ALL ABOUT INSURANCE

Hidden In Plain Sight-Term Life Insurance Conversion

2012-04-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

Most people do not have a clear understanding of the various options available in term life insurance, and consequently make decisions based solely on price. This document was written to help you determine what additional issues may also have a bearing on the best value for you.
The Problem
As consumers, we generally concern ourselves with price because we are most comfortable when comparing something obvious such as numbers. Prices are easy to compare and understand; especially when it concerns products we generally have little experience in purchasing.
Previous Option
Compounding this problem as it concerns term life insurance in particular, is that many popular internet sites allow the consumer to obtain a quote simply by completing several questions
about build, health and lifestyle. Once quotes are obtained, it’s up to the buyer to choose their best deal. We know this can be a disservice to the client, and in the pages to follow we give a specific example of why, and what to consider.
The LifeNet Solution
We believe life insurance is too important to your beneficiary’s welfare and your own peace of mind to choose coverage based on limited information and undefined objectives. Certainly there is nothing wrong with checking premium costs to get some idea of the market; however, we believe clients are not well served by a mechanical procedure which does not address issues central to the reason for purchase in the first place, i.e. your beneficiaries’ security.
An Example
Let’s take a case of a 60 year old male, a non-smoker in good health and in need of a $1,000,000 policy to examine how both approaches work, and show why our method is superior and provides more value to you, the applicant.
The competition provides you a number of quotes detailing carrier name, carrier rating, health category, and premium. Should you wish to apply, simply pick your carrier and the application
appears. No fuss, no bother, and no idea if this offer is the best value. In fact, it is rare to find premiums of the lowest cost carriers to vary widely.
The lowest cost provider with an A+ or better rating, which we’ll call Company A has an annual premium of $4755. Two other carriers (Companies B and C) have annual premiums of $4955 and $4980 respectively.
All three have convertibility options, but each company’s conversion rules vary and can result in very different opportunities for the insured. In each case, conversion will be at the same health rating that the insured received at the time of the original purchase. In essence, this guarantees the health rating at conversion without evidence of current insurability. This is
extremely important since health tends to worsen as we grow older, you could even be uninsurable. In addition, most carriers will allow a partial conversion. That is, a $1,000,000 term may be converted into a permanent policy of any size up to the original face amount of $1,000,000. Most permanent policies have a minimum face of $100,000.
Now back to our example. Company A is relatively small compared to others. Its market is low cost term insurance, and they allow conversion to a whole life policy. You may convert to this
policy at anytime your term policy is in force up to your 70th birthday. Company B’s policy is also convertible up to age 70; however conversion to several policies is available. Among them is a flexible premium universal life policy with a guaranteed premium. This type of policy is designed to have the lowest possible premiums. It is guaranteed to stay in force for your lifetime as long as premiums are paid on a timely basis. Both the premium and the face amount of the policy never change. These policies are designed without any cash accumulation, and have considerably lower premiums than whole life.
Finally, Company C has identical conversion policy choices as Company B, however the conversion option stays in effect for an additional five years to age 75. This additional 5 years
can mean a great deal because the older we become, the more likely our health rating will change in a negative way. If you find you need lifetime coverage, the extra 5 years of
convertibility can make a big difference in protecting your beneficiaries.
Any financial plan is just that, a plan. It is based on what we consider reasonable in light of what we know now. However, anyone in their 50’s or older knows how plans can change for
many reasons, some under our control, but many not. To summarize, both company A and B have identical conversion time periods, while company B has better choices than company A. Company C has the same conversion choices as Company B and extends the window of opportunity an additional five years to age 75. Now comes the interesting part. As the owner of the policy, you may have the potential to sell this policy if your need for coverage has decreased or disappeared. This transaction is called a “Life Settlement”. Life Settlements have become a multi-billion dollar market in the last few years and it’s easy to see why as we now look at all three carriers. Legitimate Life Settlements should not be confused with “Stranger Originated Life Insurance (STOLI)” which is illegal in many states.
                                Company A            Company B             Company C
Annual Premium                   $4,755               $4,955               $4,980
Total Premiums (15 yrs)          $71,325              $74,325              $74,700
Sale of Policy                     0                     0                 $200,000 (est*)
*This estimate is based on a composite of real cases, but will be dependent upon actual conditions at the time of potential sale, and in no way is it to be considered a guarantee of future results. Remember, you should never attempt to sell a policy if you still need coverage or your health has declined. This type of transaction is designed for individuals whose objective has changed due to financial circumstances different from when the policy was purchased.
For a term policy to be considered a good candidate for sale, it must be convertible into a universal policy with little or no cash value and guaranteed level premiums.
Implementation
1. Contact an independent agent with access to the majority of highly rated insurance companies. Once you find someone you feel comfortable with, check their status with your state insurance department. This is quite easy to do. Just go to your state insurance department website.
2. Remember, agents cannot guarantee you a premium cost! They can only use their best efforts based on the health, lifestyle and the family health history you provide. Omitting
information does a disservice to both you and the agent. Life insurers deal with fraud or incomplete information regularly. When you withhold information, you hurt your chances for the agent to advocate on your behalf. Additionally, it may harm your ability to obtain coverage with another carrier.
3. Discuss your objective with the agent. Agents can suggest approaches to coverage you may not have considered.
4. Make sure you ask about conversion options.
5. Be prepared to have a paramedic exam, typically done at your home, your office or at the exam company. Most carriers require blood and urine collection and an EKG to be performed by an independent paramedic company. In some instances, it is possible to purchase coverage without these tests, however be prepared to pay higher premiums for smaller amounts of insurance.
6. Ask questions. Good agents are in the service business and want to do a good job for you. So let them!

