Insurance World

Health insurance is designed to protect against loss of income and expenses for medical care. There are two broad categories of health insurance policies: disability income policies and medical expense policies.

Disability income policies can also be referred to as loss of income, loss of time or replacement income. This type of policy will pay benefits to an insured who is disabled and can no longer work to earn a regular income. Payments can be weekly or monthly depending on the policy.

Medical expense policies are represented by a wide range of coverage from very minimal to comprehensive packages with multiple coverage. Some include both accidents and illnesses, various hospital expenses and other costs pertaining to medical care such as accident and sickness policies, hospital-stay policies, basic medical expense policies and major medical expense policies.

Any of these policies might cover various combinations of the above and may be paid in a lump sum.Some policies cover only accidents and not illness. As you might imagine, policies like this are very specific about what is considered an accident.

It is important to understand what is defined as an accident as it pertains to the health insurance industry: an accident is an event that is unforeseen and unintended.

Keep in mind that any discussion of this type of policy also applies to any type of policy that includes accidental coverage, not just accident specific policies.

Accident benefits are most commonly paid for accidental loss of life (also called accidental death), accidental loss of limb or sight (dismemberment), loss of time and/or income, hospital expenses, surgical expenses, and medical expenses like visits to the doctor.

Accidental death benefit can also be referred to as “principal sum.” This type of coverage should not be confused with life insurance. There is a world of difference between the two. Life insurance policies will generally be paid regardless of the cause of death. An accidental benefit is paid ONLY if the death is accidental as opposed to a death by natural causes or illness.

The person who receives the death benefit is called the beneficiary. The policy owner has the right and responsibility of naming beneficiaries. Usually there is a primary beneficiary however he/she can assign a second and even a third beneficiary.

The primary beneficiary is the first person in line to receive the benefit in the event of the death of the policy holder. The policy owner can also name a second beneficiary who would receive the benefit in the event the primary beneficiary dies before the insured. Some policies can include a third beneficiary who would be in line after the first two.

There is another important element in regard to accident policies: An accidental death may not be instant. A person can die as a result of an accidental injury months after the accident occurrence. Read your policy carefully because most stipulate that the accidental death benefit will only be paid if death occurs within three months of the accident.

By Paul Bender, Co-owner of RV America Insurance

Since RV America assists more than 1,000 RV dealers nationwide, we generally stay current with dealership practices and procedures as well as new RV gadgets, warranties, protectants, cleaners, gizmos, and the occasional scam. One of the best new products we’ve recently seen on the market is a product called Diamon-Fusion.

If you’ve driven any vehicle – especially an RV – on the open road, you’ve no doubt experienced the head-whipping experience created by seeing a rock hurtling toward your windshield. You flinch, close your eyes, and simultaneously hear the inevitable popping sound made by the projectile. Instantly you open your eyes to inspect the nature and cost of the damage. We’ve all been there.

As mentioned above, there’s a new product on the market that many of our RV dealers are recommending, and that we wholeheartedly endorse as well. It’s called Diamon-Fusion. (RV America Insurance does not sell this product, nor do we make a profit from endorsing it.) Diamon-Fusion provides a four-year warranty, which covers the repair of any damage caused by road debris. You can purchase an upgraded warranty, which includes both repair and/or replacement of the glass.

So, how does this product work exactly? According to Diamon-Fusion USA, this product causes a molecular change in the surface of the glass. The process reduces the coefficient of friction and also increases its impact strength by as much as tenfold. I’ll explain.

Your windshield glass appears to be smooth, and it is, basically. But imagine for a moment that you’re looking at an extreme close-up of your windshield. Under a microscope, you’d probably think you’re looking at the surface of 80 grit sandpaper. Your RV’s windshield is constructed like that; it’s actually quite rough. You might say that the surface of your windshield is covered with millions of peaks and craters. So, here’s what happens when that projectile hits your windshield; the rock, let’s say, actually grips into one of these craters transferring its full force to that immediate spot on your windshield. If the force is strong enough, you’re left with a star, or crack in your glass.

How does Diamon-Fusion work? Although we could elaborate on the entire molecular process, let’s over-simplify at this point. The application of this product first creates a smooth surface by filling in the peaks and valleys. Then a protective coating is added which provides the durability. Simple, huh? Not only is your RV windshield now stronger, but the slicker surface significantly increases the chances that a rock will bounce/slide off without creating damage. In fact, lab tests conducted by the company show that it would take about 10 times the force to crack a Diamon-Fusion treated windshield compared with an untreated one.

While this alone is probably enough to capture your interest, there’s another added benefit. You can also expect to have improved wet weather visibility when your RV windshield is treated by Diamon-Fusion. Why? The smoother the surface of your RV windshield, the less likely it is that water droplets will be able grip your glass.

Because of the nature of the chemicals used in the process, the application of Diamon-Fusion is not a project you can do yourself. See your RV dealer for a quote and proper installation. The price can range anywhere from $400 to $2,000 for the largest of RV windshields.

If you consider the cost of a new windshield, and/or the cost of your RV insurance deductible coupled with the potential inconvenience of interrupting your vacation, you might come to the conclusion that Diamon-Fusion is a good investment for your RVing future.

Paul Bender
RV America Insurance Mktg., Inc.
1-800-400-0186
www.RVAinsurance.com

Paul Bender is the founder and Co-owner of RV America Insurance Marketing, Inc. in Simi Valley, CA. RV America Insurance is the largest RV insurance agency in the nation, and has long been recognized as the leading provider of specialty RV insurance through RV dealerships nationwide. RV buyers rely on RV America’s licensed agents to provide outstanding value and superior knowledge of RVs and RV specific insurance coverage.

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