Find the Best Insurance for You: July 2008

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Financial life insurance

Financial life insurance, financial life insurance company, insurance agents & brokers,life insurance income, life of insurance, income protection insurance, are you confused about the products that are on offer which give you income protection insurance?

Income protection insurance is a product that is that is also sometimes called financial life insurance. For many it offers a great deal of peace of mind that if you or your family are for some reason incapacitated or left without a viable source of income, then you will have an insurance policy which guarantees a certain level of income for a defined period. Often this type of insurance is comparatively cheap and can offer a great deal of benefits.

AFLAC is a leading provider of insurance sold on a voluntary basis at the worksite in the United States and the largest foreign insurer in Japan. Insuring more than 40 million people worldwide, AFLAC is the principal subsidiary of AFLAC Incorporated, an international holding company based in Georgia. At year-end 2002, the corporation's total assets were more than $45 billion, with annual revenues of more than $10.2 billion.

Here is a brief review of some of the American Companies that offer financial life insurance:

AFLAC

A Fortune 500 Company, AFLAC is a leading writer of voluntary insurance coverage marketed at the worksite in the United States, offering policies to employees at more than 300,000 payroll accounts. Fortune magazine named AFLAC to its list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America" for the sixth consecutive year in 2004 and to its list of "America's Most Admired Companies" in the life and health insurance industry in 2004 for its fourth consecutive year.

Metlife

MetLife, Inc. (MetLife) is a provider of insurance and other financial services with operations throughout the United States and the regions of Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Through its domestic and international subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife offers life insurance, annuities, automobile and homeowners insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement & savings products, and services to corporations and other institutions. The Company is organized into five operating segments: Institutional, Individual, Auto & Home, International and Reinsurance, as well as Corporate & Other.

Aon Corp.

Aon Corporation (Aon), through its various subsidiaries worldwide, serves its clients through three operating segments: Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services, which acts as an advisor and insurance broker, helping clients manage their risks, as well as negotiating and placing insurance risk with insurance carriers through its global distribution network; Consulting, which provides advice and services to clients for employee benefits, compensation, management consulting, communications, human resource outsourcing, human resource consulting, and financial advisory and litigation consulting, and Insurance Underwriting, which provides specialty insurance products. In January 2007, Aon acquired Footman James from Alchemy Partners (Guernsey) Limited. In November 2006, Aon sold its Aon Warranty Group and Construction Program Group businesses. In March 2007, Aon Consulting’s subsidiary, McLagan Partners, completed the acquisition of Z/Yen Limited, a London-based market intelligence firm.

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Sunday, July 27, 2008

Travelex Travel Insurance Review

Who are travelex and why would I want their insurance?

Travelex plans combine travel insurance with extensive 24-hour emergency assistance services. Travel can mean encountering the unexpected, ranging from the inconvenient to truly serious. Travel protection plans offer comprehensive benefits to meet the challenges of travel and help you enjoy a worry-free trip.

Not sure you need travel protection? We have compiled the "Travelex Top 10" to highlight the importance of purchasing a plan before you depart on your trip:

1. "I’ve become ill and don’t feel well enough to travel"
When you purchase a plan that offers trip cancellation/ interruption coverage within a specified period of your initial trip deposit, you are eligible for waiver of pre-existing medical conditions. That means you can cancel your trip for an unforeseen sickness - and be reimbursed for any non-refundable expenses relating to your trip.

2. "My travel supplier just declared bankruptcy"
Common carriers with financial difficulties are becoming increasingly common. Purchasing trip cancellation/ interruption coverage from a third party like Travelex can protect you and your trip investment against such an occurrence.

3. "I think my son has an ear infection – what’s "ear infection" in Italian?"
Travelex plans offer 24-hour worldwide assistance. Call toll-free to access our 24 hour medical assistance helpline to receive advice or get information on English-speaking doctors in your area.

4. "We were on our way home when the airline went on strike"
The trip delay benefit covers for up to $750 TraveLite/$1000 Travel Plus in non-refundable expenses for strikes that affect public transportation.

5. "I arrived but my luggage didn’t"
Whether your bag is lost or merely delayed, you can be reimbursed for the purchase of clothing and personal articles so you can enjoy your vacation.

6. "My father-in-law fell and injured himself – I normally care for him"
The illness or injury of family members is also included under covered reasons to cancel. It’s important to remember that even if you are fit to travel, other events may make departing on your trip unthinkable.

7. "We missed our connection because of a flight delay"
You arrive in your connecting city but your flight is long gone and the next flight is not until tomorrow morning. The travel delay offers coverage for accommodations and meals.

8. "We were traveling when I suddenly developed chest pains"
When a medical emergency happens far away from home and from proper medical facilities, you want to ensure you receive adequate care. Our medical evacuation benefit will cover emergency transportation for you to the nearest facility or back home.

9. "A terrorist act has occurred in a city through which my flight will be connecting"
Both domestic and international terrorist acts are covered reasons to cancel your trip provided the act occurs in the insured’s city of destination and you must be scheduled to arrive in that city within 30 days following the terrorist incident.

10. "My wallet – with my cards and passport – has been stolen"
Emergency assistance services will assist you in reporting your lost documents and make arrangements for an emergency cash transfer should that be required. As well, the baggage benefit provides coverage for loss due to the unauthorized use of your card.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

WHo are travelsafe insurance?

We review Travelsafe Insurance

TravelSafe Insurance, a division of the Chester Perfetto Agency, Inc. has become the gold standard in travel insurance products through innovation, experience and excellent customer service. The company has been around since 1971, marketiing and administered the most comprehensive policies available in the industry and are leading the way in developing new solutions for the insurance needs of individuals and families throughout the United States and Canada.

What do they offer?

