One Day Car Insurance for Your Utmost Benefit

We live in uncertain times, where no one can really predict as to what will happen later. This is why a lot of people are quite scared and also wary about the events surrounding them. But there is one thing that is quite certain and that is people, who want to drive their cars have to necessarily have car insurance with them. This is true also for those people, who need short term insurance, which is sometimes also known as one day car insurance. It goes without saying. that no one can afford to start driving without insurance as doing so would be in contravention of the law. This is not ideal especially in the case of people, who want to be on the right side of the law, as all states in the US and also most countries in the world insist on car insurance being in place before a person drives. There is checking which is also done in this respect and people who are errant on this count could also be hauled up for neglect of their bounden duty.

There are many people, who need one day car insurance, which is typically valid for a period between a day and twenty eight days. This may come in handy for people, who travel to a different state or city for a few days or perhaps those people, who are students and come back home for a fortnight or only for a month’s vacation. This is when they may want to go out and drive, which is not advisable without any form of car insurance. This is where one day car insurance comes in quite handy as it helps one in getting on the road and being able to drive without any fears of getting arraigned or running into problems with the law.

You can easily get one day car insurance quotes online. There are quite a few agencies as well as insurance companies that provide these services and quotes. You can also use an insurance aggregator to send your details for these quotes and evaluate what is available through the internet. It is quite advisable to look at all the options and then choose what suits you best. You can also look at speaking to experts on the field who will be able to give you a better idea of what is available and more importantly, what is suitable for your needs and budget too.

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The Best Car Insurance Issues For Travelers

Traveling by car is a great way to see a country at home as well as abroad. However, when it comes to car insurance
, there are a number of issues that you should be aware of before you embark on your trip. When driving a car, you need to be protected for many types of car issues that may arise.

If you are visiting friends or family and you want to use their car, it is important to know if you are covered. To be safe, you can purchase short term car insurance. If a car problem occurs, it will not affect the car owners' insurance policy. You can obtain short term insurance for as little as a day or more, as long as it does not extend past one year.

If you are renting a car, you have to make sure that you understand what you are covered for and if there are any restrictions. If your rental car receives damage which you are deemed responsible, the rental car company will try to collect any financial damages from your car insurance company or from you if your insurance provider will not pay.

All car rental companies will offer insurance to their customers. It is important to check to see what their coverage includes. As well, you should also check with your credit card company to find out if they provide coverage and the details of this coverage. If you are planning to rent a car, you should give the name and licenses of anyone who will be driving the car. As well, tell them if you are planning to drive the car out of the state.

If you are planning on driving a rental car out of the country, you should check to see if you car insurance provider will provide coverage. If not, you should check your credit card company's policy. If your insurance does not transfer internationally, you should obtain complete coverage through the rental car company or obtain short term car insurance. International rental car companies may offer optional theft and vandalism insurance coverage for the car rental. When securing insurance for a rental car, you should have liability. The best way to find out if what you are covered for when renting a car is to call you vehicle insurance provider. As well, call and ask your credit card company about the type of coverage they provide for a car rental. When acquiring insurance for international rentals, you should have liability, collision, theft, and medical coverage.

If you are driving a company car, you should learn about the policy and coverage provided. If your employer does not tell you, you should ask the insurance company. It is important to know about liability, theft, vandalism, and collision. As well, you should find out if the company's insurance covers others if they drive the car and if you are covered if you leave the state.

When you are driving within your own country or abroad, it is important to know that you are protected in all driving situations. It will give you peace of mind knowing that if something happens, you will have assistance from an insurance provider.

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General Auto Insurance - Your Simple Guide to Purchasing Good Auto Insurance

When you purchase a new vehicle, it doesn't end there. There are other responsibilities that you have after you purchase a car of your own. Once you have a vehicle you are going to need to make sure you have good general auto insurance. Many people are not informed on auto insurance, what it is, and the coverage that they need, which is why they make mistakes when purchasing their car insurance policies.

It is important that you are well informed on general auto insurance, what is available, and what you need. This way you can make the best decision when you purchase your auto insurance. So, here is a simple guide to help you purchase quality auto insurance that will keep you covered when you need it.

The first thing you will definitely want to do before you ever purchase general auto insurance is to take some time to shop around. Check with different companies, get quotes, and find out what they have to offer. Quotes are free and can help you as you make a choice on the insurance plan right for you.

