Monday 29 July 2013

True Professionals Cover All Their Bases



For a person to provide services that are high quality, they must specialize. This involves many years of study in university and also self study so as to continuously increase their knowledge and stay ahead of their competition. This is because, professional services are required in many fields like medicine, architecture, law, personal care, safety and environment consultancy, training, and many other noble occupations that people specialize. 

Normally people practice their professions as an employed member of staff in an organization or as a business owner.  To be able to call one a consummate professional, people expect them to have far reaching knowledge in their field of expertise. This is because; their feedback is normally used to make decisions that change lives. Without professional indemnity insurance nsw companies and others around the world would be crippled by the lawsuits for breach of contract, among others.

Lawsuits are very expensive in terms of time lost and money spent. Many professionals do not have the time to spend in court rooms defending their good name and thus ensuring that they are protected from those kinds of professional hazards is normally one of the best decisions that they can make when starting their professional journey. Furthermore, when a professional becomes known for spending their time in law courts, their potential clients tend to view them negatively and avoid them for fear of landing in the same boat. When the conduct of a professional is placed in doubt, their chances of growing their business are greatly reduced. Issues like loss of good faith, breaching of trust, misrepresentation, negligence and violation of contract terms, among others, are very dangerous because they touch the very core of a professional’s service provision and should be avoided at all costs.


Professionals live in an increasingly competitive world. This means that, they can provide advice that may sound confusing to their clients. For example, a person may go to one doctor and be told that they have an allergy to certain foods but when they go to another doctor they are told that it is much more serious. These pieces of advice are scary and confusing and can cause a person to take actions that can produce negative consequences for them. This is normally the stuff of lawsuits and can be very difficult to get away from once it has begun. Since the only source of income for any professional is their clients, they must also protect themselves when some of those clients choose to misunderstand them and land them into very sticky problems.

Apart from professional indemnity serious professionals who operate from their own premises also have business premises insurance. This form of insurance covers their premises from legal battles from their clients if they incur accidents while inside. These accidents can include falls causing injury of body parts from slippery floors, steps, carpets or other uneven surfaces, accidental electrocution, choking on refreshments and damage to their property, the possibilities being endless. 
Posted on 10:09 / 0 comments / Read More

Monday 18 March 2013

Coupon Chief Review

CouponChief.com is a dedicated as well as phenomenal web based interface which helps virtual users to get their hands on popular coupons as well as feature rich codes. Using this particular portal visitors can search for coupons from various popular brands in a completely hassle free manner. CouponChief.com is an easy way to have access to red hot product lines from various parts of the world.

By using the platform of CouponChief.com users can browse through a wide array of popular brands. CouponChief.com gives users the leverage of enjoying huge amount of discounts offered by a volley of online stores which are enlisted on the site.



The site is designed keeping the requirements of the target visitors in mind. Visitors can check out the online stores in the ‘stores’ segment where the virtual storefronts are laid out in an alphabetical order.  Visitors can check each of the storefronts that array a whopping number of coupon codes. At the same time users can take maximum advantage out of the ‘Pays 2 share’ segment and make good amount of money from it. Pays 2 share gives the leverage of making significant amount of money just by uploading coupons and thereby increasing the amount of savings. From the aspects of practicality, usability as well as profit level Coupon Chief.com does create a winning situation for the users.

If the website is judged from the user point of view then it should be laurelled as one that offers seamless user experience to the visitors. The site does score high from the aspect of navigational features. It is important to note that the interface of CouponChief.com effortlessly combines superior functionality as well as minimalist design. The focus of the site is crystal clear. Even those who visit it for the first time can easily figure out what it is all about.

Get Coupon Chief coupon codes -The Best Coupon code website in the web & #Save Money :). 
Posted on 09:36 / 0 comments / Read More

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Andy’s Auto Sport

Andy’s Auto Sport is a dedicated portal that keeps the site updated with around 40 various brands pertaining to automotive. The portal mainly offers celebrated brands of cars, trucks and SUVs. It is an ultimate portal where visitors can get their hands on the vehicle of their own choice and shop by whatever brand they are interested in. From user point of view, the site definitely offers a lucrative opportunity to people looking for easy as well as affordable car deals. It should be noticed that apart from giving the customers affordable car deals the site also offers them important news related to the auto industry.


There is an assortment of the best of the breed brand names such as Chevrolet, Ford, Eagle, infiniti, Hyuandai, Jeep, Jaguar, Dodge, Mercedes, Suzuki, Toyota etc. Apart from flaunting a pretty immaculate as well as alluring collection of the most branded collection the site also offers a pretty food assortment of sports cars. As a matter of fact, the list seems to be pretty endless. Apart from giving the regular visitors the option of choosing their pick from a wide variety of options the site also gives its visitors the leverage of free shipping.

Andy’s Auto Sport is surely different from its competitor as it is driven by the noble motto of helping its customers making the right as well as informed decisions. Andy’s Auto Sport makes it a point to update its client base with whatsoever new things are happening in the company. Specific segments of the site such as learning center, in the media as well as customer support do make the site a user friendly one. From the point of view of design as well as the informational layout Andy’s Auto Sport does score high. The purpose of the site should be clear enough to the site visitors because of flawless navigation and crystal clear basic operations. 

To know more do visit: http://www.andysautosport.com/ order online or call them today at 1-800-419-1152 .
Posted on 01:37 / 0 comments / Read More

Thursday 6 December 2012

Factoring Health Insurance as Part of Your Retirement Plan?


In recent years we’ve seen a major call for Americans to get their retirement plans in order now or pay the price later. While it’s certainly essential to start socking away savings and contributing to your 401K today, one factor that often gets glossed over is health. As much as any other thing, health insurance will play an important part of your happy retirement and is the single biggest threat to your financial future as well. If you are in the process of laying out your retirement plan, make sure that your personal health is central in your thought process. Use these three tips to make sure your healthcare plan is taken care of in retirement. 

