you may find a doctor's copay to be worth it to help you budget.
COMPARE HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTES OR FIND A LOCAL AGENT
Monday, September 25, 2006
Long Term Care Insurance - Do you Need it?
Do Americans Need Long Term Care Insurance?
Americans should consider Long Term Care Insurance because Medicare will only pay for short stays in nursing homes. As Americans live longer, the odds that older people will spend time in a nursing home are escalating. Nursing homes cost $1000's of dollars a month, and that stay can wipe your assets out quickly. Then seniors are forced to rely on Medicaid and charity, they may lose everything they wanted to leave to their spouse and children, and are limited on their choices of nursing homes, or other long term care options.
How can you find out about Long Term Care Insurance?
Start With Insureme to find a local agent or compare long term care insurance plans in your area online.
Insureme Performs 100,000 insurance quotes a month, and can provide online insurance quotes, compare insurance plans, and refer you to a qualified local insurance agent in your area. I would suggest research like this to determine if you need long term care insurance, and to determine which kind of long term care insurance would be best for your needs and budget.
Long Term Care Plans come in lots of varieties and flavors, and it may help to have an agent look at your needs and budget to come up with a plan that will work for you. Some have daily benefits that are fixed, and some have an inflation rider. Long Term Care Annuities are gaining popularity as well.
Americans should consider Long Term Care Insurance because Medicare will only pay for short stays in nursing homes. As Americans live longer, the odds that older people will spend time in a nursing home are escalating. Nursing homes cost $1000's of dollars a month, and that stay can wipe your assets out quickly. Then seniors are forced to rely on Medicaid and charity, they may lose everything they wanted to leave to their spouse and children, and are limited on their choices of nursing homes, or other long term care options.
How can you find out about Long Term Care Insurance?
Start With Insureme to find a local agent or compare long term care insurance plans in your area online.
Insureme Performs 100,000 insurance quotes a month, and can provide online insurance quotes, compare insurance plans, and refer you to a qualified local insurance agent in your area. I would suggest research like this to determine if you need long term care insurance, and to determine which kind of long term care insurance would be best for your needs and budget.
Long Term Care Plans come in lots of varieties and flavors, and it may help to have an agent look at your needs and budget to come up with a plan that will work for you. Some have daily benefits that are fixed, and some have an inflation rider. Long Term Care Annuities are gaining popularity as well.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Bad Faith and Good Faith Insurance Companies
If you are looking into an insurance change you might want to check out this site:
Bad Faith Insurance
As always, take sites like this with a grain of salt. You can't please everybody, and companys have rules. Sometimes complainers expect too much. But it does pay to do your homework when buying insurance.
Get a Quick Insurance Quote and Find a Local Insurance Agent!
Bad Faith Insurance
As always, take sites like this with a grain of salt. You can't please everybody, and companys have rules. Sometimes complainers expect too much. But it does pay to do your homework when buying insurance.
Get a Quick Insurance Quote and Find a Local Insurance Agent!
Health Insurance - PPO HMO INDEMNITY - What are they?
Health Insurance Policy Options
This is from Path2USA
Insurance Plan:
There are three kinds of medical insurance you can get viz. HMO, PPO and POS plan. The basic difference between these plans is the cost, and the flexibility in choosing a physician.
1. What is HMO?
HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization. HMO is a company that offers health plans, which provides medical care from an approved network of doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies. The patient needs to pay some set minimum fee per visit. These fees are usually much lower than PPO (Preferred Provider Organizations).
Advantages of HMO:
Nil or very low deductibles.
Comprehensive benefits.
Preventive care is often good.
Disadvantages of HMO:
HMO plan includes only a particular chain of hospitals and doctors.
The patient must see doctors within the network.
The patient must get permission from the primary physician to see a specialist, or the HMO may not pay for the services.
HMO's often refuse to pay for the emergency visits, if they don't consider it as a true emergency.
2. What is PPO?
PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization. PPO allows patients to see a specialist without a referral from a Primary Care Physician. They have a wider range of doctors to choose from. The direct access to specialists is good for people who have chronic illness, or in case of urgent care and emergencies. Patients can get appointments with their preferred specialists as and when required.
Usually, a PPO will pay a greater percentage of the cost for a preferred provider, and less for a non-preferred provider.
Advantages of PPO:
Patient can visit any doctor and hospital. They are categorized as preferred and non preferred providers.
PPO covers all preferred providers according to their policy.
Disadvantages of PPO:
For all non preferred providers PPO covers only 80% of all the expenses, depending on your insurance company rules. And rest has to be paid by you.
3. What is POS?
POS stands for a Point of Service plan, which combines the cost savings of a HMO with the flexibility of a PPO. Find out the details and rules from your medical insurance company.
FAQ?
What to do after you get a HMO plan?
Once you've signed up and received your HMO plan, be sure to read your policy thoroughly and carefully. You should know answers to questions like:
Which doctors, hospitals you may see
What procedures are covered and what aren't
How are emergency visits handled? And what procedure you must follow to get the full coverage
What kind of cases come under emergencies (As they may deny coverage, if they don't consider your problem as an emergency.)
What is the co-payment cost (i.e. How much you will have to pay per visit?)
Find out the procedure for claims, if any.
