Financial Information

Bad News For Obese Alabamians’ Health Insurance

Sep 16, 2008 Insurance

Alabama is the first state in the U.S. to require state employees to pay for their health insurance if they are obese.The Alabama State Employees’ Insurance Board will assess a charge of $25 per month if any of the 37,527 state workers have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or higher and doesn’t show weight-loss progress.

The plan was approved last week, reported the Los Angeles Times.According the proposal, employees have until January of 2010 to get in shape.Alabama already penalizes state workers for unhealthy habits - smokers must pay $24 per month for their health insurance. If they also are obese, their health insurance will go up to $49 a month.”We are trying to get individuals to become more aware of their health,” said an Insurance Board member.

At first glance, this proposal makes sense. Most people are aware that being obese is a health risk, their is high blood pressure, cholesterol, among others. This is actually a good incentive.

The oppositions to this hypothetical question are many. Mostly being expressed by the obese employees of Alabama themselves.

The response to that is that not every overweight person is unhealthy. It has been researched and proven that half of overweight people have normal blood pressure and cholesterol. Out of obese numbers, a third have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. An Alabama state worker says, .”[The new plan is] terrible. Some people come into this world big.” This will be an ongoing debate.

Source: Finance

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Auto Insurance - 4 Steps to Buy an Auto Insurance

Sep 11, 2008 Insurance

If you’ve ever gone out to buy an auto insurance policy you’re all too familiar with the fact that trying to read the details about your policy can be like trying to translate Greek-without a dictionary. Many online auto insurance companies use so much legal-ese that the average reader needs a lawyer to translate their policy agreement, and it’s often hit or miss as to whether or not your auto policy is really going to provide the coverage that YOU NEED if you wind up in an accident.

So how do you know whether or not your auto insurance policy is sufficient? More importantly, what do you need to know before you go out and BUY an auto insurance policy to make sure you don’t find yourself on the short end of the stick when filing a claim?

1. Know your state’s minimum insurance requirements. Every state has a different set of requirements for drivers when it comes to auto insurance, and it’s vitally important that your policy be able to meet these requirements. If you aren’t familiar with the regulations of your individual state you can find them by asking your local DMV representative or visiting an online insurance resource
2. Know what your insurance requirements mean. When reviewing your insurance requirements you’re going to find that most states require their drivers to have coverage for both property damage (damage to another vehicle or public or private property in the event of an accident) and bodily injury coverage (the medical expenses incurred by the occupants of the other vehicle or passers-by who may have been injured in an accident that you were responsible for). You will also have the option to carry collision insurance, which will pay for damage to your own vehicle in an accident, and comprehensive, which will pay if your vehicle is damaged by an “Act of God” such as a hurricane or flood.
3. Know that a minimum requirement is precisely that-a minimum. Consider when choosing the upper limits of your auto insurance policy how much you will be able to afford to pay if you are in an accident. If you cause the accident you will be responsible for all damages incurred, including your own. That can get very expensive, very quickly! For most people it’s smarter to carry a higher level of coverage with a higher deductible than to carry the minimum and hope they’ll be able to pick up the remainder.
4. Know the value of your vehicle. If your car is only worth $800 and you aren’t carrying a loan on it, you may end up paying more to carry collision insurance on your auto insurance policy than you will receive if the car has to be totaled. On the other hand, if you’re driving a brand-new, $30,000 truck that you took out a loan to purchase (a loan you will be responsible for paying whether you have a drivable vehicle or not) the extra $50 or so a month is well worth it.
5. Before you buy an auto insurance policy, know the basic facts-and don’t be afraid to ask your sales rep to explain anything you may not understand. Your auto insurance may well be the best investment you make in a month, so it is vitally important that you get the policy that’s going to work for you.

Auto Insurance Quotes - Online Insurance Quotes - QuoteScout helps you find the coverage you need at the lowest price. QuoteScout provides consumers with a free, simple, and effective way to shop for insurance. As a leading online marketplace for insurance, QuoteScout works with a combination of local agents, regional and national carriers to ensure that you are provided with a wide variety of responses to your request for a quote. Please visit our website for more information.

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Lowest Auto Insurance Pay

Sep 11, 2008 Insurance

What Will Your Auto Insurance Pay?

Auto insurance is one of the most important investments that a driver can make. Why? A properly insured driver can save thousands of dollars after they’ve been in an accident. There are many drivers, however, who don’t understand exactly what auto insurance does-and therefore, they choose not to buy any.

