Insurance World

Car insurance is basically insurance that drivers can purchase for any kind of vehicle in order to protect against losses sustained in traffic accidents. Auto insurance policies are, in reality, a bundle of different coverages. This insurance will usually cover the insured party, the insured motor vehicle, and any third parties involved. Different policies will identify the situations in which each of these entities is covered.

Below are the specific coverages involved when you purchase car insurance.

- Liability Insurance: Liability coverage is the most basic and foundational coverage in car insurance policies and is required in most states. This coverage ensures that if you are the one at fault in an accident, your liability insurance will pay for the physical injury and property damage expenses of any third parties involved. This coverage includes legal bills. Remember that third parties can sue you for “pain and suffering” damages. Minimum insurance may not sufficiently cover you in more extreme cases, which is why many people recommend that drivers purchase more than the state minimum required. Liability coverage limits are usually conveyed with three numbers. For example, liability limits of 20/50/10 indicate that there is coverage of $20,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 in property damage coverage per accident.

- Collision Coverage: In the case that you are in an accident, collision insurance will pay for the repairs that your vehicle requires. Collision coverage is usually the most expensive coverage that you will have to pay for. Insurance companies will declare a vehicle “totaled” or a “write-off” if the replacement would be cheaper than the repairs needed.

- Comprehensive Coverage: This coverage will pay for any damages to an automobile that were not caused by an accident. Qualifying damages include damages arising from carjackings, vandalism, natural disasters, and hitting an animal.

- MedPay, PIP, and No-Fault Coverages: MedPay will pay for the medical expenses of you and anyone else in your car after an accident, regardless of whose fault the accident was. PIP (Personal Injury Protection) and “no-fault” coverages are other forms of medical payment protection. They are broader than MedPay and may be required in certain states. These expanded coverages cover child care and lost wages.

- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists Coverages: UM (Uninsured Motorists) coverage will pay for injuries you have sustained if you are involved in a hit-and-run by a driver who does not have auto insurance, and is mandatory in many states. UIM (Underinsured Motorists) coverage will pay for you if the driver who hit you creates more damage than their liability insurance can cover.

- Supplemental Coverages: Rental reimbursement is an add-on that will cover rented vehicles in case of damage or theft. Auto replacement coverage ensures that your automobile will be fully repaired for replaced even if the costs are more than its depreciated value. Coverage for towing and labor covers you in case of an auto failure on the road where towing is necessary. These supplemental coverages are usually offered as separate items or included in larger policies.

A growing number of colleges and universities have instituted a new requirement-student insurance.

However, when they attempt to comply, some students find that the insurance plan offered by their college may be less than adequate or that they are no longer eligible for coverage under their parents’ health plan. Others find that their school is outside the HMO or PPO region or their parents’ plan.

An alternative is purchasing insurance coverage through a plan designed specifically for college students.

When selecting such a plan, it’s wise to compare the cost of a college-sponsored plan against other policies and to find one that’s really designed to fit a student’s lifestyle. You might be surprised to learn that a college-sponsored plan isn’t necessarily the most affordable or comprehensive coverage available. What’s more, the plan should accommodate travel and stay in place should a student transfer to another school. Also, the coverage should be in place year-round, not just during the school year, and be priced to fit a student’s budget.

Experts say one policy that fits these criteria is Student Select from Assurant Health. This permanent, renewable, individual medical insurance plan is designed specifically for college students under the age of 30. Students must be under the age of 30 when they apply but they can keep renewing the plan when they are no longer in college and keep it up to the age of 65.

Since the policy is not an HMO plan, you can visit the doctor or hospital of your choice. No referrals are needed, no non-network penalties are incurred.

The plan can be paid for on an annual or semiannual basis. The company offers two convenient payment methods of credit card or personal check. Both the annual and semiannual payment options are available with the credit card payment method.

If you are not satisfied with the plan, you can return the contract within 10 days of delivery for a refund. If a cancellation request is received after the 10-day period, a prorated refund will be provided as described in the contract.