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What is a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?

When a trip cancellation travel insurance company refers to
a “Pre-Existing
Condition”, they are talking about medical conditions that
exist in the
Lookback Period that immediately preceeds the travel
insurance purchase
date.

Simply put, a Pre-Existing Condition is any medically
documented condition (no matter how minor) an
Insured Person, Traveling Companion or Family Member
has been treated for, consulted with or received advice on.
This includes any adjustments or changes in any
prescription drugs or medication during the Lookback
Period. The condition has to be medically stable.

Medically Stable also includes the idea that nothing
is foreseen or expected to “be a turn for the worse”. In other
words if you’re given a week to live and you want to buy travel
insurance for a cruise next month, you can’t cover the
Pre-Existing Condition. It’s like wanting to buy Fire Insurance
when your house is on fire.

Here’s some actual policy wording:

“Any injury, illness, sickness or medical condition of an
Insured or Family Member which either manifests itself or
exists during the Lookback Period immediately preceding
the day you buy Travel Insurance, unless the condition is
controlled through the taking of prescription drugs or
medication and remains controlled throughout the
Lookback Period. A pre-existing condition has manifested
itself when medical care, treatment or diagnosis has been
given.”

What this means is starting today, if during the Lookback
Period:

• You, a traveling companion or a family member, has any
  injury, illness, disease, sickness or medical condition
  and
• Has been diagnosed, treated for it, had any prescription
  changes (increase or decrease), been advised to be
  treated, had symptoms of it, hopitalized, saw a medical
  professional for it, etc.
• Then that person has a Pre-Existing Condition as
  defined by a Travel Insurance policy. Note: If that person has
  a medical condition that’s farther in the past than the
  Lookback Period, they don’t have a Pre-Existing
  Condition.

Why is this important?

You can cancel or interrupt your trip or receive medical
treatment even if you have a Pre-Existing Condition – if you
follow the rules.

Trip cancellation travel insurance excludes claims due to
pre-existing medical
conditions. Some travel insurance plans will waive the
pre-existing condition
exclusion at no extra charge if you get your travel insurance
in the first 10, 14
or 21 days after your first trip payment date (before the end
of these 10, 14 or
21 days).

Any payment on your trip is considered the first payment.
This includes the tax you pay when you redeem frequent
flyer tickets, refundable deposits or even a trip planning
consultation fee if that fee is later credited toward your trip
costs.

You’ll protect yourself if you have to cancel or interrupt your
trip or receive medical treatment because of that
pre-existing medical condition. There are three primary
rules to keep in mind:

• You have to insure your trip’s full prepaid,
  non-refundable cost and
• person with the medical condition has to be medically
  stable when you get your insurance and
• You must get your travel insurance in the first 10, 14 or
  21 days after your first trip payment date

If you’re past the first 10, 14 or 21 days you will be governed
by the “Lookback Period”.

What’s the bottom line?

If Pre-Existing Conditions are a concern for you or your
traveling companions,
you have to buy your trip cancellation travel insurance within
the deadlines.

Steve Dasseos is the CEO of TripInsuranceStore.com. You can
compare travel insurance policies at this website. Contact
Steve here.

While most people believe that homeowners insurance is all that they need. Most people will tell you that when trouble arises in the home, whether it is because of natural disaster, and possibly anything else that causes you to loose items in your house. Sometimes, the insurance will not reimburse you because it simply isn’t in the coverage policy. That is why it may be in your best interest to look into home content insurance, and find who can offer you the best deal for your current situation.

The purpose of content insurance is to give you house and all of items in it, that extra security that if something happens in which you have no control over, you wont be left out in the cold to deal with the costs all on your own. Just like regular homeowners insurance, it is important to shop around before settling on one company. Many of these companies will offer free quotes if you ask. These quotes are just like gold. They hold all the information that you will need to compare their rates to competitor’s rates so that you can find the best deal. There are even a number of websites out there that will gather all of the best rates that are available to you. It just takes a little time, but as said before, these rate quotes are your best tool when it comes to finding the best deal out there.

