Friday, August 31, 2007

Home Insurance: Do You Really Need It

The typical dream is to have a high paying career and buy a home where you and your family can live without fear of a landlord knocking on your door or having to move every time rent increases. But it is not only a landlords unpleasant face that will come knocking on your door. There are much more undesirable visitors that may show up. Thats why you need Home Insurance.

Like Car Insurance, Insuring your home protects you and your home in case of natural or man-made disasters that may affect you and your family home. But what will a Homeowners Insurance policy do for you?

The Structure of your Home: The physical structure of your home is the primary focus of home insurance. Basically, when your home is hit by earthquake, flood or even robbers, the insurance company repairs or rebuilds your house as appropriate. In this way, you dont have to plunge into your life savings to start afresh with repairing damages done to your house or going through the process of buying another home. This saves you a ton of headache.

Protection of your Assets: A typical home insurance policy should also cover assets you have in your home. This way if and when disaster strikes resulting in the loss of your personal properties, they will be replaced for you. This way you wont have to start all over again as against when you dont have them covered under the insurance policy.

Protection of Liability: Sometimes instead of you having to be the recipient of unwanted home or property damages, it is the other way round. You, your family or pets may accidentally damage your neighbors home or properties and would be liable for repairing or replacing them. But if you are enrolled in a homeowners insurance policy that covers such issues, they will be responsible for compensating the victims. Under such a policy the legal cost of defending you in court and any damages that the court rules that you pay will be provided by your insurance company.

In addition, any extra costs of living outside your home like your hotel bills, costs of meals and any other living expenses that are incurred while living outside your home because of being hit by a catastrophe such as fire, a storm or any other insured disaster will be paid for by the insurance company and not out of your pockets.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure that your home is adequately insured against any man-made or natural disasters that may affect you now or in the future. It will definitely save you a lot of stress, money and family troubles when the time comes. It is the passport to better safeguarding your American dream.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on home insurance and home insurance quotes at http://www.homeinsurancegroup.co.uk

Saturday, August 18, 2007

5 Golden Tips for Hassle-Free RV Insurance Claims

Some RVers go their whole RV careers without ever having a mishap costly enough to warrant an insurance claim. In the unfortunate event that you do have to file a claim, your life will be easier - and you'll be more likely to receive the full extent of your financial compensation - if you follow these five simple tips for hassle-free claims.

1) Take Photos and Retain Receipts
Your best friend when filing a claim will be your adjustor - the person who checks up on your claim to make sure that it's legitimate. Your adjustor's best friends are the receipts and photos of your RV and the items in it that sustained damage. This need for documentation is a great reason to spring for that digital camera you've been eyeing.

The documentation habit is easy to get into - simply photocopy receipts for your RV along with receipts for significant upgrades and costly bring-alongs such as bicycles, fishing poles, binoculars, video cameras, etc. Photocopying is important - most people don't realize how quickly the ink on receipts fades. Put these photocopies into a file and keep them safe at your house. If you're a full-timer consider a safe-deposit box at your bank.

Then, in the two minutes before you leave for each trip, take your digital camera and snap photos of the outside and inside of your rig. Once you've gotten into the documentation habit for yourself, you're well on your way to hassle-free claims.

2) Take Post-Damage Photos and Retain Post-Damage Receipts
Once you're sure that everyone involved in the mishap is safe, healthy, and accounted for, it's time to get that digital camera back out and start snapping photos of the damage and the overall situation. Depending on the severity of your claim, your photos could well be what tips the scales in your favor. Be as thorough as possible without being annoying or overly insensitive to other parties involved.

On claims involving major damage to your rig, you'll have estimates and receipts for work done. Obviously you'll be saving all of these. At that point your claims adjuster will help walk you through the proper steps.

Photo documentation is especially crucial for mishaps that don't restrict your rig's mobility. Let's say, God forbid, your TV wrenches loose, flies through the air and smashes your new kitchen cabinets. Your RV's still fine to drive but if you clean up the mess and get back on the road, you're cleaning up evidence vital to your claim adjustor's work.

3) Determine the Damage Cost That Pays You to Make a Claim
Let's say your RV insurance policy has a $500 deductible. You just had a mishap that you documented with receipts and photos (good job!) for a total of $750 in damages. Does it pay you to file a claim for that $250 you'd get after the $500 deductible?

Here's where things get tricky, because in some cases making a claim for that $250 means that your rate may go up. Talk with your agent and fellow RVers to get an idea of how much and when your rates go up to determine when it really pays you to file a claim. Once you know that amount, set that much aside for potential mishaps on the road. You could end up really thanking yourself in the future.

