Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Personal Accident InsurancePersonal Accident Insurance

Personal Accident Insurance

The workplace itself, the nature of machinery in some workplaces, the fact that many jobs might involve driving and, sadly, the fact that some businesses could be targeted by robbers or staff could be assaulted by 'customers' - all of these create the potential for serious incidents.

Of course, one has to look at scenarios like this realistically. According to the most recently available statistics from the Health and Safety Executive, there were 241 fatal accidents in the workplace in the 2006/07 period - these accounted for less than one in 100,000 employed people. Similarly there were 28,267 major injuries, accounting for 107 per 100,000 workers.

The main cause for these deaths and injuries were from a fall from height, incidents involving motor vehicles and injuries caused by falling objects.

When it comes to incidence of robbery and violent attack the picture is not altogether different. According to the British Crime Survey for 2006/07, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime was 3.6% - however, this applies to all crime, not just in the workplace. However, only 2% of all incidents of robbery required a victim to be treated in hospital.
Risk assessment

Whilst Employers' Liability cover is required by law and protects you in the event that an employee claims against you for an injury incurred during their employment, Personal Accident cover is predominantly a benefit. In the event you or an employee are unable to work due to an injury incurred in the course of employment, Personal Accident cover will make a weekly payment to the individual, or in the unlikely event of death, a lump sum payment to the family.

At a time when finances may be short due to the inability to work, this cover can give much needed financial assistance - and that's why many of the business insurance policies from Direct Line for Business include Personal Accident as an optional extra.

We also include in many of our policies as standard, Personal Accident (Assault) cover. This is a similar product to Personal Accident except that the cover is limited to an injury or death as a result of a robbery either actioned or attempted.

To find out about our range of business insurance and those that offer personal accident cover - and to get a quote in minutes - just visit the relevant section of this website.

By: Direct Line for Business

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Auto Insurance Quotes And Coverage Plans

Auto Insurance Quotes And Coverage Plans

Auto insurance quotes are merely the rate price to be charged of a buyer in owning a vehicular insurance. The extensive range of factors contributing to auto insurance quotes includes coverage and other supplementary ambiguous anomalies.

It is very vital to think about auto insurance quote prior to purchasing a policy as these insurance quotes give broad perception of price and thus help in forming a conclusion and decision on said quote. The quotes can be easily acquired from chief insurance agents by filling out general information form chief insurance agents.

Coverage plan and deductibles are two critical factors affecting auto insurance quotes and premiums. The deductibles are certain aspects of auto insurance quotes that are not to be compensated by insurance company in case a file is need to be claimed. It is likely that more the deductibles, lower will be a buyer’s premium. One the other hand, coverage is the cost that the insurance is ready to pay. Coverage is based on the selected rate and it can be both nominal and extensive.

Liability for property destruction and physical damage to another motorist or pedestrian can also be included in some forms of coverage. It is possible when fault is placed on the buyer and not the other party within a mishap. On the contrary, medical coverage, vehicular coverage, rental coverage and other general services can be included in the coverage for the buyer.

Unfortunately, various general factors rising premiums and one’s auto insurance quotes can exist that are based off problems or conflicts within the insurance company and not the buyer. For example, a higher level of medical expense on a general level could increase premiums for all clients sheltered by an insurance company. An expense of the insurance company due to various economic reasons is also detrimental to a buyer’s auto insurance quote.

Nevertheless, some personal attributes are also the reason behind an advanced or poor auto insurance quote. The auto insurance quotes also rely on some vague traits, both within the person and within the vehicle. These include the vehicle type, location, gender, age, record, and other personal characteristics. For example, faster and more expensive cars result in higher rate. Gender and age of driver may also increase auto insurance quotes. For example, the auto insurance quote for young single males is higher than those of females or married clients.


By: Franchis
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Home Insurance: The Recession Style

Home Insurance: The Recession Style

During the earlier stages of the recession, we saw a majority of Brits opting out of life insurance in a bid to cut back on the spending during the financial crisis.

Yet with the economy now worsening, homeowners are choosong to abandon their home insurance cover aswell, for the same reason.


