Thursday, March 26, 2009

Medical Insurance Quotes Online

By: Howard Kaufman

When seeking to obtain medical insurance quotes online, it is important to keep in mind a few things when evaluating your options:

Don't just look the amount of your monthly premium. Many people get fixated and blind sighted by this number. It is easy to be beguiled into thinking that the monthly premium dollar amount - the amount that you write that check payable to your health insurance company every month - is how much your insurance costs.

What you need to be looking at is the big picture. When shopping around for medical insurance quotes online, the question you should be asking yourself is: What is my total cost of health care going to be if I choose this health insurance plan?

So as you research various medical insurance quotes online, you really should be looking for the following information. Get out that calculator, because you will need to do some basic arithmetic to compute your total cost of health care, over the course of one year.

1. Take the monthly premium and multiply it by 12. This is the total amount of money you would be spending in one year just to maintain health insurance coverage.
2. Take the total annual deductible for your household that you anticipate you might use up and add it to the above number. (If unsure, just use the maximum amount.)
3. Now, calculate, on average, how many times you and your dependents anticipate that you will be visiting a doctor and will need to pay copays. Multiple this number times the dollar amount of your office visit copay. Add the result to the running total from step #2 above.
4. Next, calculate, on average, how often and what types of prescription drugs you will be requiring over the course of the year. Do you know how much your copay for the prescriptions are? Calculate the total cost you will be spending on prescription drugs in one year. Add this to your running total.

This number doesn't even take into account those items that are not covered by the specific insurance plan. Nor does it take into account any amount of coinsurance you may have to pay. The point is that, your true cost of health care is what you should be comparing when seeking medical insurance quotes online, not just the monthly premium.

In some cases, you may be better off with a higher monthly premium if it means not having to pay a deductible or coinsurance. Or, in some cases, you may be better off with the lower monthly premium, if it means that you have a higher deductible and are less likely to use it up.

About the Author

Not sure which health insurance plan is the right one for you? Compare health plans now and get a free insurance quote.

Medical Insurance Quotes Online

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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Auto Insurance Company Ratings: What Is Your Insurer Rated?

By: Elle

Is it really important to search out the rankings among auto insurance companies? When purchasing auto insurance, you are absolutely want to be sure that you are getting the right coverage from the right company. Checking auto insurance company ratings is one of the best ways to find good insurance provider.

Ratings are the results of large surveys on auto insurance. In most cases, people who have had their experiences with different insurance providers are asked to rate these companies based on various areas. Some of the areas you need to consider when looking for ideal car insurance provider may include the multiple coverage options being offered, reasonable rates, good handling of claims, overall customer satisfaction and others.

Remember that these ratings are not absolute and are basically the opinions of a number of consumers. Hence, it does not represent the whole consumer base. Furthermore, some ratings on auto insurance have its own limitations and you have to better understand these limitations. The better you understand it, the better you can use this as your guide to make an absolute decision.

Ratings are also limited to a certain area or vicinities therefore the top scorers may not be available in your area. It also reflects the perceptions of the average consumer of the insurance company and its service and it does not assure any of its kind. You have to be opened to the possibility that you may have had bad experience dealing with a particular company, other consumers may experience different.

Ratings can also produce inaccurate results especially if it is based on false surveys. These are those surveys that do not verify any ownership of the services or products being surveyed from the respondents. Rating companies may do this by asking random potential respondents for their opinions with regards to the services of a particular insurance company. Even without the assurance of that respondent if he or she is actually uses that insurer.

When a particular auto insurance company is well known, it does not necessarily mean that if offers great customer service. Being a smart consumer, you have to do your own home work. Do your own research before making a smart decision to which insurer to buy your policies from.

A particular insurance company that offers low cost car insurance may not provide you quality service. Most especially if you are having a hard time reaching the company to answer your queries or deal with your concerns. You also have to make sure that you will choose a company that will handle the claims promptly and fairly when you get involved in an accident.

When choosing the right auto insurance company, part of the process is to get quotes from various car insurance providers. This is the ideal step to start and when the time you already have this quotes you can compare and start rank the companies yourself.

Insurance experts recommend that all consumers must compare rates from multiple insurance companies every six months to make sure that their rates are competitive. A few minutes of research can lead you to a undreds or even thousands of savings on car insurance.

About the Author

Find the best and ideal cheap auto insurance quote for your cars today! Visit our website now to get the best car insurance rates and save more money and time on affordable auto insurance!

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Life Insurance – Classified and Defined

By: heenu

Life insurance is not a new term. It’s in the Indian market for the past so many years. Privatization promoted it more. So, today most of us can nod their heads when asked if they have heard the name life insurance; but their won’t be many who would be able to explain what life insurance actually means. Ask them, do they know what kind of insurance policies are found in the market. Let me give you a brief idea about it: 

The first kinds are known as variable life insurance policies. With adjustable premiums or level coverage, these are best for the people whose income varies. These are typically good for business people who are habitual of loss and profit. These are also suitable for long term obligations and those willing to assume higher risks for sudden and drastic reduction in benefits. 

