Tuesday, February 25, 2025
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John Stewart

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Purchasing maternity insurance has to be done before you get pregnant.  It is one of those times of your life when you want to plan ahead of time to make sure you get the optimum maternity benefits for you.

If you are already pregnant there are no plans that will cover the birth of your baby or pay any benefits towards costs related to the pregnancy. There are a few plans that will accept an application if you are already pregnant. However, if accepted on one of these plans the insurance company would not cover anything related to the pregnancy. If you are already pregnant you may want to check with your state. There is a possibility that you may qualify for some state assisted program.

Yes, getting the right insurance can be confusing.  But by asking the three simple questions below of your insurance broker or insurance company, you can be assured that you are doing all you can to cover not only your health, but the health of your newborn.

1. Is there a waiting period before maternity benefits are covered?

 Most plans require you to have insurance coverage for at least 12 months before any maternity benefits would be included; this applies to domestic as well as international plans.  There are a few plans that will pay maternity benefits after ten months of continuous coverage, but benefits for births in the eleventh and twelfth months will generally be reduced, usually by fifty percent.

2. How much maternity coverage do I want?

Some plans cover the full cost of maternity, while other cover a percentage of the cost and still others pay only a set amount toward the cost of maternity.

3. Will my newborn be covered?

A plan that allows newborns to be automatically accepted for coverage is a great benefit. Usually these plans require that an application for the baby be submitted within 31 days after the birth. If the insurance company does not receive the application for the baby within this time frame they have the option to require the baby to go through underwriting and the child may or may not be accepted for coverage depending on its medical history. The premium with these types of plans is higher, but one of the great benefits is that the newborn is automatically accepted, even if there are medical issues.

Another type of coverage automatically accepts the newborn, but the insurance company has the option to place riders on certain medical conditions, which means they may not cover any medical issues your newborn may have.

Then there are the plans that do not allow your newborn to be automatically accepted. These plans require you to submit an application for your newborn and they may or may not be accepted for coverage depending on their medical history.

Source by Nelma Maxwell

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Don’t people who are constantly gloating about how cheap they managed to buy this, that or the other just make you sick? They’re the poster children for the auto insurance industry-drivers that are paying rock bottom rates for their coverage. These are America’s most hated consumers, and the country’s most valuable teachers. Why?

Because they can teach you how to haggle down your auto insurance rates.

Wait. You can haggle about your auto insurance rates? Why didn’t anyone mention this before?!?! Well, see, you have to look at the broad definition of the word “haggle” here. This isn’t one of those situations where you’re going to be able to call up a couple of carriers and get a collection of auto insurance quotes, then say, “No, I don’t want to pay that much. But I’ll give you this much.”

You’re going to be quickly introduced to the multiple ways you can be hung up on if you even try.

Haggling about your auto insurance rates is more a matter of knowing what can save you money on your coverage and acting on it. You see, when you first buy an insurance policy you usually get the short story about your rates. They’ll ask about the distance you drive and what, exactly, you use your car for. Agents have access to a database that shows them the manufacturer’s safety features, and they’ll confirm those with you. They’ll get your address and take a look at your driving record, then they tell you how much your insurance is going to cost.

This is all well and good, but it definitely doesn’t cover everything! For example, did you know that engineers and teachers are statistically less likely to be involved in car accidents each year and, as a result, pay less for their coverage? Or that you can install a GPS locator system or fuel switch and knock 10% off your coverage in the blink of an eye? These are questions that your agent isn’t going to ask, and if you don’t let them know you’re going to end up paying way too much for your insurance!

So what else can save you money on your insurance?

1)      Your job.

2)      Your location.

3)      What kind of car you have.

4)      How high your deductibles are.

5)      How much coverage you have.

6)      Whether you carry multiple policies with that company (for example, insuring your home and your car with the same provider).

7)      Your age.

8)      Where you park your car at night. (Do you have a garage? Knock off some more money, because you’re seriously knocking down the chances that your car will be stolen or vandalized.)

It’s amazing what can help you save money on auto insurance these days, and as long as you know that you’re going to be in a prime position to get a great deal-and be King of the Lab when you’re talking about your insurance rates.

Source by Anthony Peck

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Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained following a car accident. For those who suffer the injury, everyday tasks can be turned into an uncomfortable, often painful activity. For people in this situation, making a whiplash injury claim is something to be considered.

The most common cause of whiplash is from when a car or another vehicle hits the back of yours when you are driving. The sudden force of being thrown forwards in your seat can put sudden strain on the neck, shoulder and back muscles, causing them to pull violently.

Symptoms of a whiplash injury are not always immediate. They can also last for differing periods of time depending on the ferocity of the accident. As well as this, no two people are the same; some people can handle injury in different ways to others due to their individual neck muscles and pain thresholds.

The person who hit you from behind is always liable for the accident, and therefore if you have been in this situation and are injured from it, you are generally able to make a whiplash injury claim against them.

Whiplash Claims Company – What can they do for me?

A whiplash claims company has the experience of helping people make a whiplash injury claim. Rather than going through a solicitor directly, they will know exactly who the best legal representative is to secure the full amount of compensation in relation to your injury.

When you call a whiplash claims company it would be if you had all the relevant details to hand; most importantly the name, address and contact information of the person who caused the car accident. This way when these details are passed onto a whiplash claims solicitor, the case will be able to progress through the stages to your eventual whiplash injury compensation much quicker.

