Nine questions to ask your pet insurance

How do the policy limits work?

Some policies will offer a maximum annual payout for a pet. Others offer a maximum annual payout for a particular condition, though in some cases the limit may apply to each individual claim.

What about ongoing conditions?

Many policies will continue to offer treatment for a condition that continues into a new premium year, as long as the policy is renewed and never allowed to lapse. Some don't, so be sure to ask. Remember that even when an insurer offers ongoing coverage, there will likely be an annual maximum payout.

What about age limits?

Usually an insurer will only begin covering a pet that is below a certain age. Some will refuse to renew the policy once the pet reaches this age, while others will continue covering it as long as the policy never lapses.

If you have a policy that pays out if the pet dies through illness or accident, this specific element of cover may cease at a particular age.

Can I get a no claims discount?

In many cases, insurers don't offer this. The reasoning is that whereas it isn't a problem if a homeowner replaces a stolen bag or a driver pays to fix a minor dent, if a pet owner doesn't get their animal treated (in an attempt to maintain a no claims discount), it's likely to harm the animal's health and lead to costlier claims in the future.

What about dental treatment?

Many pet insurance companies exclude routine dental treatment. However, some will cover dentistry costs that result from an accident.

Is my breed of dog covered?

Most insurers have a list of breeds that they will not cover, either because there is a greater risk of them becoming ill, or because they are too high value. Check carefully as an insurer may exclude a dog even if it is a cross-breed with one of the listed breeds.

Does the policy cover alternative medicine?

While it is rare for human medical insurance to cover non-pharmaceutical medicines, there is more scope among pet insurers. If your policy does cover such treatment, check carefully to see exactly what treatment is covered, and whether you need a vet's diagnosis before you can make a claim.

What about working pets?

Generally dogs used for commercial purposes such as security or racing cannot be covered. Sheepdogs are covered by some insurers, while most will cover guide dogs for blind people, though they may not pay compensation to cover the inconvenience caused to the owner if the dog is ill.

How does the excess work?

While some insurers operate a simple excess system, by which the owner pays a fixed amount towards each claim, others also use a co-payment system, particularly for older pets. This means the policyholder not only pays the excess amount, but then pays a fixed percentage of any claim amount above the excess.

Is Your Cat or Dog Too Old for Cheap Pet Insurance?

Most of us tend to suffer more frequent health problems as we age, and the same is true of our pets. Just as we might have to pay more for health cover the older we get, premiums for pet insurance can also increase substantially.

In most cases, you can expect to start paying significantly more for insurance once your pet reaches eight or nine years old. And in fact, many insurers simply don’t insure pets over this age unless they’re renewing an existing policy. Insurers that do cover older cats and dogs tend to quote much higher rates.

According to data from LV (Liverpool Victoria) General Insurance, the average cost of a visit to the Vet is around £300 each and, with a third of cats and dogs suffering from an injury or illness every year; this could mean a significant increase in costs for you as your pet get’s older.

Whilst insurance is designed to protect you and your pet from the financial burden of injury or illness, the difficulty in comparing policies on a like for like basis makes finding effective and affordable cover for an older pet easier said than done. A wide variety of exclusions and excesses that differ between insurers make it difficult enough, but policies can also vary according to how much you can claim for different health conditions.

New Insurance for Older Pets

Liverpool Victoria pet insurance has recently begun offering cover for older cats and dogs, with no upper age limit. Each policy includes a standard £60 excess for each claim, and there are two different plan types on offer:

• The Essential plan includes twelve months’ worth of cover for each condition (from the date of diagnosis or first treatment for a given condition)
• The Premier plan includes £5,000 worth of coverage for each condition. No time limit applies on this plan.

Premium costs are definitely affordable, particularly in comparison to previous premiums for older pets. As with other types of pet insurance, the cost depends partly on the breed of the animal you’re insuring.

On the Essential plan a ten year old moggy will cost £106 to insure each year, while on the Premium plan, the costs is £146. For a ten year old Burmese cat, the cost is £116 and £163 respectively for the Essential and Premier plans.

A ten year old Jack Russell will cost £172 a year on the Essential plan, and £255 on the Premium. For Labradors, which are prone to leg conditions as they age, the annual cost is £198 and £306 respectively.

Other insurers who have no upper age limit on new policies at the time of writing are:

• Halifax pet insurance
• Marks & Spencer
• More Than
• Petplan
• Petwise

Interestingly, higher Vet’s fees may actually be helping to decrease insurance costs for older pets. An increase in Vet’s fees has led to more people buying pet insurance, and as the demand for this type of cover grows, insurers are starting to accommodate customer’s needs with more competitive packages.

What is Family Income Benefit Life Insurance?

Family Income Benefit is one of the least expensive forms of Life Insurance and differs from most other types in that it is designed to pay the benefit as an income rather than a lump sum.

Low Cost Family Protection
The fact that the amount of cover (sum assured) is paid in regular instalments means that the risk to the Insurer is decreasing over the term chosen which makes Family Income Benefit cheaper than Level Term Life Insurance where the risk to the Insurer is the same throughout the term of the plan.

Regular Tax Free Income Payments
In the event of a claim, income can be paid monthly, quarterly or annually and under current rules the income is tax-free. This makes it ideal for Family Protection where a family are looking to insure the main bread winner over a specific term, for example to his or her retirement age.

Extra Cover Options
Family Income Benefit can also include Critical Illness Insurance which is designed to pay the selected income if the policyholder is diagnosed with a Critical Illness within the chosen term. Critical Illness conditions vary from insurer to insurer but in general include such conditions as Cancer, Heart Attack, and Stroke etc. In addition to these “Core Conditions” applicants can also select comprehensive cover which usually includes 25 to 30 additional conditions.

Although Level Term Life Insurance is perhaps the most popular choice for Family Protection, the difficulty for most successful claimants is how to generate an income from the cash lump sum. For simplicity most people tend to place the proceeds of the policy in a Bank or Building Society deposit from which they take a regular amount of interest as income. The problem with this is that the interest generated may be subject to tax and will have to be declared via Self Assessment.