The second kind are single premium or whole life insurance policies. These are level policies with fixed premiums, providing level coverage and subsequent returns. In this kind of policy cash value generally increases with the increase in profit margin of the insurance company. This kind of policy is generally good for those who can invest a large amount of money – say Rs 30,000 – 50,000/- minimum in one slot. 

The third kind are known as level term polices. These come with predecided fixed term or periods of insurance like 5, 10, 15, 20… years. In this the sum assured and benefits are generally paid on the death of the insurer. These kind of policies are generally used for funding buy – sell agreements and key man insurance. It is also taken by people involved in high risk jobs like aviation, skiing and army personnel. 

The fourth kind is known as decreasing term insurance policies. These are best suited for financial obligations which reduce with time such as mortgages. 

The fifth and the last category of life insurance are known as annual renewable term policies. In this the premium amount increases with the increasing term of the policy providing level coverage. These are good wherein the financial obligations remain limited or less for a short duration of time. Child policies are the best example in this category. 

Hopefully, this has given you a better understanding of what kind of insurance are generally sold in the market. By now you must have got a fair idea of insurance. This must help you in taking the decision for taking a policy. To have a better understanding of Life Insurance, log on to the various insurance websites, call on the insurance advisor and choose the one which suits you best. 

About the Author

Get generic information on life insurance plans, life insurance policy, life insurance company, term plans, life insurance providers and life insurance services

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Low Rate Car Insurance Quote

By: Obinna Heche

In times when the economy is down and finances are tough, it is imperative to locate ways to reduce their regular payments in order to stay within their fiscal boundaries. It is at times like these that a review of certain mandatory expenses should be checked. One such expenditure to examine is your automobile insurance. One place that is easy and quick to reduce monthly expenses is by checking a low rate car insurance quote by reviewing your current policy. 

The first step in securing low rate car insurance is to visit internet sites that offer free quotes. It is possible to quickly reduce your monthly expenses by comparing rates with many different insurance companies. Furthermore, obtaining a low rate car insurance policy online is easy and takes less than a few minutes time. 

When you have located a low rate car insurance policy that will meet your needs and is within your budget, you can set the effective date of coverage, now or in the future. This will allow you to cancel your current policy, and in some cases you may be due a refund of paid premiums. There is no requirement that you must wait until your current policy expires before making your new low cost insurance policy effective. This is because all insurance policies are written for present coverage and are pre-paid on a daily basis. If you cancel your policy, prior to the expiration date, you are entitled to a refund of premiums not used. 

You can secure a low rate car insurance policy that will suit your needs and budget as well as protect you simply by clicking on may free quote links on the internet. Due to the move of many insurance companies to solicit new customers on the internet, competition for your business is fierce. In the very competitive field of low rate car insurance, the consumer wins with a better premium amount. 

The competitive nature of insurance companies has also helped consumers realize cheaper insurance premiums. Although the majority of costs on everyday products have increased as much as 15% this previous year, the average insurance premium has increased less than 3%. This financial benefit makes it feasible and good economic sense to shop around for low rate car insurance. The online quotes are free and takes very little time to fill out the forms. If you find a policy that is suitable for your needs and saves you money, you can purchase the policy and print out your insurance papers immediately. Take a moment now and see how much you can save on a low rate car insurance policy, it might just help you through these tough economic times.

About the Author

Obinna Heche is an acknowledged expert in his field and resides in California, USA. For more details visit his site at.. http://autoinsurancelow.com

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Life Insurance Plan as Fixed Deposit

By: heenu

Not all life insurance plans give fixed benefits, especially if it’s a ULIP. Still, there are life insurance policy which work out as fixed deposits of bank. These come under the category of life insurance plans with fixed or guaranteed plans. Often these are known as Endowment plans. 

In this kind of life insurance plan you can make a once in a life time payment of the premium and reap the benefits. In this kind of insurance plan the maturity benefit you receive depends on the term selected and the amount paid as one time premium. Generally, this kind of insurance has the minimum age of insurance as 18years and maximum time as 60years. The total age covered is upto 75 years. The term for insurance generally is 5, 7, and 15 or 20 years, you can choose the term as per you capability. 

This kind of life insurance is good as one can also take loan on the basis of this policy. However, for the first 3 years of taking policy you cannot take the loan. On the completion of the 3 year term, one can take the loan. The amount of loan approved depends entirely upon the number of years the policy has been taken. 

In this kind of plan the life insurance cover increases every year to combat inflation. The life insurance plan also provides enhanced Accident Rider. This feature makes it a very good plan for those with low incomes and those who can invest a large amount once in a lifetime. Those who have also have a number of dependents, should also take this policy. 