After you go about getting several quotes, then you need to compare them carefully. Take a look at not only the price, but the products that they are offering you. Some prices may be cheaper but that coverage may not offer everything that you need. Also be sure to take a look at the company offering you the insurance, the services offered, and the history behind the company.

There are many levels of coverage that you can choose from when you need to purchase general auto insurance. You can go with basic liability coverage, or you can go to the top of the line with comprehensive coverage as well. The choice on your level of coverage is going to depend on the type of car you have, your budget, and your own financial needs.

When people are shopping for general auto insurance, most don't realize that their driving record will come into play. It's important to understand how your driving record can affect what you pay for your insurance. If you have a great driving record, then you should get great deals, but those who have bad driving records usually end up paying more for their insurance.

Another thing that many people never realize is that if they purchase several types of insurance from one company, often they can save money on their general auto insurance policy. Companies are always wanting more business and are willing to give you a discount if you have several insurance policies with their company. It's a great way to quickly get a great deal fast.

One misconception that many people have when it comes to general audio insurance is that the basic cheapest insurance is going to be best. This is not always the case. In many cases the basic coverage is not enough. This is especially true if you have a brand new car or you happen to have financial assets that could be seized if someone sued you for being under insured.

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Secrets to Lowering Healthcare Insurance Payments

Stay Fit

Comparison Shop

Do The Math

You must be healthy to get the cheapest premium. health care insurers will ask about your medical history before offering you an insurance policy. If you don't meet the insurance carrier's underwriting criteria you may have your premium increased or you may not be offered an insurance policy at all.

This may or may not be fair. However, this is the way that insurance works and in order to get the cheapest rate for the best policy, we must deal with the system that is currently in place. healthcare insurance companies are concerned about your chances of getting ill in the future. Your current healthcare status and your health care history greatly impact the probability of your having high or low medical expenses in the future.

Many factors that impact your Health and longevity are outside your control. But there are many that are within your control. Do what you can to make sure that you and your family stay healthy.

Of course there are many other benefits of living a longer healthier life. So if you smoke, please stop. If you don't have a regular exercise routine, please consider one.

Improving your level of health not only improves your odds of living a longer life, it improves your odds of avoiding a financial catastrophe. If you develop a medical condition that causes you to lose your job, you lose income. When you lose your job, you will probably be offered COBRA. COBRA Health insurance is usually more expensive than other plans, but this may be the only plan available; Health insurance companies may not want to insure you unless they are forced to do so. This raises your expenses. After your COBRA eligibility runs out you may be faced with buying a state-mandated policy that will cover your pre-existing condition that you can't afford or going without coverage. You may be both unemployable and uninsurable at this point. Any significant medical bill will ruin you.

Ccompare multiple plans

Many people fail to price shop and benefit shop. They will often take their COBRA option when they lose their job without looking at other alternatives. When their COBRA eligibility ends, they may take an individual policy from the same insurer without looking at other companies offerings. Shopping around for insurance is a key to lowering your costs.

Do The Math

Would you put a dollar on a bet where you could only get a dollar back if you won? How about betting me a dollar and only having the potential of getting 90 cents back? You're too smart to make a bet like that, but many people are making bad decisions about their medical insurance because they have never done the math are look askance at higher deductible plans.

A high deductible healthcare insurance policy may be your best option. However, you need to compare prices AND benefits to determine if this is the case for you. When comparing two Health insurance policies that have different deductibles but otherwise the same, determine your annual premium for both policies and compare them with the annual deductible. Make sure that the higher premium you might pay for the lower deductible policy is justified.

Getting the best policy possible at the most competitive price means being able to comparison shop for health insurance intelligently. You can't price shop and benefit shop very well if your choices are limited or nonexistent, so do what you can to stay healthy and to keep your family healthy. You can't look at many options intelligently unless you Do The Math and make sure that any extra premiums you pay for a low deductible policy are justified.

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Don't Buy Medical Care insurance…

And and believe that you are finished comparing prices and benefits. health carrier's rates jump frequently and you can't lock in a rate for medical care protection like you can with whole life protection or a loan. Making sure that you have the lowest price for quality medical care insurance can only be done if you review your coverage every year or so.

