Everything You Need To Know About Mental Health Insurance

Everything You Need To Know About Mental Health Insurance: There�s really nothing much that can be done to make a person suffering from mental illness feel better other than making an effort to understand their situation. Instead of saying things like��this is just a phase�, �don�t be depressed�, �I was sad too, I fought through it�, just listen to them. Every person is different and so is everyone�s struggle. Rather than comparing their problems to yours and trying to categorise them into a �big issue� and a �petty issue�, help them work through it

What Are The Drawbacks Of This Act?

Here are the main shortcomings of this act:

• It declares mental illnesses as a clinical problem that can be treated by merely the use of medicines and clinical procedures. There�s no emphasis on the prevention of these illnesses and even the importance of mental well-being has been neglected.
• The definition of a �mental health professional� hasn�t been made clear. The act fails to clearly list out the difference between a psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, psychiatris, and counsellor.
• Mental issues are considered to be a big taboo in our country. No provisions have been listed in the act to teach the society about the reality of mental illnesses.
• A complete list of treatment options is also not mentioned anywhere in the act that leads to confusion.
• No provision has been given for hearing of the cases that were submitted before the drafting of the bill.
• There are no options for the aftercare of patients.
• Since no provisions have been made for home-based treatment, the overall cost of treatment goes up.

Read Also How to choose the best Health Insurance Plan for Senior Citizens?

What Are The Important Features Of This Act?

Here are some of the most crucial features of the Mental Health Care Act, 2017:

• Mental health care should be available to everyone through both public and private services. Every person has the right to access these facilities which must be readily available and affordable.
• A person who needs mental health care has the right to choose the way of treatment, and in case they are incapable of doing so, they can nominate someone to do it on their behalf.
• Central and state mental health authorities are responsible for maintaining a record of all mental health establishments, developing quality service, training law enforcement officials and advice the government on matters of mental health.
• One of the major developments that this bill brought into effect was the decriminalisation of suicide. If anyone tries to commit suicide, they will no longer be punished under the Indian Penal Code. Instead, it will be the government�s duty to look after their proper treatment and care. This will help reduce their chances of re-attempting the same.
• Another significant development under the same bill is�the provision of insurance for people suffering from mental illnesses. Most health insurers will be asked to cover various mental illnesses under Health Insurance cover. The only drawback about this progressive move is that it�ll raise the premium rates.

There are some customised plans provided by Apollo Munich that already offer a cover for mental illnesses. However, in most other cases, these illnesses are treated on an out-patient basis. The most important question that rises here is�why do we need to fight to get mental illnesses covered under Health Insurance. Why can�t they be considered as serious as a physical health condition?
There are various reasons behind mental health still being a taboo in India and this indirectly results in no cover for mental illnesses under various Health Insurance plans.
It�s so important for people to gossip about the mental health of someone and call them names, that they forget how negatively it can affect a person. If someone trusts you and shares something about their mental health, it automatically becomes your responsibility to keep that a secret. Unless you�re ready to commit to keeping their secrets safe, don�t get involved with them. But once they trust you, don�t let them down.

5 Things You Should Know About Health Savings Account Plans Must Read

Things You Should Know About Health Savings Account Plans Must Read: A health savings account plan offers lower premiums and lower taxes for many individuals.  Before switching to an HSA plan, however, one would be well advised to seek the counsel of an experienced benefits specialist who is familiar with insurance companies offering high deductible policies that qualify for HSA account participation.

 In some situations, the lower costs anticipated may not be realized, or may not be worth trade-offs necessary to achieve those savings.

1. An HSA plan can cut healthcare costs by an average of 40% for many people.
Nevertheless, some people will not realize any net savings. Those most likely to realize significant savings are people who pay all of their own health insurance premiums, such as the self-employed, who are relatively healthy with few medical expenses. 


2. You must have a properly qualified high health insurance policy in place first before
you can open a health savings account. One of the biggest misconceptions about HSA plans is that any insurance policy with a high deductible will qualify the policyholder to establish an HSA account. IRS regulations, however, are quite specific.  Not just any policy with a so-called "high deductible" will suffice.  It is important to be certain that you are insured under a properly qualified policy.  Your best bet is to work with a qualified and duly licensed health insurance broker who is experienced in marketing properly qualified HSA plans.

