Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Auto Insurance! How to get it cheap?
Carefully, review your car insurance policy to determine which discounts you are already receiving and then contact your provider to inquire about other discounts that may be available. For example if your driving record is devoid of accidents or tickets, you may qualify for a good driver discount.
Car insurance is a very serious purchase, and the type of coverage you get could make a big difference in whether you're able to fix or replace your vehicle if you're ever in an accident, and is a necessity in being able to drive a car legally. It is mandatory in all countries that every one is aware. But which company to be contacted to make the good deal is what one should decide.
Car insurance websites on the Internet can provide you with all the information you need to quickly and easily obtain cheap quotes. Cars are measured on a chance scale intended for auto insurance requirements. Race vehicles and additional fancy cars are regarded higher risks since they're common subjects for thieves as well as vandals, and also because statistically, the people who have them tend to drive more irresponsibly.
Drivers who drive less and safely and with consequently no points qualify for lower rates. Those who have kids who drive don't find it easy to secure low cost auto insurance. Drivers are putting their car insurance premiums and possibly even their lives at risk in order to read and reply to text messages. A survey by a car insurance comparison website revealed that nearly half of all drivers continue to carry a mobile phone in their car despite tough penalties being introduced last year. Drivers with a decent listing are presented meliorate deals and families with teenaged drivers are offered combative quotes by destined shelter companies.
Remember, every dollar the auto insurance company spends comes out of its customer s pocket. A company that spends a lot of money advertising cheap auto insurance might end up costing more money later. You can check with insurance companies regarding their rates.
Searching for cheap auto insurance is getting easier and easier. Many people admit that they can save money on their current car insurance rate by comparing rates from other car insurance companies and many also admit that they really should be comparing auto insurance rates every 6 months or so but the idea of traveling, making appointments and reviewing data just proves a hassle.
Home Insurance Coverage for Mobile Home
Coverage for these kinds of claims and lawsuits is called liability coverage. Claims might include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even property damage. Coverage would typically include financial protection for the house, personal items, injuries incurred on other people for whom you are liable and additional living expenses. It also insures you while you are one the move. Coverages and benefits can vary dramatically from policy to policy and from company to company.
Homeowner's policies are designed to provide financial protection in the event of damage to your home, such as fire, lightning or windstorm. Your policy will also protect your personal property, such as furniture that is damaged as a result of a fire, or the theft of electronic equipment.
Prices can be different from one company to another. The Insurance Information Institute recommends getting at least three price quotes on home owner insurance. Price too low and prospects doubt you're any good and you lose credibility. But if you're new to the market, how do you know where to position yourself for maximum results and success?
Shopping for mobile home insurance is slightly different than shopping for insurance on a stationary home. The best home insurance is the one that provides you with the most benefits policy-wise. Shopping for mobile home insurance is slightly different than shopping for insurance on a stationary home. Although the coverages are similar, there are a few differences.
Mobile home insurance is similar to home owner's insurance, but it's written specifically to meet the needs of owners of mobile homes. Your policy covers your mobile home and its contents and offers personal liability protection. It is also available from the company and this is available with a range of benefits. For example, free continental travel cover is provided as part of the policy which means that a family can have peace of mind when traveling on the continent.
Mobile home insurance is often provided on an actual cash value basis, so significant depreciation can be a major concern for owners of mobile homes. The policy’s coverage extends to the mobile home’s equipment and accessories that were originally built into the structure.
Mobile home insurance is essential yet few mobile home owners actually take it out. If you think about it, you are leaving a home that you actually spend very little time in completely unguarded and vulnerable.
Home Insurance to protect yourself
Home insurance is a type of policy in which a number of protections are combined into one unit. Some of these protections may cover things which are stolen from the home, or it may cover accidents which occur while a person is in their home. It is an investment in security and peace of mind. It is an investment in one's future. It is not compulsory, but is highly recommended, as the cost of home repairs can be very high if a serious issue is encountered, and because most of an individual's belongings are held within their home.
