INSURANCE TIPS & HOW TO BE INSURED

Avoid These Simple Mistakes To Pick Up The Pace For Your Insurance Claim Process

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 16:00:00 +0000

In the minutes after an accident, you may feel confusion and commit a few errors that may cost you on an auto insurance claim or deferral the procedure of getting installment for the accident. These slip-ups may appear minor and irrelevant, yet it is data and documentation that would help your claims to accelerate the procedure or in a more genuine case, help in safeguarding you in court.
At the scene of the accident, here are a couple of things that you ought to make sure to keep away from:
1. Conceding flaw. There are little chances that your insurance Claim Adjuster can do to guard you against the other driver's guarantor if you have effectively conceded shortcoming to the mischance. Regardless of the fact that you know whether it was your fault, let your accident coverage organization deal with the "fault" in the accident.
2. Not taking pictures. Attempt to take a picture of the accurate scene of the accident, obviously just in the event when it is safe to escape from the auto to do so. If you can't venture out of the auto, pull into the closest, safe stopping region and take pictures of the scene, and also each of the four sides of your auto, odometer and air packs (if the sacks conveyed). Doing this, can truly help you in accelerating the tactic and, as specified before, safeguard you if the case goes to a court.
3. Not calling the police. Indeed with small accidents, you ought to search out a cop to compose an authority police report. Some insurance claim agencies may feel that you may be concealing something deceitful if you report accident without an authority police report.
4. Not getting all important data. Other than getting the other driver's protection data, name, permit plate number, driver's permit number, you'll have to get other data too. A few points that you may be overlooking is the model of the auto, whether there are different travelers in the other auto, if there were kids in the auto, the reacting cop's name and insignia number, names and telephone numbers or any witnesses. This is data that needs to be rounded out when you make a protection claim for the accident.
5. Staying away from medical help. Despite the fact that you may feel fine promptly after the accident, the agony may uncover itself after a couple of days or even months after the fact. It may have appeared to be a light accident, yet the effect on your body may be extreme, for example, whip lash. Mention sure, say any harm to your protection claims agent with the goal that they can cover your doctor's visit expenses as well.
6. Not informing your insurance claim agency instantly. There are circumstances where the harm doesn't appear to be a great deal and the other driver implores you not to make an insurance claim so they can simply pay out of pocket. It is best if you tell them that you must report all accidents so that your transporter can take care of the expense of harms. Expenses may be higher than the other driver evaluated and they will be unable to blanket it out-of pocket.
Dodge these six oversights to accelerate your insurance claim process and to help in safeguarding your case. Pictures and authority police reports are the most ideal method for verifying that your actualities are correct.

A good car insurance firm can help you to provide a good insurance services. I hope above tips can help you to get a suitable insurance firm for your car.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8709747

How to Protect Your Car Against Damages With the Help of Comprehensive Car Insurance?

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 15:55:00 +0000

Owning and running a motor vehicle can be expensive. But being left without your car for any number of reasons can be even more expensive and very stressful, particularly if you haven't taken out car insurance.
Insurance is very crucial for every car owner because it protects you from future unexpected problems. However, shopping around for car insurance can be confusing and frustrating, especially if you are a first-time car buyer. It is because you have to understand the different types of insurance policies that are available in the market. You also have to decide which policy is essential for you and which one isn't.
When you are in the insurance market, you must opt for the policy that protects you against several damages. Comprehensive car insurance coverage is one such policy that provides coverage against a wide range of unexpected and unpredictable damages to your car that are not related to a collision (you have not struck another vehicle). Here is a list of what can cause damage to your car:
>> Theft
>> Vandalism
>> Fire
>> Natural disaster (e.g. storm or flood)
>> Falling objects
>> Damage done to your car by animals
>> Damage done to your car as a result of civil disturbance (e.g. riot)
Why Buy Comprehensive Car Insurance?
It is a very interesting question you may ask yourself as you shop around for insurance. Here is a list of questions to think about when deciding to buy comprehensive car insurance coverage:
1. Does your Lender require Comprehensive Car Insurance?
If you purchase or lease your new car and you got finance from a lender, you should check with the lender that holds your car loan or lease to make sure if the insurance is required.
2. How Old is your Car and what is your Car's Worth?
If you have an older car and it is not worth much money, you may be confident that you can afford to repair or replace your older car. In such a situation, the insurance policy is not necessary for you. Comprehensive car insurance coverage can be a very smart investment for those people whose car is worth a huge amount of money. It is also ideal for those who don't have the money on hand for repairs or replacements after an accident.
If you are still tempted to avoid insurance, you should weigh up your options between paying insurance premiums against how much money it will cost to repair or replace your car. It is always better to choose a safer option. Remember that comprehensive car insurance coverage will provide you the peace of mind knowing that you will be protected in the event of any unforeseen damage.

Singh Finance provides you the amazing opportunity of saving money on your car. The finance brokerage firm will find you low rate car loans as well as cheap comprehensive car insurance policy. Call on 0424 190 908 and book an appointment with the firm's expert finance brokers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8722181

Introduction to Car Insurance for Young Women

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 06:55:00 +0000

By Karina Popa

Generally, women are more careful when it comes to driving, considering the fewer price claims they file, compared to men. For this reason, it is possible for them to get more affordable car insurance coverage. However, there is evidence that women have become more aggressive in the way they drive, making them more prone to competitive driving and road accidents. In addition to this, they drive longer distances, but unless this information becomes official as part of government statistics, they can continue to get car insurance coverage that is lower in price. It is unfortunate, though, that there is no same low-priced car insurance for men.

Nevertheless, there are some ways that men can benefit from the favorable treatment given by insurance companies to their wives. Instead of having your own insurance coverage, it would be more reasonable to be named as a driver on the insurance coverage of a woman. Therefore, it would be best to look at it from this angle. If ever you have an insurance coverage, it would help to get a female partner to pose as an additional driver. This can reduce your insurance premium.

There are 3 major reasons why car insurance companies offer low-cost car coverage for women. These are the following:

Care
Statistics show that women are more careful drivers than men. It is normal for female car drivers to figure in the same number of accidents as their male counterparts. However their claims are usually smaller.

Lower damage
It is more common for women to get small dents and scratches in their car due to their motoring. On the other hand, statistics show that men drive faster and this makes them prone to higher impact road accidents. These situations cause considerable damage, which increases the cost of insurance.

Law abiding
The last reason why women are able to get low-cost insurance coverage is that road and traffic violations are more likely to be caused by men. The more fines and tickets translate to higher car insurance premiums. Additionally, since women tend to drive less often than men, the probability of making an offence or meeting an accident is a lot lower.

It always pays to shop around for insurance products. This is especially true when it comes to cheaper car insurance. Usually, car coverage for women costs less than some of the other demographic groups, especially for women below 25 years old, in particular. The major factor that is being considered here is that there is a smaller probability for women to figure in an accident as compared to the male drivers. Since trends show that women tend to purchase smaller and less pricey cars than men, car insurance companies continue to supply insurance coverage to them at lower costs. This means that they spend less on repair costs. This results to lower claims, plus an insurance coverage that is more cost-effective.

There are some facts about female drivers and this is not a joke! Insurance coverage for women is 30% lower than that of men, since female drivers are less prone to risks than their male equivalent. Government information reveals that 92% of lawsuits filed for driving offenses involve men. This means that women drivers are law-abiding citizens. Insurance companies consider women as less risky, since they have entirely different habits in driving as compared to men. Finally, female drivers are more likely to change their focus to deal with unexpected situations. Well, are you not proud to be a lady?

Women car insurance is a broad sector and without proper knowledge you may end up buying an expensive premium which you never need. To know more about it, you can read more about it from this website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8419877

Should You Buy Car Insurance Before You Buy a Car?

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 06:53:00 +0000

By Felix De Los Santos

Auto dealers are in the business of selling cars and not selling insurance so it's never a good idea to wait until you are sitting down to sign the loan papers to call a "recommended" agent of the dealer. The dealer most likely does not have your best interest in mind, just the kickback he will most likely get from his friend.

When you know what vehicle you want contact different car insurance companies and compare quotes away from the dealership. If you provide the vehicle VIN of your new car it makes comparison shopping even easier.

Should I contact my insurance company before going to buy the car?

Auto insurance can be rather expensive and varies greatly, depending on a variety of factors. It is generally true that the more expensive a vehicle the higher the premiums but this is not always true. Many times a vehicles even $10,000 less has lower car insurance rates. Before making a commitment to buy a car you must understand the cost to insure it. Without this number you are left with only an estimate of your total monthly financial obligation and its never any fun to learn you can't afford a car after signing loan documents.

