By Jennifer Stromsteen

In our modern digital era, just about all the big dependable car insurance companies offers online quotes. By taking advantage of online quotes you”ll be in the perfect position to compare car insurance costs and be positive, you are not only being quoted the best rate but the best coverage. Insurance Plans really do differ more than you might believe. So before you buy a policy make sure you get a rate quote online.

Auto insurance companies have available all sorts of discounts. The problem is most of them don”t pester themselves to inform you what those discounts are so it’’s up to you to spend the effort necessary. For instance, let’’s say you going to insure four vehicles. Many companies provide a minimum of 10% for multiple vehicles and will usually be significantly larger, but often the agents forget to deliver this information on to you.

If you have an accident free record and have not had traffic violations in the past few years, then you can earn a significant discount, depending on the insurance company you are getting a quote from. Expect anywhere from a 25% to 41% discount, now that’’s substantial!

The statistics you feed into the quote page has to be accurate. In fact, it’’s critical because that’’s what’’s used to establish what your premiums will be. Because if you cook up the data you may receive a lower rate. However, when the agent verifies the info your policy will be terminated, as well as, if you crash, you could find out to your dismay that your policy was voided.

There are multiple ways that you can reduce the amount of your coverage without compromising your liability. Auto insurance comparison online is one of the most relaxing ways to shop for it.

Your driving annals, the brand of car you own, where you journey, how regularly you use your car, when you go to work, how old you are, and so many other factors all yield the insurance price you”ll pay. Knowing what you can do to lower your insurance coverage prices is profitable. For instance, taking public transportation to and from your place of employment, or riding with a co-worker might lower your insurance coverage prices by as much as 49%. It pays to shop around.

You might be shocked to learn that the majority of drivers are spending too much for their vehicle insurance because they don”t take in that there are sizeable differences in policy pricing, and drivers don”t shop around. The experts all admit that the best way to save on your car coverage is to shop for and then buy your car insurance online.

When you are doing a car insurance comparison online it’’s important that you compare pears to pears. It doesn”t do you any good if one quote is exceptionally low but their policy is poor in comparison to another company. In fact, before you finalize the deal or pay any money it is imperative to have the opportunity to read thoroughly the policy and all the minute details. If you follow these procedures you”ll get the best auto insurance at the best price.

About The Author

Jennifer Stromsteen is an auto insurance expert. Her website, http://cheapauto-insurance.com, helps consumers compare multiple car insurance companies to get the lowest rates.

By Scott Ficek

You have decided not to renew a particular tenant’’s lease for any number of reasons (late rent, noise complaints). Immediately after notifying them that they must be out by the 31st, they stop returning your calls and are very cold when you do see them.

You never hear from them again, but you stop by at 5pm on the 31st to check if they clean up the apartment only to find them still living there. Now what do you do? I have some ideas on “Now What?”, but let’’s first examine what you should have done prior to reduce your risks of the “Now What?”.

Prior to telling the tenant you are not renewing their lease:
1. Tour the apartment looking for any work that may need to be done and to confirm the current condition of the unit. Try to complete any repairs prior to the previous tenant moving out to save time.
2. Talk with the tenant informally about their plans to renew the lease. Do they need a bigger space or less expensive? See if just a little coaxing could get them to move on their own.

How to inform the tenant you are not renewing their lease:
1. First talk to the tenant in person. Although this is more intimidating, it is also less formal and may be received better. Then follow up the conversation with a letter for documentation.
2. Give them at least 61 days notice. This should work in most states and will give the tenant ample time to find a replacement apartment.
3. Call back every week or so to confirm they are looking for a new apartment. If they don”t answer the phone, stop by. If they won”t answer the door, start preparing for the “Now What?”.

Preparing for the “Now What?”
1. Talk to them immediately. Use your best negotiation skills.
2. If they will talk to you, see if you can bribe them to move by offering them cash for a moving truck.
3. If they owe you money prior to the move-out date, consider an eviction process to insure they are going to be out. You can also threaten to evict them if they are not out on time.
4. If you see this problem coming, do not lease the apartment for the month immediately after as you could put yourself in a bind with the new tenant having no where to go.
5. Research how to evict a “Hold Over” tenant in your state.
6. If the tenant receives public assistance for their rent, contact their coordinator and see if they can provide any leverage to get the tenant to move.

