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Archive for November, 2010

Long Term Care Insurance November 29th, 2010

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What is Long Term Care Insurance?
Long term care insurance serves to help those individuals who need extra care and attention as they age. Long term care insurance helps to take financial burden away from family members, and for the individual in need of such care. Often, the elderly have very little income and no extra money. Yet, the cost of aging itself seems to be rising. Those who can least afford it are expected to pay huge healthcare costs.

This is why long term care insurance can be beneficial, and take financial burden away from those who cannot afford the high cost of healthcare. A long term care insurance policy may be purchased at any time, though policies are ideally purchased before the need for long term care arises.

Paying the Price of Long Term Care Insurance
Long term care insurance premiums and rates will usually go up as the policyholder ages. In some cases, long term care insurance will not be needed at all. In those cases where long term care is needed, however, long term care insurance can be invaluable.

The price of paying for long term care insurance is much less than the cost of paying for long term care. Healthcare these days is very expensive. Long term care, these days, is astronomical.

An average private nursing home room this year costs over $190 per day. Now, to receive 24 hour care at home costs more than $400 per day. Life expectancy for women is 80 years, five more than men. You want to stay in your home as long as you can. You want to choose where and how you receive long term care as you grow older. About sixty percent of those age 65 and older will need long term care. A third of those receiving long term care today are under 65
-Long Term Care web site, July 2006

Obtaining a Long Term Care Insurance Policy
Many insurance companies offer long term care insurance policies. It is always a good idea to shop around for the best rates and coverage when it comes to purchasing any type of insurance policy, but especially when it comes to health insurance.

Rates on long term care insurance will rise as time passes, but in general it is best to purchase a long term care insurance policy before the need for long term care arises. Do as much research and obtain as many quotes as possible when considering a long term care insurance policy. Make sure you know the rate at which the policy will increase and how much the long term care insurance will pay.

Understanding Your Long Term Care Insurance Policy
These days, simple insurance policies are so complicated that you almost need a translator to decipher the more complex language. Its very important that you understand the details of your long term care policy, including limits and deductibles that are applied to that policy. If you need help understanding a policy, you can consult with a lawyer. Do not sign up for a policy unless you understand every detail of that long term care insurance policy. You want to have all the details before you sign.

How Do You Know Long Term Care Insurance is Right For You?
Long term care insurance is for anyone who does not have an unlimited supply of money, who does not want themselves or their family to bear a heavy financial burden as they age. Long term care insurance serves to protect you, both financially and health-wise. Long term care insurance is a good idea for anyone, whether they believe they may need long term care or not.

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Static caravan insurance November 26th, 2010

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If you are an owner of a static caravan holiday homes you should consider insurance to cover the caravan as well as the contents. There are two levels of insurance for your static caravan; the static caravan itself and the contents within the caravan.

Insuring the static caravan will cover against loss or damage to the static caravan itself. The insurance can extend to a new for old policies were the caravan can be replaced with a new model should it be damage to an extent which is beyond financial repair. If this is the case some insurance companies will replace the static caravan if it is under 20 years old. The age under which new for old applies will vary from policy to policy. Some companies will only offer new for old for caravans which are less than 10 years old. It is worth checking with the insurance company to determine their exact terms of policy.

The content can be insured under a general policy where by a value is given to the entire content. If you have individual items which are valuable the insurance can also be taken out against such items to given suitable cover.

Below are examples of cover:
Replace new for old
Alternative accommodation costs
Debris removal and resiting costs
Fixtures and fittings
Public Liability
Fatal Accident

Consideration should also be given to the excess which applies to the policy as this will vary from company to company. Also check the policy details to determine the new for old cover and additional cover offered.

When obtaining quotes ensure you receive at least three, the more quotes you obtain the more likely you are to achieve good value for money. Getting quotes online can be a quick and simple method to obtain multiple quotes.