If you intend to purchase a second hand vehicle, then make sure you are provided with an honest and accurate record of its history. Car insurance premiums may be affected if:

• The car has been in any accidents
• Has not been looked after correctly
• Has had any features added

On the positive side, if any devices stopping theft or increasing safety have been installed, the premiums are likely to be reduced.

What happens if I drive without insurance?

In most parts of America, you are not allowed to drive without insurance. Even though different states have different ways of enforcing this rule, all drivers must be covered by a minimum of liability insurance. This means that if you cause damage or harm to another party or their property, you will be covered.

You might think that there is very little risk involved in simply driving a car from the dealership or from the previous owner's house to your place. However, if the police catch you, you will face an enormous penalty and possibly even a jail sentence, depending on where you are.

Moreover, if you do have an accident that causes any damage to someone else or their car, you will be in debt immediately. Depending on the scenario, the amount of damage done and the type of vehicle, this can mean the kind of financial catastrophe that can wreck you for years. Most dealers will not let you drive away without showing proof of insurance first as it's not worth the risk or hassle for them either.

Some drivers opt to just their exiting auto insurance company and if you already had a car that was covered, the policy can sometimes remain valid for up to thirty days on your new vehicle. However, it is imperative that you contact your insurance company to make sure that this is the case. The smallest miscommunication might mean that you are not actually covered and, if you do have an accident, this could translate to tens of thousands of dollars in payouts.

Can I secure a loan without car insurance?

If you are buying a car with a loan then you will most likely have to buy car insurance first. Most auto loan providers will not close a car loan without written evidence of an insurance policy.

Buying a new or used car can seem like a complex and daunting process. However, whatever decision you make regarding your new vehicle, purchasing car insurance is must before committing to the vehicle purchase. Get your auto insurance with American auto insurance

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8424587

Car Insurance - Buy Smart

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 06:50:00 +0000

By David A Thompson

You can pay anywhere from $500 to $2,000 for the same car insurance policy, so it pays to shop around, and do your homework. However, cost savings shouldn't be your only concern. When you buy insurance, you're actually buying protection; and pinching a penny can come back to bite you, if you're not careful. Here are some tips to help you make good decisions when purchasing car insurance.

In some states, like Texas, 30% of drivers don't have insurance, or adequate insurance, so it's critical to get uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to cover your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering in the event that an uninsured motorist injures you.

Think beyond your car. The more assets, and income you have, the more insurance you need. A personal liability umbrella policy, in conjunction with homeowner's coverage is not very expensive, yet can provide critical protection of your wealth. If you already have good family health insurance, you might be able to avoid paying more for personal injury protection or medical payment insurance related to your car coverage.

Your neighborhood counts. Crime rates are a factor. Consider the types of cars those around you drive. If you live in a nice area, full of high-end cars, you may want to increase your property damage coverage. If you live in a rural area, you'll probably enjoy lower rates than those living in high-traffic urban areas. Living in downtown Dallas, Texas, is likely to cost you more than living in a quiet suburb on the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri.

Where you park your car might impact your insurance premium. If you park inside a garage, it's less vulnerable to theft and weather damage than parking it in a driveway or street, and it may entitle you to a discounted rate. If you work at home, have a short daily commute, or use public transportation, you might also be able to save some money on your car insurance policy with a low mileage discount.

Depending on what you do for a living, you might be able to save on your car insurance premium. Some professions are deemed lower risk. Teachers, scientists, police officers and firefighters often get discounts on their insurance premiums.

College students that go to school more than 100 miles away from home may qualify for a discount, based off the assumption they're seldom behind the wheel of the family car. Getting good grades pays, in more ways than one. Ask about good student discounts.

It pays to get married. Married men statistically have fewer accidents than single men, so if you are looking for a little extra incentive to take the plunge, consider the savings on your car insurance premium - just don't make it part of your proposal. If you have more than one car in your home, ask about a multi-car discount.

Drive safe. A speeding ticket can cost you more than just the fine. A bad driving record can also jack up your premium costs. Next time you're in a hurry, slow down, and protect yourself and your wallet.

Buying the right kind of car can save on auto insurance. Cars with built in safety features like anti-lock brakes, side air bags and automatic safety belts cost less to insure. Cars that are frequently stolen generally have higher insurance premiums. You can check with the Highway Loss Data Institute for theft reports on the make of car you are considering buying.

If you have your heart set on a sporty vehicle, make sure your wallet is prepared to handle the higher insurance premium. Rates can be significantly higher for high-performance vehicles. If you have a loan on your car, the lender has a say in what type of coverage you have on your vehicle to protect their investment. Be wise and ask your insurance agent how much it would cost to insure the car you are considering buying, before you sign on the bottom line.

You can reduce your monthly premium on car insurance if you are willing to live with a higher deductible. If you're good driver, it could be worth considering. As your car gets older, you may also want to change your coverage to save money. If the actual cash value of your car is very low, you might want to consider dropping comprehensive and collision coverage. However, never skimp on liability coverage, regardless of the age or value of your vehicle, because if you cause a serious accident, you could be on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

While you can get fast quotes for car insurance online at sites like http://www.Redrockautoinsurance.com, it's smart to ask an agent to help you factor in all the considerations to get coverage that provides coverage matched to your lifestyle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8432027

How to Save Money On Car Insurance Today

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 06:49:00 +0000

By Steven Fitzpatrick

We all need car insurance and with the costs rising yearly, we all can benefit from these tips. There are choices and opportunities for you, simply take the time to educate yourself.

The first tip is to compare the many different companies out there today. Visit many websites, prices will vary and you can even compare several at one time in larger companies like Progressive.

Look at a company's reputation, how do they rate with existing customers. Ask questions, read the latest reviews, and lastly look at the customer 5 star ratings.
Look at your current deductible you presently have. Try a higher deductible if it is possible within your budget.

Find companies that offer discount if you bundle a package with them. This is a very quick and easy way to get the savings you need on your car insurance premiums. You might be surprised at the bundle packages they offer to you, and in the end save some much needed cash.

Check out if there are separate discounts. Find promotional discounts that you would qualify for. This is another easy way to save money on your monthly premium.

The latest and most savvy is the trend in 'Sat Nave' technology or 'GPS' technology. It simply requires the driver to install the 'GPS', gadget into the vehicle. It tracks how the vehicle is driven. It keeps track of your driving history and sends it to your insurance company. Presto, your savings without doing anything but plugging in the device and driving carefully.

Take advantage if you are an 'Alumni' or 'Professional Organization', there are many opportunities to get group plans you may not even be aware off. Look into these groups; you may be surprised at how many discounts you qualify for without you even knowing it.

Low mileage discounts, another great savings tip to look into. If your drive to work is short and you don't spend a lot of time on the road, then look into the low mileage discounts.

Consider buying a used car instead of a new one. You can lower your monthly premium by close to 20% by just doing this. It is worth your time to check into.

Maintain good driving records, stay accident free, and don't get tickets. These three will add up to some savings for you as well.

All of these easy steps are fast and convenient ways to help you save money on car insurance. Don't delay look into lowering your premiums today.

Frugal Soldier is a website that is packed full of resourceful information on how to save money. Individuals who would like to save money are encouraged to take a look at the site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8437148

What You Should Be Claiming in a Parking Lot Accident

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 06:47:00 +0000

By Felix De Los Santos

Why are insurance claims often not filed for parking lot accidents?

Parking lot accidents are the most common type of auto collisions and often occur in several fashions such as:

A collision between two occupied and moving vehicles
A collision between a moving vehicle and a stationary or parked vehicle
A hit and run, in which damage is discovered on a vehicle after the other driver has left the scene
A collision between a car and another object, such as a shopping carriage

People avoid filing claims for parking lot accidents for many reasons. They may feel that the damage was too minor to warrant a claim, afraid their insurance premiums will go up or that they will incur points for filing the claim. In some instances, people may just think it is too much hassle to file a claim for what seems to be a minor accident in a parking lot.

What happens if I don't file an insurance claim for a parking lot accident?

If you chose not to file a claim for a parking accident, you have several options. Most of them involve out of pocket expenses and assume some risk.

If your car was the only vehicle damaged, you can choose to pay for the repairs yourself. Many people do this when they feel that the cost of the repairs may be lower than their deductible. Because they would pay that amount out-of-pocket anyway, they avoid a claim in the hopes that it will prevent their insurance from rising.

