Motorbikes - Take Cover

As summer draws to a close, around 10,000 UK bikers start to think about
laying up their motor bikes for the winter months.
>From the end of October through until Easter, the thought of
motor biking is not so appealing and there is little point in taxing and
insuring the bike. Bikes are winterised and stored away at the back of the
garage awaiting the better weather.
Sadly, thieves are aware of this and so some 600 bikes are stolen every
month.

Obviously if you have totally cancelled your policy you will be unable to
claim for this theft. You can, however, reduce the cover to a minimum for
fire and theft and this is worth considering.

If you're more used to insuring cars than motor bikes, you'll find some of
the features of bike insurance very odd. For instance, it's not possible to
accumulate bonuses over time, as with a car. Occasionally you may find an
insurer who will give you some discount if you don't claim for a certain
period with the same insurer, but this is not the norm.

There are various policies. Specified Bike Policy, Specified Rider Policy,
Comprehensive and Third Party Insurance. With a specified bike policy you
are covering the bike and not the rider. This means you could insure a
number of riders on the same bike.

A specified rider policy covers the rider, but not the bike.
This means the rider is covered on any motor bike up to the size specified
on the policy.

Comprehensive and third party insurance are more familiar terms.
Comprehensive is the most expensive. Apart from paying for repairs to the
bike in the case of accidental damage, it may offer some extras such as
breakdown cover. In the event of a claim, you will only pay the excess as
stated on the policy.
With third party you simply buy the minimum legal insurance.
This means you are covered for any property you may damage or people you
might injure. You would not be reimbursed for your bike or anything else and
an excess would still be payable.
Third party is the cheapest form of insurance.

Younger riders will be charged higher premiums for their policies due to
their inexperience and the increased risk of motor cycling. There is a
frighteningly high accident rate and statistics tell us they are much more
likely to be involved in an accident than more mature riders. Damage caused
to themselves is often costly and lifelong.

The more hours spent on the road, the higher the risk and riders using their
bikes to travel from one location to another as far as their work is
involved will be likely to be charged higher premiums. Claims made in recent
years for driving-related accidents will have an adverse effect on your
premium too.

Other factors that will influence the premium will be the power and make of
the bike. There are some very expensive bikes around and obviously this will
mean a higher premium will be charged.
If you have any penalties for speeding or dangerous driving your premium
will rise and if you were to be disqualified for a length of time, insurance
would be extremely expensive when your licence was re-instated.

To try and get the cost of premiums down, consider security devices such as
immobilisers, alarms and steering locks. It may also be possible to get
discounts for any training courses you have completed.

Be completely honest with your insurance company. Failure to disclose
something which the company later discovers can invalidate your insurance.
Not only would you not receive payment for any claim, but you could be
prosecuted for driving without insurance.

An internet broker will be able to offer you plenty of advice when it comes
to choosing an insurer. They'll find a choice of policies to suit your
circumstances and their experience will be invaluable. There are
internet-only deals and discounts which they'll be able to offer too.

Keep insured and safe.

About The Author: Michael has worked in financial services for over 15
years. He now writes on financial matters for a number of UK based web
sites. Car Insurance Smasher are a car insurance articles website
http://www.car-insurance-smasher.co.uk

Sources of extra cash or additional income for students

Sources of extra cash or additional income for students This article looks
at cost- and time-effective ways to lose weight for those individuals with
none There are many ways to get an extra income if you cannot afford to work
‘normal' full-time hours. This article will show you what is available and
what you should avoid. I will use student time as an example, as a student's
timetable is usually the most ‘inconvenient' for full-time work and also
changes every semester. However, the opportunities outlined in this article
can also apply to other demographics, e.g. single mothers.

Whilst at university, students often think that it will be challenging for
them to financially support themselves.
This is true only if you decide to avoid work and leave dealing with
mounting debts until after you leave university. The truth is, it is not
that difficult to get a job. However, getting work does require
determination and a bit of leg-work. You also have to decide how much work
you want to do. There is a myth that if you work during university you will
miss out on the social life. That is not true at all. I worked full-time
throughout my university years, while doing a very challenging course, and
still had time to socialise.

During university most students take up jobs provided by the university
itself, such as bar work. Those jobs are designed especially for students
and allow you to choose hours that are flexible enough not to clash with you
timetable. However, you will find that jobs at university do not pay very
well. Most of the time you will be getting the minimum wage, and considering
that you will be working only a few hours, you will pay national insurance
and taxes after the first £5,035; this is not the best choice of work.
Working flexible hours away from the university is not as difficult as you
might think. There will be a number of large stores around your university
as well as restaurants and these companies primarily employ students, e.g.
Waterstones. You will find that the wage is likely to be much higher than
within the university and flexible hours will be offered. However, prepare
to work weekends.

Another way of working whilst studying full-time is through agencies.
Students often make a mistake of signing up only to one agency. Invest time
in undertaking applications provided by the agencies as soon as possible, as
they will be providing you with work for the rest of the year.
Furthermore, with time you will be able to build up your reputation with
agencies, which in turn will allow you to get better work during the summer
breaks. There are two tricks of getting good work with agencies: call them
every three days and ask for higher-paid jobs and I also found that sending
little gifts like chocolates to the person who gets you the work is a good
path into obtaining higher-paid jobs, as the person is more likely to call
you when a job turns up. The majority of the agencies have different
branches that deal with different sectors such as catering, administration,
retail, etc. Most of those will not require any experience, however,
administration work usually pays most. The highest paid administration jobs
are in the investment banks but it is unlikely that you will be able to get
those jobs during the semester, but try to get them during the summer
holidays.

Another type of job that you can get is in a nightclub.
Although these types of jobs will not interfere with your educational
schedule, it can be very difficult on you physically, because you are not
likely to get back from work until 4am. However clubs often pay very well
should you decide to work behind the bar, on the door or even in the
cloakroom. Furthermore, you are likely to receive tips, around £20-£30 per
day. Students who work in a club whilst studying would attend lectures
during the day, get some sleep in the early evening, work during the night
and get the rest of the sleep during the early morning. The homework should
be done between lectures and the early even nap or at the club, while it is
quiet.

If your homework does require a lot of time, why don't you try working on
the security desk during the night. You can get sleep in the early evening
after the lectures, and do all of your work during the night shifts, which
are often from 12am-7am. I found that this type of job offers the most
undisturbed environment, which allows you to concentrate. Furthermore,
because you are only getting one portion of sleep, it is easier to adjust to
them than to the club jobs. If a security job is for you, make sure you sign
up to different agencies as soon as possible, as you are likely to have
quite a lot of competition.

Summer jobs are an ideal opportunity to clear any debts that you have
accumulated during the year (within reason).
It is best to get work that is related to your course (if you want get a
course-related career afterwards), but you might find that getting
course-related experience may not pay you very well or even at all.
Therefore, you might also need to get a second job in the evenings to bring
in sufficient income. It will be extremely difficult on you physically to
get club or security jobs if you are working during the day as well.
However, try getting waitressing work. Once again, a large number of
agencies specialise in this industry, so sign up to as many as possible.
Furthermore, there might be some work available in the pubs behind the bar.
Try these, however your people skills will be tested, as you are faced with
a lot of competition for the pub jobs. An easier job, but not as well paid,
is working on reception desks in hotels. The work is also divided into
shifts so you will be able to work the evening shift.

If you are good at writing and have a good academic record, you can also
work for different assignment websites, (e.g.
the company I work for). This company will provide you with a list of works
that you will need to research and write, outlining the deadline, number of
words, the topic and the price. If you are happy with all of the
requirements, then you agree to write the work and once you finish they will
send you the agreed amount. I used to work for them during my university
years and earned £500-£700 per week on a part-time basis. However, bear in
mind that the quality of work that you need to produce is high. The great
thing is that you earn as much as you wish, in your own time, writing on the
subjects that you are comfortable with.
Furthermore, the staff are really friendly and reliable, so if you have any
questions they always help you out, unlike many other companies out there.

If you want just good experience, which is not necessarily related to your
future career but pays well, get an internship at an investment bank. The
competition is tough for these internships, and you will need to apply about
eight months prior to starting. However, if you cannot get an internship job
at the bank, try temping. There are a number of agencies that specialise in
getting temping jobs just within investment banks, and prior experience is
not always required. Other industries, although not as well paid, offer
internships, such as insurance companies and financial service companies,
e.g. Bloomberg. You will need to investigate if a temping job at a large
organisation will pay you better than getting an internship. Internship is
likely to offer you better experience, while temping might pay you more, so
which one you go for will depend on your priorities. Summer jobs are also
available abroad, primarily at skiing resorts (most of them are open during
the summer). If you do decide to go for this type of work, pay attention to
the accommodation details. Most of the work will offer you cheap
self-catering accommodation to go with the job; if not, you will need to
undertake some research. Other things to take into consideration are taxes
and work permit requirements in the foreign countries. If you get work
through an agency, they are likely to sort that out for you.

