Medical insurance terminology can be complex and confusing. By getting a handle on the basic terms, you give yourself a huge advantage when wading through the details of your plan.

Like any other specialized industry, the medical insurance industry is full of specific terms and jargon. Medical insurance policies can be complex, and fully understanding what kinds of benefits you get from your policy can be a bit of a challenge. Further complicating the matter is the fact that each company that offers medical insurance does things a little bit different.

Still, there are things you can do as a consumer to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. To make full use of your medical insurance policy, there are some specific terms you need to familiarize yourself with.

Getting a handle on these few relatively basic terms can give you an advantage when wading through the waters of your insurance policy:

Cap. Most policies have a maximum dollar amount that the company will pay. This limit may be on certain kinds of medical issues, or it might be a limit on how much the company will pay out in a given year.

Claim. Amedical insurance claim is, more or less, a statement from your health care provider to the insurance company asking for payment. This may also be called a “claim form.” The form may be a physical, paper form sent to the insurance company, or it may be an electronic form. In some cases, you’ll have to file the claim on your own, but in other cases the health care provider may work directly with the insurance company to file your claim.

Co-pay. Most medical insurance policies will require you to make a co-pay. A co-pay is a set amount of money that you pay out of your own pocket for certain medical services. The co-pay can vary from one service to another. It may range from a few dollars for a basic office visit to a larger sum for more complex services.

Deductible. Many medical insurance plans don’t kick in right away. There is a set amount that you need to pay out of pocket toward your expense before the insurance company begins to cover you. This is known as a “deductible” and may apply to a specific procedure or to a calendar year.

Exclusion. Some conditions are not covered by medical insurance. These conditions are known as “exclusions” and your policy will often state directly what these are.

Network. Some medical insurance plans rely on a network of health care providers that are willing to perform services for specific reduced fees. The health care providers that participate in this arrangement are often referred to as being “in-network” while health care providers who don’t participate are “out-of-network.” Your co-pay for out-of-network services will usually be higher than if you were to get the service in-network.

Premium. As with other types of insurance, the premium is the amount you pay for your medical insurance. Your premium may be billed monthly, or it may take the form of a yearly amount.

Source by Seo Majesty

Drinking and driving is obviously a mistake for many reasons. One of the effects of a ‘driving under the influence’ conviction that many people fail to realize – is just how severely your car insurance rates can be affected. If you’re covered by a policy at the time you’re convicted of a DUI, your rates may increase dramatically or your policy may be canceled. If you don’t have car insurance at the time of a DUI conviction, you may find it very difficult securing future coverage.

Below, you’ll learn more about how drunk driving can affect your car insurance policy and your rates. We’ll also describe the purpose of an SR-22 form, which may be a requirement if you are convicted of a DUI offense and wish to legally drive again. Also, we’ll offer a few tips that you can use to get car insurance in the event that you’re caught driving under the influence.

The Purpose Of An SR-22 After a DUI Offense

Driving under the influence carries significant consequences. If you’re caught and convicted of a DUI, you’ll likely be required to file an SR-22. In its simplest form, an SR-22 is a legal statement (document) that validates that you have adequate car insurance coverage. An offender’s suspended driver’s license is usually returned when this statement is filed.

Most states (there are a few exceptions) legally require drivers who have received a DUI conviction to file an SR-22 with their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Some car insurance carriers offer special SR-22 coverage for “high risk” drivers, charging much higher premiums. Other insurers won’t offer such coverage and will simply cancel a “high risk” driver’s policy.

An SR-22 form can be obtained from your auto insurance company (once they have decided to insure you) when purchasing your car insurance.

A DUI Can Remain Under The Radar – For a While

Occasionally there’s somewhat of a disconnect between the local court system and the local department of motor vehicles. DUI convictions are supposed to be delivered to the DMV that is located in the jurisdiction of the court. Sometimes, this fails to happen. When a DUI offense isn’t reported to a driver’s local DMV, that driver’s DUI offense may remain hidden, and that driver may be able to effectively avoid filing an SR-22, because their alcohol-related offense is not immediately discovered by their car insurance company. Though this does happen on occasion, insurance providers can eventually learn of a policyholder’s DUI – even years later, and act accordingly.

If You’ve Been Convicted, Don’t Wait To Shop Around For An SR-22 Insurance Policy

A common mistake among those who have been convicted of driving under the influence is waiting until their car insurance policy has been canceled before finding an alternative. If your current provider is canceling your policy, it’s likely because they know about your DUI from your driving record at the DMV. In that case, anticipate other providers discovering your DUI, too.

It’s much more difficult to find a carrier that is willing to offer an SR-22 insurance policy when you’re not already covered. Shop early while you still have coverage from your current carrier. If you find that the larger, established insurance carriers are unwilling to insure you, you may want to check with the independent agents in your area.

Picking Up The Pieces And Planning Ahead After a DUI

Driving under the influence can have a dramatic impact on your car insurance for several years. It can substantially increase your rates or cause your current provider to cancel your policy. In short, a DUI severely limits your options. But, if a DUI conviction is in your past, don’t let it dissuade you from shopping for car insurance. Assuming the DMV has recorded your DUI in their records, you’ll need to pay higher premiums for your policy, but, the alternative – driving without coverage – can lead to hefty penalties, financial loss and even jail time.

Remember, while a DUI conviction can stay on your record for a decade, car insurance companies will typically only use it for premium scoring for 3 years (sometimes less).

Obviously it’s in everyone’s best interest to just say no to drinking and driving. However, if you’re learning this lesson a bit late, it’s best to know your options, plan ahead and work diligently toward putting the experience behind you.

Source by Kade Phillips

You do not want to wait until you are sick or injured to find out what your health insurance policy will not cover. Read the policy carefully. “Exclusions” (also called “Impairment Riders”) are certain injuries, conditions, or procedures for which an insurance policy will not pay any benefits. Possible exclusions include: pre-existing conditions; suicide or other self-caused injury; sexually-transmitted disease; vision correction; noncommercial airline travel; experimental treatments (ask how they are defined); and injuries from war. “Cosmetic Surgery” that is needed because of an injury or congenital defect is usually covered, but covered elective cosmetic surgery generally is excluded.
One of the most common exclusions is for pre-existing conditions. A “Pre-Existing Condition” is a medical condition or injury that was diagnosed or treated prior to the start of the health insurance policy. A policy with an exclusion for pre-existing conditions does not pay for expenses related to pre-existing conditions. Generally, this exclusion lasts for a limited “Waiting Period” after you start your policy.

Pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing condition. Also, health care costs for newborns and adopted children covered within 30 days should not be excluded during a waiting period. Further, employers in interstate commerce with 15 or more employees must provide the same benefits for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions as for any sickness or injury. For plans offered by other size employers, you should check whether normal pregnancy and childbirth are covered — not just complications.

Waiting periods for pre-existing conditions are intended to discourage people from only signing up for health insurance when they know they will need something expensive in the near future. Unfortunately, waiting periods can also leave people without coverage for chronic conditions when they switch employers. To address this, the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996” (HIPAA) helps people avoid duplicative waiting periods for pre-existing conditions when they switch form one insured employer to another.

HIPAA says that employees can switch employers without losing group health insurance or having a new waiting period for pre-existing conditions. Insurers cannot exclude pre-existing conditions with a waiting period longer than 12 months. Also, prior continuous coverage (without a gap of more than 62 days) must be credited toward this 12 months. For example, if you had continuous coverage for 5 months before switching employers, then your new health plan cannot impose on you a waiting period for pre-existing conditions longer than 12-5=7 months. If you had coverage for 12 months before switching employers, then your new health plan cannot impose any waiting period on you. If you are switching employers, then get a “Certificate of Credible Coverage” from your prior health plan to ensure credit for past coverage.

HIPPA also mandates the following. Insurers who serve employer groups with 2-50 employees must offer insurance coverage to all such groups. Insurers must cover inpatient coverage for mother and infant for at least 48 hours after a normal birth or 96 hours after a cesarean section. The tax deductibility of health insurance premiums for the self-employed was increased. Long term care insurance premiums are now tax exempt like those of regular health insurance. HIPAA also created a federal pilot program for Medical Savings Accounts that we will discuss later.

A “Rider” is a separate page attached to a standard policy that documents: coverage for a condition that generally would not be covered by a standard policy; or exclusion of a specific condition that generally would be covered by a standard policy. An “Endorsement” is similar to a rider, but is included in the body of the policy.

Source by Dennis Alexander

JANUARY 29, 2010

This Week in Health Care Reform

Following the election of Republican Scott Brown to the Massachusetts State Senate last week and the resulting loss of Senate Democrats’ supermajority, lawmakers continue to pave the way for health care reform – with limited progress. In addition, polls indicate that the public would rather lawmakers focus more on the economy than on health care.

State of the Union Address

President Obama Gives State of the Union Address: On Wednesday evening, President Barack Obama delivered his first State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. Having hoped to have a health care reform bill on his desk prior to his address, the President instead used his speech to encourage Congress to push forward on health care reform. Yet, he did not give specific guidance as to how to proceed with the legislation. Instead, he made it clear that his primary focus would be on jobs and the economy.

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Health Care Reform Negotiations

Democrats Still Seek Way Forward: While vowing not to give up, Democratic Senate leaders indicated Tuesday that they no longer felt pressure to move quickly on health care reform; and, in the wake of the Massachusetts election and in reaction to public opinion, they shifted focus to jobs and the economy. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) commented that there is “no rush” on health care and said that he and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) were working to map out a way to complete health care reform in the coming months. On Wednesday, Sen. Pelosi floated a two-pronged strategy to pass incremental changes now and pursue comprehensive reform later.

Some lawmakers have considered breaking up the legislation into smaller pieces that have bipartisan support. However, this option will prove challenging given the complexities and interdependencies of the measures. For example, lawmakers would like to include a measure that requires all insurance companies to insure those with pre-existing conditions; however, premiums will most likely increase unless there is an individual mandate.

Earlier this week, Democrats appeared to be coalescing around a different strategy through which Senate lawmakers would make changes to their bill to appease members of the House. The Senate would then pass the revised bill via reconciliation, which only requires 51 votes. Following that, the House would approve the revised bill, giving it to President Obama for his review. However, movement on this strategy stalled Tuesday when two centrist Senators, Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AK), indicated that they would oppose using reconciliation to bypass Republican support. Others, including Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), have suggested a “time out” on health care reform until there is a clear path forward.

In the GOP response to President Obama’s State of the Union address, Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell said that Republicans share the Democrats’ desire for health care reform, but do not agree with their proposed solutions. Republicans suggest that Democrats scrap the current proposals and start over with more Republican input on issues such as medical malpractice reform and selling insurance policies across state lines.

Republicans Call for Transparency: On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up a resolution presented by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) which requested that the administration divulge documentation regarding the health care reform deals made with trade associations and a labor union. Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) said that while details remained to be worked out, he would support a narrowed version of the Republican request for White House records.

President Obama to Speak with House Republicans: President Obama will meet with House Republicans on Friday in response to an invitation to speak at their annual retreat in Baltimore that begins Thursday and ends Saturday. The meeting comes just after the President’s State of the Union address, and members of the news media speculate that the meeting may spur more bipartisanship or potentially lead to even more tension between the two parties.

Interest Groups Call for Reform: With health care reform’s fate in jeopardy, interest groups have voiced their support, encouraging Democrats to push forward with legislation. The AARP, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Consumers Union, Families USA and Service employees International Union sent a joint letter last Thursday urging Congress not to abandon comprehensive health care reform. Further, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also sent a letter to Congress urging a push for reform.

Public Opinion

Polls Show Concern with Health Care Reform; More Focus on Jobs and Economy: Several polls were released this week that highlight the public’s disenchantment with health care reform and anxiety around the struggling economy.

A new CNN/Opinion Research poll released Tuesday shows that only three in ten Americans say they want Congress to pass legislation similar to the bills currently being discussed in Congress. Forty-eight percent of Americans would like lawmakers to start again on a new bill, and 21 percent believe Congress should not work on bills that would change the current health care system. Further, a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll released Wednesday found that 51 percent of Americans believe President Obama has paid “too little attention” to the economy and that 44 percent feel he has paid “too much attention” to his proposed health care overall.

In addition, a new USA Today/Gallup poll released late last week finds that most Americans call for a more bipartisan effort in health reform. A 55 percent majority of Americans say that President Obama and Congressional Democrats should suspend movement on health care reform and consider alternatives that would increase Republican support.

A poll released last weekend by the Washington Post , Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University’s School of Public Health indicated that dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, including the Democrats’ health care reform proposals, drove the outcome of the Massachusetts election. The post-election survey of Massachusetts state voters showed that overall 43 percent say they support the health care reform proposals advanced by President Obama and Congressional Democrats, while 48 percent oppose them.

A new poll released Monday from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that fears regarding the health care reform package increased significantly in December as members of the Senate finalized their bill. Thirty-three percent of respondents said they believed their access to care would worsen if the legislation passed, up from 25 percent in November. Forty-two percent said the country’s finances would suffer under reform, compared with 34.6 percent in November.