The morning after they didn”t move out
1. Understand the rights of the tenant and do not cross the line as you could be liable for a lawsuit if you try to force them out illegally.
2. Put your “Hold Over” tenant eviction plan into action. Notify the tenant that you are taking legal steps to remove them.

Having a tenant refuse to vacate the apartment once their lease expires can be a difficult event. There are many twists and turns in this drama. By being prepared as early in the process as possible with good contingencies, you should be able to avoid the “Now What?”.

About The Author

Scott Ficek owns and manages investment property units from single family to multi-family. Find his website at http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com. He is also a Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage Plus in Minneapolis and helps new and seasoned investors buy and own Investment Property.

By Shaun Parker

Car leasing is a way of financing the use of a vehicle. Like a car repayment loan payments are made every month over a set period of time but it differs from purchasing a vehicle in that the person that leases a car does not own the vehicle at the end of the agreement. The person that has use of the vehicle does not own it but has complete use of it.

This means that the person that is leasing the car can manage their vehicle payments carefully and can keep a close eye on their outgoings. This can be a good thing for people that want to have a certain amount of security with their monthly payments. There are a number of options that can be taken to further secure the monthly charge. For example it is often possible to include a monthly maintenance fee that covers any problems that may occur with the vehicle. This means that the person that leases the vehicle can feel comfortable that they will never incur unexpected costs.

One of the major benefits of car leasing is that you can afford a vehicle that would ordinarily be out of your budget. When you lease a vehicle you do not have to pay the cost of the vehicle or a large down payment for a loan deal. As the person that leases the vehicle never owns it he or she also benefits from the fact that at the end of a contract he or she can just return the vehicle to the person or company that they leased it from.

They do not have to worry about the depreciation in values that cars inevitably experience and neither do they have to worry about the hassle of selling a vehicle on. The person leasing the vehicle can just hand the keys over and walk away at the end of the contract. So leasing can help people avoid depreciation, unexpected maintenance costs and the hassle of selling a vehicle on.

Car leasing also has a number of benefits for people that execute the deals as well as for the people that take advantage of them. The advantages for the seller are that they can generate income from a vehicle that they own but the vehicle remains theirs and although they relinquish control they do not relinquish the ownership of the vehicle. This means that they can often keep a fleet of vehicles on their books and make a profit of each.

It does of course mean that they do take on a certain level of risk. For many people that lease out a vehicle there is the risk of depreciation of value of their vehicle. It is common for vehicles to lose value over time and this depreciation can be crippling if the leasing company have not built enough into their charges to cover this inevitability. The other major risk for car leasing firms is that the person that leases the car is less likely to treat the vehicle with as much care as they might treat their own vehicle. This can mean people that lease cars are harder on their vehicles than if they owned it themselves.

People that lease cars often benefit as they are often able to afford a modern vehicle that is up to date. It can be a method of financing a vehicle that might ordinarily be out of the persons budget. They also benefit from being able to be slightly less precious with the vehicle. As they are going to return the vehicle after the end of the contract they do not have to take so much care over it. That is not to say that they can thrash the vehicle within an inch of its life but it does mean that they can feel less anxious about its upkeep.

About The Author

Shaun Parker has been at the forefront of the car hire and car leasing industry for several years. He has arranged finance for hundreds of satisfied customers. To find out more visit http://www.ambervehiclesolutions.co.uk

By Grace Navas

Mexico’’s amicable trade relations with its neighbors and its abundance of beaches, historic districts, and other tourist sites make it an ideal place to visit, whether for business or pleasure. But if you plan to go to Mexico by car, it is vital for you to have Mexico auto insurance. It doesn”t matter if you carry substantial liability coverage in the United States or Canada. That doesn”t count for anything in Mexico. When you are in Mexico, you should always have liability coverage from Mexican insurers.

