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

Canadian Super Visa - Method for Applying for (TRV) Temporary Resident Visa

The Canadian Government issues a TRV to people having relatives in Canada. TRV is issued for business, transit and tourism purposes only.

The Application Must Be Completed In The Following Way

First the time to process the application is considered

If you are planning to go to Canada after three months then you need to know the time the Canadian embassy would take to process your application. One should apply for a visa if he knows that he would be visiting his child living in Canada in future. This needs to be done following the due process and with adequate time at hand. So even if the embassy wants to interview you more than once, they can, without disturbing your plans.

Therefore, what you can do is file for visa at least 7 months to 8 months before you have planned to go, as this will also take into account the buffer and approval time. A minimum of six months will be taken by the consulate to collect information about you, your business, your health, your income, your liabilities et al. So even if your application is pending now, you can rest assured that it will be processed by the end of this period.

The Method For Applying For Canadian Super Visa

For the people who have no idea, we must tell you that you can opt for any one option out of the two:

One is to Apply Online

It is the easiest way as you can sit anywhere, anytime, download the form, and fill it. Filling an online form is a much better option because you can correct your mistakes while you are filling the form. The application is quite long and has lot of questions in different sections that you have to answer. The things you need to fill out the form are a scanner and a camera with the computer or laptop for creating the electronic copies of documents. Moreover, you need a valid way to make an online payment of the fees. For purpose of payment, you can use a credit card so make sure it is valid for making payment.

Do not provide any fake documents or information, as the documents will be checked, and in case you are caught, you will be punished.

Second Option Is Applying on Paper

You will get the application form from the immigration office and you can sit back and fill it, but this is only possible if you know what all documents you need and for that, you have to study information guide given before issuing the application for a Canadian TRV.

Fill in all the blocks with desired information, in case you leave some empty then your application can be rejected or deemed as incomplete. Ask the people in the office to guide you through the instruction guide if you are not able to understand something but do not leave the questions unanswered. Furthermore, you also receive an application kit as a reference to help you answer the questions and the application itself has instructions on the front page. These instructions tell you what pen you have to use to fill the form, the style of writing etc. Read the instructions carefully to avoid mistakes.

Apply for Canadian super visa today and enjoy with your family.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8683677

How to Find the Best Deal on Errors and Omissions Insurance

In the event that a client files a tortfeasor lawsuit holding a professional or a partner responsible for breach of contract during performance of service, or failure to provide said services on agreement in a bargained for exchange, liability connected with negligence is covered by an E&O policy.

Often cited under malpractice insurance (I.e. medical), the broader contracting of Errors and Omissions coverage by accountants, architects, engineers, and lawyers is similar to the former in terms of protection from professional liability. Coverage under an E&O policy generally includes payment of court costs for defense in a lawsuit, as well as judgments, settlements, attorney fees. E&O insurance covers court related expenses even in where a case has been dismissed.

Reason for Rate Hikes:

The recent rate hikes on E&O underwriting are somewhat mitigated by the entrance of new insurers without the legacy of losses that would otherwise increase premiums across all sectors. The increase in rates seen in renewals in the past year, however, have occurred in response to major losses within particular professionals.

The varied renewal rate hikes illustrate that deviation from a mean average scale of risk is now accorded professions involved in specialties and locations associated with heightened instability. The result is affecting the E&O insurance marketplace.

Experts indicate that many professionals are left negotiating rates. Insurers willing to negotiate sometimes offer deep discounts on premiums at as little as under 5% higher than the inflationary cost of claims and defense estimates for an industry. Still, many E&O insurers have suggested that 10% to 20% rate hikes are on the horizon.

Finding the Best Deal on E&O:

While purchasers of E&O policies can expect to find some consistency in the indexing of policy rates, those seeing extraordinary rate hikes reflect higher defense costs in terms of retroactive claims. The fact that an E&O policy can be underwritten to cover retroactive transactions, evidences that knowledge of professional or sector history is still nebulous in terms of potential future litigation.

In spite of rate hikes, hidden risk or exposure to near future events in sectors like finance and law continue to promote the E&O insurance market as a value for money investment. Legal reforms respondent to the global financial crisis of 2008, have had much to do with those rate hikes following a record number of professional liability lawsuits.