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3. Although HSA insurance premiums are low, they are not always as low as you might expect.
This happens for one main reason. Simply stated, the underlying insurance policy is just that�a health insurance policy.  Although it has a "high" deductible, as required by law, the insurance company still must compensate for the risk it is assuming over the deductible amount, which it does by charging premiums.  Many companies offer policies with �one deductible� that all family members contribute toward.  With those plans, it is not uncommon for premiums for a 5000 family deductible with 100% coverage after the deductible to be comparable to a 2500 "per person" deductible plan with 80/20 coverage after the deductible.
Lower premiums represent just one element of the lower net cost achieved with an HSA plan.  The low net cost of an HSA plan is achieved after factoring in the benefits of lower taxes, made possible by the tax-deductible contribution to the HSA account. Thus, if obtaining the lowest possible gross premium is your main concern, you may wish to consider a high deductible, non-HSA policy, especially if you do not see the benefit to contributing to a tax-deductible savings account.


4. You must be insurable in order to qualify for the HSA-qualified health insurance policy.
Because most people do not have a properly qualified high deductible insurance policy, they will need to switch insurance plans in order to become HSA-eligible. Unless coverage is being offered under small group reform laws (generally groups with 2-49 employees), the new high deductible policy will be individually underwritten by an insurance company.  This means that some "pre-existing" conditions may not be fully covered.  Alternatively, some companies may opt to cover certain "pre-existing" conditions in exchange for slightly higher premiums. Unfortunately, some health conditions simply render an individual uninsurable (examples: diabetes, chron's disease, heart attack, etc.).  Underwriting requirements vary by state, which is another reason to rely on an experienced health plan broker.
You should not switch to a HSA plan when the management of existing medical expenses is more important than saving up-front medical insurance premiums. Do not change health plans: in the middle of ongoing medical treatments; after a major health issue has been diagnosed; or if any family member is pregnant.
Generally, it is relatively hassle-free to qualify, i.e. no medical exams, etc. Most insurance companies offering HSA coverage will issue based on your application answers, perhaps accompanied by a follow-up telephone interview. In some cases, medical records may be requested, and companies always reserve the right to order a paramed exam. 

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5. An HSA offers your best chance to keep a lid on health insurance rate increases.
Make no mistake-you will have rate increases with your HSA insurance policy. Because an HSA qualified policy is still a health insurance policy at heart, there is no logical reason to presuppose that an HSA policy would be immune to rate increases required by an insurer to keep paying claims and stay in business. But what you can expect is that the actual dollar amount of any future rate increases will be substantially lower compared to traditional health insurance plans (regular PPO and HMO plans).  This is true because insurers base increases on percentages, and the same percentage of a lower base premium results in a lower dollar increase. It's not a perfect solution-but it is the most cost-efficient solution for many qualified people.

How to choose the best Health Insurance Plan for Senior Citizens?

Best Health Insurance for Senior Citizens: A senior citizen health insurance plan is designed to cater to the health-related needs of elderly people.  It serves as a financial guard against medical expenses that incur due to unforeseen medical emergencies. You only need to pay the premium each year to the insurer to get the sum insured which will meet high medical costs during hospitalization. This type of health plan can be availed by the ones who have acquired at least 60 years of age.

Choose the best Health Insurance Plan for Senior Citizens

Adequate sum insured: 

Due to ill health, senior citizens need frequent medical attention that increases medical bills. So when you are seeking a senior citizen health plan, it is essential to primarily assess the health condition of the person you are buying the plan and also consider the factor of health uncertainty while judging an adequate sum insured for a senior citizen. It is advisable to choose a right sum insured under the plan, considering health condition, treatment & surgery costs, medical inflation, etc.

Illnesses covered: 

People at an old age have higher chances to have some pre-existing illnesses. When going to buy a health plan for seniors, firstly you should get a medical screening to ascertain the illnesses they are suffering from and then check the number of illnesses that are covered under the health plan, you want to buy. Make sure the health plan you choose, offers coverage for all existing illnesses and major illnesses as well.

Age limit: 

Most of the insurers offer senior citizen health plan who are aged 61 years or above. Some insurance companies offer health plans for senior citizens aged up to 80 years. Some plans have restricted entry age and some plans put no age restriction for buying the health plan. It�s thus advisable to compare different health plans and choose the one which fulfills your criteria. You should choose a senior citizen health plan that offers coverage from your current age to the maximum number of years possible.

Renewal: 

For senior citizens, health policy renewal is a crucial factor that you should consider before buying. You need to check the age up to which the health plan you want to buy can be renewed. Different plans have different age limits for renewal. You need to choose the one, considering your age and health conditions. It�s advisable to pick a health plan that offers lifetime renewability, so you remain covered for your entire life.

