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5 Things You Should Never Say to Your Insurance Company

SavvySugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:00:26 -0800

So, you think you prepared for the worst - at least you have insurance, right? Well, just when you think it can't get any worse, your insurance company could skimp on your coverage based on how you phrase what's happened. Read on to find out Money magazine's list of the top five things you'll never want your insurance company to hear you say.

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Avoid These 10 Foods While Driving to Keep Insurance Down

SavvySugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:30:50 -0700

Grab 'n' go, quickie stops, and drive-throughs are a given in our fast-paced society, but one auto insurance agency says slowing down can save you money. And they're not talking about lightening your lead foot. In response to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Insurance.com prepared a list of the 10 most dangerous foods to eat while driving because they tend to distract drivers.

If you've ever been in an accident, then you're well aware of how much it can impact your insurance. Decrease the likelihood of an accident by enjoying these foods while you're not trying to steer a car.

Coffee. "Even with a travel lid, hot coffee can find its way out of the opening when you hit a bump."
Hot soup. "Many people drink it like coffee and run the same risks."
Tacos. "Any food that can disassemble itself will leave your car looking like a salad bar."
Chili dogs. "Huge potential for drips and slops down the front of clothing."

Learn what else to avoid when you read more.

Hamburgers. "From the grease to the toppings, it could end up on your hands and the steering wheel."
Ribs and wings. "What's more distracting than licking your fingers?"
Fried chicken. "More greasy hands. You've got to wipe them off while you're driving."
Jelly donuts. "It's not possible to eat one without watching the center ooze out."
Soda. "Carbonation. Fizz in the nose. Lids that leak. Disaster."
Chocolate. "Try to clean melted chocolate off the steering wheel without swerving."

I never thought of soda as particularly dangerous, and am in disbelief that people really eat ribs and wings while driving! Do you have a habit of eating at the wheel?

What Travelers Should Know About Layoff Insurance

SavvySugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:30:05 -0700

Most of us could use a vacation right about now, but it's tough to feel confident spending money on a trip when the economy continues to shed jobs by the thousands. Travel insurance providers have seen a huge uptick in travelers asking for an extra layoff insurance provision, designed to reimburse vacationers who plan big trips then lose their jobs. Here are a few things you should know before deciding on a travel insurance package and provider.

Read the fine print: Most travel insurance policies include a layoff provision, but they're usually restricted to employees who have been with the same employer for one to three years.
"Cancel for work reasons" may not include a layoff: According to Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.com, policies including a "cancel for work reasons" add-on cover circumstances like a company move but usually do not cover layoffs.
Shop around for a policy that meets your needs by comparing several policies at once on search sites like Squaremouth.com and InsureMyTrip.com.
Bob Chambers, director of operations for CSA Travel Protection, recommends skipping the expense of cancel for any reason packages and encourages consumers to visit the Better Business Bureau or ustia.org to check the legitimacy of the insurance company they're using.

Source

Which Cars Appeared on the Most Ticketed List?

SavvySugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:30:16 -0800

When it comes to car insurance, you bet insurers pay attention to the kind of car you drive. A company that helps insurers identify risks ran a study to determine which cars tend to be ticketed most. Can you guess which cars made the most ticketed list?

Source

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Insurent Helps First-Time Renters Get Decent Apartments

SavvySugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:29:42 -0700

Adventure and possibility push new grads to move to a new city and many (including yours truly) do so with low entry-level salary offers in hand. While you're sure of your ability to pay monthly rent and are willing to fork over a high percentage of your salary, searching for an apartment without a certain level of income can be an incredibly frustrating process.

Many landlords require a renter's income to be as much as 45 times monthly rent, so new grads without that pedigree might find themselves as I did: moving in to a tiny apartment in a walk-up building with steep stairs, a blocked fire escape, windows that didn't fully close, and a charming water heater taking up half the closet-sized kitchen. Find out how one company is helping new grads and relocated international workers when you read more.

Insurent is a new company that basically insures the rent on a unit when a landlord's requirements block an apartment hunter from being considered. Renters pay a fee for the service as with any other type of insurance, and a background check is done before eligibility is granted.

