HOME INSURANCE

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           Home insurance, also commonly called hazard insurance or homeowners insurance (often abbreviated in the real estate industry as HOI), is the type of property insurance that covers private homes. It is an insurance policy that combines various personal insurance protections, which can include losses occurring to one's home, its contents, loss of its use (additional living expenses), or loss of other personal possessions of the homeowner, as well as liability insurance for accidents that may happen at the home. It requires that at least one of the named insured occupies the home. 

            The dwelling policy (DP) is similar, but used for residences which don't qualify for various reasons, such as vacancy/non-occupancy, seasonal/secondary residence, or age. It is a multiple line insurance, meaning that it includes both property and liability coverage, with an indivisible premium, meaning that a single premium is paid for all risks. Standard forms divide coverage into several categories, and the coverage provided is typically a percentage of Coverage A, which is . The insurance policy itself is a lengthy contract, and names what will and what will not be paid in the case of various events. 

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            Typically, claims due to floods, or war (whose definition typically includes a nuclear explosion from any source) are excluded. Special insurance can be purchased for these possibilities, including flood insurance. Insurance must be updated to the present and existing value at whatever inflation up or down, and an appraisal paid by the insurance company will be added on to the policy premium. Fire insurance will require a special premium charge, plus the addition of smoke detectors and on site fire suppression systems to qualify.

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            The home insurance policy is usually a term contract—a contract that is in effect for a fixed period of time. The payment the insured makes to the insurer is called the premium. The insured must pay the insurer the premium each term. Most insurers charge a lower premium if it appears less likely the home will be damaged or destroyed: for example, if the house is situated next to a fire station, if the house is equipped with fire sprinklers and fire alarms. Perpetual insurance, which is a type of home insurance without a fixed term, can also be obtained in certain areas.

             In the United States, most home buyers borrow money in the form of a mortgage loan, and the mortgage lender always requires that the buyer purchase homeowners insurance as a condition of the loan, in order to protect the bank if the home were to be destroyed. Anyone with an insurable interest in the property should be listed on the policy. In some cases the mortgagee will waive the need for the mortgagor to carry homeowner's insurance if the value of the land exceeds the amount of the mortgage balance. In a case like this even the total destruction of any buildings would not affect the ability of the lender to be able to foreclose and recover the full amount of the loan.

Health Insurance

What kinds of health insurance are there?
There are essentially two kinds of heath insurance: Fee-for-Service and Managed Care. Although these plans differ, they both cover an array of medical, surgical and hospital expenses. Most cover prescription drugs and some also offer dental coverage.

1. Fee-for-Service
   These plans generally assume that the medical professional will be paid a fee for each service provided to the patient. Patients are seen by a doctor of their choice and the claim is filed by either the medical provider or the patient.
    
2. Managed Care
   More than half of all Americans have some kind of managed-care plan. Various plans work differently and can include: health maintenance organizations (HM0s), preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and point-of-service (POS) plans. These plans provide comprehensive health services to their members and offer financial incentives to patients who use the providers in the plan.

Health Savings Accounts
What is 'long-term care'?
Because of old age, mental or physical illness, or injury, some people find themselves in need of help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting or continence, and/or transferring (e.g., getting out of a chair or out of bed). These six actions are called Activities of Daily Living–sometimes referred to as ADLs. In general, if you can’t do two or more of these activities, or if you have a cognitive impairment, you are said to need “long-term care.”

Long-term care isn’t a very helpful name for this type of situation because, for one thing, it might not last for a long time. Some people who need ADL services might need them only for a few months or less.

Many people think that long-term care is provided exclusively in a nursing home. It can be, but it can also be provided in an adult day care center, an assisted living facility, or at home.

Assistance with ADLs, called “custodial care,” may be provided in the same place as (and therefore is sometimes confused with) “skilled care.” Skilled care means medical, nursing, or rehabilitative services, including help taking medicine, undergoing testing (e.g. blood pressure), or other similar services. This distinction is important because Medicare and most private health insurance pays only for skilled care–not custodial care.