A solicitor will be your legal representative throughout the period of you claim, and will be the one in direct contact with the third party and their insurers. They will know the correct processes to making a successful whiplash injury claim.

Compensation can’t take physical pain away but it can help pay for time that you’ve had to take off work, any medical treatment you may need as a result of your accident, or any further expenses incurred. Making sure you claim is important, as it can have a positive impact on your quality of life.

Source by Steve Hoyle

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As of October 1, 2007, a person convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) is required to maintain increased auto insurance liability limits in the amount of 100/300/50.  The amount indicated represents liability coverage of $100,000 per person for bodily injury or death, $300,000 total for any one accident for bodily injury or death and $50,000 of property damage liability for any one accident.  A combined single limit of liability in the amount of $350,000 for bodily injury, death and property damage in any one accident will also satisfy the Fr-44 requirement.  A reinstatement fee of $150, $250, or $500 (1st, 2nd, 3rd offense) will be required for license reinstatement.  If the person convicted of DUI had the higher liability limits at the time of the offense than no reinstatement fee will apply.    Higher liability limits, as indicated on the form Fr-44, will be required for a period of 3 years.

Fr-44 forms are submitted to Florida’s Bureau of Financial Responsibility by insurance companies on behalf of the policyholder.  Failure to maintain the Fr-44 requirement will result in driver’s license and vehicle registration suspensions.  Insurance companies are required to notify the Bureau of Financial Responsibly of cancelation of insurance by submitting form Fr-46 to the bureau.  Florida Statue 324.023 is the specific law that requires the higher liability limits for persons convicted of DUI.  Prior to its enactment, a person convicted of a DUI was required to maintain liability limits of 10/20/10, or a combined single liability limit of 30,000.  Previously, proof of these liability limits were submitted to the Bureau on form Sr-22.  The Sr-22 form is still in use to provide evidence of liability insurance for other types of convictions.

Source by Clifford Schimek

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Many people dream about lottery winnings and how they will spend their mountain of cash. Although winning a fortune could release you from financial problems, it could bring a new host of problems; particularly if you owe back taxes or have outstanding creditor liens or judgments.

One of the most prevalent problems with lottery winnings is most of the winners possess little money sense. Financial experts claim the majority of jackpot winners are broke within two years. Instead of investing their windfall, lottery winners often go on mega spending sprees and purchase multiple homes, fancy cars, glittering jewels and living the life of jet setters.

Another problem with winning jackpots is taxes. Lottery winnings are taxed at both state and local levels. Depending on the amount of winnings and state of residence, taxes could amount to 50-percent or more of total winnings. Individuals who opt for a lump sum payment will receive significantly less money than those who select annual installments.

Mega million and Powerball winnings can be paid in yearly installments through annuity payments. Annuity payments typically extend for twenty years and are guaranteed through a designated life insurance company. When individuals accept structured settlement annuity payments their lottery winnings usually fall into a lower tax bracket. This option allows winners to receive larger annual payments assessed at a lower tax rate.

Individuals who elect a lump sum cash payment will receive about 65-percent of total winnings. For example, when a person wins $1 million Powerball jackpot they will receive around $650,000. However, taxes are assessed on the full $1 million; making the final payout about $325,000.

Individuals who elect structured settlement payments would receive approximately $40,000 per year against the $1 million lottery winnings. Depending on the individual’s tax rate, they would receive between $20,000 and $30,000 per year. The overall after-tax payout would range between $400,000 and $600,000. Actual lottery payouts vary depending on personal tax status and state lottery regulations.

Individuals who invest lottery winnings have the potential to double or triple winnings. Instead of wasting money on material items consider investing in real estate, stocks, bonds, or cash flow notes. If you have always dreamed of starting your own business, use lottery winnings to build a solid foundation.

When receiving lottery winning installment payments make certain to place a minimum of 10-percent in an interest-bearing savings or money market account, or invest in savings bonds or certificates of deposit.

There is no doubt lottery winnings can provide financial freedom. In order to maintain that freedom individuals need to embark on careful planning and investing strategies that can minimize tax consequences. Individuals who win large sums of money through lotteries should organize a financial team consisting of a financial planner, tax accountant and lawyer.

Several investment options exist for capitalizing on lottery winnings. Wouldn’t you rather build a strong investment portfolio instead of wasting your financial windfall on materialistic things you really don’t need? Don’t become a lottery statistic. Learn to invest and allow your newfound money to generate more money!

Source by Simon Volkov

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Damage assessment is a critical part in reclaiming and restoring as much of your property as possible. The initial damage assessment should be performed by a trained restoration professional after you have your property protected and secured. Having the damage assessment completed by a professional will assist your insurance adjuster to get the full picture as to the extent of the water damage inflicted on your home and personal property and will speed up the processing of the insurance claim. It will also help a professional restoration crew formulate a plan to make cleanup go as quickly as possible.

