The Alternative Broadcasting Online News Station

Personalisation, Digitalisation, Mobilisation, these 3 words represent your life today. Here in the 21st century our lives have become more and more reliant on mobile items. As we go through our days, keeping a mental log of everything we have and where we have it becomes more and more difficult. It is inevitable that some things get lost. In fact as stated in a recent research “Around 62,000 mobile phones were left in London taxis during the last six months. That’s an average three phones per taxi, according to a survey of licensed London cabbies by the Taxi Newspaper and Pointsec Mobile Technologies. Absent minded and drunken travellers also forgot 4,000 laptops and 5,000 PDA’s when exiting cabs”.

Lost and found company, Want it Bak boast that they can give you an 80% chance of recovery. The service is based around the belief that most people are actually honest and will do the right thing if a method is offered to them. This feel good factor is enhanced by the added incentive of a reward for doing the right thing.

How does Want it Bak work? Simple. You purchase a range of security tags each with their own unique id number. You register them with Want it Bak and that’s it. If you ever lose the item and someone finds it they contact Want it Bak directly using their website or their 0800 number and they arrange a courier to pick it up and return it to the owner for a small admin charge.

The “Finders” themselves are offered a basic reward of £10 gift pack of Want it Bak Labels. Additionally the finders may also receive gift vouchers, shop discounts, trial packs and much more. Customers may also offer an optional CASH reward to Finders as a thank you to the person for taking the time to contact Want it Bak.

Like most things these days there are no guarantees of course, but just the knowledge that for a small price you can have an additional type of insurance that works when you need it to and at least have some chance of getting back your valuables or data.

Chris Cameron
http://www.wantitbak.com

Third Party Insurance is generally for vicious dogs. Few policies often will provide coverage for cats; however, the policy is rare, since cats often pose no threats. The third party will provide liability coverage to owners whose animal has caused harm, either by biting or damaging property. The damage or injures will include coverage for animal attack on other animals. Thus, pet coverage is the standard coverage allotted to pet owners, while third party is a secondary coverage to owners of aggressive dogs. Like many types of insurance, the policy will reimburse owners if they are found liable due to animal attack. The process of reimbursement is similar to other types of coverage, only you are submitting the claim, summons, insurance policy number, writs, police reports, and other documents imposed as a result of the attack.

Once the company receives your claim, the company will make contact with you providing additional instructions if applicable. The policy will cover you if your dog attacked another human being, caused damage to property, or caused an accident. Thus, it is wise to obtain a comprehensive coverage plan if you have an aggressive animal, especially a policy that will come to your defense if you are accused of negligence. It is important to disregard any signatures on documents by the third party or others until you have submitted your claims. If you sign papers, stating you are at fault the company will have difficulty defending you. Pets have been known to cause accidents, thus pet insurance policies that cover liability is not an option in most instances when it comes to protecting your pet and self. Court costs, fines, and other details of legal aspect are often expensive, thus have coverage is vital if you have a risky pet. However, you must be aware that the policy are not obligated to cover all charges against you, therefore, be expected to pay out of your own pocket a portion of the damage. Most policies will cover attack of other pets, third party liability damage to property and 80/20 attacks on humans.

On the other hand, if you have special breed dogs that pose no threat, then you may want to consider a different type of pet insurance. The Supplementary Insurance Premium is often attached to special breed pets. There are various types of animals that require special treatment and these pets include, Burmese Mountain Dogs, Bulldogs, Dogue de Bordeaux and so forth. Still, if you have aggressive pets you will need third party liability coverage.

Some policies have excess fees, which mean that the policyholder pays an initial charge at the vet’s office. The vets often charge “applicable” fees “per condition” thus meaning that each time you visit the vet you are obligated to pay the excess charges. Most pet insurance policies will deduct the excess from the balance owed and send the remaining balance to the vet or to the policyholder if he hasn’t paid the vet. Few policies have a “voluntary excess” charge, which entails an x amount of dollars each year will be deducted from your premiums. Thus, the excess is nothing compared to veterinary charges without coverage. Many pet insurance companies’ will not charge additional fees for claims submitted. Therefore, pet insurance will cover you when you pet is ill, contacted a disease, fell victim to an accident, or if you have liability coverage, the policy will protect you against the law.

Few policy providers will include liability coverage, offering accidental and illness coverage; spraying and neutering, liability and more. The company may also offer discounts if you have more than one pet to insure. While most policies offered have exclusions, it is possible to get comprehensive coverage at affordable prices with minimal exclusions. Finally, to learn which policies are best suited for you, go online, get quotes from the many providers, and compare the costs and coverage before deciding on pet insurance coverage plans. Going online will save you time and money, and getting pet coverage now can spare your pet when he really needs medical help.

