Archive for March, 2010

All about car insurance

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Many factors influence the premium for your Motor insurance policy. Your insurer will have asked you many questions whilst producing your quote some of which will affect your premium and some will not. Below we discuss the key variables that are within the policyholders control.
Location
A big influence on the cost of your car insurance is where you live. The chance of your car being broken into or stolen is a key concern for the insurer. More urban areas traditionally facing greater risk of theft and therefore tend to be more expensive than countryside locations.
Excess
By agreeing to pay a greater excess on each claim you can reduce your car insurance premiums. This is because you are reducing the liability of the insurer and therefore in return they are able to offer you a lower premium.
Your Vehicle
The cheaper and slower your vehicle the lower your premiums are likely to be. If you are looking to buy a new vehicle make sure you fully consider the cost of insurance you may be able to buy the car but can you afford to run it?
Consolidating policies
By insuring a number of vehicles with the same insurer, or by trying to take out home and life insurance through your car insurer, you may be able to secure a bulk buy discount.
Parking
Where you park your vehicle overnight is also very important to the insurers. If it is kept in a locked garage, you should be offered a lower premium than if you leave it unattended in the street.
Mileage
You can control your insurance premiums by restricting your annual mileage. However, be aware that if you exceed the restricted number of miles youll then become uninsured!
Security
Security devices that prevent or hinder theft may also reduce your premium. Common examples include alarms and immobilisers, however, be aware that as we improve the quality of our security devices the thieves just become better at bypassing them.
No Claims Discount
Save up your no claims discount by avoiding making small claims upon your policy. After a set number of years, 4 or 5 typically, youll often be offered the option to pay an additional small premium to protect your no claims bonus. This can prove very helpful if you subsequently end up having an accident.
Your Sex.
Women are statistically less likely to have an accident and, if they do, its less likely to be serious. Because of these statistics women benefit from lower premiums. It is also worth noting that if you represent one half of a couple you should consider having the female as the primary driver with the male as the second driver.
Advanced driving skills
By taking an advanced driving course you may also be able to reduce your premiums. The Institute for Advanced Motorists and the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents each offer membership which provides you with discounts for both the cost of driving courses and your car insurance premiums. Two key variables NOT within the policyholders control.
Your Age
The older you are, the less likely you are to make a claim. As a result insurance companies charge lower premiums for more mature drivers.
One final piece of advice.
A large percentage of car insurance is now sold on the Internet. Thats because its convenient and cheap. Many insurers now give a further 10%-15% discount if you buy online.

Affordable Texas Health Insurance – Get Insurance Cheap In The Lone Star State

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Change is never easy, and amendments to Texas Law have seen the Health Insurance market explode with a multitude of health plan options. While more competition is always a good thing, it can sometimes be very confusing to consumers who want to get the best deal, but are confused by the sudden array of choice.

There is also the added confusion that not all health plans have to contain all benefits, meaning youve suddenly got a whole lot of policies that may or may not contain the things you need. Insurance carriers still do have full health insurance plans, but the advantage of this new flexibility is that consumers can choose which benefits they would like to pay for. This means insurance that is tailored to your needs that wont break the bank with costs for things you dont want or need.

You now have the choice between State Mandated Plans and Consumer Choice Plans. Consumer Choice plans will still include things that the State has determined must be included, such as Alzheimers and Pregnancy Complications.

The health coverage tax credit program is also available to help certain individuals pay for insurance, this can make health insurance much more affordable if youre eligible. If youre on a pension youre likely to qualify, as well as if you are a displaced worker.

There is also the choice between Fee-for-service plans, and Managed Care plans. Managed care plans may be cheaper as may be required to go to the health care professionals that the insurance company dictates, where as Fee-for-service plans allow you to go anywhere you want.

Another excellent way to save money on your insurance is to see if you can get it as part of a group. Perhaps your employer offers insurance, or your union. Other associations that offer the chance to get in on a group plan are churches and professional associations.

Be smart, look around, and explore your options. Thats the best way to save on health insurance and get a good deal.