The damage assessor will begin the assessment by looking over the exterior of the house. They will check to see if any water damage has occurred to the roof, gutters, chimney, exterior walls, windows, siding, and will inspect the surrounding areas for any water damage. If there is any evidence of exterior or structural water damage, it will be annotated on the inspector’s report. Next, they will move inside to look over the interior of the home. The interior will be checked from the attic to the basement, paying close attention to possible structural problems and electrical wiring damaged by the water. Some damage assessors will check the interior of the walls for moisture contained within the walls, and ensure other plumbing fixtures were not effected by the water damage. After all interior water damage concerns have been addressed and logged into the damage assessor’s report, they will begin going through your personal property to ascertain the extent of water damage.

You should make a list of all personal property items that you will be claiming on your insurance claim, and documenting all of the personal property damage with pictures is highly recommended. The pictures of you damaged property will help support your insurance claim, and you will have this documentation on your side in case of debate. Add the list of damaged and salvageable personal property to the damage assessor’s report and send copies to the insurance company, and the professional restoration company to assist in forming a cleanup plan.

Source by Chris

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The necessity of dental insurance for seniors is evident as dental health always deteriorates with age. Whether you are planning for yourself or you are planning for an elderly member of your family you must remember that the anthem of good health cannot be sung if a proper dental insurance plan is not undertaken.

Planning the dental insurance is an important aspect of retirement planning. Taking proper dental care is important for maintaining overall health conditions for the senior. For instance, do you know that by taking care of teeth you are actually taking care of other internal vital organs such as the heart? Several companies offer dental insurance services for seniors and there are discount offers too. You just need to have the right vision to plan your insurance from beforehand. If you are planning the insurance plan for an elderly member of your family, then too you should have the right vision to plan a insurance that will be beneficial for the elderly member of your family.

The plan should include all the aspects of dental care services like dental x ray, fillings and the other aspects. For finding the right plan, consult your dentist to know which plan will suit the elderly member of the family. If you are planning for yourself, then you can consider joining retirement organizations like the American Association of Retired Persons.

You should do some preliminary research on insurance plans. Look for discount rates and allowances that are included in the dental health coverage.

Source by Erik G Orozco

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Many people think that personal injury compensation claims are normally made because someone tripped in the street, or because they were hit by another car and sustained whiplash. But there are many different types of accident which could lead to a claim here are some of the most common types.

Accidents at Work

Office Accidents while an office might seem like one of the safest possible places to be, accidents can happen. These can include repetitive strain injury (RSI) from typing in an ergonomically undesirable environment, or an incident such as tripping over a wire, or slipping on a wet surface.

Industrial Accidents diseases such as industrial deafness and asbestosis are often thought of as industrial accidents, because they tend to occur as a result of working in industrial workplaces.

Factory Accidents these can include incidents such as chemical spills but may also relate to day-to-day exercises which lead to RSI-related problems, like the use of vibrating machinery in a factory environment causing vibration white finger.

Construction Accidents construction sites can be dangerous places, and injuries can range from those caused by faulty equipment to straining the body with very demanding physical work.

Bullying in the Workplace Where bullying leads to psychological stress or problems with health, it may be pertinent to claim compensation from the employer.

Car Accidents

Car Accidents and Whiplash whiplash is the most common type of car accident claim, it occurs when the head is jolted backwards and forwards at high speed during impact. However, any other injuries from car accidents can be claimed for, as well, provided the other driver was at fault.

Motorcycle Accidents motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable on the roads, as there is less in between their own bodies and the surrounding environment, making them vulnerable to very serious injuries.

Holiday Accidents

Accidents Abroad where accidents happen abroad, there are slightly different rules, as the claim tends to be subject to the laws of the country in which it occurred.

Holiday Food Poisoning if food poisoning happens abroad, it is important to be able to determine where it happened, as you may have eaten out in a number of different places.

Car Accidents Abroad as long as the accident happened in Europe, it should be relatively easy to claim compensation from the other drivers insurance company, provided the accident was their fault.

Slip, Trip and Falling Accidents

Slipped whilst Shopping if a shop owner or manager has failed in their duty of care towards their customers, and this has led to them slipping, they may be able to claim compensation.

Tripped on a Pavement councils are often guilty of failing to mend faults in the pavements, and injured members of the public will sometimes be able to claim if they were badly injured when tripping.

Military Accidents

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) military accidents which could have been prevented can often lead to successful compensation claims. The psychological injury PTSD is one condition which may be claimed for in a military compensation claim, along with other injuries.

Fatal Accidents

Sometimes, tragically, an accident will lead to a fatality, and in these cases the compensation will go to the family or other dependents of the deceased.

Source by Jessica A Parker

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With the increase in the rate of crime and terrorism, most of the household owners and even business owners are worried about their safety. The best possible way to get rid of this stressful situation is by availing reliable Security Sydneyservices. Below are discussed some of the steps by which you can easily start a company providing reliable Party Security Melbourneservices to the people of the specific city.

1.      Get the required training

The first and foremost important step is to get enrolled in a security guard training course to avail the required certification. The Security training course will also help you to gain information about the convenient way to handle stressful situations in extreme conditions. Besides this, you will be able to learn about the unique way to carry arms and various other tools in order to prevent crime in a smart way. It will always be wise to avail the training course from a company which is certified by the licensing authority of the state.

2.      Determine from where to get license

This is also a major point that you should analyze before starting a company providing highly trained Security Guards Melbourneto the business houses and even household owners. Try to gain detail information about the best procedure and even the documents required to avail the license from the specific licensing authority.

