Auto insurance » Insurance Company

Earthquake Insurance in California

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:17:44 +0000

As the water began to drain from New Orleans in 2005, we learned that most of the homeowners in New Orleans did not have flood insurance, since they were supposedly in “low risk” areas. The over 60% of homeowners will need to depend upon their own savings, and limited federal assistance, to rebuild New Orleans – at an uncalculated cost for homeowners and taxpayers.

Could that level of disaster, especially that level of uninsured disaster, happen in California? Less than 15% of California homeowners currently carry earthquake insurance, due to its high cost, the “can’t happen to me or my house” factor, and mortgage providers not requiring coverage. The next big quake will result in billions of uninsured damage – but is earthquake insurance really worth the high cost?

How Did We Get Here?

The state of California requires that all homeowner’s insurance providers to at least offer earthquake insurance (albeit, at a high cost). Until 1994, it was widely available – but the high damage costs of the Northridge earthquake resulted in 97% of homeowner’s insurance providers pulling out of the state the California. In response, the California Earthquake Authority was formed by the California legislator to provide earthquake insurance.

What Is the California Earthquake Authority, and How Does It Work?

The California Earthquake Authority provides two-thirds of the earthquake policies in California, sold through their member providers, like Allstate and State Farm. A homeowner purchases the policy through their regular insurance agent, but the policy is actually a CEA policy.

The CEA currently has about $7.2 billion to pay claims, which it states is enough to pay foreseeable damages (Loma Prieta in 1989 had $6 billion in total damages). If the damage claims are more than $7.2 billion, then each claim would be paid a prorated portion of their losses – unlike a regular insurance company, which promises to pay the actual damages under the insurance policy. The state of California cannot help pay the claims out of general funds.

The policies also have a high deductible – usually 15% of the value of the dwelling. In other words, your home must be damaged more than 15% of its value before the insurance starts paying. So, this insurance is not for cracks in the driveway – it is for significant structural damage to your home. The policy also pays for limited contents (starting at $5K) and loss of use (starting at $1500).

Why Is Earthquake Insurance So Expensive?

Insurance policy premiums are calculated based on probabilities – the probability that a house like yours in a neighborhood like yours will catch fire, or a driver like you will have an accident. With data from millions of homes, these probabilities can be calculated with reasonable accuracy. But, no one can reliably predict the probability that there will be an earthquake strong enough to damage your home.

And, as you can imagine, damages from an earthquake, flood, or hurricane, are widespread, over potentially thousands of square miles – instead of one or a few dozen homes, as in a fire. As such, the insurer would have to pay either zero claims, or billions of dollars of claims – too much variance to reasonably plan for or price accurately.

Are We Really At Risk Here in San Jose?

According to the USGS, there is a 62% probability that there will be an earthquake of 6.7 or greater (like the Northridge quake) in the Bay Area in the next 30 years. In my zip code (San Jose 95126), USGS calculates a 80% chance of a 6.0 earthquake and a 20% chance of a 7.0, in the next 30 years. Whether you consider that to be a high risk depends on your risk tolerance for earthquakes – I consider that a high risk of a moderate earthquake and a somewhat low risk of a terrible earthquake, over the next 30 years.

But like any issue involving real estate – it is all local. Where your home is actually located significantly affects your risk – bedrock, reclaimed land from the bay, soil type, nearby streams, actual distance from the epicenter – all can affect potential damage.

But of course, many earthquakes occur where the USGS was not even aware of a fault line – and we never know when or where it will happen, until it happens.

Should I Obtain Earthquake Insurance?

Factors to Consider:
Could you afford to pay for the rebuilding your home from your own savings & investments? Can you afford to pay the high cost of insurance, indefinitely? Could make payments on your current mortgage and on a new loan to rebuild? Can you mitigate your potential losses by bolting your roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation, for example? What is your tolerance for the risk of an earthquake? What is the risks of your current home construction (type, age, foundation)? What are the risks of your specific location (soil type, distance to known faults)?

Are the Costs Worth It?