NIG targets SME insurance in Scotland

2012-04-07T05:37:00.000-07:00

Commercial insurer NIG has announced plans to invest in and grow its Glasgow-based team as it looks to explore opportunities in the underserved SME market in Scotland.
A team of 12 underwriters in Glasgow currently handles new business, while the majority of Scottish renewals are looked after by NIG’s Manchester operation. However, NIG will be phasing the handling of renewals back to Glasgow and has already begun the recruitment process. The total number of underwriters in Scotland is also targeted to grow by up to 50% over the next 12 to 24 months.
Alan Kirkwood, Area Business Development Manager for NIG in Scotland, will continue to manage the sales team in Glasgow. As well as three Business Development Managers, NIG has also recruited a sales coordinator and is currently recruiting an Area Underwriting Manager who will lead the underwriting team.
Staff in NIG’s Manchester office will not be adversely impacted by the transition to Glasgow as NIG is also looking to grow in the Manchester market. This is supported by the recruitment of a new Area Business Development Manager for the branch to work alongside Steve Williams, NIG’s Manchester Area Underwriting Manager.
The decision to invest in its Scottish operation was catalysed by on-going feedback from brokers operating in the Scottish market who highlighted the need for a dedicated local service for them and their clients.
In a recent survey1 conducted by NIG on a sample of leading brokers in Scotland, 40% said that one of the key requirements they look for from their commercial insurance partners is a ‘strong, regional office’; overall, they rated ‘fast, efficient customer service’ in first place (60%). Asked about opportunities in the Scottish market, the majority (73%) said that commercial landlord and property owner lines are expected to show the most growth, followed by fleet/motor (46%) and tradesman (40%).
Alan Kirkwood, Area Business Development Manager for NIG in Scotland, said: “The team of four business development staff is dedicated to visiting brokers here in Scotland and maintaining a close relationship with them. NIG understands the Scottish market extremely well and the investment being made in the Scottish office underlines how committed we are to the region.”
Dave Parry, Director of Sales and Distribution for NIG, said: “Since 2009, the work we have carried out at NIG has been very focused on our face-to-market capability. We have recruited some great people and continue to invest in the talent we need to grow our business sustainably. We have listened to our broker partners and our continued investment in the Scottish market underlines our belief that there are rewards to be earned from getting closer to the local broking operations that have a strong relationship with their clients.”

A Good Insurance Company

2012-03-12T05:37:00.002-07:00

A good Insurance company offers exceptional auto coverage. Those that are insured by a reliable company can rest easy knowing they are covered by a reputable agency. Most people do not realize that they are not covered properly until something happens. Once someone realizes they were not covered properly it is too late.
Imagine being a victim of a storm or a vehicle collision. It should not take an accident to happen before an individual realizes that they need to increase the coverage of their policy. Individuals should be advised of their options concerning premiums, deductibles, rates, and detailed coverage information. They should also receive excellent customer service in the process.
Agents who provide excellent customer service should be prepared to answer any questions insurers might have concerning their insured assets and coverage needs. Consideration of multiple vehicles, good student discounts, air bag, accident free, and good driver discounts should apply to existing policy holders as well as prospective clients.
Coverage can be provided for trucks, motorcycles, motor homes, boats, snow mobiles, and ATV’s these are items that can be insured by insurance companies that offer a variety of services. These items are sometimes the riskiest investments an individual can make. Therefore personal items such as these should be insured by the best insurance with an excellent reputation.
A free quote should provide existing and prospective customers with bundled insurance discounts, auto and home insurance. Knowledgeable agents will provide information with convenience and security to their clients. No information should be omitted when individuals are shopping for coverage.
An agency that has been protecting families for several years is one that has creditability. Trust and stability is everything and excellent insurance companies that provide its insurers with reliable service and products.
These items are important parts of life and should be covered by the best company which includes auto, health, business, home, life, and retirement. A good Insurance company will cover all the needs of its clients while providing them with peace of mind and satisfaction.

Demolition Insurance - Planning For The Unexpected

2012-03-12T05:36:00.002-07:00

As a demolition contractor, you understand the importance of forward planning that takes into account every possibility and ensures that you are never taken unaware by events – because you understand the possible outcomes, you can make the demolition go the way you want it to. It probably also feels like getting demolition insurance takes the same amount of planning, with you having to assess which risks your business is likely to face and which ones are not so likely.
Obviously, the starting point will be those insurance elements which are required by law, and most clients will require you to have these in place before they’ll even consider awarding you a demolition contract. Combining public, employer and product liability cover into a general liability policy can be a good idea, giving you the security of knowing that you are covered for the work you are doing now and any future impact it may have. The cost will vary according to the type of work you do, how many employees you have and the company turnover, so be sure you are accurate when negotiating with your insurance broker. Generally speaking, you’ll be covered for a minimum of £5 million for your liabilities, and you can probably double that with government or local authority contracts who will stipulate a minimum level of cover.
As for the optional items in the policy, the ones you include will often depend on the type of work you do and, unsurprisingly, the options are as varied as the work itself. There are clauses covering excavations or work done at height, asbestos clearance, pollution or other harmful substances, and just about anything else you can think of. Obviously, those might or not be relevant to your work so make sure you only add those which matter.
There are a couple of other options which can form part of a demolition insurance policy, and should be considered regardless of the type of work your demolition company does. Tools and equipment are the main things to think about here as these are often items that can be expensive to replace, and they can be covered against loss, theft, damage or total loss on or off site as you require.
As a final word, don’t be tempted to save time by buying a standard demolition insurance policy. It is by far better to get something that is tailor made to the work you are likely to be doing – just as every demolition company has a different set of risks, so should every policy. It might save you time to go for a standard package, but it probably won’t save you money and you will almost certainly be over-insured, covered for risks you just don’t face.

