An Overview of Employee Health Insurance Plans

There are many reasons why people choose to work for an employer. Issues such as interesting work, flexible yours, a family friendly environment, and salary are typical reasons why some employers can attract better employees than their competitors. Perhaps the most important facet of keeping and retaining the best employees is to offer comprehensive and affordable employee health insurance plans. The cost of health care has been skyrocketing in recent years which has pushed premiums for health insurance through the roof. Large companies can negotiate with insurance providers to obtain the most cost effective plans for their employees, and employees can obtain insurance at a rate far below what they would be able to find if not a member of their employer's group benefits plan.

The traditional employee health insurance plan is a so called preferred provider plan (PPO). PPO plans offer a great deal of flexibility in terms of care providers. PPO plans allow policy holder to be in control of their health care and choose their own primary care physicians and specialists. Unfortunately, PPO plans are almost entirely consumer based, which means that the PPO providers are not under tight price controls.

Health management organization (HMO) plans have become increasingly popular in recent years. HMO health insurance plans typically offer lower premiums and deductibles than PPO plans, but that lower price comes with a tradeoff. With HMO plans, you have much less flexibility to choose your own care providers.

A new trend in employee health insurance plans is the so called health savings account. Health savings accounts place much more of the burden on employees, who must pay for all of their medical care through a special savings account that both they and their employer contribute to. Health savings accounts have come under fire as methods to let employers skimp on health coverage for employees. Nevertheless, more and more companies are going with such plans.

8 Easy Routes to Cheaper Car Insurance

Car insurance is one of the most expensive costs involved in driving a car, and it's not something you can avoid - a minimum level of insurance is required by law. That doesn't mean you have to blindly pay whatever your insurer quotes though, as there are several simple things you can do to reduce the cost of your premiums.

1) Shop around and buy online: Figures show that many people simply renew their current policies without shopping around. The internet makes it easy to compare prices from different insurers, so why not take advantage of this? Plus, you'll usually get a discount of 10% or more just for buying your policy online.

2) Policy type: do you really need a comprehensive policy with all the extras? Going for a third party fire & theft policy can reduce your premiums hugely, and is definitely worth considering if your car isn't an expensive model.

3) No claims discounts: Nearly all policies feature a discount that increases for every year you don't make a claim. The higher the discount available, the more you could save. Also look at insurers offering a 'no claims bonus for life' feature, where your current discount level can be fixed forever, even if you have to make a claim somewhere down the line.

4) Excess: The excess on a policy is the amount of a claim you have to pay before the insurer pays the rest. Choosing to have a higher than standard excess level will usually mean lower premiums.

5) Security: Fitting your vehicle with an alarm, immobiliser, or other security devices can lead to premium reductions. Parking you car off-road, for example on a driveway or in a garage, will also mean a cheaper policy.

6) Pay annually: Many insurers charge you interest for the privilege of paying in monthly installments. Pay annually if you can afford it to avoid this, or look for one of the companies who don't charge extra for monthly payment.

7) Mileage: The more mileage you run up every year, the more your insurance will cost. Even if you can't reduce your mileage, make sure you're not overestimating how much you actually do drive, and give your insurer an accurate figure.

8) Drivers: The more drivers you have on your policy, the more it will cost. Reduce the number of people insured to drive your car to the minimum possible, and try to get the policy in the name of a driver with the lowest risk profile. For example, if a car is driven by both a man and a woman, insuring it in the woman's name will often result in a cheaper quote.

About the Author: Nicholas Hunt is a contributing writer for http://www.1stop-finance.co.uk/ where you can browse car insurance reviews at http://www.1stop-finance.co.uk/insurance/car_insurance/

Know your Insurance Adjuster

"Insurance adjuster" is a term that we encounter quite a bit when shopping for insurance policies, but what exactly is an insurance adjuster? Insurance adjusters are agents who are either employed by insurance companies or work as independent agents who serve as a liaison between the insurance company and the claimant after a loss or even that potentially requires the insurance company to pay a claim.

When a catastrophic home or property loss occurs, the insurance adjuster is the one who examines the damage, interviews eye witnesses, and generally tries to provide a complete picture of how the damage occurred. In the case of fire or other potentially suspicious types of damage, the insurance adjuster will also speak with police and fire officials to determine the cause of the blaze. Once the details of the event have been worked out, the insurance adjuster will carefully go over the home owner's policy and determine to what extent the insurance company is required to cover. The insurance adjuster then files the claim with the insurance company where it will undergo verification and, if everything checks out, a payment will be issued to the policy holder.

For health care coverage, the insurance adjuster (also called the claims examiner when dealing with medical issues) carefully reviews all aspects of the claim and makes a determination on the extent of the insurance company's liability. Extremely large claims are typically handled by senior insurance adjusters.

Insurance adjusters provide a layer of buffering between the policy holder and the complexities of filing a claim. Since the time directly following a serious loss or health emergency is typically stressful enough on its own, the policy holder typically welcomes the adjuster's handling of the complex details of filing a claim. Since insurance adjusters are very familiar with the way the policy is structured, they are more likely to file an accurate claim request and get the money in the policy holder's hands as quickly as possible.

The Importance of Purchasing Flood Insurance

As was painfully made evident by the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, damage caused by flooding is not a standard part of homeowner insurance plans. Therefore, many of the homes that were destroyed in New Orleans were not covered for flood damage. Any home owner who lives in or near an area that is prone to flooding should purchase flood insurance. Additionally, since flash floods can occur almost anywhere, even those who are not in traditionally flood prone areas can purchase flood insurance as an extra bit of protection against flash floods.

Many people are simply not aware of the vast, sweeping scale of the damage that can be caused by floods. Floods are not isolated like tornados or fires--rather, floods can wipe away entire communities in a single deluge. This is the reason that insurance providers to not offer flood insurance as part of the standard policy. Floods are so widely damaging that they could quickly bankrupt the insurer if flood insurance were included as a part of their standard home insurance package.

Flood insurance is required for homes that are in federally designated high flood risk areas. Lenders are required to ensure that home owners purchase and sustain continuous flood insurance coverage. This is in part in response to the enormous financial losses that were caused by flooding of the Mississippi River region several times in the last few decades.

It is vitally important that all homes that are even moderately susceptible to flooding be covered by some form of flood insurance. The damage from flooding can be overwhelming and families who lose their homes and all their possessions to floods can be financially (as well as emotionally) ruined. Fortunately, the government has passed laws requiring flood insurance for high risk areas, but those located in areas less prone to flood damage should also consider purchasing flood insurance.

8 Easy Tips for Cheaper Home Insurance

No one likes paying for home insurance, but it's a necessary evil for most of us. This doesn't mean you have to pay through the nose for it though - try these 8 easy tips for cheaper home insurance and see how much you could reduce your premiums by.

- Shop Around

By comparing prices from several insurance companies, you'll probably be able to reduce your premiums by a substantial amount. This may seem obvious, but research has shown that a surprisingly large proportion of people either just renew their current policy, or get only one or two quotes. Many insurance web sites will automatically compare dozens of policies for you, making this one of the easiest ways to reduce your insurance bill.

