Health Insurance For Parents and the Right Way of Choosing Right Insurance Company

By Robart Alex

Expecting parents to visit you in United States? Don't forget to call in an insurance company to check for available health insurance options for your parents.

In today's world, it is not easy to cope with ever-mounting healthcare cost and that's it the reason why an intelligent person always opt plan well ahead of time. In a scenario where your parents are visiting US, you can always opt for health insurance for parents.

What visiting parent health insurance can do for you?

There are several benefits associated with health insurance for parents. This insurance policy is not limited to parents but anyone visiting America can get benefited from it. Some of the benefits associated with this type of insurance are;

• Benefits pertaining to hospitalization
• Intensive care
• Surgery
• Ambulance services
• Help pertaining to the prescription drugs

These are few of the benefits associated with this type of insurance but you can enjoy more by opting for the right insurance company.

Choosing the right health insurance for parents:

In US, the insurance industry is one of the fastest growing industries. What it means is that you can find a good handful of options while looking for health insurance for parents. But, it is not hard to get baffled by the number of companies because of which you may not become able to make a right decision. Here are few of the points that should be kept in mind while opting for a company offering visitors insurance or health insurance for parents.

• One of the most important things to keep in mind is about choosing the company offering direct cash-less settlement. What it means is that you can always make your hospital to directly get in touch with insurance company for the settlement. It can really make the whole settlement process much simpler for you.

• While looking for health insurance for parents, you must make sure that the insurance company Customer Service & Claims Department is located within US.

• You must check if a company requires you or your parents to undergo medical exam.

• Finally, you must compare prices. Don't make haste in this regard as there are some exceptional insurance companies which can offer the most competitive rates. Searching is the key to success here.

The fact of the matter is that visitor insurance including the health insurance for parents is helpful only for those who buy plans for better insurance company. If you will not work with a professional company, you will never be able to get optimum benefits. So, take your time and choose the best option especially if you don't want to spend all your hard earned money on unexpected injuries experienced by your parents.

Health insurance for parents can keep you away from spending a lot of money in case your parents undergo an injury. The benefits associated with this insurance plan are manifold which can further be enhanced by visiting ivisitorinsurance.com/ where some other visitors insurance options are also available.

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Income Protection Insurance As an Alternative to Payment Protection Insurance

By Michael Challiner

Income protection pays out a proportion of your income (50 per cent is common) if you can't work because of illness, disability or accident. However, income protection won't cover you if you're made redundant. If you want redundancy cover you can sometimes bolt this on to income protection insurance for an extra cost, or you can take out a standalone policy.

Like all insurance policies, income protection plans take into account circumstances such as your age, gender, occupation, your health and whether you smoke or not. How much you pay in premiums depends on how much of a risk the insurance company sees you as.

Why is it better?

For many of us, income protection costs no more than PPI, but provides much better benefits. You can decide when the cover starts - after four weeks, three months, six months or even a year - so you can fit the cover around the cover you have from your employment.

So, for example, you can set your income protection plan to kick in after 28 weeks if that's when your employer stops paying sick pay. The longer the period before the cover starts paying out, the cheaper the premium.

Income Protection also continues paying until either you reach the end of the term (people often run the term through to their retirement age), or until you return to work. If you claim on the policy and then go back to work, your policy continues as before.

'Higher risk lives'

For some people, however, the cost of standard income protection may be too high. However there are policies called 'age related' policies which don't calculate your premium according to gender, occupation or whether you smoke. These may be more suitable for higher risk lives.

There are also 'budget' income protection policies which pay out for shorter period and consequently have lower premiums.

There's also the possibility that payment under an income protection policy might affect your state benefits - so you should always check this with your insurer or adviser.

Income protection can be expensive if you're in a risky or stressful job, if you have health problems or you smoke. In most cases, women tend to pay more than men.

Shop around

However, it's always worth getting a quotation for income protection first and then submitting an application to the most competitive providers. We suggest you take advice and get help shopping around the different companies.

You should always consult an independent financial adviser (who can search the whole market for you). Try to find one that specialises in income protection products.

Critical illness insurance

Many people are sold critical illness insurance, often in addition to PPI. But it's important to understand that critical illness insurance is not an alternative to PPI or income protection.

Critical illness insurance pays out a lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness like cancer or a heart attack. It can be useful additional cover because you can use it to pay off your mortgage or other large debts if the worst happens.

However, it won't provide you with a regular income while you're off work, and it won't cover you for accidents or conditions like back pain or stress.

So, although critical illness can be useful additional protection for those who can afford it, you shouldn't take it out at the expense of a general policy that gives you an income if you can't work as a result of any illness or disability.

Other alternatives to PPI

You can also consider mortgage payment protection to cover your mortgage payments, or a form of payment protection insurance that lets you choose the level of cover you need each month.

The Mortgage Helpers Online provides great deals on Mortgage Protection Insurance for its clients in the uk. Please visit our site for helpful information to aid you in making the right decision, first time. Brokers Online offers cutting edge articles and information about Mortgage Protection Insurance, life insurance and other great financial products.

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Income Protection Insurance - The Hard Facts

By Michael Challiner

How much money will I need?

The amount of cover you require, and when you receive payment, depends largely on what resources you already have. Maybe your contract of employment states that your employer will pay you for the first six months, in which case you need your cover to commence from month seven of your sickness.

If you are self employed with savings you can draw on for three months, you should start cover from the fourth month. You should take into account any state benefits you will receive, when calculating the cover you need.

The great advantage of Income Protection (IP) is that you can tailor it to suit your lifestyle. You make decisions on the amount of cover required and when it should start.

How much will it cost me?

Your personal circumstances and nature of employment will decide the amount of premium you pay.

Premiums vary enormously with the cost being assessed on your gender, general state of health, occupation, the level of cover required and whether you are a smoker. Women will be sad to learn that they generally have to pay more than men.

Consider this example. Non-smoking man.....administrative job......age 30........his premium is 17 pounds to 36 pounds a month, which pays out 1,000 pounds a month benefit after 6 months. In contrast, a decorator of a similar age would pay between 35 pounds and 112 pounds a month, depending on whom he chose as his provider.

Gender, occupation and whether you smoke are not taken into account with age related policies.

Your job may affect the amount you pay

The amount you pay for a policy may be influenced by the type of job you have. An exception to this rule is an age related scheme. The majority of insurers divide job types into 4 categories of risk.

We requested providers of income protection insurance to tell us the way in which they grouped jobs, and to provide us with examples of typical jobs in each group.

Some examples follow, but there is a word of warning, as the same job may be categorised differently one insurer to another.

• Class 1 Managers, administrative staff and professionals. Limited business mileage. Secretary, computer programmer, administration clerk

• Class 2 Some workers having a high business mileage exceeding 20,000 miles a year. Engineer, shop assistant, florist. Light skilled manual work.

• Class 3 Some semi-skilled and skilled manual workers. Plumber, teacher, care worker

• Class 4 Some unskilled workers and heavy manual workers. Mechanic, bar person, construction worker

Unpaid workers

Just because you have no income does not mean that cover is not needed. For example, a carer, looking after an elderly relative, may develop a long term illness and be unable to carry out their caring duties. Would the rest of the family be able to stand in, or would they need insurance cover to pay for an expensive carer from outside the family? However, a word of warning, some policies do not provide cover for carers.

Mortgage Homehelp offers great deals on Mortgage Insurance, Life Cover and other financial products. Visit our site for more info. Our sister site Brokers Online offers cutting edge articles and information about Mortgage Insurance and other great financial products.

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The 9 Types of Insurance Companies

By Carson Koziol

Insurance is generally a topic people don't like to think about until they need it. Who can blame them, right?