Rates And Reasons – What You Need To Know About Insurance

2012-02-20T05:00:00.003-08:00

nsurance may even cover your property after an emergency or odd event. Having a good insurance is the best way to prepare yourself for what you cannot foresee.
If the time has come for you to find a new policy provider, check if your current state gives you any kind of facts or data about local providers and their premiums. By doing this, you can get an idea of the price of insurance where you live. They can also provide specific information about insurance agents and insurance companies.
If you want a quick response to your claim, describe clearly what happened. Make sure you snap some photos of your damage. Be honest with your insurance company. Don’t allow yourself to be tempted by the hope of more money by exaggerating or lying, or you may not receive payment.
If you’re running a small company, make sure you’re insurance options have been covered. Most insurance coverage gives you an umbrella over a lot of various risks, but might not cover particular potential issues, meaning that you should seek a policy or additional coverage that will cover you.
Many companies sell different packages that include insurance for a variety of types of property. Not only will someone only have to deal with one company, but they usually will also get a discount.
Cancel the towing part of your policy, especially if you unlikely to need it. A tow usually costs around one hundred dollars, but you pay more than that after just a few years of insurance. You probably won’t use the towing part of the plan, especially since other areas of the policy will cover towing after an accident anyway.
Search out trustworthy companies that have good rates before you purchase insurance. There are a number of websites that provide reviews and information about insurance companies. The JD Power site has customer ratings on many prominent providers. Check the NAIC website to find information about complaints filed against any company you’re considering. Ambest.com is a great way to check the validity of a company.
Always ensure that you have your insurer send a paper copy of any new policies. A written copy allows you to read through the information and make sure your understandings were correct, as well as that the agent fulfilled the order.
Your insurance agent can help you with inquiries that are not answered in your policy. Speak to them over the phone, and let them know what your questions are. Your agent will know what you need and is pleased to assist you.
Subscribing to more than one policy is a good way to get discounts. Once you have an offer, compare it to other companies online to see if you can get a better deal.
With respect to anything that may lead to a claim being filed with your insurance company, stay calm and collected, and be sure to get all the facts and details. All this evidence not only helps your insurance company stand up for you in potential legal proceedings, at the very least it can mean processing basic claims faster.
As stated at the beginning of the article, there are many different types of insurance available. Hopefully you have discovered ways you can insure yourself and/or your property that you hadn’t thought of before. Having insurance gives you piece of mind that in the unfortunate event of a tragedy, illness, or accident, you and your family will be covered, and a bit more prepared.

Choosing The Right Health Insurance For You

2012-02-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

Review your insurance plan annually to see which prescriptions are covered. Reread the list of which drugs are covered every time you re-enroll in your health insurance plan. It’s far better to know in advance than to be embarrassed at the drug store by your sudden inability to pay for your prescriptions.
A history of pregnancy complications or a previous C-section may lead an insurance provider to deny coverage to a woman on account of the expenses incurred; some health care insurers will use this as an excuse to flat-out deny coverage. The sad truth of the matter is that a C-section procedure is often considered optional, not to even mention that it’s expensive. When you’re dealing with money, insurance companies love to skirt responsibility.
Some companies charge extra if your spouse is covered under your health insurance when insurance is available at his or her place of employment. Take a look at the details and determine whether you could actually benefit financially by keeping your policies separated.
It is of the utmost importance that you review all documentation concerning your health insurance plan. The reason for this is that you have to be knowledgeable of what your plan covers and what it does not. If you choose a policy which has contingencies that are counter to your desires, you could end up spending hundreds of dollars out of pocket!
Health insurance companies let you make choices about what they can include in their benefits. Common items that are negotiated are size of co-payment, whether prescription drugs are covered, and whether dental and vision care are covered. As you add benefits to the policy, you also add additional costs to the premium. If you opt for fewer options, you will pay less.
Inquire about reduced health insurance rates when covering all the members of your family. Companies will often offer a reduction in your premium when you’re covering multiple people, much like group insurance. Inquire about this specific possibility before you sign on to any one plan.
Save money by never paying your health insurance premiums with your credit card. Many companies charge fees for using a credit card, and these fees can add up to a lot of money over time.
If you have vision problems now, or if members of your family do and you think you will in the future, vision insurance is something you will want to purchase. Vision insurance can cover a majority of your checkup costs as well as the costs of any frames, lenses or contacts you may need. This type of insurance may not be necessary for some people, as they don’t use vision services enough to make it worth the cost.
Consider the doctors you currently use, and how they fit in with the network of new insurance providers. If your favorite doctor is not within a prospective carrier’s network, it may be wise to seek alternative insurance providers.
It is essential to do some research and compare costs before purchasing a health insurance policy from a provider if you have one or more pre-existing conditions. Often companies will disallow coverage or charge increased prices for coverage, when pre-existing conditions are present. You can get the best coverage at the lowest rate if you take the time to do some research.
One way to keep costs down when paying for prescription medication is to ask your doctor to prescribe twice your usual dose. Often times, the bigger pill is not twice the cost of smaller pills, so you could end up saving money by buying these in the long run. The savings will offset the cost of a pill splitter in a relatively short order.
When shopping around for health insurance, it is important to be knowledgeable about regulations or laws governing health insurance that may affect you. For example, you’ll want to know if your state offers any protection for people with preexisting conditions. Having knowledge of these regulations is imperative so that if the situation arises, you will know if your health insurance provider is attempting to deny you proper coverage.
It is important to review your health insurance policy each year during open enrollment. If your family has grown or someone’s needs have changed, you may have to change your coverage. Open enrollment allows you time to change vision and dental insurance if your employer provides these options.
Several different kinds of insurance plans exist. Each one serves a different purpose or need. You could choose plans that covers the areas you need now and hold off to purchase a full coverage when you possess the money to do so.
Health insurance is necessary to prevent huge financial losses if you get extremely ill or severely injured. Unexpected illness can develop at any time, or you could be the unfortunate victim in an automobile accident. Here are a few tips you can use as somewhat of a check list for getting an insurance policy for your health, so that you can get an affordable, suitable plan for you and your family.

Life Insurance

2012-02-18T05:23:00.001-08:00

Life insurance or life assurance is a contract between the policy owner and the insurer, where the insurer agrees to pay a sum of money upon the occurrence of the insured individual’s or individuals’ death or other event, such as terminal illness or critical illness. In return, the policy owner agrees to pay a stipulated amount called a premium at regular intervals or in lump sums. There may be designs in some countries where bills and death expenses plus catering for after funeral expenses should be included in Policy Premium. In the United States, the predominant form simply specifies a lump sum to be paid on the insured’s demise.

As with most insurance policies, life insurance is a contract between the insurer and the policy owner whereby a benefit is paid to the designated beneficiaries if an insured event occurs which is covered by the policy.

The value for the policyholder is derived, not from an actual claim event, rather it is the value derived from the ‘peace of mind’ experienced by the policyholder, due to the negating of adverse financial consequences caused by the death of the Life Assured.

To be a life policy the insured event must be based upon the lives of the people named in the policy.

Insured events that may be covered include:

• Serious illness

Life policies are legal contracts and the terms of the contract describe the limitations of the insured events. Specific exclusions are often written into the contract to limit the liability of the insurer; for example claims relating to suicide, fraud, war, riot and civil commotion.