References

Integrity Reviews 2006, "Realistic reviews of business opportunities on the
internet" [Available from]:
http://www.integrityreviews.com/?gclid=CJGKoOn4vYgCFQlTVAodh
XurKw (Accessed on: 10/11/06)

Don't get scammed 2006, "Don't get scammed" [Available
from]:
http://www.dont-get-scammed.com/g1?gclid=CL7oidGDvogCFSdtVAo
dkV_rMA

Jobs for students 2006, "Student help UK" [Available from]:
http://www.student-part-time-jobs.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_
ID=651

Money Extra 2006, "Expert financial advice & planning pensions, investments
& tax" [Available from]:
http://www.moneyextra.com/advice/

Copyright © 2006 Verena Veneeva

----------------------------------------------------
This article was written by Verena Veneeva professional writer working for
http://www.coursework4you.co.uk You are free to reprint this article;
however should you do so you must place a hyperlink to
http://www.coursework4you.co.uk

Identifying Predatory Lenders

Predatory lending consists of abusive practices by lenders within the
mortgage industry. These types of lenders strip borrowers of the equity in
their home and put them in danger of foreclosing on their home. But one does
not have to fall victim to predatory lenders. There are tell-tale signs that
everyone should be aware of to help them avoid falling prey. They are listed
below:

1. Be wary of and avoid any lender who encourages you to lie on your loan
application.

2. Be sure that you are given all disclosures. Check your loan papers and be
sure that the Good Faith Estimate, Special Info Booklet, Truth in Lending
and HUD-1 Settlement statements are all included.

3. A red flag should be raised if any lender asks you to leave signatures or
other line-items blank. Also re-check your documents to make sure that
nothing has been altered or changed without your knowledge and/or approval.

4. If a lender asks you to repeatedly refinance and after each instance your
monthly payments and total loan amounts increase, you may be dealing with a
predatory lender. Shop around and get a new lender as soon as possible.

5. Check the fine print. If you are required to pay daily interest whenever
your payments are late, you may be dealing with a predatory lender.

6. If your loan amount is higher than the value of your home, this is reason
to give pause and to be alarmed.

7. Be wary of unexpected settlement costs that you were not given prior
notice to or explanation for.

8. If your monthly payments or loan is higher than you anticipated based on
the disclosures, you might be dealing with an unscrupulous lender.

9. If your mortgage loan requires a balloon payment that requires that the
final lump sum be financed with that lender, you may be dealing with a
predatory lender.

10. You are not required to buy credit insurance or insurance that will pay
off the loan if you die or are disabled. If you are heavily pressured to do
so, beware.

Buying a home may be your most expensive and prized possession.
There is a lot riding on choosing the right lender. Your credit score, your
hard earned cash, and your ability to borrow money in the future are all at
stake. This is why it is very important to screen and get rid of lenders who
are looking to dupe you out of your money and your home.

About The Author: For more information on better Mortgage Rates and great
money-saving
http://www.lenoxnationalmortgage.com/navigation/index/Mortgage-Calculator.ht
ml
tips, and resources, visit http://www.lenoxnationalmortgage.com

Money Management Is Like Farming

In several of Thom Hartmann's books about ADHD he compares people with ADHD
to hunters and people who do not have ADHD to farmers. While many adults
with ADD would not make good farmers or money managers, it is still
important to know how to grow your own food and to grow your own money. If
you have other people who are helping you to grow your money you still need
to understand if they are doing it properly. There are four basic areas that
you need to understand before you can properly farm or properly manage
money.

1. CAN I GROW IT?, HOW DO I GROW IT?, WHAT DO I NEED TO GROW IT?
Before a farmer decides to grow a crop he needs to understand what
everything about the crop (How much sunlight does the crop need? What type
of climate does the crop need? How much water does the crop need? How deep
do you plant the seeds? What kind of soil does the crop grow best in? What
do I need in order to harvest it efficiently? etc.) If you do not understand
and properly answer these questions you will not be able to grow a crop. If
you do not have a basic understanding of money management you will not be
able to increase your wealth.

2. CAN I SURVIVE THE WINTER AND PLANT NEXT YEARS CROP? In order to be able
to survive and plant next year's crop you need to properly save a portion of
this year's crop. If you don't save money you will not have money when you
need it, nor will you be able to grow your money in the future.

3. CAN I GROW MORE CROPS NEXT YEAR? If you survive the winter and properly
prepare for next year, you should be able to grow more crops than last year.
In order to grow your money you need to be able to save if and invest it
properly.

4. CAN I PROTECT MY CROPS FROM OUTSIDE ELEMENTS? While it is impossible to
figure out when outside elements will destroy your crops, farmers use
different methods to protect their crops. Farmers use fences, heaters,
greenhouses, scarecrows and pesticides to help protect their crops from
outside elements. In order to protect our finances we use insurance. If you
do not have the proper insurance you will not be protected from outside
elements. For example a scarecrow might scare away the birds from eating at
your crops but they will do nothing against the insects that are eating your
crops.

About The Author: John MacKenzie is the Assistant Director of
http://www.addclasses.com, he also writes a blog titled
http://www.adultaddandmoney.com.

Travel Insurance Fraud, Don't Let It Happen To You

The California Insurance Commissioner has ordered Trip Assured to stop doing
business in the state of California. This Tennessee-based travel insurance
company was apparently defrauding companies. But Trip Assured claims that
what they were selling in California was not travel insurance. The
Commissioner finds their claim undeniable since what they were selling could
easily fall into the insurance category or definition. Trip Assured 's main
marketing target is senior citizens.

California decided to take action once notice was taken that other states
like Michigan, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina were taking similar
actions against Trip Assured. Upon further research, Trip Assured denied 30
claims in California and there were 76 claims filed against them (in the
last 36 months) with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However the BBB
states that those claims were addressed by Trip Assured although those that
filed the claims would not agree with that assessment of the situation.
There are also other travel insurance companies that have claims filed
against them which is unfortunate since the travel insurance industry is
growing rapidly, especially for those expensive vacation trips. The BBB in
Tennessee has now revoked their (Trip Assured) membership - you would think
that would mean something since the company is based in Tennessee.

Here is an example from one of the claims made against Trip Assured. Sylvia
Resnick is a senior citizen that booked a trip just for herself to Europe as
well as a cruise while in Europe.
She purchased Trip Assured through her travel agency at the time of booking
the trip. It had taken her a long time to save up for the vacation that was
to be "that trip of a lifetime".
During the vacation, she suffered serious back injuries and had to cancel
the cruise. As soon as she arrived home she saw her doctor and obtained a
doctor's note that stated that she could not continue with the cruise due to
the injury. As required by the policy she sent that note to Trip Assured
expecting to be paid out under the terms of the agreement. It came as a
total shock when they denied her claim and thus did not return her money.

There are two questions here. The first is why would an insurance company
that is supposedly aimed at satisfying their clients put this senior citizen
through this? The second question is how could the BBB view this situation
(and situations just like this) as resulting in a satisfactory outcome?

Be very careful the next time you invest in trip insurance. For those of you
who have already purchased Trip Assured, you can contact their bank. It is
First National Bank of Tennessee and the hotline number is 931-707-3561, but
that hotline is only effective for MasterCard customers, but call
nonetheless to see what non-MasterCard customers should do. Hours of
operation are
6 am. to 2:30 pm. Pacific Time. If you want to make a complaint, contact the
state Department of Insurance at
800-927-4357 or you can file a complaint online at
http://www.insurance.ca.gov.

About The Author: "Your" Money Matters By Carl Hampton From the Author of
"From Credit Despair To Credit Millionaire"
http://www.CarlHampton.com http://www.fcdtcm.com

Saving Money With Tax Free Medical Plans

Do you have medical expenses that you incur every single year?
Do you always use up your entire medical insurance deductible on co-pays?

If so, there are a couple of medical saving plan available that would allow
you to use tax-free money to pay for your medical expenses. That is an
automatic 28%+ savings! You see every time you pay the co-pay using your
checkbook, credit card, or debit card you are paying with money that has
already taxed by the federal, state, and local governments.

The first medical savings plans that allows you to pay for your co-pays with
tax free money is called a Flexible Spending Account, or sometimes just
called a "Flex Account". How does a Flex Account work? Simple. You simply
inform your employer that you wish to set a portion of your paycheck aside
for medical expenses. To do this you will need to visit your Human Resources
department and fill out the appropriate form. And then each pay period, the
designated amount of money is withheld from your check, tax free, and
deposited in a savings account for you to use for your next doctor's visit.
And the best part, since you are withholding the money tax free, you will
pay less in taxes at the end of the year. It's a win-win.