What to do after you get a PPO plan?
Always find out which doctors and services are considered preferred and which are non preferred.
It is always better to go to the preferred providers, as the PPO plan would give full coverage for them. You will only have to pay for the co-payment. But for a non preferred provider, your co-payment is quite higher compared to the preferred provider.
Always read your policy very carefully.
Find out the procedure for claims, if any.
What is a Primary Care Physician?
A primary care physician manages your entire health care program. One has to first visit his/her primary care physician for any kind of medical problem. In case you require a specialist, then your physician should refer you to a concerned specialist.
Can I change my primary care physician?
Yes, one can change his/her primary care physician maximum once a month. But it is always better to stick to one physician. Find out the rules form your insurance company. Normally to change, you will just have to call up the new physician you want to be your primary care doctor, and then inform your insurance company about the change.
What is a Chart Number?
This number is given to each patient, and it refers to a file which has all the records of your prior tests, ailments, etc. This number makes it easy for the person at the reception to make your future appointments and is also a reference for your doctor. You will be required to provide your chart number whenever you call or visit a doctor.
What is difference between Urgent Care and Emergency Services?
Taking appointment for any ailment is a time taking process, hence every hospital provides urgent care and emergency care services. These are the quick medical care services provided by almost all medical centers.
Emergency services are those services required as a result of unforeseen injuries or acute illness, for which a delay in treatment would result in a permanent physical impairment, or loss of life. Such as heart attacks, strokes, poisonings, sudden inability to breathe etc.
On the other hand, urgent care includes less serious medical conditions which require immediate attention. Such as fever, fractured bone, any cuts which require immediate attention, etc.
** Note: Always make sure from your insurance company as to what situations are treated as urgent and emergency. If possible, it is better to contact your primary care physician in an urgent situation and arrange for your immediate care.
What are Preferred and Non Preferred providers for a PPO plan?
PPO is a network of physicians that have agreed, by contract, to discount their rates for the respective PPO members. These physicians, specialists are known as preferred providers, and PPO members are free to see any of them, without any reference from their primary physicians.
PPO members may also see non-contracted providers, these are known as non preferred providers. The co-payment fee for seeing a non preferred provider is generally higher than the preferred providers.
How to get medicines from a pharmacy?
Read your insurance company's manual to find out which are the pharmacies included in your plan. Select the nearest pharmacy to your place. For all prescribed medicines, you will have to pay the minimum fee, and rest will be covered by your insurance. But your insurance won't cover other medicines, which can be picked directly off the shelf from the stores.
This is from Path2USA
Insurance Plan:
There are three kinds of medical insurance you can get viz. HMO, PPO and POS plan. The basic difference between these plans is the cost, and the flexibility in choosing a physician.
1. What is HMO?
HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization. HMO is a company that offers health plans, which provides medical care from an approved network of doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies. The patient needs to pay some set minimum fee per visit. These fees are usually much lower than PPO (Preferred Provider Organizations).
Advantages of HMO:
Nil or very low deductibles.
Comprehensive benefits.
Preventive care is often good.
Disadvantages of HMO:
HMO plan includes only a particular chain of hospitals and doctors.
The patient must see doctors within the network.
The patient must get permission from the primary physician to see a specialist, or the HMO may not pay for the services.
HMO's often refuse to pay for the emergency visits, if they don't consider it as a true emergency.
2. What is PPO?
PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization. PPO allows patients to see a specialist without a referral from a Primary Care Physician. They have a wider range of doctors to choose from. The direct access to specialists is good for people who have chronic illness, or in case of urgent care and emergencies. Patients can get appointments with their preferred specialists as and when required.
Usually, a PPO will pay a greater percentage of the cost for a preferred provider, and less for a non-preferred provider.
Advantages of PPO:
Patient can visit any doctor and hospital. They are categorized as preferred and non preferred providers.
PPO covers all preferred providers according to their policy.
Disadvantages of PPO:
For all non preferred providers PPO covers only 80% of all the expenses, depending on your insurance company rules. And rest has to be paid by you.
3. What is POS?
POS stands for a Point of Service plan, which combines the cost savings of a HMO with the flexibility of a PPO. Find out the details and rules from your medical insurance company.
FAQ?
What to do after you get a HMO plan?
Once you've signed up and received your HMO plan, be sure to read your policy thoroughly and carefully. You should know answers to questions like:
Which doctors, hospitals you may see
What procedures are covered and what aren't
How are emergency visits handled? And what procedure you must follow to get the full coverage
What kind of cases come under emergencies (As they may deny coverage, if they don't consider your problem as an emergency.)
What is the co-payment cost (i.e. How much you will have to pay per visit?)
Find out the procedure for claims, if any.
What to do after you get a PPO plan?
Always find out which doctors and services are considered preferred and which are non preferred.
It is always better to go to the preferred providers, as the PPO plan would give full coverage for them. You will only have to pay for the co-payment. But for a non preferred provider, your co-payment is quite higher compared to the preferred provider.
Always read your policy very carefully.
Find out the procedure for claims, if any.
What is a Primary Care Physician?
A primary care physician manages your entire health care program. One has to first visit his/her primary care physician for any kind of medical problem. In case you require a specialist, then your physician should refer you to a concerned specialist.