- Buy online

If you buy your policy online you can often get a discount of up to 20% on normal prices, because there are less administration costs involved and the savings can be passed on to you.

- Combine your buildings and contents policies

Many insurers will give you a discount if you take out both types of home insurance with them, and this usually works out cheaper than getting the two kinds of policies from different companies.

- Pay upfront

Although most insurers let you pay your premium in monthly instalments, many will charge interest for this. If you can afford to pay a full year's premium in advance, then this will work out cheaper in the long run.

- Don't claim for small amounts

Making many small claims can increase your insurance costs, as your insurer may see you as a greater risk and increase your premiums. You will also lose any no claims discount your policy has. Of course, you're entitled to claim for anything your policy covers, but ask yourself if making a small claim is really worth the hassle and possible future costs.

- Voluntary excess

This is related to the last point. Insurance policies feature something known as 'excess', which basically means that the policy won't pay out on claims below a certain value. On some policies, if you choose to raise your excess to a higher level, then your premiums will be lower.

- Increase your home security

Beefing up your home security with better door locks, window locks, outdoor lighting, and alarm systems can all result in lower premiums. Ask your insurer what you could do to get extra discounts.

- Reduce your cover

Many policies feature benefits that you might not need, such as cover for personal possessions while travelling, or 'free' legal advice. Look through your policy and see what parts of it you really need - by cutting your cover down to size you may be able to reduce your premium.

About the Author: Nicholas Hunt is a financial writer for http://www.1stop-finance.co.uk/ - you can find a more detailed version of this article at http://www.1stop-finance.co.uk/insurance/cheaper_home_insurance.html

Article Source: www.articlepillar.com

The Truth about Renter's Insurance

Many renters mistakenly assume that they do not need renter's insurance, only to find out the truth when it is too late. Many of them are under the assumption that their landlord's policy will cover them or that the landlord, and not they, would be liable if someone were to be injured while in the rental property. The sad truth is that renters have very few rights in the majority of states, and renters should never assume that their belongings are covered in the event of a disaster or that they have no liability for injury just because it is not their property.

In most states, if someone is injured or if they incur damage to their property while within a rented dwelling, it is in fact the renter, not the property owner or landlord, who is liable for damages. For example, if you have a guest in your rented property and the guest manages to fall or otherwise injure themselves, you may be surprised to find that you, the renter, are liable for the damage. Likewise, if the guest damages some of his or her property in an accident in your rented dwelling, the renter is responsible for the damage to the item. Renter's insurance provides protection against liability in cases of personal injury or personal property damage that occurs in a rented dwelling.

In the case of fire, flood, theft, or other natural disaster, a renter's property is not protected by the insurance coverage that the landlord or property owner carries. Many renters are surprised to find that, after a disaster, they have no recourse to recoup damages caused to their belongings. The only way to have some level of protection is to purchase renter's insurance.

Clearly, anyone who rents a property should have renter's insurance protection. Renter's insurance is quite affordable, and the peace of mind that it offers is well worth the relatively small premiums.

Purchasing an Annuity

As a financial investment product, the annuity product offers the investor a flexible financial retirement plan with a guaranteed lifetime income, insurance benefits, and tax-deferred savings.

An annuity is a contract between the insurance company and the insured where the insurance company agrees to pay a stipulated amount to the insured beginning at a time specified by the insured. The buyer of the annuity pays either a single premium or installments to the insurance company which invests the money.

Annuities are designed with a broad range of features that are designed to provide long-term income. Similar to retirement accounts, an annuity offers the benefit of tax deferred interest. The difference between an annuity and regular retirement accounts is that the principal invested into the annuity has already been taxed, and therefore is not taxed at the time the money is withdrawn.

Traditional retirement accounts impose limits on the amount of money that may be invested during the year. There is no limit to the amount of money that you can deposit into an annuity account.

When considering the purchase of an annuity, make sure you are structuring the annuity to your best advantage. Carefully determine your goals for the annuity and ask yourself the following questions before you purchase an annuity.

How old are you?

The annuity is designed to provide you with lifetime income once you retire. Your age will determine how long you will have to invest into the annuity. The longer you can invest, the more income you will have once you begin to receive income from the annuity.

Take into consideration that people are retiring at an earlier age. Try to determine when you will retire and then try to calculate how long you will spend in retirement. Most people will be living at least 25 years in retirement.

Your goal, then, is to invest enough money into the annuity to provide you with at least 25 years or more of income.

How much can you invest into your annuity?

A flexible annuity is an annuity which permits installment payments over a period of time. A single premium annuity is purchased with a single deposit.

Your investment into the annuity will determine how much you will earn over the life of the annuity. Is this your only retirement vehicle or are you planning to use the annuity to bridge the gap from another retirement plan?

What is the interest rate?

The higher the interest rates being paid on your investment, the better the return on your annuity. Check with various companies to make sure you are getting the best rate. Many companies will offer a higher first year interest rate as an incentive to purchase.

What expenses will be incurred?

The insurance company will charge various administrative costs against your annuity contract. Each company will have their own fee structure, so it is important to investigate what the fees are. The lower the fees, the more your investment grows.

Surrender fees may be charged if you withdraw from the annuity within the first few years of your contract. Make sure you have a full understanding of these charges.

Is the insurance company stable?

This is your retirement. Choose wisely the company in which you wish to purchase your annuity from. Is the company financially strong? What is the rating of the company? Do they have a good reputation? This company has guaranteed you a retirement income; make sure that they will be there when you retire.

Purchasing an annuity as part of your retirement plan is an active approach to your financial security. Study the various types of annuities and choose the one that falls in line with your retirement goals. Always comparison shop for the best annuity with a strong company

The Challenges of Finding the Best Self Employed Health Insurance for You

Health insurance is not cheap, and with premiums continuing to skyrocket alongside the price of health care, the outlook is not bright. For the self employed, the issue of health insurance is one that hits right in the wallet. Since self employed individuals are unable to qualify for group discounts offered to large companies, then the cost of self employed health insurance becomes of foremost concern. Deciding on what type of self employed health insurance to choose depends a great deal on the current state of your business and how you expect it to grow in the next few years.

If your business is run solely by yourself (i.e. no partners or employees) then you are certainly in the toughest self employed insurance situation. That is because the most expensive insurance rates occur for policies that are granted to only a single person. There are two reasons for this. First of all, small groups or individuals are not able to collectively bargain with the insurance agency. Insurance agencies are more likely to offer favorable rates to those who are willing to bring in many policy holders at once. Another reason is that the more people who are insured by a single policy, the more the risk is spread amongst all policy holders. This lowers the risk for the insurance agency and allows them to offer more favorable rates for coverage.

If you expect your company to grow in the near future to include employees or partners, it is probably a good idea to consider purchasing temporary health insurance. Temporary policies are not as robust as permanent coverage, but they can get you through until the time comes that you can qualify for a group discount.

Fortunately, Congress has noted the plight of self employed individuals. Now, most of the costs of self employed health insurance are tax deductible, and other legislation is pending that should ease the burden further.