Replacement Cost which pays the actual cost of replacing your or possession with no deductions for depreciation. It means the cost to replace the property on the same premises with other property of comparable material and quality used for the same purpose. The term "replacement cost" may be defined in the policy of insurance, so it is important to review the actual policy language.
Replacement cost means that you will get the cost to replace your mobile home in the event it is destroyed. Actual cash value is the replacement cost less depreciation. Replacement value is something completely different than the home's market value. This might be the cue to raise the amount of coverage, which will also raise the premiums. It is typically calculated by an insurance professional. Sometimes there is a conflict of what the mortgage company is demanding and what the insurance company calculates for replacement cost and consequently advises the insured to insure the property for.
Homeowners should be sure that they meet the security requirements of the insurance providers. They should accommodate locks and deadlocks at all the doors and windows, organize neighborhood watch patrol, and make sure that they fix theft alarms by recognized fitters. It may want to explore policies that offer protection for personal possessions as well. Checking out the Internet to find the options available for extensive protective coverage can be done.
Home insurance is basically the last but not the least step in building a house of your dreams. After all things you've done in building your own home, after buying all these furniture and decorating pieces, a wise thing will be to do is insure your house against different risks it may face. Home insurance is going to keep everyone in your family, including your pets safe and happy.
Monday, January 21, 2008
What is loan insurance?
What is loan insurance?
Loan insurance is often referred to as PPI, or Payment Protection Insurance. Loan companies will urge you to get this insurance to cover yourself in case you cannot keep up with your repayments due to accident, illness or unemployment. The terms of these loan insurance policies varies from one company to another, and you should check out the policy thoroughly before signing anything.
What are the advantages?
The obvious advantage of loan insurance is that if anything should happen to you that stops you from keeping up with repayments, your loan insurance might be able to help you pay off some of the debt. This gives you peace of mind, knowing that you are covered if the worst should happen. It will cost you a fair amount of money, but if it keeps you covered against possible default if you are taken ill and cannot work, then it is probably worth the money. But is it really that simple?
Problems with loan insurance
Although there are cases when loan insurance is appropriate, there are many cases where you will not be covered by your policy. For example, many self-employed people will never be covered by their policies when they are unemployed, unless their company has completely ceased to trade. The criteria for cover are very strict, and you may find that there is very little in the policy that will apply to you and your circumstances.
Are there alternatives?
There are alternatives to loan insurance, with the main one being not to get the insurance at all. The insurance can add a significant amount onto the loan price without giving you many benefits. However, if you feel that you need cover then look for an independent insurance policy for your loan, which is generally cheaper. Also, you can check your other current insurance policies to make sure that you are not already covered by these policies.
Should anyone get loan insurance?
Although it can be expensive and limited, if you think that loan insurance will give you the peace of mind you want and that the policy will cover your circumstances, then take out a policy. Although many are a waste of money, there are policies that can help you in times of need, and you should look at the policy before accepting or rejecting it. This will help you to get the best deal for your loan, and to make sure you are covered in case you cannot keep up with repayments for some reason.
Author Name: Peter Kenny
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Life Insurance – think about it.
Life Insurance – think about it.
Not everyone needs life insurance. If you don’t have any debts or maybe only minimal ones which would be covered by your disposable assets should you die, then you’re fine. Not everyone has dependants and as long as there would be enough funds to settle your affairs and pay for your funeral, then you wouldn’t be leaving your next of kin any headaches.
Not too many people are in this position though. Most have people who depend on them. If you’re the main breadwinner of the family, have you considered what would become of them if you were no longer there to provide their needs? There would be the mortgage to pay, plus any other loans and commitments. Then there’s the upkeep on the home, expenses such as running a car, holidays and maybe school fees and support through college to fund. Even if your “other half” earns a salary, it’s a lot to take on. Some thought and provision now could save a lot of heartache later on.
The definition of life insurance is a policy which will pay out an amount of money on your death.