Can I change my primary care physician?
Yes, one can change his/her primary care physician maximum once a month. But it is always better to stick to one physician. Find out the rules form your insurance company. Normally to change, you will just have to call up the new physician you want to be your primary care doctor, and then inform your insurance company about the change.
What is a Chart Number?
This number is given to each patient, and it refers to a file which has all the records of your prior tests, ailments, etc. This number makes it easy for the person at the reception to make your future appointments and is also a reference for your doctor. You will be required to provide your chart number whenever you call or visit a doctor.
What is difference between Urgent Care and Emergency Services?
Taking appointment for any ailment is a time taking process, hence every hospital provides urgent care and emergency care services. These are the quick medical care services provided by almost all medical centers.
Emergency services are those services required as a result of unforeseen injuries or acute illness, for which a delay in treatment would result in a permanent physical impairment, or loss of life. Such as heart attacks, strokes, poisonings, sudden inability to breathe etc.
On the other hand, urgent care includes less serious medical conditions which require immediate attention. Such as fever, fractured bone, any cuts which require immediate attention, etc.
** Note: Always make sure from your insurance company as to what situations are treated as urgent and emergency. If possible, it is better to contact your primary care physician in an urgent situation and arrange for your immediate care.
What are Preferred and Non Preferred providers for a PPO plan?
PPO is a network of physicians that have agreed, by contract, to discount their rates for the respective PPO members. These physicians, specialists are known as preferred providers, and PPO members are free to see any of them, without any reference from their primary physicians.
PPO members may also see non-contracted providers, these are known as non preferred providers. The co-payment fee for seeing a non preferred provider is generally higher than the preferred providers.
How to get medicines from a pharmacy?
Read your insurance company's manual to find out which are the pharmacies included in your plan. Select the nearest pharmacy to your place. For all prescribed medicines, you will have to pay the minimum fee, and rest will be covered by your insurance. But your insurance won't cover other medicines, which can be picked directly off the shelf from the stores.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Reduce a Car Insurance premium faster by refinancing your car loan!
Reduce Car Insurance Bills By Refinancing a Car Loan.
Our buddies over at Gas Blues point out thatyou may be able to refinance your car loan. If you have shown a good credit history, plus have paid off some of the balance, you should be able to qualify for better interest rates. Your car loan can get paid off quicker, and this may allow you to reduce your insurance bills in a number of ways.
1. Your loan amount would be cheaper.
2. If your car is paid off, you may choose to reduce collision coverage, and just keep the liability.
Our buddies over at Gas Blues point out thatyou may be able to refinance your car loan. If you have shown a good credit history, plus have paid off some of the balance, you should be able to qualify for better interest rates. Your car loan can get paid off quicker, and this may allow you to reduce your insurance bills in a number of ways.
1. Your loan amount would be cheaper.
2. If your car is paid off, you may choose to reduce collision coverage, and just keep the liability.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Cars - The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - How safe is your car?
I write about health issues a lot because that's a big part of what I do. But car insurance is really on most people's minds - in most state liablity insurance is mandatory so just about everybody has to have it.
If you're considering a car purchase, you may want to go to the Insurance Institute For Highway safety. This page on the website updates you on the current research for:
INJURY, COLLISION, & THEFT LOSSES
by make and model, 2003-2005 models
If you're considering a car purchase, you may want to go to the Insurance Institute For Highway safety. This page on the website updates you on the current research for:
INJURY, COLLISION, & THEFT LOSSES
by make and model, 2003-2005 models
How to get Free Health Insurance....
Free Health Insurance?
Sorry, fellow Americans THAT WAS MEAN!
I just found this article about Europeons who want to travel to other EU countries. They can access the health services of other EU members for free... AHHHH....sounds like civilization, huh?
Sorry, I've had a bad day telling a half dozen pregnant women I couldn't really help them out getting health insurance, unless they can qualify for Medicaid or get on a group plan QUICK!
Well, anyway, if you're still living in the Usa - like I am - you can get competitive quotes here....
Sorry, fellow Americans THAT WAS MEAN!
I just found this article about Europeons who want to travel to other EU countries. They can access the health services of other EU members for free... AHHHH....sounds like civilization, huh?
Sorry, I've had a bad day telling a half dozen pregnant women I couldn't really help them out getting health insurance, unless they can qualify for Medicaid or get on a group plan QUICK!
Well, anyway, if you're still living in the Usa - like I am - you can get competitive quotes here....
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Insurance Quote Co. Does Almost 100,000 Insurance Quotes in August!
Well, insureme must be doing something right!
I go back and forth on the subject of internet insurance quoting, but apparently it is gaining popularity.
I still the best approach for a consumer is to do their research on the internet, and then to check with some local agents. You - as a consumer - can compare premium rates, find out what policies cover, and know which insurance companies are highly rated by services like A.M. Best, Standard & Poor's etc.
Then - when you have an idea of what you can buy for the price you spend, you can site down with an insurance agent pretty confident in your decision.
Of course, I still recommend InsureMe as a place to get quotes, and find agents in your zip code. Click Here to access InsureMe. A quote Only takes about 5 minutes.
I go back and forth on the subject of internet insurance quoting, but apparently it is gaining popularity.