Mexican law requires you to have at least Civil Liability Insurance, which will cover you in the event that you are involved in an accident and injure other people, whether motorists or pedestrians, or if you cause damage to property. And new travelers to Mexico should take note of how seriously the law regards the issue of traffic accidents and auto insurance. If accidents as minor as fender-benders are regarded with utmost severity, then you can probably imagine how bad it would be to become involved in accident resulting in personal injuries, especially if you are the at-fault driver and you don”t have Mexico auto insurance.

Even if you are not the at-fault driver in an accident, you can expect to be detained in a Mexican jail while the authorities flesh out the details of the incident and decide who is to blame for it. And if you were the one at fault, you”ll still spend some time in jail while the police determine if you are financially capable of paying for any damage you may have caused (and if you”re not, you may face criminal charges). That’’s not something you want to remember from a vacation to Mexico!

That’’s why it is vital to get Mexican auto insurance if Mexico is in your automobile travel itinerary. Short-term and long-term coverage is very affordable: a typical rate would be $30 for three days of Mexican liability coverage. And you can purchase Mexican auto insurance in the United States or in areas in the American-Mexican border.

You should always include Mexico auto insurance if you plan to visit Mexico by car, whether you decide to stay there a few days or a few months. Being prepared for an accident, whether it happens or not, is a wise investment and it will most likely enable you bring you a piece of mind and to enjoy your visit to Mexico even more.

About The Author

Ms.Grace Navas is an insurance broker and a regular contributor to http://www.super-value-insurance.com. Super-Value-Insurance.com provides online insurance quotes and insurance consumer guides.

By James Mitchell

As boating becomes more popular, increasing numbers of companies are supplying boat insurance. Confusion is often a result as owners try to find the best provider for their needs. Because competition can be fierce, insurance providers like to include aspects other companies do not have; however, each policy holder’’s individual requirements will need to be met. Detailed below are some pointers which you should consider.

The financial stability of the company is paramount and it is quite a simple process inspecting the previous year’’s accounts, as boat insurance arranged with a company with a poor financial record will render it useless. The easiest way to do this is by locating marine insurers of marine vessels online. Start by trying those with a good customer base as this is usually a good sign.

You may at some point need to contact the company regarding a claim, therefore receiving a speedy response is the sign of a good customer relations department and one that should be efficient and understanding. Most insurers of marine vessels should have a strong list of claims centers which should include emergency services, agencies and helpful representatives to serve you in times that you need them the most. The more claim centers a marine insurance company has, the better; this will contain authorized and specialist repairers plus what emergency services can be provided should anything happen to your craft.

The company’’s reputation should be good and well established. Most companies will attempt to arrange mutually beneficial settlements which should be reflected in any online testimonials. All policies have a number of options and variations to choose from but they should ideally meet your needs and not those of the insurance provider.

Find out from customers just what they think of their provider. Good ones do not want their reputation tarnished so look for companies that pride themselves on the service they provide to customers. There are usually a number of coverage options available with any type of policy; look for an insurance provider that can supply the options you require as this will save you having to make separate arrangements.

Search for a boat insurance policy without compromising on quality or service - try comparing and analyzing the price of different providers before you finally commit to anything. Marine policies are never straightforward, so finding the right policy will not be as simple as regular home cover, for example. These are the most important points to keep in mind when you search for any boat insurance provider.

Focus on the most important aspects to reduce the list of potential companies as it is considerably simpler to check individual policy benefits once this has been carried out. Sticking to the points mentioned here should help save time and hopefully, money, because the last thing needed after signing the policy is to find there’’s a problem with the marine insurance company.

About The Author

James Mitchell has created several online resources dealing with Boat Insurance and other related topics, as well as publishing articles on numerous subjects. You can find out more about Boat Insurance at http://www.insurancepolicyreport.com/boat-insurance.html

By John Hartley

Every year it pays to get quotes for auto insurance because you can almost always find a better deal than you now have. Of course, you need to make sure that the new insurer rally does offer like-for-like cover compared with your existing insurer.

Once you have decided to get some insurance quotes, the best thing you can do is to go online. You might not be comfortable with the ideas of buying insurance online, especially if you are used to using a broker where you actually know the people. But believe me, going online can save you a lot of money.