What does auto insurance pay for? The primary purpose of auto insurance is to help protect a driver that is involved in an accident for which they are at fault. In other words, an accident that they caused. This includes accidents caused by reckless driving in inclement weather, speeding, running a red light, a crash resulting from a vehicle malfunction…the list goes on and on. These kinds of accidents can result in thousands of dollars of damages to their vehicle, the other vehicle(s) and the public and personal property that may have been involved. Repairs in this case usually need to be made quickly, and most people don’t have this kind of money lying around.

Auto insurance will also help pay for the medical expenses of the other driver. Emergency room care following an accident can cost upwards of five hundred dollars, particularly if x-rays or MRIs are needed or bones need to be set and cast. Again, most drivers cannot afford to pay five hundred dollars of another person’s expenses. They usually have enough of their own! An auto insurance company will pay a portion of their expenses, the amount of which is determined by the driver when they purchase their policy.

When a driver purchases a policy they will also have the option to add comprehensive and collision insurance. Comprehensive insurance will pay for damages to the driver’s vehicle if it’s damaged as a result of a natural event-a flood, or a hurricane. Most people are not aware that their collision insurance doesn’t cover these events until it’s too late.

Collision insurance pays for the damages to the driver’s vehicle if they are responsible for an accident. Liability coverage will pay for the damages they cause, but they are going to be responsible for their own repairs. Collision will help pay for these repairs, and if the car needs to be totaled (meaning that the damages to the car are greater than the car’s estimated worth) the insurance company will reimburse the driver the full Blue Book Value of their vehicle. An auto insurance policy may also provide coverage for the rental of a vehicle, minimizing time lost as a result of a lack of a vehicle.

Finally, some auto insurance policies will provide a secondary medical and life insurance to provide for the driver’s medical bills, time lost from work and, in the event that an accident proves fatal, life insurance for the driver’s family. It may also include a condition which allows for a victim to receive in-home care if it proves to be necessary, a vital concern for drivers who may become disabled as the result of an accident but do not have adequate medical coverage.

Auto insurance is vitally important for drivers, preventing them from being forced onto the brink of bankruptcy following an accident. With the multitude of companies offering auto insurance around the globe, there should be no reason for any driver to continue driving uninsured.

Auto Insurance Quotes - Free Insurance Quotes - QuoteScout helps you find the auto insurance coverage you need at the lowest price. QuoteScout provides consumers with a free, simple, and effective way to shop for insurance. As a leading online marketplace for insurance, QuoteScout works with a combination of local agents, regional and national carriers to ensure that you are provided with a wide variety of responses to your request for a quote. Please visit our website for more information.

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Kiwk Fit Car Insurance

Sep 11, 2008 Insurance

The Kwik Fit people seem to have been around as long as the car itself, helping the driver with all their motoring needs, from a broken mirror to a full MOT. It only makes sense then that they would extend their motoring services to the insurance market, surely if they can get you back on the road they can protect you while you’re on it also.

With that in mind the Kwik Fit people started to provide cover, one that offers their customers more perks than a driver is likely to know what to do with. Firstly they offer some of the usual features; guaranteed courtesy car, full glass cover and a hire car if you are the unfortunate victim of theft. If those features are already appealing to your car insurance palate then their array of additional discounts will only make you salivate, so as to keep you on the right path they are offering their customers a huge £100 discount on a satellite navigation system.

Rather than having to pay the RRP of £149.99, you would only have to shell out £49.99 for the Michelin X960. It comes with a large 3.5″ touch screen display with full UK postcode search and UK Street level maps. It also aids in keeping pedestrians safe as it is able to detect the vehicles speed and warn when the current speed limit is being exceeded.

Now that they have really and truly whet your appetite they continue to plough your budget conscious senses with delectable discounts. Each customer that signs up to take advantage of the feature packed portfolio that is Kwik Fit’s car insurance policy, they are gifted with the Kwik Fit auto save card. This discount allows the holder to enjoy 10% off everything they buy from Kwik Fit centres throughout the UK, so whether you need to get a new set of tires or need a car service you’ll enjoy a ten percent reduction when you get to the till.

An MOT is vital to the deeming of your vehicle road worthy and is also a legal requirement; so considering it is something you have to do every year you might as well save some money as you do, no doubt that extra ten percent would come in handy when that time of year comes around.

While saving money is usually at the forefront of a person’s mind when they are looking to take out insurance for another year, remembering to obtain the best level of cover you can may save you money in the long run, even if it costs you a few extra pounds at the outset. It is probably after seeing a number of customers in their forecourts that had failed to obtain cover for an eventuality they didn’t account for that Kwik Fit began offering their customers ‘add-ons’ to their core policies. One such add-on is their breakdown cover that offers various levels of cover; Kwik Assist Roadside and Kwik Assist Recovery. While they both offer 24-hour cover, 365 days a year with an average response of time of 40 minutes they do differ somewhat.

