Health Insurance for Pregnants

Health Insurance for Pregnants

Author: William Benjamin

Health insurance for pregnant, is run to protect a pregnant with her baby. You must think seriously, especially when you live with imaginations of a charming baby.

Health insurance for pregnant, is run to protect a pregnant with her baby. You must think seriously, especially when you live with imaginations of a charming baby. Keep in mind, what may come at next moment, none can guess. Due to many confusions and big variety, it’s a tough task to find out the best.

Ask to your employer about the pregnancy related disability leave and the benefits you can claim for. It is not necessary for the employers to offer you any pregnancy leave or any specific benefit.

Some points about pregnancy insurance:
1. Pregnancy is not a pre-existing condition to the woman, who searches for second job, if she is already covered by first coverage.
2. If have no coverage offered by your employers, better to have an insurance policy to obtain this type of coverage. One should be clear enough at starting, when he is offered with an appointment letter.
3. HIPPA doesn’t interfere in the coverage offered by individual health insurance policy. If you are not offered the pregnancy coverage, don’t look for its help.
4. Married employees are not limited for benefits offered to pregnancy cases.
5. You are just like others, who ask for leave due to temporarily disabilities. One must behave normally and offer you same benefits.
6. If your employer offers you health insurance with maternity services, it must include all the pregnancy-expenses.
Except these some employers call you for up to a month, after you claim for offered services. Make sure completely, with your current employer or the company you are going to join, about the program and its features.
What to do if you do not have health insurance:

1. Go to your local DHS (department of health and human services) office. You should be able to find a listing in the government pages of your phone book. If not, search for DHS in your state online and it should bring up a website. You will have to prove income and identity to qualify for aid.
2. Go to your local hospital and talk with someone about payment plans or insurance plans that they recommend. Most places understand about this since it does happen often and they are very knowledgeable when it comes to this topic.
3. Go to your DSS (Department of Social Services). Usually someone there can point you in the right direction.
4. If you live in CA, there is a program called Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM). It's for uninsured pregnant women whose income is too much to qualify for medical. Your application has to be in by 28-30 weeks of your pregnancy and the cost is based on your income, but it covers absolutely everything.
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Dental Health Insurance

Dental Health Insurance

Author: Mike Hawkins
Having dental insurance is not given importance enough unlike other health insurance policies, but having it, is a good idea. Just you have to pay monthly payments. It relieves you from worries and covers almost all of your expenses, once you reach at deductibles stage.

Having dental insurance is not given importance enough unlike other health insurance policies, but having it, is a good idea. Just you have to pay monthly payments. It relieves you from worries and covers almost all of your expenses, once you reach at deductibles stage. Dental insurance is important for one whose teeth and gums or jaws are more likely to get worse.

People often ignore it to have dental insurance. Mainly middle and lower income people avoid going for this, because they know, they have to pay a monthly amount, even if single teeth injures. Some points to benefit you with dental insurance are given below:

1. First of all, you must realize its importance. Ask yourself, what you can do, if your child’s teeth need improvement one by one, and you are not so rich that you could pay dentist’s bill every time.
2. Having dental health insurance is not so costly unlike other medical health insurance. Definitely, it can save your much money, if you have to go to dentist many times
3. Try to get your dental health insurance also, from the company where you purchased your medical health insurance. It will help you to save money, because your paper work will be short and they may offer it, at better terms.
4. Get the information about insurance, which you are going to be offered. Ask several questions to your insurer like about his website, registration, license and al that.

Here are some different type of insurances available.

1. Direct reimbursement programs reimburse patients a predetermined percentage of the total dollar amount spent on dental care, regardless of treatment category. This method typically does not exclude coverage based on the type of treatment needed, allows patients to go to the dentist of their choice, and provides incentive for the patient to work with the dentist toward healthy and economically sound solutions.
2. "Usual, Customary and Reasonable" (UCR) programs usually allow patients to go to the dentist of their choice. These plans pay a set percentage of the dentist's fee or the plan administrator's "reasonable" or "customary" fee limit, whichever is less. These limits are the result of a contract between the plan purchaser and the third-party payer. Although these limits are called "customary," they may or may not accurately reflect the fees that area dentists charge. There is wide fluctuation and lack of government regulation on how a plan determines the "customary" fee level.
3. Table or Schedule of Allowance programs determine a list of covered services with an assigned dollar amount. That dollar amount represents just how much the plan will pay for those services that are covered, regardless of the fee charged by the dentist. The difference between the allowed charge and the dentist's fee is billed to the patient.

Most of you might know that several diseases start from your mouth. If your mouth is clean and free from illness, a big amount of your money will be saved effortlessly.
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Business Insurance Over The Internet : What Are The Risks

Business Insurance Over The Internet : What Are The Risks

Author: James Cochran

It’s a truism that times have changed, and likewise, insurance has changed, too. The era of purchasing your business insurance from Uncle Harold who lives down the street has passed, if it ever existed, and the World Wide Web is your new hometown.

The short answer to all of these questions is “no.” Business insurance companies have had to change the way they market their products due to Internet insurance, but the only significant change for you is that it's now easier to get information and far more convenient to communicate with potential business insurance providers. You still have to fill out forms and you can still ask representatives questions, but now you are able to do these at 3 a.m. while sitting in the comfort of your own home wearing your pajamas.

But don’t be tempted by the relaxing convenience to relax your standards. While purchasing Internet insurance is as safe as working with an “offline” business insurance carrier, no savvy businessman would entrust their livelihood to an insurance company without checking to make sure that company is reputable and sound. Just like when you work with an “offline” company, you must do your homework. You wouldn’t hand over your money to Joe’s Shady Alley Insurance Agency, so why give it to Joe’s Shady Internet Insurance Agency? Start off by asking: Who are these Internet insurance companies? You’ll find many of the names are familiar. The major business insurance
carriers have all gone online, and if you trusted them before, there’s no reason that should change. If the company is not familiar to you, then check it out. Is it licensed to do business in your state? How long has it been in existence? Are there any outstanding complaints or lawsuits? Does it have the financial reserves to back its promises? Are there any existing clients willing to give a testimonial? Essentially, be sure to ask the same questions of an Internet insurance company that you would ask any other company.

