Is UK Loan Protection Insurance Right For You?

UK loan protection insurance has been in existence for many years but has never been as popular as it is today. This could be for many reasons, but only one of them actually matters. A higher percentage of individuals are in debt today than the figure associated with times gone by. The consumer culture that we all live in encourages individuals to spend, and the availability of credit has simply contributed to that. These two features of society combined have led to a massive rise in demand for UK loan protection insurance.

Whilst the existence of UK loan protection insurance is great for consumers in many ways, the desperate need for it is not. People should be choosing to have UK loan protection insurance because they want peace of mind, and not because they are so scared that they will find themselves in severe financial difficulties should their source of income be cut off.

UK loan protection insurance protects an individual’s loan repayments should he or she fall ill or have an accident and be unable to work, or in the event that he or she lost the job that would have enabled them to pay the debt off in the first place. It is also designed to pay out for up to twelve to twenty-four months, after an initial qualifying period has lapsed. This is absolutely necessary for individuals in debt, especially those already struggling to pay off debts whilst in full time employment!

The premiums associated with UK loan protection insurance vary, depending on the level of the loan, the interest rate of the product that you took out and personal circumstances. Some financial institutions ask for monthly premiums, others annual ones, and then there are those that add the total cots of the UK loan protection insurance to the loan itself. These are all factors and elements that you have to weigh up before taking out the insurance. If that sounds a little confusing then wait until you read the terms and conditions – make sure that you fully understand them before signing on the dotted line.

California Health Insurance And Pre-existing Conditions, Waiting Periods, And Exclusions

It's important to look at a carrier's policies and restrictions regarding pre-existing conditions, waiting periods and exclusions as they can differ from company to company. This is just an overview in layman's terms.

First...what is a pre-existing condition. The official definition reads as follows:

Pre-existing Condition

Any illness or health condition for which you have received medical advice or treatment during the six months prior to obtaining health insurance. Group healthcare policies cover pre-existing conditions after you have been insured for six months, and individual policies cover pre-existing conditions after you have been insured for one year. Reference CIC Section 10198.7. Creditable coverage must be counted towards any pre-existing condition exclusion in either an individual or group policy.

Essentially, it is a medical condition, illness, or injury for which you just had treatment, are undergoing treatment, or have had treatment in the past. The context in which an insurance company will look at pre-existing conditions strongly depends on the type of insurance.

Individual and Family California health insurance

This type of coverage is medically underwritten which means that you need to qualify based on health. Pre-existing conditions have the most impact here and it affects coverage in two ways.

First, you must qualify for coverage based on health so a carrier can increase your rates or decline/defer coverage altogether based on your pre-existing conditions. They typically have underwriting guidelines specifying how they may look at particular issues. Ultimately, the underwriter (person who decides to approve or decline health coverage) makes the final decision based on information found in the health application or medical records (if requested).

For some issues, the health insurance carrier may want a certain amount of time away from a give situation before offering coverage. A general rule of thumb is 6 months to one year for a more simple situation (simple broken bone, infection, etc). Some issues are deemed uninsurable for which they will not offer coverage ever.

If you are unable to qualify for individual - family health insurance in California, you can find options for the uninsured through the State such as MRMIP.

The second way pre-existing conditions can affect coverage for Individual Family California health insurance is after approval. If approved for coverage, there can be a waiting period for treatment (payment of) pre-existing conditions of up to 6 months if you did not have prior coverage or lapsed coverage for more than 62 days. Essentially, they will take into account time on a prior qualified plan (may be individual, small group, short term) towards a six month waiting period for pre-existing conditions.

Tier increase with Individual and Family coverage

If a carrier does not decline coverage based on pre-existing conditions, they can increase rates. Tier 1 is the best rate and you can find this rate when you quote individual California health insurance. Tier 2 is typically 25% higher than this standard rate. Tier 3 is typically 50% higher and Tier 4 is typically 100% higher. Some carriers apply different increases. For example, Blue Shield of California has a Tier 5 which is much higher. This tier increase is not locked in stone and you may be able to have it removed or lowered in the future once time has passed from a given situation (assuming you are in otherwise, good health). We recommend submitting the required change of coverage form every 3-4 months until this tier increase can be increased.

California Small group health insurance and Pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions are treated differently for Small Group in some important ways. HMO's are typically not subject to waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. Maternity in California is typically not subject to waiting periods for either HMO or PPO plans. Otherwise, the six month waiting period is the same as individual plans. Always submit all claims through the carrier regardless and let them make the decision on waiting periods.

Small Groups do not have tiers but by law, a carrier can go up or down 10% from the standard (Request Small Group California quote at www.calhealth.net) rate based on the health of the group. This is called the RAF (Risk Adjustment Factor). A 1.0 RAF is the standard rate. 1.1 would be 10% higher and .90 would be 10% lower. The larger your group, the more likely you will have a lower RAF. Some carriers automatically give small groups the extra 10% increase as there are fewer people to spread the risk among.

Exclusions of certain conditions

California law prevents carriers from excluding conditions a specific applicant may have (if a covered benefit) upon approval as other states allow. This is a mixed blessing. On one hand, a new enrollee does not need to worry about a condition re-occuring and having coverage declined during a period of time. The downside is that a person might be unable to qualify for coverage altogether which defeats the purpose of banning exclusions to begin with...The law of unintended consequences. Keep in mind that this exclusion is only dealing with a specific person's pre-existing condition. Some plans will exclude certain coverages (i.e. maternity, brand name drugs) by design. A plan's summary and explanation of benefits will list their standard exclusions.

It's important to look at a carrier's policies and restrictions regarding pre-existing conditions, waiting periods and exclusions as they can differ from company to company.

A Consumer's Quick Guide to Medical Insurance

Your employer just gave you a huge bundle of medical insurance information. Before you let out a small moan and hurl the book to the furthest corner of your desk, it might be a good idea to look it over and see if you understand it fully. Keep in mind that this medical insurance someday just might help save your life.

There are a few medical insurance terms that can cause confusion, so here are some tips to help define and clarify some of the most common terms that you'll come across in a normal health insurance manual. Use this as a brief reference point, but be sure to refer to your manual for further details.

Term # 1: Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Health Maintenance Organizations or HMOs are a form of popular group medical insurance. In this design, a group of doctors, nurses, pharmacies, and other medical professionals are hired by the medical insurance company to provide health care to the people that are covered by the plan. Usually the insured people must pick out a primary care physician who coordinates all their care. An advantage of this system is that it keeps cost regular and relatively low. However, there is little room for flexibility.

Term # 2: Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

This type of medical insurance is somewhat similar to the HMO, but does have a few marked differences. In this case, instead of the medical professionals being hired by the insurance company, the company enters into contracts with the doctors and other professionals to offer their services to the people insured either at a reduced rate, or as a part of a co-pay/co-insurance plan.

Term # 3: Medical Deductible

This is perhaps one of the most baffling medical insurance terms out there. It causes a lot of confusion because a lot of people just assume that the co-pay that they give their doctors is all they need to worry about. In fact, the medical insurance deductible acts like the deductible on your car insurance. In this case, you have to spend a certain amount of money before your medical insurance will start paying fully for your medical needs.

These are a few of the medical insurance terms that you probably will come across while looking into the possible choices. Make sure you understand the assorted terms and conditions of your specific medical insurance plan, and ask questions if you have any doubts.

GM’s All-electric Future, Powered by Ultium Batteries

How our all-new modular EV architecture and Ultium battery system will deliver a full lineup of EVs for all customers.