1. Use Your Coverage Now

Health Insurance

An action you can take today that will pay off later is to start seeing your doctor regularly to deal with any health issues you have developed and identify future concerns. Make the commitment to living healthy, eating right and getting exercise to keep your body running optimally well into your senior years. By using the health coverage provided to you through your insurance while you are working, you get the most out of your plan while getting the care now that will ensure your happiness later.

2. Save for a Rainy Day

Think of your main retirement accounts as separate from what you will need to take care of your health insurance. If you start saving a little more each month and putting it into a separate account, you will have a tidy sum built up later you can use to address your healthcare needs. Find out about the tax-deferred ways to save that are available to you, such as an HSA (Health Savings Account), which allows you to grow your savings for medical coverage just like an IRA.

3. Invest in Your Future

One of the main reasons many people have for working well past the age of 65 is to hold onto employer-funded health insurance. Whether you work in retail management or rent construction equipment for a living, if you invest in your health today, you’ll erase the worry of being left with insufficient insurance in your later years. There are some great options designed to help in this regard, such as 10-pay long-term care insurance.This allows you to pay premiums while you are still working over a period of 10 years, at which time your policy is completely funded. 

Final Thoughts

The path to a successful retirement is when you plan to have the financial security that supplies piece of mind and the physical ability to do the things you love. By making your health a primary concern for your retirement by taking care of your body today and putting money away for tomorrow, you’ll ensure your later years will truly be golden. 

Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publicly voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.
Posted on 11:00 / 0 comments / Read More

Usage-Based Auto Insurance Could Save You Money

Before we get started, I feel it’s only fair to offer a full disclosure: I despise insurance. I feel like it’s nothing more than a glorified practice in legalized highway robbery. Just so we’re clear.

That isn’t to say that having insurance isn’t helpful; I’ve had to use benefits from my insurance on more than one occasion, and it was nice to be covered when the time came. The hoops you have to jump through, however, and the impact that filing a claim has on your rates hardly seems worth it unless it’s a major, major crisis.
Usage-Based Auto Insuranc

If you like the security of having insurance coverage, that’s great. What really gets my goat is being required by the government to have it, but I digress. I suppose it’s necessary to mandate auto insurance in order to protect other drivers on the road. It still doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Getting Affordable Auto Insurance

f there’s one thing that irritates me more than the government telling me I have to do something, it’s the government sticking its big nose into my private business. If I want to purchase 1985 Mustang Parts online, I don’t think it’s any concern of the government as to my motivation behind it. Again, I digress.

This time, it’s not really the government who’s doing the poking and prodding. It’s the insurance companies themselves. In what I suppose is an effort to be more competitive, some insurance companies are now offering the opportunity to qualify for even lower rates based on usage. There’s a huge catch, though.

In order to get usage-based rates, the company has to know how you’re using your vehicle. This means that you’ll have to agree to install some type of tracking device in your car so that the company can keep tabs on how you behave behind the wheel. It may sound like a great deal if you’re a good driver… until you really start to think about it.

License to Spy

The tracking device doesn’t just monitor how fast you’re going at any given time. It also tracks where you go, how many miles you drove to get there, and even what time you do all this driving. You’ll also have to submit yourself for monitoring on how hard you apply the brakes and how quickly you accelerate.

For some, the potential 30% savings from allowing this tracking may seem worth the total invasion of privacy. For me, well, I’ll just stick with what I have. It’s hard enough to have some semblance of privacy these days as it is, without willingly handing over a license to spy to my insurance company. It isn’t that I have anything to hide; I just don’t like the feeling of knowing someone’s analyzing every move I make. 

Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publicly voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.
Posted on 10:49 / 0 comments / Read More

Saturday 1 December 2012

Which Type of Life Insurance Is Right for You?


No one likes to think about his or her own mortality, but failing to plan for the inevitable can make things very difficult for your family in a time that they are least equipped to handle it. Life insurance is not for you; it is for the protection of those who are closest to you in case the unthinkable should happen.

Understanding the importance of having life insurance and understanding which type of life insurance is right for you, however, are two different things. Even among the same types of plans, things can get very complicated very quickly. When you add in your different plan options, it can be mind boggling.

Two Basic Types of Life Insurance

While there are certainly variations of life insurance plan types, most of them basically boil down to two options: term and whole. Each option has its benefits and drawbacks. 

Exploring Term Life Insurance

Life Insurance Images

Term life insurance is the most popular option because of its affordability. You can get far more coverage for a much lower monthly premium with term than you can with whole life. However, there is a price to pay for having term coverage. Once your term expires, usually after 20 or 25 years, you don’t have anything to show for your investments.

Think of it as if you were leasing protection. For a young family, the loss of either parent could be financially devastating. Having a term policy ensures that, should something happen to one of the adult members, the remaining members will have a means for continued financial stability. Once the children are grown and gone, however, this protection becomes less critical and financial security matters less for the family unit as a whole.

Exploring Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance is exactly what it says: it is financial coverage that lasts for your entire life as long as you are paying the monthly premiums. It is a type of investment that you could even cash in on if you wanted to for whatever reason, from having a retirement fund to investing in a contractor accounting software company. The drawback is that it tends to be much more expensive than term life.

Whole life may be right for you if you want to retain the investment you have made and have some type of asset. It can be helpful if you want to make sure that your surviving spouse is well cared for or that your children receive a plentiful inheritance. It will help cover the costs of your burial and services and can even go toward paying off any debts you may have left behind. 

Either option is better than no insurance at all, but you must decide what works best for your family and your circumstances. The best idea is to talk to an expert about your goals and needs, as well as your means, before making a decision about your coverage.

Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publicly voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.
Posted on 11:06 / 0 comments / Read More

Thursday 15 November 2012

Help You Save On Medical Insurance

Medical insurance is costly.  If you are to follow the trend, you will see how its premium cost continues to rise steadily.  A study even reveals that if this trend persists, it will come to a point, in the future, that its cost can outgrow your income. Do you know, however, that you can enjoy considerable influence on its cost than you think possible?  Here are some little known facts that can help you save on your medical insurance. 

Insurance Providers

medical insurance

Your choice of insurance provider matters, as premium rates vary from one insurance company to another.  This is a known fact.  What you may not know, however, is that you can find quality health insurance policies from small providers.  They may not be as popular as the leading companies in health insurance, but they can lower the cost and give you more value for your money. 

