Premiums "vary widely," depending on the individual risk, said Stevens. In determining price, Stevens explained, flood insurance underwriters consider several factors including a particular property's elevation,proximity to bodies of water, and whether the dwelling has a basement.
Kinerney states that the average premium plans is usually $500-$600 per year, and the average deductible is $500 if you live outside a floodplain, and $1,000
if you live inside a floodplain.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The benefits of strong vehicle dependability
The benefits of strong vehicle dependability are particularly high for manufacturers.
In addition to retaining their value better, brands that perform well in VDS have higher levels of owner recommendation and repurchase intent, and increased sales volumes compared to brands with average to poor dependability ratings.
Additionally, vehicles with high levels of reported problems have higher rates of failure of vehicle components such as brake pads, brake rotors and batteries, which is costly to manufacturers if the failure occurs while the vehicle is still under warranty.
In addition to retaining their value better, brands that perform well in VDS have higher levels of owner recommendation and repurchase intent, and increased sales volumes compared to brands with average to poor dependability ratings.
Additionally, vehicles with high levels of reported problems have higher rates of failure of vehicle components such as brake pads, brake rotors and batteries, which is costly to manufacturers if the failure occurs while the vehicle is still under warranty.
maternity insurance
Be careful if you switch jobs during your next pregnancy. Don't assume you'll automatically be able to pick up coverage.
While the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) says group health insurance plans can't consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition and can't exclude coverage for prenatal care or your baby's delivery,HIPAA's rules don't cover every woman.
HIPAA applies to every employer group health plan that has at least
two participants who are current employees, including companies that are self-insured. If you move from one individual plan to another or from a group plan to an individual plan, you might not get pregnancy coverage at all, or you might have to sit out a waiting period.
While the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) says group health insurance plans can't consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition and can't exclude coverage for prenatal care or your baby's delivery,HIPAA's rules don't cover every woman.
HIPAA applies to every employer group health plan that has at least
two participants who are current employees, including companies that are self-insured. If you move from one individual plan to another or from a group plan to an individual plan, you might not get pregnancy coverage at all, or you might have to sit out a waiting period.
Be careful if you switch jobs during your next pregnancy. Don't assume you'll automatically be able to pick up coverage.
While the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) says group health insurance plans can't consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition and can't exclude coverage for prenatal care or your baby's delivery, HIPAA's rules don't cover every woman.
HIPAA applies to every employer group health plan that has at least two participants who are current employees, including companies that are self-insured. If you move from one individual plan to another or from a group plan to an individual plan, you might not get pregnancy coverage at all,
or you might have to sit out a waiting period.
While the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) says group health insurance plans can't consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition and can't exclude coverage for prenatal care or your baby's delivery, HIPAA's rules don't cover every woman.
HIPAA applies to every employer group health plan that has at least two participants who are current employees, including companies that are self-insured. If you move from one individual plan to another or from a group plan to an individual plan, you might not get pregnancy coverage at all,
or you might have to sit out a waiting period.
more on travel insurance
Trip cancellation/interruption coverage will reimburse you for any nonrefundable deposits you put down on a trip or cruise if it turns out that you won't be able to go after all, or if you have to leave early.
The catch? It will only pay out if you have to cancel or leave early because of a covered reason.
That's why it's so important to read the fine print. Some policies will cover only medical reasons (say you're admitted to the hospital), and some will not cover pre-existing medical conditions like an old back injury flaring up).
The catch? It will only pay out if you have to cancel or leave early because of a covered reason.
That's why it's so important to read the fine print. Some policies will cover only medical reasons (say you're admitted to the hospital), and some will not cover pre-existing medical conditions like an old back injury flaring up).
Friday, May 25, 2007
health insurance plan and child birth
You might have as little as 30 days following your child’s birth to add him to your group
health insurance plan. If you miss this deadline, your health insurer might require you to wait until
its next annual "open enrollment" period before you can add your baby to your health insurance plan.
If your employer offers more than one choice of health insurance plans, open enrollment is a good time
to evaluate your present coverage and see if it meets your expanded family's needs.
Bear in mind that individual insurers don't have to cover pregnancy at all, and if they do they might impose
a 12-month waiting period after your health insurance kicks in before they will pay for pregnancy-related claims.
As for group health insurance, there's no legal requirement that your employer offer health insurance at all.