Authored by Michael Bens. For more great information about all forms of insurance visit our free online insurance publication the Gabae Insurance Source to find the information you’re looking for!

Also you can check out Gabae Insurance Articles to find the articles you’re looking for!

Updated - November 16th, 2005

We have added a New Service to our Web Site.

Please be sure to see our Appraisal Service added to our web
site.

We are proud to introduce you to BlueRidge Appraisal LLC
services.

http://www.jimbonham.com/BlueRidge.html

Top 6 Questions Insurance Agents Must Ask… Before Spending One
Dime On Internet Leads!

DISCLAIMER: DYB Marketing “does not” sell leads of any sort and
we “do not” work for any lead companies. DYB Marketing is a
private marketing consulting firm in Minneapolis, MN. We have
hundreds of insurance agents across the nation using our
Success™ marketing systems. They buy and work internet insurance
leads every day. The following information will be useful for
any agent who currently buys or is thinking of buying internet
insurance leads. To view our insurance marketing systems visit:
www.termlifesuccess.com or www.hsasuccess.com

To Your Success,

Mark Lundberg DYB Marketing

Save yourself time, money and frustrations… Don’t be ripped
off buying Insurance Leads!

With the advent of the new SPAM laws, fax laws and “do not call”
lists successful insurance agents across America are turning to
the internet to get their piece of the insurance industry
multi-trillion dollar pie!. Internet leads can be one of the
fastest and most time and cost effective ways to build your
insurance business.

Caveat Emptor - “Let The Buyer Beware!”

However, before blindly running out and purchasing any old
internet leads, you’d be wise to know the answers to the
following 6 questions before making the decision to pull out
your wallet and your credit card.

Make it a habit to ask these questions of ALL internet lead
suppliers. The honest ones won’t have a problem assisting you
with answers. Beware of the others and move on. There’s no
shortage of internet lead suppliers to choose from, so be
selective.

1. Are the leads you generate available “EXCLUSIVE”?

This is a very important question. Many of the lead sources
online today sell the same lead over and over again. Sometimes
as many as 9 or more different times!

Some of them try to hide the fact that they resell one lead many
times over. Others will say you have exclusive access for a
limited-time. This can simply mean that after you’ve had it a
day or two, they sell it again to someone else. Exclusive leads
will be more expensive than a non-exclusive lead. I tend to look
for a lead supplier who puts specific limits to the number of
times their lead is sold. 3-5 times maximum is a good rule of
thumb.

TIP: Many folks who shop the internet are professional shoppers.
Even though you pay higher prices from a reputable lead supplier
for an exclusive lead doesn’t mean these people aren’t getting
quotes from other sources. You’ll still need to differentiate
yourself with superior service in order to close the deal. 2.
Are the leads delivered to me in REAL-TIME?

Some lead suppliers don’t have the ability to deliver your leads
to you in real-time. That should send up a red flag. The sooner
you receive the lead from the time a person has requested an
insurance quote the more likely they are to be near their phone
and ready to talk and take action. The “real time” lead is
simply a better quality lead that will help you increase your
close ratio and provide a better return on investment. My
definition of “real time” is less than 2 hours.

3. Can I control my LEAD DELIVERY? Your “leads delivery” should
be at a rate you can comfortably handle them. The best close
ratio occurs when you immediately follow up with a lead as soon
as you get it. The more time that passes the less your chance of
getting the sale. You can waste a whole lot of time and money if
you overload your plate with too many leads. Ask if you can turn
the leads off in the event you need to stop delivery to catch up
or take some time off. Your first sales challenge with internet
leads is to adapt your selling systems to internet time. It’s
important that you follow up with web prospects quickly, within
minutes, if possible, but certainly within hours after receiving
a lead. We live in a society of instant gratification so strive
for speedy first contact. If you don’t, your competitors will.
Experiment with a few leads to determine what’s best for your
situation.

4. Can I return BAD LEADS?

Many lead suppliers will not allow you to exchange or return bad
leads you receive from them. We’ve found that even with validity
checks on leads submitted, some leads still get through with bad
information. A reputable lead supplier will always do a
favorable exchange with you. Clarify this point upfront and save
unnecessary headaches.

Therefore, make sure that the company you do business with has a
liberal return policy and has it clearly stated on their
website. TIP: Some companies say they refund a maximum of
10%-15% of the total leads purchased. Use this percentage as a
negotiating point when purchasing leads. Also ask the company
what makes a lead returnable? What makes the lead invalid?
Different companies have different policies on what constitutes
a bad lead. If the lead company is too hard to deal with on this
point, find another one.

5. Can you offer a REDIRECT? A redirect means that when a
prospect submits the survey that generates the lead, the system
has the ability to “redirect” that lead to your own email
address or website. If the company is not able to offer you a
redirect ask them to explain why.

