Tag Archives: Alabama
How To Get Affordable Health Insurance In Alabama
How To Get Affordable Health Insurance In Alabama
I’m sure you’re aware that there is a national debate going on about how to make health insurance more affordable here in Alabama as well as elsewhere in the country. Unfortunately that same debate has been going on for decades, and until there is some relief on a national scale it is up to each of us individually to do whatever we can to get affordable health insurance in Alabama.
Alabama is a leader in the country when it comes to certain types of state-sponsored low-cost health insurance for kids, teens, college students, pregnant women and other groups. You may be surprised what’s available and what you or members of your family may qualify for.
For the rest of us the search for affordable health insurance in Alabama goes on. Fortunately there actually are several steps the average person can take to keep the cost of health care insurance affordable.
If your employer doesn’t offer group health insurance that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck for getting a group rate. Make of list of all the clubs, groups or associations that you belong to. A surprising number offer group health insurance to their members. Ask your friends if they belong to any groups or clubs or organizations that offer members group health insurance. Join whatever group you need to in order to get affordable health insurance.
Even some churches offer group health insurance. Ask around.
If you run a home-based business, even if your only employee is your spouse, ask your insurance agent if there is any way you can qualify for a group health plan.
If you smoke or use chew or any other tobacco product, you need to stop if you’re serious about finding affordable health insurance. Tobacco users pay more for health insurance -period.
Unfortunately the same is true about weight. People who are overweight pay more for health insurance. However, the good news is that losing even just a few pounds could put you in a lower weight category and save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Don’t participate in dangerous or extreme sports and don’t drive a fast sports car if you want the best rates on your health insurance.
Can you afford to increase your co-payment? Many people have a co-payment – that is, cash they pay to the doctor’s office each time they make a visit – of 20% to 25%. If you can afford to increase your co-pay to 50% it will save you considerably on your monthly premium. This is an especially good idea for people who do not see their doctor on a regular basis.
How much of a deductible can you afford? Again, you should consider the answer to this question carefully and weigh your decision because the amount you choose represents cash you will have to come up with each year to pay for your own medical treatment before your insurance company will even begin to kick in.
The more you can afford to pay as your deductible the less you will be asked to pay each month in premiums.
Now find at least 3 of the websites that permit you to compare prices for health insurance from different insurance companies here in Alabama. Make sure that you fill out the form the same way at all three websites so that your comparisons are valid, and then simply choose the company with the lowest price.
That’s all there is to it. You have now found the most affordable health insurance in Alabama and you can rest easy knowing that you will be saving as much money as possible each month while still getting the medical protection that you and your family need.
How To Save Money And Get Discount Car Insurance In Alabama
How To Save Money And Get Discount Car Insurance In Alabama
Alabama is serious about requiring every driver on a public road in Alabama to buy car insurance. That’s why so many drivers are looking for ways to save money and get discount car insurance in Alabama.
So how can you save money on your car insurance here in Alabama? Start by driving legally and safely at all times. Nothing drives up the cost of car insurance like a speeding ticket or other moving violation – unless it’s a DUI or DWI conviction.
If you are convicted of a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or if you are convicted of a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) you’ll be out of luck as far as getting discount car insurance for at least 3 years. If you receive a second DUI or DWI conviction you may never see cheap car insurance again in your lifetime.
If you have a garage and you can keep your car in a garage at night let your agent know – it could save you money every month on your policy.
Add safety features to your car. Ask your agent if you could save money by purchasing and using a steering wheel lock. Ask about a simple electronic device that disables your fuel pump unless you enter a secret code or press a hidden button; such devices are inexpensive and easy-to-install and can save you money on your insurance every month.
If you’re in school and under age 25 stay where you are and work hard. If you can maintain at least a “B” grade point average you can save as much as 5% each month with your Good Student Discount.
Are you recently retired? If so, let your agent know. If your car is no longer being driven to work and back every day there is a rather nice discount on your insurance.
And speaking about not driving your car so much, many people are now starting to use public transportation for as many of their traveling needs as possible, only using their cars for emergencies and special occasions. If you can knock your monthly driving down to under 500 miles let your agent know – you will be entitled to a Low Mileage Discount.
What about your deductible? Think about it carefully because this is cash you’ll have to come up with out of your own pocket if you ever have a claim, but the larger your deductible the smaller your monthly premium payment.