Employee Health Insurance Plans

There are many reasons why people choose to work for an employer. Issues such as interesting work, flexible yours, a family friendly environment, and salary are typical reasons why some employers can attract better employees than their competitors. Perhaps the most important facet of keeping and retaining the best employees is to offer comprehensive and affordable employee health insurance plans. The cost of health care has been skyrocketing in recent years which has pushed premiums for health insurance through the roof. Large companies can negotiate with insurance providers to obtain the most cost effective plans for their employees, and employees can obtain insurance at a rate far below what they would be able to find if not a member of their employer's group benefits plan.

The traditional employee health insurance plan is a so called preferred provider plan (PPO). PPO plans offer a great deal of flexibility in terms of care providers. PPO plans allow policy holder to be in control of their health care and choose their own primary care physicians and specialists. Unfortunately, PPO plans are almost entirely consumer based, which means that the PPO providers are not under tight price controls.

Health management organization (HMO) plans have become increasingly popular in recent years. HMO health insurance plans typically offer lower premiums and deductibles than PPO plans, but that lower price comes with a tradeoff. With HMO plans, you have much less flexibility to choose your own care providers.

A new trend in employee health insurance plans is the so called health savings account. Health savings accounts place much more of the burden on employees, who must pay for all of their medical care through a special savings account that both they and their employer contribute to. Health savings accounts have come under fire as methods to let employers skimp on health coverage for employees. Nevertheless, more and more companies are going with such plans.

The Truth about Renter's Insurance

Many renters mistakenly assume that they do not need renter's insurance, only to find out the truth when it is too late. Many of them are under the assumption that their landlord's policy will cover them or that the landlord, and not they, would be liable if someone were to be injured while in the rental property. The sad truth is that renters have very few rights in the majority of states, and renters should never assume that their belongings are covered in the event of a disaster or that they have no liability for injury just because it is not their property.

In most states, if someone is injured or if they incur damage to their property while within a rented dwelling, it is in fact the renter, not the property owner or landlord, who is liable for damages. For example, if you have a guest in your rented property and the guest manages to fall or otherwise injure themselves, you may be surprised to find that you, the renter, are liable for the damage. Likewise, if the guest damages some of his or her property in an accident in your rented dwelling, the renter is responsible for the damage to the item. Renter's insurance provides protection against liability in cases of personal injury or personal property damage that occurs in a rented dwelling.

In the case of fire, flood, theft, or other natural disaster, a renter's property is not protected by the insurance coverage that the landlord or property owner carries. Many renters are surprised to find that, after a disaster, they have no recourse to recoup damages caused to their belongings. The only way to have some level of protection is to purchase renter's insurance.

Clearly, anyone who rents a property should have renter's insurance protection. Renter's insurance is quite affordable, and the peace of mind that it offers is well worth the relatively small premiums.

Life Insurance Deciphered--What you need to Know

Purchasing life insurance can be an overwhelming experience for someone who is not familiar with all of the legal details involved. Terms such as whole life insurance, term life insurance, variable life insurance, etc., can flabbergast someone who is looking for life insurance for the first time. How is the first time purchaser to cut through all of the jargon to find the best coverage for themselves and their families? The first thing is to become familiar with the basic categories of life insurance and how they may or may not be applicable to their situation.

Perhaps the most commonly offered life insurance policy is called term life insurance. Term life insurance is a life insurance policy that is good for only a set amount of time, typically one year. This is the kind of life insurance that is typically offered by employers. Term life insurance is good for those who are relatively young and in good health. One issue with term life insurance is that the policy holder must re-qualify yearly and if their health takes a downturn during the term, they may not be able to qualify for continued coverage the next term period.

The alternate to term life insurance is permanent life insurance. This is life insurance that is applicable not for a term, but for your entire life. Clearly, since a payout is almost guaranteed on a life term policy, the rates are going to be quite a bit higher than term life insurance, and the policy terms are very inflexible. If you choose a permanent life insurance policy, it is vitally important to evaluate all plans and choose the very best one. Unless you happen to be an insurance expert, it is a good idea to hire a professional and independent insurance agent to help you wade through all of the available permanent life insurance policies.

Know your Insurance Adjuster

"Insurance adjuster" is a term that we encounter quite a bit when shopping for insurance policies, but what exactly is an insurance adjuster? Insurance adjusters are agents who are either employed by insurance companies or work as independent agents who serve as a liaison between the insurance company and the claimant after a loss or even that potentially requires the insurance company to pay a claim.

When a catastrophic home or property loss occurs, the insurance adjuster is the one who examines the damage, interviews eye witnesses, and generally tries to provide a complete picture of how the damage occurred. In the case of fire or other potentially suspicious types of damage, the insurance adjuster will also speak with police and fire officials to determine the cause of the blaze. Once the details of the event have been worked out, the insurance adjuster will carefully go over the home owner's policy and determine to what extent the insurance company is required to cover. The insurance adjuster then files the claim with the insurance company where it will undergo verification and, if everything checks out, a payment will be issued to the policy holder.

For health care coverage, the insurance adjuster (also called the claims examiner when dealing with medical issues) carefully reviews all aspects of the claim and makes a determination on the extent of the insurance company's liability. Extremely large claims are typically handled by senior insurance adjusters.

Insurance adjusters provide a layer of buffering between the policy holder and the complexities of filing a claim. Since the time directly following a serious loss or health emergency is typically stressful enough on its own, the policy holder typically welcomes the adjuster's handling of the complex details of filing a claim. Since insurance adjusters are very familiar with the way the policy is structured, they are more likely to file an accurate claim request and get the money in the policy holder's hands as quickly as possible.

What you should know about RV Insurance

Many Americans take vacations in recreational vehicles (RVs) and so-called "RVing" has become an American cultural icon. Traveling in recreational vehicles allows you and your family to travel in comfort, to stay in RV parks and other camping facilities with the full amenities of home. Clearly, an RV is much more than an automobile and when it comes time to purchase RV insurance, there are some things that you need to keep in mind.

The typical recreational vehicle contains amenities that you would never see in an automobile. For example, many people place fully functional entertainment systems in their RV, including a television, a stereo, VCR/DVR, perhaps a DVD player and a gaming console, etc. Many RVs come with kitchen appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators, as well as living and sleeping furniture.

Standard automobile policies do not cover any of those items. Therefore, if you plan to travel by RV, you should seek an insurance policy that covers all of the typical areas that you would expect to be covered in a typical auto insurance policy as well as coverage for the many expensive items that are inside the RV. For this, you will need to purchase RV insurance.

Besides protecting the items inside your RV, there are other reasons why recreational vehicle owners would need to purchase RV insurance. For example, when your RV is parked at a campsite, you may be responsible if anyone is injured in the campsite. Traditional automobile insurance can not provide coverage for such situations, but RV insurance does. Also, many RV insurance policies offer travel and lodging assistance in case your RV breaks down on the road.

Since a recreational vehicle is much more than just an automobile, it needs to be protected by more than simple auto insurance. RV insurance is specifically designed to cover those costs that are unique to recreational vehicles.

Tips for Picking a Temporary Health Insurance Policy

During times when you have a temporary lapse in health care coverage either because of a new job, a recent layoff, a switch in policy, or any number of other reasons, it is important to make sure that you still have health coverage during the interim period. As we all know, Murphy's Law indicates that even if you are healthy and have not had an accident or sickness for years, it is during the brief period when you are not covered that you will develop appendicitis or fall down a flight of stairs.

