Healthcare Costs and the Medi-Cal Program In California

Has anyone else noticed the rise in healthcare expenses? Not only are the costs of medical care and prescriptions going up, but premiums are on the rise as well. More employers are shifting a higher portion of the costs of healthcare to the employees, including higher deductibles and co-pays in many instances.

And this issue is only enhanced by the decrease in monies provided for state and federal run healthcare plans, such as Medi-Cal in California or Medicaid programs. Those who may have previously benefited from these plans due to being in a lower income bracket are finding themselves having to fork out money for traditional healthcare plans. For those who are in these lower income brackets who barely fall outside of the required income guidelines, it is becoming increasingly difficult to live on remaining dollars after paying for healthcare alone.

For the purposes of the Medi-Cal program specifically, there are several requirements to qualify for the program. The qualifications are really based upon the qualifications for other programs that are state and federally run. If an individual qualifies for cash aid or food stamps, for example, they will likely qualify for Medi-Cal. However, if someone owns a certain amount of property, such as multiple cars or home that is over the allowable limit for the family size then the family would not qualify for health coverage assistance. The general guideline is for property limits starts at $2,000 for the first person and increases with each family member. In addition, the family's income plays a large factor in determining eligibility for the Medi-Cal program. As an example, a family of four can make a maximum of $4,167/month to receive health insurance benefits. Add an additional $708 for each additional family member to find the maximum amount of allowable income for larger families. Other factors include things such as: if a family member has a serious illness or disability, if the woman is pregnant, if there are children in the family, or if a family member needs specific health care, such as nursing home care, cancer treatment, or dialysis, to name a few.

Please don't get me wrong. I believe that abuse of the Welfare program (i.e. cash aid, food stamps, medical assistance, homeless assistance, etc.) is absolutely wrong. If someone is receiving assistance and not working because they choose not to work (not because they physically can't work), or if they are receiving assistance but are using the money to purchase drugs or are involved in other illegal activity, then I absolutely believe they should not be able to receive assistance. However, if they are a single-parent household, has a medical emergency, or just can't make ends meet while working a full-time job, then they should have the opportunity to receive assistance. That is what it is truly meant for.

So, if you don't qualify for Medi-Cal benefits because you are above their income limits, or you don't have children, or you don't have a specific illness or disability, then you'll likely find yourself paying for healthcare either through your employer or through a stand-alone private health insurance plan. I have had all types of health insurance plans over the years, and I have seen the rise in healthcare costs over the years.

**Please note that this information is current at the date and time of this posting. Please review the specific state requirements for state healthcare as they may have changed.

New Premiums Model in 2014 - Rating Rules For Businesses - Families - Individuals

New rating factors for businesses, as well as individuals and families, will play a key part in planning for 2014. Some businesses will be smacked with a 50+ percent increase based on some characteristics that are at play with the new rating rules. With that said, some businesses will be excited to know their premiums are slated to lower. There are some key items you need to know that go into the new rating model called Community Rating.

There are a lot of questions that come up regarding the healthcare law. Some think it will be for free. In some cases, it will be pretty close to free. Others will find out real soon when their premiums change, they may possibly go down, but for the most part they will go up due to changes in the Affordable Care Act.

Rates can vary based on if the plan covers an individual or a family. Health Insurance companies must utilize a per member rating process. The insurance company adds up the rate for each family member to arrive at the family premium. Rates for only the three oldest family members under age 21 will be taken into account in addition to the rates for those over 21.

A State may establish up to seven rating areas under the proposed ruling. The rating areas must meet one of the following: 1) There are no more than seven areas based on county, three-digit ZIP codes or metropolitan/non-metropolitan statistical areas. 2) There is only one area in the state.

Rates can vary based on age. They cannot vary more than 3 to 1 for adults. The rule establishes a uniform age bands. A child age band: A single age band from 0-20. An Adult age bands: One year age band stating at age 21 to 63. Lastly, a single age band for 64 and older.

Tobacco users were not left out of the equation. Insurance carriers can charge higher rates for people who use tobacco products. They are also limited on what they can charge. Rates for people who use tobacco products cannot vary by more than 1.5 times the rate of the non-tobacco user.

The premiums could have a toll one way or the other come 2014, depending on the variables in the census of the employer group and the new rating rules. The business may or may not have control on the ratings, however, you can start planning your strategy for 2014 and beyond. Making some adjustments now could off-set costs come next year. If you do not do anything, or the current agent or broker does not do anything, you could be suffering with the 50 + percent increase putting a huge burden on the cash-flow of the business. Cash-flow is so crucial for the survival of a business.

Backpacker Insurance for Gap Year Hazards

Backpacker insurance for gap year hazards should never be ignored. A gap year adventure should be the most exciting trip that any young person will experience in their lifetime. That first taste of freedom and adventure, where you inevitably hook up with like-minded travellers and make memories and lifetime friends. In all the excitement and anticipation of the trip it is natural to want to ignore the potential hazards - and with a heap of good luck nothing will go wrong. After all, you have spent many months planning the trip and doing your research...

Many gap year travellers choose popular long-haul destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Africa and Australia - all a long way from home. Needless to say, setting off on such a fantastic adventure would be crazy without the peace of mind of a quality Backpacker travel insurance policy tucked in your rucksack

The importance of researching your destination(s) cannot be emphasised strongly enough. With any luck you will not run into any hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, typhoons or tropical diseases along the way, but with some preparation and knowledge you can be ready to face anything thrown at you.

We always recommend that travellers visit the website of the British Foreign Office for the latest travel advice, and this service is offered for free by most governments. Staying safe and personal security on your travels is always a concern. You'll need to be aware of the current political situation and potential hazards you could encounter - and, most important, what to do and where to go for help if anything does go wrong.

