Know Insurance Articles: 2008

Monday, November 24, 2008

How to Make an Insurance Claim

Buildings and contents insurance is designed to protect you from all sorts of dangers and unanticipated events. If you have suffered a theft, damage or vandalism, it can be an extremely distressing experience, and many people will want to get their money back immediately. Your first point of call, however, should not be your insurance company but rather to the police. This will ensure that the theft or vandalism has been officially noted and may help with your claim.

Another thing you must do, from the outset of getting your policy, is know exactly what it covers. If there is anything missing from your policy you should contact your insurance company and make sure that you have the protection that you require. You may have several different types of insurance: buildings, contents, or home insurance and you should be clear as to which items, and what eventualities, are covered by which policy.

If you are not sure which policy to claim under you should contact your insurers as they will be best placed to help you. Many insurers have emergency telephone numbers for policyholders, and will also be able to find you good tradesman in case you need immediate repairs. It may prove easier to use one of these insurance company tradesmen if it comes to having work that you will later claim for.

Your insurance company can provide you with a claim form when it comes to making your claim, complete it as soon as possible, and where possible return it with estimates for the cost of the repair, or the specific items that you have lost, with any proof of their value if you have it. If you are unable to value estimates - in case you have suffered extensive damage -make sure that the claim form is sent in as soon as possible and tell the company that you will give them the estimates as soon as you can.

If you have items that have been damaged by vandalism, fire, or flood for example, you should make sure that you keep them, whether it be in the house or your garage, because the insurance company may wish to make an assessment themselves.

Once the insurance company gets your estimates it will either immediately pay your claim, or if there is any doubt, arrange for a claims inspector to call on you. The claims inspector will arrange with you the basis on which your claim will be settled. Another option might be to send a loss adjuster who will handle the whole claim for you. Loss adjusters are independent experts, and are more likely to be sent in specialised cases. There is no need to appoint anyone to act on your behalf, and if you do you will have to pay the fees yourself.

For most people their home is the most valuable item that they own and it is important to make sure that it has proper protection.

by Ramond Verde is author of this article on house insurance.

The Surrender Value of Life Insurance

Life insurance policies are very long-term commitments, premiums usually have to be paid for at least ten years and the money is often invested in order to reduce future premiums and to add to the cash value of your policy. However, this can mean that if the policy is cashed in early it may lose some of its value, there are a few options you could explore if you think you may have to cash in a policy early.

Your insurance company may be able to grant you a loan rather than surrendering the value of the policy, and more often than not the rate of interest will be competitive. You should remember that it is not necessarily in the insurance company's interests to cash in your policy early, and they probably will do their best to help you out. Alternatively, if you are suffering difficult financial times you may be able to make the policy 'paid up' this means that you will stop paying premiums in the short term, but still may experience the benefit of the policy in the future, although obviously at a lower level.

If you have to cash in a policy you might be able to sell it off in a specialist auction. The cash-in value will be lower than the payout at the end, and therefore it might be possible to get more money from selling it than you would from cashing it in. This can be a risky business, and therefore it might be best to check with a professional before you choose to go ahead with it.

If there really is no alternative apart from to surrender your policy you should discuss it with your insurance company or financial adviser. Always make sure that you get a written quotation of the value from the insurance company before you make a final decision. Another thing that you should be wary of is if you are recommended to surrender a policy with one company and take one out with another company. This is a type of insurance fraud called 'churning' and usually involves you making a financial loss somewhere along the line.

If you do choose to surrender your policy your insurance company will have to cover all of its costs. These can be quite expensive, and have to be met whether you keep the policy for its full span or if you surrender it early. If you surrender early in the lifespan of the policy you will get back a little or a lot less than the premiums you have paid, and sometimes there may be a caveat in the contract that nothing at all is payable to you if you surrender the policy very early.

Due to the fact that you continue paying premiums throughout the lifespan of a policy, the surrender value can change depending on when you choose to cash in the policy. Insurance companies have to be sure that they can meet their commitments to policyholders, and therefore have to plan ahead, when they don't there can be high profile collapses. It is not unusual for insurance companies to change surrender values, both because of the value in the policy, but also because they have to balance their assets with their liabilities and an early surrender definitely classes as a liability.

Life insurance does not have to be an expensive commodity, and even if you are operating off a tight budget at the moment the provision that a good life insurance policy can make for your nearest and dearest could offer invaluable peace of mind.

by Ramond Verde

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Top 10 business insurance FAQs

Business Insurance has been developed to provide essential cover in the event of claims arising from loss or damage to property and injury to persons in the course of carrying out your business activities. For businesses with a professional service, protection from claims arising from professional errors and omissions is very important. If you value your business and livelihood then you should have effective insurance cover in place. Claims against your Business could potentially result in not just substantial cost to the company but to you personally - even Director's of Limited companies are at risk - which is why Directors and Officers liability cover is also becoming crucial.
Here are the 10 ten most Frequently Asked Questions about business insurance:

1.DO I NEED TO TELL THE INSURERS EVERTHING ABOUT MY BUSINESS?
Your Insurers need to be aware of all the facets of your business in order to asses the risk and meet the needs and demands of your insurance requirements to ensure you are fully protected. Failure to advise your insurers of a material fact could invalidate your cover!

2.WHY DO I HAVE TO REVEAL MY WAGE ROLE?
Your Insurers need this information assess the size of your company and the potential liability you may have to other parties.

3.DO I HAVE TO TAKE OUT LANDLORD INSURANCE TO INSURE MY LANDLORDS PROPERTY?
This depends on the terms of your lease. If the landlord assumes responsibility for the insurance of the buildings you occupy then you do not need to insure these yourself. However you should ascertain exactly what the lease specifies. If for example your lease makes you responsible for the insurance of existing fixtures and fittings, shop fronts, etc... then you must insure these. You will no doubt decorate and improve the risk with your own fittings. These must also be insured as the landlord will not insure them.

4.DO I REALLY NEED PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE?
In this litigious age every business needs to protect itself from claims from third parties for damage to the their property or for injury. The cover will protect the business from claims dealing with the legal costs and if necessary paying the damages awarded. Even defending a no win - no fee attempted claim, costs can run into thousands of pounds, which this cover will provide for.

5.I PUT UP DISCLAIMER SIGNS AND HAVE PEOPLE SIGN DISCLAIMERS SO DO I NEED LIABILITY INSURANCE?
Unfortunately yes. Signs may dissuade some claims but in law they have very little sway. The person injured may be blind or illiterate and cannot read the signs. They may well still attempt a claim even if they have signed a waiver on the basis that they did not know what they were signing and this claim would need to be defended.

6.I ONLY EMPLOY MY FAMILY DO I HAVE TO HAVE EMPLOYERS LIABILITY INSURANCE?
The Employers Liability Act 1969 does exempt family members from cover but if you trade as a limited company then you are legally required to have cover as per the Act.

