Posts Tagged ‘m’
Monday, August 17th, 2009
by Graham McKenzie
When you pick up the phone and start shopping around for a car insurance quote, how do you know if you’re not going to be required to have your car fully inspected? Frankly, it is rare that an insurance company asks for an inspection. However, if you are requesting full coverage for an old car and you tell them the car is in prime condition, the insurance company may take pause, and in order to verify your veracity will require a car inspection.
Using the VIN number the agent would get all the information required about the vehicle, and may even like to arrange an inspection of that particular vehicle so that your actual rates is reduced to a much lower price. Car accessories such a custom made rims, wheels or expensive stereos which you would like to claim along with the vehicle, needs to be inspected before the insurance company provides you with the coverage. This is because there is a possibility of people having an ordinary cassette player, giving false information about it and claiming it to be an expensive one in order to get it covered, which might actually reduce the asset of the Insurance company.
Often the Insurance Company may insist on Inspection, just to know the overall condition of the vehicle alone and if they find the actual condition of the vehicle is poorer than what it is claimed, it may affect the actual insurance coverage. Mechanical faults, improper maintenance such as rust or faded paint, poor condition of seats all make your vehicle go down its ladder for maximum coverage. Moreover it will also let you down when it comes to the blue book, as it mainly depends on the perfect condition of the car which may inadvertently make you to lose a fair amount of money, slashing your pocket with few thousands of dollars. In case of accidents, where the actual damage done to the car is summed up and in the event of blue book claim, the total value is paid to you only after the insurance company analysis the perfect numbers to be paid.
Remember, the insurance company needs to find the correct blue book value based on the current condition of your car just in case you get into a major accident and total your car. They are not in the business to lose money or in the habit of paying out on policies that were written based on false information. By having an inspection, they will know the true value of your car.
Providing true statement about the amount of damage that the vehicle has encountered, which was not previously claimed is always helpful, as honesty might save you from paying fines or from a serious conviction against Insurance frauds. In case of Inspections by the Insurance companies, if at all they do occur, being honest and then requesting a quote will make more sense, than showing a missing fender which might categorize you under fraudulent activities.
This is why inspections can happen at any time. The insurance company needs to know if you are honest. So it is best to be truthful when looking for a quote because the day after you get your policy, the insurance company might be at your place taking pictures of your car.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, car insurance quotes, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, m, money, o, u, V, vechile insurance
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Friday, August 14th, 2009
by Graham McKenzie
The fortunate thing about having car insurance is that when you are involved in an accident or your vehicle is stolen or vandalized you are able to file a claim and have the insurance company handle the repairs or replacement of any valuables other than the deductible which you will pay frequently.
The process for making a claim starts with informing your insurance company about the event that occurred. The insurance agent you contact will begin the initial examination checklist. Their job is to verify that the claim is legitimate and determine the amount of compensation one will receive. They also are responsible for determining the amount of your claim that the insurance company will cover. These checklists generally includes questions about the incident and your policy and coverage details.
Your policy needs to be active. The insurance agent will verify that the police is before anything else transpires. The agent will also ensure that your payments have been paid and that you are not behind. If it is determined you lapsed in payment, you will not be eligible for coverage.
Your policy has certain coverage amounts and there are items that are not covered, the insurance agent will go over your policy contract and determine if the claim you are filing is in fact covered by the policy. If you have only liability insurance or third party cover then you will not be able to collect on damages such as car theft.
The checklist examination is the guideline for what will be covered. The checklist will allow the agent to determine if “acts of God” are covered under you policy. If they are not and you suffered from fire or flood, then your claim is not valid and will receive no reimbursement. Also, if a vehicle is stolen or vandalized and contains expensive items inside, those items are only subject to an insurance claim if it is stated so on the insurance policy you have.
The insurance agent looks for violation of policy terms, ensures the driver stood up to their end of the policy requirements and checks for any perils or items that might be excluded for the claim. It might sound harsh, but the insurance company will look for any reason they should not pay the claim and if they find one you will be left holding the bill at the end of the day.
