by Talk Insurance Staff on February 28, 2009
 From the time we’re young, one of the primary goals we have in life is to accumulate enough wealth to see us through our retirement years and - if any is left when we die - to pass it on to our children. The rising cost of health care is having a negative impact on the ability many Americans have to accomplish that goal. Long term care is an expenditure that most people avoid talking about, but if you want to protect your assets, it’s imperative that you face the very real possibility that you or your spouse could need long term care at some point in your life.
1. You may think that your health is good and that it won’t likely decline until you die, but the reality is that very few of us are that fortunate. We all hope to live active, healthy lives until we’re well into our 80s or 90s, at which time we’ll quickly decline and step into eternity. The reality is that millions of Americans are afflicted by heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes every year. Many of these people aren’t the very old; instead they’re 50 or 60 years old. In far too many cases, they’re even younger. Macro statistics may say you probably won’t have long term health care needs, but your family tree may say otherwise. Even if you’ve gone to heroic lengths to try to change family genetics, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Have you REALLY done enough to alter the course your life will take - and are you willing to pay for that gamble with all of your assets, especially if you’re wrong?
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by Talk Insurance Staff on January 27, 2009
 The amount of money you shell out for automobile insurance can fluctuate wildly from one company to the next, so it’s definitely worth your while to explore all the ways you can save money. Prices are steadily going up on many of the goods and services we rely on in our daily lives. Here are 7 super ways to regain control over how much your auto insurance will cost you:
- Improve your driving record - You may like getting out into the left lane, turning up the music, and running your own version of the Indy 500 every day, but speeding needlessly puts your driving record (and safety) at stake. While there may be certain situations where you feel the extra speed is justified, gaining an extra five minutes for weekend rest and relaxation shouldn’t be one of them. Not only do you endanger others on the road, you increase your gasoline budget, and improve your chances of getting a speeding ticket. Leave a few minutes earlier, save money, and relax with the knowledge that you don’t have to hyperventilate every time you see a police car.
- Improve your credit - You may think it’s nobody’s business but your own if you make your credit card payment on-time, but insurers are increasingly peeking into your credit history when quoting auto insurance rates. By taking the simple step of reviewing your credit report for accuracy once or twice a year, you may be able to significantly reduce your auto insurance premiums. Not only can you ensure that you’ll get the best loan rates and terms whenever you utilize your credit, but you can also cut down on how much your auto insurance will set you back each month. [click to continue…]
by Talk Insurance Staff on January 15, 2009
 With the economy falling down around us, Americans are increasingly looking for ways that they can save money. From brown-bagging lunches to cutting back on entertainment, we’re all interested in saving every penny we can. Fortunately, you can also save money on a critical expenditure: Your family’s health insurance premiums. Here’s how:
Comparison Shop – Insurance companies aren’t immune to the downturn in the economy, and many companies are hungry for your business. You may be thoroughly satisfied with the coverage you’re currently receiving from your health insurance provider, but in many cases, your premiums will continue to increase with each passing year. Shop around for a cheaper quote from a quality health insurance company. Your insurance broker can help you do this by doing much of the leg work for you – and you can reap the rewards of less expensive health insurance at lower introductory rates.
Automate Payments – Whether you retain your current health insurance provider or you make a switch, many companies will offer you a discount for automating the premium payment process. Look into the possibility of having your health insurance premiums automatically withdrawn from your checking account each month or billed to your credit or debit card. There’s a bonus for you: You’ll be able to rest easy knowing your premiums have been paid and you won’t get hit with the shock of not having coverage when you need it the most. To save even more, a lot of insurance companies will give you a discount if you pay your premiums in advance on an annual, semi-annual, or even quarterly basis. In this lackluster economy, the savings can add up very quickly.
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by Talk Insurance Staff on January 5, 2009
 If you ask just about anyone what disability insurance is, you’ll probably get an answer like, “It’s an insurance policy that will replace you salary if an illness or injury prevents you from being able to work.” This definition sounds good, makes people feel safe and secure, and – couldn’t be more inaccurate. Erroneous beliefs like this one can put your financial security at risk. Here are a few widely held myths about disability insurance and the truth you need to understand to ensure that a disability doesn’t suck away your life’s savings.