I still the best approach for a consumer is to do their research on the internet, and then to check with some local agents. You - as a consumer - can compare premium rates, find out what policies cover, and know which insurance companies are highly rated by services like A.M. Best, Standard & Poor's etc.
Then - when you have an idea of what you can buy for the price you spend, you can site down with an insurance agent pretty confident in your decision.
Of course, I still recommend InsureMe as a place to get quotes, and find agents in your zip code. Click Here to access InsureMe. A quote Only takes about 5 minutes.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Health Insurance - Good Things to Know!
CNN Posted a good article about health insurance. The first point was that health insurance costs alot, but not having health insurance costs more! Wow.
Here's the CNN Health Insurance article Link - It opens in a new window.
The article also points out that if you employer offers a group health insurance plan, then consider yourself lucky and grab it. I think that is usually good advice. It will often be a better deal than what you can get individually if your employer subsidizes it. If you employer does not subsidize it - well, I'm not sure I always 100% agree with the CNN article. Sometimes Group Health insurance is very expensive because they have to take the whole company - health conditions or not - where individual health insurance is underwritten for everybody - so healthy people get off better.
Reprint From the article - Link is above - Again, I think the article is generally correct - but I could argue some points.
1. Insurance costs a lot but having none costs more.
There are sensible ways to save money on insurance, but skipping coverage isn't one of them. Medical bills from even a minor car accident can deplete your savings -- a major illness can push you into bankruptcy.
2. If your employer offers insurance, grab it.
Group coverage, particularly when it's employer-subsidized, is almost always a better deal than anything you can get on your own, even if you're young and healthy. If you're NOT young and healthy, it's definitely a better deal.
3. Comparing plans is tough but necessary.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as standard coverage. Benefits and costs vary widely from plan to plan. If you have choices, you'll have to examine each one closely to find the best deal.
4. The lowest premium isn't always the cheapest plan.
What your insurance covers is just as important as, and sometimes more important than, what you pay up front. Ultimately, the cheapest plan is the one with the best price for the benefits you're most likely to use.
5. Even good coverage can have big loopholes.
You can count on your health insurance to cover you for a hospital stay. Most policies cover doctor visits, but benefits for mental health, prescription drugs and dental care are strictly optional.
6. You'll pay more for freedom.
Plans with the most comprehensive coverage at the lowest out-of-pocket cost require you to use a specified network of hospitals, doctors, labs, and other providers. The more flexibility you demand, the more you'll pay, in either premiums or co-payments.
7. You can check out networks before signing up.
A growing number of public and private sources compile information on the track records of individual doctors, hospitals, and health plans.
8. You can keep your insurance if you lose your job.
State and federal regulations protect you from losing your health coverage just because you lose your job. Unfortunately, they offer little protection from high premium costs.
9. Working couples have more to think about.
If you and your spouse both get health insurance at work, you must sort out whether it makes more sense to have two policies or for one of you to cover the other. If you have kids, you need to decide who's going to cover them.
10. Tax breaks can help.
Ordinarily medical expenses, including insurance premiums, are not tax deductible until they exceed 7.5% of your income. However, if you're self-employed or your employer offers a flexible spending account, you can get a tax break without meeting the threshold.
Here's the CNN Health Insurance article Link - It opens in a new window.
The article also points out that if you employer offers a group health insurance plan, then consider yourself lucky and grab it. I think that is usually good advice. It will often be a better deal than what you can get individually if your employer subsidizes it. If you employer does not subsidize it - well, I'm not sure I always 100% agree with the CNN article. Sometimes Group Health insurance is very expensive because they have to take the whole company - health conditions or not - where individual health insurance is underwritten for everybody - so healthy people get off better.
Reprint From the article - Link is above - Again, I think the article is generally correct - but I could argue some points.
1. Insurance costs a lot but having none costs more.
There are sensible ways to save money on insurance, but skipping coverage isn't one of them. Medical bills from even a minor car accident can deplete your savings -- a major illness can push you into bankruptcy.
2. If your employer offers insurance, grab it.
Group coverage, particularly when it's employer-subsidized, is almost always a better deal than anything you can get on your own, even if you're young and healthy. If you're NOT young and healthy, it's definitely a better deal.
3. Comparing plans is tough but necessary.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as standard coverage. Benefits and costs vary widely from plan to plan. If you have choices, you'll have to examine each one closely to find the best deal.
4. The lowest premium isn't always the cheapest plan.
What your insurance covers is just as important as, and sometimes more important than, what you pay up front. Ultimately, the cheapest plan is the one with the best price for the benefits you're most likely to use.
5. Even good coverage can have big loopholes.
You can count on your health insurance to cover you for a hospital stay. Most policies cover doctor visits, but benefits for mental health, prescription drugs and dental care are strictly optional.
6. You'll pay more for freedom.
Plans with the most comprehensive coverage at the lowest out-of-pocket cost require you to use a specified network of hospitals, doctors, labs, and other providers. The more flexibility you demand, the more you'll pay, in either premiums or co-payments.
7. You can check out networks before signing up.
A growing number of public and private sources compile information on the track records of individual doctors, hospitals, and health plans.
8. You can keep your insurance if you lose your job.
State and federal regulations protect you from losing your health coverage just because you lose your job. Unfortunately, they offer little protection from high premium costs.