According to the British Insurance Brokers' Association, a number of insurance brokers have reported, that over a fifth of its customers are reducing the level of cover on their home and car insurance policies, with a majority opting out of garden cover and personal possessions altogether.

Eric Galbraith of insurance firm, Biba said: "By choosing to stick to the minimum level of cover required by law, homeowners and motorists are exposing themselves to great financial risk, if they suffer a fire, burglary or have their cars stolen or damaged.”

By cutting back on home insurance, homeowners could be forced to fork out rocketing expenses, should the worst happen.

Research from Sainsbury's Home Insurance revealed that the cost of replacing the average person's contents adds up to nearly £45,000. In the case of a fire or burglary, having minimal insurance could leave you in a worse off situation.

Furthermore, opting for a minimum amount of cover, could prove to be more expensive during the recession as the levels of burglary have been seed to be increasing.

Burglary
According to crime statistics from a price comparison website, the number of burglaries, taking place across England have increased.

Figures from the same statistic showed that burglaries had increased by four per cent between October and December last year in comparison to the same period in 2007.

The head of home insurance at the website, said: "It's not surprising to see an increase in burglaries; it's one of the more unfortunate and sinister affects of the recession. It is essential that all homeowners, take whatever steps they can to protect themselves.

If homeowners are faced with burglary, having adequate home insurance can ease the burden of the terrible situation."

To avoid losing to the recession, insurers are advising homeowners to ensure that they have adequate home insurance cover on their properties.

A number of insurers are currently offering homeowners cheaper home insurance deals at reduced prices.

Cheap home insurance
Supermarket giant and insurance providers, Tesco and also Sainsbury's, have announced that they have reduced the cost of their home insurance policies after research found that the average contents value is nearly £45,000.

Commenting, Neil Lard, Sainsbury's home insurance manager, said: "It's staggering when you tot up all the contents in your home, just how much it would cost to replace them all should the unthinkable happen."

Tesco Home Insurance is offering a 45 per cent discount online, but for a limited period.

Jim Bruce, head of Tesco home insurance said: "We are aware of the strain on people's finances at the moment. This offer could help reduce one of the necessary living costs."

Sainsbury's Home Insurance is currently offering a 25 per cent discount on its home insurance policies, along with an additional five per cent discount for those who purchase both contents and building insurance cover online.

Mr Lard, concluded: "Quality contents cover doesn't have to be expensive and significant savings can be made if householders shop around."


By: Arti
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Understanding Insurance Contracts

Understanding Insurance Contracts

Almost all of us will have taken out some sort of insurance. Whether it be car insurance, home insurance, health insurance or travel insurance to name just a few, we will all have paid over considerable sums of money to an insurance company in exchange for the peace of mind that comes with knowing that should disaster strike, you are insured.

However, how many of us have fully understood the details of the agreement we are entering into?

Within all the documentation that comes with any new insurance contract, there is contained some of the most complex legal provisions and contractual terms that you are likely to find anywhere. Insurance companies spend millions on lawyer’s fees and have teams of professionals constantly up dating and amending the terms of their contracts to cover for every possible eventuality.

You on the other hand, probably have very little time to spend getting familiar with the contents of your insurance contract and will simply glance over the main points that are highlighted by the insurance company.


However, there are a couple of things that you can do to make sure you have at least a reasonable understanding of the contract you are signing. All insurance contracts basically have the same purpose and methods. They take on the risk of an event, which may or may not occur and pay the cost of it if it does.

This may be any event, but the most common are car accidents, house damage, medical treatment and the like. Life assurance is slightly different in that it guarantees to pay out on your death, which unfortunately is still a certainty that is bound to occur. However, the timing of death is uncertain and in this sense there is still a very real risk that you will die at a time when your children or spouse is completely dependent on you.

There must also be some financial cost to the occurrence. The insurer must be able to have a reasonable idea of the cost of the loss if they are to be able to calculate the price of the premium accurately. Therefore, while medical expenses and lost earnings are recoverable under insurance, the pain and suffering, or the sadness of losing a loved one will not be recoverable under an insurance contract.