Besides looking for policy issues the insurance agent is trained to look over the checklist for suspicious items entered and report them to the assessor. If you are driving a very old car and it is stolen with a trunk load of expensive merchandise the insurance agent may look at this as a possible fraudulent claim. There are many things can red flag the insurance companies to a claim that might be completely false or have parts of the claim that are misleading. The insurance agent will turn the claim over to the assessor once the checklist is complete and all notes they have taken during the initial process is included with the examination to the assessor.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, car insurance quotes, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, m, money, o, u, V, vechile insurance
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Friday, August 7th, 2009
by Graham McKenzie
Your very first insurance premiums will very likely be higher than they will ever be again. That is, if you’re careful. Like your first experience with buying on credit, you won’t get as good a deal as you will once you show how reliable you are, whether in your bill-payments or your driving habits. You start out as an unknown quality to insurers, so they start you out at a price that lets them be sure not to lose money on “people like you.”
It may occur that the price you have to pay for the new policy is higher than for the ones who have previous insurance policies, but then, things like no previous claims, apt and regular payment record, a clean driving license will be considered as plus points and there is a chance the rates offered to you are great.
Persons having previous lapsed policies, and are in need to find a new one with better quotes are generally not entertained. Even if it happens, the credit history is checked for timely payment of premiums for the previous policy, so that the new company has some points for consideration.
Though you can find brokers offering high risk insurance covers at best rates for persons with a new driving license, or for a person with lots of traffic violations or accident claims, the fact is ,the initial payment and the deducted amount will compensate the rate offered ,finally summing up for a poor insurance coverage.
Those seeking the best rates are advised to continue paying their current policies throughout the originally prescribed term rather than cancelling them before they are due to expire. Shorter term policies may then be the way to bolster one’s history. Doing so, in addition to maintaining a clean driving record, will improve the likelihood that the applicant will receive lower premiums in the future. In order to take advantage of their new “safe” status, drivers should solicit quotes from other insurance policies when they receive a renewal notice from their current provider. Even a brief, six-month period of consistent payments and safe driving can result in significant premium savings - to the tune of several hundred dollars potentially.
Those drivers who maintain coverage for several years through the same company may not be taking advantage of potential savings that are available to them. Insurance companies are not in the habit of pro-actively offering existing customers lower rates, even if they may qualify for them. On the other hand, competing insurance companies are more likely to offer a potential customer with a strong history better rates in the hopes of getting them to switch providers.
Always do your homework when choosing an insurance policy. Keep your driving and payment histories spotless. _Never_ let a policy simply lapse. This will make you a highly desirable insurance risk. Now shop around for the best offers. You’ll get them.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, car insurance quotes, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, m, money, o, u, V, vechile insurance
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Thursday, August 6th, 2009
by Susan Reynolds
Paying a one-time fee for travel insurance with the promise of having all of your yearly travel protected from accidents and illnesses sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? In most cases it is; however, the time to find out your coverage isn’t complete is not after you experience an illness in another country.
Today people travel for a wide range of reasons and the travel insurance policies accessible to you have evolved to meet the more varied demand for suitable cover. In this guide we will look at which policies are suitable for certain types of travel. If you are plan to take a winter holiday you may want to consider taking out winter sports insurance.
But suppose you wanted to take a trip that involves bungee jumping and white-water rafting, an adventure holiday insurance package would be more advisable. You want to be covered by a specific insurance, otherwise possible injuries may not be covered. Be sure to double check with the policy to see if your activities will be covered.
If your holiday is likely to involve you taking part in adventure activities such as bungee jumping or white-water rafting it would be advisable to take out a form of adventure holiday insurance. Many of these adventure behavior may be exempt from a traditional travel insurance policy so failing to take out appropriate cover could mean you facing a hefty bill should a little go wrong. When purchasing adventure holiday insurance always ensure your planned activities are covered by the policy.
