15 driving techniques that should be employed when driving in rain, snow, sleet, or hail

TRY THESE TIPS

1. Reduce your speed.
2. Increase the distance length between other vehicles.
3. Familiarize yourself with how your anti-lock brakes function in slippery conditions.
4. Gradually accelerate, brake and turn.
5. Lift your foot off the accelerator a bit when going under bridges or on overpasses.
6. Drive slowly when snowplows are behind or around you.
7. Be extra careful driving in very windy conditions.
8. Avoid using your vehicle's cruise control function in snowy, icy, or rainy weather
9. Avoid talking on your cell phone when driving during inclement weather.
10. Stay as far away as possible from vehicles whose drivers failed to clear the snow from the roof.
11. Warm up your car properly
12. Make sure your windows are scraped properly
13. Clear snow/ice off of your headlights as well as your rear lights
14. Coast (take your foot off the brake) – if you go into a turn that is icy. This can (not always) allow the car to correct it self with sliding
15. Be sure and carry emergency “break down” items such as first aid kits, hand/feet warmers, water, jumper cables, emergency lights etc.

Top 5 Pet Claims

The most wonderful time of the year is also one of the most dangerous for pets. In order to assess the impact of the holidays on pet health, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance The company found that last year more than 200 policyholders spent Christmas Day at the veterinarian's office—most with pets receiving treatment for accidental injuries or dietary indiscretion.

The top five Christmas Day claims of 2008:
1. Gastritis/Enteritis
2. Lacerations or Bite Wounds
3. Soft Tissue Trauma
4. Foreign Body Ingestion
5. Chocolate Poisoning”

Christmas Day is the last day most pet owners want to spend at an emergency clinic with a sick or injured pet," said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. "Fortunately, many of the claims we receive for conditions treated on Christmas Day can be prevented.

The data, mined from more than 475,000 VPI-insured pets nationwide, reveals that claims treated on Christmas Day skew towards accidents requiring emergency treatment, perhaps because most regular veterinary clinics are closed on December 25. The other 364 days of the year, claims for medical conditions such as skin allergies, ear infections and urinary tract infections prove far more common than claims for the majority of conditions treated on Christmas Day. Only gastritis/enteritis ranked among the top 10 medical claims received by VPI in the full year of 2008. Other claims submitted with a December 25 treatment date included claims for broken bones, gastric torsion, gastric ulcers, torn nails, allergic reactions and cruciate ruptures.

AGENT CLAIMS TIP: ARSON

A property claims professional should always be aware of the indicators of an arson fire. The main elements of an arson fire investigation revolve around motive, opportunity, and an incendiary fire.

These indicators should help isolate those claims which necessitate further investigation. No single indicator by itself is necessarily suspicious. Even the presence of several indicators, while suggestive of possible arson, does not mean that arson or fire related fraud has been committed. Indicators of possible arson are not evidence that arson has occurred.

General indicators of arson or fire-related fraud include:

• Building and/or contents were up for sale at the time of the losss
• Suspiciously coincidental absence of family pet at the time of the fire
• The insured had a fire loss at the same site within the preceding year; the initial loss, though small, may have been a failed attempt to liquidate contents
• Building and/or business was recently purchased
• Commercial losses include old or nonsaleable inventory or illegal chemicals/materials
• Insured or insured's business is experiencing financial difficulties
• Fire site is claimed by multiple mortgageesbuilding is in deteriorating condition and/or lacks proper maintenance
• Fire scene investigation suggests that property/contents were heavily overinsured
• Fire scene investigation reveals absence of items of sentimental value
• Fire scene investigation reveals absence of remains of items normally found in a home or business (television, clothes, personal items, business records)
• Fire occurs at night, especially after 11 p.m.
• Commercial fire occurs on holiday, weekend, or when business is closed
• Fire department reports fire is incendiary, suspicious or unknown
  
  

Rental Car Questions Ask your agent!

If you rent a car for vacation or other personal use, you have cov­erage`- under your auto policy in most cases (check with your agent). But if you rent a car for a business trip, there is no coverage. Why? Because the coverage for personal auto usage. Businesses that bene­fit from such use should pay the cost of insuring rental cars.

More days of coverage
Most carriers have some sort of limit as to how long the insured may keep the rental car. You will need to confirm this with the agent. The insured should also notify the agent of a prolonged rental period and why. It could be various reasons for such an occasion. Examples: delay in a damaged vehicle repairs. Inability to access the insured vehicle and so on.