3.      Get enrolled in physical training camps

It will certainly be wise to get enrolled in physical training camps in order to enhance your stamina and even ability to face any sort of difficult situations in the best possible way.

4.      Ensure to get an experience

This is certainly a smart way to get success in this line of business in the best possible way. Make sure to work with some reputed companies providing reliable Party Securityservices in the specific city. You must get at least one year of experience in order to become aware about the challenges that need to be faced in this specific field.

5.      Build your head quarter in a prime location

It will certainly be wise to build corporate office in one of the prime locations of the city. This will help you in promoting Securityservices in the best possible way.

6.      Promote your service

It will certainly be wise for you to promote the services of your company in a smart way. It will be wise for you to make people aware about the advantages of availing these valuable services.

7.      Hire highly trained security guards

It will certainly be wise for you to hire Security Guardswho are highly trained and are even aware about the best possible way to face various challenges in this field.

8.      Get liability insurance coverage

It will certainly be wise to avail liability insurance coverage in order to recover huge financial loss of your client that may happen during a specific operation.

Ensure to bid on various contracts in a smart way and even provide reliable services in order to gain success in this specific professional field in the best possible way.

About the Author: Lachlan Shenton is a retired security personal who wants share vital points to start a Security Sydneycompany and thereby provide reliable Party Security Melbourneservices and trained Security Guards Melbourne.

Source by Aidan Leonski

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Practitioners of health care in the 19th Century focused on providing care that was generally based on a minimum of causative information. Doctors in 1800 did not have X-rays to help them see inside the body. X-Rays were not discovered until 1895 and the use of them in medicine developed almost immediately to provide one of the first true diagnostic tools. 19th Century health care had very few diagnostic tools. Most 19th Century medical care practices relied almost exclusively on the cataloguing of the symptoms and history of the outcome of similar ailments. 19th Century health may have included doctors care, a visit to an apothecary or if you were very ill and in a hospital. However, the prognosis of all three choices was not typically very good.

Doctors And Hospitals In 1800

Disinfectant was not used in hospitals until the 1870s. In fact, hospitals were very unsanitary until Joseph Lister discovered that the use of carbolic acid aided in reducing the number of infections during operations. 19th Century medical care was a hit or miss adventure, as was going into the hospital. In early hospitals, “curing” a patient did not always mean making them better. Curing usually meant washing, feeding, comforting, or taking care of them while they were sick. Hospitals were and still are unsanitary places in general.

The biggest change in the benefits of hospitals did not occur until penicillin was discovered purely by chance in 1929. Sir Alexander Fleming noticed a mold had developed on a culture plate he had forgetfully left under a microscope. Where the new penicillin mold had grown, the bacteria around it died. Only at this point did the 19th Century health practices really move into 20th century.

19th Century health was very hard on those who were operated on. In fact, the word brutal might be better. It was not until 1846 when an American dentist, William Thomas Green, used ether on a patient while extracting a tooth and the news got out about its success. The new idea of putting the patient to sleep during the operation really caught on.

Medicine

Today all medicine is supposed to be focused on maintaining, or improving the bodies’ functions and improving the general well-being of the body and all of its complex systems. As 19th Century health care often did not have much basis for a treatment program, it attempted to provide treatments not just hopefully to ease the symptoms or the immediate problem, but also just to make you feel better.

However, some of these medicines were simply not helpful at all. For many, 19th Century health care simply meant a trip to the apothecary to get some medicinal herb or potion. Of course some of the natural remedies were actually medicinal, but an alchemist was not, and is typically still not, a real doctor and sometimes the remedy killed, not healed. By the end of the century the practices of 19th Century medical industry had modernized and the practicing and trained doctor was now at the center of the provision of good care.

Source by Roland Jefferson III

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There are many different types of policy you can buy when insuring your vehicle. Because of the rapidly rising cost of the premiums, many more people are driving either underinsured or uninsured. It’s therefore wise to add the relevant coverage. In most clauses you can expect to see a promise to pay the damages for bodily injury or property damage which a covered person can recover from whoever owns or drives an uninsured motor vehicle. For these purposes, a “covered person” is you, a family member or anyone else inside your vehicle when the accident occurs. If you have the right to sue the owner or driver of the other vehicle, your own insurance company will pay the damages you recover (assuming that owner or driver does not have the money to pay you in full). The key consideration is the limit on the amount you can recover. All insurers put a limit on liability. This is usually a maximum and a provision to prevent you from being paid twice. So, if there’s another possible claim you could make under a workers’ compensation law or something similar, you must use that remedy first and only claim the additional amount from your own insurer. Many people think the maximum limits on uninsured and other policies are inadequate and so buy an umbrella policy. As in the case of rain, this tops up their personal coverage. This is a two-way street. It can be a financial life-saver if your policy limits will force you to use your own savings to pay some of your medical expenses. Equally, it will protect your assets if a court orders you to pay damages exceeding your conventional policy limits to a person you injured. This brings us to a new case in Texas where Sandra Gervais Laine sued Farmers. The facts are simple. Ms Laine was driving her mother home when a drunken, uninsured driver crashed into her car and killed her mother. She had an uninsured policy limited to $250,000 and an umbrella policy adding $1 million. A jury awarded Ms Laine damages of $175,000 for the wrongful death claim and exemplary damages of $1.5 million for causing the death of her mother while drunk. You might think this looks good for Farmers making a total payment of $1.25 million. Except that, under Texas law, there’s a fixed legal principle. An insured cannot recover from his or her own insurance company the exemplary damages awarded against another driver. So the most Ms Laine could recover was $175,000. The moral of this case is a hard truth. Everyone is assumed to know the law. So even if you read and understand the terms in the different policies offered through the auto insurance quotes, you can still be caught out because you do not know the law of your own state. For most people, it’s not economic to take legal advice on all the different policies before deciding which to buy. Even if you could afford it, just how much of the law of insurance are you supposed to learn before you can make an informed decision? This leaves you with little real choice. When you receive the auto insurance quotes, read as much as you can. If there’s anything looking important you do not understand, ask the insurance company what it means. Before you sign up, the companies are always helpful. Get as much as you can clear before you sign. It’s usually too late to ask when a claim is being made.

