Free $100 Visa Prepaid Card from Direct TV

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Direct TV is one of the recommended television channel provider today because they are the leading provider that uses the latest technology of satellite to transmit their service without any complicated devices. Moreover about Satellite Directv is this technology provides you high quality picture and image in HD or high definition quality. From that fact you can see that about affordability and quality, DirectTV is the winner. Mytvoptions.com is the best place that is highly recommended for you to come for the further and details information about this television channel provider. In this site you will find some channel package options that you can choose based on your need or interest.


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Grande Shores of Myrtle Beach Your Next Vocation Destination

There is no a better moment where you can enjoy some cold beer with some of your friends near the beach. It is because for vacation destination, beach always becomes the most favourite one. If you are living around South Carolina surely you will not miss the chance to enjoy that moment in one of the most beautiful beach in United State; Myrtle Beach.

This beach is the highly recommended destination for you who are looking for luxury style of holiday since there are a lot of options of Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Hotel and resort with private balcony that you can choose based on your interest. Myrtle Beach Resort is the best alternative choice for you who are looking for romantic place where you can spend for honeymoon, a resort where you can spend time with your children or the place for you who love golf because in this location there are a lot of golf courses that you can choose to challenge your golf skill.

One resort in Myrtle Beach that is recommended for you is Grande Shores. To help you ensuring yourself more toward your choice of this resort, please don’t hesitate to visit their website in Grandeshores.com for the further and detail information.

Life insurance in Texas

When people choose to insure their life this can be taken as a form of utter care for their loved ones, because such insurance policies protect dependents from loss of income due to the policyholder's death. This is an effective way to secure mortgage loans, child care, education and other costly services that will be hard to pay for in case the main source of income for the family ceases to exist. Besides, certain types of this insurance allow accumulation of funds on a savings account, which further can be used as an investment tool for different purposes. Many people use this type of insurance as an alternative to retirement plans, but the possibilities are not limited to just that.

In order to insure your life in Texas you should first make sure that the company or agent you're looking forward working with is licensed for operating in the state by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). In order to verify that all you need to do is contact TDI customer support either by phone (1-800-252-3439; 463-6515 in Austin) or visit the official website of Texas Department of Insurance After you've verified the insurance company you can either contact it directly or work with an insurance agent or broker to help you determine, which insurance policy is most suitable for your insurance needs.

Before you sign any contracts or policies with the insurance company, you should be aware of your customer rights, which give you some benefits that might be quite useful in certain situation. Here are your rights if you buy life insurance in Texas:

Prompt benefit payout. The insurance company should process your claim within 15 days upon its filing, and provide you with the result within 45 days or provide explanations if there are any delays. In case of an individual life insurance policy, the company should also pay out an interest on the death benefit provided by the policy.

Due premium payment. In Texas life insurance policies, regardless if it's cheap life insurance or costly continuous coverage, have a 31-day grace period that starts after your premium payment due date, in which you are able to cover the premium without any additional fees. In case the person insured passes away during this period, the person specified in the policy automatically receives the death benefit with subtracted amount of the due premium.

Policy lapse. You may renew your policy after it has lapsed within five years according to Texas laws. However, your insurance company has the right to require additional fees as well as current health condition check before providing you again with coverage.

Remember that the general rules of buying insurance apply in Texas as well. In order to find a really good policy that will meet your needs for a reasonable price you still have no better option than life insurance quotes. Try to get as many quotes from different companies as you can in order to have a detailed picture of the offer in the local market. But always make sure to check if the company is licensed to operate in Texas before signing any contracts or policies. Be a smart and careful shopper, it always pays off to be one!

Life insurance in Arizona

With so many insurance products on the Arizona market today, some people have a really hard time finding exactly what they want without the initial confusion. Besides all typical types of insurance products such as auto, health, life, house coverage, there are many sub-groups to these types of policies that each caters their specific groups of needs and buyers respectively. Of course, you can drive around your town or city to get all the information you need directly from the insurance company, or you can make a dozen calls to hear that the company you're speaking with is the best insurer around. Well, if spending so much time is okay with you then you are free to do just as you wish. But these days people tend to save their time on everything they can, and shopping for insurance is no exception.

Buying life insurance in Arizona is not different from buying it in any other state of the US. Of course, there are local requirements and legal frameworks that may be specific for each state, but in general the picture is the same across the country. And so are the rules of shopping for insurance. So if you want to find a really good insurance policy in Arizona, the following tips will sure help you get exactly what you need with minimum time and money spent.

Many insurance companies offer free online life insurance quotes through third party sites, making it a lot easier for you to find the right kind of policy without having to pick up the phone. You can use the free quote systems for as much as you like, trying to determine which type of coverage will meet your needs and what company offers that for the best price out there. But be warned, not all companies you'll get quotes from online may be licensed to provide insurance products in Arizona. A good way to check if the company you are interested in is a legal seller in Arizona is contacting site of Arizona Insurance Department

Why would you want to do that? Well, if the company is not licensed in Arizona you can get very attractive quotes from it, but your policy won't have any legal force within the state and the Insurance Department won' be able to protect your interests in case the company doesn't meet your customer requirements. Of course, cheap life insurance sounds very attractive but don't get carried away by such searches as you may end up paying more than you've initially intended.

Arizona Insurance Department can also be very helpful for determining the right companies to shop around. Of course, the workers at the Department are not given the right to advertise any insurance providers, however they may provide you with a black-list of insurance companies that were filed complaints on from other citizens. It is a good way to avoid bad providers in the first place.

In order to learn which providers are good and reliable in your area, you may want to ask other insurance users about their experience with any given provider. Having first hand information always helps to see how any given company processes claims, receives premiums and provides benefits with the policy. So good luck and try to get the best Arizona life insurance!

Raising of auto insurance premium rates in Wisconsin.

Will Wisconsin become a trend?

The world is always a complicated place. What should be simple turns out to be hard. What should be obvious turns out to be obscure. Logic tells us that when the law says everyone should buy something, this should make for a bigger market. When the market is bigger, the prices should fall. In the case of insurance, this should be even more true. The whole point of insurance is that you gather a group of people together and share the cost of the risk between them. The more people in the group, the smaller the cost of each share. Except it never works out like you expect. When it comes to capitalism and the profit motive, logic loses out to corporations and their need to pay a dividend to their stockholders.

This is a story about Wisconsin today. Tomorrow, it could be about states across the US. The reason? The same problems that the state lawmakers were trying to solve in Wisconsin apply to every other state in the union. Let's start at the beginning. All but three states have laws requiring vehicle owners to carry liability insurance when they drive on a public road. They all set minimum levels of cover against personal injuries and property damage caused to third parties. The justification is all about responsibility. The general view is that if you injure someone else, you should compensate them. Unfortunately, not everyone has a pile of cash sitting in their bank account so insurance is the name of the game. This gives every innocent victim the chance to get some money to cover their medical bills and repair their property.

Unfortunately, states have never thought it a priority to keep these minimum figures under review. So as the value of the dollar has fallen through inflation, the value of the insurance pay-outs has also fallen. What were reasonably big sums of money thirty or forty years ago no longer pay for much. In Wisconsin, the last review was more than thirty years ago. But, in February 2009, the Legislature decided to catch up. The result has been a sometimes quite large increase in the Wisconsin auto insurance rates.

There was a major publicity campaign back in February so everyone should have known this change was coming. It was all carefully explained. It would mean more money for people who were injured or the families of those killed. But now people face the reality of the increases, they are shocked and angry. When there is a recession, how can premiums go up so much? The answer varies depending on who you ask. The auto insurance industry says it's the fault of the state government. The politicians say it's profiteering by the insurers. In a sense, it no longer matter why. The premium increases are here and people have to cope. Two facts stand out. There has been a significant increase in the number of claims made, particularly for vehicle theft and personal injuries. Fraud has also increased. It's sometimes surprising how many people inflate or invent claims, particularly when their personal finances are under pressure. The result is that premiums go up and everyone suffers. But also remember that this question of the minimum liability requirements is not unique to Wisconsin. Sooner or later, every state is going to raise these numbers and the auto insurance industry is waiting to raise the premiums.

5 Tips for Buying Handcrafted Silver Jewelry Online

Genuine handcrafted silver jewelry is as beautiful as it is unique. Whether you're looking for pieces to add to your collection or are shopping for gifts, there are excellent online sources for handmade earrings, pendants, rings, barrettes, and necklaces. For a wonderful buying experience, follow these five tips.