Disability insurance will replace your salary if an injury or illness prevents you from being able to work.
This one is absolutely inaccurate. Disability insurance won’t replace your salary on a dollar for dollar basis. As appealing as that thought might be, it simply won’t happen. What it will do, however, is provide you with some financial stability by paying you either a percentage of your base wages or a flat weekly benefit amount. The amount will vary depending on the policy, but it’s normally no more than about 65% of your earnings. The reason for this is because federal rules prevent insurance companies from providing a larger benefit. Think about it this way: If you can earn just as much for not working as you could by going to work every day, why would you bother? Given a choice, a lot of people would rather eat bon-bons and watch reruns of “I Love Lucy” than go to work.
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by Talk Insurance Staff on November 20, 2008
 With so many insurance coverage policies to choose from and different subject matters on which they cover, it is hard to know which policy is truly necessary to protect you from life’s unexpected occurrences. There are certain insurance policies which you should definitely consider acquiring and one type of coverage is homeowners insurance. Having an active and inclusive homeowners insurance policy will protect your residence should anything happen to it. It is important to note that you should never just grab the first homeowners insurance policy which you come across as you need to choose a policy which will work for you. The following will list some tips on how to shop around for homeowners insurance and pick the best policy.
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by Talk Insurance Staff on November 12, 2008
When you are renting an apartment or a house it is a good idea to have Renter’s Insurance because it can be a life saver if something happens to your home. Sometimes these policies can mean the difference between saving your things in a fire and loosing everything.
Many people add renters insurance to an existing insurance policy so that they can get a discount on auto or other insurance. The premium that you pay will depend on the amount of coverage you want but you will usually pay a yearly amount.
There are many reasons why an individual needs rental insurance and most of the reasons you may not think about. Renters think they do not have anything to insure but if you are using computers or state-of -the -art equipment in your space you may want to think twice about what you need to cover.
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by Talk Insurance Staff on November 12, 2008
Dental insurance is a type of medical insurance that is necessary for people but that many company insurance plans do not cover. It seems that for children dental insurance is seen as important, but adults seem to be left out of the loop.
Dental hygiene is very important for most people because good dental health leads to better health overall. The fear of dentists and the fear of having to pay expenses out of pocket can prevent many people from getting the dental healthcare they need.
Generally, out of pocket expenses for dental health can cost $300 a year for general maintenance processes like regular visits with x-rays and cleanings, up to about $25,000 for restorative processes like crowns, implants and dental prosthetics. Because of this it is a good idea to have dental insurance available to help with the cost.
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by Talk Insurance Staff on November 12, 2008
Life insurance has been a very important type of insurance in the past, but today many people are electing not to have it. Depending on your situation it may be a good idea for you or it may not be necessary. However, the best way to know is to talk with an insurance agent who can help you determine your needs.
When we think of life insurance it is always associated with death because part of the benefit helps when someone dies who has been the major contributor to the family’s income. It can create a way for family members who are left behind to pay for final expenses that are left when someone dies.
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by Talk Insurance Staff on November 12, 2008
Health insurance is a difficult type of insurance for people to buy in the US because the cost of it is constantly changing.
Many people still receive health insurance through their employers and this insurance usually covers basic health needs. Most are now covered by managed care facilities that specialize on prevention. Some people in the US are covered by Medicaid and Medicare and others go without insurance.
What Is Health Insurance
Most people know that health insurance covers basic needs for health care. Generally it is a contract between an insurance provider and a member that says they will pay certain costs that are incurred with healthcare needs. If you pay for your own premium you may have a lump sum payment or you may have one that is monthly payments.
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by Talk Insurance Staff on November 12, 2008
What would happen if you were injured while doing your business and you couldn’t work for a few months? Although this is not a scenario that we want to think about, it could happen without warning.
Without some form of disability insurance in place you may not be able to recover from the bills. Disability insurance will not cover all of your income but it will cover a part of it. Depending on the policy the amount they cover could be between 50% and 70% which is better than no coverage at all.
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