Family Income Benefit therefore should be considered when looking to effect insurance for Family Protection. Family Income Benefit is a low cost, tax efficient solution to Family Protection.

Pet Abandonment Figures Highlight a Need for Insurance

The number of pets, particularly cats and dogs, being abandoned is continuing to rise according to the RSPCA, which recently announced that abandonment is up a staggering 23% compared to last year’s figures.

It’s not only that owners underestimate how much time and energy it takes to look after a pet, but just how financially draining a pet can be. Healthcare costs for pets have been steadily rising for several years, partly due to the increasing sophistication of available veterinary treatments.

Where once a broken leg or other serious injury might have meant euthanasia for a family pet, these days an operation that will enable a full recovery might end up costing hundreds of pounds in vet bills.

The lifetime costs of owning a pet can range in the thousands. According to figures by Sainsbury’s pet insurance, the average dog owner pays just over £500 annually for food, veterinary bills, and other expenses. Pet care costs haven’t stopped increasing though, Sainsbury’s estimate that in just twelve years time, the annual cost could be as high as £921.

Are we Killing our Pets with Kindness?

Another issue that has led to increasing petcare costs is the way we’re feeding our pets. Many of us are, unfortunately, killing our cats and dogs with kindness by giving them unhealthy food that’s not designed for animals.

Pet foods are nutritionally balanced especially for pets, which have very different dietary needs from our own. Giving our pet’s constant treats or table scraps can cause rapid weight gain, and like humans, animals can develop serious chronic health conditions if they’re allowed to become obese. Somewhere between one third and one half of all Britain’s cats and dogs are overweight, and it’s estimated that there are more than five million obese pets nationally.

As a result, pets are developing diseases such as diabetes and osteoarthritis as well as chronic circulatory and respiratory problems that are not only making them unhealthy and reducing their lifespan, but also mean their owners must pay more for veterinary treatment.

We consider our pet’s part of the family, but sadly, many of us just aren’t taking the best care of their health. Before you give your pet the table scraps they seem to be begging for, consider whether you’re helping or hurting them.

A Place for Insurance

Whilst insurance is an additional expense that many owners can ill afford, an increasingly competitive market has resulted in greater choice and cheaper premiums for many. But as the recent figures show, the alternative to prudent planning could be the loss of your pet if an unexpected illness or injury requires urgent and ongoing treatment.

If owners make the commitment to buy a good policy when they take on a new pet, they’ll potentially save thousands of pounds over its lifetime and have the means to ensure any health problems are diagnosed and treated early

Know your rights if you're hit by an uninsured driver

What is the uninsured drivers agreement?

The uninsured drivers agreement is an arrangement between the Government and the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB). The MIB is a company which is funded by its members; by law all insurers which deal with compulsory motor insurance (that cover which drivers must legally have) are required to be MIB members.

Under the agreement the scheme will pay some or all of the costs incurred when an insured driver is involved in an accident which is held to be caused by an uninsured driver.

How do I make a claim under the scheme?

You should submit a claim using the official form on the MIB website (www.mib.org.uk) and supplying as much detail as possible. The MIB advises drivers to make sure that the other driver is uninsured (via a check with the DVLA); make a formal complaint to the police about the other driver breaking the law by driving without insurance; and report the accident to your own insurer.

Where possible you should also provide the MIB with two estimates of the cost of the necessary repairs, or one estimate stating the car is a write-off. It's not necessary to include the estimates if doing so would delay your claim.

What happens next?

The MIB will then consider the case. This can take a few months for minor damage, but much longer for complex cases. As part of the process, the MIB is required to contact the uninsured driver. If they refuse to cooperate with the investigation, it may complicate matters.

How much will I get?

This will depend on the investigation and any associated court decisions. If you are held to be partly or fully responsible for the accident, it will affect the compensation you receive.

For accidents after 7 November 2008, no excess payment is deducted from the compensation you receive. If you receive any compensation for lost earnings, you may have to repay some Government benefits you have received in relation to the injuries.

What about hit and runs?

In the event of a hit and run case, of any other accident where you can't identify the other driver, you can claim under a separate MIB scheme known as the untraced drivers agreement. The MIB will then co-ordinate with the police to get information from its own investigations, which means it may take some time before the claim is processed and completed. You may only be able to recover part of any legal costs you incur in this process.

As a general rule, the untraced driver agreement scheme will not pay for damages to your car unless the vehicle itself has been identified. If the vehicle hasn't been identified, you should still be eligible for compensation relating to injury as long as the investigation has a satisfactory outcome.

How much does the MIB schemes cost drivers?

At the moment the MIB estimates the fees paid by members are equivalent to between £15 and £30 per policyholder. These fees are built in to the cost of premiums. In recent years the general pattern has been for these costs to rise by more than the rate of inflation. This has been blamed on higher payouts and legal fees for the victims of uninsured drivers.

s it worth buying GAP insurance for your car?

Buying a brand new car for many people is a big deal. Unfortunately, the reality is that as soon as you drive your beloved car away from the garage it automatically loses a considerable amount of its value. Accidents happen and the chances are it may not even have been your fault, so why take the risk?

How will GAP Insurance benefit me?

If your vehicle is stolen or damaged beyond repair, your insurance company may not pay you enough to settle the outstanding finance on the car, and will certainly not pay you back the amount you paid for it. Taking out GAP Insurance ensures you will not be left out of pocket if you have a total insurance loss on your vehicle.

I can get GAP Insurance from the car dealership so why should I purchase it online?

In theory the GAP Insurance you buy from a dealership is a good product. In practice, GAP Insurance purchased from your local dealership may not always be the best product or price that suits your needs. The most important message is to shop around and don’t accept the first deal just because it is convenient or because you are being pressured by the sales rep.