1. Find a reputable source. This may go without saying, but don't confuse commercially manufactured jewelry with handcrafted silver jewelry. The latter is made by artisans that take great pride in their work. It's helpful to look for a company that has been in business for decades, and that has been selling online for at least five years.

2. Take advantage of customization. When jewelry is handmade, it can be customized in any number of ways, from the lengths of chains to the types of gemstones used in pendants and rings. You don't need to settle for "almost good enough." Instead, you can get the piece you've always dreamed of, in exactly the right size.

3. Measure carefully. Because customized pieces generally aren't returnable, it's important to make sure that the handcrafted silver jewelry you order will fit. It only takes a few minutes to get a good measurement, and doing so will ensure that the necklace or ring you order will be exactly what you want. For rings, ask a friend to take a piece of string, put it around the knuckle or largest part of your finger, and mark the string. To determine the size, hold the string against a tape measure and compare your measurement to the website's sizing chart. If you're in between sizes, it's best to go with the larger size. You can also use string to measure for bracelet, necklace, or anklet lengths.

4. Do your gemstone research. The best online jewelry sites have a wealth of information on gemstones. Before you order, read up on the gemstones you are considering. It's important to know, for example, that aquamarine can be cleaned with dishwashing detergent, but that ultrasonic and steam cleaning may damage the stone. Similarly, you may know that pearls are delicate and can easily absorb liquids, but you might not know that turquoise is also porous and can easily become stained.

If you're going to order jewelry with gemstones, it's also crucial to know whether the stones are natural or if their colors have been enhanced. Reputable artisans will freely share this information. Don't be alarmed, however, if the stones have been heated or irradiated to intensify or change their colors. Naturally colored rubies, sapphires, and topaz, for example, are extraordinarily rare; it is an accepted practice within the jewelry industry to enhance gemstone colors.

5. Invest in the real thing. Silver jewelry is gorgeous, but only if it's real silver. Make sure that the online source you select uses either sterling silver (.925 or 92.5 percent silver) or fine silver (99.9 percent pure silver). When you invest in handcrafted silver jewelry, you're not only buying a piece you will treasure, but one that is likely to become an heirloom for future generations.


Novaform

Drive it while you can, learn it while you should!

Lack of time seems to be the biggest concern and bother that people meet in their day-to-day life. Where can you find time to manage to do everything when there is only 24 hours in 1 day? When we talk about security there is one thing you have to get when you are an owner of a car that you are proud of or want to keep for a long time. That is, undoubtedly, the insurance. When you think about getting a good deal or some plan that you want to stick to for quite a while, the first thought that comes to your head is the amount of time you will spend of going around in circles, trying to figure out how to make your plan a beneficial investment. But thanks to internet inventors, you don't need to waste that much time no more. You can just click on the page that looks the best to you, find out the rates, interests and it the information provided to you on the website - suits you, then you can proceed with the operation. It is very appropriate and comfortable to do it from home as you can relax, turn some music on or even call your friends to discuss possibilities.

The most important thing here is not to fail when it comes to making the right decision. Nobody is rushing you - you have to be very careful and consider every single detail as once you sign the papers or get into the deal, it is hard to drop it on normal basis as you lose on every step you take in the wrong direction. For that you need to read as much feedback as possible, get quotes and opinions from those who are in the similar situation with you or even those who have some type of experience with this particular site or company. Don't think you know everything. It is easy to get trapped.

Compare rates and discuss them with people you trust or those who are meant to provide a good advice for those like yourself. It is a shame to find out you are paying twice more than you actually should do, so it is always better to double-check any information you have.

When shopping for online quotes, you want to be extra careful to make sure that you are getting quotes on the same exact coverage, or at least policies that are very close to being the same. This is the only way you are going to be able to really tell whether or not you are getting the best deal possible and you are not getting ripped off. It does not take too much extra time to compare policies. Read the reviews. They might be very helpful to you. What is necessary to keep in mind here is that the quotes you find are related to the actual questions that interest you. Sometimes it can occur so that we search for information and when we find it we apply different facts and relate them to our issues. It is not good to let it happen with your insurance plan. It can get you in much trouble.

Do not feel bad about calling in and asking as many questions as you need to ask in order to get the full spectrum of ideas on your automobile insurance plan. Auto insurance quotes can be found on every trustworthy web-site that provides citizens with good services. These auto insurance quotes may be the key to a good auto insurance deal, so make sure you always check that section on the page. We wish you a safe driving experience and all the best on the road!

Price really matters when it comes to car insurance

We love to save. It is a fact that doesn't need to prove itself right. Sometimes we want to believe something that doesn't seem too real. It is crazy and unbelievable how TV or advertising in general can influence one's mind. Commercials are made so that it blanks off our conscience completely - we trust every single word said if we see a good picture that matches our expectations. Nothing can stop us once we set our mind into something that we wanted to do for a while. TV and advertising is that "push"...

Since early 90s, back when people started to get more and more used to internet, advertising and online searching has become very popular in society. Practically millions of people became addicted to it and dependent on it overnight. With the help of web-sites that would allow you to advertise your services for free, companies that are dealing with cars and property started to earn more than ever. People received free quotes on subjects that they were interested in, companies became popular and talked about. Everybody gets profit from it.

But every person in this country clearly understands that cheap doesn't mean good. So can how you find a non-pricy deal and not have nightmares about it at night? First of all, you never have to lose conscience about any decisions that you are about to make. We all know that sometimes we are blind to see reality because we want to hurry with a problem that is hanging above our head, but when we rush into something; we are more likely to trip and fall than to do it correctly.

We all have connections. We are social people that communicate with each other. This helps a great deal as we are able to give and share opinions, help with advices. Most of us like the support family and friends are able to give therefore we address them for help. When it comes to insurances, automobile, for example - we have to remember that 70% of people in the world do have cars, they drive them everyday. This means the automobile insurance deal is a part of their life every single day. These people could do us a favor if they shared their points of view with us from time to time.

When you want to get a non-expensive insurance, you have to stay focused on the reasons why you need it. These reasons have to be included in your contract and kept as number one priority. Price matters when it comes to car insurances as the one that is greedy usually pays twice more later on. Cheap car insurance is the matter of many discussions. Some experts claim that you can't get a car insurance that would not cost you enough money to not get furious about it. Some say that it takes time and Internet is full of offers that may be suitable for any person. But all of them say one and the same thing when it comes to safety - please make sure you do not get fooled with your car insurance as nothing comes for free. If you see an offer that just looks "too good to be true" - stay away from it.

The benefits of joining an auto club

You may think that joining an auto club will give you only roadside service assistance and some discounts when booking a hotel, but there's just a lot more to it than that. Even non-drivers should think about possibility to become a member of an auto club. Of course, not all stores, services and hotels will have it written about discounts right at their front desk, but it never hurts to ask. The savings you will get with an auto club member's card are sometimes just so considerable that paying a yearly fee will look ridiculous in comparison.

 

Emergency roadside assistance

Probably the most beneficial feature you get with your auto club membership are the free road emergency services. Even in case you don't have your own car, these services will definitely be very helpful when borrowing someone's car or even being a passenger. These free emergency services include:

• Towing the car for a certain amount of miles


• Changing a flat tire


• Jump starting in case you're accumulator is dead


• Extricating the car in case it is stuck somewhere


• Retrieving keys, if you're quite lucky to lock them inside the car


• Adding gas in case you run out of it while being far from a gas station


• Undertaking minor adjustments and repair

Discounts rule!

Members of auto clubs usually qualify for numerous discounts on a wide range of services and products. These usully include:

• Staying at hotels, inns, motels and campgrounds


• Dining at restaurants or in bars


• Renting a car


• Booking train, bus and airline tickets


• Repairing your auto or buying spare parts


• Going to movies, parks, attractions and other entertainment facilities


• Buying computers and Internet connection


• Getting insured


• Shopping at outlet and retail shops

Insurance costs and security

You most probably are aware of the discounts and special benefits the members of auto clubs get when buying auto insurance and homeowners coverage. But the discounts are not limited only to these types of insurance, and you may opt for price cuts when getting other insurance products as well, including:

• Term life insurance for a group of beneficiaries


• Medical coverage for a short period of time


• Insurance for long-term care


• Umbrella-type personal liability coverage


• Flood coverage


• Personal possessions coverage


• Small business insurance

And there's even more

These are just some of the advantages you might experience when becoming an auto club member:

• Road maps, travel books, atlases and printed publications


• Trip planning assistance


• Vacations and travel planning services


• Mortgage home loan services


• Auto loans and auto insurance


• Car maintainance and buying assistance from an expert car-buying process


• Legal protection and liability cost coverage


• Short term loans and cash services


• Travel checks with no fees


• Credit card services and assistance

You can get the full list of benefits and detailed information on all the discounts you are eligible for from your auto club web-page or representative so make sure to learn what you get with your membership when signing up.