Looking Ahead

Next week, the President will present his Budget to Congress (which includes health programs), after which Congressional hearings will commence. We expect health reform to be discussed in these sessions. While there remains no clear path forward for health care reform, Congressional leaders will continue to work to find a solution.

Source by Health Insurance

The collectibles markets are full of passionate people. These arent people who have ‘pack rat fever and save items just to have them, but people who decide to enter a specific collectibles market because it is a rewarding and fun experience for them. And it seems people will collect just about anything including: teddy bears, coins, stamps, advertising memorabilia, books, comic books, sports memorabilia, vinyl records……why the list seems endless. But they all have one thing in common, a passion for their hobby and their specific collectible. But what if something unforeseen happens, a fire or some other catastrophe? A unique insurance agency called Collectibles Insurance Services; LLC is here to offer peace of mind and, most importantly, insurance for their collectibles. I spoke with Dan Walker and Debbie Spilman of Collectibles Insurance Services, LLC, about collecting and why it is important to have insurance on your treasured collectibles. “Some may think that theyre homeowners insurance policy covers their collectibles, but in most cases your homeowners policy is designed to cover personal property and is not nearly enough to protect your treasured collectibles,” said Dan. “They may limit the collection to a percentage of the total value of your home, limit the amount that they will pay for theft of valuable items like silver, crystal, guns, stamps and paper documents or be based on actual cash value rather than the collectible or replacement value.” Collectibles Insurance Services (www.collectinsure.com) differs from the average homeowners insurance policy, in that, insuring collectibles is all they do. The service can insure a collection of stamps, advertising memorabilia, sports cards, vinyl records, antique tools, vintage clothing, trains, toys, weapons (guns, knives swords), entertainment memorabilia and much more (see the website for a complete list and exclusions of what they insure). “Normal homeowners policies dont generally deal with collectibles, we write policies specifically for a persons collectibles, whether it is a rare book collection, stamps, coins, sports cards, vinyl records and the many other collectibles that we deal with every day,” explained Dan. Valuation of a collection is subjective and estimating what a certain collection is worth depends on many variables and researching different avenues. “We strongly encourage prospects from overvaluing their collections. We cannot insure ‘emotional worth, but can insure a varying array of collectibles. We ask that people have a paper trail, save receipts for what they may have paid for items; documentation is very helpful, take video of the collection or pictures. Validation is an important element. Dont over insure and if necessary get a second opinion,” detailed Debbie. How does one go about ascertaining the value of a collection or their collectibles? “Price guides are great, but they are just one of the tools used when trying to gauge a value of a collection,” explained Dan. “Replacement value would be what a knowledgeable buyer would pay a knowledgeable seller for the items, it is an agreed upon price between two knowledgeable individuals in a sales transaction. You must price your collectibles realistically for insurance purposes.” “The valuation process could also be aided by a professional appraisal (although that is not always necessary), professional consensus, price guide values, what the collectibles may be selling for on the market at the specific time, our own resources and expertise and because no two collections are the same, all these factors are available in helping people determine what the value is. We also have a number of resources on file and references listed on the website including valuation aides, inventory aides and dealers to help people along so they can put a figure on the collections worth in which to write a policy,” said Dan. What kind of resources that are used in the valuation process depends on the items in the collection, as Debbie explains: “We provide reference to many entities in the process including obtaining information from the Kovels.com, American Stamp Dealers Association, Price Miner, Antique Trader, Beckett.com, CBGXtra.com (for comic book collections), collect.com, Goldmine publications, Military Trader, trains.com and a number of other resources, depending on the genre of the collectible.” I inquired about insurance when you are moving the items, from whether down the street or across the country; doesnt the moving company provide insurance for that? “Submitting a claim to them is much more difficult to do, as the moving companies would require much more documentation to validate a claim if there were breakage or something else were to happen,” explained Debbie. “Again, validating just how much the collectibles are worth is a key element in settling a claim.” A myth with regard to collectibles insurance is that every item in the collection must be itemized and professionally appraised. “No appraisals are necessary. You estimate the value of your collection and determine the amount of insurance, we need a ballpark figure,” detailed Dan. “Although an inventory is not always required at the time of application to purchase insurance, Collectibles Insurance Services strongly recommends its customers maintain an inventory to streamline, provide proof, and expedite claims in the event of a loss.” Another myth regarding insuring collectibles is that the cost would be more than people could reasonably afford. “A collectibles policy is typically less costly than scheduling items on your homeowners insurance,” said Dan. “The price of insurance should not deter a person from insuring their collections, the items are priceless to the hobbyist or collector and you will find our rates are not overbearing and are cost-efficient. We cover everything from autographs to Zippos or something in between. And Collectibles Insurance Services carriers are A rated and above.” It is reassuring to know that purchasing insurance for your collection is not as difficult as one might think it to be. The process is not such a daunting task as it seems and it is also reassuring to know that there are professionals specifically trained in this field and a company that specializes in just this type of insurance.

Source by inayat

Purchasing Travel Insurance – Your Options

There are three main options you have when purchasing your travel insurance.

1.You can buy direct from the insurer.
2.Buy through your local travel agent.
3.Buy from a travel insurance reseller usually online.

Buying directly from the insurer or through your local travel agent you will generally find that the travel insurance you buy is not discounted. You have to go directly to their office, discuss your travel needs then fill in application forms for your insurance. It can be a time consuming affair.
Buying through a reseller generally means you will save money and time. Most resellers have web sites where you can fill in your information online to find the travel insurance policy that you require. You can then complete an application form and receive your policy by mail. The resellers are offered a discount on the insurance by the insurance companies, so they can pass on some of this discount to you.

The following outlines what a reseller of travel insurance is and what it means for you.

What is a Travel Insurance Reseller?
A travel insurance reseller is a middle person between the customer and insurance company or companies.

What do they do?
A travel insurance reseller sells travel insurance for one or more insurance companies, usually at a discounted price. Because a reseller receives discounts from the travel insurance companies they can offer you cheaper travel insurance than buying direct from the insurance companies.

What are their responsibilities?
The responsibilities of a Travel Insurance reseller are:
• Help you find a travel insurance product that you need.
• Interact with the insurance company to complete your application.
• Interact with the insurance company to process any Pre-Exisiting medical and senior traveller issues. This interaction often involves a fee.
• If you need to cancel the insurance before you travel then the reseller will interact with the insurance company to cancel the policy. You may be charged for this service.
• Once your policy has taken effect the contract is complete and any interactions in regard to claims must be dealt with between you and the insurer. The travel insurance reseller is able to help you to get in touch with the insurer.