A term insurance policy is just that. It covers you for period, or term, of your life. It may be the term of your mortgage, or maybe the term which you expect your children to need financial support. In the event of your death within that term, there would be a lump sum, or maybe a series of smaller sums, for your dependants to draw on for their support and to maintain their standard of living. There is no actual cash value to these insurance policies; they simply expire at the end of the term.
A whole of life policy is one which, once purchased, will continue until your death. It is necessary to keep up the premiums or the policy may lapse, but the policy does have some cash value, should you decide that the cover is no longer necessary.
Many people take out this simple cover when they’re older and feel that they’d like to leave enough money for their family to be able to cover funeral costs.
Another use for this insurance is for people who realise that their estate is going to attract inheritance tax. By doing some careful calculations, it may be possible to work out the approximate amount of tax which would be due on their death and taking out a whole of life policy to cover this amount. This could save their next of kin from having to sell any property
left to them simply to pay the inheritance tax. If the policy is written “in trust”, then the payout should be excluded from inheritance tax. The benefit should be easily available, enabling the family to attend to the tax side of the estate efficiently. If you were going down this route, it would be advisable to take some financial advice. Inheritance tax planning needs some thought, but whole of life insurance is a tool often used.
Back to term insurance. Level term insurance might be taken out to cover the term of a mortgage. It is often used in conjunction with an interest only mortgage, where your capital amount remains constant. Both the premium and the sum insured stay the same throughout the term. This type of insurance would also be suitable for family protection.
A decreasing term policy is useful if you have a repayment mortgage, where the capital amount owing on your property reduces over time. The actual cover reduces in line with the mortgage balance and because the insurer would actually pay out far less should your death occur towards the end of the term, these policies are cheaper to purchase.
There are other term policies out there – pension term and increasing term being just two of them.
If you’re looking for more information, the internet’s the place to look. Don’t search for an individual insurer though. A broker will have the facility to search out some quotes for you from a range of suppliers. They also have a wealth of experience and will be able to offer some sound
advice.
Written by Michael Challiner
How do you know when to cash in life insurance
When you cash in your life insurance it is often called a Senior settlement, a Life Insurance Settlement or sometimes just an Insurance Settlement. The way it works is that you are trading the cash value (i.e. surrender value) of your policy to a third party for cash. This may happen even though the insurance policy does not have an actual surrender value. At times the cash you receive may be in excess of the cash surrender value of the life insurance policy.
This is usually done at or near retirement age in order to obtain additional cash for living expenses. Not only is cash received but the premiums you have been paying for the life insurance are no longer paid by you thus increasing your cash value.Basically this is a wealth and estate planning method.
In prior years seniors who had life insurance policies and felt that the premiums were a burden or that they no longer needed a life insurance policy just dropped the policy or turned it back to the life insurance company itself.But now they have an alternative.They can sell their insurance policy to someone other than the life insurance company.In this way they get much more cash.
Furthermore persons who take advantage of this method can use the money they receive for any purpose whatsoever although many people assume that such restrictions exist. In fact they can use the money for travel, buy another life insurance policy, purchase real estate, develop their hobbies,invest in a business venture. It is their money to dispose of as they wish.
The question now becomes: just how much money will you get from cashing in your life insurance policy? In most cases you will get about five times the cash surrender value of the life insurance policy. However other factors enter into the computation also.
Not all policies or people qualify for a Life Insurance Settlement. The restrictions are:
You must be at least 65 years old.
The policy itself or what is known as the cash value must be at least $50,000.00
The health of the holder of the policy must not be as good as it was when the life insurance policy was issued and his or her life expectancy must be under 15 years.
The life insurance policy must have been in effect longer than the probationary period.
Almost any type of life insurance policy is subject to being purchased. For instance: charities, individuals, trusts, term and group life insurance policies.
Pet Insurance
Are you a pet owner? Do you love your pet? Do you consider them as a valued member of your family? Then maybe it is time for you to consider getting health insurance for your pet if you have not already done so.
