Insurance Adviser

Articles and tips covering all aspects of Insurance

Archive for May, 2008

May
29

Business Insurance Protects Your Investments

Posted under General Insurance

When you begin your own business it is important that you include business insurance in your start up plan. It is important that you protect your assets with insurance and there are many types to consider. You need protection from all types of possible losses. This can range from auto insurances, key man insurance, liability, and asset protection insurance. You may need all of the aforementioned or maybe just one or two of them but here we will give you a brief overview of each type so you can decide whether you need to check further into them.
If you have any automobiles that are drive by for work related trips it is important that you are properly insured. If you are involved in an automotive related accident having your vehicle insured can really protect your other assets. This is especially true if you are carrying enough coverage. My personal feeling is that businesses that have any assets at all should have a policy with an absolute minimum coverage of 300,000/100,000. This means that your insurance company will pay out a total of $100,000 per person involved in the accident with the most per accident being $300,000. This type of coverage will hopefully allow you to settle with all involved and keep them from coming after your other assets.
Key Man insurance is usually held on the person that is the biggest asset to the company, hence the name “key man.” This is a life insurance policy that if this person were to die you would receive money to help your company stay afloat while trying to find a replacement or liquidating the company. This money can cover everyday business expenses such as mortgage payments or help you keep your payroll running smoothly during this unfortunate transition period.
Liability insurance is just that, it protects you from any liable law suits. This means that if someone comes into your store and slips and falls this is the insurance that is going to; hopefully, protect you from a long drawn out law suit. This type of insurance also protects you if your business requires you to do work on job sites. For instance, if you are a tree trimmer and you are trimming branches and one of them falls on a parked vehicle this insurance is what is used to reimburse the vehicle’s owner.
Asset protection insurance can have lots of different types of coverage. Most of the times it covers your buildings and contents in your buildings quite similar to homeowner’s insurance. Then there are more specific policies for niche markets. For example if you own a restaurant you can insure your perishable items so in the event of a prolonged power outage you will be reimbursed for your lost inventory.
When you own a business it is very important that you consider ever loss that you could encounter and try to make sure that you have the correct business insurance to cover it. Without the proper types of business insurance you are leaving your business’ assets unprotect against law suits.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/business-insurance-protects-your-investments-430198.html

About the Author:
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on business insurance and home business insurance at http://www.findbusinessinsurance.com

May
29

How to Buy Health Insurance

Posted under Health Insurance

It is essential that, you as a consumer understand as much as you can about health insurance, particularly the policies you are considering purchasing. Research first and research well. Learn what types of policies are available in your area and age group. Look into the A.M Best rating for the carriers you’re considering. Ask your agent.

Check out your agent as well. Is he an independent or captive agent? An independent agent represents many insurance carriers and is not limited and will therefore most likely push only the policies of a particular insurance company. What hours is the agent available to you should you have problems or questions?

Make certain you completely understand the limits of the policies you are considering. Know beyond a doubt what the insurance plan covers and how they pay, or you will be reimbursed for office visits, prescriptions and other covered medical services.

Insurance language is usually confusing, and often proprietary. Make sure everything you expect is in writing and that you understand what the policy actually says. Your agent should be able to help you in this regard. Enlist his assistance in interpreting what is in your contract, but make sure all the coverage you expect is actually written in the contract. The last thing you’ll want to discover is that you’ve been faithfully paying for a policy that does not cover what you had thought it did.

To save a few dollars (can be very significant savings) consider purchasing a plan with a higher deductible. You might even consider an HSA, or Health savings Account which covers you for the major medical bills, while allowing you to deposit money into a special interest bearing, tax deferred account which you will use for the minor, less expensive medical charges. Discuss this option with your agent.

Also consider joining an organization, or association which offers a group health insurance plan. In many cases (but certainly not all) a group plan can be less costly and cover more than an individual plan.

Read your renewed policy every year. Read all the fine print. Make certain that your new policy covers everything the old one covered, everything you need covered. The health insurance industry is constantly changing, as are you. Make certain your policy keeps up with your needs.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/how-to-buy-health-insurance-428333.html

May
21

5 Tips to Select the Proper Commercial Auto Policy

Posted under Car Auto Insurance

The main goal of the commercial auto insurance company is to get the maximum coverage with lower premium.

