воскресенье, 4 марта 2012 г.

Types of insurance in the U.S.

Types of insurance in the U.S.
Good insurance is a pledge to the U.S. financial security. The State partially supports people with health problems or have lost their jobs, but do not rely on the care of the government, if you ever need help. Self-insurance of health, life, car and real estate - this is the best way to take care of themselves.
Health Insurance

Currently, the U.S. has no universal government health insurance programs.People older than 65 years and some younger disabled people can receive medical assistance under the program Medicare. Most Americans insure their health through their employers. Read the article pordrobnosti Health Insurance in the United States.
Life insurance

If today you died unexpectedly, could your family survive without your paycheck?Would your kids to finish college? If you have real possibility that your family may be left without a livelihood, the article read more about life insurance in the United States.
Car Insurance

Statistics show that in daily life the most dangerous occupation is driving a car.According to the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2006 in traffic accidents in the country, killing more than 42,000 people. This figure does not include the huge number of people injured and maimed, and does not reflect the multi-million dollar losses from property damage.

Good Autoinsurance absolutely necessary for their own protection and to protect other road users. In many states, the presence of auto insurance is mandatory."Full» (full-coverage) insurance policy covers not only damage your car, but also damage to someone else's car or other property damage during the accident."Full" insurance also covers expenses related to the accident for treatment, payment, and even in case of death.

In the absence of insurance, you risk being forced to pay the cost of repairing someone else's car and the cost of treating the injured. So try to find a good car insurance in the company of high reputation. A good option insurance will give you additional benefits, such as the possibility of free towing a faulty vehicle.
Home Insurance

As you know, the residents of the United States are often faced with hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. In addition, the U.S. is very large number of fires in homes. According to official statistics, in 2006, fire damaged 412,500 homes. In the fires killed more than 2,500 people in the fire damaged property at $ 7 billion.

For most Americans, owning a home - a sign of affluence. Now try to imagine what the owner feels if its damaged a natural disaster or fire house was not insured. Home insurance is usually a prerequisite for a loan for the purchase of housing. Many of the insurance options cover the additional buildings, such cases as theft, accident, damage due to problems with electricity and running water.

California: men are paid more than women

California: men are paid more than women

The next six-month study of online insurer InsWeb has shown that over the past six months, the average insurance premium in California declined by 3% to $ 809 figure. However, nationwide statistics show that in general in the U.S. can be much cheaper to insure, paying for the insurance policy of $ 675, which is 5,5% less than last year.
Surprisingly, in the sunniest state of the country's insurance for male drivers are more expensive than their counterparts of the fair sex - $ 836 and $ 772 respectively. But most of all motorists have to shell out the age of 19 years - on average they give insurers $ 2141. For the age group 20-24 years, prices are more or less divine - about $ 1154.
Cheaper cost of insurance to drivers who are 50 to 59 years - they give the policy the insurers in exchange for only $ 654.
Reduction in the average size of the prize by 3% InsWeb explains the statistical error, since the calculation involved in a variety of factors, none of which were not significantly pomenyalalsya. Legislative innovations in car insurance and the state have been made. In general, according to the insurer, at the moment the price of the policy depends largely on the cost of the car. As a result of the recent recession, the annual new car sales in California fell from 1.6 million to 1 million units. Those drivers who prefer to operate on used cars is, of course, paid for the insurance is less than those who have moved to a new technique.

U.S. insurance fraud more

U.S. insurance fraud more

National Bureau of Investigation Crime in the insurance industry (National Insurance Crime Bureau, NICB) released an annual study on questionable insurance claims. All types of insurance have been divided into six groups: property, casualty, commercial insurance, workers' compensation, auto insurance and "other."
Statistics show that the increase in questionable insurance claims from 2008 is very significant - from 74,146 two years ago to 84,407 in 2009 and to 91,797 in 2010, that is, over the last year growth was 8.7%. By "questionable" Bureau classifies those cases where it refers to an insurance company having suspicions regarding a claimed loss. Each call can be supported by various studies (seven).
The most common fraud is associated with damage by glass car, as well as reimbursement for the evacuation of the vehicle. The increase from 2009 for these two types of "questionable" cases was 450 and 116 percent respectively!
Office Specialists warn that any fraud affects not only the welfare of the insurance company. After all, the insurer, he realized that he had been deceived, most likely will continue to be more cautious and increase insurance rates - thus, one for cheating will be paid by many. Therefore, experts are asked not to remain indifferent and report to the Bureau on all cases of insurance fraud - maybe it will save money for you.