Armed with the information you need, you should now have no trouble getting those home content insurance quotes. Most companies offer these quotes for free, but sometimes you will have to pay a small fee. Even if you have to pay a fee, it is well worth it for such a valuable piece of information. Who knows, you may even find that the insurance companies are competing to you, they can tell when someone is comparing their rates with a competitors. As long as you have these quotes, it is a win win situation.

View our Recommended Home Insurance Company, a simple site that has an easy to fill out application. It also has a lot of great info about Car Insurance Quotes and Affordable Health Insurance

Every new business needs a certain level of insurance protection. A business with at least one employee needs insurance to help protect the owner, the employee, the customers and the investors in the business. A business with a solid insurance plan is building a solid foundation for the business to grow upon. There are six primary forms of insurance for a basic business, whether it is new or established. They are;

1. Liability
2. General liability
3. Business interruption
4. Health
5. Disability
6. Workers compensation

Many small business owners are familiar with these insurance products and most employees are familiar with the last three. What may be a surprise to some is how many small business owners don’t know of the third form of insurance on this list. A look at the devastation in the Gulf after the hurricanes should keep business interruption insurance fresh in the minds of all small business owners. The owners in Louisiana who had business interruption insurance have been able to keep their businesses while those without were simply not able to keep up with the fixed costs of their businesses while they tried to rebuild. For some companies a three or four day closure can cost millions of dollars in lost income, plant and equipment expenditures and salaries alone.

Both forms of liability insurance is needed more in America than in any other country in the world. Of all the lawsuits filed in the world, America accounts for over 80% of them. A business in the U.S. has a 97% percent chance of being sued during its lifetime. We live in a litigious society and must protect ourselves from the frivolous lawsuits just in case we lose. Slip and falls are a common lawsuit filed against a business with a potentially disastrous outcome if the decision goes against the business.

Health insurance is very important for the small business owner. I have had two heart attacks and a hyperactive thyroid problem myself during the last three years. Each of these had left me unable to work for extended periods of time. Without health insurance I would have been left penniless and homeless, in fact, I would be dead. Pay the premiums; they may just save more than your business.

With three startup businesses before he was 21 years old, Matt Fox has the experience to help you create your own businesses for your financial future. See my blog at http://www.bizmaker.blogspot.com

The unlimited advantages that the Internet has brought to our lives have even transformed the way we go about availing something as routine as auto insurance. With the option of applying for auto insurance online, car owners are spared a tremendous amount of time, effort and trouble that is involved in applying for regular auto insurance through an agent.

It isn’t merely the convenience of being able to compare quotes but also to be assured of comparing the best rates available for auto insurance. The option of applying for auto insurance online offers the additional benefits of learning about new discounts and doing away with the need for locking in on a long term relationship with a particular insurance company.

The old days of going through the tedious process of getting quotes from auto insurance companies are behind us as you can get all the insurance quotes you desire and the type of coverage you want. The online option of comparing quotes also means that you will be able to go through each plan in detail on the insurance sites in order to assess both the quality of the coverage as well as the rates.

Discounts are a major advantage of online auto insurance as they enable you to save in hundreds in premiums. A variety of discounts can be found and qualified for online from opting from an alarm system in your vehicle to enrolling for certified defensive driving courses that reduce premiums for some of the companies. The more you explore auto insurance sites online, the more discounts you will find.

The Internet is of course, synonymous with the amount of time you can save, not to mention of convenience of being able to do things at your own pace. This means not just doing away with having to schedule appointments with agents but also filling forms in the middle of the night and completing them the next day. Online insurance companies arrange to have the completed paperwork sent to you for your signature and presto, the process is over without having to miss out on a single day at work.

Switching insurance companies is also made extremely easy with online auto insurance. Prior to the advent of the Internet, it was the norm to stick to the same insurance company irrespective of their rates. Online, however, it is up to you to check as often as you like on the availability of low rates. Every time you come across better rates, you can make the switch to another company in no time at all.

The essential secret to online auto insurance is research, as rates can be widely varied between the make of vehicles and models. Discounts can also be found on accessories and features to ensure that eventually you are paying the lowest insurance rates possible.