Save when you buy errors and omissions online at http://www.eoforless.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8682342

Businesses That May Require Commercial Auto Insurance

Commercial auto insurance is an essential expense for a large number of businesses. This type of coverage protects a business from potential lawsuits if any of their vehicles are involved in an accident, no matter who is at fault. Many people believe this coverage is only needed for shipping or transportation businesses. Here are some businesses that can also benefit from commercial auto insurance.

Catering Companies
These businesses often have employees traveling to and from worksites daily. A chance of something happening during the drive always exists. The company could face a lawsuit if the driver was deemed at fault in an accident. This coverage helps pay the costs of any damages or litigation.

Driving Instructor
If you are a driving instructor who uses your own car, especially if the vehicle is an instructor car with two brakes, you should consider extra coverage. Many insurance plans do not cover incidents that involve an unrelated driver operating the vehicle. If vehicle has been written off as a business expense for tax purposes, it may not qualify for simple coverage.

Pizza Delivery
If a driver uses a company-provided car, then the business may be liable. However, many delivery businesses protect themselves by requiring the drivers to use their own cars. This places the burden for obtaining insurance coverage back on the individual drivers.

At-Home Care or Education Professionals
If you are required to travel regularly while transporting job-related equipment or materials, it may make sense to have commercial auto insurance. Whether you represent your own small business or are a contracted employee, this type of coverage can help reimburse the cost of lost equipment following an accident. Plus, it may prevent a job-related claim from affecting the rates of any personal coverage plans.

With a proper plan in place, any accidents or injuries that occur involving a company vehicle should be covered by the insurer. This shields not only the driver, but also the business owner from facing a large lawsuit or major claims for damages or medical expenses. When purchased by a well-known or large corporation, these plans become relatively inexpensive on a per-vehicle basis. You may need to contact the local department of labor or DMV in order to determine if you are legally required to have this kind of plan.

Even if it is not a requirement, commercial auto insurance can give both the drivers and business owners some peace of mind knowing that they are covered if the unplanned should arise.

To learn more about commercial auto insurance in Texas, visit http://www.americantruckinsurance.com/texas-coverage/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8688375

Five of the Funniest Ads From Insurance Companies

Advertising is a great tool to make what might be considered a boring or banal topic into something humorous. Insurance companies have utilized television advertising both to compete with other companies and to make the viewer laugh, which might incline them to buy the policy. Over the years the advertisements have become funnier and more creative. Here are a few of the funniest ads from insurance companies currently in play.

Geico's Oldest Trick In the Book

Geico has used a variety of ads to catch the attention of the viewer. Most notable is the Geico gecko, who is referenced in the start of this commercial but doesn't contribute to the meat of the humor. Ever heard the saying "the oldest trick in the book?" Geico takes this played out saying and literally depicts the prank claiming its first victim. By taking this phrase and making it literal, the audience is sure to chuckle.

Esurance's Facebook Wall Writer

In a competitive spirit, Esurance quotes Geico's motto "fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent on car insurance" and claims that the notion is outdated. By doing this, they portray an elderly woman, who has vastly misunderstood the concept of Facebook and writing on a person's wall. She takes this literally by writing on physical walls while claiming that she's hip and saved fifteen percent with Geico. Depicting a woman who is vastly behind the technological times, Esurance can claim that their policies are for the modern world.

Insurance Agent Jingle

Perhaps one of the funniest advertisements currently in play, an agency has created a jingle for their customers in need. When sung, an agent magically appears and assures the person of their coverage. The person standing nearby, either the other car accident victim or a friend, tries to mimic this jingle with their own no-name insurance companies. Instead of an agent, a questionable looking character appears who offers no comfort or assurance.

Farmer's Uninsured Robot

The advances of technology all have us wondering when cars may be able to drive themselves or if robots will be invented. This commercial puts a futuristic robot in a human situation (in the seat of a driver's education car) and depicts him running away after crashing into the car ahead. Farmer's cleverly depicts an uninsured driver while playing on the notion of advancing technology.

Nationwide's Giant Baby

We've all heard men refer to their precious cars as their babies. In this commercial, instead of a car, we actually see a giant baby. Here the owner is crying over, protecting and washing his "baby." Like the Geico commercial, the figurative turned literal is the means for laughter in this advertisement.