It is essential to identify the proper commercial auto insurance company to get the full coverage.

You must have to know that what types of coverage offers by the commercial auto insurance company. Here are the tips to select the proper commercial auto coverage for your vehicles.

1. You must have to select the known auto insurance company which gives proper coverage with good records of handling claims. You must have to select the insurance companies which can provides better services too.

2. You also need to select the insurance company who gets specialization in dealing with the every type of vehicles. Your insurance company must handle the insurance properly.

3. There are various commercial auto insurance companies provides discount once the insurance companies sanctioned insurance. The discount is based on the liability of your insurance.

4. You must have to select the insurance that gives coverage of replacement of equipments. You will get the added coverage, if you select the proper insurance for your commercial auto.

5. The insurance policy must cover repairing of the parts. If you have major damage you must get the coverage according to the commercial auto policy.

Without commercial auto insurance, you are not responsible to claim and if incase you can injured other people than it is your responsibility to gives proper treatment and may get some punishment as per state law. Commercial auto insurance is necessary for every vehicle. It is essential to get the proper coverage.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/5-tips-to-select-the-proper-commercial-auto-policy-421270.html

May
20

Consumers Urged To Consider Home Insurance

Posted under Home Insurance

Despite many thoughts to the contrary, home contents insurance should be a crucial consideration for homeowners, a new study shows.

In research carried out by Sainsbury’s Home Insurance it was revealed that a significant number of consumers lack this type of cover, with many not thinking that it is of importance. Out of those consumers who lack home contents insurance, just over a third (35 per cent) claimed that they did not view such a purchase as being necessary. Meanwhile some five per cent stated that they do not care about their belongings, with eight per cent thinking that they own nothing of value. Overall, it was indicated that some 4.7 million adults currently lack any form of home contents insurance.

In addition, five per cent of respondents cited the fact that they viewed contents cover as being too expensive for them to be able to purchase it. One in 100 people surveyed, meanwhile, claimed to have forgotten to take out such insurance, with the same proportions putting their lack of a premium down to being previously refused cover and not having enough time to make such a purchase.

However, following a break-in or an accident in the home, those consumers who lack a sufficient level of insurance might find that they will have to meet the cost of repairs to their property and replacing items out of their own pockets and purses. In turn this could have an impact upon their ability to manage other demands on their finances such as loans, store and credit cards, mortgage repayments and utility bills.

Neil Laird, manager at Sainsbury’s Home Insurance, stated: “It’s remarkable given the value of people’s home contents that so many do not have cover. Home insurance does not have to be expensive. You can spread the cost over the course of a year and some insurers, including ourselves, will not charge for this.”

Further research from the financial services firm revealed that Londoners are leaving their possessions most at risk as a consequence of not having home contents insurance, with 22 per cent of people here not owning this. In addition, a further five per cent of people from the capital were unsure whether or not they had this type of cover. Meanwhile about one in ten from the rest of the south-east region are without cover and nine per cent of consumers in the north of the country were also found not to own insurance. On the other hand, those living in Yorkshire and Humberside appear to be best equipped in the event of theft or damage to their belongings, as just three per cent of consumers in this part of the country do not have home contents insurance.

Consumers lacking a sufficient insurance policy may wish to opt for a homeowner loan to help them meet the cost of repairing and replacing damaged items. The additional financial assistance that a loan provides could also help borrowers to purchase a comprehensive home contents insurance policy. A homeowner loan may also be of assistance to those consumers looking to pay for emergency repairs. Research conducted by Homeserve earlier this year showed that just under two-thirds of consumers have incurred a home emergency, such as a broken down boiler, over the past 12 months. The typical bill was indicated to come to 494 pounds.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/consumers-urged-to-consider-home-insurance-419902.html

May
20

What is Term Life Insurance?

Posted under Life Insurance

It’s a very basic form of life insurance. You can take out term life insurance to provide temporary life insurance on a restricted budget.

It exists for a limited period of time, the relevant “term”; after this time, it’s

up for grabs again, either renewed, lapsing, extended or whatever. It’s simply a life assurance policy that pays out if the insured person or persons die.