* Cancel For Any Reason, exclusive option which allows you to cancel your trip up to two days prior to departure for any reason and receive a refund of up to 100% your total prepaid non-refundable trip cost.
* A 24-hour emergency assistance number

For reliability and soundness, Travelsafe gets a two thumbs up.

Over Insurance and Under Insurance

Have you ever wondered what it means to be over insured? This is basically where you are insured significantly above the levels of risk it is reasonable for you to accept. Usually it means you need to get the asset you are insuring. Underinsurance of your house or building means you may have to raise additional finance or sell your property for whatever you can get, to rebuild or replace your house in the event of its total loss. You may not be able to afford to rebuild in the same location/suburb.

Over insurance means you will be paying for more in annual premiums than you need to and will still only receive from your insurer the amount it actually costs to rebuild/replace your house. Under or over insurance results from the property owner failing to accurately estimate the total cost of replacing/rebuilding their house/premises.

How to estimate the total cost of replacing your house for insurance purposes?
Simple “Ready Reckoners’ are provided by insurers to allow clients to determine their house replacement costs. Unfortunately, a September 2005 report by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) called “Getting Home Insurance Right” found that despite help by insurers and use of the ready reckoners, owners frequently continued to either under insure or over insure to a significant level. However, the same ASIC report correctly identified a properly qualified Quantity Surveyor as the best professional to accurately estimate a replacement cost for insurance purposes.

A Replacement Cost Estimate (RCE) for insurance purposes provides the cost of rebuilding a property in the event of partial or total destruction. It includes the costs of demolition, site clearance, rubbish removal, professional fees, compliance costs etc as well as the costs of reconstruction and can be adjusted for inflation. In a partial loss, careful demolition is required to save the remainder of the building and this can result in more complex and costly procedures.

A Quantity Surveyor has access to a construction cost data base and estimating techniques necessary to determine the cost of construction which is the cost required for your insurance purpose. A market valuation as provided by a Valuer is not the same as the cost of construction and can vary considerably over or under the actual cost of construction.

What will it cost and how often do I need a replacement cost estimate?

The expense of a Replacement Cost Estimate (RCE) for a commercial or investment property is tax deductible for the owner. Unfortunately, it is not tax deductible for residential homes occupied by the owner.

The cost of obtaining an RCE from a properly qualified Quantity Surveyor will vary from property to property and depends on many factors e.g. property location, size, age, design, construction method, materials, complexity etc.

However, the RCE expense may be amortised over a number of years as in most cases RCE need only be done every 3 to 5 years or more depending on the type of property and the economic situation or inflation.

Consequently, the cost of an RCE for most suburban/city residential homes could average less than a couple of hundred dollars a year but owners will need to obtain a quote from a properly qualified Quantity Surveyor.

How do you contact an AIQS member?

Visit the AIQS website at http://www.aiqs.com.au and find the Members’ Business Register for contact and location details, or look in the Yellow Pages under Q and find the AIQS logo, or telephone (02) 6282 2222 or email contact@aiqs.com.au

The AIQS is a national professional body recognised internationally for its high
standards and with a large overseas membership. It is the regulatory body for the
quantity surveying profession in Australia and plays a major role in both national
and international peak industry bodies which influence Government and industry
policies and set standards of worlds’ best practice.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Firt Insurance

Who is first in insurance?

There are many who claim to be the first in insurance. We are taking an ongoing review of who is really the first in insurance. If you have an experience of a company which you want to share. If you thought they were good or bad or indifferent, let me know. I am compiling information on Americas Insurance Companies to help you find the best deal possible.

Today we are reviewing America First Insurance.

One of their products is the Commercial Protector it seems to be a decent product. It is broad commercial insurnace which can be extened to things like loss of refrigeration and back up of sewer, liability can also be extended,

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Review of First Insurnace

Save money on auto insurance

First Insurance Review

Company Information:

First Insurance Company of Hawaii, Ltd. has been providing coverage for Hawaii's families and businesses since 1911. It is the state's largest locally established property and casualty insurance carrier, earning an “A” rating from A.M. Best along the way. It offers a wide variety of personal and commercial insurance products and have a customer service focus.

Products:

First Select Portfolio (FSP)
The only personal insurance package of its kind in Hawaii, and specifically designed with Hawaii homeowners in mind, the First Select Portfolio protects your major assets in a single, comprehensive policy. The FSP combines homeowners, automobile and umbrella insurance (optional) at a great value, and each policy can be tailored to suit your needs and add further protection where you want it. The FSP package policy is flexible, efficient, cost-effective and delivered with First Insurance's commitment to excellent customer service.

First Insurance Products

Personal

Homeowners

Dwelling Fire

Personal Umbrella

First Insurance offers a Personal Umbrella policy to enhance and protect policyholders and their assets in the event of a significant personal liability claim beyond the limits of standard homeowners and automobile coverage. If you have substantial assets to protect, the First Insurance Personal Umbrella policy should be considered a part of your risk management and wealth preservation program.

Auto

Personal automobile coverage is enhanced with FICOH's Direct Repair Program (DRP). With DRP, multiple estimates and a meeting with an appraiser are not necessary. Using a certified DRP auto repair shop means speedier vehicle repairs and a satisfaction guarantee on workmanship for as long as you own your vehicle.

Business

1st Choice Businessowners Policy

A single, convenient package for your property and liability exposures, the 1st Choice policy has coverage for everything from theft to computer equipment failure.

First Advantage Programs

FICOH designed this specially-tailored program to meet the specific needs of businesses within certain industries and professions.

First Safe Restaurant Safety Program

Premium discounts, credits and benefits reserved for restaurants that emphasize safety as a foundation of their business practices.

