All The Information About Insurance

How does health insurance providers get a license?

2010-05-01T07:48:00.001-07:00

The market is flooded with health insurance providers and related agents. The internet is also loaded with offers and quotes of health insurance providers. The growing medical expense related to quality treatment in the American systems requires insurance as a mandatory addition and not as an option.

The federal government stresses insurance as an obligation and sparing such may be foolish and absolute lack of financial responsibility. Each state operates its own set of rules to control and regulate the health insurance providers and their related services in a particular state.

All of the health insurance providers should be registered with the state to provide the insurance service. This aspect is important and mandated because the state ensures the financial capability of the insurance company, their reliability and performance in processing claims before granting the license to sell insurance in the state. This is done because there is a risk of companies declaring bankruptcy at times.

The state specifically looks in to the following aspects of before finally giving them the license to sell insurance in the state:-

• The financial standing of the company

• The speed and reliability with which the claims are processed

• The price offered against the benefits

• The call center and related customer service portfolio of the provider

The health insurance providers in turn enjoy the security of the regulations that control insurance fraud related issues. In some cases clients are likely to file wrong claims to the health insurance providers to get money. Some people detain certain sensitive health ailments for requiring coverage for low price. Such deeds are related to insurance fraud and at such hours the state laws support the health insurance providers to cancel the policy and nullify all payments without any refunds.

Not only does the health insurance providers are benefited, the people who file with such providers also benefit in that with any issues that people develop relating to claims processing, empty promises, hike in price, hidden bills or premium refunds and renewals can be addressed to the Department of Insurance of the State for resolution. Having insurance from health insurance providers authorized by the state is only a valid form of insurance and anything otherwise is not valid in any state. Be sure that your provider is licensed to sell insurance within your state. A high output provider in another stat

Auto Insurance - Why and How to Switch

2009-01-27T05:58:00.000-08:00

If you've been told that you'll save some premium dollars if you switch to another auto insurance provider, you've heard the truth. However, you might NOT have heard the whole truth...

Why should you switch to another insurer?

1. For better rates if you're sure you'll get comparable service. If you're only sure of lower rates but might be losing great service or quality coverage, think twice.

2. If you're plainly dis-satisfied with your current insurer for any reason, it's time to shop for a better company.

To also ensure you don't get hurt while you switch your auto insurance policy or later, consider the following...

1. Many insurance companies advertise lower rates to lure new customers. What most don't tell you is that your rates will NOT remain the same say one year later. So here are things you should do...

Ask your agent point blank how long the present rate would last for each component of your policy. On the other hand, be prepared to switch maybe every year if need be to ensure you keep enjoying very low rates.

2. Make sure you won't be charged any fees for switching either by your current insurer or the new one. For your current insurer, you might be charged if you decide to switch unexpectedly. So check this out. Even if there are few at both ends, make sure your switch is very profitable to you both in terms of coverage quality, service and a great rate.

3. Make sure your new policy is fully in force before you end your old contract. Some folks ignorantly allow their auto insurance policy to lapse while switching insurers. This would make it difficult for you to enjoy cheaper rates for some time to come. So be sure the new policy is fully operational before you terminate the old contract.

4. Since you're thinking of a switch, why NOT do thorough comparison shopping? Since most insurers would offer lower rates to new policyholders for say 6 to 12 months, why NOT see who favors you most. This exercise would take you just a few minutes but could save you several hundreds of dollars, thanks to the internet.

Affordable Discount Dental Plans - 4 Things You Should Know Before Joining a Discount Plan

2008-10-07T03:38:00.000-07:00

There are affordable discount dental plans available nationwide for both individual and family. The secret is to know what to look for and also to check for availability in your state. Most plans have a substantial network of qualified health care providers, however it's possible that you may not have a participating dentist in the immediate area where you live. This happens occasionally to people that live in rural areas or a considerable distance from a large city or town.

1. Discount dental plan members receive big discounts that are normally between 10-30% off the cost of routine dental care. However, the savings can substantially more on certain procedures such as crowns, dentures, bridges and more. You can get more plan details and sample savings directly from the company you choose to consider.

2. Co-Pays & Premiums

Discount dental plans are an insurance alternative, not a policy. Therefore, there are no co-pays, deductibles or premium payments. There is a low annual fee for membership fee that costs between $80-$180.00, depending on the dental plan you choose and whether it's for an individual or an entire family. Some companies allow members to pay this fee monthly, however they usually charge you more for doing it. For example, there's one company that offers monthly payments of $19.95 for a family. This adds up to be $239.40 per year. However, a different company with a comparable plan will only cost you $179.95, if you pay it in advance. That's a difference of $59.45. Saving money doesn't hurt, but only you know your budget best.

3. Quality Dental Care

Discount dental plans offer quality dental care just as any health insurance policy would. If you decide to join you'll see the same qualified dentists and specialists that you see listed online or in the yellow pages. Your current dentist may already be a member of a network.

4. Plan Exclusions

In general there are no plan exclusions. This means that the cost of any existing problem you may need taken care of will likely be a lot less. Since discount cards are not insurance you usually won't have to worry about this.

The only exclusion that you may run into while using a discount card is trying to receive a discount on unfinished orthodontic work. This means that if an orthodontist has already begun the work on your braces then you would not be able to receive a discount from a member dentist. This type of scenario is rare though so you shouldn't worry about it. The simple solution would be to join a discount plan before you get the work started. There are no age limits for using the service.

Dental Service Plan - 3 Facts About Dental Plans That You Must Know Before You Buy

2008-10-07T03:37:00.000-07:00

Buying a dental service plan isn't as easy as 1, 2, 3. You need to know exactly what you're buying before you spend the money and the only way to do that is by researching the facts. There are mainly two types of dental plans available to you. These are Dental Insurance and Discount Dental Plans. There are big differences between the two so let's dig right in and learn the facts.

Fact #1. Dental insurance will not pay for any existing condition that you may already have. This means that if you already have caries (cavities), have a broken tooth, missing teeth, etc that having an insurance policy will not help you one bit. The word "insurance" means to "provide protection in case of an unforeseen event" and something that has already happened is not an unforeseen event. A policy may provide some coverage after a mandatory one year waiting period, but the conditions to be treated and the amount covered are at the sole discretion of the dental insurance provider.

Fact #2. Dental insurance will not pay for braces. Orthodontics care is not covered by a standard insurance policy and must be purchased separately. Also, it has an a low annual coverage limit, usually starting at around a $2,000 maximum for an individual and $4,000 per family and it will only cover up to 50% of all costs incurred for braces.

Fact #3. Discount Dental Plans are NOT insurance. These service plans offer discounts only. There are benefits to this though. The first is that you can be seen immediately for any condition you may have and you'll receive a discount. The only alternative would be to pay full price. Also, there are no age limits or exclusions and braces, dentures, bridges and crowns are all included within the plans.

These are three facts about dental service plans that are very important in the decision making process for both individuals and families. The decision you make should be based on your immediate needs.

How to Beat the High Cost of Braces

2008-10-07T03:33:00.000-07:00

Getting braces for your children is one of the most challenging things about being a responsible parent. The fact of the matter is that orthodontic work is not cheap and unless you are financially prepared for it, you may face a problem that you aren't able to afford. There are a few things that you should be aware of before you go shopping for braces. Let's take a look at your options.

#1. Dental insurance does not cover orthodontic care. Most people are under the impression that if they own a dental insurance policy that they're automatically covered for braces, but this is far from the truth. The fact of the matter is that a standard dental insurance plan does not cover braces at all.

#2. Orthodontic insurance is sold as a completely separate policy and, unfortunately, it doesn't cover 100% of the costs either. The biggest drawbacks of buying an orthodontic policy are that the policy will only cover up to 50% of the total costs of the work. That means that you'll pay the monthly premiums just like any other policy and you'll pay a co-pay each time you visit the dentist, just like any other policy, however, you'll only be insured for 50% of the total cost of the braces. The other bad news about these plans is that they also carry an annual limit. Most common annual limits are around $2,000 for an individual and $4,000 for a family. This means that if the total cost of the braces is $3,000 your policy would only pay for 50% or $1,500 and you'd be limited to a maximum of an additional $500 for the remainder of the year.

#3. Discount dental plans are a good option for those in need of braces. The only drawbacks to a discount plan are that you are limited to only seeing dentists within the network of the plan and you'll need to pay a fee to join. These can range from $20.00 per month up to around $180.00 per year for a family. It's generally less expensive to pay a year in advance for most plans. Also, you may either be limited in your choice of dentists or be forced to travel if you live in a rural area. However, it would definitely be worth driving for an hour or two if you were going to save several hundred or thousand dollars.

#4. You may be able to find an orthodontist that would be willing to finance your costs. This isn't very common, but there are dentists that do this so you may get lucky if you look around a bit. Some family dentistry clinics now offer financing, but they usually charge substantial interest and most require a down payment.

Protect Your Belongings With House Contents Insurance

2008-07-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

House contents insurance is something every homeowner should have. This is an insurance policy that can be taken out to insure the items you have built up over the years in your home in case they should be destroyed, damaged or stolen. In general anything that you could pick up and take with you would be covered in this type of policy but you do have to check the terms and conditions as the exclusions will vary from provider to provider.

One of the best ways to check out several policies for the best deal and the lowest cost is with a specialist broker. They will search online for the lowest priced policies and then you are able to compare them. All policies should come with the key facts and the information needed to be able to determine what is and is not included in a policy.

The premium you will pay for the insurance will be worked out by how much in total your home contents are worth. If you under insure when setting this figure you would lose out in the eventuality that all your contents were destroyed, say in a fire. However if you over insure then you will be paying out more than you need to for your policy as this figure is taken into account when setting the premium.

To work out how much your contents are worth you need to go around your home and add everything up. It can be surprising when you start totaling all the little things up how much this comes to. You should not forget to count such items as those in the kitchen cupboards such as cutlery, utensils e.t.c and also the contents of the wardrobe, all of these items count and add up. Of course items such as TV, computer and games machines should be covered, but sometime a policy might state that these are only covered up to a certain amount. Home office equipment if you work from home will not usually be covered. Always check for this in the terms and conditions of the cover before taking it on and if you are insure about whether something would be included in the policy then ask.

When taking out house contents insurance you need to know what cover you are taking, you can generally choose to insure against wear and tear or take a new for old policy. A new for old policy means that you would get the value of what the items are today if you should have to replace them, not what they were worth. Whereas wear and tear would take depreciation into account.

If you have valuables in your home such as expensive jewelery, collections or paintings then you will probably have to insure these under a separate policy. Any items over a certain amount of money are generally excluded from a general house contents insurance policy unless you have specifically told the insurance company about them. The majority of policies will payout due to fire, theft, flood damage or vandalism but again always check the small print to ensure that the policy you are considering does.

How to Protect Yourself From Laptop Theft

2008-07-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

For most people owning a laptop is all about convenience. Being able to sit where your want to work, wander around from office to office, sit in front of the television or even browse the web in bed are the reasons why laptops have become so popular.

It has also become much more than a work tool. For many people it is the place where you keep all the things that are important to you: your email and financial information, business secrets, personal writings, even irreplaceable media like photos, film, and writings.

So if your laptop were stolen from you tomorrow, what would it do to your life?

Even worse, if a laptop belonging to your business were stolen that contained the personal data of customers or clients, it could put all of them at risk of identity theft and you could be held liable.

This crime draws both the common thief and the more sophisticated identity thief alike, and it's on the rise in England. Last year, a laptop belonging to the Nationwide and containing the personal information of over 11 million customers was stolen and never recovered. In London, laptop theft is up 15% on last year, with over 6500 laptops stolen in 2006 (not including laptops stolen out of homes and offices). Other metropolitan areas in Britain have similar statistics: over 2000 in Edinburgh with a 31% increase, and a 15% increase in Manchester.

Having a laptop stolen is personal nightmare if it is your own machine, but so much worse if you lose information that compromises your friends, co-workers, and clients. At Marks & Spencer's, a laptop lost in 2007 contained sensitive data about 26,000 employees, including their national insurance numbers and other personal identifying information. That cost Marks & Spencer's free credit checks for all employees and a promise to cover them for any damages if their identities were compromised. In the Nationwide case above, the company was fined just under a million pounds.

And even if you get the laptop back, even if the laptop was only "borrowed" its data can be copied off in minutes, putting any data on it at risk even after the machine is returned.

Two simple steps protect yourself against losing your personal computer?

The First Step: Protect Yourself

Laptops are at risk due to the very portability that makes them useful. It takes only seconds for someone to carry off your unguarded laptop, along with all its precious contents. The first thing to do is not leave it unprotected, even for a minute; keep it in sight. Get good security on your wireless connections while you're at it, and carefully choose the places where you use that connection.

You can also get physical barriers against using a stolen laptop. For instance, biometrics including fingerprint scanners has become increasingly popular with laptops, and key cards that you keep in your wallet or luggage separate from the laptop can been used to secure it. Computers with hard drives mated to internal workings prevent your hard drive from being removed and copied. And if your laptop is used to access the Internet after it is stolen, there are subscription services that can trace it remotely and render it unusable whilst it connects to the web.

The Second Step: Consider Laptop Insurance

Laptop insurance is becoming one of the fastest growing specialist insurances. With low-cost monthly premiums having some form of insurance policy could be the one thing between you and financial ruin. Laptop insurance is cheap, and if you have used other protections for your laptop, it gets even cheaper. Many providers offer worldwide cover, accidental damage protection and a 48 hour replacement service.

Insurance Land Surveyor

2008-07-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

Land is considered as one of the priceless possessions that you can have in this earth. Ever since, land has this concept of being sacred and beyond the control of those who do not own it. While land before were free for use of the inhabitants, the population has tremendously increased such that most the lands now for public disposal are either occupied or titled. People who possess ownership over a parcel of land either by occupation or by clean title would like to protect the same from any person who would attempt to dispossess them of the property. Those were the times when the land insurance was not yet contemplated. Those were also the days when the insurance land surveyor was not yet born.

Often times, land claims and disputes arise and some of these have been at the price of one's life. This is how people are willing to risk their life for a piece of land. Traditionally, local folks have their council of elders and their local laws to settle whatever land claims and disputes are through physical strength. Nowadays, there is not much need for that since there is an insurance land surveyor around who can help you determine the exact measurements of your land including the boundaries through state-of-the-art technology.

A land surveyor is somebody who is involved with land by measuring the field, reading old cadastral records and making data analysis. He will set the property's boundaries. Construction layouts that need precise measurements of the land, its elevation, and volume will need the work of a good land surveyor. Land surveyors are out in the field most of the day along with construction crew and other equipments. Land surveyors get insurance land surveyor for their jobs.

Surveyors opt to have insurance because they are personally held liable incase they make errors in their jobs. If they declared boundaries on the particular piece of land, but they unknowingly expanded the boundary, they are liable for the aggrieved party. These aggrieved parties have a right to sue the surveyor because their property rights have been violated. Surveyors will come face to face with a very costly lawsuit. Insurance companies offer insurance land surveyor that kind of insurance. While they offer land survey firms business insurance. This usually includes professional liability for errors, worker's compensation and commercial auto.

For surveyors working under firms, check your company policy. Did they insure their employees? Just because the company got an insurance that includes professional liability for errors, don't be so sure that you are off the hook. There might be lapses and the company can actually change the insurance policy because the rate fluctuated to a higher one or forget to pay it. While the company has a new insurance land surveyor policy, the land surveyor still remains with the possibility of lawsuits.

Get Insured to Cycle Your Way to Savings

2008-07-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

Bicycles have emerged as an alternative to motoring with fuel prices rising steeply across the country. However, if you choose to take to the saddle rather than sit behind the wheel of a car you should ensure you have suitable home insurance in place.

Choosing a bike instead of a car can save a significant amount of cash - no petrol to pay for, no road tax, no congestion charges and no car insurance. However, bicycle thefts have been on the rise with one insurer reporting a bicycle is stolen in the UK once every 65 seconds, which makes insurance vital.

There are several options for cyclists to consider. Firstly they can take out cover for the bike itself as a stand-alone policy or alternatively, they can take out third-party or personal accident cover. It is possible to take out bike insurance and this could be useful if your bicycle is particularly valuable as it may have unique cover options such as replacement hire, emergency recovery and even worldwide use if you plan to take your bike abroad.

However, for the majority of cyclists, adding a bicycle to a home insurance policy will be sufficient. Some offer specific cycle cover within their policies, while others allow bicycles to be included as an item under a standard contents policy. You should check to see exactly where your bike is covered - for example is it covered at home, in outbuildings, and will it also be covered in public places?

It's worth checking the level of cover before you buy - also pay attention to your excess so it's at a suitable level to make a claim worthwhile.

Comic Book Insurance - Should I Insure My Comic Book Collection?

2008-07-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

If you are a comic collector and have a substantial amount of money invested in a few select comics, then insurance is a necessity....especially if these comics are rare, hard-to-find or top-of-the-line Golden Age or Silver Age vintage comics. On the other hand, if your own several hundred or thousand comics that are worth only $l-$3 each, it may not be very practical or cost-effective to insure them.

It is possible to get insurance to cover your comic book collection loss, theft or damage. In the worst case scenario, the amount that insurance companies will pay is typically limited to just 10% of the total cover or $10,000. If you do have an extensive collection, you may have several comics and they're worth this much money, so it would be in your best interest to take out insurance on the collection.

Most insurance companies will want some sort of inventory list or record of your collection, along with an estimated worth of the comics. If you've already written up a list for your collection, with the books' conditions and prices listed, then it's an easy step to getting them insured.

If you already have a homeowner's insurance policy, your collection may be covered automatically. Still, to substantiate any claims, you're going to have to have some sort of record of the comics you own. since collectors generally buy and sell comics continuously, its' hard to keep and complete and current inventory.

For these reasons, large collections of low-value books may be more trouble to insure than they are worth.

On the other hand, if you own several comics that are worth $l00 or more, insurance against theft and damage may ease your mind. One other alternative to the insurance problem for the very expensive comics is simple to rent a bank safety-deposit box. You can store from l0 to 50 comics or more depending on the size of the box, and you know that your irreplaceable books are well protected.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs - What Will Your Insurance Policy Pay When You Break a CFL Bulb?

2008-07-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL)...Everybody's singing the praises of this new technology. And for good reason...they save tons of electricity.

But what happens if one breaks inside your house or business?

My opinion is that most people will simply sweep up the mess and not give it much thought. But there is a BIG, dangerous component in a bulb called Mercury, and mercury is one of the most toxic substances known to man.

If you break a CFL bulb, you'll likely find that the proper cleanup could be very costly. And you'll likely find that there is NO COVERAGE in your property insurance policy. Most policies have environmental cleanup exclusions. Even if your home is damaged by a tornado, hurricane or fire, the broken bulbs could cause you to incur thousands of dollars in environmental cleanup costs that your insurance policy will EXCLUDE.

Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:(1)

1. Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room

* Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.

* Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.

* Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

* Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

* Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

* Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.

* Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug:

* Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.

* Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.

* If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.

* Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.:

* If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be discarded. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.

* You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you happened to be wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.

* If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.

5. Disposal of Clean-up Materials

* Immediately place all cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.

* Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.

* Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

6. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Ventilate the Room During and After Vacuuming

* The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to vacuuming.

* Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

Cheap Car Insurance

2008-06-13T04:14:00.000-07:00

Finding good car insurance can be very difficult. Here are a few tips:

* Try a few different insurance companies. Companies are different. So are their prices. You may find that one company wants to charge you $1000/month for insurance and another will only charge you $400/month. You might be one of the lucky ones who only gets charged $30/month. Regardless of who you are, call multiple carriers even if the first quote you get appears to be low. You may find another company with a lower rate for you.

* Talk to friends and family. Other people are just like you, they want cheap insurance too. Chances are, you know someone who has already called all over the place and can give you some good pointers on which car insurance companies were the cheapest for them. Remember, nobody likes to spend money on auto insurance.

* Use the internet. The internet is a great place to find auto insurance. You can find out information about insurance companies, compare rates, get quotes, and shop around without leaving your house. There are also websites out there like 1carinsurance.org who have organized insurance company data and user data and will tell you which companies people are having success with in finding the best car insurance for them.

* Get auto insurance quotes. Don't just trust them. Get a quote. They're free (or, if the quote isn't free you know you don't want to use that company). If you can get quotes from 6 or 7 different companies, you then have hard data to compare the companies against each other. You're also pretty sure you're going to get the lowest rate.

* Try local companies. Often times people only think about the big auto insurance companies like Geico or Progressive. They don't even look around their local communities for auto insurance companies that might exist. Often local companies can offer cheaper rates because they don't have the large buracracy that larger companies have.

Just remember to shop around as you look for cheaper car insurance. The first company isn't always the best.

Why Should You Purchase Your Auto Insurance Online?

2008-06-13T04:13:00.000-07:00

If you’re interested in slashing your auto insurance bill in half then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider purchasing auto insurance online. Buying your auto insurance online is extremely easy and very convenient. The process is fast and only requires filling out a simple form. The best part is you can receive multiple quotes from several different auto insurance providers from the privacy of your own home. You can even search for a new money saving car insurance policy in your pajamas if desire to do so.

Many experts agree that most consumers overpay on their insurance policies due to a lack of shopping around. This includes vehicular insurance. Additionally they overwhelmingly endorse purchasing auto insurance online due to the ability to start your insurance application, save it, and finish later if you get pressed for time. If you’re concerned about the cost associated with receiving multiple insurance quotes don’t be. By applying online you can get multiple free car insurance quotes from one application. You’re also never under any obligation to accept any insurance quote provided – even if it saves you money.

As far as the drawbacks to purchasing auto insurance online there aren’t many. Obviously you’ll have to have access to a computer with an Internet connection and around 30 minutes of free time depending on the number of free insurance quotes you wish to receive. Keep in mind before accepting any quote that you could qualify for a bigger discount from your current auto insurance provider if you carry multiple insurance policies with them. For instance a combination of car, home and life insurance may cost less as a group when compared to purchasing individually.

It’s only natural to have concerns with the privacy of the information the insurance company requires you to fill out on their quick quote provider form. However rest assured that any information you provide is kept secure with encryption technology and will not be released to anyone else to include other insurance providers unless you agree to allow it. You can also feel comfortable in knowing that your credit score won’t be affected by applying for free auto insurance quotes online.

After you’ve found a quote that you like purchasing auto insurance online allows you to either accept the quote right then and there or you can opt to receive the rate provided in the mail. Either way you’re guaranteed to save money. A word of caution, make sure the information you provide on the insurance application is correct. Even the smallest errors can adversely affect the money saving rate that is provided.

Probably the most difficult choice will be which online auto insurance provider to choose from in order to receive your free quotes. Look for a company that has excellent customer service reviews and offers a simple application process that provides multiple money saving quotes. Finally don’t forget to check and make sure that they can actually provide an insurance quote for the state you currently reside in

How Is Your Auto Insurance Policy Price Determined?

2008-06-13T04:09:00.000-07:00

The average auto insurance policy price is derived from a variety of factors. Many of these variables are common knowledge and make sense for the most part but it’s always a good idea to refresh yourself with what insurance companies are looking for when determining how much your coverage will cost.

Driving Record – Your auto insurance policy price is determined from 6 major areas. The first is your driving record. The key thing to remember is the better your driving record the lower your total cost to insure your automobile. This would include auto accidents, speeding tickets and believe it or not if you’ve gone without insurance for several years. The good thing is that you can directly control many of these factors. Concentrate on keeping a clean driving record and this area shouldn’t cause your rates to be outrageous.

Coverage Amount – Do a self check sometime and call your insurance company up to see what impact raising and lowering your deductibles and coverage amount has on the price of your insurance. Raising a deductible lowers your monthly payment. Increasing the deductible has the opposite effect. The same goes for the actual coverage amounts.

Age – Case studious have proven that younger drivers are involved in more accidents then older drivers. This potential to be involved in a collision is a result of inexperience behind the wheel of an automobile. Generally speaking most insurance companies charge more for individuals under the age of 25.

Vehicle Model and Driving Mileage – If your interested in that fancy new sports car you may want to check how much it will effect your auto insurance policy price. Thanks in large part to theft, vehicular costs and safety records some cars rate a higher premium over other vehicles. As if it wasn’t bad enough the amount of annual miles you place on your vehicle through driving can increase your auto policy. The average used is 10,000 miles in a year. If you exceed that total then you can expect a rate increase based on your increased potential to be involved in an auto accident.

Your Residence – It’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll pay more for your auto insurance policy if you live in a big city when compared to a nice farm out in the country. The city probably has more thefts and accidents, which lead to higher costs absorbed by the insurance company and then passed along to the consumer when the insurance companies determine your auto insurance policy price.

Hopefully this information can help you focus in on some areas within your auto policy that you can review with your insurance agent in the hopes of actually lowering your auto insurance rates instead of raising them.c

Free Money Saving Auto Insurance Tips

2008-06-13T04:05:00.000-07:00

Our money saving auto insurance tips were written for one reason - To Save You Money on your next auto insurance policy. Since in most states you are required by law to purchase a minimum amount of liability coverage we've looked for ways to save you money. Additionally many people want more than just the bare minimum in order to provide themselves with adequate protection.

The top two biggest money saving auto insurance tips are to first shop around. There are numerous providers of insurance and generally speaking you can save a great deal of money on your policy if you take the time to find the right provider.

The second biggest tip to lower your rates is to simply raise your deductable. In some cases you can reduce your annual premium by 10 percent or more if you increase your deductible by a few hundred dollars. USE CAUTION HERE: You want to make sure you can actually afford the amount that you raise your deductible to or you're no better off then before.

Additional tips include eliminating certain types of coverage from your current policy and reducing the amount of coverage you currently have. Generally this is up to each individual based on thier needs, wants and desires. You may want to consult an insurance agent before making any drastic changes to your current policy.

Other factors raising the cost of your policy include the amount of mileage you drive annually and the type of vehicle you own and operate.

Did you also know that where you live can determine rates and keeping your car in a garage can lower your rates. Cars parked in garages are less likely to be stolen, vandalized, or struck by other vehicles. Using a garage to store your car may entitle you to a slight premium reduction.

If you have multiple cars and drivers then you could qualify for a multifamily discount. Sometimes your children's insurance premium can be lowered based on their school grade point average.

Other discounts may be available if you meet certain criteria. Examples may include discounts for taking a defensive driving course, being a AAA member or staying with the same auto insurance company for a number of years. These discounts vary by company.

Finally try using an anti-theft device. This helps to reduce your insurance cost.

Thanks for taking the time to read our money saving auto insurance tips. We hope our free tips and save you some of your hard earned cash.

Car Insurance No Claims Bonus Explained

2008-06-13T03:32:00.000-07:00

No Claims Bonus is a term used to describe the number of years you have had Car Insurance without making a claim. Put simply, if you have had Car Insurance for 4 years and you have not made a claim in that time, then you have 4 years No Claims Bonus. No Claim Bonus is probably the single biggest factor affecting the cost of your Car Insurance premium. Every year that goes by without you making a claim is another year of No Claims Bonus.

Generally speaking, the more No Claims Bonus years you have, the cheaper your premium will be for the car you need to insure. This is because Car Insurance companies can see that your history regarding making any accident claim is a good one.

When changing provider, Car Insurance companies will usually ask you to prove your No Claims Bonus in the form of a renewal notice or a letter from your current Car Insurance company. If you have several years of No Claims Bonus but then make a claim, the Car Insurance company will usually apply it's rules of how much to knock back your No Claims Bonus Years.

Young Driver Car Insurance

2008-06-13T03:29:00.000-07:00

It has become increasingly difficult to get young driver car insurance in the UK. The reason behind this is because the statistics for young drivers having a car accident are not very good. By definition, young drivers have very little experience of driving and thus have a greater chance of having a bump in their vehicle. Car insurance companies are obviously in business to make money and are understandably reluctant to insure such drivers. In most cases, companies will either offer a policy at a very high premium or refuse to insure the person altogether.

However, there are ways to lower your premium. First of all you should purchase a car that has a low insurance group number. Insurance group numbers range from 1 - 20. Generally speaking the higher the number the higher your premium is likely to be. This is because cars with high insurance group numbers usually have bigger engines, are more expensive and go faster. A low insurance group vehicle will lower the premium for a young driver policy. Young drivers should also be encouraged to take an advanced driving test. Some companies look favourably on drivers who take this test as they are seen as more responsible and more careful about their driving. Finally, opting for third party fire and theft or third party only cover also lowers your quote. If you have purchased a vehicle that does not cost very much money then you should seriously consider whether or not you need a fully comprehensive policy.