7.I DO NOT HAVE MUCH STOCK SO CAN I ONLY INSURE MY LIABILITES?
Yes of course, but in protecting your business and continuing to trade you must consider the other aspects of cover that most business insurances provide. Business interruption (loss of profits), money cover, damage to fixtures and fittings, leased equipment, etc... Under the terms of most leases you are liable for these.

8.I SELL PRODUCTS TO THE PUBLIC, IF THEY CAUSE INJURY DUE TO SOME DEFECT BEYOND MY CONTROL AM I INSURED?
Public Liability policies can include liability arising from products supplied.

9.WILL MY PUBLIC LIABILITY POLICY COVER CLAIMS AGAINST ME FOR ERRORS AND OMISSIONS OR DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP?
A public liability policy will only cover injury to the public or damage to their property caused by negligent acts. Errors or Omissions such as wrongful advice is protected by professional indemnity insurance. With regard to defective workmanship, a public liability policy is not a guarantee that you know how to carry out your trade so defective workmanship is excluded.

10.WHY DOES MY BUSINESS POLICY RESTRICT THEFT COVER TO THEFT BY FORCIBLE AND OR VIOLENT MEANS?
As you can imagine, if the public are allowed unlimited access to business premises such as shops, offices, hotels, etc. then theft is very easy for the opportunist thief. Some restrictions have to be imposed hence the requirement for forcible entry.

by Arthur Savage
Insurance is an independent professional insurance advisor you can trust. We have been providing low-cost insurance and a quality service for more than 70 years.

All You Need To Know About Full Insurance

This is a perfect online guide for all your insurance needs like car insurance, life insurance, and health insurance and an article on insurance rates. We definitely have you covered.
Insurance refers to a contract wherein a person gets financial reimbursement from an insurance company in case of losses. Insurance comes in many types such as casualty insurance, disability insurance, health insurance, life insurance, property insurance, liability insurance, credit insurance, car insurance, financial loss insurance, kidnap and ransom insurance, and purchase insurance. Believe it or not, there is even pet insurance.
Getting financial reimbursement is not that simple. Since nothing is free in this world, you have to pay a premium in order to be insured. The premium is highly based on the risk of loss. Aside from the premium, there are other factors affecting insurance. It is best if you take time understanding insurance, insurance policies, and everything in between before actually getting one.

by Jizmack Baraceros
http://www.fullinsurance.info

Thursday, October 23, 2008

What Determines Auto Insurance Costs in Nashville, TN?

What determines auto insurance costs in Nashville, TN? Here’s a clue: it’s not about singing ability. However, everything else matters in Nashville auto insurance. The price of your premiums will be directly affected by seemingly insignificant details such as your job, your demographics and your location. Understanding how insurance companies create your level of risk can help you to save on auto insurance premiums.
To some extent, the insurance company has to work according to government guidelines. The government may predetermine some laws, which the insurance company will have to work around. This data may be related to region and neighborhood location, as well as state laws that are already precedent. Where an insurance company really takes over is in setting prices on physical damages, since mandatory liability coverage is somewhat fixed.
A great deal of auto insurance research is compiled from demographic statistical data. Statistics can be harsh at times, but the numbers speak for themselves, at least according to the insurance companies. The numbers say that more men are involved in car accidents than women, possibly because men drive more in general. Young people have more accidents and receive more tickets than older demographics do. Marriage has also been scrutinized as a safer characteristic than singleness in driving.
Driving history is hard to ignore. No matter how professional a driver tries to make his DUI conviction sound, it’s never going to impress the insurance company. The usage of the car is just as important as the history of the driver. The insurance company wants to know how often the car is used for business and pleasure and wants an idea on how many miles were driven in a year’s time.
Other important factors include the manufacturer, model and cash market value of the vehicle. Expensive luxury cars and minivans are always expensive to cover, while hefty cars may receive a discount because of their enhanced safety. Finally, the insurance company factors in the type of coverage requested. Basic liability insurance is fairly cheap though adding on comprehensive and collision coverage will cause a spike in premiums. Also, a motorist has to pay attention to liability limits as well as deductibles.
If you are interested in saving on your auto insurance premiums in Nashville, then first familiarize yourself with the process of creating risk. Now ask yourself how many changes are you willing to make to get a better deal on auto insurance?

by Carson Evans

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Industrial Life Insurance

After the war it became clear that life insurance service to the wage earners of the United States and Canada was the central theme of Metropolitan history. It determined the character of the company's development as has no other single factor and its imprint is clearly marked upon the pattern of the Metropolitan's activities. It explains the development of the Industrial Department, which continued to be a very effective medium for meeting the insurance needs of this group. The Metropolitan was not the first company in this country to write industrial insurance.
The honor rightly belongs to the Prudential Insurance Company of America whose operations as the Prudential Friendly Society antedated those of the Metropolitan by four years. It is true, however, that the Metropolitan began to serve the wage earners of this country a full decade before the launching of its industrial business in 1879. Within the first years of its founding, the company underwrote the low cost life insurance of a workingmen's organization which received premiums weekly from its members and transmitted them quarterly to the Company. Thus the Metropolitan from its inception devoted special attention to working people, and has retained this as a primary and absorbing interest throughout the years.
Industrial life insurance has been variously defined. It is essentially life insurance for the great majority of people who make up the industrial or wage earning population. It took form and direction as our mighty cities grew and as more and more people became wage earners. They had probably more need for life insurance than the better circumstanced groups, but they could buy it only in small amounts and could pay for it only out of wages usually received weekly. Experience has indicated that the families, for whom industrial insurance has been designed, generally did not find it convenient to remit the small premiums directly to the company, or found the cost of that method out of all proportion.
It was essential that someone receive the premiums each week at their homes. Here, then, is the essence of weekly premium industrial life insurance: insurance in relatively small amounts on the lives of working men and their families, paid for out of wages, to agents who personally receive the premiums weekly. Such insurance has the same objectives as ordinary insurance, but in more modest degree; and both forms are based on the same scientific principles of level premium and reserve.
In view of the pressing need of life insurance, especially no medical exam life insurance, by working people, it is surprising that this branch of the business developed so late in our insurance history. It was inaugurated in America, as we have pointed out, in 1875, by the Prudential of Newark. Workingmen, not sought by the insurance companies, at first attempted to meet their needs through cooperative assessment societies. Unfortunately, these societies suf¬fered from the defects inherent in the assessment plan of operation, and they failed, as the assessment plan has generally failed, both in England and in America.
Following the Civil War, feeble attempts were made by one company or another to furnish insurance to wage earners, but they did not succeed, either because of the unsoundness of their plans or because they did not recognize the necessity of receiving the premiums at the homes of the insured. The fact is that Industrial insurance did not take hold in America until the Prudential, the John Hancock, and the Metropolitan launched it, following the essentials of procedure--actuarial, managerial, and administrative--which the Prudential of London had worked out during more than 20 years of operation.

by Sarah Martin

Getting cheap car insurance

When researching how to get cheap car insurance, using the internet can be a valuable source of cheap motor quotes and useful information. You can become fully versed on the different types of cover there are as well as search for a good deal on your cover. Or, you can find a specialist motor broker who can do this on your behalf.
There are three choices of motor insurance cover, though the benefits may vary depending on who you buy your cover from.
Fully comprehensive is the "all singing all dancing" type of motor insurance cover you can take and this protects your vehicle and the other car involved in an accident for repairs plus many other things. Fully comprehensive car insurance policies can protect against break in and damage to personal belongings, theft, and damage to the car in an accident and also could pay for medical costs if any party was injured in an accident.
A third party, fire and theft policy falls in the middle and provides your car with some basic security against being stolen or catching fire, as well as any third party liability.
Third party only cover is the cheapest of all three of the types of motor insurance, but offers the bare bones of protection, covering basically just any third party liability due to you causing an accident.

