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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Individual Dental Insurance Plans

We all know that good dental health is essential, but as many as 100 million Americans lack a dental benefit plan. Learn how to find an affordable way to make sure you teeth get taken care of.

Article resources aside, I have taken the liberty in adding another feature to my insurance blog that may be of great use. In recent years, insurance companies have taken the step onto the online market, now offering free insurance quotes directly to the Internet-user. Thanks to the inexpensive nature of Internet marketing it is today online people find the cheapest dental plans and insurance rates.

Free Dental Insurance Quotes Online

Simply fill in your ZIP code or directly click on the “Start Quote” button in the window above and you’ll be taken to a professional and established online insurance agency to discuss your dental insurance needs.

What Type Of Insurance Do I Need For A Co-op Or Condo?

If you live in a condo or co-op, then you need a different type of insurance than other homeowners and renters. The combination of personal and common property makes it vital for you to find a policy that gives you the specific coverage you need.

Knowing what type of insurance you need and what it covers will help you choose a policy that protects you from significant financial losses if your property is damaged or stolen or if you are sued by someone who was hurt on your property.

Your Co-op’s Insurance Does Not Cover Your Property

Some condo owners assume that their condo association or co-op has insurance that protects them from significant financial loss caused by storms, fires, theft and other disastrous events. The truth is that your condo association’s insurance only covers common property and the building.

Most associations have policies that do not cover anything inside your condo or co-op. You need a condo insurance policy to make sure that you have adequate protection.

Condo Insurance Policies Cover Your Personal Property

When you purchase a condo insurance policy, it should cover damage caused to your property by fires, storms and other events. Your policy should state exactly which types of disasters are covered. Some companies do not include flooding and earthquake coverage with their standard policies, so you will have to purchase supplemental insurance to protect yourself from these events.

Your policy should also protect you from theft. If someone breaks into your condo and steals property, then you can get reimbursed for the value of stolen items.

Condo Insurance Offers Liability Protection

Your condo insurance policy will protect you from liability if someone is hurt on your property. Again, your co-op or condo association’s insurance will not cover you if someone is hurt inside your condo.

If a guest of yours slips by the co-op’s pool, then the co-op’s insurance covers that liability. If your guest slips on some water in your bathroom, however, you need an individual policy to protect you.

  • Your co-op or condo association’s insurance policy does not protect you.
  • Getting your own condo insurance policy will protect you from financial loss if your property is damaged or stolen.
  • A condo insurance policy will protect you from liability if someone gets hurt in your condo or co-op.

What Does Personal Condo Insurance Cover?

Even though you may own your condo, proper coverage will be different than a standard homeowners insurance policy. Learn what you need to protect your condominium home.

You will probably find that, because it does not need to cover the external building or landscaping, condo insurance rates are also much lower than traditional homeowners insurance on a house. The actual building, swimming pool, trees, etc. will be covered by a condominium building policy that the HOA owns.

Your Condo Owners Insurance Policy May Include Coverage For:

  • Personal Property Insurance – Insure your personal property against covered damages or theft.
  • Relocation Assistance – If you cannot live in your condo while waiting for repairs, rent for an apartment or motel room may be covered.
  • Liability Insurance – In today’s society, it is always a good idea to make sure that you have an insurance company on your side in case a visitor gets injured in your home and then claims it was your fault.

Even though you own your condo, and it is an investment just like any home you own would be, a condominium insurance policy looks more like a renters insurance policy. The common areas, that all of the condo owners in your building share, would be covered by the condo association policy.

Shop around for low cost coverage that provides top quality coverage. Rates vary by insurer, and you can save hundreds by finding the right company. Rates and plans vary by location, the amount of coverage you need, and your claims history. We make it easy with our fast, safe, and free condo insurance quote forms.

What Kind of Homeowners Insurance Do Condo Owners Need?

When you own a house, you know you also need to maintain the exterior and grounds of your home. Likewise, your homeowners coverage must extend to your building’s walls, roof, and even out into the yard.

Many people choose to opt for a condo lifestyle, instead of living in a house, just so they do not have to deal with anything outside of their walls and ceiling. They do not have to worry if a storm damages their fence, or a tree falls on their roof. In a condo, those problems are managed by a Home Owners Association (HOA).

Learn more about condo insurance here and get a free online condo insurance quote online.

Low Cost Car Insurance

There is no need to overpay for car insurance, and you can use our simple tactics to find cheap car insurance by finding simple discounts you may already qualify for.