Therefore, what you will really be looking for in an insurance contract is what exactly is covered. In which circumstances will the policy pay out and which occurrences are not covered. Then there are the exclusions and conditions you must meet to keep the policy valid. This might include keeping your door locked or having health checks. Make sure you understand what you have to do under the contract and do it.


By: Joseph Kenny
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Monday, May 4, 2009

Benefits And Coverage Of Short Term Health Insurance

Benefits And Coverage Of Short Term Health Insurance

A short term health insurance is a health insurance that provides coverage for a shorter period say from 6 months to a year. It is quite economical when compared to other long term coverage plans and are of tremendous help to students and temporary workers who cannot afford to spend much on health insurance policies. In this article we shall study the benefits, coverage and eligibility conditions of a short term health insurance plan.

Benefits of a Short Term Health Insurance
The following are the benefits of taking up a short term health insurance.

* Low Cost: The cost of a short term health insurance is much lower than that of a long term insurance plan. The reason why the premiums are low in a short term insurance policy is that it doesn’t cover the pre-existing illnesses, thereby reducing the risk. These policies generally protect for a year and there is less likelihood of anybody falling sick in such a short duration. Hence, there are few people who make claims, thus making it affordable and cheap.

* Coverage: A short term health insurance plan generally covers all hospital-related expenses, unforeseeable and life threatening illnesses and rehabilitation expenses. Thus this policy takes into account almost all major health related problems.

* Suitable: Because of the inherent design of these polices, they are very suitable for students, temporary workers, part time employees etc., who cannot afford heavy premiums. Visitor medical insurance is a must if you are traveling to USA.

Types of Coverage
Most short term health insurance plans either offer PPOs or FFS indemnity plans.

* PPO Plan: A PPO plan of a short term health insurance policy is a kind of “managed care”. This plan provides an easy access to a huge network of doctors, clinics, hospitals and specialists. But that doesn’t mean that one shall not be permitted to see other doctors, it only means that you will make savings if you consult in-network doctors.

* FFS Plan: In a FFS plan, you will not be provided coverage by the “provider”. In fact, you will be given coverage by “medical service”. This gives the buyer freedom to see any “provider” as long as the service stands covered in the FFS plan. This makes FFS plans more expensive than the PPO plans.

Who All Are Eligible For a Short Term Insurance Plan?
For becoming eligible to go ahead with a short term health insurance policy, one must comply with the following eligibility conditions:

* You should not be more than 65 years of age.

* You should not have a record of a denied health insurance previously.

* You should not be covered with any other health insurance policy.

* Short term health insurance policies come with certain physical specifications like height, weight etc. one needs to comply with those conditions to be eligible for a short term health insurance plan.

Selecting a company that provides just the right insurance plan for you is an important task.

By: Richart Rick

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Questions To Be Asked About Auto Insurance


Questions To Be Asked About Auto Insurance


One can get as many quotes as one wants for his vehicle to get insured. Thousands of online sites provide these free quotes after filling a form having some mandatory details. One should do a complete research and comparison before buying an auto insurance online. When you are looking for a quote that satisfies your needs, you can ask various types of questions from the agent. One should not accept the very first deal that comes in their way, but should look for several quotes from different companies.

One should make a final decision of his needs from the auto insurance. After making the final decision, one should try several quotes and contact various questions. This decision may contain various factors such as type of coverage, monthly, quarterly or yearly coverage, driver of the vehicle and premium that you can afford.

One should also keep ready some documents such as current insurance policy, driver’s record, car registration, car mileage and discounts that are available to you by different companies. You can also keep a check ready if you have to pay an advance payment on the spot.

When you have studied various auto insurance quotes from different websites, now you should call an agent or a customer care and ask various questions. The answers to these questions will narrow your options as many companies will not provide what you want. Also keep yourself updated about various schemes in your area. Following are some common questions that one can ask to an agent: -

1. Ask the agent about what types of coverage does their company offer.

2. Ask the agent that if their company allows lower premium if you agree to pay higher deductible.

3. Ask the agent that if you have good driving record or that if you have done a driver course, do their company provide discounts?

4. Ask the agent that if their company offer discounts if our car have many safety features such as air bags and anti-lock brakes.