Let’s assume that you have a home that would cost $250K to rebuild, you will own the home for the next 30 years, and your earthquake premiums are $1200 per year. Over the next 30 years, that would be a total of $36,000 in premiums (assuming your premiums do not increase, to simplify calculations).

Instead of purchasing insurance, you invest the premiums in a diversified mutual fund. With an 8% annual return, you would have $135,000 (pre-tax) in year 30.* But of course, you only have that total in year 30, not in year one – meaning that if the earthquake happens tomorrow, you don’t have the money.

The deductible is another big turn off for many homeowners. The insurance pays only for large structural damage, not broken dishes or cracked driveways – meaning that it is less likely you will use it. However, be aware that you will not need to come up with the cash for the deductible – you may either opt to not undertake those repair or rebuilding costs, or you can apply for an SBA loan to pay for the deductible (assuming a federal disaster area is declared).

Why Not Just Get Federal Aid, or “Walk Away” and Let the Bank Have the Property?

The federal government would probably provide access to SBA loans, if the area is declared a federal disaster area (no small business required). However, the $200K maximum SBA loan may not be enough to rebuild your home – and, it is a loan that you need to pay back (in addition to your current mortgage).

If you have refinanced your mortgage, you have a recourse mortgage – which means that not only can the bank foreclose on the property in case of non-payment, the bank can also come after your personal assets and future income in case of non-payment. So you cannot just walk away, especially if you have a good income and some personal assets. The bank may help out by deferring payments for a few months, but you still must pay back the loan.

Last Thoughts

We have earthquake insurance on our home. Our home was not yet built in the 1906 earthquake (so who knows if it would stand), it is 75+ years old and is not bolted to the foundation, and we have a refinanced mortgage. For my family, the insurance premiums are worth peace of mind in case of a major earthquake disaster. That’s exactly what insurance is for – the “you never know.”

*calculations ignore inflation

By: Elizabeth Potts Weinstein

Diamond Ring Insurance

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:21:11 +0000

If you are lucky enough to have received a diamond ring for engagement or just a gift or are considering purchasing one for someone then it is worth looking into insuring such a precious stone.

Many people forget the importance of insuring a diamond ring, what can be worse than falling in love with a ring and something happening to it, whether it is lost or damaged if the ring is not insured then the costs will have to be forfeited by the owner, If the diamond ring was expensive then you may find your self in a situation where you simply can not afford to replace or repair the ring.

Diamond ring insurance is not as simple as you may think, most insurance companies will not just cover the item on your normal policy, some may cover jewelry for theft but not for other circumstances where by the diamond ring has become lost or damaged.

Most insurance companies will allow you to purchase additional insurance for fine jewelry and your diamond ring however there are a few questions you should ask before taking out this addition to your existing policy.

1st and most importantly you will want to know how much the insurance will cost. It is also wise to ask how this will affect your policy should you need to make a claim for your diamond ring.

2nd ask if an appraisal needed to cover your diamond ring and if so would these need to be provided by yourself by specific appraiser or will your insurance company take care of this for you.

3rd ask if the diamond ring be covered for its full value or replacement cost and will this be in the form of a cash sum where by you would purchase the replacement ring yourself or will the insurance company replace the diamond ring themselves and send to you.

4th check if the diamond ring be covered wherever the damage or loss takes place, some insurance companies will only cover loss or damage within your own company so additional travel insurance may be needed if you were to go abroad.

5th will the insurance cover all repairs on the diamond ring and who will make any repair to the ring, some insurance companies have their own tradesmen who would make any repairs needed other insurance companies will ask for several estimates provided by yourself before you can go ahead and get the diamond ring repaired.

6th always ask about excess, this is a sum of money you will pay before anything is repaired or replaced, this is normally ascertained by the value of the ring, it is a very important aspect of insurance, you may find small repairs can be done without going through your insurance, some cases will show that it simply is not worth paying the excess to replace or repair your diamond ring depending on the excess figure.

Diamond ring insurance may sound daunting but it need not be, knowing what to ask and knowing the facts always helps.