If your employer opts to do so, your health plan must comply with any laws that mandate maternity coverage.
health insurance plan. If you miss this deadline, your health insurer might require you to wait until
its next annual "open enrollment" period before you can add your baby to your health insurance plan.
If your employer offers more than one choice of health insurance plans, open enrollment is a good time
to evaluate your present coverage and see if it meets your expanded family's needs.
Bear in mind that individual insurers don't have to cover pregnancy at all, and if they do they might impose
a 12-month waiting period after your health insurance kicks in before they will pay for pregnancy-related claims.
As for group health insurance, there's no legal requirement that your employer offer health insurance at all.
If your employer opts to do so, your health plan must comply with any laws that mandate maternity coverage.
Having a baby is a life-altering event
Lacking the proper health and life insurance can be, too.
If you recently had a baby or are expecting, now is the time to examine your new insurance needs.
You now have a new dependent who benefits from your wages. As your baby's main — or sole — cash resource,
you need to insure your potential future income against losses in the event of your death.
If you recently had a baby or are expecting, now is the time to examine your new insurance needs.
You now have a new dependent who benefits from your wages. As your baby's main — or sole — cash resource,
you need to insure your potential future income against losses in the event of your death.
Be aware that
Be aware that not every home can qualify for flood coverage. You might not be able to obtain flood insurance if your beach front or ocean-side property sits in an area prone to destructive hurricanes or thunderstorms.
When purchasing a flood policy, it is important to buy one as soon as possible, regardless of whether there is a flood looming on the horizon. You can purchase the insurance at any time, but the policy takes thirty days to go into effect; therefore, if you buy a policy immediately before a flood takes place, you are out of luck.
When purchasing a flood policy, it is important to buy one as soon as possible, regardless of whether there is a flood looming on the horizon. You can purchase the insurance at any time, but the policy takes thirty days to go into effect; therefore, if you buy a policy immediately before a flood takes place, you are out of luck.
comprehensive travel insurance
Many travel agencies, cruise lines, and tour companies sell travel insurance directly, but it's not really the best way to buy it. While prices are sometimes better, the coverage is likely to carry more exclusions. Buying insurance through a cruise line or tour company also means you probably won't be able to collect if they go under. In general, it's best to buy travel insurance directly
from an insurance company.
1st comprehensive travel insurance policies, which include travel medical coverage,
medical evacuation, and trip-cancellation or interruption insurance, cost between 5 and 7 percent of the price of your trip. Prices are based on your age and the cost of your trip — where you're traveling generally doesn't factor into the price — as well as the amount of medical coverage and baggage-replacement insurance you buy.
from an insurance company.
1st comprehensive travel insurance policies, which include travel medical coverage,
medical evacuation, and trip-cancellation or interruption insurance, cost between 5 and 7 percent of the price of your trip. Prices are based on your age and the cost of your trip — where you're traveling generally doesn't factor into the price — as well as the amount of medical coverage and baggage-replacement insurance you buy.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Dental insurance and you...
If you buy dental insurance on your own, you are guaranteed to get less
benefits than your premium. In such a case, the carrier cannot spread their
risk out over a few thousand people. They can only spread the risk over the
number of people in your family. Carriers know that people ONLY buy dental
insurance on their own when they have lots of dental work needing to be
done.
So, they make sure they make their profit by limiting benefits.
Discount plans (like Ameriplan), only sell you a list of offices which (at
one time) offered to give discounts to people enrolled in the discount plan.
Usually, the offices are still listed by the plan after the office stops
participating. The plan will also list the same dentist and the same office
5-10 times on their list, so that the list of providers looks to be very
long. In reality, there is usually only 2-4 offices within a 40 mile radius
who will participate with the discount plans, and these are often not the
offices with outstanding reputations. Rural areas will often have much
fewer offices willing to participate.
You could discuss the merits of getting medical and dental care in poorer
countries. Some of the care in those locations is outstanding. However, I
have yet to hear of a US citizen being impressed with the hospitals in
Mexico. Maybe that is because most of the ones I hear about are in resort
areas, but one would think that those areas would have the funds to develop
good facilities. Since you are choosing to get your care in the USA, that
you do not have enough confidence in the Mexican system to get your care
there?
benefits than your premium. In such a case, the carrier cannot spread their
risk out over a few thousand people. They can only spread the risk over the
number of people in your family. Carriers know that people ONLY buy dental
insurance on their own when they have lots of dental work needing to be
done.
So, they make sure they make their profit by limiting benefits.
Discount plans (like Ameriplan), only sell you a list of offices which (at
one time) offered to give discounts to people enrolled in the discount plan.