5. Ask the agent that if one pays his premium in time, does his premium will decrease.

6. Ask the agent that if their companies allow combining medical insurance of driver with auto insurance.

7. Ask the agent that what the policy is if you miss a payment or your payment is late.

8. Ask the agent that if company allows you to add other vehicles to the same insurance policy.

9. Ask the agent that which types of payment does your company support.


By: Franchis
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Find Details About Health Insurance For Self Employed

Find Details About Health Insurance For Self Employed

Self employed person is a happy man with nobody to command him. He has his own set of work or business which he manages in his own way. However, health insurance for self employed person could make him sad due to the heavy premium amounts. It now becomes his responsibility to find out details about health insurance for himself and his family.

People are trying to explore the business world and get independent these days. In such a scenario health insurance for self employed should be given high priority. There is lot of uncertainty prevailing in the surroundings which makes these policies very important in life.

Things start getting really very expensive since the medical expenses are at an all time high. Every single test and diagnosis involve huge amount of money. Middle class people are the ones who are worst hit with the existing situation since their entire savings can vanish with just one major medical crisis. Also with the recession causing panic in the market, it makes sense to remove the fear of medical expenses from our minds.

The introduction of the health insurance by many government and private companies has managed to assist people to cope up with the potential medical expenses. However these insurance policies can have high premium values depending on the company and plan. It becomes essential to do some research and find details of low cost insurance policies.

Self employed people are not a part of any group insurance coverage. They do not get any special benefit in terms of discounted premium amount. Health insurance for self employed then becomes expensive and goes out of budget. They need proper guidance and assistance from experts who can give them an idea of low cost insurance policies.

It would be really great if you could understand the health insurance for self employed before you approach the experts. The information which you might want to understand well is about the features in the policies. You’ll need to analyze if the features suit your requirements. The policy which you buy will be more beneficial to you if it covers your existing medical conditions as well.

If you are a self employed person, you might need to check the health insurance for self employed options available with the insurance companies. Always emphasize on insurance policies that give coverage to your family. The premium amount of family would be very less as compared to that of an individual. Compare prices of every plan each company has to offer and choose the best out of it.

If you have plans for extending your business with recruitment of more employees, you can check with insurance companies for group plans. It will secure you and your family along with all other employees at minimal rate. Even with your spouse working in your organization gives you a chance to opt for group plans. Almost every insurance company offers group plans which can be further discussed with experts.

Think and plan to join some trading associations to avail for group plans which will save lot of your money. However, some companies offer lot of other benefits of health insurance for self employed.

This is the right time to take decision and get insured for your future medical expenses.

By: Nancy_William

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Is Discovering Discount Auto Insurance Tough

Is Discovering Discount Auto Insurance Tough

There are many companies that offer discount auto insurance on all types of car policies. Did you know you will automatically get a discount if you have never been in an accident or received a ticket in the last 3 to five years. You can also get additional discounts if you already have a different policy with that company as multiple policies are automatically discounted. Multi-car policies also receive discounts and are great if you own more then one auto.

There are other tips or ways that can get you Discount Auto Insurance that many individuals may not be aware of. The type of college degree you have can lower your auto insurance as it was found that individuals with a bachelor's degree in engineering have fewer risks then other individuals.

21st century group also known as AIG Direct offers additional discounts on your auto insurance if you have a degree in mechanical engineering, mathematics, biochemistry and other engineering and scientific fields. Scientists and engineers with no accidents or tickets can save 10 to 30 percent from the base rate.

There are other industries are associated with lower risks and this includes people who are farmers or teachers. Horace Mann, Ohio Casualty, 21st century and Esurance all offer discounted rates for educators. You should get Free Insurance Quotes from these companies if you are an educator as you are entitled to an additional discount on you automobile insurance. Some insurers may only give discounts if you are a college professor or certified in a specific state, but it is worth a shot to check.

If you were in the army or are currently in the army then you can save between 2 to 15 percent. This military discount does apply to specific states. A military discount on auto insurance is offered through Geico. Geico can also drop your coverage to only comp if you are suddenly deployed. If you receive hostile-fire pay then Geico will lower your bill when you are out of the country by an additional 25%.