Whether these commercials produce more business is a question for the bookkeeper, but each company seems to know the importance of laughter. Laughter is sure to inspire positive thoughts in the viewer, leaving them with a positive impression of the brand as the company name flashes on the screen.

When they're looking for dependable insurance companies, Mobile, AL residents trust Thames Batre Insurance. Learn more at http://www.thamesbatre.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8687982

Are You Caring For Your Family? If Yes, First Get Insured

Insurance is a cost and utter waste. This is what many people consider when the insurance subject is discussed. Remember, this cost is the least when you compare the benefits gained when an unfortunate event like death, accident, theft, etc. occurs. The money spent in insurance contracts is a good saving cum investment. Furthermore, it takes care of the welfare of your family.

You can make a choice of good plans to cover the basic risks like Health, Home, Vehicles, etc.. For your business or profession, go for the policies that will insure the risks associated with your products, furniture and fittings, plant and machinery, etc..

What is an insurance? The risks involved in our life are multifarious. Sudden demise of a person is an unbearable and irreparable loss to everybody. That too, an untimely death leaves shock and void in the family. To protect against such unfortunate events and risks, a mechanism called insurance is in place.

Types of Insurance: Basically, two types of insurance exist as Life and non-Life insurance. The First type is for compensating the dependents upon the death of the policy holder. It has two varieties as 1) Pure insurance or term insurance where premium rate will be lower, but no returns or refunds made if the person survives after the policy period. 2) Endowment type, where death and maturity benefits are combined, comes at a higher premium. Non-life products cover the risks like Accident, Marine, Health, Goods, Agricultural crops, Cash-in-transit, etc. Additionally, a third type exists as Reinsurance, which insures risks like Satellite, Spacecraft, etc... involving huge amounts.

Do's & Don'ts of Insurance: 1) Read the contract notes. Even after taking all precautions before buying an insurance product, some exclusions are made to the risks covered. 2) Keep the policy in force by paying the premium regularly. Your claim will be rejected if you have not paid the premium. 3) Inform the insurance company about any changes in your address, the nature and composition of assets covered, etc.. These issues crop up in the case of business assets and movable assets like vehicles. When you acquire a second-hand asset, the risk is more: you have to make sure the title is transferred into your name. 4) Always source the insurance products from the reputed companies that have a good reputation in the market. New insurers tend to secure more business and profit, but avoid the payment of the claims under their policies.

So, Insurance is a not a liability, but an investment for the future. Insurance agent alone provides solace and relief and in fact brings good news, when others simply console when a family bereaved.

Wise People Remain Insured.

Get more useful tips for a happy life at http://www.mohanspage.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8691036

Construction Insurance Protects Your Employees and Your Investment

The building profession is a diverse field. Construction workers are employed in a variety of commercial and residential settings and use an array of different tools and materials. As a result, each site presents unique risks for personal injury or property damage. Construction insurance is necessary to protect contractors, subcontractors, and property owners from litigation resulting from an injury or property damage connected with the building process.

However, purchasing construction insurance is not just a wise business investment. Policies may be required when providing services to the federal, state, or local government. Many private entities will require coverage as well. Your employees, clients, and the public all benefit from comprehensive coverage in the event that something does not go as planned. Potential clients also look for these protections as a sign of professionalism when hiring a contractor.

Construction insurance works by protecting the contractor and any injured parties in the event of property damage or injury at the job site. This type of policy is referred to as commercial general liability insurance. Parties protected generally include the party agreeing to the services and members of the public directly affected by the work.

The insurance company will pay for any accidental injuries or property damage so that the business owner does not have to pay from his own pocket. Legal counsel will also be provided in the event your business is sued as a result of an accident. Negligent behavior and deliberate omissions or errors are not covered by these policies. Typically, the policies are effective during the time the contracted work is ongoing. However, issues may arise long after the completion of the building. These problems can often be addressed when creating the agreement by adjusting some of the language.

A builder's risk policy indemnifies against damage to the building while under construction. It protects against damage to fixtures, materials, and equipment used in the building or renovation process that may be caused by fire, wind, theft, or vandalism. Cars and trucks used in connection with the work and driven by employees may need coverage as well. Design professionals like architects, or others engaged in designing any aspect of the project should have professional liability coverage.

