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Thursday 13 October 2011

How Does Insurance Work?

Affordable Health And Dental Insurance - Does It Pay To Stay Loyal To An Insurer?

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Affordable health and dental insurance: Staying loyal to one insurer for any considerable length of time will almost always result in savings. Staying with the same insurance company for at least three years will get you special discounts from many insurers.
Staying longer will result in bigger discounts. But sometimes it is wiser to leave for another insurance company if want you're after is affordable health and dental insurance.
Let us say, for example, that you will get a 5% (or $120) discount after your third year with an insurer where you current health insurance rate is $2,400.
However, due to rising costs of health care and inflation, insurance companies may have to make adjustments in their rates to reflect changes. But if you are someone who does routine shopping for affordable health and dental insurance you'll very likely get an insurer within those years of waiting who'll give you comparable coverage for less.
If this is true about you then you know it's wise for you to go for the better offer right away and not wait for years to qualify for a discount that won't even save you as much. And, in most cases, most folks can actually pay a lot less than they are doing currently on health and dental insurance if they do extensive shopping.
There are over 2,000 insurance carriers in the US and a good number of these also provide health insurance. Add to this fact that each insurer has its own unique rate for each profile and coverage amount and you'll understand that there is almost always an insurer out there who'll give you the same coverage for a lot less. You can easily lower your health and dental insurance rates by up to 50% depending on your profile and preferred coverage type.
Considering the process of getting and comparing health insurance quotes takes just minutes I'll wonder why you won't do that now and get more affordable health and dental insurance rates straight away.
Get your health insurance quotes now from reputable insurance companies here...
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Chimezirim Odimba writes on health insurance.
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Travel Health And Car Insurance And Why You Need It

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You might be someone who travels occasionally on business. Or you might have a normal schedule of traveling with work or studies. Whichever situation describes you, an essential aspect you will have to consider is insurance while you travel.
Trips can be very unpredictable and you'll not know what will happen one phase to another. You will have to be ready should there be some emergency situation, or in the event you require medical assistance. Some outings aren't advised for individuals of a certain age range if they have health problems, in most of those instances getting travel insurance coverage is very important.
Travel medical health insurance provides coverage across a multitude of situations. You can try lots of different plans available and find out which one suits your financial budget as well as your needs.
You may also evaluate which kind of travel car and health coverage you'll need in your trip. Drivers looking for an international policy will also be able to locate cheap car insurance as well.
You will get multiple quotes online by a single click and can then compare the different costs involved. You are able to make certain that you will get covered for that costs active in the trip, that you will get covered for just about any delay that might perhaps cause you to add more days to your accommodations and much more.
You may also make certain that you're covered in case of there being an emergency evacuation whereby you may also get air lifted from the place. Make certain that whatsoever occurs, there's complete details about your location with someone in your area to ensure that they are able to get help for anyone who is not able to communicate.
Whenever you take a look at options in travel insurance, you need to make certain you read reviews by other vacationers on different websites. You can observe what other individuals who've gone on similar packages and tours have observed.
For those who have any sort of conditions that require medication or attention from the medical expert, you need to ensure that you can get the medications and also the doctor's consultation covered, even when you might have to pay some extra.
It might be much better than needing to cover the expense alone inside a destination in which the costs can be really various, and might be way too high. Travel medical health or auto insurance can also be offered at different price ranges for individuals of various ages, as well as the locations traveled to.
Make certain you educate yourself well on travel insurance coverage so that you are able to negotiate on the best deal that you possibly can.
For more details on travel and auto insurance, please visit cheap car insurance for the latest news and information
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Health and Human Services Insurance Coverage

