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Cutting Your Insurance Rates

millzee1 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:51:55 +0000

Depending on where you live, and how old you are, not to mention what kind of driving record you have, your insurance rates can be astronomical. So, why not find out how you can cut your rates by 10… 20 … even 50%? Most carriers offer a variety of discounts to valued customers. The trick is finding out what they are and if you qualify.

Here are just a few of the most common discounts offered by more than 300 of the nation’s top auto insurers:

Multiple Vehicle Discount.

If you are insuring more than one vehicle, whether they are cars, boats, trucks, RV’s motorcycles or even trailers, chances are you qualify for a multi-vehicle discount. See your agent for details. Multiple Driver Discount.

It’s impossible for two people to drive the same vehicle at the same time, so insurers often offer multi-driver discounts to allow customers with more than one driver per car to only pay partial premiums on each driver. Multi-Policy Discount.
Take advantage of your buying power. Choose one insurance company for all of your insurance needs, and you’re bound to experience a hefty discount on all of your policies. Combine your homeowners’ auto, disability, life and even health insurance into one insurance portfolio if at all possible. Some companies will also count financial savings plans such as 401K’s Roth IRA’s, money markets and college funds as additional policies when figuring out your discount. Low Mileage Discount.

The less your car is on the road, the less chance it has of being involved in an accident. If you put less than 5,000 or 10,000 miles a year on your car, by all means tell your insurance agent! You may be surprised how cheap your insurance may become. New Vehicle Safety Discount.
Offered to owners of new vehicles that contain certain types of safety features such as side passenger airbags, etc.Anti-Theft Device Discount.
Any type of anti-theft device in your car is eligible for a discount too. Good Student Discount.
Student rates can be quite high, especially for male drivers. But, some insurers are now recognizing that honor students may be more careful drivers, and are now rewarding good grades with cheaper premium rates. Accident Free Discount.
Go several years without a claim and watch your premiums plummet. Defensive Driving Discount.
Some insurance companies now reward drivers who attend special defensive driving workshops and seminars with either a one time, or ongoing rate cut.

Insuring Your Pet

millzee1 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:51:18 +0000

With s many other costs associated with owning a pet these days, is it really reasonable to expect pet owners to purchase pet insurance too? That depends a lot on your ability to pay should your pet become injured or ill, and whether or not you can afford the monthly fee.

At $15-$30 a month to cover dogs and cats, pet insurance isn’t cheap, but it also isn’t so overpriced as not to be effective. Should your beloved pet become injured or suffer a severe illness, their care could easily reach hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. In the past, many loving pet owners were forced to put their animals down when they found themselves faced with such astronomical care bills. Many of these animals could have been saved had their owners had the protection that today’s pet insurance offers.

It is true that most pet insurance policies do not cover preventative or routine veterinary costs, vaccines, existing conditions or long term care, they do generally cover most surgery, in-patient care, medications and the like for animals that have been in an accident or are struck with a sudden illness.

Some insurance carriers do offer preventative care riders that can be purchased at an additional cost to help cover regular office visits to your veterinarian.

In addition to health care coverage, some pet insurance policies also cover:

Loss and Reward Services.
In the event your precious pet is lost or stolen, your policy may cover the cost of finding him/her and returning them home. This may include advertising fees, rewards, and even compensation for animals that aren’t found. Many owners with pedigree and exotic pets opt for this coverage since the cost to replace their pet can be quite high.Liability Insurance.
You may have the mildest mannered pet on the planet, but that doesn’t mean the still can’t cause injury to someone or something in the future. With today’s high litigious society, a dog bite alone can cost you thousands in compensation fees. As a pet owner, you are solely responsible for any damage they may cause. Renters especially should consider a liability policy since they don’t have a homeowner’s coverage to fall back on should their pet hurt someone or a neighbor’s property.

It may be true that investing in insurance for your pet may have been a luxury reserved for the rich and eccentric years ago, the high costs of veterinary care has made it more of a necessity for many current pet owners. To find a policy that best meets your needs and budget, check out one of hundreds of websites available that list a variety of insurance carriers and the coverage they offer.

Why You Need an Insurance Broker

millzee1 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:50:42 +0000

Whether you are a homeowner looking for the best deals in insurance, or a small business who needs specialized care, don’t settle for working with a single agent at a single company, when you can work with an insurance broker and get the best deals available in the industry. While you may be able to get the insurance you want and need, even at discount prices by working with a single carrier or agency, brokers have the ability to shop around for individual policies that best suit you needs and budget. They are especially beneficial to small business owners who may need a variety of insurance coverage that the regular consumer does not.