Personal safety and security is of prime concern, as most countries have problems with pick-pocketing, mugging, drink spiking, and various scams.

Being caught in possession of any illegal drugs or substances can, in some countries, result in very serious charges, imprisonment, and even the death penalty!Read up on the local laws and customs of the country you are visiting and respect their rules and dress codes to avoid trouble. Again, it is important to know that travel insurance is unlikely to cover any claims related to your use or possession of illegal substances or abuse of alcohol.

A cheap backpacker policy automatically covers a range of sporting activities that are considered hazardous. Always check the policy to see what is and is not covered before you set off on your trip. One-off activities like a bungee jump or elephant ride are normally covered.

Most important is to have excellent cover for Medical Expenses - and always check that it includes Repatriation. Falling ill or sustaining an accidental injury while halfway around the world in a remote area could cost many thousands of pounds. You may need to be flown to a neighbouring country for specialised treatment - all very expensive. Without insurance you, or your family will have to foot the bill. Your consulate or embassy is on hand to provide limited help, but they do not pay your bills, and ignorance is no excuse...

One of the biggest problems travellers face is the loss or theft of their passports. This is something normally covered by your travel insurance. The nearest consulate or embassy will help you to obtain a new travel document, but it is not free!

A cheap backpacker policy should also provide cover for things like Mugging, Missed Departure, Scheduled Airline Failure, Hijack, Personal Liability and Legal Expenses. Most Backpacker policies are cheaper because they are 'light' on cover for luggage and possessions. There's no point paying for cover that you do not need.

If you are busy planning your gap year adventure and are under the impression that insurance is unnecessary, or you have not factored the cost into your budget, why not discuss it with your parents or family members. Rather than set off uninsured, ask if they will purchase a policy for you as a farewell gift. They should be motivated to help, because allowing you to travel uninsured may bring them a world of trouble if the worst should happen and you run into hazards while you are on the other side of the world.

The news is full of tragedies of this type all the time - where families suffer hardship and often have to organise fundraisers to find the tens of thousands of pounds needed to fly their loved ones home. The cost of a Backpacker policy is such a small price to pay for peace of mind for you and your family.

8 Tips to Save on Travel Insurance

There is one aspect that you have always to remember before starting your trip: Travel Insurance. Any health or accident issue abroad can lead to exorbitant costs.

One night in a hospital in USA can easily result in over $10,000. There are many cases where people were treated abroad and afterwards got six-digits medical bills. Obviously such issues as a stolen laptop or video camera can be quite costly as well.

We created a long list of travel insurance tips to help you to save on travel insurance! So, let's start!

1. Travel medical on your credit card: Check your credit cards - one or two may already have Travel Medical Protection, both for you and sometimes for your family members too.

2. Various credit card perks: Not sure if you need to buy a Flight Delay, Trip Interruption/Cancellation and Baggage Loss - check out your credit cards, sometimes you will be surprised what you will find.

3. Liability via Home Insurance: Thinking to buy an extra Umbrella / Liability insurance for your trip e.g. in case you hit somebody when skiing? Your Home Insurance might already have a worldwide umbrella protection - check the policy or ask your broker / insurance provider.

4. Protection for belongings: Wondering if you need to pay extra to protect some of your belongings while on a trip (e.g. expensive camera) - your home insurance might protect them as well while you are travelling and have them with you.

5. Multi-trip travel insurance: If you travel several times a year, it often makes sense to take a multi-trip insurance policy as opposed to getting every time single-trip policy.

6. Family travel insurance: If you travel as a family, it sometimes makes sense to buy a family travel insurance policy rather than buying a separate plan for each member of the family.

7. Shop around: Search, Compare, and switch insurance companies. There are many insurance providers and their price offerings for the same policies can be very different, therefore use multiple online tools and talk to several brokers since each will cover a limited number of insurance companies.

8. Burglary insurance:Some credit cards offer this kind of protection if some of your personal belongings disappear from your hotel or motel. Don't forget to pay for your trip and hotel stay with a credit card that offers this protection. Attention: your protection may extend to USA but not necessary to other countries e.g. Mexico.

How Free Auto Insurance Quotes Can Save Time And Money

There was a time when seeking an insurance quote took time and effort. In fact, most people tended to accept the terms that a well-known brokerage or company offered, and rarely bothered to check out alternative options. But the availability of free auto insurance quotes over the Internet has changed things.

Thanks to the growth and development of online insurance quotes, the task of tracking down the very best policies and lowest premiums is made faster and simpler. All applicant need do is to enter the preferences in the search box and click on. It has become that easy.

But that is not to say there are no factors to consider or issues to watch out for. In fact, given the competition that exists between insurance companies, and the range of auto insurance products to choose from, there is plenty more to contemplate.

Getting Quotes Fast

The reason that internet searches are so fast is really down to the quality of the technology that is used today. The information is very quickly processed, so that in a matter of seconds a free auto insurance quote can be provided.

It is a bit like having all the boxes ticked in a loan application, thus giving the assessor no reason to issue a rejection. The only difference here, of course, is that a quote is never rejected but simply underlines whether or not the online insurance quote given is a good one.

The reason that online quotes tend to be so good is also down to the smaller overheads online insurance companies have to deal with. So, they can afford to offer lower costing auto insurance coverage, and still make a profit.

Quotes and Coverage

It is important to understand, however, that there is no actual guarantee that a low premium means the best deal. In fact, the opposite is often proven to be the case. The availability of free auto insurance quotes means drivers have a good chance to decide to carry out a detailed assessment.

The problem is not always price, but the quality of the coverage. Remember, it is details in the insurance policy that will save money in the event of an accident, not the premium rate. For example, without fire protection, a payout in the event of the car being burned out cannot be expected.