People also don't know that the law has 9 different categories of companies. These categories are not derived from the product(s) the company sells. So when you say life insurance company or health insurance company, you are merely stating the type of product the company sells. You are not talking about its legal structure.

The 9 types of insurance companies are:

1. Domestic - This type of insurance company is incorporated and formed under the laws of the state in which it is domiciled. For example, a company incorporated in California is domestic to California and is foreign to the other states.

2. Foreign - This type of insurance company is also domestic company as it is domiciled in one state but it is licensed to do business in another state. For example, a California domiciled company doing business in Nevada is foreign to Nevada but can do business in Nevada because it met the licensure requirements.

3. Alien - This type of insurance company is often confused with a Foreign insurance company. The Alien company is the one that is formed under the laws of a country other than the United States. For example, a company organized under the laws of Canada and doing business in the United States would be an Alien company in this country. However, if it is properly licensed, it can do business in the United States.

4. Authorized (Admitted) and Unauthorized (Unadmitted) - Upon applying for approval to do business in a state, the insurance company receives a certification of authority from the state Insurance Department (Division). Once they receive this certificate they become known as an admitted, or authorized, company. Companies without a certificate of authority are known as unadmitted, or unauthorized, companies. A note of caution before buying insurance. You should always learn if the company is admitted/authorized. Otherwise, they may not honor your claim.

5. Stock Company - As the name implies, a stock company is an insurance company that is owned by the shareholders. These holders own the capital stock of the company and most are publicly traded on an organized exchange.

6. Mutual Company - This type of company is owned by the people and/or businesses the company insures.

7. Reciprocal (Assessment) Company - Nonincorporated associations of individuals or business, called subscribers, engage in cooperative insurance programs. Each policyholder is insured by all others, and each insures the others. Coverage is exchanged on a reciprocal basis.

8. Fraternal Benefit Society - This type of social organization has bylaws allowing it to sell insurance to its members. The society has no capital stock, is not for profit, and is organized for the benefit of the members.

9. Lloyd's Insurer - Lloyd's is a very well known name and most people think of it as an insurance company. The truth is, it isn't. It is a number of people organized into syndicates or groups for the purpose of underwriting risks. Lloyd's operate on many of the same principles as a stock exchange in that it matches buyers wishing to secure insurance with sellers who wish to underwrite risks.

By the way, each insurance company sets its own rates and must first get them approved by the Insurance Commissioner in the state in which they wish to sell. This is why you can get a wide disparity in premium quotes for the same coverage. It pays to shop for the best possible price BEFORE you purchase any type of insurance.

Carson E. Koziol http://www.moneyferret.com I am a licensed insurance agency owner in Nevada

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Why Is Your Car Insurance So Expensive?

By Ross Tanner

Although these days it's pretty easy to arrange your car insurance online, comparing quotes at the click of a button and paying by credit card for instant cover, one ever present difficulty still remains: the high cost of insurance policies. The fact that having car insurance in place is both a legal requirement and a sensible idea doesn't detract from the annoyance of having to pay what seems to be an exorbitant sum, and most of us would jump at the chance of reducing the bill.

Car insurance is an unavoidable expense, and seems to get ever more costly. By examining what insurers are looking for in a customer, you should be able to cut your premiums. To do this we need to know what factors insurance companies use when deciding how much our premiums will be. You car insurance costs could vary wildly depending upon the car you buy -- even if it's an inexpensive car.

About the Author:

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Perhaps the most important influence on the level of your premium is your own history as a driver. If you've a history of having accidents, then naturally you're a higher risk to the insurer and so they'll charge you more. Worse, if you've been convicted of a motoring offence such as speeding or driving while under the influence, then your insurance will cost you even more - especially if your licence was withdrawn.

The next most important factor is what kind of car you're trying to insure. Naturally, more expensive cars will cost more to replace, and so the insurance will cost you more too. This isn't the whole story though, as other features such as engine size, the availability of cheap spares, and the difficulty of repair will have an influence too. Finally, some models of car are well known for being easier to break into or steal than others - the insurance companies are well aware of this and will adjust their quotes accordingly.

How you use your car will also affect the price you pay for cover. If you rarely drive and have a low annual mileage, then your premiums can be cut as you're on the road for less time, and therefore have less chance of needing to make a claim. City drivers may also have to pay more compared to those who drive in quieter areas.

Where you keep your car is important too - if you have a secure parking area, preferably one that keeps your vehicle out of sight and under cover, then your risk is lowered, as will be your premiums. Cars that are regularly parked at the roadside are at a higher risk of being stolen or involved in collisions, and so will be more expensive to insure.

One final point to cover is that of how attractive your car is to thieves, and not just in the obvious way of how desirable your vehicle is! An expensive car with a good security system including an alarm and window etching etcetera will be more of a hassle for criminals to profit from, and so is less likely to be stolen than a cheaper car with little or no security. Also, a car featuring plenty of gadgets such as an expensive audio system or satellite navigation will attract greater interest from potential thieves.

The good drivers who follow the laws and drive safe that have no claims have to pay for those who pose a risk for everyone on the road. Insurance companies have to pay out millions a year to policy holders for claims caused by weather and drivers that have no insurance yet were at fault. I can see paying when weather strikes , but if everyone had insurance many would have lower rates. I just believe if a person goes 2 to 5 years with out a claim they need to give half of the premiums back or give free coverage for half the amount of time they went with out a claim.

Because you HAVE to have it. Insurance companies know that the law requires you to ante up, so they know the law forces you to ante up to an INFLATED price. Don't believe the people who say "more coverage means more claims. The fact is that most people don't have accidents. That means more money for the insurance people.

If you think you're not getting a fair deal, call some other insurance companies. Many of them will give free quotes. One thing is certain, that as long as people are wrecking cars or stealing them, we're all going to have to pay for insurance.

The insurance company expects to pay out claims equal to the probability of an accident times the expected cost to repair the damage to people and property. It's a risky proposition, so they get a pretty high profit margin. You have to pay people a higher return in order to get them to put their money at risk.

You can go online to any auto insurance website and get a quote. If your car is not financed and you only need liability it will be less than if you have to cover your vehicle as well. Just remember that if you get into an accident you may end up without a car. If your car has much value you should get it covered anyway, even if it's paid off.

Premiums will also vary depending on your gender and age and your driving record. The highest risk group, so the highest premiums, are for males under the age of 25. Its always cheaper for a woman to insure a car, therefore insure the car to your Mum's policy, for example, go on an insurance company website type your mums details in then an option should come up as "additional drivers" this is where you fill in your details.

Your age is just one of the risk factors in setting your rate. The amount your overall policy drops depends on other things also, such as tickets and accidents, so it's hard to say with any certainty just what percentage of drop you will get. It depends on the company but yes, most insurance companies will rate you differently when you're 25 or over. As for the amount, it too depends on the company, but you can expect something like a 5% discount.

Insurance Leads - How to Choose the Best Company For Your Insurance Agency Leads

By W. G. Moore

They're hundreds of companies out there who will offer to sell you Insurance Leads, some have been in the business for many years, others are start ups, and still others are fly-by-night garbage lead pushers. So how do you tell if a company is reputable? How do you know the leads you get are going to be of high quality? Truthfully, unless you have lost money dealing with bad companies then you won't. Although there is a good chance to make lots of money with the right leads, there is also a very good chance to loose money as well. There are pros and cons to every method of lead generation, but knowledge of what to look for can save you time and money.

Let me give you an example of my dealings with lead sellers. A few years back I ran a successful Commercial Mortgage Brokerage, most of my business came through word of mouth and referrals. Like all businesses that rely on sales to generate income, the pipeline can run dry, so did mine. I tried various other lead generation strategies with marginal results, direct mail, post cards, etc. I researched several sales lead companies and found one that was very reputable in their field. So how do you determine if a company is reputable? You ask your competition. Whenever you deal with a lead generation company, whether its mortgage leads, life insurance leads, or consumer leads you will have to compete with other companies who will be buying the same leads. Look at what other Insurance companies are listed and call them up, if you can't find out that info then ask the lead company. If they really are reputable then they will have no problem providing you with references from happy customers.