Remember, with most policies you have a 14 day cooling off period should you be unhappy with the deal.

Car dealerships typically sell GAP Insurance policies from £299 - £799. Consumers may think they are too expensive and not worth the price they are paying, especially if it is more expensive than their Comprehensive motor insurance policy they already have. If the premium was 1/3 of the cost dealers charge, would it be worth it? The answer... If you buy the right policy, at the right price!

Back To Invoice Policies

With Back To Invoice policies you have the option to clear the balance of the finance or return to the original invoice price of the vehicle. For example: a vehicle purchased today on finance for approx £30,000 with finance over 4 years and charges of £4500, would, if written off next month, cost you £34,500.

A Back To Invoice policy that nearly every dealership sells, would not clear the £4500 finance charges. This would only get you back to the invoice price. Purchasing a Finance GAP Insurance policy would clear the £4500 however, this wouldn’t get you back to your invoice price.

Vehicle Replacement Policies

Protect yourself with a Vehicle Replacement Policy that allows you to claim a higher monetary level than that of a Back To Invoice policy, however, it can be a more expensive policy to buy.

If you have recently bought a new vehicle and have benefitted from the Government’s Scrappage Scheme or a high level of discount from the dealer, there is no guarantee that these levels of discount will be available a year from now.

Who can take part in the Pass Plus course? car insurance

Pass Plus is a course aimed at improving driving skills, particularly among newly qualified drivers. As well as becoming safer drivers, people who pass the course can obtain discounts from some insurers to recognise their reduced risk of being involved in an accident.
Who can take part in the Pass Plus course?
Any driver is eligible to take part in the course. It is mainly aimed at people who have passed their driving test in the past year. The course may be a little more difficult for people who have been driving for longer than this and have either become rusty or picked up bad habits.
How much does Pass Plus cost?
The cost varies depending on the region and the instructor. It is generally in the £100 to £150 range. Some local authorities will pay up to 50% of the fees, though students will need to apply directly to the authority, usually to the transport or road safety department.
What is covered on the course?
There are six modules on the course: driving in a town (which incorporates general advanced driving skills), driving in extreme weather conditions, driving in the countryside, driving at nighttime, driving on dual carriageways, and driving on motorways. Wherever possible, as many of these skills are taught in a practical setting rather than just the theory.
Will I get an insurance discount?
Not all insurers offer discounts to people who have completed Pass Plus. At the time of writing, those who did were: 4Counties, AA, Adrian Flux, Churchill, CIS, Click4Gap, Direct Line, Endsleigh, i-Kube, Privilege, Provident, Quinn Direct, Royal and Sun Alliance, Swinton, Tesco, Young Marmalade and Zurich. It is worth checking with other insurers to see if the situation has changed.
How do I claim my discount?
On completing the course, you should be issued with a Pass Plus certificate. You can then provide this certificate to the insurer to get your discount. Some insurers will allow you to wait up to two years before using it, for example if you have not yet bought a car. Be careful to check the conditions as some insurers will only accept a Pass Plus certificate achieved within one year of passing your original driving test.
How much discount will I get?
This varies immensely. In some cases it can be up to 35%, while in others it may be as little as 5%. Depending on your circumstances, the saving may or may not be enough to cover or exceed the cost of the course. You may also make greater savings by using a different insurer, even if that insurer doesn't offer a Pass Plus discount. Of course, it's worth remembering that the course offers benefits beyond the immediate financial savings. It may even reduce the likelihood of you making claims, which could later pay off in no-claims bonuses.

Six of the best questions to ask a potential car insurer

Article by UK Insurance Index

n theory it’s easy to choose a car insurer based on a combination of cost and the usual policy features.

In reality, there are a host of factors which can affect the suitability of a policy for your needs and its eventual overall cost which aren't always reflected in a quote comparison or even a quick scan of the insurers website.

Here are six questions to ask potential motor insurers which can reveal less obvious differences that could impact your satisfaction as a new policyholder.

1. What's the policy on repairs?

Different insurers have different rules for what happens to your vehicle after a crash. Some will let you use any reputable repair centre and then send in the bill (though this isn't a guarantee your claim will be settled in full.) Others will let you choose your own repairer but require you to get a quote and have it authorized before you go ahead with the repairs. Others will insist you choose from a list of approved garages.

2. What is your schedule for no claims discounts?

No claims discounts can make a serious difference to the amount you pay: eventually your overall premium could be halved or reduced even further. But this isn't an issue where you can simply compare two figures: you'll need to take into account how much the discount is for each extra year without claims, and at what point the discount "bottoms out" and you can't earn any further discounts.

Check also to see what happens if you make a claim: many insurers will, as long as it's only a one-off claim and you then go at least a year without another claim, allow you to keep some or all of your discounts rather than have to start from scratch.

3. Is there a maximum no claims discount you can transfer?

Most insurers will allow you to carry over your no claims record from another insurer and offer the appropriate discount - after all, if they didn't you'd have less incentive to move. But some insurers impose a limit on the number of NCD years you can accumulate which can be as little as five years. So you could be worse off if you transferred your NCD of seven years with one insurer to another that only allows five years. In effect you’ve just lost two years of NCD which could have saved you money if you moved to another insurer with a higher NCD maximum the following year.

4. How does the payment method affect the premium costs?

In some cases, paying by cash or debit card can earn you a discount (or avoid a surcharge, depending on how you look at it.) On the other hand, some insurers allow you to pay in installments over the year, but charge a higher premium for doing so. Be sure to calculate how much this premium works out as in terms of interest and consider whether borrowing the money through an overdraft or paying on a credit card might actually work out cheaper.

5. Are there any admin charges for policy amendments or cancellation?

There can be a host of potential admin charges for specific policy events such as amendments and cancellation. Whilst your actual premiums might be the lowest around, if you have to pay hefty admin charges for simply changing your address it could prove less than competitive. Therefore scour the policy booklet for admin charges or give your shortlist of insurers a call for confirmation before buying. You can read more about policy charges in the article How to uncover hidden costs of car insurance before buying. 