Marcus Dubois is a veteran in the insurance industry, and recommends InstaQuoter to get a free auto insurance quote. See www.instaquoter.com/auto/ for more information

Imagine this. You are meeting with a prospect for the close. Everything has gone perfect in your presentation. They have expressed interest, acknowledged that it all seems to make sense. All the buying signs are there, your stomach tightens, beads of sweat form on your brow, you close for the application and they say “well we certainly have plenty to think about - thank you for your time.”

Your brain is about to explode searching for what you may have missed. You know that there is every reason why logically in your mind an annuity makes perfect sense for this person. All the pieces fit. They like you. They tell you it all makes sense. But something that you can’t put your finger on is keeping them from saying yes. All you walk away with are cookies that Mrs. Prospect insists on you having because “you’re such a nice young man.”

You know that someone else will eventually sell this person an annuity and unfortunately you’ve done all the hard work for that other agent.

What flashes through your mind are the names of the top salesmen in last month’s Annuity Selling Journal. The depressing reality of knowing that if Mr. Top Salesman were sitting here with you, this contract would have been wrapped up an hour ago. What the heck does he know that you don’t?

You daydream… If only you could pay Mr. Top Salesman to show you exactly how he would present your case. Not just this one presentation, but as many presentations as you needed to know just how this 10 million dollar a year annuity producer would present your individual cases. Detail by detail, outlined for your client’s individual portfolio.

This is precisely what Mr. Bill Broich, a ten million dollar a year annuity producer has made available to his small private club of annuity agents. He will help you on a one-on-one, case-by-case basis close your sales.

What’s the cost of his “on the job training.” Zero is a good number. What’s the money catch? There is none. Simply join his club of annuity producers. Your commission levels remain where they are or better.

Visit his website at http://www.broichapproach.com fill out the contact form and you can talk directly to his field agents. Take it from those who have benefited the most from this truly innovative approach.

Vacations are for fun and relaxation but they can become ruined by strain and tragedy. What happens if an emergency arises and you have to cancel your trip or weather causes your destination to become unreachable? How do you deal with medical emergencies away from home and what will you do about your lost luggage?

These all problems have only one answer i.e. travel insurance, which can take care of all these worries and there are many companies wanting to sell it to you. Most have options that cover trip cancellation, medical expenses, flight changes and more.

Travel insurance is available from many sources, including your tour operators and individual insurance companies. It gives protection against traveling problems like trip cancellation/interruption penalties or the cost of lost baggage. It also provides for medical expenses, medical evacuation and accidental death coverages.

Nowadays, number of companies offers their travel insurance services online to citizens of any nationality worldwide. This would save both time and cost. With online access, you can choose the best company that suits your requirements. Travel insurance online quotes and receive your travel health insurance policy confirmation via email or post. You can also compare each policy and get the information you need to purchase travel insurance with confidence.

It’s very important for you to secure yourself and other things before leaving
on vacation. Sometimes the vacations cost thousands of dollars so it is important to have the proper insurance protection.

The author presents the website on online travel insurance. It covers meaning of online travel insurance and its types, procedure to get online travel insurance. You can visit his site to get more information about travel insurance online

For a price, would you let car insurer along for the ride? -
asks a USA Today technology story by Kevin Maney. It seems
that Progressive Insurance and IBM have worked out a scheme to
pay drivers to be safer - by monitoring their every move in
their own cars, and how fast they make that move, and where
they park, and what time they drive.

The program is being tested in Minnesota and in the U.K. in a
privacy busting program that rewards drivers for keeping under
the maximum speed limits and driving during safer times of
day. It’s an interesting twist that is compared here to a
shopper reward card that monitors what you buy, although it
doesn’t give you lower prices if you buy healthy food - which
seems like the best analogy. (But it does let the food chains
know how often you shop and how much you spend on what types
of food, and alcohol, and cigarettes and trashy tabloids.)

Drivers must attach an electronic monitor to their cars that
downloads information which is generated and stored there in
diagnostic chips included in most newer model vehicles. As they
drive, it stores current driving behavior - and location - and
driving times and at the end of the defined time, drivers take
the unit into the house, attach a USB cable and download that
information into their computer and transmit it to
Progressive.

