Medicine is an art, a science and a business. Doctors learn the artistic and scientific aspects of their profession in medical school. But the business aspect of their practice – getting paid – requires a completely different set of skills, skills most doctors have neither the time nor the interest to acquire. Even if they did, few doctors would have to time to handle the complex administrative aspects of a modern medical office. Enter Medical Insurance Billing and Coding.

Medical Insurance Billing and Coding specialists work in doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical facilities. Their primary job is to submit claims to insurance companies to ensure doctors and support staff are properly reimbursed for the services they render. Medical Insurance Billing and Coding professionals tend to deal mostly with private insurance companies and the agencies of state and federal governments who pay medical claims, e.g. Medicare. The Medical Billing department is often also responsible for collecting co-payments or deductible amounts from patients directly.

Processing a Claim

To process claims, the Medical Insurance Billing and Coding specialist first deals with the patient’s medical record, which contains the physician’s notes on what services were performed. The specialist must then translate this information into a five-digit numerical code drawn from the American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) guide. The actual diagnosis is also coded based on a government guide called the International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems (ICD). It is very important that the CPT and ICD codes match up, or a claim will likely be rejected.

In fact, according to the Healthcare Billing and Management Association, up to one half of all medical claims are initially rejected by insurance carriers. Medical Insurance Billing and Coding specialists must therefore need to learn how to skillfully adjust and resubmit claims in a way insurance companies are more likely to accept.

Paper vs. E-Claims

In the past, virtually all medical billing and coding was done on paper, which was slow, inefficient and expensive. Today, more and more claims are being filed electronically, although paper-based billing is still very common. In the coming years, computer skills will be increasingly important to Medical Insurance Billing and Coding professionals.

Training & Certification

To become a Medical Insurance Billing and Coding professional, one should take a specialized medical billing training in this field from a recognized and accredited college or university. Such programs can normally be completed in about a year. After that, industry certification is also recommended. The Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) accreditation by the American Medical Billing Association is one of the most recognized of specialized certification in this field.

Medical Insurance Billing and Coding is a highly specialized field that is critical to the operation of modern medical offices. The need for well-trained Medical Insurance Billing and Coding specialists is likely to grow significantly as America’s population – and the need for quality medical care – grows over the next few decades.

Source by Allen B. Ury

A Car is one of the most prized possessions for any individual. One strives to do all possible things to keep the car as good as new. Having a car insurance policy is essential to ensure the safety of your precious car. However, a car insurance that does not provide adequate coverage and benefits will not be beneficial in any manner. There are many factors that determine the effectiveness of a car insurance policy. A good car insurance policy will provide you value for money and optimal benefits, in return for the entire premium amount that you pay towards the policy. So how do you pick the best policy, from the numerous policies available in the market?

You can keep the following points in mind, before you make up your mind to purchase a car insurance policy:

1.Do A Background Check On The Company: Before purchasing a car insurance policy, make sure you visit the company website and find out information on parameters such as its claim settlement ratio, time taken to settle claims etc. It is always advisable to purchase a car insurance policy from a reputed company as the services will be reliable.

2.Compare Car Insurance Online: Many online insurance comparison websites, feature comparisons of car insurance policies from various insurance providers. Compare features such as coverage and benefits to find out the most suitable policy.

3.Determine The Type Of Coverage: Buying insurance policy with the right coverage that fits your requirements is requisite. Ensure that the policy includes both third part liability as well as own damage cover. As per the Motor Vehicles Act, only third-party liability insurance cover is mandatory for all vehicles, whereas an ‘own damage’ cover is not. It is best to opt for a comprehensive plan that provides you complete protection even of you have to pay a little bit more.

4.Opt Online Insurance: online car insurance policies are not only cheaper, but also convenient. If you choose to purchase a policy online, you can obtain your car insurance quote within minutes, by simply filling in a few details. Even procedures like car insurance renewal become much easier through the online medium.

5.Enquire About Additional Benefits: Many insurance providers provide additional benefits to the insurance holders such as “No Claim Bonus” and discounts. You can avail the no claim bonus for each claim free year of insurance. Even if you decide to purchase a new car, the NCB can be transferred and you can pay a reduced premium for your new car.

Source by Isha Mathur

Pets too require dental insurance, just like the humans do. Statistics show that the dental illness and the money spent on dental treatments for pets are on par with humans. As a pet owner, the pet’s dental health is of prime concern as the pets can develop diseases of the liver, kidney, heart and other organs if their teeth are not taken care. Attention is required when the pet develops bad breath or swollen gums or red gums, or when seen with yellowish brown tartar crust, bleeding gums etc. The raising costs involved in treating such dental diseases of the pet calls for pet dental insurance. The pet dental insurance normally takes care of the routine check ups and cleaning procedures.

Normally pet dental insurance is required for dogs and cats as they have teeth. The costs towards dental cleaning may not be high and do not require any support for footing the bills. But if, a cavity is developed or any dental surgery is required, a cushioning by way of pet dental insurance will be of real help to take care of the enormous costs associated with the pet dental treatment.

Important aspects to be taken care before selecting a pet dental insurance:

The pet dental insurance policy should be in conjunction with the pet’s age, breed, where they live etc. The selection of a good veterinarian is also important to treat the pet. Pet dental insurance may be common to a dog and a cat, but for an exotic pet it may not be the case. Hence, the pet dental insurance policy that suits the exotic pet should be taken, as normal pet dental insurance is not meant for other exotic pets. The payout limits of the pet dental policy should be screened properly and the terms and conditions too need to be read with an eye on the details. Pet dental insurance policy with a yearly limit is good as they pay out every year whereas a “per condition limit” policy may cease for ongoing illnesses when a certain limit is reached as mentioned in the policy. The pet dental insurance should cover the costs of routine dental care as it self saves a lot of money. The emergency care too needs to be covered, as pets are more prone to accidents. Precaution is better than cure.