What is an insurance broker? They are independent insurance dealers able to represent a variety of different carriers in order to give their clients the best – and cheapest – coverage options. Since they aren’t pegged into one specific company, they are free to deal with one carrier for your health insurance, and another for your automobile insurance. And, since they work with these companies on a daily basis, they are often able to negotiate a much better deal than an individual customer cannot.

Like insurance agents, they don’t charge for their services, but receive payment through commissions from the carriers themselves. This, however, can be a downside to using a broker, since many will push the carrier that gives them the highest commission regardless of the service they provide.

The key to finding a good broker is figuring out whether they work for only a handful of carriers, or whether they offer policies from a larger carrier base, which can mean a better deal for you.

Watch out for brokers who constantly switch your insurance to new carriers. This can be dangerous for you since the company sees no customer loyalty when reviewing claims. So, unless you’re policy has been dropped, or your broker finds a deal that you can’t pass up, insist that he leave your policies alone once you’ve established a relationship with a certain insurance carrier.

What types of insurance brokers are available? Generally two: those that specialize in property and casualty and the other who specializes in health coverage. Small business owners will also need to consider finding a broker that handles employee benefits such as disability, workman’s compensation and unemployment benefits. In general, it’s a good idea to find a broker that specializes in one thing in order to ensure that he completely understands the nuances of those particular insurances. Brokers who offer services in all areas generally understand very little about what they’re actually selling, which can be dangerous for buyers who depend on their experience to guide their decisions.

Protect Your Family With the Right Insurance

millzee1 — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:49:57 +0000

With so many different types of insurance now available, it can be difficult for some family’s to know which coverage they must have, versus which ones they should have.

Here are a few tips on choosing the right insurances for you and your family:

Think about your needs.

Consider your budget.

Think about future changes to your family.

Consider what would happen to your family if you didn’t have a certain type of insurance.

Once you’ve considered what your family’s needs are, it’ll be easier to decide which types of insurance are necessary. Here are a few of the most common insurance policies today’s average consumer should consider:

Health Insurance:

No one can dispute the need for good quality health insurance these days, especially if you have children. The most common types of health insurance these days include:

HMO Plans

– the most restrictive type of health coverage, HMO’s are also the cheapest for both the employer and the employee. These plans require participants to see only approved physicians. Specialists may be seen with a referral from your Primary Care Giver. Co-pays are relatively low, with virtually no deductibles on basic services. PPO Plans

– is a combination plan, which works like an HMO, but allows patients to see any physicians they choose whether they participate in the plan or not, at an increased fee. Many people like the flexibility and options with this type of plan, however premiums are usually much higher and deductibles can reach 20% when seeing an out-of-network provider. Indemnity Plans

– work very much like old-fashioned insurance policies. A patient sees any doctor they choose without a referral or pre-approval, but is responsible for 20% of the fee. Clearly the most versatile type of policy, it is also the most expensive, both in the case of premiums and deductibles. Automobile Insurance:

If you own a car, you are legally bound to cover every driver in your household with collision and liability insurance.

Disability Insurance:

How would your family pay the bills if you were taken ill or injured and were unable to work for an extended period of time? Many employers offer short and/or long term disability insurance policies, but many do not. In the event that you are left unable to work due to medical circumstances, short term disability coverage will pay you anywhere from 60-100% of your current salary (depending on the policy), beginning 30-60 days after your injury, for a period of 3-6 months.

Long-term disability insurance is just that – insurance for longer illnesses and injuries. Once your short-term disability coverage expires, long-term disability benefits will enact until you return to work. This is not the same as government disability benefits that some people with permanent disabilities may qualify for. Be sure t check with your employer to see if they offer these types of benefits. If not, you may want to consider purchasing your own policy, especially if you are a sole breadwinner or work at a high-risk job.

Dental/Eye Coverage:

While dental and eye coverage used to be a normal benefit for most fulltime employees, this is no longer the case, leaving some employees solely responsible for taking care of their family’s dental and eye costs. These types of policies usually cap at a certain amount and only offer coverage on certain procedures. Still, they can be beneficial to those without enough income to handle these unexpected costs.

Homeowner’s/Renter’s Insurance:

If you own your own home, your mortgage company required you to carry enough insurance to cover the cost of the mortgage should your house be destroyed in a fire. But, what id you rent? Your landlord has coverage on the building, but you are responsible for covering your belongings. Fairly inexpensive, renter’s insurance covers the cost to replace your furniture, clothes, appliances, personal items and displacement costs in the event of an apartment fire.

