One of the most important things homeowners should concern themselves with is home insurance.
This insurance can protect their home in event of fire or major damages to the property due to things such as a collapsed roof.
Just like any other kind of insurance, there is no basic contract that can be drawn up for everybody. This is because everybody's needs and situations will be different so every contract will be just a little bit different to reflect those needs.
There are however, some home insurance basics that every homeowner should know, starting with the three general categories that home insurance will fall into.
Named Perils is the first category of home insurance. This will protect the homeowner from damage caused to their physical property from natural disasters such as floods, fire, lightning, and windstorms.
Although this is the least expensive type of home insurance, it poses much risk to the homeowner. This is because every threat must be specifically mentioned in the insurance policy or it will not be covered.
Not every homeowner can foresee every situation and so, if a flood occurs in an area that is not known for flooding, the homeowner could be stuck paying the bill. Named Perils also only includes things that will occur naturally so if any unnatural damage
occurs, the homeowner will also be
solely responsible for paying for any damages.
Broad, or "All Risk" insurance provides coverage that falls right in between the other two categories. This type of home insurance will protect the homeowner from any risk or threat to the home's physical property but for the contents held within, Named Perils must be named specifically.
Just as the policy coverage falls right in between the other two categories, so does the price.
Comprehensive insurance provides for total protection. This includes protection for the home's physical property as well as any contents within that home. Not only does it provide insurance for everything related to the home, it provides coverage for any type of damage and that damage needs not be specifically named.
Basically, it provides protection for any damage to the property or contents regardless of what caused the damage.
Because this coverage does cover everything, it is generally the most expensive insurance homeowners can buy but they can be assured that they are well protected.
An insurance agent will discuss with homeowners what they feel is best depending on the homeowners needs and other factors, such as where they live.
The most expensive is not always the best and the cheapest may not always provide for the best protection so just like everything else, the homeowner must use due diligence when deciding on home insurance.
The Basics of Home Insurance
Health Insurance When Traveling
By Keith Londrie
Even if you have an excellent health insurance cover at home it will not always work if you travel, especially abroad. In many occasions you will need to get a separate travel health insurance.
If you are planning a vacation aboard, you should check several things:
First of all check if your current health insurance policy covers emergencies overseas. Many insurance companies have this included in their plans however there are additional costs involved. So if you are a U.S. resident and need medical care while you are on vacation in Europe you will get it but you will have to pay a lot when you are back home.
If you are not satisfied fro the conditions of your current medical cover you should find travel insurance for the trip. There are many companies that offer health insurance or travelers. You will need to select one comparing the benefits you will be offered.
How to select the best plan is a matter of good research. Check the costs each policy involves. Then check what it covers. Some travel health insurance policies cover
emergency situations only, while other includes treatment of illnesses. The second type
is good if you are planning to travel for a longer period of time.
You should be prepared to face a whole new reality when you check what each travel insurance policy covers. Many health insurance plans for travelers do not cover treatment of previous or chronic conditions you have. Most of them do not cover maternity, child birth as well as vaccinations. Many travel health insurance policies will deny paying for injuries or medical emergencies if they are caused due to use of alcohol or drugs.
Since there might be many differences between a regular health insurance plan and a traveler's one, you should remember what will be covered to avoid unpleasant surprises when you are back home.
Finally let's see what should be covered by your traveler insurance. First and foremost make sure your policy will pay for ay emergencies, including dental emergencies. The next important thing is to try getting coverage for treatment of illnesses. While it is unlikely for you to get seriously ill if you are on a short vacation, it will be best if you are on the save side. You should aim for a health insurance with small deductibles and co pays. Finally you should find one that will pay all of the medical expenses you might have abroad.
Cheap Car Insurance Quotes - Choosing The Best Auto Insurance Company For You
By Helen Hecker
If you're looking for cheap car insurance quotes, you'll want to consider long established as well as newer auto insurance companies for cheaper rates; newer companies are competing for your business, however they don't have the history to back them up. Getting vehicle, truck, auto or car insurance is something everyone who drives a vehicle has to have; yet many people end up paying too much for their auto insurance and they'll never know they are doing so. Today most car or auto insurance companies offer a wide range of policies and plans to their customers and therefore can offer discounted free online cheap car insurance quotes.