Your major medical insurer constantly calculates the average costs of medical claims that their insureds make against their health care coverage coverage. They are constantly changing the rates. The rates will almost always go up, but each policy series may have different rate increases. You want to make sure that you are in the getting the best deal, not only now, but five years from now as well.

If you have an older insurance policy, particularly one that isn't being sold this year, it is important that you compare other plans. You'll more than likely find less expensive insurance cover available that are as good or better.

When a medical care insurance carrier stops offering a particular policy series to new members, the rates on that policy series will almost always go up faster than they will on any open plans. The reason for this is not because the age of the policy holders, but the age of their exams or underwriting. When you look at 100 clients of any given age who have just passed their medical underwriting, they are much less likely to have major claims than 100 clients of the same age whose health status was last reviewed five years ago. They have had five years to raise their blood pressure, weight and cholesterol. Many are in excellent major medical, to be sure, but when you look at the averages the newly underwritten group will almost certainly be healthier.

This means that your medical care protection rates will be lower if you are moved into the group of their policyholders who have been underwritten more recently. Make sure that you maintain or improve your good healthcare and that you regularly shop for health care insurance. Shop for a wife or a husband once, shop for insurance on a regular basis.

In order to be approved for any new medical care coverage policy your healthcare must be good. This doesn't mean that you will be denied if you have had the flu, but you might be denied if your weight doesn't meet their criteria or you are diabetic.

Perhaps one day we will have a system where everyone can qualify for medical care protection regardless of their health care status. That day is not now. If you are looking for coverage now, we need to do what we can to control the aspects of our healthcare that are within our control if we want to get the best rates.

Of course, a not insignificant side effect of being healtheir is that we get to live longer and probably more fulfilling lives. If the additional cost of a rated major medical coverage policy is the final straw that gets you to stop smoking or exercise more, your life will be better for it.

Right now we have a for profit major medical insurance system where both the protection companies and the consumers cherry pick. The coverage companies want to deny anyone who is a bad risk; consumers often avoid getting medical care protection when they are younger and healtheir.

We may have a better medical insurance system in a few years or we may just have a different one that isn't any better than the one we have now. Whether we get change or not, the system we have now favors those who compare prices and benefits and only those who are in good healthcare can compare prices and benefits so don't buy medical care protection and think that you can stop shopping and comparing costs and plan benefits.

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Socialized Medicine Pros and Cons

Each update on national healthcare insurance I hear on the TV talk shows has a political slant. According to some pundits the countries who use socialized medicine have hurt their economies and are forced to ration medical care to senior citizens. According to others they see the advantage or bonus of socialized medicine and all its positives and see none of the negative aspects of national health care.

I'm in favor of a national health care system. However, we can be sure there are more ways to create a health care system that will be no better than what we have than there are to create a good system. We have to do this right or we are going to be stuck with the negative aspects of National Medical Care without all of the positives.

Few people believe that Universal healthcare will not create higher taxes. However, we are paying for our broken system already. If certain of those costs go away, we may wind up with more money in our pockets.

Now, an injured man who needs emergency medical care will almost without exception be accepted into a hospital whether or not he or she can afford to pay for the costs of the medical care. You pay for the treatment. The medical professionals has to ask more for services. It charges its insured patients to make up for the ones that don't pay. At the same time it ruins the credit of the patient who can't write a check for the cost of the services.

Another side effect that worries many is the drain on our economy that may be caused by those who lose their ambition because they get qualify for free health care. I suppose that only time will tell, but I think that if we have more healthy people more people will be available to work. There are probably more ambitious people who are unable to work because of poor health care than there are people who would become lazy when better health care is available to them.

The positives of socialized medicine include the lessening of employment discrimination for the older workers. If the burden of the cost if insurance were shifted to the government, older and sicker workers may be more employable. A potential employer who interviews an older or less healthy applicant, today may focus on how that applicant would raise their group medical insurance premiums and not on the skills and knowledge that person might bring to the job.

Older, more knowledgeable professional will in many cases do a better job than less experienced professional. This can increase the efficiency of a firm and mean that the company and our economy moves forward faster than it would otherwise.

Potential entrepreneurs will be able to start their own business without leaving their medical insurance behind. The fear of losing benefits has kept many people shackled to jobs that they have long ago out grown. Socialized medicine will perhaps allow certain great man or woman to invent the next big thing, whatever that may be.