There's another important reason to set that limit for yourself. Insurance companies of all shapes and sizes use a service called CLUE which tells them how often individuals file claims against insurance. Think of it like a credit rating for insurance. The more claims you file, the more likely your insurance is to go up. Ultimately, you could stand to be rejected for insurance on other possessions in your life.

Save yourself the hassle by knowing when you'll file a claim and when you'll pay out of pocket expense.

4) Be Honest in the Application Process
Being honest sounds simple, right? We were all taught that lesson by out parents as little kids. You'd be amazed how often people "fudge" the truth in order to save a little bit on their yearly insurance costs. If you really want to have hassle-free claims, then do yourself the favor of being completely honest about things such as how you plan to use your rig, how many days per year you'll be using it, and whether or not you'll be lending it out and for how long.

Usually you make these statements on the phone with a sales rep and you're thinking about saving as much money as possible. Take some time to really think about these questions so that you can answer with complete honesty. If you keep yourself honest, your claims adjuster won't have to. Save yourself the major hassle of a claims adjuster denying your $25,000 claim because of a lie that saved you $25.

5) Keep Your Insurance Phone Number and Policy Number Handy
Once you've purchased your insurance policy, you're likely to receive a handy packet with your insurance policy number and the phone number you call in the case of making a claim. The problem is that there will be loads of other information in the packet and it may be bigger and bulkier than necessary for your RV. Write those two numbers on a single piece of paper. Photo copy this piece of paper and put one in your glove box and one in your wallet or purse. Keep them handy in the unfortunate event of a mishap and you'll save yourself the agony of needing the numbers and not having them.

6) Your Hassle-Free Insurance Claim Recap
Documentation, knowing your claim threshold, honesty, and preparedness - these are the hallmarks of hassle-free RV insurance claims. If you follow the five golden rules in this article, you'll make your life as hassle-free as possible and ensure that your dream vacations don't turn into nightmares.

RV America finds you the lowest rates for your RV insurance by comparing coverage from six major rv insurance companies so contact RV America today by visiting http://www.rv-insurance-coverage.com or calling 1 800-400-0186.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Guide To Cheap Annual Travel Insurance

Traveling can be exciting and rewarding, but it can also be expensive when the unexpected occurs far from home such as sickness or injury, travel delay, baggage loss, or worse.

In the past decade medical costs have increased dramatically worldwide and even countries with subsidized National Health plans now demand payment in full from foreign visitors for medical services rendered.

At the same time travel suppliers such as airlines, and tour operators worldwide have made cancellation policies more restrictive, so if you have to cancel a trip it's likely that a substantial portion of your pre-paid travel expenses will not be refunded, and if you have to interrupt a trip mid-way, a last minute, one-way economy fare return-flight is now likely to be more costly than ever.

Moreover, the reality of global terrorism, increased travel industry bankruptcies, global economic instability, and the overall unpredictability of life today causes many people to seek ways to minimize the unique financial risks associated with travel.

As a result, savvy travelers purchase travel insurance in order to protect against the potentially staggering financial costs resulting from crises such as the cancellation of a big trip due to death or illness of a family member or a required emergency medical evacuation.

The further your trip will be, the more you will need travel insurance. This is common sense, as international trips are costly, so there's a need to protect your hard earned travel money. So wherever you go, to a local or international destination, it's very important that you have the necessary insurance coverage. Cheap annual travel insurance is an alternative choice for those budget- conscious travelers who are making more than one trip a year. The main feature of the annual travel insurance against regular travel insurance is that it saves you money. For a once annual payment, you become covered whenever you travel during the year. The terms and conditions vary between companies, but annual insurance for unlimited travel is also available. Cheap annual travel insurance provides substantial cost savings than any regular type of travel insurance.

Here are some tips for choosing your best cheap annual travel insurance:

1. Sign up with a reputable insurance company that has worldwide offices which can easily be contacted during emergency needs.

2. The insurance company should have a 24/7 customer assistance which is an essential for international travelers.

3. Always make your office's 1-800 number available to you when you are abroad.

4. The cost of the insurance should not be more than 10% of your investment.

5. Read the terms and conditions of the policy to make sure you aren't buying unnecessary or inadequate coverage.

6. Look for refundable policy, especially if you have the history of changing your mind too often.

7. A good insurance should cover at least the following:

a. Flight cancellation or delay b. Luggage loss and delay c. Sickness and accident during the trip. d. Evacuation support during an emergency situation such as natural calamities

Cheap annual travel insurance is good for you if you take vacations more than once a year. Instead of taking several insurance each time you travel, you can make use of a single travel insurance that could save you a lot of money and time. On the other hand, if you travel less often, an annual insurance policy is not for you since you will not be able to recover the cost.