General Motors will help put everyone in an EV with its unique combination of cutting-edge technology, manufacturing experience and scale.

• Vehicles built from the Ultium system could offer GM-estimated driving ranges of up to 400 miles on a full charge with 0 to 60 mph1 acceleration as low as 3.0 seconds and have battery options from 50 to 200 kilowatt hours.
• GM’s Ultium cells, arranged in different combinations of flexible modules and battery packs, can provide the energy for every segment on the road today, from performance vehicles to work trucks, with less than one quarter of the propulsion combinations currently used for internal combustion engines.
• Drive units mostly designed and manufactured in-house will support front-wheel, rear-wheel, all-wheel and performance all-wheel drive applications.

Space-efficient packaging that maximizes room for passengers and cargo.

• GM’s new Ultium batteries are expected to have some of the highest nickel and lowest cobalt content in a large format pouch cell.
• GM’s industry-first almost completely wireless battery management system reduces the physical wires between battery modules by up to 90 percent for production electric vehicles.
• GM’s joint venture with LG Chem to develop and mass-produce battery cells is expected to drive cell costs below $100 per kWh.

A unique, low-cost battery chemistry andeasy-to-manufacture design.

• In North America, GM EVs will be powered by rectangular, pouch-style battery packs that are simple, lightweight and space-efficient.
• GM’s ability to stack long pouch cells vertically or horizontally in modules is unique in the industry It allows for a lower cabin floor where it matters most, yielding more interior room than some comparable EVs that use cylindrical cells in battery packs with a uniform height.
• The battery pack allows engineers to deliver vehicles with an optimized weight distribution and a lower center of gravity for outstanding ride and handling.

A unique manufacturing partnership.

• GM EV battery cells will be mass-produced at a $2.3 billion joint venture plant that GM and LG Chem are constructing in Lordstown, Ohio.
• The plant, which will be about the size of 30 football fields, will have annual capacity of more than 30 gigawatt hours and room for expansion.
• The joint venture is expected to create more than 1,100 new, good-paying jobs.

New technologies under development to improve charging, cycling, range, cost and battery life include:

• Our Ultium battery cells feature a state-of-the-art Nickel Cobalt Manganese Aluminum (NCMA) chemistry, which was designed to reduce the cobalt content in our batteries by more than 70 percent.
• We have enabled the reuse or recycling of 100 percent of returned batteries, and we will keep doing so.
• We apply a comprehensive battery and high-voltage safety strategy and development process to every EV we make, supported by a dedicated high-voltage battery safety team.
• GM will be the first automaker to use an almost completely wireless battery management system. The system will be a primary driver of GM’s ability to ultimately power many different types of EVs from a common set of battery components.

The Complete Guide to Payment Protection Insurance

Payment protection insurance is offered by all of the major high street banks and lenders these days, largely because they noticed that it was a highly profitable product that few people ever claimed on. Of course, their deceitful sales techniques, as reported by a large number of consumers since 2005, helped to make payment protection insurance this way. But the resultant investigations into the payment protection insurance industry by the Financial Services Authority, the Office of Fair Trading and the referral to the Competition Commission can only serve to make it fairer for all consumers.

Since payment protection insurance was thrust into the spotlight, more independent providers are evident and numerous insurance companies have expanded their product range to incorporate payment protection insurance. They have all recognised payment protection insurance for what it is – an extremely valuable product that can help to protect consumers from getting into major financial difficulties should they have a source of income stopped as a result of illness, injury or unemployment.

As a result, consumers have more choice than ever. Despite bad reports, payment protection insurance still has over 14 millions policies in force today, and the majority of them are with high street banks and lenders in conjunction with a loan or credit card. However, standalone providers can offer cover for all debts held by an individual, even if they are spread over a range of credit cards and loans.

High street banks have come under fire as a result of the payment protection insurance scandal, but standalone providers have remained largely untouched. That is not to say that a standalone policy may suit you better, but the payment protection insurance policies that they offer are certainly worth looking into. The more scope you give yourself during the hunt for the perfect policy, the more chance you stand of getting the best product for you.

A Quick Education on Title Insurance Policies

You are probably familiar with common insurance – automotive insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and homeowner’s insurance. You might even be familiar with certain branches of each kind of insurance, such as the different levels of coverage available for automotive insurance, the different kinds of life insurance policies offered, the regulations that come with some health insurance policies, and whether or not you even need homeowner’s insurance. But are you familiar with title insurance? If not, read on for a quick education on title insurance policies.

Title insurance, most commonly, is an insurance policy that is purchased to protect the owner and the property – usually land – from claims against the ownership of the property. In other words, title insurance will protect you in the event that someone claims you don’t own property that you do, in fact, own.

Depending on the specific title insurance policy, you can be compensated for all procedures involved in proving your ownership of the property. Such procedures include hiring an attorney as defense and court proceedings. Depending on the specific title insurance policy, a title insurance policy will pay for the fees related to such procedures, and reimburse you for the money spent in the event that you win the case.

Having a title insurance policy is important because at anytime someone may show up at your door claiming to have rights to your property. Since property such as land is not something that deteriorates and just disappears or finds a new home in a junkyard, there are most likely people who have had some business with your land property at one time or another.

When you purchase your property, you may actually be purchasing land that others have certain rights to. In other words, you may not be getting a clear title. If this happens to you – if someone claims to have certain rights to your property – a title insurance policy will come in handy.

A New Solution to the Uninsured Americans While Keeping the Health Care Industry Private

Lack of health insurance coverage for over 41 million Americans is one of the nation’s most pressing problems. While most elderly Americans have coverage through Medicare and nearly two-thirds of non-elderly Americans receive health coverage through employer-sponsored plans, many workers and their families remain uninsured because their employer does not offer coverage or they cannot afford the cost of coverage. Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or HAWK-I here in Iowa help fill in the gaps for low-income children and some of their parents, but the reach of these programs is limited. As a result, millions of Americans without health insurance face adverse health consequences because of delayed or foregone health care and extending coverage to the uninsured has become a national priority. (Information taken from kff.org)

The number of people that are forced to go without health insurance is nothing less than a crisis in this country today. We have fallen into a vicious cycle over the last few decades in which health insurance premiums have become too expensive for even a middle class family to afford. This in turn results in the inability of the uninsured to cover medical costs which often times results in the financial ruins of the family, and in turn results in the continuing loss of income by the medical community, which in turn drives the cost of medical expenses higher, finally cycling back to the insurance company which then must drive the premiums of health insurance higher to help cover the rising cost of health care.

Many proposals have been tossed around by politicians on both sides of the isle ranging from socializing health care comparable to the Canadian system, to endorsing health savings accounts and cracking down on frivolous law suits against the medical community. Many of these proposals have good points, but along with whatever good points they bring they also bring major downfalls. For instance; a socialized national health care program would eliminate the need for health insurance all together and the cost would be taken on by taxes, which in theory doesn't seem like a bad idea. However, the downfalls to this system include a deficit in new doctors willing to get into the field due to the inevitable decline in income while the demand would grow due to no personal responsibility. In short if people didn't have to worry about deductibles or copays that would normally keep the person from seeking medical treatment for minor things, they would simply go to the doctor every time they had an ache or pain. So now we have waiting lines for people with major health problems since everyone is scheduling an appointment while at the same time we are loosing doctors due to lack of incentive.