When an online insurance quote gives a rate that looks too good to be true, it is usually because an element of the coverage has been removed. That can lead to an affordable auto insurance policy, but an inadequate degree of protection. So, payment for damage will have to come out of your own pocket.

Finding the Best Quote

The key to this is shopping online, with some time needed to invest in front of the PC screen. It is important to note that free auto insurance quotes are available from all the major companies, so it is advisable to avoid those companies that charge for their quotes.

When a comparison site is used, even more insurance options can be obtained, but be sure to make a shortlist of the best 4 or 5 quotes before studying them in greater detail. The small print can reveal hidden charges and penalties, so it is worth investigating before making a decision.

When this is done, the best possible auto insurance is almost certain to be found. A shortlist is hugely effective when trying to choose between auto insurance policies that seem to be pretty much the same. But on closer inspection, savings can be identified in each and a sounder decision can be made.

How Much Car Insurance Is Enough?

When car insurance is to be bought you start to wonder how much it's going to cost you. You obviously don't want it to cost you an arm and leg. At the same time, you don't want to be caught in the lurch without adequate funds to pay for damages when it comes to making a claim. But let's think for a minute. Car insurance doesn't have to cost you so much. It's a question of figuring out how much you need to adequately cover your assets and needs. And while you're at it, you can actually end up spending a few big bucks as well, if you're being watchful. Don't make the mistake of buying minimum coverage just to save some money. Let's take a look at ways in which you can buy adequate car insurance coverage and save some money as well:

1) When you should buy comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive coverage pays for damages caused by floods, storms, hail, theft, riot, fire, vandalism, falling trees, damaged caused by animals (example: hitting a deer). If your car hasn't been paid off yet, you might be required to carry comprehensive insurance. But if you haven't bought your car in a loan, comprehensive insurance might not be needed. You should buy comprehensive coverage if your car has a high resale value; as a way to protect your investment. Also, if you stay in an area with a high theft rate or an area where storms, thunderstorms etc, are common, you might want to consider buying comprehensive coverage for your car.

2) When you should drop collision and comprehensive car on your vehicle

As the name suggests, collision insurance pays for damages caused to your vehicle when your vehicle has a collision with another vehicle or object. As the years go by, the value of your car decreases. So when you think about it, there'll come a point somewhere down the line where the cost of fixing the damages to your car (in the event of an accident) will exceed the current value of the car. When you think about it, carrying collision and comprehensive coverage on an older car might not make a lot of sense. To find out the present value of your car, visit the Kelley Blue Book website. The website will give you an estimate for what your car is currently worth, after which you can decide whether or not you wish to carry collision and comprehensive coverage on your car.

3) Find out about the different kinds discounts offered by insurance companies

Often people are unaware of the different kinds of ways in which they could save on auto insurance. For instance, insurance companies offer different kinds of discounts such as good student discount, low mileage discount, defensive driver discount etc. These discounts benefit people of different age groups and give almost everyone a great chance to save money on car insurance. It pays to do your research well and be very sure of what kind of coverage pays for what. And while you're at it, find out about the different kinds of discounts that you might be eligible for.

Car insurance doesn't have to be tricky business. You can be adequately covered for less if you're watchful.

What Is a HIPAA?

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the United States designed a website that would help the public understand more about Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or better known as HIPAA. The HHS website provides a variety of training materials about the purpose and essence of the Act. Also stressed in the site material is the background of the Act. For a better understanding of HIPAA, read on.

Historical Background

Modern technology has a big potential to interfere with the confidentiality of patient's health information. That is why: HIPAA was enacted as a Public Law 104-191 in 1996 with objective to provide security against the misuse of patient's information that is held confidential. HIPAA requires HHS to implement U.S. National standards for health care transactions done via the internet. This particular law also points out that certain people giving health care services should undergo and complete a HIPAA Training Course. Also included in the training are the HIPAA organizational policies, protection of information as well as security awareness. Among the people who need to take a HIPAA course are nurses, doctors, pharmacists, researchers and those others who are working in the hospitals.

Significance of the Act

The Office of Civil Rights is the one who provides all the needed materials for the learning more about the Act. It is also the Civil Rights Office who supplies a complete outline of the principles as well as the full summary of the provisions of the Privacy Rule. The information about the administrative requirements needed in the workforce is also provided by the office. The office, however, does not provide a step by step training for the government. The good thing is that updates are being done as often as needed so the public could know of the HIPAA modifications made in the most recent time.

Education about the Act

Business owners may also offer some educational HIPAA information. The focus, though, of educational HIPAA data is how employers should handle the privacy of the health information of their employees. The policies of HIPAA are likewise outlined in the info that is shared, most often. Moreover, the material also includes proper ways and procedures to handle confidential information to be able to realize the protection required by the law.

Computer Training

One other effective media used to share information and to make HIPAA training available to the public is via computer training. If, for instance, a private entity needs to save and exchange private medical information through the computer system, certain requirements need to be fulfilled as mandated by HIPAA. Say, for example, keeping the computer system locked and password enabled or perhaps keeping the computer files accessible to only a few people. With this particular measure, employers may give computer training to staff members who have direct access to the computer system.

Every patient's information should be properly and closely protected. In order to know more about HIPAA and in order not to violate any of the rules stated in the private law, a thorough understanding about HIPAA law is needed.

Avoiding HIPAA Violations

Health care providers as well as businesses covered by the scope of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are susceptible to serious penalties when caught not in compliance with the rules and regulations set forth by the privacy law. Even individuals who had violated the HIPAA can be sentenced to jail. In order to avoid chances of having HIPAA complaints and to avoid being under intensive investigations, the entities within the scope of HIPAA need to ensure that they are religiously adhering to the rules and regulations of the privacy law. To be able to ensure proper compliance, entities need to take necessary proactive measures which are outlined below.