Before getting your health care coverage from this type of providers, though, it is important that you check their reliability and stability.  See to it that they enjoy stable financial health.  You can verify their credit rating online.  Access a reliable rating agency's website where you can find resources to help you verify reliability of your insurance provider. 

Right Coverage

Check your health care coverage.  There might be unnecessary coverages that you can drop to lower your premium rate.  Depending on the condition of your health and your needs, you may want to check on your deductibles.  This is one area that not all consumers really understand to care about, but one that can really pull down the cost of your medical insurance. 

Deductibles are the amount you pay on your own before your insurance provider assumes the responsibility of paying your medical expense under your policy.  The rule is, the higher the deductible of your policy is, the lower its premium rate.  It pays to increase your deductible if you are generally in good health condition with typically fewer medical expenses. 

Review Your Policy

If you have an existing policy, what happens is that you simply renew the policy without really reviewing the terms and conditions.  The thing is, there might be newer health care policies from your provider that have comparable benefits and coverage with your existing policy, only they cost less.  Be sure to check offers, from your provider and from other potential providers, before renewing your medical insurance. 

Similarly, you may not know about other benefits that you are entitled to under the law, but your policy fails to cover.  These are state-dependent laws.  For instance, Maryland health insurers should cover infertility expense.  This, however, does not apply to Virginia medical insurers.  See what rules and laws on benefits and coverage are applicable to your policy. 

The bottom line here is to understand what you are getting with your medical insurance.  You also have to know what you are entitled to benefit under your insurance coverage.  Getting the necessary information should not take much considering all the available resources you can use online.  Knowing the facts can save you money and put you in control over the continually rising cost of health insurance.

The author helps South Africans to choose between medical aid schemes in South Africa. To read more visit his medical aid site at medicalaidsinsouthafrica.co.za
Posted on 23:15 / 0 comments / Read More

Monday 15 October 2012

The Difference between a Dream Vacation and a Nightmare


Joy and David had been saving for years to take a Caribbean cruise on their 25th wedding anniversary. Imagine their disappointment when Joy slipped on a patch of ice and fractured her hip the day before they were to leave!

Because they had purchased cancellation travel insurance, though, they didn’t lose any of the money they had put down in advance. They rescheduled their vacation for the following year. By then, Joy’s hip had healed and they had a wonderful time. 

Whether you’re planning to travel to a Delaware casino or an ancient Roman temple, vacations can be expensive. Travel insurance, a type of short-term insurance that covers emergencies and unforeseen expenses related to your trip, is available to help you protect your investment. There are several types of travel insurance. 

Cancellation 

Travel Insurance

Cancellation insurance, the type of insurance that protected David and Joy’s investment, refunds part or all of the expenses you have paid in advance if you are unable to travel for a covered reason. Most policies will reimburse you if you suffer an unexpected illness or injury. Some will also reimburse you if your traveling companion must cancel for medical reasons, or if there is a medical emergency or a death within your immediate family.

Policies differ on whether or not they will pay if you cannot travel due to a natural disaster or an act of war.

Medical

Medical insurance for travelers pays some or all of the costs of medical care if you are injured or become ill while traveling. 

Medical insurance is vital if you are vacationing abroad, because most health plans, including Medicare, won’t pay for treatment you receive in a foreign country. It’s also a good idea to purchase a medical plan with an evacuation clause that will cover the cost of medical transportation if you need to be returned home for care.

Most medical travel plans do not cover pre-existing conditions or injuries received while engaging in high-risk activities such as bungee jumping, deep-sea diving or mountain climbing. 

Loss, Damage or Theft

There are several different kinds of policies available to protect you against loss, damage or theft. It’s important to read the policy closely and understand what is and isn’t covered before you make the decision to buy. For instance, some policies will pay if a valuable item is stolen from your person, but not if it is stolen from checked luggage.

A long-awaited vacation should be filled with fun, not with worries and “what ifs.” Travel insurance can protect you financially and ease your concerns so that you can relax and enjoy your time away from home. To find the best plan for you, talk to your travel agent or your insurance agent. You can also find and purchase travel insurance policies online. If you go this route, take some time to compare different policies and select the one that best meets your travel needs.    

Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publically voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.
Posted on 10:41 / 0 comments / Read More

Thursday 4 October 2012

Better Car Insurance for Your Needs


There are a few things that people need in order to be able to drive legally. A driver's license and proper insurance are absolutely essential when driving. There can be significant consequences for people who are stopped by law enforcement and don’t have proof of these things. There are several different types of car insurance coverage that drivers can get. The type of coverage that a person chooses has a lot to do with his or her individual needs, as well as any state law requirements. People have a number of different ways that they can go about finding car insurance. A lot of people find their insurance companies through word of mouth, while others take a more active role in finding the car insurance that they need. One of the best ways for people to find good auto insurance is with the help of the internet. Anyone in need of car insurance can do a quick search in one of the major search engines, and be presented with a long list of different insurance companies that can supply their needs. 

Car Insurance for Your Needs

One of the best things about looking for auto insurance online, is that people can get auto insurance quotes quickly and easily. All they have to do is enter some basic information about themselves and their vehicle. After that they can a quote in a matter of seconds. 

The type of insurance that a person needs can vary from person to person. You can access an online car insurance calculator to see what quote is best for you. Some car lots require that they people who purchase cars from them, to have full coverage on the cars they sell until they are paid off. All types of auto insurance quotes can be obtained online with a few clicks of the mouse, but it’s important to keep in mind that the best insurance coverage is the type that fulfills all the needs of the driver; at the best price possible. 
Posted on 09:46 / 0 comments / Read More

Wednesday 3 October 2012

12 Ways to Reduce Your Car Insurance Premium

Car insurance premiums are rising all the time but there are ways you can potentially bring the costs down. Some of these ways involve addressing your existing policy and looking at the scope of its cover. Plus there are additional courses of action you can take before you actually buy a car.
Here are twelve ways you can lower your Car Insurance costs:

Obtaining a quote

One of the simplest ways to reduce your premium is simply to get a cheaper quote! Thanks to the rise in comparison sites it’s never been easier to check the price of your cover with just a few clicks of a mouse.