Reasons for opting pet dental insurance for the pets by their owners:

The pet dental insurance is very important as many of the pet owners treat them as part of their family. A discomfort to their pets can be very stressful to the pet owners and also the costs towards treating them. Pet dental insurance gives a peace of mind, as they are covered against even unexpected dental bills. During emergencies, best treatment can be got with great comfort. Both financial and emotional peace of mind is provided to the pet owner by the pet dental insurance policies. The pets can be free from bad breadth which will lead to other diseases if it is not taken care of can be prevented through regular checkups offered by the pet dental insurance plans.

Source by S. Geetha

The selection is likely to be even less appealing this year than last. According to experts and industry insiders, recent trends suggest rates will continue to rise and employers will continue to shift more of the cost of health insurance onto workers – asking them to shoulder a larger share of premiums, for instance, or increasing out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and co-pays.Easy To Insure ME has the answers

This past year, overall premiums for employer-sponsored coverage – meaning the amounts paid by employer and employee combined – rose a relatively modest average of 3 percent for family coverage, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust. But the share of such premiums covered by the worker increased from 27 percent to 30 percent, with the result that the amount paid by workers rose an average of 13.7 percent.

The most comprehensive statistics on plan offerings for 2011 won’t be available for months. But a September survey of employers by Mercer, a leading benefits consulting company, suggests last year’s patterns will continue.

Overall, the employers said that they expected their health-care costs to increase between 9 and 12 percent – but that they planned to use cost-saving measures to effectively bring that increase down to 6 percent. Some 57 percent said one way they would do this would be to have their employees pay a greater share of the cost of coverage.

Many employers also said they would try to lower their costs by prompting employees to improve their health: Forty-four percent said they will add health management or wellness programs. An additional 38 percent said they will add incentives for employees to participate in existing programs.

Impact of the new law

Because this is the first major open-enrollment period since key provisions of the new health-care law started taking effect, many workers will wonder how much of the plan changes they see is due to the legislation. Not much, say analysts.

The law’s most market-altering changes – including provisions that may or may not control premiums – don’t kick in until 2014.

“We’re three years away from that,” said economist Paul Fronstin of the nonprofit Employee Benefits Research Institute. “For the most part, the plans don’t know what they’re going to be doing [in response]. It’s just too soon.”

There is a notable exception: On their next annual renewal date, all plans will be required to comply with certain mandates such as eliminating lifetime dollar limits on benefits and allowing parents to put adult children up to age 26 on their plan. Insurers that make certain changes to existing plans or employers that switch insurance carriers will have to offer additional benefits such as free preventive services.

It’s possible that bare-bones employer-sponsored plans – particularly small-group plans bought by businesses with only a few employees – may need to substantially increase premiums to cover the extra cost. And a number of insurers have already blamed the law for coming large rate hikes. But estimates by researchers suggest that on average premium increases for employer-based plans due to the new requirements will be less than 2 percent.

“And we’re talking less than 1 percent in many cases,” said Sara Collins, head of the insurance program at the Commonwealth Fund, a health-care research group.

Watts was less sanguine, noting that the small businesses surveyed by Mercer expected the new law’s requirements to add 3 percent to their costs. “As someone who works with employers, I can say it’s hard to get even a 1 percent increase out of your plan costs” through cost-saving measures, she said.

At other companies, particularly mid-size and smaller ones, the workers’ health status may be the determining factor. “For instance, if someone got sick in your group, especially with a disease that [your insurer] thinks is going to continue, they will take that into account when they set your premiums, and you are going to take a whack for it,” said Gary Claxton, who directs the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Marketplace Policy Project.

Large companies can be affected by shifts in the makeup of their work force. “A company will look at, for instance, are they going to be hiring or downsizing?” said Claxton. “Do they have a bunch of early retirees who are going to move from one plan to another?”

Source by Health Insurance

Have you been thrown in the deep end to fleet management, or are you just finding it difficult to asssimilate the many changing facets of finding the optimum performance for your fleet insurance and fleet management.

You will more than likely be doing a juggling act of cost cutting with ongoing reviews of company car policies thrown in with environmental issues regarding your fleet. You need also to be on top of the health and safety implications as well as your cost efficiency while reviewing and tweaking your motor fleet insurance and management.

In 2009 some surveys have shown that 30% of companies are undergoing thorough reviews of their company car policies. The evidence is that many companies are trying to achieve the balance between the cost issues, environment and health and safety issues. As companies analyse there are increasing requirements to find cost effective motor fleet insurance policies and at times these need to be combined fleet insurance policies.

Firstly considering the health and safety issues, it is good to be aware that a fair number of employers have now come to the conclusion that their drivers would be safer and more protected in company vehicles.

Also many of them are finishing with the cash allowance schemes and evidence shows that a lot of organisations have been encouraged by new legislation to re-assess the risks involved when employees use their own cars. The overall conclusion has been the company cars carry less risks.

Regarding both costs and the environment, there is analysis regarding fuel usage and the choice of funding options. Hand in hand with this is that many fleets are putting a cap on CO2 emissions with a lot more in the process of starting to do so. There are incentives to encourage the adoption of hybrid cars with lower emissions.

Other companies are providing diesel only vehicles. In general as part of fleet management there is an increased commitment to monitoring CO2 emissions.