By: Vicki Churchill

Home Insurance Claims – Tips For Filing And Winning

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:59:25 +0000

The process of filing home insurance claims can mean only one thing, you have suffered a loss of some sort. Now the work begins. Acquiring home insurance is easy, with the help of your insurance agent or broker. Obtaining a quote and policy activation can happen very quickly. However, things do not go quite so smoothly when you try to file a claim on your home insurance. It can be in some cases, be shocking at how your once accommodating agent can all of a sudden seem a bit jumpy upon hearing the word “claim” mentioned.

A best case scenario is, the claim form is completed and the insurance adjuster has viewed the damage and assessed the claim as appropriate, then it is just a matter of waiting for the check to arrive from the insurance company, which is usually a reasonably smooth procedure.

However, winning a home insurance claim is not always so straightforward. The insurance company will be looking to find ways to throw out your claim in some cases. The main reasons they will use to reject your claim are that you are not adequately covered, your time period for filing has expired or that what you are asking for exceeds the claimable amount as detailed on your policy.

For these reasons, it is essential that you understand exactly what your policy states and covers. The policy itself is a binding agreement between you and your insurance company. You should read all the fine print and know exactly what you are covered for and what deductibles and exclusions exist. It is extremely important that anything you don’t understand and any questions you have to ask be brought up at the time of taking out your policy.

Here are some tips to help you win a home insurance claim. First of all, evaluate your claim situation. Is this claim your first within the initial two or three years of the policy? If the answer to this question is yes, then ask yourself about the harm done to your property. Is your home vastly damaged? If you do not consider the damage to be great, it may well be better not to make a small claim at all. Lets face it, you never know what’s around the corner and you may be wise to save your insurance claim in order to declare something bigger in the future. Insurers are less likely to grant many small claims for damages than one large one.

Following an incident where losses or damages have taken place, you should call your agent to make a report and ask him to forward a claim form to you. Absolutely be able to document all items and property damaged or lost. Make sure you know how long you have to make the claim and where it should be submitted to once it is completed. Even if you are confident about filling in the claim form, make any queries you have in writing and take instruction and guidance from your agent. Ensure you do it right and you will be safe in the knowledge that everything is documented as it should be.

You can expect a successful result if you submit your filing in a timely manner before expiration. Your knowledge of the terms and conditions of the coverage you have in your policy will play a huge part in you filing a accurate claim, this can not be over emphasized. If you are really not happy with the insurance claims adjusters assessment, you may want to consult/hire a independent private claims adjuster. You have that right. All in all as the homeowner, don’t give up if your if your claim is disputed, you have to stay on top of your policy terms and sometimes insurance companies as well to be win home insurance claims.

By: Rhonda Strump

Cheap Mortgage Life Insurance

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:09:18 +0000

Mortgage life insurance is a type of insurance that ensures the remaining balance on a mortgage is paid in case of death of the borrower. Cheap mortgage life insurance is available which the borrower can obtain with a little research of the market. Cheap mortgage life insurance refers to a policy with low rates. However, the rates depend on the type of mortgage and amount.

Mortgage life insurance is necessary for all borrowers who are opting for a mortgage. This is done to offer protection to the homeowners and their families against losing their income in case of unexpected death of the earner. The borrowers are required to fulfill their end of the bargain by making periodic fixed payments to the insurance company. These payments are known as the insurance premium and are determined on the basis of several factors. The insurance company in turn promises to compensate the beneficiaries named in the policy in the unfortunate event of the client?s death. This premium is usually included with the monthly mortgage payment. The borrowers do not have to worry about making another monthly payment towards the insurance policy.

Mortgage life insurance provides peace of mind to the borrowers, as they do not have to worry about their families or other dependents losing the house in case of a premature death. Further, getting a life insurance policy for protecting the mortgage is usually not very expensive. As the amount of the coverage goes on decreasing with the mortgage amount, the insurance also gets cheaper. To find out the best and the cheapest mortgage life insurance, borrowers must compare the life insurance prices of as many carriers as they can. This task has become quite easy as it is now possible to request multiple quotes over the Internet by filling out a single form.