If throwing on a backpack, sticking out your thumb or buying a train pass is your idea of a great holiday - well, there is an insurance policy for you too. Backpackers insurance will cover injuries and accidents in multiple countries. However, before purchasing one it’s important to double-check that these the countries you plan to visit are covered - many third-world ones are not. This type of policy is is also long-lasting: many last for 18 months, which is perfect for the wayward backpacker.
If your work requires you to travel abroad you should consider taking out business insurance. This type of policy can cover business equipment such as laptops and PDAs and business documents. Some policies also cover the travel expenses if you are taken ill and another member of staff has to fly out and take your place. Something that insurance provided by your employer may not.
Many standard insurance policies have an upper age limit (usually this is 65). Once you breach this limit travel insurance can turn into further expensive as you are careful a higher risk. In this situation you should seek insurance from providers who specialize in cheap travel insurance for the over 65s. Regardless of your age if you have any pre-existing medical conditions it is vital to let your insurance company know before buying the insurance. Such a condition is likely to increase the cost of your policy but it is a little fee to pay; if you fail to declare any medical issues your insurance policy is unlikely to cover you and this could result in a large bill for any medical treatment.
Tags: f, finance, health, i, insurance, m, medical insurance, money, o, r, t, travel, travel & leisure, travel health insurance, travel insurance, Travel Tips
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Monday, August 3rd, 2009
by Graham McKenzie
Consumers in the automobile insurance market often come across “incidence rates”. This phrase, while confusing to some people, is actually a simple method for determining the level of risk for a specific vehicle.
Certain types and models of vehicles are more attractive to thieves. Also, certain models have been shown to be more likely to be involved in accidents or violations such as speeding or reckless driving. The insurance quote not only takes into account your personal driving history, but is also determined by the type of vehicle that is being insured.
To determine the level of risk associated with your car the insurance company will look at professionally produced statistical lists supplied by the auto industry. These lists include information such as the universality of parts, failure rates, and the number and types of accidents the car is generally involved in. These have all been thoroughly researched by experts in the field who specialize in statistical analysis.
It seems common-sense that sports cars are more likely to be involved in reckless driving incidents or speeding violations. But there are also some incidents that are not so obvious. For instance, statistics show that a white or light-colored vehicle is more likely to be involved in accidents than darker vehicles. Knowing this information can help consumers make better decisions about the types of vehicles that they choose. Incidence rates can be found either by searching the Internet, or by asking a car dealership for the information. By knowing this information and how it affects your insurance premiums, you will be able to see why your quotes differ from other drivers with similar driving records.
Every year thousands of cars are stolen and never recovered, which makes some cars a big risk for insurance companies. If your car is listed as being likely to be stolen and sold for parts it could hurt your rates. You can counteract this by installing security features to deter thieves or help you locate your car.
Vehicle color has a much lesser affect on determining premiums. While a white car may be more difficult for other motorists to see, and thereby more likely to be involved in an accidents, it will generally be the other driver who is at fault, and his insurance company, not yours, must reimburse you for any damages. It may be wise to purchase an Uninsured Motorist or an Underinsured Motorist policy in case the other driver either does not have insurance, or his insurance will not fully reimburse you. By having this additional coverage, you can greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the additional premiums that you would otherwise have to pay.
By knowing the incidence rates associated with your vehicle and the ways to offset them you can ensure lower rates, but it works both ways. It’s possible to research and seek out the cars that have the lowest theft rates and best safety records in order to get the lowest possible insurance rates. When advertisers note good performance and safety records they’re really drawing your attention to the possibility of lower rates.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, car insurance quotes, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, m, money, o, u, V, vechile insurance
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Monday, August 3rd, 2009
by Dr Rob Cox
Making a wise decision on which Health Insurance Policy to buy may seem like a confusing task, but if you consider just these five most important items you and your agent will both find that you are a Savvy Buyer! These items are your KEYS to picking a policy that’s right for you:
1. The Insurance Company’s Rating
Ask your agent for the Company’s A.M. Best rating. If the company is highly rated at this national rating registry, then the company will have literature showing their rating with an explanation of what it means. Choose only companies that have an A or A+ rating.