1. Organizational Policies Review

It is vital that organizations featuring health care services review the policies and procedures of the organization in connection with the privacy law. The privacy rule of HIPAA sketches out who is entitled to gain access to a patient's protected health information (PHI). Also clearly stated in the rule is how the PHI can be utilized and obtained. In compliance with this particular rule of HIPAA, organizations are mandated to appoint a Privacy Officer who will be having the sole responsibility to monitor compliance with the privacy law.

2. PHI Security Review

It is also important that the PHI security's policies and procedures be reviewed in a timely manner. Clearly determined in the HIPAA privacy law are the requirements needed for the physical, administrative and technical protection of the patients' confidential medical records. In connection to this, HIPAA mandated the entities to have an assigned security officer who will ensure and incessantly monitor compliance. Apart from that, the security officer is the in charge in determining and analyzing the security systems of the organization. The security officer also needs to take necessary steps to identify and fix potential security threats. For added security, it is vital that the access to the patients' PHI be restricted only to those workers who need the information. The PHI should also be always protected by a strong password to ensure that only the authorized person can access the data.

3. Obtain a HIPAA Training Course

To avoid being penalized by noncompliance of the privacy law, HIPAA covered entities should provide necessary training to their employees. The best way to avoid penalty is by educating people. Educate your employees about the HIPAA and let them be aware of their responsibilities as per mandated by the privacy law. It is recommended that organizations offering health care services provide HIPAA training to their employees at least once a year in order to keep the employees updated of the most recent policies and procedures. Also, entities need to provide necessary HIPAA training to newly hired employees to ensure compliance.

Entities having business affiliates dealing with patients' PHI need to sign a mutual agreement stating that both parties should adhere to the HIPAA. Individuals or companies not within the scope of HIPAA but need to have access to PHI as needed for the services they provide are considered the business affiliates. A software salesperson, accountant and lawyer are good examples of business affiliates.

Different Sorts Of Health Insurance Plans

Health is the biggest asset for any human being and our motto of life must be to stay healthy so that we can enjoy our life till it comes to an end. However, our health is just like a machine, which is vulnerable for many damages with the advent of time. On top of these machines need occasional or regular repairing for their efficiency. Same goes for our health. Our body needs regular checkups so that the organs of our body can perform their task precisely. On the other hand, due to some external forces or influences, like - virus, parasites, etc. and due to some internal organ dispute (such as heart blockage or kidney blockage), we experience major, as well as casual health breakdown issues. Just like a machine, our health requires servicing and the process of servicing the health is call medical science.

Medical science has experienced so many changes due to the advent of technology and new inventions. Today's medical technologies are pretty robust and highly skillful enough to provide seamless healthcare support to the patients. As the technology has been integrated with the healthcare management and treatment procedures, healthcare or medical treatments also have become quite expensive. This is why we need to plan for our healthcare even if we are not experiencing any health issues at this moment. For a major or minor operation, immense expenses may happen and one needs to be careful about it. To aid people with their finance planning regarding their healthcare or medical treatment, medical insurances have been introduced into the market by the insurance companies, banking organizations and other financial organizations.

Presently, in USA, having a insurance is must for every citizen. To avail medical insurance, buyers need to find a suitable company first. Once the suitable insurance company has been spotted, the next step is to select a good health plan. Now, selecting a insurance plan can be really critical. Several health schemes and plans are there for the buyers to choose, but the million dollar question is - which is the most suitable for you, according to your age, budget and needs? So, let us have a look on different kinds of health:

1. Short Term Health Insurance - This is quite suitable for those, who are presently undergoing economical crunch situations. For short term health, investment is low as the term is short. The benefit is that you can still avail a health plan, even if you are in economic trouble. When, things will be back in shape, you can move to a long term or more beneficial health plan.

2. Full Service Health Insurance - Well, this is kind of a long term health insurance with lucrative offers. This kind of health insurance would be a bit costly and suitable for young or mid-aged servicemen or businessmen.

Apart from these, supplemental health insurance, pre existing condition health insurance are two popular forms of health insurances available in the market.

Ways You Can Get Whole Life Insurance Quotes

Since purchasing a life insurance policy is one of the necessities in life, it is important to get one once you are at the right age. Because of this, there are several life insurance available to everyone. There are even a few insurance policies which are dependent on how long you will need them. Such insurances have been called the universal, term and whole life insurance. Once you have determined which insurance policy you will need, it is then important to know how much they will cost. Considering today's health issues, people will normally choose the whole life plan because of the benefits that it has. And for that, this article aims to provide whole life insurance quotes and how you can get one.

Nowadays, there are two ways you can get an insurance quote for whatever service you will need. You can easily get a life, car, house, health insurance without having the need to go through the stressful process of getting one. It is easy to get an insurance quote either in person or by the use of the internet. If you, however, chose to get an estimate in person, this will be a bit harder than the other option available. This is because you will have to go through the enlisted companies in the phone book or the local newspaper in order to find the companies available. Once you have found them, you have to make a visit to them in person during their business hours so that you can get an estimate on your insurance policy.

The process of deriving with an estimate is easy though. This is because representatives will normally ask questions from you or even require you to accomplish a form that you can hand over to them in person. Once they have determined what insurance type you need and have made a judgment based on the data you have provided, they will be able to give you an insurance quote that you can go over. This will then be your basis if you would like to avail of the insurance from them or from another provider.

The other way you can get an insurance quote is to go online. There are several businesses nowadays which specialize in providing instantaneous quotes from the insurance companies in the United States. While there are some quotes which cost some money, there are others that are completely free. In order to derive with an estimate, websites will also require you to fill up a form.