Today a parent may be unable to pay for both the food she or he needs to feed their children and the healthcare that they need. This can mean that this parent dies early leaving young boys and girls behind. A health care system with good preventative care that is available to all can keep these parents around to rear their children and better prepare them to be productive citizens.

I think that what we all want is a stronger economy and a better country. National health care improves our economy by making older, more productive workers and managers more productive. It can also extend the time that some of our youth gets to spend with their parents and have a major impact on our future as a country.

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Florida Health Insurance: a Health Protection Scheme

If you are a resident of Florida and have not purchased a health insurance plan because of the high cost; then it is the right time to shop for Florida health insurance in tune with your budget and requirement. In Florida, all health insurance plans are regulated by State’s own Department of Insurance. As a result, it does not matter if you buy from your local agent or directly from the health insurance company, you will pay the same premium per month for the same plan.

Health insurance, in layman’s term is a monetary coverage provided by an insurance company to an individual in exchange for a premium. Today, various companies have come up with cost-effective health insurance plans, which are ideal for children up to the age of 19, pregnant women, self employed individuals, and families to meet their healthcare expenses. In Florida, you can gather quotes from the insurance companies and compare them when purchasing your health insurance plan. Indeed, you will get the best price and coverage you need for your health through a single health insurance policy.

As far as coverage is concerned, Florida health insurance covers all your medical expenses such as cost of medicines, prescriptions, doctor visits, and hospital stays. But the coverage and rates of premiums are determined only on the basis of your current health condition. At the same time, you can find a host of health insurance plans including affordable Florida group health insurance, Florida group insurance, temporary health insurance Florida, Florida individual health insurance and small business health insurance Florida in varied rates and premiums.

Health insurance protects your most important asset, yours and your family’s health. It is better to have health insurance with less benefits or a higher deductible than not to have health insurance at all. It is advisable to search for Florida health insurance quotes online, since there is every possibility of getting the coverage you are actually looking for. Plus, you will have an online representative who will shop for the cheapest plan for you at each visit. When comparing health insurance quotes in Florida, it is advisable to take the advantage of the Internet, you will surely get the best deal.

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Medical Insurance in Florida: A Friend in Need

Today, as everyone knows that health care costs are on the rise, it is not possible for every person to afford these costs, especially in Florida where floods and other natural disasters are common. Residents of Florida have to face these problems by loosing their wealth as well as health. Hence any persons of family may be effected by medical problems and lose your wealth and money both in the treatments of medical. This is why; medical insurance plans have become the essential part for Florida residents that fit their health care needs. Medical insurance plans are designed to give them a better and more immediate medical service to keep them away from unusual expenses.

A medical insurance plan in Florida is not wastefulness, it is very vital. This fact should be kept in mind to each person. However, there are a number of people who think that medical insurance in Florida may be expensive and confusing as well as difficult to get, but the fact is that these insurance plans are simple to get through any online agent. These online agents have an assortment of medical insurance plans for the residents of Florida such as medical insurance for:

• Individual or a group of individuals
• The family

Apart from these plans, other medical insurance plans are:

• International medical insurance
• Travel medical insurance
• Major medical insurance

These all plans cover medical expenses such as, diagnostic services for instance laboratory tests and x-rays, prescription drugs, medical aids like slings and the temporary rental of wheelchairs or walkers, comfortable accommodations in hospitals, medical bills such as those for a physician, surgeon, and anesthetist and ambulances. You can choose your medical insurance plans Florida according to your requirements and budget, so buy the best plan at reasonable rates.

Only you have to select an online agent and fill up an online form. Online agents offer these plans to the residents of Florida, who want low cost protection in case of an accident or illness or who are healthy and rarely visit doctor but need coverage to get rid of unexpectedly occurred medical expenses. At last, it is also advisable for you that when you start shopping for a plan, you are advised to avoid running towards small premiums, but in its place you can go for a plan that covers a complete health benefits throughout the insured life.

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Allstate Insurance

Founded in 1931, as part of Sears, Roebuck & Co., Allstate Insurance became its own public company in 1993, when it made history with the largest initial public offering ever in the country. Two years later, it became an independent company, and last year, it celebrated its 75th anniversary. Today, based in Northbrook, Illinois, the company has grown into one of the country’s leading personal insurers. More importantly, however, it has also become a model of community involvement and investment, demonstrating the possibilities and power of corporate social responsibility.