But the insurance discount program does have an interesting
twist in the Minnesota test. Apparently drivers who see from
their downloaded information (or just know they drove badly at
times) that they exceeded maximum speed limits, drove during
expensive times (2am when bars close is most expensive, after
11pm is next) can choose NOT to send that information to
Progressive and pay the normal undiscounted insurance rate.

It appears to have the true benefit of making drivers become
more cautious and drive within limits of the law during safe
hours. There is nothing wrong with this for those willing to
give up the information. This allows those willing to be
monitored the choice to send the information to their insurer
and get a discount or NOT send it to pay normal rates. It’s
worth considering.

I’m among those who continues to use supermarket loyalty
cards, even though I despise the fact that they can see my
purchase history and note my travel habits. The savings are
just too great to pass up. (I used a false name to set the
card up, but quickly noted that they tied together my debit
card name and loyalty card purchases, thus gaining that
information that I had denied them with the false name - now I
use cash.) You certainly can’t do the same with the insurance
driving discounts. Information must be accurate to properly
insure and discount the policy.

The UK program is more invasive and offers far less choice.
Drivers must always download the information from the car
module to gain insurance discounts and the British company
monitors more information from those UK drivers.

The US version may have some merit if choice remains a part of
the equation upon full rollout to American drivers who want
that ten percent discount on auto insurance policies in
exchange for giving up the privacy of their driving habits.

The disturbing part of this, again, as always, is the possible
merging of multiple databases to form near perfect
surveillance pictures of us with each new development. Our
supermarket discounts show that big database what we eat,
what else we buy at the grocery, the insurance information
defines our travels and schedule, our credit and debit card
use defines our spending, travel and lifestyles, while
multiple other databases from airline security info to phone
records can be merged at any time to form near perfect
pictures of our lives for anyone that wants to access it.

Once a national ID (driver licenses will soon carry mandatory
magnetic information and will serve as a defacto national ID),
we can be fully monitored, tracked, analyzed and digitized to
form a truly invasive database of numbers and bits of
information about each of us.

The sources of data about each of us are growing daily. The
concern is the loss or abuse of that data through commercial
and/or governmental negligence and/or criminal intent. The
methods to access that data are growing as the sources
proliferate.

Privacy is something we give up in small bits for small
benefits, like cheaper produce using supermarket loyalty cards
and insurance discounts using car monitors hooked up to our
insurance carrier. We need laws to control and safegaurd each
of those databases and stop any merging of those multiple
sources of data into the ultimate Big Brother database.

I want my car insurance reduced and I’m willing to consider
this newest scheme if I have choice of whether to send my info
to my insurer. I will send it when I’ve been good and won’t
when I have been less good. But I don’t want it merged with my
other sources of data or shared among commercial interests who
may see fit to sell it to each other.

It gets more interesting daily. Who is in control of this
privacy devouring data monster?

Mike Banks Valentine blogs on privacy issues at:
http://PrivacyNotes.com/privacy_blog/ You can subscribe
to the RSS feed by entering My Yahoo or My MSN at:
http://privacynotes.com/privacy_blog/atom.xml
Web Content Resource From http://Publish101.com

Many people board horses and often pay high expenses to cover the pets. Dogs, cats, and other household pets often go without care because the owners cannot afford to pay the medical treatment and medicines to care for the pets. Horses are more expensive than common pets, but the laws state that these creatures need medical treatment and vaccines, thus what can an owner do. Owners can take out pet insurance policies that will cover the pets 80/20 in most instances. Horses undergo various different ills than common pets, thus, special coverage is needed for these beautiful creatures.

The Internet has a wealth of resources that specialize in pet insurance, including horses’ coverage. Few owners may have other types of pets that will need specialized coverage, including goats, cows, hermits, pigs, mice, guinea pigs and so forth. While most insurance coverage plans will not cover many of the different household pets, few will offer coverage to common pets, including horses.