A reason why getting an insurance quote through such websites is more favorable is because they can provide you with several different estimates from various companies in just a few seconds. The quotes they have provided can also be used for a fast comparison. Lastly, it limits the time you spend in trying to find the available companies and going through each of their whole life insurance quotes.

4 Truths Regarding Whole Life Insurance Policies

Prior to dealing with anything related to whole life insurance, you need to make sure your know as much as you can about the policy in order to take out the mistakes and have the ability to evaluate the pros and cons of specific items. Remember that a plan can be expensive and you could not manage to be wrong. Here are 4 truths you should take note of:

1. Obtain quotes or what they call estimates and inspect if they are well-founded and will the incentives be much better ultimately.

2. Remember that a whole life policy will only pay a case upon early premature death within the mentioned timeframe and you would certainly have to repay almost 30 years and in the end fail to get everything. It is a difficult sort of plan and you have to make certain if you truly want to get it. It is still thought about as a short-term plan.

3. It would certainly be most effective to get this type of policy if the agreements would offer a money value reserve. This must accumulate as an understood case and go as a survivor benefit. However in the plan, be sure to check if this will be credited as insured interest to the money worth account. Thus, you can be assured that when you pass away, your beneficiaries have something to claim.

If you are still alive, you need to be given the chance to get a loan that is worth the money your invested and forfeit the survivor benefit. You should pay them back with interest minus the returns. This can still be the most inexpensive means to access your money when you actually need some.

4. There are various types of insurance like minimal pay, premium, and single premium and financial. You definitely have to know what these plans call for before picking.

Adhere to these guidelines and you could be certain to land the best plan. Always keep in mind never to go for the initial policy you see online. Furthermore, never ever go with the most cost-effective one you see. This does not always translate to the most effective plan for you. It would be best to do comparison shopping by obtaining numerous quotes from different companies and then examining the benefits as well as the drawbacks before formulating a decision on which insurance coverage to invest in.

Top 3 Benefits of the Medical Health Insurance Policy

Even healthy people need medical insurance coverage. Having the right health plan goes a long way in maintaining and improving the health of the policyholder and his/her family. In the event of an illness or an accident, the cover will provide the necessary financial protection. Therefore, it is advisable for everyone to consider accessing medical health insurance quotes. The right medical cover helps you to take good charge of your health. The benefits of the medical health insurance cover include:

· Providence a peace of mind

You are unlikely to know when an accident or illness might happen. In case you or any other member of the family is injured or becomes ill and you are not insured, it will prove difficult to receive affordable health insurance cover later. The financial burden likely to be experienced in the event of an accident or illness can be devastating. With the right health care cover, the insurance plan will be able to cater for some medical costs. Through the preventive care, you will be in a position to avoid illness. Furthermore, you will be in a position to save money that would otherwise be spent on treatment.

· Takes advantage of wellness & health tools and resources

Apart from providing financial protection, the right health insurance plan offers incentives, resources and benefits that help the policy holder and his/her family to stay and get healthy. The wellness and health tools and resources include coverage for screenings and annual check-ups. The policyholder also gets an opportunity to receive discounts on alternative care treatments and exercise programs. Therefore, it is important to review the plans to take proper advantage of the programs that are being offered.

· Protects the family's financial future

The health care cover costs money. However, not having the money actually costs more. Medical needs that are unpredictable together with high costs of health care have the ability of leaving you with large bills in case you are not insured. Therefore, having the right health cover helps to lessen the possibility of dipping into the retirement savings to cater for unexpected medical bills.

It can prove difficult predicting the amount of money that you would need to spend on healthcare annually. However, a good health care plan offers financial protection for expensive medical costs that are unexpected. The health care plan helps you to cater for common services such as preventive care and annual check-ups.

Hot Tips for Low Cost Auto Insurance

Do you want low cost insurance?

If you are paying more than $5,000 per year for auto insurance, here are some things you need to consider. Low cost auto insurance companies have been known to charge this amount and higher car insurance. What can you do to acquire low cost auto insurance? You may be able to lower your cost by a considerable amount of money with some helpful hints.

The first method to getting low auto insurance cost is to get rate quotes from several different insurance carriers. There are many types of insurers out there, so you should consider the type of company as well. There are low cost auto insurance companies that sell online exclusively. There are those that sell only through outside agents. There are low cost insurance companies that sell only their own products.

Shop and compare each type of low cost auto insurance carrier to ensure you are getting the low cost auto insurance you deserve. Remember, you can always call your state's insurance department, who maintains information on major low cost insurance companies. Utilizing all of the resources available to you will help you obtain low cost auto insurance.

Another way of procuring low cost auto insurance is to know the cost of the insurance of you next car. Car insurance cost is based, among other things, on what your car is worth and what the repair costs will add up to. Low cost auto insurance companies maintain a list of the most frequently stolen cars. If your prospective car appears on this list, be ready to pay higher premiums. Investigate which cars have the best safety ratings and the lowest repair costs. Lower car repair costs often equal low cost auto insurance.

Higher deductibles are another way of getting low cost auto insurance. When you increase your deductibles, you lower your premiums by as much as 15 to 30 percent. Call your low cost insurance agent or check online to see what kind of impact changing your deductible will have on low cost auto insurance. For example, if your existing deductible is four hundred dollars, see what would happen if you raise it to six hundred dollars, or even eight hundred dollars.

Low cost auto insurance method four is to know the value of your car. You can call your auto loan provider for this information, or you can look your car up in the Kelly Blue Book. If your car is older, consider reducing the coverage. You may not need collision if your car's replacement value is less than the insurance premium.

Low auto insurance method five is to buy all of your insurance from the same company. In other words, get your home insurance, auto insurance, flood, and fire from your low cost auto insurance carrier.

There are even some insurers that give low cost auto insurance discounts to customers that have been with them for quite a few years.with in a timely manner.