The second medical savings plan is called a HSA or Health Savings Account.
Due to the rising cost of medical expenses, our government has come up with
what is known as a high-deductible savings plan for medical expenses. How it
works is this, you can set aside money, tax free, into an account that you
own. What this means is that if you decide to change jobs or quit entirely,
you keep the money and the account. The account is a bank account in your
name. What is great about this plan is that most employers will actually put
money in this account for you! Every year, my company puts in $2000 for me
to use for medical expenses. However there is one catch that you need to
know about before pursuing this plan. This is a high deductible plan, which
means that my deductible is also $2000 per year.
This plan will really pay off if you are a healthy individual, who expenses
are less than $2000 per year. Once again, check with your Human Resources
Department to get more details on this type of plan.

By using these two plans you can save a tremendous amount of money on your
medical expenses and in the process reduce the amount of taxes you will pay
at the end of the year. If you have "planned medical expenses" every year
that it will benefit you by planning ahead and investigating one of these
tax free plans.

About The Author: Learn How to Save Money On Your Taxes by signing up for my
Free 7-Day Email Course on http://www.taxes-rule.com. Also learn how your
401(K) Plan can save you money on your taxes.

Car Insurance: Mini Motorbike Offences Drive Up Premiums

They are tiny bikes that reach great speeds and make a lot of noise. But
police have had enough of youths creating havoc on mini-motorbikes and now
have powers to seize the annoying and sometimes dangerous toys.

What’s more, if children are riding these miniature vehicles on the pavement
or road, they face prosecution just like adults.
Any penalty points handed out by the court will be kept on file and
activated as soon as they are old enough to apply for a driver’s licence.

For those who have penalty points, it becomes increasingly expensive to gain
car insurance. And with respect to mini-motorbikes, you could have a
situation where children have been prosecuted for dangerous driving on these
vehicles and then struggle to find an insurance company willing to offer
them a policy to insure their car once they are at the age of 17 and have
passed their driver’s licence. The best case scenario is probably going to
be that their premiums are sky high.

A spokeswoman for Direct Line Insurance says mini-motorbikes are now being
treated as road vehicles and drivers of them have to abide by all the same
traffic rules as anyone else. But while police can now prosecute youths on
mini-motorbikes, they are not entirely sure yet what the nuisance makers
will be prosecuted with. “You could get prosecuted for uninsured driving,
paying no road tax or driving without a licence,” she says.

She also points out that just how high insurance premiums will be for those
with mini-motorbike offences will depend on what police prosecute the
offenders with. “It depends on what the points are for…For a speeding
offence it is not going to make a big difference, but for a drink driving
offence it is going to make a massive difference.”

She says for example of how prosecutions can drive up premiums, take an
18-year-old boy living in Hove, East Essex. The youth drives a 2001 Ford
Fiesta car. He has been prosecuted for dangerous driving and has only had
his driver’s licence for a short time. To obtain fully comprehensive cover
under a Direct Line insurance policy he would pay annual premiums of
£2473.80.
Without the conviction the price would be £1908.90.

What is interesting about this is that if you take a female of the same age,
driving the same car and from the same area, she would pay just £1218
without a conviction and £1576.05 if she had a driving conviction. So she
would in fact pay less for insurance even with a conviction than a male her
age without one. Why the difference in price between young men and women?
The spokeswoman says that it is because statistics show that one in three
young men have a serious accident within their first year of driving.

A spokeswoman at the Association of British Insurers says the chances are if
you have been caught speeding on a motor bike you are going to be more at
risk behind the wheel of a car than others. It’s a known fact that young men
are the most at risk of having a car accident, which is why they pay so much
more for their car insurance.
“I think they make up 3% of the driving population but account for over 30%
of all of the driving convictions. It depends on the insurance company, but
we (the insurance industry) insure on risk and therefore we calculate our
premiums accordingly.”

About The Author: Michael has worked in financial srrvices for over 15 years
at Director level. He also writes articles for a number of UK based
financial web sites. Car Insurance Route is a huge car insurance articles
website http://www.car-insurance-route.co.uk

Life Insurance Cover - Fat Chance

The Government predicts that by 2025, obesity rates in children will be a
frightening statistic. It is thought that around 33% of girls and 25% of
boys will be clinically obese. This means overweight to the extent that
their health will be likely to suffer.

The rate at which UK children are getting fat is the worst in the world.
There are experts that believe that the UK will top the tables as the most
obese country, overtaking the USA.

Obesity and conditions related to this condition are costing the country
£4billion in working days lost. Disability pay and lost tax payments through
being unable to work are believed to be costing up to £20billion per annum.

Obese people are likely to visit the GP’s surgeries and hospital clinic’s
more frequently than average weight patients and there is an increased need
for treatment. With the National Health Service’s cost for these “obesity”
patients estimated to be at £15billion per year, it’s a worrying thought
that these costs will spiral as the younger generation figures come into
play.

Naturally, insurance companies are showing a lot of concern about these
predictions. Many of them now ask specifically for the weight of the
applicant on the day that they fill in the form. Asking how heavy you were
when last weighed is not quite the same thing. It’s easy to get “weight
amnesia” and omit a few pounds ………or more. If the answer is not to the
insurer’s liking the premium could rise significantly, or you may even be
refused cover.

We have some figures from one of the main insurer’s. Take, for example, a
man in good health and aged 40 and applying for 20 years life insurance
worth £100,000. If he’s Mr Average, he’ll weigh around 12 stone and be 5ft
10ins tall. Now consider the same person but put his weight at 18 stone.
Still in good health, but the premium for his life insurance would rise by
over 50%.
If a medical was insisted on and he was found to have one or two problems
which would be quite usual for a person of his age and weight, then either
the premiums would be considerably higher or he would be refused cover.

In the case of critical illness insurance, it’s unlikely that this same
person would get any cover at all. Certainly there would be a refusal if the
result of a medical showed any weight-related complications, such as high
blood pressure or raised cholesterol.

Women weighing over 16 stone are likely to have similar problems when it
comes to insurance, and the extra cost of insurance at this weight, as
opposed to “normal” weight, would be an additional 33%. Again, if in ill
health or weighing very much more than this, then the ability to get cover
would be doubtful.

These facts present major problems for both sexes as, due to health
problems, life insurance becomes an important issue.

So what you can do to change the situation?

Life insurance in particular is extremely important. If you have a problem
in organising life insurance due to obesity and possibly ill health due to
the condition, then you’ll need a good broker to help you to find the right
company to help you.
It might be expensive, but remember if you take the cover that you need now,
if there is an improvement in your position at a later date and your weight
has fallen, it will be possible to switch to a more reasonably priced
policy.

Adjustments to your lifestyle and diet will certainly lower your premiums
for life, critical illness and probably travel insurance too.

Although obese people are entitled to NHS treatment, a great many people
claim that it is denied. There has been a recent survey of 70,000 hospital
doctors in which it is reported that almost 50% said that patients should
not be given replacement hip operations or similar. The use of free
anti-obesity drugs, which you would imagine would be desirable, was
challenged by a third of the doctors.

The attitude of some GP’s is not helpful. Quite often the message is that
you’re overweight and it’s time to do something about it, without any real
help being offered. It also has to be said that some GP’s offer real help
and for patient’s lucky enough to be under their care, they will offer a lot
of encouragement, but it’s a combined effort!

There are lots of slimming clubs offering you the chance to slim in the
company of others with similar problems and they certainly seem to be
extremely successful with some of their members. Some of these clubs combine
exercise with diet and certainly exercise plays a large part in becoming fit
and healthy.

Whilst some people find that a regime of diet and exercise, combined with a
very large helping of will power and determination, will get them to their
optimum weight for their age and height, others have taken more extreme
action.

An operation called a gastric bypass, which costs the NHS around £12,000 per
patient, is possible. It’s not to be undertaken lightly and not without
risks to the patient but for those who have undergone, or are about to
undergo, the 5 hour
operation, be assured that the results are amazing. This may
sound extremely expensive, but treatment for an obesity-related illness such
as diabetes could well cost more than this in just one year. We heard
recently of one lady whose weight had reduced by 12 stone, from her
heaviest, as a result of her operation. The “before and after” photographs
are truly amazing and she’s well on her way to a normal weight and wonderful
new lifestyle.

Once down to an acceptable weight, insurance companies are more than happy
to take you on, so don’t delay in arranging some cover in the meantime.
Remember, the more you lose, the more you’ll gain in premium savings.

Log on to the Internet to find an on-line broker, who’ll contact insurance
companies offering specialist help for you.

About The Author: Michael has worked in financial srrvices for over 15 years
at Director level. He also writes articles for a number of UK based
financial web sites. Get great articles on life insurance from life
insurance shop http://www.life-insurance-shop.co.uk

Why Traveler's Medical Insurance Is An Important Investment

With the many recent bankruptcies in the travel industry, and with the
increased threat of terrorism overseas, travel insurance has become one of
the most important investments you can make before your next trip.