San Diego - the payment will be minimal

San Diego - the payment will be minimal

Pedestrians injured in an accident outside a nightclub in San Diego, is likely to be denied insurance payment. This is an accident that occurred on February 13, a total of 36 affected pedestrians who received injuries of varying severity, including a woman whose leg was nearly torn off in the area of ​​the knee.
While the circumstances of this incident are still hidden under the cloak of secrecy, the public is very concerned that pedestrians can get a modest pay - or not get them all. Recall to a court decision to pay for harm to life and health, must be simultaneously satisfied three conditions:
fault must lie on the other party of the accident;
one of the participants received the injury;
the guilty party should be able to pay the costs of other participants.
With the first two paragraphs in an accident in San Diego all clear, but the last - not very. Who should pay the victims? Usually, the victims turn to their insurance companies. Since the perpetrator of the accident - a car taxi company Emerald Cab, it seems logical that the requirement should be present for this company.But the thing is that between the company and its drivers have special contractual relationship. Thus, there are situations where the fault lies solely on the taxi driver the car, not the company itself.
In addition, we should remember about the minimum amounts of insurance avtograzhdanki that are set in California - that's $ 15,000 per person or $ 30,000 for all accidents. If the taxi driver was insured only for the minimum, then, given the increasing number of victims, each of them as compensation for their injuries on average, receive only $ 100.
Some salvation may be a situation where damage has received under its own "insurance on the uninsured" (a special type of insurance coverage, which provides for payment in the event that the guilty party was not the policy of liability insurance).
This case may encourage the authorities of California to raise the minimum limits for motor third party liability insurance, and toughen penalties for those who have not bothered to purchase the policy.

How are loss-making and price policy?

How are loss-making and price policy?

Administration of Road Safety (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA) released a report, the data clearly show that: the size of the claimed loss is highly dependent on the type of car. Thus, the highest amount claimed owners of sports cars, the smallest - the drivers of passenger vans. It is clear that stravhovschikov also have similar calculations, the results of which must appear in the tariffs. Therefore, a person who looks after his car should have and the fact that the price of the policy, including depends on the type of the vehicle.
To visually confirm this, the online insurer OnlineAutoInsurance.com recommends that you use one of the many online services to compare prices for insurance for the same model in different bodies.
Comparison went about mid claimed damages for all types of cars. Thus, a large sports model, which has won "honorable" the first place, showed 326% higher average level of claims about the occurrence of insured events. However, such leadership is understandable - because the machine itself is worth more than $ 100,000, so it is logical that in absolute terms, the losses on it will be a rather big.
But on the minivan claimed loss ratio of 69% less than the average.
However, over the full loss-making at the cost of the policy should not be - yet they are not correlated to one hundred percent. The size of the claimed damages for a single model - only one (albeit an important one) of the many factors taken into account when calculating the underwriters of the tariff. According to the same Office, the impact of loss on the final price of the policy is limited to ten percent.

Insurance in the U.S.