9. Working couples have more to think about.
If you and your spouse both get health insurance at work, you must sort out whether it makes more sense to have two policies or for one of you to cover the other. If you have kids, you need to decide who's going to cover them.
10. Tax breaks can help.
Ordinarily medical expenses, including insurance premiums, are not tax deductible until they exceed 7.5% of your income. However, if you're self-employed or your employer offers a flexible spending account, you can get a tax break without meeting the threshold.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Insurance Agent Leads - Looking for clients in all the wrong places.
O.K. I usually post about insurance issues for clients. However, I know a lot of insurance agents check in here, and I got the idea to start another blog for insurance agents.
I'd love it if you'd check in and comment. The idea here is to talk about qualify products, clients service, and that all important quest - prospecting for clients!
Join me at leadsinsurance.blogspot.com for the insurance agent discussion.
I'd love it if you'd check in and comment. The idea here is to talk about qualify products, clients service, and that all important quest - prospecting for clients!
Join me at leadsinsurance.blogspot.com for the insurance agent discussion.
Online Insurance Quotes - Are they working
The buzz is all about online insurance sales and online insurance quotes. I catch ads for different companies like esurance on TV all the time. TV ads are telling the people to go to the computer to sites like esurance.com and then getting an insurance quote. Then you can quote, and even buy and print your insurance proof cards online. Is this a good thing?
Well, it can be a good thing. As I've written before, some people get upset because the initial premium that is quoted on their computer screen doesn't end up being the final price. There are lots of reasons for this, and it doesn't mean you have been cheated or anything. The company may quote a standard risk, or even a preferred risk, and you could check in as a high risk.
Personally, I prefer an insurance quoting system that lets you compare several companies - not just one.
Here's an easy insurance quoting system that lets you compare several companies online, or contact a local agent in your zip.
Just enter your zip code and the type of insurance you are looking for - i.e. car insurance, health insurance, etc., and you will start the quote. The screens will guide you through the information they need to complete the quote.
Of course, you'll have to enter your zip, etc. because rates are different in different areas.
Well, it can be a good thing. As I've written before, some people get upset because the initial premium that is quoted on their computer screen doesn't end up being the final price. There are lots of reasons for this, and it doesn't mean you have been cheated or anything. The company may quote a standard risk, or even a preferred risk, and you could check in as a high risk.
Personally, I prefer an insurance quoting system that lets you compare several companies - not just one.
Here's an easy insurance quoting system that lets you compare several companies online, or contact a local agent in your zip.
Just enter your zip code and the type of insurance you are looking for - i.e. car insurance, health insurance, etc., and you will start the quote. The screens will guide you through the information they need to complete the quote.
Of course, you'll have to enter your zip, etc. because rates are different in different areas.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Can I find Cheap Insurance???
A Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) about insurance: WILL I FIND THE SAME PRODUCT FOR LESS THROUGH ANOTHER QUOTE SERVICE, AGENT, OR BROKER?
No. A life insurance policy with all the same features will be the same price no matter where you purchase it. Life insurance companies, not agents, set the pricing of the plans.
If you find a plan with a different price than one you’ve been quoted, you may be looking at a different risk class. Ask yourself the following questions: Did a licensed professional help you determine your risk class? Was information gathered on your family history, health, height, weight, medications, tobacco use, hazardous activities, and driving records? Were your responses considered in your rate quote or were you simply quoted the overall lowest rate on the market?
To ensure you receive an accurate quote, professionals gather information on your health and lifestyle before determining your risk class. That’s why it’s important that you answer all questions honestly. A licenced professional, or a little research, can come up with a reasonable quote.
No. A life insurance policy with all the same features will be the same price no matter where you purchase it. Life insurance companies, not agents, set the pricing of the plans.
If you find a plan with a different price than one you’ve been quoted, you may be looking at a different risk class. Ask yourself the following questions: Did a licensed professional help you determine your risk class? Was information gathered on your family history, health, height, weight, medications, tobacco use, hazardous activities, and driving records? Were your responses considered in your rate quote or were you simply quoted the overall lowest rate on the market?
To ensure you receive an accurate quote, professionals gather information on your health and lifestyle before determining your risk class. That’s why it’s important that you answer all questions honestly. A licenced professional, or a little research, can come up with a reasonable quote.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Health Insurance and Your Business or Profession
It's no big secret. High insurance premiums - particularly employee health insurance - can drive business owners to distraction. I cannot tell you how many times I have talked to a small business owner, and a rise in group premium has left him with a huge dilemna. He either needs to cut his health insurance contribution, cut the quality of his health care program, or maybe even fire somebody to contain costs. One serious health problem in a small business can raise his group premium beyond all expectations - sometimes 80% increases are had in one year - and 40% increases are not uncommon!
One solution is raising the employee contribution. Another solution is to offer employees a choice. A higher deductible health plan or a plan with more limited benefits will keep employee contributions level. However, if the employee chooses to keep his same coverage, than he will need to raise the amount taken out of his paycheck for health insurance premiums.
One other choice is to use supplemental insurance to bridge the gap in insurance policies with higher deductibles or less coverage. A lot of times the supplemental insurance premium added to a higher deductible (or limited benefit) health plan will be cheaper than the health plan that is expected to address every cold or hang nail.