Life-based contracts tend to fall into two major categories:

• Protection policies – designed to provide a benefit in the event of specified event, typically a lump sum payment. A common form of this design is term insurance.
• Investment policies – where the main objective is to facilitate the growth of capital by regular or single premiums. Common forms (in the US anyway) are whole life, universal life and variable life policies.

Health Insurance

2012-02-18T05:16:00.001-08:00

One of the most important types of insurance to have is health insurance. Your good health is what allows you to work and earn money and otherwise enjoy life. If you were to come down with a sickness or have an accident without health insurance you may find yourself unable to receive treatment or even in debt to the hospital.

Thankfully, many employers provide health insurance benefits to full-time and even some part-time employees. If you do not currently have health insurance coverage this is the first place to check as it will generally be the most affordable. If you are married, you may both be able to receive coverage under just one of the employer plans.

If your employer does not offer health-insurance health insurance or you are self-employed you still need it. While it may not be cheap the fact remains; what do you have if you don’t have your health? Even a basic hospital bill without insurance can run into the thousands of dollars. It isn’t worth risking financial ruin to save a few bucks on a health insurance premium.

Low Cost Health Insurance

2012-02-18T05:11:00.001-08:00

For those who don't know, health insurance is simply the coverage of medical claims of an individual, against the medical costs. Like many others you may not be able to afford an expensive insurance policy - but you can eliminate all the frills you don't need and get the low cost health insurance you want and still be adequately covered. Health insurance, as with any kind of insurance today, whether individual, personal, business or family health insurance, is always a gamble. You're gambling that you'll take out more than you are paying in and your health insurance company is gambling they will pay out less.

You want to know what to look for in any type of good insurance. If you have always had a health insurance benefit where you've worked and especially if you were a state or federal employee and now find you have to buy your own, you may not be able to afford the level of coverage you used to have. Finding good low cost health insurance today is easier than most people think.

To start, shopping for free health insurance quotes online is the easiest and best way to find low cost health insurance coverage. If you have any permanent health problems, such as diabetes, or have had cancer at any time in your family history, your monthly cost could easily be more than your house and car payment combined, but there are many different good insurance plans available today in the US.

The cold hard facts are the older you get the more important your health insurance policy becomes; this isn't to say that you should not be concerned about your insurance when you're younger. In case your doctor decides that something is an absolute medical necessity and it's not covered under your current policy, the insurance company may exercise its discretion in paying for it, but don't hold your breath. Many report they were eventually covered yet many more people get turned down.

One of the best ways to find low cost insurance is to get free health insurance quotes online. You can generally get very fast quotes and you want to compare several companies, as they will all have different criteria. This will be the fastest way to find low cost insurance.

Most importantly, you want a health insurance provider or company that has a good track record for paying without fighting you on every little detail. Your local agents may only be able to offer what they have currently available and not be able to offer you what's best for both your pocketbook and your health.

The death rate in any given year for someone without insurance is twenty-five per cent higher than for someone with insurance so you want to make sure you get the best coverage you can get at the lowest cost as soon as possible. Heart-attack victims who don't have insurance are less likely to be able to get angioplasty, which is often the treatment of choice. People who have pneumonia who don't have insurance are less likely to receive initial or follow-up x-rays or necessary consultations.

In general because people who are uninsured are sicker than the rest of us because they can't afford proper medical care, they can't get better jobs, and because they can't get better jobs they can't afford insurance, and because they can't afford insurance they get even sicker.

Although it does increase your risk, one way to lower your insurance costs is to set a higher deductible; if you're in good health you'll like come out ahead, barring an unforeseen event such as an accident, etc. Keeping yourself in better health will help you with less health insurance claims. All the insurance companies have to be very competitive because it's so quick and easy to compare them with the other competing companies online.

Children without any insurance are less likely to receive proper medical attention for serious injuries, for recurrent ear infections, or for asthma for example and you want to avoid having to face a $100,000 open heart surgery without having any insurance.

So taking out insurance with higher deductibles and spending a little time online comparing at least five or more companies will make it more likely that you'll find the best low cost insurance. There are many different health plans so make sure you get an understanding of all the low cost health insurance policies that are available from each company. Cheap or low cost insurance does mean a lower price and in some cases lower quality, but the price may be more important to some than the quality of the health plan. You don't want to pay for more than you need but you want to consider any possible future health events you might encounter too.

Finding good, hopefully cheap, low cost insurance without giving up quality does not simply mean looking for the lowest premium but it means fully understanding all of the costs that will be involved in your policy. And finding the best health insurance is easy to do online, whether you're shopping for long-term or short term health insurance from California, Texas or Florida.
With the rise of medical insurance costs today, most people look for low cost health insurance premiums that will ensure quality medical attention at the time of need, but at a price they can simply afford. Make sure to keep in mind that with low cost insurance options, you'll need to compromise somewhat on the variety of services covered. Proceed surely but carefully.

Home Insurance Rates

2012-02-18T05:10:00.001-08:00

Insurance premiums are calculated according to several risk factors. These are the factors identified by the insurance company as most likely to have an impact on the insured against risk occurring. Insurance is a significant cost associated with the item insured and should not be rushed into. It is always a good idea to shop around for the best price available. Insurance premiums will vary considerably from insurer to insurer so do your homework.

Shopping Around

Look up the various insurance companies you are interested in and ask them for a quote. They can usually give you a rough estimate fairly quickly and even more exact quotes should also be possible if you provide more details and wait. You should also look up insurers online and get instant quotes from their website. This is a very fast and effective way of shopping around. You will get a good idea of what prices to expect. You can also experiment with the quotation websites to see what effect it makes to your premium price if you select different options. With all insurance policies you will have a number of options that affect the price of the policy. Therefore you should think about these options and if there are risks that you do not wish to cover then let the insurer know as your premium should become cheaper.

Doubling Up

You should also try to make sure you do not double insure. It is a principle of insurance that you cannot benefit from the insured event’s occurrence. So you cannot get paid twice even if you have two insurance policies. So if a risk is already covered by one policy, again let your insurer know so they can remove it from their calculation.