Why do you need insurance cover?
You need car insurance unless you want the police handing out penalties to you as it is a legal requirement to have adequate cover if you want to drive on the UK's roads. You also need it in order to avoid having to pay for repairs or damage to your car should you be involved in an accident or if your vehicle was stolen or got burnt out.
Buying your policy on the internet or via an online broker can often help you find cheap car insurance and is a lot less time consuming that ringing up lots of different car insurance providers for a quote. There are way too cut down on the cost of your policy too, but doing such things as offering to pay more excess on your policy; increasing the security on your vehicle by investing in steering wheel locks, an immobiliser or a tracking device; using your garage if you have one; protecting your no claims bonus.
Also bear in mind that to make sure you are getting the best deal on your cover each year always look for a new policy rather than sticking with the same provider and automatically renewing it.
When shopping around for cheap car insurance, look for the little things that are often found on the policies you are comparing. For example, some providers will offer you the use of a courtesy car while yours is being repaired, or a months' free insurance.
As there are so many things you need to take into account when researching your motor cover options for getting cheap car insurance, make full use of the internet. It is a valuable tool which you need to make full use of either by shopping around for the right cover by yourself or enlisting a specialist car insurance broker.

by
David Thomson is Chief Executive of BestDealInsurance an independent specialist broker dedicated to giving consumers the best insurance deal. They offer great value home, life and car insurance.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Auto Insurance in United Kingdom

It is compulsory in the United Kingdom to have auto insurance if you want to drive a car. If you are liable for the consequences of an accident the UK auto insurance will pay for damage or loss and compensation due to other person. Though auto insurance costs rises, it still rather competetive market and you can save money on your auto insurance premium in different ways.The minimum legal amount of auto insurance required for driving a car in the UK is Third Party Only (TPO).Though many auto insurance companies no longer offer this type of cover. There are many factors that can decrease or increase your auto insurance premiums and some UK auto insurance providers are cheaper in different ways.

For example, some auto insurance providers insure only women drivers because accordingly to statistics they are less to make claims, some will insure only if you have over 40% No Claims Discount, some specialise in convicted drivers and young drivers. Minimizing a risk to the UK auto insurance provider is another factor to consider when you apply for car insurance.

Auto insurance providers take into consideration all risks, such as the type of car, the type of driver, the amount of vehicles stolen from an area,their driving history in order to calculate the "risk". Often mileage is considered by auto insurance providers when they calculate the costs of your insurance premium.

If you keep your car off the road at night you'll reduce the risk of making a claim for violence or vandalism, theft and so on. Of course, there are many other factors which you can't change so easy and they affect your auto insurance premiums. Among them there are age, sex, postcode, and even your profession. All of them can influence the cost of your auto insurance. Most of the companies are much like bookmakers. The car insurance company basically takes a gamble based on carefully analysed statistics.

By Ali Edenhson
from http://top-autoinsurance.blogspot.com

How to Get Low Rates on Car Insurance

Did you know that auto insurance is one area of your budget you may be able to trim substantially? If you haven't checked prices lately, you may not be getting the low rates on car insurance you qualify for.

Check out these tips and see if you can start saving some money today.

How's Your Credit?

Before you even begin checking out insurance costs, you need to check your credit record. You can get a free credit report each year from each of the three major credit reporting companies.

What does your credit record have to do with your insurance? Well, insurance companies look at your credit record, and they'll charge you more if your credit is poor, sometimes as much as 50 percent more!

By checking your credit yourself before you go searching for insurance, you can take steps to improve your record and to have inaccurate information removed.

Shop Around for the Best Price

You can potentially save big bucks on your auto insurance just by switching to a different company. Why? Because insurance rates from one insurance company to another can vary by hundreds of dollars for the exact same insurance.

The easiest way to check rates from different companies is to go an insurance comparison website. On these websites, you can get quotes from multiple insurance companies at the same time.

On the best websites, you can also talk with insurance experts online or by phone if you have any questions about your insurance (see link below).

Deductibles and Discounts Matter

You can also save money on your auto insurance by ...

* Setting your deductible as high as you can afford

* Making sure you get all the discounts you qualify for

The deductible is the amount you pay toward a claim before your insurer will pay. The higher you set your deductible, the lower your premium will be.

Discounts directly lower your insurance premium. Be sure to ask your insurer about any discounts you might be eligible for.

Where to Get Low Rates

Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com or click on the following link to get low rates on car insurance from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more tips and advice in their Articles section, and get answers to your questions from an insurance expert by using their online chat service.

by Brian Stevens

Cut your car insurance

Many people assume that the big cost of driving a car is actually buying the car, but what shocks many people is the cost of insurance which can sometimes be more than the value of the vehicle. If you have recently passed your test, it is recommended to purchase a cheap car as it is your first so the insurance will be higher as you are more likely to crash.

Car insurance is a necessity for when you buy your car but you can make sure that you pay the minimum amount by following these points:

Do not modify your vehicle - Modifying your vehicle will add a significant cost to your policy, adding a spoiler or lowering the suspension could see your premium raised by up to 170%.

Protect your vehicle - Parking your vehicle on a drive or preferably in a garage will reduce your premiums; if possible you should look to fit an immobiliser.

Do not make a small claim - When you make a claim, usually it will wipe out two years of no claims bonuses; this could result in a loss of 70% in savings which you may have accumulated. You should never claim anything under £500.

Crash course - Taking a crash course may save you up to 30% off your policy.

Add a second named driver - By adding an experienced driver on your policy, you could save up to 15%, the named driver does not ever have to step foot in the vehicle.

Shop around - By comparing quotes from all the providers, you can save a small fortune every time you renew your policy by obtaining the cheapest quote.

Cheap car insurance is available if you compare car insurance quotes and follow all the above points, once considered you will obtain the best car insurance for you.

by Barry Loughran

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Importance of Group health insurance

Term group plan means that all the employees must compulsorily accept the coverage despite of physical condition. Usually the employee has to pay the first premium within 30 days of employment or he will be forfeited from the right to automatic coverage. Group health plans include employer sponsored ERISA plans - both insured and self insured and non- ERISA plans such as church plans. Group insurance is generally the least expensive kind.
Some organizations offer only one health insurance plan and others offer a variety of plans like indemnity plan, health maintenance organization (HMO), or a preferred provider organization (PPO). This type of group health insurance is famous in California.

