Insurance is all about protection. It is what keeps us financially secure through a life that comes with impending disaster that we can’t always avoid. Knowing what to do and what not to do with our insurance needs can save a lot of money and a lot of headaches.
If you want to make sure you are getting the best deal on your insurance premiums, make sure that your credit score is as good. A negative credit score or mark on your credit report can put you into a different pricing structure and cost you money on a monthly or yearly basis.
Be wary of any non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements presented to you during an insurance claim. You may unknowingly sign away your maximum benefits allowed to you. Be sure to consult with a lawyer first to ensure that what you are signing is legitimate and fair for all parties.
When filing an insurance claim for your business, you should always keep track of the time you spend and any expenses you incur in the process of preparing the claim. Most business insurance policies specifically cover claim preparation costs, so don’t be afraid to ask for the money you’re entitled to.
To save money on insurance, you should shop around and find out how different companies will discount for multiple policies for the same household. Most companies offer a standard 10% discount for placing all of your business with them but some firms will be able to make larger concessions.
If you want insurance companies to deal fairly with you, then you must do the same for them. You might be tempted to pump up your claim or say you lost more than you did, but if you do this, you will add fuel to their concerns about claimant fraud and they are less likely to deal with you in an honest way. It’s the Golden Rule, once again: report your loss fairly and honestly, with all the details needed, and accept what appears to be fair value (if in fact that is what you’re offered).
Health insurance, car insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, travel insurance.
All of those things are necessary and they insure one’s peace of mind. It is easy to think that paying a minimal monthly amount is ridiculous, but when something catastrophic happens, insurance saves the day.
Insurance will save one’s car, another driver’s car, items in one’s apartment, cover the bills for a sick pet, reimburse one for a trip that got cancelled because of bad weather, or pay medical bills.
Purchasing insurance is necessary and it should factor into everyone’s budget. One hundred dollars every month is far easier to handle than one hundred thousand because something unexpected happened.
If you own a home and have a car, you can save on insurance by covering both, with the same company. Most insurers offer multi-policy discounts and with online tools that make it easy to compare costs, you can easily find the company that offers you the biggest savings and most appropriate coverage for your situation.
You can get health coverage for your pet. Dogs and cats are commonly covered, but you may be able to find insurance for other small animals too. Many pet owners elect to go without pet coverage, as they find limited options and high co-pays too difficult to deal with, but some appreciate the added peace of mind.
Increasing the amount of your deductible will definitely lower the amount you must pay, but this is not always a smart thing to do. While you have the advantage of lower monthly premiums, you are going to be fully responsible for small incidents. You need to take these hypothetical expenses into account when you’re crunching the numbers of any insurance policy.
Make sure your pet’s insurance policy is clear and easy to read. You do not want to get lost in the lingo and find out you are paying extra for services you do not need. Ask for clarification if necessary, and don’t allow yourself to be taken in by scam policies.
Find an insurance broker who works with several major, reputable companies. These professionals, after reviewing your records, can compare different companies’ offers and can choose the best coverage for the best premium. Some of these brokers continue to shop around for you and switch your carrier when another company offers the same coverage for a more reasonable premium.
When applying for any kind of insurance it is of utmost importance that you know exactly what you’re signing up for, so read the policy! Although it may seem like a daunting task, being prepared for any situation that comes up means peace of mind. Ask your insurance agent about any item in the policy you’re unsure about, including what is actually covered in your policy and what will be your responsibility to pay for out of pocket.
When selecting your insurance coverage, be aware of your assets. People with more assets to protect, especially homeowners, should have more insurance coverage than people with fewer assets. This is because if you are underinsured for your auto, for example, and you get into a major accident that causes hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, you could end up liable for those damages and lose your assets.
Check with your provider to make sure that you are benefiting from all of the discounts that are available for renter’s insurance. You can get a discount for living in a gated community and many other things that may have not been considered when you opened your policy that could be saving you money.
Whatever you have that is important to you, you need to make sure that you have it covered by one of your insurance policies. You never know when that next disaster is going to hit and potentially cost you a lot of money. Take the advice we’ve given you in this article to make sure that you are always covered in the event of the unfortunate.