Co-payment:

 It refers to a percentage of the claim amount that will be borne by the insured and the rest of the amount will be paid by the insurer. People usually opt for co-payment while buying the policy, as it will reduce the premium amount. However, with a co-payment clause, you might not get a complete coverage against specific illnesses.

Waiting period: 

Insurers usually offer coverage for pre-existing illnesses or other specified illnesses after some waiting period. When it comes to buying a health plan for senior citizens, you need to check the waiting period and pick a plan that has a lesser waiting period.

Read Also Tips To Choose The Best Health Insurance

Coverage under Senior Citizen Health Insurance:

In-patient hospitalization expenses: A senior citizen health plan offers coverage towards the medical expenses incurred upon hospitalization for more than 24 hours. It usually covers room rent, ICU charges, nursing, medical practitioner, surgical appliances, operation theater charges, etc.

Pre-hospitalization expenses: Expenses related to your medical treatment when incurred before the actual hospitalization is covered for 30 days to 60 days, as specified in the plan. It may include doctor�s visit, cost of medicines, laboratory tests, etc.

Post-hospitalization expenses: Expenses related to your medical treatment incurred after discharge from the hospital is covered for 60 days to 180 days, as specified in the plan. It usually includes follows up with doctor, medicines, diagnostic tests, etc.

Daycare procedures: Certain procedures/ treatments don�t require 24 hours of hospitalization because of technological innovation are also covered. Every insurer specifies the number of daycare treatments covered under the senior citizen health plan.

Domiciliary treatment: The medical treatment when taken at home under medical advice which otherwise requires hospitalization is covered under the senior citizen health plan.

Hospital daily cash: A fixed amount as hospital cash allowance is payable on a daily basis, depends on the policy terms. This cash benefit can be utilized to meet expenses that are not covered under the health plan.

Organ donor: Medical expenses incurred towards the treatment of the organ donor during an organ transplant are covered.

Ambulance cover: Expenses incurred towards ambulance service, when used to carry the insured to the hospital for hospitalization. The amount covered depends on the terms specified under the policy.

Tax Benefits under Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plan

Upon paying the premium amount under the senior citizen health plan, you can avail a tax deduction of Rs 50,000 (w.e.f 1st April 2018). Till the financial year 2017-18, this limit was Rs 30,000. If you are paying the premium for a senior citizen (yourself, spouse & parents), you are eligible to avail the tax benefit under section 80D of the Income Tax Act 1961.

Read Also How To Avoid Common Health Insurance Distress

Tips To Choose The Best Health Insurance

Tips To Choose The Best Health Insurance: Cheap is a very relative term, especially when it comes to Health Insurance. It�s no secret that hospitals today charge room tariffs that can make 5-star hotels seem like budget hotels in comparison! And, God forbid if a small surgery is involved, your purse will feel lighter by a neat lakh or two.

Medical costs have skyrocketed so much in the recent times that it won�t be a surprise if ISRO and other space research communities start considering space technology to be cheaper. Your only option against such meteoric inflation in healthcare expenses is a Health Insurance plan.

But, choosing the right plan is as important as getting one. So, how do you zero in on the best plan? Here are the questions you should be asking yourself.

Am I adequately covered?

Getting adequate coverage is the first thing you need to consider. As you know, the more the sum assured, the more the premium will be. However, paying a slightly higher premium is better than saving on premium but paying ten times more for hospitalisation expenses. Moreover, the premium paid for Health Insurance brings you tax benefits of up to Rs. 75,000. This will apply if you buy plans for the whole family, including your parents.

So, what is the ideal sum assured? There are several parameters to consider, but as a rule of thumb, if you are young and healthy, a sum assured of Rs.5 lakhs will be a good start. As you renew the policies, take advantage of the No Claim Bonus and increase your sum assured proportionately.

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Adequate cover and complete cover for your healthcare expenses are two different things. An optimum sum assured covers you adequately, whereas complete coverage includes other things that come within the ambit of medical expenses. This will include things like pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, hospital room charges, nursing expenses, ambulance charges, etc.Am I completely covered?

Check if the plan you choose covers many of the related expenses. It may provide sufficient coverage in terms of the amount of sum assured but may not provide for the right kind of expenses. Compare across plans to see what expenses are provided for, assuming the sum assured is the same.

Who is the best provider?

This is a million dollar question or rather a crorepati question. IRDA, insurance regulator in India, has made it mandatory to have uniformity in case of health policies. This makes it easy to choose between options in the market. Yet, there are several parameters to consider when you choose an insurance provider.

The Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR) of the company is an important parameter. This gives you an idea of the probability of your claims being approved by the insurance company when you file a claim.

Next is the list of network hospitals in which the insurance company offers the cashless facility. Having the option of cashless reimbursement can make all the difference between quick and easy settlements as opposed to the tedious process of paying the hospitalisation expenses yourself, then submitting all those bills to the insurance provider and then waiting for them to respond.

Finally, there can be slight variations in the premiums of different insurance companies, so do your research to identify providers with lower premiums and the best features.

There are too many complex plans. How do I choose?

Apart from the basic indemnity plans, there are some benefit plans that can potentially confuse buyers. They include surgical protection plans, cardiac care covers, cancer care cover etc. that offer a higher coverage for specified conditions. The premium of such plans will be lower; about one-third of an indemnity plan, but one can make the best use of them only if an expense related to those specific conditions arises.

For instance, since surgeries are the most money-draining part of medical treatments, getting a special cover for it and a lower overall premium is the right thing to do. But, if you decide to opt for them, take them in addition to a basic plan, as most of them might not cover other regular hospital expenses.

Should I go for any riders?

Riders are worth considering if you are likely to undergo any medical treatments. Maternity cover riders, pre-existing disease cover, and critical illness riders are three of the most popular riders in Health Insurance. While the first two can be opted for depending upon your specific condition, you can give the third one a miss if you have a high sum insured for your basic plan.

Disease-specific plans such as a diabetic care plan are an alternative to critical illness riders. But, they come with a higher premium and are not sold as standard covers. Therefore, they can be included as additional protection only if required.

Should I opt for cover for treatments abroad?

Many policies today provide cover for treatment coverage abroad. Coverage for treatments abroad will mean a higher premium. But remember, it is applicable only when you travel abroad. And moreover, in most cases, you could take a Travel Insurance policy which would cover your hospital expenses abroad. Therefore, you can save on premium cost.

Here�s a quick cheat-sheet for buying Health Insurance:

• Go for a basic indemnity policy first. Other plans such as critical illness and disease-specific plans can be your next level of protection.
• Read the policy inclusions and exclusions carefully.
• Check the individual expense limits for different heads like hospital room rent, doctor�s fee etc. to see what is covered.
• Find out if there are any treatment-specific caps that limit the amount you can claim for some treatments such as those for pre-existing diseases.
• Check for the portability of the plan � whether the policy allows changing the provider without losing continuity benefits.
• As you grow older or as the number of dependents increases, you may need to increase your sum assured.
• Most importantly, buy plans as early as possible to take advantage of low premiums.

How To Avoid Common Health Insurance Distress

How To Avoid Common Health Insurance Distress: A Health Insurance cover is meant to cover your medical treatment at the best of hospitals and keep you stress-free from the financial strain aspect. However, one may encounter some distress due to health insurance issues and such situations are difficult.

Let�s check out how you can avoid health insurance distress.

Not Getting Cashless Claim

People opt for a Health Insurance policy expecting they won�t be required to pay money under medical emergency. This being true to some extent, there are certain caveats attached to the cashless facility one should be aware of. You are allowed to claim cashless hospitalisation benefit if you get the treatment in the network hospital, which is mentioned in the policy document list.

Also, there are situations when the insurer may not be able to identify the insured on time, and the hospital may ask the insured to settle the bill from his/her own pocket. In this case, an exorbitant hospital bill can cause considerable stress.

To avoid such situation s, you must check whether the hospital is listed in the policy document for a cashless facility or not. It is always advisable to get a pre-approval from the insurance company to avoid any authorisation delay. Even after taking all precautions you are unable to avail a cashless facility shouldn�t be a big worry.

You can always get the money reimbursed by completing the procedure prescribed by the insurance company. Normally the money is reimbursed in 15 to 30 days of filing the request.

Premium Increase

The premium may increase due to change in the age slab or due to changes in the cost structure of the insurance company. After continuing the health policy for a long period if the insurance support arises but the premium has increased manifold, the cause of distress could considerably go up.

Normally, the insurance regulator restricts the insurance companies from spiking the insurance premium exorbitantly. However, even a moderate increase could be a burden on the insured person. In such a scenario, you can use the porting option and switch the policy to another insurance company which offers similar cover and charge a  lower premium. Normally, all the benefits such as no claim bonus and passed time to get cover for pre-existing diseases continue with the switched policy.

Also, Read Top 10 Factors Affecting Life Insurance Premium Costs

Change In Terms And Condition

Sometimes health insurance companies change the terms and conditions in their policy document. It may include or exclude particular disease from the list or add or remove a hospital from the network list.