In addition to the companies reputation, the second criteria should be the quality of the insurance leads provided by the company. Most companies have a limit to how many times they sell a lead, look for a company that will only sell a lead to 2 or 3 other insurance agents. The obvious reason for this is that you don't want a lead that 10 other agents have already purchased, the last thing you want is to spend money on a lead you have no chance of closing, not to mention the ear chewing your going to get when you're the 10th insurance broker to call the client that day. With fewer agents having bought the lead you have a better chance of closing the deal and selling your services to the client. A good insurance lead company may even offer exclusive targeted leads for a premium price. These leads are sold to only you and are targeted to your insurance product, for instance Auto insurance leads in Florida, or Life Annuity Leads in California.

In addition to the above criteria, lead transfer time is very important. Look for a company that offers live transfer or real time leads. These are leads that are batched and sold immediately upon the application being submitted. In some cases a phone operator is used to call the customer and that operator then transfers the "warm" client to the agent. This is the best insurance lead to get, the client is pre-qualified and verified before being connected to the qualified agent to close the deal. A typical company will list the methods used to gather their insurance company leads. Look for companies that generate search traffic thru targeted campaigns - whether Pay Per Click, Print media, or other forms of lead generation. It is also important to stay away from companies that use incentivized traffic, these are companies that use bribery to get visitors to fill out an application for an Insurance quote, these are customers who will not answer your phone call or even hang-up on you when you call. it is a good idea to also make sure the company provides replacement leads for bad or bogus leads. Even the best companies can get a few bad apples in the bunch.

Buying insurance leads should be a small part of every companies long term strategy for keeping their pipeline full of "warm" quality leads. Keeping the above listed criteria in mind will help limit your risk and ensure a great return on investment.

W.G. Moore is an Internet Marketer specializing in Insurance and Finance marketing. The authors website http://www.national-insurance-quotes.com provides a hassle free means of comparing insurance quotes from the nations top insurance companies. Visitors can obtain multiple insurance quotes for life, auto, health, renters, homeowners and condo insurance. Customers can also compare annuity investments for a complete financial plan. The website also provides direct linking to real-time insurance leads for qualified agents and brokers.

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Providing a Lifetime Retirement Income?

By Lew Nason

Over the holidays, my wife and I had a wonderful time visiting with family that we don't get to see very often. It was great talking to them and catching up on the news about them and their family. During one of the conversations, we briefly discussed their retirement income and they made the following comment - As long as we earn an average 8 to 9% return our money will last forever. It reminded me that many retired people are counting on their stockbroker to help them to outperform the stock market during their 20 or more years of retirement. And, maybe they will? But even, if they have a great broker who is able to outperform the stock market, they still run the real risk of running out of money.

Let me explain. Over the years, Ive had too many retired couples come to me asking for help because they are running out of money. For example: One of the couples retired in 1992 with a little over one million dollars. They had been taking $70,000 per year to live on and when I met them in 2003 they had less than $176,000. They were running out of money and didnt know what they were going to do? Their investment broker had assured them that they would average an 8 to 9% return on their retirement portfolio and they had. The problem is that although they had averaged the 8 to 9% return, they didnt get that return each and every year. They had years where they made less than 8 to 9%, and years where they lost money. And, each of those years they still withdrew the $70,000 of income they needed to maintain their current life style. When you take an income from your retirement portfolio in years with low returns or losses, you are very often forced to dig into your investment principal, and you are compounding your investment losses.

Plus, each year they were paying management fees to their broker, whether their retirement portfolio made money or not. Consider, if you average 8 to 9%, and you pay a 2% management fee, then isnt your net average return only 6 to 7% per year?

The final straw for them was when the stock market took the significant downturn in 2000 to 2003 and they lost over 40% of their remaining money. Because they had no way to recoup their losses and needed the income, they were forced into taking out a reverse mortgage on their home, significantly cutting back on their life style and looking to their children for help. This is much too common a story.

The Question Is: Will Your Clients Run Out Of Money?
Even after the market correction at the turn of the century, Ive still been recommending that retirees get out of the stock market with the money they use to generate an income. I believe that the stock market is still overpriced! Evaluating Price to Earning Ratios, Dividend Yields, Relative Strength and other factors indicates that stock prices still appear to be higher than normal.

Why Is The Market Overpriced?
There are many factors that contributed to the overvalued stock market of the 90s, such as new technology, an undervalued US dollar, declining interest rates, etc. However, one of the most dominant reasons is that in the 90s many Baby Boomers, to make up for lost time, funneled most, if not all of their retirement savings into the stock market over a very short time. This caused the stock market prices in the 90s to soar dramatically.

In 2000-2003 we saw a significant price correction. However, because the FED kept interest rates extremely low during and after that market correction, there appeared to be no better place for these people to invest their money to get a decent return. Consequently many Boomers, finding no better investment alternatives, left their money in the stock market, which prevented the stock market from making a full correction.

Even if you don't believe the stock market is currently overpriced, is there any question that in the next few years, we are going to have unprecedented numbers of people retiring. Whats going to happen when each year more and more of these people start liquidating their investments to provide an income? When more money is being taken out of the market than is being put in, will we see a sharp decline in the stock market prices or just lack luster returns? Who knows? But, to expect an average return of 8-9% during the next 10 years or so would seem to be very unlikely and be just wishful thinking!

Whats The Best Way To Make Your Clients Money Last?
There is no single investment or income generation strategy for retirees that will work in every situation! Every retirees situation is different. However, for most retirees, income laddering with portion of their money, using annuities, may provide more potential for a longer sustainable income, with less risk to investment principal and no fees. There is also the new breed of annuities that are tied to a Stock Market Index, such as the S&P 500. These equity indexed annuities can provide retirees with the upside potential of the stock market, without the catastrophic downside market risks.

There is much to consider when helping clients in their retirement years and many questions that need answers. One of the most important questions for you is: Whats more important, the amount of money your clients have invested, or the amount of income they get to spend?

Lew Nason
The Nine Out Of Ten Guy
Trainer, Coach and Mentor

2007 by Lew Nason, RFC, FMM, LUTC Graduate - All rights reserved
Lew Nason, with his sons Jeremy Nason and Will Nason are the founders of the Insurance Pro Shop and the creators of the Found Money Management Advanced Life Insurance Sales System The most endorsed and successful Life Insurance prospecting and sales system available for todays insurance professional! Lew has been helping agents and advisors to achieve long-term success in financial services industry for over two decades. His unique perspective, on how to truly help clients, has enabled scores of agents and advisors reach the top levels of their profession. Visit his web site at http://www.insuranceproshop.com or call him toll free @ 877-297-4608.

Claim your free Report "How to Attract & Sell Your Perfect Prospects" at http://www.FastInsuranceSales.com Where you'll learn how to make 6-figures a year in insurance.

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Types of Injury Claims - Find Out How to Make a Claim!

By Sadhna D

There are various types of injury claims. Each injury is different and involves different procedure. A specialist injury claims solicitor can guide you to make a successful claim. They will take up the case of the claimant and take into consideration the causes and solutions to get over the problem. A professional claims adviser will help you get suitable compensation.