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How To Buy Term Life Insurance November 24th, 2010

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Life is uncertain. Death, illnesses and accidents can strike anybody at any time without warning. To handle these unforeseen situations, it has become mandatory for one and all to purchase a life insurance policy. Whole life insurance is very expensive and very few can afford it. But for people who would like to insure themselves at a nominal cost, opting for a term insurance policy is the solution.

If you are interested in buying a term life insurance policy, here are some guidelines to help you choose the right one.

What is term insurance?

Term insurance policy is a policy which covers you for a certain period. Once the term is over, you need to renew the policy. When the policy is in force, it pays a predetermined sum to your dependents on your death. There are no deductions for any government taxes. In return, you pay a certain sum as a premium to the insurance company till the policy term expires. There is no investment involved in this type of insurance.

Who can get lower premium quotes?

If you are young, in good health, a non-smoker and are in the correct weight range appropriate for your height and gender, you are entitled to lower premiums. Taking additional coverage will slightly increase the quote, but it is advisable to do so. But do not go for the riders like accidental death or waiver of premium as they can increase the quote steeply. Opt for paying your premium annually because many insurers ask for higher monthly payments. Ask many insurers for their quotes on various time periods. If you think that the quote charged is very high, negotiate with the insurer to lower the premium.

When can I avoid purchasing insurance?

If you have no dependents, then life insurance is unnecessary. But if you choose to buy one, select the term favorable to you. The term should be the time when there are no people depending on you. This may be because you are single, your children have started earning or you are enjoying the post-retirement benefits available after 65 years.

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Should Your Life Insurance Policy Be Written In Trust? November 18th, 2010

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According to one of the largest UK life insurance companies, just 1% of life policies are written in trust. That is disgraceful and reflects poorly on the financial industry.

Let’s explain.

If your life insurance policy is Written in Trust then, in the event of a claim, the insurance company pays out directly to the beneficiaries you name on the policy. The significance of this is easily missed.

It means that if the policy is Written in Trust, the proceeds from the policy never form part of your legal estate and are not subject to Inheritance Tax. The importance of this is illustrated by the following figures:

Take Mr A. He’s a widower and wants to leave everything equally to his two sons. He owns his home which is currently worth 245,000 with a 10,000 outstanding mortgage. His investments are valued at 52,000 and his car and other chattels are worth 18,000. He also owns a life insurance policy for 100,000 which is not written in trust. We assume that the costs of administering his estate and obtaining probate would be 5,000.

If Mr A were to die now, his estate would be worth 400,000 less Inheritance Tax. Inheritance Tax is currently levied at 40% on the value of his estate over and above 275,000 that means that the taxman will walk off with 50,000 and his sons would each receive 175,000.

Now lets assume exactly the same figures except that in this case the life insurance policy is Written in Trust with Mr A’s sons as equal beneficiaries. Because the life insurance company pays out directly to his sons, they each receive 50,000 straight away and non of the money is included in Mr A’s estate. This means that his estate is now worth 300,000 and the taxman can only walk away with 10,000. Each of his sons receives 20,000 more and tax-free!

So simply by signing a few forms, Mr A saves 40,000 tax!

Is there a catch? No all the documentation is standard and is provided totally free of charge by the life insurance company. Your broker through whom you buy the policy, should complete the documentation for you, again free of charge. All you have to do is give the details of the beneficiaries to the broker and sign the form. Solicitors are not required. In the event of a claim, the life insurance company then has to pay out directly to the beneficiaries. Job done! Poor Mr Taxman!

Even if your policy is designed to repay a mortgage, it should be Written in Trust for your partner. Then, rather than your estate receiving the money and using it pay off the mortgage, the money can be paid directly to your partner. This saves legal delays, solicitor’s and probate fees and loads of hassle. Your partner can then use the money to personally pay off the mortgage. Whether this also saves you Inheritance tax will depend on the value of your estate and how you have structured your Will.

So we believe that a life insurance policy Written I Trust is a win win situation. And there aren’t many of those around these days! We can’t see any drawbacks.