15 Ways To Lower Your Car Insurance

2008-06-13T03:27:00.000-07:00

1.Shop around

The difference in price between various companies can be significant. What one company may consider a high risk factor another company may not view as so important. Insurance companies arrive at a price for your Car Insurance

by adding or discounting money after each answer you give to the questions they ask you. Each company has its own rules as to what they consider should increase or decrease your premium. By shopping around you get a better list of prices to compare.

2.Buy a lower group car

One of the important factors that insurance companies take into account is of course your vehicle. There are thousands of different cars on the road so companies divide them up into groups. Most companies will adopt the ABI (Association of British Insurers) group rating. This splits up vehicles into 20 different groups. Generally speaking the higher the group rating for your vehicle, the higher your premium will be. Some companies may also combine your driving experience with the vehicle group to get a better idea of how high the risk is. This is one of the reasons why young drivers should consider buying a lower group car if they want to lower their insurance cost.

3.Consider Third Party Only cover

A Third Party Only insurance policy is the minimum amount of cover legally required - it is also the cheapest. Generally speaking you should consider opting for this type of policy if your vehicle is of low value. In the unfortunate event of having an accident, any damage to a third party vehicle will be covered but any damage to your vehicle is not. However, if your vehicle is of little value then you may not be too concerned. It may not be worth paying extra for a Fully Comprehensive policy in these circumstances.

4.Maintain a good credit rating

More and more insurance companies are adopting credit scoring techniques as part of the overall calculation of your car insurance premium. By keeping a good credit history you may avoid any additional premium that companies add to your price for having a bad credit score.

5.Buy on the web

Many insurance providers now offer some good discounts for buying the policy over the internet. The theory is that by purchasing your insurance over the web, you are saving the company money by not requiring telesales agent time and incurring free-phone costs. This saving is passed on to you in the form of a discount for buying online. If you have got prices by telephone then check your quote again on their website, you may be surprised at how much cheaper it is.

6.Have a higher voluntary excess

During the quotation process you will be asked how much voluntary excess you want to have. Insurance companies will generally include a compulsory excess amount on the policy but give you the opportunity to increase this if you wish. The more the voluntary excess the lower your premium should be. However, in the event of a claim, you will have to pay a higher amount yourself, up to the total amount of excess on your policy.

7.Reduce your annual mileage

How many miles you do a year is a common question that can affect your car insurance premium. The more miles you do the more your premium is likely to be. Quotation systems and telephone agents will often suggest an amount of miles for you. Try and work out how many miles you will genuinely do. It may be less than the amount suggested. Of course, you should always give an honest answer to this and other questions.

8.Keep a clean driving record

This may be easier said than done. However, by having few or preferably no driving convictions, you can avoid being penalised by increases in your car insurance premium. Getting caught with a speeding fine is often not the only financial penalty you incur. Insurance companies take very seriously all driving convictions and it is usually an important part of their rating process. You can expect an increase in the cost of your insurance if you do get caught with a driving conviction, so it pays to be a safe driver.

9.Keep claim free

This ties in neatly with number 8 above. The biggest factor affecting the cost of your car insurance premium is how many No Claims Bonus Years you have. Full No Claims Bonus is generally considered by most companies to be five years or more, this can give you huge discounts, in some cases up to 75%. By being a safe driver and avoiding potential road accident claims, you can continually benefit by building up your number of claim free years. Every additional No Claims Bonus year you get, the lower your car insurance cost should be. Some companies give you the option of paying a bit more on your premium to protect your No Claims Bonus.

10.Be realistic about the value of your car

Most of us have an inflated view as to what our car is worth. When asked the value of your vehicle during the insurance quotation process, people will often state an amount that is unrealistic and above the real value of the car. People do this as they believe that this is what they will get back from the insurance company in the event of a claim. The reality is that the company will only pay out what the car is worth at the time of the claim and not what you stated for the quote. In fact, by giving a high and unrealistic value, you can increase your car insurance premium as this is often a factor affecting your final price.

11.Remove unnecessary named drivers

Additional drivers on your policy usually mean a higher premium. A lot of people add a number of extra drivers on the policy just in case that person needs to drive the car. However, having all these drivers will push up the cost. By only naming drivers on the policy that will definitely driver the car, you can lower the final cost. If you find that an unnamed driver needs to drive the vehicle then most companies will allow you to temporarily add a new named driver for a small cost.

12.Improve your car security

Theft of and from your vehicle are important considerations when insurance companies calculate your price. Most companies will give you a discount for having better security of your vehicle. An alarm and immobiliser will usually attract a small discount whilst having a tracker device installed may give you a larger reduction. Some companies may insist on having such devices installed on more expensive and desirable cars before they even consider offering you a price.

13.Take an advanced driving test

Although not compulsory, taking an advanced driving test can not only improve your driving skills but also help to lower your car insurance premium. Some companies look favourably on people who have taken the advanced test as it shows commitment to safe driving thus lowering the chance of having a motoring accident.

14.Pay your premium in one go

By paying for your car insurance all in one go, you can avoid paying additional interest charges that would be added on if you opted to pay by instalments. The interest charges can be quite significant, so if your finances allow, you can save a good amount of money by paying for the whole lot up front. In some cases, companies may even give you a small discount for doing this.

15.Get married

Okay so this may seem like a dramatic final way to lower your premium. However, a number of insurance companies offer lower premiums when your named drivers are insured and spouse as opposed to two unmarried drivers. Some companies believe that this shows an element of stability which is a hallmark of safer drivers and give you a discount on this basis.

I Was In An Accident, Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up?

2008-06-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

You were on the phone, got distracted and before you knew it traffic had stopped, giving you no room to stop and you rear end the girl in front of you. Or, let's say you're driving along and a deer jumps out and rams into the side of your door.

Now, let's say you need to file and claim and get your car fixed. But, are your rates going to go up?

In the first case, more than likely they will depending on how much your insurance company pays out to fix both cars and medical bills if anyone was injured.

But, in the second example, since this will be a comprehensive claim your rates should not see an increase at your renewal. Unless you have a long history of hitting deer then the people from PETA will be out to get you. Or if you file a lot of small glass damage claims then your rates could be affected or you may have to pay a higher deductible for comprehensive in which case small glass damage will be less than your deductible and you will pay out of pocket.

Part 2: How long does an accident stay on my record?

Ok, so back to the example where you rear ended someone. We have already established that you are going to see your insurance rates go up. Now, we need to find out how long and how much will they go up.

State insurance boards usually allow insurance companies to charge for a accident for 3 years from the day they started charging for it. Not from the time you got into the accident. You got in the accident in December and your policy runs from October to April. Your rates won't be affected until April of the next year and the surcharge will drop off 3 years from that April.

How much will your rates go up? Are they trying to get back the money they paid out for my claim? You can usually expect a rate increase of between 20-40% on average per six months. They could go up even more if you lose some discounts you were getting, such as a claim free discount.

The increase is not a recoupment of the monies paid out by your insurance company. It is designed to charge you a premium based on the risk, or chance, that you will get into another accident in the next 3 years. You are a higher risk to the insurance company and they are able to charge you for the higher risk you present to them.

If it was based on how much the insurance company paid out then you wouldn't be able to afford it if you totaled out your 2004 Nissan Maxima at $25,000 and you had to pay that back within the 3 year surcharge period. Makes sense? Good, now get off the cell phone!

How Do I Lower My Auto Insurance Rates?

2008-06-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

Since there are many factors that go into determining your auto insurance rates, there are many chances to lower your rates.

If you change jobs and your drive to work changes or you stop working or you work from home, you should contact your insurance company.

If you have a teen driver and they go to school over 100 miles away without a car then you should be able to get a discount.

If you get married and are in your teens or twenties call your insurance company and see about combining your policies.

Take defensive driving if your state allows it for a discount.

See if increasing your comprehsive and collision deductibles will save you a lot of money. You need to compare what you're saving and how much more you will have to pay if you file a claim. For example, if you go from $500 to a $1000 deductible and it lowers your insurance $50 per 6 months then it saves you $100 a year.

It will take you 5 years to break even from what you are saving compared to how much more you have to pay.

Now, if it saves you $250 every six months then it would be more worth your while.

See if combining your auto and home insurance polices will qualify for a multi policy discount with your current company. This could be a substantial discount.

One of the biggest ways you could save $200-$500 or more a year is shopping around for insurance. The auto insurance industry is very competitive and this is great news for smart consumers like yourself. Shop for auto insurance quotes here and see how much you can save

New Car Registrations and Car Insurance

2008-06-13T03:22:00.001-07:00

In September 2001 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) introduced a new number plate registration system that was designed to last for 49 years. The new change was welcomed not only by the car dealers but also by the car insurance industry as the DVLA also decided to issue new car registrations twice a year instead of once a year.

In the past, new registrations were issued on 1st August every year. Inevitably this caused a major headache for insurance companies as so many people required insurance at this time. This once a year rush for insurance was compounded by the summer timing when most people, including insurance company employees, go on holiday. Today, the new registrations are issued in March and September. This eases the workload for insurance companies and allows them to more easily staff up for the increase in calls.

Of course, the old system ran for about 38 years and so there is still a large population of people who require insurance renewal on 1st August. So around July, August and September, Insurance companies are still especially busy and you can generally expect long call centre waits with a lot of direct companies.

Using the internet instead is a much easier and quicker way of getting your new car insurance quote. Accept Direct have a very fast online quote system which cuts out the need of waiting for a call centre person to answer. The Accept Direct website is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and along with its sister online claims website will deliver you a competitive quote in minutes.

The Car Insurance Calculation Explained

2008-06-13T03:20:00.000-07:00

Different companies will apply different factors to the way they finally arrive at a price for your Car Insurance. Generally speaking though the concept is the same. This involves collecting various bits of information from you and feeding it through a computer system which adds or takes away money depending on the answers you give.

The value put on these answers is decided by the individual Car Insurance company.

For example, some Car Insurance companies may believe that having a speeding conviction increases your chance of having a personal injury accident in the future - therefore they may add money to your price if you have such a conviction.

Similarly, some Car Insurance companies may decide that because you have a lot of No Claims Bonus Years then you are less likely to claim - therefore they may discount your price. All in all there are around 30 different factors that may affect your final premium. Now you can see why you get such a difference in the price of your Car Insurance by going to various companies. Each company will have it's own view of what they believe should be assigned to each answer you give. The Car Insurance quote you get through the Accept Direct website will look at lots of different Car Insurance prices from lots of companies.

That way you can get the best possible price for your profile.

How To Negotiate A Settlement With An Insurance Claims Adjuster

2008-06-05T01:59:00.002-07:00

You and I. M. Strong, the adjuster from Granite Mountain Insurance, are sitting at your kitchen table in an attempt to settle your motor vehicle accident claim.

Strong is all wound up and on the offensive, rambling on and on about how your injuries weren't serious. His typical pitch usually goes something like, "Look, I've been at this a long time. I've talked to people like you, day in and day out, for over twenty years. People who've gone through exactly what happened to you, with the same sort of claim as yours. Sure, you had a period of discomfort but your so-called injuries were routine. Believe me when I tell you they aren't worth much."

You’re stunned. You can't believe what Strong is trying to pull. You say, "I’ve been miserable! There was no way I could get back to work because of the pain in my neck and back."

Strong shift's in his seat and a victorious look (one that says he knows it all) begins to march across his face. At that point he predictably states, "Look, I can tell you, after handling thousands of cases like yours, that the discomfort you may have had, for a couple of days at the most, are relatively minor. They don’t even come close to justifying the three week’s of work you lost and the disability you and your doctor are claiming".

Now you're thunderstruck! He smiles to himself and comes at you from another angle, "I've seen thousands of cases like yours and I've had more than my share of exposure to personal injury claims, examinations, doctor-talk and recovery - - the whole nine yards. I've seen physical trauma at its slightest and its worst. Any judge or jury would know, once they heard about your so-called ‘injuries’ that your physical problems were almost non-existent".

He'll take a minute to let that sink in and then he'll attempt to sway you even more by telling you he can prove your time lost from work was not compatible with the injury involved. He'll hint around about some "independent information" he's supposedly gathered from your neighbors and/or business associates, which indicate you’ve been involved in "very active" physical activities since the accident.

Once he lets that one sink in he'll ramble on about the "independent examination" the doctor hired by Granite Mountain executed, telling you, with outrageous confidence, that his doctors Medical Report states there was little, if anything, wrong with you. Then he’ll surely try this one on for size: “My doctor is a professional .The only people he ever sees are those who’ve been in motor vehicle accidents. That’s what he does all day long, check out personal injury claims like yours. His report clearly states your physical problems were almost non-existent”.

He hums a happy tune to himself as he observes the amazement marching across your face and that drum beat he’s heard so very often begins to pound away within the gray matter between his ears: Boom/Boom/Boom, declaring, “I gotcha!, I gotcha!, I gotcha!, I gotcha!”

If you let Strong get away with that than his attempt at downgrading your disability will have been successful. As a way of "proving" what happened to you wasn’t serious he’ll describe your “so-called injuries” with fancy medical language and then compare them to the more extreme types of personal injury problems or conditions he's dealt with in the past. The implication being yours were obviously minor and have little, if any, value.

At that point he'll read the statements and opinions in your own attending physicians Medical Report in such a way which, if not read properly, he'll insist proves, “You may have been a little sore from a slight injury but it clearly states you certainly didn't have any serious physical problems“. (You can bet every dollar in your wallet that he’s made that statement several thousand times)!

You're quickly discovering that neither Adjuster I. M. Strong nor his supervisors at Granite Mountain Insurance are going to be fair. They're out to take advantage of you. That’s the name of their game and that’s what they get paid to do. Question: Is that really true? Answer: Yes, it’s really true. Take it from Dan, I was on that firing line for 30 years!

From that point on you shut down. You be the listener. Let him babble on. When he's finally done, you say, "Your points about my injuries are very interesting. I'd like to discuss them in detail with my doctor“. Pause and then add, “We'll call this off for now while I go back and consult with him."

Before he answers you should get up, smile, point towards the kitchen door and bid him "Goodbye". If he balks, sneak a peek at your watch, tell him you're late for another appointment and insist your meeting is over. He'll have no choice but to leave.

If you do that here's what you'll have accomplished:

(1) You'll have seized the bargaining "momentum" and control from the adjuster and, if you remain adamant he'll never get them back.

(2) Served notice on him that it's you, not he, who will now call the shots in the negotiation "Power Game" he's been playing.

(3) Impressed the adjuster that the settlement will be done on your terms, not his.

You may ask: Okay, I threw the adjuster out and let him politely but surely know I’m not going to buy into his nonsense. So, when this all gets played out, what have I accomplished?

The answer is: I. M. Strong is aware you‘ve not bought into his pitch and in his secret heart he perceives that reality. For those in the home office (so as to know exactly where they stand) his instructions have always been that everything that passed between the two of you is placed into the report’s he continues to send in, regarding the settlement talk’s he’s been having with you. So, the fact that you’re not buying his story, will go into your file to be read by that adjusters superiors.

Once they do they’ll have no choice but to conclude that you’re no pushover!

You’re going to stick to your guns because you’re right and the Medical Report your attending physician executed for Adjuster Smart is legit. You know that both your “pain and suffering” and the length of recovery from your injuries, has been clearly stated.

Smart has correctly assumed that you’re not accepting his usual pitch, filled with mumbo-jumbo nonsense, yet so often works. It’s beginning to dawn on him if he doesn’t change his tactics you’re going to hand you case over to an attorney and his superiors at Granite Mountain won’t be dancing for joy should that come to pass.

Wait five or six weeks then call Smart and ask him to come back to talk some more. I flat out guarantee you the next time you meet the power will have shifted into your corner and you'll never again hear him attempt to minimize your injuries. That often comes to pass because he’s received this typical six word, one line memo, from his supervisor at the home office, “Settle this one and move on”.

Granite Mountain will have reached the point where they’re satisfied to pay and get rid of you. Why? Because personal injury claims continue to pile up and clog their incoming pipeline. They’ve got a lot of other unsuspecting prey to trap and shoot and it’s clear you're an individual who’s too wise, too tough and too difficult for them to fuss with any longer.

Accident Factoids

2008-06-05T01:59:00.001-07:00

Accidents, personal injuries and insurance claims are here to stay. No matter how far into the 21st Century American’s elect to drive (unless by the beginning of the 22nd Century we’re all zipping around in our own personal space ship) motor vehicle accidents will continue to pile up; with no end in sight!

There are more than 200,000,000 licensed drivers in the United States. (As of 2003 we’re close to a yearly 7 million motor vehicle accidents, involving well over 3.5 million injuries).
Car accident crashes cost society an estimated $4,900 per second. That’s about $25,000 in the time it took to read this fact.
Current records show that most American driver’s will have a near motor vehicle accident 1 to 3 times per month and will be in a collision of some type on the average of every 5 to 8 years plus these records also indicate that licensed teenagers are 22 more times likely to get a speeding ticket than those who are 65 years of age or older.
In 1896 there were only four cars registered in all the United States. Two of them collided with each other in St. Louis.
By the year 2025 there will be 33 million people 70 years or older in America. This segment of the population will be growing 2.5 as fast as the total population. They will make up the largest percentage of the “turning left” and “rear end” accidents. Slowly but surely Senior Citizens have developed a higher accident ratio than teenagers. (This will, in time, seriously impact the typical Senior Citizen’s pocketbook). And also, by 2025, the total costs for motor vehicle accidents in the United States will exceed 450 billion dollars.
The world’s most solitary tree is located at an oasis in the Tenere Desert in Central Africa. There’s not one other standing tree within 31 miles. In 1960, it was smashed into by a truck.
Up-to-date statistics clearly reflect that 1 out of every 5 Americans are involved in an alcohol-related car crash at some time in their lives and the day in which motor vehicle accident injuries occur most often is Saturday. Sunday is second.

FIVE CRUCIAL MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE SLOWLY BUT SURELY COME TO PASS. THESE WILL SERIOUSLY (AND FOREVER) IMPACT THE VALUE OF PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS IN THE YEARS TO COME:

Records prove that a motor vehicle accident of as little speed as 5 MPH can produce a “whiplash-type” injury.
The symptoms arising from an injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident do not necessarily present themselves immediately following an accident.
Medical research and clinical experience have accumulated enough information to demonstrate that the delay of an injury symptom is the norm.
Studies have established that the delay of a symptom does not eliminate the possibility of severe injury.
It’s been proven that individuals can continue to be symptomatic for many months (even years!) after a motor vehicle accident. In addition approximately 75% of them remain symptomatic for a minimum of 6 months after the accident. (And current up-to-date statistics reveal that between the first and second year after an accident has occurred over 20% of those injured actually have their symptoms worsen).

Insurance Claim: Collecting Your Lost Wages

2008-06-05T01:58:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago you were toolin' on down the avenue, minding your own business, when out of nowhere, this fumbling, stumbling man by the name of Freddie Fuddle flew through a Stop Sign and plowed into you with a gigantic, rip-roaring, screeching broadside. You were wearing your seat belt but it was still a thundering crash that wrenched and whipped you around the inside of your motor vehicle something fierce!

Now, after a long recovery period, Fuddle’s carrier, Granite Mountain Insurance is clamoring to close the case and they've assigned Claims Adjuster I. M. Strong, to handle your case. You and Strong are sitting at your kitchen table talking about your settlement dollars. It turns out he’s got some hang-up’s regarding your lost income. Well, here are some things you need to know:

Lost wages are one of the most important element's of your damages. Listen to me carefully when I say, "You should not think about the days you missed from work as Lost Time and Earnings. It's not Lost Time and Earnings - - it’s Lost Earning Capacity“

You ask, “What‘s Lost Earning Capacity all about? I thought I could only collect for my Lost Income?” The answer to that is, “In many situations you can claim lost income EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T LOST ONE SINGLE PENNY “. For example, this can happen when your salary is paid because you've elected to apply for the sick leave that‘s due you, or because of an Accident and Health Policy available for you to take advantage of, or some other such arrangement.

In most instances - - even if you were paid while out of work - - you should still get that money routinely identified as Lost Wages. Why? Because that's your Lost Earning Capacity. Your Lost Earning Capacity is what’s called a Compensatory Damage. Don't let Strong swindle you out of that Compensatory Damage. Even if you’ve received an income, in some other way, you're still entitled to it. Strong will do everything he can to take advantage of you, especially when it comes to getting paid for your Lost Earning Capacity. During the course of every settlement negotiation he gets involved in, he‘ll try that tactic on for size, and it’s mind-boggling how often he gets away with it.

The typical statement made at that point, by the unsuspecting claimant is, “Hey, I understand I’m to be paid for my lost wages.”

Strong answers, “You collected $200.00 a week from your Accident and Health Policy didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but my average weekly income last year was $275.00 a week.”

“Okay”, I. M. Strong flashes a well practiced, winning smile, that tells you he’s a fair insurance claim adjuster, when in his black heart, he knows he isn‘t, “We’ll pay you that $75.00 a week difference. Let’s see, you were laid up and unable to work for 5 weeks. 5 times $75.00 is $375.00. Don’t worry my friend, I’ll see to it you’re paid that $375.00.”

“Wow!” you think, “that’s terrific !.” You’re thrilled to death with this great turn of events.But what you don’t know is that the $200.00 a week you’ve received from your Accident and Health Policy has absolutely nothing to do with your lost income.The bottom line is that Smart has just cheated you out of a thousand dollars! And, worse than that, the $275.00 a week income you lost (for a total of $1,375.00) would have (in a court of law) given your case $4,000.00 to $5,000.00 more value in settlement dollars.

DOCUMENTING LOST INCOME: Ask the company you work for to write a letter on their official stationary declaring your gross salary income and the days you lost from work.

GROSS PAY VS. NET PAY: You should collect the "gross" wage's you lost, not the "net".

TOTAL DISABILITY and/or PARTIAL DISABILITY: For every week of Total Disability (a fact which must be stated in your doctors Final Medical Report) you should use your gross weekly income - - even if you were paid! (For every week of Partial Disability your doctor states in that Final Medical Report, you have the right to claim a substantial percentage of your income, during that period, even if you didn't lose any).

Because the following five points give value to your claim be ready to talk with Smart about and, wherever possible, prove:

(1) If your work demands heavy labor and/or lifting. (2) If you lost any vacation time or sick leave. (3) If there was any possible loss of money you could have earned in the future - - either with your company or maybe other income you've got bubbling and boiling on the side. (4) If you had to forgo any bonuses. (5) If you lost an opportunity that would have led to a better job.

If any of the above five points are true than your claim is worth more money!

THE CRUCIAL MEDICAL REPORT: The Granite Mountain Insurance Company and Adjuster I. M. Strong know that the longer your recovery period, the greater your "pain and suffering", therefore the higher the settlement value of your bodily injury claim. Your Chiropractor or Attending Physician must also note this in his Final Medical Report. Tell him to state exactly how long it will be, before you can get back to routine activities like golf, hunting, fishing and/or rockin' and rollin' with your lady friends.

As long as you have problems keep right on going back to see your doctor, again and again, even if it drives the poor bugger nuts! Do this because the fact that your records show a visit to him, four, eight, or twelve weeks after the accident, proves your injury needed constant attention, therefore you were unable to work. Also because, when you visit your doctor and tell him there's no let-up of your pain, discomfort, stiffness or immobility - - those continuing problems must be written into the Medical Report he'll provide for you when you've finished treatment. That's the one you'll hand to Adjuster Smart when the two of you begin to talk turkey. As he reads it you’ll watch him frown, then blanch as that cocky smile disappears from his face. When you see him do that you‘ll know, "ya got him"!

Six Crucial Insurance Claim Possibilities

2008-06-05T01:57:00.000-07:00

There are DOZENS of insurance claim possibilities which will increase the dollars awarded you in the settlement of your personal injury insurance claim. Some of them rarely see the light of day but some do. The six I’ve listed below are crucial for you to be aware of as you prepare to go to war with Adjuster Henry Hard-Nose regarding the value of your loss. They are:

(1) EMOTIONAL REACTIONS TO YOUR INJURY: When it comes to placing a dollar value on the “Emotional Reaction” of an injury one enters into an area where most individuals, even experienced claims adjuster’s and Legal Beagles, are at a loss.

Four often ignored “Characteristic Symptoms” can be: Confusion, Anxiety, Depression and Denial. (“Denial”, that is, regarding the seriousness of your injury and the constant pain you feel. This usually comes to pass when one refuses to complain anything is seriously wrong, convincing themselves it will work itself out).

If any of the above “Emotional Reactions” (which are a direct result of “Characteristic Symptoms“) becomes a reality it would be wise for you to see a shrink. Maybe you won’t immediately identify this as something you need to have checked out but the person you climb into bed with probably will. When she tells you you‘re not functioning (between your ears) all that well, listen up! If that’s what you’re told you should swallow hard and obtain an expert’s opinion. You may consider yourself a muscular "Power To Be Reckoned With" but you’re not Superman so, talk to a specialist, explain what’s happening, and let it all hang out.

Once you’ve been discharged, get that specialist’s written Medical Report and hand it to Hard-Nose, along with the medical bills for your treatment. Is that legit? The answer is absolutely, yes! Can he refuse to accept them and suggest they add no value to your claim? The answer is absolutely, no!

(2) EMOTIONAL DISTRESS: Emotional distress is legitimate "Pain and Suffering" and you should be compensated for it. For example, problems that may develop over the effects of an accident within the area of your work or business, or perhaps interfere with your sex life! Whatever it is that’s causing you problems you should see a specialist. Keep going back to see him for as long as it takes to return to normal. At the end of his treatment, when he's finally discharged you, ask for and obtain his written report. Present that to Adjuster Henry Hard-Nose along with the specialist’s bill for their services.

This is a legitimate expense and it positively gives your personal injury more value !

(3) SECURING COMPENSATION FOR LIFE DISRUPTIONS: If your injuries caused you to miss some special training you had arranged to take advantage of, you'll probably, at some point, want to make that time up. The difficulty you may experience in making up that missed time (or perhaps never again being able to obtain it) has the potential to increase the value of your settlement. To achieve this you must obtain written proof and present it to Adjuster Hard-Nose.

Also to be taken into consideration is a vacation you may have been unable to take, or some recreational event’s in which you could not participate in and/or a missed special event, like a wedding or a reunion, etc. All of these, properly documented, add value to your claim because they are specific examples of the inconvenience and discomfort you've endured as a direct result of your injury.

(4) YOUR AGE: In the evaluation of an individuals "Pain and Suffering", age is always a factor because the older you are the longer the periods of Total or Partial Disability will be. This will affect the course of treatment plus the length of time of the "pain killers" you’ve been ordered to take. For example: Over age 50 disability is about 10% to 15% longer, over age 60 disability is about 20% to 30% longer, over 70 disability can be 35% to 45% longer and over 75 disability can often be 50% and longer.

(5) PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL PROBLEMS: Also pre-existing conditions are factor’s that must be considered: For example: Arthritis, Sugar Diabetes, Pervious Injuries and/or Previous Operations that have left you with on-going problems, etc.

Whatever that pre-existing situation may be you should look to your attending physician for advice. Don't avoid discussing this with him. If any doubt exists you should insist your doctor refer you to a specialist for consultation. If your physician is legit he'll agree. If he doesn't than kiss that goodie-two-shoes "goodbye" and go dig up a specialist on your own. It's your body and there's only one to a customer!

(6) ONE THING YOU SHOULD NEVER FORGET IS THAT THE VISIBLE DAMAGES TO YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE CAN VERY OFTEN PROFOUNDLY AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU'RE EVENTUALLY PAID.

If your vehicle was badly smashed, that goes a long way proving that your injuries were sever and therefore painful. You must snap photographs of your motor vehicle. Shoot a couple rolls of colored and also black and white (black and white because in some instances colored photographs cannot be entered as evidence in a court of law).Take them from different angles and various distances. Like for example, 30 feet away, then 15, then right up close.

Make two sets. One for you and one for Hard-Nose. Blow them up into 8X10 glossies and present them to him. Both the size of your repair bill and those photographs will go a long way towards proving two important points: First, that you know what you're doing and second, that the injuries you received from that god-awful impact (and the long period of pain, suffering and discomfort you‘ve had to deal with) - - if and when viewed by a judge or jury - - are proof positive of what your injury caused your body to endure.

What Is Meant By Automobile Insurance Standard Coverage?