If you were involved in a parking accident that damaged another vehicle, you may take it upon yourself to settle with the other driver without involving insurance. This often involves paying cash or check to cover the cost of repairs to the other vehicles. This can be a risky proposition. If anything goes wrong, it comes down to your word against the other driver.

Sometimes, the damage from a parking lot collision is so minor that no repairs are necessary or the drivers involved choose not to make any repairs. This may be the case with an older vehicle, or a minor collision involving a shopping cart.

Why is it important to file a car insurance claim for a parking lot accident?

If you choose not to file a car insurance claim for a parking lot accident, there is no record of the accident and no documentation. This could cause problems down the road, especially if other drivers and vehicles were involved.

You may think that paying the other driver cash for damages inflicted on their vehicle will end the situation without involving the insurance companies or increasing your premium. However, what would you do if the other driver came to you later claiming injuries and insisting that you were responsible for medical bills or other expenses? Without the independent documentation of an insurance claim, you could be in for a long and costly battle.

If you are concerned that your premiums will rise because of a parking accident, be sure to speak with your insurer. Because parking lot accidents are so common and can be difficult to determine blame, many insurers classify them as "no fault." This means that your insurance rates will often not increase because of an accident.

In many cases where two cars are involved in a parking lot accident, the insurers may split the blame as 50/50. This means that while each driver is responsible for their own deductible and usually results in no increase to premiums for either party.

Is there any situation where it is not necessary to file an insurance claim for a parking lot accident?

While filing an insurance claim is always the smart way to protect yourself in the event of a parking lot collision, many drivers still do not do it. Some of the most common reasons include:

There were no other drivers or vehicles involved in the accident
The accident was minor and there is little or no damage to your vehicle
Your car was the only car involved in the accident and you do not intend to have the damage fixed, or the cost of fixing the damage is significantly less than your deductible

Filing a car insurance claim for a parking lot collision is usually a safe bet. It may seem like a small hassle at the time, but it can save you many headaches down the road!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8435003

Firms Seek to Reduce Marketing Costs, Whether in Traditional or Cutting-Edge Arenas

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 11:30:00 +0000

By Larry A Neilson

Whether one operates a small agency, midsize or large established firm, chances are that many if not most companies are under pressure to find ways to increase the amount of revenue they are earning while at the same time working to lower their cost for each lead. It's a tall order, especially in an economy where people continue to spend cautiously. One way to reach these wallet-watching, would-be clients without breaking the firm's budget is online insurance marketing. However, it is important to note that while this method of reaching prospects and clients-through social media, email, digital signage, web search, and content provisions)-is generally considered less costly than longstanding traditional communication methods, digital advertising costs are also on the climb. In fact, studies indicate that costs for the most popular coverage-related keywords that are part and parcel of Internet search engine-based marketing are climbing so steeply that even the largest companies are finding it difficult for their budgets to keep pace with prices. To cope with the test of balancing cost with content, companies are increasingly relying on key strategies--some old, some new:

The concept of glocalization: This new term can have different applications from one industry to the next, but generally speaking, the meaning is coined from the Japanese-based concept of starting with a macro, global idea and giving it meaning to the local community-for example, customized and personalized sales messaging that is tied to the topics that are most important to that community, often using automation tools and processes to address regulatory compliance requirements.

Saving time and money through the application of technology in every process possible: Firms have a wealth of tools that automate many aspects of running an agency, from generating calls in the call center to effortless policy rating software systems and more. Automated systems may be expensive to install initially but can end up saving costs in the long run by streamlining processes.

Using partners to cross-sell and increase advertising opportunities: Firms that complement each other in terms of products and services are banding together in the time-honored tradition of highlighting one another's offerings through cross-selling and cooperative advertising. For example, a small personal lines agency in a Los Angeles suburb found great success in joining forces with the local hardware store to feature its homeowners coverage and other policies, and vice versa.

It is true that online insurance marketing is continuing to capture an increasingly large part of the advertising pie in most companies, but there will always remain a need for traditional advertising methods and channels such as print, broadcast, email, and cooperative campaigns, to communicate the agency's message, support the efforts of the sales team, and help in the ever-constant push to convert prospects to clients.

Larry Neilson is the owner of Neilson Marketing which specializes in strategic insurance marketing solutions for MGAs, wholesalers, carriers, agencies, vendors and brokerages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_A_Neilson

Your Upgrade Needs an Upgrade

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 07:00:00 +0000

By H. Gerald Grinter

Alarm systems have grown up over the last couple of years. It got to the point where they became a joke to law enforcement due to the number of false alarms that occurred. Police officers stopped responding and even started handing out fines if the number of false alarms exceeded a certain threshold. Not to mention, the criminal element knew all too well how to work the system. Here's an interesting fact: Did you know almost 98% of commercial and residential burglar alarms are false alarms?

According to a CPCU Newsletter dated February 2012, the insurance industry created the security alarm industry in the early 1900s when they wired a troubled Boston bank to alert the nearby telegraph office of a burglary. Police arrested the burglars and prevented a large claim. Underwriters built upon this success and pushed policy holders to install burglar alarms because they worked - police made arrests and lowered claims. The alarm/police response concept worked so well that underwriters soon mandated that all high-value policy holders such as banks and jewelry stores install UL certified intrusion alarms before issuing a policy. They also created alarm discounts in their policy contracts to encourage other commercial and residential policy holders to install burglar alarms. This historic police/alarm/insurance model boosted profits through the 1970s, but the partnership lost its value, deteriorated and died.

Enter verified video security. Now, all business owners have access to the type of protection that was once the domain of larger companies. I recently had a conversation with security expert Daniel Johnson of Secure Pacific Corporation about how verified video security actually takes video of the crime as it unfolds and allows trained alarm monitors to dispatch law enforcement on the highest priority with crucial information about the criminals' whereabouts and activities.

Unlike audible alarms, which prompt burglars to quickly grab all they can and get out, video verification alarms are silent. This creates a false sense of security for the burglar, who then takes his or her time to get items of the most value. Police, thanks to the high priority dispatch, often arrive on the scene in fewer than seven minutes and catch the suspect red-handed. Verification leads to an exponentially higher arrest rate than conventional alarm systems -- and a much lower rate of property loss and false alarms. Commercial security surveillance just got an upgrade. It's no longer like the old fashioned CCTV.

Let's face it, most people don't invite friends over to read their insurance policies. That's what my clients pay me to do. I want what's best for them. Even if it means not working together. If I can't be of service, I may know others who can meet their needs. After all, creating and fostering relationships and giving back is the cornerstone of great business.

For inquiries please send your emails to gerald@geraldgrinter.com or call me directly at 206.650.4342

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=H._Gerald_Grinter

Why Do You Need 10 Year Structural Insurance?

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 00:30:00 +0000

By Sonial Allende Garcia

No matter if you are a company owner in construction or a home owner who is building their dream home from the ground up; you must take into consideration 10 year structural insurance before building. Insurance of any kind isn't exactly a popular topic, but no matter how annoyed we might get, structural insurance is in place to protect your interests - in more ways than you could have imagined.

Are you in the Process of Building a New Home?

No doubt you are excited; right about now you probably feel the butterflies in your stomach quickly fluttering around in anticipation. Building a new home from the ground up is an incredible thing and not too many others can afford to experience what you are experiencing at this moment. But, have you ever considered 10 year structural insurance?

10 Year Structural Insurance Explained

Just like any other insurance you might consider purchasing in your lifetime; structural insurance is also available in a few different policy types to protect your interests from serious repercussions down the road after or during the construction process.

There are a few very important reasons you need to consider purchasing this type, but one of the most important reasons is your mortgage lender won't even consider your application until he or she sees you've got all your bases covered.

The other reasons involved span across many different categories. For example, imagine if you will you are in the process of building a dream home and suddenly by no fault of your home a fire breaks out - then what? Are you covered? Or what if mother nature decides to pull a fast one and dumps so much water on the construction grounds, the materials become unusable - are you covered? If for whatever reason your materials become useless, the costs to replace them will be astronomical. Besides, you've already purchased them once, and no one should have to worry about a second time.

10 year structural insurance can offer more than protection; it can also offer piece of mind. The construction site is well protected, your investment is sound, and the lender will have no issue providing you with a mortgage.

Besides the usual protection mentioned above, this insurance also helps you down the road. If for whatever reason the builders you contracted used sub-par materials or did any sort of shoddy work that affects the structure; structural insurance will protect you from having to replace their shoddy and unprofessional workmanship. With this knowledge under your belt, you can sleep well knowing you are fully protected - giving those butterflies a free ticket to ride.

