Types of Health Insurance Plans

Health insurance to its employees. It forms a part of their monthly salary or is given as a perk. But most companies do not make such offers and there are a lot of employees who have to seek individual health insurance for their needs.

It is essential to realize that insurance is very important because not being insured means a lot of expense to be incurred in case you are faced with a sudden medical emergency that might require hospitalization and tests. Fees for doctor visits and other related expenses will create a huge dent in your bank account and might indeed finish off all your savings.

As we get older, we are prone to age-related diseases. Being prepared with insurance cover in advance is not only a wise decision it is also a sound choice to make in terms of finance.

Individual health insurance plans are available in two types: Indemnity and Managed Care Plans. There is only two major differences between the two plans. How much you will pay as premium and the method of paying your bills.

Indemnity individual health insurance is comparatively more expensive than Managed Care and that is the reason most people opt for the Managed Health Care Plans. In terms of benefits and risk covered, the indemnity individual health insurance plan is the one that covers the basics of health more comprehensively. It is also the oldest form of health insurance.

Indemnity plan requires you to pay a part of the medical costs with the insurance provider paying the balance remaining. The most availed plan is the 80-20 where you are required to pay 80% of the medical costs incurred and the insurance provider pays the remaining 20%. Premiums are charged accordingly. The higher the amount you commit to pay, the lower will be the monthly premium charged by the insurance provider. The company decides the rate of compensation on the basis of average fees charged by doctors and physicians in your area for medical services. You either pay the fees upfront and claim from the insurance company later or have your doctor send the bill to them directly.

Managed health care plans are more popular because they are more affordable as compared to indemnity plans. The premium rates are lower too but you are not at liberty to choose your physician or service provider and have limited choice.

Finding Very Cheap Car Insurance

Finding Very Cheap Car Insurance For Your Mitsubishi (insuransiv)

When you are looking for car insurance, the cheaper the better. If you want Mitsubishi insurance, for example, you want to be sure that you get very cheap car insurance that you can afford. As a Mitsubishi is an affordable car, it stands to reason that you will not want to pay a lot for the car insurance to have your car covered. When you are looking to save money on your car insurance, it makes sense to go online and get quotes. This is the best way to buy Mitsubishi car insurance or any other type of car insurance for that matter.

Very cheap car insurance usually entails only liability coverage. You can save quite a bit of money on your car insurance if you only get liability car insurance instead of full coverage. If your car is an older model car, it probably makes more sense to only cover it in case of an accident in which you are at fault so that you have liability coverage rather than collision coverage as your deductible may be more than the car is worth. You can get very cheap car insurance when you look for liability only coverage when you are purchasing Mitsubishi insurance.

You can also raise your deductible when you are looking for Mitsubishi insurance. When you want to get very cheap car insurance, the higher your deductible, which is the amount that you have to pay out of your own pocket for any loss before the insurance company kicks in, the cheaper your car insurance rate is going to be. This is one way to get a lower premium on your car insurance.
How much coverage do you need? If you need state mandatory coverage only and do not have a lot of assets, then you may just want to go with what the state says you have to carry when it comes to liability coverage for your Mitsubishi insurance. The lower the coverage amount, the cheaper the insurance rate. When you are looking for very cheap car insurance, it pays to get the amount of coverage that will keep you legally safe when it comes to driving, but not over insure yourself. Most insurance agents will promote higher insurance coverage in case of an accident in which you are sued. However, if you have little or no assets, in which case you are pretty much betting on getting into an accident in which you are liable and someone is seriously injured.

Most insurance cases are settled out of court for the amount of the insurance coverage. Attorneys who pursue these cases do so for a portion of the damages awarded and are not likely to go after someone who has no assets. If you have little assets and want very cheap car insurance, you can go with state minimum coverage for your Mitsubishi insurance.

You can find the very best quotes on very cheap car insurance when you are looking for Mitsubishi insurance by going online and getting a quote by providing them with basic information that is secure and will afford you the best car insurance for your money.

5 Things Never to Say to Your Insurers

5 Things Never to Say to Your Insurers

Some words are red flags to insurers and using them could mean that your claim might be delayed or even denied.

1. "I Think ..."

Never begin a statement regarding a claim with these words. If you aren't sure, don't guess. What you say could cause your claim to be delayed or denied, says attorney Vedica Puri. And if you're wrong -- say, you report driving at 30 miles per hour before an accident but police later prove you were going 50 -- it could hurt your credibility.