If you find it difficult to accept the change in the terms and condition, then you can switch the insurance company by using the porting option. Sometimes, insurance companies include the cover disease s which were not allowed earlier, but at the same time increase the premium to that extent. In such a situation you must compare the policy once again with others available in the market and decide based on available merits and demerits.

Cover Not Allowed Due To Pre-existing Clause

Pre-existing ailments are not covered for a specified number of years. If the insured person forgets this clause, then they may need to pay all the treatment cost for such pre-existing diseases from their own pocket.

It is important that you clearly mention the pre-existing ailments at the time of purchasing the health policy. If you are buying health policy after an age of 45 years, then it is better to attach the health screening report with the application to avoid dispute in claim settlement in the future.

Paying From Pocket Despite Health Insurance Cover

Exclusion list may vary from one insurance company to another. If you have switched the insurance policy from one company to another through porting option, then your exclusion list may change as well. Suppose, your earlier insurance company may have allowed treatment of dental problem after a waiting period of 2 years, but after porting, the new insurance company may not allow dental treatment at all.

You must check the exclusion list before porting the policy and always check the exclusion list of the existing policy before you renew it.

Hence, performing due diligence before buying a health policy can help in reducing the chances of distress to minimal.

10 Simple Travel Health Insurance Tips

Travel health insurance helps the travelers to know better the insurance policy and to reduce the premium. If travelers know the policy better, they can often save money on travel insurance. Here are top simple travel health insurance tips travelers should know.

Tip1: Understanding Travel Health Insurance Policy First
Travelers should read travel insurance policy before purchasing any plan, and better understand the coverage the company has offered. Every policy has few limitations such as pre-existence health conditions and age limits which must be well known to travelers unless it could be a great problem.

Tip 2: Medical Assistance Services
When travelers are going to buy insurance policy, they should ask to the company if they have any assistance service for their clients. Experience shows that there are many assistance service companies which are disinterested to take to emergency calls to real doctors or nurse. But it�s not all the cases, there are some serious insurance companies which pay attention to their respected clients and provide assistance service. Though it is little bit expensive to receive calls from distance, but few companies take their responsibility because minutes can save lives.

Tip 3: Understand the Preexisting Condition
Travel health insurance policy has few terms and conditions and the travelers should understand the preexisting condition clause of policy. And check these terms and conditions apply since travelers� departure date, not while purchasing the plan. Suppose travelers buy an annual health insurance policy then these conditions apply to the departure date of every trip.

Tip 4: Buy Health Insurance That Cover Medical Conditions
Travelers who take medication will not congregate with the pre-existing clause and unfortunately you will not get any coverage for such conditions. So check the insurance policy and in case you do not understand compare among different agencies which offer health insurance plan compatible with your medication.

Tip5: Choose Affordable Deductible
Many travelers want to save money while purchasing insurance policy. However, there are various deductible choices in policy by which traveler can easily save money and has to provide fewer premiums.
So choose any deductable which only you can afford. While choosing plan you see there are few policies which have greater deductibles, do not fall into that trap because greater deductable means greater price.

Tip 6: Save Money In Multiple Trips
Generally insurance companies offer health insurance plan in different category such as single trip, multiple trips, individual trip, family or group plan etc., first determine that whether your trip is single or multiple in a year. If you are planning multiple trips then you need to buy annual plan rather than single plan. Annual insurance policy is comparatively less expensive, and you can save as much money as making another travel.

Tip 7: Save Money Even In Higher Age Band
All know that higher age people have to give higher premium and lower age people have to give lower amount, but there is little trick to get lower premium yet you are in higher age band. It seems if your birthday will place before your trip, you have to give extra 20% - 40% premium more than earlier, but if you purchase health insurance plan and leave your country before birthday, you can save significant amount of money which you have to pay after your birthday. Even you can save money by purchasing insurance policy before birthday with lower age band.

Tip 8: Follow Doctor�s recommendations
Many people often do not take drugs or medicine even their doctor recommends them because they think it might affect insurance policy. This practice is bad, though it is true but traveler should follow the doctor�s prescriptions because health is important than money. When doctor gives change in medicine, you should take unless the insurance company rejects your claim in the ground of unstable preexistence medical conditions. It would be better while getting an insurance plan provide details about your medical conditions and the medicine you are using.