Risk Control

Controlling risks is a great way for any businesses to lower insurance costs and enhance its bottom line. We offer a number of resources to help you augment your risk-control efforts.

Property

We offer a family of property coverages designed to protect your business's physical assets and the income they produce from loss due to direct physical damage. We focus on prevention, but in the event of a loss we help restore your business operations as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Commercial Automobile

This coverage extends comprehensive protection for bodily injury property damage caused by owned vehicles used for business. Coverages can include auto liability, uninsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection, and physical damage coverage.

Commercial Package

First Insurance CPP (Commercial Package Policy) is the most comprehensive of its type available in Hawaii. It is ideal for larger commercial businesses with large property exposures. CPP can cover general liability, property, umbrella, crime and theft, with additional endorsements available as needed.

Fidelity Bonds

Fidelity bonds guarantee that bonded employees will handle their employer's money and property with "fidelity". Although no one can guarantee an employee's honesty, a First Insurance fidelity bond protects you and your customers from loss incurred by dishonest acts of your employees.

Inland Marine

Inland Marine policies can be written to include property in transit, contractor's equipment, certain warehousing operations and other non-standard property coverages. It can also be applied as additional protection for high-value property.

Surety

First Insurance surety products are designed to serve the middle market and emerging market contractor segments and the small commercial and small contract bond segments. We concentrate our resources on understanding and filling your needs, and we're sensitive to the fast turn-around time required in many bonding situations.

Umbrella

First Insurance offers umbrella coverage for additional levels of protection on First Insurance-issued commercial auto, general liability, and property policies.

Workers' Compensation

Workers' Compensation coverage delivers the necessary and important statutory medical and indemnity benefits to employees for injuries arising from their jobs. Injured workers are provided coverage for required medical treatment and benefits for loss of time from work.

Equipment Maintenance Management

Designed to assist business owners and managers organize their maintenance expenditures and warranty packages into one cost-effective and efficient program. (Underwritten by Specialty Underwriters).

Additional Commercial Protection

First Insurance also offers Temporary Disability Income (TDI), Plate Glass, and a range of additional coverages and endorsements to enhance standard commercial policies.

Risk-management Products.

First Insurance has a number of risk management products available:

Excess & Surplus and Specialty Lines
Flood Insurance
Captives
HSA Home Warranty

So there you have it! A quick review of the services of First Insurance. They are a company with a broad range of personal, commercial and risk management products. Take a look at them today or email us here at david@fastinsurancedeals.com

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Monday, July 7, 2008

Convention Insurance

It is a little known fact that there is a large amount of risk involved in the operation of large meetings, conventions and conferences. There are any number of things which could go wrong. Accidents can result in public liability to a law suit, there can be fires, or damage to the property of the convention centre, certain key people in the conference may be unable to perform their duties resulting in the need for refunds to conference participants and any number of other problems may result. There are a some companies who now offer products called 'exhibitors insurance', 'covention insurance', 'meeting insurance' and similarly named forms of financial protection against the liaibilities that could be incurred by a large debt. Email us here or check out these companies to enquire about how we can offer you exhibition insurance.

NASEP Toluca Lake, California United States
AON Insurance Services Washington DC, District of Columbia United States
Holmes Murphy Dallas, Texas United States
Assurnet Insurance Las Vegas, Nevada United States
TradeShowStore.com Dallas, Texas United States
ExhibitorInsurance.com Latham, New York United States
CSI Entertainment Insurance Dallas, Texas United States
Frankel Insurance Los Angeles, California United States
Buttine Exhibition Insurance New York, New York United States

Car rental insurance

Many believe that they do not need car rental insurance. Many young people routinely dismissed the sales pitches for collision damage waiver (CDW) and other insurance products. Later on people often find out that in order to protect their family at a later point you will have to pay for insurance at a much higher rate. Sometimes, these people become the victims of rental firms that intentionally wait until the last minute to hard-sell insurance options — or that some rental agents get incentives to push CDW at the counter.

To buy or not to buy

Most drivers are adequately covered for the average rental (assuming it's for pleasure and not business). To assess your own status, here's a rundown of the steps you should take:

•Check your personal auto policy. If you own a car, talk to your insurance agent. The same coverage and deductibles you carry on your car will apply — in most cases — to a vehicle you rent for pleasure. But be careful: If your policy provides skimpy coverage, you may need to compute the value of the loss or damage of a brand-new vehicle and decide if you need to supplement it. For example, many owners of older cars don't always carry comprehensive coverage for accidents, fire and theft.

•Check your coverage by your charge card company. This can be tricky because not only does coverage vary from card to card, but it can vary based on the bank or credit company that issued the card as well. And it's very important that you inquire about exclusions because some exotic or expensive vehicles — such as sports cars, SUVs, motor homes and motorcycles — may not be covered. And vehicles rented outside the U.S. may not be covered, either.

What do you think? Is car rental insurance necessary or a waste of money? Leave a comment at the bottom of this article.

•Check your company's corporate travel policy. If you're on company business, full coverage is probably provided.

There are other factors that may influence you to buy insurance through a car rental company or travel insurance provider. These include driving under unfamiliar circumstances or driving in another country. Or you may want to avoid the hassles of dealing with repair bills and deductibles.

In addition, if you don't own a car or you rent cars very often, you should ask your insurance agent about buying a non-owner liability policy. For a few hundred dollars a year, it can provide ample coverage for multiple rentals and may prove to be a better bargain than CDW.

Here are the four types of optional insurance offered by most major car rental firms:

•CDW (collision damage waiver) and LDW (loss damage waiver). This relieves you of financial responsibility for a rental vehicle damaged by an accident, vandalism or theft. It usually costs between $9 and $20 per day. Note: Although the sale of CDW was formerly prohibited in New York state, recent legislative changes now allow it.