How much would it cost if you needed to cancel your trip or come home early?
Who would you call if you suddenly fell ill in your overseas hotel room? How
will you navigate the local health care system if you get run over by a
local bicyclist? Travel insurance can cover a lot more than trip
cancellation costs and lost luggage.

Unlike most insurance policies that are purchased annually, most travel
insurance covers a single trip. Single trip travel insurance is designed for
those of us who take one main holiday a year or who prefer to have a few
short breaks from the daily grind.

However, if you travel often, you can purchase a multi-trip policy that
covers all your travel for a specified period of time, depending on your
needs. The right policy is the best way to minimize the financial risks of
traveling overseas.

Although many people think of trip cancellation coverage when they think of
travel insurance, the medical element of travel insurance may be more
important, especially if your group health plan does not have benefits
outside your own country. In fact, travel Insurance is highly recommended by
the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for all overseas travel.

Before going abroad, learn what medical services your own health insurance
will cover overseas. If your emergency medical care and transportation are
covered by your group health policy, you may not need a separate travel
policy that covers your health. However, if you have an HMO or managed care
plan, or if your health care needs are covered by Medicare or your national
insurance plan, you should consider an international medical policy.

Your first step is to check with your health insurance company and see what
it covers. Will they help you out if you lose your prescription medication
along with your luggage? Will they help you find a good hospital or an
English-speaking doctor in a foreign country? Will they cover emergency
evacuations if the local facilities are unable to treat your illness or
accident?

If your group coverage allows claims from other countries, how long will it
take for you to be reimbursed, and how easy (or
difficult) is it to file a claim? Once you have answers to these questions,
you'll know if you should add medical coverage to your travel insurance
policy.

If you travel for business or if you are taking an extended trip lasting for
several years, you may need an international health insurance policy
designed specifically for expatriates and citizens traveling around the
world. There are many global insurance carriers that offer life, health,
disability and travel insurance to individual travelers and to companies
with employees overseas.

The coverage offered by different international companies will vary a great
deal from one policy to the next, so carefully review all fine print before
making your choice. You might also check to see if the company is regulated
by your own national laws and insurance regulations.

In a world where anything can happen, travel insurance is your ticket to
safeguarding your trip. Emergency medical travel insurance is essential to
protect yourself, your family and your personal finances, and to give
yourself peace of mind while enjoying your vacation or business trip abroad.

About The Author: If you'd like to learn more about travelers medical
insurance, and international insurance policies offered for global
companies, students and expatriates,visit
http://worldwide-health-insurance.com

Finding A Cheap Life Insurance

If you want to make your family financially secured after your death, the
only answer is, own a life insurance policy.
Moreover these life insurance policies help to keep alive the plans you made
for your family and the career of your children even after your death. So
now you could see the priority of life insurance policy in one's life.

Now with the availability of so many life insurance policies you might
ponder for the right and cheap life insurance policy a well as that which
works best for you. Many people consider term life insurance policy to be
the cheapest and simplest way to cover their beloved one's future in the
event of their death. For instance, if the term life insurance policy
matches the repayment term of your mortgage, the life insurance lump sum can
be used to clear your mortgage debt in case you die before the mortgage
repayment term cease.

The more you go with convoluted insurance policy the more premium you are
required to pay. That's the reason why many people prefer term life
insurance policy.

Since the premium you pay is very less (as there is no investment element),
Term life insurance becomes the most affordable and cheapest way to cover
your life. You get the payment as lump sum if you die within a specified
period.

However, it is seen that life insurance premiums are now up to 40% cheaper
than they were before.

It is also advisable to get as many numbers of life insurance quotes before
you apply for a policy as it decides how much your premium will be.

Term life insurance quotes can be collected from banks, any financial
organization or any reliable consultants. However it is best to get online
term life insurance quotes and then make a comparison based on your budget
and requirement. However check for the authenticity of online companies
before investing in any of them.

However, these quotes can change once you complete with the application. If
you are unhappy with the premium, you may not carry on with the policy.

Policies generally require a medical clearance test, but if you don't want
to wait for a medical report you can go for term life insurance no exam
policy, which is also affordable and cheap.

About The Author: We have made an independent research on life insurance.
Find it only on http://www.leandernet.com/Life_insurance/Life_insurance.php.
All about life insurance on LeanderNet - http://www.leandernet.com

Mortgage Life Insurance Bracing Your Home For Disaster

Mortgage life insurance may just be the most powerful security systems that
has ever emerged with a focus of bracing your home for disaster. Having an
insurance policy to cover the amount of your outstanding home mortgage will
ensure the ability of your loved ones to stay in the home in the event of
your death.

Two decades ago, excited new homebuyers could expect to own their own lot
plot of surburbia sometime over the course of the next three decades. But
times have changed, and so have home mortgages. Forty year and fifty year
mortgages are now being made available to an increasing number of
applicants. The possibility of you not living to see the "burning" of your
mortgage papers is highly likely. If your family cannot afford the mortgage
without you, then you must purchase life insurance to protect them.

You would be wise to take out two insurance policies, one for you and one
for your spouse. Even if your spouse does not work, mortgage life insurance
has the ability to provide widowed spouses with a world of good-even if
they've never spent one day working outside of the home. In fact, as long as
they are contributing to the monthly bills, each adult member of your
household should have an insurance policy that will cover the balance of the
mortgage if they die. And contributing doesn't necessarily refer to ponying
up any dough toward household expenses. Packing lunches, wiping noses,
kissing boo-boos, and reading The Cat In The Hat a record four hundred and
fifty-two times also counts as "a household contribution." If that caregiver
passes away, how much will it cost to put your children in daycare? Would
you still be able to afford your home and the daycare?

So, you're middle-aged and not married. It's beginning to look as if you are
eternally destined to check the SINGLE box on your IRS tax forms, think you
don't need mortgage life insurance protection? Think again. For single,
purchasing mortgage life insurance can pay off the balance of your home
mortgage. Give your beneficiaries the freedom, security and time to make an
intelligent decision about what to do with your estate.

By purchasing mortgage life insurance protection for yourself and your loved
ones, you will lessen the devastation caused by the death of a family
member, and shouldn't you consider all possibilities when it comes to the
safety of your loved ones?

About The Author:
http://www.assure-all.com/insurance/mortgage-life-insurance.html

Critical Personal Protection Issues - Quality of Insurance Cover

First of all - the quality of your protection policies.

Protection - the policy conditions minefield

Let's use an example. Dr Cureall, a family man with a large mortgage, has
decided it is high time he sorted out his protection requirements.

He wants to know what types of protection there are, and approaches us to
ask for advice.

We explain there are 3 types of cover:

.Life protection, paying out a lump sum or income over a certain period of
time if you die

.Critical Illness protection, a lump sum paid if you have a specified
illness or are totally incapacitated

.Permanent Health Insurance, an income paid to your normal retirement age
(or while you are ill) if you cannot work for health reasons

Dr Cureall decides he would like to cover all eventualities (next newsletter
explains why this is a good idea). The cover linked to the mortgage will be
a reducing benefit (he has a repayment mortgage), whilst the family income
benefit will be indexed to take into account of inflation. The aim here is
to pay off the mortgage and leave enough for his wife and children to
continue their lives without any financial worries.

So let's look at each type of protection:

Life Cover

This is the easiest type of cover to understand. It pays out a lump sum on
death and normally the policy to buy is the cheapest one the Cureall`s can
find. They may want guaranteed premiums, which means that the insurance
company will not increase their future premiums if they are paying out a lot
of claims and need to increase their premium to compansate for this. The
alternative is reviewable premiums.

Secondly, and crucially, the policies must be written under trust for the
beneficiaries. This means any monies will not form part of Mrs Cureall`s
estate, and therefore not compound any inheritance tax issue, but still
ensuring the Cureall`s will receive their money (potentially saving
thousands of pounds of Inheritance Tax).

In our experience, the majority of life assurance policies are not written
under trust.

Critical Illness

This type of protection has become more popular in the last few years,
particularly with a view to paying off debt. It is often taken out in
conjunction with income protection (PHI).

Since this form of protection is dependant on the number of conditions
covered and their wording, there can be a huge difference between companies.

Let's look at a couple of examples:

Heart attacks account for a large percentage of claims.
Many companies will insist on there being 'typical chest pain' present for
them to pay out amongst other criteria.
However, a small proportion of companies do not stipulate this and may be
more attractive.