Auto Insurance - Nineteen Things You Need to Know

If you drive a car, you need to understand auto insurance. Believe me; it's much better to learn now than it is after an accident. Here are 19 ways to get the most coverage for the least money:

1. Spend your money wisely

Put your money towards the things that could wipe you out financially.

Most people will spend a lot of money to get a $500 deductible and ignore the fact that a $500,000 lawsuit could bury them forever. You should raise your deductible and increase your liability coverage. The premium change will balance itself out to about the same amount you are paying now. Raising your total liability coverage from the standard $300,000 to $500,000 will only cost you about $60 more per year on two cars.

Look at the trade-off: what you are saving in premiums vs. how much risk you can accept. You can save on your premiums by shaving off your personal injury protection. This is often called the medical payments coverage. If you already have health insurance, it will pay your medical bills after an accident. You are basically paying for the same coverage twice.

2. Look at your liability coverage per person

Have your agent write your policy so that the total amount paid per accident and per person are the same amount.

If you have $300,000 in total liability, often only $100,000 is payable for each person injured. If you are sued by an individual for $200,000 - you are responsible for half. Your $300,000 worth of coverage should reflect $300,000 worth of coverage.

3. Buy an umbrella policy

If you have a considerable amount of assets, or plan to, consider taking out an umbrella policy that covers both your home and autos for liability. These policies usually start at $200 to $300 annually for up to $1 million of coverage.

4. Good advice is worth looking for

Make sure that you get your advice from neutral, credited professionals. When shopping for an agent, look for experience. You don't want to necessarily go with an agent that has only had one weeks worth of training! Look at their education and industry credentials. Look for those who are members of the CPCU, CIC and AAI.

5. Good credit ratings count

Your credit rating is used to determine your insurability and your premiums. Good credit equals affordable insurance.

6. Your insurance company pays for your rental

If you have been in an accident and your car has to be in the shop, make sure that your policy covers the costs of renting a similar car. While a week with your car in the shop doesn't sound like all that long, one-week worth of rental fees can add up to the hundreds of dollars.

7. Shopping around pays off

Premiums vary widely from company to company. You can often pay more than double for the same insurance. Make sure that you call around for quotes from brand name companies and independent agents.

Don't assume that going with a well known company will cost you more. Insurance companies with the best ratings often have the best prices.

Don't just get a quote - ask for the exact numbers on the exact coverage you need. You want to compare apples to apples.

8. Take advantage of discounts

Discounts can help to save you a lot of money. If you haven't had an accident in years, if you store your car in your garage, if you don't drive many miles - you may be eligible for a discount. Companies will also give you discounts for safety features and anti-theft devises. More than one car or more than one type of policy with a company gives you a discount also.

Paying your premiums annually instead of monthly can save you over $100 a year. Driving classes and good grades while in school can save you also.

9. Teens that aren't driving don't need to be insured

If you teen is away at college and is no longer driving your car, take them off of your policy. Teen drivers add anywhere from 50% to 500% to your premium. If your teen is driving, make him or her get their own insurance. Its time for them to start learning about insurance on their own.

10. Older cars don't need collision insurance

If you have an older car, you often don't need to carry collision insurance. You will be paying more in premiums for it than the car is worth. Ask your agent what your car is worth and how much of your premium goes towards collision insurance. Chances are you could just save the extra money for a year and have plenty set aside for replacing your car.

11. Shop for the best service

You need to find a company that is responsive, responsible and easy to deal with. Chances are that you are going to file a claim at some time in your life. You need an agent that will work with you towards a common goal: your satisfaction.

A good agent will act like a coach. He or she will advice you on how to present your claim to adjusters and will help you in any disputes. Don't settle for a 800- number that never lets you talk to a real person.

12. Understand the claims process

Have the agent explain to you the claims process before you chose which company to go with. Find out if your insurance pays for brand name, generic or used parts to fix your vehicle. Are you limited in your choice of garages? Make sure that you have everything in writing.

13. Diminished value - ask about it

This is a very hot topic when it comes to auto insurance. Is a car worth less after an accident? If it is, should the insurance fix the car and pay you the difference in values? Ask your agent what your state regulations and rulings are regarding diminished value.

14. As soon as you have an accident, call your agent

There are time limits for most claim reports, usually 48 hours. If you want to ensure that all is being taken care of, call immediately.

15. Keep claim records

Write down everything that happens after an accident - names, dates and what was said. Keep track of when and who you speak with regarding the accident. You may be able to record any phone conversations. Save all of your receipts, get estimates and pick up a copy of the accident report.

16. Keep your claim moving

Shop around and get any necessary estimates. By jumping right in and doing so, you will be prepared and save everyone time.

17. Include everything in loss estimates

If you total your car, you may be able to recover the entire cost, including your sales tax and registration fees. Contact your agent to find out what estimates you need to have.

18. Be patient with your adjuster, but keep pressuring

An adjuster is just like you or me, they make mistakes. If you keep your temper and politely work your way up the chain of command, you will get much further. Have all denials put in writing with reasons included. Compare the explanation with your policy.

Your agent is there to make calls on your behalf. Ask to have the matter reviewed. You can choose to go into arbitration, but you will pay half of the costs. This is often quicker than taking the matter to court. See what the record of customer satisfaction is with the company's arbitration hearings. Your last resort is suing.

19. If you switch companies, cancel your old policy

But don't cancel it before you have new insurance. You want to have no gaps. Some companies will report that you are driving without insurance and you may face a suspended driver's license. If you get a letter from the state, make sure that you provide your proof of insurance immediately.

Filing Auto Insurance Claim - Should I or Should I Not?