It's not a great choice, and maybe Uncle Sam is the only saving grace here. Employee contriubtions and employer contributions are often tax deductible. If the premium dollar reduces the payroll, the payroll tax is also reduced. This can save both the business owner and the guy on the job some money.
A well informed insurance agent can analyze your situation and come up with some options.
Click Here to Compare highly rated insurance companies, or to find a local health insurance agent in your area. You will need to enter your zip and other information so the process can begin.
If you are a health insurance agent who would like to address health insurance concerns, you may be able to increase your contacts by clicking here.
One solution is raising the employee contribution. Another solution is to offer employees a choice. A higher deductible health plan or a plan with more limited benefits will keep employee contributions level. However, if the employee chooses to keep his same coverage, than he will need to raise the amount taken out of his paycheck for health insurance premiums.
One other choice is to use supplemental insurance to bridge the gap in insurance policies with higher deductibles or less coverage. A lot of times the supplemental insurance premium added to a higher deductible (or limited benefit) health plan will be cheaper than the health plan that is expected to address every cold or hang nail.
It's not a great choice, and maybe Uncle Sam is the only saving grace here. Employee contriubtions and employer contributions are often tax deductible. If the premium dollar reduces the payroll, the payroll tax is also reduced. This can save both the business owner and the guy on the job some money.
A well informed insurance agent can analyze your situation and come up with some options.
Click Here to Compare highly rated insurance companies, or to find a local health insurance agent in your area. You will need to enter your zip and other information so the process can begin.
If you are a health insurance agent who would like to address health insurance concerns, you may be able to increase your contacts by clicking here.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Health Insurance Quotes from Your Home Computer
Lots of sites offer health insurance quotes online from the internet, but I'd like to point out a couple of favorites. I would pick these sites for health insurance because they allow you to do business the way you want to.
In other words you can run your insurance quote, and then if you choose, apply for the health insurance right from your computer! You can also run quotes, and then have the contact information for a local insurance agent. I think many people would actually like to speak with an agent to understand what they are choosing.
Remember, you should choose health insurance to protect your assets....and maybe not to fix every hangnail - that's the way you can buy good protection and still have a premium that's affordable.
TEXAS ONLY - CHOOSE FROM MANY ASSURANT HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS OR CONTACT AN AGENT NEAR YOU
NATIONWIDE HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTES AND INSURANCE AGENT FINDER BY YOUR ZIP CODE
In other words you can run your insurance quote, and then if you choose, apply for the health insurance right from your computer! You can also run quotes, and then have the contact information for a local insurance agent. I think many people would actually like to speak with an agent to understand what they are choosing.
Remember, you should choose health insurance to protect your assets....and maybe not to fix every hangnail - that's the way you can buy good protection and still have a premium that's affordable.
TEXAS ONLY - CHOOSE FROM MANY ASSURANT HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS OR CONTACT AN AGENT NEAR YOU
NATIONWIDE HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTES AND INSURANCE AGENT FINDER BY YOUR ZIP CODE
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Why did my policy come back more expensive than the online insurance quote? Is this an insurance scam?
Hi,
One of the most common questions and/or complaints I hear about online insurance quotes is from people who's actually policy got delivered with a higher premium than the initial quote. This tends to upset people, especially if the policy was not delivered by an insurance agent who took time to explain the higher price.
I have to say that insurance companies are one of the most highly regulated industries by state and federal governments. It is unlikely that a licensed insurance company is out there scamming people on the internet. But like any other company, they may be a little - shall we say - optimistic when promoting their products.
Let me tell you a story. I was on a life insurance appointment, and I gave a nice lady her premium quote. She told me that she had done an online insurance quote which was about $10/month cheaper. I looked at the price and compared it to my own company. Then I explained that she might qualify for a similar rate, but only if the policy came back 'preferred'.
Her face lit up, and she said, "Oh yes, that's what I selected...a preferred rate." I tried to explain that you cannot just select a preferred rate but have to qualify by health history, credit, and other factors. I'm sure the situation is similar with car insurance, only they would consider a driving record.
The lady didn't get it. I did not make a sale. See, I am usually conservative and quote a standard rate while explaining that I will try to make a case for a preferred rates. Apparently the online websites are quoting preferred rates and hoping the consumers will accept a higher rate in case they don't qualify.
I hope this story illustrates why advertised rates may seem better than agent quotes - and why sometimes the advertised rates won't be YOUR premium rate.
I like this insurance quoting service because you can get online insurance quotes, and also a local agent finder. That way, if you have questions about some of the plans outlined on the internet, you can follow up with a call to a local agent.
INSUREME - CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE QUOTES AND A LOCAL AGENT FINDER
If you are a local insurance agent - i.e. you provide life insurance, health insurance, long term care insurance, auto insurance, and/or homeowners insurance, you can find out how to get listed with insureme. You can help inform consumers, and if you provide good service, it should help you grow your business. Insurance agents, click here to find out about insurance leads with insureme.
One of the most common questions and/or complaints I hear about online insurance quotes is from people who's actually policy got delivered with a higher premium than the initial quote. This tends to upset people, especially if the policy was not delivered by an insurance agent who took time to explain the higher price.