This makes it a very “clean” form of insurance - no cash sum is necessarily built up, although policies do exist that have variable cover. Usually, a simple term life insurance package will have a level premium over a number of years and will vary in its cost according to the age, health, locality or any number of factors that are chosen by the insurance company.

For obvious reasons, the older you are, the riskier the product becomes!

There are studies that show that the number of claims against term life insurance policies are very low - apparently around 1% is a rule-of-thumb figure. This means that the premiums are low compared to the payout if there ends up being a claim.

Because of the low likelihood of an insurer having to pay a death benefit, term insurance seems better when considered in terms of coverage per premium expenditure basis - by a factor of maybe up to 10!

You must remember to pay your premiums, otherwise the insurance company will have a reason to not pay out in case of death. That should be easy to avoid if you are paying by direct debit or some other automated means, but if you pay every month or otherwise, there is always the risk that the whole policy will not be valid. As a result, as with all insurance policies, it pays to check the wording carefully.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/what-is-term-life-insurance-419185.html

About the Author:
George Carr writes for http://www.homecontentsinsurance.org.uk and maintains the website.

May
12

New Courses to Decelerate the Rising Cost of Car Insurance

Posted under Car Auto Insurance

New courses are being introduced as part of an initiative to help reduce the cost of car insurance. The new courses are designed to improve a driver’s skill at the wheel even after they have passed their test and it is hoped that younger drivers looking for insurance will not have to pay the £2000 premiums they are currently paying.

The courses will include motorway driving and braking at high speeds. The courses are all approved by the Driving Standards Agency and are designed to make finding cheap car insurance easier, it is estimated that the courses could save drivers around £500. Officials have met up with the industry to design the courses to ensure the insurers will be happy to reduce premiums by 25% of drivers who have taken and passed the course.

Around half a million people gain a drivers licence each year but less than 10,000 go on to take advanced lessons. As some drivers passed their tests before some of the new technologies arrived, such as ABS brakes, many drivers would benefit greatly from these new courses. As well as lowering the cost of insurance, the courses will hopefully improve road safety through improving a driver’s ability to think on their feet.

Finding car and classic car insurance is becoming harder due to the credit crunch and its effects on our spending. It is unknown how much the courses are going to cost but when there is the possibility of saving 25% on your car insurance, surely it is worth it because you have to speculate to accumulate.

New courses are designed to lower the cost of insurance and classic car insurance and improve road safety. Finding cheap car insurance should also be a lot easier due to the possible savings. Whatever you need insurance for, search online to find the best deals.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/new-courses-to-decelerate-the-rising-cost-of-car-insurance-411338.html

May
12

Fraudulent Accident Claims Encouraged by Advertising Campaigns

Posted under Car Auto Insurance

Critics are saying that advertisements for personal injury companies encourage fraudulent accident claims. Funny and misleading advertisements are being cited as a cause for fraudulent accident claims this month. Rick Shapiro on Injury Board.com wrote a startling and critical polemic on the problem, saying that funny insurance advertisements are a disgrace. The American writer was particularly critical of a series of ads by a company which he chose not to name, but which used ‘funny cavemen’ to promote their services.

“What do funny cavemen have to do with whether the rates offered by Geico, Allstate, State Farm, or any insurance company are fair or whether that insurance company is ethical?” Shapiro asked. “The message of these ads is what? Your insurance company thinks like cavemen? I think not.” He added.

But Shapiro’s tirade was just one of many which can be found online. Industry experts have been blogging and they all seem to agree that a degree of integrity is missing from advertising both in the US and to a slightly lesser extent, here in the UK, with regards to insurers and personal injury firms. “These ads rank up there in stupidity with the ads run by personal injury lawyers that repeat the words “cash, cash, cash, for you.” Shapiro said.

It is easy to see why some consumers might see these ads as advocating a quick way to get some money. However, this is unlikely the intention of the firms who run these campaigns, because it is precisely these companies who must pay when criminals do flout the system.

One such scam attempt was discovered recently. After watching the ‘no win, no fee’ advertisements on television a man broke his partner’s leg as part of a fraudulent accident claim. The man had intended to make £100,000 by saying that the accident had been sustained by a wall falling onto his girlfriend’s leg and he had filled out forms in order to sue Plymouth Council.