Generally, the premiums paid for the insurance qualify for tax rebate under Sec 88 of Income Tax Act, 1961 and the returns are fully exempted under Sec 10(10D). So, invest in an insurance policy and make your future life as easy as possible. 

About the Author

A number of Life Insurance Company like ICICI Prudential, HDFC Standard and Aegon Religare offer such insurance policies. Though all of them vary a little in terms of presentations, guidelines and benefits, still all of them work on the same base line as proposed by IRDA.

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Find Auto Insurance Quotes - Its Getting Easier!

By: Nick Vernon

Whats the fastest way to get car insurance quotes? Going online of course! Though finding quotes online is much quicker than approaching several insurance companies via the offline methods, the internet search can become tedious too in the absence of focused ideas. Imagine the chances of getting lost in the ocean of information provided by the several auto insurance quotes websites. This is a hurdle only if the buyers are entirely blank about their requirements and the trends in the market. 

Therefore, it is crucial for the browsers to first narrow down their searches if they are wishing to view instant rates. For this, all one will need is to be equipped with the basic details about their automobiles such as their make, Serial Security Number, any previous accidents or claims, etc. If the buyers are having a brief overview about the kind of coverage that they expect for their automobiles, it is a much added advantage to narrow down the search to the specific areas of interest. Prefer the dependable auto insurance quotes comparison website, which can be ranked based on the ratings and reviews from the earlier visitors to the website. 

Prioritize the insurance companies offering the extra comprehensive coverage such as protection against violence, natural calamities, theft, and so on. There are the discussion forums that will give a clearer insight about the experiences of the masses, which can be used to ones advantage. 

Making the Best Use of the Auto Insurance Quotes 

Having a hard copy of the desirable auto insurance quotes and all the terms specified by the company will be beneficial in assisting the buyer to understand the liabilities of the insurance companies along with their policies. It is advised to take notes if the insurance companies agents contact offline. If the buyer is performing the comparisons and approaching the companies online, then they are sure to get almost instant responses for quotes. Pulling off a better deal, which saves money and time, is much possible with the internet shopping of the auto insurance quotes. 

There are easy comparing options and tools available in most of these websites that automates the work of equating each aspect of the thousands of auto insurance quotes available in the internet. The best part is that almost all these online rate checks are free of cost. If one is still having their misgivings about the effectiveness of online auto insurance quotes, then its time they gave it a try, it cant hurt and might even save you some money.

About the Author

If you are worried about car insurance cost go to my website, put in your zip code, choose one of the companies that come up, and fill out one of their forms. It's free and cant hurt any, you might even save some money. Check it out here, online auto insurance quote

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Which Are the Best Companies for Car Insurance in England?

By: Allison Mac

There are many options for car insurance in England to choose from. Doing your homework before choosing a car insurance policy is important as prices can vary by hundreds of dollars. However even though some companies may be cheaper, be sure that the coverage you really need for yourself and your vehicle is included in your insurance rate. The premium you pay will depend on your individual circumstances and needs. I have two recommendations for car insurance companies in England for you to consider. 

The first is RAC. RAC is a big company with a great reputation. Everyone who takes out a comprehensive car insurance policy with RAC gets their Roadside Cover included for the first year. This is a great deal and a big savings. As of June 2008, 66% of RAC’s customers pay a premium of 350 pounds or less. That’s a pretty good statistic. As well as the multitude of benefits RAC offers, you also have the option to take up their Uninsured Loss Recovery Service and 24 hour legal helpline for a small additional premium. RAC is worth exploring if you’re looking at car insurance companies in England. 

Another great company to look at while shopping around is Easycover. They are not an actual insurance company they are a car insurance service. Easycover was the first online car insurance quote service that allows you to complete one easy form and get quotes from many different companies. Using this service allows you to save a lot of time and gain a lot of information quickly. Easycover will point you in the right direction for the right price, the right service and the right policy for you. 

Once you have made your decision on which car insurance company in England to go with, I would highly recommend purchasing your policy online. The reason for this is that many companies will offer a 10% discount when purchasing online and every discount helps. Shop around before buying and explore your options. You will likely be pleasantly surprised by the deal you can get. 

About the Author

To learn much more about the different types of car insurance and to receive a free car insurance quote, visit BestCarInsurance4You.com where you’ll find this and much more, including information on Saga car insurance.

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Why Choose Allstate Car Insurance?

By: Allison Mac

Car insurance of course is the law but it is also extremely important in order to protect yourself and your vehicle. You have likely made some really important choices as to what kind of car to buy. Now you must make another important choice… which car insurance company to use. Allstate is a very large reputable car insurance company. Here are some statistics on Allstate Car Insurance in order to help you make an informed choice to find the right coverage without it costing you an arm and a leg. 