The current battle cry by the republican Bush administration is to push HSA's (Health Savings Accounts) which reduce premium by taking a less expensive high deductible health insurance plan with a tax deferred savings account that earns a small interest on the side that you contribute to along with your premiums each month. Any money withdrawn from the savings account for qualified medical expenses are taken "tax-free", and unlike a flex spending account like many people are familiar with in employer based plans, you don't lose the money you put into the account that you don't use. Basically if you never used any of that money in the savings account you could withdrawal or roll it over into another vehicle once you turn 62 1/2 penalty free to be used for retirement. This is a viable option for some people, however for many the premiums for these plans are still too expensive, and the problem remains that if you need major treatment in the first few years of the policy you will not have a big enough amount in the savings account to help cover the gaps leaving that person responsible for a large portion of the cost out of pocket.

Now we come to what I believe is one of the biggest problems from a health insurance agent's point of view, which is the inability for persons with pre-existing health conditions to obtain coverage. From the number of people that contact my office searching for health insurance coverage, I would have to say that about half of them have a health condition that will either result in an insurance company declining that persons application, or result in an amendment rider which basically excludes coverage for any claims related to that condition. An example of a condition that I run across constantly is hypertension or high blood pressure. This condition will sometimes result in a company declining an application all together if other factors are involved, but most generally result in an amendment exclusion rider. You may think that this isn't that big of a deal, after all, blood pressure medicine is about the only thing they would have to pay for out of pocket, but what many people don't realize is that this rider will exclude ANYTHING that could be considered part of this condition including heart attacks, strokes, and aneurisms which would all result in a huge out of pocket claim. Consider the fact that my father had a double by-pass surgery recently that ended up with a final bill of around $150,000. This whole amount would have had to come out of pocket had he had a hypertension rider on his health insurance policy, not to mention the added cost of 2 months off of work thrown into the mix. On a modest income of $40,000 per year this would have ruined him financially.

So what how do we fix this problem? Obviously the proposals thus far have been flawed from the beginning, and even if one of these plans gained support from the American people chances are it would never be passed into law simply due to political infighting. One side wants to keep health care privatized while the other wants to socialize it, which as we discussed before both have upsides and downsides. It seems that we are doomed on this issue and there is no real ideas or light at the of the tunnel right? Maybe not, let me tell you about a client I had in my office a couple of years ago.

A young woman came in wanting to compare health insurance plans to see if there were any options for her and her family. She had several children and had been on Title 19 Medicaid and had been going to college paid by the state. She had recently graduated from college and had gotten a job with the local school system, however for whatever reason she was not eligible for health insurance benefits. Obviously she still couldn't afford 5 or 6 hundred dollars per month for a plan so she went back to the aid office and explained her situation. They ended up working with us to find an acceptable private health insurance plan and reimbursed her for a percentage of the cost which I didn't even know was possible!

This got me thinking, consider how many more people would be able to obtain coverage if they could be reimbursed by the government a percentage of the premium according to their income. For example; take a young married couple in their 20's with one child, let's say that their family income is $25,000 and that the average premium for a $500 deductible health insurance plan for them is $450. Just as an example let's say that the government determined that a three person family with an annual income of $25,000 is reimbursed 50% of their premium taking the actual cost to the family to $225 per month. This is now an affordable enough premium for the family to consider.

With this merging of private insurance with government assistance we get the best of both worlds. Of course the next question goes to cost, how much more would this cost the American tax payer and how much would this raise taxes? I don't think that it would cost the tax payers much more an here's why I think that: First off we would bring down significantly the amount of uninsured people that are unable to pay for the medical care they get in turn driving down the total cost of health care. Secondly the number of people that are forced into bankruptcy and driven to Medicaid Title 19 assistance due to medical bills stemming from catastrophic medical conditions that don't have health insurance coverage would be significantly reduced. This is important to keep in mind considering that once someone is on Medicaid they are receiving health care basically 100% covered by the government so there is no more incentive to not seek treatment for minor or non-existing conditions. On the flip side many conditions that would have not been caught before they became severe because a person didn't seek treatment due to not having insurance coverage would now be caught before they turned into a catastrophic claim. Finally, if the government allocated a certain amount of money to help cover claims by people that have pre-existing conditions the private insurance companies could do away with exclusions and declines due to already existing health problems, this is already done is some states such as the HIPIOWA Iowa Comprehensive Plans which insures Iowa residents that can not obtain coverage elsewhere.

You may be sitting there thinking that this is all just wishful thinking and that these ideas could never be implemented, but all of these ideas are already being implemented. The problem is that only some states do some programs and not even most health insurance agents know that some low income families can get reimbursed for health insurance premiums. If these programs were all standardized and put into effect on a national well publicized level I believe it would put one hell of a dent in the uninsured population in this country. Now I don't pretend to know what the reimbursement levels should be for what income levels but I do know that anything is better than nothing, and in my opinion this is the best middle ground we could find. The Democrats would be happy with the socialized aspect of the reimbursement, and the republicans should be happy that health care remains privatized giving this solution a better chance at a by-partisan backing.

I have faxed this idea to several senators and congressmen but always received the same type of standard response about how they are concerned with health care and that they are working hard to find a solution knowing full well that no one really even read my letters. The only way to get these ideas out into the public is for you that read this to pass it on to others by word of mouth, by email, or by linking your websites to this webpage. If enough buzz is created than these ideas would get the consideration that they deserve, and if enough people like you and I demanded that a solution be found than perhaps enough stress can be placed on the politicians to get something done. The number of uninsured Americans is only going to go up, the cost of health care is only going to go up, and the cost of health insurance premiums are only going to go up if something isn't done now! Until then the only thing that I as a health insurance agent can do is to compare all of the options out there and present you with the lesser of all of the evils, which in too many cases the option that is chosen is the biggest evil of going without coverage.

Why Are Many Lady Drivers Able to Get Cheaper Car Insurance Quotes Than Men Drivers?

Yes, it is true – well, in most cases. Many lady drivers are able to get cheaper car insurance quotes than men drivers. Are men drivers cursed by their gender? Perhaps not. They just need to know the secrets of lady drivers.

Buy a safe vehicle. Safe vehicles get cheaper car insurance quotes than vehicles considered unsafe, and safety does not only include seatbelts, air bags, and child proof locks. A safe vehicle will also include anti-theft devices.

Buy a modest vehicle. Modest vehicles are less likely to be stolen, and vehicles that are less likely to be stolen are less like to be expensive to insure. You don’t have to buy a minivan to get a cheap car insurance quote, but buying a Jaguar isn’t going to work in your favor.

Be good to your vehicle. Being good to your vehicle means not putting your vehicle in situations where it can become damaged or stolen. Drive like you have some since – do not push its limits. Park your vehicle in a garage when it is not in use. If you do not have a garage, find out about renting garage space in your area – if you have one within walking distance, or installing a bright outdoor light near where your vehicle is parked.

Drive responsibly. Driving responsibly includes driving the speed limit, obeying road signs and traffic lights, and following the general “rules of the road” altogether. When you drive responsibly, you avoid traffic citations and car accidents, and when you do not have these kinds of blemishes on your driving record, car insurance companies see you as a responsible driver. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. Responsible drivers with clean driving records get cheaper car insurance quotes.

Grow up. Alright, maybe “grow up” would be better phrased “grow older.” The older and more experienced a driver gets, the lower the car insurance quotes and rates become – regardless of gender.

Beginners Guide to Dental Insurance

Dental insurance is taken to cover teeth problems. These include problems such as breaking teeth in an accidents or after having a fall. Dental insurance can be flexible and structured in order to meet the different dental needs of people.