Often, you can get better cover as well. For example, you might be able to pay a lower excess, or no excess, for the same premium, or you might be able to get a lower rate for letting your teenage son drive the car.

The other major benefit is that you get a lot of quotes very quickly in one place.

But you might ask: ”Can”t I do better on the phone?”

It is true that you can get to quite a few insurance companies on the phone, and you can also ask a broker to get you some quotes. That was the best way before the Internet. Even then, you could not rely totally on brokers because several companies deal only directly with customers. And they usually offer competitive rates.

Best to buy auto insurance online

But the fact is that you will do better to buy auto insurance online - on the Internet. But it is not as easy as it sounds so you need a few tips to help. You could type in ”buy auto insurance online” at Google, and you will seem to find lots of suitable sites - in fact, you will find about 7.2 million pages listing this term! Well, actually they do not list that term, but they list those words in the first paragraph, but not necessarily in that order.

Even if you get the exact term ”buy auto insurance online” you will have to go through a lot of pages to find all the quotes you want. This is what you would have to do if you wanted some specialized forms of insurance, but not for normal auto insurance.

Of course, if you already have a policy you need to get a quote from your existing auto insurance company first. Then, instead of going through all the pages offering auto insurance I recommend that you go to a site that lets you put your information once, and then gets you lots of quotes. You then choose the best one - it may not be the cheapest, but the cheapest that gives you what you need.

About The Author

John Hartley has been writing about cars and the auto industry for many years and you can discover how to compare auto insurance rates and get the best rates at http://www.allaboutfastcars.com/auto_insurance/.

By Ajeet Khurana

Insurance is a signed contract called policy. The party who buys the policy is called the Policyholder and the party that sells it is called the Insurer. It is taken to safeguard oneself from any financial loss occurring due to any event like death, accidents, damage to property or business, through acts of nature or caused by humans. It gives you peace of mind because you know you”ve prepared yourself for the worst.

The policy is always taken for a fixed period on which a pre-determined amount is paid at regular intervals to the insurer. This amount is called the Premium. Premiums are either paid as lump sums for a year or in installments.

Well, there are two types of insurance coverage: Life and General or Non Life Insurance. Life coverage is taken to support one’’s family in the unfortunate event of death or permanent disability or a life-threatening disease. If you have loved ones who are financially dependent on you, then seriously opt for this cover. General coverage on the other hand covers all non-life losses. These can include health issues, damage to property or business, etc.

Lets discuss health, accident and vision insurance, in the sense, what are they and how they are different from each other. Think for a moment and you”ll realize how time has passed by. Basic necessities like food, education, etc are not available at the same price today, which were few years back. In short, our cost of living has increased which means with the rise in the cost, health care has also become expensive now-a-days.

Healthcare expense would include medical bill, operation charges, medicines, hospital stay etc. If one day when you fall seriously ill and need to be hospitalized then this policy will help cover the medical expense. This way you are saving yourself and your family from financial difficulty.

You”ve been a very good driver all these years with a clear record. You follow rules and safety precautions, but not everybody does as you do, although they are expected to do it. Don”t fool yourself into believing that nothing will happen to you. What if one day you get hit by a fast moving vehicle coming your way. You can be badly injured and it might even lead to death.

In such situations an accident policy will take care of you and your family. It will cover tall the expensive medical treatments, physical therapy, crutches, wheelchairs etc.

Vision insurance is different from health insurance but is also a part of it, in the sense that it focuses on a certain part of your body i.e., your eye. It pays for eye examination, eyewear and other vision services. Some of the benefits you can get when you take this policy are: routine eye check at reduced rates, access to ophthalmologists, laboratories, surgeons etc.

What I strongly recommend is, before taking an insurance cover make sure to check the history of the company and its reputation. Evaluate policies with the insurer for changes or alterations in premium rates.