Free car insurance quotes

Besides the information you’ll find in our car insurance articles we also hold a direct partnership with an established and serious online insurance agency. This to ensure you the most affordable car insurances. Simply “Start Quote” in the box above or get anonline auto insurance quote right here.

Fast and Efficient Ways to Select Business Insurance

Business owners and business decision makers tend to be experts in their fields, and almost fanatically dedicated to their company. However, given their expertise and demands upon their time, they do not tend to want to spend time researching business insurance decisions. But only adequate coverage from top insurers can protect their business against many common risks that they face.

Business Insurance Choices Can Be A Few Clicks Away

The internet has revolutionized the search for commercial coverage. Top insurers are all online, but even more important, many independent business insurance quote services can provide multiple competitive business insurance rates and plans.

Most of the time coverage rates will depend upon your unique business needs, business size, and your location. Online commercial insurance quote services will give you a list of active insurers in your zip code, and give you a way to fill out your basic information one time. A short online quote form can give insurers enough information to offer you basic plans and quotes, and make it a lot easier to narrow down your choices.

We hope to make your job much easier by providing free business insurance quotes and information. We want to save you time and money on business insurance

Types of Business Insurance

Business owners know that good coverage can save their business, and the lack of coverage can ruin it. But shopping for business insurance is seldom on the top of their priority list of things to do, especially for small business owners. Learn about the common types of business coverage you may need so you can make a quick and informed decision.

Small business owners are usually experts in their field, and also very knowledgeable about most aspects of their day to day operations. They tend to love their jobs, and have a real vision that lead them to start their own enterprise in the first place. They would do anything to preserve that business, and they also know that adequate coverage can provide their company security against unpredictable events, while the lack of coverage could lead to ruin.

However, because a small business owner has so many demands on their time, and often, no real interest in the subject of insurance beyond knowing they need it, I want to provide a quick summary of some common types of business insurance that small businesses should consider.

Business Liability Insurance

This covers your business against a claim that your product caused them loss or damage because of negligence by the business or employees.

Business Property Insurance

Your building, property, and contents can be covered against damage or loss. Some policies narrowly define the type of loss, while others cover almost anything.

Business Interruption Insurance

A policy which covers business revenues against an unexpected, temporary work stoppage that is outlined in the policy. If you fear that a storm or fire could stop your business, and the loss of revenues could be ruinous, look for coverage now.

Business Owners Policy

A popular policy for small business, this combines liability, property, and sometimes, business interruption insurance in one basic policy.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professionals may need to cover themselves against a claim that their services caused them a loss. For instance, doctors purchase malpractice insurance while insurance agents purchase Errors and Omissions Insurance.

Commercial Car Insurance

These policies are very similar to personal auto insurance policies, except they cover vehicles used for business. Many small business owners rely on their own personal policies when they really should purchase a business policy.

Group Health Insurance

Every small business must, at least, consider a group medical plan. The plan will probably not come cheap, and may also create more paperwork and compliance issues for the family. But group health does tend to attract and retain high quality employees.

Who Buys Business Insurance?

Of course, very large companies may hire specialized employees to deal with different types of coverage that the company needs. Smaller companies rely on owners or decision makers who allocate part of their time to selecting coverage, or who rely on outside financial professionals.

Those professionals, insurance agents of financial advisors, may have experience with similar businesses so they can make informed suggestions. But those outside professionals probably also sell commercial insurance products. Their opinions, while valid, have to be based on making sales. Because of this, it is important for company decision makers to consult with multiple outside advisors before selecting plans that work well for their unique business needs, budget, and risk tolerance.

Learn Business Insurance Online & Get A Free Quote

But now we come back to the problem of time spent doing this research. Most commercial insurance decision makers do not dedicate themselves full time to this task, so it is very important to have a fast and efficient way to understand various business property, business liability, and employee benefit insurance options.

Here at 247QuoteUS.com you will find reliable and objective information so you can understand business insurance. After finding the business insurance plan that suits you, Here at 247QuoteUS.com you will find reliable and objective information so you can understand business insurance.

What Does Boat Insurance Cover?

Boat insurance, like most other insurances, is available in many variations. Depending on what you need covered and exactly what kind of coverage you want, you can get anything from jet ski insurance, yacht insurance, motor boat insurance, marine boat insurance - the list is long. Bottom line, anything bigger than a rowboat is probably worth insuring. Start by learning exactly it is boat insurance covers:

  • Personal Injury Boat Insurance – If somebody is injured on your boat, they may hold you liable. You need insurance to protect you from financial run and help defend you against a lawsuit.
  • Physical Damage to the Boat – You always risk having your boat or travel trailer damaged. This can happen while you are using or transporting your boat. But it can also happen because your property has been stolen or vandalized.
  • Liability Insurance – If you cause damage to somebody else’s property while you are operating your boat, either through accident or negligence, you can be responsible for thousands of dollars in repairs or medical bills. Your boat insurer will help protect you against a liability claim.