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Like most business, health and human services organizations, social service agencies, and other non-profit organizations must purchase basic insurance packages in order to operate legally and effectively. Some of the insurance packages a human services agency or non-profit organization will purchase are common to all businesses: worker's compensation, umbrella insurance, and business insurance. However, the non-profit nature of health and human services agencies, combined with the special coverage needs specific to these agencies' staff and the populations they serve, will often require specialized insurance coverages and targeted choices in insurance brokers.
Directors and Officers Insurance Coverage
Most health and human services and non-profit organizations will require Directors and Officers Liability Insurance, or "D&O insurance." The very nature of non-profit and social services jobs - services done for the public good, and often, specifically for at-risk, under-served, or challenging populations -- makes lawsuits against directors distinct possibilities, because of their daily agency duties and roles. D&O insurance provides coverage for non-profit or social service agency directors if they are sued for job-related activities or conduct.
As in the for-profit world, harassment lawsuits and discrimination grievances are prevalent in non-profit organizations. These types of lawsuits pose some of the greatest threats possible to non-profit and human service organizations: actions brought against directors and officers present great financial risks to agency boards or investors. In the event that a suit is brought against a social service agency director or officer, a D&O insurance coverage program drastically lowers the risk that any one board member will lose his or her personal assets as the result of a lawsuit. This type of insurance protection is so important that D&O is a standard requirement when assembling a board of directors.
D&O insurance plays several other important roles in a non-profit or health and human services organization. It can protect an organization in the event that a director or officer inadvertently releases classified or proprietary company information in good faith. This type of insurance can also protect the company in the event of a questionable hiring, termination, or promotional decision. Directors and Officers Liability Insurance is also beneficial in suits regarding how the non-profit manages its investment portfolio(s) and can be an asset in "conflict of interest" legal charges brought against the non-profit.
Unemployment Insurance
Most for-profit companies pay a certain premium percentage each month for unemployment insurance, an essential type of coverage that is legally mandated in order to own or operate a business. In the for-profit world, each time a former worker successfully files for unemployment compensation, the unemployment insurance premiums and taxes for all employees go up. This is especially deleterious to small for-profit entities, because the smaller the company is, the higher the per-employee cost will jump.
Unlike their for-profit brothers, non-profit companies can pay state taxes only for unemployment claims that are actually paid out. It's an unfortunate truth that many social service agencies and non-profit organizations are unaware that they are eligible for tax reimbursements. Those health and human service organization employees who are responsible for unemployment benefits administration should consult with their unemployment insurance brokers to register as "reimbursing employers." Then, rather than paying excess taxes on social service unemployment claims, non-profit and social service agencies can use the money for the betterment of their organizations.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance
A cursory reading of the business section of the local newspaper will reveal that lawsuits against employers are common, even on the rise, depending upon the industry. Reasons for such suits can include, but are not limited to: sexual harassment; discrimination on the basis of race, faith, or sexual orientation; wrongful termination, and more. Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) provides non-profit and human service organizations with coverage in the event of lawsuits.
Other types of human service and non-profit insurance coverages
Many non-profits and human service agencies offer specialized care or community services. Food banks, for example, provide nourishment to those who cannot afford complete meals from their own means. Jewish community centers lend cultural programs, childcare, and often, fitness and recreational opportunities to both Jewish and secular populations. YMCA branches offer services ranging from temporary sheltering; to fitness opportunities and youth day camp, to job training and placement programs. Group homes might provide services for the frail elderly; the mentally ill, or adults with Down Syndrome. Accordingly, each non-profit must consider its risks carefully and purchase insurance accordingly. Coverage options range from child abduction liability to patient molestation and abuse coverage to insurance for clinic volunteers and helpers.
Before a non-profit or health and human services organization commits to any insurance package, however, they must consult with experienced insurance brokers to determine the coverage packages that are most suitable for specialized organizational needs.
Allied Insurance Brokers provides risk management strategies and insurance for health and human services, social service agencies, and other non-profits. The company offers other specialized packages and agent and broker insurance services, as well. For more information, visit the company's Web site, www.alliedinsbrokers.com.
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Health and Dental Insurance

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Think of the word 'health insurance' and the idea formed in your mind is of covering serious diseases through insurance plans. Yet dental insurance, in many ways, is different from health insurance.
Health insurance plans usually provide coverage for serious diseases that by their very nature can be unpredictable and catastrophic. Medical treatment can be extremely expensive and a purchased individual health insurance plan can help relieve tension to some extent. This is not say that health insurance plans do not cover routine check-ups and common ailments. The point is that even if companies provide group insurance plans, it is better to safeguard yourself for the future. Most plans provide limited coverage and if you decide to opt for the ones with greater benefits, the cost factor might become an issue.
This is a situation that calls for utmost discretion and it is for you to perform the balancing act between cost and coverage- you cannot go beyond the budget, but good health too is of utmost importance.
Dental insurance is different from health insurance in that the dental problems are neither unpredictable nor catastrophic. Most dental treatment is preventive by the nature and good hygiene, to a large extent, can prove to be a panacea for your dental ailments.
That said, dental insurance is cheaper than health insurance. The reason for this again lies in the difference in the seriousness of diseases. Visiting charges to a dentist can prove to be cheaper than the monthly premiums paid for a dental coverage policies. This is why there are fewer companies in the market providing dental insurance as compared to those selling health insurance policies.
Most companies provide group dental insurance coverage to their employees as a major perk to keep their employees happy. Because of the large number of employees, the insurance companies are able to provide greater coverage at reduced rates. People with group dental insurance plans do not require additional individual dental coverage.
This is not so with health insurance. Even if the company provides medical coverage, buying individual health insurance is a safer option that will prove beneficial in the long run.
Dental Insurance [http://www.dentalinsurance-web.com] provides detailed information about dental insurance, dental insurance companies, and more. Dental Insurance is affiliated with Texas Health Insurance Companies [http://www.e-texashealthinsurance.com].
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Self Employed Insurance - Health and Dental Coverage Plans