6. What other discounts are available?

Some of the factors that may earn you a discount include completing the Pass Plus scheme of advanced driving lessons for newly qualified drivers; fitting an alarm system from an approved manufacturer; taking out both motor and home insurance with the same provider; and agreeing to stick to keeping below a certain mileage, an option that's good for occasional drivers or light use vehicles. But which insurers offer which discounts -- and by what percentage -- can vary immensely.

How Does Life Insurance Work?

Life insurance actuaries look an individuals age, sex, health and habits and decide when someone with that profile is most likely to die. They then consider how much cover the buyer wants to purchase and set the premiums accordingly.

For example, smokers are (on average) likely to die sooner than non-smokers. Insurance companies know this means they will probably have to pay out a little sooner whenever they insure a smoker, and therefore charge people who smoke a higher premium to reflect this. This principle forms the basis of all life insurance.

There are two main types of plan to choose from:

• Term Life Insurance - This is the cheapest option, and pays out only if the holder dies while the policy's fixed-length term is in force. If the holder survives until the end of the term, they get nothing back. People often time their insurance to run only until a big family commitment ‚ such as the children's education, had been cleared.
• Whole of Life Insurance - As the name suggests, these policies remain in force right through the buyers life. It follows that the insurance company will have to pay out in almost every case, and premiums are therefore higher than those charged on term life insurance plans. Some policies demand that premiums be paid all the way up to the holders death. Others become paid-up at a certain age, and waive premiums from that point onwards.

What Does The Cover Provide?

There are a number of different types of Term and Whole of Life Insurance plans on the market. The cover which is provided will depend on the type of plan taken out. The types of plans available are as follows:

Term Life Insurance

• Level Term - The plans potential pay out remains the same for the full term of the policy.
• Decreasing Term - The level of cover gradually reduces over the policy term to match a reducing liability such as the amount left to repay on a mortgage loan.
• Increasing Term - Cover offered and premiums paid gradually increase in line with inflation. Designed to ensure the amount of cover purchased remains realistic and is not eroded by the effects of inflation over time.
• Renewable Term - Allows plan holders to extend their cover for a further term with no health check.
• Convertible Term - Allows holders to swap their term cover for a whole of life or endowment policy with no health check.
• Family Income Benefit - Pays the surviving family a regular income instead of a lump sum for the remaining term of the policy.

Whole of Life Insurance

The majority of whole of life insurance policies are unit linked which means that premiums are invested into a fund and the cost of the protection is deducted from the fund as it grows. When a plan is taken out there is a choice of  'Maximum' or 'Standard' basis.

Maximum basis gives a very high level of cover for the monthly premium. Whilst this level of cover will be guaranteed for 10 years it is very likely that there will have to be an increase in premiums after each of the regular reviews. These usually take place after 10 years then after every 5 years.

Standard basis gives a lower level of cover for the premium, but is more likely that this level of cover and premium will stay the same throughout the policyholders life.

Tips for Buying Life Insurance

Shop Around
Don't head straight for the nearest high street bank or direct provider just because they are familiar. Most banks and high street providers are tied to one insurer and won't be able to offer potentially cheaper and better quality cover from other providers.

Use an independent insurance specialist who can compare policies and premiums. Some offer discounted premiums and free advice to help you choose the right policy and provider for your circumstances.

Know What You Need
There are many different types of life insurance and policy options that are designed for various needs. To ensure you aren't disadvantaged or paying too much for cover you don't need, either research the options or take independent advice.

Work Out How Much You Need
Generally speaking, your life insurance should provide a lump sum big enough to pay off your mortgage and other debts, or to invest to provide an income to support your dependants for a sufficient time such as six months or a year.

Guaranteed Premiums 
Are the premiums Guaranteed? This means the premiums are guaranteed to remain the same throughout the term of your policy. This is opposed to `Reviewable´ premiums which, as the name suggests, are reviewed usually every 5 years and can increase at the discretion of the insurance company.

Declare All Material Facts
When applying, be sure to answer all questions fully and honestly. Declare everything that you are aware of and if in doubt, declare it anyway. Failure to declare even a minor issue can result in a claim being declined. Do not give the insurance company any excuse to refuse your claim.

Write Your Policy in Trust
Even an average life insurance pay out can easily take the value of your estate on your death over the inheritance tax allowance. Anything over this threshold is liable for 40% tax when this can easily be avoided by putting the policy in trust. Its free and simply requires completion of a trust form available from the insurance company. Once in trust, the policy remains outside your estate so won't increase its value on your death.

If Unsure Take Advice
Life insurance can be as simple as insuring your car if you know what you need and your affairs are simple. However, if you're affairs are a little more complex you should take independent advice.

How Does Business Life Insurance Work?

Business Protection gives your business financial help if the staff covered are affected by death, terminal or critical illness, or permanent disability during a benefit term.

Every business has certain key personnel who are vital to its success and prosperity. It might be the sales director, or it might be a specialist craftsman. Every business is different, but most directors will know which staff members are vital to prosperity.However, the damage caused by the prolonged absence of someone on whom a large part of the business depends is often underestimated or not even considered.

Key Person Insurance

Key person protection can cover one or two nominated individuals, who can be a partner or an employee. If they die or are diagnosed with a terminal or critical illness, the policy will pay a lump sum either on death or shortly after the diagnosis of a disease. Some policies will pay a regular income if they are absent from work for a long time.

Unforeseen events

If a partner in a business dies, there may be other problems. Apart from their loss to everyday business activity, there may be imperative reasons to buy out their shareholding so that it does not pass to outside investors who do not share the vision of the company's future. Such unforeseen events can lead to crises, reduced revenues and even, in some cases, business collapse.