Insurance Explained

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Home insurance
This product covers your home and contents against a flood, fire, flood or break-in for example, or if your pipes burst. Your home insurance policy has to include those just covering the contents of your home, those just covering the actual building you live in, or joint policies, covering both.

Motor insurance
Finding the right policy and the cheapest car insurance cover can be a tricky process; drivers use the Internet, by telephone, read magazines, watch TV advertisement to get information on savings and offers on car insurance.

Owning and driving a car means taking on many risks to yourself and others. When a traffic accident happens, damage, injuries, loss or all of these factors may be inflicted upon you and others. Damage and loss of your property may also occur. Fire, theft, vandalism and natural disasters are other possible risks.

Car Insurance protects motorists and drivers against liability in the event of accidents they may cause. It can also provide cover for the motorists own vehicle.

Many different types of cover are available, ranging from third party cover which protects individuals against liability should they injure a third party or cause damage to a third partys property, but does not provide any cover for the individuals own vehicle or property, through to comprehensive cover, which can offer protection for accidental damage, theft, fire damage as well as liability towards third parties. The minimum legal requirement for car insurance to drive in the UK is Third Party Only.

Here are 5 steps to follow to find the cheapest motor insurance deal:

STEP ONE: EXCESS
Voluntary excess the easiest way to cut your insurance premiums is to accept a higher voluntary excess. An insurers standard excess may be ?100; but if you meet the first ?250 of any claim, youll see a reduction in your premium. This is simply because you are more of the risk so you get a discount by your insurance company. This however is a gamble, insurer should be aware that they may have to meet the cost of a broken window after an attempted theft, then a bill for repairing bodywork damage after a car park crunch.

STEP TWO: SECURITY
One way to get cheaper insurance premiums is to fit a security device. Many insurers advise insurers to use Thatcham rated security equipment, usually minimum of an alarm. If you are living in a high-risk which may be known for car crime it would be useful to fit an extra security such as steering lock. This will save you money when your insurance renewal is due and gives you extra peace of mind.

STEP THREE: NAMED DRIVERS
Adding a named driver to your policy can increase or reduce your premiums depending upon the named drivers age, sex and driving record. When adding a young driver will increase your premiums, particularly with a limited or poor driving record. However, adding a driver over 30 years old with a long and clean driving record can cut premiums, particularly if the named driver is a female.

STEP FOUR: ANNUAL MILEAGE
If your annual mileage is, 5,000 miles or less, ask insurers if they offer discounts for agreed mileage restrictions, as some insurance companies do give discounts for restricted mileage. However many insurers wont offer this option as standard but will agree a discount if you ask.

STEP 5 SHOP AROUND FOR GOOD RATES
The biggest potential savings come from shopping around. This has been made much easier with the explosion of the internet. There can be massive differences between the lowest and highest car insurance quotes for exactly the same car and driver(s).

Health insurance
This type of insurance include policies which pay for your private medical treatment, if you dont want to rely on the National Health Service, to those giving specific cover for dentists and optician bills.

Travel insurance
Insurance to protect you and your loved ones while on holiday and in case of holiday cancellations. This is available as Annual trip and also single trip cover. The cheapest travel insurance to find depends on which company your purchase from.

Life insurance
This cover, is to ensure your loved ones are financially provided for, if the worst should happen to you.
Income protection insurance
Insurance to help replace some of your earnings if you cant work because you become ill or are made redundant.

Pet insurance
Vets bills can be expensive at times. This type of insurance covers you for unexpected vets bills and more.
Purchase insurance
Provides cover on goods you buy.
Different ways to buy insurance
If you want to buy direct

Theres lots of different ways to buy insurance:

Buy on the phone

Buy on the internet its really easy to compare quotes from different companies online before you buy. Many give a discount if you apply online

Buy from an insurance broker. Youll find local brokers in your phone book

Buy from your local bank or building society, or in the case of travel insurance, from your travel agent but remember you may not get the best deal

Buy from a specialist insurer for some types of insurance, like medical insurance, insurance for boilers/cookers, there are specialist companies just providing this type of insurance.