They have immense experience in handling claims cases. They will help you and also guide you get compensation easily. They have the required skills and expertise to help victims of accident get suitable compensation. There must have been numerous causes for the injuries. If you can prove that it has resulted due to somebody else's fault, you can get compensation quickly. They also act on a no win no fee basis. This will help you get compensation without paying any fee to the solicitor. Irrespective of the fact whether you win or lose the case, you can get compensation. There are numerous types of injuries:

• Factory based injuries

• Driving based (work related) injuries

• Heavy machinery/equipment based injuries

• Office based injuries

• Retail based injuries

• Warehouse based injuries

If an injury has resulted at the workplace due to the negligence of the employer, you can get suitable compensation. It is the duty of the employer to provide safe and secure working environment. To make a claim, you must be able to prove that the injury has resulted due to negligence of the employer or unsafe working conditions. There are numerous experienced solicitors who specialise in providing compensation to victims of accident.

Slip, trip and fall accidents can hep get compensation fast for the injuries suffered. Slip trip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of accidents people usually suffer. This kind of injury can prove to be fatal at times. Many of the victims of accident are known to suffer from back injuries, paralysis, broken bones and head injuries. Many a times, slips and trips also happen at the work place.

Tripping is a common type of injury. It can happen anywhere. It may happen at home, at the workplace, while walking over pavement or at any other place. As long as the injury has resulted due to the negligence of someone, you can get compensation. Many a times, workers may accidentally leave objects in open places. Other workers might not notice them and then trip over them. If such an incident happens, then he or she can make a claim. You can also make personal injury claim.

Sadhana D, Expert Author, Platinum Status For more information: Slip, Trip, Claim Personal Injury claim Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sadhna_D

Home and Motor Insurance Rates - Things That Will Reduce Both

By Chimezirim Chinecherem Odimba

Your home is important so you want to protect it. You can't drive without car insurance so you have to get a policy. But how can you take actions that will bring savings on both? This article will help you with a few tips...

Your credit rating will make you pay more or less. The lower your credit rating, the higher the premiums you will pay. What your credit rating reveals is how you treat your bills and it speaks negatively about you if it's a poor one. This is a pattern that most insurers believe will play out again in the way you pay up your premiums. This makes you a bigger risk and therefore attracts a higher rate.

It'll, therefore, be a good step to do something about improving your credit rating. You'll draw cheaper rates if you do.

You'll also get cheaper rates if you choose to pay your rates annually and not every month. A strong reason for this is the cost an insurance company incurs for posting you 12 bills instead of just one annually.

The cost increases if you add the fact that they pay transaction fees for processing each check you give them monthly as payment. 12 checks are 12 transactions which mean 12 separate transaction charges. And as with everything else, it's you the customer or policy holder who bears that cost.

Therefore opt for annual payments instead if you intend to make savings this way. What you will save could be as high as 8.5% of your total monthly payments over the course of just one year.

And don't forget: A higher deductible will bring in lower rates so choose accordingly when buying. If you've already purchased a home insurance policy that you're very happy with, increase your deductible.

Your deductible is the amount you'll be expected to pay if you make a claim before your insurance company would be duty-bound to fulfill the terms of your home insurance policy.

Someone who previously settled for a deductible of $500 on their home insurance policy will save as much as 25% more if they opt for a deductible of $1,000.

Opting for a high deductible will bring down your home and motor insurance rates - Every time. Just ensure it's an amount that you can produce easily when you make a claim.

It is wise to make it as high as possible as long as you can afford it with relative ease.

Do you still want more savings? Here's more...

You'll save if you buy all your policies from the same insurance company. This qualifies you for a multi-policy discount. For starters, try getting your home and auto insurance policies from the same insurer.

And have you being with your home insurance provider for up to three years? Then ask for a loyalty discount. Most insurers will give discounts once you keep your policy with them for 3 years and above. Nevertheless, do NOT stay put with an insurance carrier only for this reason. Make sure you are enjoying a good price to value.

And finally, get and compare quotes from a wide range of insurers. The quoting process will take you just about five minutes per site you visit. If you use the right sites, you'll get 5 or more different quotes from different reputable insurers for each request.

This alone could help you save several hundreds of dollars depending on what you're paying currently.

Here are recommended pages for home insurance quotes... InsureMe Home Insurance Quotes Home Insurance Quotes Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chimezirim_Chinecherem_Odimba

Various Types of Insurance Plans - How to Choose the Right Plan?

By Mona Agarwal

In this world, every person wants to secure his family. He can invest money in PPF, Mutual funds, insurance plans and many more.

There are numerous insurance policies provided by various insurance companies. So we can not easily decide the perfect policy for ourselves. There is a short description of some life insurance policies that may help you in choosing the right plan.

Term Life Insurance: - Term life insurance is an insurance which gives coverage for a particular time of period. After this period, the policy holder can continue his policy or can drop his policy. If the policy holder dies in the term period, nominee will get the death benefit. This insurance plan is very affordable. The policy holder can pay a low monthly premium that is based on the term length and amount of the coverage you choose.

Whole life insurance: - Unlike term insurance, a whole life insurance policy gives the coverage for the entire life not a particular time of period. In this insurance policy, the policy holder gives the insurance premium amount from the date of issue of policy until he completes 100 years. If he dies in this period, then his dependent will get the face value of the policy. This policy can also used as an asset. A person can also take loans from the cash accumulation with the help of policy. If the person reaches at the age of 100, he will get full amount immediately.

Money back insurance: - In money back insurance plans, the policy holder will get periodic payments of partial survival benefits during the term of the policy. The main feature of this policy is that if the insured person dies during the policy term, the death claim will be given to his nominee with sum assured without deducting any of the survival benefit amounts.

ULIP insurance plans: - ULIP plans are the combination of investment and insurance. This is a long term, systematic and goal based investment plan. One can get tax benefits under section 80c of the Income Tax Act. The two key features of this product are flexibility and transparency. Many ULIP plans provide options to increase or reduce premiums after three years.

Riders: - Riders are additional benefits that one can opt to include in one's policy over and above what the insurance policy provides. These add-ons come with extra premium charges that depend on the rider you have opted. One can not buy these riders separately.

To summarize, there are details of some insurance policies that may help you to select the right plan for you. Before purchasing any insurance policy, an individual should compare all the policies and choose the policy that meets his requirements.

This article provides the information about various insurance plans. As we know that "insurance is a contract between the insurer and the insured person". So each person wants to choose the correct insurance policy. Here, we are also providing some information about insurance policies. If you want to know more information about insurance, you can also visit:- http://www.insurancereview.in

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mona_Agarwal

Term Insurance - Why This is the Only Policy You Will Ever Need to Buy?

By Rajeev Ranbir Singh

Well lets start with a very basic question? Why do we take insurance policies ? Is it for insurance sake i.e cover the risk of loss of the asset insured, or is it for investment? Or is it for both? The answer to this could be all three.There are people who buy it just for insurance sake, while some buy it for investment purposes, while some others see it as both as an investment and insurance tool.

So which is the right way of approaching insurance? Friends, insurance polices are meant only for insurance sake and NOTHING else. Get this very clear. It is NOT an investment tool, at least not an effective one.

So first thing to do is to buy insurance only for insurance sake. And one must have insurance in his portfolio as it is the most important hedge against any eventuality that might rock your finances. Now, that its clear that we need an insurance plan which actually serves to meet the "insurance" promise, which policy should we go for ? Basically there are only 2 types of insurance plans ie. endowment and pure term plans. The plan to go for is TERM INSURANCE only.

Term Insurance is the basic insurance policy which seeks to provide life cover to the subject insured at a very nominal premium without offering any survival benefits.Some people might ask this: Now if it does not provide survival benefits , how is it better? Don't we end up loosing all the money we paid if we were to survive?Lets try and understand the reasons why term insurance is the only insurance plan you will ever need to buy.

1. Meets the need for life cover at the lowest possible premium - Term plans offer you life cover at much lower premiums as compared to endowment plans. For example,

LIC Anmol Jeevan Term Plan, the premium for a 30 year old male, SA of RS 20lakhs and for 20 years is Rs 7578 annually. While if the same person was to take endowment plan of Rs 20 lakhs the premium would be Rs 95910.Need I say more? Just see the difference.