Allstate Car Insurance has 4 plans to choose from: 

1. Platinum Package: 

• Accident Forgiveness (Multiple Accidents) 
• Helps keep your rates from going up just because of an accident. Even if it's your fault. 
• Safe Driving Bonus 
• Introducing the Safe Driving Bonus Check*, for every six months of accident-free driving you have the opportunity to earn a check of up to 5% of your premium. This is in addition to any other Allstate discounts you qualify for. 
• Deductible Rewards 
• You'll get $100 off your Collision deductible the day you sign up. And then $100 off every year you go without an accident. Up to $500 total. 
• New Car Replacement (optional) 
• If your new car gets totaled in the first three model years, you may be able to get a totally new car - not just a check for the depreciated value. 

2. Gold Package: 

• Accident Forgiveness 
• Helps keep your rates from going up just because of an accident. Even if it's your fault. 
• Deductible Rewards 
• You'll get $100 off your Collision deductible the day you sign up. And then $100 off every year you go without an accident. Up to $500 total. 
• New Car Replacement (optional) 
• If your new car gets totaled in the first three model years, you may be able to get a totally new car - not just a check for the depreciated value. 

3. Standard Policy: 

• Accident Forgiveness 
• After 5 years for eligible customers. 

4. Value Package: 

• Allstate® Easy Pay Plan 
• Lets you pay your bills automatically - no stress, no worry. 

Allstate Car Insurance also offers many discounts that are worth looking into. There are safe driver discounts, safe car discounts, discounts for drivers with multiple Allstate policies, as well as discounts for students and seniors. 

On top of all these discounts Allstate also offers an environmental option where they will donate $10 to national, environmentally conscious organizations. In my opinion every little bit helps and if I’m going to be driving a car, I figure the least I can do is to help the environment in every other way possible. For all of these reasons Allstate Car Insurance is a great company and worth looking into. 

About the Author

To learn much more about the different types of car insurance and to receive a free car insurance quote, visit BestCarInsurance4You.com where you’ll find this and much more, including information on car insurance for women.

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The Rules of Auto Insurance Buying

By: Elle

There are many ways to purchase auto insurance that fits your needs. But how can you find companies offering attractive auto insurance rates? You have to remember that every auto insurance company provides its own rates for each driver category. So, while one offer can be cheap for your friends, it can be the opposite for you. This is due to differing circumstances of your personal details, risk and car particulars. And because of this, you need to be more than just a taker of the first offer.

Know what type of insurance you need. The basic types of auto insurance are:
1. Bodily injury liability, which provides coverage for bodily injury claims from the people you might injure in an accident;
2. Property damage liability, which covers any property damages to third parties -- such as another person's car you damage -- which you cause or are responsible for;
3. Medical payments to the policy owner and other passengers in the policy owner’s car;
4. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which protects you when the negligent driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance (in most states, this covers only bodily injury losses -- though some states also include property damage losses.
5. Physical damage covers damage to your car
a. collision, which covers losses to your car when you are involved in a collision 
b. comprehensive, which covers most non-collision physical damage to your car.

Shop around, and shop more to see different quotes from different companies. You can get free auto insurance quotes online by using the search engines in your browser. Google, Yahoo, MSN and AOL are just some of the more widely used. Being connected to the net, and using the various auto insurance services that you can access allows you to have more choices. Given the information in your hand, you can arrive at an informed decision of what is the best auto insurance coverage for you and your family.

Prepare yourself before the search. And what preparations, you might say? You need to understand what you need from your auto insurance policy, so that carriers can provide an auto insurance quote that's tailored for your needs. Once you feel confident about the information you have in your hands, getting free quotes for auto insurance online is just a breeze.

Have your records within reach. These records include but are not limited to your existing policy, driver's license and social security number. Referencing any quote with your coverage, your current policy would give you a strong basis for comparison, when filling in those online forms.

Know your driving details. Once online insurance engines receive and review your query, they base their auto insurance quote on the type of liability, property, and medical coverage you now have, your vehicle, your financial history as well as your driving record, driving violations and accident claims, your residence, your line of work, and the driving miles you have logged.

Compare the quotes. Once you have completed the form and a quote was given back to you, compare the features, clauses and offers, along with the payment costs and plans, side by side.

Proceed with caution. Recently, documented cases of scams involving the offer of “cheap” auto insurance to unsuspecting consumers have been on the rise. It is difficult to know which a scam is and which is not. These offers appear to be genuine, but if you look further, they are nothing less than high-stake scams, intended to lure people into paying for auto insurance coverage that is either invalid or nonexistent.

By knowing these insurance buying rules, you are on your way to searching for the auto insurance that is best for your budget and your needs.

About the Author

Find the best and ideal cheap auto insurance quote for your cars today! Visit our website now to get the best car insurance rates and save more money and time on affordable auto insurance!

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Monday, March 2, 2009

Check Car Insurance Before You Buy - Know What Your Getting!