Bye the way, no matter what you decide to do, always ensure that you have an up-to-date Will.

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Life Insurers Use The Body Mass Index To Tighten The November 18th, 2010

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Life Insurers Use The Body Mass Index To Tighten The Belt On Fat People

Overweight people are in the firing line again. Life insurance companies are increasing premiums up to four fold for fat people. They’ve always charged more for those of us who over-eat, but during the last year the penalties have got worse.

In moves to tighten the belts further, the life insurers are lowering the weight limits they use to categorise people. This tougher move means that those who are merely overweight and would have previously qualified for a standard premium, are now penalised with higher premiums and the premium rapidly rises the more overweight they believe you are.

Height and weight are just two of the questions you have to answer when you apply for life insurance. From them, the life company calculates your Body Mass Index and if that exceeds the limits they define as acceptable, they might ask for a doctor’s report. In bigger cases they might ask you to have a medical examination. If this confirms that your weight is of concern, then you can expect your premium to be loaded by at least 50% and as much as 400% if you’re really obese. Recent research shows that around 25% of applicants will experience problems getting life cover due to their weight. In extreme cases the insurer will even refuse the application.

In an acknowledgement of normal middle age spread, the insurance companies do take your age into account when deciding your premium. They accept that people naturally tend to put weight on as they age. If you’re young and overweight, however, they’ll certainly hit you hard. So overweight and 38 will be hit much harder than overweight and 58.

For example, a non smoking healthy man aged 35 asking for 150,000 level cover over 25 years will currently be quoted 18.77 by Scottish Provident but this could easily jump to 35 if he is overweight and up to 47 if he’s obese.

And obesity is certainly a growing problem. Over the last 20 years obesity in adults has rocketed with more than 60% of men and 50% of women being judged as overweight or obese. And signs are that the problem won’t improve. In children aged between 2 and 15, 28% of girls and 22% of boys are overweight.

How do you rate on the Body Mass Index?

Calculate your own BMI.

Note your weight in pounds and multiply it by 703.

Divide the result by your height measured in inches

Again divide the resulting number by your height in inches

The result is your BMI

The typical insurance company considers a BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 to as normal. Above 25 classifies you as overweight. Over 30 and you’re obese.

To give you more of a fix on what this means for you, here are the BMI’s for twelve famous people:

Under weight

Paula Radcliffe Marathon Runner – 18.0

Victoria Beckham Footballers Wife – 17.0

Jennifer Aniston Actress – 17.5

Normal weight

Alan Shearer Newcastle Footballer – 24.4

Davina McCall TV Presenter – 20.8

Cilla Black Presenter – 20.7

Overweight

Russell Crowe Hollywood Actor – 25.6

Ann Widdecombe MP – 25.1

Charlie Dimmock Gardening Presenter – 26.0

Obese

Norman Schwarzkopf US General – 30.5

Michelle McManus Presenter – 34.4

Dawn French Comedienne – 43.8

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Life Insurance Quote – How Much To Spend & How November 14th, 2010

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Life Insurance Quote – How Much To Spend & How Much To Get

When a budget is tight it is easy to dismiss the need for life insurance. Lack of knowledge can also make an individual put off purchasing a life insurance policy. And, of course, planning for ones own death and discussing it with loved ones is always difficult. However, the lack of life insurance can leave those you care about with burdens after your death.

Why is it necessary?

In the period immediately following a death it is much easier to arrange for a funeral if a life insurance policy is in place. The average cost of a funeral is more than $7,500.

Also, within a marital partnership, the death of the spouse does not relieve debt. Your partner will be liable for any payments that need to be made. Standard housekeeping expenses will need to be met as well. The ability for your loved ones to continue living in the same manner as they did prior to your death will also be important to you. Funding the education of any children will certainly be important.

What amount should be bought?