Optional coverage’s for rental cars
If you need more coverage for a rental car, there are optional coverage’s. You may want to ask your agent about them if:

You use a car owned by your employer.
You use a rental car for your job or business.
You rent a car for consecutive days of per­sonal use.
You don't carry collision or comprehensive coverage on your policy but want these coverage’s to apply to rental cars you use.
You want coverage for loss of use and administrative costs that rental car companies may charge when a car you rent is damaged.

The State (50) Department of Insurance

THE 50 STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT LINKS

The state department of insurance is a destination that offers consumers, agents and other insurance professionals excellent insurance information. The following list offers links to all 50 departments of insurance.

Alabama Department of Insurance
Alaska Division of Insurance
Arizona Department of Insurance
Arkansas Insurance Department
California Department of Insurance
Colorado Division of Insurance
Connecticut Insurance Department
Delaware Insurance Department
District of Columbia Department of Securities and Insurance Regulation
Florida Department of Insurance
Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner
Hawaii Division of Insurance
Idaho Department of Insurance
Illinois Department of Insurance
Indiana Department of Insurance
Iowa Insurance Division
Kansas Insurance Department
Kentucky Department of Insurance
Louisiana Department of Insurance
Maine Bureau of Insurance
Maryland Insurance Administration
Massachusetts Division of Insurance
Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services
Minnesota Department of Commerce
Mississippi Department of Insurance
Missouri Department of Insurance
Montana State Insurance Dept
Nebraska Department of Insurance
Nevada Division of Insurance
New Hampshire Insurance Department
New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance
New Mexico Insurance Division
New York State Insurance Department
North Carolina Department of Insurance
North Dakota Department of Insurance
Ohio Department of Insurance
Oklahoma Department of Insurance
Oregon Insurance Division
Pennsylvania Insurance Department
Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
South Carolina Department of Insurance
South Dakota Division of Insurance
Tennessee Commerce and Insurance Administration
Texas Department of Insurance
Utah Insurance Department
Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration
Virginia Bureau of Insurance
Washington State Insurance Commissioner
West Virginia Board of Risk & Insurance Management
Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Wyoming Insurance Department

The Agents Auto Claim Primer

How Agents Can Get An Auto Claim Off To A Good Start!

When a client comes in with an auto claim, you might help get the claim off to a good start by asking the right questions. This will help clarify the facts and frame the claim for presentation to the claims department. The following is a list of question that should serve as “quick-start” questions that will need finalizing by the claims investigator.

Speed – how fast were they going?
Lighting – what was the lighting like?
Management – did they have the vehicle under control?
Lookout – did they maintain proper lookout
Weather conditions – what was the weather like and did it contribute to the accident
Obstructions – were there any?
Vehicle malfunctions – blown tire? Lights, turn signals etc.
Traffic signals and signs – were they an issue
Other driver actions – simply, what did they do wrong?
Witnesses – were there any witnesses?
Driver impairment – drugs, drinking, handicaps etc.
Police investigation – did the police come to the scene, did they find fault?

When was the last time you inspected your roof?

Did you know that some people inspect their roofs before winter sets in for good reasons. A neglected roof can cost much more than what would normally do if roof boards and studs have to be replaced or interior ceilings and walls repaired.

Typically you will want to inspect either annually or bi-annually unless your area went through extreme weather events such as extreme heat, violent storms, large quantities of snow, etc. In these cases, inspecting your roof as soon as possible after the event can save you thousands of dollars. Consider

Where To Start When Looking for Problems With Your Roof
Prevention is Best The basic thing to remember regarding your roof is this: look for trouble before it looks for you. This may mean venturing up into your attic’s overhead hatch or your home’s crawl space once or twice a year and battling cobwebs and goodness knows what other creepy things that may be up there. But roof leaks are sneaky — they often show the bad taste of being subtle for a long time, dripping only a bit at a time so that the damage remains largely invisible if you don’t bother to look. Over time, the drip leads to damage, including rot and mold, that will grow quietly worse until you suddenly have a swimming pool in the middle of your bedroom.

Look For Trouble After a nasty downpour, go up into the area of your home just under the roof and look for signs of wetness, rot or mold. Note that wet spots may not be directly under your faulty shingle: water travels down to its lowest spot before it drips, thus you may need to trace it upward to locate the source.