2. The Insurance Company’s Record of Complaints at your State Board of Insurance
Every large company will have some complaints. Avoid companies that have a high number of unresolved complaints. Ask your agent for the phone number for your State Board of Insurance. If he will not give it to you, this is a warning signal! You can also look up the number in any directory of your state’s agencies. No matter what your agent says, CALL your State Board of Insurance and ask them for the record on any company you are considering.
3. The Limits Shown On Your Health Insurance Quote
Check your quote to see if you are comfortable with the benefit levels. You can usually change several levels to fit your needs and budget. For example, a higher deductible will cost less each month. Also, many plans give you a choice to split your medical bills with the Insurance Company either 50/50 or 80/20 (with them paying 80%). Then they will have an amount (your stop loss) where they will take over at paying 100% of your covered bills for the remainder of the year. These deductibles and other levels start over every year in most plans. Some plans, though, have a “per cause” deductible. Such a deductible means that you will be responsible for bills up to that deductible for each accident or illness. Make sure you are aware of this distinction, so you can choose a plan that’s right for YOU!
4. The Limits Revealed Within The Policy
Ask your agent for a sample policy, and then check two sections: The Benefits and The Limitations and Exclusions. Many of your benefits are actually limited in the Benefits section. For example, diagnostic testing or outpatient treatment may be severely limited. These days, you could have a serious disease such as cancer, and never go into the hospital for it. You could rack up thousands of dollars in medical bills for the diagnostic and follow-up lab tests and MRIs, and then have surgery, chemo, or radiation therapy all on an outpatient basis.
Other items that may be limited are your hospital room rate and intensive care. Your hospital room rate should be at least average semi-private and your intensive care benefit should NOT be tied to your room rate, but should, instead, be covered as whatever is an average ICU rate for the area of the hospital, also. Some policies limit the ICU benefit to 3 times the regular room rate, when ICU can cost you 10 or 20 times the room rate each day. A short hospital stay with a limit like this in your policy can cost you literally thousands of dollars. A long hospital stay with a limit like this in your policy could drive you into bankruptcy. Even if your policy says it takes over at 100% after $5,000 of covered medical bills, the important term here is “covered” medical bills. If the policy only pays three times the room rate for ICU, then the rest of the ICU bill is considered an “uncovered” charge!
Look out for these types of limits!
Also, be sure to check the Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation if you already have any medical conditions, and ask your agent if the Company will be excluding your conditions permanently on your policy.
5. Pay the Insurance Company, Not the Agent, & Follow Up!
And lastly, make your check payable to the Insurance Company, and then follow up to make sure it was received. When you get your policy, check the Schedule of Benefits to verify you got the coverage you ordered, and then check to see if any special Amendments were added to your policy to exclude any of your conditions. If an Amendment exists, these conditions will always be excluded from this policy, even after the Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation expires.
Following these five tips will help you choose a health insurance policy which will protect you from catastrophic medical bills. You may think, “Isn’t that what any health insurance policy is for?” Yes, that is the reason for buying any health insurance policy, but, unfortunately, many policies fall short of actually providing this protection! Be sure to take the time to choose wisely when it comes to your health insurance!
About the Author:
Health Care is In Crisis!
CLICK HERE for Free Quotes from all of the Top Health and Dental Insurance Companies in the U.S.
Tags: b, benefits, best health insurance, best health plans, business insurance, dental insurance, family, group health, h, health, health benefits, health care, health insurance, health insurance quote, health insurance quotes, m, major medical, medical, quotes, rates, small business
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
by Graham McKenzie
There are several aspects of getting car insurance that aren’t understood by people who are getting insurance for the first time. Whether your car is new or used, insuring it is an important aspect of owning a vehicle. You want to understand the type of coverage you should get for your vehicle when looking to get insurance.
