Archive for June, 2009

Jun 30th 2009 9 Ways To Reduce Your Auto Insurance Premium

1. To get the cheapest car insurance available, you’ll need to shop around.
Get a quote from every reputable insurance company in your area.
Although a company may offer a low rate, make sure they are customer driven and
experienced. The last thing you want is to be working with a ruthless insurance
company in your time of need.

2. Raise your deductible. Many deductibles are in the $300-$500 range. If
you raise it slightly you’ll see a reduction in your auto insurance rate. Even when
people are slightly above their deductibles they pay out of their own pocket to
reduce their premium. A higher premium ($750-$1000) can save serious money
over the years.

3. Try to insure everything (house, second car, RV, boat) with one company. With
everything insured with one company, it’ll be cheaper overall and easier to manage.
Also, have all of the drivers insured with the same company. You may get a loyalty
discount.

4. Have you taken any driver’s education courses in the last few years? This mostly
applies to new drivers. If so, you likely qualify for a discount. Insurance companies
want to know that you know the basics, and have studied the rules of the road. If
you’re older, you may want to take a refresher course in defensive driving or
perhaps a skid control school. These are fun and educational.

5. Many insurance companies also offer a discount for students who maintain good
grades in school. That’s right. Some insurance companies offer discount of between
5%-10% for students who maintain a higher average.

6. If your car has airbags, ABS, or an anti-theft alarm you may qualify for a discount.
It’s simple. Airbags help keep you safe while in an accident. ABS helps you to avoid
an accident and an anti-theft system prevents your vehicle from being stolen. All of
these are good for the insurance company so they’ll often lower your rate.

7. Drive responsibly. Insurance companies will lower the rate as you prove you’re a good driver. Every year without an incident your premium should go down. Once
you hit 25 your rate should get reduced by about 1/2. But if you’ve had a number of
speeding tickets and accidents, get prepared for significantly higher rates.

8. Reduce coverage on older vehicles. There is no point in fully insuring a car that is
not worth very much. If the car is only worth $3000.00, any significant damage will
cause the insurance company to write off the vehicle. And you’ll only get what the
vehicle was worth wholesale. So you may get $1500.00 from insurance but your
rates will increase on your next vehicle.

9. Try to purchase a “low profile” vehicle that isn’t a target for thieves. The more
likely your vehicle is to get stolen the more it will cost to insure. There are some
great cars and trucks out there. If you really want lower rates stick with something
conservative.

For more information on auto insurance all-about-car-
selection.com/discount-auto-insurance.html” target=”_blank click here.

Peter Johnson is the chief writer for all-about-car-selection.com all-about-car-selection.com.

No Comments » Posted by Matt Cubb / Uncategorized

Jun 30th 2009 Types Of Health Insurance

Health insurance is an important part of your financial planning. A minor illness or injury can set you back a bit, but a major illness or injury can devastate you financially now and into the future. Carrying adequate health insurance gives you peace of mind. There are a variety of different types of health insurance plans you can buy. Each plan offers a different style of coverage. Each plan has a basic premium but there may be other costs depending on your family’s health and your medical history.

Two health plans that you hear a lot about are managed care and indemnity plans. They are significantly different in their basic approach to health care but broadly speaking the major difference involves choices. Managed care plans have pre-existing service contracts that they have entered into with specific hospitals, health care providers, and doctors. A managed care plan will mean less paper work for you and much lower out of pocket expenses. There are 3 types of managed care programs available.

The PPO or preferred provider organization combines managed and indemnity to come up with its own flavor. You can choose from professionals in the PPO network or outside the network. If you choose outside the network you simply pay the bill and then submit for reimbursement. If you choose a PPO doctor you will pay a nominal flat fee for service. HMO or health maintenance organization requires you to pay when you see an HMO doctor but there is no plan deductible. HMO will give you a list of doctors to help you choose a primary doctor. On the other hand the indemnity plans will offer you a wider choice of health care professionals to choose from because these plans have no predefined contracts. You can expect to outlay higher amounts. Generally you pay the bill and then submit it. Deductibles start at $200 and go up and most plans cover 80% although there are variations. Over the years these two types of plans have actually begun to blur. In fact some indemnity plans are beginning to look more like managed care plans.

Group insurance can be offered by employers. Check with your company. Group policies cover a group of people regardless of physical condition, age, or any other issue. Premiums are based on a group rate rather than individual assessments, which makes it a lot cheaper. Individual insurance is carried by anyone who does not have access to group insurance. Upon receiving your application you and your family members who will be covered by the policy will be evaluated and your risk assessed. This will determine your premiums and any restrictions your policy might have. Besides your basic medical coverage for visits to the doctor or hospital, you can also buy additional coverage.

Vision care is one of those coverage’s that is worth considering especially if you have younger children in your home. Plan coverage varies but usually covers your eye exam, glaucoma screening, and glasses or contacts up to a set amount. You can also purchase dental insurance which provides you with coverage for dental related services such as diagnostics, checkups, restoration, and repair of your teeth. The type of health insurance you decide to purchase will depend on your personal needs and the needs of your family. By doing your research and understanding the different types of insurance available you will be better equipped to buy the right health insurance.

Your Online Insurance Guide

No Comments » Posted by Matt Cubb / Uncategorized

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