2008-06-04T05:04:00.000-07:00

Automobile insurance standard coverage is the basic amount of insurance coverage that is required by law in order for an individual to legally operate a motorized vehicle. You can simply it even further with the blanket statement as being the mandatory amount of auto insurance coverage a driver must possess.
The most important part of anyone’s car insurance policy is the liability coverage. This coverage protects the consumer against the cost of damages and injury that is a direct result of that same consumer if they are the cause of a vehicular accident. For instance if you’re driving down the road and accidentally run into another person’s car this insurance coverage will pay for the damages that result due to the accident.
The liability coverage is further broken down into two subsections. The first is bodily injury liability. This covers and personal injury inflicted by yourself upon others during a car accident. The second subsection is property damage liability. As you may have guessed this is your insurance protection against any damage you cause to another individuals property, usually their car.
Although coverage amounts can vary it is generally suggested that a good baseline of automobile insurance standard coverage should be 100/300/100. This can be read as $100,000 worth of bodily injury caused to another person, $300,000 towards bodily injuries for everyone involved and $100,000 for property damage. With rising medical costs and outrageous car prices this would be the absolute minimum insurance protection I would personally carry in my automobile insurance standard coverage. However, each state is different and you will need to check to see what their car insurance laws constitute as a minimum coverage amount.
If you are in a financial crunch and need a way to save money on your insurance policy try to avoid retaining only the minimum amount of coverage required by your state. Instead try raising your deductible amount (the amount you pay first in the event of an accident before your insurance company kicks in with its payment). You will find that by raising the amount $500 or $750 will significantly lower the monthly costs of your automobile insurance standard coverage.
Two other policies that exist include the medical payments insurance which provides for the immediate treatment of injuries sustained during an auto accident. Anyone riding in your vehicle to include yourself is covered, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. The second policy is commonly known as PIP or personal injury protection, is similar to medical payments coverage, but usually provides broader coverage. Many PIP policies provide compensation for lost wages, funeral expenses, and pain and suffering. Again you will need to check with your state insurance laws for further clarification if you are required to have this additional coverage.
Finally as a safety measure against law breaking individuals who illegally drive without insurance there is uninsured motorist insurance when the other driver has no liability coverage and underinsured motorist coverage which pays for the cost of your injuries that exceed the other driver's coverage maximum. As before with the PIP coverage you will need to make sure whether or not your particular state requires these forms of coverage as part of their automobile insurance standard coverage.

Will Online Automobile Insurance Quotes Really Save Me Money?

2008-06-04T05:03:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking to save money on your auto insurance then online automobile insurance quotes are definitely something you want to look into. But there are more benefits to shopping online besides saving money. Receiving you car insurance quote online is fast, extremely easy, and exceptionally convenient. Generally speaking the quotes you qualify for are generated within minutes and usually there are multiple quotes allowing you the opportunity to compare numerous insurance providers, allowing you to choose the best overall insurance offer.
In my opinion the best feature is not having to deal with an insurance salesman and having the luxury of comparison shopping in the privacy of your own home while wearing your favorite pajamas. There are no time limitations meaning you can start your application, save it, and finish later at anytime, day or night. The number one reason people over pay on their insurance is because of failure to shop around. Online automobile insurance quotes prevent that from happening.
Truthfully there are very little, if any drawbacks to shopping online for all of your insurance needs. It’s very easy to do, convenient and your insurance quotes are provided free of charge. Best of all you’re never under any obligation to accept any quote that is provided.
The process to receive multiple free online automobile insurance quotes begins when a consumer fills out a form. The information you provide is always kept confidential with encrypted software and it will not affect your current credit score. The only concern that may be raised is if you already have some other form of insurance (such as home or life insurance) from a provider then it’s possible that you could receive a better discount from that provider due to having multiple insurance policies with them.
As I stated before the process to obtain online automobile insurance quotes is very simple and you will either be given instant free car insurance quote, or you'll be contacted via email with several offers. After finding a policy that matches your needs and budget you have the option to purchase the insurance online or via mail. Just remember you are never under any obligation to accept any online auto insurance policy that is offered to you.
One word of caution, you must make sure you enter correct information when filling out an online application for car insurance. Any false information or errors on your part could adversely affect the online automobile insurance quotes.
Hopefully this information convinces you that shopping online for all of your insurance needs to include auto insurance is safe, easy and very convenient. Best of all the potential to save hundreds of dollars on your insurance policy is a real possibility.

Outside Pressures On The Typical Insurance Adjuster

2008-06-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

Insurance adjusters are not without outside pressures they must deal with every day of their work life. It would be advantageous for all readers to be aware of the most important of these because they could put money in your bank.
The first of these is your State Department Of Insurance. Every state has a Department, or Commissioner, or Bureau of Insurance that overseas the antics of all Insurance Claims Adjusters and their superiors in that particular state. Each has a Consumer Complaint Division. If the adjuster you’ve been dealing with has refused to make any offer at all, has engaged in what you consider to be unethical conduct, or has made what you believe to be a ridiculously low offer, you have cause for a complaint.
The mere mention of a complaint to the State Department of Insurance may bring the adjuster around to making a better offer. Adjusters would rather not have to deal with a complaint and they positively don’t want copies of them ending up in their personnel file !
Your complaint to the State Insurance Department will accomplish several things. First, his boss will now become aware that there’s a claimant who intends to do whatever it takes to obtain some positive settlement dollars. That will often inspire that person to take a closer look at your case and come up with a better offer. Also, if indeed you write to the Consumer Complaints Division, it will evolve into what’s always a costly effort because a complaint with the State Insurance Department will add an additionallayer of work, supervised by an extra contingent of personnel. When it’s realized this will likely come to pass they’ll try harder to get rid of you and settle your claim.
The vast majority of insurance adjusters dream of one day being promoted to a higher position within the company they work for. They're acutely aware of the fact if their personnel file has correspondence flowing into it from claimants they've handled(plus copies of the letters which have been sent to the insurance commissioner) and those will, somewhere down the line, be read by one of his companies executives. In many instances this will be a man who doesn’t want a “Problem” claims employee spluttering, splashing and crashing about his office area causing headaches and extra work within the framework of that particular executive’s command. The adjuster is fully aware that such complaints will keep him, out on the road forever,and will surely prevent him from moving up the corporate ladder.
OTHER CRUCIAL ISSUES THAT THE ADJUSTER IS AWARE OF
When it comes to the reality of the way things work in the actual, daily, experience of personal injury claim negotiations and settlement, is often vastly different from the stipulations found in the “Formal law”. That is, legal theory, as it’s written and allegedly supposed to work. What this means, simply stated, is: Adjusters can settle a case, whether their decision to do so is based on “The Law”, or not.
In the real world of Personal Injury settlements a “Compromise” (one which often has little and often nothing to do with "The Law") is the order of the day. It’s commonly accepted among those is the business (because that’s what makes their work life so much easier) that in any given case there’s almost always a likelihood of negligence on both sides, rather than just one. What this boils down to in practical terms, is this: Irregardless of the law practically no claim is without merit or totally lacking in value - - especially if the “Value” is simply to “get rid of it”. QUESTION: "How does Dan Baldyga know this to be true?" ANSWER: "Because he was an Insurance Adjuster, Supervisor, Manager and then Trial Assistant for over 30 years. He's been there, and observed that."
Although it’s never expressed to him “officially” every adjuster quickly learns, should your case go to trail, compromise will usually be the order of the day, even in cases of questionable liability . This fact alone gives him plenty of room to make a compromise settlement before your case ends up in his Defense Attorney’s hands where such a move will usually take place anyways! Why will this come to pass? Because the costs of preparing for(and then proceeding into)a courtroom battle will skyrocket.
Being aware of this is always bubbling and boiling in the gray matter between every adjusters ears. If there’s any question whatsoever (regarding who was at fault in the accident you were involved in) don’t ever give up. Keep pounding away! When faced with a determined claimant who’s willing to wait and haggle and refuses to go away, the chances are the adjuster will eventually make an offer.
This comes to pass because the adjuster(especially if your claim has some value) doesn’t want it to end up as a complaint at the State Department Of Insurance. Plus he knows you’ll be made, a settlement offer, somewhere down the line, anyway! So, better he settle it now, before the cost of defending it gets blown out of proportion, later.
In order to continue to look good (especially to those who watch their progress and the way they handle the outside pressure’s that haunt every one of them)insurance adjusters - - who want to climb their corporate ladder to success - - must be very cagey individuals who must work hard to please those they work for. For you to understand this will most assuredly be to your financial advantage.

Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Claim Guide

2008-06-04T02:59:00.000-07:00

Your “Motor Vehicle” can be a truck, car, motorcycle - - you name it! If it’s powered by a motor and has one, two, three, four (or even more) wheels this “Guide” is for you.
The information below is a bare-bones “Guide” for those who have had such a motor vehicle accident. It details the basics of how one should with their property damage and/or personal injury claim.
AFTER IMPACT CHECKLIST
We heartily suggest you make a copy of this "Impact Checklist" to be kept handy within the confines of your motor vehicle. A “Guide” to refer to so you’ll be certain, should an accident take place, that you’ve covered everything.
Other than the fact that one must obtain from the other operator, both their drivers license and motor vehicle registration information, you should also proceed to do the following:
IMMEDIATELY MAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF: Names and addresses of eye witnesses. And later the investigating police officers name and badge number. WEATHER CONDITIONS: Snow, rain, fog, mist, sleet, etc. ROAD SURFACE: Dry, wet, slippery, icy, etc.IMPACT AREA: City, suburban, business, wooded, etc. VISIBILITY: Sunny, cloudy, dusk, night, moonlight, etc. (Was the sun in the other driver’s face)? TRAFFIC CONTROLS: Were there overhead lights? Posted speed limit signs? Stop or warning signs? Hospital or school zone signs? CREATE A DIAGRAM: Driving area: Flat, crowned, straight, curved, macadam, asphalt, concrete, cobblestone, dirt, etc. Indicate the width of street. Show the location of impact, gouge and/or skid marks. CONDITION OF MOTOR VEHICLE THAT STRUCK YOU: Age and general overall condition. Is their state inspection sticker displayed and up to date? Were chains or snow tires needed? AS SOON AS POSSIBLE RETURN TO THE SCENE AND SNAP PHOTOGRAPHS: It’s most important to take pictures of: Skid or gouge mark’s on the road surface plus the damage to both vehicles. PHOTOS OF YOUR BODILY INJURIES: It's crucial to the ultimate value of your claim to snap a multitude of colored photos (up close and from different angles) of your bodily injuries - - especially all black and blue marks or bruises.
INSIGHTS INTO HANDLING YOUR CLAIM (There Are Six Areas You Must Be Familiar With) 1. Out-Of-Pocket Expenses 2. Lost Time From Work - Lost Wages 3. Property Damage Losses 4. What Your Medical Doctor And/Or Chiropractor Reports Should State 5. Medical Payments Coverage 6. What To Do If An Adjuster Refuses To Cooperate
You Should Go Into Detail Regarding These (Below Listed) Six Areas:
(1) OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES:These are expenses that can be measured in definite sums of money. They are the foundation of the calculations used to award damages (including that often great and extra amount paid to you for your “Pain and Suffering”) regarding any financial loss flowing directly from the injury you may have sustained.
MEDICAL EXPENSES: Obtain all bills and services rendered. (Prior to their being sent out, you have ever right to ask for and read the crucial Final Reports regarding your physical condition from your Doctor, Chiropractor, “Medical Specialist” and/or Dentist).Medical Expenses Typically Include: Ambulance ~ Emergency Room ~ Hospital or Clinic ~ Laboratory Fees and Services ~ Diagnostic Tests: (X-rays and/or CT Scan) ~ Registered or Practical Nurse Fees ~ Medicine and/or Prescription Medications ~ Prosthetic Appliances or Surgical Apparatus (Canes & crutch, etc.) ~ Physical Therapy ~ Ace Bandages, Gauze & Tape ~ Heating Pads ~ Creams, Ointments, Balms & Salves. As you read them make sure these Medical Reports include the length of time of your “Total Disability” and/or your “Partial Disability”. These are of enormous value because they justify the often HUGE, extra payment made for your “Pain and Suffering” . (Plus this information will also prove your claim for Lost Wages).
NON-MEDICAL DAMAGE EXPENSES. These include: Lost Wages and Earnings ~ Lost Vacation Time and/or Sick Leave ~ Travel Expenses: (Transportation costs incurred getting to and from The Doctor and/or Hospital, etc.) ~ Household Help During Disability ~ Child Care During Recuperation.
(2) LOST TIME FROM WORK - - LOST WAGES - - YOUR "LOSS EARNING CAPACITY": The weeks, hours and/or days you were unable to work (thus the money you may have lost) is added up and documented on company letterhead. You’re often entitled to compensation for “Lost Time and Earnings” even if you have no actual loss of money ! Such as, for example, if your salary is paid by some other insurance coverage you may have or by taking sick leave or some other similar arrangement. It doesn’t matter if you're employed full time, part time, self-employed, own your own business, retired, unemployed, or a housewife not employed outside the home, you should keep a written record of all household help and/or child care needed during your disability period.
All of these constitute an element of your “SPECIAL DAMAGES” mainly "Lost Wages". Insurance companies usually don't view your time away from work (because of an injury) as “Lost Time And Earnings” but as “Lost Earning Capacity”. In most states one is entitled to compensation for lost time and earnings even if they have no loss of money. For example, when your salary is paid for by another insurance coverage you have or by taking sick leave and/or some other similar type of arrangement. There are specific situations to be considered and called to the forefront when it comes to being employed either full-time or part-time. More detailed information (regarding these above stated area’s of your loss) are found in CHAPTER FOUR “Damages” within the book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM.
(3) PROPERTY DAMAGE LOSSES: “AGREED COST TO REPAIR”: This figure has been negotiated between your damage repair person and the insurance adjuster. Be sure you know (and possess a written copy of) exactly what that figure is.COLLISION: There's usually a deductible. Read your policy. (If you’re not at fault you should eventually be able to get this money back).PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY: Protects you for damages you do to the property of another (i.e. his or her trees, lawn, shrubs, mailbox, etc.) EXCLUSIONS: These are stated in your policy. A good rule of thumb is, “If it’s not excluded, it’s covered”. Read your policy closely to discover your exclusions and how they apply. TOTAL LOSS: A “Total Loss” is when the motor vehicle damage exceeds the value of the vehicle, as stated within all of the up-to-date and “Official” Property Damage books and/or documents. OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE LOSSES: Clothing, jewelry, watches, eye or sunglasses, etc. You can also collect for your (or any other individuals) personal property which happened to be in the car and was damaged. (Be sure to have written proof of the cost of each item damaged plus the date it was purchased). Never forget: You’re entitled to be reimbursed for any charges you may have incurred for towing, storage and/or substitute motor vehicle rental, or for that matter - - any other alternate transportation.
The above is a very brief review. For more in-depth information read CHAPTER FIVE: PROPERTY DAMAGE found in AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM.
(4) WHAT YOUR MEDICAL DOCTOR AND/OR CHIROPRACTOR REPORT SHOULD STATE: Each “Injury Evaluation Factor” should be clearly stated within each of your final Medical Reports. For example: That your disability is solely the result of the accident. If there were any pre-existing conditions aggravated by your injuries? What treatments were administered and for what duration? What medications were prescribed, in what amounts and for how long? What symptoms or medical problems were such medications meant to relieve? Were there any adverse reactions demonstrated? Ask to read them before they're sent to the adjuster so you're sure it explains the nature, plus the extent and frequency of the pain that an injury, such as yours, will likely cause.
PROGNOSIS: This is the clearly stated information (regarding your personal injury progress) and should include: The part played by a pre-existing condition, if any? Their prediction of any possible future temporary disability/impairments? Does the individual attending you anticipate any further or future treatments? LENGTH OF YOUR “TOTAL” DISABILITY: Why? Because it's so important (when it comes time to settle) this is clearly stated in weeks and days. LENGTH OF YOUR “PARTIAL” DISABILITY: Again (and for the same reason as above) this too should be clearly stated in weeks and days. (Specific details, regarding both “Partial” and “Total” Disability , and the incredible value it provides for you in your claim, are found in CHAPTER SIX: YOUR BODILY INJURY).
(5) MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE: If you have this coverage in your motor vehicle policy, it will pay (up to the limits stated) for all medical bills arising out of the accident - - regardless of who’s at fault! (You must read your policy carefully because the “Who”, “Why” and/or “How” of this often differs).
A WORD ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS: In certain instances, it may be possible to have your medical bills paid and yet avoid any repayment by tapping into your health insurance coverage, or some other plan you may have. (Yes, this means, under certain circumstances, you may be able to collect twice for the same medical bills)!
(6) WHAT TO DO IF THE ADJUSTER REFUSES TO COOPERATE? These Are Your Usual And Routine Choices: a. Threaten that you're going to obtain the services of a lawyer to represent you. b. Go over the adjuster’s head. c. Resolve your loss in Small Claims Court. d. Contact the proper people (working through the State Department of Insurance) implementing the time honored principle of “Good Faith” vs. “Bad Faith

Handling Your Motor Vehicle Accident With Your Own Insurance Company

2008-06-04T02:58:00.000-07:00

This “How To” article is crucial, up-to-date information concerning what to do if your insurance company is giving you a hard time (regarding your own motor vehicle accident claim with them) and you’re positive it’s “Legit”. If there’s some problems with whatever position they’ve taken regarding your Property Damage Loss (or any other coverage-questions they may be ducking/stalling/ignoring and/or disputing) you don’t have to sit back and take it!
You DO have options to settle your dispute and you should proceed as follows:
#1. FIRST, LET YOUR AGENT KNOW YOU’RE UNHAPPY: Ask them to go to bat for you. If they sit on their butt (afraid or “too busy” to get “involved” with your “problem”) find out the name and phone number or your insurance companies nearest Claims Department. Contact them and ask for help. (Never forget, you’re their insured, your premium’s pay their salary). If the person you’re talking to attempts to handle your problem with uncaring indifference, just like your agent has, than find and talk to that individual’s boss - - The Vice President of Claims and/or whomever.
#2. BE PREPARED TO SUPPORT YOUR CASE: Have ready all documents, plus a covering letter (to snail mail to that person your finally talking to) proving your point and explaining why you’re not satisfied. (Send it to them PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL - - with a signed “Return Receipt” requested).
#4. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL INSURANCE DEPARTMENT: If you’ve followed your insurance company’s rules for resolving a dispute, and you’re still not satisfied, your own Local Insurance Department can help you. You can reach them by phone, or mail, or often online.
WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU: Many insurance departments offer on-the-phone assistance to help resolve the “Problem” without requiring you to file a formal “Written Complaint“. Most post their complaint forms on their Web sites, allowing you to print out the document, complete it at home, and mail it to them. (If they don’t have a web site ask that they snail mail their “Written Complaint” form right out to you) !
After you provide them with all the necessary information (including your policy or claim number and supporting documentation) they will notify the insurance company (or agent) you’re complaining about. The company (or agent) is then required to respond to the department within a certain amount of time, usually between 10 to 30 days, depending upon the area where you live.
Upon receiving a reply, Insurance Department officials will dig deeper, trying to determine what can and should be done. This process usually takes about 30 days.
If the Insurance Department decides against the agent or the insurance company (which is clearly stated - - and one both your insurance company and your agent know to be a fact of their business life they‘d prefer not to get hung up on - - nor be forced to deal with) the Insurance Department has the power to levy a variety of penalties, ranging from a fine to actually revoking the license of the agent or company. (When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, these departments have all the power they need to penalize companies that are deliberately ducking or dragging their feet).
After reading the above, you may want to consider hiring an attorney to represent you because it can get complicated! If you do, find one who specializes in Auto Insurance. Attorney’s work either at an hourly rate or on a “Contingency-Fee Basis“, depending on the type of case. If you decide to go that route be sure to get your lawyer’s “Fee Structure” in writing. And (to remain current on the progress of your claim) insist that you receive copies of all correspondence. PLUS: Be sure your lawyer knows that he or she must have your agreement - - before committing to any settlement!

Insights Into Your Med-Pay Insurance Coverage

2008-06-04T02:57:00.000-07:00

While Legal Romantics would like to characterize the trial of a lawsuit as a “Search For Truth” that’s not a reality!
Cases are decided on the evidence. When reviewing cases before them, judges invariably use the phrase, “The evidence shows”, rather than, “The truth of the matter is”. That first phrase is a reality that filters from the courtroom down to the objective evaluation of each case tried.
If Fred Fuddle is the town drunk, or if his conduct at the accident scene was provably abnormal than the value of your case should increase. If your injuries are visible and/or demonstrable, it’s likely your settlement will be larger. The conduct of both Fuddle and you before the accident may be significant. If you had been at a bar drinking heavily or raising holy hell out on the highway before the accident, you’ll get less regard from the jury than if you were driving to your house of worship with your family.
So, the circumstances of your behavior before, during, or after the accident increases or decreases the value of your settlement.
THE SIX MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN THE “EVALUATION PROCESS”: To be fully informed, you must know and understand the six primary evaluation elements that figure into the process of evaluation. They are as follows:
(1) THE FACTS (2) THE EVIDENCE (3) THE LAW (4) YOUR INJURY (5) SPECIAL DAMAGES (6) THE INTANGIBILITIES.
(1) THE FACTS: The gathering of the provable factual information is the first step in the evaluation. If you try to evaluate a claim without as complete a file of facts as possible, it’s like going hunting for a lion with a slingshot.
(2) THE EVIDENCE: You must weigh all factual evidence known to you against the actual evidence you can produce to substantiate it. No matter what information you’re aware of, your position will always be stronger if you have the evidence to back you up.
For example: You can talk until the cows come home about the unsightly black-and-blue marks you had on your face, ribs, and hips, the scar on your forehead, or the 75 feet of skid marks Fred Fuddle’s auto left on the highway before he smashed into you, but Adjuster I. M. Smart will never adequately comprehend, (nor want to believe you) unless you provide him with photographs.
Providing Smart with the proof-positive of photographs will cause his Supervisor’s eyes to bulge as he inhales a deep breath of resignation and declares, “Hey, this one’s gonna cost us” .
QUESTION: “How can Dan be so sure about that”? ANSWER: “Because before Dan retired, after spending over 30 years on that firing line, he was an Insurance Adjuster, Supervisor, Manager and Trial Assistant. He’s been there, saw that, plus heard (and felt) that many thousands of times”!
Whenever possible you must help Adjuster I. M. Smart justify the settlement figure he wants to get approved by his immediate superior at Granite Mountian Insurance Corporation.
(3) THE LAW: As proved in over 83% of the accidents in the United States in 2003 the impact you were subjected to is clearly the fault of “Fumbling” Fred Fuddle, so the law is on your side.
Armed with the information found in my third book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) plus THE BASE FORMULA (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula) you’ll be able to do that. THE BASE FORMULA will correctly evaluate your “Pain and Suffering”. Because of this, you can settle your own claim without handing a huge percentage to an attorney. A lawyer who has done nothing more than have his secretary send Fuddle a letter of representation and then think it’s perfectly acceptable (after many moths, sometimes years, of hiding/stumbling/fumbling and verbally pitching his well-practiced answer when you asked, “Hey what’s going on with my claim?” with an answer like, “I’m right on top of it, hang in there, old friend and I‘ll make it come out right”, and then proceed to take a huge portion of your settlement dollars, for doing little or nothing to earn it.
(4) INJURY TO YOU: The seriousness of your injury has to be considered. (Ole’ Doc Comfort, your attending physician’s Medical Report, should go into detail about that).Your age will have an effect on the time it takes you to recover. The time you lost at work will have a direct bearing on the length of your recovery.
(5) SPECIAL DAMAGES: All of your direct and tangible losses are prime factors to be implemented in the consideration of the value of your claim.(Clearly stated details regarding Damages are found in Chapter Four of my book).
(6) INTANGIBLE ELEMENTS: These include your reasonableness, your economic status, your standing in the community, the obvious sentiment conjured up when one considers the degree of the seriousness of your injury, plus the attitude of Fred Fuddle (and often your witness) regarding your case.
Sympathy will come into play if you’re a widow or a highly respected Little League Coach, in contrast to your being identified as a raucous bum with a history of getting into scrapes with the law.
Emotional factors often have considerable weight in the evaluation of your claim. Whatever the intangible elements may be, you must force yourself to investigate and then evaluate them just as objectively as possible. So, if what’s being contended is incorrect, you can deny them (plus you must prove the conclusions not to be true) when and where it becomes appropriate to do so

Consumer Directed Health Plans

2008-06-04T02:56:00.000-07:00

Most of you have heard about “consumer directed health plans”. The Bush administration has been a strong supporter of this concept as a way to get a handle on soaring healthcare costs. The recent inaugeration of Mr. Bush signals that consumer directed health plans will increasingly make up a larger percentage of group medical plans over the next several years. In the past, consumer directed plan designs have taken on many forms: Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Many experts consider HRAs and HSAs to be the first generation of viable consumer directed health care products. HRAs are typically paired with a high-deductible health plan and are employer-funded Section 105 defined contribution plans. HSAs are the latest version of consumer directed health care plans. The core components of HSAs include a high deductible insurance product and a cash spending account. HSAs combine the pre-tax treatment of a FSA, the portability and roll-over characteristics of a 401(k), and the tax-free distributions of a Roth IRA.
One of the main goals of any consumer directed health plan should be to get the consumer more involved in both the cost and statistical outcomes of certain healthcare procedures. Informed healthcare consumers will make wise healthcare decisions and typically these decisions will result in both lower costs and improved quality.
Although the advantages of HRAs and HSAs can be substantial, employers will want to do their homework prior to setting them up. Effective implementation will require a clear understanding of the consumer directed healthcare plan that best fits your organization as well as the administrative requirements. Employee education will be essential. Companies will also need to look into how the creation of a HSA or HRA may affect their HIPAA medical privacy compliance requirements.
Just like most endeavors, the successful implementation of a HSA or HRA will greatly depend on how much research your organization does on the pro’s and con’s of each alternative. The type of consumer directed health plan that best fits your company will depend on a combination of your corporate structure as well as the overall objectives of your group health insurance plan.
Although consumer directed healthcare plans are becoming very familiar to human resource managers and other benefit professionals, remember that your employees and their dependents will need a substantial amount of education and communication

Cure The Insurance Blues By Lowering The Cost of Your Premiums

2008-06-04T02:55:00.002-07:00

Does the current amount that you pay on your insurance premiums keep you awake at night? If so you’re not alone. In today’s fast paced society many people are looking for ways to save money unfortunately this can lead to scrimping and watching where you spend every penny you make. Not only is this difficult it can also be a real pain in the neck and lets face it – what’s so fun about not spending money you worked hard to get in the first place.
Fortunately there is an easy way to save a few extra dollars every month by checking to see if you’re overpaying on any of your insurance premiums. This could be your auto insurance, life insurance, home insurance or renters insurance. The reality is you can save on almost every form of insurance you have. Ok, so what’s the secret?
Welcome to the wonderful world of the Internet and free online insurance quotes. The Internet is perfect for checking to see if you can save money on all of your current insurance policies. Most online insurance providers allow you to input your information (which they keep confidential) by having you fill out a simple and easy to use form on their website. They then use the information to generate free quotes that allow you to see how much you would pay for an insurance policy. You can use that information and compare it to the cost of your current insurance premium to see if you can save some money.
The benefits of shopping for your insurance online are numerous. For instance you can adjust your coverage amount to see how it affects the cost of the policy. A live salesman never pressures you or scares you into purchasing a policy you may not want or really need. Additionally you are never under any obligation to purchase any policy offered to you giving you the time and flexibility to decide when you’re ready to change your insurance provider and coverage. Perhaps the best reason to shop online for your insurance needs (besides saving money) is the freedom to shop in the comfort of your own home, even in your pajamas if you so desire.
Start saving money now by finding insurance online that provides the coverage you need at a price that won’t keep you awake at night

Are You Sure That Heirloom Oriental Rug From Your Aunt Hilda Is Really Insured?

