CNN 360 Anderson Cooper - Auto Insurance Part 1

Anderson Cooper story about questionable auto insurance practices.
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Subscribe Now: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Ehowfinance Watch More: http://www.youtube.com/Ehowfinance Car insurance is designed to pr...
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What Type of Insurance Is Needed for a Restaurant? : Basic Insurance Advice

Subscribe Now: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=ehowfinance Watch More: http://www.youtube.com/ehowfinance If you're planning on opening a...
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Learn the basics about life insurance in a flash. Hear from a one of the nation's top insurance advisors who will explain why life insurance is so important,...
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Auto Insurance

Luke's real life auto insurance quote came back at 303 dollars a month. Luke got pissed... and put his new webcam to use. (Like all of our stuff, it's script...

Where can I find a wordpress theme I can use to start an auto insurance quotes website?

by Gwydion M. Williams

Question by : Where can I find a wordpress theme I can use to start an auto insurance quotes website?
I want to start an insurance affiliate program website and I need a wordpress theme that can easily be used to allow visitors to request auto insurance quotes.


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Insurance Quotes Online - How to Easily get Great Insurance Quotes

Get Free Insurance Quotes Here:- http://autoquoteronline.com (more below) You Can Find More Insurance Quotes Below: Free Life Insurance Quotes: http://bit.ly...
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Latest Car Insurance News

Personal Finance: Paying too much for car insurance? It's quite likely.
With hundreds of insurance companies competing for your business, it pays to shop around for the best rates. And among the more notable factors that could be driving up those premiums: your ZIP code. According to a new survey, auto insurance premiums ...


Loaning your car to a friend? There are lots of things to consider
In fact, there's a clause in most auto insurance policies called the “omnibus clause” that states your insurance will cover any driver of your vehicle, family member in the same household and dependent children away from home as long as they have ...


BANK OF IRELAND : announces entry in to car insurance market
8 October 2013: Bank of Ireland today announced that it has entered the car insurance market with the launch of two new flexible products, Popular and Prestige. The new car insurance products are competitively priced and available to all; with existing ...

How long before I go on holiday should I book my travel insurance?

by emmajanehw

Question by Rebecca: How long before I go on holiday should I book my travel insurance?
I've never booked my own travel insurance or anything before and Im just wondering if you get a leaflet or anything or if you have to wait for it to come like your passport?

Thanks


Give your answer to this question below!

Q&A: Where is the best place for auto insurance quotes?

Question by : Where is the best place for auto insurance quotes?
Recently i have had to change auto insurance providers for multiple reasons. So now i am looking for the best place to get auto insurance quotes from.


Add your own answer in the comments!

Latest Insurance Quotes News

Online Motorcycle Insurance Quotes Now Generated by Auto Company
Locating insurance quotes for motorcycles can be a struggle that some riders go through due to the limited amount of insurers offering alternative motor vehicle policies. The Auto Pros company has added an online motorcycle insurance quotes system to ...


Auto Insurance Quotes Database Now Live at Auto Company Website
Finding auto insurance can be simple for a driver with an excellent credit history and no history of vehicle accidents. A person with a lower credit score and collisions on a driving record can find it harder to compare the best quotes for insurance.


Motorcycle Insurance Quote Tool Programmed for Riders Used Online by Auto ...
Motorcycle Insurance Quote Tool Programmed for Riders Used Online by Auto Company. Motorcycle insurance quote tool is now programmed and ready for access by bike owners in the U.S. at the http://orthodoxyandheterodoxy.com/motorcycle-insurance website.

Travel Insurance Leader InsureMyTrip Extends Customer Service Call Center ...

Travel insurance vending machine

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A vending machine that sells travel insurance.

Travel Insurance Leader InsureMyTrip Extends Customer Service Call Center ...
WARWICK, R.I., Oct. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- InsureMyTrip, the top travel insurance comparison site, today announced the extension of its customer care call center hours for customers. The expansion comes in response to a steady increase in call volume ...


UK travel and insurance specialist Saga to be listed -FT
Oct 9 (Reuters) - UK travel and insurance specialist Saga is planning to list the 3 billion pound company as soon as the first quarter of next year, the Financial times reported. Private equity houses Permira, CVC Capital and Charterhouse have started ...




When your travel insurance doesn't insure you
A new study by the Washington-based advocacy group National Consumers League (NCL) suggests that the travel insurance industry profits from customers like Tarrow by using misleading language to lure them into buying a policy, including making broad ...

International Travel Insurance

Travelling without insurance may end up costing much more in the long run if you fall sick, have an accident or get stranded on your trip. This guide takes y...

International Health insurance

Being a citizen of the global community can be an exciting experience, yet one that can pose potential complications. Your health care while abroad should not be one of those concerns.  Our medical insurance is a revolutionary program  that offers the flexible worldwide coverage you need, backed by the world-class services you expect. Unlike other health care programs on the market, we permit you to custom produce a plan that is specifically tailored for you. Our plans provide flexible, long-term, annually renewable, worldwide medical insurance program for international expatriates both U.S. citizens living or working abroad and for non-U.S. nationals worldwide.

International Travel Insurance

We offer a comprehensive range of international travel insurance products for all insurance need. Whether you need individual coverage for a trip, lengthy coverage for a long-term stay abroad, or group coverage for employees in locations around the world, weve got the right plot for you.

Missionary Insurance

There are many different kinds of missionaries. Some work with religious groups, others with non-profits like Doctors without Borders, and others pick international mission work as a profession. Whether your trip is short-term or long-term, we have plan that is right for your needs.



International Students

Our  international student health insurance scheme provides comprehensive medical coverage for full-time students or full-time scholars studying outside of their house country. With geographic coverage and two levels of coverage to select from, you can almost certainly locate what you need, at a price you can afford. Plus, most of our international plans come with our worldwide provider network, CMN, offering our members in the US even more opportunities to save upon out-of-pocket expenses.  We provide affordable health insurance plans for international students, scholars, ESL and OPT students.