Many times when a company cannot provide a redirect it’s because
they are generating leads from “Co-Reg” pages. A “Co-Reg” or
Co-registration is when a person signs up for a newsletter or
some other information. They are given the option to get more
information on other companies by clicking 5 or more checkboxes.
Often they are forced to select at least 3 or more. These are
VERY LOW quality leads and most times the prospect isn’t even in
the market for your insurance products. You have to be careful
that the lead is not an “Incentivized Lead”. Many websites offer
users incentives to fill out forms. In exchange for filling out
these forms users are given points towards the purchase of
merchandise or free samples sometimes even money. These leads
will empty your wallet very fast with 0% return on your
investment.

6. Do you have FILTERING ABILITY? It takes as much time and
effort to close and write an application that provides a $150
commission as it does to write an application that provides a
$1500 commission. With that in mind, filtering is a process that
allows you to cherry pick the higher potential prospects. Lead
suppliers charge more for filtering but many times it’s worth
it. For instance, you may only want to deal with 45-55 year old
non-smoking men with annual incomes over $100,000 looking for
$1,000,000 of term life insurance. There are significantly less
leads available that meet this criteria but the commission
potential is significantly higher. After you purchase good
quality leads your next challenge is closing a higher percentage
of them. To explore the secrets top insurance producers don’t
want you to know check out the two sites below:

DYB Marketing first became involved in the insurance industry in
March 2004. We developed our first insurance marketing system
for the new consumer driven health care products. Since then
we’ve released our second marketing system for selling term life
insurance over the phone. Hundreds of successful insurance
agents across America utilize these simple step by step sales
processes for creating amazing commissions.

You can view these systems at www.hsasuccess.com and
www.termlifesuccess.com .

This is a FREE Insurance Claim Guide

Your “Motor Vehicle” can be a truck, car, motorcycle - - you name it! If it’s powered by a motor and has one, two, three, four (or even more) wheels this “Guide” is for you.

The information below is a bare-bones “Guide” for those who have had such a motor vehicle accident. It details the basics of how one should with their property damage and/or personal injury claim.

AFTER IMPACT CHECKLIST

We heartily suggest you make a copy of this “Impact Checklist” to be kept handy within the confines of your motor vehicle. A “Guide” to refer to so you’ll be certain, should an accident take place, that you’ve covered everything.

Other than the fact that one must obtain from the other operator, both their drivers license and motor vehicle registration information, you should also proceed to do the following:

IMMEDIATELY MAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF: Names and addresses of eye witnesses. And later the investigating police officers name and badge number. WEATHER CONDITIONS: Snow, rain, fog, mist, sleet, etc. ROAD SURFACE: Dry, wet, slippery, icy, etc.IMPACT AREA: City, suburban, business, wooded, etc. VISIBILITY: Sunny, cloudy, dusk, night, moonlight, etc. (Was the sun in the other driver’s face)? TRAFFIC CONTROLS: Were there overhead lights? Posted speed limit signs? Stop or warning signs? Hospital or school zone signs? CREATE A DIAGRAM: Driving area: Flat, crowned, straight, curved, macadam, asphalt, concrete, cobblestone, dirt, etc. Indicate the width of street. Show the location of impact, gouge and/or skid marks. CONDITION OF MOTOR VEHICLE THAT STRUCK YOU: Age and general overall condition. Is their state inspection sticker displayed and up to date? Were chains or snow tires needed? AS SOON AS POSSIBLE RETURN TO THE SCENE AND SNAP PHOTOGRAPHS: It’s most important to take pictures of: Skid or gouge mark’s on the road surface plus the damage to both vehicles. PHOTOS OF YOUR BODILY INJURIES: It’s crucial to the ultimate value of your claim to snap a multitude of colored photos (up close and from different angles) of your bodily injuries - - especially all black and blue marks or bruises.

INSIGHTS INTO HANDLING YOUR CLAIM (There Are Six Areas You Must Be Familiar With) 1. Out-Of-Pocket Expenses 2. Lost Time From Work - Lost Wages 3. Property Damage Losses 4. What Your Medical Doctor And/Or Chiropractor Reports Should State 5. Medical Payments Coverage 6. What To Do If An Adjuster Refuses To Cooperate

You Should Go Into Detail Regarding These (Below Listed) Six Areas:

(1) OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES:These are expenses that can be measured in definite sums of money. They are the foundation of the calculations used to award damages (including that often great and extra amount paid to you for your “Pain and Suffering”) regarding any financial loss flowing directly from the injury you may have sustained.