2008-06-04T02:55:00.001-07:00

Gone are the days of the cinder block and wood plank bookcases. You've come along way from that old reliable jut rug and CDs (or in some cases, actual vinyl albums) stored in milk crates. That's the way it is with first apartments, and sometimes second and third apartments too. It's what you were able to afford when you first set out own your own. And it was fun, sort of. But today's a new day, and you've paid your dues and then some. You're the king or queen of your own castle, a castle as well-appointed as any luxury model home, with beautiful area rugs, antique furnishings, and other treasurers that you'd hate ever to see lost.
Because your home, and to a certain extent the items in that furnish it, will most likely be the best investment you're likely to make, it's important to protect this investment and those items that enhance it. The simplest way to do this is to make sure that you are carrying adequate insurance coverage on your home and its furnishings.
How Much Coverage is Enough?
Determining the amount of coverage needed is crucial. Say, that beautiful oriental rug once belonging to Great Aunt Hilda has finally come to rest in your hands, only to be irrevocably damaged when someone at the party you're hosting spills Merlot on it. Other than frantically going at it on all fours, with club soda and Baby Wipes to the delight of your guests, what would you need to do in order to be "made whole" again, and most importantly, stop Great Aunt Hilda from spinning in her grave?
First, if you own your home and have a mortgage on it held by a bank, then you will be required to maintain adequate coverage on the "dwelling," the actual building which makes up the structure of your home for the life of the loan. The lender recognizes the value of this investment, and will make sure that their investment is protected by requiring it be adequately covered by insurance. But how does this insurance coverage extend to Great Aunt Hilda's prized Persian rugs and all the other furnishings that adorn the inside of your castle/home?
Estimating Value
An insurance agent writing a policy on your home will probably leave an estimation of the value of your home's contents to your discretion. Your insurance agent may even ask you directly: "How much do you think your household contents are worth?" Following this query with yet another you may or may not feel qualified to answer: "Is that replacement or actual estimated value?" Your agent may encourage you to opt for coverage that allows for those lost items to be either made whole again either by: repair, replacement or receipt of cash payment--as most common household furnishings (other than fine art and other collectables), depreciate considerably in value with time.
But what about those two rare oriental rugs left to you by dear Aunt Hilda? Will you be expected to determine the value for these items? Well, not exactly. It's one thing for you to estimate the value of last year's CD player for $129, when it's costs may be closer to $89, and quite another for you to estimate the value of a pair of rugs at $5000 each. Because you are limited to $1000 coverage per theft on these types of items when claimed under your Homeowner's policy, an estimation of $5000 for each rug under your standard policy would only you provide with $1000 worth of coverage, for items you say are worth closer to $10,000. That's why you may want to consider covering such items, those you value at over $1,000, with a Schedule to your Homeowner's policy.
So, what is a Schedule?It's a list of items which may not receive adequate coverage under your standard Homeowner's coverage.
Who should consider a Schedule? If you own fine art, rare collectables, guns, jewelry, silverware, and fine area rugs, you might very well benefit by having a Schedule added to your policy.
Do Schedules cover loss other than standard peril?Items listed on the Schedule are subject to broader coverage—beyond fire and peril--than those provided for under the standard Homeowner's policy. Schedule items include coverage for accidental and unforeseeable occurrences: like rugs permanently stained by Merlot.
Are Schedule items included under the deductible?A Schedule also benefits you because these items are not subject to a deductible.
What proof needs to be provided to add a Schedule to your Homeowner's policy?To include a Schedule to your homeowner's policy, will be asked to substantiate the value of each item to be included on the Schedule. This can be provided in the form of certificates of authenticity, sales receipt or by appraisals.
Whether or not your household items merit the inclusion of a Schedule should be determined by you, the homeowner, assisted by your insurance agent. This way, with a little additional coverage, your Aunt Hilda's treasured rugs may exist to be passed on to the next generation.

Inside-Information Regarding Your Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Claim

2008-06-04T02:53:00.000-07:00

Here’s some “Inside-Info” you must know so you won’t be taken advantage of on your motor vehicle accident insurance claim and also: SO YOU CAN COLLECT EVERY DOLLAR THAT’S OWED TO YOU !
The following 8 are just “The Tip Of The Iceberg”:
#1. There are situations where you can collect for your “Lost Wages” even if you were paid by your employer and/or collected “Sick Leave” while unable to work.
#2. You can collect money and be reimbursed for any and all “Over The Counter” (non-prescription) medication you purchased during your recovery.
#3. Under normal circumstances unless a claim ends up in court (several years after impact has taken place and you are fully recovered) you do not have to agree to be examined by the insurance company’s doctor.
#4. There are many times that come to pass where you are entitled to collect the “Gross Amount” of your lost wages, not the so-called “Net After Taxes”.
#5. If you’re a housewife, you can often recover for “Lost Wages” (based on the “Value” of a maid or a domestic servant, who would execute the same work) which you could not perform due to the injury.
#6. You are entitled to extra compensation if you can prove you were forced to cancel a vacation and/or a special event.
#7. Under certain circumstances you may be able to make a claim (and collect for) a personal injury even if your state is “No-Fault” and you already have PIP (Personal Injury Protection) coverage.
#8. Your friends, and even relatives, have the right to execute statements which you can send to adjusters (and/or anybody you feel should get one) going into detail as to what happened to your body and what they’ve observed you’ve had to deal with (via your “Pain and Suffering”) during your period of recovery.
These statements can often provide you with an even greater dollar value - - when it comes to the calculation and then the ultimate settlement of your personal injury claim!

Long-Term Care Insurance: Eldercare Solution

2008-06-04T02:52:00.000-07:00

When I suddenly had to become a fulltime caregiver to my elderly parents, both with health problems and starting to develop dementia (namely Alzheimer’s), I had never even heard of Long-Term Care Insurance. After we burned through their life savings, and then started chipping away at mine, I was advised to apply for financial assistance for them through the government’s Medicaid system--a program for those at the poverty level. It was quite a long process with mounds of paperwork and numerous investigations, but finally my parents were approved.
I was so happy that monetary help would finally be on the way, until I discovered that the financial assistance would only pay to put my parents in a nursing home, not even in Assisted Living, and with very little help to keep them in their own home.
Since their levels of care were so different (my mother needed most things done for her), there weren’t any facilities that would allow them to be together. They’d be across the street from each other in different wings of the home. After fifty-five years of marriage, my parents were adamant about wanting to be together in their own home, in their own bed, where they could continue to cuddle and kiss--as they so frequently did. And, since my father was so “difficult” with a terrible temper and quite a long record of manipulative disruptive behaviors, the homes didn’t want to deal with him anyway.
It was challenging, but I committed to keeping my parents in their own home and attending Adult Day Health Care five days a week. Then, with the help of two marvelous caregivers, after four more years of loving each other--they passed, just a few months apart. Even though caring for every aspect of my parents’ last years was the hardest thing I have ever done--I am proud to say I gave them the best end-of-life I possibly could.
Had I only known to insist that we buy Long-Term Care Insurance for them prior to their illnesses--their years of in-home care could have been paid for, and I could have saved myself so much heartache, not to mention a small fortune. I encourage you to learn from my mistake and look into LTC insurance long before you need it—for your loved ones as well as yourself. Like fire insurance, hopefully, you’ll never have to use it.
Also, call your local Area Agency on Aging, or Department of Aging, and ask if there are any financial programs, waivers or grants available in your area that you can apply for.
STARTLING STATISTICS
· An estimated 4.5 to 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. In a Gallup poll, 1 in 10 Americans said that they had a family member with Alzheimer’s, and 1 in 3 knew someone with the disease.
· Increasing age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s. One in 10 individuals over 65 and nearly half over 85 are affected. Rare, inherited forms of Alzheimer’s can even strike individuals in their 30’s and 40’s.
· A person with Alzheimer’s disease will live an average of eight years and as many as 20 years or more from the first onset of symptoms.
· More than 7 out of 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease live at home, where family and friends provide 80 percent of their care. The estimated value of this informal care is $257 billion annually.
· One half of the U.S. population has a chronic condition. More than one quarter (26.6%) of the adult population provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend, which translates to more than 50 million people.
· 37% of caregivers are living in the same household as the person they care for. 54% are between 35 and 64 years of age. 59% of the adult population either is or expects to be a family caregiver, and 2 million more caregivers will be needed in the next twenty years.
· An estimated 43% of Americans age 65 or older will spend time in a nursing home. By 2012, 75% of Americans over age 65 will require long-term care. Long-term care costs are rising at 6% annually.
· The annual cost of Alzheimer’s care in the U.S. is at least $100 billion, and will soar to at least $375 billion by mid-century, overwhelming our health care system and bankrupting Medicare and Medicaid.
· Alzheimer’s disease costs American business $61 billion a year, which is equivalent to the net profits of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies. $24.6 billion covers Alzheimer health care, and $36.5 billion covers costs related to caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s, including lost productivity, absenteeism and worker replacement.
THREE WAYS TO PAY FOR LONG-TERM CARE
1. Pay for in-home caregivers and assisted living/nursing homes out of pocket. This is expensive and can often deplete a family’s life savings.
2. Meet a very specific poverty level and qualify for government assistance through the Medicaid program. Unfortunately, options are limited, only paying for nursing homes that accept Medicaid.
3. Buy a Comprehensive Long-Term Care Insurance policy. This protects your family’s assets from the rising costs of caring for someone who needs full time care. An employer might pay the tax-deductible premiums. Consider buying it at a younger age, when more affordable and accessible. It must be bought before a major illness strikes. Medicare and regular health insurance does not pay for long-term care. The average cost for a person who needs long-term care is $40-$70,000 annually, depending on where you live, plus the cost to the family caregiver who may have to leave their job.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR INSURANCE AGENT
--Is the coverage comprehensive, meaning it includes all levels of care: in the home, assisted living, board & care, and nursing/dementia facilities?
--What is the daily benefit?
--Is there 5% annually compounded inflation protection?
--What is the elimination period?
--Is it a lifetime benefit period or a limited time benefit policy?
--Is there a spousal discount?
--Can you hire caregivers privately as well as from an agency?
--Is the home care benefit based on a daily, weekly or monthly maximum, and if the benefit is not used, can it be used in the future?
--Does it cover home care coordination of services?
--How many ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living) does it take to trigger a claim?
--Is there a time limit for filing a claim?
--Does it cover the cost of Adult Day Care & Adult Day Health Care, hospice and respite programs?
--Is it a tax-qualified plan?
--Is the company highly rated and have they ever raised premiums?
--Can you see the company’s published annual audit to check their track record for paying claims?

Can I Really Afford Personal Dental

2008-03-12T03:08:00.000-07:00

Many people simply will not purchase dental insurance because they believe the cost is too high relative to the return they will realize on that expense. For people who take great excellent of their teeth, dental insurance can seem like an unnecessary expense.

This notion is far from good logic though. It is highly probable the recommended checkups alone will eat up most of the cost of a typical insurance plan. You may not require any serious maintenance procedures in the immediate future but research will show that most people require several expensive trips to the dentist throughout their lifetime. The probability of some serious issue increases with age. Very few people can go a lifetime without at least a small cavity and periodic cleanings and checkups are recommended for everyone, including those who maintain rigid personal oral hygiene practices.

Can I Get Insurance Without an Employer's Plan?

It is a well known fact that dental insurance can be rather expensive. If you are self-employed, the costs of personal dental insurance can make the decision about purchase, a very difficult decision to make.

Personal dental insurance will undoubtedly cost you more than a group plan offered through an employer. This is because the cost of insurance offered through an employer is partially paid for by that employer. Therefore the cost is shared between the company and its employees and the employees enjoy lower premiums.

Self-employed people must bear the full cost of the insurance and are forced to either go without dental insurance or to pay high premiums for personal dental insurance. The American Dental Association reports that over half of the American population has no dental insurance. Surprisingly, this includes a number of persons whose employers do offer sponsored plans.

Personal Dental Insurance is Widely Available, and Not as Expensive as you Might Think

The insurance industry has recognized the need for affordable personal dental insurance, and there are now several additional options available to you. The most quick and simple way to find a personal dental insurance plan is by conducting some research via the internet.

If you search for personal dental insurance or private dental insurance, you are going to see a huge number of results returned for that search. You must research carefully. Not all of these websites represent legitimate companies. In addition to that, not all of the legitimate companies will offer a plan that fits your budget.

The best way to avoid illegitimate insurance providers is to look for Company names you are familiar with. That is not to say it is wrong to give a new company a chance at your business. You must first do some research to determine definitely that they are a respectable business.

After you have found some companies that appear to offer the package you need and you have established that they are reputable, you may then proceed to price comparisons. Pricing schemes may be immediately available on the internet or you may be required to submit a request for prices.

A personal dental insurance quote should detail your monthly fees, services covered in full and services which are only partially covered. This will allow you to compare the costs of the plan against an estimate of potential dental fees you may be faced with. It is recommended that you do this comparing cost with several companies.

This research should yield a personal dental insurance provider who can give you the coverage you need at an acceptable price. Unfortunately no dental insurance is cheap. However, the monthly premium will be a Godsend when you need emergency dental work and the cost climbs into the category of several thousands of dollars.

4 Discount Dental Plan Tips To Keep In Mind

2008-03-12T03:07:00.000-07:00

If you are not sure what to look for, but are in need of a discount dental plan, this article may be for you. Here are four tips to keep in mind before you choose a discount dental plan.

One: You want to make sure you pick the dental plan carefully. You can find numerous discount dental plans online or you can visit a comparison site that will allow you to view all of the discount dental plans that are in your area, including dental discounts and what the yearly fees will be.

To find the ones that have the coverage that you need it is important that you thoroughly check out each of the individual plans. Once you find the plan that you want to use you can sign up for it online or you can call a toll free number to sign up.

Two: If you have any questions you want to get them answered first before you sign up. If you use a comparison site then some of them will have a toll free number that you can call to get answers to your questions.

If you still have questions about them do not sign up for any of the dental plans. Always find out the answers first because this will help you decide if that plan is the right one for your needs.

You may want to keep a notebook and list some of the features and benefits of the various plans to go back and review. You will want to zero in on what is most important to you and not what a website is trying to make most important.

Three: Before you decide to use a dental plan you need to find out if your dentist is a part of that plan. If they are not then you need to decide if you want to use a plan that your dentist is not a part of.

You can talk to your dentist about plans that they are a part of if you really do not want to use a new dentist. Also some dentists may consider adding your plan to what they offer if you are a really good customer.

Four: If you know of a specific procedure you need done you can get a price quote on it. Then compare it to the price in other plans to see how competitive it is.

This is 4 discount dental plan tips you can use when you are comparing plans. There are many good plans to choose from if you take the time and do a little research before you join.

Why You Shouldn't Feel Guilty About Paying Your Dentist Cheap Dollars

2008-03-12T03:06:00.001-07:00

How do you know when you are paying in cheap dollars? It's when you're paying your dentist through a cheap dental insurance plan or a plan that gives you deep discounts.

But there's really no need to feel guilty or to even think of yourself as cheap if you're shelling out practically nothing for all the hard work that your dentist did - he certainly won't go broke that way.

To be a dentist in America is to have a work-for-hard ticket to becoming a millionaire. If we go by known figures, an orthodontist earn on the average $365,000 annually for a 35-hour week. Dental schools have been blamed for this phenomenon - they've been accused of intentionally keeping the supply of professional orthodontists low so professional fees can be high (as if the schools are earning commissions from their graduates).

Orthodontists are specialists in the field of dentistry - they manipulate the alignment of teeth, among other things. General dentists earn less than their orthodontic counterparts, precisely because orthodontists need to undergo two years of specialized training. While the average orthodontist earns $149 per hour, the general dentist earns $92 per hour.

The cost of dental fees alone is enough reason for anyone to take a cheap dental insurance plan or a dental discount plan. Keep in mind the differences between the two: with dental insurance there are premiums to be paid and paperwork to be processed, but there are practically no out-of-pocket expenses except for the deductible fee.

With a dental discount plan, there are none of the hassles associated with insurance. However, keep in mind that with these types of plans, even if you pay the annual fee to the plan provider, you will only be offered discounts on professional fees.

Dental Insurance & Dental Plans - The Difference

2008-03-12T03:05:00.000-07:00

Most people would not the difference between dental insurance and dental plans. For some, it could mean the same thing - with the word "dental" on both, they would invariably mean saving money on dentist's fees.

However, in real life scenarios there is a difference in convenience between dental insurance and dental plans.

Just like any other insurance program, obtaining the benefit from you dental insurance plan can be a lengthy, albeit complicated, process. To be even covered, a patient must go through a paperwork process and be reviewed for pre-existing conditions. There is also a long waiting period that any one must put up with.

When a person is already covered, and when he has a procedure done, a claim is filed with the insurance company and then the company will send the money, either to the patient (under a reimbursable plan) or to the dentist under a regular plan. Apart from the monthly premium, you will usually have to pay some deductible to benefit from your plan. Of course, not all companies are created alike, and different companies actually have different fees, practices, and claims process.

A dental plan, on the other hand, is not an insurance plan. It's more like a discount plan. You are still able to go to a dentist on the network at any time. With a dental plan, you only need to pay an annual fee - and there are no waiting periods, claim forms, deductibles, or pre-existing conditions. What this is all means is that you will need to pay the discounted dentist's fees from out of your own pocket.

There are an equal number of people who want dental insurance and plans. If you're like most people, then you're probably looking for a cheap dental insurance Have a look around on the Internet and you'd probably see that there as many providers as the number of teeth that you have. At any rate, do not think for a moment that dental plans are dental insurance plans, because they are not.

The combined listings of dental networks in the United States total over 210,000 dentists, so there's a good chance you will find a dentist you like.

Individual Dental Insurance Policies Promote Good Dental Care

2008-03-12T03:04:00.000-07:00

As strange as it may seem, the facts are that any good individual dental insurance policy will actually improve your quality of life when you take advantage of its benefits. Over the last few years it has become common knowledge that our dental health has a direct impact on our overall health.

Unfortunately for many, good, regular, and consistent dental care is becoming cost prohibitive for many people in today's society. While it is true that everything is going up in price at a pace faster than that of the cost in the dental industry, it is also true that people find it very easy to move good dental health care to the bottom of their priority list. These same people fail to realize that their mistaken priorities can result in serious health problems.

Many people believe that because they brush their teeth and floss every day and their teeth appear to be pearly white that everything is fine. Unfortunately this it is also true that these very same people are shocked when at three o'clock in the morning they are awakened by serious dental pain. Then not only is there a painful shock there will soon be an extreme financial shock as they now prepare to pay for more extensive dental work.

Many people put off regular and consistent dental care because of the perceived high cost of a dental appointment. And, in reality, spending $100 or $200 for an examination and x-rays can be a serious expenditure for many people. This is why many individuals in the United States are turning to individual dental insurance policies as part of their healthcare arsenal.

Individual dental insurance policies give to the policyholders the possibility of balancing out dental costs over the course of a 24 month period. While a dental policy or dental plan does not have to be maintained for such a long period of time it does become very much more cost effective for the policyholder to do so.

Any good dental insurance plan or even one of the many discount dental plans available on the market now will go a long way toward helping you to manage your costs. While many people are discouraged from going to the dentist on a regular basis because of their fear of pain, in the overwhelming majority of cases the issue is really financial.

For people concerned with the financial impact of regular dental care on their budgets it is wise to do just a couple of moments of research to find out what insurance plans are available to you in your ZIP code and how much the monthly premium cost will be.

Dental Insurance

2008-03-12T03:03:00.001-07:00

The HMO dental plans needs you to choose one dentist or dental group to handle all of your dental care needs. PPO dental plans allow you to choose from a list of different dentists in your location. Also included with discount dental plans, these are not dental insurance, but can provide you with the freedom to visit any dentists at considerable discounts over their standard charge, though they are seemingly rare, but the indemnity dental insurance plans are also available to provide freedom to choose the dentist from your choice on a higher out of pocket expenditure.

Insurance premiums related with dental plans are always affordable and it varies depending with the type of dental insurance plan you have selected. Basically, the most affordable dental insurance is the kind that is paid off by your employer but not everybody has this accessible to them. When reviewing dental insurance options available for you, make sure to compare the monthly premium with the level of benefits you'll receive under dental plans. Dental plans has this annual maximum benefit level which is directly related to the monthly premium you paid for coverage. Plans with higher monthly premium can provide higher level of benefit which can be a merit to additional monthly charge.

Dental insurance can be acquired as a separate policy the medical insurance policy, A lot of employers offer both group medical and dental insurance as two different policies, which can also provide you with extra savings. Comparing dental insurance policy, deciding one to purchase, its important to calculate your individual situation. It might have an advantage if you've got children, nevertheless dental insurance makes sense if you have no teeth left and have a previous history for dentures.

Dental insurance is the least popular of all insurance benefits that people may carry. Most of the time, even employer sponsors health care plans will not combine medical and health insurance. A lot of medical type insurance plans cover an emergency dental care, very specific restrictions that apply to coverage. There is also a routine dental care examinations, cleaning, fillings and so forth. In fact, dental coverage is always limited to repair otherwise naturally sound tooth which suffers from damage as a result of an accident or an injury.

If you haven't got a current dental insurance policy and your employer won't offer you one, you can also get a separate policy through an agent or a dental insurance company. An agent will be able to assist you and offer you quotes to compare prices and coverage of potential dental policies, by then you can evaluate if the cost of the premium will have a possible offer to any offset expenses you normally pay. If you wish to pay the dentist a visit annually for an examination or cleaning, it can be more cost efficient to simply pay cash.

Dental Insurance for Individuals - Indemnity or Discounts?

2008-03-09T04:31:00.000-07:00

Low-cost dental insurance for people who do not have it from an employer is often difficult to find but well worth the search. Indemnity insurance allows one to use any licensed dentist while discount plans restrict plan holders to specific dentists. The problem then is deciding which individual dental plan purchase is best for you.

Naturally people will find a wide variety of pricing for the various plans. Unlike a bottle of ketchup which is catsup which is still just plain old catsup no matter what brand you buy, prices for individuals seeking dental insurance will vary primarily because the benefits vary significantly from insurance policy to policy. All varieties of catsup are pretty much the same thing but this is hardly true of dental insurance plans designed for individual purchase.

While the wide range of benefits and waiting periods can make it difficult to compare prices easily for dental insurance that very same variety of insurance provisions can help you find precisely the dental policy that you are looking for. You will want to compare deductibles and look for a dental insurance plan that will have a significantly lower deductible for preventive services. This can be a good indicator of a policy that is slanted a little bit more toward the consumer than plans that discourage people from obtaining preventive dentistry.

On the other hand, some varieties of discount dental plans provide full benefits to the individual almost immediately. The restriction is that you may have to go to specific dentists that participate in the program but sometimes the advantage of having immediate full coverage makes it desirable to work within these restrictions. All dentists in these plans are licensed and monitored by the appropriate board of dentistry and are competent to perform the work that you need.

For most people, the advantage of a lower priced discount dental plan is completely negated by the fact that their dentist does not participate individually in any discount plans. For people who have a trusting relationship with their dentist there is simply no substitute for a good indemnity dental insurance plan that allows them to continue receiving treatment from their favorite dentist.

Dental Insurance

2008-03-09T04:27:00.002-07:00

Individual Dental Insurance Policies Promote Good Dental Care

2008-03-09T04:27:00.001-07:00

Dental Insurance & Dental Plans - The Difference

2008-03-09T04:25:00.001-07:00

Why You Shouldn't Feel Guilty About Paying Your Dentist Cheap Dollars

2008-03-09T04:23:00.000-07:00

Privileges in Applying for SSI Benefits

2008-03-05T22:24:00.001-08:00

The Supplemental Security Income program of the federal government is certainly an important tool in alleviating the suffering of those poor people who are greatly in need of financial support. This particular program aims to help those disabled, blind or 65 yrs. old above individuals with insufficient earnings and resources.

How to apply

Call the Social Security Administration office in your State and schedule an appointment with them. You may also personally visit their office anytime you find it comfortable but you may have to wait for your turn to be assisted by their personnel. You will then be asked to complete an application form and to submit it along with these documents depending on your case:

Social Security Card or number

Birth certificate or any legal documents that will prove your age

Proofs of citizenship or alien status records

Proofs of income such as payrolls, most recent tax returns

Proofs of resources such as your bank statement of accounts, deeds of all your properties aside from the house you presently live, insurance policies, burial contracts, stocks, bonds and your vehicle registration

Proof of living arrangements

Medical records including the names, addresses and contact information of your attending doctors

Employment record

It is important to bring original copies of such documents for verification. The SSA will return the copies after determining its authenticity. They will not accept photocopied documents.

When to apply

It is very much advisable to apply immediately after you have determined your qualification for SSI for you not to lose your benefits. The SSA will not reimburse any payments for such periods earlier than the date of your actual application. You should also know that your application would not be charged.

The SSA's obligation

As the duly mandated government agency to handle the SSI program, the SSA has the duty to help you regarding the following tasks:

completing your application forms based on the information that you would impart them

gather the required documents in case you do not have them yet or you are having any difficulties in acquiring them

pay for your medical examination in case you do not have money to spend for it (applicable for disabled or blind claimants)

Your right to representation

The law definitely allows you to hire the assistance of an experienced Social Security lawyer or representative to handle your SSI claim. This is very much favorable especially for those who do not have much time to spend in managing their cases or those who can hardly understand the procedures in filing.

Your right to be notified

The SSA or your lawyer has the obligation to notify you about the progress of your petition from time to time or if some important matters that occur in your case.

Your right to examine your file

You or your legal counsel may request a copy of the information about your case. However, they would not give you some confidential issues.

Your right to appeal

If you are unhappy about the decision of the SSA, you may still file an appeal for review of your case. This process includes three appeal levels.

Know the privileges you are entitled to as applicant of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Claim benefits with the help of Los Angeles Lawyers.

Rainier used to work in a publishing company as a writer and eventually became an associate editor. He dealt in writing instructional materials for secondary and tertiary students. His passion in writing inspired him to read a lot and subsequently enabled him to gain more knowledge and skills.

Social Security Matters - An Attorney's Concern

2008-03-05T22:22:00.002-08:00

Have you been informed on what Social Security Administration really is? Well, you should be so aware of such because it could truly bring great benefits to you and to your family as well. With this query in mind, you really need to acquire the legal assistance and expertise of Social Security attorneys.

Primarily, these legal professionals would emphasize that the SSA can grant benefits in three different categories - when someone retires, if he becomes disabled and when he dies. This individual merely qualifies for a benefit by earning credits. Such may happen when he works in a job, pays the Social Security taxes and makes his contributions.

Each credit is based on his earnings and compensations, job description, the nature and background of his employment. These determine his eligibility and qualification on retirement and disability.

Meanwhile, there are specified special rules, which are applicable for each credit. As of this year, 2007, one may acquire one credit if he has $ 1000 of earnings - with the maximum of four credits annually. Each earned credit per a year always varies and depends on the level of average earnings.

Although, it has been stated on its terms and conditions that the received credits of each member remain into his record. This implies that his personal accounts in the SSA are all in tact even if he transfers from one job to another or stops working for quite some time.

With this, SSA has been implementing and conducting beneficial programs that have been able to reach out to a wide range of people for several years. One of these is social security disability insurance program, which is considered certainly practical and effective in giving financial assistance to those who need such.

Consequently, one starts to experience the privilege and benefits from his social security claims immediately right after his petition has been approved by the SSA. If these authorized personnel have been commended or have been agreed such application with all those pertinent and necessary data and documents, he may undergo procedures related to its approval and eligibility. This is where he mostly needs the legal representation of a judicial expert.

However, some people would still intend to file claims on their own, many would still want and even prefer to hire representatives. These professionals could really extend to them the need, assistance and support that they should acquire and truly deserve.

They also render competent legal services particularly in this field. In fact, they not only increase and strengthen the chances of obtaining higher chances of much favorable outcome, but also create positive outcome on their claims.

Furthermore, the Social Security attorneys, experienced on claim and benefit approval, have indeed the edge and advantage among the other general practitioners.

Rainier used to work in a publishing company as a writer and eventually became an associate editor. He dealt in writing instructional materials for secondary and tertiary students. His passion in writing inspired him to read a lot and subsequently enabled him to gain more knowledge and skills.

Minor Glitches in Insurance Benefits Claims

2008-03-05T22:22:00.001-08:00

Social security insurance benefits sometimes encounter problems in the processing of documents. These problems may be minor ones but they could cause a major delay in the delivery of much needed benefits to claimants.

The two main causes of delay in insurance benefits claims are in the initial stage of determining the eligibility and in the appeals process.

Determining disability

In the initial stage of a claim, most claimants fail to pass eligibility. The social security agency uses a five-step evaluation process in determining the disability.

• Substantial gainful activity - The agency investigates an applicant to know if he is engaged in work or any gainful activity. An application found to be engaged in any gainful work or occupation is likely to fail eligibility test.

• Severe impairment - The agency determines if the applicant has severe impairment, which means that the impairment could significantly affect the person's physical or mental ability.

• List of impairment - To check further, the agency has provided a list of impairment. An applicant whose condition meets that requirement of the list becomes eligible for the claims.

• Past relevant work - a medical assessment can help evaluate whether the impairment had prevented the applicant form performing past relevant work. It will also reveal the progression of his medical impairment.