More Information on Long-Term Care Insurance "Click Here"

What are the types of disability insurance?
There are two types of disability policies: Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD):

1. Short-Term Disability policies (STD) have a waiting period of 0 to 14 days with a maximum benefit period of no longer than two years.
    
2. Long-Term Disability policies (LTD) have a waiting period of several weeks to several months with a maximum benefit period ranging from a few years to the rest of your life.

Disability policies have two different protection features that are important to understand.

1. Non-cancelable means the policy cannot be canceled by the insurance company, except for nonpayment of premiums. This gives you the right to renew the policy every year without an increase in the premium or a reduction in benefits.
    
2. Guaranteed renewable gives you the right to renew the policy with the same benefits and not have the policy canceled by the company. However, your insurer has the right to increase your premiums as long as it does so for all other policyholders in the same rating class as you.

In addition to the traditional disability policies, there are several options you should consider when purchasing a policy:

• Additional purchase options
  Your insurance company gives you the right to buy additional insurance at a later time.
   
• Coordination of benefits
  The amount of benefits you receive from your insurance company is dependent on other benefits you receive because of your disability. Your policy specifies a target amount you will receive from all the policies combined, so this policy will make up the difference not paid by other policies.
   
• Cost of living adjustment (COLA)
  The COLA increases your disability benefits over time based on the increased cost of living measured by the Consumer Price Index. You will pay a higher premium if you select the COLA.
   
• Residual or partial disability rider
  This provision allows you to return to work part-time, collect part of your salary and receive a partial disability payment if you are still partially disabled.
   
• Return of premium
  This provision requires the insurance company to refund part of your premium if no claims are made for a specific period of time declared in the policy.
   
• Waiver of premium provision
  This clause means that you do not have to pay premiums on the policy after you’re disabled for 90 days.

Motorcycle Insurance

Why do you need insurance for your motorcycle?
You'll enjoy being out on the open road even more when you're not worried about the safety of yourself, your passengers or your investment. Here are a few things to consider:

• If you're in an accident or your motorcycle is stolen, it costs money, often a lot of money, to fix or replace it.
• If you or a passenger is injured in an accident, medical costs can be extremely expensive.
• If your motorcycle is responsible for damage or injury to others, you may be sued for much more than you're worth.
• Your motorcycle may be one of your most prized possessions. It deserves special protection.

Things to consider and questions to ask your agent
Your Independent Agent is an advocate for finding insurance that meets your specific needs. Here are a few things to consider as you prepare for the discussion:

• How much can I afford to pay if my motorcycle is in an accident, damaged or stolen? (Ask your agent what your cost savings would be if you raised your deductible.)
• What discounts and programs are available? (Ask about discounts for taking safety classes or having multiple policies. You may also save money if your motorcycle is stored in a garage or if you belong to a motorcycle association.)
• How much medical and liability coverage should I have?
• Does the insurance company have a good reputation for customer service? Is it known for paying claims fairly and promptly?
• What's the process for filing and settling a claim?

Tips for the cost-conscious rider
Many factors can play a role in determining what your insurance costs will be such as your age, your driving record, where you live and the type of motorcycle you own, or being a graduate of a rider-training course.

• Many companies offer discounts from 10 to 15 percent on motorcycle insurance for graduates of training courses, such as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) rider course. Riders under the age of 25, usually considered a higher risk, may see some savings by taking this course. It's also a good idea for cyclists who have already had accidents.
• Maintaining a good driving record with no violations will also help reduce your premiums.
• In many northern states, riders may save money by buying a "lay-up" policy. With a lay-up policy, all coverage except comprehensive is suspended during winter months.
• Find out what discounts your insurance representative offers. Multibike discounts for those insuring more than one bike, organization discounts, if you're a member of a motorcycle association, and mature rider discounts for experienced riders, are just a few possibilities. Discounts can range anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent, depending on the company and your state. Availability and qualifications for discounts vary from company to company and state to state.
• Keep in mind that the type, style (such as a sports bike vs. a cruiser) and age of the motorcycle, as well as the number of miles you drive a year and where you store your bike may also affect how much you pay for your premium.

