BUYING HEALTH INSURANCE AS A FAMILY is like sitting around the coffee table putting a puzzle together. But instead of one possible outcome, the pieces can fit together to make an album of finished puzzle pictures. The strategy, however, is no different. The key to completing the puzzle is to find the corner pieces or flat-sided pieces so you can fill in the middle accordingly.
The corner pieces to your health insurance puzzle represent the make-up of your family. How many members are there and what is your budget? A Family Health Insurance plan can start with just two people. It is very common for a party of two or more to purchase a "Family" health insurance policy assuming their will be value-added benefits in terms of cost and coverage. In fact, the opposite is usually true. The overall benefits might be greater when you split the plan up if your family has three or less members.
Often times a family policy for two people can cost more in monthly premium than two separate policies combined. Plus, the deductibles and limits per person don't change. A family of three will be somewhat similar. A family can really start to save money on purchasing a plan together when there are four or more members because the monthly premium stays the same after three family members and the combined yearly deductible can decrease.
The flat-sided pieces to your puzzle represent the needs of each family member. Some health insurance plans are more appropriate for males and others are more appropriate for females. Plans that don't include maternity benefits can cost much less in monthly premium, often have low or NO deductibles, and can usually only be purchased by an individual. Some of these plans are even appropriate for women because they have an "escape clause" that allows the member to slide into a high-deductible maternity plan should she become pregnant.
How does your puzzle look now? It is time to fill in the middle and complete your puzzle. The final piece to this puzzle is your health insurance agent. Your puzzle's picture can change from year to year and your agent's job is to help you solve it.
Health Insurance Needs for you, your Family, or your Business?
Click here for a free Health Insurance Quote!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Travel Insurance...Take-Off With No Worries!
Your trip is planned and you can almost feel your feet sinking into the white sand beach; or the cool rush of the mountain as your skis blaze down the face; or the ship docking in port on the Mediterranean. Whatever your destination or travel agenda may be, the last thing you want to think about is the probability or the possibility that something might inhibit your travel plans.
Most likely everything will go as planned. Perhaps there will be a small flight delay, a touch of altitude sickness, a junky hotel room. These common travel bumps are tiny scars on our adventurous skins that we glance at with laughter and nostalgia. But, now more than ever, it is the larger events – some unforeseen and many easily predictable – that leave much more than a memory scar, that are responsible for cancellations and interruptions, baggage loss or theft for many of today’s travelers. Often times these mishaps lead to thousands of dollars spent on trips that were only partially enjoyed or not enjoyed at all.
Enter Travel Insurance! A ten minute discussion with a professional and knowledgeable Travel Insurance Agent is a nice place to start. You will often find that for 10%-15%of the cost of your trip you can insure you travels against trip cancellation and trip interruption (due to illness to you, a travel companion, or an immediate family member not traveling with you). These policies can also guard against travel delays, baggage loss, delay, or theft and most importantly, Emergency Medical Services and Evacuation.
Most importantly, make sure to know the rules that the insurance carrier of your choice has towards covering pre-existing conditions. In order to have pre-existing conditions covered, some companies require you to purchase your travel insurance anytime before making the majority payment for your trip. Other companies require you to buy travel insurance within 15 days of your initial trip deposit date.
There are many travel insurance carriers and even more plan options to choose from. I have found that two of the most reliable travel insurance carriers are HTH Worldwide and AIG Travel Guard Insurance. These two companies provide an menu of plan options to fit your needs and your travels. They also have competitive rates and thorough and helpful customer service and claims teams.
Working with a travel insurance agent who has a good relationship with carriers and their claims teams will ensure you the best possible service and to keep the investment of your trip well protected. Your agent should be available to you throughout the purchasing process, throughout your travels, and to guide you through a claim should you need to submit one. Your agent should also supply you with the knowledge for the proper protocol to access doctors and you insurance carrier while you are out of the country.
Wouldn’t you like to travel without the financial worry should something cause your trip to be canceled or interrupted, or if you need immediate medical attention while traveling abroad? Chances are you probably won’t have to use it. The peace of mind that you are well protected can allow you to take-off, land, explore, and relax with a smile and a sense of freedom.
Stay tuned to this blog for more tips on purchasing Travel Insurance…
Click here for free Travel Insurance Quotes!
Health Insurance Needs for you, your Family, or your Business?
Click here for a free Health Insurance Quote!
Most likely everything will go as planned. Perhaps there will be a small flight delay, a touch of altitude sickness, a junky hotel room. These common travel bumps are tiny scars on our adventurous skins that we glance at with laughter and nostalgia. But, now more than ever, it is the larger events – some unforeseen and many easily predictable – that leave much more than a memory scar, that are responsible for cancellations and interruptions, baggage loss or theft for many of today’s travelers. Often times these mishaps lead to thousands of dollars spent on trips that were only partially enjoyed or not enjoyed at all.
Enter Travel Insurance! A ten minute discussion with a professional and knowledgeable Travel Insurance Agent is a nice place to start. You will often find that for 10%-15%of the cost of your trip you can insure you travels against trip cancellation and trip interruption (due to illness to you, a travel companion, or an immediate family member not traveling with you). These policies can also guard against travel delays, baggage loss, delay, or theft and most importantly, Emergency Medical Services and Evacuation.
Most importantly, make sure to know the rules that the insurance carrier of your choice has towards covering pre-existing conditions. In order to have pre-existing conditions covered, some companies require you to purchase your travel insurance anytime before making the majority payment for your trip. Other companies require you to buy travel insurance within 15 days of your initial trip deposit date.
There are many travel insurance carriers and even more plan options to choose from. I have found that two of the most reliable travel insurance carriers are HTH Worldwide and AIG Travel Guard Insurance. These two companies provide an menu of plan options to fit your needs and your travels. They also have competitive rates and thorough and helpful customer service and claims teams.
Working with a travel insurance agent who has a good relationship with carriers and their claims teams will ensure you the best possible service and to keep the investment of your trip well protected. Your agent should be available to you throughout the purchasing process, throughout your travels, and to guide you through a claim should you need to submit one. Your agent should also supply you with the knowledge for the proper protocol to access doctors and you insurance carrier while you are out of the country.
Wouldn’t you like to travel without the financial worry should something cause your trip to be canceled or interrupted, or if you need immediate medical attention while traveling abroad? Chances are you probably won’t have to use it. The peace of mind that you are well protected can allow you to take-off, land, explore, and relax with a smile and a sense of freedom.
Stay tuned to this blog for more tips on purchasing Travel Insurance…
Click here for free Travel Insurance Quotes!
Health Insurance Needs for you, your Family, or your Business?
Click here for a free Health Insurance Quote!
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