Don't pay much - pay wisely

If your car is as old as 20 years old you must be aware of the fact that you are able to cover it choosing a policy that suits your case the best. The policy will probably differ but that is mainly the good part about it as you need the policy that will represent your interests in the best possible manner. But don't think insurance companies want to give you spare bucks or repair your vehicle only because they are noble - if insurance company lets you become covered by it means they want money from you... much more than you actually realize. Old cars are known to be problematic. They can break at any time so companies that are dealing with insurances understand what they getting themselves into with your car. Therefore it is very hard to get a good insurance that will promise you a new car instead of your old one if that dies on the road.

We live in the 21 century and technological progress has definitely taken over the world that is why we can frankly state that it brought up the situation where vehicles are trying to fit into a bracket that not so long ago belonged to drivers with collectible cars.

It became very trendy to be on an insurance plan. People don't usually get it because they feel an urge to be safe; they are more pragmatic than realistic. When you get a brand new car what is the first thing that crosses your mind? What happens if...? That is how all the questions start. And we know people that can always give reasonable replies to these questions comforting you and helping you feel stressed about nothing anymore.

As you may have heard policies and insurances of vehicles differ much. You can't say how different they are unless you compare them. Companies that deal with insurances vary. They compose different contracts and their conditions are not the same as well. But we want to reassure you. There is such thing as "classic quote" that you can always apply for. It gives you all the information you might need on limitations of covers and restrictions that your car may meet during the period of the contract.

If you know you are the type of person that is very likely to get into an accident on the road due to the lack of attention, you should specify that and choose the policy that will cover you and your car as much as possible from anything that may occur. Of course, the company will try to pay minimum and save dollars just not to buy you anything new, but you can always foresee these cases and go for the best possible case. Believe me, there is much to choose from.

You can always ask for discounts. If you want to make sure you get one, stick to the company that represents itself well. Ask those who have already dealt with it about its benefits and disadvantages. You have to know everything. Internet is a good recourse to search for information. Cheap auto insurance plans can be found in Google before you actually grab your pen to write down. Please keep in mind that auto insurance is the basic human need. You need your insurance to feel safe everyday. And that can never be cheap.

Several tips on how to ease switching insurance companies

It's not that hard as I may seem to be!

The reasons for changing insurance company for covering your auto are numerous. Maybe it's the level of services you aren't quite satisfied with, or the other insurance company has the same amount of coverage for a considerably lower price. Today, checking your insurance rates and comparing them to what the other carriers have to offer is a few minutes task. And if you decide that your current insurance provider has to be switched to another one, you will be surprised to know that it's not that hard to do like it may seem.

Why choosing another insurance carrier?

Checking your current insurance rates should become usual for you, to make sure you get exactly what you pay for. And while doing so, you should always shop around with other carriers as well. Even the same amounts and types of coverage can have different price tags with different companies. This is because each insurance company has it's own set of indicators determining the final insurance rates.

The primary indicator, which the company uses for determining the rates is the claims experience with every group of drivers that are insured with them. In other words, if your company has many claims filed by drivers of your customer group (age, sex, driving record, credit rating, etc.) during a given period, you will definitely experience a raise in insurance rates. If this is what you have to deal with, you most probably need to look on what the other companies have to offer.

Make sure you have the new policy before switching

Have a lapse in auto insurance coverage is not the best thing to confront with, so make sure you get the new policy before dropping the old one. The new company you get the policy from will make sure that it will take force right when the old one is canceled.

When the time is right?

In about a month before your current policy should be renewed you are likely to get a report on your current insurance rates, discounts and conditions. You can use this information when shopping around with other companies. So the best time to look for auto insurance quotes is 3-4 weeks before your actual policy is to be renewed or canceled.

You can do it anytime you want

Waiting for the renewal date is not a must when switching to another company. You can cancel your current policy anytime you want. If it's the middle of the cycle, you will get the remainder of your annual premium from the insurance company. However, some companies have a special short rate that will kick in when you decide to cancel your policy before the renewal period. So it's better to learn if your current carrier has such a rate, and if yes, decide whether the new policy bring you enough savings to be worth of paying such a fee.

Dropping the old policy

The right way of canceling a policy is asking the company in written form to do so, specifying the date you want your policy to be dropped. If you just leave the policy without informing or asking the company, it will be canceled due to late payment, and that usually means a bad entry on your credit record and higher rates when getting a new policy. So make sure you're making all the necessary formal paperwork before switching to another auto insurance company.

Old Age and Driving Skills

It's one of those sad facts of life that ageing is inevitable. Being philosophical about it - it's going to happen so you might as well celebrate it. The question is how society should celebrate ageing. People who rely on driving to get them around while working, continue to need their vehicles when they retire. Let's face it. In most US towns and cities, few people walk. Everyone drives. Fifty years ago, not many seniors drove around because life expectancy was a lot lower than it is today. Now more people own cars and, with more leisure time and better health, go out and about on the roads. This creates an interesting dilemma for states. Let's take Massachusetts as an example. Back in 1977, the legislature decided to grant seniors a reward for living so long. Regardless of their driving records, everyone over the age of 65 was given a 25% discount on their insurance premiums. This encouraged the car culture. Seniors were thought safer drivers, so it was alright to let them drive rather than walk around. The price tab was picked up by all the other drivers. The cost of the discount was spread across the premiums for all the other insured groups.

So how has this worked out? All the statistics from 1977 to date prove the initial assumption. Drivers in the age range 65 to 74 have fewer accidents than any other group on the road. This is due to three factors: they tend to drive more slowly, they have more experience than everyone else and they tend to drive at off-peak times when the danger is less. Thus, that group deserves a discount. Whether it should be 25% is not the point. There is considerable social benefit in continuing to encourage mobility among seniors. They go out and spend money in the community. They stay fit and healthy and are less of a burden on the health care services. But drivers aged 75 and over lose their edge. The body is slowing down. Reflexes and eyesight are not what they were. Their claims record is second only to the age group up to 25. This is sparking a debate about whether the discount should be removed for the oldest drivers.

Across the US, the issue is simply stated. Should there be regular testing of a driver's skills? More importantly, should premiums be set according to the quality of driving? The technology exists to instal a monitoring and recording system in everyone's vehicle. People of any age could be asked to go through tests of vision, reflexes and cognitive skills as a condition of retaining their licenses. We could reward all the safe drivers with discounts, increase the premiums for the bad drivers and take the dangerous drivers off the road. Or is this an invasion of privacy too far? Which is more important? That people should be judged as individuals when it comes to their auto insurance, or that everyone's privacy is protected and all the safe drivers subsidize the bad drivers? Massachusetts is discussing a full-scale testing program for seniors over 75 and reducing the discount to the others. At a time when family budgets are under pressure, do we really want to be increasing auto insurance premiums for seniors on a fixed pension?

Types of cars and insurance costs

You will be surprised how the common and obvious driving distraction can increase your car insurance premiums. Your first accident will raise insurance rates by about 22 while the first ticket will boost them 13% higher. It's a fact. And most drivers know that the most common reason for having trouble behind the wheel is being distracted.

And what are the most common distractions for a driver?

Eating, talking or using your phone are the most common distraction that take your eyes of the road and lead to crashes or near-miss situations. Most US drivers admit using their cell phones while driving and nearly 20% even manage to write text message while behind the wheel. This leads to the statistics, where about 45% percent of car owners who experienced an accident tell that either of the parties involved was using a cell phone during the crash.

Eating is not as frequently reported to cause an accident as cell phone use, but it definitely distracts the driver from what is going on the road. Some foods are more suitable for on-the-go situations, some are less, and some should be avoided initially:

• Hot drinks such as coffee or tea can spill over you and cause quite unpleasant sensations, which will definitely get you distracted, especially on high speeds.


• Greasy foods can be tasty but they will definitely make a mess out of your steering wheel, making it less comfortable to handle, which can be crucial in risky situations. Chicken wings and barbecue ribs are definitely not the type of food to eat while driving!


• Gooey things like jelly donuts or breakfast burritos can simply ruin your suit when they ooze down from your hands. And it definitely stresses and makes think of things different from what's happening on the road.

What can you do to keep the distractions down?

First of all, if you want to eat really bad and didn't resist the temptation of the drive-thru don't eat on the go. Find a place to pull over and take a snack without driving. It will be also better to get out of the car if you can. If it's a long drive you're taking, you will be able to shoot two birds with one stone: eat and walk around a bit. Besides, you will keep your driver's seat and steering wheel clean if there are any greasy substances.