2. Lower charges than Endowment Plans - The biggest disadvantage with endowment plan is its ridiculously high cost structure. Conversely, the biggest advantage of term plan is its low charges. Endowment plans might eat up to 50-60% of your premium as charges in first few years and subsequently too the charges are higher as compared to term plan. These charges are taken in the name of mortality charges, admin charges, fund management etc. The biggest reason for this is that they have to pay huge commission to the agent selling you endowment plans. You can avoid paying such high charges by buying term plan. Simple.

3. Lets you play "Buy Term and Invest Rest Strategy"- In the beginning of this post, I mentioned that its not wise to look at insurance plans as an investment tool and the reason for this is that there are better investment options available in the market which give far superior returns than any insurance plan will ever give.So for all those wanting to have insurance for self and also get some returns the option is to play"Buy Term and Invest Rest Strategy". For example, in the earlier example if a 30 year male wants 20lakhs worth cover , he could buy LIC term plan for RS 7578 and invest the difference (Rs 95910-7578) Rs88332 in any good equity diversified fund which will give at least 15-18% returns over 20 years if not more. No insurance plan can ever give you better returns than well diversified equity fund. Few of the good equity diversified mutual funds are Reliance Growth Fund, HSBC EQUITY , Sahara Growth etc.

So friends, my advice to you is that you MUST buy insurance for self and others and with insurance I off course mean Term Plan ONLY.

Stay Wise n Stay Wealthy... for more on this visit http://moneyforinvestment.blogspot.com

Please visit http://moneyforinvestment.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rajeev_Ranbir_Singh

Mortgage Insurance - Are You Really Covered?

By Kevin Schroeder

We have all been there...you have just bought your new home and are at your lenders desk signing the paper work when they ask "Would you like to purchase life insurance to cover your mortgage?" At first glance it looks like a great idea, we all want to ensure that our family is taken care of should something happen to us and its quick and easy to get. Just answer a couple easy questions and it's yours.

However, if you happened to watch an episode of CBC Market Watch titled "In Denial" you will know that this type of mortgage protection may not give you any coverage at all. In the Marketplace investigation, they interviewed two families who bought coverage and thought they were protected, only to have their claims denied when they became sick or died.

So why is it that Mortgage/Creditor Insurance may not provide coverage but typical Life coverage purchased through a licensed Advisor will? One big difference is that with most mortgage/creditor policies the your application is not reviewed and accepted until after you pass away. Whereas, most policies purchased through a licensed agent are approved or declined upon application. Therefore, unless you made a fraudulent statement about your health, coverage is guaranteed when you receive the policy.

There are a number of other differences between mortgage/creditor coverage and life insurance. Here are just four further examples:

1) Often the amount of coverage with creditor insurance decreases every year however the monthly payment stays the same. Whereas the amount of coverage with life insurance does not decrease.

2) Creditor policies terminate when the loan that it is attached to is paid off. In the case of a mortgage this could happen any time you re-finance or move. Life policies terminates when you want it to.

3) With a mortgage/creditor policy you have no say in what the insurance proceeds are used for. With a Life policy the beneficiary gets to decided what the proceeds would be best used for.

4) Coverage purchased through a licensed advisor is in a lot of cases is CHEAPER and provides better coverage then creditor policies.

Now here's the good news. In almost all cases if you have mortgage insurance you are able to cancel it at any time without penalty. To determine if your present coverage fits your needs and for a free no-obligation quote please contact me. Further, on a regular basis I see individuals that have proper coverage but are paying way too much. If you have not recently received competitive quotes on your policy please give me a call.

Kevin Schroeder is an Insurance and Investment Funds Advisor with Money Concepts (Chilliwack) IA Investia (Mutual Fund Dealer).

Kevin's objective is to provide Insurance and Investment Fund products in a manner clearly different and superior to what is currently available to consumers in the area.

He believes that each client is unique and therefore approaches investment and insurance planning according to your individual needs and comfort level. He prides himself around developing a solid long-term working relationship with his clients. He achieves this through scheduled face to face review meetings, excellent communication and service from his staff.

Kevin has studied many areas of Financial Planning, from cash flow management to estate planning. He has a special interest in wealth creation strategies, many of which have a tax reduction component. Most people pay far more tax than necessary. He also strongly believes that later in life preservation of capital is paramount, and manages assets according to these principles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Schroeder

How your tyres could reduce your van insurance premium

By Carys Robshaw

Having tyres which are in optimum condition means that your van is less likely to be involved in an accident, therefore lowering your premium. Tyres which are high quality and are well cared for and changed regularly, improve the vehicles performance and can decrease stopping times. For van drivers looking for a way to reduce their premium, fitting their vehicle with Kumho tyres could be the answer. Russian publication Za Rulem recently ran an independent test where 15 different brands of tyre were tested to the limit to see which one performed the best. The tyres were put under the spotlight to see which performed best in terms of safety, wear resistance, steering response, braking, noise level and fuel consumption. The tyre which came out on top was Kuhmo, with the magazine praising their performance in all different types of weather and their impact on fuel economy. It is the second year in a row that the tyre, used in high profile formula 3 racing at events such as the The F3 Euroseries, has scored top in the well respected independent tyre test run by Russian publication Za Rulem. The team at Za Rulem said of the tyres: "Kumho's SOLUS KH17 is strongly recommended and boasts excellent performance in all weather conditions as well as remarkable fuel efficiency. Kumho's second consecutive victory in our annual test proves last year's result was well deserved." Walter Mertes, managing director of the Formula 3 Euro Series Marketing GmbH, had only good things to say about the tyres and confirmed that they would be continuing their partnership with Kumho during the 2009 season. "The teams are very happy with the tyres' consistent performance level representing the basis for good motor racing," said Mr Mertes. Spokesman for Yes Insurance Roger Jenkins, confirmed that changing the tyres on your van could lead to lower premiums. "The results of such tests carry great weight in the marketplace and will do much to support Kumho's aim of becoming one of the world's top five tyre manufacturers by 2015," he said. It can be hard for van drivers to find cheap insurance, with the majority of vans used for work purposes and put under heavy stresses. With van drivers struggling to find cheap quotes, small improvements to the vehicle, such as fitting them with top of the range tyres, go towards lowering the price of van insurance.

About Author:
To save the most on your van insurance make sure your tyres are in optimum condition.

Cell Phone Insurance is Good Protection For an Everyday Device

By Matthew Hamilton

Does your shiny new smartphone have insurance? Did you even know that insurance was an option? I can't imagine walking around with one of these powerful expensive devices and not insuring it. You might not have even known this was possible, when you bought your phone the rep might have just forgot. If you don't have this important coverage I suggest you make a phone call to your provider and find out how to get it.

So...Is it worth it you ask? Ok, well how much did you pay for your smartphone? I would imagine you didn't pay all that much because you probably renewed your contract and got a pretty sweet discount. Well now you are stuck in that contract for 24 months or more so what happens if you need a new phone again because yours breaks? If you go into your carriers store what are they going to tell you, tough luck you are in contract.

Yes insurance is another cost on your bill, you are already paying for your minutes, texts, and that expensive smartphone plan, but isn't the peace of mind worth it? Insurance usually ranges from $5-$7 a month and then there is a deductible for getting your device replaced. When you think how much a brand new device is worth without renewing a contract, this deal is worth it to you. Most smartphone devices cost around $300-$600 retail and that's the price you'd be looking at paying for a replacement. Instead of paying that high price tag, you'll probably pay a deductible around $50 instead.