By: Peter Emerson

Guidelines For Filing Insurance Claims

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 05:45:35 +0000

Different Procedures for Filing Different Insurance Claims

Guidelines for filing insurance claims differ with the different types of policies. If you are filing insurance claims for medical insurance, then you should do it within two months of the medical appointment. Before filing insurance claims, do not forget to get the photocopies of all the papers you are sending to the insurance company. If the matter is not settled even after the 45 days of filing claim, contact the insurance company to resolve the issue immediately. You also need to ascertain that the doctor has indicated appropriate diagnosis codes in the receipts. Insurance company may delay the process in absence of these codes.

Call the Agent Immediately

Guidelines for filing insurance claims for other kinds of insurance require that you should thoroughly examine whatever property has been damaged. Then call the insurance provider or the agent so that you can report the damage to the insurance company. Here it is important that you note the name of the person to whom you are talking along with the record of date and time. Do not forget to give him your phone number so that he can contact you immediately as and when required. Keep handy your insurance policy number at the time of reporting. Call a photographer so that the photography or the video recording of the damaged area can be done.

Make Temporary Repairs Only Before Inspection

Do not make any permanent repairs unless the claim adjuster has examined the property and estimated the extent of the damage. However, it is possible to do necessary repair work to prevent the property from being damaged further. For example, you can repair holes in the roof or windows so that the water does not come in and make further damages. You are entitled to get the reimbursement for the amount of money you paid for temporary repairs, so keep a record of it along with all receipts. However, you should keep damaged material so that you can show it to the adjuster as a proof of the loss. It will make it easy for the adjuster to assess the damages to the property. You should put your signature on the statement of proof of loss and ascertain that if any further damage is discovered it will also be added.

CAT Offices

One important question regarding filing insurance claims is what you would do if the office of insurance company itself is damaged and closed. In such circumstances, insurance companies send catastrophe—also known as CAT‑teams in or near damaged areas so that people can contact them. If you are unable to find the CAT office, you can visit the official web site of the insurance company to get the address.

By: Alexander Gordon

Insurance Broker Know How

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:39:13 +0000

Insurance brokers are essentially insurance professionals that are independent of any particular insurance company and therefore able to sell many types of insurance from several insurance companies. They are able to assist both individuals and other clients to locate insurance that meets their needs and at the best price. As they work with many insurance companies they are not bound by a sense of loyalty to any particular company. They are able to keep in mind the best deal for their customers.

The insurance brokers will often have a range of insurance services available and will often offer coverage for specialized circumstances not covered by normal insurance agents. They can offer all types of insurance including automobile, health, property and many others too numerous to mention. They will have options available for workman’s compensation and even for companies that are into manufacturing and require specialized coverage for the chemicals they utilize.

It is the duty of the insurance broker to calculate premiums and to secure coverage for the client. They must also establish a method for the payment of premiums by the client. Provision of information such as group and individual insurance packages, risk coverage and benefits must be done as this is important information for the client to be aware off.

It is the responsibility of the broker to ensure that the paperwork and legalities of the policy are handled in the right way and that this is completed efficiently. They have to ensure that all forms are properly completed and that medical examinations are carried out and the requirements of the policy being purchased are met by the client. The insurance broker also has to track the claims made by the client and to maintain contact with the client to resolve uncertainties and to answer any questions or queries. It is important that a broker has a certain level of education and that the broker is trained in the insurance business so that they are efficiently able to attend to the needs of the client.

The insurance broker is able, due to there independent nature, to locate the best deal for their clients. They are able to source the best coverage for their clients at the lowest premiums available as they are able to compare between providers. It is necessary however that clients of insurance brokers investigate and ensure that the broker they are considering using is indeed independent and reputable. There are many reliable brokers but there are some that will recommend companies that are not reputable for a good commission.