CRL Management Ltd., is home to 10 year structural insurance and structural defects insurance. If you plan on buying or even selling residential developments, you will more than likely need this specialist insurance. Whether you are a developer, contractor, home owner, receiver or any other professional who deal with residential property - let a C-R-L structural insurance specialist help you get and stay covered. At CRL Management Ltd., we cover a vast variety of private and housing association homes across the UK, Ireland and Spain.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sonial_Allende_Garcia

Why Worry? Consider Structural Insurance and Structural Warranty

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 13:00:00 +0000

By Sonial Allende Garcia

Whether you are buying a new home or building it from the ground up the last thing on any home buyers mind is worrying about issues once you move in. Are you absolutely sure nothing is going to break or malfunction once you finally begin using it? Of course this type of stuff or any issues for that matter can never really be guaranteed not to happen.

Structural insurance and warranty is sometimes overlooked in the insurance arena. We are well aware of the insurance arena and how massive it really is. Talking insurance can be exhausting, considering we need all kinds to even walk upright in today's society. We have to worry about the car, life insurance, medical, flight and whatever else they can attach the word onto. But, before getting sorted to build your dream house through contracted builders, you must absolutely purchase structural insurance.

What is structural insurance anyway?

When it comes to self builds or any sort of building construction, many choose a policy to cover certain aspects of the building project. For example, choosing a policy like 10 year structural insurance, can guarantee protection on the build even after completion. 10 year structural insurance is for self builders and is specifically designed for those building their own homes as well as conversions. The advantages of purchasing this type of policy for a self build project includes basic appliance, like microwaves, ovens/stoves; along with duct-work, electrical and plumbing. Mechanical systems like air conditioning and heating is also insured. If any sort of damage or failure occurs or if something needs to be replaced in the above item list, the only cost you will have to incur is the service fee.

What about Structural Defects Insurance?

Structural defects insurance is also essential in self builds and can ultimately protect further down the road. With this policy you get peace of mind and security on your new build. If later down the line you run into trouble because of bad workmanship or defective materials etc., you are well covered and protected in replacing or fixing them. This type of insurance can last from 10, 12 or even 15-years from the completion date on your new home. This is often also referred to as latent defect, home defect, structural warranty and new home defect insurance.

What does Structural Defect Insurance Cover?

This involves a combination of construction quality and a financial assessment. In the UK it is approved by the central government and complies with the mortgage lenders. Basically, you have a much better chance of being granted a mortgage if you are covered with this policy.

This will protect you against any defects in the overall design, workmanship or materials of the housing unit that is affecting or possibly causing destruction or physical damage. This could be waterproofing or drainage issues for example. It can also cover any issues involving contaminated land.

Overview

The disadvantages of not having structural insurance on a new build are evident above. The bottom line is you probably won't find a lender for your mortgage. The lenders or banking institutions want to be assured their money is being used on something sound and protected. Just like you want to make sure your investment into a self build home is being used in the right way.

CRL Management Ltd., is home to 10-year structural insurance and structural defects insurance. If you plan on buying or even selling residential developments, you will more than likely need this specialist insurance. Whether you are a developer, contractor, home owner, receiver or any other professional who deal with residential property - let a C-R-L structural insurance specialist help you get and stay covered. At CRL Management Ltd., we cover a vast variety of private and housing association homes across the UK, Ireland and Spain.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sonial_Allende_Garcia

Why Worry? Consider Structural Insurance and Structural Warranty

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 13:00:00 +0000

By Sonial Allende Garcia

What is structural insurance anyway?

What about Structural Defects Insurance?

What does Structural Defect Insurance Cover?

Overview

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sonial_Allende_Garcia

Life Insurance: Protect What You've Got

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:35:00 +0000

By Paul Lalley

While insurance isn't an investment, it's an important part of sound, savvy personal financial management. Insurance is protection. It protects everything you've worked so hard to earn. It protects your spouse in the event of premature death. It sends the kids to college. It holds together a family at a time when money shouldn't be a concern.

You need insurance but shopping for the right coverage to protect your family and your assets is like learning a new language. Term life, whole life, universal life, actual cash value, dividends, loans against policy - it's a maze of insurance products out there and finding the right coverage for your needs may take a little research.

Here's a starter course on getting the most for the least in life insurance and still have the protection you and your family need.

Types of Life Insurance

There are two basic types of life insurance with numerous variations on a theme.

Term life insurance is the simplest to understand. It's also the most economical protection you can buy.

Term life insurance is paid when the insured (you) pass on within a defined term - a defined length of time your life insurance coverage is in effect. Term life comes with a variety of time frames: five-, ten- even thirty-year terms are available.

The younger you are, the lower the cost of the monthly premium - the dollar amount you pay for protection each month. Premiums are calculated based on two factors - your age (and general health) and the dollar amount of protection you need. It's simple. A $100,000 term life insurance policy won't cost as much as a $500,000 policy because you're buying less protection.

With term life, you keep things simple. The insurance company pays X amount of dollars to the beneficiaries when the insured individual passes on, as long as the policy is in effect, that is, the death occurs during the term of the policy, thus the name term life insurance.

Term life policies don't accumulate value, you can't borrow against them and, if you choose a short term and your health changes, you could end up paying more for your term life insurance than you would if you buy a long-term policy - one that covers you for the long term.

To determine how much term life you need, add up funeral costs, outstanding personal debt, mortgage debt, the prospect of paying tuition and other large expenses that would drain family resources. Figure what it would cost your family for a single year.

Then multiply by a factor between 5 and 10. Use the lower factor if you don't have a lot of debt and the higher factor if you're carrying a couple of mortgages and you have three kids to put through school. That's how much term life you need to protect your family and all their expectations.

The other class of insurance is whole life insurance, also called permanent insurance, universal insurance, variable universal insurance and other product names, but all fall into the general class of coverage called whole life insurance.

The first difference between term and whole life is that whole life covers you from the day you buy the policy until you die. Of course, this assumes that you pay your whole life insurance premium each month. There is no term (length of time coverage is in effect) to whole life. Buy it when you're young and your premiums will be low and you'll start building cash value.

That's the other main difference between term and whole life insurance coverage. Whole life pays dividends. Not a lot, but dividends that can be used to lower monthly premiums, or they can be allowed to accumulate earning interest.

Once the whole life policy has accumulated enough cash value you can borrow against that cash value to buy a house or cover some tuition bills. The downside to taking loans against the value of a whole life policy is that it lowers the payout to family in the event of the insured individual's death.

However, a whole life policy does increase in value while providing protection for your family. The cost of coverage is also higher. Expect to pay more for $500K of whole life versus $500K of term life insurance, simply because the insurer is paying interest on your monthly premiums.

Calculate your coverage needs using the criteria listed above. Don't think of whole life as a money-maker. It's not intended to increase your wealth. That's a side benefit. An important side benefit, but the primary reason for purchasing whole life is to protect your family in the event of your pre-mature death.

Life Insurance Sources

There are hundreds of insurance companies and even more life insurance products so talking to a knowledgeable professional is a good first step.

An insurance broker can advise you but, keep in mind, each insurance broker carries a "line" of products from a limited number of insurance providers so each broker will tell you her products are the best value.

If you do the math yourself, you know going in, how much coverage you want to buy, at which point, it's just a matter of finding a reputable insurance company offering competitive rates and the benefits you're looking for.

Another resource is your local bank - often the best place to start researching your life insurance needs. Banks sell a broad range of life insurance products and, because insurance isn't the primary business of a bank, you're more likely to get straightforward answers to your questions.

Another reason to visit your bank's insurance rep is that your bank knows the financial you - how much you have in accounts, how much comes in and goes out on a month to month basis, your tax status and other personal finance information needed to get the right kind of life insurance at the right price.

Talk to your employer. Life insurance may be a benefit along with health care and two weeks vacation, but you may also be able to increase the dollar amount of coverage with money deducted from your paycheck painlessly.

Unions, associations, your local Chamber of Commerce and other organizations are also sources for low-cost term or whole life coverage. Purchasing life insurance coverage through an industry association, for example, gets you group rates that translate into more coverage at a lower monthly premium. On the other hand, when you purchase term or whole life through your union you usually don't have a choice of insurers and that's an important point to consider.

Go with an insurance company that's ranked highly by Standard and Poor or some other rating organization. Your broker or banker will steer you toward quality of coverage so you get more for your money.

Life insurance sounds complicated but, when you break it down into simple terms, it's something you can do with a trusted advisor to point you down the right path.