Maritime and Crew Insurance

The Navigator health plan is designed to meet a crew members need
for comprehensive worldwide benefitsinside and outside the U.S.without
the typical limits, eligibility conditions and benefit exclusions common among
traditional plans. Worldwide medical coverage designed for maritime crews and employers.

Travel Insurance Travel Insurance Quiz

Video Taken with important information related to Travel Insurance Please subscribe to our channel make travel insurance reviews travel insurance commercial ...
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Video Taken with important information related to Travel Insurance Please subscribe to our channel make travel insurance reviews travel insurance commercial ...
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Saugerties school board rescinds health insurance hike

insurance broker

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insurance broker

Saugerties school board rescinds health insurance hike
28, 2012, the board adopted a resolution providing confidential employees with a 4 percent pay raise for the 2012-13 school year and requiring full-time confidential employees to increase their health insurance contributions from 5 percent to 7 percent.


What's the Point of Million in Insurance for Identity Theft?
Honesty is the best policy, right? I've spent my life being honest, and do you know what is the most important lesson I've learned is? The truth hurts. And when you (meaning me too) says it like it is, someone somewhere isn't going to like it. So I'm ...

Auto Insurance 101

Learn the basics about auto insurance in a flash. Hear from a one of the nation's top insurance advisors who will explain why auto insurance is so important,...
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This is why Russia has so many dash cams.

How quickly are insurance companies supposed to provide COBRA information after your insurance ends?

Question by Karen S: How quickly are insurance companies supposed to provide COBRA information after your insurance ends?
I had active insurance until November 2010. Now, the insurance company is saying that it was actually cancelled through my husband's company in June and are requesting the monies back from doctors. However, they didn't even send out COBRA information to me until November 23. Can they do this?


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Travel Insurance Trouble

A warning to anyone planning an out of country trip, if you buy travel insurance it may not provide the protection you expect. As Marketplace's Erica Johnson...

Allianz Travel Insurance offers this fun and engaging animated video that provides an overview of travel insurance (also called trip insurance), why it's imp...
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Best Car Insurance Quotes Now Listed Online by Auto Company

Best Car Insurance Quotes Now Listed Online by Auto Company
This company is making it possible for drivers to find the best car insurance quotes from top providers at http://autoprosusa.com/insurance. This programmed database is now accessible to the public. Pricing in the insurance industry is regulated to ...


General Liability Insurance Quotes Viewable at Auto Company Website
The Auto Pros company has now added a way that vehicle owners can view general liability insurance quotes using its database at http://autoprosusa.com/insurance. This database of providers requires no submission of information to use and offers a ...


Motorcycle Insurance Quotes Lookup Tool Posted by Auto Company Online
Motorcycle insurance quotes lookup tool is now posted by the Auto Pros company online at http://orthodoxyandheterodoxy.com/motorcycle-insurance. The access to these quotes gives bikers a way to review more than one policy provider and rate information online.

Discover Low-priced Florida Health Insurance

In Florida there are copious ways by which you can find a low-priced health insurance, if you don’t have any group insurance coverage from your company, or you yearn for having an individual or family health plan. The bureau that regulates all the insurance companies in the state is Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. The internet site of this agency incorporated of a folder that allows you to have a quick look over the information on insurance firms that do their dealings in the Florida. You just need to type the name of the insurance firm in which you are interested in.

After filling the name you will get the phone number and Website, later on you can request for the quote. Other worthy resource is an insurance assessment Website. This site doesn’t qualify a lone insurance firm, but in reality it will award you the information about the various freelance agents or companies so that you will get broad number of diverse quotations back. In Florida you generally observe two forms of individual or family health plans: firstly fee-for-service and secondly managed care. Managed care schemes bestow in the group of healthcare suppliers, like health maintenance organizations and exclusive provider organizations. Though you can regularly receive healthcare beyond these set of connections but it may possibly charge you more.

Florida Health Insurance Chat l Group Health Insurance Blog

Which is the best site to compare car insurance quotes online?

Question by Nancy: Which is the best site to compare car insurance quotes online?
Is there a website where I can compare car insurance quotes or where I can compare whats offered by several different car insurance companies? I know from experience that theres a huge difference in car insurance quotes depending on the provider you use and what level of coverage you want and obviously I do not want to pay more than I have to pay. I searched for car insurance comparison sites but there are a lot to choose from and a lot more still where you just enter general stats like age and area and they give you a bogus made up quote, so can someone save me some time and let me know of a good website where I can compare car insurance quotes that are exact to my circumstances? Thanks in advance


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Travel insurance Everything you need to know

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Canadians travel a lot. Whether you are travelling in North America or worldwide, unexpected emergency medical treatment is the single most costly hidden cost a person could profit hit with while travelling. There is no need to worry, as these costs can all be covered using inexpensive travel insurance.

Whether you are slipping across the border for a couple days of shopping and R&R, or you are off to the sunny south for a couple months, you dont desire to profit caught with unexpected medical expenses. Many people make the error of thinking they are only going to be gone a couple days and dont need travel insurance.

A lot of people never think of asking their guests from other countries if they have purchased travel insurance, to lid any medical expenses that may be incurred while visiting in Canada. It is often overlooked when people have family come live with them for a couple weeks, or a couple months. Dont worry. If they came without coverage, it can be arranged right now.

The Benefit Guys have broken down the various different types of travel insurance for a more detailed explanation. After you have been to the other travel insurance pages and you are still unable to locate what you are looking for, by all means complete the Client Data page with the questions you have. The Benefit Guys will gain back in touch promptly by your chosen method of contact.