Workers compensation is another type of coverage that may be required in your state. These policies protect workers injured or who become ill on the job site by paying medical bills and disability claims. Finally, a bid bond may be required under some circumstances. This is a proof of guarantee to the project owner that a contractor can perform the work required and is a promise that the owner will be compensated.

Consult with an agency experienced in serving contractors, subcontractors, and property owners if your project requires construction insurance. An experienced agent can help identify risks and potential losses in order to determine what plans will cover your needs.

For reliable construction insurance, Albuquerque contractors rely on Menicucci Insurance Agency, LLC for total coverage in the event of an accident. Learn more at http://www.mianm.com/construction-insurance/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8695872

What Policies Should You Buy From Your Insurance Agent?

Some people do not put any thought into who they chose to buy coverage from. They will employ the services of anyone recommended. What you should be looking for is someone who is willing to sit down with you and explain what types of coverage you need and why. You should never buy any policy that you do not personally understand. Having a trusted insurance agent in your professional portfolio is a necessary component to protecting yourself and your assets.

There are policies that cover just about everything imaginable. Unfortunately, not all of them are necessary. Here is a list of the absolutely important policies you need to get in place right now.

Homeowner's or Renter's

There is more to life than stuff, but that does not mean you should not protect the things you have. A homeowner's or renter's policy will cover your possessions in the event of a loss. Make sure you have guaranteed replacement costs in order to fully compensate you for the losses.

Automobile

Driving around uninsured is inviting disaster to your finances. If you can afford a higher deductible, it will your monthly premium low. Ask your insurance agent to crunch the numbers and see if collision coverage makes sense in your situation and to confirm the adequate amount of liability for you.

Health

Likewise, medical coverage is non negotiable. An emergency or devastating diagnosis will bankrupt you quicker than anything else. There have been a lot of changes recently with the passing of the Affordable Care Act, so be sure to explore all your options. You may want to consider opening a Health Savings Account as well.

Disability

Check with your employer to see if this is a benefit they provide. Many businesses offer disability at a lower rate than you would be able to get by yourself. You want the policy to cover at least 65% of your income and, if possible, to pay out if you are unable to perform your specific job duties.

Long-Term Care

This is a policy that you do not need to put in place until after you turn 60. Once you are 60, however, you have about a 70% chance of ending up in an extended care facility. Make sure you are able to afford that level of care easily if that time comes.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is the fasting growing fraud activity in the United States. You can easily spend hundreds of hours trying to rectify the situation if your information gets stolen. Instead, make sure your provider has restoration services so the burden is on them to sort through everything, not you.

Life

If anyone depends on your income, then you need life insurance. There are many different policies, but the best value is term life. Term has the lowest premiums with the most coverage. There is no savings or investing involved, and there shouldn't be. You are transferring the risk of losing your income, not trying to grow an investment.

There may be some other coverage you require but these are the minimums. Again, make sure you are employing a trustworthy insurance agent that is willing to explain why you need what you need. Do not pay for anything that you do not understand or agree with.

For an insurance agent they know they can trust, Mobile, AL residents go to Thames Batre Insurance. Learn more at http://www.thamesbatre.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8694414

Reduce Financial Stress With Funeral Insurance

Funeral insurance provides a lump sum of cash paid to your family or nominated person to cover the expenses of funeral costs in the event of your death. It is designed to reduce your family's financial burden at an emotional time. A death in the family is a painful and difficult time, the stress of this situation is often magnified by the financial pressure to cover the costs of a funeral as you deal with the loss of a loved one.

Funeral insurance works in the same way as many of your other insurance policies, you have to decide how much your family will need to cover your funeral, i.e. $6000, $8000, $10,000 etc. and pay your insurer a monthly or annual premium. The nominated beneficiary will receive the money upon your death and will use it for your funeral.

Regardless of your age or health the insurance plans offered can be paid in a single premium or spread over 3, 5 or 10 year period and when the time comes to make the claim your fund will be available quickly. Most of the claims are paid within 24 hours after the necessary documentation is received.

What does funeral insurance cover?

It provides up to $40,000 for funeral related expenses. For coverage of $20,000 or more you will receive a 10% premium discount, you will be covered worldwide 24 hours a day 365 days a year. You will get peace of mind and the level of the coverage will also increase each year in line with inflation.

Benefits provided by funeral insurance:

Guaranteed level premiums that will never go up.

You can save up to 25% over the life of the policy.