However, just because there isn't cause for greater concern when dealing with online business insurance providers, there are different issues you need to be aware of. Online communications and transactions provide thieves with new ways to steal your information and perhaps your money. While it's highly unlikely that your information will be hijacked en route by hackers, how much of your information the Internet insurance company keeps in databases connected to the Internet and what kind of security they have is an issue. The safest alternative is if they don't keep your bank or credit card information at all, deleting that information once they process an online payment and pass that information on to a bank. However, this may rule out automatic payments and is not the standard industry practice.

A high degree of encryption (128 bit) will help preserve the security of your information, but you may also want to determine whether the business insurance firm has a redundant firewall, if their network is monitored by an external security company, and if they test their system with simulated computer-based attacks. If a company takes these sorts of precautions, you can feel as secure doing business with them online as you would if you were handing them a form across a desk.

About Author

James Cochran, owner of Techinsurance.com, is a web-based small business insurance agent specializing in the Information Technology industry. Over 15 years of insurance experience, Cochran founded Techinsurance in 1997 to provide insurance products for IT professionals. Techinsurance has grown to become one of America's leading online business insurance providers.
Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-james-cochran-7206.html

Car Insurance - The Guardian for your Car

Car Insurance - The Guardian for your Car

by Smith James

Holding on to a car insurance not only assures that the financial value of your car is intact in spite of disastrous events, it also keeps you in the good books of the law. The absence of this insurance, as it is illegal in most countries of the world, can land you in an unfortunate spot. If you happen to lose your car to a burglar or witness it suffer damages at the hands of some accident, you are bound to incur a substantial amount of financial loss. It is in an effort to rid you off this financial burden that car insurances have been introduced in the insurance industry.

Your car insurance policy has been designed to lift the financial burden off your shoulders when it comes to shelling out money to repair those costly damages by reimbursing the amount. Even if your car is stolen, your insurance policy removes the cloud of disaster from your head by coughing up the complete value of your car, provided your policy is applicable for the condition.

Usually, your car insurance policy can be anyone between a first party insurance policy and a third party insurance policy, with the difference being the amount of premiums you pay. If you have a good driving history, which is determined by such factors as the make and model of the car, the number of people who drive it, the purpose of its use and the place where it is parked, then you are free from paying huge premiums.

A car insurance policy is the safest way to ensure safety of your car and the freedom from financial worries for you. With a great number of insurance companies providing their unique offers in this category, it isn't difficult to get hold of a deal that suits your needs ideally.
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Auto Insurance For Anyone Considering A Change

Auto Insurance For Anyone Considering A Change

Are you aware of the factors that affect your car insurance price?
Speed, or rather excessive speed, is the main cause of driving accidents and since sports cars can go faster than any other vehicle on the road insurance companies are keen to cover themselves by offering high premiums to sports car owners.
After one chooses a policy, various insurance companies credit one’s car insurance usually at a constant rate per annum for the purpose of insuring the vehicle.
This policy goes above and beyond the typical coverage available to car owners, covering more than just the minimum liability.
Now, in both cases if the two vehicles in the accident were carrying uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, their insurance company would take care of the excess bodily injury, and property damage costs not covered by your policy.
Again, if you are carrying the same coverage’s as listed above, 4 of the 6 people would be covered by your state minimum policy because everybody was under the $20,000 per person limit, but you maxed out your per accident bodily injury at $40,000, so you would need to take care of $20,000 of bodily injury on your own
California state car insurance minimums are $15,000 for the death/injury of one person in an accident and $30,000 for the death/injury of all the people involved in an accident plus an additional $5,000 of insurance to compensate for property damage.
Keeping these numbers in mind – Let’s say you are carrying the Texas state minimums of 20/40/15 and that you cause an accident with $10,000 in bodily injury and $18,000 of property damage to a vehicle.
A simple Internet search will lead you in the right direction if you’re looking for companies that will give you online car insurance quotes.
Buying car insurance online saves time and money—you just fill in your details, get a quote, do a comparison between quotes from different providers, choose the most beneficial one, fill the application, save it, pay the premium and in some states even print out the insurance card yourself.
If you are a first time buyer, or you have a limited budget for your car, you should carefully investigate the different insurance policies available, as some might suit you better financially.
This type of car insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing a vehicle if it is hit or damaged by another vehicle or as the result of a single vehicle accident.
One of the simplest ways to realizing affordable car insurance is by paying a higher deductible.
Sure, we can not stop our children from eventually driving, but we can find ways to get cheap car insurance for our driving teenagers.
Just because you live in New York doesn’t mean you have to pay outrageous prices for your car insurance.
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Which Type of Life Insurance is Best for You

Which Type of Life Insurance is Best for You

There are two basic types of life insurance: term and permanent. Term insurance is purely life insurance while permanent (aka "cash value" or "whole life") policies include a savings element.

You've probably heard lots of sales pitches and marketing hype regarding cash value polices, and other arguments about how term policies are the better deal. The truth of the matter depends on each persons individual situation.

Benefits of a Term Life Policy
1. It's straightforward. If you die during the term of your policy your beneficiaries get paid -that's all there is to it.

2. It's inexpensive. You aren't paying anything extra to fund a savings account or cover investment fees. And because the market is so competitive for term insurance, companies have a huge incentive to keep prices low.