Out of Province - Emergency Medical Information
Travel Insurance and Out of Province insurance is usually referring to Emergency Hospital and Medical coverage. Bottom line is this, you want to know, Will my bills be paid if I acquire sick or injured and I have to see a doctor and/or go to a hospital when I am not in my house province?. Thats a mouthful, but thats just what people want to know.

In some cases you may not be covered. Most travel plans have some limitations with pre-existing conditions and some plans are restricted by age and length of time away. When you are arranging travel insurance coverage, you should always make certain you ask the questions about limitations, pre-existing conditions and any exclusions. Its not always the cheapest coverage that turns out to be the best in the end.



Travel Insurance is a very inexpensive way to protect yourself and your assets when you are travelling out of your province.  Some Canadians go to Florida annually.  They are referred to as Snowbirds, hence the term, snowbird insurance.

If you are a snowbird, you also want to make sure that you have the proper coverage. Make sure you fully disclose all medications and medical challenges when applying for coverage. A lot of snowbirds are frightened to mention whatever about their health for fear of not getting coverage. Be honest with your travel insurance carrier about your situation. It is the only way to know exactly what you will be covered for and what your risks are if you travel.

Unexpected medical treatment is the single most costly hidden cost you could acquire hit with when you travel, whether on business or pleasure, within Canada or around the world. But there is no need to spend your vacation worrying. Just be sure to stay covered with emergency hospital and medical insurance. If you have an unexpected illness or accidental injury while away from your home, a travel insurance specialist will be there to ensure you acquire the care you need.

Government health insurance plans will pay only a little fraction of expenses if you are sick or injured while outside of Canada. Some hospitals charge thousands of dollars a day, not including doctors fees or diagnostic services. Without emergency hospital and medical insurance, you and your family would be responsible for these high costs.

Travel insurance is intended to lid sudden, unexpected and unforeseeable circumstances. Travel insurance does not lid anything.

Visitors to Canada Insurance Information

Perhaps you have some friends or family, visiting you for a while, from a foreign country. Nobody likes to think about it, but what would happen financially if that buddy or family member got sick or was injured and had to get medical care and perhaps be hospitalised.  They should consider Visitor to Canada insurance.

Unexpected emergency medical treatment is the single most costly hidden cost a person could acquire hit with while visiting Canada. But there is no need to worry. Just be certain to stay covered with Emergency Hospital & Medical Insurance of some type. If a person were to have an unexpected illness or accidental injury during their stay in Canada, an insurance company will be there, to ensure they receive the care they need.

Health care costs in Canada are very expensive. Hospitals can charge thousands of dollars per day. Without emergency hospital & and medical insurance, you and your family would possibly be responsible for these tall costs, which can make a significant financial burden.
Travel insurance is intended to lid sudden, unexpected, and unforeseeable circumstances.

If a visitor to Canada travels to a different country and carries this coverage, as long as the majority of time is spent in Canada, the coverage will travel with them, no matter where they travel outside of Canada. Expenses incurred in their country of origin will not be covered. Always read the insuring companies policy for specific coverage details.

International Student Insurance

If you are a foreign student enrolled for a minimum of 60% of the usual course requirement in a Canadian school, college, university or accredited education system, you and your family probably qualify to buy foreign student insurance coverage.
Unexpected emergency medical treatment is the single most expensive hidden cost you could get hit with while studying in Canada. But there is no need to worry. Just be certain to stay covered with Hospital and Medical Insurance for International Students Studying in Canada.

Health care costs in Canada are very expensive. Hospitals can charge thousands of dollars per day, with many Canadian hospitals charging a service fee to patients not covered under a provincial health care program. Without hospital and medical insurance, you and your family would be responsible for these tall costs, which can make a significant financial burden. As an international student in Canada, you can also insure your spouse and children who live with you, under this policy.

Costs are relatively inexpensive. Here are a couple of examples:

Single person for 3 months coverage is $245 and for a year is $695

Family coverage for 3 months coverage is $674 and for a year is $1911

This International Students coverage, also allows you to take trips outside of Canada for up to 30 days and nevertheless be covered. So, if you are going to school in Vancouver, have the International Student coverage and decide to go to Seattle, USA, for a couple days, you do not need to buy any other travel insurance. Your coverage is portable.

Global Expatriate Insurance Information

Unexpected medical treatment is the single most expensive hidden cost you could get hit while living abroad. But there is no need to worry, just be sure to stay covered with a proper Global Expatriate Hospital and Medical Insurance plan.

If you have an unexpected illness or accidental injury while living abroad, you should make certain an insurance company is there to ensure you get the care you need.

Health care costs are very expensive. Hospitals can charge thousands of dollars per day. Without hospital and medical insurance, you and your family would be responsible for these tall costs, which can create a severe financial burden. Health insurance is intended to lid unexpected and unforeseeable circumstances.

Who is eligible for this coverage?

Coverage is available for 15 days or more to persons who are not eligible for benefits under a Canadian government health insurance plot. Such persons must be either:

    a Canadian citizen residing outside of Canada, or
    a Canadian citizen returning to reside in Canada and awaiting coverage under a government health insurance plot, or
    a non-Canadian citizen residing in Canada and requiring coverage in Canada, or
    a non-Canadian citizen residing outside of his/her country of citizenship while employed by a Canadian company and requiring coverage in the country of residence.

I recently moved to Brooklyn and I need to find affordable car insurance for my car. Any suggestions?

by AndrewDallos

Question by : I recently moved to Brooklyn and I need to find affordable car insurance for my car. Any suggestions?
I know car insurance in NY is not less expensive in general, but any suggestions would help.


Give your answer to this question below!

Latest Car Insurance News

Thousands of drivers may have been sold fake car insurance, police warn
Because they do not have valid insurance, they run the risk of having their cars seized by police as well as racking up fines, penalty licence points and even criminal records, police warned. In the most extreme cases, victims might be forced to pay ...