As their names suggest, Kwik Assist Roadside will offer assistance at the road while the other will simply take you to a particular address. Each will appeal to different demographics for various reasons, a business with a fleet of cars may only want to make use of the Kwik Assist recovery and bring the car back to ‘base’ or their approved mechanic. On the other hand, an individual that is self employed may need to have their vehicle up and running asap and if that’s at the roadside then that would be infinitely better than having to be taken home or to a mechanic. As time is precious to the self-employed road users, spending as little time as possible without a vehicle is the objective.

Onome is the author of several articles pertaining to the field of insurance so read her articles before you compare car insurance

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The 15 Most Glaringly Obvious Mistakes People Make When Driving Without Car Insurance

Sep 11, 2008 Insurance

1. Not having car insurance (obviously)
2. Driving long distances in front of various road camera contraptions
3. Driving in general
4. Crashing your car into a stationary object
5. Crashing your car into a moving object
6. Putting fluffy dice in your car (always a mistake)
7. Getting crashed into
8. Going ‘off roading’
9. Going ‘on roading’
10. Putting scented pine tree shaped air fresheners in your car (see fluffy dice)
11. Parking in dodgy areas (crime)
12. Parking in respectable areas (tickets)
13. Forgetting to put the handbrake on in exiting the vehicle on a slope
14. Drag racing in the family wagon
15. Showing off to your mates by doing donuts in Morrison’s car park

You may think that having car insurance is an obvious step if you have a car but unbelievably, some crazy people still seem willing to take the risk of not insuring their vehicles for use on the road. If you do not have car insurance then you are at a much greater risk of financial damage than you are if you actually fork out for insurance.

It’s true that your quote for the year can seem a daunting amount to pay but if you examine the risks that you take driving without insurance then this amount is relatively small.

It is irresponsible to yourself and to others if you drive without insurance. If you cause an accident, it does not matter if you did not mean to do it because you can still be taken to court and severely punished for driving without insurance. Also do not think that just because you are not driving your car you will be safe. If you do not declare your vehicle officially off the road then you could be in for a shock. The law constitutes that you must have insurance to ‘use’ a vehicle and that covers more comprehensive activities than just driving it. This means that even if your car is parked or stationary or even left for repair if it is on a road or public place then you could be breaking the law.

There are plenty of competitive rates for car insurance nowadays and unlike just a few years ago, you don’t have to spend weeks researching them all. You don’t have to spend ages looking at adverts in the back sections of the paper or phoning up endless companies from the yellow pages to see who can give you the best quote. There are plenty of review websites on the internet that search hundreds of online and well known insurance companies to come up with the best option for you, so there is no excuse not to find the cheapest and most inclusive deals.

Try http://www.confused.com for car insurance rates.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Maple
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-15-Most-Glaringly-Obvious-Mistakes-People-Make-When-Driving-Without-Car-Insurance&id=1480758

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Why It’s Worth Comparing Car Insurance Rates - Especially You Ladies!

Sep 11, 2008 Insurance

Due to the rising number of personal injury claims and accident damage, many car insurance companies are increasing the cost of car insurance by up to 16% to compensate for their escalating payouts.

Not all companies are increasing their rates though so it is essential to shop around for the best deal. There are so many price comparison sites on the internet it is easy to instantly compare rates from loads of companies in just a few seconds.

It’s really simple. You only have to enter your personal details once to compare loads of different offers. The days are past when you would sit for hours armed with a phone book and a pen and paper, contacting each insurer separately to find the best and cheapest deal. Just thinking about this painful process makes me yawn.

You are in good stead if you are female, over the age of 35 and have at least four years of no claims under your belt. You will be slightly more out of pocket if you are male, under the age of 35 and you’re looking to insure your first car.

It is interesting how women always seem to get the flack for being bad drivers when statistically men have far more accidents on the road. Slightly off parking is not going to kill anyone ok, it’s just annoying. I would have thought driving too fast badly would be more of an indication of being a bad driver. Women should probably not be surprised. Men have a history of lying to women about their superiority just to feel better about themselves; look at all that burning witches at the steak nonsense for example. If women really were evil witches then I doubt that men would dare to call them bad drivers, the reverse unfortunately does not apply. Anyway as women are enjoying better car insurance rates and deals from nearly every insurer then I think this time, the evidence speaks for itself.