How do they profit?
Travel insurance resellers profit by passing on part of the discount that they receive from an insurance company to you. For example, a reseller may receive a 45% discount on the Travel insurance products that they sell, and they may pass on a saving of 15% to you.
So you walk away happy because you have saved 15% on your Travel Insurance product and they are happy because they have made a 30% margin on this product.

How do I know if a Travel Insurance Reseller is reputable?
In Australia all travel insurance resellers must be approved and will have been issued with a Financial Services Reform Act (FSRA) Number. Look for this number on their web site, their business cards or the Product Disclosure Statement.

Where can I find a Australian Travel Insurance Reseller?
The following are just a few of the Travel Insurance brokers in Australia:
http://www.australiatravelinsurance.com.au
http://www.travellerinsurance.com.au

Australia Travel Insurance wishes you a wonderful and safe journey.

Source by Dtm

For many Motor Traders Insurance is something they would rather not have to purchase.

Most people dont want Insurance. Most people dont like Insurance.

The truth is though for most Motor Traders Business Insurance is required as it provides them with protection and peace of mind.

With literally thousands of insurance companies, brokers and providers you are faced with a massive choice. So faced with decisions at every turn finding the right Insurance cover is sometimes difficult.

This article will therefore give you some free advice that insurance providers rarely share with their customers. These few steps should help you in your quest to find the cover that is best for you at the right premium and with the best service.

Secret Number 1
The first secret to making sure you get the right cover at the right premium is perhaps the one that most people will find hardest to believe but it really works.

Are you sitting comfortably? Here it is:

When you find yourself ringing around for quotes (and for anyone looking for Motor Trade Insurance I would recommend buying face to face or on the phone rather than online) the chances are you will be asked Whats your current premium? or Whats the best price youve had?

The single biggest mistake people make when asked this question is to not tell the person asking the question. Thats right, when you are asked the best price youve had TELL THEM.

Most people assume that by telling an insurance provider your premium you are at a disadvantage. The truth is the opposite is true. Let me explain:

If you tell a good insurance provider your premium they should pretty much know straight away whether the premium is too high, too low or about right. Armed with this information they could give you an immediate indication if they can get a lower premium. If they know they cant they can tell you and save you time.

Another reason you should tell the person if they ask your premium is because the vast majority of insurance companies wont give you the best price unless they have something to beat. Let me say that again, if you dont give your broker or company a price to beat, the chances are you wont get the best premium. However, if you do tell them, they can use this information when dealing with the insurance company which ultimately can save you money.

One final tip on this matter is, dont be tempted to make up a price. For example, Mr Blogs is looking for Combined Insurance and he has a best price of £4500.00. He thinks its too much money so when asked the magic question of Whats the best price youve had so far? he decides to go in low at £2500.00. By doing this most companies will know the price seems low and many wont even provide a quote. Whereas had Mr Blogs been up front and said £4500.00 theres every chance he could have saved some money.

Therefore Secret Number 1 is be totally honest when looking for Insurance as its the best way to make sure you get the best premium. Give it a go…it really works.

Secret Number 2

Secret number 2 is common sense but so many Motor Traders fail to make sure it happens because they are focusing on the price. The second way to ensure you get the right cover is therefore to use an insurance provider who has an understanding of your requirements.

You can establish this by listening to what questions they ask, how they ask them and how they react to what you are saying. If they enter into a conversation about your business its likely to be because the more information they have about your circumstances, the better cover, the better premium and the better service they can provide you.

If the conversation is very scripted and they either dont understand what youre looking for or dont ask the type of questions you would expect there is every chance its because they dont have a real understanding of your business. If this is the case you risk not getting the right cover and ultimately not being correctly insured.

Secret Number 3

Secret number 3 is ask questions. So many people ring around looking for Insurance and spend the entire conversation answering questions. Secret 3 is therefore ask questions to find out if they provide not only the right cover and premiums but also the right level of customer service. Types of question you might want to ask are:

-In the event of a claim what will they do to help you and to ensure your claim is settled as quickly and as favourably as possible?
-Do they just give you a telephone number and leave you to it or do they offer help when you most need it?
-Are they experienced? How long have they been trading? If its a Broker, which Insurance companies do they use?
-Again, if they are Brokers are they independent? That is, do they have access to numerous policies and insurance companies or are they tied into just one?

By getting answers to these questions you can then a make a decision on whether you would like to deal with them (and whether you trust them to act on your behalf.)

Secret Number 4

The fourth and final secret to making sure you get the best from your insurance provider is another which may not seem right as Insurance is one of the most price sensitive purchases a motor trader will make.

With this in mind many motor traders make the decision on where to place their insurance on price alone. I would advise anyone looking for Motor Trader Insurance or indeed any kind of Business Insurance is NOT TO ASSUME THAT CHEAPEST IS BEST.

Whilst getting a low premium is one of the most important things to look for, a really cheap premium without a combination of other factors is probably cheap for a reason. Things you may want as well as a low premium are:

-Are they local?
-Are they friendly and approachable? (we all prefer doing business with people we like)
-Who are the insurance company? Have you heard of them?
-What is the excess? Make sure the excess is one you agree on and not one given just to give you a low premium
-Do they have a good reputation?
-Do they listen to you and explain things in a way that you understand?

If you follow these 4 simple secrets there is every chance your experience when dealing with Motor Trade Insurance will improve. And whilst I cannot guarantee that Insurance will become your number 1 hobby (in fact Id be a little concerned if it did) there is every chance the cover you get will be what you want, the premiums you pay will be less than youve paid before and the service you receive will be one you would be happy in giving and one you would be happy to recommend.

Source by Mark Burdett

Joint life insurance enables two people to be covered under the same policy, saving them the hassle of having to pay twp separate sets of premiums, maintaining receipts and remembering due dates etc.  This is a very good way to insure life and is particularly beneficial for couples or business partners. However, unlike the single policy where the sun assured is immediately given to the nominee, the maturity value or sum assured in case of death of a joint life insurance policy is paid only once at the time of either insurer’s demise.

Joint life insurance benefit for children

Joint life insurance policy benefits not only the second life insured in the policy but also the children who would receive the sum assured in case of the demise of both parents. There can be a clause stating that the money will be paid only after the death of the first life insured or  second life insured, but in most cases it is the first type. If both of you have a high risk job and share the same interests then you may come under the second type.

As the chance of indemnifying the death claim in a joint life insurance is higher, so the premium is significantly more than what it would be in a single insurance. But the best thing about the policy is that even if an untoward incident occurs and either one or both parent lives are lost, the future of the children is secure. This is why the premiums for joint life insurance policies are heavy.