Get life insurance. Get term life if you want lower premiums; get whole life if you want your insurance to build cash value against which you can take loans.

It's your choice. Making the right one saves money and delivers the peace of mind that only quality life insurance protection delivers.

No one likes to think about buying life insurance. It's depressing. It's also essential to protect your family and your assets. What kind of life insurance is right for you? Here's what you need to know before talking to an insurance agent or company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Lalley

Life Insurance Gap

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:33:00 +0000

By Mark E VonMoss

The term coverage gap is one of those terms in the insurance industry that really does not have a classic definition. The term can be used to describe the gap between what you have a piece of property, like your home, covered for and what it would actually cost to replace said property.

It can be used to describe the shortfall of liability coverage for a business if they get sued.

It can indicate specific types of coverage that may be missing from an insurance program, like flood or earthquake coverage.

It also can refer to the amount of life insurance coverage a person actually has versus what they say they need. Statistical studies indicate that the amount of coverage insured say they need and the amount of coverage they purchase are not the same.

A recent study by New York Life indicates that the average coverage gap is $320,000!

This varies by generation with the gap being the smallest for Baby Boomers. The Baby Boomers is the generation born from 1946-1964. This generation reports a shortfall of $260,000.

Generation Xers, born from 1965 to 1983, report that they think they need in excess of $750,000 in life insurance coverage and only purchase an average of $260,000, leaving a substantial coverage gap of $490,000. This generation seems to have been hit the hardest by the recent financial crisis. Their average coverage amount has fallen from $400,000 to $260,000 in recent years.

Oddly enough, the youngest generation currently in the workforce falls somewhere between the Xers and the Boomers. This generation was born between 1984 and 2003. They report an average coverage gap of $370,000.

This study is based on two separate surveys, one online and the other one a phone interview with over 1,000 respondents.

Overall the estimated coverage gap in life insurance today is $15.3 trillion dollars. That's a lot of money by any standards.

Most people when asked why they do not have enough life insurance say the reason is that they cannot afford it.

The only way for families to close this coverage gap is buy additional coverage.

Having been in the insurance business for a number of years, I have seen a lot of changes in the way that life insurance is marketed and sold to the general public. When I first entered the business, most life insurance purchases were made across the kitchen table over a cup of coffee. This type of sales situation has gone the way of the rotary dial telephone. With technology and changing consumer behavior the way life insurance is purchased has changed dramatically.

In my mind, these startling statistics bring into question the way life insurance I bought and sold in today's social media world. There are ads for life insurance all over the airwaves and online sources from Facebook to LinkedIn and the old standbys or radio and television. Yet, the amount of coverage being sold doesn't seem to be keeping up with the potential demand. The coverage gap continues to widen. It makes one wonder if the old ways were better after all.

What is your coverage gap? Spending a little time figuring it out now could mean everything to your family later.

This information is being provided by Mark E. VonMoss, Mgr. Financial Serv. Div., The Insurancenter.

For more information on this or any other insurance questions, contact me

at mvonmoss@theinsurancenter.com,http://www.theinsurancenter.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_E_VonMoss

Life Insurance With No Medical Examinations And Checkups

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:32:00 +0000

By Imma Sila

On hearing the term insurance, what mainly comes to the minds of many individuals is property like vehicles, houses, equipment and harvest, but in reality, life insurance has risen and has gained popularity among many people, not only because of the burials expenses which it caters for but also for the many other benefits that accompanies it. Lack of knowledge and understanding has hindered many people from getting the cover and thus, it is a major challenge to the particular companies to lay informational strategies aimed at reaching a larger population.

Insurance companies range from those offering covers with no medical exam to those that requires a medical checkup as a necessity. An individual ought to carry out a thorough research on which company offers the cover he or she prefers to avoid misunderstanding.

Companies that do not require a medical check decide to take up the risk by not evaluating your health status but in turn charge an extra premium to compensate for the risk. They however do not give compensation to death as a result of ignorance by an individual or suicide cases. However, in case of death caused by natural calamities such as accident, full compensation is done. Otherwise, individuals with suicidal plans could be taking an insurance cover before committing suicide and advising their families to demand compensation.

The biggest misunderstanding about this concept is that because no test is required people think that anyone can qualify for it; however, this is not the case as they are policies that have to be undertaken. These policies include answering of health questions administered by the issuing officers, these questions requires you to explain when you last went for your check up and the results. Failure to pass the health question may lead to demand of an exam test or doubling of premiums to be paid.

Reason why people resist medical check ups

1. Temporary employment as they wait for permanent ones

2. Fear to get poked and prodded

3. Mentality that it may be time consuming and expensive

4. Lack of knowledge about the importance of medical checkup and examination

5. High risky working environment wish may result to sudden deaths as a result of accidents and calamities e.g. mining, oil extraction, explosive processing, and chemical reactant industries among other.

Therefore anybody considering life insurance with no medical exam and checkup should do thorough consultation and research from agents to get the best returns.

We provide the best info about life insurance no medical exam. For further details on this topic, visit us!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Imma_Sila

Life Insurance That Has Assurance Of Full Compensation

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:31:00 +0000

By Imma Sila

Life insurance is also referred to as life assurance. It is a contract between an insured and an insurer where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum amount of money upon the death of the insured person. In some cases, the contract may have some clauses that would result to the insured being given the money before his death.

These events may include situations where one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or critical illness. The policy involves regular payment of premium, and in some contracts, funeral expenses may be included in the contact. The policy can be a short-term contract (as short as one year) or as long as a lifetime. It is important to note that this life policy is a legal contract and the contract s has specific exclusions, which are often written in the contact to limit the liability of the insurer. Common examples are claims relating to suicide, fraud, riot and civil commotion. Life insurance fall under two major categories.

1. Protection policy, which is designed to provide a benefit in the event of a specified event typically a lump sum of money e.g. term insurance.

2. Investment policy, where the main objective is to facilitate the growth of capital by regular or single premiums. Common forms for example are whole life and universal life policies.

There are various parties to the life insurance; a policyholder who holds all policy ownership rights, insured who in some cases may be the owner who must consent to the policy, beneficiary the person who receives the proceeds of the insured.

Difference between insured person and policyholder

There is a difference between an insured person and a policyholder. In the insurance, although they are considered to be the same person, it is not always the case. For example, I may decide to buy an insurance cover for my son. In this case I am the owner of the cover while he is the insured.The guarantor is the policy owner but the son is a participant in the contract, and not necessarily involved.

A beneficiary is someone who receives proceeds upon the death of the insured. The policy owner can change the beneficiary unless the policy has an irrevocable. In cases where the policy owner is not insured (known as celli qui vat or cave), the insurance has sought to limit policy purchases to those with insured interest in the cqv. For such life policies, close family members will be found to have an insurable interest.The insurable interest requirement usually demonstrates that the purchaser will actually lose if the cave dies. Such a requirement prevents people from benefiting from the purchase of speculative policies on people they expect to die

In conclusion, insurance also has some terms. Some exclusions apply to life insurance, for example, many insurance policies provides a suicide clauses whereby if the insured commits suicide, the policy becomes null and void, any misrepresentation on the application for the insurance may also cause an insurance policy to be considered null and void.

We provide the best info about life insurance for seniors. For further details on this topic, visit our website!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Imma_Sila

Why Having Business Insurance Is Important

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 06:30:00 +0000

By Andrew M Moyers

When it comes to running a professional business in these modern times you can never be too careful. There are a variety of different things that can end up derailing your plans of moving forward and for that reason it's imperative that you look into covering yourself from issues that may arise. One of the main reasons why having business insurance is important is so that you aren't stuck with a lawsuit that cripples your workflow and causes you to lose it all. All it takes is one major court lawsuit and any small to medium size company could end up falling to the wayside. These types of events are not uncommon, just look for news and reports online about the subject and you'll be surprised at what you find.

Business insurance is not just about covering your creativity and ideas, it's about covering employees and other financial assets that could end up getting toppled by calamity. For instance, if you have cars that you're utilizing for the purpose of making deliveries and more, you'd want to have commercial insurance that covers the driver and the vehicles. If the automobiles were to be in an accident, you could end up losing a great deal of property that helps with the cash flow and profit of your company. Not only will you have to worry about damages but an employee could get injured, and your workforce diminished as a result. As the bills and creditors start to pile up, you could end up going bankrupt just trying to get back on your feet.