About The Author

Enjoy your life. Rely on us for individual health insurance at http://www.allaboardbenefits.net/ accident health insurance at http://www.allaboardbenefits.net/insurance-library/accident-insurance.html and vision insurance at http://www.allaboardbenefits.net/insurance-library/vision-insurance.html

By Art Gib

The whole prospect of getting in an auto accident and what to do afterwards is a little dicey and complex. Of course, barring that someone perished in the event, some immediate and long term actions are needed by both parties when it comes to coughing up the cash for damages. Assuming that the accident is between two cars, as most are in general, the first portion of this article will go over what resources can be used to pay for the damages.

For the most part, there are four main sources of compensation when paying for damages during an auto accident. First is out-of-pocket cost. This is usually something that results from minor damages. If both parties agree that the damages received are not heavy enough to write home about, then they simply pay the cost. It’’s nice this way sometimes as it can avoid driving up one’’s insurance premium cost and the payment solution avoids any further damage assessment and investigation that may involve insurance or legal pursuit.

The second, and most common, option is payment through insurance. Depending on what contract you”ve signed up and what the other motorist is on, insurance covers vehicle damage and sometimes medical damage depending on the state liability law and what was signed up for. Liability Insurances in most states usually have a payment system to cover personal injury in the 10 to 15 thousand dollar range.

If there is any injury, a health insurance provider can possibly cover that — something outside the car insurance compensation. It can work in conjunction with the above two sources of payment. If you have an HMO they probably will not kick in any compensation unless the auto insurance pays out their portion in full.

Finally, the last option of payment source is from other people who were involved in the accident. In addition to the first three mentioned above, payment for damages can be sought from those responsible and involved in the auto accident.

Now if there are extreme damages, let’’s say a whiplash or some spinal injury occurred, further payment and compensation is often sought out, either directly with the person at fault or their insurance. Legal matters get a bit dense from there and depending on what state you are in, the course of action can vary. A no-fault state will require that each person refer to their own insurance company for compensation. However, for serious injuries, lawsuits have been known to occur despite the no-fault law. And for some states there are hybrid laws that include both a no-fault and a fault choice. Pennsylvania is such a place.

No-Fault vs. Fault: A Pennsylvania Example

Pennsylvania is unusual compared to most states in that it has a policy where motorists can choose either to opt for a no-fault insurance or not — called a “choice no fault.” No-fault insurance basically waves their right to sue the other person regardless of where the fault lies. This goes for the other party as well; they will not be able to sue the no-fault subscriber.

The no-fault subscriber’’s personal insurance will be the sole funder of the costs and damages including debilitating health consequences. A Pennsylvania auto accident lawyer can flesh out the details or loopholes for extreme cases when a no-fault victim suffers from severe and debilitating damages.

If the no-fault is waived then the option for lawsuits is available. There are thresholds on the option to sue. It’’s not giving free reign to sue in any accident consequence; there are certain criteria that have to be met that a Pennsylvania accident lawyer can also go over in this instance as well.

About The Author

Legal Internet Solutions Incorporated (http://www.lenardcohen.com/automobile-liability.php) provides legal services from the offices of Lenard A. Cohen, a Pennsylvania auto accident lawyer, who specializes in acquiring compensation for accident victims. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.

By Ranju Kumar

The new Medicare drug program, known as Part D, has resulted in much confusion about rules, benefits and costs.

Here are answers to frequently asked questions from a leading health-care advocate…

DECIDING WHETHER TO SIGN UP

My mother is in her 80s, in good health and does not take any medications. Does she need Part D?
Your mother may not need coverage now, but she might consider a low monthly fee plan in case she does need coverage in the future and is concerned about the penalty. For every month she puts off enrolling after May 15, 2006 (when Part D went into effect), she will pay a penalty of 1% of the monthly premium.

For example, delaying for 15 months would mean a 15% penalty every month for the rest of her life. The typical plan charges $32 a month, but in many states, plans may cost much less.

Note: If you enroll in Part D more than three months after your 65th birthday, when you become eligible for Medicare, you will be charged an extra 1% of the current monthly premium for every month you wait to enroll.