Temporary health insurance plans can be a bit more complicated to set up than more tradition plans, so it is probably a good idea to hire the services of an insurance agent who is well versed in temporary health insurance. It is sometimes cost effective to elect for a higher deductible for temporary health insurance since that will keep your premiums lower for the brief period that you are on the coverage. Of course, you will have to decide on the premiums versus deductibles issue on your own based on your health and your expectations for the interim period.

Many temporary health insurance policies list a number of exclusions, or conditions for which they will not pay. Pay very careful attention to this list of conditions before buying temporary health insurance. If you or a family member have or are at risk for a condition on the exclusions list, you will want to look for a different policy.

All temporary health insurance packages allow you to continue coverage after the policy has expired. This may be necessary if your new coverage is delayed for some reason. If you do not need to extend the coverage, then the policy will expire on its own. You do not need to take any action to discontinue a temporary health insurance policy.

Travel with Peace of Mind by Purchasing Travel Insurance

Long gone are the days when loading up the kids in the station wagon, piling some luggage on top, and driving off to the nearest lake or national park was the primary form of family travel. While many rewarding vacations are indeed still family road trips, much more involved forms of vacationing have become common.

From all expenses paid cruise trips, to pre-arranged and booked European travel, planning a vacation often means planning (and paying) well in advance of the actual trip. If something happens that makes you cancel your travel plans, you will often find that much of the money that you have laid down is non refundable.

Also, if you experience a medical or other emergency while traveling, you could also be out a great deal of money. Travel insurance allows you to travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are covered financially regardless of any negative events that might occur.

Many kinds of tickets and bookings are non-refundable, such as plane tickets, cruise line bookings, as well as reservations for some forms of lodging. If you are forced to cancel your vacation, travel insurance will reimburse you for the costs that you would have otherwise lost. Costs associated with lost or misdirected luggage are also covered by travel insurance, as are costs incurred because of missed flights.

Perhaps the worst thing that can occur on a vacation is to have your wallet stolen. Particularly if you are in a country where you do not speak the native language, reporting the theft and getting the proper help from authorities can be extremely challenging.

Travel insurance can help out in these situations as well by providing assistance in dealing with the local authorities, and can also assist in securing emergency cash if needed.

Dental Insurance--Understanding the Different Plans and Coverage

The first step in understanding your dental insurance coverage is to find out what type of insurance plan you have. There are four types of plans that dental insurance companies offers. The first is indemnity, which is when your insurance company pays all or part of specific dental services. The indemnity plan allows dental patients to choose their own dentist. The amount of coverage purchased by your employer will determine your limits and co-payments.

The direct reimbursement plan or DR allows you to choose your own dentist and treatment plan. You must pay for the dental treatment and then send your receipt to your employer for payment. The DR plan usually reduces the amount of paperwork, restrictions, limitations and delays, but could be costly having to pay upfront and sometimes waiting for weeks for your reimbursement.

The dental care service plan is plan that sets pre-determined levels and restrictions on your dental care. Eligible participants are charged a set fee by an organization of contributing dentists in a network. This plan is usually a low cost alternative to costly dental insurance plans and works well for someone who doesn’t require a lot of dental services and procedures.

A closed panel plan is when a dental insurance company has an agreement with a group of dentists to provide benefits for eligible patients. With the closed panel plan, if you seek dental services at non-participating dentist you may have to pay a large portion or the entire bill.

Another common plan is the PPO. The PPO is a plan where a group of dentists contract with a dental insurance provider to supply care at significantly reduced costs, but with many restrictions. A hazard of the PPO is that most insurance companies do not assess the quality of care the patients receive or the qualifications of the "preferred" dentists.

How to Obtain Free Insurance Quotes

A quote is a binding agreement from an insurance company that states that they will provide a given policy to you for the rate stated on the quote. You should never have to pay to receive an insurance quote. A company that does not offer free insurance quotes is automatically suspect, and you should consider looking elsewhere for coverage.

The old fashioned way to obtain free insurance quotes was to set up a block of time with a local insurance agent and then meet with them in person. The agent will ask you a number of questions to assess your current needs and situation. At the end of the process, the agent will provide a quote, typically packaged along side a sales pitch. This is still a valid way to obtain free insurance quotes, but involves a great deal of work, particularly if you want to shop around.

Of course, there is no need to hoof it all over town to find free insurance quotes anymore. All major insurance providers have websites that feature automated rate quote tools. All you have to do is fill out some information regarding your situation and needs, and the web page will return free insurance quotes within a few seconds. It is possible to comparison shop by visiting the web sites of several insurance agencies and obtaining free insurance quotes.

Some web sites will provide free insurance quotes that cover multiple agencies in a single query. Some of these are provided by agencies that are themselves confident in their rate and thereby provide the rates of their competitors for free. Other free insurance quote tools are operated by their parties and advocacy groups. These can be great tools to help guide you in your search for the insurance policy that best meets your needs.

Finding the Right Home Insurance for you and your Home

For the vast majority of us, our home is the biggest purchase that we will ever make. Our home represents an investment in the present and the future and, if taken care of properly, your home will only increase in value over time. Imagine, then, the utter devastation that would be caused, both financially and emotionally, if your home were to be destroyed and you discovered that your home insurance did not cover the damage. Such sad occurrences are all too common, and they occur when home owners do not realize that their home insurance does not cover the specific occurrence that damaged their home or they were aware of it but did nothing because they did not think that the event was likely to ever occur. It is also possible to lower the premiums on your home insurance if you take certain steps that make your home safer.

Standard home insurance does not cover widespread disasters such as floods and earthquakes. These types of insurance coverages are required in areas that are prone to earthquakes and flooding, but floods and earthquakes can occur in surprising places. For example, flash floods are not unheard of in the desert and even the geologically inert center of the North American continent is not completely free from the threat of earthquakes. It is a good idea to investigate the history of your area to see if earthquakes or flooding is even a remote possibility and, if so, to go ahead and purchase the extra home insurance coverage.

It is often possible to reduce your home insurance premiums by making your home safer. For example, many standard policies will reward home owners who purchase theft deterrent systems and fire control systems such as sprinklers. Be sure to check with your insurance agent to see if you qualify for any of these discounts.

How to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance

Car insurance is a necessary expense for drivers. Depending on your driving record as well as the type of coverage you have, the costs can be quite expensive. There are a number of steps that you can take to help you find the cheapest car insurance available. The internet has made looking for inexpensive auto insurance much easier than it was a few years ago, and allows customers to benefit more from competition between the different automobile insurance agencies.

There are a multitude of online sites that will give you instant rate quotes to help you find the cheapest car insurance. Simply fill out some basic information about yourself, your driving record, and the other individuals that will be covered on the policy and the web site will return the cheapest car insurance rates that it can find. Of course, policy offerings are fluid, so it is best to verify these rates with the actual companies themselves before making a decision. Most people use these online rate quote tools as a way to narrow down their choices, and then will investigate the top two or three.

