5 Things to Check Before You Buy Family Holiday Insurance

When you go on a family holiday, one of the most important things to organise before you set off is a decent family holiday insurance policy. If something goes wrong on your travels, it can be the only thing standing between you and a financial crisis. In some cases, medical bills abroad can add up to thousands of pounds, even for minor injuries, so it really is not worth taking the risk.

However, when you buy your policy, there are a number of areas you should look at very carefully so that you know exactly what you are covered for. Here are five key things to keep an eye out for.

1. What Activities Are Covered?

Family holiday insurance policies may provide cover for various activities that are common on holidays, such as swimming and snorkelling. However, when it comes to more extreme sports like skydiving or bungee jumping, you may find that you are not covered. If you then take part in one of these activities and injure yourself, you may have your claim for medical costs refused.

It is therefore essential that you know exactly which activities you are covered for when you travel. Check through the list carefully as you may be surprised: often, activities that you thought would be included may not be.

2. What Are the Per-Item Limits?

If you have cover for lost or stolen personal possessions, you will usually have a maximum amount, which may be in the region of £1,000 or maybe more. However, you should also check whether there is a maximum per-item limit, because this will often be lower. This means if you take an expensive item like a laptop, should it get stolen you will only be able to claim for the maximum per-item limit. You need to know whether the cover provided is enough, and if it is not, you may want to leave your expensive items at home.

3. Is It Cheaper to Get a Multi-Trip Policy?

If you are planning to have more than one family break this year, you may want to find out whether it is cheaper to get a multi-trip policy. If you travel abroad two or three times a year, it could work out less expensive - so do your sums before you purchase anything.

4. Are Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Covered?

Family holiday insurance policies often have exclusions when it comes to pre-existing medical conditions, so check what these are before you buy your policy. It may be that you cannot get cover for your condition, or you may need to pay extra.

5. Do You Need All the Cover?

Sometimes insurers provide different packages with different levels of cover. You should check the level of cover you really need before buying one. For example, the least expensive will often provide just medical expenses, and the more expensive may cover other events like cancellation cover and missed-departure cover. You have to ask yourself what is most suitable for your situation and choose a policy accordingly.

Family holiday insurance is one of the first things you should purchase when you plan a trip. However, make sure you are aware of all the details of a policy before you buy it, focusing especially on these five areas to help you find the most suitable one for your needs.

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Insuremore. We provide low cost travel insurance and offer a range of policies including family holiday insurance, annual, multi-trip and single-trip insurance. For all your travel cover needs, Insuremore can help you in the quickest and most cost-efficient way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8633293

Do I Need Motor Legal Protection Cover? (On My Car Insurance)

If you're in an accident that was not your fault, the cost of getting your car repaired is not the only expense that you'll face. There are numerous additional costs that you might need to consider, such as the cost of phone calls to deal with claims and the financial impact of any essential time off work. These miscellaneous expenses are the ones that are covered by motor legal protection.

What are the benefits?

The recovery of costs including (but not exclusively):

• Vehicle repair and recovery
• Personal injury
• Hire vehicle (often unlimited)
• Loss of earnings
• Policy excess
• Medical bills
• Legal expenses

Is motor legal protection a legal requirement?

Drivers are not legally required to have legal protection, and in fact, a large number of drivers do not have the cover. However, it can be extremely beneficial to invest in motor legal protection to fully shield oneself from all motor-related eventualities.

Consider the following scenario:

Mrs. Davies stops her car at a set of traffic lights. Another car, going too fast, drives into the back of her. The rear of Mrs. Davies' car is badly damaged and she is injured. Mr. Barnes, the man driving the other car, is at fault. While his insurance will pay for the damage to Mrs. Davies' car, there are many other expenses that Mrs. Davies will incur. For example she is forced to pay out for the car-towing fees, a hire car until her car is fixed and a considerable policy excess on her car. Her injuries necessitate a visit to the doctor and because she is self-employed, this causes her to lose half a day's earnings. Mrs. Davies has not got motor legal protection. Uncertain if she is permitted to claim back these expenses and daunted by the prospect of chasing up her claims, she decides not to claim and is left out-of-pocket.