Today, the business that began as a suggestion by a fellow commuter to Sears, Roebuck & Co. President General Robert E. Wood in 1930 has become a Fortune 100 company with more than $35.8 billion in revenue. It has thirteen major lines of insurance, covering everything from auto to property to life that cover over seventeen million American households.

First and foremost, the company has demonstrated its commitment to diversity within its own corporate structure. It employs more than 70,000 people, of whom 29.4 percent are minorities and 58.9 percent are women. It also encourages diversity not only in its own employees, agents, and customers, but also in the businesses it uses as suppliers. For the fifth consecutive year, it has ranked on Fortune magazine’s list of the Best 50 Companies for Minorities. In its own internal survey, it received an employee satisfaction rate of 88 percent.

However, the commitment of Allstate Insurance to creating a healthy and equal environment goes beyond its office walls. Out in the communities in which it operates, the company has demonstrated its commitment to charitable and nonprofit causes. In 2005, the Allstate Foundation donated almost $16 million to nonprofit organizations, with over $400,000 in scholarships. That same year, the company itself, along with its employees donated $9.5 million to various nonprofit causes. The company also holds $27 billion in municipal bonds and over $250 million in community investments.

In 2005, a year of unprecedented hurricanes, this leading personal insurance company also took the unique step of deploying over 5,000 catastrophe specialists throughout the country, along with 24 mobile response units to help file more than 400,000 insurance claims. It also created a Recovery Fund, and matched its employees’ donations of $2.3 million to the Red Cross Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund.

Corporate social responsibility may be becoming one of the latest buzz words in the field, but this company is an example of putting words into action. In the past two years in which its corporate social responsibility report has been sent to shareholders, the company has made tremendous headway.

Allstate Insurance is an example of what is possible when a company commits itself to change for the better. With a focus on its own internal actions, and on the community at large, the company has improved both its employee relations and its wider reputation. The strategy is simple but genius. After all, when you’re deciding who to buy your insurance from, do you go to Company X, or Allstate, the one that just invested $10,000 into your child’s school?

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Auto Insurance Canada

When it comes to auto insurance, Canada is one of the places you could need it most. From the Rocky Mountains to the hills of Cape Breton and beyond, the country’s natural wonders just scream out “road trip!” Hopping in your car and driving cross country is one of the best ways to see the nation in its entire splendor. But, before you step on that gas pedal, be sure you are well prepared for what the roads ahead might have in store for you.

From Vancouver to Winnipeg to Toronto to Halifax, this country poses a number of unique challenges for the driver than does its neighbour to the South, which cannot only affect your driving, but your insurance claims as well. Being well prepared will not only keep you safer and help you enjoy your trip more, but will reduce the hassle of dealing with the insurance company later on.

No matter what season it might be, this country is known for its surprise winter storms, which cause a large percentage of car insurance claims. Make sure you keep in your vehicle at all times an emergency winter kit. For instance, if you get stuck in the snow, a bag of cat litter might be a good idea to put under your tires for traction. Being able to pull yourself out of a rut would save you on any towing costs. A shovel could also be a good idea. And, as always, bring tire chains and a flashlight, and don’t forget the batteries.

When you’re dealing with auto insurance, Canada also poses another unique challenge apart from its weather conditions: the remoteness of much of its land and peoples. Some of the most beautiful places in the country are precisely so because they are quite difficult to get too, where only the bravest often dare trek. If you find yourself stuck in a remote area, chances are it will not only take a long time for help to get to you, but it will cost an arm and a leg too.

To ensure yourself against any potential hassle, make sure your coverage plan includes winter towing as part of its Emergency Road Service. Also, be as prepared as possible before you leave. Check your car’s oil levels, battery and ignition, brakes, tires, and of course, fuel.

When you’re already out on the road, there are a number of ways you can prevent having to make that call to the insurance company. First, reduce your speed in precarious driving situations and resist the urge to use cruise control. Also, keep on the lookout for deer, especially in the more remote parts of the country, and during dusk and dawn. The average collision with a deer – of which there are hundreds of thousands each year – results in roughly $2,000 in repair costs.