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Self employed insurance - whether medical or dental - is rarely cheap, at least when compared to employer-provided insurance plans. When starting a new small business or going out on your own, arranging for proper dental care and health care is a very important part of the process. Since solo professionals already have so much to think about and so many different hats to wear, this is often an overlooked area. Unfortunately, not making proper plans in the early stages can be very detrimental.
Why do so many small businesses fail every year? There are a lot of reasons, but perhaps the most important and most common is related to cash flow problems. And one of the major reasons behind cash flow failure or slow down is an inability to increase income over time. To take this one step further, I am sure you can imagine a number of reasons it could become difficult to increase income in a small business or a self employed operation.
Imagine that you are a self employed professional who is solely responsible for your ability to earn a living for you and to bring home the bacon to your family. Maybe you are a dentist. Well, what happens if you suddenly become very sick or temporarily disabled? Without you out on the front lines of your business, the income flow is going to slow down or come to a complete stop. Your ability to recover from an illness quickly is paramount to your success in a self employed venture.
Health insurance should not be your only area of concern. Dental care is very important as well as you will want to plan accordingly to care for your teeth - a very important component in any insurance coverage plan for the self-employed. Although there are a number of important factors to consider which may or may not make you a good candidate, most small business owners should secure quality health insurance, dental insurance, and even vision coverage if possible.
When you start looking at your options, use the World Wide Web first to make your research process easy and focused. Steer clear of websites that ask you for lots of personal information upfront and stick to focused articles that help you make sense of the rather confusing insurance terrain. With so many concepts to think about (HSA, Liability, Disability, Term Life, etc.) you will want to consult with experts before visiting a provider and researching prices and getting quotes.
Dental insurance is one of the most overlooked coverage areas among solo professionals. Find out how to find the best rates and the best self employed dental plans today at http://Self-Employed-Insurance-Help.com free.
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Women's Health and Affordable Health Insurance Care

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One of the few groups of individuals who will receive minor benefits from the passage of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are females of all ages. Women's health issues are gaining in receiving the medical attention they have been requiring for decades. Women covered under an existing insurance plan will receive most of the necessary requirements. Other pregnant women without any insurance plan will be placed in a very difficult position.
This is just the way it has been for many decades. Today the trend is beginning to change. The insurance providers have considered pregnancy as a pre-existing condition. This was making it very difficult for women to receive the necessary health care to insure a safe pregnancy and a healthy outcome for the unborn child.
The lack of affordable health insurance meant the women had to pay out of pocket for every office visit, additional vitamins, and medication. Women also were required to make arrangements with the affiliated local hospital in order to make partial payments before the delivery of a child. This placed a heavy burden on the families during a time that was meant to be exciting.
Single pregnant women turned to the state funded insurance plans to receive help getting through the pregnancy. The affordable care act is offering women a chance to afford a health insurance policy through any of the health providers. This is because the health providers are no longer able to consider pregnancy as a pre-existing condition.
Understand that the low cost health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions will begin in 2014 and is not in existence today. Pre-existing conditions have been eliminated from the health provider roles for children only at this time. It is important for all women during the childbearing years to be aware of this adjustment to medical care.
A new publicly funded program called The Pregnancy Assistance Fund is a new program designated for pregnant women regardless of being married or single. This program will be of assistance to all families with regard to health tips, education, and early childcare. This program for young women will help walk new mothers through the various stages leading up to the first day of Kindergarten.
The average monthly cost for health insurance will be designated to each pregnant mother based on a sliding scale. This is a method used to keep the cost for medical care at a minimum while providing quality health services.
Check out more information on NY Health Insurance or Affordable Health Insurance.
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Why You Need Health Insurance - Understanding the Importance of Health and Medical Insurance

