Category Archives: Insurance Quote
Shop ‘Till you Drop: Shopping for Health Insurance
Shop ‘Till you Drop: Shopping for Health Insurance
Shopping for health insurance can be a frustrating hassle. There are so many companies with so many rates to compare. However, it is important to take your time and find the best company for your money. Although it may be frustrating, health insurance is a necessity. In any area, there are usually quite a few health care providers that can supply you with a quote over the phone. You could also use the Internet as a resource. By using these tools, you can make the shopping process go more smoothly.
The first step is going to be deciding which type of insurance you should be shopping for. If you have a family, it would be in your best interest to find a company that will give you one decided premium and co-payment plan no matter how many children you add to the plan at any time. Without a family, you would be shopping for individual health insurance but will need to decide if you are in need of short-term insurance or insurance for an extended period. Short-term insurance is for people who are in-between jobs and expect to enroll in whichever health insurance plan their future employer sponsors.
Once you have established what type of insurance you need, it is time to make some calls. Go through your local phone book and start calling down the line. After answering a few simple questions, you can get a quote and move on to the next company. Cost is one of the most important factors. If you find two or more of them with very similar premiums and a low co-payment amount, you should compare the benefits. Can you add immediate family at no charge? Will this health insurance include dental, emergencies, prescriptions, or doctor visits? This may help you find one that appeals more to your needs and is within your budget. Using the services of the Internet to find a company will be a very similar process. Some reputable web sites out there will ask you to fill in a few blanks and then give unbiased quotes from many different health insurance companies.
Whether you are going to be doing your shopping over the phone or on the Internet, you should use your best judgment of the information that you get on each company to decide on one that makes you comfortable. The Better Business Bureau can also help you be sure that you are not being scammed. Health insurance is a cost that is necessary to save you money in the long run on prescriptions, doctor visits, and unforeseen emergencies. Don’t get left with bills that you have no way of paying because you didn’t have insurance.
What Role Does Your California Health Insurance Agent Or Broker Play?
What Role Does Your California Health Insurance Agent Or Broker Play?
First, what is the difference between a broker and an agent?
These terms are often interchanged in conversation. Officially, an Agent is an individual or company that acts on behalf of the carriers to market, sell, and service insurance. The Agent has a contract with the carrier in order to transact this business. A broker is person who also contracts with carriers but officially acts on behalf of the client. In practical terms, they are not that different when dealing with California health insurance.
For example, Goodacre Insurance Services is a California agent but our goal is to find the right plan for a individual or company across the major carriers. If Blue Cross has the right option and better pricing for a given person or company, then that’s where we will go. We are independent agents which is important because we do not have interest in pushing one particular company or plan. We do have knowledge from dealing with the carriers every day in terms of which companies are easier to deal with, more stable, or better priced. There are dozens of plans on the market so this can really be important. Just looking a rate quote and benefit summary is only half of the story when choosing health insurance. Some plans exclude certain benefits or apply caps to other types of coverage. We know the lay of the land and I would personally not want to purchase health insurance just based on a rate quote.
Some companies (though not the majors) use “captured agents”. This is a person who sells only one carrier’s insurance plans. They are essentially employees for that company. I would avoid such companies as they may not have the best interest of the client at heart. If a company cannot quote multiple carriers, beware. The major carriers in California are Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Pacificare, and Kaiser. Beyond these five, we do not feel very secure about the others.
How are agents or brokers paid? Agents are paid a commission by the carriers for policies issued and in force. The commission tends to be about the same from carrier to carrier. This commission does not affect the rate. The insurance rate you will get through an agent/broker is the same as you would get going directly through the carrier. The benefit of the agent relationship is that they navigate the carriers to expedite processing, help with service issues once enrolled, and act a third party. Again, a carrier’s main interest to keep you enrolled as policy subscriber but your interest may actually lie with another carrier or plan. An independent broker can help bridge the two at no additional cost to you. Also, the carriers are big companies. Some of the reps are very knowledgeable and others are…let’s face it…newer. By dealing with California health insurance daily, we are a wealth of information and guidance that you may not get by going directly.
What to expect from your broker/agent and especially Goodacre Insurance Services?
Goodacre Insurance Services provides service across three main areas.
California health plan selection.
This really is the most difficult part and it is the reason that people put off getting health insurance. There are many plans and the language is pretty technical. Most people glaze over when they see the brochures or instant quote results. Let’s face it….health insurance is not a common purchase. Typically, people have not needed to shop health insurance in years…if ever. Goodacre Insurance Services has been dealing solely with California health insurance for over a decade now. I can guarantee that with a few targeted questions, the plan selections can be narrowed down significantly. We want you to be informed. On a daily basis, we hear from our clients that they wish they would have called earlier rather than try to navigate the volumes of information provided the plans. Let us help. We do not sell. We listen, advise, and then it’s up to you what you wish to do.
California application and enrollment.