3. It's easy to shop for. With relatively little effort you can comparison shop and assure yourself of a good deal.

4. You pay only for what you need when you need it. You typically need life insurance coverage for a specific period of time (until the kids are out of college, for instance).

Benefits of a Permanent Life Insurance Policy
1. Flexibility. A permanent plan can give you access to some or all of the premiums that you have been paying for in a way favorable to your taxes.

2. It's with you until you die. This type of policy coverage is guaranteed for your life with no out of the blue payment increases. A term policy will expire at a certain date, and a renewed policy could have much higher premiums.

3. Inheritance. Maybe the best reason for a permanent policy is to make sure your estate and investments don't get eaten up by the government. A permanent policy can provide peace of mind that your family and loved ones will be taken care of for the future.

Remember, the decision to buy a permanent or a term life insurance policy will depend on your situation, your age, your financial well-being, and other factors. If you are a young family with some investments to protect but not financially stable a term life policy might be a good idea to protect those investments and your family. However, if you are financially stable with considerable investments, it may be a better decision in the long run to purchase a permanent plan.
http://www.insurancefinder.com/lifeinsurance/typeslifeinsurance.html

Pet Insurance Information

Pet Insurance Information

If you own a pet, you've probably encountered several instances where your vet bill was much higher than you had anticipated. If this has been the case on more than several occasions, it may be wise to look into insurance for your pet. Insuring your pet will allow you to manage the expenses involved with good quality treatment.

Below is a list of common and not-so-common ailments, followed by their estimated medical bills for visits and treatment. This figures show the potential price range you could encounter.

Motor Vehicle Accident: $0 - $4,000 (depending on the severity of injuries)

Cancer Treatment: $500 - $3,800

Pet Eats Foreign Object: $50 - $2,500 (depending upon the object ingested)

Various Infections: $100 - $1,000

Broken Extremity: $1,000 - $2,500

Things to remember
-Some pet insurance policy providers will award a multi-pet discount. Insure Fido and Felix, experience peace of mind, as well as a discounted rate.

-Watch out for pet insurance providers that may add an additional charge, based upon your zip code (postal code), and/or the breed of your pet. Some breeds of animals are considered high risk animals due to genetics.

-Some providers offer accidental death insurance. If your pet was to accidentally die (other than by natural causes), they would pay you the original purchase price of the pet.

-Special coverage can be applied, depending upon the provider. This can range from coverage for older animals, indoor pets, outdoor pets, and by specific breed. One branch of coverage might have the coverage of another. Examine your situation closely to determine which program will benefit both you and your pet.
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Types of Home Insurance

Types of Home Insurance

Home insurance can be broken down into 7 basic types of plans. What differentiates them from one another are the types of circumstances they cover. The most popular plans today involve #2 and #3.

Basic homeowners insurance covers 11 types of disasters:
aircraft, wind/hail, explosion, riots/civil unrest, fire/lightning, vehicles, volcano eruptions, vandalism, theft, smoke, and self-damaging instances (part of building falls on itself, etc.).

This list can be expanded to include 6 more disasters:
falling objects, water damage (3 sub categories), snow/sleet/ice, and electrical surge damage.

1. This is the basic homeowners insurance that covers your home and property against losses due to the 11 disasters listed above.

2. This plan includes #1, in addition to more specific disaster circumstances: snow, falling objects (like trees), water damage (i.e. washing machine overflows, or dishwasher breaks), and electrical damage (power surge).

3.This plan includes extended/specialty items, in addition to all of the above. The only disasters that this doesn't cover are flood, earthquake, war, and nuclear blasts.

4. Renters insurance coverage. This type of insurance will protect your personal property for the above listed items.

5. Complete risk coverage for the building and property.

6. Condominium coverage. This type of policy covers personal property from the above disasters (all 17).

7. This policy is designed for older homes with historic value. Coverage includes protection from the basic 11 disasters listed above. Under this plan, coverage is limited to repairs or cash values of the items involved. The rebuilding/replacement cost is not covered in this, because some aspects of the home (historic significance) can make these costs higher than current market value.

There are variations that can be had with all of the above plans. There are special policies that can be used to cover mobile homes. Opposite of renters insurance, which only covers the renters property, there is landlord insurance. This covers the actual dwelling, but not the property within.
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Travel Insurance Information

Travel Insurance Information

The first thing one thinks about when it comes to travel is usually a vacation. A vacation is a time for you to relax and forget about your worries and troubles. During this supposed trouble free event, things can, and do go wrong. Ultimately, it doesn't matter your reason for traveling. Travel insurance will provide peace of mind and protection, which will save you time and heartache in the future. There is a wide variety of coverages and policies for your needs. The most common, well known are flight life insurance, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, travel health insurance, lost baggage insurance, and car rental insurance/waivers.

Some of the common things that travel insurance covers
-medical expenses (including dental)
-overseas medical expenses (including dental)
-cancellation and lost deposit expenses
-loss of luggage
-loss of travel documents
-death
-burial and transport expenses
-liability coverage if you cause property damage, injury or death to another
-weather
-various delays

Most companies will offer coverage that will last the duration of a single trip, multi-trips, and even cover your car rental.

If you are going to travel with or include the following in your traveling agenda, then some form of travel insurance is necessary
-Renting a car
-Driving an automobile in a foreign country (other than Canada)
-Renting/usage of a boat or personal watercraft
-Uninsured homeowners or renters
-Studying abroad
-Extended overseas trips
-Severe or chronic illness
-Non-refundable vacation packages
-Traveling with fine arts, jewelry, collectibles or special equipment
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Motorcycle Insurance Information and Tips

Motorcycle Insurance Information and Tips

The first step in purchasing motorcycle insurance is to contact your agent or broker with whom you currently have auto or home insurance. In several states, like California, you must have insurance coverage before you can bring your new bike home from the dealership. If your current insurance company does not cover motorcycles, talk with friends or others who already have coverage. This way, you'll be able to work from a good list of recommended agencies to start out. You may also gain information through your salesperson and motorcycle magazines. Be cautious with your dealership though; they don't always work with the best insurance companies. Don't become pushed into something you're not comfortable with.