•SLI (supplemental liability insurance). This provides excess liability coverage up to $1 million. It usually costs between $7 and $9 per day.

•PAI (personal accident insurance). This covers you and all passengers in your vehicle for any medical expenses. It's not necessary for most renters already covered by personal health policies or travel policies. It usually costs between $3 and $5 per day.

•PEC (personal effects coverage). This provides coverage for theft of or damage to personal items inside the rental car. Again, it replicates coverage already provided to many renters through their own insurance policies. It usually costs between $2 and $5 per day.

Help on the Web

For further information, check out the car rental company's Web site to examine the insurance options. But be aware that most firms don't post prices on their sites; for that, you'll have to call the toll-free reservations line with the specifics of your rental.

Here are some other sites that could prove useful:

•Risk & Insurance Management, a program sponsored by the University of Utah that includes insurance coverage analysis.

•U.S. Public Interest Research Group is a national advocacy office, with links to individual state PIRGs.

•The Insurance Information Institute, a New York-based organization dedicated to "improving public understanding of insurance."

• Several state governments provide helpful advice via the Internet for consumers buying auto rental insurance. One of the more comprehensive Web sites is maintained by the New York State Insurance Department.

Graduation Insurance

Graduation from College is a wonderful event because it represents a enormous amount of achievement, experience and training. At this time, many people think about their commencement ceremonies and graduation gifts. However, there are also some practical financial realities which must be faced. Graduation means no more health care coverage under your college health care plan and, once you are no longer a full-time student, no more coverage under most of your parent’s plans.

Hospital stays and doctors fees mean that it is not a good strategy to think you are going to remain healthy or that you can wait until you get your first job for coverage. Not all employers offer health care coverage automatically, and if they do so there may be a waiting period. It could be just too life-damaging to come out of a walk-in care facility for a broken arm or leg with a debt of $30,000 - $50,000.

You have a some options available to you.

1. College Health Plan Extensions

Some colleges are now offering health care plan extensions for graduates for a short period of time at lower group plan costs for the graduation gap. You should check with your college’s business office before graduation. Sometimes, college alumni associations will also offer well-priced health care under a group plan that could cost less.

2. Temporary Short Term Health Care Insurance

It is possible to get health care plans on a month-to-month basis. The premiums are usually minimal. There may be no coverage for pre-existing conditions or payout caps, but many cover most procedures and general care at 80%, although the deductibles may be higher, in the $500 to $1,000 range.

3. Traditional Health Care Plans.

You can also purchase traditional health care plans. These are more expensive but usually more comprehensive. In shopping for traditional health care coverage, you should be sure to ask about drug prescription coverage, whether or not the plan covers pre-existing conditions, and what kinds of notification is necessary prior to having procedures down in hospital or in the emergency room. If you are looking to keep the cost of such plans down, you should consider raising the deductible, making sure you have several quotes from different companies for the best price, and considering an HMO, which may limit your access to specialists but still offers you coverage from a list of many health care professionals.

This site can help you locate providers, even in your local area; will give you free insurance quotes. You can also get free insurance quotes from top notch insurance companies such as Blue Cross-Blue Shield and Well Point at InsureMe.

So what are you waiting for? Get a free quote by clicking to the right today.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

5 Tips to Lower Your Auto Insurance

Are you paying too much for your auto insurance? Find out how to save a few dollars of your insurance by using a bit of common sense. Here are five quick tips to make sure you are paying the lowest possible premium for your car insurance.

1.Drop comprehensive coverage from your auto insurance.

If your car is older and you’ve finished paying it off, do a few calculations to decide if you really need to continue paying for comprehensive coverage. Most experts recommend that if you are paying a premium that is more than 10% of the current market value of your automobile, you really don’t need comprehensive insurance.

2.Car pool to work.

The more miles your car is driven, the higher is the risk of an auto accident. By reducing the number of miles you drive back and forth to work, you’ll reduce your risk of accident, and your premium will also drop. Consider taking public transport to work at least a few days a week. The idea is to reduce the miles your car is on the road each year.

3.Compare insurance premiums and policies before you buy.

Most people spend weeks researching the car they want to buy, but less than fifteen minutes choosing their auto insurance carrier. Even in states where insurance rates are regulated, you can realize substantial savings by shopping around for the best policy for your needs. A price comparison site that lets you get real time quotes for your auto insurance policy is a great tool to check your policy against other comparable policies.

4.Buy your auto insurance through the same company that insures your home.

It’s not a tried and true fact, but you may get a bargain if you use the same insurer for your home and auto insurance, especially if you work through the same broker or agent. In many cases, your agent may be willing to take a slight cut in commission to keep your business.

5.Review your auto insurance annually, and compare rates again before renewing.

It doesn’t take long to check premiums at a few other insurers once a year, but few people can be bothered. Insurers count on that inertia to keep customers from jumping ship over small rises in premium prices.

So what are you waiting for? Get a free quote now!

Top 10 Tips when buying insurance - health, life, auto and homeowners

1. Buy life insurance when your young and healthy.

2. Smoking will dramatically raise prices of your life and health insurance premiums.

3. Buy Return of Premium instead of regular term life insurance. (You get all your premium back once the term is done.)

4. Don't let your health insurance lapse. (You may not be eligible if your health is not the same as it was before)

5. Lock into a health insurance policy when your young. (Getting health insurance when your older is much more difficult)

6. Always go with a large known company. (This is true for all your Insurance needs)

7. Always negotiate your claims, especially with auto insurance. (Your auto insurance company will try to give you the least amount they can)

8. Research homeowners insurance prices in the area your considering before you purchase your home. (Some homeowners insurance can be extremely expensive depending on the location. Ocean front property in hurricane spots can run very high premiums).