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Why is having health or medical insurance so important? There is certainly a misconception that medical insurance is only for the elderly and older folks. Many young adults and even some middle aged adults have this misconception that since they are still healthy and without any illness, they do not need this security blanket that a health insurance policy provides. Their argument is that the premiums are high and that they are not getting anything in return if they do not make use of the policy.
Perhaps, these people are ignorant or have not heard or read of young and healthy people who without any warning, suffer a health attack or succumb to cancer. This is not surprising considering the hectic lifestyle and the regular intake of unhealthy food in this fast moving world that we live in. In addition, unforeseen accidents, minor or major can happen anytime. Breaking an arm or a leg can happen anytime while playing basketball or football. In the tropics, many people young and old falls victims to dengue due to mosquito bites. Considering the rising cost of medical care, hospitalization, surgery and medicines, a visit to the hospitals for treatment can indeed set back your hard earned savings if you are not covered under a health insurance plan.
A well meaning financial planner will advise that a financial plan which would include managing your investment risks will not be complete without a comprehensive health and medical insurance policy with critical illness coverage and hospitalization and surgical (H&S) coverage. Indeed, a financial investment plan can be derail if one should suffer the tragedy of succumbing to any life threatening illness such as cancer, diabetes, etc causing the person to lose his job and income before the financial goal of his investment plan materialize. The cost of treatment which may be exorbitant from the hospital expenses and surgery needed would cause you to use up the emergency funds and in the worst scenario may require you to withdraw from investment program before it mature if a medical policy was not purchased earlier. One should realize that hospital treatment cost these days include not only surgery and medication but often diagnostic tests involving sophisticated equipments, physiotherapy, etc. hence, the rising exorbitant cost of medical treatment.
One reason why many people do not purchase a health and medical insurance is due to the opinion that their employers have already provided the medical coverage. They may not be aware that once they leave their company, the coverage will cease. Hence, they may be caught in a bind if they are terminated during an economic downturn. Premiums for this kind of policy are lower if you purchase coverage at a younger age and when you are still medically fit. Those who insure themselves when they are older and not medically fit may have to pay higher premiums or are subjected to certain exclusions. Older folks and those who have some form of illness will therefore find themselves in a very precarious position if they are terminated from their job and are without medical insurance.
In summary, having a health and medical insurance is important as a security blanket that you need to buy but hope never to have to use. A health plan will give you the necessary assurance that you have the finances when the need arises.
Medical Insurance is an essential element in Financial Planning. Check out the sites Financial Planning Guide and Insurance Planning for other articles on financial planning and insurance planning.
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Travel Health and Travel Insurance

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You probably have health insurance in Australia, right? So, shouldn't you make sure that your health and emergency medical costs are also covered when you travel abroad? Travel health insurance covers your medical costs when you travel overseas. Your Australian health cover and Medicare are unlikely to cover you for overseas travel and medical costs overseas can be a lot higher than those you are used to in Australia.
Even if you don't have regular health insurance at home, you should consider travellers' insurance to cover you for a medical emergency or accident. The reality is that even normally healthy people often get sick or even worse on holiday. Ever noticed how as soon as the pressure comes off and you get to relax, you come down with the flu or worse? Overseas holidays for Australians generally start with a reasonably long flight. Flying is a great way to pick up a disease before you even reach the resort's poolside bar!
Having arrived at your holiday destination, there is, of course, the usual risks of a climate you are not used to and local food - again, food poisoning is not just a cliché; it can result in a serious medical emergency if you get unlucky.
Often, your average holidaymaker gets into trouble when they go from a sedentary office job in real life to deep sea diving or skiing on holiday. It seems that we all feel invincible on holiday, and in some cases, the joy of the moment overcomes common sense safety precautions. Or our unfit body is just not up to our athletic ideals!
Plus, things do sometimes work differently overseas; for instance, how many tourists have ended up in the hospital because they forget, just for a minute, that they are driving on the wrong side of the road? It's particularly easy to forget if you hire a scooter, as is commonly done in the Pacific and some Asian countries. Scooters don't have an offset steering wheel to remind you that you should be keeping right on the road!
Travel health insurance can help if the worst happens while you are overseas. For most people, it won't happen, but just because you have never had an accident or a serious illness at home doesn't mean it can't happen to you at some point. You should not assume that it can't happen to you on holiday - unfortunately, it can. Being ill or injured on holiday is bad enough, but you don't want to return home to a lifetime of debt to pay off the bills!
A good travel health insurance policy is a small price to pay for peace of mind. It will cover you not just for serious medical assistance, but also for English-speaking assistance if you need advice for a condition that is worrisome. Is it a bad cold or malaria? If the worst happens, it will pay for the MediVac home too. If that skiing accident resulted in a broken leg - you may need a first-class seat to get home - travel insurance will normally pay for that too.
Travelling is great fun generally, but sometimes, it's a bit tough on your health. That's why travel health insurance is a must have for your packing list.
Travel Insuranz offers travel insurance you can rely on with secure online transaction and instant email certificate. So all you need do is relax and enjoy your trip. For more information or a free quote, visit Travel Insurance.
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Finding American Health and Life Insurance Company Ratings