Joint life insurance is good for business

Business partners stand to benefit too. In case you have a business that is run jointly, you could think of going in for a joint life insurance policy as it gives you the option of a single life annuity or a last to die annuity. This means that you can choose whether you want the sum assured after the death of the either one partner or opt for the second one which pays at the death of the second life. Either ways it is a good to have joint life insurance.

Advantages of Joint Life Insurance

•    If you compare a single life insurance with a joint life insurance, the premium rates are high but definitely less that two separate policies combined.

•    You will be paid dividends annually. You could opt to take them collectively at the end of the term of the policy or be paid in cash annually.

•    You could take a loan against your joint life insurance policy and pay back the amount in installments at the prevailing market rate of interest. In case you are unable to pay back the full loan amount, the insurance company will deduct the remaining amount from the sum assured when the policy matures.

•    This option protects the joint life insurance holders against incidents wherein they are unable to pay premiums, for example paid-up insurance, automatic premium loan and cash surrender.

•    The critical illness clause ensures that the joint life insurance policy holders will be paid a lump sum in case of cancer, stroke or a heart attack, thereby securing their future after a serious illness.

Source by Shane Feyol

Much has been said about the inadequacy of group disability insurance plans offered by employers. For example, group disability plans generally have the following shortcomings:

– The plans pay up to 60% of regular income, however, all benefits are fully taxable, reducing take-home pay to roughly 42% of your standard paycheck.

– Group benefits are commonly reduced based income from other sources such as federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Worker’s Compensation, or any plan/program toward which the employer contributes or makes payroll deductions.

– Group coverage has monthly benefits limits, usually in the $5,000 range (before taxes). If your annual salary is more than ~$70,000, you will find benefits from your disability insurance to be woefully less, even though the policy is paying a maximum benefit.

– Read the fine print! Group policies can include exclusions or limited coverage for specific situations such as mental or nervous-related conditions. Coverage for alcohol or drug-related disabilities can be limited to as short as 6 months or excluded altogether.

While such policies often have these and other limitations, group coverage can provide an excellent foundation for proper income protection at a very low monthly cost.

The problem is that many people assume group coverage is the entire answer when, in fact, it is just a beginning.

“People think because they deduct a few bucks from their paycheck each time that they’re covered if they can’t work.”, explains Rene Apack, President of Insure Your Future, the nation’s leading independent disability insurance brokerage. “It’s only after the first disability income check that the hard reality sets in, and by then, supplemental coverage is no longer an option.”

Supplemental disability insurance is coverage purchased to fill in the gaps found with the group disability insurance offered by your employer.

A supplemental disability insurance policy can reduce your risk of severe income loss in several ways:

• Policies can be written to extend your income coverage to 100% very affordably.

• Because you pay the premium, all benefits received via the supplemental policy are tax-free.

• Gaps in coverage identified by your insurance agent can be specifically closed in the supplemental policy.

• While group coverage ends when you leave your employer, supplemental coverage remains with you regardless of for whom you work.

Depending on your group policy, a supplemental policy can be further customized to fit coverage to your specific needs.

Apack continues, “The most affordable disability coverage available is supplemental insurance. We have clients that pay less than $60 per month for coverage that shores up their group disability to cover 100% of their regular income and closes gaps in their employer’s policy.”

Income Protection Takes Planning

Supplemental insurance can be a viable, affordable solution for couples planning to have a child as well. The number one cause of missing work for 180 or less consecutive days (i.e., short term disability) is pregnancy. The second leading cause of long term disability (over 180 days) is also pregnancy, both before and after delivery.

Future moms can apply for insurance supplemental to their group coverage prior to becoming pregnant as a hedge against missing work during the maternity months. Once back at work, the option exists to continue the coverage or let it expire.

The key to protecting a household’s cash flow during and after pregnancy is for the future mom to get supplemental coverage before getting pregnant. Once pregnant, the disability benefits insurance companies offer disappear.

“We literally get 2-3 calls per day from women that are already pregnant looking for disability insurance. We’d love to sell them a policy but the dozen or so major carriers we work with have no such coverage,” explains Apack.

Don’t let your group disability benefits insurance give you a false sense of security. It’s cheap and it’s easy…but it’s just a start! True income protection can be affordably achieved by strengthening your group policy with supplemental disability insurance.

Source by John Massa

When it comes of music insurance, you should know that there is nothing better than a professional music insurance firm which can help you up at the time of need. There can be various sorts of incidents can happen with the professionals, their musical instruments, music studios, their students and with various others, thus, it will be a good decision to insure everything and have a complete peace of mind.

Moreover, there is nothing better than insurance and if you are not convinced at all then you should think about all the common and major risks which can happen with you at any point of time. Or can say, let’s talk about various expectations of the professionals while taking the best insurance package which can help them in any point of time. Here they are-

Your instrument has been stolen

This kind of incident is very common and already faced by various professionals; however, it is very necessary to protect your valuable instruments in advanced. Once you will have the best musical instrument insurance with you, you don’t need to be worried about anything as whatever will happen, your insurance company will be there to help you up and get aside all the troubles.

Accidental damage to your instrument

Music Insurance Company will surely help you and give you full compensation amount if your music equipments and instruments met up with any accident and partly or completely damaged. It doesn’t matter whether your instruments will completely be replaced or repaired, everything will be done with the expenses provided by the insurance company.

Music teacher insurance

If you are teaching music and have few or more students, you should think about picking up the best plan so that you can safeguard from all unexpected issues. Yes, as a music teacher you will be liable for various things, including- caring your students, the public property, the instruments and various other things, hence if you will be insured, you can easily fight from all the troubles which may affect you very badly.

Loss of earning if you are not performing

One can also expect to have a great compensation amount even if you are not performing. There can be various sorts of reasons not to perform, like- due to accident, due to sickness, unable to get work, dispute or various other things, thus, if you would like to eliminate the risk of not performing and would like to have a good money in the same situation, you should think about the best insurance plan and be happy in your tough times. This is something will definitely push you up to buy the best policy which will definitely help you and your family.

Aside this, there can be various cases which will definitely be settled down by your reliable insurance plan.

Source by Victor Johnson

Smart and wealthy building contractors are the ones who associate with winners in their specialties, for good reason. They’ve come to realize they will never live long enough to learn all they need to know by themselves. They see the value of sharing information and comparing notes. They skip long, expensive learning curves suffered by the do-it-yourselfer’s. As a result, they get smart much faster, and avoid making costly mistakes that happen using only trial and error.

For example, consider commercial liability insurance for general contractors. When buying insurance, contractors are typically isolated, and the insurance industry likes it that way. It is nice and complicated, and there are plenty of ways to spread fear, to keep contractors from doing much about it.