Quick funeral covers payout.

Lower premiums.

Flexible cover with your choice of payout.

Funeral insurance offers one way to plan ahead and cover funeral costs. Different plans cover different costs, some will cover things such as burial fees, grave digging fees or cremation costs, while other plans offer tiered levels of cover. Most of the policies do not cover all of this so it is important to read the small print carefully before buying.

The cost of funeral insurance is based on the level of cover you choose, your gender and age also matters.

Applying online for insurance is beneficial as it is easy to apply, you have to fill a form to get free quotes and side by side you can compare the policies too.

Ensuring your family does not suffer from financial crises of your death is a good idea, but consumers should be very careful before signing up for funeral insurance other pre-paid funeral plans. The investigation has found out:

Under some funeral insurance plans you end up paying more premiums than the value of the coverage.

Prepaid funerals or funeral bonds and life insurance are more cost effective options for covering your funeral costs.

So before applying read the given instructions, terms and conditions of the policy carefully before signing it and also make sure that the beneficiary you are choosing is trustworthy.

Get funeral insurance today and live a stress free life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8698482

Five Ways to Effectively Tackle Insurance Fraud

Insurance Fraud is one of the top challenges that insurers are facing worldwide. While there are pricing pressures owing to slow economic environment, cutting back the Claims payout is one of the best means to increase efficiency and cut cost. From a strategic perspective also, carriers overall success to a large extent depends on the manner they treat their Claims function; for many insurers Claim processing efficiency is often their unique selling proposition. Reducing Claim leakages by effectively fighting against insurance Fraud and having a larger focus on recovery management can help insurers reduce their Claim cost.

This article is an effort to highlight five key areas that should be considered when building an effective Fraud management strategy.

1. Underwriting Prudence

Claims and Fraud management begin much before the Claim incident is reported. There are several indicators that can raise suspicion during the underwriting process. After the Claims are settled, the Claims data can positively impact the underwriting and rating functions. There is a need to incorporate more information into the underwriting decision-making process. The responsible use of data and information during the underwriting analysis is one of the most powerful weapons against Fraud.

The organization should know its prospective customers well to find fraudulent intentions beginning the review of sales proposal. An attempt should be made to dig deeper to verify identity and every application must be individually scrutinized. The goal of reducing Claim leakages should be kept in mind from the very beginning and the Fraud fighting mechanism should be activated from that moment.

2. FNOL Management

From a Fraud perspective, effective management of First Notice of Loss (FNOL) process is crucial for the insurance company. Through improved workflow, streamlining the processes and use of automation, insurers can identify the Fraud triggers and recovery possibilities early in the Claims cycle. The insurers should make use of early warning systems like, Voice Analytics for timely identification of Fraud. There are key factors for example, who reports the Claim (Claimant vs. Attorney Vs. anyone else); the time when the Claim is reported (Immediate vs. Delayed reporting); and the manner in which Claim is reported that can raise suspicion on the genuineness of the loss.

Any delay in identifying the Fraud triggers can have serious consequences later. If the decision to make an SIU appointment is late, the insurers can lose important eyewitness that can affect the Fraud analysis and the recovery possibilities. Any time lost during this stage will cause more than four times efforts, time and cost in the future. To fight the Fraud in an efficient manner, insurers have to be wiser and faster in comparison to Fraudsters. The use Data Analytics to narrow the possible number of Claims to be investigated for Fraud is vital. The insurers can then pay attention to those Claims, where high probability of Fraud exists.

3. Developing an Effective Claims Team

Effective deployment of resources is an important part of the overall Fraud management. Any organization that wants to effectually handle Fraud, must rebuild the Fraud investigative skills and capabilities. It should hire people with solid investigative skills to build a strong SIU unit for Fraud handling. By virtue of their experience, investigators who have worked for the FBI, Police and other investigative agencies can bring more value to the table.

The employees should be equipped with the necessary resources and a well-defined training program should exist. There should be online education and awareness programs through an Online Claims monitor on recent Fraud to the Claim handlers and investigators. Claims people should encourage feedback from the Claimants as a quality improvement tool. There should be a seamless link between Claims personnel and underwriters to make sure the overall business perspective is maintained and followed.

