Insurance World

The homeowner policy has so many benefits and features. The online shopper can get confused in all the details when trying to compare policies. There are some basic benefits and there are a variety supplemental benefits and riders. The rates are calculated based on two different methods of claim settlement. The homeowner needs to understand these two methods in order to select the appropriate policy.

Two Types of Claim Settlement

1.Actual Cash Value – This type of claim settlement uses depreciation when determining the amount paid after a loss. For example: If a property has a current replacement value of $100,000 and has depreciated by 30% due to age and use, the actual cash value of the property would be $70,000. Actual cash value policies are usually written on older homes that depreciate.

2.Replacement Cost – This type of claim settlement does not use depreciation. Replacement cost is defined as the cost to replace with like kind and quality at today’s replacement cost without any depreciation. Replacement cost policies are generally purchased on newer homes.

The next thing to consider is how to determine the proper value of your home. Insurance companies use a calculator to find the appropriate amount of insurance. It will make your online experience a lot easier if you can have some of these details available.

1.Square Footage – Insurance companies always use square footage to calculate replacement cost. The square footage is available on your appraisal.

2.Finished Basement – This adds to the replacement cost value of your home. What percentage of your basement is finished?

3.Detached Structures – The homeowner policy has protection for other structures. The amount of protection is 10% of the dwelling amount. You may need more added to this 10% if you have some larger detached structures.

There are other things to consider like air conditioning, decks, and fireplaces. These all add into the final calculation. There are discounts for smoke detectors, fire and burglar alarm systems. Please view our recommended insurers for details.

Is there such a thing as cheap health insurance? It hardly seems possible when you look at the rise in hospital costs and physician services. Insurance companies have the task of underwriting the medical risk for insurance. The insurer then issues and delivers the policy to the insured once they are accepted into the plan. The policyholders then receive the policy declaration pages that list all of the benefits and features.

What are those benefits and features? How do they work after a hospital stay? When you begin to find the answers to those questions then you begin to understand what makes up the total premium. When you receive your first benefit statement after a hospital stay then you will begin to understand how the deductible is applied and how the coinsurance works.

Simple claims analysis

1. Total inpatient expense for 4 days in the hospital including physician services amounts to $4000.

2. Your policy has a $500 deductible with an 80/20 coinsurance clause with a maximum out of pocket $2000.

3. You must pay the first $500 for your stay leaving a balance of $3500.

4. You will pay 20% of that $3500 or $700 and the insurance company will pay $2800.

When your 20% reaches $2000 then the insurance company pays 100% of the remaining costs up to a million dollars (or 2 million etc).

The health insurance buying trends indicate that people are purchasing health insurance with higher deductibles. Deductibles bring down the premium dramatically. There are some plans with deductibles as high as $5000. This is called self-insuring because in essence that is what you are doing for the deductible amount.

Health Savings Accounts are also starting to become very popular. These savings accounts are tax deductible. They are like medical IRA’S. Contact your tax advisor or accountant for more details.

Please see our recommended source for insurance quotes. We have done the research so you don’t have to.