It is more likely that you will never have to use your car insurance to claim for an accident, car insurance companies would not make any money if they were giving it all away.

I regularly compare car insurance quotes when I am due to renew. I also do this when I move home or change my circumstances. If you get married for example or have a child then it is worth checking to see if any companies have lowered your perceived ‘risk’ and are offering you more discount than the last time you checked. After all the people who decide how high your risk is are only human and maybe they think you will be a safer driver now you’re responsibly married-who knows?

Anyway being female, over 35 and with over 4 years no claims under my belt, car insurance providers should be clamoring for my custom!

Try comparing car insurance at http://www.confused.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Maple
http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Its-Worth-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Rates—Especially-You-Ladies!&id=1480644

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The Credit Crunch Strikes Hem Lines and Car Insurance

Sep 11, 2008 Insurance

After smashing another hideous dent in my car I am seriously considering getting it cleaned up using my car insurance policy.

I wasn’t so bothered after my first dent. It was only a small one right near the bumper and you could hardly see it but this most recent one is absolutely huge. I went smack bang into a concrete pillar whilst I was trying to turn round on a country lane. The unfortunately placed obstacle was one of a pair of plinths supporting some majestic looking wrought iron gates that looked like they led to a country estate. If only the gates had of been open at the time I would have been able to reverse up their blooming drive instead of into the entrance of it.

I just couldn’t see it out of the back window of my old Nissan Versa. Of course the fact that I couldn’t see the pillar in my side mirror or out of my back window should have told me that this was because the back of my car was covering it up. I did not assume this, instead somewhere in my head was telling me that the gnarly bit of concrete had magically disappeared and that I was safe to reverse. Wrong

Now I have upped my accident at under 2mphr list to 12. I am an accident prone snail. The new dent is decorated with a few scrapes and chipped bits of paint that lend a certain beatnik careless can’t afford a new car feel to it. I feel like a student again.

At least by not claiming on my car insurance I have managed to knock up 3 years of no claims. I might just buy a new car with good visibility and wait until an occasion when I really need to put my policy to the test (touchwood it won’t come to that). Until then I will just drive around in my beloved banger and not worry about the occasional scratch or nick that I incur on my travels.

I always search for the best deals on my insurance every year. With so many comparison websites it’s easy to find a good deal and compare rates without the hassle of doing all your own research and getting confused. It’s so easy to just stick with the insurance company that you have had since you were 18 years old through either laziness or loyalty but it is always worth checking out the competition. After all if you can save a couple of hundred pounds just by clicking around online in your lunch break then why the hell not? If this credit crunch malarkey is going to last a while it can’t hurt to do the sensible thing and prepare to buckle up, you would only otherwise be spending your lunch break reading about celebrities or buying clothes. Or maybe that’s just me?

Try car insurance comparison at http://www.confused.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Maple
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Credit-Crunch-Strikes-Hem-Lines-and-Car-Insurance&id=1480680

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Auto Finance Company Car Insurance Rate

Sep 10, 2008 Insurance

When coming to auto insurance, you should make sure you make the right decisions. So hopefully the information provided here can help you focus on some areas in your auto policy that can actually help in lowering your auto insurance rates instead of raising them. There is a huge range of auto insurance companies and types of auto insurance and it all boils down to what you actually require. Auto insurance policies are made up of many parts, reflected in the type of accidents that happen including; injuring another road user or pedestrian, damage to property or another vehicle, collision with an uninsured or underinsured driver and fully comprehensive insurance.

Before the advent of the internet, getting realistic quotes from auto insurance companies was difficult if not at times, almost impossible. Now, some online sites will actually compare the car insurance rates from several auto insurance companies for you so that you can see at a glance which one would be best suited for your needs. Searching online for your auto insurance could save you a huge amount of money and a considerable amount of time in the process.

In calculating an auto insurance premium, there are many factors to consider that will affect the end cost, including what town or city you live in and whether or not you have an alarm fitted or a garage to park the vehicle in as well as the cost of repairs and the cars power. It’s a pretty safe bet though that you’ll pay more for your auto insurance policy if you live in a big city when compared to a nice farm out in the country. There was a time when you had to pay your auto insurance premium up front but most reputable companies will allow monthly installments nowadays which should help soften the financial strain.

Experts advise that you should always ask for free quotes on auto insurance from different insurance agents well before your present insurance expires. For some individuals, giving up their fast, high risk vehicle might be necessary as the comprehensive auto insurance premiums can be very high unless they decide to go with a more basic insurance plan. The advantage of having a comprehensive insurance plan though is that the insurance company will pay for any medical bills and time lost from work even if the accident was their fault. In addition to these, passengers in both vehicles, although not blood relations, are covered by this type of insurance plan.