The health application is one more reason that people procrastinate. There are sections in there are mandated by law but which are thoroughly confusing such as the HIPAA qualification. Small Group can be equally difficult in terms of qualification for Small Group health coverage in California. We are happy to walk you through the application once a plan has been decided on. This is also the time to ask about the process, payment options, cancellation options, time table for enrolling in coverage. Based on your situation, we can give you a benchmark of what to expect for a normal processing.
Health Insurance Service and Membership.
Once the plan is in effect, we are your point of contact for membership issues, claims, and future changes. We go in at the end of each month and make sure that faxed changes, additions, and requests have been processed correctly. The carriers are pretty good but 1 out of 100 requests do not show in the system. You do not want to be that one with such a critical issues as health insurance. We can also advise for ways to reduce costs when the rate increase occur based on your changing health insurance needs.
Keep in mind that you can always contact the carrier directly if you choose but why would you? Let us do the work for you since there is no additional cost to you.
Agents and brokers are required to have a license and continuing education by the California Department of Insurance. You can always research an agent’s history, carrier contracts, and other information through them. There are different types of licenses. The two most common are Life/Health which is used to transact California health insurance and Property and Casualty is used to transact insurance such as auto or home insurance. Some agents do both health and P&C but it is increasingly difficult to this well and keep up with the ever-changing industries. This is why we choose to concentrate on health insurance solely. We know the carriers, the plans, and changes in the market. This makes us invaluable to you.
As we say on the phone here at Goodacre Insurance Services…”How can I help you out”.
Insurance For Your Laptop Notebook or Computer
Insurance For Your Laptop Notebook or Computer
Insurance seems to be a financial strategy often forgotten in our hustle and bustle electronic world. We spend countless hours scouring the shops for the best notebook computer deal, installing the best computer software and churning out quality product. But how often do we believe that our laptop or notebook will be stolen, or that we might suffer data loss. Do you ever think of an insurance company in relation to your laptop notebook or computer.
Over 600,000 laptops were stolen in the USA alone in 2004.
Have I got your attention? Insurance for your laptop now seems worthwhile looking into. There is the standard financial insurance for your notebook which is similar to an itemized entry in your household insurance. Great for desktop computers that go nowhere, but problematic for your laptop or notebook. Portability is the reason we own them. There are many insurance companies that supply insurance for electronic goods and a quote from a company that you find in your internet search would be a good place to start.
Computer theft-recovery software is the latest insurance for your laptop or notebook. You may well get reimbursed for the cost of the computer, but what about those countless hours you have spent on your projects that only live in your laptop because you meant to backup to disk but never quite had enough time. A quick search on the net will highlight theft-recovery software companies that work in several different ways.
Several insurance companies offer a track it back sticker type of system that enables a good samaritan to call an insurance company that will contact you. The philosophy is that you should never personalize your computer with a phone number or address as they may be combined with other personal info in your laptop to do all sorts of underhand things.
Another insurance against data loss or misuse is software similar to what a company like Orbicule might provide. This type of insurance for your notebook is ingenious indeed. When a thief accesses the internet with your stolen laptop, it silently sends screenshots at regular interval to your insurance headquarters. The concept is that ultimately the thief will be entering perhaps some personal information into an email when that screenshot is sent, thereby identifying the thief’s address. If that fails, another type of software will emulate a software failure that ultimately renders the computer useless.
In conclusion, I suggest that you should definitely check out the insurance cover from your household insurance to see what cover you already have. Secondly a call to your electronic insurance broker for a quote would be worthwhile. If you do carry sensitive data, looking at some of the anti theft software available may also prove to be valuable insurance for you notebook computer.
Choosing the Best Life Insurance
Choosing the Best Life Insurance
Many people wonder why they should invest in life insurance. The fact is when you pass away and do not have coverage or money; your loved ones must take the burden of paying funeral costs, arranging, and so on. The cost of funerals is costly, so this is unfair to your loved ones. Life insurance will cover you, and will offer some stress relief in the event you die on funeral costs.
Moreover, if you pass on, your family will have to pay your mortgage, car payments and so on. Do not let this happen. Some life insurance policies will offer you unemployment coverage, burial, mortgage coverage and so on.
Life insurance plans will protect you and your family. You can find affordable plans online so there is no reason not to seek coverage. Some life insurance plans will cover debts you owe, expenses and so on. You will find life insurance plans that will cover all your estate costs too.
Life insurance often includes the cash value plans and the term life policies. Cash value will provide you coverage for the course of your life. In short, this is the permanent plan whereas term life is a plan that when it expires you must renew the policy. Obviously, the cash value is the better choice.
Cash value life will offer you benefits that will cover you in the event you pass. You have asset value that attaches to this plan. In other words, you have lifetime coverage at some of the best rates on insurance. In short, this plan will protect your financial interest. You have options to with some term life insurance. Some plans will allow you to request a conversion to change your plan to a cash value plan. Some term life plans will not give you this option.