The good news is that as you are re-evaluating and aiming to go greener the insurance companies should not penalise you for this. The types of expectations to have from your motor fleet insurance policy are a choice of cover types or if you need it a combination of cover types.

-Third Party Only Cover
-Third Party, Fire & Theft Cover
-Comprehensive Cover

You may also wish to consider including:

-Windscreen Cover
-Third Party Damage Cover
-Some other aspects which a good fleet insurance provider may also recommend to you are:
-Detached Trailer Cover
-Hazardous Goods Insurance
-Medical Expenses Cover
-24 hour claims assistance
-Uninsured Loss Recovery
-Breakdown & Recovery Assistance
-Personal Effects Cover
-Replacement Vehicle Cover

For the moment the patterns to go greener with fleets are more notable throughout larger companies. However between legalities and genuine concern for our environment this is trickling down throughout companies of all sizes. Current statistics of 2009 state that if an organisation has over 10,000 staff these were the ones that had drafted their policy with the environment in mind whereas companies of 250 staff or less results show that only 40% of these are dealing with the green issues.

Even though it does cause extra work there are long term positive cost implications to be had as well as the environmental benefits.

Source by Jackie De Burca

The duty is on the insured to disclosure any material fact to the insurer. Basically the insured should know their own details. The life insurance insurer who may know nothing about the insured to begin with can not be expected to ask all the relevant questions. So whilst the insurer should ask sensible questions it is under UK law still incumbent of the insured to advise a material fact.

A material fact is basically any fact which may make an insurer charge more or less premium or a fact which may make the insurer decline or accept the risk or only take the risk subject to additional conditions.

As an insured you can not hide a material fact simply because the insurer did not ask the right question.

So initially the onus is on you to provide all relevant information. However the law is also there to protect you as well. There have been several agreements between the major life insurance insurers and governing bodies and trade associations whereby insurers are required to point out your obligations to advise material facts. Insurers are expected to ask questions about those matters which have commonly proved to be material.

Generally courts would not expect you to disclose a fact which on the face of it would not be considered material on its own. There was a case where a person was having occasional headaches but thought they were just that and did not attribute anything else to the matter. Now an experienced doctor may consider the headaches as perhaps the possible on set of symptoms of a more serious nature and therefore request further investigation. But in that particular case the court held that the insured had no reason to believe the worse. He had no reason to believe that these headaches might be a material fact instead he thought that they were just an occasional headache. The court held that a reasonable man would not be expected to know that the occasional headache might be material. So the insured knew of the fact but would not have been expected to know that it was material.

The courts however considered that an insured whose doctor had sent him to the hospital for a kidney problem should have advised his insurer even if the insured was not aware how serious the situation might have been at the time. The question of materiality was not based on the insured’s ability to judge if the fact was material but on that of the life insurance insurer who had access to professional advice. In this case the insured knew of the fact and we assume also considered that it might be material, but decided to use his judgment on whether or not it was material. Another court case determined that the information is based on the insured’s knowledge and does not require him to make extensive investigation before answering the question.

The duty of disclosure continues until the contract of insurance is concluded. So information that you learn about whilst the proposal form is still being considered should be advised.

So as a general rule advise all details which could be material. It is not your job to decide what might or might not be material. If you learn of something late in the day before the contract is concluded then still advise it. If you do not then the risk is that the policy may not be valid and if a claim was presented it may not get paid.

This article was written on the 15th February 2007. This article does not represent ‘financial advice’ as each persons individual requirements will be unique to their needs. If there is something in the article which you which to rely on then please check those details with any person from whom you purchase a term life policy at the time of purchase.

Source by Luke Ashworth

Whilst it is very important to have a dental insurance coverage plan, it’s wise to be careful about what you decide to choose to buy.

Of the many dental insurance companies out there, there really are some great deals that you can take advantage of, but you need to check exactly what you are getting or you might have a nasty shock. There is nothing worse in any insurance, than thinking that you have cover and then finding out that you missed something in all that small print.

In fact, one major benefit of some insurance companies is that the dental insurance coverage they provide is very carefully spelt out in simple language so that there is no room for mistake. that suits the insurer, because they get a lot less hassle and a good reputation.

And in those cases, they are able to build a better business, because word of mouth from satisfied clients means that the dental insurance coverage they offer, without too many complaints, provided what was expected.

Of course there are dental insurance coverage plans that have all the bells and whistles, including all the costs from your dentist completely. And that dentist could be the very one you chose too.

In other cases, you might have to use a dentist that the company choose, which might even mean quite a journey and even a dentist that you don’t really like or, worse, trust with your dental work. Maybe, for some people a small price to pay a little more to get peace of mind.

It’s also possible that the dental insurance coverage provided by ‘list’ dentists that some companies require, pays for all their services fully, but only pays for selected services from those dentists you choose, so it’s vital to be very clear about what you get for what you pay.

There’s another thing about the level of cover you get.

Depending on the company and the dental insurance coverage, there are different ways for the dentist to receive payment. It could be that the work is done, the dentist bills the dental insurance company and gets paid direct. In some other arrangements, you could get billed first and then claim it back, which can seriously affect your cash flow for a while.

And finally, the dental insurance coverage might be in between the two in terms of the type of coverage that you get. The premiums may well be reduced for those that use the dentists on the list provided by the insurance company.

So, all in all it’s really important to check out the small print (or find a dental insurance company that only has easy to understand terms), so that you understand exactly what you are getting in the dental insurance coverage you are buying.