If you’re over age 55 ask your agent if your company offers a driver’s refresher course. If so, and if you pass it, you could save as much as 10% each and every month on your car insurance.
Using the information in this article see if you can put together a car insurance policy on paper which will save you as much money as possible – and then get online and see what you can find on at least 3 of the websites that allow you to compare prices at various insurance companies.
Compare the policy you just created on at least 3 of those websites and then simply choose the lowest price you can find. That’s it. Now you have saved money and gotten discount car insurance in Alabama! Good job!
How To Get The Best Rates On Health Insurance In Alabama
How To Get The Best Rates On Health Insurance In Alabama
Health insurance costs are a hot-button topic right now. The problem is being debated at the highest levels of government and it’s possible that someday a solution to this problem will be reached. In the meantime it is up to each and every one of us to do whatever is necessary to find ways of reducing the cost of our health care insurance on our own.
Fortunately there are ways for you to reduce your health insurance costs and we’re going to explore a few of them here.
If you’re really serious about reducing your cost of health insurance then we need to start with your lifestyle. Do you smoke? Do you use chew or any other tobacco product? If so, then you are not helping your cause. Tobacco users pay 30% to 50% more for health insurance than non-smokers.
If you smoked when you took out a health insurance policy but you have since quit it is important that you let your insurance agent know this as it can trigger a reduction in your monthly premium payment.
What’s your weight like? Being overweight also increases the cost of health insurance. Losing weight is more difficult than quitting smoking for most Americans, but the good news is that if you can lose even a few pounds you may move down one rung on the insurance company’s weight chart and that could potentially save you hundreds of dollars every single year.
If you regularly participate in any type of extreme or dangerous sport or hobby then you will not get the best rates on health insurance in Alabama or any other state. The same goes for driving a fast sports car or driving most muscle cars.
Anything you do that puts your life or health at risk is going to increase your health insurance premium.
Buying group health insurance can save you a lot of money. If your work-place does not offer group health insurance then ask around at all of the clubs, organizations or groups that you belong to. A surprising number offer group health insurance to their members. Ask your friends if any group, club or organizations that they belong to offers group health insurance. If so, consider joining.
Ask at your place or worship. Many church groups offer discount health insurance to their members.
Use credit cards wisely. Believe it or not, your credit report affects how much you pay for your health insurance. The healthier your credit score the less you’ll pay for your health insurance.
When was the last time you checked your co-pay percentage? Many people start out paying 20% or 25% as a co-payment when they visit their doctor’s office. If you can afford to increase your co-pay to 50% you will save a tremendous amount every month on your health premium. This tactic works best for people who do not see their doctor on a regular basis.
Can you afford to increase your deductible? This is a serious question and you should give it some real thought. The higher your deductible the lower your monthly health insurance premium – but by the same token, the higher your deductible the more money you have to pay out of your own pocket or purse each year before you can ask your insurance company to help you out. Don’t offer to pay more than you can comfortably afford.
Finally it’s time to go online and find at least three of the websites designed to let you compare prices on health insurance policies from different insurance companies.
You’ll have to fill out the form on at least 3 websites if you want to be sure of seeing the prices from every insurance company in Alabama and you have to be careful to enter the exact same information on each form so that you are comparing the same policy each time, but once you are finished all you need to do is to find the company with the best rate and your job is done!
How To Compare Low Cost Health Insurance In Alabama
How To Compare Low Cost Health Insurance In Alabama
Being able to afford health insurance is a big problem for many people here in Alabama. In fact, the problem has become so severe that close to 17% of all Alabama residents cannot afford health insurance of any kind.
Fortunately the state of Alabama has made low-cost health insurance available to many people who might not otherwise be able to afford it. Children under the age of eighteen, college students, pregnant women and others may be able to qualify for low-cost health insurance through one or more state-sponsored programs.
For those individuals who do not qualify for a state-sponsored program there are still several simple things you can do that may help to reduce the cost of your monthly health insurance premium. And once you know what things you can do to lower the cost of your health insurance, then it will be time to get online and compare the cost of your premium-saving policy at every health insurance company that sells policies in Alabama until you have found the very lowest cost possible for the insurance you need.
