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

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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

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