Total Permanent Disability is seen as a 'cover all' if the condition does
not fit a specific illness listed in the policy conditions. So if Dr Cureall
cannot work then we could assume he'd be covered. Maybe, but not always.
Many companies specify in their occupation definitions that the claimant
must return to work if they are 'suited' to another job or even worse can
perform 'any' type of job.
Not very reassuring if you find you have this type of plan as a doctor or
dentist. Where possible, you should make sure the plan has an 'own'
occupation definition (which may not normally cost you any more money).

Permanent Health Insurance

This is a crucial part of protection. Whilst thousands of pounds have been
paid in claims over the years, you really do need to be aware of the
pitfalls:

. Own occupation not specified<br> . The classification of occupation
increases premiums to far higher levels<br> . Exclusions such as mental
illness<br> . No "waiver of premium" meaning you still pay your premium on
receipt of benefit<br> . Premiums are not guaranteed, meaning they are
vulnerable to increases<br> . A poor choice of deferment periods (when the
income starts to pay out)<br> . No option of indexed protection to protect
from the effects of inflation

It is interesting to note that out of the top 14 companies that would be
price competitive for the type of cover discussed, we would typically only
use 2 because of the quality issues!

The Financial Tips Bottom Line

It's likely you have bought one or more protection policies.

We're often surprised at how many doctors and dentists have policies with
small print NOT working in their favour. We urge you to check your policy
documents and make sure you're not paying for something that may not pay out
anyway. Over the life of a policy we're usually talking about thousands of
pounds, so don't put it off!

----------------------------------------------------
Ray Prince is an Independent Financial Planner with Rutherford Wilkinson
plc, and helps UK Resident Doctors and Dentists get the best deals on
mortgages, protection and investments, as well as helping them achieve their
financial objectives. Just visit http://www.medicaldentalfs.com to get your
free retirement guide. Rutherford Wilkinson plc is authorised and regulated
by the Financial Services Authority.

Discount Dental Plans

Is a discount dental plan what you are looking for? When you are in the
market for a new dental plan or to replace your current dental plan, then
you should take a look at the great discount health plans that are out there
today.

When you are searching for the perfect discount dental plan, there are a few
major features that you need to look into.
There are thousands of great dental plans available today but there are
always a few scams that are waiting to take your money. The warning, 'buyer
beware', should be heeded when shopping for discount dental plans.

Doing your background research, making comparisons, and learning the pros
and cons are three simple steps that you should follow when you are in the
market for a discount health plan. These plans exist everywhere, but without
following these three simple steps you may get yourself into a bad one.

Doing your homework is the best way to find the perfect dental discount plan
for you and your family. When you compare your local dental insurance
companies you can easily discover which one is cheaper and which one offers
all the benefits that you and your family will need in the future.

Discount dental plans can offer the same great benefits and coverage that
the more expensive plans offer, but for less money!

By finding a discount dental plan today you can start saving money almost
instantly! You receive the best benefits and the best dentists in your area
through most of these discounted dental plans.

Discount dental plans are everywhere, once you find the perfect one for you,
you will never turn back! Remember, when you are searching for discounted
dental plans, just follow those three easy steps--research, comparison, and
pros and cons--and you will find the perfect dental plan for you and your
family.

About The Author: David Brown enjoys writing for several web sites,
including http://sofod.com and http://bowem.com

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=103263

Affordable Student Health Insurance - Why Student Health Insurance Can Be Cheap

Student health insurance can be affordable, and even cheap, if you choose a
plan that offers the exact coverage your student needs, and if you
understand the coverage your student has. By choosing the coverage your
student needs, you won't have to worry about paying for any medical costs
that you know your student will acquire. And, by making sure you thoroughly
understand your student's coverage, you won't be hit with any surprise costs
along the way.

The first step to finding affordable student health insurance is to ask
about any health coverage offered to your student by his or her school. Many
colleges and universities provide medical services via on-campus clinics to
students. These medical services may be available free or at a very low cost
- and what's more affordable than that?

Next, ask about pre-existing conditions. For example, your student may be
diabetic; medical care for pre-existing conditions such as diabetes may not
be offered through the school. If this is the case, consider purchasing a
smaller, additional health insurance policy to cover treatment for diabetes
while using the school-provided services for situations such as common
colds. This will help keep student health insurance affordable.

Finally, find out everything you possibly can about the student health
insurance plan and/or the medical services offered by the school. How much
is covered if your student visits the emergency room? Is your student
allowed to visit any health care professional, or is there a network of
doctors from which he or she must choose? You may think you've purchased an
affordable student health insurance plan, but if emergency room visits
aren't covered - or very little of the cost is covered - you'll be faced
with a bill that won't make the student health insurance plan seem so
affordable after all.

Know which services are available, which services aren't, as well as how to
obtain each and you'll find affordable student health insurance.

About The Author: http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/
http://www.ezquoteguide.com/car/ http://www.myquoteguide.com/Car-Tips.shtml

Kill Two Birds With One Stone - Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is a fairly new term used to describe an amazing amount of
people globally that travel world-wide for health care. Why these people
travel and for what differs, but basically there are two types of medical
tourists - the regular tourist that adds a visit to the doctor for some
minor treatment, as part of his or her holiday, and the tourist travelling
primarily for medical treatment.

Before there even was a term 'medical tourism', it was common practice among
the well-to-do in third-world countries to travel to the USA, Switzerland
and Germany for medical care.
However, since the year 2000, this trend has been reversed and now countries
such as Thailand, are attracting patients from the USA, Canada and the
United Kingdom.

This new market has grown as modern health care systems all over the world
are struggling to meet the medical needs of their own populations. In the
United States, the price of health care is beyond the means of most and
there are an estimated 40 million people without health insurance. While in
Britain, Canada and Holland, socialised health care ensures affordability,
demand for medical services far outstrips supply and waiting lists for
surgical procedures or specialty medicine can be as long as two-to-three
years.

Today, governments, insurers and employers are carefully looking at
outsourcing medical treatments as a way to improve access and lower health
care costs for their citizens, policy-holders and employees.

Thailand's health care services are about one-half the cost of similar
services in Singapore, one-third the cost of Hong Kong and one-tenth the
cost in the United States.

Who are the medical tourists and what are they coming for?

By and large, medical tourists are travelling for specialty surgical and
medical services. The recent upsurge in the popularity of plastic surgery,
however, has led to a new wave of medical tourists and headlines like "Sun,
sea and surgery"
or "Scalpel tourism" have helped create the buzz for this growing
phenomenon. Medical tourism destinations, such as Thailand, promote the
benefit of high-quality medical care as just one more reason to visit the
kingdom.

Elective out-patient procedures like check-ups, dental care, and LASIK eye
surgery are becoming increasingly popular and there is a growing interest on
the part of the tourism industry to include these services as part of their
travel packages.
Higher intensity medical services, like spinal and cardiac surgery, pose a
greater challenge because these medical services are not as easily packaged
and require significantly more knowledge about medicine.

Bumrungrad Hospital, located in central Bangkok, is a major player in the
medical tourism field in Thailand, attracting over 360,000 international
patients every year from over 150 countries worldwide. But Bumrungrad is not
alone. There are quite a few other hospitals in Thailand and also in
out-lying regions that are aggressively marketing their hospitals to capture
a slice of this fast growing market. Both Bumrungrad Hospital and the
India-based Apollo Hospital were recently featured on the CBS award winning
news program "60 Minutes" as medical tourism destinations for a growing
number of Americans.

Reliable figures on the size and growth of medical tourism are hard to come
by, as government and immigration statistics do not yet categorize inbound
travellers coming for medical care.
That said, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is actively promoting medical
tourism as medical tourists on average spend more and stay longer than
leisure travellers.

So, whether you are the casual visitor that will take advantage of some
minor medical work while in Thailand, or you are planning your vacation
around your surgery, Thailand is the place to go and get it done
professionally and at an extremely good price.

About The Author: Larry Westfall is the owner of
http://www.pattaya-crazy.com

Life Insurance Basics

It's just another one of those financial things that you figure you don't
really want the added cost to your monthly budget.
Heck when will you ever need Life insurance right? Well that's just the
point, you never know when you'll need it/ Each month there are always other
places for money to go that could cover the premium for a life insurance
policy. You need to stop looking at it like a cost, and more as a
requirement like your home or car insurance. It's there in case the worst
happens so your loved ones will be taken care of financially. If you weren't
around starting tomorrow are you confident that your family would have the
necessary finances to cover your burial, funeral, and settle the remainder
of your outstanding debt?

Because todays world is one of credit and not cash, the majority of use
carry a good amount of debt. There are car payments, home loads, other
personal loans, and of course credit cards. It's a good idea to investigate
your employer to see if they offer some form of life insurance. Often
businesses will offer a program to their employers at a reduced rate as a
benefit for working there. While it may be a very small plan, it's better
then nothing. Most people will also seek out further coverage , this is to
ensure that not only are you funeral and other expenses covered but also
outstanding debts, and living costs for your loved ones after you've passed.