Similar to landlords, Insurent requires identification, employment verification, and a credit score higher than 630. But where landlords may pass over an applicant whose rent isn't about 45 times monthly rent ($90,000 for a $2,000 place), Insurent extends its service to applicants who make 27 and a half times their monthly rent ($55,000 for a $2,000 place).

The company is targeting new grads with job offers and professionals relocating to the US without American credit history. Depending on credit score, Insurent's fee can be from 58 to 110 percent of monthly rent. It can be a hefty price to pay to get a secure roof over your head, but so far 35 renters have their rent guaranteed by the company.

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Travel Insurance: What, Why, and When

SavvySugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:33:36 -0700

Travel insurance doesn't only apply to lovebirds planning their honeymoon, it's something that anyone traveling on an expensive trip may want to consider. Learn the basics of travel insurance here to see if it's right for you.

What

Different policies will vary in what they cover, but the possibilities include bankruptcy of any travel supplier you've planned on using, accidentals before or during the trip that prevent travel, baggage loss or delay, trip cancellation, delay, or interruption, basic medial coverage, and emergency assistance.
Your travel agent will provide you with insurance information, but if you're planning without an agent make sure you research a variety of providers to compare rates and fine print coverage details.

Find out the when and the why when you read more.

Why

You'll be charged anywhere from four to eight percent of the cost of your trip for insurance, but considering what's at stake the extra money may be worth it to protect your investment and buy you a piece of mind. We all know that travel can heed unexpected events and you can't count on the fact that everything will be peachy because it's your well-deserved vacation.
Travel insurance works with smaller hurdles like flight cancellations, and larger ones like evacuation and emergency medical treatment where your personal health insurance plan may not be able to offer assistance.

When

Make sure that you're clear on deadlines for submitting travel insurance paperwork and be aware there may be separate deadlines for different levels of insurance. For example, if you're concerned that you may want to cancel one leg of your trip that insurance upgrade may require an earlier deadline than your basic travel insurance plan.
Once you've decided on a plan and provider, fill out the insurance paperwork as soon as you get it and send it back immediately so it's one less deadline for you to remember.

Source

Your Two Cents: Is Any of Your Jewelry Insured?

SavvySugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:02:47 -0700

Insurance is available for most things that are valuable to us like health, homes, and vehicles, and it makes sense that you may consider protecting your jewelry. You can purchase additional insurance for jewelry as a rider through your current provider or through an insurer recommended to you by the appraiser. After your jewelry has been appraised you simply select the type, or how much coverage, you'd like for it.

Engagement rings and precious family heirlooms are often insured by their owners because of the sentimental and monetary value. Do you own any jewelry that's insured?

Source

Your Two Cents: Is Renter's Insurance Worth It?

SavvySugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:00:23 -0800

Sure, it's always better to be safe than sorry, but sometimes being safe is costly and troublesome - and turns us off. Renter's insurance, for example, seems a necessary precaution to protect your rental apartment or home. But a recent poll among my friends revealed that even savvy, intelligent women are too bothered by the hassle and the anticipated cost of signing up.

If renter's insurance doesn't seem like a big deal to you, look at it this way: if you're a renter and something happens to your home, you might lose everything, and no one is responsible. Not your property manager. No one. Even in the event of a fire or a flood, your landlord is not legally responsible to cover the damages. Don't take my word for it; read these renter's nightmares and you just might be convinced to get yourself insured. And the truth is, it's actually pretty low-cost - depending on your policy, you could spend as little as $20 a month. So, tell me, do you think renter's insurance is worth the trouble?

Would You Buy Sunshine Insurance?

SavvySugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:15:13 -0700

Travel insurance can be a lifesaver on certain types of trips, but with less people choosing to spend their money on vacations, the industry has seen sunnier days. These gloomier times have encouraged businesses to become more creative, and a couple French travel agencies are trying to attract customers with sunshine insurance.

If vacationers endure at least four days of rain during one week, the insurance policy would make them eligible for a partial trip refund. Satellite photos provided by the French weather bureau are used to calculate how much money policy holders should be paid. The agencies did a trial run last year before officially launching the product, and 10 percent of the travelers who expressed interest in the insurance policy would have received money back due to insufficient weather.

Your Two Cents: Do You Have Health Insurance?

SavvySugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:23 -0700

Big changes could be in the future for health insurance. Are you currently insured?