Source by David Mayer

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Business finance is one of the most important aspects of running and maintaining a business. Finances dictate the success or failure of a business. If a business owner does not properly maintain their business finances then they will soon see problems arise. Business finance is something that every business owner must deal with and understand.

Part of business finance is setting up proper cash flow. A business owner needs to clearly define their accounts receivable and accounts payable. They need to maintain a steady and balanced cash flow at all times. This means they must never let your accounts payable exceed their accounts receivable in any given month.

A business owner must also carefully manage their debt. They should never let their debt get too high or out of control. They should maintain regular payment schedules to ensure they do not fall behind on repaying any debt.

Keeping clear and concise records is extremely important to keeping business finance under control. A business owner should either hire a professional or use some type of bookkeeping computer software to maintain accounting records.

It is important for a business owner to maintain a business budget, much like they would for their household. This will help them ensure they are keeping track of all the money coming in and going out of the business. This is a good method to avoid getting too much debt.

Proper record keeping can also help out should the business owner need to get a loan. Lenders prefer to have records to refer to when making a decision on a loan, especially for a business. Businesses are seen as risky because they can easily fail. Lenders like to see proof that they business is doing well or at least a forecast that shows significant proof the business will do well. This is what good record keeping does.

Business finance is something many people do not think too much about when starting a business. This is why so many businesses fail. When a business is just starting up lenders like to see a good business plan in place, including a financial plan. This shows the business owner is really understanding all that is involved with taking a business successful.

Every business owner should have their business finances in mind at all times. Money is the biggest indicator of success in business, so it makes sense for that to be one of the top priorities of a business owner. For proper business finance a business owner should maintain records for all of the money going in and coming out of the business. They should track all debts and money owed to the business, as well. By practicing good business finance, a business owner is going to be one step closer to ensuring their business succeeds.

Source by James Copper

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What happens when you happen to drop your cell phone into a trough of water? This incident would mean the end of the road for many cell phone owners but not those who might have been smart or lucky enough to have taken a cell phone insurance cover from go-tronics.

Even most full time cell phone repairers dread the thought of repairing water damaged cell phone due to the difficulty of the task. To the cell phone owner, there is always more to the cell phone than just the value of the cell phone at the time of purchase. For starters, too much information may be stored in the apparently dead cell phone and retrieving the data could be the most worrying task for the client depending on the importance of the data. Getting a cell phone insurance cover that can help you recover such data even when the cell phone has been water damaged is the most brilliant idea to any water damaged cell phone owner.

The importance of data cannot by any standards be underestimated and most cell phone insurance companies do not include data recovery in their cell phone insurance packages. For a person who has been transacting some business with a cell phone for some time, in many cases, the cell phone acts as a diary as well as mail and information bank from where you have the latest contact list in addition to shortcuts and names of frequently contacted people. Loosing the information simply for the reason that the cell phone insurance company that covers your cell phone does not include the data recovery in their cell phone insurance cover would be a major blow and such misgivings must be avoided at all costs.

The cell phone insurance cover from go-tronics includes the water damaged phones as well as the data recovery giving any cell phone insurance the confidence that your contacts and latest details stored in the cell phone will not disappear and leave you making frantic efforts to retrace your contacts and their latest transactions. This important move could save the cell phone insurance cover holder from go-tronics a lot of trouble that other cell phone insurance cover holders from other companies will have to go through after loosing their cell phone to water damage.

The cost that you could incur trying to recover the lost data manually by either contacting the sources from where you got it or reconstructing them incase they are documents not to mention pictures and videos that may have been captured at some specific occasions cannot be estimated. In reality, some of the data cannot be retraced unless by recovering the data from the damaged phone. It is very much advisable to get a cell phone insurance cover that will include the data recovery even if it means an extra cost in premiums.

Source by webinxs14

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Will I have to go to probate court? When is probate required? These are common questions people have when someone passes away. Probate laws vary from state to state so it is always a good idea to consult with probate attorneys about whether or not you need to attend probate court. But here is some basic information to help you determine if probate is required.

What is Probate?

In short, probate is the transfer of person’s assets after they die. Probate is the legal process of distributing the assets and estate of a deceased person. This includes resolving all issues of probate property like taxes, insurance, title, and paying creditors for any outstanding money owed by the deceased. Probate is usually applied to large estates or significant sums of money. Assets eligible for probate varies from state to state, country to country. You have to check for specific probate laws or with a probate lawyer in your region to determine if the deceased’s assets were significant enough to warrant a probate.