Indemnity health insurance plans gives you the benefit of choosing a licensed doctor of your choice and then pay him for the services at the time of the visit. To receive payment for medical expenses you have to fill a form and send them to insurer. Sometimes your doctor may do this for you. You also have to keep receipts for prescription drugs. If you want this type of insurance you have to keep track of all your medical expenses. This type of plan is mostly found in rural areas. Certain features include your choice of deductibles, coinsurance levels, maximums and benefit levels.
In health maintenance organization (HMO) you have to pay a monthly fee called a premium. But you can't choose a licensed doctor of your choice in this type of health insurance. The health insurance company has a huge number of physician networks who provide a wide variety of medical benefits. From this network, you choose a primary care physician who will take care of your health related problems. The choice of doctors and hospitals are limited those within the network since they have agreements with the HMO to provide your health care. The health care services generally require you to make a co-payment. If the HMO is efficient and keeps its members healthy, it will make a profit. But if there are too many members who need care its profits are smaller or it may lose money.
Preferred provider organizations are made up of physicians, hospitals, or other providers which provide health care services at a reduced fee. PPOs offer more flexibility by allowing members to meet a licensed doctor who are out of network at a greater expense to the policy holder. But if visits are made within the network it requires only a small fee. There is often a deductible for out of network expenses and a higher co-payment.

Brayan Peter is an expert author for health insurance california. He written many articles like Kaiser Insurance, health insurance california, Kaiser permanente, Kaiser Individual insurance and Kaiser permanente. For more information visit our site.

Buying life cover

While none of us like to think about our mortality, if you want to ensure that those you leave behind are financially comfortable then considering buying life cover is a necessity. Certainly, looking on the internet for information and getting quote from a specialist life insurance broker is often the best way to go about taking out valuable security. There are various forms of life cover and you have to decide first which the right choice for your circumstances is. Of the various types of life assurance, term life cover is probably the most common. In a nutshell, you choose how many years you want to be covered for and if you pass away during the policy term, you family would receive a tax free lump sum. However, the cover would not pay out if you were still alive when the cover ended. So, why is life insurance so important? The majority of people believe life cover to be something that just pays towards the costs of their funeral. However, it is much more than that, it gives your family comfort financially so they can continue meeting essential bills such as the monthly mortgage repayment. The benefit from the policy would allow your family to keep on top of the weekly/monthly bills that come into the home and removes the stress and worry over where to find the money at an already fraught time. Of course, there is no need to pay more for the protection than you need to. Shopping around for the best deal you can get on life cover is essential and often the easiest way to do this is online with a website that searches among policy providers on your behalf. All you have to do is to check over the terms to ensure it is suitable for your needs - or speak to your broker. Your premiums to some extent will be based on your health; this means that individuals of ideal weight for their height get cover for a lot cheaper than someone who is classed as being over their ideal weight. Take daily exercise and watch the diet and you could enjoy cheaper life security. It should be noted that smokers and those individuals who like a drink will often have to pay more to insure their lives than someone who does not. To be classed as a non smoker you need to have given up the habit for at least 12 months before you go to buy your policy. To decide how much you life cover you will need, multiply your yearly salary by around ten times. This will give you a starting point as to how much to insure your life for. Consider things such as how much it would cost to clear any outstanding debt such as a mortgage, any loans and credit cards. Would the money be used to put your children through higher education etc. As we cannot predict what could happen in the future we do have to give some thought to protecting our lives against the fact that we could die at anytime. Life cover does just this and it does not have to be expensive.

by
David Thomson is Chief Executive of BestDealInsurance an independent specialist broker dedicated to providing their clients with the best deal on their life insurance, critical illness cover and home and motor insurance.

Buying Motor Trade Insurance Online

Whether you are a car dealer, own a garage or handle some other type of mechanic's business, you have to obtain Motor Trade Insurance. This is necessary not only to fulfil your obligation to the UK insurance laws but also to hold adequate cover to guard against losses and damages in the case of accidents, theft and other incidents. The advantage of this is that the trader or his employees can drive any vehicle for business purposes and they would have the Motor Trader Policy, instead of having separate policies for each vehicle, as the vehicle is going to be different every time. This comes in handy for people running dealerships and garages.
The insurance policy protects your business and assets in the case of unpleasant scenarios by covering your financial and material losses. The kind of Insurance policy that you get depends on your individual needs and circumstances. Motor Trade Insurance has five types. These types are: Third Party Only, Third Party Fire and Theft, Comprehensive Policy, Liability Policy and Combined Policy. The first four types are usually characterised as policies for Road Risks. Each of the types has its own features and coverage and hence the premiums also vary.
The policies which come under the Road Risk category cover the vehicle for any damages which are caused during business activities. In contrast, the combined policy gives coverage for several other aspects of your business like equipment, materials, buildings etc. The ideal insurance for you would be the one which suits your needs and circumstances and provides effective coverage, and has a low premium, all at the same time. As many of the policies have some common features, the best way to choose one is by consulting a Motor Trade Insurance professional who would be able to recommend a policy which is best for you. This would save you from getting a policy that does not provide complete protection or provides coverage that you don't need.
If you want to get Motor Trade Insurance, the easiest way is to do it through a broker as they know the industry and they can get you the features you need within your budget. This will not only save you time and effort but you would also be able to get an excellent deal at a good rate. After you get your Motor Trade Insurance policy, you can have changes made to it if you think them necessary. You can do that by paying a specific fee and get a feature upgraded or changed.
It is important to keep the insurance company updated with any changes in your business circumstances as they occur, because this will ensure your future premiums - and the fulfilment of your claim would also depend on these changes. It can occur that if you don't inform the company of a significant change, they may refuse to fulfil your claim when you make it.
Your insurance company would let you know before the policy's renewal date arrives and you can change your policy or get Motor Trade Insurance from another company if required.
by Florent Gasquet

Caring for the Kids with Daycare Insurance

Who doesn't love kids?
For someone who is considering taking on a business that is both fun, never boring, and will still bring in the bucks, opening a daycare may sound like a very appealing option. If hearing the sound of soft giggles of kids having fun is right up your alley, then setting up this kind of business either from your very own home or on a different location is definitely for you.
The need for insurance

One major thing to consider in running a daycare business is that you are dealing with people - kids, even. When dealing with people, safety cannot be compromised. While an ideal scenario would mean someone watching over your toddlers constantly and without fail, this is not always the case.

Various theories in education will tell you that for real learning to take place, kids need to explore things for themselves and learn for themselves. Let them go, and watch them grow, as they say. A child's experience in a daycare fits nicely into this framework, as kids are allowed - and even encouraged - to roam around a hopefully safe setup so that they may try things out on their own. This doesn't only encourage learning- it also boosts creativity and interaction among other kids their own age.