MEDICAL EXPENSES: Obtain all bills and services rendered. (Prior to their being sent out, you have ever right to ask for and read the crucial Final Reports regarding your physical condition from your Doctor, Chiropractor, “Medical Specialist” and/or Dentist).Medical Expenses Typically Include: Ambulance ~ Emergency Room ~ Hospital or Clinic ~ Laboratory Fees and Services ~ Diagnostic Tests: (X-rays and/or CT Scan) ~ Registered or Practical Nurse Fees ~ Medicine and/or Prescription Medications ~ Prosthetic Appliances or Surgical Apparatus (Canes & crutch, etc.) ~ Physical Therapy ~ Ace Bandages, Gauze & Tape ~ Heating Pads ~ Creams, Ointments, Balms & Salves. As you read them make sure these Medical Reports include the length of time of your “Total Disability” and/or your “Partial Disability”. These are of enormous value because they justify the often HUGE, extra payment made for your “Pain and Suffering” . (Plus this information will also prove your claim for Lost Wages).

NON-MEDICAL DAMAGE EXPENSES. These include: Lost Wages and Earnings ~ Lost Vacation Time and/or Sick Leave ~ Travel Expenses: (Transportation costs incurred getting to and from The Doctor and/or Hospital, etc.) ~ Household Help During Disability ~ Child Care During Recuperation.

(2) LOST TIME FROM WORK - - LOST WAGES - - YOUR “LOSS EARNING CAPACITY”: The weeks, hours and/or days you were unable to work (thus the money you may have lost) is added up and documented on company letterhead. You’re often entitled to compensation for “Lost Time and Earnings” even if you have no actual loss of money ! Such as, for example, if your salary is paid by some other insurance coverage you may have or by taking sick leave or some other similar arrangement. It doesn’t matter if you’re employed full time, part time, self-employed, own your own business, retired, unemployed, or a housewife not employed outside the home, you should keep a written record of all household help and/or child care needed during your disability period.

All of these constitute an element of your “SPECIAL DAMAGES” mainly “Lost Wages”. Insurance companies usually don’t view your time away from work (because of an injury) as “Lost Time And Earnings” but as “Lost Earning Capacity”. In most states one is entitled to compensation for lost time and earnings even if they have no loss of money. For example, when your salary is paid for by another insurance coverage you have or by taking sick leave and/or some other similar type of arrangement. There are specific situations to be considered and called to the forefront when it comes to being employed either full-time or part-time. More detailed information (regarding these above stated area’s of your loss) are found in CHAPTER FOUR “Damages” within the book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM.

(3) PROPERTY DAMAGE LOSSES: “AGREED COST TO REPAIR”: This figure has been negotiated between your damage repair person and the insurance adjuster. Be sure you know (and possess a written copy of) exactly what that figure is.COLLISION: There’s usually a deductible. Read your policy. (If you’re not at fault you should eventually be able to get this money back).PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY: Protects you for damages you do to the property of another (i.e. his or her trees, lawn, shrubs, mailbox, etc.) EXCLUSIONS: These are stated in your policy. A good rule of thumb is, “If it’s not excluded, it’s covered”. Read your policy closely to discover your exclusions and how they apply. TOTAL LOSS: A “Total Loss” is when the motor vehicle damage exceeds the value of the vehicle, as stated within all of the up-to-date and “Official” Property Damage books and/or documents. OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE LOSSES: Clothing, jewelry, watches, eye or sunglasses, etc. You can also collect for your (or any other individuals) personal property which happened to be in the car and was damaged. (Be sure to have written proof of the cost of each item damaged plus the date it was purchased). Never forget: You’re entitled to be reimbursed for any charges you may have incurred for towing, storage and/or substitute motor vehicle rental, or for that matter - - any other alternate transportation.

The above is a very brief review. For more in-depth information read CHAPTER FIVE: PROPERTY DAMAGE found in AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM.

(4) WHAT YOUR MEDICAL DOCTOR AND/OR CHIROPRACTOR REPORT SHOULD STATE: Each “Injury Evaluation Factor” should be clearly stated within each of your final Medical Reports. For example: That your disability is solely the result of the accident. If there were any pre-existing conditions aggravated by your injuries? What treatments were administered and for what duration? What medications were prescribed, in what amounts and for how long? What symptoms or medical problems were such medications meant to relieve? Were there any adverse reactions demonstrated? Ask to read them before they’re sent to the adjuster so you’re sure it explains the nature, plus the extent and frequency of the pain that an injury, such as yours, will likely cause.

PROGNOSIS: This is the clearly stated information (regarding your personal injury progress) and should include: The part played by a pre-existing condition, if any? Their prediction of any possible future temporary disability/impairments? Does the individual attending you anticipate any further or future treatments? LENGTH OF YOUR “TOTAL” DISABILITY: Why? Because it’s so important (when it comes time to settle) this is clearly stated in weeks and days. LENGTH OF YOUR “PARTIAL” DISABILITY: Again (and for the same reason as above) this too should be clearly stated in weeks and days. (Specific details, regarding both “Partial” and “Total” Disability , and the incredible value it provides for you in your claim, are found in CHAPTER SIX: YOUR BODILY INJURY).