Let’s start with some lifestyle changes. These are the most difficult things for most people to do, even though they can potentially save the most on your health insurance.
Don’t smoke or use chew or any other tobacco product. You know in your heart of hearts that tobacco products are not good for your health, and insurance companies know this too. That’s why they charge tobacco users anywhere from 20% to 50% more for their health insurance than they charge non-smokers.
Losing weight is even more difficult than stopping smoking for most people, but if you are overweight you are going to pay more for your health insurance. Again, this is simply a fact of life. The good news is that losing even a small amount of weight can potentially drop you down on the insurance company’s weight chart and can potentially save you hundreds of dollars each and every year in premium payments. Every little bit can potentially help.
Are your weekends filled with extreme or dangerous sports or hobbies? As fun and exciting as they may be, the fact is you are going to pay more for health insurance if you put your life and health at risk unnecessarily. The same goes for driving a fancy sports car.
And were you aware that your credit rating can also affect how much you pay for your health insurance? As strange as it may seem, the better your credit score the lower your health insurance premium.
Group health insurance is always less expensive than individual health care, plus group plans will often overlook smoking, weight and some pre-existing conditions that would drive the cost through the roof if you were purchasing an individual policy. If your place of employment does not offer a group plan start asking around at any club, organization or association you belong to. You may be surprised to find that some group you never even thought about offers its members group health insurance. Ask your friends and co-workers if any of them belong to a group, club or association that offers group health insurance – and then see if you can join. Ask if any religious organization you belong to offers its members group health insurance.
Look into joining an HMO a PPO or some other form of health maintenance organization. If your favorite doctor is not part of an HMO then you may have to switch doctors, but often you can keep your same doctor if you join a PPO. See if one of these types of groups makes economic sense to you.
If you own a home-based business it may be possible to qualify for group health insurance even if your only employee is a spouse. Ask your insurance agent if this is possible in your case. But even if group health is not a possibility, it still may be possible to deduct your health insurance payments from your taxes if you own your own business – and the tax savings could help offset the cost of your premiums to the point where health insurance is more affordable than you thought.
What about your co-pay and your deductible? If you can increase your co-payment and/or your deductible you can lower the cost of your health insurance. Obviously increasing your co-pay and/or your deductible must be considered carefully as any increase in either represents cash that is coming out of your pocket.
It’s finally time for you to take the tips and tricks you picked up from this article and use them when filling out the form on at least 3 of the websites which allow you to compare health insurance prices among the different insurance companies.
Make sure that you fill out the form exactly the same way on all three of the comparison websites you’ve chosen and then simply pick the company with the lowest cost (being careful to choose a company that you feel confident will still be around when you need them), and your job is done!
You have now compared low cost health insurance in Alabama, you’ve picked the lowest-priced company and you can feel good about the fact that you are getting the coverage you need at a price you can afford.
How To Compare Low Cost Car Insurance In Alabama
How To Compare Low Cost Car Insurance In Alabama
It’s probably every driver’s dream in Alabama to pay less for their car insurance. I mean, who wouldn’t want to find a lower-cost car insurance that would still provide them the protection they want?
Today, thanks to all of the websites that allow you to quickly compare the price of a car insurance policy at several different insurance companies, comparing low cost car insurance in Alabama is as simple as clicking a mouse.
The real trick is to put together a car insurance policy that saves you the most money up-front – and then the added savings that you get through purchasing that policy online is icing on an already sweet, sweet cake.
Putting together a policy that saves you money up-front is surprisingly easy. Let’s start with your choice of car. Not all cars cost the same to insure. If you really and truly want to save money on your car insurance then start by asking your agent for a list of the least-expensive cars to insure.
Can you keep your car in a garage at night? If so you’ll save money every month on your insurance.
Can you add any anti-theft devices to your car? Talk to your agent about the savings you’ll realize before you spend any money, but simply purchasing (and using) a steering wheel locking device or a simple electronic device for shutting off your fuel pump could save you quite a bit each month on your insurance costs.
Don’t file small claims. The less often you file a claim with your insurance company the more you will save on your insurance.
Always, always, always drive legally. Even one speeding ticket or other moving violation and you’ll be paying a lot more for your car insurance every month. If you are convicted for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) you won’t see reasonable car insurance rates again for at least 3 years.