Alternatively you can speak to an independent insurance broker who will effectively do the same job. Scanning the market in this way is the first way to potentially bring your costs down.

Additional drivers?

Does your current insurance policy allow for any licensed driver to get behind the wheel? Restricting the number of people who are allowed to drive your car can save around 10% on your annual costs. If you don’t need others to be able to drive your car make sure you change the cover to allow for yourself only or you and your partner to drive it and you could see the price of your policy fall.

Pay up front if you can

Most insurance companies will allow you to pay your premium by installments but there may be a charge for doing so. There are many benefits in paying your premium monthly but if you can possibly afford to then you could try to settle the cost in one payment at the outset. This could save over £100 on your annual bill in some cases.

Restricting your mileage

Several insurers are now basing their premiums on the amount of miles you cover in a calendar year and will ask you to declare an estimate at the beginning of cover. If you find at the end of the year that your mileage is much less than you thought, remember to tell your insurance company. Lower mileage can mean lower costs but it’s important to be completely honest as databases can check this information at certain points in your vehicle’s life.

Security

The majority of modern cars come with a manufacturer’s alarm fitted as standard and for most motorists; this level of security is more than sufficient. However, it may be worth looking at other devices such as an immobilisers as this could bring your costs down. Speak with your insurance company first to ascertain whether there is sufficient discount available to make this course of action worthwhile.

Car Insurance Premium

Use your garage

Many insurers offer further savings if your car is placed in a locked garage at night. If you have access to this type of facility then remember to use it and ask your insurance provider to assess your premium accordingly.

Consider an advanced motoring course

After passing your test, further tuition can be offered by the Institute of Advanced Motorists and if you complete their course successfully, some insurance companies will reward you with a discount on your annual premium. The IAM course can teach you valuable lessons throughout your driving career too but if you’re solely taking it to save money on your premiums, check beforehand to make sure that your insurance company offers this type of discount.

De-modifying

When applying for insurance, we’re all asked whether our car has been modified. If it has, then a higher premium can be charged as a result. If you’re looking to purchase a new vehicle with unnecessary modifications then consider removing them. This may not be straightforward in the case of engine upgrades but even a body kit and spoiler can add to your premium so think about removing them and saving money.

Your voluntary excess

Further reductions can be obtained by increasing your policy excess – the amount that you would be responsible for paying towards repairs in the event of a claim. When you look at this option however, remember that there is likely to be a compulsory excess already in place so only take on  as much as you are comfortable with.

Reduce the ‘add-ons’

Many companies offer extras on their policy such as legal expenses and personal accident cover and some will automatically charge you for these. It could be the case that you have this type of extra cover elsewhere so be sure to check for unnecessary duplication.

Combine all cars under one policy

Many insurance companies now offer ‘multi-car discounts’ for insuring two or more cars under one policy. Not every provider does this but if you have more than one vehicle then this maybe  worth exploring.

Get a lower group car

One of the more straightforward options to save money is simply to change your car. If you have a high-group, high engine vehicle then it is going to attract a bigger insurance premium as a result.
Smaller engines can generally save on costs and it is very easy to research a list of cars and their insurance groups before you make the switch.

The post was written by David Lewzey of unemployment insurance specialists helpucover, who also offer pet, redundancy and income protection insurance. Visit them at http://www.helpucover.co.uk/. helpucover is a trading name of Pinnacle Insurance plc.
Posted on 03:28 / 0 comments / Read More

Friday 7 September 2012

Secured Home Loans - The Good and the Bad


A home loan taken out with a security arrangement otherwise known as a mortgage is a common arrangement with most banks and lenders. However it remains to be seen whether or not it is advantageous to the borrower/mortgagor. This article will discuss some of the pros and cons of a secured home loan.

Define and Differentiate

At the onset it is important to differentiate a loan with a mortgage. The former entails borrowing money goods or credit with payment of principal and interest. The latter results in the same arrangement but with an additional clause that in case of failure to pay a specific number of amortizations (installments) the property used as security will be foreclosed upon, either judicially or extra judicially. The security property maybe the property bought via the loan and/or a different property. It may be real or personal, tangible or intangible, provided both parties agree to the same becoming the security or collateral.

The Good

The first and most obvious advantage is the fact that a loan with mortgage increases the chances of loan/mortgage approval. This is especially true if the collateral has high demand, is of significant value, and easily disposable. This is because loan approval is all about controlling and managing the risk of loss. If the collateral is valuable and marketable then the risk of loss is zero or minimal. 

Secured Home loans

Another advantage is the fact that the application process gets fast tracked. This is because once the risk of loss has been determined as zero or minimal the only hurdle is the procedural aspect of the application. Of course this presupposes the collateral is free from any other encumbrance that will negatively affect the security arrangement with the lender/mortgagor.

Second, lower interest rates can also be expected. This is because interest rates are used to control and factor in risks. Simply put, the lower the risk the lower the interest rates and vice versa. 

Third, aside from the interest rates, the loan terms should also be better. This is based on closing costs, type of mortgage, prepayment penalties, etc. Of course to maximize this advantage the borrower/mortgagor must negotiate knowing the industry standard for his/her financial situation.

The Bad

The most obvious disadvantage is the fact that none payment of a specified number of installments may cause the borrower/mortgagor to lose the mortgaged property. Worst case scenario is that the foreclosure may not even totally wipe out the debt. And in some cases the collateral may not even be the purchased property. 

A less obvious disadvantage is the fact that you reduce or deplete the equity of the security property. For example, Mr. A mortgages his home worth $300,000. The cost of the mortgage reduces the equity of the home to half its market value. This in itself is not a bad thing, but it will deprive Mr. A of the opportunity cost for the entire equity just in case he needs it for emergency purposes.

