Insurance World

The word ‘viatical’ originates from the word ‘viaticum’ which was part of the last rites performed on a dying Catholic in order to prepare him for his destiny. History shows us that its early beginnings can also be found in Greece.

Viatical settlements are offered by dozens of companies around the world. Why? To aid senior citizens (viators) in their poor financial situation. Viatical settlements provide a way out of crisis scenarios by giving terminally or chronically ill patients the option of selling their life insurance policy for a premium amount. Naturally, the higher the bid, the more profit you make. Although this form of instant cash has a sad tone, it has been highly beneficial to people who have high medical bills and other critical emergencies. If your policy is a Term, Universal Life, Whole Life, Joint/Survivor or a Group contract, then the good news is that you are eligible for a viatical quote.

The person who buys the policy is called an investor. An investor can be the final third party who is interested in the policy or a viatical company that holds it as an investment. If it is a company that is buying the policy they can resell it at a profit. When buying a life policy of another person you to have complete knowledge of the viator’s medical history. You can either buy the whole policy or a part of it. Usually a policy will state the life expectancy of the individual because the quote will depend on how long the seller is expected to live. Once you buy the policy, you gain if the seller dies before the expectancy date but your return will be lower if he lives longer. In some cases you might loose a little form your principal amount if the seller lives a long life!

Due to this risk factor, viatical settlements and quotes need to be regularized and controlled. Thus, the State Insurance Commission gives out licenses to selected companies who are capable of handling this intricate business. However, in some US states the viatical industry is not regulated at all. Companies often buy the policies and then offer it to prospective buyers at higher rates. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners and Federal Trade Commission are two legal bodies that offer information with regard to viatical quotes and settlements.

If you are a Viator, then you have two choices. Either to can sell your life insurance policy directly to another person or you can use the services of a broker. Viators generally hire a broker because they know the market and can negotiate for a better viatical quote. The quote depends of many variables such as the state, age and medical condition of the viator. Prior to suggesting a bid, the investor, broker and viator will meet to highlight details of the case. The investor will want to know the medical prognosis so he can offer a more realistic quote. Once the quote has been offered and the bid accepted, the life insurance policy is transferred to the new holder. This completes the process and the viator is given a lump sum payment.

In conclusion, viatical quotes will differ from state to state and can be settled upon only after reviewing all the factors involved in the case. The viator and the investor have to come to an agreement is which mutually beneficial. While being a perfect avenue for the viator, he should also be wise to make sure the sale is worth his while.

Everyone has to agree to an excess of some kind when getting a car insurance policy – it’s the way the system works. Basically it means that if you have an accident and your car needs to be repaired, you will have to pay a set amount towards the bill. If the accident is your fault, you lose the money. If the accident is not your fault, the third party insurer reimburses you for the excess payment. If your car is written off, then your insurance company will deduct your excess from the settlement payment.

Things aren’t always that simple however, unfortunately there are a number of drivers on British roads that don’t have any insurance, so the question is, what happens with your claim if you have an accident with an uninsured driver?

The 1988 Road Traffic Act, section 143 clearly states that all drivers on the UK roads must have insurance for the vehicle that they are driving. The point of the insurance is that if you have an accident and it is your fault, you have the means to cover the cost of the damage incurred by way of your insurance policy. It’s a sad fact that a significant minority of drivers choose not to bother with insurance, disregarding UK law and saving themselves hundreds of pounds a year as a consequence. Someone has to pay for these drivers though, and it’s the people that do have insurance that foot the bill!

The Department of Transport estimates that as many as 5% of drivers are not insured on the vehicle which they are driving. Statistics also show that uninsured drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident. It’s a growing trend and is proving very difficult to eradicate.

If you have an accident, you are not at fault, and the third party is not insured, then you will be reimbursed by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. Who funds them? The car insurance industry! That’s where some of your inflated premiums end up. You will also find that you’ll have to pay the agreed excess yourself, there will be no-one able to refund that for you.

Here’s the low-down on the basics about ‘excess’:

Compulsory Excess – this is the amount that the insurance company regards as the minimum amount that you must pay towards the cost of damages . This is agreed at the outset and depends on a few details you’re your age and your driving record. For example, if you are older and have a clean driving record, you could only have to pay a minimum of Ј50. Those with a more chequered driving history, or those that have not been driving for very long, could feasibly have to agree to pay Ј500. The average for most drivers is Ј100 .

Voluntary Excess – this is the amount over and above the minimum ‘compulsory’ amount set by the insurer that you are prepared to pay. This is an opportunity to lower your premiums, because if you can agree to a high excess, then the insurance company knows it won’t have to pay out as much if you need to make a claim. It’s one of the few sure fire ways of saving a few pounds on a car insurance policy, but you may not be offered the choice, it depends on individual insurers.

The garage won’t give my repaired car back until I give them a cheque for the excess – is this what usually happens?

This is completely normal, and you will have to pay and then get the money back from the third party insurer. Always give the car a good once over to ensure that the repairs have been satisfactorily completed. You also need to keep the receipt to get the excess back from the insurer, and just in case they dispute the charges, get a copy of the repair schedule so the insurer can see exactly what work was completed on your vehicle.