Want to Pay Twice as Much for Your Car Insurance? Have a Kid
Teenage driver, portrait Meridian Studios, Getty Images It's no great secret that across the nation, insurance premiums are on the rise. Over the past five years, the cost of insuring a home against fire and other casualty has crept up about 10 percent ...


7 Ways Cheap Car Insurance can Backfire
Everybody wants lower car insurance rates, but you could wind up sorry if you shop by price alone. Skimping on coverage can leave you financially exposed and wishing you had spent more for better protection and service. "Don't shortchange yourself ...

Lawsuit Filed in Sinkhole Case

My clients noticed cracking around the outside of their home.  They also noticed that they were having trouble closing doors in their home.  They reported the claim to the homeowners insurer for suspected sinkhole damage.

The homeowners insurer sent out engineers to do testing.  The engineers did testing, and then said that there was no sinkhole activity detected.  The problem is, the engineers’ testing actually proved that there was sinkhole activity.

This happens all the time.  Routinely, the insurance company’s engineering reports are the strongest evidence I have to prove there is indeed sinkhole activity.

Last week, I filed suit against the homeowners insurance company for breach of contract.  Their own engineering report will be my strongest evidence of sinkhole activity.

The lesson here is that even if the insurance company’s experts say there is no claim, let me look at your denial for free.

As with most of my insurance cases:  If I win, the insurance company must pay my attorney’s fees and costs; and if I lose, I’ll work for free.

Remember, the denial of your claim is not the end of the inquiry, it’s just the beginning.  Almost every insurance case I’ve ever won all have one thing in common.  They all started with “no.”


Florida Insurance Blog

Insurance exchange glitches getting the fix

Insurance exchange glitches getting the fix
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – We've all heard or actually experienced the horror stories of trying to sign up on the new health insurance exchange. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is the only company in West Virginia offering plans through the exchange.




Obamacare Forces Over 800000 in N.J. to Change Insurance Plan
More than 800,000 New Jersey residents will be forced to find different health insurance as plans that no longer cover the Affordable Care Act's requirements are phased out, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reported on Sunday. Those in the individual and ...

How Does Insurance Work?

Its about economy of scale. When you sign up for healthcare coverage, you join a group of other people to combine your healthcare purchasing power. Your insu...

Silence of Love : Thai Life Insurance Commercial with english captions. enjoy.

What is the best website to buy travel insurance in the US?

Question by Martin Mary: What is the best website to buy travel insurance in the US?
We just bought a cruise for our 30th wedding anniversary. We need travel insurance and would prefer to buy it at the best price, but I want to make sure we get good coverage. Need some suggestions, and when should I buy it.


What do you think? Answer below!

Traveling with Pets

Most people would consider their pet as a part of the family. Lovable cats and dogs often get stockings on the fireplace mantel at Christmas, bejeweled collars, and are given gourmet food. Adoring pet owners love spoiling their four-legged companions and only want the best care possible for them. It should come as no surprise, then, when owners wish for their pets to accompany them on their travels. Flying with pets can be complicated; every airline has its own criteria for getting your pet to their destination and it isn’t always the most enjoyable experience. The owner can help the pet become comfortable with the procedure by taking the necessary preparations for the flight. With the proper research, you can ensure that your pet’s travel experience will be as simple as possible.

Airline Policies

Every airline has its nuances, but generally the pet policies are the same. The airline specifies how much the pet may weigh, where the pet’s carrier will be stored, how old the pet must be, and so forth. Before you book a flight, you should contact the airline you wish to travel with to make sure that your pet can be accommodated. Not all airlines cater to larger pets and most will only accept cats and dogs. The airline is not liable for your pet’s health while traveling, so if you have any concerns that your pet will be exceptionally stressed out during the flight, you should discuss it with your vet.

Southwest Airlines accepts small, vaccinated pets over two months old to travel in the main cabin with their owners inside a small carrier with an additional fee of $ 75 for each leg of the trip. The owner must be an adult, with one pet per traveler. They will not permit Fido to travel without a chaperone. The carrier, which must be small enough to fit under the customer’s seat, counts as either the passenger’s carry-on or personal item. Southwest Airlines sells carriers, but you may also use your own as long as it fits the required dimensions depending on your seating assignment. Your pet must be able to shift around in the carrier comfortably, able to both sit and stand in their confinement. If your pet gets too feisty, Southwest Airlines reserves the right to turn them away. Southwest Airlines doesn’t offer their customers an option of traveling with larger pets in the cargo area, thus travelers with large dogs will have to purchase a ticket with another airline.

United Airlines has implemented a program in which pets can travel safely in the cargo area, called PetSafe. Small pets may continue to travel in the cabin with their owners with much of the same regulations as Southwest Airlines, but PetSafe is a nice alternative for pets that don’t fit in your lap. With the program, you can check on your pet’s status through online updates throughout the duration of the journey. Unlike Southwest, which provides no emergency considerations for your pet in case of illness, United shows concern for your pet and gives the worried pet owner peace of mind with their dedicated 24-hour live animal desk. They also transfer pets in climate-controlled vehicles when your pet needs to make a connecting flight at any hub where they will be sitting in warmer temperatures for extended periods of time. In terms of cost, PetSafe is more expensive than traveling with your pet in the cabin.  Rates vary based on the weight of the pet, weight of the carrier, and where you’re traveling. Domestic flights can range from $ 75 to $ 659 per leg of the flight.

American Airlines offers both cabin and checked pet travel for a flat fee on each. Checked pets cost $ 175 per kennel for all domestic locations, while pets within the cabin fly for $ 125 per kennel. The airline suggests that you give yourself extra time upon check-in to get your animal situated and you will be required to fill out a questionnaire regarding the pet with an airline agent upon your arrival. The questionnaire is a standard checklist to ensure that you have complied with the usual animal travel regulations, such as whether or not the pet can move about the crate with ease and whether you’ve provided the correct paperwork for its vaccination information. American Airlines has a somewhat lengthy list of breeds that they will not accept for traveling in the cargo, mainly consisting of “snub-nosed” dogs and cats. These are pets with short, stubby snouts such as pug dogs or Persian cats. These animals, referred to as brachycephalic breeds, often have breathing problems which could be compromised in the air.