(5) MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE: If you have this coverage in your motor vehicle policy, it will pay (up to the limits stated) for all medical bills arising out of the accident - - regardless of who’s at fault! (You must read your policy carefully because the “Who”, “Why” and/or “How” of this often differs).

A WORD ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS: In certain instances, it may be possible to have your medical bills paid and yet avoid any repayment by tapping into your health insurance coverage, or some other plan you may have. (Yes, this means, under certain circumstances, you may be able to collect twice for the same medical bills)!

(6) WHAT TO DO IF THE ADJUSTER REFUSES TO COOPERATE? These Are Your Usual And Routine Choices: a. Threaten that you’re going to obtain the services of a lawyer to represent you. b. Go over the adjuster’s head. c. Resolve your loss in Small Claims Court. d. Contact the proper people (working through the State Department of Insurance) implementing the time honored principle of “Good Faith” vs. “Bad Faith”.

All the information necessary for you to deal with and handle the above issues are spelled out within the contents of AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) found on the internet at http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com or http://www.caraccidentclaims.com. This book also contains BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Formula). THE BASE FORMULA will tell you exactly how many dollars the “Pain and Suffering” you endured are worth.

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Dan Baldyga, does not offer a guarantee of any kind whatsoever, NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is the INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLY to obtain such services.

Copyright (c) 2004 By Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved.

About The Author

For over 30 years Dan Baldyga was a Claims Adjuster, Supervisor, Manager and Trial Assistant. He is now retired and spends his time attempting to assist those involved in motor vehicle accident claim so they will not be taken advantage of. dbpaw@comcast.net

The life insurance quote business online is booming. Not only are life insurance agents quoting a more diverse portfolio of companies, but consumers are also now able to quote life insurance online for themselves. In this article, I will analyze the impact of the life insurance online quote on the insurance industry, the insurance broker, and the consumer looking for insurance.

In the not so distant past, life insurance was sold, not bought. The typical agent would travel door to door, network locally, and perhaps meet with potential policyholders for dinner at their home. The “debit” agent was also a common profession. These agents would actually go to their clients and collect the premium on a weekly basis. The life insurance quote came from a person back then, not a computer.

These days, consumers can go online for a life insurance quote. The ability to readily compare the cost of life insurance among hundreds of life insurance companies has dramatically changed the environment.

The biggest impact to the insurance industry is the fact that the cost of coverage has decreased significantly. This is good for the client, but is in effect shutting smaller companies down as the claims to revenue ratio is converging.

Another impact is the fact that when consumers get an online life insurance quote, they are rarely coached as to what is the better deal for them. Often times, term life insurance is the only product that they are offered. The customer is not being told about the advantages of whole life insurance or the flexibility of universal life insurance…they are often just given a term life insurance quote as requested. The life insurance agent of past would have talked to the client and done some fact finding before selling them something that may not fit their particular situation.

The online Life Insurance Quote industry has also affected the independent insurance broker. Often times, the local broker is not trusted with the quote because the consumer has gone online and gotten a cheaper quote from an online quote service. Misquotes are usually the result of the lack of fact finding on the part of the online insurance quote companies. Customers would be much better off dealing with a licensed life insurance agent (who can broker any company out there; whatever suits the customer best) for their life insurance quotes.

So the next time you go online looking for the best term life insurance rate, consider that you may be making a mistake by dealing with a “call center”. Consider that the life insurance quote that you are receiving is only from the companies that they carry. Consider calling on an independent life insurance broker for your term, whole life, and universal life insurance needs and information.

By: Ashley Brooks, CLTC

Ashley is the marketing vice president for the Family Life Insurance Brokerage Business and has a background in Health & Financial Underwriting, Insurance Plan Design, and “best deal” shopping. Brokerage Services carries only A rated (or better) companies in their product portfolio and has been serving the needs of Independent Insurance Agents since 1977.

Get a free Life Insurance Quote at my new website - especially for Whole Life Insurance, Term Life Insurance, or Universal Life Insurance!

We are currently seeking Insurance Agents to grant brokerage contracts to. If you are an insurance agent and you would like to work with an Insurance General Agent who cares about you and your clients, please contact us today!

If you borrowed more than 80% of the appraised value of you home, you’re probably paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI that is not lender paid is a waste of money. If you default on your mortgage, the private mortgage insurance provider will pay the lender, but you still would lose your home. PMI do not offer you any benefits whatsoever. PMI payments aren’t even tax-deductible.