It is important that you are affiliated with an insurance broker that is licensed to provide insurance brokerage services. This can provide the added confidence necessary in a broker. The license means essentially that they are regulated by an independent body that ensures that they are following good practices and not fraudulently misleading the public. This is a good to look for and can provide an added safety but still make sure that you do research and ensure for yourself that you are getting the best deal from your insurance broker.

By: Martin Lukac

Insurance Claims – Notify the Insurance Company!

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:27:08 +0000

Seems sort of obvious, doesn’t it? But, there are different ways to notify the company that you’ve had a loss. And when you notify the insurance company can make a big difference in how your claim is handled.

The first place to look for information is on your policy. Many policies will have a telephone number listed for reporting a claim. However, I’ve seen policies that require the policyholder to notify the company in writing. So, make sure that the method of reporting your claim is acceptable to the insurance company. Likely, your agent has his name and telephone number on the policy. If so, call him and report the loss also.

Sometimes, an agent will have settlement authority to handle small losses, such as homeowner’s losses under $2,000.00. In that kind of instance, the agent could handle the claim for you. I’ve found this situation to be rare, though. Occasionally, captive agents (agents that work for only one company, like Allstate, Nationwide or Liberty Mutual) will have a small amount of settlement authority.

The first thing you should remember is that the agent is licensed by the Department of Insurance in his state to be an agent. There is a separate license for claims adjusters. It’s actually a violation of insurance regulations for an agent to do claims adjusting. It’s not his job to handle your claim, but to assist you in buying the coverage that’s right for you. Agents can be very helpful by making calls on your behalf if you’re having problems in your claim. They can be helpful in finding out key names and phone numbers for insurance company personnel that are handling your claim. If the agent has a large number of policyholders with that company, and his clientele represents a large amount of premium to that insurance company, it can be very helpful to have the agent call on your behalf when you’re having problems.

After all, it’s all about customer service, and keeping the promises made in the insurance policy.

Sometimes, the agent or an office secretary/customer service representative will fill out a claim form (called an ACORD form), and submit the claim form to the insurance company on your behalf. In this age of the Internet, frequently the claim form is electronic, and the agent will submit the electronic form by computer.

If the agent notifies the company on your behalf, and uses some type of form, ask the agent to send you a copy of the completed form. Then, you’ll be certain that the claim was submitted, and the date the claim was submitted.

Many times, however, the agent will have to refer you to the claims department of the insurance company. Your policy may have a telephone number for the claims department listed on the policy, and instructions how to make a claim.

Your policy requires you to notify the insurance company “in a timely manner” after you’ve had a claim. What is timely? It varies policy to policy. But each state has statutes of limitation that limit the amount of time after a claim occurrence that a claim can be made. Check with your state’s Department of Insurance to determine the statute of limitation where you live…or where the loss occurred. You’ll find a list of all of the Insurance Departments of all 50 U.S. states and their phone numbers in the Appendix, and at the website address shown below.

For example: you live in Minnesota, and own a retirement home in Florida. The Florida house gets hit by a hurricane. The statutes for Florida would apply.

WARNING: If you wait more than a month after your loss to notify the insurance company, they will be instantly suspicious. In those cases, you should expect to receive one of two forms from the insurance company before they begin their investigation of the loss:

Non-Waiver Agreement. This basically states that the insurance company is going to do a thorough investigation of the claim, but that their investigation does not commit them to pay the claim. It states that they do not waive any of their rights under the policy, and that the insured does not waive any of his rights by cooperating with the investigation. The insurance company wants the insured to sign this form. However, if the Insured refuses to sign the form, the insurance company will send him a….

Reservation of Rights letter. This states basically the same thing as a Non-Waiver Agreement, but the Insured does not have to sign it.

Don’t forget to write in your claim journal the date, time, who you spoke with, the phone number you called, and what was said when you reported your claim. That information could be very valuable later if you have problems with your claim.

Most likely, you’ll receive a claim number from the company when you report the loss. Write the claim number in your journal!!! Don’t expect the insurance company to quickly send you a form that has the claim number on it. Sometimes, it may be many days before the claims department sends you any correspondence, and you will likely need to speak with them before then.