Life Insurance:

It’s not always easy to consider your own mortality, or that of your spouse or children. But, accidents and illnesses do happen and people die. Life insurance for adults is meant to help your family continue to pay the bills in the event of your death and the loss of your income. Insurance for children is meant mainly to cover funeral costs and is a good idea for lower income families who would be financially burdened by these costs in the event of a tragedy.

As you can see, there are many different types of insurance to consider. Check with your agent to see which policies are right for you.

Important Facts About Dental Insurance

millzee1 — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:49:16 +0000

Having dental insurance doesn’t guarantee that you will be allowed to have the procedures you want and need done. Many dental patients have found some insurance carriers to be difficult to work with, denying claims and causing stress for both the patient and dentist. Here are a few facts about dental insurance everyone needs to be aware of:

FACT #1:
Your dentist can’t make them pay. Your dental insurance (and the procedures it covers) is determined by a contract made between your employer and your insurance company. When questions arise, your best course of action is to call your human resources department or insurance carrier yourself. FACT #2:
Dental insurance isn’t a pay-all, but rather an aid. With most policies now capping at $1,000 a year per patient, dental insurance isn’t meant to cover all of your costs like health insurance, but to ease the burden of dental care a bit. FACT #3:
Even if you have 100% coverage, your dentist may not get 100% of his fee, leaving you in some cases, to pay the difference. Most insurance companies survey the area in which your dentist is in practice, calculates an average fee for all service providers in that area including discount dental clinics, take 80% of that fee and consider that the appropriate fee, paying only that amount. FACT #4:
If you and your spouse have policies through your own employer (but with the same carrier), the insurance company is not required to use the second policy to pay for uncovered costs, as is the case if you have coverage from two different carriers. Sad but true, insurance companies can accept payment from two different employers for coverage, but still only give the employee and his/her family members the $1,000 spending limit according to many state’s laws. I, however, you and your spouse have different carriers; you can use both insurances to cover most, if not all, of your dental fees. FACT #5:
Many routine dental services are NOT covered by insurance companies. FACT #6:
Your insurance carrier is not responsible for paying for dental work that has not been preauthorized – even if it’s an emergency! Be sure that your dentist’s office files for any preauthorization are necessary before agreeing to any procedure.

With so much misunderstanding regarding dental insurance coverage out there, it is very important for every patient to carefully discuss their policy and its requirements with their dentist’s business manager before agreeing to any expensive procedures to insure that they won’t be left paying for the entire bill.

Getting an Insurance Quote

millzee1 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:48:29 +0000

Shopping for insurance used to be a daunting task, running from agency to agency trying to find the carrier with the best deal. That’s no longer the case. Today, getting a quote for home, health and your car can be as easy as a phone call or mouse click away.

While you can still waste a lot of time calling individual companies or checking out their websites, the fastest and easiest way today’s consumers are finding solid insurance quotes is through a myriad of insurance sites now available on the internet. These sites offer you a one-stop shop for buying insurance, by comparing individual companies and their policies with your needs and budget.

Why are multiple-company insurance sites becoming so popular? Maybe the ease in which consumers can shop for all of tier insurance needs by:

Allowing carriers to compete for your business.

Only requiring consumers to fill out one simple questionnaire, instead of a questionnaire for every company, in order to obtain price quotes.

Giving consumers information on only A-rated companies to ensure reliability.

Giving consumers money saving tips and answers to their insurance questions through on-site chats and features.

Obtaining Quotes:

Be sure when talking with any insurance agent to be sure that you understand all of the advantages and disadvantages to purchasing their policy. While one carrier may have a slightly higher rate for insurance, they may offer better coverage that may be well worth the cost. Also, be sure to ask about the company’s cancellation policy. If you have a claim or two in the first few years, how likely will they be to cancel your policy and leave you uninsured?

Another question to ask: how long does it usually take the company to approve a claim and disburse funds? Many homeowners have found that cheaper polices often result in longer waits when an incident occurs.

Lowering Your Insurance Quote:

Once you get those quotes, here are a few ways to negotiate an even better deal:

-Raise your deductible – this could save you as much as 35% on both your hoe and automobile insurance bill

-Install security devices such as deadbolt locks, window locks, and burglar alarms and save up to 20% on your homeowner’s insurance. Car alarms too can help ease the high cost of insurance premiums

-Install safety devices like fences, gates and stair railings to save an additional 10%

-Ask your insurer about multi-policy discounts. By combining your home, car, health and life insurances with a single company you can save hundreds every year in premium costs. Also, multi driver discounts are available by most insurers.