Usually, the offices are still listed by the plan after the office stops
participating. The plan will also list the same dentist and the same office
5-10 times on their list, so that the list of providers looks to be very
long. In reality, there is usually only 2-4 offices within a 40 mile radius
who will participate with the discount plans, and these are often not the
offices with outstanding reputations. Rural areas will often have much
fewer offices willing to participate.
You could discuss the merits of getting medical and dental care in poorer
countries. Some of the care in those locations is outstanding. However, I
have yet to hear of a US citizen being impressed with the hospitals in
Mexico. Maybe that is because most of the ones I hear about are in resort
areas, but one would think that those areas would have the funds to develop
good facilities. Since you are choosing to get your care in the USA, that
you do not have enough confidence in the Mexican system to get your care
there?
Dental insurance scam
Insurance is a scam designed to make insurance companies rich. It
isn't necessarily good for medical care or dental care, neither the
dentists, doctors nor their patients. But it is the major way things
are done here in the U.S..
Personally I think Dental Insurance is the biggest scam of all because
you get so little benefit for your money. At least with HMO medical
insurance if some major accident happens or you just get really sick
like with cancer or something, you are completely covered.
But with dental insurance, there are limits to the coverage, and you almost
always end up paying a lot of "out of pocket" costs, usually so much
that the insurance benefit is negligible. Also, the way dental
insurance is structured it turns dentists into crooks, telling
patients they need things they don't really need, or selling the
patient on some procedure that is not covered, such as teeth
whitening, with used-car sales tactics.
isn't necessarily good for medical care or dental care, neither the
dentists, doctors nor their patients. But it is the major way things
are done here in the U.S..
Personally I think Dental Insurance is the biggest scam of all because
you get so little benefit for your money. At least with HMO medical
insurance if some major accident happens or you just get really sick
like with cancer or something, you are completely covered.
But with dental insurance, there are limits to the coverage, and you almost
always end up paying a lot of "out of pocket" costs, usually so much
that the insurance benefit is negligible. Also, the way dental
insurance is structured it turns dentists into crooks, telling
patients they need things they don't really need, or selling the
patient on some procedure that is not covered, such as teeth
whitening, with used-car sales tactics.
If you have health insurance
If you have health insurance,find out from your health plan what benefits apply when you're abroad.
If you won't have any health coverage while you're traveling, you might want to look for a travel insurance policy that includes medical coverage.
You should know whether the policy will actually pay for the medical care up front,
whether you have to get approval from the insurance company's medical specialist before you can get care,
and if there is a referral line for you to call. Be cautious about salespitches that play on your fears.
If you won't have any health coverage while you're traveling, you might want to look for a travel insurance policy that includes medical coverage.
You should know whether the policy will actually pay for the medical care up front,
whether you have to get approval from the insurance company's medical specialist before you can get care,
and if there is a referral line for you to call. Be cautious about salespitches that play on your fears.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Underinsured motorists (UIM)
Underinsured motorists (UIM) coverage will pay out if the driver who hit you causes more damage than his or her liability coverage can cover.
In some states, UM or UIM coverage will also pay for property damages.
In some states, UM or UIM coverage will also pay for property damages.
The benefits of strong vehicle dependability
The benefits of strong vehicle dependability are particularly high for manufacturers.
In addition to retaining their value better, brands that perform well in VDS have higher levels of owner recommendation and repurchase intent, and increased sales volumes compared to brands with average to poor dependability ratings.
Additionally, vehicles with high levels of reported problems have higher rates of failure of vehicle components such as brake pads, brake rotors and batteries, which is costly to manufacturers if the failure occurs while the vehicle is still under warranty.
In addition to retaining their value better, brands that perform well in VDS have higher levels of owner recommendation and repurchase intent, and increased sales volumes compared to brands with average to poor dependability ratings.
Additionally, vehicles with high levels of reported problems have higher rates of failure of vehicle components such as brake pads, brake rotors and batteries, which is costly to manufacturers if the failure occurs while the vehicle is still under warranty.
Pregnancy and insurance
Having a baby is a life-altering event. Lacking the proper health and life insurance can be, too. If you recently had a baby or are expecting, now is the time to examine your new insurance needs.
You now have a new dependent who benefits from your wages. As your baby's main — or sole — cash resource,
you need to insure your potential future income against losses in the event of your death.