What is Probate Court?

Probate court is a surrogate court that interprets the will and appoints the executor. Probate judges the validity of claims made against the estate through heirs and beneficiaries as well as taxes and debts. Further reading about probate laws is available at ObituariesHelp.org

When is Probate Required?

There really are only five reasons why you’d have to go to probate court to either make your claim on the deceased’s assets or to prove that you are a legal beneficiary. If any one of the following applies to you or to the deceased, then you might want to consult a probate attorney.

1. Probate court is necessary if the will is deemed invalid for one of these reasons:

  • Improper Execution – it wasn’t written clearly or it was not a legal will.
  • Mental Incompetence – the deceased was not mentally competent when he or she made up the will so their decisions are questioned.
  • Undue Influence – the deceased was under duress when he or she wrote up the will.

2. Probate is required if the deceased didn’t have a Last Will and Testament. If there is no will, then there has to be a legal and equitable probate court process for distributing the deceased assets and for transferring the title of probate property. The only way to do this is with probate.

3. Probate is required if the assets were owned solely by the deceased. If there were no other owners or designates of the property or asset, then in most cases the property will have to be probated to get it out of the deceased’s name and into the beneficiary’s name.

4. Probate is required if the assets were owned as a Tenant in Common or Joint Tenancy. What this means if the deceased owned property jointly with another person, such as in the case of a common law marriage, then probate is required to ensure that the deceased’s share of the property is properly distributed to legal heirs.

5. Probate is required if there are no designated beneficiaries or if all of the beneficiaries have predeceased the decedent. In the case of life insurance policies, retirement funds or certain savings accounts, beneficiaries are usually named. But if all the named beneficiaries have passed away or if the deceased didn’t name beneficiaries, then probate is required to transfer the money or title to the beneficiaries.

One thing to remember about knowing when is probate required?

Probate is required if there are significant assets to be distributed or creditors to be paid outside of what is legally stated in the will or if there is no will at all. If any of these five reasons apply to you or your situation, you can expect that probate is required and you’ll have to appear in probate court. Read more about probate laws at ObituariesHelp.org.

Source by Melanie Walters

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Travel insurance is probably one of the most confusing types of insurance around. Numerous clauses, sub-clauses and a myriad of little stipulations make for a very complicated policy, which nevertheless is very important for any holiday-maker.

People going on holiday tend to adopt an ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude and, hopefully, it won’t. But nobody is immune to ill-health or robbery, and baggage loss can happen to the best of us. So, for sheer peace of mind, it’s worth looking into travel insurance when booking your trip.

The medical aspect of a travel insurance policy is probably the most important and the most needed. Far more people fall ill abroad than you’d think, and the cost of OTC medication can be extortionate abroad as well as at home. Even contracting a simple stomach bug can cost you dearly. And if you need to be hospitalised in a foreign country, you could find yourself deeply out of pocket – most countries don’t have an equivalent to the NHS.

It’s important to remember that most travel insurance policies won’t cover you for any problems related to pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer, especially if you haven’t mentioned these to your insurer when taking out the policy. Like any other type of insurance, omitting details on application can result in claims being refused, so make sure you tell them everything. This also goes for any dependents who are travelling with you; their medical history needs to be disclosed, but if the holiday is cut short because of a pre-existing condition it’s unlikely you’ll be reimbursed. Pregnancy, although technically a pre-existing condition, will normally be covered as long as you will be less than 28 weeks pregnant by the end of your trip (24 weeks for a multiple pregnancy). This restriction can vary between insurers, so always check your policy.

If you lose your possessions on holiday, your insurer will normally only pay out if you had taken reasonable care of them; if you had left them unattended you will be seen as negligent and claims will normally be refused. Likewise, if you leave any valuables unattended in your hotel room, vehicle or mobile home, and they are stolen, you may not be able to claim. If possible, keep your valuables in a room or hotel safe, or keep them on your person.

If your holiday has to be cancelled, there are some situations you will not be covered for. If you cancel simply because you decide not to go, for example because of a relationship break-up, you won’t be refunded. If your holiday is cancelled by the hotel, or if you have an accident or unforeseen emergency at home, most insurers will refund the costs you have paid so far, plus any cancellation fees due. Again, check your policy first to see what is and isn’t covered.

When you look for a travel insurance policy, don’t just go on price alone. Annual travel insurance may work out cheaper, but if you only go away once a year for two weeks, you’d only really need cover for that time. Also, read all the small print, and ask questions, to make sure the policy covers exactly what you need.

The best way to find cheap travel insurance is to shop around online. While holiday insurance isn’t mandatory, it’s always wise to take out a policy. The one time you go on holiday without travel insurance could be the one time you need it.

Source by J Tillotson

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Life insurers, as part of their budget wishlist, have proposed allowing them to float ULIP infrastructure bonds to raise long-term resources for the core sector. Life insurers have sought relief for such unit-linked insurance schemes that are in the nature of a bond and invested in the core sector. The industry’s reasoning is that customers are on the look out for long-term investments and life insurers can provide them this option.

Some other items in the wishlist include allowing them to carry forward losses for 12 years and new tax breaks for policyholders.