• Other work - The investigation will also determine whether the applicant can perform other available existing work.

In any case, when an applicant fails to qualify in the criteria, he would have to undergo the appeals process. Because of the complex nature of the appeals process, a claimant would need legal assistance in pursuing his claim.

The appeals process is a three-step procedure:

1. Reconsideration. The reconsideration entails a complete review of the initial decision. A social security representative who may include new evidence submitted by claimant will conduct the review.

2. Hearing. An administrative law judge conducts a hearing. The hearing will give you the opportunity to present all valuable information you have, most importantly the medical statement from the doctor who attended to you.

3. Appeals Council Review. The council can either render a decision on the matter or send it back to the administrative law judge for further review.

A claimant who is dissatisfied with the final appeal may take his case to federal court within 60 days of the decision. In each stage of the appeal, the agency will notify you of the decision in which you are given time to respond

Common Reasons Why a Disability Insurance Claim Is Denied

2008-03-05T22:20:00.000-08:00

More often than expected, many disability insurance claims are denied in the initial stage. When this happens, different reasons for its rejection play in mind.

Here are some of the common reasons why a disability insurance claim is denied:

1. Lacks objective findings

The social security reviewer who looks into your application may dismiss your claim on the grounds that it lacked the so-called "objective findings" to substantiate your disability claim. Hard medical evidence such as blood tests, MRI results, x-rays, etc. of your physical or mental condition are sometimes needed by the claims reviewer to decide on your claim. Lack of this vital information often becomes an obstacle in the approval of a claim.

However, some disability insurance policies do not require the absence of objective findings as basis for the denial of a claim. In this case, you will need the help of a disability lawyer to help you pursue your claim.

2. You are not disabled from your occupation

A claim reviewer may also deny your claim on the basis that you are not disabled as defined in your occupation. You may be experiencing stress at work, but the claim reviewer will not consider this as disability required by your occupation.

Sometimes he may even use inaccurate job description to determine your disability and use it as basis for denial. In such case, you must get an explanation from the claim reviewer and consult a disability lawyer.

3. Pre-existing condition

A claim may be denied due to a pre-existing condition, which is expressed in your policy as a period of treatment for a medical condition before the coverage began.

4. Non-fulfillment of the elimination period

Elimination period is a time between 30 days to 6 months in which a claimant must be continuously disabled to be able to be eligible for benefits.

5. Not under the care and treatment of proper medical professional

To be recognized as a credible finding, a claimant must undergo treatment with a certified doctor or medical practitioner who can support his disability claim.

6. Self-reported symptoms exclusion

Self-reported symptoms are unacceptable reasons, which are excluded in some policies as a disabling condition. Headache, dizziness or fatigues are symptoms that are difficult to document by objective findings. Self-reported symptoms of an illness cannot be admitted as reasons in a claim unless they are stated in an official medical statement of a doctor as part of an objective medical finding.

More often than expected, many disability insurance claims are denied in the initial stage. When this happens, different reasons for its rejection play in mind.

Here are some of the common reasons why a disability insurance claim is denied:

1. Lacks objective findings

The social security reviewer who looks into your application may dismiss your claim on the grounds that it lacked the so-called "objective findings" to substantiate your disability claim. Hard medical evidence such as blood tests, MRI results, x-rays, etc. of your physical or mental condition are sometimes needed by the claims reviewer to decide on your claim. Lack of this vital information often becomes an obstacle in the approval of a claim.

However, some disability insurance policies do not require the absence of objective findings as basis for the denial of a claim. In this case, you will need the help of a disability lawyer to help you pursue your claim.

2. You are not disabled from your occupation

A claim reviewer may also deny your claim on the basis that you are not disabled as defined in your occupation. You may be experiencing stress at work, but the claim reviewer will not consider this as disability required by your occupation.

Sometimes he may even use inaccurate job description to determine your disability and use it as basis for denial. In such case, you must get an explanation from the claim reviewer and consult a disability lawyer.

3. Pre-existing condition

A claim may be denied due to a pre-existing condition, which is expressed in your policy as a period of treatment for a medical condition before the coverage began.

4. Non-fulfillment of the elimination period

Elimination period is a time between 30 days to 6 months in which a claimant must be continuously disabled to be able to be eligible for benefits.

5. Not under the care and treatment of proper medical professional

To be recognized as a credible finding, a claimant must undergo treatment with a certified doctor or medical practitioner who can support his disability claim.

6. Self-reported symptoms exclusion

Self-reported symptoms are unacceptable reasons, which are excluded in some policies as a disabling condition. Headache, dizziness or fatigues are symptoms that are difficult to document by objective findings. These of an illness cannot be admitted as reasons in a claim unless they are stated in an official medical statement of a doctor as part of an objective medical finding.

Important Pointers in Filling Up Disability Forms

2008-03-05T22:18:00.002-08:00

It is understandable that you would find completing several forms during the process of your social security disability claim as one of its most confusing aspects. The first thing you may even question yourself while you complete these forms is:

"Will the SSA take the time to look at the forms you have completed and filed?"

"Can these forms become one of the deciding factors in winning or losing your disability claim?"

However, no matter your assumptions that the way you have completed your form may become the main cause for the decision on your claim, you need to think again. The Social Security Administration (SSA) and/or Administrative law judges do not usually base their approval or denial of a claim on the forms you have completed.

They usually base their decisions based on compelling and objective evidences like medical and health records, and/or treatment doctor's opinions concerning your inability to perform substantial gainful activity (SGA).

However, there are times when some innocent statement indicated by the claimant in one of the forms filed as the main evidence that the SSA or judge used in denying his/her claim.

Remember that as claimant you have two kinds of inherent problem:

- your unawareness to the things that you need to prove for you to win your disability claim

- Your consistent downplaying of your medical and health problems' seriousness to all those present that may be listening.

While you are aware that you are applying for disability claims, therefore you have to prove that you are unable to perform substantial work, you still tend to understate the severity of your condition, symptoms and the limitations you are experiencing. Next thing you know, your chance of being approved of disability benefits is killed because of your false statements.

Moreover, these false statements usually begin upon your completing of the disability forms and submitting them to the SSA.

Here are the pointers in significantly reducing your unawareness in making mistakes all over the social security disability claim forms you are filling up:

1. Avoid writing too long narrations - remember, "Less words, few mistakes." There are spaces provided for your answers. Limit your answers in these given spaces and answer the questions directly. Avoid writing between the margins or attach additional papers.

2. Try to think that you are in a bad mood while you are answering the questions provided - the key is to indicate and prove that you are unable to perform a regular work activity level on a continuous level.

You can have an accurate assessment of the activity level you are able to perform if you answer the questions as if you are experiencing a bad day, since who can, indeed perform well if they are in a bad day?

3. Concentrate on the duration, frequency and the severity of your disability symptoms and work limitations - take care to mention every diagnosis that have even a small bit of an impact on your inability to perform your work and any other kind of work for that matter.

Nevertheless, most significantly do not forget to mention these three important issues connected to your disability, which will mainly, provide the reasons for your limitation to work and function, daily.

4. Control and suppress your perfectionist habits - make sure that you do not indicate your proficiency and eloquence in filling up the disability forms. The point is to indicate the seriousness of your condition.

Possibly, you may already be having memory and concentration problems and having problems with your motor and coordination skills. Thus, make sure that the condition you indicated in the medical report must show in the way you accomplished your forms.

5. Make sure that you indicate or leave evidence in the forms, of some psychological issues, even if they play just a small part in your inability to continue working.

If you are not confident of the way you have completed your disability claim forms, make sure you have it double-checked by an experienced social security disability lawyer or advocate.

An Overview of Social Security Disability Insurance

2008-03-05T22:18:00.001-08:00

Two programs are being enacted by the federal government, which provides benefits for individuals with disability. Collectively, these programs are being referred to as "Social Security disability benefits."

• Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits Program or SSDI Benefits - authorized by the Social Security Act, Title II and is geared towards providing benefits to workers with disability and / or their dependents and surviving spouses or children.

• Supplemental Security Income program or SSI - authorized by the Social Security Act, Title XVI and aimed at giving benefits to individuals with disability whose assets and income are below a particular level.

History of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits

It was in the year 1935 when the U.S. federal government set up a program geared towards providing elderly employees of commercial and industrial sectors with retirement benefits. The scheme of this program is enacted through the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or FICA, setting up a federal retirement fund that the employees are required to pay into. The employees remit into this fund through a regular deduction on their salary.

It is the Social Security and the Medicare programs that are funded after the withdrawal of FICA tax from the employees' salaries. Meanwhile, self-employed citizens can contribute to the FICA because of the federal tax returns.

By 1956, some protection policies covering the "involuntary retirement" options on the basis of disability were established. An individual, even if he / she has been forced to stop working because of a disability may still have access to the disability insurance. It would depend, however, on the period he / she have paid FICA taxes.

Objectives of SSDI

The main objective of the SSDI is to replace the regular income being received by people who have acquired a disability and can no longer work at all or hold down his/her present work, provided that he / she has remitted adequate FICA taxes.

Under the SSDI, different kinds of benefits are provided for family members when their major wage earner have acquired a disability or died.

The SSDI program is being financed by the Social Security taxes being paid by employees, employers and self-employed individuals. SSDI benefits can be paid to workers with disability, widows or widowers, and children or disabled since childhood adults if they are eligible.

Availing SSDI benefits

The Social Security has a particular definition of disability that need to be met in order to become eligible to receive SSDI benefits. The main requirement to gain medical eligibility under the SSDI program is the inability by an individual to perform any kind of Substantial Gainful Activity or SGA for 12 months or more.

This medical definition of disability is also the requirements used to become eligible under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

Determining disability

The person with disability should have been unable to perform SGA due to an impairment affecting the physical or mental capacity and is medically determinable. The impairment can also either be expected to last continuously for at least 12 months or result in death.

Receiving benefits

After meeting the requirements given by the disability evaluation and the disability is already proven, the payments of SSDI benefits will commence. The beneficiary needs to wait for a period of 5 months since it is during the sixth month after the disability began that benefits payment start. It will continue up to the second month's end of the disability.

SSI Benefits for Children with Disability

2008-03-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is implementing two major benefits program focused on workers with disability. One of these two programs is the Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This program being administered by the SSA intends to grant income to citizens who are impoverished and lacking in necessities like food, clothing and shelter.

SSI benefits may be paid for individuals with disability or elderly with the age of 65 years old and above who have met the program's income requirements.

The Social Security enforces the SSI program's income requirements, carefully and meticulously.

Here are several of the requirements that need to be met by claimants of SSI benefits in order to qualify:

• People that has limitations in income and resources

• People with impairments in vision

• People with disability

• Elderly people

In particular, children with disabilities and their families may also qualify to receive SSI benefit payments:

Children with disabilities - the parent of a child/children suffering from certain medical conditions, which is classified as a disability may become qualified to receive payments on account of the SSI, benefits program.

The conditions that the child is suffering from may not be limited to medical diseases. It may also include learning and behavioral disorders.

If you find that, your child may be qualified according to the SSI program's medical requirements, your entire household need to meet specific income requirements as imposed by the SSI program, as well.

The Social Security would consider the following:

- earnings of the child's parents

- money saved in the bank

- total value of any accounts for retirement

- family investments

- additional property beside the family's primary residence

- more than one vehicle owned by the family may also be counted as part of the family's resources

In order for your family's resources to meet the qualifications set by the SS the total countable value of the resources, involving money in cash, investments, countable property and vehicles must not exceed $2,000. If you still have money saved in the bank which, when counted, have put you over the qualified resource limit, your family may choose to spend the money already in order for you to qualify.

Your family can use your excess money for whatever purpose you see fit. Once you have already reached the $2,000 resource limit, your disabled child may then become eligible for the benefits under the SSI program.

Qualifying in the requirements, becoming eligible and ultimately becoming approved for SSI benefits may seem bothersome for you.

However, when your child becomes eligible for payments under the SSI benefits program, you may also be enrolled in your respective State's Medicaid. The Medicaid could be a great help for the payment of medical expenses and prescription medication of your child. Furthermore, you may also qualify to receive food stamps.

You can contact the Social Security's toll-free number for more information about how to qualify for benefits under the SSI program.

Social Security Disability and Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs, and Jail

2008-03-05T22:14:00.000-08:00

Some people applying for Social Security disability benefits wonder if they still qualify if they smoke, drink, use drugs, or are (or have been) in jail. Here we will discuss what Social Security looks at to make a disability decision.

Many applicants smoke, and it may not affect your claim all that much. However, if your disability is emphysema or COPD, or another breathing disorder that is probably linked to your smoking habit, Social Security will ask if you have attempted to quit. Those who have quit the habit or have drastically cut back on smoking have a much better chance of being approved for disability. Those who are aware of the harmful effects smoking has on their body, but have not cut back at all, are frowned upon and may have their claim denied unless other disabilities exist.

When it comes to alcohol and drug addictions, Social Security has completely changed the system in the last decade or so. There used to be a listing that allowed those who were addicted to alcohol or drugs to be approved, under the reasoning that they had an uncontrollable addiction. However, Social Security realized that these recipients were probably using taxpayers' money, or their disability checks, to fuel their habits. So Social Security turned things around. Now, if it is determined that an applicant has "any material involvement" with drugs or alcohol, they are denied.

That being said, if an applicant has a disability that may possibly be related to alcohol or drugs, but it is questionable, there is still a chance of being approved for disability (for instance, liver failure). These situations are sometimes hard to prove, but it happens quite often.

If an applicant applies for Social Security disability benefits while in jail, it probably won't affect his or her disability claim much unless the period of disability is relatively the same period as the person was in jail. For instance, if a claimant says he has been disabled for three years, and has spent a month in jail, Social Security will consider the time before and the time after the jail sentence. If a claimant says he has been disabled for two years, and most of that period was spent in jail, Social Security may deny the claim. Generally speaking, a person is ineligible for disability benefits while he or she is in jail or prison.

If a person already receiving benefits spends time in jail, and the time is less than a year, Social Security will suspend the disability benefits only during that period of time. When the person is released, benefits will begin again automatically. If the period of time is over a year, however, the person must reapply and begin the process all over again.

One more thing to note is that the severity of the crime he or she has been convicted for may have a bearing on a Social Security decision. For instance, using or selling drugs would probably result in a denial.

Whatever situation you are in, and wherever you are in the process, best of luck

Disability Income - Improving Cash Flow When Life's Got You Down

2008-03-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

Ongoing health issues not only damage quality of life; they can also wreak havoc on finances. Fortunately, if your old ways of earning a living become impossible, you need not despair. You can take positive steps to improve your cash flow:

1. Know your rights. If you suffered an on-the-job injury or car accident, you might qualify for Workman's Compensation or Disability Insurance. Contact your state's Workman's Compensation Department, and/or ask someone to review your insurance policy. Depending on the severity and duration of your symptoms, you might also be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These options require significant paperwork and follow-thru, but they can sometimes keep you afloat when income plummets. (Keep in mind that SSI limits your ability to receive money from other sources, so consult with an attorney or social worker before you apply for benefits. Even if you do meet the criteria, people often need to submit multiple appeals before they see any checks. If you expect permanent disability and want SSI, it pays to get an early start and remain persistent.)

2. Get proper treatment. When poor health keeps you from working, getting well makes good financial sense. If your symptoms mystify your doctors, you might want to explore the possibility of often misdiagnosed conditions like Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Traditional medicine marginalizes neurological symptoms and chronic pain, but some experts specialize in these conditions. Do your research. Finding the right treatment provider(s) can start you on the path to physical and financial recovery.

3. Contact organizations designed to help you. For example, if you experience visual problems, call your state's Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired. They can sometimes provide software or hardware to enlarge computer screens, create auditory versions of the written word, offer job retraining or funding for treatment options. Suffered trauma? Ask your hospital about occupational therapy (O.T.) options. Investigate local, state and national organizations that offer scholarships or grants for people with various disabilities or backgrounds.

4. Become an affiliate. If you already recommend products or books to people you know, you can become a ClickBank or Amazon affiliate. This need not involve posting online ads or giving a major sales pitch. It just means you can earn commissions for products you already recommend. ClickBank sellers usually offer 50% or more commission, and Amazon "Associates" earn up to 10% on qualifying purchases. If you find yourself raving about particular products or services, find out if the company will compensate you for referrals.

5. Get creative. Some of our greatest artists and writers began their careers while bedridden or house bound. The lawyer Henri Matisse only started painting during a long recovery from appendicitis. SurvivorsArtFoundation.org "is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization committed to empowering trauma survivors with effective expressive outlets via internet art gallery, outreach programs, national exhibitions, publications and development of employment skills." They aim "to enable the survivor/artists to display and market their works to give them recognition, hope and direction by implementing this innovative approach to healing." Kaleidoscope Magazine of United Disability Services publishes creative work by, for or about people with disabilities-including award winning content by some of the best writers of our time. Latent creative abilities often surface when traditional skills falter. Consider this time an opportunity to let your inner artist shine!

6. Focus on service. If you're struggling with these health issues, others probably are, too. Brainstorm ideas of how to help people in your situation. Many a business began when people simply brought into being what they sensed would help their own recovery. If you have stumbled upon a "miracle cure," unusual technique, or special technology that helped you heal, consider sharing your discoveries with others. Write articles and/or books; create a recovery blog with online sponsors; start a non-profit organization; raise awareness; learn, practice and eventually teach alternative healing techniques. If you don't feel like you can work for someone else, then work from home. You can set your own hours and still make a major difference in this world. Inspiring others will enhance your own recovery!

7. Find your purpose. People say, "Everything happens for a reason" and we so want to believe that's true! When life shuts out most opportunities, consider carefully the skills or talents that remain. Sometimes Destiny arrives in the form of disabilities that remove all other options. Do you have an unusual or hidden gift? A sense of calling or special mission? Life has a funny way of supporting our deepest longings and most dramatic offerings. And the sooner we embrace our path, the easier that road becomes. "Impossible" synchronicities make regular appearances. Words, food and money arrive at just the proper time. Almost before we realize what's happening, Life returns-and with it, the abundance we so crave.

Social Security Disability Insurance Requirements and an Attorney's Worth

2008-03-05T22:11:00.001-08:00

In the United States, any disabled person is eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI. This federal program aims to provide financial support to those workers who can no longer perform their jobs and sustain their daily necessities.

Requirements

In applying for disability insurance with the Social Security Administration, the applicants are required to bring the following documents to their initial interviews:

Social Security Number

Original copy of birth certificate or any valid document that will prove the applicant's age

Names, addresses and contact information of healthcare professionals, hospitals and clinics that rendered their medical services to the applicant, as well as the dates the treatment or rehabilitation took place

List of jobs and companies done in the past

Latest copy of the applicant's W-2 form or federal tax returns if the applicant happen to be self-employed

Note: The SSA is willing to help the applicants to obtain these documents to complete the needed information

Aside form these documents, an applicant must have also met the required number of work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits. The required credits will depend on the age when he began working. Further information regarding this may be seen on the SSA's website at www.ssa.gov.

How does the SSA Determines Disability

After the applicants submitted their SSDI applications, an evaluation team from the State's Disability Determination Services (DDS) office will assess their cases. This group of individuals is consisted of a health care specialist and an expert disability evaluator.

The following conditions will be used in determining an applicant's disability:

A person's disability must hinder him from exercising "substantial gainful activities."

Impairments included on the approved list of illnesses will be processed directly. Those that are not will still have to be determined based on its severity.

The applicant's disability must affect his capability to perform similar jobs that he or she had for the last fifteen years.

An applicant who receives a monthly income of $500 or above is more likely be denied.

Problems in Applying for Benefits

More often than not, most applicants will receive case denial notice from the SSA on their initial filing. These troubles are usually caused by the applicants' improper way of filing his petition or their failure to meet the terms set by the SSA. Thus, most of them were not able to convince the Social Security adjuster who decides on their applications.

Because of this, most of the claimants still have to pursue their Social Security benefits application and file an appeal with the Administrative Law Judge - necessitating them further time and efforts. And in some cases, they even have to spend more money to continue their application.

To resolve these issues, all applicants who are not that sure about the proper filing are encouraged to appoint their Social Security Disability Insurance attorneys. These legal professionals have their capacity to handle any benefits applications until it gain approval from the SSA.

To add, experienced representatives can detach the disabled workers from further stress and burden in pursuing their claims.

Rainier is currently among the proud members of the Mesriani Law Group that serves clients in Los Angeles, California. He was tasked to write articles and legal contents to further enhance the knowledge of the internet users regarding Personal Injury, Labor Law, Business Law and Social Security Disability.

Social Security Disability - What is a Disability?

2008-03-05T22:10:00.000-08:00

Social Security Administration's Definition of Disability

The Social Security Administration has some qualifications to be considered a disability. To be defined as a disability, two conditions must be met:

1. The person is unable to do the work for which the disabled person is suited making at least $900 gross income per month (known as a Substantial Gainful Activity or SGA)
2. The condition has lasted continuously or is expected to last continuously for at least one year or will probably result in death.

Disabilities that meet these two requirements can be either mental or physical in nature or a combination of both types. The particular disability doesn't matter as long as the two requirements are met.

Social Security defines disability for these purposes to be a total disability, not a partial disability. The person applying for benefits must be considered completely disabled.

How is Ability to Do Work for Which You are Suited Determined?

In order to determine if you are unable to work, the Social Security Administration looks at two things:

1. You must be unable to perform the type of work you did for the past 15 years for a year or longer
2. You must be unable to perform any other type of work for which you are qualified

Other work for which you are qualified refers to work to which you could reasonably transfer your skills and is based upon your age, education, work experience, and any mental and/or physical limitations that you may have.

Time and Age Limits

There is no set length of time you can accrue benefits. As long as you meet the requirements of having a disability, you will receive Social Security Disability benefits.

There is no set age limit to receiving benefits. Once you reach age 65, however, your benefits will automatically convert into retirement benefits.

Earliest Time You May File a Claim

You must be disabled for five months prior to filing a claim. This is because benefits don't accrue until six months after the date of onset of your disability. The date of onset is the date when you were first unable to perform your work.

Social Security Disability - 5 Tips to Get Approved

2008-03-05T22:08:00.000-08:00

No matter where you are in the process of applying for Social Security disability, it can seem very daunting. You must deal with stacks of paperwork, phone calls, medical records, appeals, and often a long wait. Here are some tips that should help you have the best chance of being approved for disability.

Tip #1: Appeal, appeal, appeal. Those who do not understand the Social Security process become discouraged when their disability claim is denied. If they knew how the system works, it would seem more like a step on the disability ladder than the end of the road. About 70% of initial applications are denied. When the decision is appealed, most are denied at the reconsideration level as well (some states skip this stage). But the next level, the hearing level, has a high chance of success. The difficult part is the wait--from the initial disability application to the hearing date, you may wait for years. Tip number one is to appeal every denial--appeal immediately, and don't be daunted if you are denied even several times. Perseverance really does pay off in the Social Security world.

Tip #2: Pay attention to the details.Some people simply want to get their application in as quickly as possible, and they fail to read the paperwork they are signing. Take the time to understand the paperwork as you sign. Social Security has case workers who are paid to help you understand the process and exactly what will be required of you at each stage in the process. Take advantage of them. Ask questions. If Social Security asks for medical records for a specific doctor, get every single paper that doctor will give you. If Social Security asks for specific work history information, be as specific as you can possibly get--phone numbers, addresses, names, letters, etc. Often these little details can mean the difference and get you approved.

Tip #3: Build your medical evidence.Many applicants don't understand how important medical evidence is in their disability claim. See your doctor(s) as frequently as is reasonably possible. Ask him or her for an opinion on your ability to work, and for details on restrictions. If possible, get a copy of the Functional Capacity form from Social Security and have your doctor complete it for Social Security. If you haven't seen a doctor in awhile, find one that is knowledgable and reputable about your disability. If you cannot afford to see a doctor, do whatever it takes to be seen. Check with your state to see if there are any programs that may help. Ask the County Health Department about the services they offer. Get loans from friends or ask the clinic if they will accept monthly payments. Whatever you do, don't allow your medical evidence to come mainly from Social Security's doctors. Remember that you are building evidence to support your case, so you need to be assertive.

Tip #4: If you must work while you wait, follow Social Security's rules. A common mistake among Social Security Disability, applicants is to work too much while they are waiting for their decision. If you show that you can work a certain amount of hours, or earn a certain amount of money, you will be denied. It doesn't matter if this occurs before you apply, during the application process, or even after you are approved. Social Security watches this very carefully. If you are able to meet and surpass SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) requirements, it is over. Be very careful not to accept shifts or salaries that will put you over this limit. For 2008, the monthly SGA limit is $940. For more information on SGA, check with Social Security.

Tip #5: Be prepared for your hearing. The hearing level holds the highest chance of success. The wait is long, but the outcome is often a letter of approval for those who are prepared. Be sure to have all medical evidence submitted in plenty of time. Dress comfortably but respectfully, and show what your daily life is like as best you can. Answer questions carefully, as each question by the judge is designed to determine if you can do some type of work. Be honest and straightforward about the specifics of your disability. If you want the highest chance of success possible, look into hiring a disability attorney. They work with Social Security, gather evidence, and present your case for you, so that the chances of being approved can be as high as 90%. Some will even complete the disability application for you. However, if you decide to go unrepresented, it is possible to win if you are prepared.

Whether you are in the middle of the Social Security process or just beginning, best of luck.

Disability Insurance

2008-03-05T22:07:00.001-08:00

Disability is very unpredictable, if you became disabled, your skill and chances of working could be halt, even though you still have few money left on you bank but what would happen if you're unable to sustain and maintain your short-tem needs? Or even unemployed for a month? Disability Insurance now comes in and is very useful, in fact this could even protect you from the long drag.

A look at the odds

Being disabled is quietly unexpected, the following events are as followed:

Event Frequency
Home fire 1 out of every 88 homes
Fatal auto accident 1 out of every 70 autos
Deaths 1 out of every 106 people
Disabilities 1 out of every 8 people

A glance at disability stats reveals the following below:

• 30 year old man has got 1 in 5 chances of tolerate disability before the planned retirement.
• 30 year old woman has got 1 in 3 chances of endure disability before her planned retirement.
• There are 50% of people who have to go thru disabilities longer that 6 months continues to be disabled after 5 years.
• There are two common causes of disabilities, these are Heart diseases and back problems.
• Majority of people lost their homes due to disabilities rather than fire or deaths.
• 1 in 7 employees will be disabled in 5 years before giving up with work.

Researches indicated that medicine had founded ways of treating many injuries and illness which are very severe, this maybe good news for you to increase your need to protect your income with disability insurances

Although, some of these statistics may show false information, there's a low possibility of you becoming disabled when your healthy and you work on a low level risk of job. Are you aware of how many people who undergo with cancer and severe great heart attack? Or even among your friends who had a fatal car accidents? With illness and being disabled? What if you'll experience these kinds of situations? How would you able to give support to you family or even for yourself?

What would happen if you became disabled?

Unfortunate events could strike you anytime of the day, especially when you have experience a sever physical damage and you couldn't work for a week or even months, what if your married and you've got children's funds to attend to but for sure your spouse can help you with the expenses, but being the head of the family, you also have your financial obligation for them. But what if your spouse can only support less income for the family?

You should also take note that you don't have to work on a dangerous kind of job in order to get disability insurance, injuries and fatalities could even occur at home or even illness can strike anyone. On this explanations and samples stated, one must think about and consider on getting disability insurance for their sake.

But isn't disability coverage through an employer or the government enough?

This thought might come into your head like your sufficiently insured against disability because of the exposure through your government programs like Social Security or workers compensations. There are 50% employers covers a short-term disability and 40% covers long-term disability, the government will pay your benefits if you can provide a firm explanation of disability, below are some ideas you may benefit.

• Social Security

- You should not expect too much on the benefits you can get from the disabilities you may have eligible from Social Security, they tend to deny more than 50% of the claims presented, depends again with your firm definition of disability. Even if you're estimated to have an eligible benefit, but still you won't be receiving them until for least 6 months from being disabled, social security imposes a waiting period.

• Workers' compensation

- you may be compensated with disability insurance benefit if your sick, injured or Ill due to job related reasons, you should also take note that your compensation for disability will only take effect when your disability is caused by work related, so it only offers limited protection. Other states only cover disabilities like diseases.

• Pension plans

- these pension plans may pay based on the total, permanent disability, minuses the retirement assessment equally to what you have received for disability, these benefits are usually included with social security or workers compensation, your benefits would be less than you might expect when you receive these disabilities from the government source.

Social Security Disability - What is Credible Evidence?