You will be looking at getting one of two types of coverage for your vehicle. There are three factors that will help you choose what type of insurance you get. You will want to consider the type of car you have, how old it is, and how much value it has. Many cars that are older have very little value to them and only need liability. However if you have a new car or a car that still has a lot of value to it then you will want to get full coverage. This is because full coverage will cover your car in the event of an accident.
This may be your first time getting car insurance so you will want to factor in the value of your car versus how much you will be paying for in insurance. An easy way to do this is to add up the cost of your insurance over 3 years and compare it to the value of your car. If the insurance costs are greater than the value of your car then you will want to get liability only. If the costs are less than the value of your car then you should get full coverage.
The other type of insurance that you can get as an alternative to full coverage is liability only. Liability coverage will cover you if you are at fault in a car accident. In most states that you are required to have insurance you will be required to at least have liability coverage. Liability only should be used if your car is older or has very little value to it. This is because liability will not cover your car in an accident situation or if it gets vandalized.
Finally you may choose to add comprehensive coverage to your insurance plan. Comprehensive coverage is rarely used on an insurance plan except for full coverage plans. This is because comprehensive insurance will protect your vehicle from situations not pertained to accidents. A good example of this is vandalism or damaged caused by severe weather.
Comprehensive insurance is not a standalone insurance policy. It’s an add-on to your insurance to help cover damages that aren?t due to accidents. This type of damage is usually caused by vandalism or dangerous weather conditions. You will usually find this insurance in a full coverage plan however you will want to adjust the deductable accordingly. It?s important to note that if you change your deductible you will also change your monthly premium. This is handy if you?re looking to lower your overall premium.
You can get a possible discount in you can pay 6 months of your premium in full. Yes its quite heavy financially but if you have the amount, you can save a lot if you think of it.
About the Author:
Graham McKenzie is the content syndication coordinator for
Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading
Car Insurance portal, which provides cover for all Car Insurance types.
Tags: a, auto insurance, automobile;truck, automotive, c, car insurance, car insurance quotes, cars, e, f, finance, i, insurance, m, money, o, u, V, vechile insurance
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Friday, July 24th, 2009
by Richard Cantu, President of GoMedigap
There are many different reasons that people do the things that they do in their lives. However, people generally get insurance products like Medigap insurance because they need it. Understanding this need and being able to figure out how to get the right coverage is often challenging for many people.
It can be quite complicated to comprehend, and that it’s another expense that they feel they may not be able to afford. However, Medigap insurance can actually makes things more affordable. Most Medicare recipients are on fixed incomes and the comfort of knowing that you have fewer or no outright expenses for your health care can allow them to budget things better.
So why do you need a Medigap plan? Only you can truly figure that out, but here are three reasons that you shouldn’t go without this great coverage.
1. Medicare parts A & B coverage was not designed to cover all medical expenses. Having Medigap insurance can allow one to cover almost all, if not all, of your medical expenses and never have to fear being unable to pay ever again.
2. Medigap insurance is affordable. It is definitely cheaper than risking the huge expense of unpaid medical costs that Medicare can leave behind. Never sell yourself short and think that you can’t afford the insurance supplement, because the chances are good that you can’t afford NOT to have it. Think about the future, and remember that you cannot get Medicare supplements after you have been diagnosed as being chronically ill. Get it now, while you can. You’ll appreciate it later.
3. Medigap plans can be purchased from many private insurance which tends to keep rates competitive. Because Medicare has standardized Medicare supplements you can go with the company thats going to give you the best rate for your chosen plan.
Keep these things in mind when you are considering applying for or learning more about Medigap insurance. It is definitely helpful to those who use it, and you can enjoy more peace of mind and spend more time having fun and less time worrying about your insurance coverage.
About the Author:
Determining the best rate on a Medicare supplement insurance can be a daunting task. A good online resource for Determining
Medicare supplement insurance Quotes and information is www.gomedigap.com.
Tags: b, business;finance, e, f, finance, h, health, health insurance, i, insurance, m, medical insurance, medicare insurance medigap, medicare supplement, Medicare Supplement Insurance, medicare supplements, n, p, personal finance, senior health insurance
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
by John Barton
Get any form of work done to your vehicle is usually a little bit stressful. You will have to spend time and money to get your car in great shape, which are two things many of us don’t have a lot of.