HOT TIP!
If you are a first time, or even an experienced rider who has not taken a motorcycling safety course, put it on your “to do” list. Not only will it sharpen your street survival skills, but it will also bring you a discount on your insurance premium.

Things To Keep In Mind
Your premium will be based upon several key factors involved with your motorcycling situation. They include, but are not limited to:

-The motorcycle engine displacement size in cubic centimeters (cc)

-Type of motorcycle

-Brand of motorcycle

-Your age

-Your driving record

-Your driving experience

-Is the bike garaged?

-Location

-Number of intended miles driven weekly

Majority of the time, you'll receive a higher premium with a larger displacement engine. These bikes are more expensive and provide higher performance.

The type of motorcycle you plan on insuring also affects premium price. A 500 cc cruiser will be cheaper to insure than a 500 cc sport bike. Sport bikes usually have fairings (plastic covers that shroud the engine), and other various pieces of bodywork that can make them expensive to repair in a crash or accident. The make (brand) of your motorcycle is not such a big factor, but it is taken into consideration. A brand with models few and far between will run higher than a common brand. Your age will affect your premium. Older drivers tend to experience cheaper rates than their younger counterpart, on the same motorcycle. Statistics show that riders under the age of 25 tend to be involved in the most accidents. Driving record and experience both affect your premium. If your record is blemished with tickets and accidents, then expect to pay more. Experience tends to go hand in hand with your age. Will your motorcycle be garaged, or parked out along the street? If you plan on leaving it out on the street, then you'll experience a higher rate than if it is garaged. Leaving it parked along the street leaves the bike open to theft and accidents. If you live in a big city, your rates may slightly be higher than if you live in a rural area. Will the bike be your daily driver, or used for leisure? The mileage you tend to put on the bike on a weekly basis will push your premium up or down. If the motorcycle is your main mode of transportation, expect a higher rate.
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Auto & Vehicle Insurance

Auto & Vehicle Insurance

Auto Insurance Coverages Explained
An auto insurance policy actually consists of several different coverages. Required in most states, it is something all drivers must posses.

Liability Insurance
This coverage is the basis of all auto insurance policies, and the minimum required in most states. If you're found at fault in an accident, liability insurance pays for the injury and property damage expenses of the third party involved in the accident. Property damage pays for the replacement or repair of anything that was damaged. Bodily injury expenses cover lost wages and medical bills. If you cause a major accident, your current or potential coverage may not cover you sufficiently. It is a safe bet to buy more than the minimum required by your state.

Collision
If you're found at fault in an accident, collision coverage will cover expenses needed to repair your vehicle. Collision coverage is usually the most expensive component of an auto insurance policy, although it isn't required. Insurance companies might proclaim your car a “total loss” if the repairs exceed the market value of the car. When this occurs, the insurance company will pay you the actual cash value, minus the deductable. From there your car is off to an auction where it will be sold for parts or scrap.

Replacement Cost
The amount required to replace your car or repair damages without considering depreciation.

Depreciation
Decrease in value because of age/wear on vehicle.

Actual Cash Value (ACV)
The value of your car when it is damaged or destroyed. Insurance companies figure the ACV by subtracting the depreciation from the replacement cost.

Tip
In most cases, it’s better to choose replacement cost coverage. Although higher in price, the protection may be worth it.

Comprehensive
Comprehensive coverage will pay for damages to your vehicle that were not caused by an accident. This includes fire, vandalism, theft, natural disaster, and even animals. Depending on the damage, the insurance company will pay the cars worth right before the incident. This is also optional coverage.
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About Individual Health Insurance

About Individual Health Insurance

Individual health care insurance provides coverage for only one individual, or family. In general, individual plans are more expensive than group insurance. You can obtain individual plans directly from a company who offers them. The company with whom you apply will evaluate you from a health standpoint, in terms of how much risk you present to them. Usually, they'll provide a questionnaire for you to fill out, asking various questions about your current and past health history. They will determine your risk accordingly, from which a premium will be generated.

Things to look for
Most individual plans fall under managed health care plans. Under this, you can opt for an HMO, PPO, or POS plan.

Guaranteed renewable
Your insurer cannot cancel your coverage if you become sick. If you continue to pay your insurance premium, coverage continues.

If available, group insurance is generally a better option, since it is usually more comprehensive and less expensive than individual insurance. However, individual coverage is ultimately better than being uninsured in the event of illness or injury. Although you may think you can do without health insurance, you are taking a major risk if you choose not to get coverage. An unexpected illness or serious injury can put you and your family under financial stress.

In a group insurance situation, the provisions of the policy are negotiated between the insurer and master policy owner (usually an employer or association). With individual insurance, you are directly in control of your policy. You can negotiate to have certain provisions included or excluded, and you can often choose your deductible amount and co-payment percentage. Keep in mind, however, that these things will have an effect on your premiums.
http://www.insurancefinder.com/healthinsurance/individualhealth.html

Insurance History

Insurance History

I’m sure we’ve all heard of the word, and have an idea of how it works. Is it a concept? Idea? Is it something concrete or abstract? It depends on the context of the situation. A quick, simple definition of insurance could be as follows: Reimbursement in a situation of loss. Usually, someone decides that insurance is needed. In order for the concept of insurance to arise, a pre-payment of some type is required. In the case of typical, everyday general auto, health and life insurance, for example, the pre-payment is in the form of a premium. Prior to the eve of the year 2000, thousands of people flocked to the stores, stocking up on numerous supplies. They feared that something catastrophic was going to take place once the clock struck midnight, and if so, they wanted to be prepared. Isn’t this a form of insurance? Sure- in its basic definition. The supplies they purchased would act as reimbursement in the case of loss.