CUTTING COSTS

I prefer to fill my prescriptions on a 90 day basis. Do any Part D plans offer this option?
Certain plans do allow prescriptions for 90 days at a time, reducing co-payments. Go to www.medicare.gov. Under Search Tools, click on Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, then on Find & Compare Plans.

Next, click on Begin General Search. Once you get to Step 3, click on Continue, then on Continue to Plan List. Here, go to Select Criteria to Reduce Number of Plans Shown, and click on Plans that allow me to use mail-order pharmacies. Call to confirm.

SWITCHING PLANS

I have heard that an insurer can increase premiums for the following year or drop a drug from its “formulary” (fist of available medications). Is this correct?
Yes. If a plan no longer seems like a good deal, you might want to switch. Each year, between November 15 and December 31, you can do so for the next year without penalty.

If your Part D provider drops a drug that you need, you can ask for an exception … appeal to the independent review board if your request is turned down … or ask for judicial review under certain circumstances.

HELP FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE

My father would like to sign up for the Medicare Part D plan, but he cannot afford it. Is financial assistance available?
If his income in 2007 is below $15,315 per year ($20,535 for couples) and his assets are worth less than $11,710 ($23,410 for couples), excluding both his home and vehicle but including $1,500 per person for burial and funeral expenses, he can get Part D coverage through the governments Extra Help program (new income limits will apply in 2008).

If he qualifies for the full subsidy, he will have to pay $2.10 for generic drugs and $5.35 for brand-name drugs, with no premiums or deductibles.

I work with low-income people. Pharmaceutical companies do offer programs to get these people the drugs they need, but anyone who has insurance does not qualify. If they sign up for Medicare Part D, their free meds will stop. What should they do?
If your clients income and assets are low enough that they can qualify for the Extra Help program (see previous question), they should sign up for Medicare Part D. The drugs they need should be available, but check first to make sure.

Unfortunately, some people do have incomes low enough to qualify for drug companies patient-assistance programs but not low enough to qualify for the full Extra Help subsidy. These individuals may be better off skipping Part D in order to continue to get free prescription medications through the drug makers.

DONUT HOLE TRAP

Can you explain the “donut hole”?
When Part D was originally being discussed, using a “standard plan” model, the plan in 2007 would pick up a portion of expenses up to $2,400 in total drug costs, then the individual would pay 100% of expenses up to $5,451 (the so-called “donut hole”). The plan would resume picking up 95% of costs over this amount for the remainder of the year.

In the end, there was no standard plan, so when the donut hole begins, what you pay depends on the plan you select. Read the various plans rules to find out what they provide.

No matter when your coverage gap begins, once you have $3,850 in out-of-pocket drug expenses in any calendar year, not including premiums, drugs that are not included on the plan and drugs purchased at out-of-network pharmacies “catastrophic coverage” kicks in and 95% of costs (not including the items that are listed above) are covered.

NURSING HOME CARE

My uncle is 84 and living in a nursing home. Should he sign up for Part D?
If your uncle qualifies for Medicaid assistance for his nursing home bills, then he automatically qualifies for Medicare Part Ds Extra Help program.

Make sure that the plan you select includes a pharmacy that works with his nursing home. If your uncle is not getting Medicaid, he still can select a Medicare private drug plan that works with his nursing home.

CREDITABLE COVERAGE

I have prescription drug coverage via my wife’’s insurance plan at her job. I also have Original Medicare. To obtain Part D without a penalty, do I have to sign up now or can I wait until my wife’’s coverage is no longer in effect?

You can wait and not pay a penalty if and when you do sign up for a Part D plan as long as your wife’’s coverage is “credit-able” - that means it is at least as good as Medicare Part D. (Coverage purchased privately, not through an employer, also can be creditable, although Medigap drug coverage is not.)

Your wife’’s employer should have sent her a notice stating whether the coverage is creditable. Keep a copy for your records to avoid penalties when you do sign up for Part D.

I go to the VA hospital for medical care and prescriptions. Is this considered creditable coverage?

Yes. (It probably isn”t necessary to get a letter from the VA stating that you have coverage, but it couldn”t hurt.)