In the above scenario, if Mrs. Davies had motor legal protection she would have felt reassured in knowing that a legal professional would have chased her claims on her behalf, and that her uninsured losses and expenses would have been reimbursed, hassle-free.

Why do some people choose not to buy motor legal protection?

Market research suggests that the main reason people do not buy motor protection is because they feel it is too expensive, an unnecessary expense that can be spared. This view is somewhat paradoxical considering the amount of money typically paid out by the non-fault party in an accident. Granted, some motor protection polices can be unnecessarily expensive with high-commission pushing up the prices. However, if people are prepared to shop around, there are some extremely competitive high-quality, low-cost packages available on the market.

What if you don't have motor legal protection?

Everybody is entitled to claim back any uninsured losses; however this tends to require a lot of effort. You would personally have deal with every single aspect of your claim and although achievable, it would necessitate a lot of time, patience and determination. The benefit of having protection makes the process of getting back to the position you were prior to the accident relatively hassle-free. It will make life easier for you as a driver, providing important peace of mind in knowing that your uninsured losses will be recovered in an accident that was not your fault.

Will your insurer sell you legal expenses?

They may try! Many insurers offer legal protection as an optional extra, often under another name such as uninsured loss recovery or legal expenses insurance. It is important to realise that you are not obligated to take them up on their offer. In fact, you're likely to find that even if you want motor legal protection cover it is cheaper to buy it elsewhere, since most insurance companies charge a premium to add it to your insurance.

It can be easy to see motor legal protection cover as one more unnecessary expense, but the benefits certainly outweigh the cost. To find out more about Motor Legal Protection, visit: https://www.bestpricefs.co.uk/motor-legal-protection

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8642851

Commercial Insurance for Small Businesses Protects Investments

Small businesses truly are the backbone of the American economy. In 2013, there were about 28 million small businesses in the U.S. It is estimated that 50 percent of the working population, or about 120 million people, work for a small business. Additionally, they are responsible for creating over 65 percent of new jobs since 1995. Starting a small business is a good option for individuals who want to work closely with their clients, obtain results without layers of corporate bureaucracy, and reap the rewards of their hard work. However, they require research, time, and capital; the Small Business Administration estimates that it costs about $30,000 to start a business. In addition to securing a workspace, necessary licenses, and hiring workers, you should also include the cost of commercial insurance policies to protect your investment in your startup budget, and take measures to prevent being sued.

There are a number of different types of commercial insurance policies. The type of business you run will determine the types of policies that will best protect your investment. All businesses should have general liability insurance. If someone is injured by you, your product, your services, or one of your employees, this type of policy will provide you with a defense, and it will pay any damages associated with the alleged loss. Most businesses will benefit from protection offered by property insurance, which insures against the loss of the location, inventory, or equipment. These types of policies may also insure the property of your clients within your control. For example, if you own a watch repair business that burns down, destroying the watches you are repairing, your policy will cover the loss of the watches.

If your business involves transporting employees or equipment in vehicles, obtaining a commercial insurance auto policy is a wise decision. A commercial auto policy protects damage resulting from collisions. It can also cover any damage caused by employees driving their own vehicles for company business. Companies providing professional services should consider professional liability insurance, which is also known as malpractice, or errors and omissions insurance. This type of policy covers lawyers, accountants, notaries, real estate agents, hair salons, and others, for damages associated with improper service.

The sheer number of available policies can be intimidating, and expensive. You may want to inquire about a business policy, which provides a bundle of services at a discounted premium.

Finally, there are a number of steps you can take to help ensure that you do not need to use any of your various policies. Hire a competent attorney to review contracts or advise you on business practices. Incorporating your business will protect your personal assets from seizure, in the event the business is found liable. You should also do your best to protect files, including client information or credit card numbers.

Consider talking with a commercial insurance agent to discuss policies that might benefit your business. Someone well versed in the field can spot opportunities for a litigious customer, and recommend appropriate coverage.