Even if you are the most careful driver in the world, one day you are going to have a car accident and need to file a claim. It doesn't matter if you simply scrapped the side of your car in a parking lot or totaled it in a serious accident, dealing with an insurance claim can be daunting.

Knowledge is power, especially when dealing with insurance companies, being aware of what you can expect during the claims process will ensure that you are treated fairly and your claim is dealt with in a timely manner.

One of the first things you need to do is decide whether or not to file a claim, in many cases paying damages out-of-pocket can be the best course of action.

Should I File a Claim?

Making a claim on your policy can raise your premiums so it makes sense to examine the situation and decide if a claim makes financial sense. While every situation is different, there are a few general rules to follow.

Experts recommend not making small claims, but what constitutes a small claim will vary by both expert and consumer. If you can afford it, paying anything under $1000 is usually a good idea.

According to insurance experts you should make a claim when:

• You haven't had a claim in years. Often one claim will not affect your premiums.
• There were injuries. If anyone could claim they were injured due to the accident, file a claim which will protect you from a lawsuit.
• Your policy has an accident forgiveness component. You should get a free pass on a rate hike.
• If you are at fault it usually makes sense to file a claim as your rates are probably going up anyway.

Avoid Making a Claim if:

• Your deductible is close to the claim amount. If your claim amount is within a few hundred dollars of your claim amount, pay it out-of-pocket.
• You have had other claims recently, one more could easily push your premiums higher.
• The same goes for recent moving violations, a claim could trigger a driving record review, which could lead to higher rates.

You can also get some advice from your close friends or relatives who were in an accident and filed a claim. This could give you rough idea on amount of increment in premiums and you can extrapolate that information to come at some approximate numbers for your situation. Ultimately use your common sense when it comes to filing auto insurance claims.

Sometimes it also helps to file a claim and then shop around for lower auto insurance rates. Some websites offer easy comparison of the rates and this could help you in shopping. The reason for lower rates is that the information about your claims may or may not be shared between the companies and this could give you the benefit of doubt, but this method is not always guaranteed to work.

Auto Loans - How Does It Work?

Introduction 
According to thefreedictionary.com, it is a type of personal loan which is used to purchase an automobile or a vehicle.

When can you purchase a loan? 
Few of the things that you need to have when it comes to purchasing a car loan are the following: A person should provide its lender his or her credit reports or history if any. This is used to determine whether or not to grant the borrower a loan. Another thing that you should have is the required downpayment. The more money you can afford to give your lending company the better, because it can help you lower down your monthly interest rates and payment rates as well. Of course, the most essential requirement is to give your lender your employment credentials, this would bring peace of mind to your lender that you will not run towards your responsibility.

Can you get a loan even if you have a bad credit history? 
One of the main fears of some borrowers are the fear of not being approved to get a loan just because they have bad credit history. In this case however, the company or the lender may still approve you or give you a chance to purchase a car loan but you have to be ready because they will surely give you higher interest rates or higher monthly payment rates.

Your options in getting a car loan 
Just like any other loans you, as a borrower are entitled to choose whichever option is convenient to you. The choices are as follows:
1. Online
2. Dealership Loans
3. Bank Loans

Your loan terms 
Again, your loan terms can be longer or shorter, higher interest rates or lower depending on your present credit status, your lender will choose what they think is best for you. Most loan terms are three, four, five or six years to pay. You also have to remember that those buyers who have excellent credit histories will most likely entitled to get the on-going market rate for interest rates.

Tips in choosing the best car loan company for you 
1. Search - Some of their credentials are written on the Internet, all you have to do is to search and look for it.
2. Credibility - After searching, test the credibility of the company, see if you can also see good reviews about them and the way they serve their borrowers.
3. Choices - You must be able to practice your freedom to choose what you prefer. Do not settle for someone who will dictate what car or payment terms you have to make. Instead, look for someone who will make you choose what's convenient and what you think is best for you.

In conclusion 
Car loans are best when both parties were benefiting for the same. Choose the best deal for you and hopefully you can also find the best auto loan company to assist you.

Insuring Your Restaurant Can Prevent Unnecessary Hassles

If you are starting your own business, one area you can never avoid is insurance. By insuring your restaurant you can avoid facing a number of problems ranging from legal issues, accidental fires to broken equipment. Restaurant insurance can be of various types. One of the most common type of restaurant insurance which protects you in case someone falls accidentally in your restaurant, or falls ill after eating there. Liquor liability is another important type of restaurant insurance. If you have a liquor license, you need to have liquor liability as part of your insurance. One of the major benefits of this insurance is that it protects you incase one of your customers gets drunk and ends by injuring himself or others. You can go for property insurance in order to make sure that in case of an accidental fire you do not suffer huge financial loss. But you should remember that such a property does not cover any type of natural disasters. It includes any type of mortgage or equipment.

As a restaurant owner, the welfare of your workers is your top priority to get the best out of them. Therefore you should go for workers compensation. It provides protection if one of your employees is hurt while working in the restaurant. Most restaurants these days provide compensation to workers if they are badly injured while working. Unemployment Insurance is for those employees who don't work for you anymore till they find a suitable employment. A life insurance policy is a must. Insuring a big amount as life insurance policy can ensure that your lenders are pleased in case you owe a large sum to them. Moreover life insurance can protect your family from unnecessary hassles related to payments in case something serious happens to you. There are a number of insurances which can be of great help in times of crisis once you start your own restaurant. But remember that you will have to pay a bigger amount than what you are already investing.

Loss of business insurance falls in this category. Incase your sales go down for any reason, this policy will help you recover some of your investments. The premiums and deductibles you pay under this policy can help you reach at least the break even point. This however depends on the amount of money you have lost. Food contamination insurance can very useful if you are facing power problem and all fillings of your freezer get spoilt. This policy will pay in order to replace the contaminated food. Equipment breakdown coverage provides protection from damages incurred by power surges or motor burnout. By going for this insurance you can make sure that if some major fault occurs in your fridge, oven or credit card machine, the repair costs are covered.