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American health and life insurance company ratings are provided by many organizations that examine the firm's financial strength and security and give a ranking based on how sound their analysts find the company. These ratings can show the ability of the company to meet the obligations of the health and insurance policies they have written and the risk level of any financial instruments, such as bonds or securitization products that the company has issued.
A. M. Best Company, Inc is one of the rating agencies that evaluate insurance companies in the United States. They have 16 possible scores, ranging from A++ for companies deemed superior to F for those that are in liquidation and S for insurance companies that have been suspended from being rated. Standard and Poor's, Moody's and Fitch Ratings also do evaluations of insurance companies financials, however A. M. Best has historically specialized in American health and life insurance company ratings.
Most investors and industry analysts will look at ratings from all relevant firms when making a decision on whether or not to invest with a particular insurance company.
Some of the factors that go into determining the health of an insurance company are doing a thorough examination of the balance sheet, evaluating the performance of the businesses operation in comparison with other firms and an analysis of how the company is managed, including general managerial philosophies and written plans for the operation of the company.
The exact formula that each rating organization uses to determine the grade given is proprietary but all are looking to see if the insurance company has solid finances and good management practices.
A low rating given by one or more of these firms is a sign that an insurance company is in poor health and will discourage investors from continuing to buy their stocks and other financial instruments. If the company can not figure out a way to gain a high rating and restore investor and consumer confidence it might find itself unable to meet it's obligations to policyholders and bankruptcy and liquidation are possible outcomes. Consumers would be wise to check out the ratings agency scores for any insurance company before they buy a policy to protect their investment and to insure that their coverage needs will be met without delay or complication. This is particularly important for consumers looking to buy investment vehicles offered by many life insurance companies such as whole life insurance policies and annuities.
Ratings companies do not only evaluate corporations that are American. Health and Life insurance company ratings are determined for insurers all over the globe and are an important part of making sure that the insurance industry stays stable throughout the world.
Tim Gaffey writes about health related news at iHealth360, as well as the growing need in America for quality health insurance.
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Mental Illness and Insurance

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With the pollution nowadays, people are very prone to sickness. Everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe is a factor. Our world is so contaminated that we are not safe from sickness-causing germs. Although nobody can afford to be sick and there is a financial crisis upon us, people still manage to get health insurance.
In applying for life insurance, the insurance company will be looking for applicants that are physically fit. Most likely, people with severe illness like cancer, diabetes or mental health disorders are disqualified. As we all know, mental health disorders can suddenly hit someone and sometimes will be worsen despite the treatments applied. Because of this, insurance companies do not take risks in giving insurance to this kind of person and will decline the application. Insurance can also cover mental health services, but insurance companies will hire their own therapists and encourage them to follow cost reducing policies. Even if the therapist wants to continue the treatment, they cannot do so. They will want to end the treatment because they are afraid they will not earn anything from the insurance claim amount. In these cases, the fact that the treatment is for the betterment of the client is forgotten. For clients that have used insurance to cover a longer time of treatment, they may be rejected from renewal of the policy. For people who no longer take medication or need mental health treatment, they can re-apply but they must ask their doctor to write a letter supporting that they are no longer taking medications or mental health treatments. It is best to apply for disability insurance when you are stable to avoid the conflict if you are ever diagnosed to have a severe illness.
To avoid problems of your insurance being declined, it is better to pay out of your pocket. When you are self-paying, you can choose your own therapist and contact the therapist directly. This is unlike when you are using your insurance, the company just provides small list of therapists and the therapist will be contacted first by the company then the client. Secondly, your personal information must be kept secret and the length of the treatment is decided by you to make sure of better results. Lastly, the therapist can lower the charge at their discretion if they feel that the client has a low income.
In general, mental illness and mental health issues are very common and insurance companies are facing these cases all the time. Just like any other illness, you cannot get the insurance while you are in the middle of a crisis or you have recently been in hospital. Thus, it is better to be healthy and stable in life when you apply for insurance. You must be in control of your life and your illness to have a better future. Insurance has advantages as well as disadvantages to your life. If you analyze the pros and cons you can see that insurance can be a good backup but it is better to pay out of your pocket for cheaper medical concerns so that insurance can be use for more important and expensive problems. We all know anything can happen to us at any time, so it is better to buy insurance and save ourselves from a serious financial disaster.
Jason is the creator of PanicAttackHealer.com. If the strain of life is getting on top of you, do not despair. There are lots of helpful resources available. For further information, check out: panic attacks cures where you can find information on a range of methods, see: panic away review.
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Health Insurance And Insurance Brokers