2008-03-05T22:05:00.000-08:00

When you apply for Social Security, you'll notice that medical information is mentioned often throughout the application and in other disability documents. This is because medical evidence is often the core of the Social Security Disability and SSI process. Social Security cannot make a decision on your claim without medical evidence. Here we will discuss five factors to consider while gathering medical evidence and what Social Security considers "credible evidence."

Factor #1: Evidence must be from an "acceptable medical source." Sources considered acceptable include licensed Medical Doctors, Optometrists, Podiatrists, Speech Pathologists, and Psychologists. Some exceptions may apply according to situation or location, but generally, if the medical practitioner is licensed, he or she is considered credible.

Factor #2: Evidence should be from a "treating" source. This means that the medical practitioner who has been treating you consistently, over a period of time, probably knows you and your disability the best. Medical records from several doctors who have seen you once or twice won't be very helpful to your disability claim. In addition, it may speed up the processing of your disability claim to have solid medical records from one (or two) source(s), and it means you probably won't have to see a Social Security doctor. Simply put, it is important to visit your doctor frequently and over a long period of time if possible.

Factor #3: Evidence from other health facilities if applicable. These health facilities include hospitals, clinics, and other sources you may have visited in regards to your disability. Social Security likes to have everything in your file before your case is considered, even if the records contain little valuable information. If you withhold medical records because they seem unimportant, Social Security may wonder if you are hiding something that may hurt your claim. They also have you complete medical authorizations for the purposes of requesting your medical records, so even if you do not supply these records, Social Security will acquire them. Thus it is best to provide all the information you can, and to request it all yourself to save time if possible.

Factor #4: Evidence from non-medical sources and other practitioners. This includes evidence regarding your ability to work, obtained from social workers, schools, family members, employers, and practitioners (considered non-medical by Social Security) such as chiropractors, audiologists, and herbal doctors.

Evidence from these sources can be helpful, but again, the medical records are the primary source of evidence and information that will be used to determine your disability claim.

Factor #5: What information medical records should include. Social Security especially looks for:medical history; clinical findings (i.e., results of physical or mental status exams); laboratory findings (blood pressure, x-rays, etc.); diagnosis; treatment prescribed with response and prognosis;and *a statement providing an opinion about what the claimant can still do despite his or her impairment(s), based on the medical source's findings on the above factors.

*This statement is often very helpful in your disability claim. Make sure the doctor includes any applicable information such as ability to perform work-related activities (such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, handling objects, hearing, speaking, and traveling). In cases involving mental impairments, it should describe ability to understand, to carry out and remember instructions, and to respond appropriately to supervision, coworkers, and work pressures in a work setting.

If you have insufficient medical records, Social Security will set up a Consultative Exam for you with an outside source chosen by Social Security. Remember that this exam is for Social Security's purposes and is not intended to give you ongoing care and treatment. Also remember that these doctors are very careful about giving the opinion of an individual being "disabled." Thus it is more beneficial to see your own doctor, often and over a period of time, before applying or during the process to avoid this situation. Wherever you are in the disability process, best of luck

Shopping Around For Quality Life Insurance

2008-03-04T21:57:00.001-08:00

There are many factors to consider when making a life insurance purchase. But hopefully the following few paragraphs will help explain in plain language the best choices to be made in order to obtain the best package for yourself and your individual circumstances.

At the outset choosing any financial product can be quite daunting as there are many choices to be made. You will have to take into account the services provided by a wide variety of companies, the return that you get from the product you purchase and indeed which product best suits your circumstances. The beauty of life insurance is that only two factors need be considered: the amount that you require and the timespan of that requirement. Once these are taken into account then it is simply a matter of choosing a company that suits your budget.

So what coverage is required? To offer up an example, insuring a 150,000 mortgage could mean taking out a 150,000 insurance policy. Your dependents will then be responsible for covering the debt in the event of your death.

If you are looking for life insurance to cover your family in the event of your death then what you need to assess is the amount of money that your family would require after you had passed away or what would make them comfortable.

The best way to assess this is to take into account your annual income. Lets say that you annual income is 30,000. In the event of your death your family would therefore be 30,000 worse off. So what would be required would be 30,000 cover per annum.

This can be done one of two ways. The first way is you could take out life insurance cover called family income benefit. This type of life insurance is designed to pay out a set amount of money every year for a set amount of time. Say for example 25,000 on a 25 year term this would obviously pay out 25,000 every year for the balance of the 25 years after you die.

Indexation can also be included in this type of policy. Essentially, the way indexation works is to increase the return on your policy each year in accordance with the average earnings index. In other words, your family will benefit from what your pay rise would have been had you still been alive.

The second option open to you is a lump sum life insurance plan. The difficulty posed with this type of policy is that you have to calculate how much of a lump sum you need to in order to guarantee your predetermined 35,000 payout per annum. This can prove problematic as you cannot predict how your money will be invested, nor can you know how much return it will give in the future. Therefore, with 35,000 being subtracted from an unknown amount every year, you cannot know how long it will last. The widely taken guideline is that you must factor in a minimum of 10 times the required amount, that is to say that 35,000 per annum requires a lump life insurance sum of 350,000.

All this said were a requirement such as a set amount of money per annum is there you should always strongly consider family income benefit because, as stated earlier it is designed to do one thing and that is to pay out an amount of money each year and to include a pay rise each year. This type of cover will always take out the uncertainty of investments and it is far better to know that your dependents are getting the right amount of money into the future.

To sum up the key points when shopping for the policy best for you, get enough cover to adequately meet your needs, it must be for the right length of time, it must cover the sum and be for the timeframe you specify. Internet based companies are a great source of information and answers, so use them well. If in doubt, contact one of them directly by phone and ask for one to one advice

The Benefits To Organisations Of Having Keyman Life Insurance

2008-03-04T21:53:00.000-08:00

As any business should, if you have not already seriously considered Keyman Life Insurance policies, then you definitely should consider reading the rest of this article carefully. It might be the most important thing you read today.

It is an old cliche, but a true one nevertheless, that one of the most essential elements in the success of any business is the quality of people working within it. However much the nature of business life changes, this won't.

Small businesses are particularly relevant here. In the UK alone, around 4 million businesses run on 4 people, and over 95% of businesses have less than 10 people working for them. These are the businesses which need to give some time and thought to the purchase of Keyman insurance polices, with especially close attention to Keyman life insurance.

As a business owner you know the people in whom you trust the running of your business every day. The people who make your business successful and continue to drive it forward. You know that without these people working on your behalf your business may not succeed.

It is in protecting these people that Keyman Life Insurance comes into it's own. Keyman can help protect against the difficulty of losing an employee to prolonged absence or even death of an integral staff member, a factor which can be of crucial importance to the success or failure of your business.

This type of insurance is designed for you to sort out a contingency plan such as recruit a suitable replacement or even train someone up to take on their role and therefore maintain the business and its profits.

Without a doubt this is by far the most useful use that keyman can be put to, but it has to be said, not the only one. Let me explain, if a shareholder or business partner actually dies very soon their estate will come knocking at your door for their share of the company. If you actually consider this think when this happens will you have the funds to actually give them when they come calling? If not the business could be put into a critical position through no fault you yours or theirs. Well, it is for this reason that Keyman life insurance is so beneficial, key-man life insurance would essentially pay out and give you the funds to pay the estate and therefore discharge any claim they might have over the business.

In addition say for example you borrow money but in order to secure the funds you have to arrange a guarantor and this person dies. This could result in the bank calling in their loan, what effect would this have on your business? Again Key-man life insurance would come to the rescue and redeem the loan so the bank would no longer have an interest at all.

So in essence, taking out Keyman Life Insurance is similar to taking out personal life insurance, except that you are insuring the lives of your employees. Also you as the insurance policy holder will be the beneficiary at the end of the insured persons life as opposed to the family members. There is even the possibility that your company could be claiming back tax relief on the policies taken out.

The fact is that for the security of your business - be it limited company, partnership, sole trader, or whatever - a Keyman life insurance policy will bring, at the very least, some peace of mind, but, possibly, it could help you face the nightmare of trying to replace the irreplaceable.

The Benefits Of Ensuring You Have Critical Illness Insurance Within Your Life Plan

2008-03-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

Critical Illness cover is a form of insurance product whereby the policy holder receives a lump sum cash payment from the insurer once diagnosed with any given illness stipulated in the policy. Unlike full life insurance, it does not require the policy holder to die.

To ensure that the pay-out is triggered, the policy-holder must survive a minimum term to ensure that this is considered a survivable illness, usually about 28 days. Up to two dozen different illnesses can be covered by the policy and they are all survivable to a greater or lesser degree but with improving medical technology the probability of living a full life after diagnosis is increasing.

A lot of people consider this type of insurance a must for any mortgage protection policy. The reason for this is if you do suffer a heart attack, stroke or cancer, but to name a few conditions, having your mortgage paid off almost immediately can be a great boost to aid recovery were possible.

Whilst most critical illness policies do pay out a lump sum you can get some plans that pay out a monthly or annual benefit. This means that it can be used as an income replacement policy. That said Critical illness insurance is no substitute for income protection insurance as the trigger point for a claim is diagnosis of a critical illness and income protection policies can pay out if you are just off work due to sickness and disability which could be considered far less than what is needed for a critical illness claim.

When critical illness cover was devised, the four main conditions covered were heart attack, cancer, stroke and coronary by-pass surgery but this has now been extended to include organ failure, or transplant, paralysis and other conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

This type of policy (which can also been known as Living Assurance or Serious Illness Insurance) has such obvious benefits in everyday life and might seem like it has been around forever, like life insurance. But in fact the first plan was only created as recently as 1983 by Dr M Barnard who termed it cover for "Dread Disease." His foresight against the unexpected has made many lives easier today.

Obviously the policy safeguards the policy holder, however the insurers themselves are not out to lose money, and therefore the person taking out the policy must give the insurer no reason to think a payout is imminent. The policy holder must be fit and healthy at the outset and factors such as smoking and dangerous sports are taken into consideration.

Due to the potential cost of the policy, and diminishing health later in life, taking out a policy in early life is more beneficial. It spreads the payments longer, therefore making them lower, and it means that the insurer is less likely to be worried about illnesses associated with old age. There are only a small minority who will offer cover to someone over pension age.

Critical Illness cover is beneficial for peace of mind, and protecting against the unforeseen. By adding life insurance to the policy too then all options are covered, for a full life after the diagnosis of what can be a relative minor issue, or if the worst happens then there is some financial help for those left behind.

The Benefits Of Ensuring You Have Critical Illness Insurance Within Your Life Plan

2008-03-04T21:43:00.000-08:00

Effective Use Of Life Cover For Good Financial Planning

2008-03-04T21:42:00.000-08:00

Eventually all of us come to the realisation that we need life cover, but we don't always know how much cover to get or what sort. In the next few paragraphs we will attempt to shed some light on the matter. By the end of the article, you should have a better idea of what cover you need to suit your particular financial and personal situation.

To make it simple, if your loved ones are going to be worse off in the event of your death, you need life cover. For example, if there are monthly loan repayments to be met, or if you have a mortgage, or if you are simply the principle earner in your family and if the loss of your monthly income is an issue, you need cover.

So the first thing that you need to think about first and foremost is do you have any mortgages or loans that are currently uninsured? If you do then the need is simple how much is the loan or mortgage amount? Whatever that figure is that is the figure that you need to have insured against death in the first instance and if your budget allows critical illness cover is a must as a secondary requirement.

The second thing is slightly more complicated. That is to work out what you would need if you are just protecting your dependents or family in the event of your death or critical illness and they stand to lose your income.

It can be uncomfortable to consider the financial impact our death can have on our family, but it can be easily simplified. Let's say that you earn 30,000 per annum. If you die, your family is therefore going to be 30,000 worse off every year and will need alternative methods to provide this amount of money. So you will need to provide cover for this in the event of your death.

There are several ways to achieve this outcome. The policy can be arranged to pay out either monthly or annually for the amount required. So a policy that pays out 30,000 per annum would be an option for a family that is going to be 30,000 worse off every year in the event of your death and loss of your salary.

Another way to approach this situation, although it should be said that is slightly more complex, is to enquire about Lump sum death benefit. This policy pays out a one off amount in the event of death. It is now common knowledge that this amount can then be invested to provide an income in lieu of salary. The idea is to take out a policy that yields significantly more than your salary that is, say 25000. The benchmark is around 10 times your income or a lump sum equating to 250000.

In other words, in the event of your death, the policy would yield an amount of 250000 to your family or dependants which could then be invested by them in order to generate a benefit of 25000 per year, covering the loss of salary incurred by them due to your demise.

To conclude, it is fair to say that almost all of us need some sort of life insurance cover. By working out how much you need, what the insurance cover will be needed for and deciding how you want the insurance to pay out, the rest becomes simple. Nevertheless, a good life insurance provider will be able to work all of the complicated parts out for you. It is their daily job, and so be sure to make good use of their knowledge and expertise in helping you find the right insurance solution for you.

How to Choose a Term Life Insurance Company

2008-03-04T21:37:00.000-08:00

In general, choosing life insurance coverage for any purpose can be frightening and a little overwhelming. It would be tragic to have to receive a check from your life insurance company because a loved one has passed away. Because of events like this, a lot of people tend to put off the act of choosing the term life insurance company that will offer them the security they need. This may also occur because people are unsure of how to choose a company, which can make matters even worse, or at least more trying.

In reality, choosing a life insurance company is actually really simple and painless if you know what to do. There are really only a couple of things that you need to know when it comes to looking at and comparing term life insurance rates. Keep these things in mind when you finally put your search into motion, because finding the right company to protect your family and your assets is absolutely necessary.

First, you should absolutely stop procrastinating starting right now. Get over any fears you have of finding the right rates, and start looking for a term life insurance company that will meet your needs and the needs of your family.

Next, you'll need to do some research. The first thing to figure out before you start to browse term life insurance rates is to figure out what you need in a life insurance policy. It's like going to the grocery store prepared by creating a shopping list. You need a working list of your current and future needs; otherwise you will be lost when weeding through quotes.

How much coverage is your family going to require in the event of an emergency, or in the event of your death? How can you best protect them? You have to be prepared for this line of thinking if you want to choose the right term life insurance policy. This way you can protect your family if you pass away unexpectedly or if another dire emergency comes up over time.

Your next step is to research a variety of different life insurance companies and what types of policies they are offering. Be as thorough as you possibly can when researching each term life insurance company, because no two companies are created equally and each company may or may not offer policies from the same companies. As you are shopping around from insurance broker to insurance broker, you should begin to narrow down your search to work with companies that have achieved higher financial ratings. You should also keep your budget in mind on a consistent basis because the right company will meet both your family's needs and your budget's capabilities.

One final note is life insurance companies are in direct competition with one another. Figure out the coverage that you need and how long you will need the coverage, then figure out what your budget is. There will be little difficulty finding the right term life insurance company once you know what your needs and limits are, as most companies will be competing fiercely for your business.

Cheaper Insurance Rate - Steps You Can Take To Pay Less

2008-03-04T01:07:00.000-08:00

There are tips you must understand and apply if you're truly keen on getting considerable discounts. I'll discuss a good number of them here...

1. Let your insurance carrier be paid your premiums automatically and you will get you a considerable discount. If you don't know how to do this, ask your bank or agent. In addition to saving you in premiums you will also save yourself much time and avoidable stress.

2. Dead-bolt locks on every exterior door will help you attract a more affordable rate. They will make it harder for burglars to get into your house. And as you know, the less the risk of burglary in a house, the lower the rates it will get.

3. It's more expensive and very unnecessary to insure the land on which your home is standing. A good number of folks pay much more than they should on home insurance because they make this mistake. They just insure their house for its entire value without deducting the cost of the land.

If you did such ignorantly, you need to re-evaluate your home insurance coverage and check it again with your agent. Subtract the value of the land and you'll discover that you'll need far less coverage.

Your rate will be more affordable and you'll still have sufficient coverage if you do this right. No matter what you do and who you meet, don't forget that the only things you insure are things that can be lost or damaged and your land is not one of such. 4. You'll pay more affordable premiums if your area has a community watch. Don't forget to inform your agent if your neighborhood has such so you can get a well-deserved discount. And, if you don't have you can as well initiate one in your neighborhood if you don't have it. Everybody in your community stands to benefit as this will lower their home insurance rates.

5. Are you aware that there are lots of discounts you may be qualified for with your insurance company that you are NOT informed of? Knowledge is the first step to getting what you're eligible for. Sit your agent down and ask that they tell you about all discounts that your insurer offers and how to qualify. There are many discounts that insurance carriers don't usually publicize.

6. The most important step to huge savings in insurance is comparison shopping -- That's if you do it right. You can get quotes that will have a range in excess of $1,000. You could easily save that much by just going with the lowest quote. That should apply if you're just after the lowest price.

However, if you want the best price/value then you would have to look at the details of the lowest offers. Different insurers may have adjustments for similar policies. It's a good idea to ask the agent what's part of the deal and what's not

Cheap Insurance - Tips That Will Help You Get More Affordable Rates Without Compromise

2008-03-04T01:03:00.000-08:00

Cheap insurance: I'll reveal more ways anyone can get massive discounts without downgrading their coverage. Don't fail to take note of the precautions you're advised to take as you implement these tips...

1. Although you have the option of insuring against every imaginable peril, you really do NOT need to. The probability of certain perils in your location is too low to make purchasing home insurance coverage for them necessary. Different states have perils that have high chances of occurring and those that are almost impossible.

2. We sometimes want to renovate our house. Bringing down your rate might not even be on your mind as you do it. You want to make sure that your home is just the way you like it with everything working perfectly well.

If you do this you'll qualify for a reasonable discount. So make sure your agent is informed about it.

New houses and renovated homes will bring you cheaper rates always. Nevertheless, remember that the level of renovation carried out will also determine the amount of discount you'll receive.

3. You'll save if you get all your policies from the same insurance company. This makes you eligible for a multi-policy discount. Even though you will receive discounts for buying multiple policies from the same insurer, you may make more by purchasing each of your policy from different insurers.

4. Do you have fire escapes in your home? Do not fail to let your agent know about this or you might miss the discount you should get. And this applies even if yours are as simple as rope ladders for rooms in the upper stories of your home.

If, on the other hand, you do not have any fire escape or the right number and kind, you're likely missing out on discounts you should obtain. And do not forget to ask your agent what your insurer counts as a standard fire escape since complying with that guarantees savings.

5. The most important route to reasonable savings in home insurance is comparison shopping -- That's if you do it right. You can get quotes that will have a range in excess of $1,000. You could conveniently save so much by just picking the lowest quote.

This should apply if you're just after the lowest price. However, if you're after the best price/value then you'd have to check the details of the lowest offers. Different insurance companies may have adjustments for similar policies. It's a good idea to ask the agent what's included and what's excluded

Can I supplement my life insurance policy?

2008-02-27T21:36:00.001-08:00

If you already possess a life insurance policy, it is possible for you to get extra coverage to supplement the actual policy .This helps your dependents even in the absence of you to eek out a proper living. Sometimes the actual policy money may not be sufficient for them to meet the expenses. Thus this supplemental life insurance gives extra financial security to your
family. But are you eligible for this supplemental life insurance? Find out.The article covers
What is supplemental life insurance?
Features of supplemental life insurance
Benefits of supplemental life insurance
Tips on supplement life insurance
Supplemental Life Insurance is otherwise referred as additional insurance policy. A person who takes a supplemental insurance policy is eligible to get extra coverage. The extra coverage which he enjoys can be few or multiple times more than the actual policy. Such coverage depends on factors like the insurance amount of your actual policy. However the additional coverage cannot extend beyond a prescribed limit which again varies from policy to policy. The aim is to supplement life insurance.

The concept of life insurance teaches that the insured's family and dependents are protected even after his death. Any individual takes a life insurance policy with this main objective. However the coverage in a single life insurance policy is not practically sufficient to meet all the needs especially when the dependents are large in number and the financial commitments are so high.

At times the dependents may have to sell the family property to settle a loan or if they don't have one they must make use of the proceeds received from the insurer. This rarely leaves them with enough money to run their lives smoothly thereafter. Supplementary or additional life insurance aims to overcome this limitation by providing additional coverage as long as a person can afford to pay and such payments don't exceed the maximum amount or fall below the minimum amount prescribed in the policy. The relevant details can be found in online life insurance policies.
Features of Supplemental Life Insurance
Some of the features of this policy are as follows
Flexible Options
The insured can choose the amount of coverage as per his desire. This applies for additional insurance policies taken in all forms of insurance like permanent, term, whole and universal. However insurance companies allow for additional coverage in group insurance policies taken by the employer. For the other forms of insurance it varies from company to company.
Proof
When you choose Supplemental insurance policies you are also given the flexibility of changing the amount of coverage. Whenever you want to insure for a very high amount you need to provide authenticated evidence and documentary proofs to establish that you are able to pay such an amount. This proof is referred as evidence of insurability.
Benefits of Supplemental Life Insurance
Some of the benefits of this policy are as follows
Reduces Procedural Delays
As said earlier most companies allow you to take additional insurance policies if you are covered in a group insurance scheme offered by your employer. In such circumstances it becomes very easy for you to obtain evidence of insurability. Since this comes under the purview of corporate schemes you will not be required to comply with many formalities in the course of obtaining the additional insurance. If asked your employer will also provide the reference certifying your credibility. This will make things easy both for you and the insurer.
Extra Protection
This main objective of this policy is to offer extra protection. When you take an insurance policy there are lots of chances that you may not continue it due to several reasons. Many of them surrender the policy in the midway due to financial commitments or inability to pay the premiums. This defeats the very objective of opting for an insurance policy.

With a supplemental insurance policy you ensure that your and your family is given extra protection. It is not hard or doesn't take much to discontinue or surrender when you take one insurance policy. Having planned to take up additional insurance policy shows that you have made all alternate arrangements and will not discontinue or surrender the policy till it matures or before you die.

Universal Whole Life Insurance Policies

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This is a very flexible type of insurance policy, which allows for a change in death benefits every year. It is also based on the chances of risks. In addition this policy also charges for all
insurance related expenses from your account on the basis of the changing economic trends.
Incase you do not paid sufficient money to meet the demands of this policy it will automatically terminate. Besides it also offers flexibility. The insurer can choose to stop from making the payments and commence it as soon as he wants if he so desires. This provision is applicable only if there is sufficient amount to meet the expenses of the policy, in your account.
Variable Life Insurance
Whole life insurance comparison will reveal that this policy is different from the others. The insured will be able to able to earn a higher amount when compared with the other policies. At the same time the insured will not be able to claim the benefit like loan. The working of this policy is similar when compared with other whole life insurance policies. The main distinguishing feature is that the money deposited by the insured is invested in financial instruments like stocks and mutual funds. Therefore the insured will be able to get higher returns if the stock on which his money has been invested performs well in the market.

Whole Life Insurance policies entitle the insured to earn returns on their investment. Therefore it is suited for persons who are looking for something beyond protection from a life insurance policy. The insurer invests the premiums in various stocks in some policies or chooses to invest in other sources like banks or even uses them to finance trade and related activities. The returns are not definite if the insurer invests your premiums in stocks. However investing them in other financial instruments guarantees returns . However in the remaining cases the returns are almost guaranteed. The type of policy chosen by the insured determines whole life insurance quotes. Whole life insurance details can be accessed online.

Can I expect return on investment beyond protection?

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If you need protection throughout your life, then you have to be prompt in paying your premium .This is what whole life insurance premium says. In return you can use the amount from your insurance for future investments or other unforeseen key expenses. There are two kinds in whole life insurance. They are ordinary whole life insurance policies and limited pay whole life policies .Learn what whole life insurance policy has in store for you.The article
covers
Whole life insurance quotes
Characteristics of a whole life insurance policy
Whole life insurance types
Classifications of limited whole life policies
Whole life insurance is a subcategory of permanent insurance. As per this policy a person will be eligible to obtain protection throughout his life. The only prerequisite is that he should be prompt in making the payments. This type of policy can be preferred if the insured is having long term goals for investment and also wants alternative sources to meet emergency financial needs.
Some of the characteristics of a whole life insurance policy are as follows:
Uniform premium rates
In a whole life insurance policy the premium rates are usually constant. It is advisable to invest in these policies in the early stages of one's life for two reasons. Firstly the financial strain will be minimal for a person of that age. Secondly when a person invests early he won't find it difficult to pay the same amount even after he gets old because of two factors namely the rise in his income and the uniform rate of premium. On the contrary if a person invests in this policy at a later period he will still have additional income but pay a higher amount of premium when compared with the person who started investment in the younger age. The simple logic behind this is the insurance premiums increase with a rise in cost of living. Hence whole Life insurance rates are regarded affordable.
Refund of policy amount
The insured does not run into the risk of losing the money invested if in case he does not die or the period expires. This type of policy allows the insured to claim a refund. However the amount of refund varies from policy to policy and many factors like age, the number of years for which the policy is taken influences them. In short the criterion chosen to evaluate whole life insurance quotes will be considered.
Other benefits
The insurer can also raise loans from the insurance company. The amount of such loans will be decided on the basis of his policy amount and premiums. However it should be understood that this will decline the amount of refund that they receive after the expiry of the policy. Besides this will also reduce the extent of life protection that they are entitled to.
Whole Life insurance types:
The two main categories of traditional whole Life Insurance are as follows:
Ordinary whole Life Insurance Policies
Limited pay whole life policies
Ordinary whole Life Insurance Policies
This type of insurance policy required the insured to pay a fixed sum of money up to an old age. The basic idea is to ensure that when the policy matures that the insured gets money whose value equals death benefit. However for practical reasons the insured person is not able to pay the money till the expiry of the policy. They either die before the policy period or close the policy and obtain the surrender value to get maximum benefits.
Limited pay whole life policies
In this type of policy the insured is required to pay premiums at a uniform rate. However the period for which the policy is taken in lesser when compared with ordinary whole life insurance policy. The insured is therefore required to pay a higher amount in the limited period. The policy comes to end on the attainment of the slated period.

Some of the classifications of limited whole life policies are as follows:
Interest Sensitive Whole Life Policies
Universal Whole Life Insurance Policies
Variable Life Insurance Policies
Interest Sensitive Whole Life Policies
This policy does not pay returns to the insured. However the amount earned by investing the insured's investment is accounted and paid to the insured. At the same time the costs for maintaining his life insurance policy is charged from the same account. This is to make sure that the insurer has sufficient funds to pay incase of sudden death of the insured or surrender of the policy.

The premiums rates are not uniform in a term insurance policy. They fluctuate with the changes in the market. The insurance company also has another interesting provision namely guaranteed minimum. According to this provision the insured will be paid a minimum returns whether or not his investment makes profits

The Features of Joint Life Insurance

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Dividends
Most joint life insurance policies earn dividends from the premiums being paid by policyholders. These dividends can be used to reduce premium payment or it can be left to
accumulate with interest. It can also be received in cash, should the policyholder opts for that.
Loans
Most policies allow holders to borrow from the cash value of their policy. The interest for these loans are based on the market's rate. If the loans and the interest that comes with it is not paid, it will be deducted from the proceeds of the policy during death or if it is surrendered prior.
Premiums
Premiums are what policyholders pay on a regular basis. Most joint life insurance companies require these to be paid either until the 100th year of the younger insured or until the second death. But more often than not, these premiums are at level, meaning they don't change as time progresses.
Non-forfeiture options
These are options that protect the policyholder against incidents wherein they were unable to pay their premiums. Examples of these options are automatic premium loan, paid-up insurance, and cash surrender

Optional Benefits
Optional benefits are benefits offered at an additional cost. A waiver of premium benefit relinquishes all the premium payments if and when the holder becomes disabled. There's also a death waiver of premium that provides for the waiving of payment when one of the holder dies for a specified period of time.

After understanding these points, it is easier to see that joint life insurance policies are advantageous in such a way it carries lower premiums than if you choose two separate policies. The requirements for underwriting this type of insurance are way easier too. Plus it works the same way as regular life insurance polices, such as it build cash values and offer loans as well.

But in spite of those advantages and before availing joint term life insurance quotes, you have to know that these joint insurance polices are not really flexible. Once they are written, there is almost no room for changes. And if you happen to be the younger of the two person under the survivor life insurance, you will be paying more than your partner, because the premiums are computed based on the average ages. And to top it all, for those who availed the first to die clause, the survivor would need to purchase whole life to cover the final expenses of the policy. And because there is no way to determine who the two of you will die first, it is really hard to make arrangements early on when the cost is cheaper.