So how much does life insurance really cost? The premium is the cost for the
policy generally over a year, the cost of that premium varies based on the
individual seeking coverage. If you're like me you're always getting offers
in the mail for life insurance plans, and if you act now save big. Different
marketing techniques do more to confuse the situation rather then help it.
One thing you do need to educate yourself on is the different between a term
life policy and a whole life policy. Like it sounds a term policy is for a
particular term of your life. Generally 20 years or so and the premium stays
the same for the entire time. While this might seem like a good idea, and
the most cost effective, the plan builds no cash value and after the term is
up you need to find anew plan. While a whole life policy does build up a
cash value. A value that can be borrowed against, and even cashed out over
the holders life.
Most policies whether term or whole require some medical tests and exam
prior to being granted coverage.

It just makes sense, life insurance is a smart thing to have.
No one wants to leave their families and loved ones in a hard way
financially after their gone, and there is no excuse for it. Get out and do
some research there are independent brokers, and companies that specialize
in life insurance. You can get these brokers, and company representatives to
help you decide what coverage you need. Remember as you get older your
premium will cost more, so if you're considering a term policy it's smarter
to purchase when you're younger then older.

About The Author: For more information about life insurance and medical
insurance please visit our website Everything Insurance.
http://www.everything-insurance.com/

Insurance For Sports Cars

Insurance premiums on sports cars can be expensive compared to other
traditional automobile types. When shopping for insurance coverage, expect
some sticker shock. The tips provided here may you get lower insurance
premiums.

First, check to see if any group memberships would reduce your rate.
Membership in a national organization such as labor unions, government
employees, etc., can reduce your cost and offer substantial reductions if
you are eligible for a discount. Remember to ask your agent if he is aware
of any group memberships that could reduce your costs. A sports car club
membership sports car club could have a positive impact on your premium.
Insurance companies often offer a reduced premium rate to particular groups
of sports car owners in hopes of securing a greater number of customers.

Second, investigate your options and conduct price comparisons.
Call other insurance providers to determine their rates. Who knows, you
might find an unexpected bargain. In addition to making direct calls to
various insurance companies. You will benefit too if you search the internet
for services that will compare rates between multiple companies.

Third, there is an advantage to keeping as much of your insurance business
as possible under one roof. If you insure all of your vehicles, your home or
rental with one insurance company you can save a substantial amount on
premiums. The savings you receive may not be applied directly to your sports
vehicle premium, but the savings are such that you will find a cost savings
as a whole.

Finally, ask the insurance agent about any special classes or programs that
could reduce your premium. Some insurance companies offer discounts for
taking defensive driving courses.
An insurance company might reduce your insurance rate if you remain accident
free or after you have been driving for specific period of time. Take
advantage of any and all resources that might be helpful in reducing the
insurance rate for your sports car.

It is imperative that you carry adequate insurance coverage for your sports
car. Skimping might keep your costs down, but you will not have sufficient
coverage. Before you start your search, remember the following:

1. Ask for group specials.
2. Comparison shop.
3. Consider keeping all of your insurance needs under one roof.

4. Ask your agent about special programs.

By doing these things you just might save a surprising amount on your sports
car insurance premium.

About The Author: Tom Atkins is a staff writer at
http://www.insurance-gazette.com and is an occasional contributor to several
other websites, including http://www.debt-journal.com.

Endowment Policy: Another Forgotten Option

These complicated financial products combine life insurance and investment
growth in one package. They were most commonly used as a way of repaying a
mortgage and were most popular with homebuyers in the eighties and nineties.

The reason so many people bought them was because home loan firms and
middlemen such as estate agents earned large commissions for selling. The
charges tend to be 'front-loaded'
meaning most of it is paid up front and therefore, for several years you
will receive little if anything back if you have to stop paying the
premiums.

In theory, these policies can grow to more than you need to repay your
mortgage, giving you a bonus to spend on anything you like. In practice,
this has rarely happened in recent years and of the 8.5 million endowments
in 2004, 6.8 million were not expected to clear the mortgage they were
originally intended to pay off.

With an endowment mortgage, you do not repay any of the capital you borrow
during the term of the loan. Alternatively, the endowment policy should grow
to produce a lump sum which is large enough to repay the loan in full at the
end of the pre-agreed period of, normally, 25 years.

The monthly payments consist of interest on your mortgage loan and the
premium for the endowment. Within the package you also pay for life
insurance which will repay the loan should you die. However, there is no
guarantee your endowment will pay off your mortgage.

When the time comes to making a decision on stopping an endowment and
surrendering it, it is important to check your policy and make sure there is
some value in doing so.

Early redemption can result in making less than you would have if it carried
on for its full term. However, if you need the money, this could be our only
solution.

Continuing to pay money into a poorly performing investment could be
throwing away hard earned cash.

As well as surrendering it back to the company from whom it was bought from,
policyholders also have the option of selling to a third party.

This can also have the added benefit of getting more for your policy than
you would if it were sold back to the original issuer.

Different companies will have different requirements when it comes to them
buying your endowment.

Usually they would require it to be with-profits or a with-profits whole
life policy and have been running for a minimum number of years (the number
of depending on the company).

Some will also require a surrender value of at least £1,500. If your policy
does not meet the criteria, they will not be able to handle your sale. This
would mean the only other option available is what the policy issuer will
offer.

The Association of Policy Market Makers (APMM) is the industry body for
firms specialising in the buying and selling of endowments. An independent
financial advisor could also be helpful in comparing offers and helping you
get the most for your policy.

There will be a fee for the work, but it could save you time and energy and
also help you achieve the best possible price.

Don’t forget how important your endowment policy is. Like with an
investment, you should not suddenly cancel the policy without doing the
appropriate research and taking the adequate financial advice.

If you stop payments on a policy, you may lose any life assurance cover that
was offered to you. This is an important consideration for your dependents
if you are then taken ill or were to die without having set up an
alternative method of paying off the policy.

On average around half of the total payout on an endowment if you don’t sell
will come on the very last day. This is the so-called terminal bonus and it
is not guaranteed. Stop paying in before then and you are likely to lose
this. Instead, you will get the benefit of only the annual bonuses added to
your policy.

About The Author: Get great articles on life insurance from Life Insurance
defender http://www.life-insurance-defender.co.uk

Aging Parents And Long-term Care Insurance

Talking with an aging parent about purchasing long-term care insurance isn't
usually a cheerful conversation. Fortunately, not everyone has to talk with
an aging parent about purchasing long-term care insurance. Some aging people
have enough money saved to cover the cost of long-term care. Many times
aging widows can rely on the money from their deceased husband's pension.
For example, an aging woman who was married to a coal miner who developed
black lung disease or another respiratory problem will usually receive a
check until the day she, too, passes on. Sometimes these pensions are enough
to cover the cost, or at least a chunk of the cost, of long-term care.

But not everyone has enough money to cover the cost of long-term care, and
not everyone receives a pension to help cover the cost of long-term care. If
you have an aging parent, or aging parents, it's best to talk with them
about purchasing long-term care insurance sooner than later.

Since most people don't want to be told they're aging, it's best to approach
the topic of purchasing long-term care insurance very delicately; otherwise,
your aging parent may think you just want to make sure he or she is off your
hands should he or she get sick and need long-term care.

Explain to your aging parent that while she is still full of energy and
life, she is getting on in years. Express the fact that you love her, and
want to make sure she has the best available care if there should ever come
a time when she needs long-term care beyond your expertise or ability.
Explain to your aging parent that you simply don't want her to be without
the best of care should there come a time when she needs long-term care, and
that by purchasing long-term care insurance, you can all rest assured that
the best possible care will be available if ever needed.

About The Author: http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/
http://www.ezquoteguide.com/car/
http://www.myquoteguide.com/Term-Policy.shtml

Buying Life Insurance: A Checklist

Life insurance can be an effective tool to make certain and protect your
family's financial future. It has been acknowledged universally as a method
by which the breadwinner can substitute risk and uncertainty with timely aid
for the family in case of their unfortunate death.

Since a life insurance policy will replace your lost income after your
death, it is important to choose the right kind of policy. Hence, it is
essential to find a company that will cover your insurance with the right
amount, and at a reasonable price.

Need for a life insurance policy:

There are several reasons for an individual, specifically a breadwinner, to
make out a life insurance policy. To assuage your concern for your family in
case of your death, most life insurance policies offer various death
benefits that take care of your family after your death:

1. For example, a member of your family may have some special needs. You can
buy a life insurance policy that will act as an emergency fund in the event
of your untimely death.

2. If you want to make sure that your child gets quality education even
after your death, a life insurance can also work as a fund for your child's
education.