It may be one of the most beautiful and scenic countries in the world, but when it comes to auto insurance Canada is not your friend. Examine your coverage plan to make sure it has what you need. And, take care while you drive; if not for your auto insurance, at least for your own life.

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Travel Insurance

You are about to head off with your new husband on your honeymoon to Hawaii. It is going to be the tripped you have dreamed of your entire life. You have packed your bags, got your passport in hand, and locked up your house. But, have you remembered to do the most important thing, the thing that could make the difference between the trip of a lifetime and the trip from hell? Have you remember to purchase travel insurance?

It is not something that everyone thinks about. After all, with your strong stomach, what are the chances that you’ll get food poisoning while dining overseas? And, you always keep your valuables with you, so you do not have to worry about theft, right? Wrong. No matter who you are and how many precautions you think you are taking, things can and will always go wrong when you are traveling.

Buying the right coverage plan is like having a security blanket when you travel, so you do not have to constantly be worrying about something going wrong and you can actually enjoy your trip. After all, what price can you put on having peace of mind?

It is important to put as much thought and time into finding the right travel insurance package for you and your loved ones as you do into planning that perfect trip. And, much like you would not necessarily take the cheapest vacation available, so too do you need to invest appropriately in your insurance plan. To help you decide which coverage option is best for you, there are a number of questions you need to ask yourself.

First of all, what exactly is covered with each plan available? Does it cover enough for any medical eventuality, even those caused by pre-existing medical conditions? Does it cover anything you might want to do, including extreme sports? Does the limit of coverage on stolen or lost goods meet what they are actually worth? Is there 24-hour emergency assistance available? What is the cancellation policy?

These are just a few of the many questions that need to be addressed before purchasing a protection plan. And, always remember to read the fine print, where many of the most important non-coverage clauses are described in detail.

If you are a regular traveler, it might be more appropriate to take out an annual travel insurance policy, rather than purchasing a new plan each time you travel. This will not only save you time and energy, but will also make you more familiar with what exactly your plan covers. If after one trip, you find you need more – or less – protection, you can go ahead and make those necessary changes.

Trips, whether for business or pleasure, are always things that should be enjoyed to the fullest. You will meet new people, eat new foods, and see new places. You want to be able to remember those experiences, instead of the hassle you went through from not having the proper coverage. Make sure you protect yourself today!

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AIG Insurance

With headquarters in Paris, France and Hong Kong, China, and operations in more than 130 countries, the New York City-based AIG Insurance Company is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It stands for American International Group and, according to Forbes, it is the sixth largest company in the world. If that was not enough to make it known to the world, the company has also become a sponsor of one of the most popular English football clubs, Manchester United.

However, the story of this company is one that stretches back to the early 1900s, and not only represents a fine example of entrepreneurship, but also of a man who made popular a unique business model and stuck to it. In 1919, Cornelius Vander Starr became the very first Westerner to sell insurance in Shanghai, China. After growing large enough, he then expended into Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. He could not, however, find matched success in America.

In 1962, Starr gave his U.S. holdings to Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, who reoriented the company’s focus. No longer was it going to concentrate on personal insurance, but rather on corporate coverage. He also began using independent insurance brokers, rather than company agents, in order to save costs. Using this method, Greenberg could keep the price of his insurance high without having to worry about paying agents when sales were not as great.

Greenberg had such success in the U.S. market that in 1968, Starr resigned and appointed Greenberg his replacement. Under Greenberg, AIG Insurance became the world’s largest and leading international insurance company, serving individuals, corporations, and institutions alike. And, he did it primarily by focusing the company on a unique business model that was based on the concept of underwriting, or making a profit on the amount of premiums taken in over claims paid out before any returns on investment.

Greenberg was known to have run the company with an iron fist, micromanaging every department to his satisfaction. Even taxi vouchers for his employees would have to be approved by Greenberg. No detail was left unturned. And, that was precisely how Greenberg took the company from its $13 million profit in 1967 to its more than $100 billion in revenues today.

Starting on the day he first returned from the Korean War, Greenberg demonstrated his entrepreneurial flair. The young lawyer went door to door trying to find work when he first came upon the doorstep of AIG. He was immediately rebuffed, but refused to give up. He tracked down the employee’s boss, complained about his behaviour and won himself a job.

