Wednesday, October 29, 2008

AARP Auto Insurance – Securing our Seniors

As Senior Citizens in our country are feeling pressured to reduce costs as much as possible to be able to survive on their fixed income, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is the leader in helping to restore financial security to seniors by offering low-cost options for auto insurance to its members.

AARP offers both Auto and Homeowners insurance, provided by The Hartford, to their members. Membership in AARP is costs a maximum of $12.50 per year, less if you enroll for more than one year at a time, and the only requirement is that members must be 50 years of age or older.

Seniors will find that the premium rates through AARP Auto Insurance are lower than through other insurance carriers, because the policies are only offered to seniors, and rates are not affected by other age groups who drive more frequently or are less experienced drivers and therefore would result in more claims which would increase the premium rates for everyone insured.

AARP offers many benefits in their auto insurance policies that simply are not available with typical plans. Some of the advantages that seniors will receive by insuring through AARP are outlined below:

12 Month Fixed Premium Rate

Most insurance policies are premium rated on a 6 month basis, meaning the cost of your insurance has the potential to increase every 6 months. AARP’s policies are rated for a full year, giving seniors the advantage of being able to budget their income more effectively, knowing they have an additional 6 months per year of fixed cost on auto insurance.

Annual Deductible Reduction

With a continued good driving record, AARP will reduce the deductible on seniors’ auto insurance by $150, and then by $50 per year thereafter, without causing premium rate increase, until their deductible is $0.

Forgiveness of First Accident

With a clean driving record for previous 5 years, seniors will be secure in knowing that if they are in an accident, on the first occasion, their premium rate will not increase.

New Car Value Protection

If a senior purchases a new car, insures it through AARP, and is involved in an accident in the first 15 months or 15,000 miles resulting in a total loss of the vehicle, AARP will replace the vehicle with a brand new vehicle, identical to the one lost, with all the same features and options, with no depreciation.

These value advantages is what makes AARP the right choice for seniors needing auto insurance.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Why the Insurance Company you Choose Matters

Each year many employees and those who are self-employed have to make a decision about which Health Insurance company they will use. Many wonder if it really matters at all. They get overwhelmed by all the information available and in the end choose whatever rate looks the cheapest. This is usually a big mistake and could even be fatal.

You see, the insurance company you choose does matter. It matters when you want to choose which doctor to see. It matters when you want to control out-of-pocket expenses. It matters when you need to be sure your prescription drugs are going to be covered. And if, God forbid, you get into a serious accident or develop a life-threatening disease—it really matters.

Having a health insurance company like
AARP Health Insurance on your side can make all the difference in the world. You have a much better chance of being able to see the doctor you choose because more doctors accept AARP Health Insurance than any other health insurance in the world. AARP offers more coverage, more choices and more flexibility than most plans as well. It is usually the first name a person thinks of when they hear the term health insurance because it is the most recognizable name in the industry.

Your health is important. You can't enjoy life without good health. Having good health insurance allows you to feel confident about your health care options and makes you more likely to stay healthy because people with good health insurance are more likely to do things like get annual check-ups which helps you stay in tune with your health. AARP not only provides superior health insurance coverage, they offer superior peace of mind.

Whether you participate in an employer based plan or purchase your own health insurance through an agent or online, get some reasonable insurance quotes and take all of the important factors into consideration when choosing your health insurance provider. Chances are if you weigh all the factors out, AARP Health Insurance will come out on top.

Why do Health Insurance Premiums Rise?

Few people realize how much health care really costs in the United States today. Costs have skyrocketed on everything from routine tests to prescription drugs to emergency room visits. Many people, who have had insurance over the years have abused their health care coverage and had many expensive tests and procedures that may not have been necessary ,but thinking that they were "free" consented to or even asked for unnecessary procedures. Another way that insurance coverage has been abused is with expensive brand-name prescriptions.

Did you know that a generic prescription is identical to the brand-name, but generally costs about one-third the price?
Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance has become educating people that this type of abuse raises health care costs for everyone because insurance premiums are based on the amount of money the insurance company has to pay out in medical costs each year. Expensive unnecessary trips to the emergency room or paying the higher price for prescription drugs raises the price for everyone involved. Every person regardless of the type of medical insurance they have, including Blue Cross Blue Shield should begin taking a more active role in reducing medical costs and keeping premiums low.

Other ways to keep the cost of health insurance low include staying healthier by watching your diet and getting enough exercise. Overweight is one the biggest contributors to health problems and so by keeping your weight healthy you are less likely to experience devastating and expensive health problems like heart disease, adult onset diabetes and high blood pressure. Maintaining reasonably priced health insurance with a provider such as
Blue Cross and Blue Shield can also help you by covering routine doctor visits such as a yearly physical which will also help prevent serious health problems.

Health insurance premiums may go up now and then, but by taking a few precautions such as using the emergency room only for emergencies and opting for generic drugs whenever possible, you can help keep them at a reasonable level. Taking proper advantage of your insurance coverage through a provider like Blue Cross Blue Shield in maintaining your health will also help keep premiums lower.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Auto Insurance Quotes

Everyone wants to save money, and auto insurance is one place people continually look to cut costs. It is easy to get auto insurance quotes online and from insurance companies on the phone and locally. With so many easy ways to get an auto insurance quote you may be tempted to switch companies to get a better deal. But before you decide on an auto insurance company based on their quotes think about these considerations.

An auto insurance quote is just that, only a quote. The price you are quoted is not necessarily the actual auto insurance price you will pay once the policy is finalized. It is important to make sure the insurance company you are considering has all the relevant and accurate information they need to issue an actual price for coverage.

When you get an
auto insurance quotes make sure you give accurate information. Don’t withhold details of your credit history or driving record because auto insurance companies check these and use them to determine the price of your coverage. You should also give the correct VIN number of the vehicle as using a generic one for a quote can also affect the final price you pay. The quote you get is only as accurate as the information you supply the insurance company.

You should also consider the terms and fine print that come along with your quote. The quote you get may be for a policy with higher or lower deductibles than you want, different levels of coverage, or have other terms that will affect the price of your actual policy. Make sure you know exactly what terms, coverage, limits, and deductibles are included in your policy so you are not surprised later.

Everyone wants to save money but you should not let the auto insurance quote alone be the determining factor when you choose an auto insurance company. Choosing an auto insurance company that has reliable customer service and spending a few more dollars on coverage might be worth it. Likewise, going with a company who has a reputation for not increasing coverage over time or who offers other benefits such as accident forgiveness and agood driver rate reductions may also be worth a few dollars more in the beginning
.