If you love your cat or your dog then you must be constantly concerned about its health. One of the best ways to ensure the health of your pets, apart of course from taking very good care of them, is to get them pet health insurance.
There are many advantages to having a pet health insurance. Aside from the fact that it ensures the health of your pets, a pet health insurance can also save you lots of money. Healthcare, even for animals, can be very expensive.
Veterinary fees alone can rival that of a regular physician. Then there are the medicines and supplements to worry about. All of these come on top of the daily cost of maintaining pets. Having a health insurance for your pets can dramatically lessen the cost of health care for them.
So have you finally decided to get a health insurance for your pets? Below are some guidelines on how to get pet health insurance.
1. Determine if you really do need pet health insurance. If you are planning to have a pet for the rest for your life, then getting a pet health insurance is indeed a very wise decision.
2. The best place to get information on pet health insurance is through the Internet,. You can research and compare pet ehalth insurance companies online. Just open any popular search engines such as Yahoo. Google or Microsoft Network and type pet health insurance and you will be led to thousands of information regarding pet healthy insurance.
3. Consult your veterinarian first. Your veterinarian is the best person to talk when it come to the health of your pet. Talk to him about what exactly is needed to be covered by the insurance. If you trust your veterinary, he or she will be able to give you valuable information for you or make a wise decision on getting a pet health insurance.
4. Compare different pet health insurance companies. The best way to do this is to ask for quotes from several companies. This way, you will be able to get a clear view on what these companies are offering.
5. Keep in kind the needs of your pet then choose a pet health insurance policy accordingly.
6. Consider also the life expectancy of your pet.
7. Consider the total cost of getting pet health insurance and determine if your budget can accommodate the cost. Pet health insurance policies cost anywhere between $1,000 to $5,000 so be very honest on assessing your finances. The price depends on the age of your pet. As in health insurances for people, the premium for insurance policies for pets gets higher as the [pet gets older.
8. Do not be ashamed to ask for discounts. Most companies will be more than willing to give you a generous discount if only to get you to sign for their policy.
9.Most pet health insurance polices have clause and fine prints regarding exclusions, deductibles, and surcharges so read the policies very carefully.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
How Alcohol Use Affects Life Insurance Costs
How Alcohol Use Affects Life Insurance Costs
How much drinking is too much, when it comes to buying life insurance? Depending on the insurance company, even moderate drinking can have a significant impact on the amount you pay.The Society of Actuaries claims abusing alcohol can take an average of 10 to 15 years off of your life. The most frequent cause of premature death from alcoholism is heart disease, followed by cancer, accidents and suicide.
Even though alcohol abuse can shorten your life expectancy, insurers don't have strict rules about when someone is a "problem drinker" or an "alcoholic." "Underwriting is more of an art than a science when it comes to determining the risks associated with alcohol," says Christopher Graham, vice president and chief underwriter for Hartford Life.
Insurers will generally ask you about your alcohol use, as part of the application process. Underwriters rarely deny coverage simply based on this answer, but it could prompt further investigation into your alcohol use.
Life insurance applications also include questions about your medical history that insurers can use to gain insight into your alcohol use. While alcohol has the potential to damage every organ in the body, certain medical conditions are often strongly associated with alcohol use.
If you were required to give a blood sample as part of your life insurance application, the insurer will usually test your blood for the presence of liver enzymes. Elevated liver enzymes may signal alcohol-related medical problems.
Elevated liver enzymes can also suggest there is something seriously wrong with your health that isn't related to drinking. Some insurers will postpone a decision on a life insurance application until you and your doctor can determine the reason your liver isn't functioning normally. Once you have pinpointed the problem, your insurance application can proceed.
Blood Pressure & Cholesterol Affects Your Life Insurance Costs
Blood Pressure & Cholesterol Affects Your Life Insurance Costs
High blood pressure and high cholesterol top the list of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases — such as heart attacks and strokes — that kill an American every 33 seconds on average, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.It's no wonder your life insurance company will want to know about your cholesterol and blood pressure before offering you a policy, but just because your doctor tells you to eat less salt and saturated fat doesn't mean you'll have to pay higher life insurance premiums.