Protect your business

Business Protection is designed to protect your business in circumstances like these. You can choose the benefits you need and tailor them with additional features, such as waiver of premium during periods of incapacity, the choice of fixed or renewable terms and having index-linked benefits so that they stay in line with increases in inflation. In addition, you can change your benefits as your business needs change.Business Protection covers the individual people you nominate in your policy or policies. If one of these people dies, is diagnosed with a terminal or critical illness the benefits are paid as follows:For life cover and critical illness protection, a lump sum is paid on death or after diagnosis of one of the specified illnesses.

What can benefits be used for?

Funds provided by business protection insurance policies can be used to:

• fund a permanent or temporary replacement
• tide the business over a period of reduced activity
• contribute to medical care to speed recovery
• repay an outstanding loan

Common questions about public liability insurance

What is Public liability insurance?

Public liability insurance covers costs relating to injury or property damage caused to the public that are deemed to be the responsibility of your business or staff members.

In most cases this cover awards made by a court, legal fees and expenses in bringing in a case. In some situations you may also have to pay compensation to the National Health Service towards medical treatment; these costs can also be covered.

Does this cover employees?

Injury to staff members is instead covered by employers' liability insurance. This is mandatory under a 1969 act.

Injury or damage to the public caused by your employees does come under public liability insurance.

How is the cost decided?

The pricing of public liability insurance can vary from business to business. Most will take into account the size of your business, in terms of employees and/or turnover. It's also common for a company to take into account any previous claims you have made (or incidents where you would have made a claim if covered). In some cases, there will be specific adjustments to the premium based on the safety practices you follow in your business.

You will need to check the terms and conditions of your policy carefully as in most cases acts of negligence on your company's part may limit or invalidate the protection which insurance gives you.

Is public liability insurance compulsory?

In most cases public liability insurance is a voluntary measure. In practice, though, you will often find that suppliers and customers won't deal with you unless you have adequate cover.

One example is live events such as entertainment or sport, where most venues will demand you have public liability insurance. This is to make sure that in the event of an audience member being injured, the claim can be dealt with by the company running the event, drastically reducing the chance of action against the venue.

There are certain types of business where public liability insurance is mandatory. Generally these include businesses where the service offered to customers involves inherent dangers such as extreme sports.

Are there any exceptions to what is covered?

As a general rule, you won't be covered for damage caused by a business activity you carry out which is illegal in itself.

Do self-employed people need public liability insurance?

A self-employed person, particularly one who works from home, is less likely to need this cover. The question to consider is where your work-related actions pose a risk of causing injury to others. If clients visit your office or home, you may want to look into cover in case they are injured on your premises.

Do I need cover if I have a great safety record?

It may seem that insurance cover is not needed if you strictly adhere to safe working practices when dealing with the public, but there are a couple of reasons why public liability insurance is still worth considering. One is that there may be a "freak accident" which is still deemed to be your responsibility. Another is that the policy may cover your legal fees if you successfully defend against a liability claim, minimising the risk of you losing out even when you are not to blame.

Is it possible to compare public liability insurance quotes like other types of cover?

Thanks to the internet, it is now possible to compare multiple policies and providers of public liability cover in a similar way to car and home insurance. Although the choice of companies is much more limited, online business insurance comparison sites such as Coverzones, Simply Business and Swintonoffer price and policy comparison services for most types and size of business. However, if your enterprise is a little more unique, there are a range of more specialist brokers who may be able to help.

Understanding Insurance Marketing and Search Engine Placement

When it comes to search engine visibility, the good news for local insurance agents is it’s not too difficult to get your company website to the top of search engines for localized keywords.  Most agencies can find their website reach top placement for geo-targeted keywords by consistently publishing fresh articles on their website and by building links to your website by writing for other relevant resources.

A few rules should be followed as far as onsite seo is concerned also. Ultimately, with local insurance keyword placement, content is king followed by relevant links. Some believe it’s the other way around. Either way, both tasks are very necessary. 

If you were to design a search engine who would have the best rank?

A local insurance agency with several useful Articles published as well as several relevant links back or a local insurance agency with a home and bio page.  Search engines generally have the same idea you have, they want the best resource on top.

Government scraps dog insurance plans

Article by UK Insurance Index

The Government has backed down on plans to force all dog owners to insure their pet against damage caused by it attacking someone else. The climbdown comes just a week after the scheme was announced.

The plan had come under widespread criticism, including a Conservative party poster using the Churchill insurance advert character, dubbing the measure a dog tax. Insurers dubbed the scheme unworkable, saying few firms would be willing to offer cover at affordable rates.

Environment secretary Hilary Benn said "We can rule out compulsory insurance for all dogs. The idea of compulsory insurance was something that was raised with us because of the horrific injuries some very dangerous dogs can cause... We don't want to penalise the vast majority of responsible dog owners because they're just as concerned as everybody else about that small minority who mistreat dogs, get them involved in dog fighting or use dogs as weapons."

He noted that the Government might still bring in powers for a court to order owners of a dog involved in an attack to get pet insurance against future incidents.

An Association of British Insurers spokesman warned this week against bringing the plan back in any form. Nick Starling said compulsory insurance could often be difficult to enforce as the people it targeted most were the ones least likely to follow the law.

Homeowners Insurance Coverage In California

There are two basic categories of coverage for homeowners in California. These two categories include actual cash value coverage and replacement cost coverage.

Generally its best to go with a replacement cost coverage. With this you’ll be better covered since actual cash value coverage will only pay out for the fair market value of your home. A replacement cost policy will provide you with a specified amount for the repair or replacement of your property. Extended replacement cost home coverage will provide a percentage above the original policy limits if the cost of your home rises over time. This keeps California homeowners protected against the increased cost of construction in California.

What comes with a standard homeowners policy in California?

The homeowners policy contains two sections.