The only downside to this free-for-all setup is that it can sometimes compromise safety. While the best daycare environments would try to prioritize safety and protection for the sake of the vulnerability that are our kids' well being, accidents are accidents, and accidents happen. Playthings are made with utmost consideration to kids' protection, most daycares are equipped with child-friendly surfaces, but even with these safeguards in place, untoward events are inevitable.

This, among others, necessitates the need for insurance for your daycare business. You are dealing with fragile lives, after all. While an injury or two may seem inconsequential, if not approached judiciously, they can compromise your business in a major way. Does a home daycare business still need insurance?

Some people may opt to put up their daycare business from their own homes thinking that their home insurance policy will most likely cover it. You may be in for a surprise, however, if you take a look at the fine print and notice that most standard homeowner's insurance policy exclude daycare centers (or other home-based businesses, for that matter). Therefore, you might want to consult with your agent from the insurance company just to be sure. There are also some legal details to consider as there might be some differences from state to state regarding insurance of home-based businesses.

The safeguards of daycare insurance
A typical daycare insurance covers all major injuries or accidents that might occur while these kids are under your watch. Most would also cover your daycare staff (which can very well be you or your loved ones) for any untoward events. The good thing about these policies is that they cover everything regardless of whether the accident happened during a supervised activity or not. In addition, these policies would normally cover transportation to and from these activities, whenever they are applicable.
There are also other differences among available policies. These range from what kinds of injuries they cover, how long would the benefit period be from the time of the accident, or whether or not it includes dental treatments. So be meticulous when going over your options.
With these safeguards in mind, it should give you the peace of mind that the laughter from your kids (and their parents) will not turn into a disgruntled frown should something unexpected ensues. Just make sure that a daycare insurance policy is comprehensive, thorough, and something that would fit nicely within your needs.

On hindsight, a home-based daycare business is a business. Yet more than a business, it is a business that deals with people directly. When in doubt, it is best if you opt for the most definite course of action - getting a separate insurance for your daycare. When you protect your clients, you also protect your business.
by Althea Tan

Commercial Truck Insurance - Upcoming Safety Technology

As commercial truck insurance premiums increase due to things like accidents and costs of replacing parts of the fleet or cargo, so too does the new technologies that are created to help prevent accidents from occurring and will greatly help to reduce premium costs. These technologies come out every so often and as of now there are quite a few that are available which you might not have on any of your fleet vehicles.
To start off with we have the electronic stability control which is an integral part of truck safety standards and while this is not exactly a new technology, it is newer then many of the trucks currently on the road. This particular accident prevention technology will actively select the brakes that are applied in order to slow the truck down faster and safer versus the traditional methods of braking.
Some of the newer and more expensive truck models now come with a pre-collision system where the system senses other nearby obstacles and determines if they are a threat to your vehicle or not. These systems will take a number of active measures to prevent accidents including the activation of the vehicle's brakes among many other available preventative measures.
The adaptive cruise control is capable of regulating a vehicle's speed and uses a built-in radar detection system to monitor obstacles in the road such as other vehicles and will accelerate or apply the brakes based on an advanced computerized calculation that has determined a potential threat and works to remedy the course.
You also have the lane departure warning system which uses specialized cameras to determine if you are leaving the lane you are in and makes the decision to alert you in the event that the vehicles turn indicators are not currently active. This system has proven to be successful at awakening drivers who become drowsy due to excessive hours behind the wheel.
From the brake assist that helps to stop a truck based on the pressure the brake pedal is pushed, to blind spot detection systems that prevent lane changes when a vehicle is hiding in the truck's blind spots. You can now even get night vision capabilities for those late night routes as well as sensors that can determine if the truck is unstable and could potentially roll over.
All of these intelligent systems and a whole lot more are available, and when used accurately, they can not only prevent accidents, but they can greatly reduce your commercial truck insurance premiums due to a decrease in the potential risk your fleet is on the roads. While some of the newer and more sophisticated vehicles have many of these already built into the truck, the large majority of older vehicles do not. However you can usually get these installed in virtually any vehicle if you want.
by Ray Baker

Commercial Truck Insurance - Keep Your Cargo Safe

When it comes to owning commercial trucks, one thing that is very important for any company is making sure that the cargo is secure. This does not just include the possibility of damage as a result of bad stacking or placement, but also means preventing that cargo from being stolen because if you try to file a commercial truck insurance claim and they can prove the incident could have been prevented,. You might find yourself having to pay for the cargo instead of letting the insurance company pay for it.

Even if you are not being paid to actually load the truck, it is important that throughout the loading process that you are present. If you feel that the cargo is not loaded safely, you have a right to ask them to repack it because once the truck pulls away from the loading dock your company will be responsible for it arriving in the same condition it was loaded in. Keep things neat and clean. In the case you are dealing in the food transportation business, cleanliness is important as it helps prevent contamination.
Make sure that every single door and access panel to the cargo area is properly shut and secure. This may also include any seals on the doors and panels as well as locks to prevent access. Once all of this has been done, then go through your regular safety check-list before you even hop into the cab of the truck. While all of these seem to be common sense, these so far can actually prevent you from filing a claim if something turns up missing or damaged.
You will then need to determine a time and date in which the delivery of the cargo will be considered as over due and make sure your clients have a way of reaching the driver in the event that he or she is overdue. In most cases, theft of cargo usually starts less than a mile away from the loading dock with the criminals waiting for your departure and the perfect moment to make a move. This means you have to keep a look out for suspicious behaviors as well as the possibility of seeing the same vehicles over and over again.
Never make any unscheduled stops between the loading dock and the cargo's destination and in the event that suspicious activity is noticed, contact the local authorities immediately. Making sure that the truck is kept secured and that the driver and dispatch are in constant contact will help prevent any possible cargo theft.
Above all, remember that until the cargo has been completely off loaded from the truck and has been accounted for at its point of destination, you are responsible for it.
There are many factors that might prevent your company obtaining a cheap commercial vehicle insurance quote, and your insurance claims history is one of them, so make sure you keep everything safe.

