November 16th, 2007
If you own a dog, you could see your homeowners insurance rates rise, or your insurance decline, based on the breed of dog you have (you know, one of the “dangerous” ones: pit bulls, Rottweilers). Never mind the obedience titles those breeds earn. The industry’s promulgation of urban myths about the danger of certain breeds is an effort to gain control of a market for profit.
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November 16th, 2007
If you’re starting a business from home, don’t assume your homeowners (or renters) coverage is sufficient to cover any mishaps you might have. Properly insuring your homebased business is crucial to protecting both your business and your home.
Beth Parquette, president of Parquette-Clement Insurance Services, an insurance agency in North Port, Florida, says, “A homebased business needs all the same insurance [as] a retail space, a warehouse or any place of business.” While most homeowners policies cover a limited amount of business equipment, she says, it’s likely that what you have is worth more than your policy’s limits.
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November 15th, 2007
Safety-minded drivers now have many more vehicles to choose from.
Thirty-four vehicles received the highest safety rating in the latest crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, up from 13 a year ago. Asian car makers had the largest number of top-rated vehicles, with 17. U.S. car makers had six vehicles on the list, while Germany and Sweden had six and five, respectively.
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November 15th, 2007
Make sure to check your child’s Christmas list before handing it over to Santa.
W.A.T.C.H. (World Against Toys Causing Harm) has created a list of this year’s top 10 toys that have the most potential to cause injuries or death… See the list here…
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November 14th, 2007
In the midst of the worst drought in Georgia’s history, it can be difficult to think of problems caused by water. However, having lived in the Atlanta area for 35 years, I have seen other periods of drought, and they do finally come to an end. On top of that when the rain finally comes, along with it comes an abundance of new foundation problems. The following is an explanation of why this is true.
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November 14th, 2007
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - For years, if an employer offered health insurance to a worker, the worker generally took it.
Now some workers are for the first time entertaining another option: private health insurance. Some employees, particularly those at smaller companies, are finding it’s cheaper to get spouses and children covered by private policies than under their employers’ plans.
A decade of inflation-topping health-care cost increases and the fact that employees are now picking up a larger slice of the bill through higher premiums and greater out-of-pocket expenses are behind the trend.
“If you are healthy, there are powerful economic incentives to see if you can strike a better deal on your own,” says Alwyn Cassil, a spokeswoman for the Center for Studying Health System Change.
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November 13th, 2007
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12 — Daniel and Doris Okonsky, whose custom-built 6,500-square-foot house was destroyed in the recent wildfires in Southern California, have been poring over receipts and family photos to estimate the damage.
But like many of the 14,000 homeowners who suffered losses, the Okonskys are discovering that the insurance on their hilltop home in San Diego County might not be enough to rebuild it.
“I have about $1.5 million coverage for dwelling only,” Mr. Okonsky
said, or the equivalent of about $230 per square foot of construction.
“For custom-home construction I am getting prices like $350 up to $500
per square foot.” Read more…
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November 13th, 2007
The percentage of people with health insurance through their employers — traditionally the way most people get coverage — is continuing to shrink, raising anxiety among workers and invigorating a debate about whether insurance should be tied to jobs.
Many of those who get their coverage through their jobs are becoming less secure that those benefits will always be there. Read more…
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November 12th, 2007
For many people, long-term care insurance provides comforting assurance that they will be taken care of if their health falters. But a substantial percentage of older applicants find themselves rejected, and that can be galling.
Take Joan Bennett Clancy, who lives in suburban Maryland. At 71, Clancy is an active and healthy former nurse. She takes a few medications, but the last surgery she had was when she was in her 40s. “I’m very active. I mow my own lawn, I cut down my trees, and I paint my house,” she said. She also skis, swims and walks, so Clancy was surprised when she was rejected for long-term care.
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November 12th, 2007
Do you own a salvaged or rebuilt automobile? If so, is that automobile insured? If so, does your automobile insurance provider know the vehicle is salvaged or rebuilt?
If they do not know, your insurance will not cover the full replacement cost of the vehicle if it has been totaled in an accident. This situation is termed “diminished value” and refers to vehicles that have been rebuilt or salvaged due to an accident. These vehicles have diminished value because when compared to like vehicles that have not been in any form of accident, the market will pay less for them.
Most people would never know that a vehicle had been rebuilt after an accident. Mechanics and auto re builders are so skilled at what they do, the naked eye of most consumers would never know that a vehicle had been rebuilt. However, the title gives it away. Unfortunately, many people never see the title until after the vehicle has been bought.
So, when you insure a salvaged vehicle, make sure your insurance quote includes the rebuilt information so you do not find out the hard way. Insurance companies will only pay out about half the estimated replacement cost of a salvaged vehicle which can add up to thousands of dollars.
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