Are you interested in obtaining commercial insurance? Mobile, AL, business owners can contact us. Visit our site today! http://www.thamesbatre.com/services/commercial-insurance.php.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8645800

Answers to All Your Questions Regarding Loan and Mortgage Protection Insurance

Loan and mortgage protection insurance is designed to help you, and your family keep up-to-date with your loan repayments, when life events happen unexpectedly and regardless of mitigating circumstances. Put simply, mortgages or loans are often long-term commitments, so it makes sense to protect them.

Do You Think About the Unexpected?

There are a number of reasons why even the most responsible money managers may get into financial difficulty. Any of the following reasons can strike at any time and will leave you struggling to make your loan repayments:

>> Change in health - due to sickness, injury or disease

>> Loss of income - due to involuntary unemployment, or

>> Death and Terminal illness - when cancer, stroke or heart attack, etc. may occur.

Loan and Mortgage Protection Insurance - The Benefits

There are a number of benefits you can get from having a loan and mortgage protection insurance plan in place, which include:

>> The premiums are fully tax-deductible

>> Financial protection (you will save your family the worry of lost income)

>> You will save at tax time (you will get more money back in your tax return, and this means more money in your pocket)

>> You can choose how long you would like to receive cover benefits if you are injured and unable to work

>> Benefit payouts for total and permanent disability

>> A benefit amount (e.g. hospital cash) can be calculated for each night you spend in hospital

>> Associated accident costs can be provided to cover incidental costs (e.g. counseling and rehabilitation).

Common Questions regarding Loan and Mortgage Protection Insurance

Is Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) different to Loan and Mortgage Insurance?

>> LMI - is compulsory and covers the lenders/credit providers if they lend you 80% or more

>> Loan and Mortgage Protection Insurance - covers your mortgage repayments in the event of death, sickness, unemployment or disability

Does the Unemployment Benefit apply if I am Self-Employed?

Yes. You may make a claim if:

>> You have worked in your business (for an average of 20 hours per week) for 180 days immediately prior to becoming unemployed, or

>> Your business has permanently ceased trading

What Happens to my Policy if my Unemployment Claim is Successful?

Your cover continues for death or terminal illness after making a successful unemployment claim, and your premium and benefits will remain the same.

Who will be the Beneficiaries?

>> For a single life policy, the benefit will be paid to the policy owner or their estate, and

>> For a joint policy, the benefit payments are made to the policy owners jointly or to the surviving policy owner in the case of the death benefit

What happens if I need to make a Claim and I have Other Insurance Policies?

Upon acceptance of your claim, the loan or mortgage protection policy will payout a lump sum benefit directly to you or your estate and this will be in addition to any other payments you may receive from other insurance policies.

What if I am a Smoker now, will my Premium Change if I Stop Smoking?

>> Yes. Your premium can be changed to a non-smoker rate if you stop smoking for 12 consecutive months, and

>> You will need to make a declaration that you have not smoked any substance during this period

So, now that you are familiar with how "Loan and Mortgage Protection Insurance" can protect you and your family against any of life's unexpected events, contact an insurance broker. He/she will understand your situation and suggest the best possible insurance policy for yourself.

Singh Finance is the perfect solution for your finance and insurance needs. The firm will help you in getting affordable finance packages. It will also make sure that you get the best loan and mortgage protection insurance policy. Contact Singh Finance and get ready to make your life less stressful.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8664119

Bond Insurance - What I Wish I Had When The Contractor Destroyed My Lawn

One of the things that you learn after you have owned a house is that it constantly requires upkeep. Whether it is in need of repairs or because your taste changes, there are countless moments that arise where you will need the help of a contractor. Unfortunately, one of my first experiences with making a change to my home was a terrible one, which resulted in a destroyed lawn at the hands of an unskilled and unscrupulous contractor. If I had had bond insurance, I could have easily recovered from this fiasco, but it took me months to finally get my money back because I had no way of holding the company accountable. So, to vent my frustration, I would like to share my story of that mistake.