Joint Life Insurance - No Extra Benefits for You Here

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oint life insurance policies are policies that enables two individuals to be protected, but the full value of the policy is paid only once at the time of either insurer's death. This is also referred to as the joint first to die clause.

Spouses, children, or even a business partner will benefit from a survivorship life insurance policy. Spouses is the directly benefit from it. Should one of the couple die, the surviving spouse will get the proceedings of the policy. The amount should be enough for them to live on, until the whole family gathered had gathered their bearings after the loss.

Children are also benefited. Taking care of children and sending them to school can really be expensive. With a joint life insurance in place, these tasks are going to be less burdensome, especially if one of the parents dies unexpectedly.

Joint life insurance policies do not only help families. It can be beneficial to business partners as well. Insurance joint life policy in a business setup has two types, the single life annuity and the last to die annuity. The first one corresponds to the clause that the value of the policy is payable until the first partner dies. The second one, on the other hand, says that the policy is in force until the last partner dies.
The Different Levels of Joint Life Insurance
Level Term Assurance
This is the basic level of a joint life insurance policy. This simply states that if and when one of the policyholder dies then payout is made. But when the surviving spouse or partner in turn goes, then no more payment will be made even if the policy has still not lapsed.
Decreasing Term Assurance
This is also known as the mortgage protection insurance. This level of life assurance covers the capital as well as the interest of the mortgage, which are all payable when the one of the policyholders dies. It is called decreasing term assurance because the amount payable decreases as the mortgage debt is reduced due to the monthly amortization paid over time.
Critical Illness
Critical illness is now being integrated into life insurance policies because of the discovery of modern medicines. Longer survival people of people with terminal diseases are now possible. However, they may not be able to go back to work to sustain their everyday living, not to mention their medications.

For this, joint insurance policies are going to pay a lump sum should either one of the policy holder is diagnosed of any critical illness such as heart attack, cancer, stroke, or multiple sclerosis.

These are the different levels of joint life insurance cover details. It then follows that the survivorship life insurance rates depends entirely as to which level you would like to avail of. Get different levels depending upon your coverage requirements.

Getting Return of Premium Insurance Coverage

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Not every life insurance company offers return of premium coverage. Typically, it is still a new
service, and only the best life insurance companies are offering it at this point. If you want to
delve into the world of ROP life insurance, start by getting a return of premium life insurance quote from several companies. Choose the company that has the best coverage with the most affordable premiums.
Benefits of Return of Premium Life Insurance
The main benefit of return of premium life insurance is the forced savings that it creates for the insured person. In a perfect world you will not need your life insurance policy, and if it ends, you will have the sum of the total of the premiums you paid given back to you. This is a great way to save while also protecting your family in case you were to die. Remember, funerals are extremely expensive. Do not leave your family without the ability to pay for a proper funeral for you. With return of premium insurance, you get the best of both worlds

Disadvantages of ROP Insurance
The main disadvantage of return of premium term life insurance is the fact that it costs more than traditional life insurance. Not only that, but in order to benefit from the return of premium service, you will have to keep your insurance with the same company for the entire life of the policy. Finally, term life insurance with return of premium is not offered by all insurance companies. But these disadvantages are far outweighed by the benefits of return of premium life insurance. Consider ROP for your family today!

Has Return of Premium Life Insurance (ROP) Come to Stay?

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Life insurance is a gamble. If you die, your family benefits, but of course, you don't want to die! If you do not die, you are out all of the premiums you paid! Not with return of premium life
insurance! With return of premium term life insurance, you are no longer risking losing all of
those monthly premiums that you pay!
What is Return of Premium Life Insurance?
Return of premium life insurance is a type of term life insurance with return of premiums paid throughout the policy term. Like other forms of life insurance, if you die during the term of the policy, your family will receive the lump sum benefit of the policy. If, however, you live and the policy comes to term, you are repaid for all of the premiums that you paid!
How Is ROP Different
Return of premium life insurance is different than other types of term life insurance. Return of premium competes with the two other main types of life insurance: whole life and term life insurance. Whole life is insurance that you pay for your entire life, with no limit. This is an expensive form of life insurance. Term life insurance is life insurance that you pay for a set period of time, usually twenty to thirty years. The premiums on term life insurance are usually much lower, since many of the customers using term life insurance do not die during the term.

Return of premium term life insurance is an innovative way to combat the most common reason that people do not choose to buy life insurance. Most consumers who choose not to buy life insurance do so because they assume they are not going to die during the term, and therefore they will waste their money on the premiums. With ROP, that excuse is no longer valid! If you do not die, and keep your policy with the company the entire time, you are repaid the premium amounts. This is a great way to force yourself to start saving!
Features of ROP
ROP life insurance works much like other types of life insurance. If you die while you are a policy holder, your beneficiaries, usually your family, receives a lump sum, valued at whatever the value of the policy is. If you do not die, at the end of the term, you are repaid the premiums, provided you keep your life insurance with the company the entire term of the policy.
Cost of ROP Life Insurance
Return of Premium life insurance does cost more than regular term life insurance, since the company will be paying you back at the end of the term. But, most customers who use return of premium life insurance feel that the extra expense is worth it, because if they live through the term of the policy, they are not out anything. And the added cost is usually only a few dollars a month, which is well worth the investment. The typical difference between return of premium insurance and traditional term insurance is 30%.
How it Works
The reason that the life insurance company will be able to repay their return of premium clients their premiums at the end of the term is that they are investing the premiums during the policy term. Each time you pay your monthly premium, it gets invested, bringing income into the company. Also, many people choose to take their business to another company before the term is up. When this happens, they do not receive their premiums back. That money, as well as the money from investments, is now available to pay you back for your premiums.

Truth About Viatical Life Settlement Companies

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A viatical life settlement company normally gets involved with bids when a viatical settlement agent bids the life insurance policy on the terminally ill contact individual. The package that is
usually sent out for bids contains the life insurance policy terms, As well as the medical
prognosis of the terminally ill individual. The vertical life settlement company which is awarded the bid normally agrees to pay 50% to 80% of the policy's face amount, varying according to the gravity of the terminally ill customer's medical condition and life expectancy. The viatical life settlement company-in turn-sells the terminally ill individual's life insurance policy to a financial investor who eventually becomes the policyholder as well as the beneficiary and assumes premium payments of the insurance policy.

According to the Viatical and Life Settlement Association of America, the financial investor will receive 100% of the life insurance policy's face amount from the said insurance company, upon the death of the terminally ill individual. Normally, the sooner the terminally ill patient becomes deceased, the higher the return of the investor. The Viatical and Life Settlement Association of America reports that while returns of 15% to 20% are customary for financial investors, the insurance policies can pay off a considerably higher return if death occurs quite early.

Regulations The Need Of The Hour
The Viatical and Life Settlement Association of America has been a leader in fostering regulation of the insurance industry and responsible legislation since its advent in 1995. It is not only the oldest, but the largest non-profit trade association in the viatical and life settlement business. It has contributed detailed and conceptual language to actual laws governing the life settlement industry in most United States territories. The result of these efforts improved public awareness, public information and created a highly competitive market place for the chief purpose of serving the consumer a valuable financial service.

Viatical settlement with life insurance can benefit a wide range of seniors who desire to cash out life insurance as they plan for better retirement as well as other needs. Several seniors prefer a combination of annuity products, while some others desire to become debt-free. With viatical settlement with life insurance, a number of seniors don't realize that there are no restrictions on the use of their life settlement proceeds. Policy holders and financial advisors are capable to unleash valuable cash resources by entering into a life settlement

Is the seller of life settlement sure to die? Viatical Settlements

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If one were to look from the perspective of an investor, purchasing a viatical settlement is
much akin to buying a bond with a negative valued coupon and dubious redemption date. This
is due to the fact that the return of the viatical settlement chiefly depends on the life expectancy of the seller-when he or she becomes deceased.
Viatical Settlement
A viatical settlement is the absolute sale of a life insurance policy by the owner of the policy before the maturation of the said policy. Sales of viatical settlements are at a price discount from the face amount of the policy. However, viatical settlements are normally in excess of the insurance premiums paid or current surrender value of cash. This offers the seller an instant cash settlement. Viatical settlements generally involve insured customers with a life expectancy of two years or less. In nations without state-subsidized healthcare, along with high healthcare costs-the United States-this is considered a very practical way to pay out severely high health insurance premiums faced by extremely ill individuals.

Viatical settlements became popular in the United States in the late 1980s due to the increasing AIDS epidemic. The early victims of this dreadful disease in the United States were mainly homosexual men, many of whom were rather young.
Viatical Life Settlement
A viatical life settlement involves insured customers with longer life expectancies (normally two to fifteen years). A viatical life settlement may be considered a better alternative than a viatical settlement, but there are still plenty of risks involved. The general consensus of viatical settlements is that they are seriously risky. This is due to the fact that the return is unknown, since it's not probable to determine when an individual will die. To invest in a viatical settlement is simply speculating on death. The longer the life expectancy, the less costly the insurance policy (such as with a viatical life settlement), but the return is normally lower. Without a shadow of a doubt, this has to be one of the more morbid investments money can buy.

Although there seems to be more cons than pros when it comes to viatical settlements, one of the benefits is that viatical settlements assist in making tough choices a bit easier by creating a peace of mind. A viatical settlement can generally provide terminally ill insured customers financial solutions for serious financial dilemmas.

Are you hard pressed for the premium money?

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Often you will find it difficult to pay the policy amount owing to the other pressing expenses. On such occasions you don't have to worry .Here is a kind of insurance that has got the flexibility to change the policy amount even after entering a policy for different amount. Have a look at
this policy in the article.The article covers
What is universal insurance policy?
What are the benefits of life insurance universal?
What are the tax advantages in it?
What are the disadvantages of this policy?
Universal Life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance policy. Unlike other insurance policies one can change the policy amount .At times the insured finds it difficult to pay the premiums because of some financial commitments. On such occasions the insured is not able to change the policy amount This policy allows the insured to change the policy amount.

Some of the advantages of this policy are as follows:
Innumerable death benefits
This policy allows flexibility in the amount of death benefits. You are free to change them to suit your convenience. There is another special feature associated with universal life insurance policy. The policy provides for lapse protection which entails you to enjoy the benefits as long as you pay the premiums regularly. Even if it does not have the provision of lapse protection the maturity amount will be paid in the event of death after deducting the money borrowed.
Premium Options
The insured is at liberty to make his choice in paying the premiums. You can either pay the premium at regular intervals or in one stroke. However you cannot change the amount of premiums to be paid.. You cannot pay less or more that the prescribed limits. Your dependents will not be able to enjoy the death benefits if you fail to pay the premiums.

However you can make the payments within as and when you wish. Another notable feature of this policy is that it does not get automatically cancelled even if you fail to pay the premiums. The underlying condition is that the premiums paid till date should be sufficient enough to meet the policy requirements till now.
Protection options
The insurance company not only allows you to choose premium payments but also gives you a choice in choosing protection limits. Suppose you feel that you require more or less protection you can alter your policy accordingly. The biggest advantage is that that when you increase the policy amount it is not necessary for you to buy an additional policy. However you need to get them approved by an underwriter.

You can reduce the amount in case you need to meet other financial commitments and as well as increase them once you have met them if you desire so. In case you decrease the amount the company follows a different procedure of applying a surrender charge against the policy's cash value.
Source for obtaining finance
This insurance policy also helps you in raising finance. You will be able to borrow money from the insurance company in the form of surrender value and loans. Surrender value is an option whereby you can surrender a part of the policy and claim the cash equivalent for the surrendered policy. You will also be able to borrow loans from these insurance companies like any commercial banks. These facilities will help you to claim income tax concessions. If you are willing to raise finance from the insurer the prerequisite is that your policy should not be a modified endowment contract.

Since universal life insurance is a long term investment it is not advised to borrow money either by loans or through surrender values as they reduce your policy amount. In case of emergency needs you may still consider them if you are promptly able to repay them with interests if any so that it does not affect your policy.
Death benefits
There are two types of benefits during death when a person chooses a universal insurance policy. When a person invests in this policy the increase or decrease of his cash value does not influence the policy amount. Moreover when there is an increase in cash value the insurance company creates an extra insurance policy for the increased amount.

Variable Universal Life Insurance - Flexibility at its Best?

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Variable universal life insurance has tax advantages to policy holders. The investment earnings of the policy are tax free, as long as the policy is in place. Also, the death benefit can
be played income tax free if paid correctly. And, after ten years, the policy earns FIFO
withdrawal status. Taxes tend to one of the main reasons that people who are relatively wealthy choose to use this type of life insurance.

The ability to earn a return on the policy is another advantage of this form of life insurance. As discussed, the premiums paid on this life insurance are invested in investments chosen by the policy holder. This freedom allows many people to make considerable income with their life insurance policy.
Disadvantages of Variable Universal Life Insurance
One of the main disadvantages of this form of life insurance is the high cost of premiums. Variable Universal Life policies are more expensive for the most part than other types of life insurance. The reason for this is that the value of this policy can increase, and there are tremendous tax savings.

Some claim that while the policy holder can choose their investments, they are limited in he types of investments they can choose. Also, the investments are set up in accounts that the Rate this Article
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Finally, the expenses can grow on these policies. If many policy
holders in the company die, and their dependents receive the death benefit, it can cause the insurance company to create more expensive terms for their policies. The chance is there that the policy could lose money over time.

Insurance life universal variable may be a good option for you, if you are willing to take on the risks involved. Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of variable universal life insurance, you can make the choice that is best for you!

The ultimate consumer is still not aware of life insurance policies. The level of his understanding is not sufficient. This is partly because of the reason said above. Some of the domestic companies don't have the technical expertise to implement the latest practices.

Moreover the services of insurance agents could sometimes do more bad than good. Some of them try to convince their clients to invest more or to choose certain policies which are not much beneficial to the clients. A person will find himself in trouble if he invests more than what is actually required. Since some agents indulge in unethical practices, this has led to wrong mindsets among general public about insurers.

The number of advantages outnumbers the disadvantages. Life insurance is a savings option that helps the individuals, general public, business houses and the nation at large.It is therefore a wise move to choose a life insurance policy. The consumer has to gather life insurance information before choosing a particular policy.

Renter's Insurance

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Renter's InsuranceRenter’s Insurance is an adjustment of a homeowner’s insurance policy that covers rented properties. It consists of two main components: liability coverage and personal property coverage. It is not expensive – the average renter can get complete coverage for a couple of hundred dollars or less a year. It is going to protect you from any losses due to theft, or if there is a fire in your building. It is a must for almost all who live in apartments. Once you determine your need for renter’s insurance, knowing your options will help you choose the best policy. Make sure you have the protection by taking renter’s insurance to avoid financial setbacks.

Many tenants are unaware that rental policies by the owner of the property do not protect them or their personal belongings against such calamities. Protect yourself by getting renter’s insurance. In the absent of renter's insurance, tenants who lose their personal belongings in earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes or floods also are not protected. Check with your agent on specific coverage’s as it can vary between companies and states.

It you don’t have cash on hand or the ready credit, it’s the right time for you to buy renter’s insurance. Conduct an inventory of your belongings and work with your agent to come up with an appropriate amount. Be sure you are working with a right agent. Go through each policy and checkout for what the coverage includes with any exceptions.

Does my landlord insurance cover me?
No. Because the landlord carries the insurance that will cover his loss in a situation where the building is destroyed or damaged by fire.

Is it easy to get renters insurance?
Yes, you can head for the yellow pages, check with various insurance companies who offer renter’s insurance, shop around for the best rates. If you are already having auto insurance, taking renter’s insurance through the same company will cost you less.

Landlords need to return security deposit
Security deposits are returnable to the tenant upon the termination of the lease. According to the terms of the lease agreement, the landlord may deduct certain sums from the security deposit. If he fails to return the security deposit before the applicable date, the tenant has the right to take legal action against the landlord. It is always advisable to make lease agreement in writing regarding the security deposits because it acts as evidence in the court of law and can win in your favor.

Valuing your items in the inventory list
You need to check with your agent to verify the claim payment on your policy, as most of the insurance policies; claims only the basis of the replacement costs. Mention the price of the item as of today.

Price and Coverage of the policy
More the coverage you purchase, the higher the price of the policy. Because the policy is not done individually for each piece of the property, instead a fixed amount will be determined.

Roommates sharing a single renter’s insurance
Insurance becomes complicated when unrelated people share a residence. Some insurance companies do not allow roommates to be listed on a single renter’s insurance policy

Hurricane Insurance

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Hurricane Insurance is an insurance that covers loss resulting from hurricane damage.

A hurricane is a tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. Hurricane winds blow in a large spiral around a relative calm center known as the "eye." The "eye" is generally 20 to 30 miles wide, and the storm may extend outward 400 miles. As a hurricane approaches, the skies will begin to darken and winds will grow in strength. As a hurricane nears land, it can bring torrential rains, high winds, and storm surges. A single hurricane can last for more than 2 weeks over open waters and can run a path across the entire length of the eastern seaboard. August and September are peak months during the hurricane season that lasts from June 1 through November 30. (source: FEMA)

Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Names

Atlantic Names

Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma

Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific Ocean are the two list names which are rotated every year. More than 21 named Atlantic cyclones occur in Atlantic basin in a season. For the hurricanes that are severe and cause a lot of property damage and/or loss of life, the name is retired because re-using it is felt to be insensitive. The name is then not used for at least ten years.

Tips on preparing your home for a Hurricane

Be prepared for the worst, as each hurricane is different.
Investing in flood insurance saves you from the damage caused by hurricane related floods.
Take an advice from your engineer on how to make your home more resistant to hurricane damage.
Install storm doors. You will also need strong screws or nails that will be long enough to go through the wood around the window frame.
Do not use electrical appliance during the storm.
Have a landline phone service instead of cordless phone as hurricanes will put you out of power service.
Create a network of relatives, friends and neighbors to aid you in case of emergency.
Keep an emergency kit which includes medicines, water, food, cash, important documents, first aid kit etc. Make arrangements for your pets.
As most policies usually cover damage caused from wind and rain, check your home owner’s insurance policy as to what it covers. Contact your local insurance agents and check out for the requirements and replacement coverage. Be cautious in choosing your building contractors, as they encourage you to spend a lot of money on temporary repairs.

Many can get help from their own life insurance policy. Over half of life insurance policyholders own policies that have cash value. The best use of this cash value is a loan -money that can be borrowed from the policy without waiting for lender’s approval. No matter the money is not taxable as you are borrowing against your own money, but the lender does charge interest on the loan; which is fixed on some policies. Keep in mind that insurance coverage varies by state and by company; it has its own claims filing procedures.

How to submit life insurance claims after disaster - To claim the insurance amount you need to submit the proof of insurance policy made.

You need to contact your agent who sold you the policy either by phone or in person to let them know you have sustained a loss.
You need to submit your proof of ownership and damage documentation of what you lost and its worth.
The best way to document your claims is to make an inventory of everything you own.
You can hire an attorney and file a complaint with your state insurance department if you are not happy with the claim amount settled.
If you’re still not satisfied you can own your public insurance adjustor as they will try and reach quick settlements. You need to pay them a percentage of your claim as they are regulated by the states.

Marine Insurance

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It can be defined as under: “Marine insurance business means the business of effecting contracts of insurance upon vessels of any description, including cargoes, freights and other interests which may be legally insured in or relation to such vessels, cargoes and freights, gods, wares merchandise and property of whatsoever description insured for any transit by land or water or air or all the three. The same may include warehouse risks or similar risks in addition or as incidental to such transit and includes any other risks which are customarily included among the risks insured against in marine insurance policies”.

There are two distinct branches of marine insurance:

1. Hull – i.e. Insurance of ships
2. Cargo – i.e. Insurance of goods in transit.

I Marine Hull Insurance:

This pertains to insurance of ocean going steamers and other vessels. “Hull” refers to the body or frame of the ship. Hull insurance provides the cover for the hull and machinery as well as in respect of materials and outfit and stores and provisions for the officers and crew. In addition cover for liabilities is included. Hull policy consists of basic policy attached to INSTITUTE CLAUSES which are drafted by the Institute of London Underwriters, an association representing the marine insurance companies and Lloyd’s underwriters operating in London.

I (1) The Institute Time Clause (Hull) Cover embraces:

• The coverage of maritime perils namely fire, collision, stranding etc.
• The coverage of additional perils such as latent defect in machinery, accidents in loading / discharging cargo.
• The Running Down Clause embodied in the hull insurance provide cover for damage caused to another ship in collision as a consequence of negligent navigation.
• May also cover vessels in course of construction, which are taken by the ship builders. Coverage starts from keel laying and until delivery of the ship to the owners.

II Marine Cargo Insurance:

This being cargo insurance, it provides cover for various transit perils in respect of goods and or merchandise in transit from one place to another by sea, air, road or registered post. Transit or Marine risks or perils are covered under Marine Insurance. Marine insurance plays a pivotal role in Import, Export and internal trade. Trade involves movement of goods from one place to another place. Goods while in transit are liable to be lost or damaged through one or other of various perils from the time it leaves the warehouse of the supplier till it is received at the final warehouse of the consignee. Goods while in transit are generally exposed to any one of the following perils leading to total loss or damage. The loss or damage suffered due to these perils is to be transferred to the Insurer in lieu of the premium, as these are included in the Marine cover.

II (1) SHIPMENTS BY SEA

The imports or exports as well as coastal shipments are governed by three separate clauses. Viz. Institute Cargo Clauses (ICC) namely, ICC -A, ICC –B and ICC –C attached to the policy. The risks / perils covered under the various clauses are:

• ICC - C: Fire, Explosion, Straining, Sinking, Derailment of land conveyance, Collision, Discharge of cargo at Port of Distress, Jettison, Grounding or capsizing, General Average, Sacrifice, General and Salvage Charges.

• ICC – B: All risks covered under ICC –C plus Earthquake, Lightning, Washing, Overboard Damage due to sea, Lake, River Water, Total loss of package while loading or unloading.

• ICC – A: All risks / perils or damage plus Malicious Damage & Piracy except those which are separately excluded.

II (2) AIR TRANSIT

Airfreight consignments are covered under three sets of clauses. The risks / perils covered are ALL risks or damages to the Cargo insured subject to specific exclusions.

• Institute Cargo Clauses (Air) excluding sending by post.

• Institute War Clauses (Air Cargo) excluding sending by post.

• Institute Strike Clauses. (Air Cargo)

II (3) REGISTERED POSTAL through AIR

• These are insured as per Institute Cargo Clauses A (ICC – A). Hence the risks covered shall remain same as applicable under ICC – A.

III. INLAND TRANSIT BY RAIL / ROAD:

There are two types of covers namely Rail / Road Clause B and Clause C are normally given by the Insurers for the goods transportation by Rail /Road.

III (1) CLAUSE B COVER include physical loss or damage suffered due
to such risks / perils as

• Shortage due to tearing and bursting of bags / cans, over turning, derailment.

• Short delivery / Non-delivery, Leakage/Breakage

• Theft/Pilferage, Contamination.

• Denting/Bending/Chipping, Rusting.

• Rain water damage / Fresh water damage.

• Damage by extraneous substances.

• Breakage of bridges/Culverts.

• Damage due to jerks and jolts during transit , Collision with or by carrying vehicle.

• Damage while handling at Port of Entry or at Exit Port.

• Damage while handling during loading / unloading at warehouses / intermediate stores / trans-shipment and at site etc.

• Loss while unloading process at site due to failure of crane, slings or negligence of labour etc.

III (2) CLAUSE C COVER: This cover includes physical loss or damage suffered due to risks / perils such as

• Loss or damage due to Fire risk.

• Loss or damage due to Lightning.

IV TRANSIT RISKS/PERILS TO BE RETAINED BY INSURED

Following are some of the perils which are to be retained by the Insured as these risks / perils are excluded in the marine cover. Additional covers against certain risks / perils such as Strikes, Riots, civil commotion, Terrorism or person acting from political motive etc may be covered on payment of extra premium. War risk on Rail / Road transport is not granted.

IV (1) IMPORTS / EXPORTS AND COASTAL SHIPMENTS BY SEA , AIR & CONSIGNMENTS ARE SENT BY REGISTERED POST

These are common to all the three separate clauses namely ICC –C, ICC-B and ICC-A except that the risks of Piracy and Malicious Damage are covered in ICC – A, but not in ICC – B and ICC – C.

• Loss damage or expense attributable to willful misconduct of the Insured.

• Ordinary leakage, Ordinary loss in weight or volume, Ordinary wear and tear of the subject matter insured, Loss damage or expense caused by inherent vice or nature of the subject matter insured

• Loss damage or expense caused by insufficient or unsuitable packing of the subject matter insured.

• Loss damage or expense proximately caused by delay, even though the delay caused by a risk insured against.

• Loss damage or expense arising from insolvency / financial defaults of the owners Managers / Charters / Operators of the vessel.

• Loss damage or expenses arising from the use of any weapon of war employing atomic or nuclear fission / fusion / other like reaction or radioactive force or matter.

• Loss damage or expenses arising from un-seaworthiness/ unfitness of vessel or craft / conveyance container or lift-van for the safe carriage of the subject matter insured, where the Insured or their Agents are privy to such un-seaworthiness.

• Loss damage or expense caused by war, civil war revolution, rebellion, insurrection or civil strike arising there-from or any hostile act by or against belligerent power.

• Loss damage or expense caused by capture, seizure, arrest, restraint or detainment (except piracy) and the consequences thereof or any attempt of threat.

• Loss damage or expense caused by derelict mines, torpedoes, bombs or other derelict weapons of war.

• Loss damage or expense caused by strikers, locked-out workmen, or persons taking part in labour disturbances, riots or civil commotion.

• Loss damage or expense caused by any terrorist or any person acting a political motive.

• Loss or damage due to Piracy (Included in ICC – A only.)

• Loss or expenses caused due to Malicious Damage. (Included in ICC – A only.)

IV (2) INLAND TRANSIT BY RAIL / ROAD: The following are the additional risks / perils to be retained by the Insured are common to the Rail / Road Clauses B and C (over & above the said earlier in IV (1).
• Loss damage or expense caused by war, civil war revolution, rebellion, insurrection or civil strike arising there-from or any hostile act by or against belligerent power.
• Loss damage or expense caused by derelict mines, torpedoes, bombs or other derelict weapons of war.

V. PRINCIPLE OF INDEMNITY IN MARINE INSURANCE

Both Marine Cargo & Marine Hull policies are issued as ‘Valued’ Policies. A valued policy is one which specifies the agreed value of the subject matter insured value. This value is the insured value. Goods which are covered under marine policies will be in the course of transit from one county to another the price of which are subject to fluctuations from time to time. The value will be the maximum at the time when the cargo reaches the destination. It is difficult to arrive at the value when the goods are in transit. Therefore agreed value policies are issued on cargoes. The agreed value includes purchase cost, freight, internal & inland transport, expenses on loading & unloading, cost of insurance, port trust charges, local agency commission, Taxes & duties. Marine hull insurance policies are also issued as valued policies. The market value of ship also fluctuates widely. The market value of a ship may not reflect its true value to the owner. A vessel may be3 old but to a ship owner it is as valuable as a new vessel from the point of freight earning capacity. The sum insured is fixed be agreement between the insurer and the insured which is arrived as a fair value.

VI METHOD OF INDEMNIFICATION:

There are four methods of providing the indemnity to the ` insured viz.
• Settlement by Cash payment
• By Repairing of the damaged goods ( based on the detailed submitted by the insured )
• Replacement of the property. This is rarely met with.
• Reinstatement.. The responsibility rests with the insurers and as such and because of obvious reasons this is not implemented.

The company may at its option reinstate or replace the property damaged or destroyed or part thereof instead of paying the amount of the loss or damage.

Reinstatement of the sum insured after a loss is paid does not arise. The sum insured under a hull policy is the maximum limit of the liability not for the period of insurance but for any one casualty. There may number of repair claims under a hull policy and when these are paid the sum insured does not get reduced and the question of restoration of the sum insured does not arise. Unless the policy otherwise provides the insurer is liable for successive losses even though the total amount of such losses may exceed the Sum Insured.