You also may want to consider your longevity with your current company, especially if you have a good record in case length of your coverage plays a part in the rates you have now or other variables in your policy that might be different and more valuable to you than with a newer company -- even at a lower or cheaper rate. You definitely want to compare insurance policy features; compare the wide range of deductibles that are offered and compare the level of coverage they provide, this can vary quite a bit. Of course if you're already insured you can choose to stay with your present auto insurance company or go with a new company if you want to, but low cost or cheaper rates may be a good reason to switch to another insurance company.
Make sure to find out all you can about the company you've selected; check online for customer car insurance reviews and ratings but keep in mind that a few negative reviews can happen with any auto insurance company. Many companies will offer lower or cheaper insurance rates or more affordable rates than others with the same type of policies. Make sure you find out exactly how much deductibles will be and any conditions attached to them.
You can also look for insurance companies that offer discounts to good drivers; this is another good reason to concentrate on driving defensively and keep focused on your driving. If you're over 50 years of age, you and your spouse can become members of the
American Association of Retired People (AARP) for only $12.50 a year for US residents;
they deeply discount insurance and are currently affiliated with one company, thus able to give you an online cheap car insurance quote. You can visit websites and request free cheap car insurance quotes; you'll need to give them basic, detailed information about your car insurance history, your current situation and what you need in terms of your policy.
Several car insurance policies or plans rely on a reasonable estimation of the average annual distance expected to be driven which is provided by the insured; this discount benefits drivers who drive their cars infrequently. Most single line and multiple line companies offer discounts and other great benefits for carrying multiple car insurance policies and other lines of insurance in the same household. Some companies do take into consideration the credit report rating of the customer in determining the level of risk for the insurance company; if you have poor credit or bad marks on your credit report you'll want to find a car insurance company that doesn't look at FICO or credit scores in making its decision about what rates they will charge you in their quote.
A discounted insurance policy doesn't mean that you'll have the best policy so you'll need to check this out carefully first; make sure to compare it with other companies to make sure you're getting the best deal. You want to compare, compare and compare the cheap car insurance quotes that you do get; some may be very similar but some quotes could be quite different.
In the U.S. many insurers offer a good grade discount to students with a good academic record and resident student discounts to those who live away from home. Some companies offer special discounts for women too; make sure to ask if you're female.
And make sure to compare, compare and compare again; get as many quotes as you can find time for and you should be able to come up with some of the best, free, online, cheap car insurance quotes. These are just some of the best tips that can help you save money on your auto insurance and give you an idea what to ask and look for when you are trying to get a cheap car insurance quote. Make sure the company you select offers excellent low cost and cheap rates of car insurance and a good level of customer service too.
Self Employed? Health Insurance Options
By Keith Londrie
If you are working in a big company there will be a group health insurance policy that you can join. This way, your health insurance costs are likely to be lower than the costs connected with private health insurance plans. However you are self employed and have to make your own arrangements in order to get decent medical insurance plan.
The first thing you can do is to check if you can keep your current plan. Many employees leaving their jobs are offered the opportunity to keep their health insurance policy for a limited period of time. Even though you will have your previous insurance for a limited period of time, it is better than being with no insurance at all and you can use the time to find another way out.
Do not waste time and start looking around for a new health insurance policy. Make a proper research. There are many health insurance plans available and it may turn out that some of them are good in your circumstances. Most of the health insurance companies have websites too so you will need less time to do the research. You will be able to ask for a quote online and compare the conditions with each company. Do not
forget though that you should stop by
the respectable companies only.
When comparing the available medical insurance plans pay attention what each one covers. There is no need to buy an expensive plan that covers regular dental checks or prescriptions for example. Try to find one that covers serious illnesses beyond the routine situations.
Make a monthly budget and allocate some money for health care. You can open a health care savings account to reduce the taxes. Put there some money each month and use them for medical emergencies.