AARP members can also lower there rates up to 45% on their auto insurance through Hartford's AARP Auto Insurance Program. They offer specific discounts on multi-policies and multi vehicle policies and additional discounts if you have held insurance with them for longer then five years. Basically the longer you are with the company the more discounts you will receive.

It is also possible to get a 10% discount from MetLife if you complete an online course from the National Safety Council. All the courses offered can be taken online or you can order the course in a kit. All of the courses are based on the NSC's defensive driving. Participating in a defensive driving course is a terrific way to drop points from your insurance, particularly if you have received a lot of tickets or been in an accident.

To get the most out of your car insurance you will have to look deeper then the basic auto insurance comparison quotes. You should have all of your questions ready and take the time calling up the auto insurance companies and making sure you get answers. Some of the discounts are unknown but they are there and all you have to do is ask to see if it applies to your policy and circumstances.


By: Joseph Welusz
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Best Way To Purchase Auto Insurance Online

Best Way To Purchase Auto Insurance Online

Purchasing auto insurance is no longer a tough task these days. In the age of internet one can easily find the most suitable insurance plan for him or herself. There is abundance of auto insurance plan on the internet. Purchase auto insurance online proves to be a good medium for the people looking for insurance options.

If anybody wants to purchase auto insurance he/she must go for online shopping. There he may find a lot of insurance plan from various companies which ultimately provide the opportunity of bargaining. It also helps in finding the most suitable insurance plan as there is no one to influence the decision and the searcher is the only person who can make judgment.

In fact purchasing auto insurance online can save the money on monthly premium.


How? Consider these things and it will be clear, how is it beneficial to purchase auto insurance online?

If anybody wants to purchase auto insurance in traditional way he doesn’t have many options available with him. So he is unable to compare the quotes with other plan. In this situation the person is compelled to buy the one available easily. But online purchasing of auto insurance provides the option to compare the quote from various companies and one can choose the best one.

Everybody has right to compare the latest offer available in the market and one can compare his existing one with the new available offer. Don’t deny the fact that anybody can change his insurer according to his benefits.

Purchase auto insurance in combination with other insurance policies from the same company which provides health insurances, property insurance or life insurance. They offer attractive discounts on purchasing multiple insurance. But it doesn’t suggest not to compare the quotes from various companies. And don’t hesitate to change the insurer if the better offer is available in the market.

Be aware of asking the quote only from those companies who provides the insurance in residing states.

While purchasing auto insurance don’t be concerned about the privacy because companies are committed not to provide this information to anyone without the permission of user and they also use the secured technology which saves the provided information from being hacked. The only one thing to care about is that check if the credits score is affected by applying for the free online quotes.

Providing the exact requirement would result in a better insurance offer. So be specific during purchasing auto insurance and take the benefit of low cost.


By: Franchis
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Rules And Laws About Florida Auto Insurance

Rules And Laws About Florida Auto Insurance

Everybody wants to have a cheapest insurance policy to save their driving license in case of any unwanted circumstances. But think if anybody get any serious injury or property loss after any accident; how much he has to pay on the expenses of the recovery from the damage made. So before buying a Florida auto insurance think about the fact, it is better to take advantage from the Florida auto insurance to avoid any disappointment after any improbable incident.

To get the maximum coverage in any unpleasant state of affairs from the Florida auto insurance; one must survey in his surroundings for the insurance company that provides the auto insurance in Florida to find out the best insurance option.

But finding the cheap and best one among the throng of the insurance policies promoted by the different insurance companies is always very tough. There are many companies; providing the attractive schemes to sell their policies. So it is required to have the awareness of rules and regulation of Florida auto insurance law.

A person in the state of Florida wants to drive a car on the road of Florida he comes to know the term 10/20/10. What it stands for? Actually before going on a drive when people in Florida go to have Florida auto insurance; he is introduced to this term. Actually this term is used to denote the minimum requirement of insurance coverage according to the automobile law of Florida.

The no law of Florida says that one must need a minimum coverage of $10,000 for bodily injury for a person, minimum of $20,000 for two or more persons' bodily injury and the minimum of $10,000 on property damage made in an accident.

Obviously this will be the cheapest option available in the market but after analyzing the actual circumstances having an accident it is easy to know that it is not a proper and cheaper option because it needs to have a medical coverage after any serious accident.