If you’re lucky enough to spot where the leak has occurred and intend to repair it immediately, drive a 16-penny nail directly into the center of the leak so that you’ll be able to find it once you climb onto the roof. If that isn’t practical, you’ll have to measure vertically from the roof’s interior peak and horizontally from a landmark like the wall or chimney.
Chimney If you have a chimney, particularly a brick one, pay special attention to the area where it meets your roof. If you find water seeping or draining from your chimney, that is usually a sure sign that you have a leak.

Inspect Your Roof From Outside Of course, investigating problems from the outside (which is also important as a preventive measure and should be done once a year before the weather turns ugly), requires you to ascend a ladder and climb on the roof itself. You may reasonably not want to do this, especially if your roof has a steep pitch (upward angle). If heights give you the creeps, there is no shame in hiring a pro to do inspections for you. In fact, four out of five people surveyed considered it less embarrassing than be rushed to the emergency room.
Once up there, look for cracked, torn, bald or missing shingles (if you have binoculars, you can use them to help limit your need to climb all over the roof). Really inspect those areas where the roof meets corners, such as chimneys, dormers, angled sections and roofing and vents, because they are by nature the most prone to leaks.

I am not mechcaniclly inclined so If the challenge or weather is too miserable for me or you to fix the leak now, call a roof professional. Start by spraying the suspect area with a garden hose, beginning from the bottom of the area and working his way up toward the roof ridge, while you crawl around in your attic crawl space and wait to get dripped on.

Most insurance contracts won't cover wear and tear, never the less, if your roof looks fine after inspection, remember that wind and rain in combination wreak havoc on your home, because wind can easily force rain under your shingles, where only the felt is left as protection. Once the felt gets wet enough, it will leak. Gee, that old apartment is seeming better all the time...

How to Cut you Auto insurance cost 11.24.09
(Part 2 - 5)
















1)Shop around for the best price

2)Keep your driving record clean
No convictions, fewer accidents, no fault accidents, DUI's don't drink and drive, The biggest penalty you'll face is to have a DUI on your driving record.

3) what's in your credit report can also affect your insurance rates.
Credit reports, credit history to keep a good credit history will certainly help you to get the best rate you can

4) combining coverage. Insuring all your vehicles with the same company you have a homeowners or renters policy with can save you money.
By putting the policies together you might be able to receive a signifigant discount.
Be sure to ask about any special discounts that may apply to your situation.

5) Look for other discountsThere's some discounts if your college student for example.

6) Taking a higher deductible can save you cash too, a higher deductible means you pay less for coverage.

7)As your car gets older you may consider dropping the collision coverage. If your car's only worth $2,000 and you could save $500 a year by dropping your collision coverage you may want to take that risk.

8) Most companies' rating plans consider how you use the car so be sure your agent knows if you car pool or use public transportation. Usually the less you drive the vehicle, the less you pay for coverage.

9) Check with your Department of insurance in your state to if there's other ways to save on insurance.

4 Reasons Your Retirement May Be Delayed
(2nd in a four part series)

Stock Market Slump
The $7 trillion decline in stock holdings between 2007 and the second quarter of 2009 is also contributing to retirement unpreparedness, primarily among higher-income households. The disappearance of traditional pensions for private-sector employees in favor of 401(k) plans means workers are directly exposed to stock market shocks. Members of generation X, who are more likely to have only a 401(k) retirement plan, are at a higher risk of having to cut their standard of living in retirement (56 percent) than early (41 percent) or late (48 percent) baby boomers, many of whom still have traditional pensions. "Almost no gen X-ers in the private sector are going to be covered by a defined benefit pension, and they are going to live forever," says Munnell.

4 Reasons Your Retirement
May Be Delayed
( 1st in a four part series )

Housing Market Decline
The spike in households unprepared for retirement is largely due to the housing bust. Almost three quarters of the increase in Americans at risk of being unable to maintain their current standard of living in retirement was the result of the decline in house prices, the Boston College study, underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., found. "Even though people lost a lot of money in stocks, stocks tend to be held by the top portion of the income distribution, whereas everyone owns a house," says Munnell. Even people who don't plan to sell their home in retirement are affected by lower housing values. If they need extra cash and opt for a reverse mortgage, they'll extract less equity. And many Americans who have not paid off their home will need to continue making mortgage payments after leaving the workforce

How to save money on auto insurance (1st in a five part series)

Question for you - are you paying too much for your car insurance? There is an even better chance that you could get a better rate, from another insurance company, than you could from your existing insurer. Let's face it, insurance is the one thing you simply cannot do without.