Life insurers don't just consider your blood pressure or your cholesterol in determining coverage. They also look at your age, weight, whether you smoke, and any other risk factors for heart disease you might have. The more risk factors you have, the greater the chance you'll have to pay higher premiums for life insurance.
"If someone has treated and controlled hypertension, it probably won't affect their life insurance application," says Dr. Alison Moy, medical director for Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston. "If they're overweight, hypertensive, have high cholesterol, and smoke it will affect them — they will pay higher premiums."
In fact, having only high cholesterol or high blood pressure, without any other red flags for heart disease, might not keep you from getting "preferred" premium rates. When two or more risk factors for heart disease show up on your application, it can get expensive.
If you have high blood pressure but aren't overweight, don't smoke, and have normal cholesterol, you might not get the absolute lowest premiums offered by a life insurer — sometimes called "ultra preferred" or "preferred plus" classes — but you could still qualify for preferred premiums. On the other hand, if you are overweight and have high cholesterol, even if you're a non-smoker with normal blood pressure, you might be offered only "standard" premiums. The more risk factors for heart disease you have, the more you are likely to pay for life insurance.
How high is too high
Doctors generally recommend keeping your total cholesterol below 200, with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol below 100, to stay healthy. If your blood pressure goes above 140 over 90, doctors will have concerns. Even so, life insurers might look at those numbers differently.
"Blood pressure of 140 over 90 is clinically low-level hypertension," says Dr. Jacki Goldstein, vice president and chief medical director for Travelers Life & Annuity. "Life insurers are much more liberal than the clinically accepted definitions."
Acceptable blood pressure and cholesterol levels also depend heavily on your age and gender. Most insurers have developed charts against which they match your age, gender, blood pressure, and cholesterol to determine whether your hypertension or high cholesterol should be a cause for concern.
So how will you know if you're in for problems?
If your physician tells you to start taking medication to get your blood pressure or cholesterol in line, and if you don't follow your doctor's orders, it's a good bet your insurer will charge you higher prices for life insurance. On the other hand, if your doctor doesn't view your blood pressure or cholesterol as serious enough to warrant medication, it probably won't affect your life insurance application either.
It would be very unusual for you to be charged higher premiums for life insurance if your doctor weren't already aware of problematic blood pressure or cholesterol. "It's generally very obvious to a physician that the condition is not under optimal control," says Goldstein.
Don't be afraid to admit to medication
If you are taking medication that has already brought your blood pressure or cholesterol under control, don't worry that it will drive up your life insurance premiums. The medications on the market are very effective at bringing down elevated cholesterol and controlling hypertension, and most insurers care more about your levels when you apply for insurance than how you got them there.
"It all comes down to the levels when you apply for life insurance," says Moy. "If the medications work and you're following your doctor's advice, you can qualify for the best premium classes."
Another point in favor of cholesterol medication and blood pressure-reducing medications is they tend to have very few negative side effects. This makes life insurers happy, because when the side effects of a medication are worse than the symptoms of a disease, they worry about people going off the medication in the future.
Should You Hide Smoking From Life Insurance Companies?
Should You Hide Smoking From Life Insurance Companies?
What if you lied about your smoking habit on your life insurance application? And what happens if the insurance company finds out? How much do you have to smoke to be considered a smoker? The answers might surprise you.Life insurance companies want their policyholders to be in good health. So much so that some companies have three different premium classifications: standard, preferred, or preferred plus. You're rewarded with lower premiums if you're in excellent health and haven't smoked in five years because that reduces your chances of dying sooner. Being just "normally healthy" requires that you haven't used nicotine in the past three years and still gets you lower premiums. A standard rate requires that you have not used nicotine within the past year.
Then there are rates for smokers.
Who is considered a smoker?