There are a lot of variables that you can account for in today's busy world, but when it comes to business insurance, you'll need to make sure that you get the right coverage for all of life's little problems. Whether it's due to a natural disaster, major profit loss due to hardships, injuries, accidents, and beyond, you may not have the cash flow to cover things. When life throws a curveball and your business is the target, you can file a claim and get compensated instead of reaching into your pockets. That sort of peace of mind can allow you to work and keep your eyes transfixed on business, rather than worrying about every little thing that could go wrong.

Many people fail to consider business insurance and end up missing out on an opportunity to hedge their bets against loss or damage to their property, vehicles, and even against theft. If you own a storefront and someone robs you, filing a police report and trying to catch the culprits will not get your business back on track. The costs could be in the tens of thousands, and without a policy you would have no major recourse. That's why it's very important to ensure that you have a good insurance plan that will cover you in case of theft, damages, and many other variables that could cause your company to spiral into chaos. With helping hands, you could easily mend anything that is broken and be glad that you thought ahead and prepared for any number of issues. Call your local insurance broker or agent and have them explain your business insurance options to you in person.

Andrew is a CA HOA insurance broker serving the entire state. Feel free to get in touch with him or his team regarding California apartment insurance or any other type of business insurance services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_M_Moyers

Set Your Phaser on Stun

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 23:00:00 +0000

By H. Gerald Grinter

I don't know about you, but I can't believe labor day has come and gone. It's like Captain Kirk just hit me with a quick blast of his phaser.

It's September and the stores already have "Halloween" items lurking about in all of the isles. Before you know it, we'll blaze past Thanksgiving and right through the "Holiday Season." So what's my point? I'm not sure about you, but I will purchase quite a few of my gifts for family and friends on-line. This is important to me because I want my data protected when I visit, shop or just plain ole use your website.

Did you know, in 2011, 273 breaches were reported, involving 22 million sensitive personal records. And these attacks weren't on just the big businesses. They hit some smaller ones as well - says, Ty Saglow of "Insurance Thought Leadership."

This has prompted insurers to enter the market in a big way. Rarely do insurance professionals have the opportunity to watch and be present during the creation and growth of a new coverage; but that's just the opportunity our profession has as Cyber Risk coverage continues to mature. Although cyber-insurance has been around for a while. It has really become a viable and effective coverage since around the year 2000 (thanks Conan O'Brien). Despite the increased attention to cyber incidents, most reports indicate only a minority of companies currently purchase cyber-insurance.

I'm not sure why more businesses don't buy the coverage. Seemingly, not a week goes by without a reference to cyber risk hitting the mainstream press. I think it's a lack of education. From agents as well as the underwriters who write the coverage. For example, previous surveys indicated that over 33% of companies incorrectly believe that cyber is covered under their general corporate liability. Third party litigation continues to be slow to develop outside the privacy arena and first party claim losses, outside of breach funds, is non-existent.

So you can see the industry still has room to grow as we agents/consultants attempt to make sure our clients are protected just like business owners want to protect their customers. The truth of the matter is, security programs will not get better until management begins to treat cyber security as an enterprise risk that must be governed. In my opinion cyber-liability is here to stay and will always be a part of business. Maybe the answer lies in a private-public partnership between the insurance industry and the federal government. We just need to get better at it.

Let's face it, most people don't invite friends over to read their insurance policies. That's what my clients pay me to do. I want what's best for them. After all, creating and fostering relationships and giving back is the cornerstone of great business.

For inquiries please send your emails to gerald@geraldgrinter.com or call me directly at 206.650.4342

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=H._Gerald_Grinter

Good, Bad, and Indifferent Healthcare Reform

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 16:30:00 +0000

By Clark A. Thomas

After working in the insurance field for several years and learning the curves, legal jargon, and attitudes of industry leaders nothing ever seems to amaze me. Under this new format and re-structuring of the affordable care act laws, known as Healthcare Reform, more than enough people are being helped. Though, the plan has many flaws that needs to be revised, overall many people who once were unable to have coverage can now have affordable health insurance and care thanks to this mandate. A plan that was introduced by Mitt Romney in the state of Massachusetts, has been implemented by our current President Barack Obama, although much mockery and the smearing by political leaders and tea parties to attempt to spoil something good for the American people, good always prevails over evil.

The best thing we can do as consumers is to educate ourselves and to realize that to control cost we must change our lifestyle and behaviors. Once, the rubber truly hits the road which is in this case our finances, then many of us will pay better attention to how our money is being spent and what is expected of us as consumers. The insurance industry is transferring the cost itself to consumers overall to help cover the cost due to the fact that everyone has to have coverage regardless of their health conditions; pre-existing conditions no longer matter. The industry is moving towards to having consumers pay higher deductibles and premiums thanks to no longer being able to rate or deny coverage altogether.

In all actuality insurers' have just hiked their prices higher to attempt to absorb the cost of healthcare not knowing who they will cover under the new healthcare reform law. As a whole the entire health insurance industry will experience higher cost, because more people than ever before who have been denied, will now be able to receive coverage no matter their economic situation.

If someone is economically challenged and are eligible for a tax credit also known as a subsidy, then, the federal government will help pay insurers, so every individual can have coverage if he or she chooses to take advantage of the tax credits that has been implemented from this current administration. This tax credit will help consumers who are unable to pay for insurance own their own, they will receive a certain amount of money monthly as a credit that will go directly to the insurer to offset the difference if they need financial assistance. For individuals who are living in poverty and has no income or money altogether; then they will receive state Medicaid to provide health insurance and care for themselves.

Overall, this will increase the cost of insurance for all. The government as a whole whether on local, state or federal levels controls every industry regardless of its kind. The politicians on every level of government should stop accusing the other with all the rhetoric, and begin to do their jobs for the American people especially those suffering in this country due to a lack of finances. The stupidity and arrogant ways of some politicians' who are in authoritative positions and abusing their authority as leaders in society is unacceptable.

All the bickering,backstabbing, and uncooperative spirit to work together for the common good of others must come to an end. We all will give an account of how we have lived in this life, the rewards will be limited or lost to those who are using their position of authority to abuse their status in society. Our current President Barack Obama has done a tremendous job with having a heart for people, his accomplishment of succeeding with Healthcare Reform, though it has many flaws and needs to be revised; is truly a blessing to many people who have never had the opportunity to be able to afford affordable healthcare. His efforts will not go unnoticed and he should be applauded for this massive undertaking and accomplishment.

Clark A. Thomas, author, he discusses practical life applications to make life less stressful. Writing articles has helped him become known online, more information available

at http://www.ClarkAThomas.com or http://www.ClarkAThomas.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clark_A._Thomas

Medical Device Reimbursement - Lean Startup Implementation

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 12:00:00 +0000

By Amir Inbar

A lot has been written about how Lean Startup methodology might help entrepreneurs build successful medical device companies. In this article we provide a real-life failure example of one of our clients and suggest a process to implement Lean Startup methodology to decrease the likelihood of such failures.

To get a broad understanding of Lean Startup, interested readers may access the website of Eric Ries, one of the originators of the Lean Startup methodology.

1. The Problem
Over the last 7 years, we provided consulting services to more than 150 different medical device startups. The sad truth is that most of them failed.

They failed because they did not manage to bring to market a commercially successful product before running out of money. Note they succeeded in bringing to market all sorts of very sophisticated products, but such that nobody was willing to pay for.

Developing a non-commercially successful product is called 'waste'. 'Waste' is defined as a product which may perfectly meet specification or demonstrate an engineering breakthrough, but still cannot be sold.

2. A Real Life Example
One of our clients developed an innovative product, which consisted of an array of electronic stethoscopes that passively monitor vibration energy from the lungs. The product enabled clinicians to monitor sites of airway obstruction without exposing the patient to radiation or invasive procedures. The company conducted a clinical study that demonstrated the accuracy of its system and received the FDA's clearance with the intended use of "monitoring lung sounds". At this point they approached us and asked that we help them develop their reimbursement strategy and implement it in the US.

After doing some homework we interviewed a couple of US payor representatives who immediately told us that: "It is going to be a cold day in hell before we pay for this technology!" Had the product helped clinicians differentiate between Asthma and COPD, they would consider it, but since they don't see what different clinical decisions could be made by "monitoring lung sounds", they won't pay for it. Such a product is an example of 'waste'.

Apparently, a lot of management and engineering time and efforts were spent on making decisions, designing, developing and testing features that one of their stakeholders (payors) were not willing to pay for. In order to develop a new version, differentiating between Asthma and COPD, a large chunk of the work was thrown away, not to mention conducting a new clinical study and applying for a new FDA clearance.