James Yee enjoys traveling and photography. Click here to get your Free Weekly Travel Deals : http://www.yeearticles.com/travel/Guide_to_Cheap_Annual_Travel_Insurance.php

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Dental And Vision Insurance - Both Are Vital Insurances For You

For most of us, we come across insurances on rare occasions in out lives. We usually take out something that will cover our lives when we have something worth covering, like getting married or starting a family.

And we will sometimes take out insurances for things, like buildings and our property.

Somewhere down the list of priorities for our monthly outgoings, is the need to protect not just our lives but also some key elements of our health. Whilst full health insurance is important as well, two smaller types of insurance are very vital to our wellbeing and ability to enjoy our lives to the full.

So, How Important Is Dental And Vision Insurance?

These are two critical types of insurance that protects people and their families. Whilst they may seem somewhat different, you might be surprised to find how similar dental and vision insurance is.

Both of them are focused on ensuring that two of the most important parts of your body get their regular tune-ups, not to say check-overs.

That dental and vision insurance is often available from similar providers, shows that of all the different types of insurance you can spend your money on, there is a real belief that dental and vision health are two of the most important health measures for most of us.

What's The Point Of Dental And Vision Insurance?

One of the most important things about our dental and visual health is that, with regular attention, we can keep it pretty much under control. Our teeth and gums, as well as our eyes are vulnerable to disease, just like the rest of our bodies, but can be easily managed, with the expert advice that dentists and opticians can provide.

You see, dental and vision insurance concentrates more on prevention than cure - though the specialists in the field deal with this too! Having a good policy for both of these will always be a great investment as they will not only prevent nasty bills, but they will encourage regular inspections of your mouth and teeth.

If you are working, you may well find that your employer will provide either free or discounted dental and vision insurance. If you are able to take advantage of this it might well be one of the best things you can do.

Remember, your visual and oral health are very important (just imagine what it might be with problems in those areas), so a sound dental and vision insurance policy might be worth the investment as soon as you like!

(c) 2007 Best Dental Health Guide. If you want to find the best information and product ideas to keep your teeth healthy and bright. You can, right here, on Martin Haworth's fascinating website at http://www.BestDentalHealthGuide.com

Saturday, August 4, 2007

The Quick Guide To Buying Pet Insurance Online

Not so very long ago, the idea of insuring a pet was almost
laughable. It was the sort of thing reserved for those who owned
posh pooches, the crème de la crème of the pet world. It made
sense to insure pedigreed pups and their feline companions when
they cost so much. Things have taken a turn, though. Rising vet
fees and publicity about the expenses of owning and caring for a
pet have prompted many people to invest in insurance for their
pets.

Of course, the trick is to find the right pet insurance policy
- the one that offers the best cover for your pet at the lowest
price for you. The internet makes the process of comparing and
choosing the best pet insurance policy far easier and quicker,
and allows you to purchase and pay for your choice instantly
online. Here are some tips to help you find and choose the best
pet insurance.

1. Evaluate your needs and prioritise.

This is always a good first step, but especially so for pet
insurance which covers so many different options. Do you need a
policy that will cover a lifelong condition like diabetes? Do
you have a pedigree pet? Is your pet a breed that has a higher
chance of snapping or biting others? In each case, you'll want
to be sure that the insurance you choose covers specific claims.
So know what you need before you start searching.

2. Search for "pet insurance reviews" in your favorite search
engine.

A search for "pet insurance" will bring up lots of individual
insurers. That's helpful, but it's not much better than calling
around to each insurer. By searching for reviews, you'll come up
with a list of internet sites that allow you to check out and
compare many different insurers at once. Some may even compare
policies side by side for cost and benefits, and many include
reviews from people who have used the firm's insurance. Some of
the criteria you might use for comparison are:

-Premiums - how much does the policy cost per month?
-Voluntary Excess - do you pay an excess for each condition, or
an overall excess per annum?
-Benefit Caps - how much will the policy reimburse in total? Is
that per condition, per incident or overall?

Other benefits - policies offer a wide variety of other
benefits from discounts on pet care products to paying kennel
fees if the owner is hospitalized overnight. They may include
reimbursement for expenses to find a lost pet or for canceled
holiday tickets if your pet becomes ill and you return home
early.

3. Narrow your choices and investigate further.

Read any reviews offered by customers on the review site, then
check the company's own web site. Do a further web search to
check for any complaints that might be on discussion forums.

4. Apply for the policy that suits you best.

Before you enter any personal information, be sure that you're
on a legitimate web site and that the page on which you enter
and submit your information is secure. Most insurers will
confirm the acceptance of your policy immediately, and some will
even email your policy documents.

About The Author: If you value your pet, it's important to
think carefully about what pet insurance is best for your little
friend. Visit UK Insurance Index at
http://www.uk-insurance-index.co.uk for simple tips to make the
process easier and cheaper.

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=170440

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