In any case, many states now require minimum boat liability insurance just like they require minimum auto liability insurance. If you have financed your boat, your lender may require insurance before they will extend credit.

Beyond state and lender requirements, you need to think about how you can afford to repair your boat if it is damaged. Of course you must also consider potential liability if your boat causes personal injury or property damage.

You can find affordable boat insurance, and you need to weigh your monthly payments vs. the risk of having to pay for repairs or liability claims. We make it easy to compare boat insurance online.

Boat Insurance

A boat is a big responsibility, and a major asset that must be taken care of. Proper coverage will allow you to enjoy you boat with peace of mind.

Owning a boat, jetski or yacht can be one of life’s greatest pleasures, but also a huge liability and responsibility. You would not dream of operating your car without good car insurance. Your state laws and auto financing company probably require you to protect your vehicle anyway. But many boat owners have never bothered to buy coverage.

Here at 247QuoteUs.com you’ll find all the information regarding marine boat insurance quotes. Use the free insurance quote form if you want to get the most affordable boat insurance.

To Know About Auto Insurance

At the most basic level, auto insurance is simply a contract between you (the first party) and your auto insurance company (the second party). The third party to this contract has not come into the picture yet, because he or she is probably somebody you have not met yet. That would be the other guy or gal involved in a car accident.

Get an online auto insurance quote

No matter how carefully you drive, over your driving life, you will probably have an accident. Even a minor car accident can cause thousands of dollars worth of property damage or injury expenses. And again, no matter how carefully you drive, there is a good chance that you will have a car accident that is your fault.

This is where a liability insurance policy comes in. Your car insurance policy probably covers a certain amount of property and injury coverage. One covers damage to the other person’s car, and the other one covers damage to the other person’s body.

If you are thinking of getting auto insurance online, you will find all the information you need here at 247QuoteUs.com. When it is time to contact insurance companies, simply fill in the quote form below or in the right column.

Who should consider buying an annuity?

I posted an annuity primer a few days ago, but that was just to get our feet wet. Now I want ot work on reasons that individuals may buy an annuity. This post will still have to be fairly general, as you need to work out specifics for your own situation. Consider risk, cash value, taxes, and leaving money after death when you think about annuities.

I think that two sorts of people tend to look at annuities. The most common type are people at or nearing retirement who may have a chunk of savings they want to invest wisely. Some annuities can provide a guaranteed life income which can provide security for people in their retirement years. Another growing group of annuity investors are younger people, planning for their retirement in the distant future.

For retirees considering an immediate annuity, you have tax favored withdrawals. After age 59 1/2 you can withdraw money without a tax penalty. If you choose a life settlement, you can stretch out the ‘gains’ portion of your investment over a longer period, which should decrease your tax bill.

For younger investors, you have tax deferred accumulation. If you don’t have to pay a tax bill on gains every year, you will increase the cash value of your investment quicker. Besides, many indexed annuities have a track record of paying far above CD interest rates. Add in a guaranteed minimum, and you have a safe investment with the potential for high rewards!

One other consideration is the beneficiaries of an annuity can inherit without probate. In that way, annuities combine an investment contract with an insurance contract.

What To Know About Retirement Planning?

Annuity Planning Company Article on Retirement Savings

A successful retirement doesn’t just happen; you’ve got to plan for it. Preferably, your retirement planning has started, but it’s never too late to start. The long ramp toward retirement focuses on saving and investing, but once retirement starts emphasis shifts to spending and safeguarding. Even though the greatest challenge in retirement, and probably your greatest fear, is outliving your money, most Americans spend less time planning their retirement than they do planning a vacation.

What does retirement planning involve? Here are the steps: First, determine what you’d ideally like to do in retirement, and then discuss it with your spouse and other loved ones. Will you spend your time traveling, enjoying hobbies, helping others, working part-time, or what? Second, estimate the retirement income you’ll have from savings, Social Security, pension [if you're lucky], and all other sources. Third, estimate your expenses making sure to take account of inflation, taxes and health care costs which are likely to be an increasing part of your budget.