Lean Startup calls this change in the product's goals and design a 'Pivot'. Since this Pivot came at a relatively late stage, there was very little money left to support this change. Consequently, at this point, no one was willing to invest anymore money and the company shut down.

3. Implementing Lean Startup Methodology
Lean Startup offers a few basic tools, one of which suggests building a product incrementally and iteratively. Accordingly, instead of developing, testing, obtaining FDA clearance and only then obtaining payors' feedback, our client above should have sought payors' feedback a lot earlier.

But how could anyone obtain a payor's feedback before the product is complete? This is where Lean Startup introduces the concept of a minimum viable product (MVP). A MVP is the version of a new product which allows the collection of stakeholders' feedback with the least effort and as quickly as possible.

We call the MVP that we develop for our clients a 'Pseudo Dossier'. This 'Pseudo Dossier' includes most of the documentation the company expects to obtain in the future, once the product is fully developed and cleared/approved for marketing. However, it is based on the company's estimations, not actual data. The included pseudo data may indicate estimated clinical trial results, product price, etc.

Following the development of this 'Pseudo Dossier', payors may be approached at an early stage and asked to comment on the 'Pseudo Dossier', as if it was based on actual data (expected only within a year or two). Their feedback may be used to 'Pivot', i.e. make changes to the company's product, application or clinical plan at a very early stage, minimizing creation of waste and increasing the chances of developing a commercially successful product before running out of money.

4. Developing a 'Pseudo Dossier'
When we develop a 'Pseudo Dossier', we typically take the following Steps:

1) Draft a Value Story, indicating specific claims that explain how the use of the new device provides clinical and economic benefits compared to the existing alternatives.

2) Develop an Economic Model, quantifying the economic benefits and allowing for sensitivity analysis.

3) Verifying that existing clinical data supports the clinical and economic claims in the Value Story and Economic Model or adding reimbursement related aspects to any planned clinical study protocol, along with the company's estimated results.

The above Value Story, Economic Model and existing/planned clinical data (including the estimated results) are presented to relevant physicians and payors, seeking their feedback as if the product is complete and the estimated clinical study results represent the actual results that may be obtained within a year or two.

The completion of such a 'Pseudo Dossier' can be achieved within a couple of months, early enough to impact the product's specification, planned applications and clinical studies. In case of negative feedback the company should consider changing the Value Story, Economic Model, clinical data or product and then seek payors' feedback again until receiving positive feedback. Only upon receipt of positive feedback, it would make sense to continue with the development work and clinical studies. Otherwise, it is just an expensive gamble which may lead to the company's failure.

5. Summary
We have been implementing Lean Startup methodologies, including the development of MVPs (in our case 'Pseudo Dossiers') and using them for early validation with payors for more than 5 years (before we even knew about Lean Startup). This process was proven to be a success. It minimized the creation of waste and increased our clients' ability to bring to market a commercially successful product.

Amir Inbar is CEO, Mediclever Reimbursement Consultants , 27 Old Gloucester St., London, WC1N 3AX, UK; tel. +44 20 8099 7435.

Amir Inbar founded Mediclever Reimbursement Consultants, which provides end-to-end medical device reimbursement consulting services to life-science companies, selling pharmaceuticals and medical technology products in the US and Europe.

As an expert reimbursement consultant Amir has consulted for organizations ranging from incubator startups to large, publicly traded companies, assisting them to obtain reimbursement for their Drugs/Devices in the US and Europe.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amir_Inbar

Good, Bad, and Indifferent Healthcare Reform Part II

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 06:30:00 +0000

By Clark A. Thomas

The health insurance industry has changed rapidly since the new Affordable Care Act law has been introduced and implemented. The design and purpose for this arrangement has been implemented to accomplish several different scenarios. The first purpose is an attempt to control healthcare cost. Health Maintenance Organizations ( HMO) is a network designed to control healthcare cost; a person's primary physician is their gatekeeper to manage their health and provide low-cost maintenance for individuals in need of healthcare services. Within the network of providers care is provided from medical professionals within a tight knit unit consisting of: hospitals, outpatient surgery facilities, diagnostic centers, certain specialist, and general practitioners to name a few.

Insurers are automatically including preventative care as a feature which is by the way one of ten essential benefits that must be included with every plan sold today; this is an excellence marketing strategy to convince consumers they are getting something for free or at no cost to them. The second reason this new law is good for most people is that for those who were once unable to obtain any health insurance at all; are now able to get coverage. Also, if it was not for this new law, people with pre-existing conditions would have been rated or denied coverage altogether. Those days are over and the way insurance is purchase today is a package deal. Everyone need and deserves to be cared for when experiencing either physical or mental health challenges.

One thing I do not hear consumers acknowledging is the appreciation that their pre-existing conditions are no longer an issue and their medical history is a thing of the past. People want the benefit of being insured, but fail to recognize the good this new act has made possible; who otherwise would have never experienced the possibilities of enjoying affordable health care.

Every health insurance plan beginning in the year of 2014 will include a combination of ten essential benefits which includes the following but not limited to: ambulatory services, hospitalization, laboratory services, maternity, mental health services, prescription medicines, preventative care, and rehabilitative services just to name a few. Under the new law all plans must include all ten essential benefits. The way insurance was purchased in the past; is a thing of the past.

The third reason behind this ACA law is so that people in general would not go completely broke financially with surmounting medical expenses. There is an out of pocket maximum (OOPM) limitation insurers are including in their plans which is another good feature to persuade consumers again to purchase coverage. The way insurers are designing their plans under the new guidelines include: deductibles, co-insurance, and out of pocket maximums for each category of their plans. Any type of insurance helps reduce financial losses.

Going forward will be a one size fits all to a certain degree. For those of you who are financially wealthy, these changes in the law will not have much of an impact on you. However, the benefits of these guidelines will protect your wealth if and when you experience medical cost exceeding your savings and assets; mainly because of the outlay of money limiting your out of pocket maximums; meaning once you reach a certain limit financially out of your own pocket, then your insurer will cover 100% of your medical expenses. As consumers we have to ignore the negative press and realize how important this new law protects our finances and allows anyone regardless of their health conditions to be insured protecting his or her assets over the long haul.

Clark A. Thomas, author, he discusses practical life applications to make life less stressful. Writing articles has helped him become known online, more information available

at http://www.ClarkAThomas.com or http://www.ClarkAThomas.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clark_A._Thomas

Factors to Consider Before Purchasing an Online Health Insurance Plan

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 04:00:00 +0000

By Imma Sila

Consumers shopping for products in the online health insurance will find out the types of plans offered; how much it will cost and their annual deductibles. They will be able to determine whether their families qualify for government subsidies. The following are some of the factors you need to consider before purchasing a health plan, including:

· Is my hospital/doctor in the plan?

This is a very important consideration in light of the fact that some insurance companies have created local networks of hospitals and doctors to keep the premiums low. When you consider a particular website, you may not be able to tell the breadth of the network. However, many of the sites provide links to insurance provider directories. Some sites will describe insurance providers as having either a limited or a broad network. Other websites allow shoppers to key in doctors' names to find out about the plans they participate in. Considering directories are not always accurate or updated, it is important to double check by calling the service providers to determine whether they are participants in their plan.

· What drugs are covered?

The Medicare prescription drug website makes it possible for consumers to determine the drugs which have been covered by the program. With many of the other online plans, consumers shopping for insurance may not be in a position to enter the medications they take to determine the coverage provided by different plans. However, some of the websites feature links to insurance companies' sites. Here, important information pertaining to prescription drugs and coverage is provided.

· How much is expected to be paid?

The health law expects insurance companies to provide a summary of coverage and benefits to consumers. This includes information about the annual deductibles and the charges for hospital care, doctor visits and prescription drugs (i.e. co-payments for generic, specialty drugs and brand names). The health law provides an overall limit for out-of-pocket costs for an individual or a family, annually. When you shop for coverage and enroll in coverage you need to determine the benefits derived from the plan.

· What is the level of quality & customer satisfaction?

The government often places some restrictions on posting information on quality. Therefore, consumers have little or no information pertaining to quality and customer satisfaction. However, recently some states have been considering measures of quality and as a result, they have come up with quality ratings to gauge health plans. Information pertaining to drug costs, maternity care, emergency room use or hospitalization will be used to determine the degree of customer satisfaction.

