Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Why Do People Look at Insurance Reviews?

People trying to find insurance reviews may ask themselves how they can do that in the best way. Simply put, whole life insurance is one of the best forms of insurance because it pays out monetary benefits to the beneficiaries, in the event that the policy holder dies. This policy comes into existence after the insured signs a contract with an insurance company. The company, however, pays out monetary benefits to the named beneficiaries after the untimely death of the policy holder. The insured person should, however, maintain the contract by regularly paying out his premiums. Insurance reviews can essentially help a client to make the best decision in purchasing a policy.

The cost of obtaining such a policy depends on various factors. Many companies decide the premium rate, which an individual should pay by considering his age, occupation, and lifestyle as well as health condition. Many companies review the risks which an individual poses to the insurer. For example, smokers pay higher premiums than non smokers. This is because smokers are at a higher risk of dying from smoking related complications as compared to non smokers. People with risky occupations also pay a higher premium rate than those in low risk occupations. For example, extreme sportsmen need to pay higher premiums than bakers or financial advisors.

An individual can also look at term life insurance reviews. This is one of the different policies under life insurance. It is a policy that covers a client for several years depending on the contract terms. The policy can cover an individual to at most 30 years after which the policy ends. If the policy holder passes on during the contract period, his beneficiary receives monetary payment of the policy. There are some insurance companies which offer their clients the option of getting a convertible policy. Such a policy would be essential for people who during the contract period develop some chronic illnesses. This is because many insurance providers disqualify sick people from getting whole life insurance policies.

Many people search for term life insurance reviews, because they wish to give financial security to their families, when they die. However, many companies ask their clients to undergo some medical examination checkups. This is essential so that companies can decide if the future clients are insurable. This insurance type has three common options which a client can choose. There are the annual, 7-year as well as 10-year policies. The clients pay different premiums annually in the annual policy, while the premiums remain the same in the other two options.

We provide the best info about life insurance reviews and term life insurance reviews. For further details please visit the provided links.


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Monday, November 19, 2012

Insurance Commissions and More - The Five Driving Forces Behind What You Buy

It's no secret that most people work to earn a living. It's how people pay their bills and enjoy their free time. It should also be no surprise that the majority of people will choose the job that pays the most for equal work.

This brings us to a discussion about Health Insurance Agents. They are after all human. And like most others, they work to keep the lights on. And since they work on commission, how much an agent earns is directly related to what their customers buy.

So how does an agent arrive at a recommendation for what's best for their customer? The answer is deceptively simple. There are five predominant qualifying factors most agents use in their determination:

Brand NameInsurance CommissionsPriceBenefitsProduct Qualification

Brand Name Recognition. Does the insurance company have good name recognition and a solid reputation? Brand names like Blue Cross and Blue Shield and United Healthcare have well established brand recognition in the market place and resonate well with customers. Consequently, when all other factors are equal, agents tend to recommend familiar Insurance Companies over names that their customers may not recognize.

Insurance Commissions. How much will the agent get paid once the customer enrolls in a particular plan? With all other factors being equal, an agent will almost always recommend the plan that pays them the most. This component is uniquely important because most health insurance agents do not receive any benefits or salary. The majority work exclusively on commission. It therefore stands to reason that an agent will consider how much an Insurance Company will pay them as part of recommending a particular plan.

Price. How much will the insurance cost the customer? Regardless of the agent's sales technique, price is almost always a determining factor in recommending a health insurance plan. With the other 3 factors being equal, the agent will almost always recommend the product that costs the least. Offering a cheap medical insurance plan is an easy way to ensure the customer will remain loyal. It can also help in preventing competing agents from offering a cheaper product down the road.

Benefits. What are the benefits of a particular plan and do they line up with the customer's needs and wants?

Product Qualification. Does the consumer qualify for the health insurance plan the agent is offering? Different companies have different guidelines for accepting customers. Considerations include current health status, health history, medications and more. Savvy insurance agents familiarize themselves with each company's requirements before they speak with their customers. They can then recommend the company that is most likely to approve the customer after the application process is complete.