Reducing your insurance bill, or keeping the premiums in check, doesn't mean you have to forgo the security of dealing with a secure company. There are many ways of tailoring the policy to provide the cover you need at a lower cost. In this five part series, I will share with you some areas on which you can focus to have save you money on you auto insurance.

It is always important to factor in insurance cost before you make that final decision on a car, either new or used. All cars are rated on a scale wherein the premium charged is based on the type, age, model, power, features, crash performance, theft potential etc. of the car. Research the car to see where it falls in this area. Other areas of immediate concern:

1. Make sure you know all of discounts that are available to you
2. Keep your driver's record clean and up-to-date
3. Adjust your coverage to assume more risk- exp. higher deductible
4. Drive a "low profile" car equipped with certain money-saving safety features
5. Shop around for a good, low cost insurance providerwith a "AAA" best rating

Part -2- Next week

More Cars On Road, But Fewer Get Stolen

October 19, 2009Experts Credit Anti-Theft Technology

The number of vehicle thefts reported in the United States has fallen to a 20-year low even as the number of vehicles on the road has doubled.
Experts with the Highway Loss Data Institute point to more sophisticated anti-theft technology in cars and increased efforts by police to target organized car-theft rings for the decline.
The FBI estimates that 956,846 motor vehicles were stolen in 2008. That's less than half the rate in 1991, when a high of 1.66 million vehicles were stolen. Complete data for 2009 are not yet available.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers estimates there are more than 245 million vehicles on the road today, up from 122 million in 1989.
Cars these days routinely include such things as ignition immobilizers, which makes it hard to start a car without the owner's key. Whereas only 5 percent of new cars included the device in 1989, today more than 86 percent have them, according to research from the Highway Loss Data Institute.
The institute also credits other anti-theft technology, such as alarms and GPS tracking devices, for helping cut down on auto thefts.

How Improving Home Security Can Lower Home Insurance Costs

It's no surprise that Americans are looking for more ways to save money than ever before. They are changing their spending habits and finding creative ways to cut costs. But some Americans are missing out on a big savings opportunity that is under their own roof - the cost of their homeowner's insurance.

There are some easy ways for homeowners to reduce rates, while improving the safety of their home. All Home Security provides the following home security tips to help reduce the cost of homeowner's insurance.

Home security monitoring - Install a monitored home alarm system. Monitored systems connect houses to the police, fire departments and other local authorities in case of an emergency. Many insurance companies will reduce rates by up to 20% for homeowners who install monitored security systems.

Fire resistance - Homes made of fire-resistant materials like brick and masonry can qualify for rate reductions of up to 15%. If a home is built with other materials, it can still qualify for discounts if it has fire and smoke monitoring and none of the residents smoke.
Secure doors - Installing deadbolt locks on all exterior doors is one of the easiest ways to earn a discount on homeowner's insurance. Other precautions like installing fire sprinklers or having a fire extinguisher in-home can reduce costs, but homeowners should always check with their provider to see what qualifies.

It's all about location - Homes located close to fire stations often qualify for reduced insurance rates. Home fires are one of the leading causes of property damage, so companies are willing to give discounts for homes in close proximity to emergency personnel. It's something new home buyers should always consider.

Making a home disaster-resistant - Installing storm shutters, sturdy roofing materials, hail-proof shingles and other protective materials can significantly reduce insurance rates. Almost anything that makes a home more resistant to disasters like flooding and hurricanes will lower costs. This can include updates to a home's heating and plumbing, along with cutting down trees and dead branches that pose a threat to the home.

STOP THIEVES THAT COST YOU MONEY

Many electronic devices make life easier and more entertaining, but draw power even if they're turned off. Lost electricity has many names: vampire power, phantom load or standby power.

Standby power consumption accounts for about 8 percent of U.S. household electricity consumption, meaning these thieves steal about 5110 a year from consumers.

But, you can cuff these thieves:

Know them. Common power thieves are small transformer adapters like cell phone chargers.Also, devices like LCD TVs, window air conditioners, computers and gaming systems use power even when turned off. Any electronic-powered equipment with a power indicator (i.e. light or LED)that glows when it is OFF, is a potential thief.

Stop them. Unplug alarm clocks and TVs in guest rooms, computer monitors, chargers,printers, scanners and speakers when they are not in use.

Call in reinforcements. Plug clustered electronics into a power strip so you can turn them all off with one switch. Most major retailers carry power strips for 55 to 525.