Dental insurance normally covers the costs or two dental checkups a year. Simple procedures like cleaning and filling the teeth are also covered by these insurances. As a result of this, people with dental insurance get their teeth checked periodically and most of their dental problems like root canal operations, crown filling and dental bridgework are nipped in the bud. This is actually a clever business ploy adopted by dental insurance companies. By exhorting people to get their teeth checked companies save people from having to spend on expensive treatments in the future. 

Several companies provide free dental insurance for their employees. As the dental expenses of an average person in a whole lifetime are not too high, dental insurance premiums are also nominal. Such group dental insurances work in a slightly different manner. Employees of these companies are provided a list of dentists who are registered with the insurance company. They can approach them with their dental problems and get the appropriate insurance coverage. In certain areas, dental insurances are provided only for groups and not for individuals.

However, like any other insurance, dental insurance carries certain problems with it. There are forms to be filled out, and the whole process of claim letters, and paying premiums makes the process cumbersome to some. In group dental insurances, the claim letters and premium payments are handled by the employers. There may also be instances when the money claimed is not released or is released after a long time. Dental insurances have an upper limit per year. If this limit is exceeded, it will not be covered by the dental insurance company. This is a problem considering most dental insurances provide a limit of $1,000 per year; but a single root canal operation may cost $3,500.

Dental insurances are actually very cheap to purchase. A dental insurance for an entire family can amount up to $80 in annual premiums. Group insurance premiums are marginally cheaper.

What’s the Secret to Finding Reliable, Affordable Car Insurance?

Whether you’re buying clothing or shopping for car insurance, you always want to get the best value for your money. So, what’s the secret to finding reliable, affordable car insurance?

Shop around for the best deal. Get several car insurance quotes from different insurance companies before you buy or renew your policy. Insurance companies vary, so you could get a better deal somewhere else.

Don’t be afraid to switch. You can switch insurance companies whenever you want, even if it’s in the middle of your car  insurance policy term. If you find a better rate, switch and save.

There are three types of Car Insurance:

Third party, which covers your legal liability if you damage someone else’s physical property (walls, vehicles, gates etc.) due to a driving accident.

Third party, Fire and Theft offers third party cover and adds on two useful pieces of cover - fire damage to and theft of your car, including damage caused by a theft or attempted theft.

A fully comprehensive policy includes Third Party, Fire and Theft and in addition will pay for damage to your own vehicle in the event of an accident. There are many extras, too, for example it will also give you cover when you drive other people's cars - useful if you borrow someone's car and their insurance does not cover you.

The following factors affect what you pay for your premiums.

Your age, your job, your driving record.

The car you drive. The higher the value of the vehicle, the higher the premium. High performance vehicles are also more expensive to insure than their stock standard equivalents.

Then there's the location of the car. You'll pay more if you keep the car in a high-crime area or park it on the street at night.

What you use the car for. You'll pay more if, for example, you plan to use the car for business delivery purposes.

Then there is the excess structure that you choose. The higher the excess the lower the premiums.

Gear Locks, Satellite Tracking - will help reduce your premiums

If you are buying a new car ? Don't forget to shop around for Insurance!

For a first-time car buyer, the process can be a difficult decision. Many buyers are not aware of the fact that they need to have insurance before driving their new car off the showroom floor. The financial institutions providing the finance for the purchase will insist on this, in order to ensure that their new asset is protected.

Don't just accept the first offer that is given to you, get at least 3 quotes before making your decision. "Many banks or finance institutions are affiliated to an insurance company or brokerage firm. New buyers therefore may find themselves feeling pressurized to take insurance cover through the bank's preferred supplier. It is important to know that this cannot be enforced and the decision lies with the client. This makes it essential to shop around for competitive quotes, to ensure that you are offered the best deal - from the perspective of both cover and price. For young drivers, this becomes imperative, as they are often penalized for their age and lack of driving experience, translating into higher premiums and excesses."

Cash buyers are not exempt from the need to insure their new car. Thefts and hijackings are still a reality and the growing number of cars on the road puts all drivers at increased risk of being involved in an accident. Choosing an insurance product that is suitable in terms of budget, value adds, cover and excess payable is a careful decision that, with the right advice, can be made sensibly and safely.

Many young, first-time buyers find that purchasing insurance through a direct insurer is actually a simple process.

They are likely to receive a tailored insurance solution catering for their specific needs - with direct insurance, clients don't pay any additional charges for getting what they want. Any driver about to embark on purchasing a new vehicle would do well to consider the time- and cost-saving benefits of direct insurance."

What Do I Need to Know When Shopping for Travel Insurance?

Is Travel Insurance Really Necessary?

Travel is already expensive enough, isn't it? The cost of air fare, cruises, hotels, ground transportation, food and activities and entertainment are already high enough. I don't know about you, but I work hard for my money, and when I travel, I want to keep as much of my money in MY pocket as possible. Is travel insurance a necessity or a luxury? Why not cut a few corners here and there. Why buy something if it’s not really needed? 

My personal answer is, of course, that I am not independently wealthy and can’t withstand the potential financial losses if I require medical care while I’m traveling. Not being independently wealthy also means that I'm in the market for adequate but cheap travel insurance. I suspect that you are in the same position, so you, too need cheap travel insurance. If you’re still not sure about that, consider the following.

Did you know that if you get sick or are injured while traveling abroad, your medical plan may not cover all the expenses you will incur? If the costs of treatment are higher than the maximums of your medical plan, you will be responsible for the difference, unless you have already purchased travel insurance. In fact, you may not even be admitted into hospitals in some countries without proof that you have health or medical insurance. 

This is true for everyone, regardless of age or length of time abroad. Suppose you fall ill just a few hours after arriving at your destination. Or suppose you make a day-trip to another country, and you are injured in a traffic accident. Or suppose one of your children is part of a group making a class visit abroad, gets food poisoning and requires hospitalization. In all cases, without adequate travel health insurance, you will be responsible for the costs above and beyond the limitations of your existing medical plan.

Therefore, before going abroad, you need to make sure that you are adequately covered by travel medical insurance that won't break your budget. You should check to see if appropriate coverage is already available to you through your medical plan, employee benefits, or even through a credit card. If the coverage is sufficient for your needs, then you can enjoy your trip without incurring the extra expense of travel insurance. However, if you are not sure of your coverage, or if your coverage is inadequate or non-existent, then your next step should be to research and purchase the travel insurance coverage you need. 

How Much Can You Expect To Pay?

When I bought my first plane ticket to China a few years ago it cost around $2000 round-trip, and my travel insurance cost me over $500 because I didn't shop around for cheap travel insurance online.  

A few years later, a little bit older and wiser, and my travel insurance for another trip to China cost me much less--about $300 for roughly the same coverage. The difference? Before buying my travel insurance for the second trip, I shopped around online and got the coverage I needed, at the right price. If I'd have purchased my travel insurance for this latest trip from my travel agent, it would've cost me about $600 for the trip, and my plane tickets only cost $1,500!  Not exactly the smart way to go.

So how much will it cost you? Not as much money as it will cost you if you get sick or injured abroad and you don't have any travel insurance coverage! That's the obvious answer to the question.

In fact, how much travel insurance costs will depend on your age and the type of coverage you choose. Basic policies cost as little as $5.50 USD per $1000 of coverage. On the other hand, you can expect a full coverage policy to cost you from 7 to 10% of the cost of your trip, depending on your age. The older you are, the more you will pay. No matter what the cost of the policy, however, it's sure to be much less than the cost of medical evacuation!