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If you are in the market to purchase your own health insurance coverage you can save yourself precious time and money by shopping and comparing policies right online. Sites dedicated to giving you quotes on various types of insurance make it very easy for you to get an idea of what your coverage and costs will be. However, please be forewarned that there are some pitfalls in using an insurance broker as I discovered within the past year.
As a self employed person, I carry my own health and life insurance for my family. When making the move from New Jersey to North Carolina in 2004 I knew two things about our health insurance:
1. I would have to shop for a health insurance provider covering North Carolina.
2. Rates would be cheaper than in New Jersey, with costs being about half of what I had been paying and with slight better coverage.
Several weeks before we moved I contacted a well known internet insurance broker and received quotes. We selected one company and received the paperwork from the broker about ten days before our move. Quite frankly, I wish I had started the process a little earlier as all of our free time was dedicated toward preparing and making the move. So, I ended up packing the paperwork with my personal stuff and was only able to fill it out and submit it one week after our arrival in North Carolina.
Dealing with the online insurance broker was a simple task, but I soon discovered that they were an extra step in the application process, one that only slowed down our approval.
Once the paperwork was received by the broker, they acknowledged the same via email and mentioned that they would review our package before forwarding it to the health insurance company.
Over the next couple of weeks we received messages from the insurance broker stating the following:
1. We are in the process of reviewing your application.
2. We have sent your application off to the insurance company.
3. The insurance company has your application and will be reviewing it in about one week.
4. The insurance company expects a delay in reviewing your application due to the high volume of applications received.
5. Please do not contact the insurance company directly; we will keep you posted as to the status of your application. Yeah, right.
Originally, we were assured by the insurance broker that the health insurance company would review and approve our application within two weeks. Follow up phone calls by us to the broker along with several exchanges of emails revealed that this was not going to happen. In addition, when we contacted the health insurance company directly - at the encouragement of the broker - the health insurance company had difficulty finding our application. Within a few days the application was found sitting in another department; our contact at the health insurance company blamed the broker for sending the information to the wrong address.
As it turned out, the original insurance quote we received online was off by just over 20%. Once the health insurance company determined that certain pre existing conditions needed to be factored in our rates rose accordingly. Of course, when working with the internet broker we knew that the rate quoted wasn't 'absolute' but the big jump was still a bitter pill to swallow.
Among our thoughts at that point in the process were:
1. Had we known ahead of time that our "final rate" would be so high, we would have shopped around some more.
2. Because of the delays and the passage of time, we needed to complete the application process as our coverage with the NJ health provider would need to be canceled, preferably by the end of the year.
By the middle of December, a full ten weeks after we submitted our paperwork, we received official notification that our application was approved and that we were covered. During the last couple of weeks of the lengthy application process we contacted the health insurance company directly several times to learn what the status of our application was. At no time during the process were we assured that we would receive approval; essentially we were told that coverage would begin pending approval.
In conclusion, I offer the following recommendations for shopping for health insurance:
1. Comparison shop online. Get quotes through the online brokers to get a general idea of what your costs will be. If you have pre-existing conditions, the prices quoted will not be reflected in your quote.
2. Narrow down the list of companies quoted to three and then contact them directly. Bypass the broker as they are an unnecessary additional step in what certainly is not a quick approval process.
3. If you need insurance by a particular date, apply well in advance to allow for delays, for misplaced paperwork, changes in your application, etc. Our insurance coverage was approved effective a specific date, but we were able to move it to another date to coincide with the dropping of our NJ health care provider.
In all, the experience was wearisome at times and a real eye opener. I know you see ads all the time for online insurance quotes. I am not saying to avoid the sites, but please consider what we went through before using an online broker exclusively.
Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful web design and marketing company based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community at http://www.corporateflyer.net and the Aviation Employment Board at http://www.aviationemploymentboard.net
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Health and Health Insurance in Florida

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How healthy is living in Florida?
Florida ranks 46th out of the 50 states for residence without health insurance. A recent study shows that over 21% of Floridians do not have coverage. This is a higher percentage of uninsured than in 2006. The United Health Foundation, in 2007, ranked Florida 41st in overall health of its residents. High violent crime rates, low graduation rates, along with high rates of infectious disease, all contributed to Florida's low ranking. The high cost of health care in comparison to other states was also a factor.
On the positive side, Florida's percentage of children in poverty continued to drop. Florida also boasts a low death rate due to cancer, a low obesity rate, and a low rate of binge drinkers.
Some of the significant improvements for Florida include:
  • A decrease of the percentage of children in poverty from 15.8% to 14.6%.
  • A 10% decrease in the number of smokers since 1990.
  • A significant decrease in violent crime since 1990.
Florida's gains are great, and so are the challenges for its population. With all of the health risks, and the cost of care, the importance of individual and family health insurance should not be overlooked.
If you are living in Florida, find an online health insurance quote provider. These services are usually free and can also offer the backup of experienced Advisors to help you make sense of the options for you as an individual, or for family health insurance. Talk with an Experienced Health Insurance Advisor. Affordable options are out there for you and your family.
Lorne Zalesin joined MyInsuranceExpert.com following a successful career in residential building and real estate sales. A self-proclaimed "serial entrepreneur", Zalesin is a licensed residential builder, licensed residential real estate broker, and licensed in life insurance and health insurance. Zalesin earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's in Business Administration, from The University of Michigan, and is also a graduate of the William Davidson Business Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) "Birthing of Giants," an elite educational program focused on successful leadership practices and unique growth strategies for entrepreneurs.
Talk with an Experienced Health Insurance Advisor at MyInsuranceExpert.com
Affordable health insurance options are out there for you and your family.
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Purchasing American Health and Life Insurance