What do you get for your money? All insurance companies aren't created equal so you will want to check out the specific coverage that your carrier uses. For the most part, you will usually be covered on just about anything as long as it is considered accidental. Remember insurance is for accidents, you wouldn't expect your car insurance to replace your car because you felt like driving it into a wall, right? One of the best things that insurance usually covers is water/moisture damage. As you can see in the picture above, moisture is very detrimental to a smartphone, and for people like us who organize our lives on these things, a quick replacement is a necessity.

Take this information and go do your research! Treat your smartphone right and get it the protection it deserves.

Matt has years of experience with Cell Phones, PDAs, and Smartphones with these interests being both a hobby and a career. He works in the retail wireless industry and is the editor of a site devoted to smartphones.

Check him out at: http://www.smartphonethought.com

On Twitter http://www.twitter.com/smartphonematt

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Hamilton

How to Use the Internet to Get the Best Deal on Your Insurance

By Jason Hulott

The internet holds a vast amount of resources that you could use to your advantage when you are looking for insurance. It does not matter what type of insurance you are looking to purchase whether it is home, payment protection insurance, car or life insurance. There are many ways that you could use the internet to your advantage to make a great deal of savings on the policy and also to get the best deal around.

To begin with you can save a great deal of time of your part if you choose to go with one of the many insurance brokers to be found online. A broker will be able to search around online on your behalf to find you the best and cheapest premiums for all types of insurance. All you need to do is to give them a few details and they will search with some of the top UK insurance providers and deliver the quotes to you so you can go over them in your own time.

If you would rather search around yourself then the internet acts as a huge online market place where you have access to thousands of insurance companies. As there are so many insurance companies online they all compete against the other and this is where you make savings. An advantage of shopping around online is that online companies have no overheads and as such they can pass the savings onto you as cheaper premiums.

As insurance differs with providers it is essential to know what is and is not included in the policy. Again by using the internet to buy insurance you have all the information needed at hand. Insurance providers would offer the key facts of the insurance you are considering and this information contains all the vital information of the policy. With this information you are able to compare such as the limits that are imposed on payouts, for example when comparing you should compare like for like e.t.c. it is essential that you do check exclusions and the internet will allow you to this a lot easier than if you were shopping around on the high street for insurance.

You could make a simple search using one of the popular search engines to find out anything you do not understand regarding insurance. There are many factors that have to be taken into account and which would depend on the type of insurance you were considering. For example there are different types of car insurance you could consider taking out and the internet would present you with information explaining these.

The internet is a huge virtual market place where you can find thousands of insurance companies and brokers to choose from for the best deals.

• You may wish to choose a broker to shop around on your behalf for the cheapest deals with the lowest premiums. You can then take your time to go through the quotes and choose the perfect insurance for your needs. Or you can search online yourself.
• When comparing quotes for insurance premiums you would also need to check out the exclusions that come with a policy as they can vary between providers.
• When comparing a policy always ensure that you are comparing "like for like", this means for example you would be paying the same excess, the limits would be the same for payouts etc.

Jason Hulott is Editor of Rhino Money, the solid finance information site for UK residents, which covers topics including Insurance and Credit cards

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Hulott

Auto Insurance and what Matters to you

By Chris B

What matters to you when buying auto insurance? Is it the cost of coverage? Is it the customer service? How about the actual benefits that you will receive? No matter what, you need to know what is being offered and what you consider to be a priority. You could make a big mistake if you decide to shop for an auto insurance policy without knowing what you actually want.

Many consumers think about nothing more than cost. They want to get the best deal on the price of auto insurance, and they will do whatever they can to make this happen. There is nothing wrong with finding the best price. In fact, you definitely want to do this because it will make your budget much easier to deal with.

But don't put all of your eggs in one basket. You also need to know what coverage you are getting when you buy a specific auto insurance policy. For instance, the price may be good but the coverage you are offered may be bad. The deductible could be too big, the coverage to your car too low, etc. There are many different types of auto insurance policies. Which one do you feel most comfortable purchasing?

You need to make up your mind on what matters most when shopping for auto insurance. There are details to consider across the board, and you have to stay on top of all of them until you make a purchase. Don't feel rushed. There will always be something to buy when the time comes. It is better to make sure you get what you want the first time so you don't cause yourself more stress later on.

About the Author:

Learn why 2insure4less.com is the right place to shop for and save on auto insurance.

How to Know If Your Getting a Fair Shake by Your Insurance Company

I know most homeowners have never had to deal with the insurance world. Its tough. Home insurance claims can be really tough because most homeowners have no clue what to look for or how the insurance industry works. Here is a quick process to follow that may help:

1. How to make the Initial Claim. After the storm has hit, call your adjuster and have them come to look at your home. Just know that what the adjuster finds is simply a starting point for your claim...the journey is ahead.

2. What Insurance adjusters look at and what you should look for. Insurance adjusters have programs that take into account certain things that he finds visible. Typically, these prices are grossly under adjusted for the rate increases a storm brings and do not cover the entire scope of work. Let's face it, most of the damage in your home wont be visible. Your policy is not just a "exterior visible damage" policy. Don't let these guys bully you!

3. How to choose a contractor. Your insurance policy states that you have the right to choose your contractor. The three bid game is a bad idea. All you do when you do this is take the least qualified contractor who gets the work by underbidding the rest. And remember, your insurance company is only going to pay you for this price. Its better to just choose a contractor you are comfortable with and feel good that he is getting the job done. If your contractor doesn't have insurance experience, just realize that a lot of this burden will be on you! Choose a contractor who is going to back his warranty and who has the experience to help you! You and your contractor are going to be working together in this.

4. What is your best option? If you have the time to deal with the insurance company, the sub-contractors, and still work a full time job, then maybe being a general contractor is in your best interest. If you manage your job right, there may be a profit margin in there for you. Its a tough job to get the going rate on jobs when the homeowner is the G.C. Typically, since banks hold the 1st mortgage, they will hold the money longer if you are going to take on this task or in some cases, not let you do the work. I'd always suggest finding a good, experienced contractor who is specialized in this department. The money comes out of your pocket if you don't make sure the job is done right!

5. Dealing with the mortgage company. During Hurricane Ike, we have seen mortgage companies holding money that insurance companies have released. Whether this is because they are in dire straights with their own financial troubles or not has yet to be seen. It is imperative that you make your voice heard. Make sure that you are constantly calling and progressing their release of monies owed to you to get your house fixed. If not, this process could be dragged on for years.

6. Making it all work. Your best solution is to find a general contractor who does it all. If you have water or mold, this can be a little daunting. In areas along the gulf coast, especially in homes that saw flooding or had leaks, I would suggest ALWAYS having someone come out. Let's face it, you pay your insurance premiums for a reason. To be protected. Unlike car insurance, your home insurance will not go up with a claim. Its their to protect you and your family. Storms that happen late in the season like Hurricane Ike, had a long winter of cold weather to keep the mold growth from expanding. When the humid months come however, the mold is going to spread like a wildfire. No matter if you have accepted a check or not from your insurance company, call in an expert and get your home done right for you and your family's sake.

To see how to handle the claim and the info you will need for your contractor, go here: http://www.visionhomeworks.com/insurance_services.html Vision Home Works has been in the disaster business for over 12 years and their website is very informative on what you need to do to make sure you get you and your family back in your home.

Disaster Recovery Experts: http://www.visionhomeworks.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dale_Davis

Why You Should Get Best Claims to Your Insurance Company?

In any case, having an insurance is proposed to have the best thing when something unexpetedly happen. But sometime we are difficult to claim how much we can get even we get less as expected.
You will know how to get a fair claim for your goods or house.
At least there are five criteria to know better how to have a fair claim for your house claim. And an expert Dale Dalvis will explain this case.
Please read the complet article:

How to Know If Your Getting a Fair Shake by Your Insurance Company

And how about your car insurance?
The best thing to know when you want to buy a car insurance is you know especially what you want to be service by the insurance company. Until then you decide which company that match to this conditions. You also need to know what coverage you are getting when you buy a specific auto insurance policy. You need to make up your mind on what matters most when shopping for auto insurance.