Regardless of what company you choose, you will have better rates if everyone on your insurance has a clean driving record. If you or a family member happens to get cited for a minor traffic violation, many jurisdictions will provide defensive driving courses as an alternate to having the offense go on your driving record, which can keep insurance rates low. If you have a teenage driver on your auto insurance policy, then look for policies that will offer discounts for taking driver's education courses and/or making good grades. Of course, since teenagers are statistically much likely to be in an accident than mature drivers, the costs will be higher no matter what you do.

Understanding Your Auto Insurance

Reading auto insurance policies can be like trying to decipher advanced calculus. It’s really not that difficult if you understand a few basic terms. Collision, Comprehensive, Bodily Injury Liability and Property Injury Liability are main terms you need to fully understand.

You’ll appreciate Collision Coverage in the event you need repairs or replacements if your vehicle collides with another vehicle or property. The higher the deductible you elect, the lower your premiums will cost you. If you’re at fault for something, well of course it would still be an accident, as I doubt you’d plan to run into that guard rail, but how much would you be able to afford to pay out of pocket for repairs? $250? $500? $1,000? Just like medical insurance, you’d have to pay that deductible amount first and then the insurance company would pay for the remaining charges for the repair.

Another term to become intimately familiar with is Comprehensive Coverage. This is the coverage that pays for damage caused from falling objects, fire, certain natural disasters, theft and vandalism. Deductibles work the same way as with Collision; the more out of pocket costs to you, the less your insurance premium.

In addition to knowing how much Collision and Comprehensive coverage you have, you’ll want to know about your liability coverage. Let’s say you rear-end another driver. Or your foot slips off the brake onto the gas pedal and you plow down a mailbox. Your liability coverage will kick in and pay for the damages that you caused with your insured vehicle. You liability coverage will, or could, include bodily injury (people) and property damage.

You don’t want to go without Bodily Injury Coverage. If you were at fault in an accident and others involved needed to go to the hospital and/or lost wages from missing work, those costs would come out of your pocket if you are not insured with Bodily Injury Coverage. It doesn’t take a genius to know how quickly those amounts can add up. This type of coverage can also help you in the event the other party takes legal action against you. Many states require you to carry Bodily Injury Coverage.

The other part of liability includes Property Damage coverage. Can you imagine how much it might cost should you accidentally drive into the side of someone’s home? You wouldn’t want to be caught without property damage insurance should you need to pay for repairs to another vehicle, building or anything else you might hit. As with Bodily Injury coverage, Property Damage coverage also helps protect you in the event of a related lawsuit.

Every policy will have its limits and various degrees of coverage. It’s important that you understand the basics of what you are paying for and why it is necessary. No one plans for an accident, be prepared!

Shopping for Health Insurance

Nobody likes shopping for insurance. Medical insurance is especially troublesome to compare and shop. Thousands of medical insurance companies are clamoring for your business. Each of those thousands has hundreds of plans. It's even more complex because each plan has different expenses, deductibles, and other large and small details. Here are some major points to consider when shopping for a medical insurance quote.

The Premiums You Pay Each Month

There is a major cost associated with a medical insurance quote. It is the monthly cost, also called a premium. As an insurance customer, you pay this premium every month, even if you do not use the insurance. Your medical insurance quote should clearly show the premium cost.

Costs Associated With Each Claim

When you seek actual medical treatment, there are additional costs you might incur. You might be required to pay a fixed amount per doctor or hospital visit. This amount might also be a percentage of the total bill. These incidental costs vary based on the medical problem, your policy, whether the hospital or doctor are in your network, and many more. Be sure your medical insurance quote lists these costs clearly.

The Cost Of Your Deductible

With many medical insurance plans, benefits do not begin until you pay a certain amount first. This is called the deductible, because the insurance company deducts it from the amount for which they are willing to pay benefits. Plans with high deductibles often have lower premiums, and vice-versa. Ensure that the deductible is plainly shown on your medical insurance quote.

Extra Costs Out Of Your Pocket

The insurance may not cover the entire claim amount, even if the deductible has been paid. Patients are often responsible for paying a small percentage of the post-deductible expenses. This percentage can be 20 percent to 30 percent, depending on your policy. Make sure you understand these out of pocket costs on your medical insurance quote.

Getting Treatment Outside Your Network

Some insurance plans pay the most benefits when the patient visits doctors recommended by the plan. This list of doctors is called the network. Therefore you are advised to use only doctors inside the network. That is not always possible, however, if you are traveling outside your network area. In that case, be sure your medical insurance quote explicitly states any differences in network costs.

You can shop for medical insurance and stare at quotes until your eyes cross. It is a very important task, however, and can save you a great deal of money should a medical emergency strike. The best way to compare plans from different companies is to get a medical insurance quote from each one. Then compare the items listed above, as well as the other costs and details. Then you can select the best health insurance plan for your family and budget.

Term Life Insurance - Are Your Protecting Your Family?

Why do we turn a deaf ear when we hear the words ‘life insurance’? While nobody wants to contemplate a scenario that would require you to use it, have you ever envisioned your life – or your family’s life – if the worst was to happen and you didn’t have insurance? Do I Need Life Insurance?

The purpose of life insurance is to guarantee an income to your spouse and children if you were no longer able to support them. This is the scenario you should think about; if something happened to you today would your family be able to live in their current home? Would they have enough money to maintain their current lifestyle? Would the cost of a funeral become a burden? Would the remaining spouse be able to support the family with little stress or would the combination of financial burden and loosing you cause unendurable hardship for them?

If you have saved and invested and prepared in other ways, you may feel certain that despite dealing with grief your family would have no financial concerns. But that is rare. Young families especially are at a disadvantage when debts are high, responsibilities for caring for children are costly, income may not have reached its full potential or one partner is no longer bringing in an income and in most cases savings are low. This is the scenario that requires a family to purchase term life insurance.

Why Should I Get Term Insurance? Term life insurance is the most inexpensive form of life insurance. It is priced based on your age and health and is usually purchased in terms of several years – 1, 5, 10, 20 or anything in between. This form of insurance will provide the highest coverage for the lowest premiums.

While term insurance is not ideal for older individuals since the price goes up substantially with age, it is the perfect solution for younger couples or families who have high debts including mortgages, life expenses and dependants. The insurance can cover you while your children grow and the mortgage is paid off. When the policy expires you should have invested, paid down your debts and no longer have dependants.

Who Needs to be Covered? Since insurance is actually income protection – providing money if you cannot – you need only cover the individuals who contribute to the family financially. First and foremost the MAIN income earner needs coverage. If the main income disappeared it would be crucial for the insurance to cover the needs of the family.

Second, if any secondary income is relied on to cover expenses that person should also have an insurance policy. This includes the main caregiver if that person is a parent or unpaid family member. Why? Even if they don’t contribute an income, if they were not caring for the children you would have to pay someone else to do it. Insurance would cover that additional cost.

Third, only if you cannot afford funeral expenses (generally about $5000) should you take out an insurance policy on your children. There is no reason for children to otherwise be insured as they do not contribute to the family income.

Now You Know… If you haven’t taken the time to understand the purpose of term insurance, now you can decide if it is in the best interest of your family in a time of need.