-Choose a Cheaper Neighborhood. While you want to stay away from high-crime areas, living in a less prestigious area can also save a bundle on both home and car insurance. Also, the older your car, the cheaper the insurance will be, so consider the added cost of insurance when considering an upgrade.

What You Need To Know About Homeowner’s Insurance

millzee1 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:47:23 +0000

Having homeowner’s insurance isn’t just a good idea; it’s a necessity. Unless your home is paid in full, your mortgage company will require you to hold enough insurance to pay off your mortgage loan in the event of a catastrophic calamity to your home. But, even if you own your home free and clear, you’ll want coverage to protect your home against:

Fire and lightning.

Smoke.

Frozen pipes.

Ice and snow.

Theft.

In addition to paying for damages from these types of incidences, Homeowners insurance also covers homeowners against liability claims, medical payments to third parties, and legal costs if a lawsuit is brought against you. Most property owners carry a liability policy worth $100,000, but some people may need more depending on their circumstances.

To find out what’s covered in your specific policy, be sure to read its exclusions carefully. Depending on the type of policy you’ve chosen, you may be limited in the types of claims you may submit. In general, however, most insurance carriers exclude damages caused by any act of war, nuclear accident, flood, earthquake, and terrorism,. Some, however, offer “riders” or special policies that cover a single type of event or loss.

Covering Special High-Cost Items:

When purchasing homeowner’s insurance, keep in mind that there is generally a limit on individual items, especially jewelry. Additional policies may be necessary to cover expensive rings, watches, furs, antiques, and other valuables. After having each item professionally appraised your agent can help you obtain the necessary insurance coverage.

How Much Insurance Do You Need?

While many people assume that they only need enough insurance coverage to pay off their mortgage in case of a total burn, most underestimate the true cost of replacing their home. To make sure that you have enough to cover all your costs, check to see how much it would cost t rebuild your home in today’s high priced real estate market and consider taking out a policy worth that amount.

While most standard policies depreciate personal property, some replacement policies will cover the true cost of replacing a lost or stolen item no matter how much it costs or how old the item was.

Saving Money On Insurance:

With today’s high cost of insurance, many homeowners are looking for ways to lower premiums. A good way to save money is to consider raising your deductible to $500 or $1,000. Of course, this will be your out-of-pocket expense in case of a claim, but unless you plan on putting in a claim every few months or year, you’ll quickly gain back any fees in rate reductions.

Another good way to save 10-20% on your annual insurance bill is to install a security system. Most insurers offer discounts for these types of safety features. You may also qualify for a lower premium if you live near a fire department or hydrant, own a newer home, or own a home built out of fire-resistant materials.

Purchasing homeowner’s insurance can seem like a daunting task, but with a little knowledge and a good agent, you can easily get a solid policy to cover all of your emergency needs.

How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need?

millzee1 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:46:27 +0000

Everyone needs life insurance, especially if you own a home or have a family. It’s a way to ensure that those who depend on you financially will have what they need in the event of your death.

Most people understand the need for life insurance; they just don’t know how much they need. The point of life insurance is to take care of your family after your death in the same manner you would if you were still alive. Most insurance experts recommend taking out a policy that is between 5 and 15 times greater than your annual gross income, or alternatively, an amount up to your annual salary times the number of years before your youngest child is out of college.

If that amount seems too high, consider how much your family would need to pay all of their expenses indefinitely if your salary were to suddenly stop.

Economic replacement is another way to calculate the amount of insurance you need. Instead of trying to “guesstimate” how much coverage you will need now and in the future (requiring you to change policies every few years), the “full economic replacement” concept encourages applicants to purchase the maximum coverage allowed by an insurance carrier. Although pricier than a need-based policy, it offers the most comprehensive protection for your family, no matter how your lifestyle changes in the future.

Term or Whole Life?

There are two basic types of life insurance available: term and whole life or permanent coverage. Term life insurance is the cheapest form of life insurance. But, it does have a downside. It is only in force for a specific time and once it expires, you lose the death benefit unless to take out a new policy, which tends to cost more as you age. Still, it remains a valuable asset for those who can’t afford a more expensive whole life policy.

In contrast, permanent life insurance is just that – permanent, providing coverage for your entire life as long as your premiums are kept up to date.

Another benefit to this type of policy is the ability to accumulate tax-deferred savings that can be borrowed in the future for such things as college costs, to buy a home, or to provide retirement income. Unlike term policies, which cost more with each policy turnover, permanent whole life policies allow the buyer to “lock in” the premium amount for the life of the policy.