Insurance in the U.S.
Insurance in the United States are handed over completely to the states, which may set their own requirements. In most states, a system of insurance of the United States, similar to the Russian CTP, it is mandatory liability insurance in case of injury to health or property of third parties. Although there are exceptions - for example, in the State of New Hampshire liability insurance is not required, and in one of the oldest states in the country - Virginia - instead of insurance can be paid to the budget of $ 500, which is not at all analogous to the insurance, but simply allows you to register a car without policy. And here in North Carolina driver's license generally can not be obtained before you present a valid insurance.
The two approaches
There are two opposite models that respond to the question of who should compensate damage in the event of an incident. According to the "model of the stadium» (ballpark model), practiced in New Hampshire, one must be "for itself."That is, no matter what happens, all costs associated with the restoration of health or property, will carry you, even if what happened is not your fault. The idea prevalent in the country filed a baseball stadium, where visitors are often injured by baseballs and where the administration is not responsible for it can not be held. In fact, unless you can predict where a tiny fly ball?
In contrast, a "model of Disneyland» (Disneyland model) binds to compensate damages caused to third parties, that the perpetrators of the incident. Owes its name to the model of the Disneyland amusement park, where the management is responsible for any accident, which occurred with visitors.
The highest expression of this model is the idea to give the duty to register the machine (to give them numbers) is the insurance companies that also must insure them. Who is involved in the issuance of license plates power structures in each state.
Who is insured?
As a rule, the U.S. insurance protects any person that controls the insured vehicle, except for members of the family owner of the car - they must be specifically set in the policy. That is, when you are driving your friend - you are not protected by their insurance, but it.
You can also exclude from coverage, and individuals.
There is a market and a special type of auto insurance coverage for those who have not owned a car, but who for some reason, still need to go - "It is the policy» (Named Operator Policies). Such insurance, including useful to those who have been deprived of his rights and to restore them to produce insurance.
A variety of insurance products
Generally, insurance in the U.S. is very flexible and the presence of a large set of insurance products.
Thus, the responsibility can be insured without a distinction between "life and property» (combined single limit), and the division (split limits): in the latter case for each type of set your limit of liability.
The analogue of the Russian risk "Damage" can be considered "insurance against accidents» (collision).
A special kind - a "comprehensive coverage» (comprehensive), which is, in fact, is not, and protects the machine from the risks that are not included in the collision - such as theft, fire, collision with animals and stuff.
There are special types of insurance, on the rare but still possible situations:
If you are faced with uninsured drivers (uninsured / underinsured coverage);
If the hire company will request from you for the damage that it does not for some time be able to use the machine, you hurt, that is, insurance against loss of profit (loss of use);
If you took a loan for an amount exceeding the actual cost of the car, the rest can also be insured (loan / lease payoff). Insurance companies, in order to avoid fraud, typically insure cars only on their actual value, but in this case, having the confirmation number you received from banks, to insurance and a large amount;
If you need towing, not as a result of an accident (mechanical problems out of gas, etc.). In conventional coatings such risk is not included, so there is a special product of towing;
If you want your personal belongings that are in the car were insured (personal property).

Conclusion.

Conclusion.

We have already said that the U.S. has a very powerful insurance companies, whose capital is calculated. tens and even hundreds of billions of dollars, they usually provide the greatest range of services and monitor their quality. There are medium and small companies, all of them are about two thousand.
But do not stop your choice on a particular company only on the basis of the value of its capital. Advised to collect on the company you are interested the most detailed information. This will help the local organization of Consumers Union, and just friends and acquaintances have had with it. Pay attention to the cost of insurance, the amount of services provided.
Important and the choice of agent. Unqualified or unscrupulous person who works even on an excellent company that can negate all of its advantages. Assuming they voluntary or involuntary errors in text of the contract, which at long term security can only be detected years later, you may be very significant losses.
Of course, it is safer to stop the choice on a person with a solid practical experience in the insurance business. These people are not only above the level of professionalism, which in itself is important, but for a long time passed all test dates and submitted all the required exams, do not fear for their jobs. They will not take a direct violation of his professional duty, fraud, only to have to get extra customer and stay on the job. You should not have to deal with an agent, who immediately, with the bat, starting his own company to praise too, and throw mud at others. This suggests not only a violation of their code of ethics, but simply of dishonesty, near the mind.
Speaking of exams. When your potential insurance agent produces his card, note, is there with the name and the name provided by the company to reduce CHFS, CLU? Their presence suggests that this person has passed the necessary exams and passed the training. But do not be shy to ask him as many questions at the conclusion of the contract, to specify all the details. You are not only better grasp of them by yourself, but be able to understand how irrelevant your agent.
Let's finish the topic of insurance some practical recommendations, which should always adhere to, regardless of which particular insurance contract you are going to sign:
Before you execute a specific insurance decide, and whether it is necessary to you, really? It may be that you are completely and without it will cost? Think the Council, looking for information.
Having made the decision, keep in mind that for the same amount of different companies will offer you different terms. Choose the best.
Do not forget the term Direct Response Companies, which means that the company operates without agents, brokers and pays them a percentage of each transaction. As a rule, these companies offer the lowest prices.
In no case, do not sign a contract without reading it carefully. Better to spend too much time now, than money later. Agent to ask again about all that you do not understand.
Always ask insurance agents from the documents confirming their right to engage in this type of licensed activity.
Pay by check, not cash, unpaid check - the proof of the transaction and material evidence in any proceeding.
Be sure to check which Free-look period is provided to you the terms of this contract. It was during this period may have to cancel the deal.
Keep in mind that on all issues that arise when signing the contract or thereafter can and should apply to the State Insu ranee Department - Department of Insurance in your state.