How to Find Quality Information about Insurance Online

The internet is called the Information Superhighway for good reason. It is possible to find information on practically any subject, from the illicit to the mundane, by entering a few keywords into an internet search engine or searching through any number of online internet portals. The insurance world is no different--it is possible to find information about any aspect of insurance online, from general education to quote requests to online claims to anything else imaginable.

Many people are baffled by the intricacies of the insurance business. Questions such as "How do I look for health insurance", or "Is there such thing as pet insurance? How do I get it?", and similar questions are commonly asked by people who are thinking about purchasing insurance. There are a number of websites that exist for the sole purpose of educating consumers. Some of these websites are maintained by insurance companies, while others are run by public interest groups, consumer advocacy groups, or private citizens. There sites typically feature a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section that provides a centralized place to find answers to some of the most commonly asked insurance questions. There is a pretty good chance that your question has been asked before so always check the FAQ section first.

If the FAQ does not have the information you need, many insurance education web sites have a message board that allows you to post questions. Forum moderators or other users of the forum will respond to the message to provide the answer. These forums are a great way to get answers to more obscure questions.

Finding out about insurance online is as easy as firing up your favorite browser, going to a search engine, and entering some keywords that highlight your question. Often, the top search results will take you to a site that has exactly the information you need.

Tips for Finding the Best Insurance Rate

Searching for insurance is rarely a task that anyone looks forward to but, since insurance is something you must have for the long haul, a little research on the front end can save you a lot of money in the long term. Finding the best insurance rate requires time, patience, and a little bit of know how. This article will briefly discuss some of the best methods.

Perhaps the best way to go about finding the best insurance rate is to use an online rate comparison tool. Some of these tools are offered by insurance companies and others by interested third parties and advocacy groups. These online rate comparison tools can be a great way for you to make a quick evaluation of the top two or three companies that you will want to consider. From there you can talk to representatives of the individual companies, look over their various plans, and determine which company can best meet your specific needs.

Another great way to go about finding the best insurance rate is to simply ask others. Most great relationships are found via word of mouth, and finding the best insurance rate is no different. Every company tells you that their rate is the most competitive and that their plans and support are perfect for your situation.

If you are nervous about finding the best insurance rate on your own, consider hiring the service is an independent insurance agent. These agents know the industry inside and out and will work personally with you to find the plan that is within your budget and best meets all of your needs.
Finding the best insurance rates is an intimidating process, but does not have to be overly difficult. Be sure to use all of the resources around you, including friends and family members, online search tools, and independent agents.

5 Things You Must Know Before You Choose Your Health Insurance!

Making a wise decision on which Health Insurance Policy to buy may seem like a confusing task, but if you consider just these five most important items you and your agent will both find that you are a Savvy Buyer! These items are your KEYS to picking a policy that's right for you:

1. The Insurance Company's Rating Ask your agent for the Company's A.M. Best rating. If the company is highly rated at this national rating registry, then the company will have literature showing their rating with an explanation of what it means. Choose only companies that have an A or A+ rating.

2. The Insurance Company's Record of Complaints at your State Board of Insurance Every large company will have some complaints. Avoid companies that have a high number of unresolved complaints. Ask your agent for the phone number for your State Board of Insurance. If he will not give it to you, this is a warning signal! You can also look up the number in any directory of your state's agencies. No matter what your agent says, CALL your State Board of Insurance and ask them for the record on any company you are considering.

3. The Limits Shown On Your Health Insurance Quote Check your quote to see if you are comfortable with the benefit levels. You can usually change several levels to fit your needs and budget. For example, a higher deductible will cost less each month. Also, many plans give you a choice to split your medical bills with the Insurance Company either 50/50 or 80/20 (with them paying 80%). Then they will have an amount (your stop loss) where they will take over at paying 100% of your covered bills for the remainder of the year. These deductibles and other levels start over every year in most plans. Some plans, though, have a "per cause" deductible. Such a deductible means that you will be responsible for bills up to that deductible for each accident or illness. Make sure you are aware of this distinction, so you can choose a plan that's right for YOU!

4. The Limits Revealed Within The Policy Ask your agent for a sample policy, and then check two sections: The Benefits and The Limitations and Exclusions. Many of your benefits are actually limited in the Benefits section. For example, diagnostic testing or outpatient treatment may be severely limited. These days, you could have a serious disease such as cancer, and never go into the hospital for it. You could rack up thousands of dollars in medical bills for the diagnostic and follow-up lab tests and MRIs, and then have surgery, chemo, or radiation therapy all on an outpatient basis. Other items that may be limited are your hospital room rate and intensive care. Your hospital room rate should be at least average semi-private and your intensive care benefit should NOT be tied to your room rate, but should, instead, be covered as whatever is an average ICU rate for the area of the hospital, also. Some policies limit the ICU benefit to 3 times the regular room rate, when ICU can cost you 10 or 20 times the room rate each day. A short hospital stay with a limit like this in your policy can cost you literally thousands of dollars. A long hospital stay with a limit like this in your policy could drive you into bankruptcy. Even if your policy says it takes over at 100% after $5,000 of covered medical bills, the important term here is "covered" medical bills. If the policy only pays three times the room rate for ICU, then the rest of the ICU bill is considered an "uncovered" charge! Look out for these types of limits! Also, be sure to check the Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation if you already have any medical conditions, and ask your agent if the Company will be excluding your conditions permanently on your policy.

5. Pay the Insurance Company, Not the Agent, & Follow Up! And lastly, make your check payable to the Insurance Company, and then follow up to make sure it was received. When you get your policy, check the Schedule of Benefits to verify you got the coverage you ordered, and then check to see if any special Amendments were added to your policy to exclude any of your conditions. If an Amendment exists, these conditions will always be excluded from this policy, even after the Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation expires. Following these five tips will help you choose a health insurance policy which will protect you from catastrophic medical bills. You may think, "Isn't that what any health insurance policy is for?" Yes, that is the reason for buying any health insurance policy, but, unfortunately, many policies fall short of actually providing this protection! Be sure to take the time to choose wisely when it comes to your health insurance!

How to Find Affordable Health Insurance

Affordable health insurance - it seems, especially today, those words just don't belong together in the same sentence. Health insurance monthly premiums have become the biggest single expense in our lives - surpassing even mortgage payments. In fact, if you have any permanent health problems, such as diabetes, or have had cancer at one time in your family history, your monthly cost could easily be more than the house and car payment combined.

Shopping for affordable health insurance can certainly be an eye-opener. If you have always had a health insurance benefit where you work - especially a state or federal employee - and now have to buy your own, you may not be able to afford the level of health insurance coverage you have become used to.

Affordable health insurance, however, is definitely available -if you know how and where to look.

When you are looking for affordable health insurance, you want the lowest cost per year that will fit your budget, of course. But, even more importantly, you want a company that has a good record for paying without fighting with you on every detail. Just as there is a car for just about any budget, there is also affordable health insurance. You may not be able to afford a "Cadillac" policy - but then you probably don't need all the frills anyway.

Shopping for health insurance on the internet is the easiest and best way to find affordable health insurance. Here are five reasons why.