You have other options with life insurance plans, but the cash value is obviously one of the better choices. Still, you can go online to use quote system at the insurance sites to find great rates, comparable costs, and several types of insurance plans.
If you are an employer, looking for group insurance coverage you will find a wide assortment of policies online also. Cobra, term life (group option) and other plans are available. Use the quote system to find the best rates on group life insurance. Check the packages offered, since some insurance plans give you better rates and benefits than other plans will.
Life insurance is important. To make your family’s life easier, go online and search through the different plans to find what works best for you. Get the protection you and your family both deserve.
How To Save Money On Your Car Insurance (2)
How To Save Money On Your Car Insurance
The majority of people who stick with the same insurance provider year after year and just keep renewing their policy are probably paying a lot more for their car insurance than they would do if they were to shop around and change insurance providers.
All it takes is a little time and from the comfort of your own home you can search through a huge range of providers online to find a much cheaper quote than you are currently paying. With so many insurers now offering insurance online it has opened up the market and the competition is fiercer than ever. Online insurers have made it easy for customers to compare quotes online, analyze coverage and apply online while making huge savings.
Along with simply taking the time to look around for your insurance there are many other ways you can help yourself to get cheaper car insurance. Listed below are just some of those ways.
Firstly make sure that you are getting all the discounts you are entitled to receiving, are you are senior citizen, do you have no claims bonus, or have you taken advanced driving lessons? All of these factors could lower your premium.
If you hold a clean driving record and you have kept it this way then this could make a huge difference to the amount of premium you pay for your insurance.
Ask yourself about the type of car you drive; is it a low profile car with added security features? If the answer is yes then this could seriously lower your premium. If you are driving a flashy sports car that catches everyone’s eye with only the basic security features then of course you should consider changing cars as this will boost your premium sky high.
You could also receive discounts if you fall into certain categories, for example your occupation could make a difference as strange as it seems. This is simply because the lower risk occupation you are in, the insurers see you as less of a risk taker which means that there is less chance of you getting into an accident.
You can also save with combined discounts; this means that you should get a quote for your car insurance from the same company as you take your home contents or life insurance cover with. If combined coverage is available you can not only save on your car insurance but also your home insurance too.
How To Save £££s On Cheap Car Insurance
How To Save £££s On Cheap Car Insurance
How to save £££s on cheap car insurance
Life, it seems, is one continuous cycle of spending.
Mortgage, council tax, gas bills, pensions, road tax, TV licence, telephone bills, MOTs. The list seems endless. It’s a wonder that we’ve got any money left over for the things that we enjoy.
Most of the bills we have to pay don’t leave us with any choice; it’s a set fee and non-negotiable. But there are some things that we have a degree of control over.
And, thankfully, motor insurance is just one of those things. By searching around the plethora of different companies and policies that are available you should be able to get a deal to suit your budget.
But there are also ways of saving a little bit more cash and ensuring yourself an extra cheap car insurance deal. And Duck2Water Car Insurance Services have revealed how to do it, betraying a few industry secrets to give you the low-down on bagging some cheap car insurance.
Start off by clearing all the old junk out of your garage, making enough room to squeeze your car in. A vehicle parked in a garage is so much less likely to be stolen or vandalised than one left on the street and a car insurance company will recognise this, giving a significant discount.
If there’s no garage available then the driveway still beats the street but do make sure that you get hold of a decent steering lock and, if possible, invest in an immobiliser too.
Arrange to go on an advanced driving course where you’ll learn a few extra little skills. It may seem a big hassle, especially if you’ve just passed your test, but motor insurance companies put a big value on courses such as Pass Plus, and as a result you should save a few extra pennies. As well as that, you’ll learn some valuable driving skills that are definitely going to come in handy somewhere down the line.
However much discount you’re going to be able to negotiate, your car insurance is still going to cost a fair bit. It’s tempting to spread the cost of the payment out over the course of a year, but if possible, try and pay it all up front. Most motor insurance firms charge a fairly high rate of interest, so if you really can’t afford to pay the lump sum, see if you can borrow the money more cheaply somewhere else.
If your car is getting on a bit, consider buying third party, fire and theft cover instead of fully comprehensive. If you drive a bit of a heap then think about whether your car is worth the extra premium that you’ll pay to get it comprehensively covered. You’ll still be insured against any damage that you cause to another vehicle or person and you’ll receive the whole value of your car if it happens to get stolen or burnt out.
Shop around for a quote; don’t just buy from the first company you come across. Try different combinations of options that are available to see what the best price you can get is. And if you do find a cheap car insurance quote that you think sounds good, tell another company and give them the chance to undercut the price. After all, they’re desperate for your business and so should be willing to knock off a few pounds to have your custom.
Most importantly, buy your car insurance online. High street insurance firms aren’t worth dealing with as they won’t have a chance of matching an online quote. An online firm, on the other hand, has got lower overheads so can afford to cut the price right down and give you a bargain.
Following these few simple guidelines is a guaranteed way to save a few quid and get a cheap car insurance deal.