Don't use hand held cell phones while driving. Some states have already banned this practice and if you get caught using such a device behind the wheel, you can wave your cheap auto insurance goodbye because you'll get a ticket and your rates will be raised instantly. There are many additional devices for cell phones that allow you to talk without using your hands, and this is quite helpful behind the wheel. Still, the conversation itself could distract you from the traffic and raises your risk of having an accident. So if you want to make sure you'll keep your cheap auto insurance and avoid accidents, just find a place to pull over and take the call there. It may take some time, but it can also save your life.

Why are premium notices a source of stress?

Life is never fair. Just when you think you have hit rock bottom and things cannot get any worse, they get worse. You would have thought that a recession would mean premium rates would stay the same. In your dreams, you might have hoped for the rates to fall. After all, there's massive unemployment - it's the worst level of unemployment for more than sixty years. With household incomes falling and no job security, this is not the time to find premium rates increasing. Yet when those premium notices drop into your mail boxes, the evidence is there. And it's not just you. Premiums are going up for most drivers. This is so unfair! All but three states in the union have mandatory liability insurance. For everyone who wants to stay legal on the roads, the price of driving is getting to deterrent levels. First it was the price of gas shooting up like a rocket. Now it's those premiums! What's going on?

There are two quite different problems coming together at the same time. One comes from the general downturn in the economy. The other is connected with the system of regulation for the insurance industry. On paper, the companies have an easy ride. They collect in the premiums, receive the claims, pay out on the claims and keep the balance as profit. Except the worst recession in decades caught them off guard. It all comes down to what insurers should do with the money they have collected in. Their answer was to invest most of it in the stock market. That way, they earned dividends and got capital growth until it was needed to pay out on the claims. But some invested in these new securitized bonds based on mortgages and other loans. So, when both the property and the capital markets were hit, insurers found themselves with big losses. Under normal circumstances, this would not have been a problem, but the insurance industry has to play by different rules. They are regulated by the insurance departments and commissioners for each state. To protect all you people who buy policies, the key rule is that the companies must have enough capital in reserve to pay out on the claims you make. When the stock and bond markets collapsed, many companies either broke the rule or were too close for comfort. So companies have been moving cash around between states to keep themselves legal and putting up the premiums to collect more.

It's ironic that a rule designed to protect consumers should be pushing up the premiums so fast. Who would have thought the auto insurance industry would lose so much of the money they had invested. After all, they employ all these clever people called actuaries to measure the risks for writing policies. You would think they would have seen the risks of some of the investments they were making. Yet, like most of the other investment managers, the insurers were taken by surprise. The result is that, overnight, many were close to not having enough money to pay out on your policies. That was and remains a serious problem. That's why the auto insurance industry is asking you all for more money.

Refinance and consolidate your debts

If you look back over the last several years, this has been a really exciting period of time. For the first years, banks and finance companies let us borrow more money than we needed. Fortunately, there was a property bubble forming so buying a new more expensive home was a big winner. The housing equity grew real fast and provided ever more security for more loans. Changing homes after four or five years let us cash in and keep on building up our net worth. Except, all we were doing was going ever deeper into debt so that, when the property bubble burst and the recession hit, there was nowhere left to run.

Well, we have had just over a year to start sorting out our problems. Hopefully, you are one of the lucky ones who have managed to stay in work and keep up the instalment payments on your home. Although you may have negative housing equity, this is not all doom and gloom. Let's start with how you have managed to survive. You stopped all the wild spending and began paying down the most expensive debts on your store and credit cards. You are still some way away from paying off all your debts. Very few people have managed to switch over to building up their cash savings. But you are better off than you were a year ago. Now look around. Interest rates have been at rock bottom for months. The Fed cut the headline rates to the bone and, slowly, this has filtered through the banking system. There is more cheap money around today. Except we still have the credit crunch. Banks are still reluctant to lend.

There are hundreds of neighborhoods around the country where repossessed homes are standing empty with resale values dragging along the bottom. While this persists, you only have one strategy. As soon as the value of your home rises above the amount outstanding on your current mortgage, you should consider refinancing. If you can switch from the existing more expensive home loan to one at current interest rates, you will shave thousands of dollars off the total you will pay over the lifetime of the mortgage. But there is a further possibility to consider.

Whenever you find you have some positive housing equity, you can negotiate a debt consolidation loan, i.e. instead of paying individual instalments to store and credit card carriers, you roll up all your debts into a single mortgage. This gives you a single monthly instalment to pay. With the right deal in place, you will find you save thousands of dollars a year in interest payments. You will pay off your debts at a significantly lower cost and soon be able to start saving. So the watchwords are patience and forward planning. You need to keep on paying down your existing debts. Show yourself as a responsible borrower and keep your credit score as strong as possible. Monitor the local housing market and see what is happening to resale values. You need to be ready to move when values start to pick up. You also need detailed accounts and a financial proposal ready to present to a mortgage or home loan broker. Be prepared with your own long-term rescue plan.

Is it true that men file more insurance claims than women?

We all know that there's a war between sexes on who are better drivers, men or women? And as men are claiming to be far better at the wheel the statistics are actually on the opposite side. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Report dated 2004 notes men being involved in 27,000 more fatal accidents, 432,000 more injury accidents and 1,369,000 more incidents with damaged property, resulting in total 1,828,000 more insurance claims filed by men in 2004 only. And since then the trend hasn't changed.

And it's hard to tell that the most risky drivers - men younger than 25 years old - are contributing to these statistics. These are actually men of all age groups.

As an insurance agent from Ohio, Brad Vermillion has stated: "Men are more aggressive in their very nature and pursue a riskier attitude when driving a car. You see a man not wearing a seat belt, speeding and driving under influence far more often than a woman. The amount of miles driven throughout the lifetime is also quite higher with men than with women, which of course means a greater risk of being involved in a traffic accident and filing an insurance claim. The less you drive the safer you are."

A righteous question rises consequently, whether do insurance companies take into account the statistics provided by the NHTSA and other organizations? "Insurers know about such statistics very well and they are reflected in their pricing guidelines," stated Vermillion. "A man will always pay a higher auto insurance premium than a woman, even if he lives in a safe area and has a perfect driving and credit record."

But the overall trend has started to shift in recent years, making the gap between men and women smaller in what concerns auto insurance premiums. "The last couple of years have shown more and more women driving at longer distances and for more extended periods of time. This results from a wider access to cars among women and more intense and active lifestyle attitudes, forcing women to move around a lot more than in previous years," states Dave Roush, CEO of Insurance.com. "Women spend more time behind the wheel and raise the stress levels, which inevitably results in more aggressive attitude from women on the road. This trend is only starting to take shape and it's a matter of time to judge whether it will minimize the gap between men and women in what concerns auto insurance rates. But for now men are well ahead in this competition."

Types of cars and insurance costs

The car you own determines to a large extent the premiums you will have to pay for insuring it. Of course, your claims history, driving and credit records, your age, sex and location will also influence the rates, but not to the extent of your actual vehicle. You can make everything you can to improve the other factors but if your car is expensive to insure on its own, don't expect to have low rates on it.

Each car make and model is assigned with a certain rating according to its overall safety, repair costs, theft rates, clams history and possible damage to infrastructure. When a new car comes out it is rated like other similar cars before having a decent claims history on its own. The moment there's enough information to be analyzed, the particular make and model can either be rated higher or lower, which directly affects the insurance rates.

If you're thinking about insuring your fast sports car or a big SUV be ready to meet a hefty price tag in your insurance policy. These two groups of vehicles are quite expensive to insure due to various reasons. Sports cars are powerful and fast enough to provoke the driver for pushing the limits and violating traffic rules, which means that sports cars are generally dangerous and pose greater insurance risks to be covered. SUVs on the other hand tend to be safe for the driver and passengers inside it, which is good in terms of insurance, but they have increased potential to devastate the other vehicle or infrastructure during the accident. Luxury cars are also quite expensive to insure because they have high repair costs and often fall prey to theft.

In case you are looking for cheap auto insurance and haven't bought a car yet, experts suggest looking in the middle section of the car model and making class. Small cheap cars often have good gas mileage but due to low mass they aren't quite as safe as their bigger mid-class peers. What you need is a reliable car with good controls, good crash test results, increased safety and low repair costs. Most car manufacturers (except for luxury car brands) have such models and different variations to satisfy the needs of everyday drivers.