I have to say that insurance companies are one of the most highly regulated industries by state and federal governments. It is unlikely that a licensed insurance company is out there scamming people on the internet. But like any other company, they may be a little - shall we say - optimistic when promoting their products.
Let me tell you a story. I was on a life insurance appointment, and I gave a nice lady her premium quote. She told me that she had done an online insurance quote which was about $10/month cheaper. I looked at the price and compared it to my own company. Then I explained that she might qualify for a similar rate, but only if the policy came back 'preferred'.
Her face lit up, and she said, "Oh yes, that's what I selected...a preferred rate." I tried to explain that you cannot just select a preferred rate but have to qualify by health history, credit, and other factors. I'm sure the situation is similar with car insurance, only they would consider a driving record.
The lady didn't get it. I did not make a sale. See, I am usually conservative and quote a standard rate while explaining that I will try to make a case for a preferred rates. Apparently the online websites are quoting preferred rates and hoping the consumers will accept a higher rate in case they don't qualify.
I hope this story illustrates why advertised rates may seem better than agent quotes - and why sometimes the advertised rates won't be YOUR premium rate.
I like this insurance quoting service because you can get online insurance quotes, and also a local agent finder. That way, if you have questions about some of the plans outlined on the internet, you can follow up with a call to a local agent.
INSUREME - CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE QUOTES AND A LOCAL AGENT FINDER
If you are a local insurance agent - i.e. you provide life insurance, health insurance, long term care insurance, auto insurance, and/or homeowners insurance, you can find out how to get listed with insureme. You can help inform consumers, and if you provide good service, it should help you grow your business. Insurance agents, click here to find out about insurance leads with insureme.
Monday, September 11, 2006
National Health Insurance
I know...I know...
It's probably heresy for a life and health insurance agent to advocate for some sort of national health insurance for all Americans....BUt I'm here to tell you...we need to do something.
How can middle income Americans afford to lay out 5,000 a year for health insurance for their families? Well, I've done it by driving very old cars into the ground, eating lots of beans, etc....
And you may say that's a valid choice. But it's a choice I can make. What about others who cannot even come up with the premium because they are already skimping on other things to survivie.
Plus we've already discussed the problems of people with high risk problems like diabetes, cancer, current pregnancy, etc. in getting any sort of insurance plan.
Here's a Link to a National Health Insurance Bill from John Conyers of Michigan.
...and until that day comes, go quote yourself some health insurance....
It's probably heresy for a life and health insurance agent to advocate for some sort of national health insurance for all Americans....BUt I'm here to tell you...we need to do something.
How can middle income Americans afford to lay out 5,000 a year for health insurance for their families? Well, I've done it by driving very old cars into the ground, eating lots of beans, etc....
And you may say that's a valid choice. But it's a choice I can make. What about others who cannot even come up with the premium because they are already skimping on other things to survivie.
Plus we've already discussed the problems of people with high risk problems like diabetes, cancer, current pregnancy, etc. in getting any sort of insurance plan.
Here's a Link to a National Health Insurance Bill from John Conyers of Michigan.
...and until that day comes, go quote yourself some health insurance....
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Women and Insurance Part 2
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, as the cost of health insurance continues to rise, women face more challenges. They are less likely to have health insurance from work, and are more likely to be the health decision maker for their families.
More than 17 Million American women are uninsured. Here's a Link to the Article on Women and Health Insurance
I've also started a topic on this, and I'd love to have a discussion on Women and Health Insurance issues. If you have questions, people will be available to try and anwer them! Here's a Link to the Woman Work Message Board.
More than 17 Million American women are uninsured. Here's a Link to the Article on Women and Health Insurance
I've also started a topic on this, and I'd love to have a discussion on Women and Health Insurance issues. If you have questions, people will be available to try and anwer them! Here's a Link to the Woman Work Message Board.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Women and Insurance
Women may have special considerations when it comes to life and health insurance. For instance, in the same premium class by age and health, life insurance is usually a little cheaper for women. However, health insurance is more expensive..
As I have posted before, young people often consider health insurance a luxury they really don't need. However, I am often called by young women (or their signifigant others) to find health insurance after the woman has already gotten pregnant. This is a big problem.
Also, women may need to get their children on health insurance. They may have options like CHIPS or Medicaid if they are fairly low income. If they cannot qualify for government insurance for children, they may be shocked that they can usually only get a child's rate if an adult is also on the policy. If all of the people on the policy are children, the oldest child usually gets the youngest adult rate - and usually a stardard (not preferred) rate. They may actually find it doesn't cost that much more to put an adult on the policy than to put everybody on the policy.
I have started a new website for women. I call it WomanWork - because we all do our own work. Network, talk and read about issues we face, and maybe even find an online home.
Click Here to Join me at WomanWork!
As I have posted before, young people often consider health insurance a luxury they really don't need. However, I am often called by young women (or their signifigant others) to find health insurance after the woman has already gotten pregnant. This is a big problem.
Also, women may need to get their children on health insurance. They may have options like CHIPS or Medicaid if they are fairly low income. If they cannot qualify for government insurance for children, they may be shocked that they can usually only get a child's rate if an adult is also on the policy. If all of the people on the policy are children, the oldest child usually gets the youngest adult rate - and usually a stardard (not preferred) rate. They may actually find it doesn't cost that much more to put an adult on the policy than to put everybody on the policy.