You now have a new dependent who benefits from your wages. As your baby's main — or sole — cash resource,
you need to insure your potential future income against losses in the event of your death.
Flood insurance information
According to Stevens, a federally-regulated lender would require a would-be borrower living in a high-risk flood zone to buy flood insurance in order to qualify for a mortgage loan. The required insurance amount “would at least have to cover the amount of the loan” claims Stevens.
A homeowner should buy flood insurance if he or she resides "in a known flood plain with no failsafe controls,
like a dam," contends Pete Gorman, vice president and regional manager of the Alliance of American Insurers,
based in Illinois. "It's a good idea to protect the biggest investment that most people would ever own," Gorman asserts.
A homeowner should buy flood insurance if he or she resides "in a known flood plain with no failsafe controls,
like a dam," contends Pete Gorman, vice president and regional manager of the Alliance of American Insurers,
based in Illinois. "It's a good idea to protect the biggest investment that most people would ever own," Gorman asserts.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
So when should you file a claim with your auto insurance?
Common sense says if the repairs cost less than your deductible you're better off paying for them on your own and keeping the story to yourself. The wisdom that says take a higher deductible on your insurance to lower your rates extends to this scenario. Take the money you save on the lower rates and deposit it into a savings account. When an accident happens, you'll have the money for repairs even if the cost is slightly more than your deductible.
In addition, because injuries are not always immediately apparent, you should report an accident in case you sustain injuries that show up a day after the accident and need medical treatment.
In addition, because injuries are not always immediately apparent, you should report an accident in case you sustain injuries that show up a day after the accident and need medical treatment.
An annuity is a retirement
-planning tool that has two phases: the accumulation phase and the annuitization phase. In the accumulation phase, you give money to an insurance or investment company over a period of time or in a lump sum, and it earns a rate of return. In the annuitization phase, you begin to withdraw regular payments (such as monthly or annually) from your contract until you die.
An annuity has a death benefit, although it is not like one found in a life insurance policy. If you die before you annuitize, your beneficiary will receive either the current value of your annuity or the amount you have paid into it, whichever is greater. For example, if you die when your investments are performing poorly and your account value is less than what you have paid in, your beneficiary would receive the amount you paid in.
An annuity has a death benefit, although it is not like one found in a life insurance policy. If you die before you annuitize, your beneficiary will receive either the current value of your annuity or the amount you have paid into it, whichever is greater. For example, if you die when your investments are performing poorly and your account value is less than what you have paid in, your beneficiary would receive the amount you paid in.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Travel insurance
While was formerly looked upon as a luxury, consumers concerned about whether their vacations can be canceled by incidents outside their control, or worried about the quality of medical care in the area they are visiting, now view travel insurance as a good value. Generally, a comprehensive travel insurance policy costs 5 to 7 percent of the price of your trip.
Before buying travel insurance, be sure you don't already have sufficient coverage through your home insurance, health insurance, or as a perk on your credit card if you charged your trip.
Before buying travel insurance, be sure you don't already have sufficient coverage through your home insurance, health insurance, or as a perk on your credit card if you charged your trip.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
life insurance after their youngest child reaches his or her 18th birthday
Couples who believe they no longer need life insurance after their youngest child reaches his or her 18th birthday could leave their family vulnerable to serious financial problems, especially if the sole income-earning parent dies.
Other important factors to consider as a 40- or 50-year-old considering the purchase of term life insurance include the financial condition and physical health of a senior-citizen parent, the financial commitments that may have been made by a two income-earner household, such as a second residential property, and the day-to-day needs of grown children still living at home.
For those looking to move away from term life policies, permanent life insurance—such as whole, universal and variable life—or annuities can be an attractive alternative.
Other important factors to consider as a 40- or 50-year-old considering the purchase of term life insurance include the financial condition and physical health of a senior-citizen parent, the financial commitments that may have been made by a two income-earner household, such as a second residential property, and the day-to-day needs of grown children still living at home.
For those looking to move away from term life policies, permanent life insurance—such as whole, universal and variable life—or annuities can be an attractive alternative.
Friday, May 4, 2007
child support and child insurance
I am currently going thru a divorce and will have child support and
to support my child.
The problem now is that I may get a job overseas. Is there any
medical insurance that will cover equally in USA and Europe? That
insurance should cover my child here in the US.
This is a serious dilemma.
to support my child.
The problem now is that I may get a job overseas. Is there any
medical insurance that will cover equally in USA and Europe? That
insurance should cover my child here in the US.
This is a serious dilemma.
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