Early insurance goes back to the Egyptian times. It was known that around 3000 BC, Chinese merchants dispersed their shipments among several vessels to avoid the possibility of damage or loss. There are some insurance companies around today in the United States that provided insurance back in the mid 1700’s, as well as some that provided relief to banks during the 1930’s and the Great Depression. Today, there is insurance for many aspects of daily living: Business, Auto, Health, Life, Travel. Each of those categories include sub-categories, branching off into numerous divisions.
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Health insurance Tips

Health insurance Tips

Usually, this type of health insurance is advisable to those who have to take frequent trips, especially abroad trips and whose job involves frequent journeys. Traveler's health insurance provides you protection from recurring medical conditions and health conditions. You may be having a health insurance policy that did not admit insurance claims involving out-of-network costs, especially those incurred overseas. Under such circumstances traveler's health insurance is best option to secure health care protection for you.

Generally, a short-term health insurance plan is considered suitable for frequent travelers. Some companies offer you health insurance plans with a rider for the period you would be traveling. There are different traveler's health insurance plans. There are certain restrictions on the plan depending upon place of visit and price. To ensure more protection you may choose to obtain a supplement plan if your current policy is restricted to traveling options.

Acquiring a traveler's health insurance plan is a simple procedure. Only formality is that you have to present pre-existing conditions. Traveler's health insurance policy becomes void if the medical problem is attributable to existing illness or accident.

It is suggested that you collect the information of medical facilities available at the place you intend to visit. This will help you in deciding whether a normal traveler's health insurance will suffice or you should secure a health insure plan that provides evacuation facilities or offers better hospitalization benefits.

You must give due consideration to following aspects whenever you have to purchase a traveler's health insurance.

* Does your plan cover prescribed medicines * Does it cover your and your spouse' evacuation * If your entertainment activities involve adventurous activities like skiing, mountaineering, scuba-diving etc you must ask your insurance provider whether your plan provide coverage for these extreme sports or not. * Whether your policy has provision for return of your remains, in the direct condition. * Read the rules, benefits, coverage printed on the insurance certificate carefully. * Know the exact method of payments. Ensure whether your insurance company will directly pay the expenses to the provider or you have to first pay from your pocket and then reimburse from insurance company. If you have to reimburse confirm about the time-schedule.
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Health Insurance : Tips for Understanding Your Policy

Health Insurance : Tips for Understanding Your Policy

by Jim Russo

Do you get a headache trying to understand your health insurance? If you do, and it is very likely that you do, you are not alone in this. It does help most people when they at least have an overview of what health insurance does and does not do.

Tip number one is to remember that insurance is not designed to cover every little health related detail in our life. There are many things that no large corporation can do more cheaply and effectively than what you can. In the same way that you do not expect your car insurance to cover the cost of replacing a tail light bulb or changing the oil in your engine it is also unreasonable for us to expect health insurance to cover the cost of aspirin for the occasional headache or Pepto-Bismol for when we've eaten too much.

Just imagine how high monthly insurance premiums would be if they also had to cover the occasional headache and upset stomach. The cost would be astronomical both for the aspirin and the monthly insurance premium. Over 30 years ago a hospital charged my wife and $.75 for two aspirin. Can you imagine how much they charge now? Compare that to how much you pay for a bottle of 100 aspirin.

Tip number two is to make an attempt to understand what kind of an insurance policy your employer is providing you or what kind of insurance policy you have purchased directly. If it is an HMO then you'll have one set of rights and responsibilities that you need to follow. On the other hand, if you have a traditional indemnity insurance policy then you likely will have much more freedom of choice in terms of picking your own doctors and hospital but the cost of that policy is going to be dramatically higher either in terms of premium cost or more limited benefits.

Thankfully, as more and more information comes to light in the world we understand that are personal decisions in life relating to our healthcare do have a diuretic influence one the cost of healthcare to society and its direct cost in our own individual lives. It's, for instance, a whole lot cheaper for everyone if we moderate what we eat and get some regular exercise in our lives. When we had the opportunity to live healthier life styles we do help keep health insurance cost under control.

the decisions about your own personal health that you make one a day to day basis, while dwarfed by the inefficiencies of private corporations, not only reduce our own out of pocket expenses but also improve the quality of our personal life now as well as 10 and 20 years later.

Health insurance is much more complex then we would desire in large part because each and every state legislators beside that their constituents deserve a certain kinds of coverage to be involved in every health insurance policy. While this seems nice on the surface the result is that prices for health insurance vary from state to state dramatically.

This fact of mandated coverage's makes it very difficult to compare your coverage and its cost with your Aunt Mary's coverage when she lives in another state. While the specifics are difficult to come pair it is always wise of you to at least have good knowledge of Hal health insurance works and what kinds of coverage's are available to you even when your employer is already providing basic coverage for you. A good over all working knowledge of health insurance will save you money and improve the quality of your life.

Cheap car insurance tips

Cheap car insurance tips

by Chris Rowlands

Saving money is something we look for in all areas of life and is especially relevant when it comes to car insurance. In fact many of us will spend hour upon hour searching for a good deal when renewal time comes round (yet again).

You may be surprised to hear there are some pretty simple ways to shave a bit off your policy this year.

Obviously shopping around will allow us to find the most competitively priced policy and there are many websites that now provide this service as a one stop solution. You may be surprised to hear that there are some of us who still accept the renewal price of their existing insurer rather than spend time looking for a cheaper quote. Believe me it really is worth the effort. You could quite easily shave off over £100 on the average policy.

It is important to consider a policy on its merit as well as price as you could be losing out on vital cover if you're not too careful.