Location, Location, Location

Home insurance rates depend on factors such as address. If your home is located in an are of high crime, or an area that flood often, or is prone to earthquakes, hurricanes or other significant risks, this will be reflected in the policy price. The security you have installed will also affect the premium you must pay. If you have a sophisticated security system this will obviously make your home safer and this will reduce the risk. Similarly, fire alarm systems and sprinklers can decrease your premium. In some areas, flood prevention measures may be taken into account. The size and value of your home will be another important factor, as clearly a more expensive home will cost more if it is damaged.

Many home insurance policies will require you not to leave the home unoccupied, and if you are renting out the home, this will also affect the premium.

Criticism of Insurance

2012-02-18T05:09:00.001-08:00

Insurance policies work by taking premiums from customers in exchange for baring the risk of certain costly events occurring. For example, if there is one fire in your town each month, everyone could just sit tight and hope their house doesn’t burn down next, or could pitch in and pay an insurance premium each month and this is then used to rebuild the house that burns down. Very simply this is how insurance works. It is a method of spreading a risk over a far wider area, so that it will not be as devastating as if it was concentrated solely on the person who experiences the loss.

Exclusion Clauses

There are a few problems with this however and they attract much criticism. One criticism is that by taking on the risk for people, insurance makes people take greater risks than they otherwise would. For example, if you know your home contents are insured against burglary, then you may not be as careful about locking the doors and windows every time you leave the house. Or if your bike is insured, you may not bother to lock it as much as if it wasn’t insured. In the insurance industry, this problem is known as the moral hazard.

Insurance companies protect themselves against this by inserting exclusion clauses into their contracts, which remove their obligation to pay out if the insured performs or fails to perform certain stated actions. They might for instance require that you fit smoke detectors, or use good locks on your doors, or other things that will reduce the risk of the insured against event occurring.

Too Complex

There are also certain risks that you are not allowed to insure against in most countries. This is first of all because it would be too difficult for the insurance companies to quantify, but mostly it’s because they are risks that governments want the person at risk to bare himself or herself. They generally apply to multinational companies.

There is also the criticism that insurance policies are far too complex for the vast majority of consumers to understand. It is simply unreasonable to expect the customer to understand lengthy documents that have been drafted by not one, but usually teams of specialised lawyers. This can lead to consumers being misled or buying insurance policies on unfavourable terms. To get around this, most countries regulate the content of insurance contracts to ensure that they remain fair to consumers.

There is also the option of using the services of an insurance broker to shop the market for you

HIPAA Laws

2012-02-18T05:08:00.003-08:00

Your visit to the doctor now contains a page where you sign that you acknowledge that the physician's office has notified you about their compliance with HIPAA laws. More often than not, you probably read through quickly or barely skim the authorization form before signing it. However, HIPAA laws are important, and they are in place to protect you from identity theft, being denied care, and/or health insurance coverage.

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, enacted in 1996. HIPAA laws created a new national standard in protecting your health information. As you see different physicians or become admitted to different hospitals, your health information should follow you. HIPAA delineates the need to properly protect your health information as it flows through to these different channels. As more and more transactions are completed electronically these days, HIPAA laws focus on the protection of your health information specifically through these channels.

So what does HIPAA protect? For you, HIPAA protects personally identifiable health information, such as your Social Security number, birth date, address, etc., as well as current, past, or even future physical and/or mental conditions or treatment. Such information may not be disclosed except for specific uses. Information that HIPAA does not cover must specifically be personally non-identifiable. In protecting this sort of information, there is more protection against identity theft and more recourse if such a thing should happen.

HIPAA also protects how health insurance providers may use your health information. These entities may use your information without your authorization only if they are sending you information, using this information to provide the best treatment or health care, or collecting payment on medical expenses, among other things. If disclosure of your health information does not fall under these categories, you must authorize the transfer of information in writing. Furthermore, because the government understands that highly technical language can be a barrier in understanding your health information privacy rights, any authorization must be in plain language.

This may all seem like unnecessary paperwork, but beyond identity theft, HIPAA laws also help those looking for health insurance coverage. Title 1 of the HIPAA laws oversees the availability and range of health insurance plans for those without perfect health. It outlaws any health insurance plan from creating discriminatory rules to create premium rates or deny coverage. HIPAA laws are quite extensive, but this gives you a look at how your health information is being protected and used. Your department of health should be able to give you further information, or you can search the government's Web site for the entire HIPAA law.

Affordable Health Insurance

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Finding affordable health insurance is possible, there are many companies that will help you to find health insurance that will meet your requirements and stay within your budget. Connecting with a company that is capable of hunting down health insurance providers can take the hassle out of buying health insurance. For individuals who do not want to use a company to locate affordable health insurance there is the Internet.

Thousands of people in the United States simply go without health insurance because they think they cannot find affordable health insurance. This would explain why there are many individuals in the United States who choose to go without health insurance. Those who do not have health insurance will be less likely to visit a doctor. There are numerous different things that will determine what your monthly health insurance will be. Your health insurance rates will change depending upon the kind of policy you have. For example, do you only need health insurance for yourself, or your entire family? Most health insurance companies adjust your premium based upon your age. Are you self-employed, or are you receiving health insurance through your work? This will also affect the cost of your health insurance.

If you can’t afford to pay off your medical bills, your credit rating could even suffer. If you have health insurance, you can prevent these problems from ever happening and your credit will be protected for your financial future and your health.

Another way you can make sure that your insurance rates are lowered is to increase the amount of your health insurance deductible. High deductibles equal lower monthly premiums. Anyone that has existing health problems which require extensive medical treatment may find it necessary to have a higher monthly premium.

Simply by researching health insurance options online and spending just a couple of hours searching may well save you money every month. Get a variety of quotes from insurance companies which meet your health and budget needs and you will find affordable health insurance. You may also find that purchasing health insurance online can save you money.

Tax Deductions On Individual Health Insurance

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We are all looking for a reprieve from our health insurance and health care costs. There are ways to claim deductions for health insurance when you file your taxes. Currently there are a few significant tax deductions for people who are covered by an individual health insurance policy.

Self-employed

Those individuals who are self-employed can take advantage of a tax break. Self-employed persons should look into the deduction available for their health insurance premiums before filing another tax return. This may be available to self-employed individuals who do not itemize their deductions as well as those who do.