I have started a new website for women. I call it WomanWork - because we all do our own work. Network, talk and read about issues we face, and maybe even find an online home.
Click Here to Join me at WomanWork!
Houston Texas Tops for Patient Trust In Doctors
Well, here's some good news for Texans. Patients in Houston - home of the famous Medical Center - trust their doctors!!! Besides that Dallas ranked second.
It was interesting to me that patients in big cities trusted doctors more than people in rural areas.
Read The article about Doctor Trust, and see all of the statistics by clicking this link.
It was interesting to me that patients in big cities trusted doctors more than people in rural areas.
Read The article about Doctor Trust, and see all of the statistics by clicking this link.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Research Insurance Blog is Really Awesome
O.K. let me take a break from the insurance blues to blow my own horn!
This blog - yes Research Insurance or http://researchinsurance.blogspot.com has been selected as one of the AWESOME MILLION!
Here's My AWESOME LINK
This blog - yes Research Insurance or http://researchinsurance.blogspot.com has been selected as one of the AWESOME MILLION!
Here's My AWESOME LINK
Sunday, September 03, 2006
California Cosiders State Health Insurance
California is toying with the idea of a state run health insurance plan, based on income. READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROPOSAL
I have a simpler idea.
I think the government should offer a catastrophic plan to citizens. It might be modeled after Medicare Part A, the "hospital" coverage plan given to senior citizens and some disabled people.
I don't know how it will be funded though. Again, perhaps it should be funded with premiums based on income - or maybe a big bake sale (LOL).
I don't even know how Medicare Part D (RX plan for seniors) will get funded. Do You?
I have a simpler idea.
I think the government should offer a catastrophic plan to citizens. It might be modeled after Medicare Part A, the "hospital" coverage plan given to senior citizens and some disabled people.
I don't know how it will be funded though. Again, perhaps it should be funded with premiums based on income - or maybe a big bake sale (LOL).
I don't even know how Medicare Part D (RX plan for seniors) will get funded. Do You?
Friday, September 01, 2006
Get the Insurance before you get pregnant! PLEASE!
I get this call about 3 times a week.
HELP. I/My Wife/My Girlfriend/a friend of mine is pregnant and we need health insurance.
Look - no individual health plan will pick up a pregnant woman - at least, none that I know of. Most individual health plans don't even cover a normal pregnancy anyway. This really is something to consider. Having kids is expensive. It even gets more expensive after they are born.
The thing is...most individual plans will not even begin coverage on ANYBODY IN THE FAMILY - if the woman is pregnant. It's rough, but true. Why? Well, if they cover the dad, then they have to pick up the baby as soon as it's born without underwriting. That's fine - they will do that if the parents have coverage before the prengancy - AFTER THE PREGNANCY, YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE BABY IS BORN. (whew, sorry for shouting).
If you are pregnant, and do not have any coverage, you have a couple of options. You can look at Medicaid, but you have to meet low income guidelines. I understand that the guidelines are a little more relaxed for pregnant women, but you would have to check with your state medicaid office.
You may still be able to get on a group plan. I am lead to believe that group plans cannot consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition. Of course, you would have to have a job (or a spouse with a job) that provided group coverage.
Otherwise, you can join a network - not insurance, that at least would give you negotiated rates for services. We all know that insurance companies pay much less for services than uninsured people pay (or at least get billed for).
Whatever...it is much better to consider the expense of a pregnancy before doing the deed. Accidents do happen.
You may also consider Maternity Card. They will provide network discounts, the names of doctors and hospitals that are willing to work with uninsured pregnant women, etc. MATERNITY CARD AND AHCO WEBSITE
HELP. I/My Wife/My Girlfriend/a friend of mine is pregnant and we need health insurance.
Look - no individual health plan will pick up a pregnant woman - at least, none that I know of. Most individual health plans don't even cover a normal pregnancy anyway. This really is something to consider. Having kids is expensive. It even gets more expensive after they are born.
The thing is...most individual plans will not even begin coverage on ANYBODY IN THE FAMILY - if the woman is pregnant. It's rough, but true. Why? Well, if they cover the dad, then they have to pick up the baby as soon as it's born without underwriting. That's fine - they will do that if the parents have coverage before the prengancy - AFTER THE PREGNANCY, YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE BABY IS BORN. (whew, sorry for shouting).
If you are pregnant, and do not have any coverage, you have a couple of options. You can look at Medicaid, but you have to meet low income guidelines. I understand that the guidelines are a little more relaxed for pregnant women, but you would have to check with your state medicaid office.
You may still be able to get on a group plan. I am lead to believe that group plans cannot consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition. Of course, you would have to have a job (or a spouse with a job) that provided group coverage.
Otherwise, you can join a network - not insurance, that at least would give you negotiated rates for services. We all know that insurance companies pay much less for services than uninsured people pay (or at least get billed for).
Whatever...it is much better to consider the expense of a pregnancy before doing the deed. Accidents do happen.
You may also consider Maternity Card. They will provide network discounts, the names of doctors and hospitals that are willing to work with uninsured pregnant women, etc. MATERNITY CARD AND AHCO WEBSITE
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