In Closing

A secured home loan may or may not be advantageous to the applicant borrower/mortgagor. However in order to actually realize and maximize the advantage the arrangement must be entered into not only willingly but knowingly. And with clause modifications and insertions advantageous to the borrower/mortgagor, such as the number of defaults, notice of defaults, redemption period, etc.

Posted on 10:16 / 0 comments / Read More

Sunday 26 August 2012

What Obama care means to your family's health

Even in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s affirmation of its Constitutionality, The Af-fordable Healthcare Act of 2010, much better known as “Obamacare,” remains misunders-tood, sometimes maligned and often mysterious. Recent polls by both CNN and the Kaiser Foundation revealed that the majority of poll respondents did not know precisely what bene-fits they receive as plan provisions take effect between 2012 and 2014. Pollsters reported, “Many people asked us, ‘What, exactly, do we get?’”

Highlights of the Affordable Healthcare Act of 2010

Although the legislation eventually stretched to several thousand pages, its highlights are fairly simple and straightforward. The Affordable Healthcare Act provides…

Dramatically improved coverage for children

The Affordable Healthcare Act is especially kind and generous to children. It includes unprecedented support for new parents, providing them with everyday supplies, counseling connections, and links to all kinds of low-cost care. The new law eliminates fees and co-pays for routine “well-baby” doctors’ office visits, and it provides no-cost vision and hearing exams, immunizations and developmental screenings. The law mandates coverage for children with pre-existing conditions including leukemia, diabetes and birth defects. It also substantially increases coverage and benefits for children suffering chronic diseases, especially asthma and Type I diabetes.

Obama care means to your family's health

Preventive and diagnostic care for the whole family

 Among the fundamental tenets in the Affordable Healthcare Act, the importance of timely and proper preventive care especially stands out. Glen White stresses, “Preventive visits drastically reduce healthcare costs for everyone by catching potentially serious injuries and diseases before they require lengthy hospital stays or expensive treatments. As the cost both of hospital stays and certain treat-ments continues to rise faster than the rate of inflation, insurance companies pass them on to families like yours in the form of higher premiums and co-pays.” The new plan provides for all kinds of diagnostic tests, especially including mammograms and colonoscopies at no cost to patients.

Tougher regulations on cancellations, exclusions and other questionable practic-es

 In the past, insurance companies frequently screened applications for “errors,” us-ing them to deny coverage or payment when patients became seriously ill. Patients with pre-existing conditions, of course, were automatically denied coverage, and insurance carriers frequently found questionable reasons for refusing coverage for ostensibly eligible poli-cyholders. The new law prohibits those practices and outlines substantial penalties for com-panies that persist in unscrupulous eligibility and payment schemes.

Better protection for “big kids,” early retirees, and Medicare seniors 

In the past, most major health insurance carriers dropped “children” from their parents’ plans when they reached age 19. The new system requires them to continue coverage up to age 26 even if adult children do not live with their parents, are not financially dependent on their parents or are married. This new provision has special value for college students who regularly need immunization, authorization for college sports, and treatment for stress-related illnesses. The new system also extends health benefits for people who retire between ages 55 and 65 and lose their employers’ benefits before they become eligible to receive Medicare benefits. The law establishes a $5 billion fund to support employer-based coverage for early retirees. Perhaps most importantly, the new system provides prescription drug benefits for Medicare seniors who reach the routine coverage limit but have not reached the threshold of catastrophic care; the plan plugs the so-called “donut hole.” Eligible seniors receive brand-name prescription drugs at substantially reduced costs and generics at rock-bottom prices.

Elimination of coverage limits 

The Affordable Healthcare Act prohibits insurance companies’ imposition of lifetime dollar limits on essential health services, especially hospital care and rehabilitation. Federal government officials explain, “Under the new law, insurance companies’ use of annual dollar limits on the amount of insurance coverage a patient may receive is restricted for new plans in the individual market and all group plans.” In 2014, a ban on all annual limits takes effect and covers all new plans in all markets.

Find reliable information online

The law also made extensive provision for public information services, especially websites devoted to detailed, accurate information written in plain English and linked to authoritative legal and medical sites. For a quick, readable summary of the law and its benefits for hard-working American families, go to www.healthcare.gov.

Jack Cage is a guest writer for www.ppiclaims.uk.com where you can find informa-tion on mortgages, interest rates and special financing savings.
Posted on 07:09 / 0 comments / Read More

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Life Insurance Application For a Quote!

There are numerous life insurance companies offering competitive (and not so competitive) rates on all types of policies.  The key, as you might deduce, is comparative shopping.  Each company requires an application and can then give you a quote based on the information you provide them.  It is imperative that, when filling out the primary questionnaire that you be as forthcoming and honest as possible.  Remember, you are vying for a quote, and it is preliminary, so should the company find out you were less than totally honest on your questionnaire, or on your following medical exam, the company can choose to withdraw their acceptance and cancel your newly procured life insurance policy.  Best case scenario, if they do not rescind their approval, they could very well use the newly found information that was deemed incorrect on the questionnaire as an excuse to raise your premiums to levels that you are unable to afford, forcing you to either reduce your coverage or start all over in your quest for an affordable life insurance company.  Simply put, if you are unsure as to an answer on any questionnaire or medical exam, just admit that you cannot remember or do not know and let the financial experts at the insurance company sort it out.  If you answer in this way, you have covered yourself by not putting down information that could later come back to haunt you.

Life insurance companies, like any other type of business, exist to make money and, therefore, they have very strict guidelines that they follow to demarcate the healthy from the unhealthy.  Healthy, young applicants receive the best, most affordable premiums, while others struggle to qualify for the second best premium rates offered.  It is said that 5% of applicants misrepresent certain facts in order to qualify for a better premium rate.  The main reason for this is the fear of having to pay rates that are nearly unaffordable for minor health problems they believe might cause the insurance companies concern.  There is a reason why your mother’s favorite saying was probably something to the effect of, “honesty is the best policy”, even though she was not speaking of insurance policies.  