In order to calculate the amount of life insurance you need you must consider immediate and short term needs as well as long term requirements. Burial costs and existing debt would fall into the current needs category. Mortgage payments and child care would also fall into this group. College expenses would be an example of future expenses to be considered. Dont forget taxes that may be due. There are many calculators available on the net which can help you to estimate the amount of life insurance you may need.

If you need help

In a matter as important as life insurance it is always good advice to get many quotes and compare them. Quotes are free and are the best way to compare plans, pricing and options. After receiving some quotes it may be prudent to consult a life insurance professional or even an attorney. Many times life insurance proceeds can be protected from taxation.

The best way to learn and save money on insurance is to collect as many quotes as possible in order to compare services and rates.

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How Does Dental Insurance Work November 13th, 2010

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Bad oral hygiene like failure to brush or floss teeth, gargle your mouth after meals, or eating foods like chocolate or sugar can harm your teeth. This gives rise to many dental problems like bad breath, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and dental cavities. This means a visit to a dentist could leave a hole in your pocket. At times, a normal checkup can set you back by $50 without undergoing any treatment. Besides, good oral health is important for our appearance. Also, dental problems can signify underlying health problems like heart disease. But going for dental insurance will ensure that the insurer pays for the costs. Here we explain briefly how dental insurance works.

Good dental health is not only important for our appearance, it is important for our overall health too as problems in the mouth can often be a sign that something else in the body needs attention.

Why do I need dental insurance?
A dental insurance plan is useful in paying for the costs of both normal and emergency dental treatments. You need not worry about paying your dentists fees to take care of your oral health.

Where do you get dental insurance?
There are various healthcare cash plan insurers who cover the dentistry fees to a determined limit. Now some companies offer independent dental insurance. The cover will vary from insurer to insurer, but both the cash plan and an independent dental insurance policy will cover the charges for normal checkup, emergencies and any unintentional injuries to the teeth. Recently, an insurer has started providing cover for major dental problems like reconstructive surgery, which can include a plastic surgery after injury to the teeth or oral cancer.

Where should I buy dental insurance?
You can get the best insurance that fits your budget by shopping around. Visiting the websites will offer you detailed information on the dental insurers and their policies. This gives you adequate time to compare the terms and conditions of various policies. You can also find out about any discounts on dental insurance.

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Life Insurance Explained November 8th, 2010

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In the world today money is the most essential necessity of an individuals life. It is almost impossible to dwell without money. This is why a person tries to earn maximum possible during his lifetime to provide a decent living to himself and his family. But what if the sole earning member in a family dies? Who will provide financial aid to his family and how? Though there are quite a few answers to it such as will, leaving a legacy behind etc. But the best and foremost option meant for the high as well as the low is a life insurance policy. A life insurance policy as the name suggests not just insures your life but is also the smartest and the most far-sighted way to secure life of those whom you love.

Any individual can take a life insurance policy. In case of children, their parents are supposed to pay the premium. There are policies for different amount. The premium also varies accordingly. A life insurance policy for $50,000 will be charged higher than one for worth $25,000. But besides these the premium also depends on many other factors. The topmost is the age of the individual. A 70 year old man will be charge with a higher premium than a 30 year old individual. Also lesser quantity of risks will be covered in case of the former in comparison to the latter. Alongwith age the occupation and lifestyle of the policy taker also matters a lot. A person who throws his life into danger daily (for example one who is a sky-diver) will have to pay more premium than one leading a simple life. Moreover an alcoholic, heart patient etc. will find his life insurance policy to be more expensive than a strong and healthy individual of the same age.

It is always the choice of the individual which insurance policy to take and from where. This depends on the needs and aspirations of the individual. for instance a person who is supposed to be survived by 5-6 successors or beneficiaries, usually opts for a policy with a good sum of money.

Broadly there are 3 different forms of life insurance policies.

1.Whole life policy- this policy is one where the amount of premium the policy taker requires to pay does not alter with time. The amount of the premium id decided once at the time of taking the policy. This type of insurance enables the policy taker to have some cash-build up during his lifetime that can be either used during the course of the policy or after his death to increase the benefit.