In the life insurance world, you're considered a smoker if you answer "yes" to the smoking question on your insurance application. If you're asked if you've used tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco, within a specified time frame - and you have - your answer should be yes.
If you enjoy a good cigar from time to time or smoke just two cigarettes per year, you are a smoker by insurance standards, even though the nicotine traces won't show up in your required urine test. How should the occasional smoker answer that question? You should probably let your conscience be your guide.
Research shows that smokers pay nearly three times the premium of nonsmokers, so it's easy to see what motivates some people to lie on their policy applications.
You can sneak throughWith rates as competitive as they are, life insurance companies try to find out as much as possible about your health. Understandably, a nonsmoker's application is likely to be examined a bit closer than a smoker's, especially the results of the urine sample.
However, it is possible for the nicotine level in a smoker's urine to be low enough to escape detection. In fact, the American Lung Association says that nicotine disappears from your blood stream and your urine within 72 hours after smoking your last cigarette.
Cotinine is a primary metabolite of nicotine and is the most common identifier for nicotine levels in the urine. Therefore, even heavy smokers who can abstain for three days could theoretically lie about their smoking and go undetected.
Article Continued >>Tuesday, October 10, 2006
How to Buy Life Insurance
How to Buy Life Insurance
Buying life insurance is an easy way to protect your family after you're gone. If you know what to look for, you can get great coverage at a price you can afford.
Why buy life insurance?
Topping the list of reasons to buy life insurance is the financial protection life insurance offers. If you're single and just starting out, you may not need life insurance. But as you take on more responsibilities and your family grows, your need for life insurance increases. The proceeds from a life insurance policy can replace the income lost to your family upon your death. You might also want to buy life insurance to pay off debts and expenses, leave money to charity, and cover final and estate expenses.
Choose term or cash value
There are two basic types of life insurance: term life insurance, which provides life insurance coverage for a specified period of time (the term), and cash value (permanent) life insurance, which combines a death benefit with a cash value component. Cash value insurance offers lifetime protection, while term insurance may be the most affordable option if you're buying life insurance mainly for the financial protection it offers, and your need for life insurance is temporary (until your children leave the nest, for instance). Some term policies (called "convertible") will permit you to exchange the term life insurance policy for a permanent one at some point.
Decide how much coverage you'll need
The amount of life insurance protection you should buy depends on how much income your survivors will need, how much you own and owe, and the amount of other life insurance available to you. If you're married, both you and your spouse should consider buying life insurance. One of the easiest ways to estimate how much life insurance protection you should buy is to use a life insurance needs calculator.
Pick a number between 1 and 30
Term life insurance is usually offered for periods ranging from 1 to 30 years. Consider choosing a term that matches your need for life insurance protection. For instance, if your main reason for buying life insurance is to protect your 7-year-old twins until they're out of college, you'll want to buy a policy with a term of at least 15 years.
How much will it cost?
How much you pay for life insurance will depend on a number of risk factors, including your age, your health, whether you use tobacco, your family health history, and the type and amount of life insurance you're buying. Keep in mind that the premium you're quoted initially will increase later. For instance, when you buy term life insurance, rates are guaranteed only until the end of the term (annually for annual renewable term or at the end of a specified number of years for level term). While most life insurance policies can be renewed at the end of the term, you'll pay a higher premium for coverage.
Shop around
When comparing quotes for life insurance, make sure that the insurance coverage you're comparing is similar. And remember, any policy that you buy is only as good as the company that issues it. Find out what rating the company has received from major ratings services, such as A. M. Best or Standard & Poor's. These companies evaluate an insurer's financial condition and claims-paying ability. The company giving you a quote should provide you with this information. You can also contact your state's department of insurance to find out more about an insurer's record.
Submit an application
Once you're ready to purchase a life insurance policy, you'll fill out a life insurance application that contains questions about your current and past health history and lifestyle. You'll generally be required to take a medical exam, arranged and paid for by the insurance company. The answers you give on your application, along with the results from the medical exam and your past health history, will help the insurance company determine whether to offer you a policy, and if so, at what price.