If you’ve stopped working and are no longer driving your car to work and back every day let your agent know. If you start carpooling and are driving your car less let your agent know about that as well.
If you can possibly use public transportation for most of your “driving” needs and you can reduce your actual driving down to 500 miles a month or less you may qualify for a rather hefty Low Mileage Discount on your car insurance.
If you own more than one car insure all of them with the same company. This will give you a Multi-Policy Discount.
If you’re under 25 you can shave 5% off your car insurance premium every month if you just stay in school and earn a Good Student Discount by maintaining at least a “B” grade average.
If you’re 55 or over you might be able to save a respectable 10% on your car insurance by taking – and passing – a special driver’s refresher course that some companies offer. Ask your agent if you qualify for this discount.
If you belong to any clubs or organizations or groups of any kind ask if they offer group car insurance rates to their members. A surprising number of groups and clubs do.
Can you afford to increase your deductible? Increasing your deductible is a quick and easy way to lower your monthly car insurance premium, but give some thought to this since you will be asked to come up with whatever amount you decide upon as your deductible in cash out of your own pocket if you ever have a claim. Don’t offer to pay more than you can actually afford.
The final step is to get online and find 3 websites that make price comparisons of car insurance policies between different insurance companies. Using the information you have learned from this article, carefully enter the same information onto 3 different comparison websites. In this way you will be comparing the price of the same policy from as many different insurance companies as possible here in Alabama.
Now simply pick the company with the lowest price and you’re done! You’ve now compared low cost car insurance in Alabama and you’ve found the very best deal you can possibly find. You can sleep well tonight and every night knowing that you are saving money each and every month on your Alabama car insurance.
How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In Alabama
How To Save Money And Get Discount Health Insurance In Alabama
Health insurance is a big problem for most Americans, as you are probably aware. Even Alabamans who have group health insurance admit that for at least half of them their monthly premium is a severe strain on the family finances, and fully 16% of all residents of Alabama don’t have any health insurance at all due, primarily, to cost.
Obviously almost everyone here in Alabama is looking for ways to save money and get discount health insurance, and fortunately there are several things you can do, small changes you can make, that will help make health insurance more affordable.
Let’s start with kids. If you have children who are 18 or under and you can’t find a health care plan that will accept them or which you can afford there may be a solution. The state of Alabama has a program called AL-Kids which provides health care to young children at low or no-cost. In addition to AL-Kids, Alabama has several other insurance programs that cover college students, pregnant women and more.
For those people who do not qualify for any of the state-sponsored programs there are still several things you can do to lower your cost of health insurance.
Obviously group health insurance is less costly than individual health insurance. If your workplace does not offer group health insurance you still may have other alternatives. Check with any groups, clubs or organizations that you belong to – even church groups sometimes offer group health insurance. Talk to your friends about any groups, organizations or clubs they belong to which might offer group health insurance – there are a lot more of them around than you are probably aware of.
If you have a home-based business check with a health insurance agent to see if you could qualify for group health insurance. Sometimes it is possible even if your only employee is your spouse.
Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products. Smokers (and people who use chew) pay a lot more for health insurance than do non-tobacco users.
If you are overweight you are also going to pay more for your health insurance. The good news is, even if you can lose just a little weight you can sometimes drop down a rung on the insurance company’s weight chart and if that happens you could save hundreds of dollars each year on your insurance costs.
Don’t participate in dangerous or extreme sports or hobbies, and don’t drive a sporty, fast car.
How much of a co-payment can you afford to make each time you visit your doctor? You’ll have to think about this and be honest with yourself, but if you can afford a 50% co-pay then you will pay considerably less for your health coverage every month. If you see your doctor on an infrequent basis this could be an excellent way for you to save money on your health insurance.
Then there is your deductible. Again you have to consider this question carefully and you must be absolutely honest with yourself, but the more you can afford to pay each year out of your own pocket for your health care before you ask your insurance company to start kicking in, then the less you’ll pay each month in premiums.
Now get online and find at least 3 websites that are designed to let you compare prices for health insurance in Alabama from different insurance companies. Be sure to enter the same information into the forms on at least 3 different websites so that your comparisons are valid and you can be sure that you are seeing prices from as many different companies as possible.
When you’ve done that all you need to do is pick the best price and you’re done. You’ve now done about all you can to save money and get discount health insurance in Alabama.