WARNING: What about a situation in which someone else is at fault, and you’re making a claim against the other person’s insurance company? This could happen in an auto accident, or if someone causes damage to your house, or your contents. EVEN IN THIS SITUATION, you must notify your own insurance company that you’re involved in a claim.

The reason is that third party claims don’t always turn out well for you, the claimant. Sometimes, the other person’s insurance company denies liability or denies coverage. Sometimes, the other person’s insurance company drags the process out. Sometimes, the other person’s insurance company makes a settlement offer far below the fair value of the claim. Months may pass, and you have suffered a financial loss that is not getting paid.

What if you, or someone in your family, is injured in the claim…and the other guy’s insurance company won’t accept liability?

Those things might occur weeks or months after a loss. In many cases, you can short-cut that process and make a claim against your own insurance policy to repair the damages. Then your insurance company will do something called “Subrogation.” That is, they will pay your claim, and then contact the other person’s insurance company and demand reimbursement, including your deductible.

So, if you don’t report your claim right away, the policy might allow that insurance company to deny your claim based upon late reporting.

Besides, your policy REQUIRES you to notify the insurance company “promptly” after you have a loss of covered property. That requirement is there no matter who is at fault for the damages.

Don’t get caught in this technicality! Don’t lose your right to collect what you deserve when you notify the insurance company.

By: Russell Longcore

E & O Insurance for Notaries

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:10:32 +0000

What is E & O insurance, and how does it help a Notary Public? E & O insurance, or Errors and Omissions insurance, covers a Notary in the event of unintentional mistakes that cause injury to a third party – think of it as “malpractice” insurance for Notaries. Some of you might already know what E & O insurance is, and think that it does not apply to Notaries because they are bonded – a common misconception. A Notary bond protects the public and is something that must be repaid by the Notary, in the case of a claim. E & O insurance protects the Notary, and in the instance of a claim, the Notary is not expected to reimburse the insurance company.

What types of mistakes are covered by Errors and Omissions insurance? Inadvertent errors, such as failure to affix your Notarial seal, or to properly identify the signer(s), could subject you to be held liable for any losses. Intentional errors and poor judgment, of course, are not covered. If a claim is made against you, even if it has no validity, you would have the burden of paying court costs etc. in defending yourself, if you did not have E & O coverage. With an E&O policy, you would have no repayment and no minimum or maximum deductible would be required. Also, the attorney fees and court costs are covered, up to your policy limit.

Following are a few examples of the common types of Notary mistakes:

The Notary Stamp is smeared or smudged.

The Notary Stamp covers text or signatures.

The Notary Acknowledgement is worded incorrectly.

Notary stamp missing (yes, it happens).

The Notary’s commission number missing.

Many Notaries also perform loan signing services. In these cases, there is even more room for error such as:

Incorrect Notice of Right to Cancel dates.

Documents are missing signer’s initials.

Mistakes on the document(s) are corrected using white-out.

Notary did not correctly following closing instructions.

Loan Documents not returned in a timely manner.

Notary acknowledgement not completed, or completed improperly.

Notaries accepting personal checks over $500 (or over the amount allowed by State law).

Checks made out to the wrong company.

Though it may not be required by law, Errors and Omissions Insurance protects you against mistakes that can happen with any notarization. It only takes one mistake to potentially lose all of your hard earned money, and possibly even your business! Errors and Omissions insurance rates vary according to the State in which you are a practicing Notary, and the amount of coverage you decide to choose. In some States minimal coverage starts out at less than $10.00 per year with maximum coverage at $200.00 per year. Rates do vary greatly from State to State, however the costs are truly minimal considering the consequences should a claim arise. Considering the cost of E & O coverage, it is just foolish not protect yourself.

By: Lisa T

Low Cost Insurance – Basics 101

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:30:33 +0000

Regardless of the services or items you are searching for, if you are like most people in this country, you are probably looking for a good deal. This is the case for insurance as well. The question that should come to mind is, how to find low cost insurance. It is actually easier to find than you might think. Most people, whether they are searching for automobile insurance, life insurance, dental insurance, motorcycle insurance, or what have you, believe the insurance they currently have is the best coverage for the money they are paying.