Learn the lingo
Maybe a life insurance contract isn't as exciting as a best-selling novel, but read it anyway. Policy provisions, the amount of benefits, the premium, and other charges you'll pay will be listed along with other important information such as the beneficiaries you've named and the premium guarantee period. Make sure you understand everything in the policy. Under the laws of your state, you may have a "free look" period (typically at least 10 days) during which time you can cancel the policy without penalty.
Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs who need Life Insurance
Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs who needs Life Insurance
Do you work in a dangerous occupation? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 10 most dangerous jobs are:
- Timber cutters
- Airplane pilots
- Construction laborers
- Truck drivers
- Farm occupations
- Groundskeepers
- Laborers
- Police and detectives
- Carpenters
- Sales occupations
It's a fact that some occupations are riskier than others. But no matter what you do for a living, take a look at your life insurance needs. Life insurance can help you financially protect your loved ones after you die. If you're single, and no one is depending upon your income for support, you probably don't need life insurance. But if any of the following is true, consider buying life insurance:
- You're married and your spouse depends on your income
- You have children
- You have an aging parent or disabled relative who depends on your income
- Your retirement savings, pension, or other cash accounts won't adequately support your loved ones after you die
- You have a large estate and expect to owe estate taxes
- You own a business
Do you have the disability insurance you need?
If you work in a high-risk occupation, you probably know how important it is to have disability insurance coverage. But don't rely on government programs such as Social Security and workers' compensation as your main source of protection. In reality, government programs pay only limited benefits under restrictive terms (e.g. you must meet a strict definition of disability to qualify).
Your employer may offer group disability insurance at low or no cost to you. But you may also want to consider purchasing an individual disability insurance policy. Although you'll pay more for individual coverage than for a group policy, you often get more benefits. And keep in mind that if you leave your job or otherwise terminate your relationship with a group, you can't take your disability policy with you, and you usually can't convert it to an individual disability policy. This means that you may be left without disability coverage when you need it most.
Shop around for coverage
Since many different types of life and disability policies are available, it's important to shop around for coverage to find a life insurance policythat meets your individual needs. Since premium costs vary widely, get quotes from several insurance companies. Just make sure you're comparing policies that offer similar benefits.
Top 10 Things to Know About Life Insurance
Top 10 Things to Know About Life Insurance
We all recognize the importance of life insurance. After all, we want to make sure that our loved ones are taken care of when we die. But before you run out and purchase a policy, do some research ahead of time. That way, you'll be sure to get the best possible coverage at the right price. Here are some helpful tips to get you started:- Shop around
When it comes to life insurance, it pays to shop around because premiums can vary widely. And thanks to the Internet, it's now easier than ever. Try out one of the many insurance websites that can provide you with instant quotes. Make sure the website you shop from takes into consideration the factors in your medical history that can affect the premiums.
- Never buy more coverage than you need
The key to purchasing the right amount of life insurance is to have just enough coverage to meet your needs. If you have more life insurance than you need, you'll be paying unnecessarily for higher premiums. On the other hand, it's important not to have too little coverage, resulting in you being underinsured.
- The healthier you are, the better the rates
It's true – healthy people get better rates on life insurance. You will be asked to pay a higher rate for anything that shortens your life expectancy (e.g., if you smoke, take medications regularly, are overweight, have a bad driving record).
- Buy sooner rather than later
If you've been putting off purchasing life insurance because you don't want to pay the premiums, you may be doing yourself a disservice in the long run. The younger you are when you purchase life insurance, the lower your premiums will be.
- Realize the importance of periodically reviewing your coverage
Any life change signals the need for a review of your overall financial plan. When it comes to life insurance coverage, you'll want to make sure that this major life event (e.g., birth of a child, children are grown) won't leave you underinsured or overinsured.