Identify the bad guys with a Kill-A-Watt— Meter. Available at drugstores and electronics retailers for around 520, these devices assess consumption of electronics and appliances.

Buy smart. Look for the Energy Star label. These products often use less standby energy because they're designed to be more energy efficient. Access the Energy Star Web site at http://www.energystar.gov/.

Dow Chemical To Ship First Solar Rooftop Shingles Next Year

Mon Oct 5, 2009 8:57pm EDT
By Matt Daily
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dow Chemical Co said on Monday it would begin selling a new rooftop shingle next year that converts sunlight into electricity -- and could generate $5 billion in revenue by 2015 for the company.

The new solar shingles can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingles, Dow said, and will be introduced in 2010 before a wider roll-out in 2011.
"We're looking at this one product that could generate $5 billion in revenue by 2015 and $10 billion by 2020," Jane Palmieri, managing director of Dow Solar Solutions, told Reuters in an interview.

The shingle will use thin-film cells of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), a photovoltaic material that typically is more efficient at turning sunlight into electricity than traditional polysilicon cells.

Dow is using CIGS cells that operate at higher than 10 percent efficiency, below the efficiencies for the top polysilicon cells -- but would cost 10 to 15 percent less on a per watt basis.
Dow Solar Solutions said it expects "an enthusiastic response" from roofing contractors for the new shingles, since they require no specialized skills or knowledge of solar systems to install.
The new product is the latest advance in "Building Integrated Photovoltaic" (BIPV) systems, in which power-generating systems are built directly into the traditional materials used to construct buildings.

BIPV systems are currently limited mostly to roofing tiles, which operate at lower efficiencies than solar panels and have so far been too expensive to gain wide acceptance.
Dow's shingle will be about 30 to 40 percent cheaper than current BIPV systems.
The Dow shingles can be installed in about 10 hours, compared with 22 to 30 hours for traditional solar panels, reducing the installation costs that make up more than 50 percent of total system prices.

The product will be rolled out in North America through partnerships with home builders such as Lennar Corp and Pulte Homes Inc before marketing is expanded, Palmieri said.
Dow received $20 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to help develop its BIPV products.

The company also produces fluids used in concentrated solar systems, in which sunlight is used to generate heat that produces steam to power a turbine. In addition, it supplies materials used to help manufacture photovoltaic panels and increase their efficiency. Dow shares were up 4.4 percent at $24.67 on the New York Stock Exchange in afternoon trading.

THOUGHTS ON TRAVEL INSURANCE

You might be skeptical in getting travel insurance simply because he thinks that it is a waste of money which can be used for something more urgent or important. However, we can never really say what will happen and it is good to be insured. In the events such as accidents, trip cancellations and lost luggage, insurance policies can really be handy. Getting vacation insurance is the first step that should be taken when planning a trip.

Travel insurance is offered for cruises, tours, flights and vacation home rentals and can cover:
Medical:

There is nothing worse than being sick when you are supposed to be on vacation. Medical travel insurance pays for doctor visits and illnesses that occur during your trip, such as treatment for malaria or food poisoning, prescription drugs and laboratory work to diagnose illnesses. Policies cover local ambulance service and emergency medical situations that require surgeries (and often exclude pre-existing conditions). What it will not cover is a routine physical exam, mental health care or replacement of hearing aids, eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Emergency evacuation also covers a flight home if you became seriously ill or injured.
Emergency evacuation:

Typically, coverage includes airlifts from a mountain due to a skiing or hiking accident, or a long-term stay at a foreign hospital. Emergency evacuation also covers a flight home if you became seriously ill or injured. When traveling to a foreign country, bring copies of your medical records with you and consider an evacuation policy in case you develop a serious medical condition.

Trip cancellation:

If your cruise line or tour operator goes out of business, trip cancellation provides coverage if you must cancel a trip due to sickness, a death in the family, or another event that would prevent you from going on your trip. The policy reimburses you for the unused portion of the vacation if you or an immediate family member becomes seriously ill.

Travel delay/trip interruption:

Tired of sitting in the airport? This reimburses you for any flight delays from 2 hours up. For example, AIG Travel Guard offers total reimbursement of your airline ticket for any delays that exceed 5 hours. If your flight is one to two hours late, you will be reimbursed 20 percent of the cost of the ticket. If the flight is 3 hours late, it goes to 30 percent and 4 hours, 40 percent. For more than 6 hours, you would be reimbursed 80 percent of the cost of the ticket. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), trip-interruption insurance costs between 5 to 7 percent of the price of your trip.