Another way to secure cheap car insurance is to pay up front for the policy - if you can afford to. Paying by monthly instalments may appear to be the cheaper option but many insurers will charge interest on the payments (as much as 25% APR in some cases) and this could negate any saving you've made on the policy.

If you really cannot afford to pay the premium as a lump sum you could consider taking out a 0% interest card. It is important to remember that this is only effective if you intend to pay the amount off within the interest free period.

In certain circumstances adding a second driver to the policy can help bring the price down, for example one of your parents or your spouse. Be careful you state the true main driver of the vehicle as knowingly supplying the insurance company with false information could void the policy.

Other easy way's to save money include the following; parking your vehicle off the road (in a locked garage if possible), fitting an alarm or immobiliser if you don't already have one (if your insurer does not list you as having one and this is incorrect be sure to inform them). Believe it or not keeping your annual mileage low will save you money too.

Consider adding breakdown cover to the policy if offered by the insurer, this could save you lot's of money in the long run and is usually quite cost effective considering the peace of mind it delivers.

If purchasing a used car vehicle checks can save you a lot of money as they will show if the mileage is genuine and whether the vehicle has been in an accident or stolen/damaged. Finding this out at a later date could prove very costly as your vehicle may be considered unroadworthy.

Above all allow yourself plenty of time (usually a couple of weeks before your cover expires) to search for a new policy and you should have a pleasant surprise when you compare it with your renewal quote.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=674228

Insurance as Investment

Insurance as Investment

By Motley Fool Staff March 14, 2006

What kind of insurance makes the best investment? Well, although some people (especially some insurance agents) will disagree, we generally don't like to think of insurance as an investment -- and perhaps you shouldn't, either.

It's true that some "investments" in insurance will appreciate in value, but the main point of insurance is to protect you against the financial consequences of losses, not serve to increase your wealth. If you're looking for long-term investments, there are many options more attractive than insurance -- chief among them being stocks. If you're looking for protection against floods, car accidents, appendicitis, or death, you need insurance. (And if you're looking for company on cold winter nights, you may need a cat.)

Insurance policies with built-in investment features can cost more than policies without, and you may do better investing the difference on your own.

We offer much more information in our Insurance Center -- and you can get your questions answered on our Insurance discussion board (or just drop in to see what others are saying there). You might also find the websites of many major insurance companies helpful. Depending on the kind of insurance you're looking for, click over to the websites of companies such as American International Group (NYSE: AIG), Allianz (NYSE: AZ), AXA (NYSE: AXA), Aetna (NYSE: AET), MetLife (NYSE: MET), Progressive (NYSE: PGR), and Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A). You may not have thought about some kinds of insurance, such as disability or long-term care insurance, but they're vital for many people. Take a little time to learn more, and you may be very happy you did.

And now for something completely different: If you haven't yet funded an IRA for tax year 2005, it's actually not too late. You have until April 17. You can fund a 2006 IRA now, too. Learn more in our IRA Center.
http://www.fool.com/personal-finance/insurance/2006/03/14/insurance-as-investment.aspx

Homeowners Insurance -- Understand Your Policy for Great Coverage at More Affordable Prices

Homeowners Insurance -- Understand Your Policy for Great Coverage at More Affordable Prices

Type of Home Insurance

First you need to understand the type of home insurance that you need. Traditional homeowners insurance protects a residence which is owned by the family that carries the policy. This type of insurance protect the building and contents, and also has some liability protection in case an individual is injured on the property. A homeowners policy may also provide some money to provide temporary housing in case the family has to move out while repairs are being made, or in case the home is not inhabitable.

On the other hand, if the homeowners lease out the property, they probably only need a landlord insurance which would protect the property, and perhaps provide liability protection. The landlords would not need to insure the contents because those items would be the responsibility of the tenants. Since the landlords do not live on the property, they would not need relocation assistance.

Tenants should purchase a renters insurance policy. A renters policy would protect the occupant's property in case of theft or damage. It can also provide relocation assistance if the property is not inhabitable. Of course, the renters insurance policy would not protect the building, since that is the owner's responsibility.

A condo owner may buy a policy that is similar to a renters insurance policy, even though they own the policy. The actual condominium association probably holds a policy to protect the actual building. So the condo owner only needs to purchase a policy that protects personal policy, provides some liability insurance, and covers relocation assistance.

Before You Buy Home Insurance, Consider A Few Simple Things For The Best Value

When you buy a home insurance, consider covering your belongings at replacement value. Otherwise, the insurance company will only want to repay you at “garage sale” prices. If you don't want to replace your computer and television set at a thrift shop, be sure and ask your agent about the value that is used to replace personal property.

Of course your rates will depend upon the area you live in. If your city has made a lot of damage or theft claims in recent history, an insurance company will charge more. Your own personal claims history matters too. Of course, the value of your home and property, and even your credit report, will affect the premiums an insurance company will expect you to pay.

You can take steps to reduce your policy too. Many insurance company offer discounts. Anti-theft devices and safety improvements can qualify you for a discount. Also, if you bundle more than one policy, often homeowners and car insurance, with the same company, you may get a substantial break. Be sure and shop around. You may find that you already qualify for discounts, or that you could take a few simple, inexpensive steps to earn discounts.

Compare Home Insurance Rates and Plans with one fast, safe, and free online form! Get multiple free homeowners insurance quotes now!
http://www.247quoteus.com/owner-renters-insurance.html

Investing With Insurance

Investing With Insurance

By Selena Maranjian

Although some people (especially some insurance agents) will disagree, we generally don't like to think of insurance as an investment -- and perhaps you shouldn't, either.

It's true that some "investments" in insurance will appreciate in value, but the main point of insurance is protecting you against the financial consequences of losses, not serving to increase your wealth. If you're looking for long-term investments, there are many options more attractive than insurance -- chief among them stocks. If you're looking for protection against floods, car accidents, appendicitis, or death, you need insurance. (If you're looking for company on cold winter nights, you may need a cat.)