4. Other types of insurance.

4. Other types of insurance.
Also discussed above, the main types of insurance, without which we would not advise you to do, there are several useful types of insurance, most of which appeared recently. Among them are the following:
Insurance long medical care (Long Term Care Insurance). This type of insurance reimburses your costs for medical care in a long time. This insurance can include:
assistance related to health (Health-Related Care), which includes the general care, nutrition, collection of medical information (temperature, pressure, etc.) as well as dietary supervision;
Stewardship Care (Custodial Care), ie assistance in the implementation of daily living needs such as dressing, feeding, medication, washing, etc.
Depending on the conditions of the contract, such forms of assistance (together or separately) or can be provided in a hospital or in a hostel, or at home. Service may be around the clock or only during certain times of day (day or night).
What you are younger, the less will be your annual payment. Therefore it is better to worry in advance about this service. It should be borne in mind that
according to the U.S. Department of Health likelihood that during the life of you though. least once required long-term care, ranging from 20 to 45%, and the cost of such care is very high - in New York, she is more than $ 100 a day, or 40 000 dollars a year.
quality medical care (Skilled Nursing Care), carried out by a registered nurse under the direction of a physician. This is the most expensive form of insurance, and it provides that a qualified assistance could be provided to you round the clock;
Medicare supplementary insurance. (Medicare Supplement Insurance). This type of insurance is in addition to Medicare and cover the expenses are not included in this government program of medical care. If you use Medicare, then this type of insurance is very important for you as well as in the case of serious illness the amount of expenses not covered by Medicare, can be very high. It should be borne in mind that no additional insurance is Medicare does not provide one hundred percent to cover possible medical expenses. However, there are certain minimum standards of cover, which reviewed the state governments each year.
"Umbrella Insurance" (umbrella insurance). This type of insurance is to cover the costs exceeding the amount determined by the usual insurances for damages caused to your accommodation, car and personal property (as well as damage to your property of others). Umbrella insurance is not only raises the ceiling of payments (usually up to $ 500 000), but also includes some non-material damages - such as damage due to slander. General insurance, are exempt from personal liability (comprehensive liability insurance). Such insurance shall compensate damages caused by you or your family to others (unless, of course, your actions do not involve criminal liability). Remember that in the event of legal claims of the amount in dispute can be enormous - here with America can not compete any other country, so do not ignore the possibility of protection against such a big trouble.