In conclusion, understanding an insurance agent's motives can help buyers get cheap medical insurance that does not compromise quality.

Looking for a good health insurance plan at a great price? Follow this link and get Cheap Medical Insurance quotes today. Short Term Health Insurance quotes also available.


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Sunday, November 18, 2012

Comparing Funeral Insurance

Comparing funeral insurance contracts is very important when it comes to determining which coverage will be appropriate to the needs of the policyholder. Although this coverage is intended to reimburse the burial and interment expenses back to the beneficiaries of the deceased policyholder, different insurance companies offer different variations for this coverage. There are also other factors, aside from the premium payments and cash proceeds, which needs to be considered before signing agreements with an insurance company.

The first factor needed to be looked into is the reputation of the insurance company. Policyholders should research industry news and reports documenting the background of prospective insurance companies. They should look for any news that might raise red flags regarding the company such as slow processing for insurance proceeds or management corruption. They should also check its financial condition to ensure that it can pay out the cash benefits stated in the contract when it is already needed by the beneficiaries.

Another factor that should be thoroughly evaluated is the insurance contract itself. Policyholders should obtain information on how much the monthly insurance premium will be and the corresponding benefits that it will give to the beneficiaries. This is one of the most essential aspects since the cash proceeds is the main reason why policyholders get funeral insurance coverage. Policyholders should also read and inquire about any stipulations in the contract which might be confusing for them.

Estimating funeral and burial expenses is helpful when comparing different funeral insurance covers. Policyholders should keep in mind that they are dealing with future costs. They should also incorporate inflation in their cost estimation. In this way, policyholders can have a better idea on how much proceeds are needed to cover for these expenses and they can adjust the insurance to match these expected costs.

Policy rates should be factored into the decision because this is treated as the cost of getting the funeral insurance. Nobody wants to pay more than what they can actually get in return. Policyholders should compare the insurance rates between companies and check whether they are within their budget or not. Policyholders should also take advantage of promotional offers such as loyalty programs or lower lump sum cash payments. It will also be helpful to check if the current life insurance is sufficient to cover for burial expenses. If this is deemed sufficient, there will be no need to obtain additional funeral insurance.

In order to fully compare different insurance options, policyholders can seek the help of insurance brokers or use the Internet to instantly get free quotations from different companies. They will often summarize which key points to consider and help policyholders in deciding which funeral insurance is appropriate for their budget and needs.

Policyholders should also inquire if the funeral cover will include cash value which escalates as years pass by, how long it will take before cash is paid out to the beneficiaries, and if the proceeds to be paid will be tax-free. Policyholders should always take all of these factors into consideration in order to ensure that their funeral insurance will provide some comfort to their relatives when this mournful moment comes.

The author gives advice on when it comes to choosing funeral insurance. To read more visit funeralcoversa.co.za


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Saturday, November 17, 2012

What Happens to My Claim If I Am Under Insured?

According to UK statistics and in my own previous experience in Loss Adjusting, a large number of households are incorrectly insured - either under insured or over insured and both have different negative effects.

Over Insured

If you are over insured, you are likely to be paying a higher premium than necessary year after year thus wasting money and lining the pockets of the insurance company.

This most commonly occurs on buildings insurance - many people insure their property based on it's market value rather than its rebuilding cost. The market value of a property in many locations is substantially higher than the rebuilding cost and as premiums are based on the sum insured value, you will be charged a higher premium rate if you have insured it in this way.

Underinsured

If you are underinsured, this means that your sums insured are lower than the actual rebuilding (for buildings cover) or new for old replacement value (for contents cover) and you will likely be paying a premium to Insurers which is too low. Many people mistakenly think that this will only affect them if they have a large claim and insurers will only pay to the sum insured but this is a misconception.

Most buildings and contents policies will specifically state that the buildings and contents must be insured for their full rebuilding / replacement values and if not, your claim settlement will be penalised. Most Insurers will allow some flexibility on this such as only penalise you if you are under 80% insured.