Section 1 provides property coverages (A, B, C and D)

Section 2 provides liability coverages (E and F). A brief description of the individual coverages follows:

Coverage A – DwellingCoverage B – Other StructuresCoverage C – Personal PropertyCoverage D – Loss of UseCoverage E – Personal Liability

Coverage F – Medical Payments to Others

Risk Retention and Reduction For Low Auto Insurance

Everyone knows one of the most dramatic ways to lower your car insurance rate is by eliminating coverage. Some do this by dropping liability limits while others drop collision and comprehensive coverage on older vehicles. When you do this, your assuming more risk and creating less risk for the Insurer.

If your car is less than $2,500, why insure if with collision and comprehensive? The extra cost to insure it will probably pay for the value within a year or so.

The truth about deductibles, yes having a higher deductible will lower your premium, do you really want to pay Up to $1000 to get your car repaired or replaced? $1,000 isn’t all that easy to come by; if it was this article probably wouldn’t have found you. A common deductible and the choice for most drivers with comprehensive and collision is $500. The deductible is paid by you per each occurrence.

Risk Retention

So in summary, anytime you put the risk on yourself, you’ll pay less in premium. Risk retention is accomplished done by selecting low limits of coverage and higher deductibles.

Risk Reduction

Reducing risk is the 2nd best way to get low auto insurance rates. According to insurance companies, your risk is reduced when you buy the sedan versus the sports car, when you drive less than $7,500 miles each year and when you keep your driving history clean of tickets and car accidents.

The final way to make sure your getting low auto insurance is by comparing the wide variety of markets. Some insurance companies are built to save senior citizens while others are set up to save more for the newer driver. It’s really tough to tell which company will offer the best rate since each company rates so many factors – differently.

Where does other responsibility fall in?

Is there a chance that if I own my own home, I’m possibly seen as a responsible individual or does the insurance company just really want to offer me a low rate in hopes of also selling me homeowners insurance either now or down the road?

This is a very good question and I believe the answer is yes. Or yes – yes. There are many ways we show our responsibility. Of course maintaining a clean driving record is one of the best ways to maintain a low auto insurance rate.

Fun on the Fourth = Fire Risks Are More Abundant

By Krista Farmer

Independence Day is less than 24 hours away and the scents of summer celebration are ready to be unleashed. The smell of hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, sun-sweetened tea, fresh-squeezed lemonade, ripe watermelon and emblazoned fireworks will infuse the backyards, porches, waterfronts and street corners of many American cities and small towns tomorrow.

A report by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council reports that approximately 150 million hot dogs will be eaten by Americans during this year’s Fourth of July festivities. While only a fraction of that number may suffer from injuries related to fireworks, fire safety cannot be ignored. A day to remember all that America stands for, the Fourth of July is a day that Americans must also remember and practice fire safety. Failure to practice fire prevention is sure to take the fun out of the Fourth.    

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that each year more than 8,000 Americans experience fire-related injuries or damages and more than half of those take place during the first week of July. In 2005, approximately 10,800 people made emergency room visits to treat firework-related injuries. The U.S.F.A. also estimates that cooking grills alone are responsible for approximately $35 million in property loss. Fifty-nine percent of fires caused by fireworks occur during the Fourth of July holiday. While property loss from fires related to fireworks may be fewer (because this activity typically takes place outside in open fields or near water), the past year’s dry weather raises the fire risk.

Don’t let fire ruin the fun for your Fourth of July festivities. Keep in mind a few simple safety tips:

GRILL SAFETY

 1) Do not grill in enclosed areas – carbon monoxide can be produced. Be sure you are grilling in an open area.

2) Never overfill the propane tank.

3) BEFORE you use a grill, check the fuel line and propane tank connection. The venturi tubes – where the air and gas mix – must 

    not be blocked.

4) No loose clothing is allowed while you’re grilling!

5) Use care when using lighter fluid. A lit fire can flashback and cause an explosion if lighter fluid is added.  

FIREWORKS SAFETY

1) Again, loose clothing is NOT allowed when handling fireworks.

2) Never light fireworks indoors or near dry grass.

3) Never stand close to lit fireworks. Always stand several feet away.

4) Always read the directions and warning labels on fireworks. Unmarked fireworks (no directions, warnings or content list) should 

    never be lit.

5) Always keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water nearby.

6) Always purchase consumer fireworks from reliable sources and licensed dealers. These dealers will only carry those products that 

    meet standards set and enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

7) Lastly, leave fireworks to the professionals. The fireworks show will be much more enjoyable if they are handled by professionals 

    who know how to safely use them.

Be sure to follow these tips to protect yourself, your loved ones and your home in the event of disaster. While you cannot predict a disaster, following safety precautions will reduce your risk.

If your fun is ruined this Fourth of July, are you prepared with adequate insurance coverage? All insurance coverages are relevant when is comes to fire related disasters. From auto, home, health and life, you need to be sure you have adequate coverage to protect you should a bottle rocket misfire or other unforeseen Fourth of July event occur. 

Homeowners Insurance Coverage In California

There are two basic categories of coverage for homeowners in California. These two categories include actual cash value coverage and replacement cost coverage.

Generally its best to go with a replacement cost coverage. With this you’ll be better covered since actual cash value coverage will only pay out for the fair market value of your home. A replacement cost policy will provide you with a specified amount for the repair or replacement of your property. Extended replacement cost home coverage will provide a percentage above the original policy limits if the cost of your home rises over time. This keeps California homeowners protected against the increased cost of construction in California.

What comes with a standard homeowners policy in California?

The homeowners policy contains two sections.

Section 1 provides property coverages (A, B, C and D)

Section 2 provides liability coverages (E and F). A brief description of the individual coverages follows:

Coverage A – Dwelling
Coverage B – Other Structures
Coverage C – Personal Property
Coverage D – Loss of Use
Coverage E – Personal Liability
Coverage F – Medical Payments to Others

Homeowners Insurance & Keeping Track of Your Goods

By Krista Farmer

Homeowner’s insurance is an invaluable investment for every homeowner. If your house went up in flames and you lost everything, would you be able to recall everything you owned, including the items’ values? If you came home from work to find someone burglarized your home, would you be able to account for everything that had been taken or destroyed? While some items are priceless and/or likely have sentimental value, memories unfortunately are not sufficient for filing a homeowner’s insurance claim in the wake of a disaster.