Source by Martin Haworth

Many companies that are offering insurance to their employees are doing so through companies like CIGNA and UNICARE. These are two primary insurance companies that offer group health insurance for less money than you would expect to pay when you get group health insurance at a major company. Both CIGNA and UNICARE are accepted at a number of different hospitals and clinics, as well as through doctors in the United States.

Global Insurance Matters for Global Travelers

UNICARE seems to have an advantage over CIGNA as it gives those who are insured with them extra coverage when it comes to being insured in other countries. Whereas CIGNA is a domestic insurance company, UNICARE is a company that is worldwide. You can use UNICARE outside the United States whereas you cannot do the same for CIGNA.

Advantage of Price for Domestic Travelers

When it comes to premiums, however, CIGNA has UNICARE beat. CIGNA insurance is cheaper than UNICARE coverage by far, even if you give a side by side review of the same people with the same conditions. Both CIGNA and UNICARE have an exclusion policy for those with a pre-existing condition.

Many companies offer CIGNA insurance as part of their group coverage. This is because the company is widely accepted throughout the United States and has a variety of different coverage available. CIGNA offers both a HMO and a PPO by way of coverage. The PPO coverage allows the insured to choose their own doctor and not have to rely on doctors that are in the network. HMO coverage only allows the insured to choose doctors that are in their own network.

Weighting the Pros & Cons of HMO v/s PPO

UNICARE also offers HMO and PPO coverage, with it being slightly stronger on the HMO. The cost for an HMO coverage with UNICARE is about the same as it is with CIGNA. Many people do not like the idea of HMO coverage for health insurance because they cannot choose their own doctors. This is why many people prefer to pick a PPO that allows them to choose their own doctors and health care facilities. UNICARE has better rates for the PPO.

While CIGNA is more widely accepted by the vast majority of medical care providers, UNICARE appears to be up and coming. And because UNICARE is accepted in other countries, where CIGNA is not, many people who travel prefer to get UNICARE over CIGNA.

If you are just looking to save money, you may want to choose CIGNA. They have a good plan for HMO coverage that is affordable for just about anyone. This HMO plan offers the same type of coverage as the more expensive coverage afforded by UNICARE. You also have a much wider selection of doctors and health care providers when you choose CIGNA over UNICARE.

When you choose UNICARE, you have the comfort of knowing that you have a good plan, especially if it is a PPO, and that you can be covered when you go out of the country. Many people do not mind paying extra money for health insurance coverage if they can choose their own doctors, as they can with a PPO health care plan.

Source by Joe Deacon

When it comes to car insurance, many consumers have no idea what insurers look at to come up with the almighty premium amount. And believe it or not, insurers don’t pull your auto insurance rates out of thin air. To help you secure the lowest possible insurance rate, it’s important to learn about the factors that could be affecting your premium, and how use those factors to tip the scale in your favor!
Comparison Shop.

It is pretty much understood that if you have a good driving record and own a safer car, your premium should remain low or start to decrease. Plus, with some companies now charging lower rates, increased competition means better auto insurance rates for you! Take advantage of online marketing services to find the best car insurance rates from competing insurers.

Find Out What Your Insurance Will Cost Before You Buy That Fancy New Car

Auto insurance companies typically charge more for cars that are expensive to repair or don’t fare well in accidents. So before you drive off that lot, make sure your new car is considered safe, and relatively cheap and easy to repair by your insurer. This will help minimize risk for both of you!

Ask Your Insurance Agent for Possible Discounts

These cost-savers can lower your insurance premiums more than you might think:
– Combining two or more cars on one auto insurance policy
– Buying a car with airbags or other safety equipment
– Installing anti-theft devices in your vehicle
– Completing a driver’s education course
– Insuring your home and auto with the same insurer
– Applying for a mature driver discount (for those between 50 and 65)
– Getting good grades (for students under 25)

Take the Highest Deductible You Can Afford

Your deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket, in case of a claim, before your insurance company starts paying its share. The higher you’re deductible, the lower your premium, it’s as simple as that. Just be sure you’re able to absorb a larger portion of your loss in case of an accident.

Improve Your Driving Record

The more tickets and accidents you have, the more your auto insurance costs. So drive cautiously, improve your motor vehicle record, and inform your auto insurance company of the change. They’ll reclassify you as a safer driver, and lower your auto insurance rates in the process!

Consider Dropping Comprehensive and/or Collision Coverage if You Drive an Older Car

Physical damage coverage’s like these reimburse you for damages to your own car. But if the vehicle you drive is several years old, or worth less than $1,000, it may not be worth much anyway. Dropping such unnecessary coverage can really save you money.

Review your policy regularly.

It’s important to keep your coverage current and updated. Your auto insurance rates may fluctuate due to:

1. Adding or removing a driver from your auto insurance policy
2. Replacing an older vehicle with a newer one
3. Adding or removing a vehicle from your policy
4. Increasing or decreasing the number of miles you drive annually

So the best advice I can give to you is for you to talk to your insurance agent if you encounter any of these situations. Under the right circumstances, you’ll reduce the impact on your wallet, and walk away a few dollars in your pocket! Always take the extra time and shop around. It doesn’t cost you a thing but time to compare car insurance companies.

Source by Laura Buckley

Before you get behind the wheel of a car in Canada, you had better make sure that you are insured. Every province and territory in the country requires drivers to have insurance, and driving without it is a costly risk, because you could lose your license as a result. Before you buy insurance, however, you need to take the time to do some research to ensure that you get the right type.

The Basic Requirements

The first thing you need to know is what you are required to have. All of the provinces and states require basic liability coverage for their drivers. This is coverage that will pay for damage you cause to someone else or his or her property. For instance, if you are involved in a car accident where you are the at-fault driver, your liability coverage would pay the medical bills and car repair bills for the other people involved in the accident. This is a common requirement in other countries.