The good news is that you can easily, conveniently and quickly research and locate excellent but cheap online travel insurance and reduce the costs while making an informed purchase. This is much better than taking what you are offered at the travel agency because you can choose from hundreds of travel insurance companies and polices and save yourself a lot of money in the process. One place you can start your search is at Travel Insurance Central.

What You Should Consider When Buying Travel Insurance

To assist you in your research, here are some suggestions to help you make an informed purchase.

1. Consider the worst-case scenario. If you can financially withstand the worst-case scenario then maybe you don't need travel insurance or maybe you don't need a comprehensive policy.

2. Make sure the policy you are considering provides adequate medical/dental coverage, including medical evacuation coverage just in case you need medical care in a place where the best treatment available is below the standards you are accustomed to in your country. This can happen if you fall ill in a developing country or even on a cruise ship.

3. Check your existing insurance policies for possible coverage. There is no sense in paying more for what you already have in your homeowner or tenant policy, such as theft and loss coverage.

4. If you are a frequent traveler, you should consider annual or year-round travel insurance policies. Sometimes they are called multi-trip travel insurance policies. Whatever the name, these policies can be relatively cheap when compared to single-trip travel insurance policies.

5. Know what you are buying, so read the fine print. Make sure that you understand what the company considers to be a legitimate reason for cancellation or interruption. If the list is too restrictive, maybe you should consider another policy.

6. Don't restrict yourself to buying only from your travel agent. He/She will probably only have one company’s product(s) available, and it's there for your convenience, but that convenience can be quite costly!

7. Ask lots of questions about the coverage. Play the "what if" game. Ask for clear explanations of terminology. Make sure that you and the travel insurance company are speaking the same language.

8. Don't buy the insurance through your transportation provider. If the airline goes bankrupt, how adequate will your insurance coverage be?

Once You’ve Bought Your Travel Insurance

Remember that your travel insurance policy covers you between certain specific dates, so don’t start your trip early or extend your trip without first changing the dates of coverage on your travel insurance policy. Of course, this might cost you extra, but that's cheaper than finding yourself without coverage when you need it the most.

Also, it almost goes without saying that you should bring your travel insurance policy with you when you go abroad. You can't consult the policy if it's sitting on your desk at home. You should also carry your travel insurance company's toll-free assistance phone number and other contact information with you wherever you go. It does you no good if you get ill or hurt and the necessary policy information is sitting in your hotel room. It’s also a good idea to bring your regular medical coverage cards and info with you.

I hope these tips will help you by the best travel insurance for you. Then take your trip with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are insured by the right travel insurance policy at the right price. Bon voyage!

The Definitive Guide to Finding the Best Cheap Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance provides you with a more affordable opportunity to ensure you mortgage payments in the unfortunate event of your death. Even though they are offered for a limited time-period, but you can always match them up with your mortgage payment cycles of 10 or 20-year contracts. For the budget conscious, this definitely seems to be a smarter alternative for a low cost death benefit. 

Insurance companies offer cheap term life insurance policies with different contract time periods, conversion credit during the first five years and transferable waiver of premium. 

Affordable alternatives are available through comparison-shopping at various online insurance intermediaries’ websites. Other than being a cheaper option, term life insurance is better in other aspects when compared to a mortgage life insurance. There are much personalization options available for a term life insurance policy. The proceeds from a term life insurance go directly to the beneficiaries instead of the lender, so the money can be used by your dependents as desired which could be even to pay off other debts. Term life insurance also pays a death benefit. According to NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners), the companies pay almost 90 cents to the dollar in benefits for term life insurance policies. Typically the whole life insurance will be 2 to 3 times costlier than a term life insurance. 

Term life insurance offers the cheapest alternative to provide insurance coverage for your dependents. It has allowed individuals under budget-crunch situations to buy policies with larger payout amounts due to the limited term of the coverage.  So, if you can renew your term life insurance regularly during your lifetime, you have actually found an affordable alternative to expensive whole life insurance.

Want a Free Term Life Insurance Quote?

By searching online for life insurance, you can get a free term life insurance quote with no obligation to buy. In order to get the free term life insurance quote, you fill in the form on the appropriate page of the life insurance company website. You do have to make sure you provide honest answers to all the questions in order to get the life insurance you need. 

Once the company receives your request for a free term life insurance quote, then an agent will carefully review the application and email a quote to you based on the term of the policy and the amount of the death benefit. You should not base the quote you receive on that of a friend or another family member because every individual is different in his/her needs. Because you are shopping for low cost term life insurance, you do need to request free quotes from at least three companies.

Term life insurance is only good for the life of the term. At the end of the term, you have the option to renew the policy, but you may not get it for the same free term life insurance quote as you started with. This is because your age has certainly changed and your needs in terms of a settlement have also changed. However, you still want to get the best rates possible for low cost term life insurance. 

You do not have to be in perfect health to get a free term life insurance quote. In fact, you can get low cost life insurance without even having a medical exam. Even if you do have life-threatening diseases, you can get a free quote for term life insurance but it may not be the low cost term life insurance you are hoping for. This is because you are in a higher risk category because your chances of dying within the term are much greater. Even if the premiums are a little higher, you are still leaving something for your family and to pay for your funeral.

What Kind and How Much Life Insurance You Should Buy?

Not everyone needs life insurance. The first thing to do is make sure you need it. Life insurance is really meant for your family members or other dependents who rely on your earnings.

Why You Buy Life Insurance

You buy life insurance so that, if you die, your dependents can live the same kind of life they live now. Strictly speaking, then, life insurance is only a means of replacing your earnings in your absence. If you don’t have dependents (say, because you’re single) or you don’t have earnings (say, because you’re retired), you don’t need life insurance. Note that children rarely need life insurance because they almost never have dependents and other people don’t rely on their earnings.

Life Insurance Comes in Two Flavors

If you do need life insurance, you should know that it comes in two basic flavors: term insurance and cash-value insurance (also called “whole life” insurance). Ninety-nine times out of 100, what you want is term insurance.

Term Life is Simple to Buy and Understand

Term life insurance is simple, straightforward life insurance. You pay an annual premium, and if you die, a lump sum is paid to your beneficiaries. Term life insurance gets its name because you buy the insurance for a specific term, such as 5, 10, or 15 years (and sometimes longer). At the end of the term, you can renew your policy or get a different one. The big benefits of term insurance are that it’s cheap and it’s simple.

Cash Value is Trickier

The other flavor of life insurance is cash-value insurance. Many people are attracted to cash-value insurance because it supposedly lets them keep some of the premiums they pay over the years. After all, the reasoning goes, you pay for life insurance for 20, 30, or 40 years, so you might as well get some of the money back. With cash-value insurance, some of the premium money is kept in an account that is yours to keep or borrow against.

This sounds great. The only problem is that cash-value insurance usually isn’t a very good investment, even if you hold the policy for years and years. And it’s a terrible investment if you keep the policy for only a year or two. What’s more, to really analyze a cash-value insurance policy, you need to perform a very sophisticated financial analysis. And this is, in fact, the major problem with cash-value life insurance.

While perhaps a handful of good cash-value insurance policies are available, many— perhaps most—are terrible investments. And to tell the good from the bad, you need a computer and the financial skills to perform something called discounted cash-flow analysis. If you do think you need cash-value insurance, it probably makes sense to have a financial planner perform this analysis for you. Obviously, this financial planner should be a different person from the insurance agent selling you the policy.