In times of distress, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether your possessions are covered or not. If you purchase homeowner’s insurance, it is important to know what your policy covers. Not sure what’s in your homeowner’s policy? That topic will be covered in a future article.

Your homeowner’s insurance, ideally, will replace the cost of what you lose in a disaster. More importantly, however, is the fact that you will only be compensated for what you can account for. In other words, fond memories are heartwarming, but they will not reimburse your losses in a catastrophe.

“But how will I account for everything I lose in such an event?”

Well, the most accurate way to keep track of your items would be to take an inventory of everything you own. While this is a process that could take months to complete, it is your most worthwhile strategy should you experience misfortune.

“What do I need to put in this inventory?”

Put simply. EVERYTHING. The more you can account for in your homeowner’s insurance claim, the more likely you will be reimbursed. The list should be as detailed as possible and should include appliances, carpets, jewelry, furniture, linens, antiques, furniture, and the list goes on. To get your money’s worth, go from room to room and be sure you are as descriptive and detailed as possible. Include:

1. a description of the item (including the quantity)
2. the manufacturer or brand
3. any model or serial numbers
4. a description of where or how the item was attained
5. the date of purchase or age of the item
6. receipt or other proof of purchase that shows the cost
7. the current value
8. the replacement cost
9. photocopies of appraisals

“I’ll never complete this process!”

Keep in mind that while this documentation process may be time-consuming, it is certainly easier than remembering everything you own. Don’t let this task discourage you. Take photos. Even better, make a night out of it. Grab your video camera and go from room to room to create a visual and verbal description of your items. It might take you an hour to document your entire house. Regardless of how you complete your inventory, remember that your compensation rests on the quality of your documentation.

“I’ve made the inventory, now what?”

It is likely you invested a good amount of time to document your items. Whatever you do, keep that homeowner’s insurance inventory safe! If an unfortunate event comes your way, you certainly do not want your hard work to go to waste. Store it in a relative’s home, in a lockbox, a safety deposit box or keep it tucked away in your office desk. While memories and keepsakes can rarely be replaced, it’s comforting to know your homeowner’s insurance will keep you financially secure should you properly document your items.

Hurricane Season – Are You Prepared With Flood Insurance?

By Krista M. Farmer

Hurricane season is just around the corner, which means greater potential for flooding and/or flood damage to your home. It doesn’t matter where you live, flooding can occur almost anywhere. If you live along the coast or near a body of water, particularly, protection against and preparation for this type of disaster is necessary to ensure your finances are protected. Have you purchased flood insurance?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that flooding is America’s #1 natural disaster. From snow melts and flash flooding to tropical storms and dams that have reached capacity, the potential for flooding should always be considered, regardless of where your home is located.

With hurricane season less than a month away, its prime time to be considering flood insurance. Why should you purchase flood coverage? Well, the important fact to be aware of is that homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage or ground water damage from heavy rain. So, even if you’ve purchased a significant amount of homeowner’s insurance and your area experiences heavy flash flooding, damage to your dwelling will not be covered unless you have purchased flood insurance.

Aside from purchasing insurance…

There are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of flooding or experiencing flood damage. The best way to reduce the risk of your home truly being flooded would be to avoid living near a body of water, including rivers and streams. Living in a house on top of a mountain or large hill could also do the trick. If living up in the hills isn’t for you or if you insist on living near water, however, flood insurance is your best protection.

What types of flood insurance are available?

Flood insurance is available through two different avenues – the sump pump failure/sewer backup endorsement and The National Flood Insurance Program.

The sump pump failure backup endorsement does not cover true flooding – it simply covers water seepage and runoff. While coverage will vary with each insurance company, keep in mind that this coverage only takes effect if you have a sump pump and only if it does not properly take care of the seeping water.

FEMA established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1968. This program only has one requirement – that you live in a community that participates in the program. This coverage is available in two packages –Emergency program and the Regular program. The programs’ distinctions are quite simple. The Emergency program is set up for houses in communities that have applied for, but have not yet been accepted into the NFIA. The Regular program is for homes that are in participating NFIA communities.

Neither the sump pump backup endorsement nor the NFIA completely cover the risk of flooding.

So what should you do?

If you’re on the fence about purchasing flood insurance, consider your options and your flood potential. If your home floods, can you afford to do without the flood insurance? While you cannot predict natural disasters, catastrophes or accidents, you can secure your finances for the future if you prepare for those events.

Changing Auto Insurance Companies May be Easier Than you Think!

There are many reasons why you may choose to change your auto insurance coverage to another company. Perhaps you’ve found another company that offers you the same amount of coverage for considerably less money. You might have changed jobs and are eligible for a group discount through another insurer, or maybe you’re unhappy with the service that your present company provides. With the growth of the internet and quote comparison sites, investigating your options has never been easier!

Why change to a new Auto insurance carrier?

You need to regularly review your auto insurance coverage to make sure that you are receiving the best insurance value for your money. You will discover that it pays to shop around. In some states, premiums for identical policies vary widely among different auto insurance companies. The reasons for this price variation can be very complicated, but they boil down to a company's claims experience with policyholders in a coverage group (e.g. people of similar age, number of accidents, type of vehicle). For example, if a large number of people in a coverage group files claims during a given year, their rates will likely rise. When this happens, better discounts and lower overall premiums may be available at other insurance companies. When you decide to switch your auto insurance to another company, you’ll find that it's fairly easy to do so.

