Insurance on the Cheap Blogs

Internet Leads: Are They All about Lowest Prices?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:05:52 +0100

October 24th, 2009 by Adam Peters

Today, the Internet is one of the first places people go to shop for their insurance needs. But is everyone who shops for insurance online looking for just the lowest price? I don’t think so. I think they want a fair price, but they want a good product from a good name as well.

Twenty years ago, people went to the phone book for almost everything. Every year, I get the phone book dropped on my front porch, and I throw it on a shelf where it stays unopened.

I think the same thing happens in many households today. When you call Internet leads and just give them a price, they will probably go with the lowest one unless you tell them what sets you apart from your competitors. Insurance companies are not apples and apples.

These days it’s much easier to comparison shop than ever before, but Internet shoppers are just like everyone else. They are looking for the best value for their money. In other words, if you can show them the total value package your agency offers—things like great customer service, added discounts, and an easy and supportive claims process, in addition to price—they will be less tempted to go with the lowest price and more likely to stay when they decide to compare rates again.

This article was written by InsureMe.com for informational purposes only and not intended as professional advice.

Communicating and Selling Insurance via Email

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:58:03 +0100

October 27th, 2009 by Katherine Hernandez

I just love email as a communication tool! (I could write a few pages on the pros and cons of it, but I won’t subject you to that!)

There are tons of great information on the Web that provide tips on professional etiquette and email. Since email is a vital tool with Internet leads—and one form of communication with InsureMe—I think it’s appropriate to touch on a few reminders about email and your InsureMe account:

Please remember, you can email us with any questions/comments at leads@insureme.com. However, if you have an urgent matter, calling us is the best option.
If you receive a denied credit request and have a question or concern about it, just click on the reply option (which will be directed to leads@insureme.com), and we will review the lead again.
If you need to create more than one email for lead delivery, please call the InsureMe agent service department, and we can set that up for you (1-800-467-8736, option ‘2’).
If you cannot initially reach a lead via phone, send them an email—even if it’s a quick message to let them know you will be contacting them.

Now for ‘netiquette.’” I cannot stress how important tone, grammar, spelling and font are when sending a professional email to consumers, because a poorly constructed email can affect whether or not a consumer wants to do business with you. (As we all know, spell check does not distinguish the context of many words.) It helps to re-read an email or have someone else conduct a quick check before clicking ’send.’

Our own Jeb Foster provided excellent tips for professional email etiquette in the InsureMe agent resource center. It’s titled, Tips for Email Mastery. Check it out!

USE PROMO CODE :- A612524 FOR YOUR LEADS

Life Insurance Basics

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:52:27 +0100

Purchasing life insurance is the best way to ensure your loved ones are adequately provided for in case of your death.

How? By guaranteeing your family's survival in your absence. Life insurance can help your spouse pay off your home mortgage, provide an education for your children, supply monthly income for a period of time, or even leave your family savings.

Let's face it, no one ever plans for their family to go unprotected. But that is exactly what happens every day due to lack of preparation. That's why it's so important to get educated so you can find the life insurance protection that fits your family's needs.

What's Available?

There are many different types of life insurance available, each designed to fit unique circumstances and individual needs.

Depending on whether your goal is to leave money so your family can pay your final expenses or simply to provide them with savings, one of the following types of life insurance should be just what you need:

Term life insurance: the simplest form. You purchase coverage for a specific period and, if you die during that time, your beneficiary receives the policy's value. Term insurance includes no investment component.
Whole life insurance: a policy purchased to cover you for your whole life, not just a set period of time. Premiums remain level while the policy is in effect, and the insurer invests a portion of your premiums, building the policy's value over time.
Universal life insurance: used to accumulate investment. You pay a minimum premium plus an amount you would like invested. The insurer chooses the investment vehicle, usually only bonds and mortgages, and both your investment and its returns are placed into a cash-value account. This account may then be used to pay future premiums, or it may continue to build.
Variable life insurance: similar to universal life insurance, but includes a broader selection of investment products, including stocks. Beneficiaries receive the policy's face value, OR that amount PLUS the value of your investment account.

How to Get the Best Rates

There are five ways to ensure you get the best rates, along with the best life insurance coverage:

Always tell the truth when applying for life insurance. Lack of disclosure can cause your policy to be revoked within the first two years.
Go over your policy and reapply for lower rates when there are changes in your health.
Schedule required medical tests for first thing in the morning. During this time, your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are lower and you're less stressed.
Use an insurance shopping service like InsureMe to shop around for your life insurance. This purchase represents a big decision and a large financial commitment, so comparison shopping just makes sense!