MEDICARE HMOs

I belong to a Medicare HMO in Massachusetts. Officials there told me that they would cancel my coverage if I joined another insurer’’s Part D plan. There are other Part D plans more suitable for me. Can they actually cancel me if I avail myself of one of these?
Yes. If you”re in a Medicare private health plan, such as an HMO or PPO, you”ll lose coverage if you sign up for a stand-alone Part D plan.

Before you settle for your current provider’’s Part D plan, consider whether you would be better off switching to Original Medicare, which covers hospitalization and outpatient services, and a Medigap supplemental policy to help with the deductibles and co-payments that Medicare doesn”t cover, plus the stand-alone Part D plan of your choice.

Important: Several insurers are promoting zero or low-cost prescription drug plans that really are HMOs in disguise. Make sure you are signing up for a prescription drug plan only if that is all you want.

My father-in-law has Medicare and Tricare, the US Military’’s retiree health plan. Since the Tricare drug plan is comparable (actually better), do we need to sign him up for Medicare Part D?
No, you do not, and since Tricare is creditable coverage, you won”t face a penalty if he someday decides he does want to sign up for Part D.

HIGH-PRICED MEDICATION

I pay $20 per month for my rheumatoid arthritis medication (Enbrel) through my employer’’s plan, which ends when I retire soon. My pharmacist claims the drug will cost more than $1,200 per month without insurance. I have checked the companies providing Part D coverage and cannot find any that adequately cover my drug. Any suggestions?
Like many brand-name drugs, yours is in the more expensive, high-tier of the private drug plans. That probably means you”ll have to pay more than you are paying now. Exactly how much more will depend on your state and the plan you choose.

Also, there may be drug plan restrictions on more expensive drugs, so you may need your doctor’’s assistance to obtain coverage.

DISABILITY AND MEDICARE

I”m 64 years old and on disability, Medicare and Social Security. Can I apply for Part D now, or do I have to wait until I”m 65?
If your Medicare benefits have already begun, you can sign up right away.

If you are still waiting for your Medicare benefits (for people under age 65, they do not start until two years after disability payments begin), then you cannot sign up until three months before your Medicare coverage begins or in the month of your 65th birthday. The coverage begins the month you become eligible for Medicare.

BUYING DRUGS ABROAD

I live in Wisconsin and spend my winters in Arizona. I am on several medications which I get in Canada for a fraction of the cost I would have to pay in the US. Should I sign up for Part D or continue buying my medications in Canada?
Many people have found that it’’s cheaper and less of a hassle to buy their prescription drugs across the border. But there’’s always a chance that you might one day reside in a state where cross-border trips are not as convenient … that you could require additional medications quickly … or that a medication you need might not be easily obtained in Canada.

Even if you continue buying your drugs Canada, to play it safe, also consider signing up for a Part D plan with a very low premium.

CHOOSING A PLAN

You are under no obligation to sign up for Medicare Part D, but if you do, make sure that the plan you choose offers the drugs you need at a fair price through a pharmacy you like. Figure in premiums, deductibles and co-payments.

You can compare Medicare prescription drug plans that are available in your state at the Medicare Web site or by calling 800-MEDICARE.

About The Author

Ranju Kumar is an assistant to Carson Danfield, is an “Under the Radar” Internet Entrepreneur who has been quietly selling various products from past 8 years.
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By Ranju Kumar

If you don”t have health insurance, because of a layoff or other change in work, a divorce or a preexisting medical conditioned, don”t give up. Efforts to expand health insurance coverage reportedly are becoming quite common. Proposals have been introduced in many states, and Illinois has approved, a plan to offer low-cost health insurance to children that began July 1, 2006.

Even under current law, its possible to find coverage for you and your family, usually at a reasonable cost. Options to consider if you need health coverage but are too young (under age 65) to qualify for Medicare…

COBRA/STATE PLANS

For people who recently have lost group coverage, a smart choice may be to purchase a policy under COBRA, the temporary health benefits provision of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986. According to the rules, you can continue to be covered under your employers insurance for up to 18 months at up to 102% of the former policy’’s expenses, depending on your circumstances. This amount includes both the employee and the employers share, if your employer splits the expense with workers, as many do. (The extra 2% is for administrative costs.) COBRA usually is available only from companies that have at least 20 employees. (Your spouse and dependent children can be covered for up to 36 months.)