However, according to Legal and Medical: “The pair were caught when the police raided Thomson’s house for an unrelated matter. During the raid they found paperwork that had been filled out to send to the council to make a claim and mobile phone video footage of Thomson breaking his partner’s leg filmed by a friend.” Gordon Thompson was jailed for 3 years but, he had been inspired to act by enticing advertisements on television which made accident claims look easy and victimless, Thompson’s girlfriend had to have a pin put in her leg and was on crutches for 6 months.

With cases like this in the news it is easy to wonder whether injury lawyers should advertise on the television at all. They are providing a service to those who truly need it and for whom various other methods of compensation are not supplied. They are not supposed to appeal to the worst nature of healthy people, only the better nature of those who need to be helped. Critics advise those who need legal representation to not be swayed by clever, capitalistic or funny advertising.

Rick Shapiro also said in his recent polemic: “The issues that matter in the world of personal injury are which insurance companies are ethical and respectable, and which will fairly deal with your own claim, or a claim made against you. “

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/fraudulent-accident-claims-encouraged-by-advertising-campaigns-411329.html

About the Author:
Sarah Othman is an author of several articles pertaining to Accident Claims . She is known for her expertise on the subject and on other Business and Finance related articles.

May
12

Car Insurance- New Customers Get Preferential Treatment

Posted under Car Auto Insurance

There are so many options for customers when choosing car insurance. With the amount of providers on the market you are bound to find a good deal from one of them. However, you may need to switch when you insurance is up for renewal to ensure you find the best deal for you.

We all want to sort out our car insurance in the quickest, easiest and, most importantly, cost effective way possible. Sometimes insurers offer the better deals to new customers but do not pass on these offers to existing customers. This is visible when existing customers get their renewal quote; the insurer very rarely, if ever, shows the original cost of the policy and only shows the renewal price which is normally higher.

The answer to these price hikes is to switch insurers or at least shop around for a better deal when your policy is up for renewal. Finding classic car insurance is easy nowadays and you should shop around for the best deals as the car will no doubt be priceless to you and therefore you need an extensive policy to cover yourself from all eventualities.

Prices have risen by around 6% over the past 12 months so there might be a slight increase (well a 6% increase) but most insurers are increasing prices by around 10% and you will definitely be able to find a better deal. Deals like Vauxhall car insurance are widely available and offer policies at very competitive prices.

The smallest things can help you reduce the cost of your policy, parking your car in a garage and having extra security methods can all help reduce the cost. Be honest with your insurer because lying on a policy can make it void and if your circumstances change, make sure you inform the insurer because you may be entitled to cheap car insurance, e.g. married people get cheaper quotes than single people. Whatever your circumstances are, search online for the best deals around.

Switching can help you save money as renewals on car insurance can often be more expensive than the original price. To find classic car insurance and other deals such as Vauxhall car insurance search online and compare the leading providers.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/car-insurance-new-customers-get-preferential-treatment-411365.html

May
09

Drivers Urged To Avoid Paying Over The Odds For Insurance

Posted under Car Auto Insurance

As the days become longer and warmer temperatures arrive it may be perhaps unsurprising that some motorists want to feel the wind blowing in their faces while out on the road.

However, those looking to purchase a convertible car should first take the time to purchase a comprehensive motor insurance policy.

Such is the claim of Confused where a recent piece of research revealed that the average insurance policy for a soft-top model is slightly more expensive than that for a non-convertible car. The lowest-price difference between the types of vehicle was indicated as standing at 11 pounds per year, although this rises to 32 pounds for the typical insurance policy.

However, those consumers who lack a comprehensive policy might find that they have to shell out of their own pockets to help with replacing items or funding repairs should they have an accident or be the victim of crime. In turn this may have an impact to meet other demands on their finances in areas such as loan repayments, council tax bills, mortgages and credit and store cards.

Meanwhile, those looking to enjoy the good weather in a flashy new convertible were given a gentle reminder that Britain sees an average of 55 days of sunshine per year.

Citing the need for motorists to get comprehensive insurance, the price comparison site pointed towards “horror stories” of soft-top roofs being slashed and items being stolen out of easily-accessible glove compartments in convertible cars. And although the reality of this actually happening may not be as likely as some drivers may think, given the reflection in differences between non-convertible and convertible vehicles, Confused still urged drivers to take out adequate insurance.