9. Be sure your Doctor records events accurately. (A misdiagnoses can mean increased health insurance premiums or if your uninsured it can mean uninsurability.)

10. Security alarms, certain siding and roofing materials can dramatically lower homeowners insurance premiums. (Consider these factors when building your dream home.)

Top 10 Car Insurance Traps

1. Cover - Without it you have not only paid for nothing, but you’ve denied yourself the opportunity to be insured for the collision you have just experienced. Don’t ever pay good money for bad insurance cover.

2. Price - Yes, Cash is King, but consider also flexibility options such as paying by the month, nominated-driver-only cover and increasing your excess to reduce the premium.

3. Communication - Your insurer needs to be contactable by phone (preferably 24/7), online so you can compare the policy cover and have a physical office reasonably close to you, just in case.

4. One-stop assessment - Assessing centres for car insurance claims are now quite common, but alternatives such as one quote only from preferred / nominated panel shops are often just as speedy.

5. Repairs guarantee - As the market competition heats up, ask if the insurer offers a lifetime guarantees for workmanship on collision damage. Check the fine print though, and don’t forget to ask for new parts if it’s a new car.

6. Agreed or market value choice - There are some interesting hybrids around the insurance market which merge these terms, so be sure that your "agreed value" is not actually market value, up to that agreed amount.

7. Lifetime Rating 1 - the days of Ratings 1 to 6 seem to be ever diminishing, to the ultimate point where all policies will be underwritten as "Rating 1", but again, as there are several variations on the lifetime rating theme, it’s important to check the details.

8. Hire Car - complimentary use of a hire car has been around a long time for cars stolen but unrecovered, (where the claim has been admitted). The offering of hire cars has been widened quite significantly however, so don’t forget to ask if one is available.

9. Low Risks - insurers are free to adopt certain "Underwriting Guidelines" to basically target any segment they wish, so if you are considered "low risk" - use it to your advantage and shop around!

10. High Risks - some drivers and / or cars will be "hard to place risks" so far as insurance underwriters are concerned, but as with "low risks",

“Who has the best deals for travel insurance?”

Many travelers want to know, “Who has the best deals for travel insurance?”

There is no easy answer to this question. It is hard to single out 1 travel insurance company as having the best deals. Each company, and more importantly, each policy, has different coverage and levels of coverage. Therefore, they have different prices.

Cheap is not always the best way to go. The important thing its to get the coverage you need. It will do you no good to buy the cheapest trip insurance plan, but not have coverage for that lost suitcase or missed flight.

Decide what coverage is most important to you, and how much. Every plan varies. If you are going abroad, and want to make sure you have medical coverage, you will want to pay special attention to the travel medical policies. If you are concerned with a last minute cancellation due to the illness of a sick family member, you will focus on trip cancellation insurance, or “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Here are the steps to finding the best deals for travel insurance:

1. Decide what coverage is most important to you and your trip
2. Compare travel insurance using a comparison site, such as Squaremouth.com
3. Find the policies with the coverage you are comfortable with, then look for a price that works for you

It’s that simple.

To give you an idea of how the different the premiums can be, here is a comparison chart of the rates from various companies and plans. This is a quote for a 30 day trip, trip cost of $10,000, medical coverage of $10,000, for 2 32 year-old travelers:

Company Plan Cost

AIG Travel Guard Essential $600
CSA Travel Protection Freestyle $617
AIG Travel Guard My Travel Guard $627
AIG Travel Guard Essential Expanded $682
American Express Global Travel Shield Classic $722
Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector $756
AIG Travel Guard Protect Assist $790
Travelex TravelLite $802
CSA Travel Protection Freestyle Luxe $823
Seven Corners RoundTrip $823
Travelsafe Vacation Insurance $838
American Express Global Travel Shield Deluxe $842
M.H. Ross Enhanced $849
Global Alert! Preferred $859
Seven Corners RoundTrip Choice $859
Access America Classic $870
HTH Worldwide Trip Protector $918
M.H. Ross Enhanced Extra! $1,041
Global Alert! Preferred Plus $1,051
HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Preferred $1,114
Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector Gold $1,137
RBC Travel Protection Standard $1,146
AIG Travel Guard Cruise, Tour & Travel $1,226
Travelex Travel Plus $1,242
RBC Travel Protection Deluxe $1,259
Access America Deluxe $1,472

As you can see, there is a big gap between the cheapest and the most expensive plan. You can bet there is more coverage for the Deluxe plan from Access America, and less coverage in the AIG Essential plan.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Comparison and Agent Ratings of America's Insurance Companies

Meeting Insuance Needs

As most everyone in Southern California's construction business is well aware, the insurance industry is in crisis. General liability rates are increasing dramatically and some higher risk contractors may not be able to buy insurance at all.

Meanwhile, coverage in the typical commercial general liability policy is becoming more restrictive, and once commonplace "additional insured" endorsements are now becoming difficult to obtain from subcontractors.

This has caused some developers and general contractors to rethink their subcontractor insurance requirements.

The underlying problem is that subcontractors are not able to provide the preferred form of additional insured endorsements that their clients require. Form CG 20 10 (11/85), commonly referred to as the "20 10 11 85," is published by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

This form essentially provides additional insured status for any liability (subject to the policy's terms and conditions) arising out of the named insured's operations. This would include liability during the construction process (premises and operations), as well as liability after the work is completed (completed operations).

Subsequent additions of the CG 20 10 restricted the additional insured's status to premises and operations or to "ongoing operations" only. In other words, if liability arose during the course of the named insured's operations, additional insured status would apply. However, if the project were completed, additional insured status would not apply.