Horses are high maintenance critters that require special coverage. Thus, the Internet is open to suggestions, making available horse policy that will offer a generous amount of coverage to owners. Few policies will cover dental work, including coverage for both pet and owner. The policy will offer “personal accidental” coverage, and so forth. The downside is these insurance policies often cost more in premiums than standard insurance policies. Since we are dealing with a huge high maintenance animal, the premiums are higher, since the company will be paying out a fortune for vet care.

One of the common laws regarding horses that apply to owners in various states is the Equine Warning Laws. These laws protect horses and owners against liability, damage, and so forth. The owner is responsible to put up Warning Signs to warn the visitors that accidents/incidents can happen and direct them to safety, plus telling them, they are not reliable if the visitor fails to adhere to the warnings. Not every state has this law to protect homeowners; therefore, the owner would be wise to look for Pet insurance that will cover liability. Pet insurance coverage for horses will often cover the pet and the objects used for the pets needs, including horse trailers. The policies will cover theft, damage, loss, and so forth.

What horse insurance covers

Each policy is different, but few company’s will cover liability, death, stables, personal accidents, theft, riding liability, ‘loss of entry fees,’ hire in for horse maintenance, dental, straying, saddles, tack, vets charges, and so forth. Some of the leading claims filed for horse care are death accident/illness, vet fees for accident/illness, tack and saddler fees. Few providers offer comprehensive coverage to horses extending the coverage to more than forty different states. Thus, pet insurance for horses can offer advantages to owners that transport their horse out of state for shows, trades, and so forth.

Filing Claims

Many of the claims are similar to standard forms, however few companies’ present claims that target the specific incident and/or accident, including illness. For example, if you horse is ill then the company may send a form for that specific need. The company will recommend that you immediately contact the company via the toll-free hotline provided to you and immediately seek treatment for your animal. After you are done at the vet, the company will encourage you to make contact with the company. The claim forms are often downloadable online, thus making it convenient and easy to get the claims to the insurer immediately. Of course, you must go through the same procedures as standard health insurance, by sending receipts to the company. The hotline is setup so that you can get immediate disbursement if necessary.

Advisory: horse insurance may come with higher premiums if your animal is a high-risk. If your horse is used at Rodeos, Racing and so forth, there may be additional coverage needed, and you should expect to pay higher premiums. Few insurance companies may offer generous rates even if your pet is high-risk, so again shopping around are the best solution for getting great rates and comprehensive coverage.

Authored by Michael Bens. For more great information about all forms of insurance visit our free online insurance publication the Gabae Insurance Source to find the information you’re looking for!

Also you can check out Gabae Insurance Articles to find the articles you’re looking for!

The importance of insurance cannot be over-emphasized and neither can the danger of paying for insurance you don’t need. It is strongly recommended you solicit the advice of an in-dependent business insurance agent. Don’t forget to SHOP! Talk to three or four independent agents and compare notes and prices. An insurance agent will lay out a vast array of insurance coverage much of which you simply may not need. Your situation will be unique and you must consider each insurance element carefully to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Whatever your final insurance program looks like, you should review it at least every six months. Your business can change rapidly, especially in the first few years and insurance needs change with it. Keep your program up to date by calling in your agent and reviewing your coverage. Make changes where necessary.

LIABILITY INSURANCE

This is probably the most important element of your insurance program. Liability insurance provides protection from potential
losses resulting from injury or damage to others or their property. Just recall some of the big cash awards you have read about that have resulted from lawsuits concerning liability of one kind or another and you will understand the importance of this insurance. Your insurance agent can describe the various types of liability insurance coverage that are available. If you will end up with a comprehensive general policy, make certain that the general policy does not include items you don’t need. Pay for only the insurance you need. For example, your business may not need product liability insurance.

Do not confuse business liability coverage with your personal liability coverage, both of which you need. Your personal coverage will not cover a business-generated liability. Check to be certain.

Compare the costs of different levels of coverage. In some cases a $2 million policy costs only slightly more than a $1 million policy. This economy of scale is true with most forms of insurance coverage. That is, after a certain value, additional insurance becomes very economical.

KEY PERSON INSURANCE

This type of insurance is particularly important for the sole proprietorship or partnership where the loss of one person through illness, accident, or death may render the business inoperative or severely limit its operations. This insurance, although not inexpensive, can provide protection for this situation. Key person insurance might also be necessary for others involved in your business.