Find the tip in the article:
Auto Insurance and what Matters to you by Chris B

Critical Illness and Terminal Illness Are Not of the Same - Know What Your Asking For

First off, just to clear up, critical illness cover is not life insurance, life insurance will not pay out upon the incidence of a critical illness. Also, Terminal illness, is usually included in the policy and is completely different from Critical illness also, i.e. Critical & Terminal Cover are definitely not the same.

Critical illness cover is a much more wide-ranging level of cover and statistics show that 1 in 5 men plus 1 in 6 women will usually endure a critical illness before the retirement stage of their lives.

Terminal illness cover cannot be sold as a single policy, but always in combination with another policy, usually than being life insurance or even within a critical illness policy. Individuals can claim under Terminal illness cover if they are diagnosed with an illness by which a GP confirms that you are expected to die within 12 months.

A simple example would be to consider that, if you had a heart attack or lost your sight in some way, you are still able to live for years, thus, your life expectancy couldn't essentially be predicted. So whilst you may have to give up your daily occupation, you could not claim under your life insurance and terminal illness policy. This is where critical illness cover comes to pass. As you are expected to live longer than 12 months, critical illness and life insurance will cover you for years on end. It pays out a great lump sum instantaneously after you are diagnosed with one of the long list of critical illnesses that are covered such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic illness and heart attacks et cetera.

Finding the best critical illness life cover;

The fee of critical illness can vary dramatically between the insurer and certain factors around the condition of the insured individual. So its vital to compare prices for cover and critical illness, but also, critical illness life cover can be very complicated at best, so adequate research, patience is required to enable a sound choice.

Conversley, having the Internet available enables you to do the most of the work at the leisure of your own home and brokers online have chosen businesses like ClickLife to provide a price and policy comparison service.

ClickLife will do the majority of the work for you by automatically contacting their panel of top UK insurers to ascertain the best possible quotes from which then they will phone you to present and compare the quotes.

Top Tips with reference to picking life insurance and critical illness;

1. You can join your life insurance policy with a critical illness policy for potentially no extra cost, thus meaning that you are actually getting the extra life cover at no extra charge.

2. Getting two separate policies' rather than a joint policy may work out slightly more costly, however, if a member (e.g. husband) gets a critical illness and the policy is joint, the policy automatically terminates leaving the other (wife) uninsured.

3. By increasing the cover of your critical illness and life insurance, you could also get your mortgage covered, which offers a whole new level of financial safety.

4. If you have received a critical illness life quote that has worked out to expensive, ask for a quote to be tailored to your budget.

There you have it, straightforward information clearing up some simple false impressions about insurance and critical illness insurance cover.

Peter Goligher invites you to read

cover critical illness insurance and visit sickness accident insurance

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Goligher

Life and Critical Illness Insurance Without Advice

By Martin Cavana

A number of the larger insurers have recently launched online life and critical illness sites whereby customers can complete a full application without taking advice. Bright Grey have been the most recent company to announce their site.

Roger Edwards, proposition director at Bright Grey, said: "We need to recognize that a certain segment of the population is using the internet to buy protection without professional advice. This group chooses the Internet-only approach to buy and would not look to buy in any other way. Until now there hasn't been a product that offers life or critical illness cover specifically tailored to this group of people, where they can complete the whole process online.

Roger is quite correct. There are people who just want to do the whole process online without actually speaking to anyone or taking advice but at what cost? The main reason the insurance companies have launched these sites is due to the popularity of price comparison sites. It is true to say that life assurance has always been a rate driven product. There is only one reason it will ever payout so the cheapest premium is usually the best product to go for. You could argue that customer service comes into the equation, which might mean that someone chooses a slightly higher premium based on an outstanding customer service record. However, most people applying over the internet would not know which provider had the best customer service or the quickest claims settlement history.

Critical illness, on the other hand, is not a rate driven product as far as professional advisers are concerned. The differences in cover between two providers can be vast even though they might both offer the same premium. Also, customer service and claims settlement history do come into the equation for an adviser when recommending a policy.

Critical illness cover has improved over the years and life assurance companies now payout more than ever thanks to an understanding of the product from advisers which is then passed on to policy holders. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published a standard definitions guide which clearly describes what is required to make a successful claim. Making critical illness a rate driven product with no advice could potentially damage the good work that has been done. There could be more cases of insurers not paying out due to non-disclosure at the point of application. This would only damage the reputation of the product and make future sales harder.

From an advisers point of view I would say that critical illness insurance is something that should be advised. If you are intending on paying premiums for insurance the least you should do is know what you are paying for regardless of what the premium is.

Martin Cavana writes for Life and Critical Illness Cover and is active in promoting Critical Illness Cover to as large an audience as possible. Statistics prove that Critical Illness Cover should be at the forefront of peoples insurance needs but lack of understanding stops this from happening. Our company offers free Critical Illness insurance advice and free quotations.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Cavana

How To Buy Life Insurance Safely?

Anybody need life insurance. Because the only a reason "Even Nobody Can Not Handle The Risky Situation Beyond'.
Nowdays there are so many offer for the insurance product.
How to be smart when you really need this insurance...
The company criteria


And for better smart decision follow the articles:
Life and Critical Illness Insurance Without Advice

How to Select the Best Systems and Sales Training!

By Lew Nason

You're new to financial sales. Or, maybe you've been selling financial products and services for five or more years. You're looking for the best systems and sales training programs to help you get started, or to take your sales to a six-figure income and well beyond. You search the Internet, look in industry publications, talk to your manager, talk to your associates and you ask successful agents... "What's the Best Sales System Out There?" "Who Do They Recommend?" You find there are well over one hundred systems and sales trainers available. So, you contact a few of these companies. And, after reading all of their materials and/or listening to them, you are totally confused and uncertain whom to choose? Because, each one of these companies tells you that they are the very best. So, how do you make an intelligent decision?

I empathize with you. I have a similar problem. How do I prove to you, and all of the other insurance agents, financial advisors and financial planners, that we have one of the best sales systems and training programs in the financial services industry? It's a difficult problem. Like many of my competitors, I could make outrageous claims that appeal to the insecurity, fears and greedy human nature of most sales people... "Guaranteed Overnight Success!" "One Thousand New Prospects In Six Weeks!" "Get High Quality Prospects To Call You And Beg For An Appointment!" "Work From Home In Your Underwear!" or "Make A Million Dollars In Six Months, Working Part Time!" But, I hope you are too intelligent to fall for any of those... 'In-Your-Face' advertisements! The vast majority of the people that use these 'In-Your-Face' advertisements tend to be hucksters and scam artists! They know that most financial professionals are like most other people, in that they all want and are looking for instant gratification and immediate success.

The truth is that none of us can guarantee 'absolutely' that you will succeed using our programs. There is no marketing, prospecting and sales program that will work for everyone, in every area of the country. There are just to many variables. We don't know you, your talents, your financial situation, your weaknesses, your strengths, your education, your experience or how hard you are willing to work! We don't know the people who live in your area of the country. We don't know their attitudes, likes, dislikes or demographics! And, we don't know who you are competing against, the amount of negative publicity in your immediate area, how competitive your products are or the overall demand for your products and services in your area?

So, how do you select the best system and sales training organization for your situation and area?

You have to do your homework!

Here are the major points I look for, before I invest my time and hard earned money in any of the systems and sales training programs available today...

1. Does the company list or give you their full contact information? Do they provide you with the name of the owner, key people, their address, telephone numbers and an email contact form? If they don't list all of this information, you must ask yourself why they don't! Shouldn't you be able to call them and actually talk to them to find out more about their program and support to see if it is right for you, your situation and area? If they don't provide their names, how can you verify their credentials? What does this tell you about them?