1. You don't need a local agent to help you submit the claims for health insurance. The medical provider does it for you. You save money because the health insurance company saves money by not paying the agent commission. This could amount to an 8% to 12% savings to you.

2. All the top health insurance companies are at your fingertips on the internet. Most local agents can only quote you from the few companies that they represent. They may not offer you what is best for you financially or health-wise but only what they happen to have available.

3. Health insurance companies have to be extremely competitive because it is so quick and easy to compare them with their competitors on the internet today. In the past you would have had to visit physically eight to ten agents to do a similar comparison. Most folks just didn't have the time or desire for that.

4. You can change your coverage, deductibles, and payment options with just a few clicks rather than going through the paperwork delay with a local agent (and then finding out he/she made a mistake - more delay).

5. Charging to a credit card means you aren't going to forget a payment and be without insurance. Also, it gives you another 30 days before you actually have to pay. Also, many companies today give an additional discount for "auto-pay".

The key, however, to finding affordable health insurance is realizing that the purpose of any health insurance is to protect you from a major financial loss - not to protect you from spending small money on clinic visits and sliver removal. These small expenses may be cumbersome but they generally will not hurt you. It's the $100,000 heart operation that will break you. That's the financial disaster health insurance was originally designed to prevent.

Also, keep this in mind. Health insurance, as with any insurance, is a gamble. You are gambling that you will draw out more than you pay in. Your health insurance company is gambling they will pay out less. The odds are in their favor for two reasons. They have all the facts for millions of families to average out, so they know the risk in advance. Also, they get to set the rules and the prices. The higher you set your deductible, the more risk you take. This is not a bad thing at all. You will most likely be the winner in the long run.

Yes, finding affordable health insurance is much easier than most people think.

Taking more of the risk with higher deductibles, spending a little time on the internet comparing eight to ten different companies, and deleting coverage that you will not likely need (such as maternity for many folks) will make it very possible to find your own affordable health insurance.

Should You Get Health Insurance For Your Dog?

You would never consider going without health insurance for your family but what about your dog? Although many people think it is an unnecessary expense, health insurance for your pet can actually save you money and spare you from making a tough decision between the life of your dog and paying the bills should a serious health issue arise.

Just like everything else today, Veterinary cost have skyrocketed. When you do not have insurance, you must pay for every visit whether they be routine or emergency. This can run into thousands of dollars so why not get some help?

Just like personal health insurance, health insurance for your dog has annual premiums and, of course a deductible. The premium price depends on the dog breed and type of policy, if you have more than one pet, you can usually get a discount. As with the premium, the deductibles vary. Typically it is around $100 a year.

There are many policies to choose from based on your dogs age, breed, lifestyle and pre-existing conditions. Theres a dog health plan to please almost everyone. Some plans cover most everything from annual checkups to vaccinations, spaying, neutering and any medications as well as ay sickness and, of course accidents. These policies, of course will be the most costly. But if you can handle the yearly costs of a well dog just fine and want something just in case your dog becomes injured or sick, you can get a policy that will cover just these occasions.

Getting a new health insurance policy for your dog is similar to getting one for yourself - emergency coverage begins as soon as you sign up with your first payment and there is a 30 day waiting period for illness and other routine claims. When considering health insurance for your dog, be aware that his age will affect the coverage. Most policies cover the dog starting at 6 weeks of age. On the other end, you may not be able to get coverage for your dog if he is more than 8 years old. Once your dog is covered, however, he will be able to retain coverage past 8 years of age.

Getting health insurance for your dog should be a serious consideration for any pet owner. Think of it as the normal expense for having your pet. It's well worth it and it really set your mind at east to know that should your dog need expensive medical treatment to save his life - you'll be covered.

Car Insurance Costs Killing You?

Car insurance is one of the most irritating of bills for the average family. It's getting more and more expensive to insure your car just as it is getting more and more expensive to run your car. With fuel costs escalating out of control car running costs are becoming a serious burden for the average family, especially families with more than one car. For this reason more and more people are looking for ways to control the costs associated with their family transport. And whereas you can't bring the price of gas down you can do something to reduce your car insurance costs.

Car insurance rates are a reflection of the perceived risk that the insurance company takes on when it insures you. If the company sees the risks as higher then the insurance premium will be higher. If they see the risks of insuring you as lower then this also will reflect in your car insurance premium. So reducing your premium is all about doing things to demonstrate that the risk when insuring your car is low. 7 Tips To Reducing Car Insurance Costs.

1. A major factor for any car insurance company in assessing the insurance premium you pay comes down to the type of car you drive. Different types of car attract different levels of premium because, in particular, different types of car are driven by different types of people, who may have different types of risk profile. Sports cars, for example, will usually show a higher rate of accidents than staid boring family cars. And there are always certain types of cars which attract thieves more than others, and this is reflected in the premiums you pay to insure them. Your insurance company can tell you which types of cars are cheaper or more expensive to insure, so before you buy a car make some enquiries about whether that type of car is a high insurance premium car.

2. Consider your deductible. This is the amount you pay first out of any claim, and the cost of your policy is directly related to the amount of your deductible. Higher deductible - lower premium. So consider carefully whether you could afford to pay a higher amount first from any accident and raise your deductible. If so, you will get lower premiums.

3. Safety and anti theft devices can reduce the insurance costs for a car. Talk to your insurance company and find out if there are any safety or anti theft devices that you can install to reduce your premium. Then consider installing them making sure that you notify your insurance company once you have done so. And why not ring up your company and make sure that they are aware of any safety and anti theft devices you already have, if they aren't you may get a reduction.

4. Drive carefully. It may sound obvious but as insurance premiums are related to risk then your manner of driving is related to your insurance premiums. Safer driver equals lower premiums. It may not seem so at the time but those traffic violations or speeding fines reflect in your bill.

5. Don't just pay your premium each time it comes around without investigating if you can do better. Car insurance rates vary all the time and so even if it was the best rate last year it may not be this year. Every year shop around to see if you can do better, you may be surprised. 6. Have a look at other insurance policies you have with other companies. Many insurers offer discounts for combining all your family insurance with their company. Find out who they are and get a quote on all your policies combined. 7. Always look online for a competitive quote. Most of the major players and brokers are represented online and it is extremely competitive. It is very easy to get an online quote, just go to Google and search for car insurance quote and start looking. These are just a few of the things that you can do, there are plenty more. Educate yourself about your car insurance, find out all you can about it and be prepared to shop around once you know exactly what you do need, and what you don't. You will find cheaper insurance.

Small Business Insurance

Small business owners are often confounded by insurance issues. Questions such as what kind of coverage do they need, are there special issues that pertain to small businesses that require coverage, and how to provide coverage to employees typically dominate the thoughts of new small business owners. This article outlines some of the basic insurance considerations that new small business owners must be aware of.

A business owner's policy is the most basic type of insurance required by small businesses. A business owner's policy is a class of small business insurance that protects the small business property from damage caused by fire, theft, and other similar disasters. Business owner's policies also cover some forms of liability if someone is hurt on the small business property.