You are expected to pay premiums and not ask too many difficult questions. Isolated contractors try to ask intelligent questions, but they have no benchmark idea of what the best deals look like. They have very limited power.

I happen to know that rates are all over the map for contractors liability insurance. Residential remodeling general contractors make a good example. I’ve seen premium rates range from 0.7% of sales to over 3%. The more policies you compare, the better market intelligence you collect, and the better your negotiating power. Turn on the lights, and it is easy to see what to demand.

Contractors are reluctant to show their insurance policies to their peers, because they are also competitors. Their don’t want to show their numbers for sales and payroll for one thing. Also, they are not all that confident they have the best deals, and don’t want to feel dumb. When contractors do compare notes, the results are usually surprising. Only a few are getting the best deals, and the rest are overpaying large sums of money.

To get maximum value from comparing notes, you want to do it with others who have very similar operations to yours. Compare with others in your state, with similar license categories, similar sales volume, doing very similar types of work. By doing this you remove confusing variation, which you must do to understanding what your rates should be. Significant claim history can influence rates. If one of your group is paying a lot more, ask about claim history, to see if that explains it.

You’ve got to keep an eye on coverage variation also.If a policy seems far lower than others, check to see if it is a claims made form, rather than an occurrence form. You can’t compare the two. They are completely different animals. Check to see if the limits of coverage are similar. Check deductibles. Check exclusions. With all that said, I’ve seen insurance companies quote identical accounts with one quote being double the other.

The more contractors work together, the more power they have when it comes to purchasing insurance. If a hundred contractors doing an average of one million in sales organized themselves into a buying group, they could probably buy an insurance company. An organized group of buyers can expect to see costs go down over 20%.

Source by Don Bury

Life is full of uncertainties, what lies in the future no one clearly knows. Right now you may be in sound status of health, but who knows about diseases and mishaps. To tackle health related problems, financial soundness is always required. Unfortunately in past few years, there is a great upheaval in the cost of medical facilities. In such a condition, leaving yourself and your family without the coverage of health insurance is not a wise step. Health insurance brings some certainties in life by protecting you against future medical expenses.

Various health insurance plans are offered by different insurers. Short term health insurance is a highly beneficial insurance plan, when life is passing through the phase of transition. The word transition covers many conditions, you can be a student who has just passed out of college and your parents’ insurance plan is not covering you anymore. You can be a professional who has left his job in search of a better opportunity and you are no longer covered with employer’s group insurance plan. Requirement of protection of health insurance until settlement comes is an ideal condition to go for short term health insurance.

Short term health insurance is also known as temporary health insurance. Short term health insurance coverage plans protect you from 30days up to 180days. However, short term health insurance plans with duration of 12 months are also devised by some insurance companies. Coverage beyond one year is generally not possible in a short term insurance plan. Coverage of a short term health is available for inpatient and outpatient services. You can meet with expenses of hospital rooms, lab testing charges, charges of X-rays and cost of prescription medications with an affordable short term health insurance. Cost of treatment in intensive care unit (ICU) also comes under the coverage of a short term insurance plan.

To make short term health insurance affordable, already existing diseases and injuries are not included under coverage of a short term health insurance plan. Diseases, for which you have received treatment in last five years, are also not covered in a short term plan of health insurance. Preventive and routine health check ups, dental care, optical care, and child birth related expenses too are not included in a short term health insurance coverage.

There is hardly any requirement of a physical examination to get coverage of an affordable short term health insurance. An application form through internet and payment of initial installment by check or credit card are enough to ensure you against medical requirements. Before opting for a short term insurance plan carefully go through the terms and conditions of that plan. Opt for an affordable short term health insurance online and enjoy convenience as well as speed in insurance procedure.

Source by Jenny Black

There are varieties of health insurance plans avilable in the market, specially designed according to the customer needs for health care service. Star Medi Classic is a health insurance which is specially designed to provide reimbursement of hospitalization expenses for any sickness and accidental injuries.

This policy provides reimbursement of in-patient hospitalization expenses for a more than 24 hours of hospitalization. It includes room rent and boarding expenses, subject to a maximum of Rs. 4000/- per day. It also includes doctors fees, surgeon fees, specialist fees, anesthetists fees, operation theatre charges, cost of medicines and drugs, blood, oxygen, etc.

In case of emergency, ambulance charges are covered for transporting the insured person from residence to hospital. It is up to Rs.750/- per hospitalization and overall limit is Rs.1500/- per policy period.

The pre-hospitalization expenses are covered up to 30 days before hospitalization and for post hospitalization, a lump sum calculated at 7% of the hospitalization, subject to a maximum of Rs.5000/-. It also covers non-allopathic treatments up to Rs.25,000/- per case, subject to a maximum of 25% of sum insured per policy period.

Star Medi Classic offers optional benefits on payment on additional premium. The optional benefit includes daily hospital cash, patient care, new born baby cover, etc.

The policy offers cashless hospitalization facility at over more than 4600 network hospitals across India. It also provides no claim discount ranging from 5% to 25% for every claim free eyar. The premium paid is eligible for tax benefit under section 80D of the Income Tax Act,1961.

Any persons aged between 5 months and 80 years is eligible for this insurance. The sum insured ranges are Rs.50,000/-, Rs.1,00,000/-, Rs.1,50,000/-, Rs.2,00,000/-, Rs.2,50,000/-, Rs.3,00,000/-, Rs.3,50,000/-, Rs.4,00,000/-, Rs.5,00,000/- and Rs.10,00,000/-. The policy can be taken on individual basis and for family. It is also avilable for groups.