by Ray Baker

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Budget Car Insurance

If you're looking for cheap car insurance, then you should find there is a budget car insurance plan to fit your lifestyle. The budget car insurance policy is ideal for those with a small budget who can only manage a smaller premium. Some people may take out car insurance to fulfil a legal formality, for example when using a loan to purchase a car. However, if they don't have enough money to spend each month on car insurance and you're confident that you're the only person driving the car, then you may not need extra protection. In that case you could go with the cheap car insurance that offers basic cover.
In Australia, budget car insurance generally covers the minimum payment liability for damage to the property. The minimum requirements for those seeking car insurance are covered by budget car insurance. When seeking to take out budget car insurance cover, it's worth determining the value of the car to decide the level of cover you need. If your car is old and likely to be replaced in a few years, then you might not need to take out comprehensive insurance cover. Minimizing the coverage you have will lower the premium; but be aware it also increases the risk of large expenses if you're on the wrong end of an accident without sufficient cover for your car.
When choosing a budget car insurance company, look for comparison points on which to select a suitable insurer. Taking advantage of the need for low premium payments means that many companies may be ready to offer you attractive quotes. You should carefully analyse budget car insurance quotes to be certain you get the best possible benefits within your budget.
If you're going to take out a budget car insurance policy then it pays to look at the options of coverage and consider what situations are provided for by the budget car insurance provider. Consider things such as the response time the company takes to answer your claim. Shopping around for cheap car insurance online means you can get a number of quotes easily. By comparing all the quotations you can identify the budget car insurance company which provides the best coverage at a low premium, guaranteeing you the best value for money policy.
You can expect your premium for budget car insurance to be low if you live in a safe area, as the likelihood of theft is minimized and the car is considered safer in this instance. The insurance company will reduce your premium also if you have a good driving history, as you are seen as less of a risk because of your strong driving history. Insurance premiums can also come down if there is only one driver, or the drivers are over the age of 25. These people will find it easier to secure best budget car insurance cover, as the general decrease in accidents with experienced drivers who tend to drive more responsibly reduces the chance of an accident.
by Peter Smyth

What Does House Insurance Cover? - What You Should Know

What does your house insurance cover? The time to find out is not when a disaster has already occurred and you learn you're not covered!

What is Usually Covered

Typical homeowner's policies cover the following items:

* Your home itself, including attachments such as a garage or rental unit

* Your personal possessions (Subject to limits - for example, many policies only cover jewelry up to $1000. You need to purchase a rider for extra coverage.)

* The personal possessions of any guests staying at your home

* Items you were storing at your home for someone else

* Your lawn and landscaping

* Buildings and structures on your property that are not attached to your house, such as tool sheds and gazebos

* Vacant land (except for farmland) that you own or rent

* Living expenses if your home is damaged and you have to live somewhere else during repairs

* Rental payments if a part of your home that you rent becomes unlivable due to damage

What Your Insurance May Not Cover

Some coverages you may not have include:

* Replacement cost coverage, which pays what it would cost to replace your home and possessions rather than their Actual Cash Value

* Mold and water damage

* Natural disasters

* Dogs

* Intentional damage

* Home office equipment

* Luxury items and collectibles

You can often buy supplemental coverage for these items.

How to Get the Best Insurance Rate

The best way to get the best house insurance rate is to comparison shop, and the easiest way to do that is to get quotes from an insurance comparison website. It's quick, it's easy, and it's free.

Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com/homeowners-insurance.html or click on the following link to get house insurance quotes from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more tips and advice in their Articles section, and get answers to your questions from an insurance expert by using their online chat service.

by Brian Stevens

6 Simple Tips to Save on Car Insurance

With the price of car insurance rates rising it is important to know how to save on your car insurance rates and get the best policy that matches you. I have 10 tips that can help you do that.

1.Don't be afraid to shop around for better car ins rates. -If you have been with the same company for quite some time, chances are you are paying too much. Insurance companies are competing with each other so much these days that new customers are paying anywhere from 25-50% less than customers that have been loyal to there company. This could be because you aren't getting your companies best car insurance rate they have and it could also be that your situation has changed and another company is more competitive for you. 2.Compare different deductibles. -Sometimes changing to a $500 deductible can save you a few hundred dollars a year. If you don't file claims very often, then you can usually save over the long run through lower car insurance rates. Just remember, you have to be able to afford the deductible you choose if you do have a claim. 3.Drive slower and more careful. -Just one ticket or accident can lose your good driver discount which is usually 25-40%. Driving slower and more cautious can also save you on tires, brakes, and even gas. Drivers without tickets or claims on there record for 3 years pay far less on car ins than drivers with even 1 occurrence. 4.Pay your bills on time. -Most states use your credit, or insurance score to evaluate your car ins rates. Having a good credit rating can save up to 50% over someone that has the lowest score available. This will save you with more than just your car ins. You will get better credit card interest rates, mortgage rates, etc... 5.Maintain an active car ins policy. -Not having proof of previous insurance, or an active policy for the past 6 months usually puts you in a high risk pool. This puts you at a high risk if you get in an accident as well. If you don't have car ins and someone comes after you for a loss then you are going to be paying the price straight out of your pocket. It isn't worth the risk. 6.Only carry the coverages you need. If you have an older car you may not want comprehensive or collision coverage. You may also have multiple cars in your household. In this case there probably isn't a need for rental car reimbursement. This usually runs between $15-25/vehicle every 6 months.

There are multiple other ways to save on car ins and I have other articles available to learn more as well. This is a very simple way to save. The biggest rule of thumb is to simply shop around. Not all car insurance companies are the same and they don't all offer the same rates. Compare car ins rates with multiple companies before changing. You can also compare MichiganAutoInsurance with us to save. Other states, we have provided resources to get competitive insurance quotes from reputable carriers. You more than likely can save a few hundred dollars on your next policy.

by Jayson Lash

Free No-Obligation Health Insurance Quotes

Whether you're single, elderly, or the head of your household, there are ways to find affordable health care. Health care is expensive. And since many people can't afford basic coverage for their family, they take a huge risk and forgo coverage. This is okay for people who never get sick or have to see a doctor. But there are no guarantees. A perfectly healthy person can suddenly become sick or get injured in an accident. Without coverage, they'll have to pay their medical care out-of-pocket, which can create a serious snowball effect.

There are ways to find affordable health care. Several health care providers offer free no-obligation health insurance quotes. Getting a free no-obligation health insurance quote is simple. If you have a computer, you can get an online quote instantly. Websites that provide health insurance quotes are best described as a "one-stop" brokerage site. Enter your personal information and provide a brief medical background history on yourself and family. Instantly, you'll receive free no-obligation health insurance quotes from at least four or five reputable health insurance companies.

The benefits of online health insurance quotes are numerous. Aside from multiple quotes, you'll be able to compare rates and services. You can even pick and choose your own insurance plan. For example, choose a maternity rider or prescription plan. Do you want to keep your monthly premium low? If so, pick a plan that features a higher deductible or office visit co-pay.

Free no-obligation health insurance quotes let you pick a plan that fits comfortably within your budget. With so many options, no family should be without adequate health care. And the best feature, once you choose the right health plan for your family, you can purchase the plan online. It's that easy. Simply download your paperwork, print temporary medical cards, and you're ready to visit a doctor.

by Valencia Higuera
Click Here to receive a free no-obligation health insurance quote online.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Car Insurance explained

Car insurance is a regular financial outlay for the majority of us - and a legal requirement if you are driving a vehicle on the roads. Yet many of us still do not know enough about the product. When shopping around, or indeed buying car insurance for the first time, it is necessary to know what kind of policy you require. This particular issue centres around what you are driving and for what reason.

The basic product is standard Third Party insurance. This covers a few eventualities that may occur when you are out on the road. Situations that you can insure against with this product include injuries to other people. If you damage other people's property with your vehicle, the insurance will cover a portion of the costs This type of policy may be useful for motorists whose cars that are a little on the older side, where the cost of replacing them if damage occurs isn't too much. But if you have a newer car, other policies may be more fitting.

