Insurance World

We’re not being insensitive, honestly! We’re talking about your last gasp of smoke – have you given up smoking recently?

Did you know that smokers paying up to 60% more for their life insurance cover compared to non-smokers. So, besides the health dividend and the money saved on cigarettes, insurance companies will chip in with lower life insurance premiums. And the insurance savings aren’t to be sneezed at! A typical policyholder could save at least Ј10 or more per month.

With most insurance companies, you qualify for non-smoker premium rates if you haven’t smoked or otherwise used nicotine products, within the last five years. Now five years is a long time to wait for the extra spending money if you’ve only recently given up smoking. However, people in the know have pointed out a way to speed things up.

They point out that some insurers have adopted a more relaxed definition of a non-smoker. Some insurers have shortened the 5 year smoke free period to just twelve months. So if you haven’t smoked for a year, find out how much you can save by moving your life insurance to one of these insurers. But be careful. You must never cancel your existing policy until you’ve received written acceptance from the new insurer.

How do find the right insurer?

First go onto Internet because that’s the best way to find cheap insurance. Then search for a life insurance broker that fulfils three criteria:

The broker must search the whole insurance market for the lowest price – this means that they will find the cheapest insurance company for you.

The broker must be prepared to discount the prices – they achieve this by rebating some of their commission back into your policy. That ensures you get a really cheap quote.

They’ll phone you with the quote and provide further help – this is essential as the chances are that the price they will initially phone you with, will be from an insurer using the a five-year smoking definition. You have to tell them that you need the cheapest quote from a company using the twelve-month smoking definition . That means they’ll have to call you back after doing some digging.

If you use a web site that provides an immediate on-screen quote, you won’t know whether the quote provided comes from an insurance company that uses the 5-year or 12-month smoker definition. Online systems never tell you. That’s why you need to be able to speak to a life insurance adviser on the phone so you can explain what you need. Of course, to be able to be able to make a direct comparison with your existing policy you need to get a quote on an identical policy that terminates in the same year as your existing policy.

Once you’ve got the right quote, you’ll be able to see much you’re likely to save. So if the price looks right, make a full application.

One of the main aspects that will affect your premium is your age. Therefore, if your existing policy was bought some years ago, the savings could be less than the 60% we have indicated. However, life insurance is one of those things that’s become cheaper over recent years - so until you get the figures in front of you, the savings are hard to predict. You’ll just have to get a quotation and find out! As all the brokers we know are only too pleased to provide free quotations without any obligation, you’ve nothing to lose and possibly lots to gain.

After finding a cheap quotation from an insurer with the 12-month smoker definition, you’ll have to complete a full application form. Be sure to read every question carefully and answer all the questions fully and honestly. Far too many people try to ensure they qualify for a low premium by being “economical with the truth”. Don’t be tempted. If there is a claim, the insurer will recheck the information you provide, even if it’s many years later.

Over the last few years insurance companies have become more choosey about whom they accept on standard insurance terms – that’s the first price you were quoted. The company’s selection rules about health and weight have become far tougher resulting in more clients having their premium loaded. That’s why you must not cancel your existing life policy until you’ve got a final acceptance notice at a price that gives you the savings you’re looking for.

Whilst the process to switch a policy may sound a little daunting, it isn’t really too bad. Just think of the money you’ll save! Just reward for the stress of giving up smoking.

Best of luck.

Comprehensive major medical insurance is an insurance scheme with a low deductible and a maximum coverage limits including inpatient care, outpatient care, x-rays, laboratory tests, and diagnostic office. The comprehensive major medical insurance is designed to soothe the financial crisis caused due to the increasing hospitalization charges. The policy offers a coinsurance provision, which mingles the basic coverage with all the other major medical coverage.

There are several benefits of taking a comprehensive major medical insurance policy. Some of the major benefits include:

High Sum Assured

The comprehensive major medical insurance policy will cover a major portion of the hospitalization charges incurred by the insured. This helps the insured not to worry about his hospitalization charges.

Pre-admission diagnosis expenses

The comprehensive major medical insurance policy covers the fees paid to a medical specialist for laboratory examinations, diagnosis and x-rays. The reimbursement will be paid only if the examinations are conducted on the recommendation of a qualified medical practitioner for the assessment of an injury or illness. The insured will only get the reimbursement if he/she is later hospitalized for treatment.

Outpatient expenses for kidney dialysis treatment or cancer

The policy also provides reimbursement for any outpatient expenses incurred for the insured for kidney dialysis or cancer treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy).

None Social Medical System reimbursement

Some insurance companies provide reimbursement of more than 75% of the expenses incurred. This includes those medicinal drugs which are out of the coverage of Social Medical System.

Ambulance fees

The comprehensive major medical insurance also covers the expenses incurred for an insured for his/her local ambulance transportation due to illness.

No claim bonus

Most of the insurance companies offer a no-claim bonus. That is, if the insured does not make any claims during a year, his annual payment limit will be increase by 6% in the next renewal year.

Nowadays there are several insurance providers offering online comprehensive major medical insurance policy. This is considered as an added advantage for those looking for comprehensive major medical insurance. This helps the customers to access online insurance quotes to know more about the premium and coverage plans offered by different insurance companies so that he can easily find out the most affordable package for his needs.

There are lots of insurance companies offering comprehensive major medical insurance. So it is the risk of the customer to select an ideal one which suits him the best. Various comprehensive major medical insurance follows different schemes and hence the payable amount varies a lot. Hence before sticking into any policy it is better from your part to select those insurance providers who offer a maximum benefit ceiling. After all there is no point in having a comprehensive major medical expense insurance that leaves unnecessary burden on the customer. It is all about thinking rationally, the thought process backed by sound research and market study, and using your discerning ability to maximum use.