PMI increases your effective mortgage interest rate. On a $100,000 loan with 10 percent down ($10,000), PMI would cost you $43 a month. If you can cancel the PMI, you can save $516 a year and many thousands of dollars over the course of the loan. If your down payment was less, the cost of your PMI will be greater. If your down payment was 5%, ($5,000), your PMI expense would cost you $780 a year or $65 a month. Check your annual escrow account statement or call your lender to find out exactly how much PMI is costing you each year.

When you purchase a home and put down less than 20 percent down, most lenders will require you to purchase PMI. You are purchasing insurance to protect the lender if you default on the loan. The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 establishes rules for automatic termination and borrower cancellation of PMI on home mortgages. These protections apply to certain home mortgages signed on or after July 29, 1999 for the purchase, initial construction, or refinance of a single-family home. These protections do not apply to government-insured FHA or VA loans or to loans with lender-paid PMI.

New borrowers covered by the law must be told, at closing and once a year, about PMI termination and cancellation. Mortgage providers must provide a telephone number for all their mortgage borrowers to call for information about termination and cancellation of PMI.

Even though the law’s termination and cancellation rights do not cover loans that were signed before July 29, 1999, or loans with lender-paid PMI signed on any date, lenders or mortgage providers must tell all borrowers about the termination or cancellation rights they may otherwise have under those loans (such as rights established by the contract or state law).

The following applies for home mortgages signed on or after July 29, 1999. Your PMI must - with certain exceptions - be terminated automatically when you reach 22 percent equity in your home based on the original property value, if your mortgage payments are current. Your PMI also can be canceled, when you request - with certain exceptions - when you reach 20 percent equity in your home based on the original property value, if your mortgage payments are current.

One exception is if your loan is high-risk. A cash-out refinancing would be considered high-risk. Another is if you have not been current on your payments within the year prior to the time for termination or cancellation. A third is if you have other liens on your property. For these loans, your PMI may continue. Ask your lender or mortgage provider (the company that collects your payments) for more information about these requirements.

The following applies for home mortgage signed before July 29, 1999.

You can ask to have the PMI canceled once you exceed 20 percent equity in your home. But federal law does not require your lender or mortgage service provider to cancel the insurance.

Some states may have laws that apply to early termination or cancellation of PMI - even if you signed your mortgage before July 29, 1999. Call your state consumer protection agency for more information about your state’s rules. Contact your lender or mortgage provider to learn whether you’re paying PMI. If you are, ask how and when it can be terminated or canceled. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which buy home mortgages from lenders, also may have guidelines affecting termination or cancellation of PMI on home mortgages signed before July 29, 1999. Check with your lender or call Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, for more information.

Copyright © 2005 My Big Fat Mortgage All Rights Reserved.

According to recent figures, there are more than 2,000 companies
in the U.S. that sell life insurance, along with numerous banks
and credit unions that also sell policies.

With so many choices, how do you know which company and
insurance agent will help you accomplish your life insurance
goals?

The answer is simple: learning how to avoid bad insurers from
the outset will help you protect your loved ones and your wallet
from insurers that don’t have your best interests in mind.

Choosing an Insurance Company

So you’ve shopped for life insurance quotes and narrowed down
the insurers you’d like to do business with. But before you
choose one and sign on the dotted line, you’ll need to asses
some key attributes of your potential insurance company.

Financial Strength

Life insurance is a long-term deal, so you’ll want to make sure
the insurance company you’re considering has the funds to stay
in business for a long time. You can check an insurer’s
financial strength by visiting the sites of AM Best or Weiss
Ratings, which disclose this information free of charge.

Customer Service

When it comes to selecting an insurer, you’ll undoubtedly want
to go with a company that tends to your needs and pays claims in
a timely fashion. Independent rating agencies (like A.M. Best)
also have customer service ratings and information about
previous customer complaints.

Ethical Conduct

According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), some
life insurance companies subscribe to a set of ethical codes and
guidelines through the Insurance Marketplace Standards
Association, which promotes ethical life insurance sales and
marketing. It may be in your best interest to buy life insurance
from insurers who belong to this group–giving you an added
layer of protection against unscrupulous insurance companies.

Looking into these major components of an insurer will help you
select a company that will engage in a lasting business
relationship with you, address your needs and treat you with the
respect you deserve.

Choosing a Life Insurance Agent

Now that you know what to look for in an insurance company, how
do you select a good insurance agent?

You can find out if an agent is right for you by assessing some
very basic factors.

A good agent will:

Understand your needs. A good life insurance agent will
asses your personal situation, your income and your life
insurance needs–and will design a policy to meet those needs.

Answer questions. A good agent will answer your questions
in plain English until they’re blue in the face. Insurance can
be a confusing subject, and good agents will want to make sure
you understand their product before you buy it.