Baggage delay:

If your personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip this would pay replace them.

Dental:

If you chip a tooth during a trip, this covers all emergency dental procedures. You can purchase additional dental coverage to relieve acute dental pain and surgical procedures provided in a hospital. There may be limitations for the replacement of artificial teeth or repairing a crown.

24-hour traveler assistance, including hotlines/helplines and other support services: Provides 24-hour, 7-day-a-week telephone assistance for filing claims for lost baggage, emergency cash transfers, reporting credit card identity fraud to the right agency, message center, legal assistance (passport, visa, bail bonds), emergency translations and pre-trip assistance. Some policies even provide access to security profiles, which include up-to-date information about terrorism, kidnapping and political stability. Others might provide concierge services such as arrangements for escort/return home of children, arrangement for a visit to your bedside by family or friend, dining information and reservations, flower and gift delivery, sightseeing tour reservations, golf course information and reservations.

Accidental death dismemberment:

Provides compensation if you die or are permanently disabled during a trip. It includes accidental loss of life, limb or sight during your trip other than while flying.

Collision/damage coverage for rental cars:

Provides coverage for physical damage to, or loss of, an automobile rented from a commercial foreign or domestic rental car agency.

Flight accidental death:

Flight accident and/or "common carrier accident" insurance pays your beneficiary (or your estate if you do not name a beneficiary) a lump sum benefit that can range from $300,000 to $1 million when a flight accident or crash results in your death.

Repatriating a body:

Provides coverage in the event you die while on vacation and your remains have to be transported back to the United States. It can be very costly to have a body repatriated from one country to another, ranging well into the thousands. Repatriation can also be a lengthy process. Before a body can be removed from another country, it must have examination by a coroner (who signs a release and a noninfectious-disease note), an embalming certificate, passport or identity card, funeral director's declaration, embassy permit and other documentation. The coverage includes the cost of paperwork, a coffin and airfare that can range from $1,200 to more than $3,000.
Factors driving the cost of travel insurance include your age, the number traveling in your party and the type of insurance coverage you choose.

Medical

Travel insurance plans can also be designed to cover ones medical expenses if needed during the trip. There are also group health insurance plans which can be availed by a group. However, most of the insurance plans available today will only cover medical expenses in trips which are done inside the 'coverage areas.' It's best to be able to ask the insurance provider regarding these things before availing a medical travel insurance policy.

Accidental death during flight
Many insurance providers give accidental flight death insurance as a part of their insurance policies. Sometimes, they give it as an option.
Listed below are some tips on how one can go about availing quality and suitable travel policies for his trips.
1. Before getting a new travel insurance policy, one should double check his existing insurance policies. There might be some coverage with regards to traveling in the existing policies that one possess and it would be a waste of money to pay for something that has already been covered.
2. Know what is the best type of insurance is best for the trip. Getting a travel insurance is really dependent on the situation of the destination and the other factors that come into play such as one's age and health conditions.
3. Know the policy. One should know whether things like international coverage, emergency evacuation, accidental death, remains repatriation and family travel insurance are covered by the policy..
These are some tips on how to avail travel insurance. The point is life is unpredictable and it's better to have insurance especially for travel purposes. Insurance is a real must when traveling.

What is the co-op model?
It's a nonprofit, nongovernmental firm run by its members, the consumers. The details of how it will be set up have yet to be determined. But in addition to insurance, successful existing co-ops actually provide care, own their own hospitals and have dedicated multispecialty physician groups. The goal is to restrain costs and cover more of the uninsured.

Where are existing co-ops?
HealthPartners, based in Minnesota, and Group Health Cooperative, headquartered in Seattle, are considered two successful systems and serve more than 500,000 members.

What are the benefits of a co-op?
Unlike a public plan, government bureaucracy wouldn't be a factor, satisfying critics who want to keep Uncle Sam out of the health business.
Successful co-ops provide excellent health care while keeping administrative costs down. Depending on how it's set up, a national cooperative organization could also negotiate doctor and drug prices for its members. Critics say co-ops won't have the leverage of the government to drive costs down.

What are the drawbacks of the co-op model?
One fear, as voiced by the White House, is that it would take too long for these new organizations to become established and compete with private insurers. The model would most likely require an undetermined allocation of federal startup dollars.
Co-ops aren't free for consumers, and it's unclear how lawmakers intend to establish rates to make them affordable for the 46 million Americans who are currently uninsured.