SGC was a small firm run by three partners, a software programmer, marketer, and a general manager. Their product was a complex computer program used by aerospace firms. Al, the programmer, was involved in a severe automobile accident, became totally disabled, and SGC lost their programming capability. The problem was that the computer program written by Al was essentially the company’s sole product. Modifications to accommodate the customer became impossible and the time to bring another programmer up to speed was excessive. SGC lost considerable business as a result of this situation. These losses could have been offset by key person insurance.

DISABILITY INSURANCE

You, as a business owner, should be covered by disability insurance whether or not you decide on key person insurance. This insurance, along with business-interruption insurance, described below, will help ensure your business will continue to operate in the unfortunate situation where you are unable to work. Your disability insurance policy needs to provide satisfactory coverage. Particular attention should be paid to the definition of “disability,” delay time until payments start, when coverage terminates, and adjustments for inflation.

FIRE INSURANCE

Fire insurance, like all insurance is complicated and you should understand what IS and IS NOT covered. For example, a typical fire insurance policy covers the loss of contents but does not cover your losses from the fact that you may be out of business for 2-months while your facility is rebuilt. Fire insurance is mandatory whether you’re working out of a home office or you have a separate facility. You should discuss a comprehensive policy with your agent. Take the time to understand the details. For example, will the contents be insured for their replacement value or for actual value at the time of loss?

Consider a co-insurance clause that will reduce the policy cost considerably. This means that the insurance carrier will require you to carry insurance equal to some percentage of the value of your property. (Usually around 85%.) With this type of clause it is very important that you review coverage frequently so you always meet the minimum percentage required. If this minimum is not met, a loss will not be paid no matter what its value.

If you are working out of your home, your existing homeowner’s policy may not cover business property. If this is the case, have your insurance agent to add a home-office rider to your policy.

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

You probably already have automobile insurance but it might not include business use of your vehicle. Make sure that it does.

WORKER’S COMPENSATION INSURANCE

If you make the decision to hire employees, you will be required, in most states, to cover them under worker’s compensation. The cost of this insurance varies widely and depends on the kind of work being performed and your accident history. It is important that you properly classify your employees to secure the lowest insurance rates. Work closely with your insurance agent.

BUSINESS INTERRUPTION INSURANCE

This protects against loss of revenue as the result of property damage. This insurance would be used, for instance, if you could not operate your business during the time repairs were being made as a result of a fire or in the event of the loss of a key supplier. The coverage can pay for salaries, taxes, and lost profits.

CREDIT INSURANCE

This will pay for unusual losses as the result of nonpayment of accounts receivables above a certain threshold. As with all policies, you must thoroughly understand the details so discuss it with your insurance agent. One of the largest providers of this coverage is American Credit Indemnity, Baltimore, MD. (800) 879 1224.

BURGLARY/ROBBERY/THEFT INSURANCE

Comprehensive policies are available that protect against loss from these perils, including by your own employees. Make certain you understand what is excluded from coverage.

RENT INSURANCE

This policy covers the cost of rent for other facilities in the event your property becomes damaged to the extent that operations cannot continue in your normal location.

DISABILITY INSURANCE

This insurance will pay you an amount each month slightly less than your current salary in the event you become disabled and are unable to work. Cost for this coverage varies considerably depending on your profession, salary level, how quickly benefits start, and when they end. Benefits paid are tax-free only if you, not your company, pay the premiums.

This list could be continued since it is possible to purchase insurance for just about any peril you can imagine … if you can pay the premium! When considering your insurance coverage, use the following checklist:

INSURANCE COVERAGE CHECKLIST:

• Can you afford the loss?

• What coverage is required by Federal, state, or local law?

• What SPECIFIC items are covered by the policy?

• Are items to be insured for their replacement cost or original value?

• What SPECIFIC items are EXCLUDED by the policy?

• If there is a co-insurance clause, do you have adequate coverage?

• Have you chosen deductibles wisely in order to minimize costs?

• Do any of the policies you are considering duplicate or overlap one another?