The Life Insurance Council, the representative body of life insurers in India, in its memorandum to the Finance ministry, has sought the introduction of a separate limit of Rs. 1 lakh per year of income tax exemptions for long-term financial savings instruments under section 80C of the Income Tax Act. The council’s argument is that existing provisions allow Section 80C tax deduction for instruments made in short-term savings instruments such as mutual funds and bank deposits and long-term savings instruments such as pensions and life insurance. At present, this aggregate exemption is Rs 1 lakh per year. The catch is that this includes deductions under section 80CCC and 80CCD. That is, the limit is a combined one for savings of various types. All short-term or medium-term, and a few expenses like education, are clubbed within the present Rs 1-lakh exemption limit.

The Economic Times reported Life Insurance Council secretary general Mr. S. V. Mony as saying, “Life insurance and pensions are probably the only avenues for long-term savings. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage long-term savings affirmatively. The investor preference tends to favour short-term investments in the absence of a clear differentiation and incentive for long-term investments. The council has been making this submission to the government in the past, too.”

Another item in the wishlist is the doubling of tax deductions on the health premium. The limit is currently Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 for senior citizens.

Source by bharat prajapati

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It is really no mystery why life insurance no medical has become so desired by term insurance buyers. They simply seek the easiest way to buy their policies. There is the occasional desperate person who tries to get over on the life insurance company but these individuals are wasting their time.

The well thinking people who have learned about these products find it a convenience to buy no physical life insurance. They don’t want to be poked by a doctors needle or have to do urine tests. They are simply asked a few pointed questions the answers to which give the life insurance carriers sufficient information to work with.

20 or 30 years ago it would not be prudent to sell any type of life coverage in this manner to anyone but younger people. People, however are in better health today at older ages. Why? Medical science has advanced to such a level that enables otherwise terminal patients to life a longer and quite productive life.

The information age! Confirming information on an individuals health, occupation and avocations used to be quite a long and drawn out procedure and the cost was just too much. Today this information is at the fingertips of the underwriters, with the applicants permission of course.

As we move ahead who knows what advancements will become a part of every activity. At present here is what life insurance no medical is all about.

If you are between age 18 and age 65 you can acquire between $25,000 and $500,000 life insurance without having to do a physical exam. The policies offered are 10 year, 15 year, 20 year and 30 year term insurance. Once approved these policies are guaranteed renewable up until age 95 without any evidence of insurability.

It usually takes about 15 minutes to get an answer from the company and, if you qualify, you can print out your policy online.

Click here for more on life insurance no medical

Source by Donald Lusan

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The other day I was working out in the gym when a guy asked me to spot him on the bench press. For those of you not familiar with the term “spot,” it means to watch and assist the lifter if they need help. Of course, I agreed to do this. As is customary when spotting, I asked him how many reps (number of times lifting the weight) he planned to do. He looked at me very puzzled and said he didn’t know. Humorously, I followed that with asking if he expected to do it once or a hundred times. He laughed and said it would be more than one, but not sure how many he would do beyond that.

He began the lift and performed three reps. I asked him if he felt it was a good set. Was he happy with his performance? Did he achieve what he set out to do? He said, “Yeah, I guess so.” I went back to my workout wondering how he could determine if he had met his goal. If you don’t have a goal, how can you determine if you achieved it?

This experience reminded me of a time when I went to Chicago on a call with one of my sales reps. Prior to the meeting, the sales rep, his manager and I met at a coffee shop. Over coffee, I asked the sales rep to imagine that it was now an hour and a half later. The meeting was over and we were back sitting at the same coffee shop debriefing on the meeting. I asked what I thought was a fair question of the rep. I asked him, “This was a great meeting if what happened?” (By the way, this is one of my favorite questions to ask of sales reps.) I received a blank look and finally a request for help. Mind you, we were fifteen minutes away from being in front of a prospect and clearly there was no game plan.

We talked for a few minutes and developed our success metrics for this meeting. With those identified, we developed our game plan to achieve our success metrics. Many of you are thinking that a successful meeting is defined as being awarded the business. You would be right if it was that type of meeting. However, this was a second call in a business environment where the buying process is typically twelve to eighteen months. In this environment, other success metrics are needed for each step of the process.

Defining success metrics allows you to formulate a game plan for your meeting. If you know what you need to accomplish, the roadmap becomes very clear for what you need to achieve. If your success metric is defined as your having a comprehensive picture of their challenges with their current provider, you can prepare questions that will expose their challenges. If your success metric is to gather all of the data needed to put together a pricing proposal, the game plan is to ask all questions needed to craft a solution for this prospect.

From a prospect’s point of view, they have no time or tolerance for sales people who show up on their doorstep and ask pointless questions for an hour. They are busy and very sensitive about their time. If they accept a meeting with a sales person, they expect that sales person to arrive having done their homework on their company and with a laser focus approach to the meeting. Remember, sales is a profession. They expect a professional experience.

Another common time when sales people lose their way is when they are notified that they are a finalist for an opportunity and are invited to come in to deliver a presentation. In essence, they are told that they are one of a handful of providers that are being considered for the business. The typical response is to say “Great!” almost like Tony the Tiger. They hang up the phone, do the happy dance, and send an email to their manager telling them that they made the finalist list. There is nothing wrong about being excited to hear the news. You’ve probably worked hard to get to this point. However, you can’t cash that commission check just yet. How can you develop a game plan for this meeting if you don’t know who will be in the room, what is important to them, or even why you made the finalist list?