By: Nick Vernon

When you buy a car, you check many things: the engine condition, brand name, odometer reading (or whether the odometer has been tampered with), the working condition of accessories such as steering, brakes, clutch, gear, stereo system, wipers, the color of the vehicle, and so on. However, not many will check the car insurance premium one has to pay. Those who have not checked the insurance premium will make sure that they will check it the next time they buy a car. The premium usually will be unbelievably high. If you check the car insurance premium before buying the car, you can devise many ways to reduce the premium amount. The rules regarding motor insurance varies from state to state in the USA. It is better to hire the service of an experienced and trustworthy insurance consultant; however, most people cannot afford a consultant in this troubled times for economy. The internet offers excellent solutions to overcome your car insurance blues. 

Many websites offer free online car insurance quotes. You need to enter only some basic personal details and information about your vehicle. You will get insurance quotes instantly from all the leading auto insurance companies. This helps you to select a suitable insurance scheme by yourself, without the interference of an agent. 

If you are prepared to make some compromises when you buy a vehicle, you can easily lower your insurance premium. For example, the insurance premium for luxury sedans and sports utility vehicles is higher than that of other light motor vehicles. If you are really looking for saving money, you can opt for smaller cars that provide almost the same kind of facilities. By doing this, you can considerably reduce the operational cost of the vehicle too. 

Usually, if the car is very old, the insurance premium tends to be higher. This is because as the vehicle becomes old, the risk associated with it for accidents and breakdowns becomes higher. Therefore, before you buy a vehicle, you need to check how much the auto insurance will cost. 

If the car has some special extra utilities attached to it, you may get reduction in insurance; however, it depends on the legislation of individual states. For example, in some states, cars equipped with a good quality burglar alarm will get a discount in insurance premium amount. Also, any type of safety feature is most likely going to get you some sort of discount.

About the Author

Need auto insurance quotes? go to my website, put in your zip code, choose one of the companies that come up, and fill out one of their forms. It's free and cant hurt any, you might even save some money. Check it out here--> cheap auto insurance quote

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Cheap Auto Insurance - The Best Ways to Get A Good Price

By: Nick Vernon

Listed here are few effective ways of making the better deals out of the auto insurance premiums. They are simple and quicker steps to bring the positive change one had been wishing for managing their auto premiums in a better manner. Remember these are just helpful tips and everyone must try to do there best to get the best quality quotes they can. 

Fixing the Glitches while Purchasing the Auto Insurances 

Experts suggest that individuals must take necessary steps for raising the deductible and choose the auto insurances with improved liability coverage. It is possible to maintain the same premiums even after these modifications. Consulting insurance professional for reaching a trade off between the coverage offered and premiums to be paid will be a fruitful option. In addition to the auto insurances, money can be saved by purchasing the medical payments coverage, which will provide the medical expenses in the case of accidents. However, care must be taken that these personal injury protection and health coverage policies are not beyond what is necessary. Another useful tip from the experts is, while the insurance company mention about the total liability coverage they offer, it is crucial to make note of the sum paid per injured person. The best deal will be to suggest the insurers about dividing the amount paid per injured person and per accident into equal proportions. 

Tips While Shopping for the Auto Insurances 

First and foremost, the choices are aplenty if the individual has good credit and driving record. However, if one does not possess a spotless driving history then concentrating on those insurance policies that are flexible about this factor is essential. Considering the umbrella insurance policies that covers both the automobile and home will save more money in cases of individuals owning asserts. Another way of getting better coverage is to buy rental insurances that will compensate the amount to be paid to the temporarily rented cars while the insured car is repaired after an accident. There are other such innumerable offers from the insurance companies and all one has to do is browse sufficiently prior to purchasing. Internet is flooded with all kinds of necessary details, which one must master to locate. If the state provides cost guidelines for auto insurances then the work will be made easy. If you can find state by state insurance info you can go to your states insurance website to find more specific info.

About the Author

Need an online car insurance quote? Go to clicksmore.com for auto insurance quotes

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Taxes On Life Insurance - They Could Bite You In The But If You're Not Careful

By: Ryan Richardson

Many people know what a truly valuable investment life insurance can be. Aside from the obvious fact that your family would receive a predetermined sum of money if you should pass away prematurely, there are also a number of tax benefits that can benefit a lot of people. However, there are some taxes on life insurance that you should know about to help maximize the amount your family gets if a death benefit is paid out. 

When death benefits are paid out from a life insurance policy they are usually free of any federal income taxes. But what some people are not aware of is that the proceeds of a life insurance policy may be subject to estate taxes. Estate taxes can be as high as 45% but there are some {legal ways to avoid|ways to legally avoid|legal ways to get around}}} paying this. 

If you own the life insurance policy it will be included in your estate and eligible for estate taxes. One way around this is to not be the owner of the policy yourself. Rather, you can have the people that you would name as beneficiaries take out a life insurance policy on you. If you were to pass away your family members would be able to cash in the life insurance policy and since it was never in your name it would not be part of your estate and therefore not subject to estate taxes. 