Canadian drivers must carry an addition coverage option, because when it comes to car insurance, Canada requires Accident Benefits/Bodily Injury coverage. This coverage will take care of your medical care and any loss of income you experience after a crash, even if you are the one at fault for the injuries. In other words, if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident and no one else is liable for your injuries, this coverage will cover them.

Other Options to Consider

While you are required to have Liability and Accident Benefits/Bodily Injury coverage to drive in Canada, you may wish to have additional coverage. Neither of these Canada insurance options covers damage to your vehicle that is not caused by another vehicle or driver. They also do not cover damage to your vehicle that you caused. Natural causes are also not covered. If a tree branch fell on your car and smashed in the roof, you would be stuck paying for the repair or buying a new car without any car insurance coverage.

If you have a loan on your car, the bank will not be willing to take this risk. You will probably be forced to purchase additional car insurance for as long as you have the loan. The two additional policies that you may have to purchase if you have a loan are Collision and Comprehensive.

Damage to your car in a motor vehicle accident, even if you are completely at fault, would be covered in a Collision policy. In fact, even if you drive the vehicle into something that is not a vehicle, you would be covered with a Collision policy.

Comprehensive insurance covers non-motor-vehicle damage to your car. If your car were stolen, vandalized, or harmed by a natural disaster, this coverage would pay for the damages. That tree branch that fell on your car and smashed the roof would be an event covered by comprehensive coverage.

Considerations When Buying Coverage

When buying insurance coverage, you have to strike a delicate balance between affordable premiums and proper coverage. Some people buy too much insurance, and they end up paying more for their insurance coverage than is worthwhile when compared to the value of their car. Others buy too little insurance and end up with huge bills when they are in an accident.

How can you best determine this balance? You need to know what your car is worth. Check the Blue Book value of the car, and then compare it to the amount you are paying in premiums. If you find that you are paying close to the value in premiums over two or three years, you may wish to drop a coverage option. Put the additional money aside into a savings account, and use that money towards repairs if you end up having an accident. If you do not have an accident, use that money as a down payment on your next car purchase, rather spending thousands on auto insurance that will only provide a few hundred dollars for your vehicle.

Source by S. Kate Hobbs

Sometimes with all the options available getting to what you need can be quite a task Especially when it comes to finding out what benefits you are eligible for. In this article we will look at some of the most common types of employment insurance benefits and how you qualify. We will also look at types of behavior that can cause you not to be able to claim your full benefits.

Unemployment insurance exists to help the unemployed meet their financial obligations and purchase goods and services. Everyone who has accumulated enough wage credits in their current job is eligible for unemployment insurance. What you receive is calculated based on your earnings. Usually the last 4 or 5 wages quarters is looked at to help determine the amount.

To qualify for unemployment insurance benefits you must be able to work, willing to work, and actively seeking work. Your employer must approve your earnings. If there is a discrepancy in the amount you claim versus the amount the employer states you earned, it is their responsibility to prove it.

The amount of time you can claim unemployment insurance can vary according to the state you live in. There is the possibility of extended benefit as well. Sometimes, in times or in areas of high unemployment, the state and local government will allow for an extension of unemployment insurance benefit to be issued. However, if you were discharged from your previous position for misconduct or left though your own accord, you may have difficulty in qualifying.

Unemployment insurance is designed to keep people in their current lifestyles and protect the local economy. Just because you are out of work, does not automatically mean you will be eligible. You need to have enough wage credits and clear of misconduct. Finding out what you are entitled to can be complicated however, in the end it is worth it. another job.

The advantages to having unemployment insurance is to help unemployed workers meet their financial obligations and to help sustain local communities. If a larger portion of a workforce is laid off or fired small towns and communities suffer also. Not only does regular wages pay bills and mortgages they also purchase goods and services. When wages paid to the workforce suddenly stop the local economy can suffer. You are allowed to spend the money from unemployment insurance on what you choose. There are no rules forcing you to pay your essentials first. This helps some of the money to reach the local economy.

Unemployment insurance or compensation is calculated by your previous earnings. It is not based on your needs. Different states apply different formulas but your unemployment insurance will be in line with your previous income.

There are some disadvantages to unemployment insurance. Sometimes you have to make a judgment decision on accepting a new job. You can accept a new job for less money. As soon as you accept the new job your unemployment benefits stop. However, if you do not accept the new job you will be putting yourself at risk. Unemployment can only be claimed for a limited period of time. Depending on where you live it could be 6 months to a year. So as you can see you could be risking a future income.

Source by Leonard Garrett

No one today is unaware of the importance of insurance. Since no one has control over accidents, so it is better to take specific steps in anticipation. Workers compensation is just another form of insurance where workers are being offered with some benefits in case they undergo an accident while working.

In past, there was no such compensation available for workers or for employers. In case of an accident, most employers had to face lawsuits. That was the time when all of the hospital expenses along with wage compensation were only to be given by the employers. But, not any more and that has become possible only because of “>workers compensation insurance.

Why you need workers compensation insurance?

The answer to this question is not difficult at all. Workers compensation insurance is required by all those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on providing healthcare facilities to injured employees. Although there is a great need to buy workers compensation insurance but there is another reason why you need to go for it. This reason is about following the regulations. Yes, different states have different regulations. What it means is that regulations associated with “>California workers compensation insurance are different than other states and that’s the reason why care should be taken in this regard.