You could consider taking out Third Party Fire and Theft insurance. Just like the name suggests, this covers everything that Third Party insurance does, but also covers you in the event of a fire or theft of the vehicle.

Again, this is good as a policy for those owners whose cars do not cost a lot. It is not the most expensive product, so might be suited to younger drivers who find the cost of a more sophisticated insurance product prohibitive.

If you want the most complex product as regard car insurance, ie one that covers just about everything, then you should consider a Fully Comprehensive policy. This is not the cheapest of options, but if you have a reasonably expensive motor, then it is what you may wish to opt for.
Not all fully comprehensive insurance is the same. But most providers offer a product that covers everything that Third Party and Third Party Fire and Theft cover, plus a little more. Any accidental damage to your car can be part paid for by the policy, for example. You will also receive some personal accident benefit. Any medical expenses that arise from an accident will often be covered too, which is a great plus point for the product. The product is most attractive for a lot of motorists due to the fact that it can also cover loss of or damage to any personal effects in the vehicle. So if there is any damage to anything in your vehicle for whatever reason, then in most cases you will get some financial compensation.

There are a vast number of car insurance providers out there. The average motorist can be forgiven for thinking that organising insurance for their vehicle is beyond them, simply due to the mass of information available. One thing you can do is arrange for a specialist broker to shop around for the best deal for you; this will reduce the legwork you have to do to find a good policy.
by
David Thomson is Chief Executive of BestDealInsurance an independent specialist broker dedicated to giving consumers the best insurance deal. They offer great value home, life and car insurance.

South Africans sue for millions

Move over lawyer-crazy Americans, South Africans are slowly cottoning on to the fact that they have legal rights. In recent years, more and more South Africans have been opting to sue for damages - whether it is for wrongful arrest, negligence, paternity fraud or pain and suffering.

It is not only the medical fraternity that has been put under the microscope; individuals are being lambasted by the law simply because they have not taken the precaution of adequate liability insurance.

Devastated father sues ex-wife for paternity fraud

In 2007, a Johannesburg man began proceedings against his ex-wife for alleged paternity fraud and is suing her for R1 million plus interest and court costs.

She allegedly lied to him for over 25 years about the paternity of his son, a man now well into his thirties. His son spilled the beans last year, claiming he was not his natural father, and since then the two have become estranged.

The man is claiming financial compensation for emotional pain and trauma and for the money he happily paid for his 'sons' upbringing, education and general well-being.

Woman sues hospital for sore on her bottom

In August 2008, a Pretoria woman started proceedings against a prominent South African private hospital chain. She is claiming R3.6 million in damages after she developed an unsightly and painful pressure sore on her buttocks.

She has claimed that the medical staff failed to render proper medical care and will have to undergo plastic surgery.

Kebble sues alleged murderers for maintenance

Another case that has dominated the headlines in South Africa is Roger Kebble's bid to sue the two men allegedly responsible for his son, Brett Kebble's murder. He wants R15 million from the men fingered for the 'assisted suicide' to help with the upkeep of his four grandchildren. Kebble settled out of court for an undisclosed amount of money.

by Claire Pritchard
http://www.chadwicks.co.za

Health Insurance Plan - Who should opt for Short-term Health Insurance?

When anyone talks of health insurance they only know about the conventional types of health insurance that is available. But, one must remember that the traditional health insurance plan may not be viable in every case. This may not be possible because the person might be changing jobs and be in between jobs; or they may be employed with an agency which does not provide coverage to part-time employees or temporary employees; or it might be because you are still in college and studying, etc. In these kinds of circumstances it is not possible to take up a conventional health insurance plan. But, most people these days do not feel safeguarded if they are not covered by any health insurance for which reason, such people should opt for a short-term health insurance plan.

Short-term health insurance act as a stop gap to provide insurance coverage to people who cannot for many reasons, opt for a conventional health insurance plan. As the name indicates short-term health insurance is provided for short duration of time and is provided with the belief that the person will switch over to a more conventional plan when it is possible. This plan is designed to help a person have coverage in case of an emergency to meet expenses towards medical treatment like ambulance fees, x-rays, intensive care and emergency care, etc. Though the benefits provided with short-term insurance might vary from one company to the other, the primary benefits will include what is mentioned above. But, usually these plans will not provide coverage for routine checkups and for any preexisting conditions. People looking for such options must choose a traditional health insurance plan.

The premium towards short-term health insurance will differ from one company to the other and might be anywhere in the range of $25 to $100. This also depends on the benefits provided by the company and on the deductibles that starts off at $250 and can go up to $5,000. The payout provided by these policies are also quite modest and will be somewhere in the range of one to two million. The coverage will be provided for particular short periods of time and may vary from a month to three months. Some policies will even provide coverage for around six months although none of these policies might be for more than a year.

But, how does one obtain short-term health insurance? This can be searched on the internet and you will be provided a list of the companies that have this kind of insurance plan with them. By looking online, one even gets the opportunity to compare similar policies offered by other insurance companies. Before opting for a short-term insurance plan with any company it is best to research the benefits provided by the policy and to know your liabilities in detail. This will ensure that you get the maximum benefit out of the plan and not be in for any kind of surprise if any claim needs to be made in the case of any unfortunate event such as an illness or injury.

by Dana B. Smith
http://www.wellbeingcoverage.com

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Four Reasons to Buy Life Insurance

Everyone acknowledges the importance of having adequate insurance. Yet, many people don't have enough health or life insurance. There are many reasons to buy life insurance. Whether you're single or have a family, no one can afford to be without coverage. Even if you don't have a lot of obligations, such as the responsibility of caring for a family, you likely have debts. This can include credit cards, mortgage loan, auto loan, and miscellaneous debts. Sadly, these debts can become your family's problem in the event of your untimely death. Therefore, it's crucial for everyone to prepare for the unknown.

Here are four reasons why everyone should buy life insurance:

1. Settle your debts: If you were to get hit by a bus and die tomorrow, your debts wont magically disappear. Creditors want their money, and they don't care where it comes from. Once the dust settles and your family starts to pick up the pieces, they'll likely receive letter after letter from your creditors. A life insurance policy can eliminate this headache, and they can use the money to pay off your old debts.

2. Pay for funeral expenses. Have you ever planned a funeral? If so, you likely know how expensive they can become. It's an understatement to say funeral homes take advantage of the bereaved. But, that's the way it is, and there's nothing we can do to change it. Rather than let your family stress about how they're going to pay this expensive, be sure to have a life insurance policy.

3. Help your family maintain a certain lifestyle. Nowadays, most households need dual incomes to keep up with present demands. Consider this: if you were to die tomorrow, could your spouse and children continue to live in your home? Would they have to sell the home, vehicle, or live with a relative? It's not enough to have life insurance...you need adequate insurance.