Income Percentage

People who itemize their expenses may deduct all of their medical expenses, including premiums paid, up to a certain percentage of total income threshold. This deduction works well for people who are paying for medical expenses and insurance premiums with after-tax income.

Health Coverage Tax Credit

The Health Coverage Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit, granted to those people eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance. This tax credit is issued in order to purchase certain types of insurance. The HCTC is a federal program, which allows individuals to pay only around 20% of an individual policy's rates for themselves and their families. The types of insurance allowed are COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), state-qualified health plans, spousal coverage through a spouse's current group health insurance plan, non-group/individual health plans, VEBA (Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association) and in some instances, ATAA and RTAA Recipients.

Flex Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts

Flex Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts allows an individual to deposit earnings before taxes into an account and then make a draw on the money for medical related issues. The tax savings happens because you are reducing your income before taxes come out of your check.

Other tax deductible benefits may include the "extras" on your health insurance policy. These extras may include dental coverage, life insurance and even prescriptions. These are tax deductible because the rates come out of pre-tax dollars, thus reducing your taxable income and possibly putting you in a lower bracket.

Unlike pensions and stock options, medical expenses, with few exceptions, do not count towards your taxable income as benefits. Make sure you speak with your tax professional in order to decide which route is the best to take to get the maximum deductions possible.

10 Ways To Reduce Health Insurance Costs

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Looking for ways to reduce health insurance and health care costs is at the top of everyone's list these days. Who wouldn't want to pay less money for the same health care, or better? Here are ten ways to reduce health insurance premium costs.

1. Quit smoking or using nicotine of any kind - Smoking and chewing tobacco drives up insurance costs because there are associated health risks. When you quit your usage of nicotine products, you will not only feel better, but you will see your health insurance costs drop drastically.

2. Lose weight - Obesity is an ever-increasing concern with health insurance companies. Obesity can lead to health problems such as high cholesterol and diabetes, as well as back, hip, and knee problems. Many health insurance companies offer discounts if you are participating in a fitness program on a regular basis.

3. Higher deductible - The obvious way to lower personal health insurance costs is to assume a higher deductible. This will take more of the burden off the insurance company, which will mean they can charge less for your premiums.

4. Higher co-pay - Along with taking a higher deductible, assuming a higher co-payment amount will reduce the premium the insurance company will charge for your benefits. Instead of paying $20 per visit, see if there is a plan for $30 per visit, or more. Look at your past experience with office calls to see if you could save over the life of the policy in premiums charged using a higher co-pay.

5. Keep diabetes in check - Having regular blood work done to check for diabetes is essential to save on insurance costs. Having these routine check-ups can also offer the added benefit of getting proper medical attention if something does happen to surface. Keeping diabetes in check by maintaining a proper diet and fitness program can also help lower your rate. If you can keep your diabetes in check without medication, the insurance company does not have to pay for supplies, which means lower premium costs to you.

6. Improve your credit score - Many insurance companies actually pull your FICO score in order to determine what your premiums will be. Improving your credit scores will show the insurance companies you are a good investment.

7. Open an FSA or HAS - These medical savings accounts are money pools you create by depositing 'before tax' income. You can then withdraw funds from the account for medically necessary items. This can include anything from office calls to prescriptions to over-the-counter allergy medicines. This is a 'before taxes' account, which saves you money right up front. These accounts give you a place to keep money, tax free, to pay for your deductible and co-payments, as well as medical and health related supplies.

8. Buy generic - Generic medications cost much less to produce and to distribute, and the savings are passed on to you. Also, some insurance policies no longer cover name brand drugs, so if you want the well-known 'label' you'll pay the extra cost right out of your pocket.

9. Use walk in clinics - Walk in health clinics, or 'retail clinics' are popping up all over. You'll find clinics in malls, drug stores and even in large retail outlets. These clinics offer simple services like vaccines, routine checkups and even blood work, all without an appointment. Check their rates and compare to your primary physicians office. You may be surprised what you can save.

10. Use urgent care clinics - Urgent care clinics are similar to an emergency room, but without much of the specialized equipment. These clinics are more suited to everyday emergencies, like issues requiring x-rays, bandages and stitches, but not for surgeries. Many times, these smaller clinics are much cheaper than going to a full fledged emergency room and have a lower co-payment because they bill as a clinic instead of an emergency care facility.

When you're looking for ways to cut health care costs, put these ten ideas to work. Trim your budget and continue to get the care you need!

Individual Health Insurance Extras

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Between dental, vision, life, maternity and prescriptions, there are enough different types of health insurance add-ons to make anyone’s head spin. Learning about what each cover can be extremely instrumental in making your decision on which extras, if any, are right for you and your family.

Dental – More than the thought of a root canal or getting braces, the cost of dental work keeps more people out of the chair than any other reason. Dental insurance has one of the highest rates of purchase in addition to a personal health insurance plan. All holds barred, this type of insurance seems to have precedence over all others.

Many dental plans include oral surgery, as long as it is a necessary procedure. The insurance companies do not consider voluntary procedures a necessity, especially when it comes to high dollar cosmetic surgeries. While dental insurance is not mandatory, it is extremely helpful to have for those unexpected instances of breaking a tooth or the need for braces.

Vision – Vision insurance, for most people, is quickly glanced over, unless glasses or contacts are already in the picture. For most individuals or families with good eye sight, the thought about spending extra money that probably will not be used, does not sound like a great idea. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize the added benefit of vision insurance since your yearly vision check-ups are covered.

Life – Planning for the unexpected is a large part of life as humans. It is always a sad time when someone passes away, so we try to plan ahead in hopes of lessening the blow as much as possible while we are still alive. Life insurance is an extra plan that allows the beneficiary to collect the amount of the plan upon death of the insured.

Life insurance helps to cover some, if not all, of the expenses that go along with the passing away of a loved one. A large enough plan also allows those left behind to be thoroughly taken care of. Plans are not very expensive for the amount of security they leave behind.

Maternity – Some personal health plans cover maternity, but a majority do not. This coverage is mostly for those who are considering planning for a family in the near future. If your family is planning on expanding at any point, it is a good idea to check with your insurance policy holder to determine their rules about applying for maternity coverage after discovering a pregnancy.