It might be attractive to consider insurance policies that have investment components, but think twice. These kinds of policies, such as whole life insurance, tend to be more expensive than their alternatives, such as term life insurance. You can often afford to protect yourself against greater losses by opting for the investment-less kinds of insurance. And with the money you save, you can invest in the stock market!

Of course, everyone's mileage is different. Learn more about insurance in our Insurance Center and make your own decisions. You may not have thought about some kinds of insurance, such as disability or long-term care insurance, but they're vital for many of us. Few people expect to ever become disabled, for example, but it happens.

You may also find the websites of many major insurance companies to be helpful. Depending on the kind of insurance you're after, taking a look at ones like American International Group, Allianz, AXA, Aetna, MetLife, Progressive, and Berkshire Hathaway may be useful.

To learn more about investing Foolishly, visit our Fool School. Or check out some of our inexpensive and well-regarded How-to Guides (which feature money-back guarantees).

Berkshire Hathaway is an Inside Value recommendation. For more information on companies with great growth opportunities, try out the newsletter free for 30 days.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/02/14/investing-with-insurance.aspx

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-Term Care Insurance

When I suddenly had to become a fulltime caregiver to my elderly parents, both with health problems and starting to develop dementia (namely Alzheimer's), I had never even heard of Long-Term Care Insurance. After we burned through their life savings, and then started chipping away at mine, I was advised to apply for financial assistance for them through the government's Medicaid system--a program for those at the poverty level. It was quite a long process with mounds of paperwork and numerous investigations, but finally my parents were approved.
I was so happy that monetary help would finally be on the way, until I discovered that the financial assistance would only pay to put my parents in a nursing home, not even in Assisted Living, and with very little help to keep them in their own home.
Since their levels of care were so different (my mother needed most things done for her), there weren't any facilities that would allow them to be together. They'd be across the street from each other in different wings of the home. After fifty-five years of marriage, my parents were adamant about wanting to be together in their own home, in their own bed, where they could continue to cuddle and kiss--as they so frequently did. And, since my father was so "difficult" with a terrible temper and quite a long record of manipulative disruptive behaviors, the homes didn't want to deal with him anyway.
It was challenging, but I committed to keeping my parents in their own home and attending Adult Day Health Care five days a week. Then, with the help of two marvelous caregivers, after four more years of loving each other--they passed, just a few months apart. Even though caring for every aspect of my parents' last years was the hardest thing I have ever done--I am proud to say I gave them the best end-of-life I possibly could.
Had I only known to insist that we buy Long-Term Care Insurance for them prior to their illnesses--their years of in-home care could have been paid for, and I could have saved myself so much heartache, not to mention a small fortune. I encourage you to learn from my mistake and look into LTC insurance long before you need it-for your loved ones as well as yourself. Like fire insurance, hopefully, you'll never have to use it.
Also, call your local Area Agency on Aging, or Department of Aging, and ask if there are any financial programs, waivers or grants available in your area that you can apply for.
STARTLING STATISTICS
· An estimated 4.5 to 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. In a Gallup poll, 1 in 10 Americans said that they had a family member with Alzheimer's, and 1 in 3 knew someone with the disease.
· Increasing age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's. One in 10 individuals over 65 and nearly half over 85 are affected. Rare, inherited forms of Alzheimer's can even strike individuals in their 30's and 40's.
· A person with Alzheimer's disease will live an average of eight years and as many as 20 years or more from the first onset of symptoms.
· More than 7 out of 10 people with Alzheimer's disease live at home, where family and friends provide 80 percent of their care. The estimated value of this informal care is $257 billion annually.
· One half of the U.S. population has a chronic condition. More than one quarter (26.6%) of the adult population provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend, which translates to more than 50 million people.
· 37% of caregivers are living in the same household as the person they care for. 54% are between 35 and 64 years of age. 59% of the adult population either is or expects to be a family caregiver, and 2 million more caregivers will be needed in the next twenty years.
· An estimated 43% of Americans age 65 or older will spend time in a nursing home. By 2012, 75% of Americans over age 65 will require long-term care. Long-term care costs are rising at 6% annually.
· The annual cost of Alzheimer's care in the U.S. is at least $100 billion, and will soar to at least $375 billion by mid-century, overwhelming our health care system and bankrupting Medicare and Medicaid.
· Alzheimer's disease costs American business $61 billion a year, which is equivalent to the net profits of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies. $24.6 billion covers Alzheimer health care, and $36.5 billion covers costs related to caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's, including lost productivity, absenteeism and worker replacement.

THREE WAYS TO PAY FOR LONG-TERM CARE

1. Pay for in-home caregivers and assisted living/nursing homes out of pocket. This is expensive and can often deplete a family's life savings.
2. Meet a very specific poverty level and qualify for government assistance through the Medicaid program. Unfortunately, options are limited, only paying for nursing homes that accept Medicaid.
3. Buy a Comprehensive Long-Term Care Insurance policy. This protects your family's assets from the rising costs of caring for someone who needs full time care. An employer might pay the tax-deductible premiums. Consider buying it at a younger age, when more affordable and accessible. It must be bought before a major illness strikes. Medicare and regular health insurance does not pay for long-term care. The average cost for a person who needs long-term care is $40-$70,000 annually, depending on where you live, plus the cost to the family caregiver who may have to leave their job.

