Getting the best value for your insurance dollars requires a bit of research and decision making as we approach the 2015 health insurance open enrollment period. Keeping the following deadlines and figures in mind will help. Deadlines The open enrollment period for 2015 coverage in the individual health insurance market begins on November 15, 2014...
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Should You Buy Credit Card Insurance?
You open your credit card statement and find a “special offer” from your credit card issuer if you sign up for a “payment protection plan.” What do these plans cover, and do you need one? “Payment protection plan” is another name for credit insurance. You can buy four types of credit insurance: Credit life, which...
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What You Know about Disability Is Probably Wrong
As with many unpleasant things, people don’t like to think about becoming disabled. But the consequences of ignoring your risks could be serious. Take the following quiz to see how much you know about disability. A typical nonsmoking healthy female, age 35, has what percentage chance of becoming disabled for three months or more before...
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Health Insurance for College Students
Does Your Plan Make the Grade? The Affordable Care Act requires every non-institutionalized American citizen to have “essential minimum” health insurance, unless you qualify for an exemption. Being a college student does not count as an exemption! Here are things to consider if you have a child going away to college or boarding school. Student...
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How to File a Life Insurance Claim
If you are the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, how do you file a claim? First, you’ll need to obtain a copy of the death certificate. Most insurers will require a certified copy. You can get this from the funeral director. You’ll also need a claim form. Use the contact information on the life...
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Life Insurance: Not Your Father’s Investment
Many people think that when it comes to life insurance, they have only two choices: term or whole life. That’s not entirely true — today’s whole life insurance is a lot more flexible than your father’s life insurance policy. Read on to find out more about the different types of whole life insurance, and how...
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Anatomy of a Health Insurance Policy
How many people actually read their health insurance policy? Knowing what your policy covers can help you better plan your healthcare expenditures, and help you avoid unpleasant surprises if you file a claim. Although health insurance policies vary from insurer to insurer, and even within insurance companies, most share a basic structure. In the typical...
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Old Life Insurance Policies — Trash or Treasure?
If you find an old life insurance policy stuffed away in the attic, you may be tempted to treat it like Confederate money. An interesting artifact, but practically worthless. But not so fast.You can file a claim on a life insurance policy many years after the insured has died. Unlike most other insurance policies, life...
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How Your Credit Score Affects Insurance Costs
With the recession of the past few years, many individuals’ credit scores have taken a hit. In addition to affecting your ability to get a mortgage, loan or credit card, your credit score can also affect how much you’ll pay for your insurance. Credit scores range from a low of 330 to a high of...
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If You Have a Boat Do You Need Boat Insurance?
What’s the difference between a boat and a yacht*? If you know the answer, you probably need more coverage than just the standard homeowners policy can provide. Boating is a great family activity, but it does involve risks: in 2008 (the last year for which complete data were available at press time), the Coast Guard...
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