Prescriptions – Prescription coverage is pretty self-explanatory. With it, many prescriptions are under the twenty-dollar mark, but without it, the cost of medicine rises exponentially with the severity of the case. Even generic brands of medication can have large price tags without prescription insurance, making this health insurance extra a no-brainer.

No matter what extras you decide to tack on to your individual health insurance plan, they all have one thing in common; it is better to have them when needed than to not have them at all. Speak to your health insurance provider if you have any questions, they are always eager to explain further and find a plan to suite your specific needs.

Co-Pay versus Co-Insurance

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Co-payment and co-insurance help insurance companies afford to provide the best medical coverage, which also must meet the financial need of the individual taking out the policy. Taking a closer look at co-payment and co-insurance might be a good idea when shopping around and subsequently purchasing your individual health insurance.

Co-payment, also known as your co-pay, is the amount of payment you must provide at each visit. For example, when you go to the doctor’s office and have to pay twenty dollars before you can be seen, that money is a co-pay, and helps to pay part of the doctor bill before the insurance company even sees an invoice.

The co-payment amount may vary based on the plan that you choose. For some policies, there may be a twenty-dollar co-payment while others may be upwards of fifty dollars.

Co-Insurance on the other hand, is the amount of the total bill that both you and the insurance company are responsible for, adding up to 100%. An example of this would be a 20% in-network co-payment. What this means is, after you have paid the deductible and any overages not covered by the policy, any visit to a doctor who accepts the insurance policy (in network) will cost you 20% of the total bill while the insurance company would pick up the other 80%.

Insurance companies will usually pay a higher percentage of co-insurance with in-network visits rather than those out of the network. There are some out-of-network policies which may have the insured paying around fifty percent of the bill depending on the health insurance company. Also, the insurance agencies will pay a higher percent, generally, if your deductible and co-pay are higher.

The difference between how co-pay and co-insurance work is a vast expanse; one you pay before any work is done and the other is a percentage paid of the final bill, but they both work together to help the insurance company to keep up with the cost of paying all of the physicians for their excellent work.

Co-payment and co-insurance are two factors to consider heavily when pricing your insurance plan because they represent the money that will be coming out of your pocket for each doctor visit and every procedure. These two payment types are inversely related but both have the same outcome for the insurance company; they help to pay the bill while you get the health care you need.

Travel Insurance For Backpackers

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A Backpackers commonly travel on the budget. Regardless of whether they're scuba diving in Cairns or trekking the slopes of Thailand, a traveler must have backpackers travel insurance.

A practical traveler guarantees that he is in great hands by buying backpackers travel insurance. Backpackers travel insurance is precisely intended to meet the desires of the traveller.

These plans offer you high levels of coverage for lengthy periods of travel. From one week to two many years, a traveler can avail the backpackers travel insurance. Backpackers travel insurance serves like a cheaper and efficient option to single trip travel insurance coverage plans. Some plans cover extra-curricular activities like sports.

When looking for backpackers travel insurance, you'll find the standards that the traveler must appear out for.

Right here are some characteristics that must be included inside backpackers travel insurance. Because rescue comes while using package, this involves helicopter rescue as well. The insurance coverage supplier is legally liable to cover any automobile accident, injury or damage for the traveler. Just in situation the possessions from the traveler have been stolen or lost, then the insurance provider will cover the administrative expenses that had been incurred.

Mobile Phone Insurance

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With right now's economic crisis a lot more individuals than ever before who cannot manage mobiles are now tending to rob these, in particular excessive expense handsets, this is exactly where cellular cell phone insurance coverage will come in. Quite a few individuals who upgrade or possess a new cell phone at times never ever consider cellular cell phone insurance coverage, yet they could. You need to possess the protection that is there obtainable for you, for this kind of things, as malicious damage, and theft, the common areas becoming when you're out at the saturday and sunday savoring yourself.

Most beneficial include is also obtainable on entire cellular cell phone insurance coverage and that is unintended damage, you understand the day you kept it on the top of the car and whoops off the ceiling it will come only to smash on the floor.

Drinking water Damage, you understand individuals extremely wet days, when you decreased it in a puddle, or a lot more generally decreased it down the toilet, oh yes it transpires routinely on claims. Additionally don't mostly forget on these policy's you can also get worldwide include which means that your cell phone is coated when you abroad.

apple iphone house owners having said that should discover rare insurance coverage to include this beneficial cell phone, and due to the expense of the apple iphone should be slightly dearer or possess slightly less include. However, to possess Cellular cell phone insurance coverage include on the apple iphone is far much better than not having it, you could end up spending a fortune to replace it. I would say that for any proprietor of an apple iphone that Cellular Telephone Insurance coverage is crucial and could never ever be dismissed due to expense, it's a bogus economy.

But on all various telephones one vital include with Cellular Telephone Insurance coverage is loss. Individuals are extremely adapt at shedding things, and cellular telephones are no unique with an escalating total amount lost on buses and trains. But the main cause to be coated by Cellular cell phone insurance coverage, is that if you possess a agreement with a network and lose the cell phone, you should nonetheless possess to hold on paying the series condominium each and every month. Oh yes its not the systems fault you lost the cell phone so they should anticipate you to pay the series condominium, never ever mind if you possess the cell phone or not.

Thus you can be paying for a long time until upgrade time until you then possess to go out and BUY a new cell phone as the network should not produce one. If you possess Cellular cell phone insurance coverage, then the insurance coverage producer should replace the lost cell phone normally within 48 hours.

Cellular Telephone Insurance coverage is not dear it can be around 19 or 20p a day but is nicely worth it. Oh yes the various factor is also individuals should inform you that you can add it to your property insurance coverage, that's accurate, having said that the vast majority of companies wont include it if you are absent from the property, so now is the time to get Cellular cell phone insurance coverage and get that peace of mind, alternatively of considering concerning it when you possess lost or had it stolen, by then its too late.