Pets Abroad

If you’re moving to another country, traveling with your pet can be tricky. The U.S. State Department website has some vital information on traveling internationally with your pet. In order to determine the requirements of the specific country you’re traveling to, contact the country’s embassy. Many countries have quarantine requirements, in which your pet may enter a country but must stay kenneled in an arranged area for several days, weeks, or months to ensure they do not spread any diseases. Some countries simply will not allow you to import your pet. If you plan on traveling internationally with your pet, do not put your arrangements off until the last minute because the laundry list of papers you need to fill out, shots you must schedule, and airline planning can be expensive and complicated.

PetTravel.Com breaks down the quarantine restrictions for individual countries. Countries that require quarantining tend to be countries that do not yet have any incidences of rabies, countries with a high incidence of rabies, and third world countries. Some countries require your pet to be micro-chipped or receive a blood titre test. If you are traveling to the United Kingdom, which is a rabies-free country, from a country with high incidences of rabies, your pet may be denied entry completely or will be quarantined for the duration of six months.

In some cases, home quarantine can be accomplished. Pets that would otherwise spend several months at a quarantine facility upon arriving in another country may do better with home quarantine because it supplies them with familiar comforts. Their owners must simply administer a rabies vaccination and blood test before waiting out the stipulated period before the animal can travel safely abroad. Countries with unavoidable quarantine policies such as Australia tend to have very clean facilities for pets with designated visiting hours so their owners can see them on a regular basis. However, they can be difficult to book as they fill up quickly on a first-come-first-serve basis. If the idea of completing all of the shots, paperwork, quarantining, and booking of flights just to get your pet safely relocated is making your head spin, you can contact a pet relocation specialist, such as the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association. They can help you understand the requirements and assist in getting your dog abroad safely with minimal stress to you.

Service Animals

According to the 1996 Department of Transportation guidance document, service animals are “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If the animal meets this definition, it is considered a service animal regardless of whether it has been licensed or certified by a state or local government.” The Final Rule on Air Carriers Access Act was published in the Federal Register in May 2008 and runs over 300 pages in length as an addendum to the previously written “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel” regulations written by the Department of Transportation in 1990. When the laws were first written, service animals were primarily used as guide and hearing dogs. Now, service dogs are used for a myriad of disabilities, such as for hearing loud noises, seizure alerts, psychiatric services, and emotional support as well as the typical seeing-eye dog. Not all service animals require documentation and not all service animals demonstrate a specific activity that visibly assists their handlers, such as those who have service animals for emotional support. As a result, the rules for traveling with a service animal aboard an airplane are somewhat complicated.

Service dogs are able to accompany their handlers directly onto the aircraft and may sit on the floor in the legroom area free of charge. Bulkhead seating can usually be arranged so that the dog is not cramped. Otherwise, they can give the passenger an additional seat so the dog has room on the floor. The service animal must be permitted if it has proper identification, but identification can mean a variety of things, including cards or other documentation, presence of a harness or markings on a harness, tags, or the passenger’s verbal assurance. The only instance in which an airline may demand to see documentation is if the passenger’s service dog assists them with a psychiatric disability, in which case a doctor’s note must be supplied, or if they can’t give credible assurance. Credible assurance would be proven if the handler could demonstrate the dog’s training ability or could explain how the animal directly assists them. The airline representative is not allowed to ask the customer what their disability is.

Unfortunately, since the rules for service animals are so flexible, they are often abused by customers that do not need a service dog and simply wish for their pet to gain access to the plane without a carrier or fee. Airline representatives take note of a dog that doesn’t seem properly trained and may deny access to any dog that doesn’t behave as a service dog should. A service dog always stays at its owner’s feet and will not run freely, bark, growl, bite, urinate or defecate outside of designated areas, or disrupt the rest of the cabin during the flight. Likewise, the airline isn’t required to house service animals undergoing training. The airline may also rebook a flight for a disabled person if the service animal presents a problematic allergy to another customer.

Preparing Your Pet

Traveling can be stressful for pets. When you check your pet like luggage, pet carriers wind up in the cargo area, which means the ride could be somewhat tumultuous for your furry companion. The cargo area of the plane isn’t as smooth a ride as the cabin. It could be likened to the back of the bus, where every bump is felt. Stressed out cats have been known to lose fur in clumps, and both cats and dogs may vomit in the crate from the turbulence. In order to reduce some of the discomfort to your pet, you may think that you can give your pet a mild sedative to keep them calm. However, the American Veterinary Medical Association discourages use of sedatives aboard an aircraft because the pet’s natural ability to maintain equilibrium is effected. Respiratory and cardiovascular problems may ensue for a pet that travels at increased altitude while under sedation.

Try to make the trip easier on your pet by booking flights without any layovers or connections. Fly to and from destinations that do not suffer temperature extremes, as your pet will be exposed to the temperatures when being transported to the cargo area on the plane from the airport. Ensure that you pet is in good health to begin with and that traveling won’t make them unnecessarily stressed. While the USDA requires that your pet be given access to food and water within four hours of check-in, you don’t want your pet to travel on a full stomach. Some veterinarians will even suggest that your pet fast for a brief period while traveling, although airlines will need a note from your vet in order to comply. Prior to your flight, give your pet a chance to relieve themselves in the designated area at the airport to minimize the chance that they will have an accident in their crate.