The process involved in workers compensation insurance:

When an accident takes place, it is the duty of the worker to report complete incident to his supervisor. This is usually followed by the completion of an incident report. The next obvious step is to take that injured worker to the hospital for treatment. Another form is to be completed soon after getting to a hospital. Usually, this is to confirm that the particular hospital is the first place of treating for worker.

Once done, all these forms are to be submitted to the workers compensation office to file an insurance claim. This is the point when insurance company usually appoints an insurance claim adjuster. The duty of this official is to review and approve the case for compensation. Here, it is worth mentioning that a report should be send to workers compensation adjuster every time a worker is seen by the doctor.

That’s the basic process involved in workers compensation insurance claims but there are several strings attached to it especially in case the injury is more severe. Moreover, it has already been mentioned that there are different rules prevailing in different states and these rules can also come into play at the time of submitting claims and asking for compensation.

So, the fact of the matter is that even though the workers compensation insurance is obligatory for all employers but there surely are some exceptions. You need to keep yourself informed about those rules as they can have an impact on claiming process.

Source by Madison Wolmer

Five things you need to know when getting an auto insurance policy

Did you know that since 1998, New Jersey law has been requiring drivers to have at least a basic insurance policy?

Driving without coverage is illegal in New Jersey, when caught, you risk paying expensive fines, suspension of your drivers license and even time in jail. For residents and visitors alike, not knowing the basic things about your auto car insurance can hurt you. So if you are planning to head out to the Garden State anytime soon, read on!

New Jersey auto insurance is considered as the most expensive in the city. This is due to the fact that the state adopts a no-fault policy wherein the automobile insurance company will pay your medical bills, lost wages and damaged property regardless of who caused the accident. In1998, through the Automobile Insurance Cost Reduction Act, people can now buy the basic policy which covers $5,000 for damages and $15,000 for medical expenses for anyone who makes a claim against you. Unfortunately, the insurance company is not liable if you get into an accident with a driver who is uninsured or whose insurance has lesser coverage than yours.

Now New Jersey car insurance varies not only in prices and also in coverage. Before you decide to get car insurance quotes, there are several things you will need to know. The New Jersey Banking and Insurance has prepared a guide for motorists who are renewing their insurance or are buying new insurance policies.

1. Understand your needs.
If you are renting your house, or have assets to protect, then you have to consider those too. You need to check of your life insurance company covers accident-related injuries or if you will need to get a separate policy for that. Aside from this, you will of course, need to know how much insurance coverage you can afford since you will be paying premiums monthly at the least.

2. Understand your options.
When shopping for auto insurance, it is important that you are familiar with the words and phrases used by insurance companies. In most cases, the terms are the same so you will need to ask your agent or you can take note of the terms you do not understand and check them out in the internet once you get home.

3. Understand consumer protections.
As a consumer, you have rights such as the right to fair and equal treatment and the right to get the information you need which can help you make intelligent decisions. You need to make sure that you understand the advantages of a certain policy over the other one and you can also ask about your additional options.

You have the right to purchase insurance and in cases that you are denied insurance coverage, it is important that the insurance company state a reason. The state of New Jersey provides legitimate reasons why a person is not eligible for coverage.
You also need to know that you can change or cancel your insurance at any time even when your policy is not yet up for renewal. If you find more affordable car insurance in New Jersey, you can cancel your old policy and get a refund of your unused premium.

4. Knowing your obligations as a New Jersey driver.
As the old adage goes “with great power comes great responsibility”, as a consumer, you get a lot of rights, but you need to understand that you also have obligations to keep. In order for you to maintain your auto insurance coverage, you need to make sure that all premiums are paid for and that you abide by the rules of traffic and driving in the state.

Source by Trevor Gettmann

The adoption of critical illness cover had been relatively slow in the USA. In contrast, critical illness insurance may probably hold a much higher importance for the UK insurance market. The effort to boost critical illness cover sales by the DSF had led to its success in the UK. On the other hand, accelerated critical illness policies accounted for many sales than standalone critical illness covers in the UK.

Furthermore, in the USA, dissimilar to the UK, most critical illness cover sales may come from standalone policies. There could be two reasons to support this fact. To start with, the way the product is sold and marketed in both the US and the UK may differ. Secondly, the USA may contain an elevated population if compared to that of UK. Therefore, critical illness cover may take a fair amount of time to be known by the vast population in the USA.

Moreover, there had been researches carried out by Lotter Actuarial Partners Inc. which demonstrated that the marketing of critical illness cover may be more fruitful on a short time basis. Thus, many opportunities about critical illness cover both as rider and standalone may arise. The ‘blue collar market’ may benefit from the riders meanwhile the ‘white collar market’ may benefit from the standalone critical illness policy. But a new critical illness cover design might not have already been introduced in the USA. It is believed that by doing this, critical illness cover sales may take an ascent. The time frame for critical illness cover sales to reach a peak in the USA may still be unknown but the product may be believed to eventually succeed.

Additionally, concerning the Canadian market, critical illness cover may be considered as a recent product. Critical illness cover made its arrival in the Canada during the year 1993. Likewise to the USA, it had taken quite some time for critical illness cover to be known in Canada. Firms that had introduced critical illness cover to the Canadian market had a more positive perspective about the success of the product at that time, but in vain. But as time passed by, more and more companies started to enter the insurance market with an aim to provide critical illness cover. Nowadays, there may be around 20 companies in Canada selling critical illness cover but a considerable increase may be predicted. Also, banks may be offering critical illness cover on mortgages and loans.