Not pressure you. Sure, agents need to close sales, but a
good agent will work with you until you’re ready to buy.

Have proper licensure. Insurance agents are required to
have proper licensure to sell insurance in your state. Inquire
about the credentials prospective agents and follow up by
contacting your local Division of Insurance to make sure they’re
licensed and registered with the state.

Make you comfortable. Don’t discount your gut feeling
about a life insurance agent. If it doesn’t feel like a good
fit, don’t force it. The I.I.I. recommends asking for referrals
from friends, relatives and co-workers for a agent you can trust.

When it comes buying life insurance, you’ll need to be able to
trust your agent to help you make the best decisions for your
personal situation, not just for a few months, but for years to
come.

Research and Save!

Investigating insurance companies and agents may add a little
time to the shopping process, but doing so will help you choose
a company that believes in ethical conduct, honesty and keeping
your best interests at heart–helping you secure cheap life insurance for
years to come!

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About InsureMe

InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for
insurance. Specializing in health, health, home, long-term care
and life insurance quotes,
the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every
year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com.

The Health Savings Account (HSA) is an amazing tool that a lot of people have been talking about. It is meant to help you save money on insurance and make your life simpler, maybe even help you be healthier.

But should a family with a woman in her childbearing years use an HSA?

This is an excellent question!

Obviously, a woman who is pregnant or might likely become pregnant needs to be very aware of her health insurance situation. Taking pre-natal classes, having a hospital delivery, Cesarian sections are all expensive, nevermind any potential complications.

Health Savings Accounts paired with a high-deductible health insurance policy can work for the family who might be expecting. Here’s how.

A high-deductible policy means that with a hospital delivery, you’ll definitely be paying that first $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000 (depending on the deductible), because the total cost will be that plus more. But after the deductible is satisfied, the insurance will kick in and pay for the rest of the cost.

However, it gets more complicated than that. In order to have maternity covered in a policy, you must buy an additional “insurance rider” for maternity. This rider comes with your insurance policy, not with the HSA. The rider is extremely expensive, it will add hundreds or thousands of dollars to your yearly cost of insurance.

So, if you are going to delivery using a regular hospital delivery, you should definitely purchase the additional maternity rider on your insurance policy. Remember that the high-deductible policy with the maternity rider will still be significantly cheaper than a low-deductible policy with the same rider. So you should still use a high-deductible policy, just add that rider.

But let me present one more option to the lucky parents. Have you considered a midwife, in-home delivery? Many parents are turning to this option. Create a relationship with a midwife or nurse-midwife and consult with her throughout the pregnancy. You might find that is is a safer, more comfortable way to have a child than the hospital environment. Just make sure you do your homework first. Find a midwife who has good qualifications and excellent references. And check the laws in your state. Midwifery is illegal in several states, because the Medical Boards do not appreciate them taking business away from hospitals.

If you rely on a midwife, your overall costs will go down dramatically, but you will not be able to use HSA money to pay a midwife. Also note that the maternity rider on your insurance policy will not help pay for midwifery services. Even with these disadvantages, you might find that your overall cost savings are so great that the midwife is not only the safest, most comfortable option, but also the least expensive.

The Health Savings Account, along with usage of holistic practitioners like midwives, will change healthcare in America forever. Be a part of the future of healthcare! HSAs are available today!

Daryl Kulak is the author of the book “Health Insurance Off the Grid.” The book provides a simple plan for the self-employed or underinsured to reduce insurance costs using a unique approach you won’t find anywhere else. The book is available for sale as an e-Book or paperback at the Website http://www.healthoffthegrid.com

For most of us, insurance coverage represents a love-hate relationship. We hate paying for the premiums, but love having the right kind of coverage when it is needed. We realize that is important to have insurance coverage, but just the thought of contacting different insurance agents, or researching different insurance plans, can not only be a scary experience, but incredibly overwhelming. Knowing what types of insurance are available, and making sure you have the correct coverage for your life’s needs is a task that should be given careful consideration.

Using the following suggestions, whether you are a novice or a veteran insurance buyer, will help you to make critical insurance coverage decisions. First and most important, is to ask yourself the question; what kind of insurance do I need? There is auto insurance to protect yourself and others when driving. Health coverage is a vital issue to address, as well as life insurance, disability and long-term health care. If you have a home, you need to protect your most valuable possession with home-owners insurance. There are many types of insurance for each of the categories mentioned. Asking the right questions can make all of the difference in deciding on the policy that fits you best.

