Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

 
 

View User's Journal

guardedvoodoo6200 Journal
guardedvoodoo6200 Personal Journal
Insurance 101: Everything You Had To Know
You simply cannot get through life, without purchasing insurance at some point. However painful this truth is, when you must buy insurance, you do yourself a disservice if you do it without learning the ropes first. A few little tips can save you a lot of money and get you better coverage.

It may go without saying, but someone needs to put it out there. When it comes to insurance, just tell the truth! I heard a story about a guy who had his windshield shattered who did not report it to his insurance company for two weeks. In that two weeks he changed his policy to include zero deductible comprehensive so it wouldn't cost him anything to fix it. Lo and behold the insurance found out! Can you guess where he is now?

When you have found a company to insure you, find out if that company is covered and licensed under the state's guaranty fund. This fund will pay claims in case your insurance company defaults. Check with your state insurance department and they will be able to provide you with more information.

Consolidating all of your insurance policies under one roof can help you save a bundle on your premiums. Insurance companies commonly give big discounts to people who have multiple policies. Talk to your insurance company and ask for a quote on other forms of insurance to see how much money you could save.

To save money on your insurance, you should review all of your policies at least once per year. Talking to your agent about any changes that have http://en.gravatar.com/greg629 stay up to date in your coverage. Let your agent know about things you have added and things you don't have any more.

Make sure you get the most out of your insurance claim by filing your claim promptly. If your insurance company asks you for further information, respond to their request as promptly and completely as possible. If they ask you for information you feel you shouldn't have to provide, tell them so in a prompt, courteous letter.

Every year, you should go over the details of your insurance policy to verify that it accurately reflects your needs. Perhaps you might want to drop collision insurance on an older vehicle, or save money by increasing the deductible on your homeowners insurance. Consider changing your insurance if your family is a different size or you have new medical needs.

Keeping your credit report clean will also reduce the amount you pay on insurance. Your premiums are based on how much of a risk you appear to be to the insurance company, and not paying your debts can make you look like a deadbeat. If you pay off everything you owe, you will quickly find your premiums go down as a result.

Look for a pet insurance company that does not have a "maximum lifetime benefit" clause. These clauses basically mean that they will only pay a certain amount for a policy item throughout the life of your pet. Once you hit that limit, the rest of the costs are up to you.

Ensure that you review all your insurance policies on a yearly basis. Remember to include automotive, house, contents and life insurance policies in this review. As circumstances change, insurance policies should be increased or decreased on a regular basis to reflect this. An example being that a life insurance policy for a single male would have a lesser sum insured than that of a married with family man.

Check with your provider to make sure that you are benefiting from all of the discounts that are available for renter's insurance. You can get a discount for living in a gated community and many other things that may have not been considered when you opened your policy that could be saving you money.

Never pick an insurance company because they have a fancy logo, cool advertisements, or a fun mascot. Always read the fine print when you see these ads, and you may realize all is not what it seems. Take the time to research each company thoroughly, and find out which company has the best coverage for you.

User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01y5X8CG2-E

You need a will. Seventy percent of Americans don't have one, and many families suffer because of it. A will can help to protect your assets in the event of your death. It keeps your family safe from probate court and lets everyone know what your intentions are. This might be one of the most important legal documents you can have.

Check into your health insurance coverage. You want to be sure that you will be covered in the event of an injury or an illness. The last thing that you would like to happen was to get badly injured and not have any medical insurance to cover the expense of care.

If you are newly married, examine your insurance policies closely. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars a year by combining auto insurance policies and other insurances. Pick the insurance agent who is offering the best deal and go with them. Don't waste too much time before you do this, it is best to combine right away and start saving money!

To keep yourself and your assets protected, don't think of insurance as a luxury. Insurance may seem like wasted money when you don't need it, but when you're in a crisis situation you'll be happy to have it. Don't skimp on your coverage, and get all the insurance you think you may need.

Shopping online for insurance is not a bad idea, but be aware that you are only being given a quote and that could change, once you actually purchase the insurance. Make sure you speak to an agent and find out your personalized quote, because a lot of online quoting is based on an average and does not factor in all the personalized things about you. Don't automatically assume that the lower online quoted company, is going to be the one able to provide you with the best price.

Do not try to overstate the value of any of your property while you are in the process of filing an insurance claim. Insurance adjusters have been trained to spot the value of certain things and it will make them red flag your claim if you are claiming that something has more worth than it does.

Whatever you have that is important to you, you need to make sure that you have it covered by one of your insurance policies. You never know when that next disaster is going to hit and potentially cost you a lot of money. Take the advice we've given you in this article to make sure that you are always covered in the event of the unfortunate.





 
 
Manage Your Items
Other Stuff
Get GCash
Offers
Get Items
More Items
Where Everyone Hangs Out
Other Community Areas
Virtual Spaces
Fun Stuff
Gaia's Games
Mini-Games
Play with GCash
Play with Platinum