Service oriented business should purchase professional liability insurance, also known as "errors and omissions" insurance. This class of business insurance provides coverage for damage that may be done when professional duties are performed poorly or neglectfully. This insurance includes medical malpractice. Mechanics need this type of insurance in case they damage someone's vehicle by improperly servicing it, while plumbers and other home contractors need professional liability insurance to protect against damage that may occur if they perform their duties incorrectly. If you are in a skilled trade, it is a good idea to check with your trade association to see what kind of professional liability insurance they recommend.

Many small business owners do not purchase business insurance because they think it is either not necessary or too expensive. Of course, not having business insurance when you need it is a good way to ensure the failure of your company. A single liability case or occurrence of property damage could be enough to doom a small business if it does not have sufficient coverage. Be sure to protect yourself and your business by purchasing small business insurance.

Finding the Best Auto Insurance Rate using Online Tools

Shopping for auto insurance is an extremely important undertaking since it is a recurring expense, and one that must be paid indefinitely. Searching for car insurance in the past was even more tedious than it is today because there were no online auto insurance rate comparison tools such as those that currently exist. Using online auto insurance rate comparison tools can save you a great deal of time and frustration when searching for the best auto insurance rate.

The internet has forever changed the way that people do commerce. Any company that hopes to survive and prosper in the modern age simply must have a web presence. Auto insurance companies are aware of this fact, and almost all auto insurance companies now offer quotes and services online. Many insurance companies will give you a quote instantly if you fill in pertinent information about every driver who would be covered under the policy you are seeking. Some companies will even go so far as to give you a quote and also list the quotes that you would receive from some of their main competitors, which can be very helpful when looking for the best auto insurance rates.

There are also a number of online tools that are not affiliated with individual insurance companies that can also provide online auto insurance rate quotes. The online site http://www.insurance.com/ features a short questionnaire that asks for details such as the number of drivers to be covered, where you live, questions about current coverage, and other important questions to create a list of quotes from various auto insurance companies.

The internet has made finding the best auto insurance rate easier than ever before. Using the tools of the internet, you can instantly receive multiple quotes, which makes the time spent research your best option much shorter and allows you to spend more time evaluating the different plans.

Life Insurance -What you need to Know

Purchasing life insurance can be an overwhelming experience for someone who is not familiar with all of the legal details involved. Terms such as whole life insurance, term life insurance, variable life insurance, etc., can flabbergast someone who is looking for life insurance for the first time. How is the first time purchaser to cut through all of the jargon to find the best coverage for themselves and their families? The first thing is to become familiar with the basic categories of life insurance and how they may or may not be applicable to their situation.

Perhaps the most commonly offered life insurance policy is called term life insurance. Term life insurance is a life insurance policy that is good for only a set amount of time, typically one year. This is the kind of life insurance that is typically offered by employers. Term life insurance is good for those who are relatively young and in good health. One issue with term life insurance is that the policy holder must re-qualify yearly and if their health takes a downturn during the term, they may not be able to qualify for continued coverage the next term period.

The alternate to term life insurance is permanent life insurance. This is life insurance that is applicable not for a term, but for your entire life. Clearly, since a payout is almost guaranteed on a life term policy, the rates are going to be quite a bit higher than term life insurance, and the policy terms are very inflexible. If you choose a permanent life insurance policy, it is vitally important to evaluate all plans and choose the very best one. Unless you happen to be an insurance expert, it is a good idea to hire a professional and independent insurance agent to help you wade through all of the available permanent life insurance policies.

Purchasing AAA Insurance

When people think of the American Automobile Associate (AAA) they typically think of roadside assistance, road maps, and travel recommendations. What most people do not realize is that the AAA offers an entire host of other services, from financial and credit services, to discounts on products of all types, to insurance coverage. Surprisingly, AAA insurance is not just for automobiles and travel. The AAA also offers insurance for health coverage, home, life, and all other facets of insurance coverage that you would expect to receive from a full service insurance agency.

Of most interest to current AAA members would be the AAA automobile insurance. AAA members receive discounts on all AAA insurance, including auto, and the auto policies are geared towards drivers, as you would expect from the country's premier motoring agency. The claim service is efficient, which means that you get your money more quickly than with other auto insurance brokers, and AAA insurance also covers the cost of renting a car if your automobile is stolen. With AAA insurance added to all of their other services, it is not clear why any motorist would go with any other agency.

AAA insurance also offers homeowner policies that are very competitive when compared to other home insurance offerings. In addition to standard home coverage, AAA insurance for homes also protects peripherals such as sheds and pools and also provides a level of personal property protection.

AAA insurance features long and short term health insurance policies for those who do not receive coverage through a corporate plan. AAA health insurance, like the other AAA insurance policies, offers a full range of plans and has deductibles and premiums that are extremely competitive.

The AAA is much more than just an automotive club. With its full suite of AAA insurance offerings, the AAA can keep you protected both on the road and at home.

How Long Will You Live ??????????

It seems like not a week goes by without hearing or reading about the impending baby boomer explosion. Much of the media attention is devoted to questioning the boomer's ability to retire at a reasonable age with a comfortable lifestyle. Another often discussed subject relates to

Medicare and the enormous strain that will occur as the boomer crowd reaches 65 years of age. This is when those who are eligible are automatically enrolled in Medicare. As important as these issues are, they wane when compared with the problems inherent with long term care. Without proper planning, baby boomers are in jeopardy of depleting their hard earned assets.

The most reliable data regarding population longevity is found with life insurance companies. Indeed, the underwriting of life insurance policies is based on the principle of accurately identifying when various groups of individuals will die. As a population, we are living longer. In fact, the highest rate of increased longevity belongs to those over the age of 85. Unfortunately, the increase in age is coupled with an increase in mental and medical conditions that require long term care.

Many seniors today believe their long term care costs will be absorbed by Medicare. This is simply not true! Medicare is designed primarily to help someone recover from an illness. Most people who require long term care have chronic conditions which severely limit their ability to recover. To rely on Medicare to pay for the cost of long term care is foolish. The only government assistance available to pay this cost is found in the Medicaid program, which is federally granted and state administered. But Medicaid is only for the destitute. It is a welfare plan intended for those who simply cannot pay the cost of receiving custodial supervision by themselves.

For years, the strict rules associated with administering Medicaid have been manipulated by clever individuals and their professional advisors. Many people who have the ability to pay for care were creating special arrangements to make it appear they were destitute when, in fact, they were not. This so-called Medicaid Planning simply increased the enormous strain already imposed on the welfare system.

Recently, Congress took steps to help alleviate this. On February 8, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. This multi-tasked bill closed one of the biggest loopholes in Medicaid Planning and reinforced the fact that Medicaid is for the destitute. This should serve as a warning to the baby boomers who mistakenly believe their long term care costs will be subsidized by the government. They need to provide for themselves through the purchase of a long term care policy issued by a highly rated insurance company.

The costs associated with long term care are increasing faster than the costs of providing a college education. In some states, it costs over $300 per day to provide long term care. A properly purchased policy can offset much of this expense. No one is immune to this problem, but it is apparent that the largest exposure exists with the baby boomers. Without adequate planning millions of additional families will be faced with financial ruin. Their assets will be wasted in order to pay for the cost of having lived too long in an environment of custodial care. The question becomes: "Which asset will you liquidate first?" if you don't have adequate protection?