Particularly beware of speculating on blame or causation. For example, if you suggest that a water leak is due to a construction defect, you could give the insurer an out if that's a policy exclusion.

Stick to the facts. Should the insurance rep ask you a question you can't answer, simply say, "I don't know." If the person is taking a written or recorded statement, ask for a transcript to review for misstatements.

2. "I Got Whiplash"

Fraud costs auto insurers up to $6.8 billion a year, reports the Insurance Research Council. And suing for damages caused by whiplash is a fraudster favorite ("Oh, my neck!"). Merely mentioning the term is likely to get your claim flagged for further investigation, says Amy Danise of Insure.com.

Whiplash is a specific diagnosis. If a doctor says that you have it, then you should report it as such. Other wise, if you feel neck pain, just refer to it that way.

3. "It's an Experimental Treatment"

Truly experimental or investigational medical procedures are typically not eligible for health insurance coverage. So if a doctor tells you he wants to experiment with a treatment, don't represent it using those words. "In medical terms it may not actually be experimental or investigational," explains Danise. "If it's proven effective, your doctor deems it medically necessary, and it's not an exclusion, it should be covered." Verify with your doctor that it meets the above litmus tests before going to the insurer.

4. "My Basement Flooded"

With homeowners insurance, "flood" is a red flag. "The word refers to an act of weather or an overflow from a nearby body of water," says Danise. "And a standard homeowners policy doesn't cover it. You'd need flood insurance."

So don't use the f-word if your basement is knee-deep in water because of a burst pipe. Damages from such an incident should be covered by a homeowners policy. But calling it a "flood" could muddy the waters, so to speak.

5. "Just Send Me a Check"

When filing a home or auto claim, don't emphasize that you're just looking for the cash.

"If you were to say, 'I don't care about the roof leak, I just need the money,' that admission could slow things to a halt," says Puri. Technically, you're supposed to use the payout to make the repair for which you filed. While it's true that most insurance companies aren't going to check up on you, you'll certainly raise the fraud unit's suspicions if you imply that you won't. And then you might lose out on the money altogether.

Are You Hard to Insure?

Are You Hard to Insure?

What prompts an insurer to deny coverage? The reasons for rejection fall into a handful of categories, but they all boil down to one maddening fact: Companies don't like to sell insurance to people who are likely to use it.

In some cases, there isn't much you can do to remedy the situation — if you live in an active flood plain, for instance. But some things you do have control over. After all, do you really need that woodburning stove? Here's a list of things you might think about changing — if you can — plus a list of last resorts.

THINGS THAT WILL COST YOU

Potential Hazards
Exposure to things like earthquakes and floods is obviously a problem. But anything on your property that could bring about liability claims could also cost you. For example, you may be refused coverage or will certainly have to pay more if you own an unfenced swimming pool, expecially if it has a diving board or a water slide. State Farm considers a trampoline a potential risk.

Unsafe Conditions
The insurer may deem your home or neighborhood unsafe due to anything from the crime rate to the incidence of fire in buildings like yours. Insurers will certainly want to know if fire-resistant materials were used to construct your home — something to keep in mind if you're thinking of buying a fixer-upper. They will also check to see if you maintain your property. Signs of disrepair, such as cracked steps or a leaky roof will be taken into consideration when agents are deciding whether to write or renew a policy.

Mean Pets
Believe it or not, unleashed or unfriendly dogs are seen by insurers as potential causes of liability claims. "If we investigate a home and find that a dog seems to be threatening, or if someone owns a pack of dogs," says State Farm spokesman Jerry Parsons, "then we might decline coverage."

Wood-burning Stoves
Wood-burning stoves have become a much sought-after item among home shoppers looking for coziness or charm. But, due to danger of fire, insurers see nothing charming about them. If you own one, most companies will either increase your premium or, if you live in an area far from hydrants or a local fire station, may refuse your business altogether.

Heavy Claims Filing
As unfair as it seems, this is a primary reason for denying coverage. Insurers may consider several claims filed within a couple of years as a sign that you are not taking care to protect your home and possessions, or even that you are engaging in insurance fraud, says Peter van Aartrijk, a spokesman for the Council of Independent Insurance Agents. Many companies would rather see one very large claim than several small ones. Say you have a $50,000 claim in your recent past for damage from a house fire caused by faulty electrical wiring. You can probably find a new policy fairly easily, since in all likelihood the electrical system would have been brought up to current building codes in the course of repairs. But if every six months or so you file a claim for the loss of a ring, a watch or a set of golf clubs, finding a new homeowners policy is going to be something of a challenge. Try using an independent agent who will not only shop around for you, but can also make a case to underwriters that you are a responsible homeowner, and have just had a string of bad luck.