Travel Insurance
Insurance

Getting ACA Information and Ignoring “Obamacare” Misinformation

One of the major hurdles for the ACA has long been a lack of public understanding about the basics of the law.  This is significantly exacerbated by the blatantly false information that has been circulated by many "Obamacare" opponents over the last few years.  That's not to say that the ACA is perfect - it definitely has its flaws.  But public understanding of the law has been greatly hampered by people whose sole purpose is to defeat it.  If you're trying to learn about the ACA and how it will impact you and your family, you're probably better off getting your information from a source that isn't hell-bent on doing away with the law (and if that's their intent, they probably have zero interest in your family's access to healthcare, which is one more reason to ignore them).

In addition to a widespread lack of understanding about the law, there's also a significant gap between how people expect to learn about the law and how they probably actually will learn about it.  A recent AFLAC survey found that 75% of employees think that their employer is going to educate them about changes to their health insurance as a result of the ACA, but only 13% of employers indicated that was a priority for their company (more info from the AFLAC study available here).

This comes in conjunction with the announcement that employers should communicate with their employees about the health insurance marketplace (exchange) by October 1, 2013, but there is no fine or penalty for employer who don't.  Of course some employers will provide information and support to their employees.  But some will not.  In the latter group, you'll have a combination of employers who lack understanding themselves about the ACA and the marketplace, and those who simply forget or are too busy to deal with it.  But there will also be employers who are actively opposed to the ACA and choose not to inform their employees about the marketplace or changes to health insurance as a result of the ACA.

Ultimately, a lot of people, including the self-employed as well as employees who don't have access to employer-sponsored health insurance (keep in mind that the employer mandate that requires employers to offer health insurance only applies [...]

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Government Shutdown: Is The Republican “Plan” Actuarially Feasible?

Although I've seen a lot of media references placing blame for the government shutdown squarely at the feet of House Republicans, I've also heard people saying that both sides are to blame and that the Democrats could have "compromised."  I've just finished reading the text of the House amendment to H.J. Res. 59.  This is the amendment that would have "delayed Obamacare" by a year.

There are a couple specific aspects of the ACA that House Republicans were trying to delay or delete.  The most significant is the individual mandate (keep in mind that this has been challenged all the way to the Supreme Court and found to be Constitutional), which the amendment would postpone until 2015.   [The amendment also contains some other provisions regarding health insurance for Congress and the President, which I'll address tomorrow.]

The initial provisions of the ACA started to take effect in 2010.  January 1, 2014 is about 3.5 years after that, so the individual mandate had a significant built-in delay.  But let's assume for a moment that the Democrats wanted to accept this "compromise" and allow the individual mandate to be delayed until 2015.  What would that have involved from a practical standpoint?

An actuarial nightmare

Back in the spring of this year, health insurance carriers all across the country were scrambling to submit rates and plan designs for review.  There were some delays, and some carriers ended up having to redo their rates and submit them again, but by the middle of August we had a pretty good idea of what plans were going to be available in the Colorado marketplace (exchange) - and news was also coming in from lots of other states.  This was six weeks before the marketplaces opened, and a full 4.5 months before the new policies were going to be effective.  Once the rates were finalized, they had to be loaded into each marketplace's online quoting software so that they would be available to navigators, brokers and applicants once the marketplace opened for business.

This whole process took many months.  Creating the ACA-compliant plan designs and doing the actuarial work to price them was not something that happened overnight.  Carriers were working on this early in the year, getting their plan design and rate info ready to submit in the spring.  And then the rate reviews, final approval, and user interface updates added to the time frame.

So let's go back and look at the Republican "compromise" of delaying the individual mandate for a year.  All of the new plans and rates that actuaries, marketplaces and Divisions of Insurance have been working with this year are designed around the basic concepts of the ACA:  Policies must be guaranteed issue (a huge change from the way policies have historically been issued in the individual market, where underwriting has been part of the process in all but five states), they can only be issued during open enrollment or following a qualifying event (loss of other coverage, birth, adoption, marriage, divorce), and the individual mandate is expected to generally increase enrollment.

Removing any of these elements would drastically change the pricing of the policies and basically mean that the actuaries would have to start over.  Incidentally, the House Amendment does not mention delaying the requirement that individual health insurance be guaranteed issue starting in 2014.  To roll out guaranteed issue coverage without the individual mandate would mean that rates would be significantly higher for the people who do opt to purchase a plan.  But regardless, removing one of the primary elements upon which the 2014 rates have been based would mean a complete do-over of the actuarial process of pricing the new policies.

But what about just keeping things the way they are?  Can't we just keep our 2013 plans and roll them into 2014 with no changes?

No.  Remember, the House Amendment to "delay Obamacare" (that's the language most often used in the media and by lawmakers themselves) would actually just delay the individual mandate.  It doesn't delay the other crucial aspects of the ACA that guided plan design for 2014.  So policies would still have to provide essential health benefits.  They would have to be guaranteed issue and priced the same regardless of gender (in Colorado, this has been the rule for almost three years now, but the ACA bans it everywhere).

So current 2013 policies could not continue to be issued in 2014.  They're not compliant in terms of plan design, even if actuaries were able to perform a miracle and redo all of the pricing in the next few weeks.

That puts us back to starting over with the new ACA-compliant plans that carriers created months ago, and trying to reprice them for 2014 to reflect a delay in the individual mandate.  Remember that the actuaries have to come up with the pricing (not a quick process), DOIs and marketplaces have to review the pricing, and then the final rates have to be uploaded to quoting systems (both marketplace systems and private "off-exchange" quoting systems) and added to printed sales materials in time for consumers to be able to use them.  For 2014 plans, this process started early in 2013.  Starting over at the beginning of October would have been mission impossible.

Consumers have generally always been able to submit applications one to two months prior to the effective date they want.  A lot of people wait until the last minute, but quotes are available several weeks out.  That means that if actuaries were to start over at the beginning of October and redo everything, the entire process would have to be completed by mid November at the latest in order for accurate pricing information to be available for consumers looking for a January 1 effective date.  The House Amendment did not mention delaying the opening of the marketplaces, so it's unclear what lawmakers wanted the marketplaces to do.  Would plan information still be available in early October, but with no rate data?