SOURCES: The Commonwealth Fund, News Wire Services

EARTH QUAKE COVERAGE

Remember that earthquake damage are not covered by a standard homeowners policy. If you buy a house in a flood-prone area, you'll have to pay for a flood insurance policy that costs an average of $400 a year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides useful information on flood insurance on its Web site at FloodSmart.gov.

A separate earthquake policy is available from most insurance companies.

The cost of the coverage will depend on the likelihood of earthquakes in your area. In California the California Earthquake Authority (www.earthquakeauthority.com) provides this coverage.

Prescription for Healthcare Reform
Americans want healthcare reform, but they want to keep
their current insurance coverage and their current healthcare
providers. They do, however, want lower costs. A recent CNN/
Opinion Research Corp. survey revealed that eight in 10
Americans are satisfied with the quality of healthcare they
receive. About three out of four are happy with their overall
healthcare coverage. But satisfaction drops 52% when it comes
to the amount people pay for quality healthcare. About three
out of four are dissatisfied with overall healthcare costs.

How to file a homeowner’s claim

1. If you are the victim of a theft or your home has been vandalized or burglarized, report it to the police. Get a police report and the names of all law enforcement officers that you speak with.

2. Insurance policies place a time limit on filing claims. Find out what the time limit is. Ask questions: Am I covered? Does my claim exceed my deductible? How long will it take to process my claim? Will I need to obtain estimates for repairs to structural damage?

3. Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage. Save receipts for what you spend, and submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement.

4. You are going to need to substantiate your loss. Avoid throwing out damaged items until the adjuster has visited your home. You should also consider photographing or videotaping the damage. Prepare a home inventory, make a copy for your adjuster and supply him or her with copies of receipts from damaged items.

5. If your home is severely damaged and you need to find other accommodations while repairs are being made, keep records of all additional expenses incurred. Most homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for the “loss of use” of their home. However, many policies do NOT provide coverage for the additional living expense if a mandatory evacuation is ordered and there is no loss to your home.

6. Once your insurance company has been notified of your claim, the company is required to send the necessary claim forms to you by the end of a specified time period. (The time period varies from state to state.) Return the properly filled-out forms as soon as possible in order to avoid delays.

7. Your insurance company will probably arrange for the adjuster to come and inspect your home. Cooperate with them as they gather information. The adjuster cannot approve your claim, but the insurance company, in the determination of your claim, often uses their report.

Once you and your insurance company agree on the terms of your settlement, state laws require that you be sent payment promptly. In most cases, your claim will be processed quickly. If you have any questions about the claim filing laws in your state, call your insurance agent or your state department

Health Insurance Terms (Starting with the A's)

Accredited (Accreditation):A "seal of approval" for health care facilities. Being accredited means that a facility has met certain quality standards. These standards are set by private, nationally recognized groups that check on the quality of care at health care facilities.

Accumulation Period:Timeframe within a policy period in which deductible and out-of-pocket amounts are calculated. For most health insurance policies, the accumulation period is a calendar year.

Administrative Services Only (ASO):An arrangement in which an employer hires a third party to deliver employee benefit administrative services to the employer. These services typically include health claims processing and billing. The employer bears the risk for health care expenses under an ASO plan.

Admitting Physician :The doctor responsible for admitting you to a hospital or other inpatient health facility.

Admitting Privileges:The right granted to a doctor to admit patients to a particular hospital

After Care:The care or follow-up treatment needed by a patient who has recently undergone surgery, been involved in an accident or has experienced an illness requiring hospitalization.

Agent of Record:The insurance agent recognized by a client to represent the client's interests in doing business with an insurance company.

Ambulatory Care:All types of health services that do not require an overnight hospital stay

Ancillary Services:Services, other than those provided by a physician or hospital, which are related to a patient’s care, such as laboratory work, x-rays and anesthesia

Any Willing Provider Laws:Legislation that requires health care plans to accept into their PPO and HMO networks any provider willing to agree to the network's terms and conditions

Appeal:Request made to a payer to reconsider a decision, such as a claim denial or denied prior authorization request. Most appeals must be submitted in writing within a specified period.

Assignment of Benefits:When an insured person assign benefits, they sign a document allowing the hospital or doctor to collect health insurance benefits directly from the health insurance company. Otherwise, the insured person pays for the treatment and is later reimbursed by the health insurance company.