It Starts With a Dream

Having lived in my house for a few years, my desire for a patio in the backyard came on quite suddenly. Debating it for a few months, I eventually mustered up the will to contact a contractor for an estimate. I was referred to a company from a friend who had had some lawn work done in the past. The company came highly recommended, and so I had faith that my experience would go equally as well. But, I was wrong.

A Dream Deferred

To this day, I have no idea why the situation turned out as bad as it did. One day, seemingly out of the blue, the contractor just stopped coming to work. My backyard was a mess with concrete and dirt spread throughout the whole lawn, and I had no idea where to begin fixing the mess. Whenever I tried to reach the contractor, he would come up with excuse after excuse. Eventually, he stopped answering my calls altogether. I had made the mistake of paying for most of the work up front, thinking that he would have finished quickly. So, when he stopped working on the patio, I had lost my initial investment, and I found it too difficult to quickly come up with some more money to hire someone else to finish his botched job. Had I had bond insurance, I could have dealt with this situation much faster, but my lack of foresight resulted in my living with the mess for nearly nine months thanks to Chicago's beautiful winter weather.

The End of the Story

After nine months of trying to get the contractor to come and finish my patio, I was able to finally get him to come to court, where my lawsuit proved successful, and I was able to recoup my investment. Did I have to put up with a terrible lawn for a long time? Definitely. This would not have been the case had I looked into, or even known about, bond insurance, which would have reimbursed me soon after the contractor stopped coming to work. So, the takeaway from this mistake is that while cutting corners on investments may seem like a good idea in the short term, you may ultimately save yourself time and frustration by going that extra step and getting bond insurance for whatever home project you would like to tackle.

Get covered and avoid a situation like this one with bond insurance. Farmington and Albuquerque, NM, residents can rely on Menicucci Insurance Agency, LLC. Visit our website at, http://www.mianm.com/surety-bonds-insurance/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8668985

A Little Bit Of History About Insurance in America

It was one of the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who formed the first insurance company in 1751, called Philadelphia Contributionship, and it was home/fire insurance. According to PBS reports, 143 policies were issued by the company in the first year, and none of the insured property caught fire for seven years afterwards. In fact, Philadelphia used the same scheme that all insurance companies use today; the members of the company paid an amount of money that would be used to restore financial loss due to fire-related causes. Such payment is popularly known today as insurance premium. Benjamin Franklin played a significant role in developing insurance indeed, but he was not the first to introduce auto insurance. As a matter of fact, the first car insurer's venture began a little earlier than Benjamin Franklin's time.

The First Known Automotive Insurance in America

People now see car insurance as an inevitable part of everyday lives simply because car is the most-popular means of transportation in the country. Insurer provides essential financial protection for every vehicle owner in the event of an accident that causes property damages, casualties, medical conditions, and all possible financial losses. In America, Detroit is nowadays well-known for its automobile industries. During the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, Ohio was home for innovators of this new type of transportation. It is worth mentioning that the world's first car insurance coverage policy was issued in Dayton, Ohio in 1987. According to Ohio Historical Society, Gilbert J. Loomis was the first person to purchase car auto liability insurance. The policy provided protection for Loomis in terms of financial loss (or financial responsibility) in case his car damaged another person's properties, killed, or injured someone. These policies are more or less similar to those used widely by modern car insurance companies throughout America nowadays; at least, the policies issued to Loomis set examples of what kind of financial protection that car insurance policy should at least provide for the owner.

The car insurance industry slowly began to gain its popularity since then, and it indeed developed into more comprehensive as well. In 1902, the first comprehensive insurance policy provided coverage for fire and theft, so it was no longer for accident-related causes only, according to International Risk Management Institute. In 1912, insurance coverage that combined multiple perils was starting to develop as insurers tried to include fire, property, and liability coverage for automobile into one single policy. Auto insurance coverage policies evolved greatly, but the basic principles remain the same. Benjamin Franklin did not probably think about cars when he started Philadelphia Contribution-ship, but he played a crucial role in developing the system and popularize the idea that insurance does bring peace of mind to the policyholder.
With the rise of the automobile industry in America, insurance also began its expansion. There are many factors involved in the success story of car manufacturing such as expansion of U.S. economy, infrastructure and road development, and the rise of "car culture" itself in the country. Of course, the rapid growth of vehicle production and number of car owners in the country inevitably resulted in more road cars and accidents.