4. Long-term savings/retirement plan. There are different types of life insurance plans, such as term and whole life. Talk with an experienced insurance agent and look for a plan that also functions as a savings or retirement plan. As the policy matures, you'll be able to borrow money from the policy and use the cash for any purpose.

by Valencia Higuera
Click Here to receive a free no-obligation life insurance quote.

Basic Liability Coverage

This is the single most important type of auto insurance coverage. Carrying too little auto accident liability can expose you to judgments and legal costs for years to come. Most states require something like 50/100/25 in liability coverage. That's up to $50,000 coverage for any single person injured by you in an auto accident, and up to $100,000 for everyone injured. Not a lot of money for medical bills, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. You should probably carry more.

Additional auto insurance coverage (anything you get over the minimum) gets cheaper as you buy more. This means that your premium goes up a little while your protection goes up a lot.

Pay special attention to bodily injury liability. It's easy to imagine the cost of personal injuries (plus pain and suffering and lost wages) totalling a million dollars from a somewhat serious accident.

The standard (the average, not the minimum) auto liability policy is 100/300, where the 300 stands for $300,000 in total bodily injury liability.

But we would recommend that you take out at least $300,000-$500,000 worth of personal injury liability, even if that means less property damage coverage.

Why? Because property damage from an accident won't be nearly as expensive as injuries can be. So the $25,000 worth of property damage liability coverage in our example policy is probably adequate. (Of course, you can be on the safe side with a little more).

Basic Liability Coverage

This is probably the most important type of car insurance, and it's required by most state auto insurance laws. Liability car insurance protects you against the cost of damage and injury that you cause to another in an automobile accident.

It's actually made up of two different policies, bodily injury liability, and property damage liability. As you might guess, bodily injury insurance protects you from the cost of personal injury to others, and property damage insurance protects you from the cost of damage you cause to any physical property.

You've probably seen automobile policies described by three numbers (like 50/100/25). These numbers refer to auto liability insurance.

They're usually called the split limits of liability insurance. Under our example auto liability insurance policy, you'd be covered for up to:

$50,000 worth of bodily injury caused to another person $100,000 for bodily injuries caused to everyone $25,000 worth of property damage Your state's car insurance laws will require a certain level auto liability insurance. You can find your state's auto insurance requirements here.

Even though it may be tempting to save a few bucks by going with the minimum liability required in your state, it is always worth investing in a little extra protection.

by InsuranceTips

More news, information, and insurance tips visit QuickQuoteUS.com

Pros and Cons of Annual Travel Insurance

Everyone is always looking for ways to get cheap travel insurance for their holidays abroad, but many people miss the most obvious way to make big savings - annual travel insurance. Buying an annual policy rather than numerous single trip policies is normally much more cost effective and convenient, and it often brings numerous other benefits as well.

Of course, annual travel insurance isn't for everyone - those who only go on one or two smaller trips each year, or people with very specific, high end travel insurance requirements may benefit more from some carefully chosen single trip policies. The trick is to find the right kind of insurance for your needs.

Here are some of the pros and cons of annual travel insurance...

Pros

It saves you money

There are often significant discounts to be made with annual travel insurance. If you add up the cost of every piece of travel insurance you buy each year and compare it to the cost of annual policy, more often than not you'll be surprised at just how great a saving you can make.

It is highly convenient

Once you've bought your annual travel insurance, it is one less thing to do every time you go on holiday. Not only does this save you plenty of hassle, it also allows you to be much more spontaneous with your holiday plans. If you suddenly decide to go on a romantic weekend away, there's no need to mess about booking travel insurance at the last minute - you can just up and go.

There are often bonus features

To encourage people to buy annual travel insurance, many insurance providers throw in numerous bonus features and extra pieces of cover. These can range from free children's insurance and extended sports cover to comprehensive business trip insurance; it is well worth your while to shop around and see just who will offer you the best extras on your annual travel insurance. In particular, look out for deals for families and couples - the savings can be even more impressive when you buy group travel insurance.

Cons

It is not always the best deal

You don't have to travel especially often for your annual travel insurance to pay for itself, but if you are just making one or two small trips each year, hunting out some cheap single trip insurance each time may be the most cost effective way of buying your holiday insurance.

It may not suit very specific insurance requirements

If you have exceptional or unusual insurance requirements, such as for extreme sports, pre-existing medical conditions or if you are over the age of 65, annual travel insurance may be difficult to come by or be exorbitantly expensive. Don't write off annual travel insurance completely in this case - some specialist and budget providers can still offer good deals, but the chances are that you may have to rely on single trip insurance instead.

The next time you are thinking of buying travel insurance; don't just buy the cheapest single trip policy that you find. Shop around, take a look at the annual travel insurance that is on offer, and try and find the deal that is best suited to you.

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Journey's Travel. Their commercial travel insurance website, Insuremore, offers annual travel insurance and a quick and easy online claims feature.

Health Insurance Plan - The Easy Way to Getting Health Insurance

Even though more and more people are realizing that they need health insurance many are apprehensive about getting a health insurance plan for them. This is because there are too many choices that leads to confusion as to which plan will serve the health needs of them and their family. By learning some basics about health insurance, one can easily get a health insurance plan that is right for their needs.
Most of the health insurance plans are got by going through the employer. These days most companies provide health insurance to its employees through a group plan. As most of the employees will be covered through a group, the premium for health insurance comes down. Many of these plans are designed not only to cover the employee but also the family members of the employee. Although this increases the premium paid out, the plan covers the entire family thereby increasing the benefits of the plan. To go by this route through the employer, one needs to check with the department of human resources in the company and check the policy of the company towards health insurance. Every employee should be able to begin an individual health insurance plan through the group scheme at any point of time during the tenure with the company.
If you are in between jobs and were previously covered by your employer in the earlier job, the COBRA law entitles you health insurance coverage continued from the coverage you had on the earlier job. This law is passed by the government to protect your health interests and will provide you health insurance although the premium might be increased from what it was earlier. If the insurance coverage was extended to the entire family, the law will permit the continuance of the full coverage for a particular period.
However, there are many millions of people in America who are not covered through a group health plan provided by an employer. For such people, the insurance companies offer individual plans. The people under this are mostly those who are self-employed or people who are not provide with health insurance by the employer or those who do not qualify for aid from the government health insurance like Medicaid or Medicare. However, these individual plans are dearer in comparison to the premium paid in the group insurance plans. These plans can also cover other family members by paying extra premium. Getting an individual plan is quite easy as most of the insurance companies provide these plans. One can search through the internet also for more information on these plans. Some sites might help you get a comparison in terms of pricing and other details between various plans.
Another avenue that needs to be remembered is federal health aid. People above 65 years or those with some kind of disabilities as mentioned in the guidelines of the government can apply for Medicare. Income based insurance program provided by the government is Medicaid. One must remember that health insurance is very important and whatever avenue is chosen to achieve this is not important. The only thing is that to get the maximum benefit at the lowest costs one should properly research and find the best options one has towards getting health insurance.

by Dana B. Smith
http://www.wellbeingcoverage.com