Tip 9: Inform Your Insurance Company If Trip Plan Changes
Many people do not inform to their insurance agency when they change in insurance plan and the most mistakes are that they forget or intentionally do not inform their departure time and arrival time. This is the worst case and most important reason to get rejected their claim. Logically why any insurance company covers you if they do not know where you are and what you are doing. They simple void you policy. So inform as soon as you are planning to change your plan r any part the plan.

Tip 10: Show the Proofs of Departure and Arrival
Travel insurance companies sometimes check the proofs of your travel and sadly few people forget to keep record of their medical expenses and other costs and get rejected. There are few ways to keep record such as use credit card on the first day and last day of your trip. Some health insurance companies recommend using stamp on passport while departing from and arriving to your country.

These travel health insurance tips help travelers to purchase insurance policy properly, to get affordable health insurance, to know how to choose deductable which less premium and finally to know how to claim.

Tips to Choosing Health Insurance Options

Health Insurance is perhaps one of the many vital requirements in life today especially when you are living in a place where none is provided for you by your government. To be with the right health insurance is to be with a more secure life regardless of your age, gender or stature in life but it actually becomes a more perceive need if you are already a senior or with some particular medical condition. Choosing health insurance options may not be as easy as buying candy from a store, so to speak. Today, you will find several private insurers and they could present to you a variety of options which may not always be the right one for you. How you go about choosing, here are some tips.

Will It Cover Everything You Need?

Why would you buy a health insurance in the first place, if not for you to get covered for everything you �need�, right? Of the many health insurance options available in the market today it should be easier for you to find the one that covers for everything you need. You may want to consider looking into offers from smaller insurance companies who are most likely able to customize the health insurance according to your demands. In order to make sure that you have everything that is necessary covered, start with the most basic needs in illnesses, injuries, or any other medical services. Then level up as you go along. It should be nice if the insurer could sit down with you in discussing the plan you wish to avail of.

Would The Cost Be Just Right And Not Bring You To �Bankruptcy�?

Since you will be paying good money for the health insurance you would buy, you might as well make sure that it will be worth it. For the price to be just right, you should be able to establish the �worth� of the plan in accordance with the �inclusive�. Health insurance options can be tough on the pocket but if you will be covered for most anything you need and the payment scheme can be easy to meet, then there is no reason for you to consider it as an impractical choice. Try to work out a plan that would not get your pocket empty and be without any cash for other emergency expenses.

Is The Plan The Best Amongst The Ones You Have Reviewed?

Again, one should not forget that there is a plethora of health insurance options out there today and with the competition getting bigger, you are most likely to find competitive plans. For easier access on plans, you may want to consider using the web to search for as many of these options as you can and then make the selection after much consideration.

These health insurance options should work for you and not against you therefore you need to choose the right one for you. There is no telling when it should benefit you but surely it will anytime soon. Do not allow yourself to live without health insurance as this is a need these days.

Pet Insurance: What You Need to Know

Discover which pet health insurance plans are worth it to save money on dog surgery, cat vaccinations, pet medication and more

One minute, you and Rusty are playing fetch in the yard; the next, you hear a whimper and he's limping back to you. When you take him to the vet, you find out Rusty has a torn knee ligament�one of the most common orthopedic dog injuries. Healing it will take a $3,000 surgery. Talk about ouch.

Expensive surgeries, treatments, and prescriptions for dogs and cats are becoming more common�so much so that pet health insurance is a fast-growing market. And as new policy providers enter the marketplace, owners are gaining more freedom to personalize and prioritize.

The cost of a policy depends on everything from where you live to the amount of coverage you want to the age and breed of your furry friend�annual premiums for a 5-year-old Labrador can range anywhere from $200 to $1,000, for instance. But no matter how much you pay, you'll get more value today for your premium dollars than you did a decade ago, according to Dr. Wilkerson. Here, we break down the most significant new enhancements."Because there are more options available, you have a much better chance of finding a policy that covers what's important to you and your pet," says Frances Wilkerson, DVM, a Chicago-area veterinarian and the founder of PetInsuranceUniversity.com.

Flexible Spending

10 Years Ago: Payment was based on a schedule of benefits; that is, you'd be covered for up to a certain amount for a given procedure�say, $350 to de-quill your pup after a run-in with a porcupine�but you'd pay the remainder out of pocket, no matter how much the final price.

Today: Several companies have opted for reimbursement plans, which many owners find easier to navigate, with deductibles, co-payments, and adjustable limits (some as high as $20,000 annually). Most work on a percentage-based payment plan�for example, 80/20�so when that pup runs into the porcupine, your insurance pays for 80% of the total cost of his treatment, and you cover the remaining 20%. With so many plans out there, the percentage you pay is often your choice.