LAST RESORTS

Where do you turn when no one else will have you? Check if your state offers a Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) plan. FAIR plans are government-backed policies for folks who have been turned down everywhere else because their property is in a high-risk area. They are often more expensive and less comprehensive than standard policies, but may be your only option. Currently 35 states and the District of Columbia offer FAIR plans,

Ford workers consider short term medical insurance

Ford Motor Company announced that it will offer short term medical insurance as part of a buyout retirement offer for almost all of its 41,000 hourly workers. The offer is intended to reduce the firm's factory work force. The New York Times reports that in the past Ford kept laid-off workers in a job bank rather than remove them from the payroll. This year, however, Ford is actively reducing its work force in anticipation of lower demand for cars in the future.

The short term medical insurance plan is a six month basic health insurance policy but the details of the coverage are not provided. Ford has not announced how many workers are expected to elect the buyout offer.

Considering the larger regional trend of employers hiring temporary workers and the shift toward individual health insurance (as opposed to employer-sponsored group insurance), some of these workers in the Detroit area are likely to consider alternate affordable health insurance options for the long term before deciding whether to accept the buyout package. Those who do not qualify for lower cost options could face higher health insurance costs through their state's high risk Blue Cross insurance pool.

HCC announces affiliation with Travel Insured International

In a press release dated 10/30/09, HCC Medical Insurance Services, LLC announced its new alliance with Travel Insured International. HCC Medical Insurance Services LLC is a leader in online health insurance products for international travelers and expatriates. Travel Insured International is a provider of travel insurance services such as trip cancellation, trip interruption and travel assistance services.


HCC Medical Insurance Services President Mark Carney is quoted saying “We are very excited to announce our affiliation with Travel Insured International. In spite of the economic downturn, the international traveler and expatriate’s need for health insurance products continue to grow”.
Travel Insured International’s product portfolio will now include eight additional health insurance products that are already also available online at Freedom Benefits:

Atlas Travel Series – a short-term health policy for individuals traveling outside their home country

CitizenSecure(SM) – annually renewable major medical insurance with a term-life insurance option for individuals and families

StudentSecure(SM) – health coverage for international students and scholars studying abroad

IC+ International Term Life – term life insurance policy for individuals living outside the U.S. for up to 10 years

Other products offered by HCC Medical Insurance Services include: Atlas Group, Atlas Professional, CitizenSecureSM Economy, GroupSecureSM.

About Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International, based in East Hartford, CT, was founded in 1993 by the foresight of insurance industry executive Peter Gehris when he acquired the travel protection division of the Travelers Insurance Company. Travel Insured International delivers strong, affordable benefits in the customer’s choice of a broad range of travel plans, as well as group and customized protection programs. Travel Insured International has established and driven higher standards for policy quality and customer care.

About HCC Medical Insurance Services

The international products are administered by Indianapolis-based HCC Medical Insurance Services, LLC (HCCMIS), a recognized leader in international life and health insurance offering coverage to consumers in more than 130 countries. Through its staff and a worldwide network of distributors, HCCMIS provides quality and value to clients. The company is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to serve its clients worldwide. HCCMIS is a subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HCC), a leading international specialty insurance group headquartered in Houston, Texas. HCC has assets of $8.9 billion, shareholders’ equity of $2.8 billion and is rated AA (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor’s and AA (Very Strong) by Fitch Ratings. In addition, HCC’s major domestic insurance companies are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company.

Buying Life Insurance

Buying Life Insurance: What Kind and How Much?

Finding the middle ground between being "insurance poor" and unprotected requires assessing real needs and choosing products that are affordable. This article introduces different types of insurance products and the role that they can play in a personal financial plan.

Buying Life Insurance

Conventional wisdom says that life insurance is sold, not purchased. In other words, some people are reluctant to discuss the importance of owning life insurance, and others are simply unaware of the need to have life insurance. Although many large companies provide life insurance as part of their benefits package, this coverage may be insufficient.

Who needs life insurance? If there are individuals who depend on you for financial support, or if you work at home providing your family with such services as child care, cooking, and cleaning, you need life insurance. Older couples also may need life insurance to protect a surviving spouse against the possibility of the couple's retirement savings being depleted by unexpected medical expenses. And individuals with substantial assets may need life insurance to help reduce the effects of estate taxes or to transfer wealth to future generations.