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American health and life insurance is always a subject of discussion in the public circles. With America being the only developed country that does not offer its citizens universal healthcare cover, it is little wonder that the insurance subject is always on the lips of Americans. But what exactly is the difference between life and health insurance? More so, why do the developed countries in Europe and Asia offer universal health cover and not life insurance cover? Well, to start with, health insurance cover is issued by insurance firms to willing clients (who pay premiums for the services) with an agreement that the firm will settle healthcare bills for the client should he or she fall sick. Life insurance on the other hand is a cover issued to willing clients based on an agreement that on the client's death, the insurance firm will provide a named beneficiary with money stated in the policy agreement.
People who purchase American health and life insurance do so for similar reasons. Pointedly, those who purchase health insurance do so as a way of obtaining a buffer against high medical bills should they fall sick. With healthcare costs being among the highest in the developed world, many Americans fear the prospects of settling such bills straight from their pockets. Those who purchase life insurance on the other hand do so in order to shield their beneficiaries from the financial hardships that may crop up once they die. Most people who purchase life insurance have dependents who benefit from the income give by the insurance on the person's death.
Myriads of companies offer American health and life insurance across the different states in the country. Consumers are however advised to always check the credentials of the insurance firms before purchasing policy covers to avoid losing money to fraudulent providers. More importantly, consumers are advised to check for hidden charges or conditions when purchasing either the life or health insurance. Consumers can also compare the different services and prices offered by competing insurance providers by visiting specific websites, thus allowing them (consumers) to make informed choices.
The different service providers of American health and life insurance and their marketing gimmicks should not make consumers lose focus of the fact that purchasing insurance policy is meant to safeguard the buyer's future. Considering that, most insurance agents market their products without revealing all the details to the consumer; buyers have the overall responsibility to read the policy statement in detail before accepting to purchase it. Consumers should remember the insurance is a business like any other. It is little wonder therefore that some service providers are more interested in making money rather than safeguarding the consumer's dignity and security as should be the case.
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Health and Life Insurance Leads Marketing - Top 3 Ways to Acquire Prospects

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Running a health and life insurance business is like fighting a war in the battlefield. You have to compete with other team members within your organization for recruiting prospects. In addition, you need to wrestle with other businesses that offer better coverage to your clients.
To attract new customers to look at your health and life insurance policies, you have to find a way to communicate with them. To do that, you will need to obtain their contacts, we call this 'leads'. With the contact details, you can then have an opportunity to reach, convince and close sales to new customers. Therefore it is essential that you engage in series of health and life insurance leads marketing strategies to succeed in this battlefield.
Top 3 Health and Life Insurance Leads Marketing Strategies to get prospects!
1) Advertise - to gain leads, you want to let people know you are providing information on topics that they are interested in. This can be done through several ways: publishing advertisements in the local newspaper, printing fliers and posting classified ads online. All these items will call the interest of people, and since you leave a mode of communication open, they will get in touch with you.
2) Offer information - not everyone is willing to give out their contact information to total strangers. In order to get their e-mail address or phone number, you can offer an incentive. Some examples of these incentives are newsletters, white papers and information that promises the recipient some sort of gratification. If they are interested in your newsletter, then they would willingly provide their e-mail address, which you can now use as a lead contact.
3) Establish yourself as an expert - unless there is a reason to believe you, people will not listen to your advice. This is why you should join forums and other online sites that allows you to share your knowledge with the rest of the world. When people see you as an expert in your field, they will be willing to get in touch with you to partake of the wisdom you have to offer.
Once you are recognized as a person who knows a lot about health and life insurance, prospect will want to be associated with you. They are more than happy to leave their contact details to benefit from the information that you will be sending them. You can use this opportunity to build a relationship with prospects and present them the features of your insurance policy. Once you start closing sales, it means your health and life insurance leads marketing campaign is working, you want to repeat the whole process again and again.
Learn more about Online Marketing and other top ways to develop your Health and Life Insurance Leads Marketing Campaign to uncover endless flow of leads who are searching for risk management products!
Joshua See is a successful Entrepreneur, Top Internet Marketer and Global Team Mentor who trains others to achieve Financial Freedom and Independence by creating wealth and prosperity online. For more information on the Top Internet Marketing Tactics for building a successful business, please visit http://www.Biz3827.com and request your free "Special Report"!
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The Medical Health and Insurance Plans For Self Employed Persons