The aging of the baby boomers and the lack of skillful resources is resulting in heavy reliance on automation and investment in IT. Management should have a well-defined strategy to retain employees with key skills through the workload and work-life balancing. The goal of containing Claim leakages and rebuilding investigation skills and capabilities cannot be met unless the organization has a well laid out and forward-looking re-sourcing strategy.

4. Use of Technology

One of the problems being faced by Claims Organizations these days is the increased use of manual processes with limited use of tools and technology to manage processes. It is often found that the Claims Division in an insurance organization is one of the departments that are working with less-than optimal systems with huge maintenance cost. The need of Advanced Technology and Analytics in the Fraud handling cannot be over emphasized. The insurers should develop an integrated Fraud program with full policy life cycle consideration having clear defined Fraud management goals that are aligned to the business model.

With the number of people using social media sites, increasing day by day, the insurers should even consider social network analysis. The integration of Claims systems with social networking sites can prove to be an effective tool for Fraud detection. For insurers where the fraud leakage is on the higher side, it can even consider integration of IT systems with outside law enforcement agencies' like the FBI, Interpol and DMV. The automation of the decision-making process based on business rules can also help in streamlining and standardizing the Claims process.

5. Information Sharing

Often it is found that different functional areas within an insurance organization do not talk well with each other. Thus, there is a greater need to strengthen data sharing between various departments specially, Underwriting, Claims and Finance. There might be similar Fraud patterns and issues across other lines of business, like Workers' Comp, Commercial Auto and Crime. Having access to look across different coverage types for common behavior will be critical to success when combating Fraud. Besides, the companies should collectively work towards the maintenance of Fraud databases to have all the information in one place. This can aid in the analysis of Fraudulent Claim by comparing with old Frauds and grow the institutional knowledge and capabilities of the Fraud management.

There should be a centralized Fraud module where the findings and reports from Claim handlers and investigators are documented and available for anytime review. With Fraudsters becoming more sophisticated in their approach, there is a greater need for increasing industry collaboration and sharing of leading practices among insurers to combat Fraud.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8702715

The Top Four Cleaners Insurance Lessons You Need to Learn Now

Cleaners perform such a wide variety of tasks that determining what type of insurance you need can be a little daunting at times. However, there are four lessons that cleaners before you have learned that can help you understand the needs for your own Cleaners Insurance.

1. You need to seriously consider cleaners Liability Insurance

If in the course of your job you cause damage to someone's property, or injure a third party, you may be responsible for the costs associated with the damages. Liability Insurance covers you financially if you do need to pay any costs.

For example if you have just cleaned a floor and a client comes home and slips on it you could be held liable for their medical costs or rehabilitation back to full health. Or if you spill a chemical on a carpet and then need to replace that carpet, you could be out of pocket for thousands of dollars.

Instead, the insurer would step in and cover the costs for you. Sometimes these costs can go up into the millions for serious medical claims such as permanent disability or death, and if you do not have Cleaners Liability Insurance in place your business, or your personal finances could never fully recover.

2. You need to protect your tools

The tools you use for cleaning will cost you money to replace. This is money that many small businesses might not be able to afford. If you are a specialist cleaner you may have more expensive and rare tools, and if theft or damage occurs to them it can really set your business back.

Protecting your cleaning tools is vital so that you can quickly access the money in the worst case scenario and replace them to continue your jobs and earn an income.

3. Workers compensation is vital for employees

It is very exciting to have a growing cleaning business. This also means that you may be employing workers. Along with this comes the added responsibility of acquiring Workers Compensation Insurance in case they become sick or injured by the job. You are required by all Australian states to obtain Workers Compensation Insurance for your business employees; however the requirements are slightly different in each state. It is good to check this with your broker in order to make sure you are getting the right policy for your business.

4. Protect your own income with Accident and Injury Insurance

Chances are that if you run your own business, the only person controlling your income is yourself. This means that if you get sick from your work, or are injured whilst performing your duties, no one will be able to supply you with an income. Accident and Injury Insurance overcomes this problem by helping you when you need it most. There are many risks such as slips, falls, chemicals, or cuts that can happen whilst cleaning and having this insurance means that you will still get an income if you cannot work for a period of time.

Make sure you take heed of these four points in order to avoid financial disaster for your business in the event of a claim. If you need help with your cleaners insurance, or to obtain a quote, just contact All Trades Cover today

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8700546