Prepare for the Future

Now that you better understand your life insurance options, make an informed decision and leave your family protected.

After all, they deserve your best!

This article was written by InsureMe.com for informational purposes only and not intended as professional advice.

Inexpensive Health Insurance: The Choice Is Yours

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:48:24 +0100

Just because you're healthy doesn't mean you don't need health insurance. In fact, health insurance is meant to help you stay healthy!

But many people mistakenly think they can't afford to pay for health insurance to maintain their health. In many cases, that's simply not true. And health insurance doesn't just help in maintaining your physical health, it can protect your financial health as well. A 2005 Harvard University study of nearly 2,000 Americans in bankruptcy courts revealed that half were there because of illness or medical bills.

Making Lifestyle Changes

If you're uninsured, don't despair; InsureMe is here to help you find inexpensive health insurance. We help by matching you with agent and insurers and health discount plan providers. They, in turn, provide you with free quotes, allowing you to compare policies and pick the one that meets your needs.

We understand how tight household budgets are these days and, at the same time, we want to help you get-and stay-healthy. But first you must help yourself.

How? Start by doing everything possible to lead a healthy lifestyle:

If you currently smoke or use tobacco, stop.
If you don't exercise or eat a well-balanced diet, start.
See your doctor for annual physicals so problems can be detected right away, before they get out of hand.
Limit your alcohol consumption.

No one can make these lifestyle changes for you; you'll have to make them yourself. But staying healthy is the best way to get inexpensive health insurance.

Locating Inexpensive Health Care

Beyond making lifestyle changes, there are several other ways to find inexpensive health insurance, while still maximizing coverage. We suggest these tips for best results:

See if you qualify for group health insurance. Check with your employer, an alumni association or professional group you belong to. Many organizations offer group plans at discounted rates-a big money-saver when it comes to your premiums.
Examine individual health plans. They're less expensive than you might think!
Consider pairing a Health Savings Account (HSA) with a health insurance plan. An HSA allows you to use pre-tax dollars to cover routine health expenses, lowering the cost of your major medical insurance.
Increase your deductibles. The more you're willing to pay before your insurance kicks in, the less you'll pay in insurance premiums.
If you have a small income, check on state-sponsored programs through your state's division of insurance, or contact your local division of family services to see if you qualify for Medicaid. Many states have help available; you just have to ask.

Finally, make use of resources like the internet and friends and family. Spend some time researching, reading and getting recommendations. Since health insurance quotes can vary widely from one insurer to another, these might be the shortest routes to the savings you need.

Taking Care of Business

When it comes to inexpensive health insurance, the choice really is yours. So don't risk your well being, life and finances by going without insurance.

This article was written by InsureMe.com for informational purposes only and not intended as professional advice.

Home Insurance: Your Questions Answered

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:44:36 +0100

A home provides so much. It's where you keep your belongings, take solace after a long day and keep warm on a cold night. It's important to protect the place that means so much to you, so that if an unexpected event occurs, you are covered.

InsureMe can help you by supplying you with information about home insurance and connecting you with agents from leading companies.

What's covered in a standard homeowners' policy?

The most common policies have four types of coverage: coverage for the structure of your home, your personal belongings, liability protection and additional living expenses.

Structure of Your Home

You need to buy enough insurance to rebuild your home if it is damaged or destroyed by one of the disasters named in your policy. Most standard policies also cover structures that aren't attached to your home as well, such as garages and sheds, for up to 10 percent of the amount of insurance on your home.

Personal Belongings

Most policies offer coverage of your personal belongings between 50 and 70 percent of the amount you have on your home. When you conduct a home inventory, you can determine if that amount will suffice. Most policies include off-premise coverage, which means your possessions are covered any where in the world. If you have expensive items that you'd like additional protection for, you may need to purchase a special endorsement or floater.

Liability

Liability coverage protects against bodily injury and property lawsuits. It pays for your defense in court and any money you are required to pay, up to your policy limit. This includes no fault medical coverage, if someone is injured in your home.

Additional Expenses

If you are forced out of your home during repairs of damages caused by one of the covered disasters, a standard policy will pay for your hotel stay, restaurant bills and even reimburse you for money lost, if you rent out part of your home.

What's the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost?

An actual cash value policy pays to rebuild your home, minus depreciation. A replacement cost policy pays to replace your home and/or possessions without a deduction.

What's guaranteed or extended replacement cost?

It offers the highest level of protection, paying the total cost to replace your home, even if it exceeds your policy limit.

Is my home covered in case of an earthquake or flood?