Another way to do this would be through the use of an irrevocable life insurance trust. An ILIT will ensure that any death benefits would be distributed to the right people but you would not have any ownership of the life insurance policy itself which would make those benefits subject to estate taxes. In this case the trust would have ownership of the policy and therefore any proceeds and those proceeds would not become part of your estate and therefore not taxable. 

The laws and regulations concerning estate taxes are constantly changing and it is highly recommended that you consult a financial planner or other competent professional regarding advice on tax matters and estate planning. Taking the time to properly plan for the inevitable could save your family a fortune.

About the Author

If you need to answer the questionHow Does Life Insurance Work?, or how can I find Cheap Term Life Insurance? You might want to check out some of my other articles.

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Looking for Low Cost Homeowners Insurance? - Don't Make These Mistakes

By: Ryan Richardson

Your House is an enormous investment and an investment that large needs to be protected. That's what homeowners insurance will do for you. Homeowners insurance is very important but you can avoid overpaying and obtain low cost homeowners insurance if you avoid making these common mistakes. 

Mistake #1. Insuring your home for the amount of its purchase price. 

Many people think "I paid $275,000 for my home therefore I need $275,000 worth of homeowners insurance coverage". This simply is not the case. A sizable portion of the purchase price of a home goes to the land that the home is built on. If your house were to be completely destroyed you would have to pay to rebuild your home but you would not have to buy the land again, therefore you should determine what it would cost to rebuild your home and whatever figure you come up with is the amount of insurance coverage you should have. 

Mistake #2. Having a very low deductible. 

The deductible is the amount you have to pay before the insurance company pays out any benefits. A lot of people choose to have a low deductible so that if they need to make an insurance claim they will not have to come up with very much money out of pocket. The problem with this is that having a very low deductible means also having higher monthly premium payments. If you do need to make a claim of a relatively low dollar amount you may not have to pay much money out of pocket but after making such a claim your premiums will generally go up anyway. So instead of having a $250 deductible just in case your fence blows down in a wind storm, it may be better to have a $500 or even a $1000 deductible with much smaller monthly premium payments. If your fence blows down in the wind, pay to replace it yourself and keep your premiums low in case you ever need your insurance to cover more substantial damage. 

Mistake #3. Choosing the first homeowners insurance company you come across. 

By simply going with the first insurance company in the phone book or the one that your real estate agent recommends you don't really know what you're missing. To save money in your quest for low cost homeowners insurance you should do some comparison shopping. You can go online and quickly get multiple quotes from a number of different insurance providers allowing you to pick the one that offers the best coverage at the most affordable price.

About the Author

To find the best homeowners insurance rates, get an online homeowners insurance quote to quickly and easily find the best price.

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Jackie and Her Health Insurance Plan

By: Rex Steel

This is truly a story no one likes to hear. This story deals with a friend of mine and what she was forced to go through when she had to deal with an illness in her family. Jackie and her husband had been married for only four years when her husband Bill had a stroke and was forced to leave his job as a transport truck driver. Bill and Jackie although upset were not scared because they thought that they had a great Health Insurance Plan that would more than help them with the medical needs Bill was going to have. Wrong. 

Jackie shortly after Bill having his stroke called their Health Insurance Company. She asked to speak to their agent who had sold them the plan. The receptionist put her threw to his extension and Jackie got his voicemail. She listened to the message and then at the prompt she left a message informing him that Bill had had a stroke and she wanted to discuss the plan they had bought, she left her policy number and her phone number. Jackie did not receive a call back that day like she had not only hoped for but expected. She waited until the next morning and she called again. Again she was put through to his voicemail, again she left another message. In this message Jackie explained that she really needed to speak with him. Needless to say, Jackie did not receive a return call that day either. 

Jackie awoke the next morning and called their Insurance Company again, this time she talked with the receptionist. Jackie told her that she had left two previous messages with their agent explaining that her husband had had a stroke and that she needed to speak with him regarding their plan. The receptionist put her on hold and then she came back on the line saying that all she could do was put her threw to his voicemail again. Jackie said fine and she again left a message on his voicemail. The end of the day came and Jackie again did not receive any return phone call. 

The following morning Jackie called her sister and asked her to come and sit with Bill while she went to their Insurance Company. Jackie drove over to where their Insurance Company was located, she got out of her car with their Health Insurance Plan in her hand and headed towards the entrance. Upon entering the reception area Jackie saw their agent speaking with another gentleman at his desk. Jackie did not check in with the receptionist instead she walked right over to the agent and asked him why he had not bothered to return her phone calls. The man the agent had been talking to got up and left and the agent then asked Jackie to please sit down so they could talk. After speaking with the agent for close to two hours Jackie walked out satisfied that the agent now knew that Jackie and Bill were going to hold him and the Health Insurance Company he worked for to the promises that they made to her and Bill when they were sold their policy.

