March 20, 2008

Why You May Need Home Contents Insurance

By Mayoor Patel

Unlike traditional home insurance, home contents insurance is designed to protect your belongings and only your belongings. Most, if not all, policies will not cover you should something happen to your home, or should someone be injured on your property. Instead, this type of insurance only keeps your favorite items safe and sound, and should something happen to them; the insurance company will reimburse you for their value depending on the type of insurance you purchase.

But what if you do not currently own a home? What if you are renting out an apartment, but you still have quite a few valuable items that you do not want anything to happen to? You can still invest in home contents insurance, and it is really an excellent idea to do so, especially if you are living with roommates. Even if your residence is something as tiny as a dormitory room in your college or university, it makes sense to insure your belongings, as you just never know when something could happen to them - either as a result of an accident or a purposeful theft.

So, no matter what your current housing situation looks like, you should still take some time out of your hectic schedule to consider investing in some home contents insurance. After all, nobody likes to lose all of the items that they have accumulated over the years, even if you are a college student who has not had enough money to purchase major items, you still stand at a risk to lose such high priced products as your computer, your television, and any expensive clothes or video game consoles you may own.

Mayoor Patel is the writer for the website http://home-insurance.wares-are.us. Please visit for information on all things concerned with Home Contents Insurance

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February 22, 2008

Introduction to Life Insurance

By Jim Pretin

There are three parties to a life insurance contract. First, there is the insured. This is the person whose life is being insured under the policy. Next, there is the insurer. The insurer is the insurance company who underwrites the risk. And third, there is the owner. The owner and insured are not necessarily one and the same. Someone can buy a life insurance policy to insure the life of someone else, such as their spouse. The person who buys the policy is the owner, and the person whose life the policy is based on is the insured. When the owner and the insured are different people, premium payments are the responsibility of the owner.

Every life insurance contract also has a beneficiary. This is the person who receives the proceeds from the policy in the event of the death of the insured, and is assigned by the owner. There are two types. An irrevocable beneficiary can not be changed unless the beneficiary gives his or her permission; if it is revocable, the owner can change it at any time.

The policy is subject to certain terms and conditions. There are usually certain exclusions that apply, depending on the person being insured. But with almost every policy, death as the result of suicide during the first two years of the policy term is excluded from coverage. Also, during the first two years of the policy, often referred to as the contestable period, the insurance company retains the right to not immediately pay out, even if the death is caused by a condition that is covered in the policy. The company can order an investigation into the death of the insured, to make sure that the death was not deliberate or the result of homicide.

The amount paid to the beneficiary is called the face amount. The maturity date is reached upon either the date when the insured deceases or reaches a certain age. Life insurance is most often used to provide income protection to the spouse of the deceased. Regardless of the reason for buying the insurance, the owner (if not the same person as the insured), must have an insurable interest. In other words, the owner of the contract must have a reason for wanting to insure the life of that person, otherwise the contract is void.

When the person covered by the policy dies, the insurance company requires proof of death before paying the claim. A notarized death certificate is the most commonly accepted form of proof. The benefit is paid out either as a lump sum or as an annuity that is paid out over time. Any annuity can be a good way to receive the benefits. It is possible for the beneficiary to set up a lifetime annuity, which would guarantee that person a certain amount of monthly income for the rest of his or her life.

There are two basic types of life insurance, temporary and permanent. Temporary insurance is known as term life. An example of a term policy would be a 20-year term life, which means that the policy will pay a death benefit if the person dies within the next twenty years. Permanent insurance includes whole life and universal life. Whole life provides for a payout no matter when the person dies, but premiums have to continue to be paid, usually right up until the insured reaches the age of 100. Universal policies are somewhat similar, but they allow for greater premium flexibility. Universal insurance is somewhat complicated; you should talk to an agent before buying it.

I hope this information has helped you become acquainted with life insurance. You should sit down with your spouse and talk about buying a policy. Then, call an agent who works for an insurance company with a strong financial rating and make an appointment to discuss your objectives. Use the information that was presented here to help you make intelligent choices so your family will be protected in the event that something happens to you.

Jim Pretin is the owner of http://www.forms4free.com, a service that helps programmers make email forms.