Marriage Affects Your Insurance

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Getting married is undoubtedly one of the busiest and most stressful times of your life. You have all sorts of arrangements to make and you have a deadline so you have to make them quickly. You probably can't think of anything other than getting married to the person of your dreams and feel you can only afford to focus on your big day. Although this is understandable, and indeed expected, you also need to consider your insurance. Tying the knot will drastically change your insurance needs and options and you should try and sit down with your soon-to-be spouse and evaluate these carefully. Re-evaluating your homeowners, life and health insurance well before the wedding is definitely a good idea so when you come back from the honeymoon, your insurance needs are covered and you can go about

Insurance for Landlords

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Landlords Insurance is important for all landlords to protect their investment. As a landlord you will be using your property as an extra income stream and it is therefore important that this is protected. It is important to know that a normal home insurance policy is not valid if you are earning income from a property so it is important to get some Cheap Let Property Insurance. Landlords Insurance is commonly known as Buy to Let Insurance. The cover offered on policies under either name are generally one and the same. It is possible to cover the property, contents and landlords liability insurance under the same policy. Discounted Insurance for Landlords can be found especially if you are looking at Let Property Insurance for more than one property. Many landlords have more than one property and it can prove a lot simpler to have all the House Let Insurance and Home Insurance for Buy to Let Property under the same policy. Insurance for Landlords could cover various occurrences including if your property had a fire – you could be covered for the repairs and the rental income lost by the property being empty.

Basics Life Assurance And Life Insurance

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What makes life assurance different from life insurance? The main difference is that it carries a certain amount of investment, and life insurance is really just a form of financial protection and it doesn’t really have any sort of potential for a return on investment.

You can get certain policies that will take a bit of investment, but then you have the advantage of being covered for your entire life without having to deal with a fixed term. These are actually called whole life assurance policies.

One thing that a lot of people like about this kind of policy is that there are certain types you can get that take some of your monthly premium and invest it so that if you happen to live a long time you will still be able to pay for your coverage. Things like this are important to think about, as one can never predict when they will pass away.

You will find that there are some companies who have quit offering these policies. However, even if you run across a company like this they will still have a long list of life insurance policies to choose from. Providers like these policies because they are less of a risk for them.

There are two major forms of life insurance. One is called mortgage protection life insurance and the other is level term life insurance. They both cover a set period of time.

When someone gets level term insurance, they are doing it so that their dependants will get a payout if they pass away during the term of the policy. Sometimes people will also do it when they have an interest only mortgage. When people get mortgage protection insurance, they are usually getting decreasing term insurance. With this type of insurance, the coverage decreases as the balance of the mortgage decreases. Usually the coverage will last for the same amount of time as your mortgage repayment.

You may not be aware of just how competitive the online marketplace has gotten when it comes to these kinds of coverage. This is most likely because of the fact that there is such a large audience available through the internet. Besides, it doesn’t cost very much to have an online service that offers coverage from various companies. This is why you can now get your policy online from the top companies at discounted prices.

The discounts will vary depending upon which company you choose, but you will sometimes be able to save up to 40% on standard premiums. All it takes to find one of these sites is a quick search using one of the search engines.

You are going to be starting out by getting various quotes from different companies. Remember that the more quotes you get, the more options you are opening up for yourself. Naturally, with more options you are likely to get the best deal.

So whether you are thinking about getting life insurance or life assurance, your best bet is to get it online where you will find the best possible discounts.

Holiday Home Insurance

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The idea of owning a holiday home is a very popular one and more and more people are jumping onto the bandwagon and either having the luxury of owning their own holiday property or taking advantage of renting it out to others. While we all have the dream of owning our own holiday home, very few of us have the knowledge required when it comes to finding the best holiday home insurance deals and this is where you should consider going to a specialist broker. Brokers who specialise in holiday home insurance and mortgages can save you thousands of pounds – and a lot of worry – in the long run.
Holiday home insurance is different from the general insurance that is taken out on your home. The type of insurance that you need will depend on whether the property is solely for your own enjoyment or if you are going to be letting it as a holiday home to bring in an income. If it’s for a holiday let then the insurance has to be more extensive and cover a wider range of possibilities.
The best holiday home insurance deals can only be found by a specialist broker. If the holiday home is solely for yourself then factors such as the normal which include the shell and contents have to be covered of course. If you are going to be letting the holiday home then you will need different types of insurance along with what are considered to be the normal.

Progressive Insurance Quotes

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In insurance quotes quickly and accurately, choose Progressive. Single quotes, fast and secure discounts – now that’s progressive.

How to Get Insurance Quotes

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More than 30,000 independent insurance agencies nationwide can provide you with free Progressive insurance quotes and advice.

Online – Available 24/7, you can get online insurance quotes for autos, motorcycles, boats, RVs, and snowmobiles. We even offer online insurance quotes for Segways, golf carts and more. Just choose your vehicle type and start your insurance quote.
Phone – Also available 24/7, you can get insurance quotes by phone by calling 1-800-PROGRESSIVE. Our licensed representatives can provide insurance quotes for all types of vehicles we insure — including business vehicles.
Agents – If you’d prefer in-person service, visit one of our independent agents for insurance quotes. More than 30,000 independent insurance agencies nationwide can provide you with free Progressive insurance quotes and advice.

Home Insurance Is Easy

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Having adequate insurance to cover this valued asset is essential. There are two insurance options for a home; building insurance covers the actual structure while contents insurance covers the items within the structure. If you are thinking of buying a new home or are looking for a new home to rent then identifying theft risk in the areas that you are considering is essential if you want low insurance premiums. Insurance companies keep detailed records of crime rates and adjust premiums accordingly. In general, gated communities and secure apartments are safer which means insurance for these types of residents is generally quite low.

Securing your home is a great way to lower your home insurance premiums and to protect your family from crime and dangerous accidents. Devices that reduce the chances of accidents like smoke detectors and sprinkler systems also keep your home safe and help reduce insurance costs.

Increasing your excess is a pretty standard way of reducing your monthly premiums. This option is available for most types of short-term insurance and should be considered if you feel that your home is safe. Combining your contents and building insurance is a logical and easy way of reducing your insurance costs. An even better option is to combine your vehicle, building and contents insurance. These types of combined insurance policies are typically cheaper than having separate policies. Insurers save money on administrative fees and you the consumer benefit by having lower premiums. By carefully selecting the areas in which you plan on living, installing adequate safety devices, increasing your excess and combining your insurance policies, you can make significant savings on your home insurance.