Life Insurance Application

If you lie to your life insurance company it usually turns out doing you more harm than being honest would have done to your premiums.  The legal term (yes, it is illegal and there is an actual name for it) is Material Misrepresentation, meaning you have misrepresented facts that are crucial to the company’s ability to issue your policy.  The underwriters who are in charge of studying the details on your application and deciding if you qualify for any of that company’s life insurance policies are good at what they do, and are skilled at deducing facts from fiction.  Also, before you are issued a policy, an independent medical exam is performed and many facts can be verified by this exam as well.  You will be given blood tests, an electrocardiogram and other tests, and these along with your previous medical records and prescriptions obtained from your primary care physician are used to evaluate your health, and by proxy, your honesty on the application.  If there are medical problems that you attempted to hide with false statements on any of the paperwork you turned in, the insurance company has every right to deny you coverage.  In addition to this denial after all of the work you put forth attempting to obtain an affordable policy, the false claims you attested as truth will go on your permanent record and every time you apply for insurance, be it life or health or whatnot, the company will be able to see that you have a history of misrepresenting facts on previous applications for insurance, making you more of a risk.  This not only stains your integrity, but upon your passing, it could very well put your family’s financial well-being at stake, allowing an opportunity for the life insurance company to deny your death benefits claim.

Insurance fraud is a serious crime, and should not be taken lightly.  The companies take it quite seriously, as should you.  In the long run, honesty will bring you peace of mind, just as life insurance can do.  If you are honest and forthcoming on your application, then you have nothing to worry about, and you can rest assured that your family will be able to collect the death benefits upon your passing and not have to worry about their financial future.  In your heart, you know at the time of your passing, one less thing to worry about will mean the world to them, and their financial assurance from your life insurance policy is one gift you can leave them when you’re gone.
Posted on 02:14 / 0 comments / Read More

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Cheap Hospital Insurance Quotes

Having an insurance policy nowadays has become more of a necessity as chances of accidents happening increases each day. But we all know that availing of an insurance policy can also mean a huge chunk of our monthly salary cut off to pay for the monthly premium. Thus, many people are always having second thoughts whether they really need an insurance policy or not. If you are among those who are scared to avail of insurance policies because of the huge monthly premium, lighten up as there are ways on how you can get cheaper quotes.

Especially with healthcare, is where having an insurance policy is the most important. As many people say, health is wealth thus we need to always take good care of our bodies. When hospitalization and illnesses strike it can be a burden to us. Not only do we have to pay added expenses but also work days lost and salary deductions to some. But there are ways on getting cheap hospital insurance quotes you can do to help ease the burden. Hospital insurance can help cover all your expenses when you need it so you don’t have to worry anything monetary while you recuperate.

Working with an insurance agent

While some people prefer to find their own insurance company and get their own quotes, it is actually more convenient and advisable to have an insurance agent or broker to help you. Insurance agents and brokers know all there is to know about insurance companies and they understand what customers need more than some insurance company. They can also suggest to you the best and the nearest insurance companies you can avail of a policy from. They can help get you the best policies that will suit your needs and wants as well as your budget.

Hospital Insurance Quotes

Changes in your lifestyle

Getting cheap hospital plan quotes is not easy. If you really want to lower your hospital insurance quotes there are some lifestyle changes that you need to make. If you are a smoker you need to quit smoking before you apply for a hospital insurance quote. Smoking puts you in their high risk category thus the higher monthly premium. History of sickness and illnesses will also be looked into as people with history of certain diseases can also put you at the high risk category.

Shop and Think

It is not a crime to ask for several quotes from several different companies. This way you can compare and check which company can give you the best and lowest premium.

You have to remember that it will take some time and effort on your part if you really want to get the best insurance quotes. So, keep these tips in mind and get the best plan, policy and premium that insurance companies has to offer.
Posted on 02:46 / 0 comments / Read More

Health Influences Your Medical Insurance

A medical insurance can be influenced by a number of different factors. These factors can cause your premiums to be higher and you might end up with an insurance policy that you cannot really afford. One of the most influential of these factors is the status of your health. Many insurance companies require medical exams and other related exams before even offering their services to you.
To learn more about how your health status can influence your medical aid, here are some of the ways on how your health affects your premiums:

If you have tried to look for quotes from online insurance companies, then you should have also experienced filling out the forms that ask for your personal information. Many of these forms will ask for your vital statistics, such as height and weight. This kind of information is needed by the insurance company in order to gauge your body mass index.

Typically, people with above or below the average body mass index get higher premiums compared to those with normal BMI. This is because being overweight or underweight is associated with more illnesses, such as diabetes and heart problems. Because of this, insurance companies may charge you more for your medical insurance.

Medical Insurance

Unhealthy habits such as smoking and consuming large amounts of alcohol is also another health factor that is being observed by insurance companies. Like your body mass index, the more you engage in such activities, the higher your premium will be. By doing such unhealthy practices, you are exposing yourself to more serious and chronic diseases, such as the various types of cancers and heart diseases.

If you want to decrease the amount that you are paying for your medical insurance, then you have to show the insurance company that you are doing some methods to quit from smoking and too much drinking.

Applying for a medical insurance quotes requires you to disclose important information about your health status. Pre-existing medical conditions can cause you to get higher premiums, in the least. There are many insurance companies who refuse to offer insurance policies to people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes and heart conditions.

More meticulous insurance companies can also check the medical history of your family. They can go to these lengths in order to better predict what medical problems the buyer might have in the future. This is usually done by bigger insurance companies, and if they have found out that you have a history of cancer in your family, for example, they may charge you with higher premiums for that.
Finally, your medical insurance may be influenced by your gender. In general, women pay higher premiums than men. This is not because women are more prone to have illnesses. Women are just more likely to seek out medical help for their health and other conditions, like pregnancy. 
   