Calculating your sums insured

Buildings:

Your buildings sum insured should be calculated using a number of factors:

The rebuild cost using the regional building rates for your geographical areaThe cost of any additional high spec fixtures and fittings such as flooring, kitchens etcSurveying and professional fee's (incurred during rebuilding)

This can be difficult if you have little or no buildings knowledge, however, there is an excellent tool that you can use to do this http://abi.bcis.co.uk/

Don't forget to include an amount for externals and outbuildings such as sheds, garages, walls, patios.

Contents:

Insurers deal with contents claims on a new for old basis - they will replace or pay you the value of the content item as new, even though your damaged content s were no longer new. Therefore, you need to insure all of your contents based on their replacement cost as new and review this every year or 2 as it is common for you to buy more belongings and some items such as jewellery may increase in value over time.

When reviewing your contents sum insured, it is easiest to do this on a room by room basis and include all contents such as clothing, valuables, furniture, carpeting, soft furnishings, computer and photography equipment, electrical items and anything else that is not part of the building structure. It is also useful to write and keep a list of these items and value's as in the event of a claim, this will be a really useful tool to help you collate your claim.

In addition to calculating your main sum insured, be careful regarding policy limits - most policies will have a maximum limit for items such as valuables and high value individual items. If the limit is not adequate, you should consider 'specifying' these items for their correct amount and this will ensure you do not lose a lot of your entitlement in the event of a claim.

When making a successful household insurance claim, knowledge is power. Visit our website to take part in our free discussion forum or if you need any help with your insurance claim http://theclaimsvault.co.uk/


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Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Various Types of Insurance Covers

While most people procrastinate over making financial decisions and consider insurance to be an unnecessary and added expense, it is important for every individual to address the risks to one's assets and incomes for the safety of their family and themselves. Many people would prioritize retirement savings and other investments before tackling insurance. At the same time one cannot emphasize enough on the significance of an insurance cover in various facets of your life. Here is some basic information on the different types of covers that exist -

1. Life Insurance -

This is probably the least popular type of cover but is as important. A life insurance policy will protect your family from any potential loss of income from your death. While this isn't a very encouraging thought, the fact of the matter is that it is a practical cover to consider.

Most individuals especially the male members of the family have a number of dependants in the form of parents, spouses and children who are financially dependent on them. It is important for you to make financial decisions that do not jeopardize their lifestyle in case of your unfortunate and untimely death.

2. Health Insurance

While this cover comes in many forms, it simple terms it covers a range of your medical expenses for a variety of health related issues that you may experience in your life time. You can either opt for an individual cover or a group cover.

Group covers are typically offered by your work place where the risks and costs are shared among a group, which means it is more cost -effective for employees since it covers more health related incidents and conditions.

At the same time you can also opt for an individual health cover for yourself and your family in case you don't have an employer or you work on a part time or freelance basis. In this case you will have to bear the risk and the costs of the premium on your own.

3. House Insurance

If you own a property of your own in the form of a condo, town home or even a mobile home it is recommended that you purchase a home insurance. Most of the times it is a mandatory requirement to get your house insured especially if you are applying for a loan towards its purchase.

Insurance for your home financially protects it from damages such as fire and other natural disasters.

4. Car Insurance

This is among the most popularly purchased insurance covers. This is the case because it is mandatory is most parts of the world. It is a must to have car insurance if you wish to register your car or have it inspected. Most countries expect you to have a minimum coverage for your car to protect third party members in case of an accident.

In addition to this, ask your insurance agent to prime you other covers such as disability insurance, credit card protection insurance, casualty insurance, and crime insurance which may protect you from other unforeseen and unfortunate events in your life.

Our expert advised & help you to protect your home by Home Insurance Vancouver at the best possible rates to save you money.


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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Medical Billing: Reporting Tools Keep Your Medical Practice on Point

Today, medical practices need modern reporting, sophisticated analytics and business intelligence tools. It's critical for making the appropriate decisions for the continued viability of your medical practice.

There's gold to be found in mining data for billing and collection trends that can pinpoint where you need to improve. To do this effectively, the information should only be accessed in one place. The system also needs to have a comprehensive set of built-in analytic and reporting capabilities.

Reports

For example, the most complete systems allow you to schedule reports that can be created at predetermined intervals for detailed analysis. There also needs to be the capability to produce ad hoc custom reports when the information is required to solve an urgent issue.