Source by Habibulla Antule

The more people tend to buy cars the more insurers there will be ready to offer their services. It is not a bad thing as most of us like the idea of a choice. We want to go to look, think it over and take it when we know we need it badly. As there are lots of companies they all want to offer us something better so we don’t consider any other insurance company at all. Nowadays there are plenty of benefits that you might want to hold on to. You no longer need to pay for the damage yourself if you are a part of an accident. With the help of a vehicle insurance company your losses will be covered. It used to be problematic to compare the prices between companies as people had to go to meetings, write down details and come home to figure out the conclusion. Thanks to the Internet none has to do it anymore… unless he wants to. You can sit home, take as much time as you need and conclude. Company’s profile could be found via the Internet as well. All the information should be available to each and every one of us. You should be also able to get feedback from different clients to see what they think about the company’s services. You don’t have to get help – but you can always take an advice to consider it. California is a good state to drive in. I don’t think you can find as many beautiful shiny cars as you can find on the streets of California. That is why California auto insurance companies are as easy to find as a McDonald’s restaurant. Car issues are very expensive in California. You may spend more money than you earn on your car fixing process. If you set you mind to get a cheap deal there is no place better than your computer. Cheap auto insurance is a very frequently searched for topic. Drivers from California seek a good deal day and night as usually California car protection services make your wallet feel a little bit empty. California state law requires one to have at least $15,000 cover for the Injury per person and a total cover that is needed is $30,000 for each accident, along with it $5000 minimum requirement for the damage of the property. This means that the price for services is more expensive than it would be in another state, for example. But you should not say goodbye to the idea of car insurance deal just because you had a thought that it won’t be enough to have yourself and car insured from any type of road accidents. It always makes sense to pay a little extra but to keep your worries away from yourself. Please consider that next time you think and drop the idea of auto insurance. People of California should not be afraid to request quotes and consider getting themselves a car insurance deal. No matter which state you go to, you should stay protected. Being a driver doesn’t only mean having a car and driving it everyday, but also being careful and considerate on the road. Your insurance can definitely make the last two happen without a doubt. We care about you therefore we advice you to take your chance with the online insurance.

Source by David Mayer

Stop loss, co-insurance, and deductible are three main factors that you need to take into careful consideration while comparing PPO and high deductible health insurance plans. Both these plans have deductibles. However, the amounts vary depending upon the type of plan that you choose. The biggest advantage of paying high deductibles is that it reduces your premium. Higher the amount that you pay as deductible, lower would be your premiums. However, there are some downsides as well, which have been described below. That is the reason why many people prefer to go for PPOs even if they have to pay slightly higher premium.   

Choice Of Hospitals And Doctors

You must know what PPOs are in order to do thorough comparison between PPO and high deductible health insurance plans. PPO stands for Preferred Provider Plans, which means that you can choose from a certain network of doctors listed in the policy. The doctors in this network sign a contract with the insurance provider, as per which they have to offer their services to policyholders at discounted price. On the other hand, plans with high deductibles are usually HMOs (health maintenance organization plans), which means that you get the liberty to choose any doctor or hospital you want.

Claim Settlements

In a high deductible health insurance plan, you cannot place smaller claims. In fact, that is the very reason why insurance companies happily reduce the premiums substantially when one opts for higher amount of deductibles. The higher the deductibles are, lower are your chances of reaching a situation where you can place an insurance claim. There are many people who pay high deductibles and keep paying the medical costs out of their own pocket because their expenses never cross the deductible amount. So, high deductibles are not always a good thing. On the other hand, PPOs can be a better alternative in this regard, as they requires a low deductible and you can always file your claims no matter how small they are.

Look At Your Health

When it comes to choosing between PPOs and high deductible health insurance plans, you should first examine your health condition – look at your medical history. Are you suffering from any specific medical condition? Do you seek medical service frequently? If you enjoy good health and follow a fit lifestyle, you had better consider obtaining a policy with a high deductible. There are several advantages of doing that. You can use this opportunity to create a health savings account, which will provide you with valuable tax shelter. Besides that, when you use that money to pay for medical expenses, that amount will be considered as tax-free.

If you don’t prefer any specific doctor or hospital, it is always better to consider PPOs instead of high deductible health insurance plans. Always remember, the best insurance policy for you is the one that caters to all your specific needs. So, focus on researching your needs and decide accordingly.

Source by Allen Caller

Thanks to medical advancements, people are living longer than ever before. These people are growing families, watching their children grow and have their own families, and are given the opportunity to provide for those families even after they’re gone.

No one wants to spend the golden years of their life worrying about what may happen once they’re gone. Why worry when you can rest easy knowing that they will be taken care of?

The Primerica Life Insurance Company is dedicated to providing high quality term life insurance to those that want to invest in the future, even if they aren’t there to see it. We believe that term life insurance should be affordable, easy to obtain, and provided by compassionate people willing to guide you through the whole purchasing process.

When the end comes, who do you want standing behind your family, giving them the advice, assurance and dedication they need to mourn your loss and deal with all the pesky details of funeral and burials costs and estate taxes? Our term insurance may be called ‘term’ but it is there for the long haul- ready and willing to go above and beyond what’s required to aid in what’s truly needed.

When other companies check out, we step up. We guarantee satisfaction no matter the circumstances- and that is something that will help you rest assured with the rest of your life ahead of you.

Take the worry out of your life insurance search and allow Primerica Life Insurance Company come along side you, and help you live the rest of your life in the prime time.

Source by Andre Hansen

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance is available in different variants. A Family Floater Health Insurance is one of the health insurance policy which takes care of the hospitalization expenses of your entire family during sudden illness, surgeries and accidents. A single premium policy that covers your entire family with single sum insured and single premium. It provides cover for 2 years with no increase in the premium for second year. There is also option for 1 year cover also.

The policy covers medical expenses for an inpatient during hospitalization for more than 24 hours. It includes hospital room charges, surgeon’s fee, doctor’s fee, cost of medicines, diagnostic expenses, etc. There is no sub limits on hospital room charges and doctors fees for any disease. Pre and post hospitalization expenses are covered up to 30 days and 60 days respectively.

The medical expenses are covered for technologically advance treatment/surgeries which do not require more than 24 hours of hospitalization. It includes dialysis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc. The pre-existing diseases can be covered after 4 continuous policy years.

The policy covers claims arising out of terrorism or acts of terrorism. The hospitalization expenses for Swine Flu/H1N1 influenza are also covered.

The policy provides cashless hospitalization service at over more than 3500 network hospitals across India. This means you and your family members can avail the medical service at any network hospital by just providing your insurance card.

The premium paid towards this policy is eligible for tax benefit under section 80D of the Income Tax Act,1961. The benefit of additional sum insured is offered for every claim free year.

The person can buy the policy for any family members, dependent children and parents. The policy covers the people aged group of 5 years to 60 years. The children’s age between 91 days to 5 years are covered. The proposer’s age should be 18 to 50 years.  The policy is renewable till the age of 70 years. 

ICICI Lombard Health Insurance is available in different variants. A Family Floater Health Insurance is one of the health insurance policy

Source by Habibulla Antule

It has almost become impossible to avoid purchasing the private mortgage insurance since the lenders have mandated its requirement for forwarding a mortgage loan. The PMI was initially designed to enable the homeowners with limited funds to obtain a house.

Private Mortgage Insurance safeguards the interest of the lender when the borrower defaults. It ensures that the loan will get repaid if a tragedy like- death, disability or unemployment, strikes the borrower at any point during the term of the loan.