According to Munich Re, 2000, more than 40 percent of critical illness policies in force may have been bought in the year 1999. In the year 2000, there may have been around 15,000 critical illness policies in force. Furthermore, in the year 1998 there may have been around 8,500 policies which may have amounted in premiums summing up to Canadian dollar 8 million to 9 million. The entering of more and more companies in the Canadian insurance market as said previously may be confirming an increase in critical illness cover sales for the coming years. Canadians may be noticing the importance of critical illness cover as it may have provided an alternate means for the healthcare systems which may be way too expensive for all people to afford. The ageing population in Canada may have also accounted for the recent critical illness cover boosts.

If assessed in order, critical illness cover sales may have been more significant in the UK, then Canada and finally USA. Although critical illness cover had been introduced in the USA much before than in Canada, it can be seen that the Canadian market had been more prolific in terms of sales.

Source by Mike Armstrong

Copyright (c) 2007 Keith Mallinson

We would all like to know exactly what was going to happen to us in the future, good or bad although it is hard planning for the good it is much easier, although less pleasurable to make arrangements for the bad but disability insurance can help. Often the biggest strain when you are unable to work is that knowing you must try and recover as quickly as possible for the sake of your family, and this causes additional stress so disability insurance can act as a safety net whilst you are incapacitated. The chances of you being in need of disability insurance before the age of 65 far exceeds the possibility of death prior to this age. Unfortunately, this fact is often overlooked when life insurance coverage is being arranged. If you are aged 40 for example, there is a higher chance that you will be disabled, and thus unable to work for a period of 90 days or more, than of you dying before the age of 65.

Of course, when someone is seeking disability insurance cover, it is imperative to find the best disability insurance rates and plans available. Unlike life cover, disability insurance rates are based on the potential income lost as well as, age, occupation and general health. There are a few ways of reducing the cost of your disability insurance with the main one being selecting a longer period of time or waiting period following an accident or illness before the disability insurance payments commence. Some people find that by setting the plan to pay for only a set period of time, they can dramatically reduce the premiums they have to pay as it eases the potential burden to the insurance company but can be a problem if the time out of work lasts longer than the plan provides for.

Whatever your situation though, common disability insurance usually covers only a specific percentage of your original salary. Reduced period disability insurance is also known as short term disability and although it may only last a few months, the benefits can be greater to the claimant. On the other hand, total disability insurance can provide limited financial cover for a much longer period but it will be the responsibility of the claimant to prove that they are unable to carry out work related tasks that provided their income previously. Whatever the situation though, a person making a claim owing to incapacitation will be sent a disability benefit check every month until the end of the plan or they return to work.

Some key issues to research in disability insurance policies include, pre-existing conditions, your own occupation versus any occupation, timeframes and whether or not the monthly benefit payment is taxable or tax free. Each policy is different so the amount of salary the disability insurance plan will pay will depend entirely on the policy you decide to go with. To give you an example: some disability insurance plans pay out as much as seventy percent of your monthly income in benefit whereas others can pay as low as forty percent so you need to do your research to avoid being paid less than you can afford to survive on. More than any other factor, it is this one that you need to be sure of as once you have taken out the plan and found it necessary to make a claim, it will be too late for you to change it.

Source by Keith Mallinson

If you are looking into apartment flood insurance, you will need to do this on top of standard renters insurance in most cases. This is because the flood insurance clauses are often more strict. If you are living in a region or geographical area that is more prone to seasonal or natural floods, you may need to pay higher premiums, if the coverage is available at all. At the very least, protecting the contents and the belongings that you care about the most through renters insurance is very important. Apartment flood insurance, however, is something that everyone should look into.

When you begin to assess the worth and the recovery value of your prized possessions and your property, you will want to consider not what the items are currently worth. Wear, tear, and depreciation are not key, but what the items would cost you ultimately to replace them. Apartment flood insurance in particular will be the type of coverage that you will want to have if there are underground or low lying areas of your rental property, or if you use a basement, cellar, or garage area for storage of things that you care about. Of course, you should check with your landlord to be sure of the type of coverage that they have placed on the structures and buildings that you rent.

Usually, the landlord or property owner will only cover the bare essentials of the property, and this will include the structures and foundations of the buildings themselves. This leaves all of your belongings hanging with no coverage. This means that if the unthinkable should happen, along the lines of theft, break in, storm, fire, or other catastrophic event, you will not be covered and you will need to replace all of your belongings on your own. This is something that not enough renters contemplate, and is a possibility that you will do well to protect yourself against.

As you begin the research process and start to add up the collective and individual worth of your most prized belongings, be sure that you are aware of any restrictions or caps from each company. This will allow you to get the right price and the right protection for your needs. As mentioned, your furniture and your appliances, hardware, computer, and all other electronics can add up to a pretty penny when it comes time for replacement, so be sure that you disclose everything of importance.

Source by Ross Quade

Prior to you fully commit to signing up for a unique Medigap policy, it pays to know about the distinct Medigap insurance coverage ratings. For these seniors searching for added professional medical coverage that dietary supplements Medicare, Medigap is a great option. Even so, the way Medigap is structured appeals to a vast variety of candidates. Once you understand about Medigap ratings, you can choose the very best prepare for you.

Medigap insurance ideas are supplied by personal insurance coverage businesses, despite the fact that the problems of the coverage are closely regulated by state and federal laws to make certain uniformity. Premiums for Medigap insurance can differ from company to company, and a person of the ways employed to calculate the premiums for an person is via a ratings method. There are 3 approaches that Medigap policies are rated and every 1 provides positive aspects and drawbacks when it arrives to the expense of a coverage.