Another desirable feature is to have a system that promotes ease of use in allowing reports to be shared with the appropriate staff when necessary.

The premier reporting engines can develop reports in several different formats (PDF, CSV, HTML, etc). They can automatically send them to preset distribution lists. This should allow multiple users to look at the reports online, comment on them, share their thoughts and ask questions-all within the reporting engine.

Benefits to a Good Reporting System

A top of the line report generating system means at least three benefits for your practice:

Higher productivity: Automatic generation of reports means the process will not have to be done by the staff. That frees up time that might have been otherwise spent gathering data, printing and sorting reports and distributing them by hand.

Catching and Correcting Errors: Good reporting capabilities make it easier to compare payments received to payer contracts. That way, you can ensure you are receiving the proper payments according to your contracts. It also means any errors can be promptly addressed and rectified.

Overall Better Decision Making: Poor decisions often cannot be retrieved. They also can cost your practice a lot of work and time. It's very difficult to have 100% of what you need to make an informed decision. However, timely reports, which contain precise information that can be easily generated and understood, goes a long way to having the most important data available when making a decision.

When implementing a system for your practice, make sure that you perform due diligence in determining precisely what reporting capabilities will most help it and are available. Flexibility and the ability to mine the data are two keys to doing this successfully.

Sunni is President/CEO of RMK Holdings, Inc., a revenue cycle management firm inclusive of medical billing and pre to post collection services, serving physicians and other healthcare organizations in Illinois and throughout the USA. Patterson's also President/CEO of Revenue Management of Illinois Corporation, which specializes in third party healthcare debt collection agency services. Sunni and her team can be contacted at info@rmk123.com.


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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

When Will an Insurance Company Not Pay Out?

Household claims can prove to be complicated affairs - especially if you have little or no knowledge about insurance or the claims process.

When you register a household claim, (buildings, contents or for personal possessions), your Insurer will take the details of the incident such as the date it occurred, the type of incident and the circumstances leading up to and around to the loss or damage.

An initial assessment will be made based on the value and complexity of the claim. If it is of low value and straightforward, you will likely have it processed quickly. Frequently however, the process can be longwinded, involve other parties (such as Loss Adjusters) and require a lot of input from you in submitting evidence and documentation.

The most frequent reasons why Insurers will reject a claim include the following:-

The loss or damage occurred before the policy started
You have no 'insurable interest' in the property that has been lost or damage - this means that you don't have a direct financial interest in the property (such as for an item you borrowed belonging to a friend)
There has been no insured peril occurring that the policy covers - if the policy does not list it as being covered ie: fire, then no cover will be in place
The loss or damage is not consistent with the reported event (ie: if a claim is made for storm damage but considered to be wear & tear which is not covered)
A policy exclusion applies (most insured events have a number of exclusions attached to them which will be detailed in the policy booklet)
If Insurers believe that the claim is fraudulent or exaggerated and can prove this, this is likely to result in the policy being cancelled and in some cases, prosecution
If during the claim investigation, Insurers discover that incorrect facts were disclosed when taking out the policy (such as previous claims, bankruptcies etc) and these facts had they been disclosed correctly would have caused them to refuse you cover or charge a higher premium then they may choose to reject the claim and cancel the policy

If the claim has been accepted, there are certain factors which may cause the claims value to be reduced:

If the repair or replacement costs are considered not to be 'like for like' (exactly the same or a near equivalent) and a higher value than necessary
If the selected sum insured for the buildings or contents cover is not adequate (for buildings, it must be set at a level to rebuild the whole property and for contents, the figure must represent the value of your entire contents replacement on a new for old basis). If you are underinsured, Insurers may reduce the value of your claim settlement (most policies will contain a clause specifying this)
A policy limit applies - household policies will have several limits such as for valuable items, contents in the open, bicycles, money and many other things - this will be detailed within your policy schedule

When making a successful household insurance claim, knowledge is power. Visit our website to take part in our free discussion forum or if you need any help with your insurance claim http://theclaimsvault.co.uk/


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