We provide the best info about online health insurance on http://GETMEINSURANCERATES.COM. For further details please visit the provided links.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Imma_Sila

Risk Management and Inventory Control

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 17:00:00 +0000

By Irvin Kovar

In any size operation where warehouse goods are concerned, the finance department should be weary of escalating warehouse labour costs and the ownership of excessive inventory. An inventory control system in its simplest form creates efficiencies around receiving, putaway, picking and the shipping of goods. It enforces cost-saving work-flows at the point of labour through purpose-built logistics software. Through the use of wireless technology and rugged scanning devices, bar-codes both on the product and the slot locations are scanned to enforce an efficient warehouse process. Modern warehouse management software can provide a new level of product tracking and validation that becomes essential in the management inventory.

From a risk management perspective, inventory control solutions can help provide the kind of labour efficiencies and audit trail that provide a CFO with key information during reporting periods. A bar-code based warehouse management system can offer a sophisticated level of detail that is important when financial departments are looking to state inventory assets as a dollar value on the balance sheet.

Having tight controls on warehouse inventory is important because excess cash will be spent on warehouse inventory that is not turned, shipped or sold. These scenarios can reduce the overall opportunity costs for a business looking to invest its dollars wisely in other investments (not just inventory) and realize a positive net present value for alternate proposals.

Depending on your industry, most systems permit the tracking of expiry dates, re-order points and provide analytics on which stock items move the most and generate the most profitability. There is a general rule that 80% of sales or profit comes from 20% of ones inventory. This kind of information can be calculated easily by a warehouse management system. Another important result of having a system control your inventory is having a snap-shot of inventory that is 99.9 percent accurate; this means that the dollar value of inventory assets is also very accurate. This high-degree of accuracy is accomplished through a continuous process of bar-code validation as material handlers pick and pack products. The usual labour-intensive cycle-counting process is automated by the warehouse management system, as it continually updates the product information in the warehouse, from what is picked to what is held in a slot or bin location. Full inventory cycle counts, which can use many man-hours of labour and take days to complete also become redundant. The confidence in inventory accuracy does away with the need to schedule a large yearly inventory count. Finally, with a softare interface this data can update the host ERP (like SAP, Infor, Sage, Navision etc) and provide company-wide visibility. Updating the host system will enhance the efficiency of real-time transactions and improve the business processes that rely on timely and accurate inventory data.

One can only begin to analyze inventory numbers and movements effectively with an inventory control system. Accuracy rates in warehouses without any form of automated tracking can be as low as 70%. Automation can bring product count accuracy to 99.8%+ levels.

Inventory control should be of particular interest to businesses that are growing rapidly and have a much more critical view of cash-flow. During bursts in production, there is a tendency to over-stock and this ties up cash in inventory. Inventory positions should be carefully examined in any cash-flow analysis. Even a low-cost, entry-level warehouse management system can begin to de-risk a company's exposure to excessive labour costs and inventory. It is a given that most small business owners do not want an excess of their company's cash sitting in storage.

Another side potential side benefit may be a reduction in business insurance if excessive inventory can be eliminated and events such as dead inventory or expired inventory can be managed. Inventory control systems may also help reduce damages because items are properly located and put-away in well-marked or designated areas of the warehouse. The occurrence of theft may also be reduced if staff realize that a tight process exists for monitoring the whereabouts of inventory and that missing items may be detected quickly.

In summary, inventory is subject to risk exposures of various kinds and in itself carries a cash value which needs to be monitored like any other corporate asset. An inventory control system may help to mitigate this risk and bring greater certainty overall to the business.

About the Author: Irvin Kovar is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Automation Associates, Inc. developer of the RF Pathways Warehouse Management System. Irvin has 20+ years of IT consulting, supply chain and enterprise mobility experience ranging from custom software development to large corporate IT solutions.

For more information contact:

Tel: 1-866-823-6114

Email: irvin@rfpathways.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irvin_Kovar

4 Ways to Protect Company Vehicles

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:00:00 +0000

By Wilkinson Lewis

In today's world, having a fleet of company vehicles isn't easy or inexpensive. Not only do you have to worry about what your employees are doing with your vehicles when you aren't looking, you have to worry about having enough money to replace the vehicles should they fail you. You can cut down on these worries if you follow a few rules and set some examples on how a company vehicle should be treated.

Make rules clear to employees and enforce them. If you do not want your employees using the vehicles for personal use, then be clear about that in your company handbook. If employees will be responsible for vehicle upkeep, make it a part of the rules. Anything that can save you from having to replace these cars due to lack of care or irresponsible actions should be set in writing and employees should provide signatures to acknowledge the rules.

Make sure you go over the rules with employees instead of relying on them to read the rules carefully. Also be clear about the consequences of breaking the rules. These should also be outlined and enforced. Letting one employee slide on the rules sends a clear message to the others that you do not take the company rules and policies seriously. You don't want to send that message, so always abide by the rules.

Conduct regular inspections on your vehicle fleet.You will not know how the employees are taking care of the vehicles if you do not regularly check them. Make it a point to give surprise inspections to weed out the employees that do not take care of the cars unless they know that you are going to be inspecting them. These employees may need to have their privileges with company cars revoked for some time.

Make sure that you provide a timeline of when the vehicles must be inspected and cared for by a professional mechanic. If your employee does not meet the deadlines, he or she should be reprimanded. Being strict about the care of your company vehicles can save you a lot of money from damage and neglect in the long run. This is especially true for those people who have small businesses.

Provide incentives to anyone who uses your cars to take great care of the cars. There are a lot of employees who do not do much unless there is an incentive to do so. At inspection time, you should give a reward to those employees who take good care of their cars. This may be by treating them with an appropriate gift or by giving them an opportunity to buy the car after so long.

The incentive to buy the car after a period of time typically makes employees who want to do so take better care of the car. You may want to offer the car after it has a certain amount of mileage on it or after so many years. You will probably see a big difference in the way your employees treat the company vehicles once they know that these cars could be their own for a discount.

Make sure you do not make yourself exempt from taking care of your own company car. When you are busy taking care of the company, it can be easy to neglect the company car that you drive. You must remember that you are setting an example for the rest of your employees in all of your actions. If they see that you are not taking care of the car that you drive, they may feel that you do not care about the care of the cars.

Send a positive message to your employees through your own actions and your words. Your employees will respond back in a positive way, and you will be protecting your investments.

Evans & Lewis Insurance was formed by two individuals with extensive experience in commercial vehicles and specialist motor trade insurances services. Their main goal is to provide affordable insurance to the motor trade sector which is free of hassles and different from other insurance companies. Road risk, truck and van, and motor fleet insurance are just a few things that Evan & Lewis Insurance can discuss with you to help you decide which is best for you and your business. Please give them a call for a quick quote at 0800 121 7401 or 01782 660590, or visit their website at http://www.motor-trade-insurances.co.uk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wilkinson_Lewis

How to Get the Best Corporate and Company Medical Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (David Yousaf) — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:00:00 +0000

By Dean Ghavami

Nowadays, it has become quite common for companies, big or small, to offer private health insurance to their employees. There are several benefits that the company reaps in lieu of this comparatively small expense.

• Company health insurance helps to attract quality staff and in retaining them

• Employees get speedy private treatment and hence can return to work sooner

• Employees get more choice as far as hospitals, surgeons, and specialists are concerned

• It will ensure peace of mind for you and your employees

However, over the years, we have observed that at times companies can end up paying more for their premiums than they need to. It is quite natural that some insurance companies will not come in with their best possible rates right from the outset when they are providing quotations for your company. If companies were to spend some time on negotiating with the different insurers, they would in most cases be able to reduce the quoted premiums.

Needless to say, there is the hassle of matching your specific health insurance requirements and the products and services that most insurance companies in the market are offering. Every organization has different insurance needs, and sometimes it becomes difficult to find the right health insurance company that satisfies all your needs. However, if you wish to opt for company health insurance for your employees and wish to simplify the process, you can use a broker that specializes in private health insurance and is able to find the right cover at the right price.

Usually there is no fee charged to the client as these specialist brokers receive commission from the insurance companies once they have submitted an application. The brokers providing such specialist services do not shoot in the dark as far as your specific requirements are concerned. They in fact, perform a thorough analysis of your company private medical insurance requirements before making a recommendation based on your needs. Usually a detailed analysis of the products and services offered by the insurance companies are provided.

Using a specialist private medical insurance broker can in most cases save you time and money as they try hard to negotiate the best rates possible for your company. Therefore, you don't have to spend hours searching and comparing the different policies in the market for suitable insurance companies which will save you a lot of time and resources that can be put to better use elsewhere.

Dean Ghavami is the Director of DataHealth Consultancy Ltd which was founded back in 2000 and he has over 15 years of experience in the health insurance industry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Ghavami