Since then, Greenberg has continued to demonstrate the need to take risks and follow the path less ordinary in order to reach success. Under him, AIG Insurance began to aggressively enter new markets and develop new products. “We don’t wait around until there is a history of knowledge and judgment,” Greenberg once said. “We are always out front in product innovation compared to our competitors. After we’ve done something, they follow.”

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Best Insurance

The dizzying myriad of insurance companies that have popped up in recent years has made it even more difficult for the consumer to know if they truly are getting the best insurance deal possible. You know you need to protect you family, your house, your car, but what kind of plan is right for you? While it is never a good idea to just go with the cheapest policy you find, there are a number of ways that you can get make sure you are getting the lowest quote possible for your needs.

When it comes to car insurance, make sure you take advantage of every discount that companies offer. For instance, having anti-lock breaks and daytime running lights, and installing an alarm system can all help reduce your rate quotes. Also, taking a defensive driving course, and making sure your children take one as well, will also bring down your costs.

To get a good home insurance quote, ensure your house’s value has been properly assessed. Install any appliances that will help get you a discount, including home security systems, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, or dead bolt locks. Also, make sure you tell your agent or the appraiser if the house has recently been renovated.

To ensure you are getting the best insurance deal when it comes to your life and health coverage plans, one sure fire strategy is to quit smoking. After 13 months smoke free, you should be able to qualify for a nonsmoker’s insurance rate. Also, consider raising your deductibles or joining a group or work health insurance plan. For entrepreneurs, especially, who have no employee benefits, consider protecting your income through permanent health insurance. This will insure up to 60 percent of your monthly earnings provided an injury or accident prevents you from continuing in a normal capacity.

Whatever coverage you decide to buy, it is always important to purchase it as early as possible. When you are young, your premiums will be lower. Also, if you are confident in you insurance company, it would be best to place all of your policies with the one company in order to qualify for any discounts they offer for multiple policy holders.

While it usually pays to be better safe than sorry, some people just cannot afford to insure themselves for any possible mishap that might occur. And sometimes, that is actually in their best interests. For instance, there is often no need for many types of life insurance if employers have “death in service” benefits, which is typically worth three times the worker’s salary upon their death. Make sure you know exactly what you need, and what you do not.

Getting the best insurance deal does not mean buying the cheapest policy on the market. You need to get the protection that is right for you – no more, and definitely no less. Shop around; the general rule of thumb is that you should get quotes from at least five different insurance brokers, in addition to a few directly from the companies themselves, before making your decision. The more proactive you are now, the fewer hassles you will have later on.

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3 Health Insurance Misconceptions

Misconception #1:

Co-insurance

Co-Insurance levels should be given careful analysis when buying insurance. A health insurance plan premium with an 80/20 or 20% co-insurance level is much higher typically than is a 50/50 or a 50% plan. Co-insurance or shared costs between the insured and the insurance company normally have stop losses or Maximum Out-Of-Pocket amounts to protect you against a catastrophic event. Make sure there is, and you know what the stop loss is on the plan you are looking at. Let's further examine and break down co-insurance.

Example:

Health insurance plan A has a $2,000 deductible and is an 80/20 plan. (Meaning you co-insure 20% after your deductible of $2,000) Let’s say your stop loss (maximum out of pocket) is $3,000, (which means you're total out of pocket would be $5,000 on this plan and the plan costs $380 per month for a family of 5.

On the other hand health insurance plan B has a $5,000 deductible but is a 100% plan. (Meaning you have no co-insurance after your deductible of $5,000) Your stop loss (maximum out of pocket) is zero after your deductible and this plan costs you $290 per month.

Both plans have 100% coverage after your stop loss, (maximum out of pocket) has been met.

Your stop loss (maximum out of pocket) for plan A would be $5,000 per year. ($2,000 deductible + $3,000 co-insurance).

Your stop loss (maximum out of pocket) for the plan B would be $5,000 per year as well. ($5,000 deductible + $0 co-insurance).

Your total risk "potential loss" or exposure would be $5,000 in any given year on either plan.

So in this example, on plan A you would be paying an extra $1,080 per year for the exact same out of pocket catastrophic exposure compared to plan B.

Wouldn’t it make more sense financially to select plan B as opposed to plan A? When it comes to choosing a health plan these are the things most people overlook, or fail to understand. When you choose Colorado Health Solutions to represent you, we will inform and educate you of these types of things to make sure you select the right plan at a price you can afford.