What’s the bottom line? Cash-value insurance is much too complex a financial product for most people to deal with. Note, too, that any investment option that’s tax-deductible—such as a 401(k), a 401(b), a deductible IRA, a SEP/IRA, or a Keogh plan—is always a better investment than the investment portion of a cash-value policy. For these two reasons, I strongly encourage you to simplify your financial affairs and increase your net worth by sticking with tax-deductible investments.

If you do decide to follow my advice and choose a term life insurance policy, be sure that your policy is non-cancelable and renewable. You want a policy that cannot be canceled under any circumstances, including poor health. (You have no way of knowing what your health will be like ten years from now.) And you want to be able to renew the policy even if your health deteriorates. (You don’t want to go through a medical review each time a term is up and you need to renew.)

Is It Cheaper to Use a Life Insurance Broker?

Life insurance should be considered essential if you have a family and commitments, especially if you are the main provider. If you are the main provider and you should die then your family would not only have to cope with their grief, but also have to struggle to meet financial commitments with the loss of income. While life insurance is an added outgoing it can be worthwhile and if you go to a broker they will be able to find you the cheapest life insurance policy suitable for your needs.

Typically, he cheapest life insurance is what is called term life insurance. Term life insurance is taken out solely to pay out a lump sum of money should you die. This can be invaluable to your family and gives you the peace of mind that at least they wont be left struggling to make ends meet financially. It doesn’t however pay out cash unless you die, but it is the cheapest and easiest to understand of all insurance policies. An online broker will be able to get you the cheapest and most comprehensive cover for a policy of this type. 

Of course when taking out any form of life insurance you will need to know how much insurance you need, generally the amount that you should cover yourself for is around 6 times that of your annual income, or it should be enough to pay off your mortgage, plus a bit more. You should also take into account inflation and the needs of any children and they are growing. 

For example, if they wish to go to college or university then extra could be put aside to allow for this. Once your broker knows the figure to work from then he can look around on your behalf and find the cheapest life insurance that is most suited to your particular needs. 

While going with a broker for your policy will ensure you always get the best deal you should also be aware of what the policy covers you for and what the exclusions are within it, again a broker can give advice on this.

Car Insurance Guide: A Beginner's Overview

Rates of the Car Insurance gets higher and higher. Not all families can afford this easily, so ca insurance became an issue that should be faced in our lives. If you do not investigate and take some time to research and understand the different types of insurances offered in today’s market, car insurance will surely be a minefield.

Policies vary from company to company. Basically, comprehensive cover is full coverage of your insurance while a third party protects you for damages to someone else’s car.

After deciding what type of insurance you want, ask yourself if you want to insure the car on the agreed value or current market value of the car. You might consider the agreed value option of your car is a special model because it allows you to include added extras. While in the market value option, the insurance company pays out the amount the car is worth at the time of the accident, so the amount could be different to the market value originally spelled out in the policy when you signed up because of depreciation.

You can get down to the smaller and more tedious option once you have worked out what type of cover you want. You may consider some thing like the amount of the excess, if you want to choose the repairer, if you want to loan vehicles if your car is stolen, if you want the policy to cover the car for business use, if your car is repaired using only genuine spare parts and many more.

The Australian Insurance Council’s Group General Manger for Western Australia and the Northern Territory Daryl Cameron said in 85% of cases, policies are bought on price alone. This can be dangerous for people who do not read their policies carefully. He also said that your insurer might refuse to pay out if you are not honest in your insurance quotes.

“It is vital that all known information regarding the vehicle or any intended driver is fully disclosed to the insurer when taking out a policy or when one is up for renewal. If anything changes that may affect your policy, you must tell the insurer; it is extremely important to remember that you have a duty of disclosure,” Mr. Cameron said.

Watch out for the traps that catch many unsuspecting motorists. Ask as many questions as you can to understand what you are getting into. After all, there is no harm in asking.

There are points to remember when considering car insurance. First, research, investigate and take your time when looking for car insurance. Second get a coverage that suits your needs. Third, decide if you want a market value or agreed value cover. Make sure that you fully understand what you are covered for. Know the factors that are excluded in the policy. You should also know the excess when making a claim. Tell you insurer about anything that happens to you that may affect your policy. Know the payment method that suits you. Know if in the case of “At Fault” claim, you can protect your no claim bonus. And lastly, remember that cheapest is not always the best.

Make sure that you are familiar with the cover provided by the policy and not just compared policies on price. Cheaper does not always mean better.

Things Need to Keep in Mind When Insuring the Contents of Your Home

Basically, home contents insurance is insurance protection against the replacement cost that you would otherwise have to pay to replace the contents of your home in the event of then being lost, damaged or stolen.  As is the case with home buildings insurance, the main factors contributing to grounds under which you can make a claim against your home contents insurance include theft/burglary, damage due to floods, burst water pipes or boilers, etc.

There are, however, two very important factors that you need to keep in mind when insuring the contents of your home:

• First, in the case of home contents insurance, it is rarely the case that your mortgage provider is going to insist that you have this type of insurance as part of your mortgage agreement; 
• Second, regardless of whether you own or rent the property you are currently living in, you should still be looking to insure the contents of your home – as these are your personal possessions.  

Two further aspects of home contents insurance also need to be considered carefully when you are checking out the different kinds of policies on offer.  In some, but not all, cases you can be insured for your home contents even when the items listed in your home contents insurance policy are not actually physically located on the home ‘property’.  So, for example,

• First, it is possible to claim when you are transporting items from one place to another and they are stolen.  
• Second, home contents insurance is insurance against the replacement cost of the item being insured. 

 It does not, nor is it intended to, insure you against the nostalgic value of the item damaged/lost.  So, for example, if you insure a picture your deceased grandmother gave you, which would cost £20 to replace, it makes little difference that it was your deceased grandmother who gave it to you and that it cannot, therefore, be replaced. 

Although home contents insurance is, in all but a few very rare circumstances, a completely voluntary scheme of insurance to subscribe to, if you are in any doubt as to the value of this insurance scheme, take a quick mental inventory of the contents on your home and their value and then get a few quotes off the internet and you’ll soon be seeing the value of having your home contents properly insured.

How to Avoid Private Mortgage Insurance?

Ideally, traditional mortgage lenders want new homebuyers to have a 20% down payment when purchasing a new home. Thus, if purchasing a $200,000 home, you should be prepared to have $40,000 as a down payment.

Unfortunately, many people do not have this kind of money lying around. For this matter, private mortgage insurance (PMI) was created as a way for mortgage companies to recoup their money if a homeowner defaults on the loan. There are various loans available to assist people with down payments. In some instances, homeowners can obtain 100% financing, and avoid PMI

What is Private Mortgage Insurance?

Because Americans are earning less money, and home prices are steadily increasing, the majority of the population is unable to save the recommended down payment of 20%. In order to make owning a home possible, mortgage companies created a particular mortgage insurance, (PMI), for people with less than 20% to put down on a home. This insurance protects the lender if you default on the mortgage.

How to Avoid Paying Private Mortgage Insurance

On average, PMI may increase your mortgage payment by $100 – sometimes less, sometimes more. However, there are ways to avoid paying this additional insurance. The obvious involves having at least 20% as a down payment. If this is not an option, homeowner may agree to a higher interest rate. Another tactic entails getting approved for 100% financing.

How Does 100% Mortgage Financing Work?