If your car is equipped with such safety features as airbags, additional seat belts, anti-lock brakes and anti-theft devices it is a good chance that you will get cheap auto insurance you've been looking for. If your auto doesn't carry these features, no one restricts you from installing them on your own. But make sure to inform your insurance agent about these modifications to get the discount you deserve. Otherwise your insurance rates will remain the same.

In case you own an old car, it is likely that you will have lower insurance rates compared to the same car but new. However, you should ask your agent about the necessary coverage types, because some older vehicles can safely drop certain types of insurance coverage making your policy even cheaper.

Your baby’s weight and insurance

There's a school of thought that says, "the number don't lie". The assumption is that numbers are facts and facts are always true. So if someone counts the number of times something happens, this gives you a basis from which to estimate the probability of the same thing happening across a population. This is the basis of underwriting for insurance purposes. Teams of highly trained people called actuaries count how many traffic accidents there are. They break it down into the age, make and model of car, the age, gender and profession of the driver, the time of day, the weather conditions, and so on. We happily accept information that, in the first half of 2009, only 16,626 people were killed in crashes, a 7% drop as against the same period last year. We are not surprised when we read this proves that there are 1.15 deaths per 100 million miles driven. The facts are facts and must be true.

Except when we apply the same approach to health insurance, some people get upset. Perhaps it's appropriate to be writing this at Halloween but the same actuaries have been counting the number of people who die from various diseases. For the purposes of this article, one of the main areas of interest has been the question of obesity. There are detailed numbers available across the country showing that people who have a high Body Mass Index (BMI) are more likely than thin people to die of heart disease. The medical evidence proves what are called "comorbidities", i.e. the presence of two or more conditions which, more often than not, suggests a cause and effect at work, or that there's an underlying vulnerability to both conditions. We are not so unhappy to accept a link between drug abuse and mental illness, but mention a possible link between body weight and disease and, suddenly, people are upset. People do not want to hear a link between their lifestyles and the probability of early death.

The reality is that adults with a BMI of 30 and above are either being turned down for health insurance or charged a higher premium. No matter how politically correct it may be to talk about obesity, insurance companies protect themselves by classifying obesity as a pre-existing condition justifying refusal or a premium loading. So welcome to baby Alex, a newcomer to Grand Junction. He's four months old and breast-feeding. He's a happy, bouncing baby weighing in at seventeen pounds. With a length of 25 inches, this puts him in the 99th percentile for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's height and weight charts for babies of the same age. So the health insurance company refused coverage. Their cut-off point is the 95 percentile. When you think about it, this is a dramatic piece of news. It seems you are never too young to be overweight. This is not something to be dealt with through an increase in health insurance rates. This is a blank refusal of coverage. At four months, the actuaries have already decided this baby is too big a risk to insure. The parents are naturally upset. Even though their pediatrician has no health concerns, they are talking about putting the baby on the Atkins diet. They may joke but this may be a real sign of change in the health insurance industry. There is no sentimentality here. After all, the numbers don't lie, except the insurers changed their mind when the publicity hit. Alex is now insured. Some good news to end on.

The reason you are in need of disability insurance

Usually, people purchase property and disaster, or casualty insurance to secure their possessions and life insurance to supply profit for their survivors. Nevertheless, lots of people don't think of securing their profit with disability insurance. But how fine could you live if you weren't capable to go to work at all? Disablement is an unforeseen event, and if you once become disabled, your capability to make a living could be limited. Although you might have enough finances in the bank to meet your short-dated necessities, what would occur if you were incapable to work for months, or even for years? The real price of disability insurance is in its capability to secure you over the long distance.

What would if you become disabled? What's then?

What would happen if you undergone an injury or disease and couldn't function for days, months, or even for years? If you're alone, you can have no other ways of financial support. If you're married, you might be capable to count on your spouse's income, but you perhaps also have many fiscal obligations, like supporting your kids and returning your mortgage loan. Could your spouse truly support you and the whole family? Also, remember that you don't need to be working in a dangerous occupation to be in need of cheap health insurance; accidents befall not only on the workplace but at home as well, and disease can strike anybody. For these causes, everyone who operates and gains a living has to consider getting disability insurance.

But isn't disability insurance through the government or a boss enough?

You may consider that you are sufficiently insured from disability because you have health insurance through your boss or through government programs like Social Security and employees' compensation. Anyway, only fifty percent of employers cover short-dated disablement and just forty percent cover long-dated disablement. Government programs can pay you advantages, but only if you meet a direct definition of disablement. Here's an idea of the advantages you can already possess, as well as their restrictions:

• Social Security
  

  Though you shouldn't review the disability advantages you might be acceptable to get from Social Security, you don't have to count on them either. Social Security rejects more than fifty percent of the claims applied, in part because of its direct definition of disablement. Even if you are deemed acceptable for advantages, you still won't start getting them till at least half a year after you become disabled for Social Security sets a wait state. Also, your advantage can replace just a portion of your pre-disablement profit.

  
  


• Employees' compensation
  

  If you're damaged at your job or get ill from job-associated reasons, you can get some disability advantages from employees' compensation insurance, which is by the way fairly cheap health insurance. How much you get depends on the state of your abide. Nevertheless, when you survey your disablement insurance necessities, remember that employees' compensation only returns advantages if your disability is job-related, so it proffers only restricted disability maintenance. Certain states also cover just the illnesses or disabilities enclosed in that state's employees' compensation laws.

  
  


• Retirement plans
  

  Certain government and personal retirement plans pay disability advantages. Frequently these plans pay advantages found on complete, constant disability, or lower your pension benefit in correlation to what you have already got for a disablement. Also, remember that these advantages are normally federated with Social Security or employees' compensation, so your advantage can be less than you anticipate if you as well obtain disability profit from these government origins.

  
  

Ways you can lower your rates with this

When it comes to insuring your life you'll see that the price largely depends on certain factors such as your sex, age, health condition and general lifestyle. And it's evident that if you're a senior person with serious health issues you will get a heftier price tag on your policy than a teen with no health issues and bad habits. But still, there are certain methods you can employ to lower the final cost of your insurance policy no matter how old or how many bad habits you may have. You may find them really useful and effective in lowering your final rates.

1. Choose the right payout amount

Quite often, insurance companies offer lower premiums for larger multiples within the policy. For example, you may be charged with $260 per year for $250,000 in coverage while having $10,000 less in the multiple will actually cost you $275 per year. So before you consider taking the policy, learn what the rates are for every $1000 in coverage, and compare these correlations across different providers. Sometimes the difference is quite big to let the chance go by.

2. Work with a social-conscious insurance provider

Usually, insurance companies tend to offer higher rates for people with complicated and severe health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer. But there are companies that actually offer discounts to people with such conditions and tend to analyze each case separately, being more social-oriented in their business. So if you have a serious health condition you might want to check out a company like that.

3. Kick bad habits

It's a well-known fact that when you stop smoking and start exercising (and improving your lifestyle to a healthier extent) the cost of insuring your life will be lower. Only that most people don't realize how much lower it can be until they actually stop smoking! Sometimes smokers are charged double the rate that non-smokers of the same age and health group pay each year. Losing weight and engaging in special exercise programs will also lead to significant discounts. But don't think about lying to the insurance company about your habits. If you end up developing a disease related to a bad habit you've claimed you don't have, your policy will be voided and you will get nothing in the end.

4. You don't need riders

Riders provide coverage in case of events not specified by the standard insurance policy. Or, as it always happens in reality, events that are very unlikely to happen. And paying additional money just to have this additional coverage will unreasonably increase your final insurance rates. Think about it and see if you really need this additional coverage.

5. Learn if there are any hidden fees

You will probably be offered with different payment options such as monthly installments to make your payment process more "convenient". But in the end you will end up paying more than you would with a single payment as there are additional fees for using such services. So before you decide on a payment option, calculate what would be the less costly for you rather than convenient.

6. Do some comparison shopping

When speaking about life insurance the rule of shopping around applies just as in case of any other product. Learn what all the companies providing life insurance in your area have to offer, see which one provides the most benefits for the lowest price and choose the one you like. You can compare life insurance offers online too.

Umbrella coverage for insuring your home

You have definitely heard the expression "umbrella policy"and maybe someone has even suggested that you get one. But why would you need such a policy if you already have homeowners insurance? Well, you surely hear numerous stories about odd and even a\outrageous lawsuits going on every now and then. And umbrella coverage is one way you can protect yourself from being involved in such a story for everyone to talk about.