Paying the full tab can be a shock to someone who is accustomed to having an employer pick up most of the cost of insurance. However, while COBRA policies often are more expensive than those purchased privately on an individual basis, they usually have more comprehensive benefits.

What to do: Apply for COBRA through your previous employer. To get more information on COBRA, contact the US Department of Labors Employee Benefits Security Administration, 866-444-3272.

Helpful: Many states require smaller companies and others not bound by COBRA to offer some type of continuation of coverage to employees. For a database on health-care coverage options by state or call 703-276-0220.

INDIVIDUAL POLICIES

Individual insurance is regulated on a state-by-state basis. You must buy a policy sold in your home state. Rules for individual health insurance outside a group plan vary among states.

*Medical underwriting. In the vast majority of states, insurance costs are based on the applicants health status. He/she will be assigned a rate class by the company and put into a pool with similar individuals who will be charged the same premium. Also, many states allow health insurers to issue elimination riders to people who have preexisting medical conditions. These riders allow you the option of picking a policy that covers all conditions or a less expensive policy that excludes certain preexisting conditions.

*Pricing based on guaranteed issue/community rating. “Guaranteed issue” laws state that a health insurance company cannot reject you for coverage based on any preexisting medical condition. Community rating laws say that everyone in the same geographic area pays the same price for coverage, regardless of age or health. It may be easier for people with medical problems to obtain coverage in states with such laws, but there is a price involved.

These laws make individual coverage in the state more expensive, on average, because insurers do not have the medical information to appropriately spread risk among the applicants. In these states, healthy young people are much less likely to purchase coverage. This makes coverage more expensive for those who do buy it.

Examples: A healthy, 25-year-old man living in the New Jersey suburb of Haddonfield could pay $467.16 per month for a comprehensive individual policy with a $1,000 deductible. If he lived in Pennsylvania in the suburb of Wayne (20 miles away), he could buy the same policy for only $58.86 a month. A healthy, 60-year-old man in Wayne would pay $289.82 for that policy. A man of the same age living in Haddonfield would be charged the same $467.16 a month that the 25-year-old pays for the plan. These vast price differences are due to the community rating and guaranteed issue laws affecting individual insurance in New Jersey.

*Using rates obtained from eHealthlnsurance. All rates are subject to change.

What to do: Purchase private coverage from an independent health insurance agent licensed in your state.

HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

For a tax-efficient way to pay for individual health insurance, consider a health savings account (HSA). You must choose a policy with a high insurance deductible - at least $ 1,000 for individuals ($2,000 for families) up to a maximum of $2,700 for individuals ($5,450 for families) as of 2006. Every year, you make your tax-deductible contribution up to the amount of the deductible. You withdraw money from the account to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses.

For people who create HSAs but don”t need to tap them, the accounts can function like individual retirement accounts. The money can be invested to grow tax-deferred. After age 65, you can withdraw the money for any reason, but you will have to pay income tax if it is used for non qualified expenses.

COVERAGE FOR SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS

In most states, you can be turned down for individual coverage if you have a serious medical condition (e.g., HIV or cancer). Fortunately, most states have developed some way to provide hard-to-insure people with access to private individual health insurance coverage.

Thirty-three states provide high-risk pools. You can apply for high-risk pool coverage through an insurance agent or directly to the state. Coverage costs more than private coverage because all the people in the pool have serious medical problems, but the rates are capped, usually between 125% and 200% of the average individual market premium. For instance, in a state where a healthy person pays $100 a month, someone of the same age in the risk pool might pay $150.

Twelve states use other means of providing hard-to-insure people with access to individual coverage (for instance, requiring coverage through a designated health insurance company of last resort). Five states - Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii and Nevada - offer no individual coverage options for those who are hard to insure.

About The Author

aRanju Kumar is an assistant to Carson Danfield, is an “Under the Radar” Internet Entrepreneur who has been quietly selling various products from past 8 years.
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