Health Insurance

Everything You Need

For most Americans Today, finding low cost health insurance is a top priority. However, it can be difficult to find a plan that fits within your budget, and the process is further complicated if you have pre-existing health conditions. If you need coverage for your whole family, consider getting a group health plan from your employer or on your own. These are the most affordable and include HMOs, PPOs and POSs.

Affordable Health Insurance Options

With the PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, and HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, you are given a network of physicians to choose from. With HMO you are required to choose one of their doctors as your Primary Care Physician (PCP). Using one out of their network would result to you enduring the full cost of the expenses rendered. With the PPO you get more freedom to choose any doctor, but using a doctor out-of-network will raise the co-payments. PPO's have higher premiums than HMO, making the HMO the cheapest. The POS is a combination of HMO and PPO.

An HDHP, or High Deductible Health Plan may be another option. This may not seem like a low cost option, but once the annual high deductible is paid, the benefits will kick in. Premiums are also much lower than average from the start. After enrolling in this type plan you will qualify for an HSA, or Health Savings Account, which allows you to save up tax-free money for your medical expenses - even for alternative healing treatments/procedures, eye care and chiropractor therapies. The HSA also allows you withdraw the money you have accumulated for other purposes once you reach retirement age.

Glossary of Terms

Home Insurance

Everything You Need

Home ownership: it's an American dream. But buying a place of your own or settling the family in new digs requires financial commitment. That means saving for a down payment, getting the right loan, and perhaps most importantly finding affordable home insurance.

Whether you're buying your first home or just moving up to something larger, your home represents a huge investment you can't afford to ignore.

That's where we can help. By helping you understand your options, providing you money-saving insurance strategies, and matching you with local insurance agents offering free home insurance quotes, getting insured cheaply is simple, easy and convenient.

Tips for Getting Insured

When you buy a new home, lenders need insurance information up-front. To make things quick and easy on yourself, let the agents you're matched with know what you're looking for and how much you can afford to spend. Then examine several price quotes and choose the policy that fits your budget best.

Once your home is insured, supply the lender your insurer's name and contact information, coverage levels and deductibles. They'll add this information to the new contract and escrow insurance as part of your monthly expenses.

No matter how long you live in your house, don't stick with the same homeowners insurance company year after year just because it's easier. Though commendable, loyalty may keep you from getting the best deal.

Instead, pull your insurance policy out and take a peek at least once a year. Shop your rates, make coverage changes that reflect changes you've made to your home, and discuss discounts with local insurance providers. Then settle on the broadest coverage for the least amount of money.

Maximizing Savings

As you compare coverage, prices and quotes, use these money-saving tips to save 60 percent or more on the protection you need:

• Set deductibles as high as possible to slash as much as 25 percent from insurance rates.
• Buy insurance for car and home from the same provider. This could garner you an additional savings of up to 15 percent.
• Install security or safety devices in your home. This extra protection makes homes more secure and can score you another 20 percent in savings.
• Eliminate unnecessary coverage. Save a bundle by getting rid of extra, unneeded coverage on items no longer owned or greatly depreciated.
• Make home improvements. Update electrical or plumbing systems, or add items like deadbolt locks for a sizeable discount.

Insurance rates can vary by thousands from one insurer to the next. So take these basics to heart, shave money off your home insurance policy, and shop for low cost coverage right here and now. You'll insure your home affordably and be able to enjoy it securely for years to come.

Life Insurance

Everything You Need

Life insurance should play a significant role in the big picture when preparing for the future. The right coverage and some wise assistance from knowledgeable insurance agents can make setting your family up for the future relatively painless.

The Anatomy of a Life Insurance Quote

Life insurers often ask detailed questions that will help them determine risk when you apply for insurance coverage. This aids in setting an accurate quote, based on the evnt of death while the policy is in effect.

Some information that may be requested includes:

• Age: The younger the applicant, the cheaper the plan.
• Gender: Women often live longer than men, so they pay less for the same or similar coverage.
• Smoking habits: Rates for non-smokers run significantly less than for smokers.
• Weight: In shape or average sized individuals pay less than overweight or obese individuals.
• Family history: The healthier your immediate family, the greater the likelihood you'll remain healthy.
• Current medical history: If you have no major maladies, you'll pay less than others who've contracted illnesses.
• Driving record: Applicants with good driving records are generally healthier and pay lower premiums than those with tickets or accidents.
• Occupation: The more risky the job, the greater the chance of claims and higher quotes.
• Hobbies: Dangerous hobbies translate into higher premiums.
• Travel plans: Traveling into dangerous regions ups the likelihood of death and the incidence of insurance claims.
• Credit history: The better your credit rating, the more responsible and stable you tend to be.

Grouping Based on Risk

Though most of these factors are self-explanatory, some people wonder why an insurer would require this kind of personal information when calculating premiums.

Here's why: gathering information on applicants regarding lifestyle, history and vital statistics enables the insurer to group like people together based on risk, then associate a general premium cost for each group as a whole.

Called rate or health classifications, applicants usually fall into one of the following groups.

1. Preferred Best or Super Preferred: Take no medications, proportionate height and weight, no major health issues, clean credit and a stellar driving history.
2. Preferred: In good shape physically, but may be on a medication or two. May be slightly overweight, but other risk factors are minor.
3. Standard Plus: Slightly above average health wise, but may have some adverse family history, or may have quit smoking recently.
4. Standard: Average. Most of those with weight issues are classified standard, as are those who quit smoking less than three to five years ago.
5. Preferred Tobacco/Standard Tobacco: All smokers are placed in this category, no matter how healthy otherwise.
6. Table Ratings: Those not qualifying for a more favorable quote. Includes people with diabetes, cancer, obesity and other serious illnesses. The lower the table rating, the higher the insurance quote.

Generally, the lower the group's overall risk, the lower the quote.

For the cheapest quote, stay healthy, reduce risk, and buy the right life insurance plan today. It makes a great addition to financial portfolios, and helps ensure the successful future loved ones need.

glossary of terms

Car Insurance

Everything You Need

If you own a car, you need car insurance. SmartQuote.com can help you find exactly what you are looking for without paying more than you have to.SmartQuote.com is your one-stop source for auto insurance. Save money is just a few clicks! SmartQuote.com has the resources you've been looking for to save money on car insurance.

What Is Auto Insurance?

Auto insurance is protection for you and your family against financial loss in the event of an auto accident or other cause of loss. If you have been involved in an auto accident in which you are legally responsible, auto insurance covers the injuries and damages caused by that incident. Additionally, the repair or replacement of your vehicle may also be covered if it is damaged or stolen.

What If I Don't Have Car Insurance?

For most states, the ability to provide the minimum amount of liability insurance (or post a bond) and also the proof of insurance is required before a vechile can be licensed or to renew your driver's license. If a driver is caught without proof of auto insurance they may have to pay a large fine, have your driver's license suspended, and/or have your car impounded.

How Much Auto Insurance Coverage Should I Purchase?

The minimum coverage required may not be enough to pay for all the damages that result from an accident, and the legally responsible driver will have to pay the additional expenses out of pocket. SmartQuote will help to determine the best auto insurance coverage for your needs and budget.

How Can I Keep My Auto Premiums Down?

In general, your premium will be lowest the longer you drive without major citations or accidents. You may also qualify for discounts based on safety features on your vehicle. Also, insuring additional cars can save on all your premiums.