Steps two and three should be done for each five-year period of your retirement and then revised annually. Fourth, if you have more income than needed, you only need to safeguard your investments to make sure they’re not lost or shrunk by bad decisions. If you have insufficient money for retirement (expenses exceed income), then you’ll need to postpone retirement, work part-time or possibly use a Reverse Mortgage to access the equity in your home. Either way, it is highly recommended that you minimize your exposure to loss and maximize the full potential of your financial resources by working with a financial advisor. They can help you determine the risk you can afford, investment options and how to position your money for best results without sacrificing safety. Don’t worry about having too little to justify a financial advisor or so much that you can ignore risk: retirement is going to be very long, filled with uncertainties, including emergencies, and going it alone is one of the greatest risks you can take.

Be realistic in your planning. For example, be aware that for a couple age 65 there is a 50% probability that one will live beyond age 90. Acknowledge that even a low rate of inflation can make a big difference in prices over the 20 to 30 years you’ll be in retirement. For example, average inflation of 3% means $1 today will be worth only 55 cents in 20 years and 41 cents in 30 years. Since 78 million boomers are entering retirement over the next two decades, the price of everything related to retirement, especially health care, is likely to rise faster than overall inflation. Inflation is a cruel tax for those on fixed incomes, and chances are your income in retirement will increase a lot slower than prices.

The boomer explosion is going to overwhelm government-provided services and benefits. This means that the relative benefits of Social Security and Medicare are going to shrink under the pressure of increased retirees. There will simply be more people receiving entitlement benefits than workers paying the bills. Every study, government and private, indicates there will be a shortage of money to support these programs. To pay for this shortfall, the government must raise taxes of all types - income (even on Social Security benefits), real estate, sales, estate, etc. The increased taxes, inflation, relative decrease of benefits combined with escalating medical care costs will be especially burdensome for those in retirement without rising incomes from wages and salaries.

If you haven’t evaluated it yet, investigate the risk you’re taking with your retirement money. Would you have a loss if the stock market lost ground? You might if your money is still in your ex-employers 401(k) plan, or if you own securities, even mutual funds, whose value is determined by the “market”. Generally, investments in stock have done well “long term”, but you may need your money before a “long time”. From November 1973 to October 1974, the S&P stock market index fell 48%, and it took over six years to recover. The last bust in the stock market was 2000 - 2002, and we’ve yet to fully recover. In the meantime, inflation marches forward with the shrinking dollar purchasing less. Much of your income in retirement is likely to be derived from your “savings and investments”, and you simply can’t afford risk of loss and the compounding of inflation. Think of retirement as the largest purchase you’ll ever make, and you can’t borrow the money to pay for it. If you lose some or all of your retirement money to bad investments, you’ll increase dramatically your chances of realizing your greatest fear: outliving your money.

How do you safeguard against the challenge of too many years and not enough money? Short of devoting your leisure time to managing your investments, you’ll need to rely on a financial advisor to show you how to build a tax-efficient income stream you can’t outlive. With help, you’ll take advantage of the triple compounding of tax-deferral to get safe growth for the money to be used years from now, and you’ll “ladder” your retirement money into an income you can’t outlive with your “next up” money readily available and in no danger of principal loss. While this may seem a daunting task, it’s easy for a financial planner that knows the options, understands risk and has experience in matching financial resources to remaining life expectancy. Like law and medicine, financial planning is best left to professionals. Your job in retirement is to enjoy life free of investment worries.

Online Annuity Seminars at your convenience

If you’ve ever wondered about retirement planning, including annuities, here’s an opportunity to bypass the high pressure sales meeting! You can find out all about annuity basics, and even attend online seminars at BHC MARKETING.The services are all free, and of course the intent is to build interest in annuities. However, wouldn’t it be great to research the subject of retirement at your convenience, and in the comfort of your hown home.

An annuity can be a great retirement planning solution for many different types of people. Self Employed individuals can use tax deferred annuities to build a nest egg over time. Retirees can roll over tax deferred accounts into a new annuity for safe keeping, or to provide immediate income. Even without tax considerations, many indexed annuities offer market returns without market risk.

Most of us associate annuities with seniors or retirees. However, many younger people are investing in annuities to defer taxes and build their assets.

Are some annuities unsuitable for seniors?

Apparently the state of Minnesota is charging Allianz with selling unsuitable annuity products to seniors. The suit charges that Allianz did not disclose that seniors would have their limited savings tied up for 15 years, and that the bonuses would not be available to the seniors for the same time period.

The sale of long term annuities to seniors with aggressive and deceptive sales tactics has drawn national attention. Seniors are often invited to financial planning seminars that may come with a meal. Once their they were not informed that their funds would be subject to large surrender penalties if they withrew it early.