Most owners, developers and general contractors require their subcontractors to provide the CG 20 10 (11/85) additional insured endorsement. However, many insurance companies no longer allow this endorsement and some speculate that it may become unavailable.

For those requiring coverage, it may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get additional insured status that extends to completed operations. Manuscripted additional insured endorsements also will make it clear that they will not pick up the additional insured's sole negligence. In certain cases, the ISO CG 20 10 (any edition) has been held to pick up the additional insured's sole negligence if the liability arose out of the work being performed by the subcontractor.

What Can Be Done?

Owners, developers and contractors requiring the CG 20 10(11/85) will need to decide whether the inability to provide this endorsement by a subcontractor is a "deal breaker." If it is, they may still be able to find some subcontractors who can provide the preferred form.

If the availability of this form disappears entirely, or if preferred subcontractors cannot provide it, it may be necessary to rely on the more limited protection provided by alternate endorsements. Carefully review any additional insured endorsements that don't meet typical requirements. A qualified insurance consultant or broker should be able to provide assistance.

Contractors who cannot provide the required additional insured endorsement should advise their clients right away -- before clients find out on their own. Explain the problem with the insurance marketplace and the general unavailability of the preferred endorsement. Provide a copy of the available endorsement for their review and approval in advance.

Those requiring additional insured status should not overlook their indemnity agreements. There are two ways to get coverage under a subcontractor's general liability policy:

* With additional insured status; and

* Through the contractual coverage provided by the general liability policy.

ISO's general liability policy (Form CG 00 01) provides what is commonly known as broad form contractual liability coverage. It allows the named insured to assume the tort liability of another party.

For example, the owner of a project is 99 percent at fault and the contractor is one percent at fault. Yet, the contractor agreed to hold the owner harmless from any and all liability excepting the owner's sole negligence. In this scenario, the contractor's general liability policy would cover 100 percent of any and all damages.

Note that from the owner's or general contractor's perspective, it is critical that their subcontractors provide contractual liability coverage equivalent to that included in the ISO Form CG 00 01. This should be part of the owner or contractor's insurance specifications.

The restriction in coverage provided by subcontractors makes it even more important for owners, developers and general contractors to review their own insurance programs. If they can't transfer the risk to their subcontractors, it remains with them. All exclusions should be thoroughly reviewed to make certain that coverage is clear. Subcontractor warranties also should be reviewed to make sure that general contractors are in compliance with them.

The Bottom Line

For years, the CG 20 10 (11/85) has been the preferred format for additional insured status. Now, it is becoming difficult to obtain, and may soon disappear altogether.

Owners, developers, and contractors need to reconsider their subcontractor insurance requirements and make changes where necessary. Even if they can't get additional insured status for completed operations, they can still get coverage from the subcontractors' policy with a well-written indemnity agreement.

Subcontractors need to alert their clients regarding their insurance programs, and they should get their additional insured wording pre-approved.

The construction insurance marketplace is in terrible shape. Increased pricing and dwindling coverage will force all parties in the construction process to re-evaluate and rethink the way they are conducting business. This will be a necessary first step in order to meet insurance requirements in today's hard market.

Cavignac is the president and principal of San Diego-based commercial insurance brokerage firm Cavignac & Associates.

Record Number of Americans Lack Health Insurance

Federal report cites drop in employer-sponsored coverage

By Steven Reinberg

TUESDAY, Aug. 28 (HealthDay News) -- A record number of Americans are without health insurance, according to new U.S. Census Bureau statistics released Tuesday. Some of the trend can be explained by employers who are curtailing coverage or making it too costly for lower income workers to afford, the report said.

"The number of people without health insurance coverage increased from 44.8 million in 2005 to 47 million in 2006," David S. Johnson, chief of the bureau's Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division, said during a teleconference Tuesday.

The percentage of Americans without health insurance rose to 15.8 percent in 2006 from 15.3 percent in 2005, Johnson added. "This is the second consecutive year of increase," he said.

At the same time, the number of people with health insurance increased to 249.8 million in 2006, from 249 million in 2005. The number of Americans covered by private health insurance and government insurance remained about the same, according to the report, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006.

The problems of the uninsured are particularly acute among children. The percent and the number of children under 18 without health insurance increased to 11.7 percent from 10.9 percent from 2005 to 2006, and to 8.7 million from 8 million, respectively.

"The number of children covered by private insurance decreased from 65.8 percent in 2005 to 64.6 percent in 2006," Johnson said. "The increase in the uninsured rate can be attributed to the decline in private coverage."

Moreover, 19.3 percent of children in poverty had no health insurance.

The percentage of people covered by private employer or privately purchased insurance declined only slightly, from 68.5 percent in 2005 to 67.9 percent in 2006, Johnson said. "Persons covered by government-provided health insurance declined from 27.3 percent in 2005 to 27 percent in 2006," he added.

The percentage of people covered by employer health insurance plans dropped to 59.7 percent in 2006, from 60.2 percent in 2005.

There was no change in the number of people covered by Medicaid, the federal insurance program for low-income people -- 38.3 million.

Uninsured rates for whites remained constant at 10.8 percent but rose among blacks -- from 19 percent in 2005 to 20.5 percent in 2006. The percentage and the number of uninsured Hispanics increased to 34.1 percent and 15.3 million in 2006.

Commenting on the report, Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund, said the increase in the number of uninsured Americans was surprising, given the relatively low unemployment rates and a stable economy. She said she fears a dramatic increase in the number of people without health insurance should the economy weaken.

"It's a surprising jump in the numbers of uninsured," Davis said. "To get a 2.2 million hike in one year is pretty disturbing. We are getting a middle-class squeeze -- it's not just families in poverty."

Davis added that employers were dropping coverage of dependents. "It really varies by the income of the family," she said. "Either employers aren't covering the kids, or the premium share is too high for families to afford."