In 1930, more than 100 people were killed in accidents per day. It is not a surprising fact since drivers at that time were not obliged to undergo strict driver licensing, and probably most of them were never registered to any driver test. This was, in fact, an expected consequence due to the absence of driver test or driving schools. In 1920s, due to various political reactions, the government invested more funds to build better roads and traffic control system as well as improve vehicle licensing regulation and implement strict driver test. Massachusetts was a step ahead of most states by establishing driver licensing in 1903; however, the state only started to implement driver licensing in 1952.

Massachusetts and Connecticut were ahead again with the implementation of compulsory insurance and financial responsibility laws. To be more precise, Connecticut's law required driver or vehicle owner to produce valid proof of financial responsibility of at least $10,000 in case one is involved in an accident that resulted in more than $100 worth of damages, injury, medical bills, or when the accident caused the death. Back then, drivers were obliged to what was stated by the law after their first-time accident.

In 1950s, car insurance began to spread widely across the nation in almost all states. Massachusetts was the only states in the country that required drivers to purchase car insurance policy before vehicle registration. In 1956, New York adopted the same regulation; North Carolina took the same step in the following year. During 1960s and 1970s, almost all states developed the same type of regulation although each state has different specific requirements. Considering that the beginning of compulsory insurance law was in 1925, and it was successfully applied throughout the nation by 1970s, the development is staggeringly quick.

Nowadays, car insurance evolved into one of the most-profitable industries in the world thanks to the significant help from the Internet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8667035

Insurance Career - What's In It for You?

Yes- I'm talking to you! You probably have never thought about it but nothing happens without insurance. You can't buy a house or a car, go to a grocery store or do just about anything without every component of the transaction having some kind of insurance associated with it. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for 2012, the US Gross Domestic Product for Finance and Insurance was over $1.2 trillion employing over 2 million people. We hear a lot about recent graduates not able to find good jobs and military personnel coming home to a lack of employment opportunities. Let's face it- no-one grows up thinking they want to be an insurance agent! So - let's analyze a few reasons to put a career in insurance on your radar:

• Recession proof- Even in a "down economy", the requirements for insurance do not go away making the industry somewhat recession proof even when other businesses are distressed.


• Accommodates a wide range of skills- Are you detail oriented and love finding solutions for challenges? Maybe you are into Math, statistics, accounting or computers? You may find helping people, customer service or relationship building more your thing? Almost every professional skill set has a corresponding possible insurance career.


• Many carriers provide training- Depending on the type of position you are interested in, you can take classes to get the knowledge you need or many carriers provide great training. Colleges offering "Insurance Degrees" are few and far between but having any BA degree basically means you have the persistence to accomplish a goal making you "trainable."


• Risk is always changing- The ever developing world is moving so fast that exposures that need protection are also constantly changing. You can never get bored if you make an effort to keep learning new skills and change with the times.


• Corporate America vs. small business- If you want the security or prestige associated with working for a large corporation or want to develop your Entrepreneurial spirit as a small business owner, both options can be available to you in insurance.


• Making the big bucks- As with just about any industry, certain positions are not as lucrative as others. The nice thing about insurance is that you can make a very good or even excellent living depending on your drive for success.

It's been a great career for me so far and I'm looking forward to some new challenges as I move into a different position within the industry. I would love to see some "new blood" take advantage of all the Insurance Industry has to offer. It may not seem very glamorous, but I've found it to be a "tight knit" community of some really good folks! I urge you to check it out!

If you happen to be located in Southern California, love working with people and would like to make a difference in the Insurance Industry, contact West Connect Insurance Solutions. We specialize in training and mentoring Entrepreneurs who would like to build a career offering proper insurance protection for their clients. Sign up for my informational newsletter atsharongraeter.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8667590