Recently, a colleague shared with me a story about her experience as a finalist. The RFP questions that the prospect had provided lacked focus. It was not clear what they were hoping to accomplish by selecting a new provider. She called the Procurement Agent and began asking a series of questions about their objectives and goals. The Procurement Agent told her she was the only sales person to contact them and ask these questions. The Agent agreed that the RFP lacked focus and could not fathom how the other selected finalists could prepare. Needless to say, this sales person won the business. (Need help putting together a game plan when you are a finalist, send me an email and I’ll email you back a checklist that will lead you to victory.)

Ask any successful person how they became successful. They will tell you that they had a vision and developed a game plan to achieve that vision. Sales is no different. Know your success metrics and develop your game plan to achieve them.

Source by Lee Salz

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Medicare Supplement Plans are the best type of health insurance available to seniors over the age of 65.  People who purchase these plans can visit almost any doctor, hospital, or specialist and often pay very little or nothing at all for these services.  The only problem with Medicare Supplement Plans is the companies who offer this type of insurance have underwriting guidelines, which can make it tough to qualify if you have pre-existing conditions.  Using guaranteed issue guidelines to purchase one of these plans can make a huge difference in the quality of care you receive and your out-of-pocket expenses for hospital and physician services.

The most commonly used guaranteed issue period is the initial enrollment period, which begins on the first day of the month in which you are both enrolled in Medicare Part B and over the age of 65.  This period extends for six months and you can enroll in any plan with any company during this time without answering any health questions.   The majority of seniors purchase Medicare Supplement Plan F during their initial enrollment period, but over the past few years many have been persuaded to purchase Medicare Advantage Plans, which offer inferior coverage.

The second most popular guaranteed issue period occurs when seniors choose to work after their 65th birthday.  During this time they are often covered by employer plans, which offer superior coverage to original Medicare.  However, when they finally retire and leave their employer plan, they have a 63 day guaranteed issue period where they can enroll in the plan of their choice.   This guaranteed issue period also includes people who have retired, but are still covered on their previous employers plan.

Medicare Supplement Plans almost always offer superior coverage to Medicare Advantage Plans, which is why many people are choosing to enroll in original Medicare and purchase supplemental insurance.  Thousands of seniors over the past few weeks have received letters notifying them their coverage with their current advantage plan will be terminated at the end of the year.  These people have a special guaranteed issue period, where they can enroll in any type of plan with any company without answering any health questions.  People who have health issues should use this period to purchase a Medicare Supplemental Insurance plan.

Seniors who have purchased Medicare Advantage Plans within the past two years may also be able to shop for Medicare Supplement Plans and can qualify for guaranteed issue as well, particularly if that was their first time purchasing a Medicare Advantage Plan.   Many people will likely use this little known rule to purchase a superior plan, particularly if they are unhappy with their current coverage.  This is becoming more prevalent as doctors and hospitals are not accepting these types of plan as often.

Medicare Supplement Plans are the best option for seniors, particularly if they have complex medical issues that require special attention.  Furthermore, with this type of insurance you have more options regarding whom you can visit, and have less out of pocket costs for medical services rendered.  Due to the complex underwriting guidelines, it is best to purchase one of these plans during a guaranteed issue period, which many will have over the next few months.

Source by Tyra Phillips

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Every year millions of students graduate college and begin to start their own lives, one of the biggest worries that these students face is their health insurance coverage. Many students and parents believe that the parents health insurance will cover their children once they leave for college when in reality if a student is over the age of 18 and not a full time student they may not be covered by the parents health insurance. If a student is enrolled in college as a full-time student they are normally covered until they reach the age of 23 under their parents health insurance policy, regardless of their enrollment in college. This means that once a student graduates college, which is normally around age 22 or 23, they are no longer insured under their parents policy. This is a time in a students life when it is very important to be insured.

Right after a college student graduates they are looking for a job and a place to live, for many of these students their first job may not even offer health insurance which can be a huge problem. Without health insurance, it can be very expensive to even go to the doctor when you are sick. Usually most doctors offices have low, co-payments for insurance holders when they visit the doctor, normally between $20-$50, but without insurance doctors a patient has to pay the full cost that the doctor and office charges. Depending on what happens during the visit and if any tests or further evaluation is needed the costs can easily skyrocket up into the hundreds, which is much more than many people can afford. These costs can be very threatening to most people and can cause people to avoid visiting the doctor, which can become very dangerous for the persons health. Also, the longer a person avoids medical care when they are ill when they finally go to the doctor it will likely be much more expensive because they will have gotten more sick.

One of the best insurance companies that have a relatively low and affordable rate for post college students is Blue Cross Blue Shield; in many states across the country they offer low cost insurance for graduated college students. Blue Cross Blue Shield has provided inexpensive health care to more than 99 million people in the United States. Blue cross Blue Shield has over 39 independent, community based locations across the United States which means it is likely that you will have an operating branch in your area, and if there isn’t that is okay too because Blue Cross Blue Shield covers people in all 50 states. More than 80% of hospitals and doctors offices have contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, which makes them one of the top 20 insurance companies in the country.

Source by Ronnie Hamilton