2.Term life insurance begins with low premiums initially. the premium amount increases with the age of the person. since there is no cash build up in this policy, there are no chances of an increment in death benefit.

3.Variable life policy is akin to the whole life policy i.e. the premium is fixed once and for all. The only difference here is that in this policy there should be cash build up as long as the various mutual funds the policy taker has opted for, do well.

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Whats The Big Deal About Online Life Insurance Quotes? November 8th, 2010

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One of the easiest and less stressful means of obtain information is on the net. The same thing applies to getting online life insurance quotes. Competition is fierce with the many life insurance companies operating all over the country and so they have an online presence. You can request free online life insurance quotes and compare then to get the best possible policy for your needs.

When you start looking for life insurance online, you do need to know how much money you want to have included in a death benefit. You have to determine how much money your family will need to live comfortably without you and your pay check. For example, the death benefit from online life insurance quotes has to be enough to pay the bills, provide day-to-day expenses so that your spouse wont have to look for a higher paying job right away. California life insurance experts also advice that you have enough included in this settlement to provide for post-secondary education for the children.

In California, as in other parts of the country, living expenses are quite different today than they were years ago. If you already have life insurance, it would be in your best interests to check out the online quotes for life insurance to see where you can save money and reap more benefits from the policy. California life insurance companies do have an online presence, so if you would prefer to stay with a company from this state, there is no problem.

Many of the California life insurance companies online also provide a free life insurance calculator. You should use this calculator before you request online life insurance quotes so that you will be sure you have enough life insurance. It is better to have too much than not enough. You will really be surprised at how affordable life insurance is with low monthly payments to fit within your budget.

The benefit of having California life insurance is that it replaces the lost income. Best of all, in California, there is no federal income tax applied to the benefits paid out for the life insurance policy. Searching for online life insurance quotes will give you the directory of California companies from whom you can request a free quote. Then all you have to do is sit back to compare them and choose the best one for you.

You can get online life insurance quotes, but there are some things you need to know.

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Secure Your Car For Lower Car Insurance Premiums November 7th, 2010

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A question often asked is whether or not securing your car will help to reduce your UK car insurance premiums. Will this is certainly a factor you need to discuss with your car insurance company, you should note the following:

Steering Wheel Locks

While steering wheel locks may deter thieves from steeling your car, the fact is that most UK car insurance companies will not allow for the fact that you have one to affect the level of your car insurance premium. In short, if the thief is a professional, steering wheel locks are not much of a deterrent.

Immobiliser

If your car has an immobiliser system inserted such as the Thatcham Category 1 then you should be talking to your UK car insurance company about ways to reduce your car insurance premium. Indeed, as a security extra on the car in itself, your car having an immobiliser is likely to be the only factor your car insurance company will be willing to listen to when discussing ways to reduce your annual car insurance premium.

Garage

26 percent of all car theft in the UK last year took place right outside the front door of the car owner! So, if you have the ability to lock your car away at night in a garage, then mention this to your car insurance company as there is a very good chance that this will cause you to have a reduced car insurance premium! Remember, however, that if you arrange to have a car insurance discount based on the fact that youll be locking your car away all night, youll need to make sure thats exactly what you do otherwise, if your car is stolen from in front of your house you may find that your car insurer will not pay out!

Location

64 percent of car crime in the UK last year took place in the neighbourhood of the car owner! In most cases, these were inner city areas. Where you live, and the crime rate in your area, will have a major influence on the car insurance premium you are quoted. So, if you are being quoted a very high UK car insurance premium, it might be time to consider moving!

And finally

Obviously securing your car is more than just about reducing your car insurance premiums it is about making sure no one steals your personal belongings. To this end, keep in mind that 90% of car crime in the UK is opportunist car crime, so make sure you minimise the chance that your car will be stolen by keeping your car safe and secure at all times.

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