Keeping in mind the types of insurances mentioned above, you should select the food shop insurance which suits your requirements as well as budget. Since this type of policies require big budget you should be wise to choose the ones which you can pay for. Once you buy this type of insurance, you will have enough time to devote to your restaurant and help it grow. There is no need to pay from your own pocket if any type of accident or mishap occurs as mentioned above. You should opt for takeaway insurance to have protection from all types of damage or harm to your restaurant, employees and clients.

Is Business Interruption Insurance the Answer to the Threats Which Could Put You Out of Business?

What risks could be potentially serious enough to put you out of business, at least temporarily? How long would it take to recover? How much money would you lose during that time?

Here are some examples of risks which have done serious, even in some cases permanent, damage to some businesses.

· Property damage, caused by anything from fire to severe weather or deliberate malicious acts.

· Access to your property, caused by any of the above, or by disruption to transport.

· Machinery breakdown, and difficulty in obtaining replacements or repairs.

· Cyber-risks, including loss of computing facilities, loss of data, or misuse of computers, data, the internet or social media.

· Power cuts.

· Employee absence, caused by sickness, strikes, or difficulty recruiting following departures.

· Damage to reputation caused by a public relations catastrophe.

· Intervention by a regulatory body due to non-compliance.

When did you last spend any time thinking about how to prevent or limit the effects of, each of the above? It may be time you discussed them with col,leagues or independent persons. In addition to these, there is the question of the supply chain. Many businessmen look carefully at the risks threatening their own businesses but have no idea how well other organisations are managed, whilst in the present global economy we are all increasingly interdependent. Floods in the Indian Subcontinent a few years ago seriously disrupted the provision of certain minerals used in manufacturing computer parts. Some British business owners thought they would be able to switch suppliers fairly easily, but found that all supply routes led back to a few mines in one small area.

Some people think the answer lies in Business Interruption Insurance, and I certainly recommend looking into the cost and the extent of cover available to your business.

However, this type of insurance covers only the interruption of your business resulting from damage to property or machinery, and also the loss of computer services, and even there, the cover is usually quite limited in scope. It follows that losses arising from the other risks listed cannot usually be insured. Therefore, the only way to protect your business is to have procedures in place to reduce the chances of such events occurring, and to have plans for recovering quickly from whatever does occur.

Given the effects of stress on people's decision-making abilities, the best time to make your contingency plans is before the contingency happens.

You may also find that the cost and availability of Business Interruption Insurance is influenced by your ability to provide evidence of your risk management and disaster recovery policies, so even those risks you can insure against need to be managed as positively and effectively as possible.

If you are in rented property, you need to look into the arrangements your landlord has for insuring it and for rebuilding in the event of a major loss. His loss of rent may be much less than your loss of turnover. Similarly, you need to look at the insurance and disaster recovery arrangements of anyone providing machinery or computers on which you depend.

In summary, do not let all your hard work in building up your business be wiped out by events which you may wrongly think are beyond your control or influence. Look into the practical measures you can take to reduce the risks or at least to reduce their potential severity, and look into the different insurances there may be available to help you contain the costs if the worst does happen.

What should be the car insurance if the car is bought on credit?

Despite the fact that cars are no longer a luxury, in the scale of wealth they hold second place, behind the palm of leadership except real estate. It is not surprising are the indicators that relate to transportation-related crimes. If we recall the number of accidents occurring annually, requiring the bank to insure a car, for which he gives credit does not seem so inappropriate.
With insurance or without?Today, the opportunity to take a car on credit and make out with liability insurance - a rarity. Only some banks agree to give car loans without a helmet, to the same conditions for such loans is very hard - this is a high down payment, and often inflated rate and short term loans. Banks try to secure as they can given to you means, so in addition to the mandatory for every driver, "automobile liability insurance" will have additional "fork" is also on Casco insurance.Actually, in this particular policy there is nothing wrong, it's a way to protect your personal car is of any trouble that seems so waiting on the highways. However, when the lending bank and the insurance company will have to consider a lot of details that will make savings on insurance reasonable.
Where to get insurance?Ideal opportunity to save on car insurance is to choose such a bank, which does not matter what company you buy the hull, as long as the policy you've had. This way, you will not overpay and high interest rates, which the Bank of reinsurance potential problems with the car, and be able to choose the insurer "taste." On the other hand, if you pick up the bank with the most suitable for you credit conditions, and this credit organization strongly recommends a particular insurer, take the time to give up. It is better to read the proposed terms of insurance, find out more about the recommended insurer - maybe your bank cooperates with the best of them. However, it may well give up and so that this most "recommended" the insurer - the highest insurance rates in the city, and such seemingly favorable credit conditions become significant burden.
Car insurance - an important pointOne can not tell the difference value of the policy that you purchase for your own personal car, and the insurance that the pledge to buy the car. The fact that the price of the policy is largely influenced by such factors as the degree of depreciation (amortization) of cars. That is, each year the policy manual for your car will cost less. However, the auto loan that rule does not apply - if you take out a loan, for example, for three years, during this period, the policy cost Hull for you to be the same.
Another important caveat, which for some borrowers as a surprise "de facto." If your car still bit of a nuisance, provided the insurance agreement, the indemnity will be paid not to you, even though you are acting owner of the insured vehicle, and the bank, which is the mortgagee. It would seem that this situation is not fair, but it's worth remembering that, regardless of the state (or whether you have) a car loan you have to pay to its full maturity. In other words, if you have saved on the insurance and your credit car stolen, you are left without a car and with unpaid debts. If you have a hull, the debt to the bank will cover the insurance company.