VII. PRINCIPLE OF SUBROGATION AND CONTIBUTIION:

In the marine policy the insurer must have paid the claim before they are entitled to rights of subrogation. Whether the loss paid is total or partial insurers subrogated to all the rights and remedies of the insured. Such rights and remedies include right of recovery from third parties. In the event of loss of goods at the destination, the sum insured which is the agreed value will be paid. In case the goods are damaged during transit, the amount payable is arrived as a proportion of the sum insured according to the % of depreciation, suffered by the goods as certified by surveyors.
The understanding the difference between abandonment and subrogation is necessary. Where the ship is so damaged that, if the insured considers it not worth while to repair it because the cost of repairs would exceed the value of the ship after repair, he abandons the ship to the insurers and claims the sum insured on the basis of ‘Constructive Loss’. If the insurers accept the abandoned ship, they acquire proprietary rights in the ship. If it is possible to sell the damaged ship, with or without repairs, for more than the insured value the insurers can make and retain the profit. But under subrogation they can retain only up to the amount they have indemnified the insured.
It is the duty of the assured and their servants / agents to take such measure as may be reasonable for the purpose of averting o minimizing a loss and ensure that all rights against carriers, bailees or other third parties are propoe5ly preserved and exercised.

Contribution may be defined as the right of an insurer who has paid a loss under a policy to recover a proportionate amount from other insurers who are liable for the loss. An insured may effect two or more insurances n the same subject-matter of insurance. If in the event of a loss he recovers under each and every policy the amount recovered would be more than his actual loss. This would result in a profit to him and thereby the fundamental principle of indemnity will be infringed. The principle of contribution therefore supports the principe of indemnity. ,

Top things that will affect your car insurance premium

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Here are the top things that will affect how much money your car insurance is costing you:

Your driving record

If you have a bad driving record you are going to be putting out more money for your car insurance each month. The longer you go without having an accident the lower your car insurance rate will get.

Want to put more people on your policy?

Adding people to your car insurance policy can affect the amount of money that your car insurance costs you. If the other person has a bad driving record then you may find yourself having to pay their rates for your insurance.

Age

If you are young you could be facing higher car insurance rates as well. This is because you are not as experienced a driver and therefore you are seen as a higher risk. The same is true if you are a male. Men are riskier to insure than females and this means that you may have to pay more.

Get an alarm

If you get an alarm and you agree to use other anti theft devices you may be able to get a discount on your car insurance. Ask your car insurance agent what kinds of measures you could put in place that would allow them to give you a better deal on your car insurance.

Why does your Car Insurance cost what it does?

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The cost of car insurance doe not seem even a little bit fair these days does it? Nope. It seem so random, you will find that it differs from person to person, even if they drive the same car? How is that possible? Car insurance should cost the same for everyone right?

Wrong. Why should those with good clean driving records pay the same amount of money for serial crashers? We shouldn’t. It is those bad drivers that are driving (no pun intended) up the cost of car insurance. But that is just one of the factors that can affect how much you pay each month for your car insurance.

Car insurance is something that we all have to have if we want to drive on the road. Even if you live in a place where it is not required by law it is still a very good idea to get car insurance. Only car insurance will protect you if you get into a car accident. Accidents are called accident for a reason, no one plans to go out and get into one. If you are unlucky enough to get into one you will have the peace of mind knowing that you will not have to put out the money to get your car or the other car fixed. Good car insurance will even cover you if someone in one of the vehicles gets injured. Without car insurance you could find yourself getting sued for millions of dollars, do you have that kind of money to put out? We don't think so , that is why you need to get car insurance to take care of you.

Car Insurance - Section Home

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Car Insurance typically called Auto Insurance protects the policy owner against financial damages in case of an accident. Accidents big and small happen each day right from a small stone hitting your windshield to a massive rollover which gives your car the status of being totaled. There are many components you need to understand about your Car Insurance and we try to bring as much information possible in this section.

The Car Insurance policy has three main types of coverage

Property Coverage - this helps pay for the damages to your vehicle and will cover if your car gets stolen
Medical Expense Coverage - When you are in an accident you need help paying the bills for the rehabilitation and treatment to your injuries. Along with it some policies provide lost wages and even funeral costs.
Liability Coverage - This helps with the medical and legal costs of a third party whom you have injured or whose property you have damaged.

Assumption reinsurance

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Assumption reinsurance is a form of reinsurance whereby the reinsurer is substituted for the ceding insurer and becomes directly liable for policy claims. This ordinarily requires a notice and release from affected policyholders. In the more typical reinsurance arrangement, the reinsurer has an obligation to indemnify the ceding insurer, which remains liable for claims on policies it has issued, and policyholders' approval is not required.

Financial reinsurance

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Financial reinsurance, also known as fin re, is a form of reinsurance which is focused more on capital management than on risk transfer.

One of the particular difficulties of running an insurance company is that its financial results - and hence its profitability - tend to be uneven from one year to the next. Since insurance companies want, above all else, to produce consistent results, they are always attracted to ways of hoarding this year's profit to pay for next year's possible losses. Financial reinsurance is one means by which insurance companies can smooth their results.

A pure fin re contract tends to cover a multi-year period, during which the premium is held and invested by the reinsurer. It is returned to the ceding company - minus a pre-determined profit-margin for the reinsurer - either when the period has elapsed, or when the ceding company suffers a loss.
Fin re therefore differs from conventional reinsurance because most of the premium is returned whether there is a loss or not: little or no risk-transfer has taken place.

History

Fin re has been around since at least the 1960s, when Lloyds syndicates started sending money overseas as reinsurance premium for what were then called roll-overs - multi-year contracts with specially-established vehicles in tax-light jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands. These deals were legal and approved by the UK tax-authorities. However they fell into disrepute after some years, partly because their tax-avoiding motivation became obvious, and partly because of a few cases where the overseas funds were siphoned-off or simply stolen.

More recently, the high-profile bankruptcy of the HIH group of insurance companies in Australia revealed that highly questionable transactions had been propping-up the balance-sheet for some years prior to failure. To be clear, although fin re contracts were involved, it was the fraudulent accounting for those contracts - and not the actual use of fin re - which was the problem. As of June 2006, General Re and others are being sued by the HIH liquidator in connection with the fraudulent practices.

The regulator's perspective

When looking at the financial position of a Life insurer, the company's assets and liabilities are measured. The difference is called the 'free assets' of the company. The greater the free assets relative to the liabilities, the more 'solvent' the company is deemed to be.

There are different ways of measuring assets and liabilities - it depends on who is looking. The regulator, who is interested in ensuring that insurance companies remain solvent so that they can meet their liabilities to policyholders, tends to under-estimate assets and over-estimate liabilities.

In taking this conservative perspective, one of the steps taken is to effectively ignore future profits. On the one hand this makes sense - it's not prudent to anticipate future profits. On the other hand, for an entire portfolio of policies, although some may lapse - statistically we can rely on a number to still be around to contribute to the company's future profits.

Future profits can thus be seen to be an inadmissible asset - an asset which may not (from the regulator's point of view, anyway) be taken into account.

A banker's perspective

If a bank were to give the insurer a loan, the insurer's assets would increase by the amount of the loan, but their liabilities would increase by the same amount too - because they owe that money back to the bank.

With both assets and liabilities increasing by the same amount, the free assets remain unchanged. This is generally a sensible thing, but it's not what financial reinsurance is aiming for.

The reinsurer's perspective

In setting up a financial reinsurance treaty, the reinsurer will provide capital (there are a number of ways of doing this, discussed below). In return, the insurer will pay the capital back over time. The key here is to ensure that repayments only come out of surplus emerging from the reinsured block of business. The benefit of this surplus-limitation comes from the fact that in the regulatory accounts there is no value ascribed to future profits - which means the liability to repay the reinsurer is made from a series of payments which are deemed to be zero.

The impact is that there is an increase in assets (from the financing), but no increase in liabilities. In other words, financial reinsurance increases the company's free assets.

Different accounting regimes

It's important to be clear that financial reinsurance has an impact on the regulatory balance sheet only - which itself already provides a distorted view of a company's solvency. Financial reinsurance, certainly for life insurers, has no impact on their GAAP accounts. It does not disort a company's shareholder-reported profits.

A lot of the bad press around financial reinsurance is because of inappropriate designs and incorrect accounting for the transaction. It is not a problem of financial reinsurance itself.

Types of Reinsurance

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Proportional

Proportional reinsurance (mostly known as quota share reinsurance) is where the reinsurer takes a stated percent share of each policy the insurer writes and then shares in the premiums and losses in that same proportion. The size of the insurer might only allow it to write a risk with a policy limit of up to $1 million, but by purchasing proportional reinsurance it might double or triple that limit. Premiums and losses are then shared on a pro rata basis. For example an insurance company might purchase a 50% quota share treaty; in this case they would share half of all premium and losses with the reinsurer. In a 75% quota share, they would share (cede) 3/4th's of all premiums and losses. The reinsurance company usually pays a commission on the premiums back to the insurer in order to compensate them for costs incurred in sourcing and administering (e.g. retail brokerage, taxes, fees, home office expenses) the business (usually 20-30%) This is known as the ceding commission.

The other (lesser known) form of proportional reinsurance is surplus share. In this case, a line is defined as a certain policy limit - say $100,000. In a 9 line surplus share treaty the reinsurer could then accept up to $900,000 (9 lines). So if the Insurance Company issues a policy for $100,000, they would keep all of the premiums and losses from that policy. If they issue a $200,000 policy, they would give (cede) half of the premiums and losses to the reinsurer (1 line each). If they issue a $500,000 policy, they would cede 80% of the premiums and losses on that policy to the reinsurer (1 line to the company, 4 lines to the reinsurer 4/5 = 80%) If they issue the maximum policy limit of $1,000,000 the Reinsurer would then get 90% of all of the premiums and losses from that policy.

Non-proportional (excess of loss)

Non-Proportional reinsurance, also known as excess of loss reinsurance, only responds if the loss suffered by the insurer exceeds a certain amount, called the retention. An example of this form of reinsurance is where the insurer is prepared to accept a loss of $1 million for any loss which may occur and purchases a layer of reinsurance of $4m in excess of $1 million - if a loss of $3 million occurs the insurer pays the $3 million to the insured(s), and then recovers $2 million from their reinsurer(s). In this example, the insurer will retain any loss exceeding $5 million unless they have purchased a further excess layer (second layer) of say $10 million excess of $5 million.

Excess of loss reinsurance can have two forms - Per Risk or Per Occurrence (Catastrophe or Cat). In per risk, the cedants insurance policy limits are greater than the reinsurance retention. For example, an insurance company might insure commercial property risks with policy limits up to $10 million and then buy per risk reinsurance of $5 million in excess of $5 million. In this case a loss of $6 million on that policy will result in the recovery of $1 million from the reinsurer.

In catastrophe excess of loss, the cedants insurance policy limits must be less than the reinsurance retention. For example, an insurance company issues homeowner's policy limits of up to $500,000 and then buys catastrophe reinsurance of $22,000,000 in excess of $3,000,000. In that case, the insurance company would only recover from reinsurers in the event of multiple losses in one event (i.e hurricane, earthquake, etc.)

This same principle applies to casualty reinsurance except that in the case of Catastrophe excess the word Clash is used.

Contracts

Most of the above examples concern reinsurance contracts that cover more than one policy (treaty). Reinsurance can also be purchased on a per policy basis, in which case it is known as facultative reinsurance. Facultative Reinsurance can be written on either a quota share or excess of loss basis. Facultative reinsurance is commonly used for large or unusual risks that do not fit within standard reinsurance treaties due to their exclusions. The term of a facultative agreement coincides with the term of the policy. Facultative reinsurance is usually purchased by the insurance underwriter who underwrote the original insurance policy, whereas treaty reinsurance is typically purchased by a senior executive at the insurance company.

Reinsurance treaties can either be written on a continuous or term basis. A continuous contract continues indefinitely, but generally has a notice period whereby either party can give its intent to cancel or amend the treaty within 90 days. A term agreement has a built-in expiration date. It is common for insurers and reinsurers to have long term relationships that span many years.

Markets

Many reinsurance placements are not placed with a single reinsurer but are shared between a number of reinsurers. (for example a $30,000,000 xs of $20,000,000 layer may be shared by 30 reinsurers with a $1,000,000 participation each) The reinsurer who sets the terms (premium and contract conditions) for the reinsurance contract is called the lead reinsurer; the other companies subscribing to the contract are called following reinsurers (they follow the lead).

About half of all reinsurance is handled by Reinsurance Brokers who then place business with reinsurance companies. The other half is with Direct Writing Reinsurers who have their own production staff and thus reinsure insurance companies directly.

Retrocession

Reinsurance companies themselves also purchase reinsurance and this is known as a retrocession. They purchase this reinsurance from other reinsurance companies, who are then known as retrocessionaires.The reinsurance company that purchases the reinsurance is known as the retrocedent.

It is not unusual for a reinsurer to buy reinsurance protection from other reinsurers. For example, a reinsurer which provides proportional, or pro rata, reinsurance capacity to insurance companies may wish to protect its own exposure to catastrophes by buying excess of loss protection. Another situation would be that a reinsurer which provides excess of loss reinsurance protection may wish to protect itself against an accumulation of losses in different branches of business which may all become affected by the same catastrophe. This may happen when a windstorm causes damage to property, automobiles, boats, aircraft and loss of life.

This process can sometimes continue until the original reinsurance company unknowingly gets some of its own business (and therefore its own liabilities) back. This is known as a spiral and was common in some specialty lines of business such as marine and aviation. Sophisticated reinsurance companies are aware of this danger and through careful underwriting attempt to avoid it.

In the 1980s the London market was badly affected by the intentional creation of reinsurance spirals, which concentrated risks into the hands of a few reinsurance syndicates. A series of catastrophic losses in the late 1980s, bankrupted these syndicates causing many ceding insurance companies to lose their effective coverage.

It is important to note that the insurance company is obliged to indemnify their policyholder for the loss under the insurance policy whether or not the Reinsurer actually reimburses the Insurer. Many insurance companies have gotten into trouble by purchasing reinsurance from reinsurance companies that did not or could not pay their share of the loss.

In a 50% quota share the insurance company could then be left with half the premium and the entire loss. This is a genuine concern when purchasing reinsurance from a reinsurer that is not domiciled in the same country as the insurer. Remember that losses come after the premium, and for certain lines of casualty business (e.g. asbestos or pollution) the losses can come many, many years later.

Functions of Reinsurance

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Protecting against catastrophic events is only one kind of reinsurance. There are many reasons an insurance company will choose to reinsure as part of its responsibility to manage a portfolio of risks for the benefit of its policyholders and investors.

Risk transfer

The main uses of reinsurance are to allow the ceding company to assume individual risks greater than its size would otherwise allow, and to protect the cedant against catastrophic losses. Reinsurance allows an insurance company to offer larger limits of protection to a policyholder than its own capital would allow. If an insurance company can safely write only $5 million in limits on any one policy, it can reinsure (or cede) the amount of the limits in excess of $5 million to reinsurers.

Reinsurances highly refined uses in recent years include applications where reinsurance was used as part of a carefully planned hedge strategy.

Income smoothing

Reinsurance can help to make an insurance companies results more predictable by absorbing larger losses and reducing the amount of capital needed to provide coverage.

Surplus relief

Reinsurance can improve an insurance company's balance sheet by reducing the amount of net liability, and thereby increasing surplus. Surplus, assets less liabilities, is roughly the same as shareholder equity on a balance sheet of a non-insurance company.

Arbitrage

The insurance company may be motivated by arbitrage in purchasing reinsurance coverage at a lower rate than what they believe the cost is for the underlying risk.

Reinsurance

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Who benefits from reinsurance?Reinsurance is about the consumer and the insurance company both. Everyone benefits from reinsurance in a big way.

Reinsurance for the insurance company

Reinsurance is the only thing that allows insurance companies to take such big risks. It is this reinsurance that allows them to insure as much as they often do. Without the reinsurance they will not be able to.

You see an insurance company never knows when they will have to pay out and to how many people in any given year. They are actually insuring more than they would be able to afford to pay out all at once, that is where reinsurance comes into the picture. By reinsuring the amounts they will be able to pass some of the risk to other insurance companies thus giving the consumer a larger benefit package. For the consumer this means higher insurance policies and larger payouts.

The transferring of risk

By transferring the risk the insurance company will be less likely to go bankrupt and close. They will be bale to continue to do business and they will not have to worry about the losses that they incur each year because everything will flow smoothly with the help of this reinsurance. The company will not have to have so much capital at all times, giving them much more leeway in their business.

Most insurance companies are able to get this reinsurance at much lower rates that you or I could get insurance. The benefits of reinsurance do not just end with the company being able to write bigger policies for the insured but it also lowers their liability which is something that all insurance companies want.

How reinsurance is written

Reinsurance contracts can be write to cover single insurance policies or they can cover many more than just one. Most insurance companies have reinsurance policies that cover much of the business that they do. They will have to get these individual reinsurance policies in some cases when an insurance policy poses a more serious risk.

Reinsuring the reinsurer

Even reinsurance companies buy reinsurance. It is a continuous cycle of insuring the insured, it may sound confusing but it is all about protecting everyones interests. This is why you can get the insurance that you need to keep you and your family safe and secure.

Insurance Claims Training

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When it comes to insurance claims training there are a few important things that you need to keep in mind. First of all you need to take some time to decide what kind of training you need exactly. Not everyone needs the same kinds of insurance claims training programs. If you have a history in the insurance industry you may only need to take some continuing education programs. If on the other hand you are entirely new to the industry and you need to start at the bottom then you need to take a beginner insurance claims training program first. This kind of program or class will help you to get your bearings and learn the basics of insurance and what it can do for people.

The next step to choosing the right kind of insurance claims training class or program is to decide what kind of insurance you want to get involved in. Do you want to work in the life insurance industry, the auto insurance industry or the home insurance industry? This may have a bearing on the kind of insurance claims training you need to get.

The best way to learn what kind of insurance claims training you need is to talk to some local experts in that field. Different states require different kind s of training and certifications. Find out what is necessary in your area and go from there.

Most of the insurance claims training programs are short and easy to find. You will be able to learn everything that you need to know from a good insurance claims training class in just a few months. This means that you can start making a great living in just a few months!

No matter which sector of the insurance industry you are interested in you will be able to find the perfect insurance claims training programs online. These programs do not need to be taken online but they certainly can be. You can find many correspondence insurance claims training courses on the internet and they are great. Just make sure that the insurance claims training course that you take will work for the state in which you live. You do not want to put out the money, the time and the energy only to find that you are not able to practice your new skills where you live.

You can also find many insurance claims training courses in your local area. Most colleges or universities in your area will probably have some course that you can take. If you want to find out more about where to go for insurance claims training then contact some local insurance companies in your area. They should be able to point you in the right direction. They will also know the requirements for the state, which can also help you to choose the right insurance claims training programs

Insurance Claims Training

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What is a captive or contract insurance broker?

If you want to get insurance then you will probably choose to meet with an insurance broker. This broker or agent will help you to determine what kind of insurance is right for you and your family. There are a couple of different kinds of agents out there. You will find some insurance brokers that are independent ones and others that are known as captive brokers.

What a captive or contract insurance broker is all about

A captive insurance broker is much different than an independent broker. A captive broker will be working only for one particular insurance company. They will sell all of the products from their company, there are usually numerous products for you to choose from. It is not often that you, as a captive insurance broker will have trouble finding a good fit for your customers. The bigger insurance companies are chock full of great insurance products for you to sell them. And it is easy to make all of the products sound good because insurance on the whole is always worth the money spent.

Want to be a captive insurance broker

If you are considering becoming a captive insurance broker then you will need to know a little more about it first. People who become an independent broker have more to learn than their captive counterparts. As a captive broker you will only have to learn the products of the company you are working with, rather than all of the products at several of the different insurance companies. This will still be a lot of work but nowhere near as much.

As a captive or contract insurance broker you will not actually be an employee of the company whose products you are selling. You wills till be considered an independent contractor. You may be able to collect an allowance from this company for office supplies but that is about it. Most companies will simply supply you will all of the paper and pens and such that you will need to do your job day after day.

You may also be eligible for some benefits from the insurance company that you work with as a captive or contract insurance broker. Just what benefits you will get will depend upon the insurance company that you choose to work with.

You will be required to fill out a contract with the insurance company and they will do a background check on you. This check is usually done at the start of your training. If you have an arrest record then you may not be able to get hired as an insurance broker captive or otherwise

Types of Flood Insurance

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Types of Flood Insurance Coverage available

Policies are available in three forms: General Property, Dwelling and Condominiums

All policies have deductibles for both building and contents coverage, incase you purchase contents coverage.

Exclusions

Walkways, driveways, patios, Contents in basements are not covered with a few exceptions such as dryer, freezer and washer.

First Steps after your property got flooded:

Call your insurance company's (24 hour) Emergency Helpline as soon as possible. They will be able to provide information on dealing with your claim, and assistance in getting things back to normal. Keep a record of the flood damage (especially photographs or video footage) and retain correspondence with insurers after the flood. Commission immediate emergency pumping/repair work if necessary to protect your property from further damage. This can be undertaken without insurer approval (remember to get receipts). Get advice where detailed, lengthy repairs are needed. Your insurer or loss adjuster can give advice on reputable contractors / tradesmen. Beware of bogus tradesmen and always check references. Check with your insurer if you have to move into alternative accommodation as the cost is normally covered under a household policy. Make sure your insurance company knows where to contact you if you have to move out of your home.

Tips to cleanup after flooding:

Find out where you can get help to clean up. Check with your local authority or health authority in the first instance or look under 'Flood Damage' in Yellow Pages for suppliers of cleaning materials or equipment to dry out your property. It takes a house brick about one month per inch to dry out. Open doors and windows to ventilate the house, but take care to ensure your house and valuables are secure.
Contact your gas, electricity and water company. Have your power supplies checked before you turn them back on to make sure they have dried out. Wash taps and run them for a few minutes before use. Don’t attempt to dry out photos or papers - place them in a plastic bag, and if possible store them in the fridge. Throw away food which may have been in contact with floodwater - it could be contaminated. Contact your local authority Environmental Health department for advice. The Citizens Advice Bureau and other organisations may be able to help if you feel under pressure, their numbers can be found in the phone book. Don’t think it can’t happen again. Restock your supplies.

Flood Insurance - Information and Resources

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Flood insurance provides compensation for physical property damages due to flooding. To be a little precise it provides insurance for damage caused due to overflowing water bodies. in most countries there is the concept of flood hazard zones and in most developed countries there is a mandatory requirement to get Flood Insurance for property in the flood hazard zones. In USA the home owner insurance policies typically exclude flood coverage and require separate purchase of this policy. This is both good and bad as it reduces the cost for folks who are in zones which has a very low probability for flooding. One of the interesting myth floating around is rain coupled with high winds that seep into property or through open windows is considered for flood insurance program. It is not and irrespective of where you live it is just common sense to protect your property from rain water.

Helpful tips about flood preparation

Shut off electricity, unplug all electrical applicances and keep in a safe place high above.

Silicone Sealant or sand bagging really reduces or prevents water entering your home.

The idea is to reduce as much damage so keeping internal doors and furniture in safe place is one of the best things to do.

There are a few items in your home that carry high sentimental value which is very important to secure as they help you to rebuild after floods without much pain. Trust me on this.

Flood insurance is required on all properties located in Special Flood Hazard Zones. If you do not live in a Special Flood Hazard Area, you are not required to purchase flood insurance when you buy your home. Flood insurance compensates against loss by flood damage. Although flood insurance is inexpensive, most people neglect to purchase it. The insurance covers damage to a building; including the foundation, pilings or other support systems for elevated buildings. It is a necessity for those who live in flood prone areas, especially those who live in high hazard flood areas. The only guaranteed flood insurance coverage available for your home is Federal Flood Insurance purchased through your insurance agent or company. Flood insurance is not available to residents of communities that do not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The coverage is available separately from your homeowner’s policy through a program developed by private industry and the federal government. The federal government determines whether an area is prone to flooding and considered to be in a flood plain. Flood certifications will indicate whether the property lies within an area so designated.

Things to consider

Contact your insurance agent to purchase the flood insurance and to learn more about your eligibility.

There is a standard 30-day waiting period for new applications and endorsements for coverage.

You will not be insured if purchase a policy few days before the flood.

25% of all flood loss claims are filed in areas of low to moderate risk.

Buy a policy with guaranteed replacement-cost coverage, or get you home appraised every few years to make sure you have enough insurance.

When comparing insurers, one question to ask is how quickly are your claims resolved?

Can my insurance company require me to use certain types of auto repair parts?

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Your insurance company can't require you to use only certain kinds of auto repair parts. However, if the insurance company's rates are based on a certain type of part and you want something different, it can ask you to pay the difference if the part you want is more expensive.

The parts most frequently damaged in auto accidents are "crash parts". These are the sheet metal pieces that cover the engine and frame of the car. There are two sources for crash parts: auto manufacturers, who sell them under their own names, also known as original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and generic or aftermarket crash parts suppliers. Studies have demonstrated that these crash parts do not affect the safety of the car. The development of a market in generic parts has brought prices for car replacement parts down and can help consumers save money.

In general, if generic parts have been ordered for the repair of your car, this information must be disclosed. The car repair order should state that the parts are not from the original manufacturer and the warranty may be different. Many generic parts are made at the same factories as OEM parts, and in fact very few OEM parts are actually made by car makers.

Insurance companies that use generic parts guarantee the parts they use. If the part doesn't fit properly, the insurance company will generally put on an OEM part at no extra cost.

Some auto insurance companies offer their policyholders a choice between OEM and generic repair parts as part of an endorsement (addition to the policy that changes its terms and conditions) that includes other choices as well. Some always specify OEM parts for repairs and some use OEM parts for repairing recent model cars. A few states require insurance companies to offer generic parts when they exist and some may require OEM parts to be used.

Ask your insurance agent about your state and your insurance company's claim settlement guidelines so that you'll know what to expect if your car has to be repaired after an accident.

How are the value of my car and the cost of repair determined?

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There are several standard guidelines for determining the value of your car for insurance purposes. You and your insurer can refer to one of the books that list the depreciated value of all new and used cars. One of these books is published by the National Association of Automobile Dealers another is published by Kelley Blue Book.

When you file your claim, your insurance company will refer you to a claims adjuster. The adjuster will verify the loss and determine what it will cost to repair the car. The adjuster’s estimate can serve as a benchmark to which to compare your own mechanic’s estimate.

No good adjuster or insurance company will expect you to sign an agreement accepting the insurer’s estimate as the total claim payment until you’ve established, to your own satisfaction, that it will cover the cost of repair. The insurer will expect you to get your own estimate from your mechanic, garage or car dealer. Don’t allow yourself to feel pressured into accepting the insurer’s estimate of repair costs without getting at least one estimate of your own.

Your insurance company can’t require you to have repairs done at a particular shop. But they can insist that you get more than one estimate for the work to be done on your car. Just as you want to make sure that your car is adequately repaired, the insurer wants to make sure it doesn’t pay a grossly inflated repair bill.

Don’t be surprised if your insurance company opts to pay for the lowest bid. You don’t have to accept that bid if you believe the low bid won’t adequately repair your car. Don’t hesitate to argue with the adjuster if you really believe his repair estimate is too low based on what your mechanic has told you.

One factor that could reduce the amount of your claim for a repair job is what insurance companies call betterment. If your old car is repaired with brand-new parts, your insurer may argue that the repairs have actually enhanced the car’s value and therefore they can legitimately reduce your claim by the difference between a used part and a new one.

It is up to your insurer to decide whether to pay for repairing your car or to declare it a total loss and pay you its book value. Most standard auto policies will not pay to repair a vehicle if the repairs cost more than the cash value assigned to the car. There won’t be any dispute about whether to repair the car if it was completely totaled. But you may argue about what the pieces of the car were worth when they were assembled as a car. For you to get a settlement higher than the book value of your car’s make and model, you will have to submit evidence such as mileage records, service history and affidavits from mechanics to show that your car was worth more. You’re entitled to the market price of the car you just lost. You shouldn’t get more or less than what you are due.

How do I file a claim?

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To file a claim, follow these steps:

Call your insurance agent as soon as possible, regardless of who is at fault. Find out whether you're covered for this loss. Even if the accident appears minor, it is important that you let your insurance company know about the incident.

Ask your agent or company representative how to proceed and what forms or documents are needed to support your claim. Your insurance company will require a “proof of claim” form and, if there is one, a copy of the police report. Increasingly, companies allow you to monitor the progress of your claim on their web site.

Supply the information your insurer requests. Fill out the claim form carefully. Keep good records. Get the names and phone numbers of everyone you speak with and copies of any bills related to the accident.

Ask your insurance agent or company representative the following:

Does my policy contain a time limit for filing claims and submitting bills?

Is there a time limit for resolving claims disputes?

If I need to submit additional information, is there a time limit?

When can I expect the insurance company to contact me?

Do I need to get repair estimates for the damage to my car?

Will my policy pay for a rental car while my car is being repaired? If so, how much?