No Age Cutoffs

10 Years Ago: Once a cat or dog turned 8 years old, it was next to impossible to buy insurance for him.

Today: A few companies have no age limit at all, and the cutoff for others is into the double digits. Know that as your pet ages, policy prices can rise as much as 10% with each year (this usually translates into only a few more dollars each month).

No Breed Barriers

10 Years Ago: Insurers didn't cover conditions known to be common in certain breeds, such as $5,000 hip replacements for German shepherds, who frequently have hip problems.

Today: Several major plans cover hereditary conditions, as long as your pet's not showing symptoms when you first sign her up. For this reason, you might be asked to provide records from a recent checkup before being approved for a policy.

General insurance (UK)

This page sets out the value that actuaries can bring to general insurance.

General insurance actuaries help provide expertise in three main areas:

• Reserving (in reserving they apply statistical techniques to assess the likely outcome of general insurance liabilities, typically, and the provisions that are needed for reporting purposes)
• Rating (the pricing actuary assesses the frequency and average amount of claims to estimate premiums)
• Capital modelling (for capital modelling the actuary projects both the liability and assets of insurers to assess solvency and future capital needs).

General insurance or non-life insurance policies, including motor and household policies, provide payments depending on the loss from a particular financial event.  General insurance typically comprises any insurance that is not determined to be life insurance.  It is called property and casualty insurance in the U.S. and non-life insurance in Continental Europe.

In the UK, General insurance is broadly divided into two areas, personal lines and commercial lines.

Commercial lines products are usually designed for relatively large legal entities. These would include workers' comp (employers liability), public liability, product liability, commercial fleet and other general insurance products sold in a relatively standard fashion to many organisations. There are many companies that supply comprehensive commercial insurance packages for a wide range of different industries, including shops, restaurants and hotels.

Personal lines products are designed to be sold in large quantities. This would include motor insurance, household insurance, pet insurance, creditor insurance and others.

The London Market provides a focus for many insurance companies and syndicates operating under a Lloyd�s of Londonbanner to write large commercial risks such as supermarkets, football players and other very specific risks. It consists of a number of insurers, reinsurers, [P&I Clubs], brokers and other companies that are typically physically located in the City of London. Business is typically written through specialist brokers. The London Market also participates in personal lines and commercial lines, domestic and foreign, and provides reinsurance.

The statistics on the changing profile of our membership tell us that around 30% of our general insurance members live and work outside the UK.   As a result, the General Insurance Practice Executive Committee (PEC) is continually looking at what it can do to support our non UK members. 

Cheap Life Insurance Rates Online

You need to be well informed about this because some insurance companies that make monetary losses from some claims end up shifting that burden to the consumer. You must look for an affordable indemnity cover that will allow you to save some money. Requesting indemnity quotes by filling simple online indemnity questionnaires that are provided by different indemnity companies; you can find and compare indemnity rates online.

Following this simple way, you will be able to compare indemnity coverage and premium quotes from competing indemnity companies. This process can be done in 15 minutes or less and you don't even need to make a single call or being a part of the lengthy and time consuming meetings with indemnity agents. To find cheap indemnity rates online, you can also look into other non indemnity companies' sites that have the technology which will allow you to compare indemnity premium quotes from multiple competing indemnity companies in a few minutes by entering your information.

One of the best ways to find out the best rates over the net is to keep checking the quotes of various indemnity plans. This will help the customers get the quotes of their desired choice. The third party indemnity companies can also be consulted for a comparative analysis. Thus, it is very important to compare the indemnity quotes before buying an insurance scheme.

Given the current recession it is important to make sure to prioritize your money and compare insurance quotes online. A good place to state would be an online website that actually allows you to compare insurance quotes online for free.

Buying Life Insurance Tips

Life insurance serves as a protection if the insured dies. For example, if I was insured by an insurance product and die tomorrow, then the insurance companies will provide insurance money to people who I left behind.

The purpose is to take life insurance to cover the potential loss of income. If I as the backbone of the family died, the family I leave behind will lose sources of income. If I follow the life insurance program, so that my family would leave the insurance money that can be used as a substitute for the lost revenue, at least for a while.

Actually the rule choosing life insurance products are not much different from choosing another product:

* No purchase life insurance if not required; and
* If you need life insurance, buy life insurance that provides adequate protection.

From my brief survey to several friends and family members, virtually none of them are taking life insurance in accordance with the rules above. Most buying life insurance when not needed, and not take life insurance with a sufficient sum assured if needed.