It is also a good idea to have a comprehensive and collision coverage policies especially in case of a leased or under installment car. To take the maximum benefits of Florida Auto Insurance, always use the maximum coverage of the damages. No doubt it results in a bigger premium but be sure in the case of any accident it will be proved cheaper.


By: Franchis
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Benefits Of Auto Insurance



Benefits Of Auto Insurance

Most of the big auto insurance providers today are equipped and keen to offer heavy discounts to their customers on their insurance policies. If one is looking to acquire his or her initial auto insurance policy or maybe just changing to a unlike one, then it might pay to study policy discounts. Look for the similar discounts that are there with a variety of providers and uncover those that will provide real money-saving profit on ones’ car insurance premiums.

Many people do not know where to start finding for policy discounts that will be finest for them, so it may be excellent to study on through this article. Each discount should be measured in terms of how much money it could save on ones’ auto insurance policy. The discounts that are there will be reliant on the insurance provider and the type of insurance coverage one want.

Best and a safe car discount is a type of discount that is offered by a numerous auto insurers; it is a discount provided to the owners of the cars equipped with safety features like anti-theft devices and anti-lock brake. Another discount is known as the multiple policy discounts. In this at discount prices more than one kind of insurance coverage are sold by the company, if one has more than one on the go policy with them.

If this is applicable to one, then he/she should speak to the insurance company to locate if altering or merging coverage with the same provider to get the discount would be valuable for savings. There are good student discounts offered to those who meet the academic performance level set by the insurance companies involved. The given discount is determined by the GPA of the student.

The drivers who meet particular mileage limits every year are also given discounts; these discounts are known as low mileage discounts. This also helps people to qualify for insurance policy discounts and this is a good reason to start with carpooling to work. For the drivers who are senior citizens there is another auto insurance discount offered by many insurance companies known as the senior adult discount.

The earlier stated discounts were just a few of the policy discounts that may be obtainable at some auto insurance companies. To take the benefits of any of these discounts offered by the companies, people should contact their insurance provider to get full information about the offers and discounts they can avail. One should always check with what policy discounts are offered by other insurers.


By: Franchis
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The Importance Of Health Insurance Coverage

Importance Of Health Insurance Coverage

Health insurance is one of those expenses that a lot of people don’t want to have to pay. Countless people look at their lives and they realize that they are pretty healthy, their kids and spouse are pretty healthy, so why should they be paying for coverage that they rarely or never use? This is a very common thought, but health insurance is something that everyone should have, if possible. In fact, this should be considered and expense that is non-negotiable.

Why should this not be considered something that is expendable? You need health insurance because it is there in the case that you should need it, not because you need it every day, or even every month. The fact of the matter is that many people only use their coverage a few times a year but when they do use it, it really counts. What you may be surprised about is the cost of healthcare. Healthcare is very expensive and even the most well off people cannot afford to pay medical bills in the case of a prolonged illness or serious injury.

If you don’t want to have to pay more than necessary for your insurance coverage, that is understandable. While you don’t want to pay for it, it is coverage that you need so that you don’t have to pay for hospital visits and doctor’s visits out of your pocket. If you want to get a better deal, you should definitely find some time to get a few insurance quotes. Just because your coverage is insanely expensive with one provider doesn’t mean it will be with another. Get five or six quotes on comparable coverage and then decide how much you really have to pay.

It is especially important to get a decent quote and have coverage if you need family health insurance. While your kids may have been healthy for the last couple years, when you don’t have coverage this is when they will get quite ill and need a lot of medication, numerous doctors’ visits, or even hospitalization. It also seems like as soon as you cancel your coverage that that is when the kids decide to break a bone or you get in a car accident. Insurance is there for those occasions when you need serious medical coverage that costs a serious about of money.

As you can see, health insurance is important because health care is expensive. In fact, it is so expensive that the ordinary person cannot afford to go to the doctor and get the prescription medication they need when they are ill or injured. It’s better to pay the premiums and not need the coverage than to need it and not have it.