The very first score approach for Medigap insurance coverage is the attained-age-rated policy. The charges for enrollees are decided by age. When you very first enroll, normally at age 65, the premium is comparatively very low. As you age, the premium will boost. The advantage to this sort of rating is that for the first various many years, you could be spending an really reduced month to month cost for the coverage. Even so, as the rates boost as you age, you may well finish up having to pay additional per month that you would if you’d chosen a different strategy. You would have to make a decision if the financial savings would stability out the larger expense in the conclusion. You may possibly select this form of strategy if you took the quantity you were saving in the early years and invested it in one thing with a mid to substantial yield so that cash would continue to perform for you as you aged.

The 2nd score method for Medigap insurance policies is known as a community-rated policy. An insurance coverage organization will set rates for a selected spot and cost the same of all of us, regardless of age. If you dwell in an place that has a pretty very low neighborhood-rated coverage, you could know a significant benefit by enrolling in this type of prepare. You will also be in a position to spending budget easily, as your month to month premium will not alter over the many years. 1 disadvantage of this kind of rating strategy is if your location has an unusually high charge set by the insurance coverage corporations. You could be paying out out a whole lot in contrast to other strategies that are centered on you alone.

The third Medigap insurance ranking procedure is the problem-age-rated policy. A premium is calculated based mostly on the age at which you purchase the coverage. Nonetheless, the fee will not enhance as you age. The benefit of this is that you’ll get a fairly set fee that won’t be topic to modify just about every 12 months or so. If you obtain the coverage at a fairly youthful age, you could get in at a reduce fee in contrast to if you purchased a policy a number of years later. If you are older when you choose up a policy, you may well be paying far more than you need to have to in contrast to other plans.

Note that all insurance premiums will improve through time as corporations modify rates to stay competitive, match market place rates and compensate for inflation. Nevertheless, if you examine up on these Medigap insurance coverage ratings plans and comprehend exactly how they are figured, you’ll be greater equipped to make the original determination of what type of coverage applies to you, as nicely as head off any surprises with rate increases down the street.More info of Medigap

Source by Stevie Cervantes

For people in their twenties and thirties, a health insurance policy is a great way to provide a health cover to their families in case of their unexpected death. A health assurance cover would benefit to make sure that at the time of emergency your family gets enough support to pay off your medical expenses.

For some people, as they get older they see less of a need for health insurance but for others the need is still there but it’s their plan that changes. Maybe your house is paid off and the birds are ready to leave their nest but you still require health insurance to make sure that your medical expenses will not be a burden and want your spouse to be take care off. There can be hundred reasons to buy a health insurance and there are countless options today to choose a best policy for yourself at any stage of your life.

One fact that cannot be ignored is that when you are in your twenties the health insurance premiums would be less expensive than it is when you are in your fifties and the older you get the more expensive health insurance will be but that does not mean that it’s impossible to find a good health insurance plan at an affordable price. When you’ve determined how much coverage you need and what type of policy you want to go with you want to do a little bit of comparison shopping to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Talk to a competent health insurance agent and he can help you choose the best policy affordable available at the cheapest premium structure. There are plans designed specifically to cover final expenses, there are plans available for people regardless of any current medical issues, there are term health policies, whole health, universal, variable, the list goes on and on.

Source by Tony (OM Visions)

Traveling can be a whole lot of fun especially for holiday travelers looking forward to some rest and recreation. But whether you’re traveling to attend a professional conference or to sip martinis off an island beach, one thing remains common besides hotel accommodations – rental cars. If you’ve ever signed your name on the dotted line for a rental car, you would, in all likelihood, have contemplated whether or not to purchase the car damage waiver offered. Do you need car rental insurance for your rental car?

Don’t be so quick to say no even if your insurance policy covers rental cars. True, many travel experts will tell you paying car rental insurance is an unnecessary expense. They say so because some personal policies cover damage to a rental car. Premium credit cards may also come with accident insurance. All these notwithstanding, you are probably best off signing the agreement with your car rental company so that you absolutely won’t be held liable if the car in questions is damaged or stolen. Here’s why:

1. Not all policies cover car rentals outside of the country. Often, coverage is for US only. If you’re renting a car in Paris or London even with the same rental company you use back home, you’d be burdened with charges when you don’t carry car rental insurance and meet an accident while driving it.

2. Premium credit cards normally offer secondary accident coverage. Very rarely would you find a credit card that offers primary accident coverage. What difference does this make? A secondary insurer pays you only after you’ve filed claims with a primary insurer.

3. Your policies do not cover all charges the car rental company makes on your credit card. Damage, from the point of view of the car rental company, is not only the cost to repair the vehicle in question. Understanding this is perhaps the biggest reason why the answer to the above question is a resounding yes.

What You’re Liable For

When you meet and accident or lose a rental car without a CDW, your car rental company will charge you what the CDW would have covered. Here’s a short list of mostly likely charges that will appear on your credit card (yes, they have that little detail, don’t they?):

Cost of Repair – this is common and this is what your personal policy normally covers.

Lost Income – the amount of money the car rental company lost while the vehicle is out of commission.

Diminution of Value – an estimated sum the car rental company would lose if it sells the vehicle.

Keeping Yourself Protected

Car rental insurance could be such a hassle, true. But if you’d rather be sure you won’t encounter an even bigger hassle later, you’d let yourself get sold on the pitch and take the collision damage waiver or take out a car rental insurance. Otherwise, if you’d like to assure yourself it’s not an unnecessary expense, read the agreement you’re signing with your car rental company. Make sure you have coverage for what they’d hold you liable when you meet with an unfortunate event.

Source by Elijah James