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If you worry about finding a good health insurance for the self-employed, then you can use one of the online insurance quote systems to get a insurance quote. The discount health plan is advertised as an alternative of health insurance for the uninsurable and the self employed persons, which are hard to insure. Discount health plans declare that they are less expensive than the other health insurance plans that are providing the customers with all types of the medical and prescription services at a great discount.
Many of these insurance companies are shell companies that set up to cheat the unknowing public. With this cheat or Spam, the health plan company tries to get your full financial detail in order to clean out your bank accounts. So there is a problem that if you want to deal with the insurance company, you would readily give your personal information to them. This is actually the problem. In addition to this, the discount health plan companies are still on doubts that are not an obvious rip-off. The health insurance companies must have to be approved from the state department of insurance in order to sell insurance.
The discount plan companies are not actually selling the insurance, but their advertisements sound doubtfully as if they make believe that they are selling the health insurance. You have to be cautious of a company that says to offer something better than insurance. That may be cheaper than the traditional insurance or that may not be license to sell insurance in your state. Actually the state departments of insurance do not regulate to these discount health plan companies. However the discount plans can be useful for the consumers who are looking to save money on their health care but they are not like the health insurance. Medical discount plans do not claim to pay any of your health care costs instead they need you to pay a fee for the health care providers and sellers.
For more information on discount health plans, Please log on to http://www.premierhealthcareonline.com/ for more details.
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Your Health And Insurance

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People in the U.S.A are getting more obese according to the Trust For Americans Health fourth annual obesity report. The report states that in the past year, two thirds of adults are overweight or obese, with obesity rates going up in thirty one states, and no states with obesity rates going down and in thirty two states sixty percent of the population is overweight or obese.
Obesity related diseases are also on the rise including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Along with the rise of these obesity related preventable diseases, health care cost and number of Americans without health insurance is also on the rise.
Forty seven million people have no insurance, 2.2 million more than last year, with health insurance coverage up 87% since 2000 according to AARP.
Many of the uninsured and people with medical insurance coverage can take measures to help prevent visits to the doctors office or possible life threatening diseases by simply eating nutritional foods and maintaining weight control while strengthening the main muscle (heart) with regular exercise or physical activity.
Preexisting ailments can determine your health insurance premiums and you could even be declined. High premiums and deductibles will put a financial burden on most people especially if the disease becomes chronic. The rise in the number of obesity related diseases is also causing health insurance companies to pass the cost along to everyone.
Families are facing an ever increasing chance of their kids becoming overweight or obese with video games, no athletic sports and basically parents letting their children turn into fat unhealthy human beings with fast food, soda pop and any bag of cholesterol filled snack their kids request. and they haven't even had a chance at deciding their futures. They are not only decreasing their chances for good employment and social life, but premature death is a real possiblity.
Everyone can get a free insurance policy by simply experiencing their daily healthy activities and living by them. A strict regular diet and fitness plan will increase the quality and longevity of your life.
People who have sedentary jobs or lead an inactive lifestyle are at the most risk, but it's not to late to start regardless of your weight or age. Form good eating habits and stop all poor eating habits by avoiding saturated fats found in fatty meat, ice cream, whole milk, butter, plus trans fats found in cookies, donuts,cakes and junk food, soda pop ( less sugars,) fast food restaurants,(cook at home more) and eat in moderation. .
The World Health Organization states there is evidence that, on a population level, the risk of chronic diseases, increases progressively as average body mass index (BMI) increases above 21. WHO defines overweight as 25 or more,, and obesity 30 or more. This is determined by a persons weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in meters). A high body mass index is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases., including cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.
Applying physical activities to one of Americas favorite past times (television) is a way to avoid becoming overweight. Spending hours everyday sitting inactively can have a very negative effect to your well being, so instead of sitting the entire time, get up and perform some medium to intense routines such as aerobics, running in place, sit ups, or any kind of movement you prefer while you watch your program.
With employers reluctancy of hiring overweight and obese persons, employers searching for ways to place more of the health care cost on to the employees and the higher risks of being off work due to illness, applying preventable steps to help stop life threatening diseases may very well be the best insurance policy for you and your family. Plan wellness activities that include enough exercise and a proper diet so you and your family aren't burdened with possible health and financial ruin.
Optimal health will depend on the way you run your life. The important thing is to start and never stop.
If you would like more fitness workouts, plus fat burning physical activity tips and many of the most expert diet programs on the net, please visit http://www.6topsystems.com Click here for other unique fitness articles.
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