I know that in Texas, agents must fill out a form to determine if a person is a suitable risk for the investment! Of course, I can imagine that even with that precaution, greed may overcome better judgement.

Annuities can be a great retirement planning tool, but make sure you know what you’re buying, and how long you will be signed up, before you hand your savings over.

Advantages of Annuities for Retirement Planning

We all have a variety of retirement savings vehicles, and these include bank savings or CDs, stock markets investments, and annuities. While banks are very safe, they tend to pay out lower interest rates.

Advantages of Annuities

Below I have taken the liberty in listing some great advantages of Annuities. Read through them before considering this type of insurance.

  • Tax Deferral of Investment Earnings - without a federally imposed maximum contribution. Other retirement plans, like IRAs and 401Ks offer tax deferred growth, but the government sets strict maximum yearly contributions.
  • Contribution Choices – You have the flexibility to choose between making a lump sum payment or smaller contributions over a period of years.
  • Equity Indexed Annuities - make gains according to standard market index like the S&P 500, but many plans have a guaranteed return so you will never have a year where you lose your principal or the gains you made in previous years.
  • Debt Protection – Laws vary by state, but in general, your retirement money will be protected in case of a bankruptcy or debt. You do need to consult with a qualified tax professional in your own state for more specifics.
  • The potential for lifetime income from one investment - You can purchase a an annuity which will guarantee an income for a specific period of time, which can include a lifetime payment. Of course, the amount of that payment will vary by the amount of money you have to invest. Also not that even if you purchase a lifetime benefit, you should also make sure it has a guaranteed minimum payout. This will protect your heirs in case you pass away shortly after you purchase the annuity.
  • Exchange annuities with no tax consequences - You can trade one type of annuity for another without having to pay any taxes or IRS penalties.

Remember that annuities vary, and there are dozens of different types on the market. Make sure you understand how your money will be handled under a variety of circumstances, including market downturns, your death, and debt problems. Also be sure and find out if you can withdraw your money without a penalty in the case of a serious illness or other hardship. Many annuities do allow this, so they can also be a good way to plan for long term care expenses without buying a long term care insurance policy.

We make it easy to compare annuity plans online. Find annuities and annuity advisors in your own local area with our safe and free annuity quote forms.

Understanding Insurance Annuities

While the potential to make a lot of money on the stock market exists, most of us have seen that we have an equal chance of losing a lot of money. Annuities can combine the security of bank savings with a higher potential for returns that can mirror market returns.

Why Buy Accident Insurance?

An affordable accident insurance policy can help you pay for health insurance deductibles, make up for lost time at work, and provide peace of mind for your active family.

Why I Bought an Accident Insurance Policy

I took my own advice and purchased a higher deductible health insurance plan for my family. I was very satisfied that I had saved a lot of money in monthly premiums, and I did my best to save that premium difference in case of an emergency.

I was lucky though, because I had purchased a very inexpensive family accident policy. The cash benefit covered the ER bill, and also compensated me for other expenses. So even though I had saved some money for an emergency, I was happy because I did not have to raid that fund. I got to leave it intact for the next time.

Why You Should Consider An Accident Insurance Policy

  • Get compensated for lost income if you are injured, or if you need to take care of a family member.
  • Family policies cover kids, and they will not be covered by workplace disability.
  • Get cash to cover out of pocket expenses like insurance deductibles and copays. Some expenses, like air ambulances, may only be partially covered by your health insurance, but they may be medically necessary.
  • Get cash to cover expenses that will not be covered by health insurance like meals, parking, childcare for other children, and in some cases, overnight lodging.

How Do Accident Policies Work?

Accident policies vary. Some work more like accident disability insurance, while the one I chose just paid out a cash benefit for each incident. Some may have a claim schedule that pays out different amounts depending upon the type of injury, while some pay out a fixed maximum amount.

You can compare accident insurance policies online, actually right here, simply by adding your ZIP code into our free quote form above or in the right column. Look for one that covers the type of accidents that your family could risk in their every day activities and adventures.

Why you should get Accident Insurance

This summer I experienced one of the most common reasons that families visit the emergency room. My daughter, an avid outdoor skater, fell and broke a bone in her hand. She is fine – thanks for asking – but I did experience sticker shock when I got the bill for over a thousand dollars. It did not help that I lost a couple of days at work to tend to her.

Why I Bought Accident Injury Insurance

Accidents happen all the time. It is simple not something we can fully control. By getting an accident insurance policy you can protect yourself and your family from filing for personal bankruptcy in the process. Get an insurance quote today and sign up for an inexpensive accident insurance plan that will protect you and you family.

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