- You don't necessarily have to pay a commission
One of the reasons for higher premiums is that most life insurance policies pay commissions to the agent/broker. However, you may be able to purchase a no-load policy through an insurer that sells no-load policies directly to consumers.
- You may be paying more for monthly premium payments
You may not realize it, but you may be paying more for your life insurance if you pay your premium in monthly installments. Many insurance companies charge extra fees if you make monthly premium payments instead of paying the annual premium.
- Don't rely solely on the life insurance offered by your employer
Many employers offer their employees some sort of group life insurance. But this amount of coverage is usually not enough to adequately meet your life insurance needs. In addition, group life insurance policies are not portable, meaning that if you leave your job, you can't take your life insurance coverage with you.
- Tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth
If you're thinking about lying on your insurance application, think again. If your insurance company finds out that you lied about a health-related condition or your lifestyle (e.g., smoking habit), they may be able to terminate your coverage.
- Buying more is sometimes cheaper
Life insurance usually costs less per thousand dollars once you get into higher coverage amounts (e.g., $250,000). If the numbers work out, you may be able to pay a lower premium while increasing your coverage.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Advantages of a Term Insurance Policy compared to a Cash Value Policy
Select life insurance that fits your needs
A: Term life insurance offers you protection during a limited number of years, expiring without value if the insured survives the stated period, which may be one or more years, but usually is five to 20 years, because such periods generally cover the needs for temporary protection.
Term programs really only have one advantage over cash value policies. That advantage is the price. Term insurance is typically much cheaper than whole life insurance, a permanent-level insurance protection from policy issue date to the death of the insured. It's also cheaper than universal life insurance, which is a flexible premium, two-part contract containing renewable term insurance and a cash value account that generally earns interest at a higher rate than a traditional policy.
However, with term insurance, after the term is over, expect the price to increase significantly. Compare it to renting versus buying a home. In the beginning, renting is much cheaper, but in the long run buying is cheaper.
The second part of your question is really simple. The only real way to get money back at the end of your need for life insurance is to use a cash-building policy or one that has a return of premium option. Most of these policies have a level premium that will not increase.
Financial advisers recommend consulting a professional before purchasing or investing in insurance products.
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Points to be considered before selecting type of Life Insurance
Following are the point's/factors to be considered when you are selecting the life insurance policy:
- Current financial situation like mortgage outstandings, dependents, etc.
- Coverage amount you require.
- The money you can spare for life insurance premium.
- Lastly the time of coverage.
Do I Need Life Insurance?
How do I decide between Term Life Insurance and Permanent Life insurance?
When shopping for life insurance, you face the same decision you must make when you're in the market for a new car: lease or buy? Those aren't the words used for insurance, of course, but the concepts of term and permanent life insurance are similar to leasing and buying.
Term insurance is like leasing a car. You purchase death benefits for a specified period -- usually 5, 10 or 20 years. When the period is over, it's like turning in the leased car. The deal is done and you walk away. Permanent insurance, on the other hand, is like buying the car you plan to drive forever. Permanent insurance stays in force as long as you live. It will pay a death benefit, and it accumulates a cash value, too.
The two kinds of life insurance are appropriate for different situations. Term insurance is designed for those who are interested solely in a death benefit; for example, a young father who wants insurance so that his child will be able to afford college if Dad is not around to pay the bills. There is no cash value to this kind of insurance, so often the premiums are lower than they are for permanent insurance. But as the insured gets older, the premiums increase.
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Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Term life insurance
Monday, August 21, 2006
Term Insurance Web Definitions
- Life insurance under which the benefit is payable only if the insured dies during a specified period. See also convertible term insurance, credit life insurance, decreasing term insurance, deposit term insurance, family income insurance, increasing term insurance, level term insurance, mortgage redemption insurance, and renewable term insurance.
- The type of life insurance that provides protection for a specified period of time only.
- A plan of insurance that covers the insured for only a certain period of time (the term), not for his or her entire life. It pays death benefits only if the insured dies during the term of the policy.