However, that is the furthest from the truth. You might be faithful to your well-trusted insurance broker, and you might think you are doing that agent a favor, but you also may not be benefiting from the cheapest insurance available.

Therefore, it is up to you as a consumer to get motivated, and search for it on your own. On-line searching will save you incredible amounts of money.

This may be difficult for some people to believe, but it is true. Finding low cost insurance can be found in multiple ways. You could take the call approach and ask to speak to an insurance representative. This way will take about 20 to 30 minutes of your time to receive a quote in this manner.

Doing a search on-line is by far the best way. All that you need to do is, in the search bar of your search engine, type in your key phrase, and a list of insurance providers in your town will be consolidated. Then click on the individual insurance corporations one at a time. You could also try doing a search by simply searching for websites that are completely committed to comparing various insurance companies.

The ball is in your court. The choice is yours, regardless of the way you to decide to search for low cost insurance. There is not a wrong way to find lower cost insurance. Searching on-line will save you more time, than if you made a time-consuming phone call.

Saving lots of money is a huge payoff, when you search for an on-line insurance company to insure your goods. Were you aware you can keep the same insurance coverage you have, for less money? Rather than giving your money away to insurance companies, you can surely find other places to wisely spend your money.

In addition, you will also learn more about the industry, which will assist you in making more wise decisions for your coverage. These are the missing links that are often overlooked by consumers, which can cost thousands of dollars in unwanted fees for years to come. For example, did you know there are professionals that receive discounts because they are a professional?

As a driver, there are different savings that you may benefit from. For instance, besides being a professional, you may also be protecting your car or home with sophisticated alarms, have an excellent driving record, have a car that you only drive on the weekends, just to name a few. In addition to that, if you increase your deductible, you will be benefit from reduced insurance costs.

You can save on all types of insurance in many ways. The best way is to read as much as you can on the topic and industry you are researching. With that said, be sure you read all the fine print before deciding to sign a contract. This will prevent penalties if you decide to cancel your existing policy.

By: Kimberly Kochera

Obtaining Supplemental Fertility Insurance

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:59:46 +0000

If you are having a problem getting pregnant and want to see a specialist then you may know how much that can cost. Most infertility clinics have financial counselors that can help you get the help you need to cover costs. If you have some insurance but think you need more you can purchase supplement insurances that will cover what your insurance does not cover. With expensive drugs and procedures and virtually no coverage available under basic health insurance plans, paying for medical treatments can be an enormous struggle for many infertile Americans.

Only a handful of states require employers and insurance companies to offer some kind of infertility insurance. Yet across the country, advocates for the infertile say excluding their condition from insurance plans amounts to discrimination. They want the government to step in.

Is it fair that only the people with money can afford infertility procedures? There are no standards to follow so the coverage varies from state to state. Depending on where you live, you may or may not be covered. This does not really seem fair and for many of us who really want a baby can be frustrating and even sometime heartbreaking. Not only may your insurance not cover the procedures but your place of employment may not recognize or validate you leave time.

What Do We Do
One thing that needs to be done is to contact your insurance company and see what they cover. Go online or contact your local infertility clinic or hospital and talk to an insurance specialist to see if they can help. Many times they will know of a company that they are affiliated with that will help you. Go online, research insurance companies, and supplement infertility insurance. Many times you can find information or contact number where you can contact and get the information you need right then and there. Do not give up.

Having a baby is a dream for the two of you and you do not have to let the system win. There are people and insurance companies out there that will help you. There are also financial counselors out there that can answer all of your questions and concerns. Talk to your doctor, he or she may also be able to help.

Support
When dealing with infertility you need to support each other. You will need the support of any one else close to you such as parents and other family members. You will also be connected to a counselor to voice your concerns and ask questions. Utilize those tools and have then help you get the information you need to have a successful pregnancy.

By: Wade Robins