• Do you need any insurance based on location, e.g., flood, earthquake?

Use the following checklist to review your insurance plans:

INSURANCE PLAN CHECKLIST:

• Employ an independent insurance agent rather than going to individual insurance companies. Ensure the agent shops for your insurance.

• Talk to and get quotations from at least THREE agents and pick the best one for you.

• Use money saving comprehensive policies, if possible.

• Perform periodic (every 6-months) reviews of your insurance program.

• Have business assets professionally appraised to determine coverage needs.

• Ensure existing personal insurance coverage includes business-related activities and add riders as necessary or obtain additional coverage.

http://www.TotalBusiness.com is a Website that provides business owners with the information they need in order to successfully start, manage, grow, and sell their businesses.

The site features over 3,000 articles and 60 guides on business topics such as starting a business, financing a business, sales and marketing, building a website, setting up an office, hiring employees, and selling a business. The site also contains articles on legal and accounting issues affecting businesses and allows business owners and entrepreneurs to get free expert advice from local lawyers or accountants. The site contains over 1,000 business forms and agreements that are helpful to business owners and provides a business directory with over 1,700 merchants who provide services specifically for small businesses.

Eran Salu, JD,MBA,CPA is the Founder and CEO of TotalBusiness.com

Auto insurance is a legal requirement in every US state and Canadian province. Costs are continuing to rise. How can you reduce some of these expenses and still get the best coverage?

First, get multiple quotes from the Internet and your neighborhood broker. You can shop for different types of quotes from a direct-sell insurance companies and offline and online brokers.

Auto insurance that is cheapest isn’t always the smartest move. Ask yourself, is the company financially secure? Are they reputable and will they pay out if you have to make a claim.

The first piece of the policy is almost always liability insurance. If you only have minimum liability coverage and you injure someone, their attorney can go after your personal assets. Many insurers feel that minimum liability is a gamble. In fact, that is why it is often only a little more money for more protection.

Auto insurance varies on car types. Coverage for a sports car is very different from insuring the family sedan or mini-van.

If you are looking to buy a car, consider buying a car that “looks good” to insurance companies. For instance, insurance companies know what kinds of cars are prone to problems. They also know what kinds of cars are most often stolen. If you haven’t purchased your car yet, find out what cars make this “good list” among auto insurers.

Consider how much coverage you really need to buy and the price each of these coverages will pay. Think about collision and comprehensive coverage, which is how much you will be reimbursed for the loss or destruction of your vehicle. Are you carrying $30,000 worth of collision coverage for a $12,000 vehicle?

If your car was totaled, would you be able to afford to replace it? If not, you will want comprehensive and collision coverage.

The decision to buy this coverage is usually based on the value of your car. Guidelines usually suggest that if your car is worth less than $2,000, it won’t be worth it to buy comprehensive and collision.

If you own a $50,000 car though, it would most certainly be worth it to pay an extra $200 annually or so to insure that your car will be replaced if you get in a serious accident.

If you’re driving a used car from 10 years ago, dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverage can usually give big savings.

Run through various scenarios such as if I totaled someone else’s car, will my insurance cover it? How much will I have to pay out of my own pocket?

Paying a higher deductible can also keep your policy costs down. Remember, the deductible is what you pay out of own pocket when making a claim.

Buying a low mileage car and insuring with a good driving record, will all help bring insurance rates down. Don’t speed, don’t drink and drive and you’ll save.

Single, young males under the age of 25 get the short end of the stick in this deal so if you fall into this category make up for this price increase by purchasing a more sensible vehicle. Consider delaying the purchase of that cherry red Mustang until after you’re 26 and married.

Keep yourself adequately covered. You can get away with having the bare minimums required by each state to keep you in compliance with state laws, but that may not be enough to protect your assets if you have a major incident.

Insurance experts recommend that you review your insurance policy often and thoroughly.

Many insurance companies offer discounts for anti-theft devices and advanced driver-training courses.

Auto-insurancenews.com by Drew Harris is a one-stop-shop website for those looking for everything related to Auto Insurance. Multiple pages of resources, referrals, tools, and expert advice. http://www.auto-insurancenews.com