If you think that your health can get in the way for you to get good medical insurance, then it is time for you to do some lifestyle changes. Also, do not stick to the first insurance company that offers you a policy. Learn to compare the rates and coverage from different insurance companies to get the best deal.
Posted on 02:41 / 0 comments / Read More

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Get a Lower Car Insurance Quote

If you are thinking of buying an insurance coverage for your car, then you have to make sure that you know exactly how to shop around for the lowest quotes.  But it is important for you to avoid compromising the quality of a specific coverage in exchange for a low price.  Look for an affordable auto insurance which has a good coverage. This will allow you to receive the kind of financial assistance that you need in case your car gets damaged.  The following tips can help you find lower insurance quotes for your car without sacrificing the quality of your choices:

1.  Check your credit reports and improve your credit rating first.  Note that your credit history and score can have a huge impact on the kind of car insurance quotes that you will receive.  If your credit score is high, then expect to receive lower quotes.  If you have a poor credit score, then it is advisable for you to raise it first before you start applying for car insurance.  Among the many things that you can do to improve your credit score are keep your credit card balances low, avoid missing bill payments, avoid defaulting when it comes to paying your debts, avoid opening more credit lines if not necessary and monitor your credit reports and ratings periodically.  It is also advisable for you to dispute any inaccurate information that you think have caused your credit rating to go down. This is a major help in instantly raising your score, thereby increasing your chances of getting lower car insurance quotes.

2.  Provide insurance companies with essential details.  You have to make sure that you supply insurance companies with the kind of details that they are asking for.  These include your marital status, your zip code, safety features of your car and the commuting miles of your car per year.  If you do not supply all these information, then there is a great tendency for insurance companies to provide you with higher car insurance rates.  Make it a point to supply insurers with more details as this is a major help in qualifying for discounts.

Lower Car Insurance Quote

3.  Do comparison shopping.  You should consider using the different websites online that offer services in terms of comparing insurance quotes.  Bear in mind that you can actually get a substantial amount of savings every year by comparing the rates of different insurance companies.  It is also advisable for you to include the company where you get your other insurance in your list of choices.  It is because this company may be capable of providing you with lower rates since you are already one of their clients.  Aside from that, you can also easily negotiate for the rates of Raleigh Bikes.

4.  Add devices into your car that can help prevent theft.  Among these devices are tracking systems and car alarms.  By installing these anti-theft devices into your vehicle, you get the chance to avail of great discounts.  You should also know that enrolling in a defensive driving class can help in reducing the amount that you need to pay for your premiums.  All these can help reduce the chances of your vehicle from being stolen so expect different insurance companies to provide you with lower quotes.

You can get to know more Information here
Posted on 03:56 / 0 comments / Read More

Thursday 5 July 2012

Will the new breathalyser law affect you?

If a company has a van, which is being driven by multiple employees, any driver van insurance may be ideal and will mean there is greater flexibility when choosing who can use a van each day.
To prevent drivers from causing traffic accidents employers should actively encourage workers to adhere to the rules of the road. As a result, if workers drive safely while building up a history of no-claims, managers may be more likely to receive cheaper van insurance at renewal. 

In 2010, according to the Royal Society for The Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), approximately 250 people died and 1,230 suffered serious personal injuries in alcohol-related traffic accidents in Britain.However, according to a BBC report, around 4,000 people die on the roads each year in France – with drink-driving being a contributing factor in the majority of collisions.If staff members need to drive through France, they may be affected by a new law introduced to combat the effects of drink-driving and so all drivers should be also be made aware of any applicable regulations abroad. The new law came into effect on the 1st July 2012. 

From this date, anyone driving in France must carry two NF approved breathalyser kits in their vehicles or risk an on-the-spot penalty fine of €11 (Roughly £8).

Law Breathalyser
 
To ensure drivers are following this new law, French police are planning to carry out random checks on vehicles entering the country via ferries or through the Channel Tunnel. However, foreign drivers without breathalysers will be excused from penalty fines until 1st November.

This regulation has led to many motorists rushing out to buy breathalyser kits, causing unprecedented demand. In just one week, Halfords sold double their annual target for breathalyser sales and are reportedly selling the kits at a rate of one every minute. 

Currently, motorists travelling in France may also receive an on-the-spot penalty fine if they do not carry a high-visibility safety jacket or a warning triangle in their vehicles for use in the event of a car accident. The new breathalyser law was passed in an attempt to prevent accidents and will, hopefully, save around 500 lives a year. 

Yet, according to a web survey carried out by the Institute for Advanced Motorists (IAM), 82% of respondents believe this law will not have any effect on drink-driving, while 70% feel motorists will only carry the breathalyser kits in order to comply with the authorities.

A motorist can use their breathalyser to find out if they are over the limit – in France the alcohol limit is 30mg lower than in the UK. If the breathalyser indicates a driver has too much alcohol in the blood, he or she must refrain from driving until the alcohol is completely out of their system. 

Otherwise, they may receive a driving conviction if found guilty by the French authorities – which may substantially increase the price of their company’s van insurance policy and could result in disciplinary action.

An online, van-only insurance provider. To find out how much your van insurance policy could be, click here to get a quote .
Posted on 00:33 / 0 comments / Read More

Thursday 28 June 2012

How telematics can benefit businesses

The headlines of Britain’s news media make troubling reading: “EU could change Eurozone countries’ budgets”, “Ocado says trade disrupted by jubilee celebrations”, “Administrator to cut services after takeover of ailing NHS trust”. 

Wherever you look, it seems organisations may be trying to cut back and reduce costs.
In this harsh economic climate, most companies will probably try to make certain savings, but van insurance is an essential expense for any distribution company – and yet, it can also be very expensive.Research by Autonet Insurance showed, in January 2011, male drivers under the age of 22 had to pay an average of £2,550 for their van cover.With this expensive price tag companies may look for ways to reduce the cost of their premiums, and some may find that they are more likely to obtain cheap van insurance with the help of telematics. 