What umbrella policies provide is additional coverage that goes beyond your limits in exceptional case, and the good news is that such policies apply both for homeowners and auto insurance coverage. Experts claim that it's a good tool for covering your risks, especially connected to legal action. In many cases the liability insurance you carry with your standard policy is not enough to cover court costs and that's exactly where you have a good use of umbrella coverage. Having such coverage will protect your main assets (car, house, other property) from being legally claimed, and that's definitely a good way to minimize your risks.

Who will get the most benefit by using umbrella policy?

When considering getting umbrella coverage, you have to evaluate what is your chance of facing legal action and what assets should be protected against such risk. Sometimes it would be cheaper to just increase your coverage amounts than getting an umbrella policy. Increasing your deductible would also lead to lower insurance rates. But if you ultimately risk facing a court case (with those crazy multi-million verdicts) having an umbrella policy will definitely be useful.

To be more exact, having a swimming pool, trampoline, hot tub or dangerous pets with frequent guests at your house, you will definitely find a good use for umbrella coverage. But if you don't have such risks of being sued, you can have the regular home insurance policy without any worries.

What is protected by umbrella coverage?

When you get umbrella coverage it means that you have much broader insurance protection with higher coverage amounts. Simple insurance policies provide coverage for bodily injury and property damage, however with umbrella coverage, such protection goes beyond the standard policy and will work in cases when the damage or injury is caused by your, your family members, dependents or even pets. You also get coverage in cases of:

• Arrest by mistake


• Imprisonment by mistake


• Defamation


• Privacy invasion


• Malicious prosecution


• Eviction


• Wrongful entry

With some umbrella policies you will even get protection in case of facing legal action while working in charity, civic or religious organizations. You have to keep in mind that no matter how odd or stupid the case may be, you still have to pay for legal costs associated with it and that's always a lot of money.

When umbrella coverage takes force?

Umbrella coverage takes force when the standard amount of liability coverage within your auto or home insurance runs out. The amount that exceeds your standard liability coverage is what will be covered by the umbrella policy. However, some companies will give umbrella policies only to customers who have both car and home insurance policies with them, so make sure to learn your options before considering umbrella coverage. Sometimes you may even be required to have a certain amount of liability coverage in order to apply for umbrella policy.

What to do when you lose both your job and your health plan

Health insurance has become a hot button issue in US politics. With Washington making some progress in healthcare reform, this leaves Americans divided into three camps. Although estimates vary, it seems up to 50 million cannot afford private health insurance. The middle ground is help by those who do earn enough to pay for some private health coverage, and then there's the comfortable group whose employers provide health coverage. Movement from one camp to another can be painful. It's the difference between peace of mind and security on the one hand, and struggle and worry on the other. Because it can be a serious shock to a family to lose the health cover provided by an employer, Congress introduced the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) in 1986. The name may not sound important, but the Act has proved a vital reform to allow families a bridge between employer-provided and private health coverage. Almost all businesses employing 20 or more must join the scheme and tell their employees of their rights.

COBRA is available to the majority of those who lose their employer-provided insurance, whether by termination, lay-off or voluntary termination. It can also apply when people lose hours and no longer qualify under a health plan, go through divorce or lose cover through the death of a spouse or parent. The umbrella of protection lasts for up to eighteen months in the ordinary case. Where a family member is disabled, the protection can extend to twenty-nine months. If the conditions are met, ex-employees are allowed to buy health coverage at group rates. This is more than the cost of the plan run by their employers (plus a 2% administration fee), but less than the cost of private coverage. The coverage runs from the date the employment terminates. If there's a delay in putting the COBRA policy in place, the premiums have still to be paid as from the date employment terminated. This can sometimes be quite a large lump sum to find. The COBRA policy ends when the ex-employee or family member gets another health plan, no payments are made on the COBRA policy, or the period of protection ends. The advantage? While it's in force, the insured and family get the same basic entitlements as under the employer's plan.

The COBRA scheme has been working well in providing a subsidized breathing space during which people may find new employment with a health plan or with a rate of pay that can support private health cover. Unfortunately, with unemployment rising towards 10%, it's growing increasingly difficult for people to find new employment. Thus, as savings run out, families are dropping out of the group COBRA coverage and into uninsured status. It's a sad fact of life that if a family cannot afford a COBRA premium, it cannot afford a private health insurance policy. The best place to shop around for replacement cover is online. Term health insurance can be an economic way to fill the gap until full coverage can be restored. Hopefully, the economy will pick up and more jobs will come. As the economy revives, more will be able to find affordable health insurance online.

Keeping the perfect car insured respectively

Dream the perfect drive!

Your car is not that lovable to you when you see a huge bill coming your way. It is all understandable but also very ... reasonable. Yes, insurance companies do put something at steak before they set up a deal with you but you have to understand that mainly that is what you pay your bucks for. They promise you safety and safety is precious. Most drivers will try to combine safety and reasonable payment. But of the time they do succeed. It is possible to find a good insurance deal that you won't regret later on.

Usually, when we think of a discount - we start looking for reasons people might be offering it for. When you come to an insurer begging for a price reduction you give the impression of being ready to put your life at risks for a couple of dollars. Bargains are not acceptable here. It is not wise to pay double but don't expect to pay nothing and stay safe either. But don't get too many dollars out of your pocket just yet - there are certain possibilities to economize on your auto insurance without getting into trouble.

It is not true that insurance companies want to trap people with their lies. But being informed really helps the case. It is important for you personally to know what you are looking for. Of course, if you are fixated on discounts it is difficult to manage anything else. But hey, we are happy to inform you that due to all the competition going on companies are will to negotiate just to have you on their team. One of the most well-known reasons for offering a discount is when a driver has gone through formal training. The driver receives a document that allows him to receive a discount because it means he is more capable of driving good than any other person that has not done the training.

Cheap car insurance can be obtained by those who are well experienced in driving. If you driving record is perfect your premiums will be high and your discount may be even bigger as the insurance company doesn't risk almost anything with you.

Please remember to point out the most important aspects before you go to visit an insurer. You have to remember the major reason for getting one of those. Some people think that changing the insurance company every now and then is not harmful. But we say - why do you have to do it when you can stay happy with one and the same? Going for a wider coverage and thinking it is the best decision is not that good. The situation may change with time. So if your car gets old in a few years it means that you will require less coverage as the car is not that pricey anymore. So consider everything even if it doesn't seem to bother you now. Cheap car insurance can be found without a pray. You only have to open your eyes and be smart about it.

Hints on insuring homes in unfavorable areas

Houses in dark spot areas and insurance rules basics

If your surroundings are not too promising in terms of weather conditions when the wind is practically blowing in your ear all the time and raindrops keep falling down on your rooftop there is a very good chance that you might have to pay extra for your house insurance. England is famous for its rains and floods that have taken over the country lately have ended up costing millions and millions of pounds in claims. This fact, of course, could not be ignored by the insurance companies that have already stated that premiums will be raised not only in England but all around UK as well.

New statistics on house insurance have shown that over 90% of insurers guarantee that the premiums in flood-prone zones will be significantly higher if authorities do not begin the flood-protecting process in the nearest future. According to some other researches if this actually takes place, insurance companies may raise the premiums despite of the area and it will create a fuss on the insurance market. Those who live in flood-free zones are not likely to receive any benefits even if it makes sense to do so.

Insurers nowadays like to blame everything on the authorities. They defend their heart-breaking prices by telling the world that the Government doesn't want to commit to the flood-protection plan enough to help citizens get rid of the problem that can ruin their home and lives. The Government says that they are taking it step by step in order to offer the citizens a good flood-protection program.

Here are some of the notes you might want to take: Don't give in to it...

If you don't know exactly if your zone is considered a "black spot" by house insurers or if you are planning on buying a new house and you can't choose the right are, you should be able to check the Environment Agency webpage and get your answer. But this information can be confidential so don't expect to receive all the details this easily. But you can always check it with the house insurers because they should be competent enough to answer any questions related to homes.

Get steady

Weather is something you can't predict or control. You can save yourself from a risk by getting a flat in a flood-free area but even there you don't know what might happen. Disaster proofing is a perfect solution for those who are afraid of home damage or any other sort of catastrophe that has nothing to do with a person. If your zone is rainy and windy, install windows that will guarantee you maximum protection. You have to make sure you do enough to prevent any damage.

Get yourself covered twice

It is not easy to find a good solution. Cheap home insurance is not something you can find with a clap of your hands. But the one that seeks will find. If you don't feel like you are protected enough with your coverage, get yourself another one. One is always better than none and two is always better than one. You can get a cheap home insurance with the company that you already deal with if you have your car insured or health insurance, for example. This could definitely help your premiums. But it is always best to shop around and look for other offers as you never know what you may find. And remember to read quotes - they are important too.