Which type of life insurance policy you ultimately decide to purchase depends a great deal on your age, income, lifestyle and family situation. The key to finding the right policy is to take a good look at both your current and future needs in order to best protect your family in the event of your untimely death.

Do You really Need Travel Insurance?

millzee1 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:44:49 +0000

You’re already paying thousands of dollars planning the trip of a lifetime, who wants to add yet another expense for travelers insurance? For many travelers, the added expense of travel insurance seems like a big waste of money. But is it? If you’re struggling to decide whether or not you need that extra policy, remember this: failing to buy travel insurance can ruin your trip and cost you money!

According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, only a fraction of travelers actually think of the benefits of purchasing insurance policies t cover those unexpected emergencies when traveling. Why is it so important? The three most important reasons to purchase travel insurance include:

-Peace of mind – you’ll know that no matter what happens while you are away from home, there will be help available.

-Protection against the unexpected – people get sick; accidents occur and storms roll in causing havoc while on vacation.

-Protection against financial loss – you’ve spent a fortune planning your trip, insurance can help you recoup lost planning costs if you need to cancel due to illness; terrorism or natural disasters.

So, what types of travel insurance should you consider?
That depends on where you’ll be traveling (domestic or abroad) and how much your trip costs. The most common types of travel insurance include: flight and trip cancellation insurance; travel health insurance; baggage coverage; and even medical evacuation insurance, which can mean the difference between life and death if traveling to areas with primitive medical facilities.

Is it really necessary to add ye another expense onto your travel bill by obtaining these policies? It can be! Consider these important reasons to buy travel insurance:

1. Cancelled flights.

2. Lost medication. Travel medical insurance will help get you a refill quickly and easily. 3. Theft. What do you do if your passport and wallet are stolen? Travel insurance will help you get emergency cash and a replacement passport.

4. Medical Evacuation. Whether you fall ill, or are in an accident, evacuation insurance can help you get to the medical services you need.

5. You need to cancel your trip due to illness.

6. Bankruptcy. If your cruise line, airline or tour operator goes bankrupt, insurance will help you recoup those non-refundable expenses.

8. A terrorist incident occurs in the city where you’re planning to visit and you want to cancel your trip.

9. A hurricane forces you to evacuate your resort, hotel or cruise.

Still think hat you don’t need travel insurance? Think again. In today’s world of travel, it can help make the emergencies experienced on vacation a little easier to handle.

Lowering Your Car Insurance Rates

millzee1 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:17:19 +0000

As car insurance rates continue to rise, more and more consumers are looking for ways to pay less for the same type of coverage. Here are seven of the most common ways insurance companies urge drivers to save on their annual premiums. Be sure to check with your insurance agent to see what other discounts your company may offer:

Downgrade.
Owning a less expensive car can save your insurance carrier thousands in repair costs in the event of a accident — a savings they are generally happy to pass onto their customers. Move to the Suburbs.
Living in the city can be dangerous for your car, and insurance carriers know that. Move to a suburban or rural area with less vandalism and theft for lower rates.Drive Less.
The less you drive, the less you pay in insurance. Why? Simple. If you’re not on the road, you can’t get in an accident and cause your insurance company money in high cost repairs. Be sure to let your agent know if you drive less than 5,000 or 10,000 miles a year.Get Married!

Sad, but true, young singles (especially males), pay higher car insurance rates, than their more mature, married counterparts.Drive Carefully.
Nothing will cause a boost in your insurance rates faster than a poor driving record. Accidents, tickets and DUI’s are all reported to your insurance company, leading to a rise in rates with the next bill.Pay Your Bills Promptly.

Many insurance companies are now considering a customer’s “insurance risk score,” that is determined by their credit score to determine their individual premium rate. Ask About Discounts.

Every insurance company offers a variety of drivers discounts including:

-Multi- premium discount (given to people with more than one type of policy with a single company – ie: homeowners, car, life insurance).

-New vehicle safety discount – the newer the car, the more safety features it generally has, which can lower damages costs in the event of an accident

-Anti-theft discount

-Good student discount – this discount is usually offered to honor students in high school and college

-New business discount

-Defensive driving discount – take a defensive driving course and obtain a rates reduction

-Accident-free discount – most insurance carriers offer periodic discounts for every year that you remain accident-free

-Loyalty discount (often given to long-term customers for 10 or more years of service)

-Multi-car discount – the more cars your family insures, the lower each individual premium should be.

Be sure to ask you agent about discounts that may apply to you.