There is urgency in getting people -- especially children -- covered, Davis added. "We need to get more comprehensive solutions on the table," she said. "There is a case for action to deal with uninsured children, and we need a comprehensive strategy that insures health insurance for all."

Kathleen Stoll, director of health policy at the consumer advocacy group Families USA, also expressed shocked at the rise in the number of uninsured Americans.

"The numbers took my breath away," Stoll said. "The increase is more dramatic than we've seen."

Stoll thinks the report will spur the debate over health care and serve as a catalyst for some form of universal health insurance.

"When you consider how large this increase is, I would think this would build momentum, feed the fire for the health care reform debate that we hope we will see in 2009 under leadership from the White House and the Congress," she said.

Gail Shearer, health policy director at Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, said Congress and the Bush administration should immediately "rededicate" themselves to expanding health insurance coverage.

"This substantial increase in the uninsured should get everyone's attention," she added in a prepared statement. "We should not have to wait until the next president takes office to deal with this very real problem. Congress and the President ought to commit to expanding coverage now."

The American Medical Association also said the new numbers on uninsured Americans demand legislative action.

"Today's announcement on the increase in the number of uninsured Americans is a forceful reminder that action is desperately needed. Currently, 47 million Americans, including nearly nine million children, don't have health insurance coverage," AMA board member Dr. Joseph Heyman said in a prepared statement.

"It is unconscionable that the number of uninsured children has substantially increased over the past year. Children are our future, and for kids to get a good start in life, they need access to regular visits to the doctor," he added.

"Covering America's kids is the first step toward covering all Americans. The AMA just launched a three-year, multi-million dollar campaign called "Voice For The Uninsured" to spur action to cover the uninsured," Heyman said.

Good Deal on Health Insurance

Why be one of the millions of Americans who have no health insurance? Sign up for a great Health Insurance Product today.

Why do I need Car Insurance?

Car insurance is one of the necessary evils of modern life. It is a very serious purchase, and the type of coverage you get could make a big difference in whether you're able to fix or replace your vehicle if you're ever in an accident, and is a necessity in being able to drive a car legally. It is designed to protect you, your family, and your automobile. It is designed to protect you, your vehicle, and other parties, although the level of cover that you choose will determine the level of protection that you get, and is something that is required by law when you live in Ohio, but that doesn't mean that you have to break the bank paying for it.

Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK. It also protects you from liability, if you are hit by somebody who doesn't have insurance, your car insurance will protect you from shouldering the cost of getting your vehicle back to its original state. It is a very important thing to me because in 2006, I got involved in a pretty bad wreck on the freeway, and is essentially insurance that covers you, your passengers, and your car in case of an accident.

Car insurance is a highly competitive market and many companies are desperate to retain business. It is applicable to all types of automobiles and their drivers, and is done mainly for private cars which have varied usage and exposed to varying amounts of threats on a daily basis. It is the important factor when buying a new car. Car insurance is a necessary product in that it protects you from excessive costs and hassle if your car is in a big accident, and is an important and a vital factor involved in order to keep your car running at the road. It is meant to protect you against catastrophic losses, such as a major accident or the theft of your car.

Car insurance is a requirement to drive. It is a financial product, and you need to evaluate your coverage like a Wall Street trader evaluates stocks or bonds.

Cheap car insurance policies usually have the least coverage possible and do not pay you much in case of an accident, and insurance for your car is useless if you can't get your claims paid. It is for students provides protection for vehicles kids drive on and off campus. It may not turn out to be so attractive when making a claim. Cheap car insurance was not the question.

Auto insurance is not a contract; however, policyholders must be aware that there is the possibility that there may be an amount due after cancellation, and insurance, vehicle insurance, and motor insurance can also be known as car insurance. It is usually associated with high payments and therefore trying to save money on your "wants". It is getting to be an expense that is always headed north on the costs graph, it may be too costly to afford but we can certainly not afford not having it, and insurance was sold over the world, and California is not exception. Auto insurance is a must in most states today.

State Fram Redeems itself on the whole

State Farm Company Information

Company History: Founded in 1922 in Illinois as a mutual auto insurance company owned by its policyholders, State Farm Insurance Companies is now one of the 25 largest firms in the Fortune 500.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the lead company of an eight member group of property and casualty insurance companies that make up the largest provider of auto insurance and homeowner’s insurance (also renter’s and condominium) in the United States. Vehicle coverages include both private passenger i ...
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Survey Results
Overall, how satisfied are you, with State Farm Insurance?

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Contact Information
Company Contact Info:
Chairman Edward B. Rust, Jr.
One State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710
877-734-2265
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Comments

"Unwilling to provide coverage for damage to house from water pipes breaking and I lost about $30,000. "
2008-06-11 11:07:59 EST

"State farm took very good care of me during my car accident and home fire, both of which were not my fault. However I felt my rates did not come down with time since they attached the stigma of a claim against my name even though both accidents were not my fault. I keep getting much lower rates elsewhere, but I am sure those are teaser rates , waiting to be hiked at the first accident. AT tleast here , with the auto, I am in a plan where I will not get a rate hike if I get an accident or ticket ie. my first ticket is forgivable. "
2008-06-09 16:04:14 EST

Negative Reports About State Farm Insurance

Customer Reports about State Farm Insurance

Pedestrian accident
Product/Service: Car insurance
12/13/2007

State Farm insurance is terrible. Like a good neighbor is a joke. My son was hit by a car walking across the street. The driver and I both had state farm. Under no fault it fell to our insurance. Even though the driver was at fault. They would not pay for anything off of liability after our personal injury ran out. We paid out of pocket for part of his medical. They would not admit liability on the drivers fault even though the police report showed he was 100 percent at fault. We ended up with our day in court and their lawyer crafted a lie that my son had a prior injury and somehow that he was not entitled to full damages for medical. They are a despicable company. My son was walking...and the driver got off because he had a State Farm lawyer who was good at lying. The whole thing cost us a few thousand dollars and he received nothing for pain and suffering.