If finding health insurance as a self employed turns to be a hassle, try to find a group plan you can join. There are many professional and trade organizations that have group health policies and you can join one of them. Even though their plans are not what you have imagined it is still better than nothing.
If you are married, check if you can join the health insurance policy of your partner. This will increase the premiums you will have to pay but it will be cheaper than buying a separate medical insurance. Moreover in some occasions you can get some taxes back since you have been paying additional in premiums so it might turn out this is the best thing to do.
Student Health Insurance
By Keith Londrie
Many students do not have a clue that they need health insurance. Some of them know how important this is but still prefer to rely on the college or university clinic when they are ill.
Being a student doesn't mean you are not likely to get seriously ill or injured and for that reason a proper medical insurance plan is a must. Of course one of the reasons why students do not have medical insurance is that they cannot afford the typical health insurance policies. However there are other options available.
There are medical insurance providers that have special plans for students only. Moreover some colleges and universities have health insurance programs that feature many providers. All a student should do is to check what the options are and choose a plan that suits his or hers needs.
This is the second part of the problem. How could I know what is best when it comes to medical insurance? This is a though questions for those who have been working for many years and have significant experience with different heath insurance policies, let alone for e student newbie. The good thing is that you can ask questions to determine which policy will work for you.
The first thing to ask is what your health insurance plan will cover. Some student
insurance policies do not cover sport injuries for example. Check if there is a restriction on the physicians you will have to use and if you will need an approval from the insurance company before you go for a check up. Of course ask about the expenses.
Since many students travel a lot, the insurance conditions for traveling should also be checked carefully. This is in two directions if you are traveling abroad and if you are traveling within the country. In many cases if you will be traveling abroad you will need an additional health insurance.
Check how long your health insurance will last. Some student health insurance plans cover only under graduates. What this means is that when you graduate you will have to seek another individual health insurance policy. So if you are close to graduation you can start looking for a good individual policy instead of going for a student medical insurance plan. Another option is to get a short term student insurance.
Finally you can check if you cannot get medical care under your parents' health insurance plan. Of course some policies would not allow you to stay covered if you are over a specific age, but other policies allow this. If you are going to become a student soon, discuss this issue with your parents and plan ahead.
Many Factors Determine Car Insurance Rates
By John Hilaire
While more than half of the states have mandated some form of financial responsibility law pertaining to the operation of a motor vehicle, most boil down to the need to be either self-insured or to carry vehicle insurance. How much is costs depends on many factors as there are no specific rules governing auto insurance rates. Location, type and price of the car as well as the driver's record are some of the key elements in defining car insurance rates.
If the car is housed in a high crime area the price will be higher than that charged for areas with virtually no crime committed against vehicles. Additionally, an expensive car or one on the top of the list of stolen vehicles will have higher auto insurance rates than a cheap compact car that no self-respecting car thief would take. The driving record of the insured driver also is high on the list of things that affect car insurance rates as someone with several accidents and claims can be more of a liability to the insurance company and they play the odds, saying that person will probably cost more in the long run than the premiums being charged.
Judging by many statistics, insurance companies also adjust auto insurance rates based
on the age and sex of the driver as well their successful completion of a driver training
course or a defensive driving class.
Non-Driving Related Issues An Affect car insurance Rates
When insurance companies look at auto insurance rates for an individual, there is some criteria that is not based on their driving habits or their place of residence. Many insurance company's review a person's credit history to determine if they are the type that will pay the premiums regularly or will they have to chase them down every month to keep their coverage up to date.
A lapse in coverage can also cause car insurance rates to go up, if the person is required to carry what is termed in many states as an SR-22. This indicates that for some reason the person's license has been suspended, usually due to lack of insurance coverage, and the insurance company has to keep the state notified of any change in coverage for that person. This additional work will cost the company money, resulting in auto insurance rates to obtain and keep coverage, typically for a three-year period.
Some of the obvious factors affecting car insurance rates are speeding tickets, accidents and convictions for driving under the influence. Many insurance companies interpret these convictions as placing the driver on the high risk list and will charge them more for their coverage.