3. An insurance policy will ensure the maintenance of your family's standard
of living.

4. Your family can also use it to clear personal and business debts, after
your death.

Duration of insurance coverage:

Before buying a policy it is advisable to ensure the duration for which you
want life insurance coverage. You can take online help to decide the
coverage duration.

Need for a checklist

After you decide on your specific need, and the duration of your life
insurance policy, you can begin looking for a suitable policy. It is prudent
to prepare a checklist before buying, as this will ensure that you end up
purchasing the right policy.

The checklist must include various factors on which you can assess insurance
companies, which includes various criteria set by insurance companies too.
Here are a few pointers:

1. Before buying a life insurance policy, it is advisable to ensure that you
have all medical information regarding your health, because most companies
expect that, depending on your age and the duration of insurance coverage.

2. It's a good idea to compare various life insurance companies on the basis
of quotes that they have to offer. You can take the help of the Internet to
compare the quotes based on your choice of insurance product and your age.

3. You can also take help from a broker through the telephone or the
Internet and clear all your queries.

4. Once you decide on a particular insurance company, it is important to
ascertain the company's financial strength and stability.

5. It is also advisable to gather information about the options for renewal
that various insurance companies offer, because some companies charge high
premiums if you renew your policy.

6. Some insurance companies charge a penalty if you cancel your policy, so
make sure that the company you choose does not demand a penalty on
cancellation of policy.

7. You may also want to make some changes in your policy in due time, as
your insurance needs can change with time. So, when you purchase your
insurance policy find out if there is an age limitation for any kind of
conversion of your policy, and whether the option of moving into a better
policy is there.

About The Author: Joe Kenny writes for the UK personal finance sites
http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk and also http://www.cardguide.co.uk

How Travelers Health Insurance Can Protect You Overseas

When you're planning your vacation overseas you look forward to sunny skies,
romantic nights, and spectacular sights. What you don't look forward to is
the possibility of becoming ill or injured during your trip, but it happens.

If your regular group health policy doesn't cover your medical expenses
overseas, they won't be much help if you have a medical emergency on your
trip. Fortunately, many travelers'
insurance companies now offer medical coverage during your trip anywhere in
the world, at an affordable price.

Before searching for a new policy, check with your current health insurance
company. Many large carriers, such as the BlueCross BlueShield association
members, offer coverage for foreign claims, and also have customer service
departments that are trained to help you navigate through a foreign health
care system in case of emergency.

However, this benefit may not be available to you if your group insurance
requires you to seek treatment from a specific provider network. Most HMO
and managed care plans restrict their coverage to a specific service area.

If you're covered by a smaller group insurance company they may accept
claims from doctors or hospitals in other countries, but you may want to
give them a call to see if their customer service staff is familiar with
foreign health care systems, and if the company has developed long-term
relationships with hospital systems outside the US. If not, they may not be
able to help you find care in an emergency.

Many Medicare supplements also exclude claims from foreign countries, as
does Medicare itself.

For peace of mind, you will want a temporary travelers health insurance
policy if your own group plan does not cover medical costs overseas. When
searching for your new policy, make sure you read the contract to find out
if the policy covers pre-existing conditions, medical evacuation, and
emergency travel services.

Your travelers' medical insurance carrier's customer service representatives
will be your first resource in case of emergency overseas. Some companies go
far beyond paying medical claims and help you to:

- Find a new flight in case your scheduled flight was cancelled.

- Help you fill an emergency prescription if your medication is lost or
stolen.

- Get you emergency cash if your wallet is stolen, and help you replace a
stolen passport.

- Arrange and pay for emergency evacuation to the nearest hospital in case
of accident or illness.

- Reimburse you for non-refundable costs if your trip is cancelled due to
illness.

- Help you find lost luggage.

- Schedule an appointment with a qualified English-speaking physician in the
city you're visiting.

The services offered, and the premiums charged will vary greatly between
insurance companies and between policies. The premiums will go up as the
benefits increase and the deductible goes down, so careful shopping is
important. For instance, you will want to be careful to choose a policy that
covers pre-existing conditions if you have a chronic illness, such as
diabetes, that may cause you to seek medical attention on your trip.

Before leaving home, be sure to find out if your group policy will cover
your medical expenses overseas. If not, a good travelers' health insurance
policy will give you peace of mind on your next vacation.

About The Author: Learn more about travelers' health insurance, as well as
global medical insurance and expatriates' health insurance, at
http://www.worldwide-health-insurance.com/

Aging Drivers And Automotive Insurance

If you're a driver who is aging, it doesn't mean you are a driver who is
facing a lack of automotive insurance. Quite the contrary, if you are a
driver who is aging, you could very well be facing discounts in automotive
insurance.

Depending on the automotive insurance company through which you are insured,
you may be eligible for various discounts. For example, many insurance
companies that specialize in more than one kind of insurance will offer
discounts to policyholders who purchase more than one insurance policy from
them. Many people choose to purchase both their automotive insurance
policies and their homeowner's insurance policies through the same insurance
company, which results in a discount in premiums.

Some insurance companies also offer discounts to aging drivers who have good
driving records, and for various reasons. Drivers certain ages, usually 50
years of age and older, who have been driving for many years, are viewed as
being less of a risk than new drivers - especially if they have good driving
records.
Aging drivers are seen as more responsible. Plus, aging drivers are less
likely to go "joy riding" like younger drivers are, which puts them at less
risk for traffic accidents and violations.

Aging drivers who are looking for discounts should follow the same tips as
any other driver. Drive a safe car, park it in a safe location, and make
sure it has anti-theft safety components. Keep traffic violations and
accidents to a minimum, if not nonexistent, and try not to drive a
significant number of miles more than necessary a year.

Some automotive insurance companies even offer discounts for aging drivers
who participate in driving programs that the insurance companies provide, or
participate in with another company. These driving programs are designed to
refresh and sharpen driving skills, as well as restore defensive driving
tactics.

So, the next time you worry about automotive insurance because you're an
aging driver, stop!

About The Author: http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/
http://www.ezquoteguide.com/car/
http://www.myquoteguide.com/Term-Policy.shtml

Advice For Filing An Auto Insurance Claim

We know we need it; it is required, after all. We just hope we never have to
use it. Purchasing auto insurance may seem like the difficult part of the
process, with all the legalese and fine print; however, if you actually ever
need your auto insurance, you're going to have to file an auto insurance
claim. This can be the trickier part, if you aren't prepared.

Below is some advice for filing an auto insurance claim.
Although it's best to brush up on this advice before you actually need to
file an auto insurance claim, you may want to jot this advice down for
future reference.

Get Answers

You really should know how much auto insurance you have before you're
involved in an accident; however, if you don't, find out how much liability
coverage you have. Liability coverage is the amount of money you have
available to pay for the damages caused by an accident in which you are at
fault. The liability insurance can cover vehicle repairs and hospital
expenses for the other party, for example.

You also need to know the amount of your deductible for your collision auto
insurance coverage, and your comprehensive auto insurance coverage if you
have it. Simply put, this is the amount you have to pay before your auto
insurance kicks in.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Contact your insurance company, and provide them with your name and address,
as well as those of the involved parties, everything pertinent to the
accident (date, time, location, damages, etc.), and the names and addresses
of any witnesses.
Your insurance company will advise you on what further steps to take, and
then they will take it from there.

Keep Records

In the meantime, keep records of all paperwork, including repair receipts
and hospital visits. Your insurance company may request this documentation
later.

Being prepared before an accident will make the process after the accident
much smoother.

About The Author: http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/
http://www.ezquoteguide.com/car/
http://www.myquoteguide.com/Term-Policy.shtml

Annuity FAQ: Answers To Some Basic Annuity Investing Questions

* How much should I invest in an annuity?

The amount of money that you invest in an annuity will depend largely on
your capability to pay the premiums offered by the assurance company. Things
to consider when putting money to an annuity include:

- Your probable financial needs

- Type of investment portfolio

- Alternatives available

The most important thing to consider is your financial needs, especially at
times when you really need cash to finance something like the birth of a
child delivery or an unforeseen accident or illness. However, you must also
consider the regulations on withdrawal against the annuity, because it can
be a bad scenario if you find yourself being served a penalty just because
you withdrew large amounts from your annuity account when it was not
permitted on the plan you purchased.

* What is a deferred annuity?

A deferred annuity pays out to investors interested in getting an income
from an annuity, but who want the payments to begin some time in the future,
usually at retirement. Or, they may want the insurance company to invest the
money for a few years to increase the payments. A tax deferred annuity
allows income tax to be deferred until the money is withdrawn, and you can
contribute as much money yearly as you like.

* What is an immediate annuity?

An immediate annuity is an investment policy usually purchased from an
insurance company. Immediate Annuities are sometimes known as Single Premium
Immediate Annuities. Immediate annuities are commonly purchased with a lump
sum and used as a retirement investment. In an immediate annuity, the
investor begins to receive lump sum pay-outs anywhere from immediately to
one year from the date of purchase. Generally, payments begin one month
after investing in the annuity.