Types of Insurance

Types of Insurance

By Motley Fool Staff June 21, 2004

The concept of insurance may not get your heart racing, but if you ever find yourself looking at a grease spot on the asphalt where you last saw your car, or viewing the smoldering remains of your home, and you're not insured, you'll find your heart racing plenty. Insurance is not a luxury, but a necessity. It's not something to put off thinking about; it's something to deal with now. It's not just for your car and home and health. There are other forms of insurance you should consider, as well. Here are the biggies:

• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Long-term care insurance
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Eye/vision insurance
• Renter's insurance
• Homeowner's insurance
• Mortgage insurance
• Auto insurance
• Monster-under-the-bed insurance

OK, we were just kidding about that last one. There's a host of other kinds of insurance, though, such as pet insurance, pre-need (funeral) insurance, and so on. And, within the categories listed above, you'll typically find many subcategories, such as whole life insurance and term life insurance.

For more information on and guidance regarding all kinds of insurance, head to our Insurance Center. Take some time now to learn about a few kinds of insurance unfamiliar to you and consider whether you need to get some. You may thank yourself later.
http://www.fool.com/personal-finance/insurance/2004/06/21/types-of-insurance.aspx

Accident Insurance - Factoids To Help You

Accident Insurance - Factoids To Help You

Accidents in life may occur anywhere and at anytime. It seeks no specific time to arrive. Uncertainties are meant to stay in our lives till we live. Moreover, surveys state that people all over the world today are more likely to be saved and suffer injuries rather than meet death. Medical advancement may be one reason for it. But it is equally important to have an accident insurance, which covers you when you meet with an accident.

It might be possible that you suffer severe injuries while driving or while being on a holiday vacation. You might already have an insurance for your car and holiday tips. But to give yourself a full proof protection, it is important that accidents and injuries are covered individually by a specific insurance. This is where an accident insurance comes in.

There are different kinds of insurance packages available under the insurance scheme covering your accident. Whether you are taking an air trip, car drive or are on an adventurous tour indulging into activities like mountaineering, scuba diving, skiing, etc., this insurance covers you appropriately. For example, if any of your family member dies due to injuries caused by a plane accident, you can claim for the compensation.

However, there are some terms and conditions, which you have to be aware of while buying the insurance. Make sure that you claim the compensation within five days of the accident. Only then will your claim be considered valid and accepted. Accident insurance emboldens you to face the unplanned and unwelcome situations in life. Last but not the least, before you finally buy an insurance do some basic market research to zero in on the one that is going to benefit you ideally. The best method is to do some online research, compare different quotes, and finally choose the best deal available.

The author is associated with UK’s leading healthcare and medical insurance broker, Essential Health Ltd, which provides medical benefits, to its clients in UK and around the world, for Cancer, Medical insurance, Critical illness, Travel insurance, Dental insurance, Financial protection, Life, Term Assurance, Accident Insurance, Healthcare, Health insurance and even Sickness insurance. She writes on various topics and latest news related to medical, insurance and most importantly on cancer and latest developments related to its treatment.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darlene_Kaitlin

Insurance For Businesses

Insurance For Businesses

By Cindy Heller
It is imperative for business owners to have a business health insurance to take care of unseen medical predicaments that lay in their future path. A far-seeing businessperson owes this vital responsibility to himself and to his employees.

The Importance Of Insurance

Few employee benefits rivals health care insurance. Hence, it is only proper that a company should take care of its workers by providing with the best insurance possible. This should of course be done at an affordable cost. According to recent data, about two-fifths of full-time employees chose from more than one health plan. Common factors that influence the choice include the type of person enrolling, the type of care that will be provided and the type of care the enrollee needs. The most common form of health insurance chosen by companies for employees, are group and business insurance packages. These packages have many employee benefits and they are very affordable.

Today, there are cheaper insurance deals for smaller companies. It is good news for small businesses that insurers cannot decline coverage for employers with two to twenty employees. Besides, by implementing information technologies, insurers have significantly improved customer service, reduced costs and adopted models that allow customers to determine what insurance plans suit them.

Small Business Health Insurance Is A Useful Employment Benefit

To be able to purchase a small business health insurance plan, as a firm, you need to have between two and fifty employees. With the way health care costs are rising these days, it is advisable for small businesses to have a group insurance so that the firm is able to offer medical services to their employees should they become ill or injured. If all small businesses were to have small business health insurance, they would be able to recruit and retain good, healthy and long-term staff.

Small Business Health Insurance Types

HMO, PPO, POS and fee-for-service are some of the kinds of small business health insurance plans available today. However, the best form is of the managed care variety. This is because it is affordable and its coverage is quite wide. In short, its cost/benefit ratio is the best. Having said that, it is advisable, as a small business to be clear about your aims and objectives and clarify them before procuring a small business health insurance plan.

It is compulsory for you to furnish the insurance companies with the details of your business - the number of employees, the kind of coverage needed and the ages and health status of the members of the group. You need to ensure that the information you give the small business health insurance providers is accurate for them to come with up suitable proposals.

The cost of small business health insurance has recently skyrocketed due to the aging population and rising cost of health care in the country. Also, there has been news about the declining reputation of managed health care. Despite this, you will still be able to procure a suitable insurance plan from a reputable service provider. One of the places you can check up for such plans is the chambers of commerce. They may be able to provide assistance to recommend a suitable service provider in your locality.

Many insurance service providers offer various forms of health insurance plans. It is very tedious and many times confusing to compare the features of competing plans. Unfortunately, this process of due diligence is required to ensure that you choose the right plan with the right features suited to you and your family at the right price. Do your research over the Internet to get to your initial list of insurance service providers to consider for your needs. During this research phase, you will also understand and appreciate features that you will consider important to you. Contact agents from these selected insurance providers to send you their proposals based on your stated needs. Do not be afraid to clarify your doubts with these agents when you receive their proposals. It is their job to enlighten you about the various features of their proposals. Remove service providers who are unable to answer your questions convincingly or deliberately try to confuse matters, off your hit list.
http://www.majorhealthinsuranceplan.com/