How to cancel your old Auto Insurance policy

Generally, all you need to do to cancel your auto insurance policy is to inform your insurance company in writing, specifying the date you want the policy canceled. In some states, the new agent must notify the previous agent of the policy change. Someauto insurance companies ask the policyholder send back the actual printed policy. The insurance company will send a cancellation request form that will need to be signed and returned. Examine the form carefully to make sure that all information regarding the policy is correct. If the form is not received within two weeks of sending the letter, call the agent or company immediately to check on the status of the cancellation. Don't just walk away from the old policy without formally canceling it. Each state requires that auto Insurance policies be cancelled with notice, thus the insurance company might assume one wished to continue the coverage, and it might eventually terminate the policy for failure to pay premiums and report the lack of coverage to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. This can hurt your credit rating and ability to get a new policy.

Be sure to get a new Auto Insurance policy first

Always have a new policy in place before canceling the old auto insurance coverage. Otherwise you might have a gap in protection for a day or more! Most states require all drivers to carry a minimum level of auto insurance and most insurance companies require policyholders to present proof of new coverage before they will cancel an active policy. The new company will be able to time the beginning of the new policy to coincide with the cancellation of the prior coverage.

When to Change Auto Insurance policies

At Renewal

Renewal is a convenient time to change auto insurance policies, as you don’t have to wait for a refund from your current carrier. A renewal notice will be sent to you approximately 30 days before a new policy begins, depending on the regulations in your state. Should you decide to switch companies, you’ll need to have a new policy by the time the current policy renews. Though a company might say there is 10-30 days to get your payment in before a policy terminates, you do not have coverage until the carrier receives the payment. If you have an accident during this time period you most likely will have no coverage since the premium wasn’t paid!

Anytime:

All Auto insurance policies contain a provision allowing you to cancel your policy with proper notice at any time. In a few statesauto insurance companies “short rate” the policy that means one pays a penalty for canceling before the policy renews. Most insurance companies pro-rate their policies so there is no penalty. The advantage of switching before the renewal date can save you a lot of money. For example if you have a policy that runs from Jan 15th to Aug 15th and you have an accident or ticket that will be over 36 months on March 15th. By switching Auto insurance companies on March 16th, you get a discount for having a clean driving record. Your current carrier won’t apply this discount until the policy renews on August 15th! This can save you Hundreds of dollars immediately!

cheap car insurance for Teens

By Krista Farmer

Purchasing cheap car insurance for your young driver can be a breeze – if you know where to look!

Prom dresses. Football camp. School uniforms. Cell phone bills. Birthdays. Specifically, 16th birthdays. The upkeep of teenagers’ expenses can be financially disheartening. Fortunately, quality auto insurance is one purchase that parents can find in the bargain bin. Yes, it is possible to find cheap car insurance if the shopper is looking in the right places. Today’s consumer has many online options to find whatever he or she is looking for, including auto insurance, and can comparison shop with the click of a button.

“But my son JUST turned sixteen. He’s still learning the rules of the road. 

Is it possible to find cheap insurance for my young, inexperienced driver?”

Because young drivers are considered “at risk” drivers, you might think cheap insurance isn’t an option. If you know where to shop, however, you may find a perfectly reasonable price for auto insurance. There are several insurance comparison web sites that allow you to quickly get an insurance quote – whether you’re looking for health, life, home owner’s or auto coverage. In this case, there are a few things you might consider while shopping for auto insurance at a reduced rate:

1) While you’re on the lookout for your perfect policy, keep in mind that you can probably add your teenager to YOUR auto insurance policy. This will be much cheaper than having your child purchase his or her own policy.

2) Encourage your child to do well in school. Many insurance companies will offer a good student discount on auto insurance. Whether the student is in college or high school, often if he or she is making at least a B average, makes honor roll or is on the Dean’s list, the student will be eligible for a discount. Companies base this reduction on the idea that good students are better drivers.

3) Most importantly, let your teenager observe your good driving habits – they learn by example. If your teenager sees your seatbelt dangling next to the car door, you are giving him or her a reason to ignore it when he or she gets behind the wheel.

While you are bargain hunting for auto insurance, remember to think about the price AND the package. Do not strictly base your purchase on the price tag alone. You want your young driver covered in the event of an accident. It is important to know what you are paying for and you want to be sure the policy contains all the coverage you want or need. Consider the amount of coverage you’re paying for. You will be financially responsible for your young driver’s wreck if the policy limit is too low – meaning you will have to pay for damages out-of-pocket.

Regardless of where you purchase your insurance, keep in mind that there are web sites that were created to assist you in your search for reasonable insurance. You have endless opportunities to find cheap car insurance for your teenager if you take advantage of them. Happy hunting!

Do I Really need Disability Insurance Coverage?

Many individuals struggle to understand what disability insurance covers. There are two basic forms of disability insurance, short-term and long-term disability. Short-term as its name implies is for a short period of time usually less than a year. Group short-term disability is more prevalent in the work place than long-term. One of the failures that individuals make is assuming that their policy covers 100% of their income. The policy usually covers up to 66 2/3%, it may be only be 50% for 13 weeks only. (Check your employee handbook) Uncle Sam allows you to get the benefit tax free, but you cannot get more in benefit than your pre-tax salary. It is very important that people read their employee benefits carefully.

The two main definitions used to define if benefits under a disability insurance policy are paid include own occupation and any occupation. Own occupation disability means you are unable to perform the substantial duties of your current position in a nutshell. Any occupation includes the duties of a job that you have been trained for through education, training, or experience.

Individual disability policies cover a percentage of your income based on your occupation, the hazard of your responsibilities, and your income. The elimination periods for disability policies usually range from 30-365 days. If you become sick or disabled, exceed the elimination period, and become certified by a physician as unable to work, you may receive a tax free benefit except in rare cases (your employer pays for the policy). The policy is coordinated with any group disability benefits you may be receiving as well as Social Security Disability Insurance if you qualify.   

Things to consider when thinking about Disability Insurance:

Can I get sick?

Do accidents occur?

Can I afford to self-fund?

Can I live off my savings?

Does my coverage at work cover short-term & long-term disability?