Also you want to be assured that you are getting quality workmanship done for your vehicle. Getting any form of paint work done to your car falls directly into what is mentioned above. You want to make sure that it comes out looking great and stays looking great!
When choosing a repair shop to handle any paint repairs or paint touch up you want to make sure that you first of all choose a qualified professional at a well known auto body shop. Check around and do some research so that you know they are not planning to rip you off or that they in fact do a good job. You should also ask to see an example of the work that they produce from their shop. Once you do that you should be off to a good start.
That way you will not leave anything out and you will get a more accurate quote. You may also get a notepad and write down information from each shop that you speak to, if they do not print the information for you. That way you will not forget which shop you already spoke to and what each shop has to offer and their prices.
One way that you can get quotes is by calling auto body shops in your area. This can help you to get around a bout idea of how much your repairs will cost. You can also speak to them about additional services they offer. It would be great if you could get all the work you want done in one place.
Next you should look for an auto body shop that will give you a warranty on the paint job that paid for. That paint job is going to cost you some time and money and you want to get a guarantee that it is a quality job that will hold up against the elements. Any shop that provided a warranty for their work must have confidence that their work is of good quality.
So, since many people are looking for a “green” change for the environment many businesses are taking the opportunity to help out and “go green”. So, if you want to do your part you can choose to conduct business with those that are making the effort to reduce their affects on the environment in a harmful way. After all, we all want our children to be able to grow up on a great planet with less harmful emissions to the environment.
So, make sure you really check around and get the most qualified specialist and a great price as well. Oh yes, you should not be paying for all those quotes either!!!
Tags: a, accidents, advertising, auto, b, body, business, c, car insurance quotes, cars, collision, e, f, family, h, hobbies, i, insurance, m, maintenance, o, p, parts, r, repair, shopping, t, tools, travel, trucks, u, vehicle
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
by Stacy Williams
Let’s face it, fuel prices are high, food costs are high, your neighbor is loosing their home. Times are not the best. What could be worse? Maybe an auto accident?
I have seen numerous shops with very nice front offices and waiting rooms. These are not dealerships, but independent shops. I think the best way to handle this every changing economy effect on the auto body repair industry is to bond with the customer.
There are many different services that can be performed on your vehicle as far as auto body repairs are concerned. Many auto body shops offer a variety of services that include paint touch up, paint less dent removal, bumper repair, wheel rim repair, windshield repair and much more.
A shop might want to utilize some reasonable concessions. Back to our example, the auto owner’s vehicle is inspected by the insurance company and is paid less the deductible. The auto owner takes vehicle to shop and schedules repairs.
That is the secured interest would try to collect, if the vehicle is repossessed seems like it is a lost cause. If the auto is 100% owned, than it does not matter what the owner does with the insurance payout.
One thing to check is how long the shop has been in business for. This is not a sole indicator, but if the shop has been in business for some time chances are they are reliable and should do a good job on your vehicle. Don’t choose a shop that has secured a bad name for their shop. Also, if you were to have any problems down the road you want to be sure that they will be around to uphold any warranty or guarantee that they will most likely give you.
Also, make sure that you approve of the quality of work that the auto body shop produces. You want to get the repair done the right way the first time. It is perfectly acceptable to ask the shop to see examples of the work they have previously done. This will give you the best idea of what to expect.
In this every changing industry, it seems that there are hurdles that constantly need to be jumped. A vehicle is the average American’s second highest valued asset; it always amazes me that people do not want to keep their vehicle in top condition. I think that a few tweaks with customer service and salesmanship, you should be able to get repairs lined up in this tough time.
Tags: a, accidents, advertising, auto, b, body, business, c, car insurance quotes, cars, collision, e, f, family, h, hobbies, i, insurance, m, maintenance, o, p, parts, r, repair, shopping, t, tools, travel, trucks, u, vehicle
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