Commenting on the data, Debra Williams, managing director of Confused, stated: “Like most of life’s pleasures, many drivers will find that the desire to own a swanky new car will outweigh the practical concerns and perceived costs involved. However, car insurance is becoming increasingly competitive so whether you are insuring an old banger or a sleek sports car, it is vital to shop around for the best deal in order to make sure that you aren’t paying over the odds for your car insurance.”

Ms Williams went on to report that it is important for motorists to “take precautions”. As such, she advised drivers to make sure their vehicle is parked in a secure location and that valuable items are not left in a car. She added that as long as consumers use common sense then there is no reason as to why they will not be able to “enjoy the benefits of cheaper car insurance when buying a convertible”.

For those looking for an effective way in which to purchase a vehicle, taking out a personal loan could be of help. In doing so, consumers may find that they are able to buy the car of their dreams quickly and have an affordable level of repayments to make each month.

Furthermore, the financial assistance that a loan provides could help motorists to purchase comprehensive car insurance cover. This might prove to be of particular assistance to those planning a European roadtrip after a recent study by uSwitch showed that the average cost of extending an insurance policy to cover consumers when driving on the continent can set consumers back by as much as 510 pounds.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/drivers-urged-to-avoid-paying-over-the-odds-for-insurance-407987.html

May
09

Make Sure Your Glass is Covered

Posted under Car Auto Insurance

One of the most common New York auto insurance claims is for glass repair. Windshields, windows, and mirrors are broken in numerous ways. Thieves, projectiles, minor collisions all pose a risk to the health of your glass. Don’t just assume your insurance company has your back when it comes to going to a glass doctor because coverage differences between companies vary greatly.

Your vehicle’s glass is something that should never be neglected. You can live without a radio and you can survive without air conditioning, but cracked or broken glass is dangerous and should be repaired as soon as possible. Windshields tend to crack or spider and cause obstructed views. They do not fly out as shards like in the movies so don’t get all freaked out if you see a runner creeping across your windshield. The pane is actually two panes of glass adhered to each side of a piece of laminate. This laminate prevents glass shards that could result in serious injury or death.

Side and rear windows in older cars were made from safety glass. This glass breaks into squares when broken. This is called cubing by many EMT’s. Newer vehicles still have the safety glass, but it has laminate in between the panes also, thus holding the glass squares together and increasing the structural integrity of the vehicle during a crash.

Although in most cases it increases safety, there is one downfall to the newer glass. EMTs can no longer quickly access an injured patient simply by using a window punch. They must hope the door isn’t jammed shut, use hydraulic tools to open a door, or use a special tool to cut away the whole glass pane. After a crash, if you are conscious and can reach to roll the window down without moving you spine, it will greatly help the EMTs. If you are unconscious, (or unable to reach to roll it down without moving your body), don’t worry about it.

New York auto insurance companies handle glass repair and replacement differently. Some have a $50 deductible on all glass. Others lump glass repairs and replacements into the property damage category and it is subject to your chosen deductible. Some deductibles are per year and some are per incident. If you have a per incident deductible, and the glass is the only damage and it was caused by a projectile (like a rock) it often isn’t worth claiming with your insurance company because the glass repair will be less than the deductible. Cheap car insurance rates are often obtained by forfeiting certain luxuries like low deductibles and glass repair riders.

Always take care of your glass. Not only is it safer, but in some states it’s the law. Glass can be repaired if it is a small chip, but will need to be replaced if cracked or cubed. You may have forfeited a low glass deductible to obtain cheap car insurance or your New York auto insurance company could have a courtesy $50 glass deductible rider in place. To prevent visual obstructions, see to it that the glass gets fixed ASAP, even if you have to pay for the whole repair out of pocket.

Separate summary: Before buying your New York auto insurance policy, check the glass coverage limits. Some policies have separate glass repair riders. If glass repair is under your comprehensive coverage and you want cheap car insurance you can raise your deductible, but you will probably have to pay for any glass repairs that may arise.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/make-sure-your-glass-is-covered-407491.html

About the Author:
After getting a free quote at http://www.carinsuranceguy.info/ , ask about glass damage coverage before buying your cheap car insurance from a licensed New York auto insurance company.