Healthcare for children

Three years ago, the figures released by the Census Bureau suggested that almost nine million children in the US were uninsured. This is despite the fact that about 28 million children were allowed access to Medicaid and a further seven million received help from the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Put another way, almost 12% of children were uninsured. In a society that claims to protect the interests of children, this makes for depressing reading.

In recent years, the majority of children have been covered by health plans paid for by their parents' employers. Unfortunately, the cost of family plans has been rising more steeply than for individual coverage. With employee contributions rising faster than inflation, many parents have been forced to drop out of group cover. This has left Medicaid with the increasing task of providing cover for low-income families. Where parents earn more than the maximum allowed for Medicaid eligibility, State Children's Health Insurance Program targets families who cannot afford private coverage. Unfortunately, two factors have combined to increase the number of uninsured children.

As the recession hit in 2008, unemployment rose and the amount of tax collected fell. This meant the individual US states responsible for supporting State Children's Health Insurance Program began to run severe budget deficits. Since the idea of tax increases is politically impossible, this has forced states to cut back on all discretionary spending. Consequently, many have redefined the level at which they intervene to provide health coverage for children. As if this was not bad enough, there has been a reduction in the publicity given to the State Children's Health Insurance Program plans. Parents are no longer prompted to apply for coverage even when their income would make their children eligible for support. Put the two together and the Congressional Budget Office confirms the number of uninsured children has been rising steadily.

This is a difficult time for healthcare in the US. Almost everyone agrees the current system should be reformed, but there's no real sign of agreement between the political parties on what should be done. While Washington struggles to enact legislation, more children should be brought within the existing schemes - State Children's Health Insurance Program was reauthorized for a further 10 year term in 2007 with bipartisan support. So long as private health insurance policies remain unaffordable for the majority of families and employer-provided group plans are imposing sharply increased premiums, the number of uninsured children will rise steadily.

This trend will accelerate as unemployment rises during the recession. It's a national scandal that the health of children is being put at risk by denying adequate health insurance coverage. If no co-ordinated federal plan is put in place, families should protect themselves by applying to both Medicaid and their local State Children's Health Insurance Program for help. It's important to remember that the Congressional Budget Office confirms almost all the children currently uninsured would be entitled to access Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Program. This is your right and it protects the future of the country. Everyone loses if children die or suffer inadequate health care because health insurance is denied.

How to make a claim

The majority of policy holders will go through the year without making a claim. It's possible a major weather disaster could suddenly take out an area, but the actual risks of fires, thefts and accidents around the home are relatively low. Even high-crime areas do not produce excessive numbers of claims. That's why, when the anticipated cost of all the losses is spread among the policy holders, the premiums are not too high. That said, people find the claims process confusing, so here are some simple steps to keep technical problems to a minimum.

1. If a crime has been involved, notify the police immediately and cooperate with the investigation. Your insurance company will want full details of the investigation so keep good notes of the names and contact information for the officers who deal with it. Notifying the police also reduces the risk in the eyes of the insurer that you are making a fraudulent claim. Liaise with the police to get copies of any witness statements, police reports, fire department reports, and so on. Alternatively, be able to pass all the police or fire department contact details over to the insurer.

2. Never delay notifying the insurance company or your local agent that you have suffered a loss. There are a whole series of processes that have to be set in motion to handle the claim. If the loss is minor, your local agent will usually deal with it directly. Anything more serious will go through the claims office. At the earliest possible opportunity, confirm who will liaise with you and how you contact that person.

3. Depending on the circumstances, it's possible that emergency repairs are necessary. Most insurance companies operate a list of contractors approved to make these repairs. Many contractors can bill the insurers directly. If emergency repairs are necessary, get the necessary paperwork to authorize the work from the insurer at the earliest opportunity.

4. Document every aspect of the damage to your property or the contents. That means taking photographs or a video, and keeping a diary of all the events so you can write up a full report for the agent or claims adjuster. The key issues are the value of property damaged or lost, and the cost of repairs. Hopefully, you have kept the receipts for all the bigger ticket items to set a baseline value.

5. Deal with the home insurance company in writing as much as possible, keeping copies of letters and e-mails. If you speak to people by telephone, keep records of the date, time, the person you spoke with and a summary of what was said. This will help you if there is a dispute later on in the claims process.

6. Ensure you are present when the agent or claims adjuster comes to inspect your property and point out all the damage. Again, keep notes of what is said.

7. The home insurance company will make an offer of settlement. Take advice on whether the amount offered is fair. If building work is involved, talk to the building contractor. If you think the insurer is trying to take advantage of you in some way, discuss the issue with the insurance department or commissioner for your state.

An introduction to Auto Insurances

Auto insurance is mandatory in most states. The law mandates to have auto insurance on any vehicle you drive. And nowadays getting auto insurance is not a big deal at all. There are numerous insurance companies available today offering auto insurance policy and each insurance provider offers their own custom made schemes with a cover to match today’s industry needs. Hence the real game is to find out the best suitable one which suits you the best.

One of the basic things to take into consideration before getting any auto insurance policy is the type of coverage you need. Which ever policy you choose you have to pay a certain amount of money depending on the type of coverage you choose for your vehicle. Let us look in details what are the main types of auto insurance policies available in the market.

One of the most common types of auto insurance is the liability insurance. Liability insurance is considered as the least coverage an individual can take. Liability insurance is regarded as an important one it will cover up to its stated amount if any accident has occurred causing harm to some other's body or property, and the person operating the insured vehicle was found to be liable for the accident. The auto insurance company will pay the stated amount to the injured according to your insurance policy. But remember if you are injured or hurt in the accident, you will not get any coverage and will have to spend all the money for medical expenses as well as any damage happened to your vehicle yourself. In most cases after any claim, auto insurance companies usually increase your monthly payments if you are found liable for the accident.

The second popular type of auto insurance is the Full Insurance. If you are selecting the full insurance scheme your monthly payments will be based on your vehicle make and model. If you are using a highly expensive car then you monthly payments will be high for a standard car the premium amount will be less. Full insurance will cover both the parties involved in an accident. Full insurance would covers up to either the actual cost of repairs or the stated amount, less the stated deductible, when the insured vehicle is damaged in any accident.

Before sticking into any auto insurance it is better from you part to talk with various auto insurance providers to know the difference scheme provided by them. Ask them if they are able to send you insurance quotes on the policies and the types of coverage they provide. Study the auto insurance policies and compare their rates and advantages carefully before selecting a particular offer. And try to select an ideal auto insurance policy which suits you the best.

Nowadays there are numerous websites which offer instant auto insurance quote comparison services. This helps the customers to compare the same service provided by different auto insurance providers before selecting any particular insurance provider.

An Informative Review of RV Insurance Companies

There are a number of insurance companies that focus primarily on insuring recreational vehicles (RVs). These companies provide comprehensive policies that thoroughly protect RV owners. Some of the top RV insurance companies are Gilbert RV insurance, RV America Insurance, Progressive RV Insurance, and Good Sam RV insurance. Each of these companies has numerous options for RV coverage. RV owners will be able to find the coverage they need with one of these top companies for a reasonable price.

Gilbert RV Insurance offers several options for RV owners. Some of the best things about Gilbert are the replacement cost coverage, the purchase price coverage, and the full timer coverage. The replacement cost coverage guarantees that the client will receive a new RV of the same model, body and size if the original RV is totaled. The purchase price coverage is similar. It gives people the option of being paid the total price paid for the RV in the event that it is totaled. The full timer policy is perfect for people whose RV is their primary residence. This policy provides total coverage for the RV and has higher liability limits.

RV America Insurance provides a number of options for owners of all types of recreational vehicles. The most unique aspect of RV America Insurance is that it works with six different RV insurance companies. This insures that RV owners will get coverage that is specialized to meet their needs at a low cost. Some of the options available include flood, theft and fire coverage; full timer coverage; total loss replacement; and 24/7 roadside assistance.

Progressive RV Insurance is perfect for covering many types of recreational vehicles. Progressive is a top rated car insurance company. They apply their excellent vehicle coverage for RVs, but also understand that an RV is like a home on wheels. Progressive offers full RV coverage including personal effects coverage, campsite coverage, and emergency placement coverage in case RV owners need somewhere to stay while their RV is being repaired.

Good Sam RV Insurance is a part of the Good Sam Club for RV owners and campers. The Good Sam Club offers members emergency roadside service and extended warranties on RVs as well as comprehensive insurance. Some of the many features offered are full RV replacement, full timer coverage, permanently attached items coverage, and personal effects coverage. Good Sam saves RV owners on average of $312 a year on RV insurance and received an “A” rating from A.M. Best.