By: Caitlina Fuller
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Health Insurance Covered - Claiming

Health Insurance Covered - Claiming

When it comes to taking advantage of you health cover the first decision is whether or not you need to see a doctor privately. Your GP may advise you on this and depending on the way your insurer works, you may need to find an idea of the cost involved. Some insurers require that you settle your bills with the consultant or hospital, whilst others prefer it if they’re left to settle the hospital account directly.

Check this out when you’re getting your quotations in and think about it. You may be paying out large sums of money and whilst there shouldn’t be a delay in repayment, you may not want to be concerned with this and prefer instead to go for a policy where you simply get on with your recovery and leave the bill-paying with someone else.

Some insurers have an age restriction on new customers, whilst others will accept people of any age. As people get older the chances of them needing an increased level of medical care is greater and consequently their private health insurance premiums will normally increase.

At the other end of the scale, however, lots of younger people place health insurance way down their scale of priorities, at a time when setting up home and securing that first mortgage is foremost in their minds. This is the best time to set up some sort of cover, though, whilst they are young and healthy. Also, if they are taking on high financial commitments, it is essential that any health problems can be dealt with, with minimum delay and time away from work.

Usually your insurer will offer a married couples or family plan. Again, should any of the family need care it will be given quickly and cause least disruption and much less worry, for the whole family.

In the UK, we’re lucky enough to have a very wide range of health insurance plans. You need to consider your choices carefully. It might be a good idea to look into the choices of hospital on offer in a particular plan and consider why they were chosen. Apart from your budget, you should think about your particular needs and whether the plan in question fits these conveniently.

You don’t have to go for comprehensive plans. Not only can you appreciably reduce the premium which you pay by deciding to pay an excess charge but could reduce the cost beyond this by taking out cover in which you only pay for hospital treatment and in-patient care. In-patient care can be very expensive and you should always cover this eventuality.

Payment for your health insurance policy is another consideration. Usually the amount paid will increase every year, but some insurers will offer another option – that of a fixed price option, where you can make fixed payments over an agreed period.

There are a number of pre-existing conditions which insurers have reservations about. In some cases the insurer will refuse to insure, whilst in others you will be offered cover, but with exclusions. We will go into that in more depth when we discuss types of plans.


By: Michael Challiner
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

10 Ways To Save On Health Insurance

10 Ways To Save On Health Insurance

1. Raise your deductible.

This can lower your premium by as much as 30%

2. Raise your co-pay.

This can lower your premium by as much as 30 percent.

3. Use your deductible carry-over credit.

You can carry over your expenses from the last three months of a year to help meet the deductible for the next year.

4. Follow the rules of your plan.

For example, if you are required to get a referral before seeing a specialist, make sure you get it.

5. Follow the schedule.

Many plans will pay for annual procedures, such as gynecological exams, physicals, etc. Check your plan’s “Schedule of Care” to see how often a specific procedure is covered. Make sure you do not go in for a physical, for example, in less than 12 months from the previous one.

6. Coordinate benefits with your spouse.

If you are a two-earner couple and both you and your spouse are covered by an employer health plan, each of you can probably be covered under the other’s company plan. To minimize your cost and receive maximum benefits, evaluate the benefits and associated costs of both plans. Make a comparison chart for each benefit, listing cost, (such as deductibles and co-payments) other relevant information. Evaluate each benefit thoroughly. Then, enroll in the plan that offers the better coverage at the lowest cost for each benefit you need. For example, your plan may offer the better prescription coverage. Enroll in that with your spouse as the dependent. Your spouse’s plan may offer the better vision care plan. He/she would enroll in that with you as the dependent.

7. Avoid duplicate coverage.

Review your auto insurance policy to make sure you are not paying for the same coverage that you have in your health insurance plan.

8. Track out-of-pocket expenses.

Many plans have a maximum out-of-pocket amount during a contract year. Keep a diary of your expenses to make sure you do not exceed that amount.

9. Review your policy annually.

Make sure it still meets your family’s needs.

10. Switch plans, if appropriate.

Many employer plans have an open enrollment period. However, if you find that your plan is not meeting your family’s needs, contact your Human Resources Office and ask if you can switch to another plan, even if it is not the open enrollment period.

By: Vernon Williams

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