Misconception #2:

Deductibles

Health insurance companies will charge you a "fool's premium" for a very low deductible. By "fool's premium" we mean that to lower your deductible from say $2,000 to $500, they will charge you an additional $2,880 a year. So unless you manage to have a catastrophic event in the first 6 months of your plan, you will always be the loser. Look carefully at the cost for different deductibles and ask yourself a couple questions:

How much does it cost for the next lowest and the next highest deductible?

How many months will it take before you have lost the advantage of the lower deductible by paying the difference in premiums?

Of course you could wind up in the hospital next month and call me up with an "I told you so". However, 99% of you will never reach your deductible. There is normally a trade off between costs and benefits and typically it's represented graphically by a curve of "diminishing returns".


Misconception #3:

Co-pays

A $20 doctor office co-pay is much more expensive than a $40 doctor office co-pay! How you ask? Let’s take a closer look.

Let's assume that the premium associated with a $20 co-pay is an additional $174 per month in premium for a family of 4 when compared to a $40 co-pay. (This is a real scenario)

In this scenario you would be paying an additional premium of $174 per month ($2,088 per year) to protect yourself against a "potential loss" or exposure of $20 each time you visited the doctor’s office. To come out even with the $20 co-pay you'd have to visit the doctor about 105 times a year to come out even! Don't pay a "fools premium" for benefits that are offset by increased premiums. It pays to do a little math when looking at cost versus benefits when purchasing health insurance. Again we can help you decipher this and choose the right plan.

We hope this will help you now or sometime in the future, what I tell my clients is this...You already pay enough for your health insurance, don't pay more than you have to!

Health insurance carriers are coming out with new more affordable plans all the time, how will you know if one is right for you? Would your agent call you if there was one better suited for your needs? Most likely not! Most agents/brokers will only talk to you if there is something in it for them! We here at Colorado Health Solutions have a completely different attitude and approach, if there is something that becomes available best suited for you and your family we will let you know!

There has been a new major medical plan that was just released that is on average 20-40% less than many of the other carriers. If you'd like to get a quote on this plan to either get health insurance or lower your premiums just visit our website today, we'd be happy to help. Again, don't pay more than you have to when it comes to your health insurance!

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To Insure Your Health

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are becoming more popular as the cost of health insurance continues to increase.

An HSA is a special bank account that is set up in conjuctions with the enrollment in a high deductible health plan (HDHP).

You, your employee or an eligible family member can make tax free contributions to the HSA. The HSA will earn interest that is not taxed and any withdrawals to pay for qualified medical expenses are also not taxed. Any funds remaining in the account at the end of each year is carried over to the next year.

The contribution to an HSA each year is limited to the amount of the HDHP deductible or $2,650 for individuals and $5,250 for families, whichever is less. You or your employee may not contribute to an HSA once you or your eomployee becomes eligible for and enrolled in Medicare. Your or your eomployee can make withdrawals to pay for qualified medical expenses by check or debit card just as you would with any other bank account.

Your employee owns the HSA so that your employee can keep the account even if he changes health insurance plans or jobs. However, if the owner of the account is not enrolled in an HDHP, he can no longer make contributions to the account.

An HDHP is a health insurance plan that has a high deductible of, at least, $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for families, adjusted each year for the cost of living. Despite the high deductibles most HDHPs will cover preventative care in full. To be enrolled in an HDHP, the enrollee cannot be covered by any other health insurance coverage, including under a spouse's plan, that is not a HDHP.

An HSA provides a method for you or your employees to reduce health insurance costs by enrolling in a less expensive HDHP as long as you or your employees are willing to finance, through the HsA, the medical expenses that are incurred, up to the amount of the deductible.

You should consult with a tax advisor to determine eligibility requirements and tax advantages before you decide to participate in an HSA.

If you and your employees decide that an HSA is a good alternative to the more traditional health insurance plans, The United State Federation of Small Businesses (USFSB) can offer you, from selected carriers, this less costly option.

Another way USFSB can help you reduce your costs for medical services is through the use of a Medical Discount Card. It is important to note that this is not insurance. The Medical Discount Card can be used, at participating health care providers, to obtain reduced cost for the services that are rendered as long as you are prepared to pay for the services at that time.

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