100% mortgage financing makes it possible to buy a home with no money down. Also referred to as a piggyback loan or 80/20 mortgage loan, 100% mortgage financing involves obtaining a first mortgage for 80% of the home cost, and a second mortgage, or home equity loan, for 20% of the home cost. Together, the first and second mortgage allows a home purchase with no money down, and no private mortgage insurance.

Twenty Ways to Lower Your Car Insurance Costs

1. Buy from the internet. Most companies offer a discount for online applications as this is automated process and costs them a lot less to process your application, you can usually see discounts of 5%-10%.Click here to get a instant online insurance quote

2. Shop around. All insurance companies use different formulas to calculate your insurance premium by adding or detracting money after each question the ask you.By shopping around you could find big savings on your insurance premium.

3. Buy extra products. Most insurance companies also do other insurance products ie "Building's and content's insurance". Most insurance companies will give extra discounts for purchasing more than one product, by doing this you could save a fair amount on all your insurance premiums.

4. Pay your insurance premium in one go. By paying your insurance premium in full you can avoid paying costly interest charges that would be added if you paid your insurance premium by instalments. Some insurance companies may charge as much as 15% APR on instalments. You may even receive a discount for paying in full. If you can not afford to pay in full check out what rate a small loan would be you may still save some money. Fill out a online loan application.

5. Increase your voluntary excess. Your excess is the amount paid by you in the event of a claim, by increasing this your insurance company should reduce your premium.

6. Lower your annual mileage. Lowering your annual mileage can reduce your premium, most insurance companies will quote you for around 12,000 miles a year. Try and work out how many mile's you will do if it's likely to be less you may get a discount. Be honest about this as your insurance company may ask to see old MOT'S and service history to verify your mileage in the event of a accident.

7. Have a Alarm, Immobiliser or Tracker fitted. Theft of and from your vehicle play a major role in the calculation of your insurance premium. Having a alarm or immobiliser fitted will give you a small discount to your premium and having a tracker fitted could make you quite a saving.

8. Take the advanced driving test. Passing your advanced driving test will show your insurance company that you have extra skill when driving and are less likely to be involved in a accident.

9. Don't inflate the value of your car. Adding extra value to your car when you apply for your insurance quote will do nothing for you apart from increase you premium. In the event your car is stolen or written off you will only be paid the market value of your car at the time of your accident.

10.Look after your credit rating. Insurance companies are now looking at your credit score as part of the calculation for your insurance premium. Maintaining a good credit rating could avoid unnecessary additions to your premium.

11. Insure your car Third Party Only. Third party only is the minimum cover you are required to have by law it's also the cheapest. If your vehicle is of a low value then you could consider this type of cover. You need to remember that with this type of cover if you was to have a accident that any damage to your vehicle would not be covered for repair.

12. Keep a clean license. Insurance companies take driving convictions very seriously and can dramatically increase your car insurance premium, by maintaining a clean license proves to the insurance you are a safe and careful driver.

13. Remove any unnecessary drivers. If you have a young driver on your insurance policy that no longer use's the vehicle you should remove them as this will reduce your premium.

14. Young driver's add a older driver. Some insurance companies will reduce young drivers premiums if they have a older named driver on the insurance.

15. Build up your no-claims discount. One of the biggest factors affecting your car insurance premium is the number of years no-claim's discount. You could receive up to 75% discount for around 5 years of no claims. The more years you can stay claim free the safer driver your insurance company will see you as.

16. Protect your no-claims discount. Although this will increase your insurance premium if you have a lot of years of no-claims you may want to protect this as a small claim may increase your premium by up to 75%.

17. Buy a lower insurance group car. A very important factor to your insurance premium is what car you drive. Most insurance companies adopt the Association Of British Insurance Group Rating. This rates vehicle's from 1 - 20 generally speaking the higher the group the higher the premium. By buying a car with a lower group rating can lower your premium especially for young or inexperienced drivers.

18. Join a car club. If your vehicle is a classic or specialist consider joining a club related to your car most clubs offer insurance schemes which have very good premium rates.

19. Put your spouse as a named driver. Some insurance companies offer discounts when you add a spouse as a named driver as opposed to unmarried couples, they see marriage as a sign of stability and associate stability with safe driving and there for give you a discount.

20. Take pass plus. If you are a new driver consider taking your pass plus.some insurance companies could give you as much as a 25% discount and when you have just passed your test and have no no-claims this could make a considerable saving.

Twelve Tips to Help You Select the Best Dental Insurance Plan

Oftentimes many people will get ripped off online simply because they simply don’t plan well enough, do enough research or ask questions. If you are considering on signing up with an online dental company, consider the following tips to help you select the best coverage for you with the most qualified company.

1. Determine what your needs are: individual and family coverage, business and/or group coverage? You will want to know this before you visit any website, because you may have a set budget and will not want to go over it.

2. Do you have the freedom to choose from many discount dental plans? Some sites are only advertising one company and you may want to compare rates with other companies.

3. Are customer care representatives available through an online contact form or by phone 24 hours a day? In the event that you have questions, you will want to be able to get a hold of someone quickly without being ignored or playing phone tag.

4. Does the website have clear policies and are they easily accessible? Companies will not post all the details on the front page of the website, so be sure to click around the site to find out where the policies are and read them.

5. What is the website’s refund and cancellation policy? If you aren’t impressed with the service or found another site less expensive, know how to get out of the membership before you sign up.

6. Does the site have a privacy policy and will your personal information be made available to company partners? Too often we become members of sites that will share our information with other companies and later find our inboxes flooded with email.

7. What is the difference between a discount dental plan and dental insurance? Unlike dental insurance, discount dental plans have no annual limits, no health restrictions and no tedious paperwork hassles. Once you join a discount dental plan, you can start saving right away and some plans even offer savings on cosmetic dentistry, orthodontia and other dental specialties.

8. How soon will service be activated and when will you be able to begin service? Most service should be effective within one to three business days, if you find that it is taking longer contact the company.

9. How old must a member be to purchase an individual plan? There maybe some restrictions or benefits depending on the age.

10. Is there a membership fee? You don’t want any surprises so ask and find out if it will be taking out monthly.

11. Will you be covered if you should visit a dentist out of the network? Most companies will not cover you. If you know of a dentist that you would want to take care of your teeth, be sure he is in the network before you become a member.

12. What are the benefits and savings offered for cosmetic dentistry? Some plans will not cover this kind of work so find out before you schedule any appointments.

Easy Steps to Save Money on Your Car Insurance Premiums

For most people car insurance is a the single largest insurance expense after health insurance. Rates are high and are forever climbing, at least it seems that way. You can save money on your car insurance premiums by following these easy to implement steps.

1. Shop Around. Yes, it pays to shop and compare. Regulatory changes at the state level may have encouraged new companies to jump into the market, thereby increasing competition and reducing rates for consumers.

2. Raise Your Deductible. A $200 deductible sounds wise until you learn that the cost for having a deductible at this threshold can drive your rates through the roof. Consider a deductible as high as $1000 to save on premiums. You can always fix minor mishaps on your own.

3. Drop Collision. If your automobile is worth less than two or three thousand dollars, consider dropping collision altogether. Sure, you will get nothing from your insurer if your car is totaled, but the savings you realize by dropping collision can be used as a down payment for your next car.

4. Look For Discounts. If your car has certain safety features, make sure that your insurer is aware of this. Older cars, for the most part, do not have air bags but if you have a model that has airbags, you will save money on your insurance.

5. Business Deduction. If you drive your car for business, a portion of your insurance costs may be deductible. Conversely, your rates may be increased if your insurer knows that you use your car more for business than pleasure.