The mortgage insurance remains as a condition to qualify for the mortgage loan for the borrowers making 20% or less of the property value as down payment, and sticks with them till they accumulate 80% equity on their properties. After that it remains a choice for the borrower to continue or to drop the coverage.

Disadvantages of PMI

The biggest disadvantage of PMI is that it increases the cost of the loan. The factors that determine the cost of the PMI are

• The amount of the loa
• The amount of the down payment
• The credit history of the applicant

A borrower with a bad credit score is likely to face difficulties in securing a mortgage loan, and the cost of the insurance is likely to be high for him as well. Similarly, a property in the high-risk area will attract higher premium for mortgage insurance.

How can you avoid paying PMI

You may not stand many chances to avoid private mortgage insurance when obtaining a mortgage loan; however, technically you can avoid the PMI

• By putting more than 20% of the value of the property as down payment at the time of purchasing it.

• By taking out two loans, first one on the 80% of the value of the property and second one on the difference between the remaining 20% of the property value and the amount of down-payment.

Homeowner’s Protection Act (HPA)

The Homeowners Protection Act is enacted to secure the interest of the homeowners. This law guarantees that the homeowners can request the lender to drop the PMI once he acquires 80% equity on the property. The followings are the highlights of the HPA

• The homeowner can request for the termination of the private mortgage policy once he has paid down 80% of the loan amount, provided he has maintained good repayment record and have no late payment in his record.

• The lender should automatically cancel the policy once the borrower repays 78% of the loan amount.

• The private mortgage policy will finally get terminated when the loan reaches the midterm of its amortization period.

• The HPA is designed to safeguard the interest of the borrowers. However, it doesn’t apply to VA, FHA or any other government supported loans. Also, it doesn’t apply to the ‘high-risk’ loans, where the lender may require the homeowner to maintain the coverage throughout the life of the mortgage.

Source by Evan T Smith

Describe the differences between senate and commercial insurance?
What requirements that would make a long-suffering eligible for each type? Where? Governmental insurances change per state, as do private insurance. “Commercial” insurance refers to insurance purchased by businesses. Eligibility for governmental insurances – which usually means strength insurance or unemployment insurance – are found beside a simple search,…

How is social insurance is used to fund public programs?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of government funding? How are those benefits and drawbacks exhibited social programs such as Medicare, unemployment insurance, and worker’s compensation? Social insurance IS a public program. The two phrases, social insurance, and public program, deeply mean the same piece. The basic drawback…

I am a 58 yrs. old-fashioned masculine beside no Ged and a wife and daughter to support i obligation a mission can you assist me find one?
I work for the city of lancaster for over 9 years and they fired me with for Know worthy at all. I have to appeal to receive my unemployment insurance and…

Unemployment within California?
I had my interview near the unemployment insurance bureau and she told me that they had spoken to my previous checker and she said that I had quit! that I have not been fired!, my director is lying and I was fired for not signing a clean privacy act form. I am alarmed I will…

What insurance companies contained by California submission mortgage severance insurance?
None. There is no mortgage unemployment insurance. Unemployment insurance is so unprofitable, that it’s single offered through the states, with mandatory contribution by all employer in that state.

Is there an unemployment insurance that is offered by banks as opposed to issued from the state?

banks seem to have so many features, for in the event that the bank account holder does not have a job for a short time , and do any banks offer health insurance or any unemployment insurance type features for around…

Unemployment benefits quiz?
Ok i was let go and i started collecting unemployment insurance. I get this job volunteer in another state, i go there and I didnt resembling it at all plus i have some family matter that i needed to take perfectionism of. I only worked beside the new place 1 week. Can I still collect…

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Why is it important and what might it be like if these law didn’t exist? Please share your opinions with me, I’m not too clear on how Unemployment works. Thanks contained by advance! : ) unemployment insurance is money taken out of your paycheck when you are working. If you are terminated from your…

Will I still receive unemployment insurance now that I am working part time?
No. Or rather, in some states, if you’re still available for full time work and looking, you may be eligible for the DIFFERENCE between what you’re making now, and what the unemployment benefits were paying you.

Are on-call/contingent employees entitled to unemployment insurance if the work slows down?
Where I work,you are scheduled by the day. During the busy season there is a lot of work and we are working a lot. However, there is a couple of months in the winter when there is little or no work. Of course we are available…

More insurance questions please visit : InsuranceFreeFAQ.com

Source by insurancefaq

Cyber insurance covers a broad range of exposures, including hacked computers, viruses, denial of service attacks, and a bevy of other claims. With the right policy, it can be extended to include trademark and copyright coverage.  All firms that utilize IT professionals should purchase a cyber insurance policy that is tailored to meet the needs of their own organization.

What is Cyber Insurance?

Cyber insurance can include a number of different exposures from network security which protects against hackers, to claims that you were negligent in meeting your responsibility to protect the data and computers of your clients.  The abuse of websites has given rise to unanticipated numbers of copyright and trademark violations.

Most states now have laws that require you to inform your customers when their data has been compromised on your system.  Even if no further damage develops, the cost of notification typically approximates $8 per record.  In other words, if a hacker successfully penetrates your server housing 150,000 customer records, the cost of notification could be $1.2 million, even if you weren’t negligent.

The availability of cyber insurance has expanded rapidly in recent years.  There are now over a dozen insurance companies that offer well structured, competitively priced cyber liability insurance policies.  Be advised, however, that coverage is not standard.  A well qualified agent, schooled in the technical issues surrounding cyber liability can help you navigate the available coverages.

3 Tips for Building Cyber Insurance Policies

1. Know your coverage. General liability insurance policies are designed to protect you if you are negligent, but in order for coverage to be triggered, they require property damage or bodily injury. Cyber attacks typically cause money damages, but to not necessarily physically harm your system.  In order to be covered, you will need to purchase a policy that is specifically tailored to your company’s exposures.
2. Maintain a strong infrastructure. Insurance companies will only agree to insure you if you take active steps to protect yourself. A formal IT audit of your systems will increase your access to insurance coverage, and can dramatically reduce premiums.  The audit will cover a variety of internet security issues.
3. Build sound internet procedures that require frequent changes in passwords and that regulate what can be placed on your site.  Most copyright violations result from employees posting material from other sites on the web.  Make sure that they understand what is and is not acceptable.

A Business Investment

Since many companies will not report incidences of data loss or denial of service attacks, it’s difficult to gauge the frequency of cyber insurance claims. You should use common sense and only cover your company for claims that you can anticipate.

Still, buying cyber insurance is a necessity for companies who deal extensively with technology. Assemble a plan that will cover you so that you can run your business securely.

Source by Russ Birch