When you switch is very important and the best time to switch to a new auto insurance company is when the current policy is about to expire. Before you do finally cancel your existing auto insurance, it would be prudent to confirm that the new insurance provider has accepted your application. Some companies also give a discount if you decide to have your home insured with them in addition to your vehicle insurance; so it is worth checking this out in advance. Being aware of a few facts like these before you purchase your auto insurance can save you a great deal time and more importantly, money.

Source: Finance

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Is Extra PIP Included In Your Discount Auto Insurance Quote?

Sep 10, 2008 Insurance

What is additional PIP coverage? When searching for discount auto insurance do you need it? First you need to understand what you PIP coverage is, PIP stands for Personal Injury Protection. It’s the coverage in your auto insurance policy that pays your medical bills if you are injured and were found at fault in an accident.

That was east enough to understand. Medical coverage is available to you under your auto insurance policy if you hurt in an auto accident that you were found at fault in.

So, what is Extra PIP (Personal Injury Protection)? It may be confusing because it doesn’t actually pay any medical bills at all. It gives you coverage under your auto insurance for costs you have that are from you being injured in an auto accident.

Four coverage’s make up your Extra PIP; Income Continuation, Essential Services, Death Benefit and Funeral Expenses. Let look closer so when you decide to get free auto insurance quotes you will be able understand the coverage’s included.

Income Continuation will pay a selected amount of money per week if you become disabled. You can select coverage ranging from $100 to $700 per week. The coverage can either be available for two years or up until the age of 65. This coverage is offer after your short term disability from the state has ended or is under 60% of your regular pay.

Essential Services will give you coverage for services you can no longer do because you are hurt. Things like cleaning your gutters in the fall or cutting your grass would be covered under this option. There are two daily limit options $12 or $20 per day or a total benefit from $4,380 to $14,600 depending on the coverage’s you decide on.

Death Benefits are available in case you pass away due to a car accident. This benefit will pay either $5,200 or $10,000 pending which option you select.

Funeral Expenses are also included if you pass away due to an automobile accident. The payout benefit is either $1,000 or $2,000 again dependent on your selection.

There are 17 Extra PIP options available combining different limits of the above coverage’s. Extra PIP coverage may not be available in each state. When you get your next discount auto insurance quote if PIP is available choose the option that is the best fit for you

Source: Finance

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Backpackers Travel Insurance - Not All the Same

Sep 9, 2008 Insurance

vacation resorts

For many, backpackers travel insurance must go beyond what is offered with a standard policy. Not all travel policies even cover backpacking vacations, leaving backpackers without needed medical care in emergencies. Some of the most popular backpacking destinations are also outside the boundaries of standard policy coverage, which places limits on where they are allowed to go. Before heading off on a cross-country or international trek, it is important for you to know what insurance is available to you and to find what is best suited to your needs.

Standard insurance policies exclude anything that has the potential to cause a claim. Backpacking, as well as certain other sports and activities, automatically places people at risk of illness and injury because it involves leaving the paved roads and vacation resorts. Backpacking in wilderness areas and mountain trails, as well as overnight accommodations in cheap hotels and backpackers hostels raises a lot of safety issues. Insurers also consider people who participate in those activities more likely to be assaulted or robbed. A backpacker’s travel insurance policy is issued with an understanding of the risks involved, and offers more coverage than a standard travel policy.

Backpackers have unique travel needs, and their insurance must be geared toward meeting those needs. For example, with the range of popular destinations, backpackers travel insurance must cover more countries, as well as remote areas that standard policies overlook. Avalanches, natural disasters and acts of God can all be major factors for backpackers, and many policies offer coverage for them, although with specific conditions attached. Health coverage for backpackers often includes a provision for covering transportation to an actual medical facility. Finally, backpacker policies often offer the option of extending the policy, or changing the policy location area, an excellent option for international backpackers who get caught up in the journey.

Backpacking is a popular activity and is a favorite for new graduates and anyone else who wants to see the world and discover who they are. It is an inexpensive way to travel to exotic places while interacting directly with the environment and, often, the people who live there. Unfortunately, many backpackers travel insurance policies do not always cover all of the parts of the world that they want to see, leaving them without financial assistance when emergencies occur. However, by taking the time to explore your options you can be assured that you have a policy that will cover you wherever you go.

Source: Overnight Accommodatio

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