About the Author

Rex Steel is known and respected in the health and wellness community. He has been an advocate for the universal heath care system for over 30 years. To find out more about the state of health care and where affordable health care can be found please visit his new and informative website.

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Covering Your Health While Traveling Abroad

By: Jeny Stevens

I crossed my legs and tried to relax a little bit. Taxi rides weren’t my favorite. There was something about the smell of the car mixed with a constant feeling of having your money sucked right out of your wallet that always left me uneasy. I closed my eyes and tried to mentally transport myself to Guatemala.

Being my first major trip ever, I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget anything. I silently went over everything I had packed to make sure nothing had been neglected. I then pulled out my wallet for the 100th time to make sure my passport was securely tucked inside. Next to my wallet, I had strategically placed my international health care instructions. I went over them again, determined to be prepared if anything should happen.

Before leaving, I had checked with my insurance carrier on what my specific plan had covered, internationally. Paying a quick call to HealthPlanOne, (who I called whenever I needed an answer regarding my health insurance), I discovered that my coverage would be limited. So I had gone ahead and purchased both travel insurance and medical evacuation insurance. Although I hoped I would never need either of them, I couldn't be positive. I was going to be traipsing around the Guatemalan countryside for a week. Being a bit of a klutz, I knew there were no guarantees for my safety.

Before leaving, I had checked with my insurance carrier on what my specific plan had covered, internationally. Paying a quick call to HealthPlanOne, (who I called whenever I needed an answer regarding my health insurance), I discovered that my coverage would be limited. So I had gone ahead and purchased both travel insurance and medical evacuation insurance. Although I hoped I would never need either of them, I couldn't be positive. I was going to be traipsing around the Guatemalan countryside for a week. Being a bit of a klutz, I knew there were no guarantees for my safety.

I also had tucked my current Health Insurance card with my identification numbers inside. In case any questions arose throughout my stay, I also had the phone numbers of my insurance company back home, my travel insurance, and my evacuation insurance.

I also had tucked my current Health Insurance card with my identification numbers inside. In case any questions arose throughout my stay, I also had the phone numbers of my insurance company back home, my travel insurance, and my evacuation insurance.

Last, I had written down emergency contact information of family back home and in Guatemala. Although I knew no one personally in the country, I made sure to get the contact information for the United States consulate in the country. Traveling abroad was new for me and frankly, a little scary. I did find out that there are things we can do before we leave, to be prepared. Being thousands of miles away from home, it feels good to know I will be in good hands in case the worst happens.



About the Author

Here Author writes about health covering while traveling abroad. He shares his thoughts about his trip to Guatemala which is a new and little bit scary experience for him. He also write about his Health Insurance which doesn't have sufficient coverage for his abroad traveling and so, he extended his Health Insurance Plans with some other services included in it so it would help him during his abroad traveling

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Sunday, March 1, 2009

Insurance myths and realities

By: Cindy Hartman
I continually hear the same questions or statements when discussing why people need an inventory. We all agree (unfortunately) that an insurance policy reads as easily as any other legal document! This, of course, is the source of not being able to understand your coverage. 

So I'm here to dispel some of the most common myths, or misunderstandings, regarding personal property insurance. 

MYTH 
I don't need an inventory; I have insurance. 

REALITY 
Without a document that contains a list of your belongings, and photos to back up your written report, you will forget a large number of items. It's hard enough just trying to remember when you're sitting here, relaxed and comfortable. If you were under the stress of just having experience a loss, it will be impossible! Insurance companies required you to fill out a claim form; thus, if you don't list something you won't receive money to replace it. 

MYTH 
If I have a disaster, I'll get a check for the amount of my coverage. 

REALITY 
Most insurance companies won't just cut you a check without proof of ownership. And often you must prove ownership. For example, a stolen 42" television brought the theft victim only $400 because he couldn't prove it was a big screen TV. Instead, he received the standard allowed for a television. Consider this - let's say you have $100,000 in coverage. If your belongings are worth only $60,000, you will not receive $100,000. 

MYTH 
My jewelry isn't worth that much. 

REALITY 
Insurance policies have limits on items, and jewelry commonly has a limit of $2500. That limit isn't per piece; it's for the total of all jewelry and watches. 

MYTH 
We don't have anything worth inventorying. 

REALITY 
Anything you own that you can't afford to replace without financial help is worth something! What is the amount of your coverage? Do you have those funds stashed away in case of a disaster? 

MYTH 
I'll be able to remember everything. 

REALITY 
Try it. Close your eyes and list everything in the room. Don't forget the items in closets and drawers. 

I am not an insurance professional, but have discussed these issues with victims and insurance agents enough to be aware of the basics. Talk to your agent; ask these questions.


About the Author

Cindy's website provides reasons for an inventory. The Turnkey page offers info about starting your own inventory business. Small business, marketing, insurance and inventory are common blog topics. http://www.HartmanInventoryBlog.com.