Homeowners Insurance versus Personal Medical Insurance

Many people wonder if their homeowners insurance would pay for an injury that they got while at home. After all, guests and visitors aren’t the only people who can get hurt in your home. The same dangers that lie in wait for non-residents of your home to stumble upon are waiting for you and your family members as well. There is an important difference, though, between what insurance foots the bill when you get hurt at home and when a visitor gets hurt in your home.
Understanding Liability
As a homeowner, you are liable for many of the injuries a visitor can have in your home. In the event that an invited guest or unexpected visitor should be injured in your home through no fault of their own, your homeowners insurance would likely pay medical expenses and damages. It might even pay for lost wages if the injury resulted in the individual being out of work.
When it comes to injuries, your homeowners insurance only covers your liability as a property owner, though. So if you or one of your family members were to be injured in your home, it’s not your homeowners insurance but your medical insurance that would be responsible for paying for those injuries.
When Homeowners Insurance Doesn’t Pay
But what injuries of visitors would your homeowners insurance not pay for? Well, if someone was in your home acting in an irresponsible or negligent manner and you had no way to prevent them from having an accident, and their behavior causes the accident, then you would probably not be liable for that injury. However, if someone acting in a normal capacity is injured in your home—even from something that was not the result of any negligence on your part, you would likely be responsible.
Whether you do it to avoid insurance claims or to keep your family and friends safe, creating a home that is free of obvious threats to health and safety will save you both money and heartache. And while you can never create a totally risk-free zone, diligence and close observation can work together to help you remove the most obvious threats and cut down in the opportunity for injury that much more.

Staying Safe in Your Automobile

By now, even if you live in a state without seat belt laws, you know that buckling up can save your life. But buckling up is not the only way you can proactively act to keep you and your family safe in your automobile.

1. Properly arm your airbags: If your car has air bags, make sure they are properly armed. If they have activated, you’ll need to have them armed again.
2. Use your seat belt properly: There is a reason why seat belts stretch across our chests and not just our laps. These chest straps keep us from hitting the dashboard, the seat in front of us, or getting an extreme case of whiplash. Make sure to wear your seatbelt as it was intended so you can get a full range of protection. 
3. Practice proper and timely vehicle maintenance: Transmission problems can cause your car to seize up in the middle of the road; improperly filled tires can compromise your brake system—there’s no end to the potential accidents that car maintenance issues can cause. Bring your car to the mechanic regularly so he or she can check for these issues before they help cause an accident.
4. Practice airbag safety: Airbags have saved a lot of lives, but they can also be harmful in certain situations. Children under age twelve should never sit in a front seat with driver’s side airbags. If they must, they should be properly buckled up with the seat as far away from the dashboard as possible, since airbags can actually harm anyone who is 2-3 inches from the point of inflation. Because the driver’s airbag is in the steering wheel, he or she can be injured, too. Measure your normal seating position when you drive and make sure that you are situated at least 10 inches away from the center of the steering wheel.
5. Use rear facing car seats: Airbags are not the only in-car threat to a child’s safety. Children less than one year old or who weigh less than 20 lbs. should always be buckled into rear-facing child’s seats in the back seat of the car. Children under 4’9” should also use booster seats when riding in the car. This prevents seat belt injuries in case of an accident.
6. Adjust your mirrors: It’s easy to get into your car after another driver has used it and forget to adjust your mirrors. This can lead to blind spots that allow you to back into an obstacle or change lanes without seeing a nearby driver. Always be sure that your mirrors are properly adjusted and that you check your mirror’s blind spots before making any moves in traffic.

Observing these simple auto safety precautions will give you peace of mind and might one day even save a life.