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January 21, 2008

Insurance You Need When Traveling

By Will Moore

Travel insurance may include an accidental death and dismemberment policy, a policy for repatriation of the remains, or medical emergency and emergency medical evacuation while you are on a trip outside the United States.

Depending on where you are going for your trip, and why, additional coverage like foreign commercial liability, foreign automobile liability or foreign workers compensation and sickness policies might become necessary.

Make sure that you check with your doctor or contact your insurance professional in order to discuss the details of your trip, and figure out your insurance needs.

Travel insurance from most travel insurance companies can be arranged a long time, even months, before the actual trip, and consists of a range of insurance coverage services safeguarding you throughout your trip, before, during, and after. In truth, accidents, emergencies, and unforeseen events can happen anywhere, and to anyone. Travel insurance companies, and their policies give you the peace of mind of having protected your investment and your health, as well as your belongings. It

Protects your investment if you have to cancel

Provides emergency medical referral and assistance

Reimburses unexpected expenses due to emergencies

Protects you during the medical emergency

Provides medical assistance abroad

Provides emergency evacuation if necessary

The AAA Insurance Company, for example, provides insurance for the basic travel needs, along with many other services. While many other companies like Travel Guard, have plans that provide Primary Emergency Medical coverage, and Trip Interruption plans that refund the a large part of the cost of a one-way ticket or the non-refundable trip cost.

Travel Guard guarantees payment to the relevant medical facility and makes your admission easy, and also continues to cover your medical expenses for as long as one year after you return home.

If you have to seek medical treatment while you are on your trip, companies like Travelex will cover Emergency Medical & Emergency Medical Evacuation / Repatriation. Advance payment is generally made to the Hospital if it is needed to secure admission.

In addition, some policies may cover the cost of delayed flights and lost luggage, and evacuating the person to the nearest adequate medical facility, or a hospital of choice, if necessary.

The Emergency Medical coverage usually ends, however, as soon as you reach your home, especially if you have been returned under the Emergency Medical Transportation/Evacuation coverage

The plans from travel insurance companies like Travel Safe cover the losses incurred due to family members not scheduled to travel with you, up to a maximum of six people per cancellation / interruption claim due to an accident or sickness of just one person in the party.

Several insurance companies offer stand-alone medical evacuation insurance. The costs range from $69 to $109 a trip at Travel Guard to Access Americas annual policies beginning at $190 per person.

Travel insurance companies like Medjet Assist specialize in medical evacuations and offer a range of membership options. These may vary from seven-day coverage, at $85 a person, to a years coverage at $225 a person. Most also have slightly cheaper package options for families.

Will is the owner of TravelCheckList.info an online Travel resource catering to the world traveler. TravelCheckList.info provides up-to-date travel information on all things pertaining to travel including destinations worldwide.

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January 8, 2008

Consider Cheating On Your Insurance Company

By Elizabeth Newberry

It's happened to many of us. We're watching television, listening to the radio, flipping through the pages of the newspaper, when suddenly we see an advertisement for an insurance company. Maybe they specialize in health insurance, or maybe it's life insurance. Perhaps auto insurance is their focus, or they're known for their great homeowner's insurance policies. Whatever kind of insurance it is, the advertisement catches our eyes, and before we know it, we're visiting the insurance company's Web site, or on the phone with one of their insurance agents, finding out how they can save us money if we cancel our current insurance policies and purchase our new insurance policies from them.

It all sounds so good, but as we're walking away from our computers, or hanging up the telephone receivers, we can't help but wonder: does this mean we're cheating on our current insurance companies?

Well, yes it does. But that's alright, because unlike in the world of romantic relationships, cheating on your insurance providers is perfectly acceptable. Why? Because it may save you loads of money in the long run. Keeping your bank account healthy and happy is much more important than remaining in an expensive relationship with your current insurance company, isn't it?

Just because you and your insurance agent are on a first name basis doesn't mean you have to remain loyal to that insurance company. Just because your husband plays golf with your insurance agent doesn't mean you have to keep paying outrageous insurance rates. You are entitled to better insurance rates, and if it means cheating on, and eventually ending the relationship with, your current insurance provider, then so be it.

Remember, when temptation calls, don't ignore it. Pick up the phone, turn on the computer, or even drive to the nearest insurance agent who represents the new insurance company. Cheating on your current insurance provider simply means you are interested in saving money.

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