To say that this was a poorly planned amendment is an understatement.  It was political posturing designed to appeal only to people who "hate Obamacare" (and unfortunately, some of those people are woefully uninformed about the law).  It had no basis in actuarial reality, and would have thrown [...]

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House Republicans Want To Strip Congressional Staffers Of Their HealthInsurance Benefits

Yesterday I explained why the Republican House Amendment to "delay Obamacare" (actually, just the individual mandate) would be impossible from a practical standpoint.  I am not under any illusions that the people who created it were actually trying to implement something practical or realistic.  They don't care that millions of people have been waiting 3.5 years since the ACA became law to be able to enroll in guaranteed issue individual health insurance.  They don't care that millions of uninsured Americans will finally be able to afford health to purchase their own health insurance thanks to the subsidies in the marketplaces/exchanges.  Their priority is to get rid of the ACA, and it appears that they consider the shutdown of the federal government to be acceptable collateral damage in their fight.  Their goal is not really to delay the law, but to derail it entirely - they know full well that delaying the individual mandate would throw the whole law into a tailspin.

But there's another part of the House Amendment to H.J. Res. 59 that is also worth talking about, since it goes hand in hand with an ACA myth that just won't die.  So before we go any further, I want to clarify:  Congress is not exempt from the ACA.  The President and Vice-President are not exempt from the ACA.  Political Appointees are not exempt from the ACA.  Being "exempt from the ACA" or "exempt from Obamacare" doesn't really mean anything anyway.  The talk show hosts who perpetuate this myth are deliberately trying to obfuscate an aspect of the ACA that actually penalizes Congress.

They talk about how this amendment gets rid of "special treatment" for Congress.  If you consider losing your employer-sponsored health insurance to be "special treatment," then I guess that's true.  The amendment basically lays out provisions to make sure that the President, Vice President, political appointees, Congress and congressional staffers must purchase health insurance in the marketplaces (exchanges) and strips them of any contributions from the government to help pay for their policies.

To briefly summarize the history of this fight, back in 2010 Republican Senator Chuck Grassley felt that "we [in Congress] need to go into the exchange so that we would have to go through the same red tape as every other citizen."  This is sort of a warm-fuzzy statement if you just take it at face value.  But in truth, it's ridiculous, because the majority of US citizens are not going to be using the exchanges.  Most people will continue to get their health insurance from their employers or from the government (Medicare, Medicaid, VA).

Federal government employees get their health insurance from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHB).  Just like almost every very large employer, the federal government provides health insurance benefits to its workers and pays a large portion of the premiums.  The benefits are one of the ways that the government is able to recruit talented employees.  The marketplaces/exchanges were created in order to help people who are uninsured or who purchase their own individual health insurance (because they are self employed or work for a company that doesn't provide benefits).  Federal government employees do not fall into this category by any stretch of the imagination.  So it has always seemed ridiculous to me that the Grassley Amendment was added in the first place.  But it was.

Although the original amendment didn't include a provision for Congress et al to keep their employer contributions (the amount that the government already pays towards their FEHB policies) and use them towards individual health insurance in the marketplaces, it also did not require the government to stop contributing to their health insurance premiums.  The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a proposed ruling in August that allowed the government to continue to fund Congressional health insurance after the switch is made from FEHB to the exchanges.  Then at the end of September, OPM issued a final ruling which states that

"OPM has clarified that Members of Congress and designated congressional staff must enroll in an appropriate Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) as determined by the Director in order to receive a Government contribution."

This is what they came up with in order to work around an amendment that never made sense in the first place.  The OPM ruling doesn't really make a whole lot of sense either, since the SHOP marketplaces in 2014 are designed for businesses with up to 50 employees - not exactly the definition of the federal government's employment roster.  But the SHOP markeplaces are set up to allow employers to contribute to their employees' health insurance premiums, so it works on that level.

And now the House Amendment to H.J. Res. 59 would remove that allowance.  It states that "No government contribution under section 8906 of title 5, United States Code, shall be provided on behalf of an individual who is a Member of Congress, congressional staff, the President, Vice President, or a political appointee for coverage under this subparagraph."  The basic effect of this would be to strip these government employees of their employer-sponsored health insurance benefits, even though these benefits are part of what helps keep the government competitive with other big companies in the labor market.  Keep in mind that we're not just talking about highly paid lawmakers... congressional staffers are included.  These are regular people with jobs that probably aren't all that glamorous.  And now House Republicans want to strip them of their employer-sponsored health insurance benefits?

Interestingly enough, Senator Grassley has said that he didn't intend for lawmakers to lose the money that the federal government contributes towards their health insurance coverage (just like any other large employer would).  And yet, here we are.

Overall, the House Amendment to H.J. Res. 59 is a mess.  It makes no sense, and lawmakers who voted against it should be commended.  It's only seven pages long, so take a look at it yourself if you're curious.  As I mentioned in yesterday's post, there are much more productive, sensible ways that Speaker Boehner and his colleagues could go about changing the law, if they're so inclined.  They're throwing a Hail Mary here, because they know that once the marketplaces are running smoothly and people get used to guaranteed issue health insurance and subsidies to help pay for it, the ACA will probably be a pretty popular law.  An amendment that attempts to hobble the law under the guise of "delaying" it is disingenuous.  The American people deserve better than this.

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Traveling to the 2012 Olympics

Now that the Olympic Games are underway, throngs of sports fans and world travelers are flocking to London to witness history. The United Kingdom’s Department for Transport estimates 500,000 visitors will descend on the city between July 17 and August 18, excluding the 70,000 athletes and officials, an increase of 260,000 from last year. An expected 14,000 were booked to arrive through a travel agent on the Thursday before the opening ceremony, according to the market research company Forward Data.

