Monday 20 February 2012

Travel Insurance Buying Tips

We are all quite vulnerable when we travel because it usually means venturing out of our comfort-zones, and travel insurance is the only way to shield ourselves against monetary losses when things do go wrong. So here are some very useful tips to ensure you buy the right travel insurance that will protect you against such expected financial losses.
  • The most important thing to remember with travel insurance is that you are effectively buying an agreement, so always READ THE FINE PRINT, especially the exclusions at a coverage level and the general exclusions. They are written in legal jargon, so be sure to seek clarification on anything that you don't understand.
  • All Insurance companies are classified as financial institutions and are consequently regulated by the government organizations like the Financial Services Authority in the UK. So be sure to check this.
  • One of the major risks is trip cancellation, so ensure you buy the travel insurance as soon as your trip is confirmed, even if you are not traveling for months. It's not going to cost you anymore and your cover kicks in as soon as you purchase the trip insurance.
  • Always check the deductibles! A deductible, also known as excess, is what the insurance company deducts before payout on claims. For e.g. if you put in a travel medical claim of USD300 and the deductible is USD150, you'll only get USD150.
  • Be wary of companies offering cheap travel insurance premiums, more often than not they have very high deductibles.
  • Check the payout for children because some insurance companies only pay half the payout for children, which is ridiculous because the trip costs for a child is almost the same as for adults.
  • You need to count the start day and the end day of your trip when buying travel insurance. E.g. if you are departing on 05-April and arriving back on 10-April, your need cover for 6 days and not 5 days!
  • Don't get taken in by the high coverages like 10 million medical cover, its highly unlikely that you'll need that. Stay focused on the actual cover you feel need. For instance, if you are traveling with expensive business equipment, then you need to ensure that is covered adequately.
  • Check the payout ceiling because insurance companies tend to have a limitation on the maximum payout. For instance payout for personal belongings could be USD5000, but the maximum payout per item may only be USD1000. So that may not be adequate to cover your expensive golf clubs. Most insurance companies will list the payouts clearly, if they don't, avoid them.
  • If you are are frequent traveler you may want to consider taking an annual multi-trip travel insurance because it can save you time and money. Some insurance companies even throw in free extras like ski cover.
Bency M Kurian
HolidayGuard Travel Insurance
travel insurance buying tips
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Small Business Van Insurance Tips

Whether you're running one van or a whole fleet of them, one thing that you'll need to sort out for each vehicle is insurance. Not only is this a legal requirement, but it will also give you the peace of mind to go about your daily duties without worrying about the risk of damage, theft or fire. So how should a small business sort out their van insurance?
Whilst bigger companies have the finance and clout to strike big deals with insurers to provide blanket coverage for dozens of vehicles without ever considering the competitiveness of the price being quoted, many smaller businesses can't be quite so frivolous. Belts are being tightened across all industries with the rising costs of materials and reduced work availability, so striking a good deal for your van insurance has probably never been so important.
If you're buying insurance for just one van the process is very similar to getting cover for a car or home. The first step is simply to work out what exactly it is that you want. There are plenty of variables when it comes to purchasing a van insurance policy, so having a decent idea of the level of coverage that you require is essential.
For instance, if you use your vehicle to go from site to site and usually carry expensive equipment on-board, then you'll want to get cover for all contents. This means that if anything is taken from the van or is damaged in a collision, you will be able to get compensation. If you've got items that cost hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, then getting a van insurance policy with a decent contents cover is vital.
You also need to determine what work the vehicle is (primarily) going to be used for. In most instances this will be pretty self-evident, but you have to make sure that your insurance will be valid should you ever come to claim. Whilst it might cost you more to insure a vehicle that will drive hundreds of miles each week, you can't suppress such information to save a few quid.
So with all your information in order, you need to go off and actually get a quote. The Internet hosts a number of specialist van insurers, enabling you to begin the application process and determine what the cost is likely to be for your vehicle. However, if you have a number of vehicles to insure it might be best to find out the details of these insurers and contact them directly.
Because of the added complication of covering a variety of vehicles through a single insurer, most companies will simply choose to cover them individually. However, insurers are far more likely to offer a better deal if you use them for each van. There might be room to negotiate a discount if this is the case; allowing you to get more for your money, whilst the insurance company guarantees a steady customer.
However many vehicles you're looking to cover on behalf of the small company, it is vital that you shop around and get the quote that best matches your budget and offers effective coverage. Accepting the first offer that you find could end up costing you a lot of money. Weigh up a few van insurance providers, see what they have to offer and then make an informed decision.
Whilst both time and money are precious commodities, sometimes you do have to spend time to save the pennies a little. Whether you prefer to pick up the phone or go online when you've got a spare moment (or indeed do both), you really need to be sure exactly what it is that you're paying for. Van insurance - in most instances - won't be cheap, so it's worth doing a little digging to ensure you're getting the best value possible.
Vincent Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For the cheapest van insurance online he recommends Budget Small Business Van Insurance.
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Are You Looking To Buy Health Insurance? Check Out These Tips!

Health insurance is often put off until the need arises. Many people are too intimidated by their lack of knowledge or understanding of the workings of health insurance. Often it comes down to financial concerns. In this article, you'll find information that will broaden your medical insurance knowledge.
Familiarize yourself with your policy to get the best use out of it. Know the providers that are covered, the services your insurer is responsible for, the partially covered services and what you'll have to pay yourself.
If you're thinking about obtaining medical insurance, you should ensure you determine all the costs of doing so. Take into consideration all the costs coming your way, such as premiums, deductibles and co-pays. While these can be confusing at first, it is in your best interest to know the costs, and reasons, before you purchase a policy.
When thinking about what type of insurance plan to purchase from your employer, keep in mind the overall health issues of everyone in your family. If you do not have any health issues anticipated in the near future, this may enable you to pay a cheaper premium for your insurance. This will save you money right away, but may end up costing more if any problems arise in the future.
The Health Savings Account (HSA) option is likely the best choice for you if you rarely visit the physician. The money saved can be set aside in case it becomes necessary to pay for a premium.
Use the Internet to find quotes on health plans, as this permits you to find the best policy at the most cost-effective price for your situation. Check out aggregate sites which will give you quotes from several providers, or take the time to visit each individual company's personal website.
All information should be provided in order for the insurance company to pay your claim. Some companies may even deny you enrollment if you fail to provide the correct information. If you carefully scrutinize every form, you may be able to avoid this hassle.
Even indoor pets can benefit from having a health plan. There are always hazards of accidental poisoning and injury indoors, and of course, if your pet accidentally slips out, anything could happen. Your pet can still break a tooth or bone indoors, and that may need pricey vet care.
If you are a member of a group, it is possible to obtain less expensive medical insurance. That is how most employers can offer inexpensive insurance. But what if you are self-employed? There are groups and associations you can join. One of these is the Freelancers Union. This has a lot of advantages, including health insurance that is affordable.
Health insurance is essential, because you don't know when something bad is going to happen. At any time you can have a car accident, get sick or develop an illness. Use these helpful tips when you are looking for a new health insurance plan to get the best coverage for you family at the best price.
Need health insurance quotes Illinois? Choose Health Exchange Group to find the most reasonable health insurance quotes from the significant health insurance businesses. Choose from all types of health insurance and also life insurance.
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