Attachment:A policy modification which changes, restricts or clarifies coverage

10 part series on how to protect your car from theft

Part -1-

Park Your Car in the Garage or Behind a Locked Gate. This is your all-time best defense.
Reason: Most cars are stolen off the street or from parking areas. Putting your car into a garage not only saves the finish, but tends to deter auto thieves. They risk detection by dogs, motion sensors and even homeowners by coming on the property. Locked garages and gates create another level of difficulty for the thief who intends to quietly sneak in and steal. If you don’t lock the gate, at least put a bell or other noise-making device on it.

COVER MY COLLEGE STUDENT PLEASE!!!

Insurance for college students is overlooked during college planning. Should your household be one of 9 million with a student headed to school, find out if your child needs property insurance or renter’s insurance. Sending your child off to college is a time full of wonderand questions. In addition to all the normal questions such as, "How am I going to pay for all this?" you may be wondering whether your college student's possessions are covered by your homeowners insurance or if purchasing renter's insurance makes sense.

Everyone knows that as students move into dorm rooms and apartments for the school year, they also take with them their clothing and sports equipment, as well as cell phones, IPods and MP3 players, TVs and computers. Unfortunately, thieves know this as well, making students highly vulnerable, leaving one out of 10 college students a victim of theft. Knowing this, what's the best way to make sure your child's possessions are protected?

Most students will be covered under their parents' homeowners' insurance policy, although in some instances it will be necessary to purchase renter's insurance as well. To determine the best fit for your needs, you'll need to conduct an inventory of what your student is planning on bringing to college

Where your college student lives also makes a difference when it comes to having the right policy protection. Tell your insurance agent whether your student will be living on campus in the dormitory, or off-campus. Sometimes students who live off-campus are not covered under their parents' homeowners policy, so additional renter's insurance is necessary.

Parents should add up all the valuables a student brings to campus – netbook, smart phone, mp3 player, bike, textbooks, etc. A property inventory checklist is available to download at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) website. Homeowner’s insurance covers 10 percent of personal property away from home. IIAT says a policy with $100,000 worth of coverage on personal property provides $10,000 to students on campus. To be eligible, the student must be covered under the homeowner’s policy and be a legal resident of the household.

What is COBRA
What is COBRA? COBRA is the acronym for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, a 1986 federal law that allows for the temporary extension of group health coverage to people whose health benefits otherwise would be terminated.

What does COBRA do? It allows certain employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses and dependent children to continue health insurance coverage at group rates for specifics time periods. To be eligible, a person must have been enrolled in their employer's health plan when he or she was working for that particular company.

When does that coverage take effect? COBRA becomes available when an individual covered by a group health plan loses health insurance coverage because of a "qualifying event;" e.g., when an active employee's hours are reduced or job is terminated for reasons other than a person's gross misconduct. Spouses and dependent children may become COBRA-eligible when a covered employee's job is terminated or hours are reduced; when the employee becomes eligible for Medicare; upon the employee's death; or in the event of divorce or legal separation from a covered employee.

How long does COBRA coverage last? COBRA begins on the date when a qualifying event triggers the loss of the health coverage. The law allows up to 18 months of continued coverage for certain qualifying events and up to 36 months for other qualifying events or a second qualifying event during the initial period of coverage. Employers may choose to provide coverage for longer periods if they wish.

How much will I pay? You'll pay the entire premium amount, including the portion of the premium that your employer used to contribute toward your health benefits. You may also be required to pay a 2 percent administrative fee.

Do employers have to offer COBRA? Generally speaking, group health plans maintained by private-sector employers with 20 or more workers are subject to COBRA rules. However, if a company closed or went bankrupt and no longer offers a health plan, there is no required COBRA provision.

What's the process? Employers and qualified beneficiaries must inform the health plan administrator that a qualifying event has occurred. An employer has 30 days to give that notice in the event of an employee's death, termination, reduced hours of employment or entitlement to Medicare. A qualified beneficiary has 60 days to give notice after a divorce or legal separation or when a child no longer is covered as a dependent. A notice of the qualifying event must be sent to plan participants and beneficiaries within 14 days after the plan administrator receives notice that a qualifying event has occurred. An individual has 60 days to decide whether to elect coverage. After electing coverage, the person has 45 days to pay the premium.

What are the advantages of taking COBRA? Qualified individuals are able to buy temporary health insurance coverage at the group health rate. You will, however, pay more than active employees whose coverage is subsidized by the employer.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. October 24, 2005.