These top-rated RV insurance companies can provide RV owners with the coverage they need. From occasional RV users to full timers, everyone can find a policy to fit their needs.

Amusement Ride Safety Considerations

The amusement ride operator/attendant has full control on most rides and must be proactive and capable of reacting quickly to situations as they arise.

The safety record of the amusement ride industry has greatly improved as a result of inspections, ride maintenance, safe operations and better ride designs, and ride operators/attendants play an important role in maintaining amusement ride safety.

Most countries have occupational health and safety legislation designed to protect the health and safety of workers and the public. Herein is a discussion of the role that amusement ride operators/attendants play in maintaining the highest possible level of safety on the rides on which they work.

Amusement ride operators/attendants should work safely, get as much training as possible in the safe operation of the equipment they are working with and stay alert to prevent safety hazards.
Amusement ride operators/attendants should not engage in any unsafe activities such as horse-play, showing off, or any unseemly behavior while on the job.

Every amusement ride operator/attendant is responsible for on-the-job safety. They are responsible for their own safety as well as the safety of other employees and that of the general public.

Here are some basic rules for a safe workplace that amusement ride operators/attendants should follow:

• Be sure that you know and obey all safety rules and procedures

• Keep your surroundings neat, clean and free of hazards

• Immediately report hazardous situations that might result in an accident

• Complete the inspection checklists prior to operating the ride

• Develop safe work habits and participate in safety training

In addition, there are a number of workplace hazards for which amusement ride operators/attendants should be on the look-out and attend to at once:

• Anything that can cause someone to trip

• Anything that can cause someone to bump their head

• Anything that can cause someone to get a splinter

• Anything that can cause someone to fall

• Anything that can cause someone to get a cut

Amusement ride operators/attendants must work in accordance with the Health and Safety legislation in affect in their area. They must also follow their employer’s policies and safety procedures. They should also be sure not to work when they are tired. Breaks should be taken away from the ride in order to enable the amusement ride operators/attendants to properly relax so that they may return to work refreshed and rested.

It is of the utmost importance that amusement ride operators/attendants be totally familiar with the rides that they are operating. They should observe how the ride operates, and the motions involved in their operation until they understand them completely.

Every ride has a safety zone, which is the area from which the ride is operated. This safety zone is usually designated by the manufacturer or owner of the ride, and should be clearly defined and fenced off, in such a way as to be easily identified by the riders. The safety zone should also be an area that is easily controlled by the amusement ride operators/attendants. The safety zone is for the personal safety of the amusement ride operators/attendants while the ride is in motion, and should never be left while the ride is in motion, or before it has come to a full stop.

The safety of the amusement ride operators/attendants and that of their riders is equally important. Unsafe riding practices are the major cause of incidents on all types of rides.
Rider responsibility should be encouraged, and the amusement ride operators/attendants can play an important role in this. Safety instructions should be clearly posted at the entrance to the ride and the amusement ride operators/attendants should strictly enforce all of them.

It is especially important to reach out to the parents of young children and to enlist their help and support in promoting safe riding practices and in enforcing all safety instructions.

• Be alert to unsafe conditions that could cause trips or falls on the ride platform or steps

• Be alert to unsafe conditions that could cause injury

• Always check that seat belts or safety restraints are fastened and locked in place before the ride starts

• Be careful not to close the door or restraint on any part of the rider’s body while the riders are getting on or off of the ride

• If there is even a suspicion that a rider is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they should not be allowed them

• Remind riders to follow the posted rules for the ride regarding age, height and/or weight restrictions

• Be sure to alert pregnant women and people with heart conditions to possible risks involved in using the ride

• Remind riders to keep hands, arms, legs and feet inside the ride at all times

• Remind riders to remain seated until the ride comes to a complete stop

If there are any problems with a rider or parent because of ride restrictions or behavior, amusement ride operators/attendants should not operate the ride. They should stop the ride if in motion and only resume operation after the problem has been settled.
Amusement ride operators/attendants should always report all safety-related matters to their immediate supervisor, the insurance company and local safety authorities. They should also update the ride manufacturer and consult with them.

Amusement ride operators/attendants should never leave the ride while it is operating.

Amusement ride operators/attendants should watch the ride and riders at all times while it is operating.
Remembering and following these rules while operating amusement rides will significantly increase the chances of a safe and enjoyable time for everyone, riders and operators/attendants alike, while lessening the prospect of stricter insurance terms and licensing requirements for the amusement ride hirers/operators.

Americans Without Health Insurance Have New, Affordable Options

More and more Americans are going without health insurance because they can't afford it. But there is a solution. New health insurance portfolios are available that are specially designed to help meet the national need for affordable coverage for individuals and employees of small businesses.

This is good news for many Americans who often cannot afford to purchase health insurance for themselves or whose employers do not offer insurance. This includes individuals who are self-employed; those who are employed by a small business or who run a small business; and individuals in other circumstances that require them to buy their own health insurance.

"More than 45 million Americans fall into one of these categories. Many of these people are uninsured or are struggling to afford the traditional plans that insurance companies typically offer," says Melissa Crawford, senior vice president, Physicians Mutual.

The company bundles together existing and new products to provide an Integrated Health Portfolio (IHP) with a variety of choices and price points.

The IHP offers a choice of benefits, including coverage for:

• Doctor's office visits

• Preventive care

• Hospital stays

• Surgeries

• Catastrophic major medical

• Outpatient treatment.

"This portfolio of products is designed for middle-income Americans for whom the only choice has been major medical plans with high deductibles-$5,000, for example. That's too much for them to absorb out of pocket," Crawford says. "They're looking for a plan that pays a portion of everyday health care costs such as doctor's visits, childhood immunizations, and screenings like mammograms and prostate cancer tests. They also need prescription drug and vision discounts.

"We have options with no deductible to meet, so policyowners receive benefits the first time they have a covered medical expense," Crawford says. "There are also no lifetime maximums on this type of policy."

Crawford points out that individuals and small-business owners usually do not have benefits managers who can talk them through their insurance options. The health portfolio offers a needs assessment to help customers determine which insurance products are right for them.

Physicians Mutual Insurance Company and Physicians Life Insurance Company, a member of the Physicians Mutual family, provide a full portfolio of health and life insurance products, as well as financial products. Both companies consistently receive high grades from independent insurance analysts.

Alternatives To High Priced Health Insurance

Most Americans are struggling to afford health insurance. In just the past few years, the cost of buying health insurance for your family has skyrocketed. I was talking with an insurance agent recently, who told me it's not unusual at all for his clients to be paying $1,000 to $1,400 per month for their family to be covered.

I don't know many people who can easily afford those kinds of monthly insurance payments. Most who are paying them are making major sacrifices in other areas. The vast majority of Americans put health coverage very high on their list of priorities, so the other things that get left behind might surprise you. No question, the quality of life is far lower for many people now that they pay so much to be insured.

Meanwhile, many employers are cutting back their employees' insurance coverage. Professions that once paid all their employees' health insurance premiums -- like teachers and firefighters -- are finding the employee footing the bill for larger and larger portions of their insurance.

How are people coping? Many Americans simply don't have health insurance anymore. That's a big problem not only for families, who often put off going to the doctor, but also for society in general. People who hesitate buying medicine or seeing a doctor often end up very sick in hospital emergency rooms.

Others are simply reducing the amount of health insurance they have. They pay a larger portion of their doctor visits and prescription medicine costs. If you are a young adult, it may not make a lot of sense to pay huge insurance premiums to be covered for major illnesses that you are very unlikely to experience.

There are a growing number of health insurance plans that let you pick and choose the areas of coverage you want to pay for. While this practice was prohibited in many states, more and more places are seeing the wisdom and necessity of this approach.

Even more pressing than the cost of health insurance is the cost of buying prescription medicines. Many people simply can't afford the spiraling cost of the medicines they need. Others might insist, willingly lowering their standard of living just to afford overpriced medicine. The solution to this problem increasingly has nothing to do with insurance. Organizations use their large pool of members to negotiate big discounts on prescription drugs at thousands of chain and independent pharmacies nationwide. Typically you can save up to 60% off generic drugs and up to 15% off name-brand drugs.

This is a big advantage for the elderly, families, businesses, organizations, and anyone who wants to lower their cost of medicine. Additionally, some programs also cover medicine for your pets. If you often care for an ill animal, this can save you a lot of money over time.

Unlike insurance, discount drug programs are often very low cost or free. Pharmacies participate in the discount programs to encourage you to buy from them. It's a win-win for both you and the medical industry.