Do not buy life insurance if not required

The main factors are buying life insurance dependents and obligations (e.g. debt). If someone does not have both so concerned not need life insurance.

Small children (or even newborn) do not need life insurance protection because it does not have any dependents. If the child dies, the family will grieve, but it will not adversely affect the financial condition of the family. On the contrary, precisely the family finances would improve because the number of dependents decreases. Buy life insurance child at this stage will only give free money to the insurance company.

People who already have money can become not need life insurance if you are concerned do not have dependents and do not have obligations. People without dependents and no liability to third parties do not need life insurance because if the person dies, no one feels lost revenue.

If the person is on the take-credit, consumer credit, especially now that the question already has an obligation. Thus, it is time he takes the life insurance (if credit is not equipped with credit insurance). If not, then he has the potential to incriminate relatives if something bad happened to her.

Parents of all children are independent and no longer have an obligation to the other party does not need life insurance. If the respective dies, her children will grieve, but no one will ever feel financially disadvantaged. In addition, if the parents are managing the funds properly, then the concerned should already have savings or investment return far greater value than the sum assured of life insurance.

If the parents are already having enough savings, he could cancel his life insurance before the time if the perceived value of insurance coverage is not proportional to the amount of savings. If he dies before the children independently, his children will still be a legacy in the form of these deposits.

If it does not have dependents and no longer in productive age, the elderly person needs life insurance is not, but the liquid funds in large numbers. Furthermore, in these conditions required that the product is exactly the opposite of life insurance, annuities i.e. If the life insurance provides protection if the insured dies too soon, annuities serve to provide protection if the insured is living too long. Pay life insurance premiums at this time could be a "financial disaster" for the required product is exactly the opposite of life insurance.

Get Cheap Car Insurance Rates

Chances are that if you are over 25 years of age you can get a pretty good discount on your car insurance. Auto insurance companies tend to give discounts to drivers over the age of 25 because they see them as more mature because of their experience behind the wheel.

However the best age group that gets excellent rates on auto insurance are senior citizens. Auto insurance companies consider people over 50 years of age as senior citizens. They get the best rates because they are less likely to get into auto accidents or get a speeding ticket.

If you want to get the best rates possible you should consider combining your home and auto insurance together. Auto insurance providers generally would give insurance discounts to individuals that combine their auto and home insurance together. This helps you save money and also helps you easily manage your bills.

Another way to get your car insurance rates cheaper is to go online. By going online you have the opportunity to get the best rates possible because you do not have to deal with agents trying to receive commission like those locally in your area. Generally the more information you give the car insurance companies online the more accurate your quotes will be.

Cheap Life Insurance Rates Online

You need to be well informed about this because some insurance companies that make monetary losses from some claims end up shifting that burden to the consumer. You must look for an affordable indemnity cover that will allow you to save some money. Requesting indemnity quotes by filling simple online indemnity questionnaires that are provided by different indemnity companies; you can find and compare indemnity rates online.

Following this simple way, you will be able to compare indemnity coverage and premium quotes from competing indemnity companies. This process can be done in 15 minutes or less and you don't even need to make a single call or being a part of the lengthy and time consuming meetings with indemnity agents. To find cheap indemnity rates online, you can also look into other non indemnity companies' sites that have the technology which will allow you to compare indemnity premium quotes from multiple competing indemnity companies in a few minutes by entering your information.

One of the best ways to find out the best rates over the net is to keep checking the quotes of various indemnity plans. This will help the customers get the quotes of their desired choice. The third party indemnity companies can also be consulted for a comparative analysis. Thus, it is very important to compare the indemnity quotes before buying an insurance scheme.

Given the current recession it is important to make sure to prioritize your money and compare insurance quotes online. A good place to state would be an online website that actually allows you to compare insurance quotes online for free.

Job in Insurance

Everybody needs money to their live in this world. Due to that we have to work in order to get money. Looking for a job seems not as easy as we imagine. Sometimes we get a job but it is not appropriate with the skill that we have. But insurance jobs uk has everything related to this problem, especially on job in insurance and recruitment. 

It can help job seekers to find a job, which is suitable with. There are many job insurance sectors that can be handled by Search Insurance for their solutions, such as Personal Lines, Commercial Insurance, Marine Insurance, Liability, Medical, Personal Accident Cover, Healthcare and Reinsurance.

With their variety of Consultant services, both for permanent and temporary job recruitment, this company becomes UK's largest database employers on full range of positions. Then their clients will be easily finding the best candidates. Because they have established specialist consultants, which are dedicated and experienced work on solid team for high quality and outstanding success.