Nineteen percent of the expected arrivals are coming from the U.S., where at least one travel insurance company has experienced an influx of customers seeking protection. Allianz Global Assistance USA, a multinational travel insurance provider with a growing presence domestically, has reported a 36% increase in travel insurance sales to people heading from the U.S. to London between late July and early September.

The flurry of activity means the chances of those pesky inconveniences occurring are greater than usual. “Unexpected illness or injury, significant airline delays and lost or delayed baggage are some of the concerns that consumers have when traveling and they are using travel insurance as a strategy to mitigate those risks,” Robert Pearson, Director of Market Intelligence at Allianz, said in a press release.

Is Travel Insurance Necessary?

Heathrow Airport prepared for months to handle the hordes of people who will be continuously arriving and leaving over a period of several weeks. It designated three peak days in which activity during the Olympics was or is supposed to be the most challenging: July 16, when Olympic athletes arrived nearly en masse; July 26, when sponsor and media poured in the day before the opening ceremony; and August 13, the day after the closing ceremony, which is expected to be Heathrow’s busiest day on record.

More than 1,000 volunteers have been corralled to ensure operations run as smoothly as possible. The airport has incorporated recommendations from other airports in previous host cities, and has invited peer reviews of their plans. New procedures have been tested to prevent trial and error from occurring during the Games.

However, even the most efficient preparations won’t prevent mistakes from happening. With 138,000 people and more than 200,000 bags expected to depart, 45% and 35% more than a regular day respectively, mistakes are bound to happen due to human error. When the Australian sailing team arrived on July 16, they were disappointed to discover that their sails were missing. Baggage handlers mistook the sails for cargo cargo because of their size. Fortunately, they were quickly recovered.

Coverage for delayed, lost, or damaged luggage is included in a typical travel insurance vacation plan. If an item is lost, the owner is given enough money to replace it. If an essential item is delayed, the owner is given enough money to cover the cost until the luggage is returned. Unforeseen expenses can derail an already expensive, pre-planned trip.

A delayed or canceled flight can be even more costly. Inclement weather or general confusion can disrupt a tight schedule dependent on narrow arrival windows. Missed reservations and even worse, missed hotel check-ins, can remove thousands of dollars from the pockets of travelers. In London’s hotels high demand and high capacity has driven up the cost to stay. On July 16 Travelclick reported that London hotel prices averaged £ 189, or $ 293. Last minute reservations are more difficult to come by, and likely to be even more expensive.

Vacation plans encompass non-refundable bookings and reservations. Travelers who are forced to cancel trips because they fell ill, lost their job, experienced a death in the family, were summoned for jury duty, or the occurrence of a natural disaster can be covered depending on the criteria of their agreement with their travel insurer. The former reason, falling ill, is another component that travelers insure during their trip because most health insurance providers in the U.S. do not cover medical expenses abroad.

English food gets a bad rap, and most visitors during the London Games will likely be pleased with the variety of delicious food offerings, but a bout with food poisoning, for example, can be unavoidable. Seeing a doctor and paying for medication can put a major dent in a traveler’s wallet. Even worse, a serious ailment that requires a few days in the hospital can cost five figures.

The Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends for people traveling abroad to consider purchasing a medical travel insurance plan after they’ve confirmed that their current health insurance policy doesn’t apply when they’re outside the U.S. and doesn’t cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation. Older travelers visiting the Olympics should note that Medicare offers no coverage abroad.

Navigating London

A travel insurance policy provides peace of mind to travelers worried about the logistics of their trips and their pocketbooks. However, ensuring things runs smoothly with minimal inconvenience is largely the responsibility of the traveler. London is swarming with confused people who are losing valuable and expensive time. Visitors who maximize their time are the ones who’ve done their homework and understand the lay of the land.

Many visitors may be tempted to avoid Heathrow given that it’s the primary hub for international flights. The London area is connected through five airports; London City, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton are the four others, each of which handles international arrivals. Whether or not they’re as well-run as Heathrow, though, remains to be seen. Visitors can also opt for smaller airports scattered throughout England and airports in other major cities throughout Europe, hopping on a train or bus to make up the rest of the distance.

Rail is a popular mode of transportation for visitors within London, which is known worldwide for its efficient public transportation system. Train companies have mobilized to create a network, both overground and underground, to shuttle people to and from their destinations as quickly as possible. Traveling by ground or water via bus or tube are options for shorter distances. Because of the rush, it’s essential for visitors to plan ahead. Created by Transport for London, Get Ahead of the Games is an interactive map providing visitors details on busy travel hubs.

Of course, visitors with tickets to sporting events likely have a Games Travelcard, which is valid during the day of the event for travel on “London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, buses, trams and National Rail services – but not on Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick Express trains, or for taxis/private hire vehicles,” according to the London 2012 site. For those sticking around London after the Games, purchasing a Visitor Oyster card allows visitors to pay as they go on public transportation.

Heightened security will assuredly slow things down, so visitors should be forewarned. The London 2012 website advises those who are attending events to bring as little as possible, as security checks are ubiquitous. At soccer events, for example, bringing a medium-sized soft-sided bag, which is permitted into most other events, is discouraged. The site provides a list of all the items prohibited from events. Excluded are liquids, aerosols, and gels in quantities greater than 100ml, glass bottles larger than 100ml, alcohol, and any item or article of clothing that can serve as a disruption.


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Auto Insurance Quotes - Auto Insurance Scams And Pitfalls To Avoid

http://orthodoxyandheterodoxy.com/cheapestautoinsure Before you get your online auto insurance quote, make sure to avoid the common scams and pitfalls that can co...

How much is car insurance for older muscle cars?

by Admiral Car Insurance

Question by Devin M: How much is car insurance for older muscle cars?
I heard that car insurance is pretty expensive for older muscle cars, and I'd like to know around how much a month car insurance would be for a 1968 ford mustang?


Give your answer to this question below!