Flood and earthquake insurance can be purchased separately from most insurance companies. If you live in an area prone to those types of natural disasters, you should spring for the additional coverage. They are slightly different than coverage for other disasters. For example, earthquake insurance has a different type of deductible-a percentage of coverage instead of a dollar amount. Talk to your insurer and get the specifics before you spend money on those extras.

Do I have to buy home insurance?

No, not legally. However, if you finance your home through a mortgage company, they will require you to have some kind of insurance policy. Even if you paid for your home in full, it's wise to have home insurance to protect your monetary investment, not to mention sentimental items, such as pictures and other memorabilia.

How can I save money?

It's important to have enough home insurance. There are other ways to save besides skimping on coverage.

Shop around. Obviously, if you get more quotes, it's more likely you'll get a better deal. Using a non-biased, third-party company like InsureMe is an easy way to get matched with several agents in your area who can provide you with competitive quotes.

Raise your deductible. If you're struggling to make your payments, raising the deductible is one way to lower them. Make sure that you can afford whatever amount you raise it to without going into debt.

Make your home safer. Since insurance companies measure risk when insuring your home, it reasons the safer it is, the cheaper the premiums. Smoke detectors, burglary alarms and dead-bolt locks are relatively inexpensive ways to protect your home and, in the process, lower your insurance costs.

Make it a combo. Purchasing more than one kind of insurance from a company generally will get you lower rates. While you're shopping your home insurance, think about getting a new auto, health or life policy along with it.

This article was written by InsureMe.com for informational purposes only and not intended as professional advice.

Buckles: Use Them for Safety, Not for Show

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:39:55 +0100

When someone mentions a buckle, what comes to mind? That big shiny thing on the end of your belt? The clasps that fasten your boots?

Though buckles like those look nice and help keep shoes and clothing in place, we’re talking about a different kind of belt altogether: one that protects your kids when they’re riding in the car, whether in a car seat, booster seat or the same cushy seat mom and dad travel in.

Misinformed Parents Means Unsafe Kids

Our children are our most precious cargo. But according to a recent survey by GMAC Insurance, more than one-third of parents are misinformed about proper child safety restraint procedures and don’t know how to properly buckle their kids up in the car.

If child safety seats confuse you and you can never quite figure out exactly how to buckle your kids up correctly—forward facing, backward facing, front seat or back seat—you’re not alone. Consider these facts, documented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and GMAC:

73 percent of child restraints (buckles and car seats) aren’t used properly.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages four to 12.
Half of all children newborn to seven years of age killed in car crashes are not buckled into child safety seats.
Child safety seats installed and used correctly reduce fatal injury in crashes by 71 percent for kids under one year old and 54 percent for those one to four years old.
Compared with adult seat belts, child safety seats reduce kids’ risk of death by 21 percent.

Clearing the Confusion

So what’s the key to buckling them up right so your kids stay safe in the car? Rather than relying solely on age, the secret is in gauging their height, weight and body size—as well as their age—to get the proper safety fit.

Though each state maintains and governs its own child safety restraint laws, we recommend this information from the NHTSA as a general guideline:

Age/Size	Proper Positioning
Infants to 1-year-olds weighing at least 20 pounds	Place in rear-facing child safety seats buckled securely into the back seat
1-year-olds weighing at least 20 pounds to 4-year-olds weighing at least 40 pounds	Place in forward-facing child safety seats buckled securely into the back seat
4-year-olds weighing at least 40 pounds to 8-year-olds approximately 4’9” tall and weighing over 80 pounds	Place in booster seats buckled securely into the back seat
8-year-olds approximately 4’9” tall and weighing over 80 pounds to 13-year-olds	Place in adult seat belts facing forward in the back seat, making sure the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest

Tips for Safe Riding

Choose safety seats wisely. The NHTSA compares 101 child safety and booster seats here to help you find the one that fits your needs best.
Read the instructions. Make sure you install and buckle your children’s seats properly by reading the installation instructions that come in the box.
Get help. Insurers like GMAC, Allstate and Geico, along with local and state non-profit organizations, sponsor free child safety seat checks at least once a year. Ask your insurer how you can participate.
Be an example. Always buckle up in front of your kids. It will make restraining them in their car or booster seats easier—and help keep everyone safe.

Protect Your Kids: Buckle them up!

When it comes to buckles, those that protect your children as they ride in the car are definitely the most important.

So don’t be confused about how to buckle them up right. Follow these guidelines, talk to your insurer and don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Your kids’ lives are at stake!

This article was written by InsureMe.com for informational purposes only and not intended as professional advice.