Immediate annuities can be fixed or variable. While a fixed immediate
annuity payment depends on the amount you contributed, your age, as well as
the interest rate at the time or purchase; a variable immediate annuity
depends on the type of investment purchased.

There are a variety of different options available to you when purchasing an
immediate annuity. You can decide whether you would like a set period of
payments or a lifetime of payments.
You can also decide on whether the payments are solely for the person who
holds the policy or also for a secondary person, such as a spouse.

* What are the advantages of annuities?

There are three principal advantages to an annuity:

1. Tax-deferred accumulation. This allows you to set aside the funds that
you pay into the annuity for as long as you want, without worrying about
exceeding federal tax limits.

2. Flexibility. An annuity can offer you a variable or a fixed return,
unencumbered by federal tax limitations.

3. Security. An annuity offers a fixed-income payout option which would
grant an income that cannot be outlived.

* How will I receive my annuity payments?

There are several pay-out methods available when you begin receiving annuity
payments. With some options, you or your beneficiaries can select how you
want to be paid. The following are some of these:

You can get income for your entire lifetime even when the money in your
annuity account has been used up. This is advantageous if you live to an
advanced age because it will maximize the income that you will receive.
However, there is a risk
involved: when you die, all the money cannot be claimed, even by your
assigned beneficiaries. If you die young, you simply lose this money.

Another is the joint and survivor annuity where it pays you during your
lifetime, and after your death your beneficiary (usually your spouse) will
also be paid during his or her lifetime.

You can also refund your annuity, meaning you're gaining income for life.
However, when you die, the portion if the income payments that you have not
collected will be the only amount that your beneficiary receives.

About The Author: Ammon Yorke is editor of http://www.annuityyes.com, the
online guide to Annuities. He also writes Annuity FAQ's for
http://www.prettygreatanswers.com/articles/AnnuityQuestions/ .

Antique Car Insurance

If you are covering your antique or classic car under a regular insurance
policy, you may be paying too much. Most people don't use their antique cars
every day and so there it is better of get a policy that is geared towards
an antique car that would take that into consideration. You will probably
pay less for it.

For insurance companies there is a difference between old, classic and
antique cars. The criterion usually differs depending on the company. In
general, the definition of a classic car is that the car must be between
fifteen to thirty years old, it must be something of worth to a collector
and the car must be in good form.

An antique car is classified as a thirty year old vehicle. It has historic
plates and can only be driven as part of a show.
If an old car doesn't fit either of these requirements then, it is simply an
old car that can't be insured under the special policies available. This is
classification is necessary because there are some companies that deal
exclusively with classic or antique cars and they generally have lower
insurance fees attached.

You may get your car appraised if you think that its value is much more than
what the book states. The appraisal process includes the car becoming
officially recorded with a list other cars that are considered to be under
that same value bracket.

To select a proper appraiser you could contact the American Society of
Appraisers (or ASA for short). When you are selecting your candidate, look
at their resumes. It is best to have an appraiser that has worked with your
make of vehicle in the past, and knows a lot about it. Check their
references for more information about them.

The appraiser checks the vehicle thoroughly for the final report. If she
can, she will run the car and take note to the condition. She will also be
taking a lot of pictures, to add to her detailed document. She will include
a record of similar vehicles with their prices. The appraiser bases her list
on various sources such as car price guides, advertisements, auction and
sale results; and other documents related to the car.

In addition to an appraiser, the insurance policy company needs information
such as make, color, model, body style, and year.
Engine number and Vehicle Identification Number (or VIN) could be asked for.
Cars such as a Ferraris or Corvette must have a VIN for verification.

Another good reason for putting your classic or antique car under the proper
insurance policy is that they would most likely understand what the car
needs and what concerns you have about your vehicle.

There are three types of insurance for an antique or classic car. There is
the actual cash value (ACV); agreed value (AV); and stated value (SV). If
your insurance policy is under the heading of actual cash value (or ACV),
then the value is set for the cost of the car at the time of being insured.
This value decreases with time, if the insurance is needed, an insurance
claim adjuster will decide how much the ACV is.

With the stated value (or SV), the insurance pays either the fees related to
damage of the vehicle or the ACV depending on which costs less. The AV is
the better of the three. When you get your AV policy, you are guaranteed a
degree of coverage regardless, if anything happens to your vehicle.

About The Author: Tom Atkins is a staff writer at
http://insurance-gazette.com and is an occasional contributor to several
other websites, including http://www.debt-journal.com.

Estate Planning: Make Sure Your Wishes are Honored

Estate Planning: Make Sure Your Wishes are Honored A medical power of
attorney and living will are crucial estate planning steps, and like long
term care insurance, must be set in place early in life for optimal
protection.

She was just 26 years old when she went into cardiac arrest, fell down in
her apartment and was rushed to the hospital. She lapsed into a coma and
spent 15 years of her life in what doctors diagnosed as an "irreversible
persistent vegetative state".

For all that time she was unable to make any medical decisions whatsoever.
Her husband believed she did not want to live in that state, and asked that
her feeding tube be removed, but her parents disagreed.

The legal battles that followed made history, and debates raged across the
USA. She was known to the world as Terri Schiavo.

There are two basic steps you can take to plan ahead. No one likes thinking
about the worst, let alone planning for it, but if Terri's situation has
taught us anything, it's that planning for such events saves your family a
great deal of potential heartache, and it puts the focus on your life and
your wishes.

A living will is the first step to making sure you're prepared in case of a
medical emergency where you cannot make decisions for yourself. It simply
spells out in detail exactly what kind of medical procedures you do or do
not want performed on you and indicates whether or not you want to be
resuscitated and what you want done under a variety of other medical
conditions, including comatose and a persistent vegetative state.

It's important that you consult with your family whenever you make these
decisions. This way, it's clear what your wishes are. It's also important to
include a financial professional in your planning process, to make sure you
aren't missing any crucial information or steps.

Your living will deals generally with a variety of medical procedures and
can be as general or as complex as you want. The more complex you make it,
the more your wishes are known, and this is crucial, so that it's clear
precisely what you want. A little contemplation can go a long way to save
family and friends from heartache and legal battles over what may initially
seem like minor medical details.

Next, name a medical power of attorney. A medical power of attorney can go
by many names, including advance directive and health care proxy. It's all
the same basic principle.
By naming a medical power of attorney, you simply designate someone to act
as sole medical decision maker in your absence / incapacity. Most
frequently, a spouse is named to this position, though it's wise to name
someone else in reserve just in case your spouse is incapacitated as well.

Appointing a medical power of attorney and drafting a living will are only
two ways to be prepared. Preparing a complete estate plan with a financial
professional and an estate planning attorney is one way you're more likely
to have your wishes honored from all sides, both financial and medical.

Another crucial element is your long term care insurance which had better be
bought as early as possible. The likelihood of long term care is
overwhelming compared with other common risks like auto accidents or home
fires

----------------------------------------------------
Long term care insurance activist, Clay Cotton, writes for
http://www.PrepSmart.com - The Online Baby Boomers Decision Assistance
Center, where you get Free Long Term Care Insurance advice, comparative rate
quotes and personal guidance, all while safely at home in your favorite
pajamas and bunny slippers.

Are Your Computers And Technology Covered?

More people in America are experiencing the joys, and conveniences, of
today's computers and technology than ever before. You'd be hard-pressed to
find a household that doesn't have one computer, or at least has a family
member who owns a computer.

The technology that computers offer us is so useful, and many people use
their computers for work, recordkeeping, and other such important tasks and
information storage. So, if the homes the computers in which the computers
are located catch fire, are severely damaged due to weather elements, or are
robbed, how safe are the owners' computers going to be?

Most homeowners' insurance policies cover computers; however, coverage may
be limited, and computer owners may want to consider purchasing additional
insurance to cover their computers and technology losses in the event of an
accident or emergency.

If you are a computer owner, and rely a good deal on the technology your
computer offers, you might want to take a look at your homeowner's insurance
policy to find out exactly how much coverage is offered for your computer.
If it's not enough, think about purchasing additional coverage.

If your computer is used primarily for business-related purposes, you should
look into additional coverage for the expenses necessary for data recovery;
compensation for lost income while you computer is being repaired or
replaced; and data recovery. Sometimes it's essential to look into insurance
policies made specifically for business-related issues when it comes to your
computers and technology.

When choosing additional insurance coverage for your computers and
technology, find out how much your deductible will be. If it's less than
what you're willing to pay, you might want to increase it a bit; this will
help keep your insurance premiums low.

Remember to always safeguard yourself by keeping all receipts for any
repairs, replacements, data recovery, and upgrades you purchase in order to
help the transaction between you and your insurance company go smoothly.

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