Article Directory: http://www.articlerich.com

Insurance fraud affects all

By:  Cindy Hartman

Insurance fraud seems to be a common occurrence. Have you heard someone say that they claimed more than what they lost from a fire? Or stated their items were worth more than they really were so they could - in their words - recover the deductable, too? 

One person claimed all his tools were top of the line. Not one wrench or screwdriver was purchased at Wal-Mart? Hard to believe! Another person claimed he had a closet full of custom-tailored suits, rather than some being purchased off the rack. Again, a statement I question. 

When people file fraudulent claims, who do you think ends up paying for it in the long run? Everyone, through higher premiums. An insurance policy is to help you get back to where you were prior to your loss, not improve your way of life! 

We've had many disasters in recent years, and predictions are that we'll continue to see hurricanes and tornados affect our lives. Fires continue to burn houses and business. Flooding is happening in areas of the country where it 'never' happened before. Wild fires continue to burn. 

Fortunately, something is being done about it. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has stated that the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force has brought federal charges against 907 individuals across the country since Katrina affected so many lives in 2005. The Task Force's responsibility is to deter, detect and prosecute those who try to take advantage of disasters related to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Gustav, and Ike, as well as other natural disasters. 

The Task Force processes complaints and coordinates with law enforcement agencies to initiate investigations. Unfortunately, there are people who thrive on taking advantage of victims. The same is true in the situation of people trying to recover from disasters. It is a sad statement that such a task force is needed. However, we can be pleased that we have federal oversight on this wide-spread fraud. 

More than 26,000 disaster fraud complaints have been received and over 17,000 have been or are being investigated. Just created this year, the Command Center now has a disaster fraud hotline to receive complaints related to the California wildfires, Iowa floods and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. 

These are the wide-spread disasters, and this commission is addressing the fraud committed by people taking advantage of the disaster victims. But consider your individual policy. Many insurance agents have stated that fraud - whether the type investigated by the Task Force or those committed by the policy holders themselves - will encourage the insurance companies to be more stringent when requiring proof of ownership from their customers. When filing a claim, this will impact those who do not have an inventory of their belongings because they won't be able to provide this information. 

What can you do? Report suspected fraud. And have a list of the contents of your home or business so you can support any claim you might need to file.

About the Author

Cindy's website provides reasons for an inventory. The Turnkey page offers info about starting your own inventory business. Small business, marketing, insurance and inventory are common blog topics. http://www.HartmanInventoryBlog.com.

Article Directory: http://www.articlerich.com

It is important to know the contents limits on your insurance policy

By: Cindy Hartman

Personal property can be described as the contents in a home or business. This coverage is very affordable for renters, and should be purchased without exception. For homeowners, it is part of your homeowners policy, with specific coverage amounts determined and stated under the personal property category. 

The easiest way to visualize it is to think of taking the roof off and turning the building upside down. Everything that falls out is personal property. Therefore, built-in cabinets, appliances, desks and bookshelves are not personal property. Carpet, wood and tile flooring, window treatments and light fixtures are not personal property. These are items that are considered part of the structure and are not considered when determining the dollar amount you need to insure your personal property. 

Another way to describe personal property is what you'd take with you if you move. Whether you are a renter, homeowner or business owner, it is very important to be aware of the limits of your personal property insurance coverage. 

There are specific limits to your insurance policy regarding assets in your home or business. You should be aware of these limits and discuss your specific needs with a qualified insurance agent. Every insurance company designates their limits for specific items. Here are a few items, with common limit amounts: 

- Jewelry: $1000-$3000 
- Guns: $1000-$3000 
- Silverware: $1000-$3000 
- Business Personal Property: $1000-$2500 
- Sports/Stamp Collections: $1000-$2500 
- Money: $200-$500 

These numbers are not per piece, but the full amount allowed. So, if you have a diamond engagement ring that is valued at $3000, and that's the limit on your policy, you will have maxed out your entire coverage for all jewelry with just that one ring. If your policy has a $1000 limit, based on the example of a $3000 ring, you'll only receive $1000 toward a replacement. Take a look at your jewelry armoire or jewelry box. How many pair of earrings do you have that are considered costume jewelry? You can easily exceed $1000 with 5 pieces of jewelry from Sears! 

Original, irreplaceable fine art and collectables are items that could easily exceed their limit. To be sure you'll receive full settlement, have them appraised and listed on your policy to ensure you'll receive full replacement value at the time of the loss. 

Have you inherited your grandmother's fine silver? Do you know the value? How about guns? Just one rifle could exceed your policy limit! 

If you have assets that exceed the specific limit in your standard homeowner's policy, you will need to purchase additional coverage. The cost is minimal when you consider how much you stand to lose.


About the Author

Cindy's website provides reasons for an inventory. The Turnkey page offers info about starting your own inventory business. Small business, marketing, insurance and inventory are common blog topics. http://www.HartmanInventoryBlog.com.

Article Directory: http://www.articlerich.com