Some companies refer to telematics technology as a “spy” because it monitors various aspects of a driver’s motoring behaviour. For example, if a staff member drives recklessly, by breaking speed limits for example, his or her employer will know about it.So, staff members may drive more safely if managers install black boxes (telematics devices) in their vehicles and let employees know that they are monitoring their driving habits.In 2012, Co-operative Insurance provided encouraging data to back up the efficacy of telematics technology by analysing the driving habits of 10,000 telematics policy-holders.After finishing their research, the company determined those aged between 17 and 25 were approximately 20% less likely to suffer a vehicle collision than drivers with a normal insurance policy. Furthermore, after a traffic accident, insurance claims for telematics customers cost around 30% less than those with standard cover. 

telematics images

 As well as potentially reducing the severity of a traffic accident, telematics may have a variety of other benefits. For example, TRACKER, a telematics company, published a survey in 2012 showing 22% of companies had been able to use telematics to improve their fuel consumption. In addition, 38% reported improvements in customer satisfaction after installing black boxes in their vehicles.
Finally, a company may be adversely affected if vans are stolen. However, a black box monitors the location of a vehicle – meaning it can be tracked in the event of theft. Although this device will not guarantee the safe recovery of a stolen van, it may provide some peace of mind to managers and can help police in apprehending the thieves. This extra security device also helps to bring down insurance costs. 

According to a survey carried out by ALD Automotive and YouGov in 2012, more than a third of UK businesses with more than 500 employees are using telematics technology. As a result, these companies may be able to save money on their fuel costs as well as improve driver behaviour and employee productivity.Furthermore, as long as staff members drive safely and build up a history of no-claims, employers may see a reduction in the price of their van insurance at renewal. 

This guest post was provided by iVan Insurance, a van-only online insurance provider. To see if your company could claim cheap van insurance, click here to get a quote
Posted on 04:36 / 0 comments / Read More

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Reducing employee stress is great for businesses

In these harsh economic times, distribution companies may feel the need to send drivers out on multiple assignments, increase the number of deliveries or fulfil more orders. However, although this may lead to quicker profits, it might have an adverse affect on a workforce. 

If an employee feels they have an excessive amount of work, deadlines or requirements, they may begin to get stressed. Although a small amount of pressure may help to motivate, encourage or to make a task more fulfilling, a staff member may suffer from stress if that pressure becomes too much. This might have an adverse effect on a person’s well being. 

Even worse, stress often has a cumulative effect. If one employee starts to become ill because of stress, the rest of the workforce may have to carry out his or her duties; further increasing the pressure. However, although stress can affect the productivity of a business, it can be deadly on the roads.When a person gets behind the wheel, they should focus all of their attention on driving safely and following the rules of the road. Yet, if a motorist is suffering from stress he or she may be unable to focus properly and their driving ability might suffer.If an employee becomes stressed and starts to drive erratically, they are far more likely to use more fuel than someone who is calm and content. In addition, if this driving behavior results in a traffic accident, an employer may see the price of their commercial van insurance increase greatly.

Employers have a legal duty to ensure staff members do not suffer because of their workload. If employees are starting to show tiredness, irritability, indecisiveness or increased levels of sickness, a manager should take appropriate steps to reduce stress levels.This could include changing work policies, extending deadlines, ensuring staff members take their breaks, making a vehicle more ergonomic or simply educating employees about the dangers of stress.If an employer is unsure about what might cause excessive pressure at work, they should either hire a competent person to carry out a stress audit or ask staff members if they are feeling anxious while driving. After undertaking these measures, duty-holders should then implement suitable steps to reduce or eliminate the causes of stress. 
Commercial Van Insurance Images

A company which has an effective stress-management policy may experience a variety of benefits, such as increased productivity and better decision making from employees, as well as a reduction in mistakes, personal injury, sickness absence and staff turnover.Furthermore, a company with an effective stress management system is more appealing to clients, investments and customers. After all, very few shareholders would invest in a company with a poor accident record.By ensuring employees drive safely behind the wheel, distributors may eventually see a reduction in their van insurance premiums and might even help road safety by preventing traffic accidents from occurring. 

This guest post was provided by iVan Insurance, an online only insurance company specializing in van cover. To receive a commercial van insurance quote, click here .
Posted on 02:15 / 0 comments / Read More

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Prepare for the Worse - Get Medical Insurance

It would be more costly on your part not to have a medical insurance. This means that you would have to pay medical expenses such as medicines, hospitalization and doctors’ consultation fees out of your own pocket. Unless you have big savings in the bank, unexpected trips to the doctor or to a medical facility can put a lot of strain in your family’s budget. Not only that, what if you will lose your job and a family member suddenly becomes ill? Who can you turn to for financial help?

Even people with hefty bank accounts secure themselves with a reliable health insurance. It is unwise to touch your savings when someone needs to go see a doctor or be admitted into a hospital for surgery if you can have some health insurance provider pay the bills on your behalf. Having a medical insurance serves as your security in times when money is difficult to come by and someone gets sick and needs medical attention.

Medical insurance can cover up to hundreds of thousands of medical bills depending on your plans or policy. Different medical insurance companies have different insurance policies and the coverage also varies for each plan. So, before you buy an insurance policy, make sure you know what you need. This pertains to the type of coverage that you would like to have-for example a medical insurance that includes a dental plan.

Get Medical Insurance

With the recent discoveries in medical technology and treatments, the costs for health care also increase. They may have been relatively lower a few years back but health care costs are not likely to go down in the near future. You need to protect yourself from these costs. Injuries and other illnesses cannot be anticipated and they can cost you a fortune.

Also, you are likely to take care of yourself when you have a medical aid. You will not worry about the money that will be used to pay for the consultation because you can go in and have yourself checked almost on a cashless way.

Not all are lucky to end up with good health insurance coverage, though. Others met rather unfortunate situations where in they lost coverage while trying to transfer to a new health insurance provider. This is usually caused by pre-existing conditions. Some health conditions that are discovered during the period that they were covered by the previous health insurance provider may run the risk of being classified as pre-existing conditions by the new insurance provider. But don’t fret because effective January 2014, according the healthcare law, health insurance companies will be prohibited from denying applicants coverage due to some pre-existing health conditions.

Having pre-existing medical conditions can sometimes fill someone with dread. What if no one will take you or the premium becomes too expensive for your budget because you have an existing illness? Such fears are natural and understandable especially on this case where pre-existing condition is the major contributing factor, but all these should not stop you from getting insured medically.
Posted on 05:28 / 0 comments / Read More
 
Copyright © 2011. Best Insurance Plaza . All Rights Reserved
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Privacy policy | Site map
Design and Published by Best Insurance Plaza