I would be very leery of any future dealings with them and am switching insurance. They are good neighbor alright. What a joke.

State Farm Cancelled my insurance without notification
Product/Service: Car Insurance
11/20/2007 Houston TX

I recently got insurance with state farm and was paying a horribly high rate since I had recently had a ticket and a car accident. Within a month they raised my rate and quoted me three different prices and when I called to verify the price and paid it in full. State Farm then, without notification, canceled my insurance because they had raised my rates again and I was never informed. The only reason I found out that it was canceled is because I say the return of funds in my account. Upon speaking with a state farm representative I was told that I did not pay the correct amount which had been raised a whopping forth time in this one month period.

Despite my recent accident and ticket, there was no basis to raise my rate more than once or twice. Also, the staff should properly inform you if they are going to cancel your services so you can make proper arrangement.

Beware "coverage" of rental cars by your Insurance Company
Product/Service: Car Insurance for rentals
8/30/2006 MN

I am currently unable to get affordable car insurance (less than $1500 per year) because of a chipped windsheild. State Farm (and potentially all insurers in Minnesota) code ANY claim on a rental car as PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY, and it therefore appears on your record as an AT-Fault accident. The cost of insurance for me (if I want to leave state farm) has DOUBLED because of a $200 claim from a no-fault chipped windsheild incident. YOU ARE NOT COVERED BY YOUR INSURER FOR RENTALS IF YOU LIVE IN MINNESOTA.....THEY MAY PAY THE CLAIM (minus a significant service charge from the rental company that they won't pay) BUT YOUR RECORD WILL BY SHOT. THEY CAN THEN RAISE YOUR RATES ALL THEY WANT BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET COMPETITIVE QUOTES FROM OTHER COMPANIES. THAT IS A RACKET! BY THAT LOGIC THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE (ON YOUR RECORD) BETWEEN GETTING A CHIPPED WINDSHEILD AND DRIVING YOUR RENTAL THROUGH SOMEBODY'S KITCHEN. OUCH! I AM A PROVEN SAFE DRIVER WITH NO AT-FAULT ACCIDENTS AND LESS THAN $2,000 PAID IN CLAIMS BY STATE FARM IN 8 YEARS AS A CUSTOMER BUT I CANNOT FIND INSURANCE FOR LESS THAN $200 PER MONTH!

Labels: State Farm Insurance

What You Don't Know About Insurance Can Harm You.

When you visit an insurance broker they ask you the hard questions. Then a realisation dawns upon you that you didn't know half as much about insurance as you thought you did. When these hard questions are asked can you, in all seriousness, say that insurance is not important?

In-depth information about many of the types of insurance available today. They are grouped together by category so you can easily find them. Each category contains multiple types of insurance. If you were, for example, searching for boat insurance or car insurance you would look under the vehicles insurance section.

Insurance Explained:

* Insurance Around The Home
* Vehicle Insurance
* Insurance for Recreational Activities
* Health Insurance Oriented
* Business Insurance Oriented
* Other Types of Insurance

We sill developing our information and databases over time to become the leading insurance comparison site in the world. Keep coming back, or email us a question.

I am always avaialble at:

david@fastinsurancedeals.com

Good Insurance Deals from Our Friends in Germany

Find Lost Life Insurance

The staff at this site will search for your lost life insurance for only $50 and if we don't give you information leading to the funds, you don't have to pay! Just enter your details and we will set about finding your lost funds. We look forward to hearing from you soon to see if we can find your lost money.

Do you know what to do about finding a lost life insurance policy? You may not think too much about this, but for many people, this is an everyday occurrence. They lose a loved one and know they carried a life insurance policy, but they can't find it. They have no idea who the life insurance company was that wrote the policy.

This happens a lot. In fact, over one-fourth of all life insurance death benefits are never claimed. That is amazing. The policies were paid for over the years in the event of the insured's death to protect their family and now no one has any idea where the missing life insurance policy is.

Under federal law, all death benefits that are unclaimed go into a trust until they are ever claimed. Consider that last year nearly $23 billion was put into the fund, with only $1 billion getting claimed.

What can you do in the event you know there is missing life insurance policy?

1. If you have access to their personal records, go through old bank statements or canceled checks to see if they paid any insurance companies.

2. Did they have a personal lawyer or accountant who may have known about any old policies?

3. Talk with a past employer about any group life insurance policy that may have existed.

4. Get in touch with the Medical Information Bureau. They track all requested medical records by insurance companies for the past 7 years. So, if they took out the policy during this time period, most likely the MIB will know about it. You can find more information about them online.

5. Look at the mail that continues to be delivered after the person's death. If it was a policy that was still being paid for, you'll see premium notices.

6. Look at income tax returns to see if interest dividends on any life policy were claimed.

There is no time limit on claiming the benefits of any missing life insurance policy that you are the beneficiary of. It can be 25 years later and the company will still pay you the proceeds.

Finding a lost life insurance policy may not be the easiest thing to do, but with patience and a little detective work, you should be able to track it down in a short period of time.

One of the services that we provide here at Fast Insurance Deals is a lost life insurance. For a fee of US$50 we will conduct a comprehensive nationwide search for your lost life insurance policy and if you do not receive any funds, we will refund your payment immediately. So what are you waiting for? Send us your information and and we will begin looking today.

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Name of Policy Holder of Lost Policy
Policy Identification Number
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