2. Have these people ever actually sold any products or services in the financial services industry? Is what they offer just information they've learned from a book or they've used in some other sales situation? Do they have any actual experience selling intangible financial products and services?

3. How successful were they in personal sales? Are they just telling you they were successful, or do they have actual documented evidence? In the financial services industry, every company that I know gives out plaques, trophies and other physical awards to the top 10-20% of their producers.

4. How long were they in sales as a personal producer? There are many people who were successful for a year or two, but are now out of personal sales because what did eventually backfired and stopped working. They made a good living for a year or two... but they were the typical pushy salesperson, didn't tell the whole truth, tricked people into buying, or were just selling to friends and family. They were forced to leave personal sales because they had a high lapse rate, were unable to get referrals and find new prospects, etc. Are these the people that you want to help you, with your career?

5. Do these people have any actual experience training new and/or experienced sales people? And, how long? Just because a system worked for them doesn't mean they know how to train others on how to be successful using it! Or, that the system they used is transferable to others?

6. Do they work full time training agents and supporting their systems? Or, are they still working full time in personal sales? If so, how much time will they be able to spend helping you? How hard will it be to contact them?

7. Do they have testimonials from satisfied customers? Unfortunately, it's easy for people to fake written testimonials. Video testimonials are harder to fake. Do they have satisfied customers that you can call?

8. Do they have endorsements from financial industry leaders and associations? In general, these endorsements are not easily obtained; because successful people and associations are not willing risk their reputation by endorsing something that doesn't work! And, these endorsements are not easily faked, because it is very easy to verify if the endorsements are real! How many endorsements do they have? Do they just have one or two endorsements from their friends?

9. Do they offer a detailed list of what's in their courses and systems? Is it primarily just a sales system, or just a marketing system? For any system and training to really help you, it must provide detailed information about marketing, prospecting, appointment setting and sales? It can be the best sales idea in the world, but if it doesn't help you to consistently be in front of the "Right" prospects, then it's almost worthless!

10. Are they upfront with the actual cost of the training and materials? Why aren't they willing to disclose the cost of their materials and training up front? Are they trying to force you into contacting one of their sales people? Are they just interested in getting all of your contact information, so they can continually send you things to buy?

11. Do they offer personalized training and coaching? Or, is it all group training sessions? Will you get help tailored to your personal situation?

12. Do they offer a... No Questions Asked, Money Back Guarantee? Fortunately, most of the lesser programs cannot afford to offer a 'Money Back Guarantee!' Or, they require you go through a time consuming process to qualify for a partial refund. This makes it a little easier to determine if they are a successful and reputable company.

13. Are they members (in good standing) of one or more consumer protection agencies, such the 'Better Business Bureau'? Most of the companies, with lesser programs, are not members of any consumer protection companies, because they get too many complaints. It's easy to check with consumer protection agencies to verify that they are members in good standing.

14. What's their overall reputation? With today's Internet it's very easy to check out any company or individual! If they can't be found on the Internet what does that tell you about their credibility, along with their marketing and sales ability?

15. Are they just recruiters in disguise? Unfortunately, the vast majority of recruiters will do or say whatever they believe will get you to sign up with them. They'll offer you... 'Free Leads', 'Free Systems' and 'Free Training' just to get you to contract with them. Before you contract with them, ask to talk to their five newest agents. (Agents contracted within the last 6 months) If they can't or won't do that, then what does that tell you about them?

If you want to find the best systems and sales training for your particular situation, then you must take the time to do your homework. Do not fall prey to the 'In-Your-Face advertising. By using all the 15 points outlined above you will give yourself a much better opportunity of 'Selecting The Best Systems and Sales Training' for your situation.

However, don't stop there! Always ask to speak to one of the key people in their organization! Ask them to help you to determine if their system and training is right for you! Ask to contact people who are using their systems and training.

Yours in success,
Lew Nason, RFC, FMM, LUTC Graduate
The 9 Out Of 10 Guy...
Consultant, Coach... Mentor

Claim your free Report "How to Attract & Sell Your Perfect Prospects" at http://www.FastInsuranceSales.com
Where you'll learn how to make 6-figures a year in insurance

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How to Select an Insurance Company

By Lorna Greenwood

Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware! Unfortunately, it's difficult area to be well informed in insurance for many consumers because of the number of insurance companies, kinds of coverage and similarity of names. Add to that the global aspect of the modern business climate, and the struggle can be even greater.

If you're looking for coverage for your home or car, chances are you're familiar with the companies you contact for quotes. Many insurance companies advertise in trusted areas and have long-standing reputations. You know them. When a consumer steps out in a new arena, it pays to be even more informed.

For example, one of the fastest growing industries is Medical Tourism, in which patients travel for health care.

Typically the patient travels overseas for cost savings, often to gleaming facilities with skilled surgeons and other healthcare providers. The cost savings can begin from the ground up, with state of the art facilities being constructed for 1/5 the cost for the same building in the US. Complications can arise from surgery performed anywhere. When patients travel for healthcare savings, they want to know that if a complication arises, they won't see their savings erode. Specialty insurance can cover trip cancellation, travel accident, complications of surgery and more to alleviate that concern.

Because they are specialty policies, they can vary widely. It's important for consumers to compare coverage to ensure they're getting coverage that truly meets their needs. A side by side comparison is important in this regard. Ask about exclusions, coverage periods, deductibles, taxes and fees, etc.

Further, new trends and industries create opportunities for unscrupulous offers from fictitious insurance companies. Because they can appear to be very official, and perhaps claim to be organized outside the US, consumers may feel that they fictitious company is real and legitimate. These bad apples don't spoil the whole bunch, but they can certainly leave a bad taste when they're chosen by mistake!

Insurance companies cannot be set up overnight in any country, and are either listed or reviewed by companies who rate insurers, such as Standard & Poor's or A.M. Best. Even foreign companies are rated, or at least listed (if they have not been in business long enough or otherwise don't meet the criteria to be rated.)

I recently came across a policy that was offered to medical tourists as a patient's version of Malpractice insurance. It is conceivable, but very unusual for a patient to be able to purchase malpractice insurance on a doctor (and I would add that a patient who experiences a complication of surgery would want coverage whether it was the result of malpractice or not.) It included a claim deposit that the patient had to pay if he needed to make a claim. Such requirements are highly unusual, and should prompt the consumer to investigate the validity of the company and the policy.

Consumers should always check insurance companies out, either through their trusted agent or by asking A.M. Best (www.ambest.com) or other rating companies directly. Also check with the Better Business Bureau and your state department of insurance for complaints. Consumers should also ask the insurance company who handles their product, so they know they're dealing with the right and authorized agent. An insurance company can be a victim of an unscrupulous person as well as can a consumer, when someone pretends to represent the insurance company. And unfortunately, if money is paid to a fictitious company, it can be very difficult to recover - if it can be recovered.

If in doubt, call on your trusted insurance agent to help you navigate the waters. Get quotes from several companies, check out the companies and agents, compare coverage forms, and move forward knowing that while no insurance policy is everything to everyone, you've made an informed choice for the best option for your needs.

Lorna Greenwood, WCS, CRM, CIC, CISR, ACSR is Program Manager at US Risk Underwriters, Inc. in Dallas, Texas with over fifteen years of experience in the insurance industry, plus ten years experience in real estate investment portfolio management. Visit http://usrisk.com/medtour.htm and http://www.usrisk.com/uw_vocal.htm for more information on her programs. Lorna underwrites MedTour Pro - coverage for Medical Tourism Facilitators, Employers who offer Medical Tourism Benefits to employees; and MedTour - coverage for the medical tourist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lorna_Greenwood