6. Combine Policies. Purchase your homeowners, auto, and life insurance policies from the same broker and you may save on your premiums. Some insurance companies reward policyholders if they “one-stop” purchase all of their insurance needs through one company.

7. Consider Before You Buy. The Porsche Boxster may be your ideal car, but it could also sharply raise your insurance rates. Maybe a less sporty model would be ideal.

8. Driver’s Ed Course. You may have taken a driver’s education course and your insurance company has not factored that in when determining your premium. Let them know that you are a safe driver!

9. Deleted Points. If you had moving violations that were reported to your insurance company, make sure that your insurer adjusts your premium downward if several years have gone by since the occurrence. You could be paying a premium higher than you deserve.

10. Check Your Policy. If the insurer has the wrong address, town or zip code on your policy you could find yourself paying more than you should.

Reducing your car insurance costs should not be an impossible feat. By following these steps you should realize some savings the next time your policy comes up for review.

How Can I Lower My Auto Insurance Premium?

Auto insurance can make a big hole in your pocket. Insurance premiums vary hugely between companies, agencies or agents, brokers, and of course the make of the car you own and your credit rating. To pay lower insurance you must: 

1. Always maintain a good driving record. 

2. Never accept the first estimate you receive.  Be wise and check comparisons of different insurance providers at your state insurance department website or phone them. Their addresses and contact numbers can be accessed from http://www.consumeraction.gov/insurance.shtml the consumer action website. Be sure to get competitive quotes from different insurance providers. Contact providers that are strongly recommended by people you know well. Keep your peace of mind by checking the financial stability of the companies with rating companies like A.M. Best (http://www.ambest.com/) as well as in forums and blogs.   

3. Complete a market survey well before you select a car make and make a comparative table of insurance and other hidden costs. Find out which features increase insurance premiums and which ones reduce premiums. For example if parts of a certain make are hard to find or expensive such cars will have huge insurance premiums, similarly installation of anti-theft devices or an extra brake system lowers insurance premiums. Many questions are answered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at http://www.iihs.org/.

4. Choose to have higher deductibles this will reduce the burden by at least 15-25%. But look at your finances first and determine whether you can set aside US$ 200-US$1000 periodically to create an emergency vehicle fund.

5. Consider availing the insurance from the same company that has you covered for home, accident, or life. Many companies offer concessions to clients who have more than one kind of policy. Known as a multi-policy discount   this could benefit you. 

6. Most policies are based on your personal credit record. Having an unshakeable credit history can lower costs. Pay bills on time, don’t avail too many loans, and be sure that credit balances are as low as possible.

7. Avoid duplicating medical coverage. Find out whether eliminating medical cover in auto insurance will reduce your premiums or the personal injury protection costs. In some places the reduction is as much as 40%. So, if you have adequate health insurance you could weigh the pros and cons of eliminating this in auto insurance. 

8. Find out if insurance premiums are dependant on where you stay. Sometimes staying in a rural community or suburbs as against the city center could save you a bundle.

9. Take advantages of discounts like low risk career, low mileage, taking public transport to work, car pooling, no violations or accidents, taking defensive driving courses, following safety rules and regulations, or having a child who studies far away.

10. Use the reductions offered for insuring more than one car belonging to the family. Many companies have special offers for corporate organizations, club members, professional groups, alumni groups, or clubs.  

Make time to make a big saving. Check through all the parameters and mark areas where a saving can be made. The market is competitive and you can be the beneficiary.

The Best Tips for Lowering Your Auto Insurance by as Much as 40 Percent

And the insurance rates you pay are hugely dependent on the insurance company or agent, your age, your car type, your driving record, and even the area you reside in!

You should never go without auto insurance though, despite the costs. Almost all the states require you to protect yourself with a minimum amount of liability coverage. Naturally, the bare minimum is not adequate enough for the average car owner. And as you add in additional coverage for your car, you realize that you will be paying a fairly large sum annually.

So, understanding auto insurance can actually help you to decide on a suitable insurance policy that won't vacuum clean your wallet! Here, we have gathered 10 of the best tips for lowering your auto insurance, by as much as 40%!

Always compare insurance policies. There are states which regulate auto insurance rates, but the insurance premiums can vary by hundreds of dollars for the exact same coverage. It is definitely worthwhile to shop around. The first thing you can do is to check with your state insurance department. They often provide information about the coverage you need, as well as sample rates from the biggest companies. You can also ask your friends or look up the yellow pages. Checking consumer guides and asking insurance agents can pay off as well. You can easily find out the price range for your insurance policy, as well as discover the lowest prices in town.

However, you should not be shopping based on price along. The insurance company should provide good service at the best price. Excellent personal service is available as well, and they provide added conveniences, although they cost a fair bit more. Ask the company how you can lower your costs, and also check their financial ratings. The rule of thumb is always to get three price quotes from three different companies, and pick the one with the best value.

It can also be a good idea to increase your deductibles. When you file a claim, the deductible is the amount you pay before the insurance company pays for the rest of the damage. A higher deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage can lead to a much lower premium. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $400 can reduce your premiums by up to 25%. However, you must ensure that you have the financial resources to handle the largest deductible when the time comes.

Remove certain types of coverage from your policy. Almost all the states require liability coverage for your car, but the rest of the coverage is probably dispensable. However, you do not want to be underinsured if you're in an accident, so it isn't advisable to remove all of your additional coverage. Optional coverage includes medical payments, uninsured motorist, collision, and comprehensive coverage.

Drop collision and comprehensive coverage for older cars. If you drive an older car that's worth less than $2,000, it's probably more cost-effective to drop collision and comprehensive coverage since you'll probably pay more for the coverage than you'll collect for a claim. You can find out the worth of your car by asking auto dealers and banks.

Make sure your credit report looks good. Car insurance companies often look at your credit history as there is a correlation between the risk to the company and your credit history. If you pay your bills on time and maintain a good credit history, you can enjoy lower insurance rates.

Drive less. Insurance companies often offer low-mileage discounts to motorists who drive less than a predetermined number of miles each year. You can use public transportation more often, car-pool with friends, and take the train or a plane instead of driving to another state. And you'll save on more than your coverage as you'll need to spend less on gasoline (of which prices are incredibly high).

Maintain a clean driving record. The company will give you a price break and you can save on your insurance policy after a specified period of a clean driving record. This means that you have no accidents, no serious driving violations etc, during this period of time. The simplest and surefire way to qualify for this discount is to drive carefully and defensively all the time.

Choose a low-profile car. Insurance rates vary among difference models of vehicles. Generally, sports cars and high-performance cars tend to cost more to insure, mainly because they represent more risk of theft and the drivers are often the people who drive more recklessly. Newer cars will cost more to repair or replace than older ones, so naturally they can more to insure. Low-risk vehicles include station wagons and sedans.

Ask about safety and security discounts. The insurance companies sometimes offer discounts on your insurance if your car is equipped with the following: anti-lock brakes, air bags, automatic seat belts, car alarms, tracking systems. These reduce the injury risk to you, as well as the chances of your car being vandalized or stolen.

Finally, ask about other discounts. You may receive a discount if you buy more than one type of insurance from the same company or if you insure multiple cars under the same policy or company. You may also receive discounts for taking a defensive driving course, staying with the same company for a few years, being a driver over 50, good-student discounts, and being an AAA member. If you already have adequate health insurance, you can also eliminate paying for duplicate medical coverage, thus lowering your personal injury protection costs by a substantial amount.