Auto Insurance

Auto insurance is required in most states. You may not be required to carry full coverage, which includes collision, comprehensive and medical coverage; but you are required to carry liability coverage. Liability is the foundation of any auto insurance policy. If you are at fault in an accident, your liability insurance will pay for the bodily injury and property damage expenses caused to others in the accident, including your legal bills. However, if your vehicle is damaged, the expense to repair it will not be covered without having a full coverage policy. Collision, comprehensive and medical coverage are for your benefit. Collision will pay for the repair to your vehicle, while comprehensive coverage will pay for damages to your car that weren’t caused by an auto accident. Medical payments coverage will pay for you and your passenger’s medical expenses after an accident. This coverage will pay no matter who is at fault.

Collision coverage is usually the most expensive part of a policy, you can choose a higher deductible, say $500 or $1000, and keep your premium costs down. If you have a newer vehicle and have a lien against it, the lending institution will require that you have full coverage. By working with a professional insurance agent, the agent would be able to give you many cost saving suggestions that you could take advantage of to lower your rates, and still give you the coverage you need.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is one of the largest expenses that we face today. Educating yourself about the different types of health insurance available will assist you with your insurance buying decision. There are many types of plans, but essentially two kinds of health insurance: Fee-for Service and Managed Care.

Fee-for-Service assumes that the medical professional will be paid a fee for services provided. Managed Care encompasses various plans and can include: health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPO), or point-of-service (POS). These plans provide comprehensive health services to their members and offer financial incentives to their members to use providers in their network. Health insurance is one of the least understood types of insurance; many people feel they do not need health coverage, but just one major illness or accident can force you into bankruptcy when you can’t pay your bills. This is why you need to understand all the different types of plans available and what plan would best suit your needs and budget. Meeting with an insurance professional and asking the right questions, can save you many sleepless nights of worry and provide you with some peace of mind.

Life Insurance

There are some basic things to consider when you are assessing your life insurance needs. You should first consider your financial situation and the standard of living you would want your dependents or survivors to maintain. Would you want a policy that would cover funeral expenses and final medical bills, or do you have a family to consider where your coverage would also pay outstanding debts, child-rearing expenses, and educational costs? There are two main types of life insurance available. They are Term Life and Permanent or Whole Life.

Term provides death benefit protection for a specified period of time. You can buy a policy in increments of 10, 20 or 30 years. These are usually less expensive, but your rates can increase each time you renew your policy. With Permanent, the costs of the policy are stretched out over a longer period of time, usually spread out over your entire life. Permanent can also be used as a savings vehicle. Once the premium has been paid, the company invests the additional funds. It’s a very important choice as to what insurance company you choose. A knowledgeable and experienced agent can answer all of these and your personal questions about life insurance.

Disability Insurance

Is disability insurance really necessary? Many of us can easily become sick or disabled tomorrow and not be able to work for two or three months. Would you have enough savings to cover your living expenses? There are two types of disability insurance. Short term and long term disability.

Short term will pay you a percentage of your salary for a short period of time. These policies are usually not very expensive, and usually cover a period of three to six months. Long term disability insurance picks up where your short term leaves off. Long term will pay a percentage of your salary until you are 65 years old. Disability insurance can be costly when you by it on your own, but it should be a part of everyone’s financial plan. It could easily be argued that you need disability coverage more than life insurance.

Long-term care Insurance

Another form of insurance that people around 50 years of age should consider is long term care insurance. There are many confusing forms of this insurance, but it essentially covers costs you would incur when you can no longer perform activities of daily living, such as dressing yourself, bathing yourself, or the need of skilled nursing care at home or in a care facility. Medicare and Medicare supplemental insurances don’t cover most long term care expenses. This is a very important insurance, you would need the help of an insurance professional, one who specializes in long term care insurance, to make sure you have the best coverage to fit your long term care needs.

Homeowner’s Insurance

If you are a homeowner and you have a mortgage on your home, your lender requires you to have homeowner’s insurance. There is much more to consider than how much your coverage will cost, you need an adequate policy that will give you the right level of protection; plus special provisions for your valuables and other possessions. You may need additional coverage for things such as earthquakes or floods. Before you get a policy, you will need to take an inventory of what you have in your home. Know what your insurance limits are, learn the difference between replacement-cost and actual-cash-value coverage. Again, consulting with an insurance professional and one who will listen and understands your specific needs is essential.

With all of the different types of insurances available, it is best to be prepared when selecting a policy. Choosing the wrong insurance policy can have disastrous consequences for both you and your family. There are many decisions that need to be made when looking for insurance, such as deciding what type of insurance you would need, and also considering what you can afford. You want to be able to speak to an insurance agent who will not pressure you or try to sell you insurance coverage you do not need. A professional can suggest and compare different plans and advise you which plan would best fit your own unique needs. All the while, offering this service at no cost to you.

Article was written by www.mostchoice.com/. MostChoice is a free national service which speeds up and simplifies the process of finding insurance, real estate, and financial products by connecting consumers with expert agents and brokers in their local area. Reproductions of this article must include a link back to www.mostchoice.com/