Three. Car insurance (automobile insurance)

Three. Car insurance (automobile insurance)
It is a type of insurance required in most U.S. states. Uninsured cars are simply not registered. Moreover, for example, in New York you will need to have not just one, but three types of insurance:
A. No-faultinsu ranee - to compensate for the loss of all persons injured in the accident, which took part your car, which is paid in any case, regardless of your guilt, as well as for reimbursement of medical expenses and income that you lost due to accidents.
Two. Laibilityinsurance - to compensate for the damage done by you to other people or their property;
Three. Uninsured motorist protection - to compensate for the damage you are uninsured driver.
This latter type is provided only to the laws of the State of New York, the minimum amount of insurance on it is 10,000 dollars. The maximum amount of the first type is 50 000 dollars, the minimum on the second - 5000.
In addition to these compulsory insurance, there are many more. For example, health insurance for the accident, regardless of the perpetrator, in excess of the minimum, phisical damage coverage, that is, insurance against any damage to the machine, regardless of their causes, ranging from theft, the effect of your insurance may be extended not only throughout the territory of the United Statesbut also in Canada, and much more.
Here we note that the minimum insurance, we recommend buying only if you have a used car that you can more easily take to a landfill than to pay for the repair of an accident or breakdown. In all other cases, the minimum coverage is not enough to achieve an acceptable level of financial security in case of unforeseen circumstances.
You need to know the term deductible, which means the minimum level of damages for which the insurance company begins to fulfill the contract and to compensate for your loss. Lower costs, not including the special case of insurance, automotive glass, the company is not obligated to reimburse. This sum is determined when the contract is less than $ 100, it can not be. So in the event of an accident, the consequences of which have cost you $ 99, the entire amount you pay yourself, and costs $ 101 will cover the company, and in this case, it compensates you $ 1.
This amount can be prohibitively high and range from 500 to 3000 dollars and even more the case if you take a car. But in this case can proceed in another way, for example, to buy the so-called Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) - Exemption from payment for the damage that will cost about 12 dollars a day. You can buy just the insurance on the appropriate number of days. Whatever it was, but without any type of insurance a car you just do not give.

Two. Insurance of houses, apartments (homeowners and tenants insurance) and personal property.

Two. Insurance of houses, apartments (homeowners and tenants insurance) and personal property.
This type of insurance, as already described, and life and health insurance, are not mandatory. But most likely, the customer will take advantage of them, based on the fact that he wanted to get a refund in the event of loss of such valuable property.
We can distinguish the following main cases when you can get a refund on insurance contracts home and property:
damage caused by natural disasters such as fire, storm, hail, and others;
theft;
damage caused to property of others caused by their negligent physical damage.
You can buy separate insurance for each of these cases, but it is hardly worth doing, it is better to use a comprehensive insurance that covers all of the above cases. There are different types of complex insurance other than insurance on ways and methods to assess damage. Each U.S. state has its own laws that define the main points of the real estate insurance, but there are some general principles that we describe in more detail.
Let's start with the "minimum assortment" of cases that must be included in any contract of insurance of complex movable and immovable property, irrespective of its specific type. In full accordance with the above three moments, to be paid cash compensation for the immovable and movable property (even located at the time of the insured event), provided that it suffered during the fire, storms, hail and other natural disasters, except as outlined below as well as an explosion, riot, vandalism, damaged car, plane or stolen. Additionally, refunded the cost of compensation to third parties for damage to their health or property damage (for example, if the fire spread to a house nearby). The insurance company must pay for legal services, medical bills and additional expenses related to temporary accommodation forced away from their homes.
If the client is concerned that are not all possible trouble, and he wants to expand the list covered by insurance cases, you will not be met with no objections, subject to extra charge. For example, to offer insurance in case of accidents or water heating system, electrical damage, falling objects at home that can produce a fracture (eg, fragments of the plane, even the space shuttle), as well as damages under the weight of accumulated snow or ice. If this is not enough - you can offer yourself.
But while there are some cases where the insurance contract will not be able to help. Virtually no insurance company will not offer
compensation for damage caused by earthquake, flood, interruption of energy supply, nuclear war or disaster. If you lost personal property used in the conduct of business, then this damage, too, usually not covered by insurance.
By entering into a contract of insurance house or apartment, you should pay attention to the following:
how much it will cost insurance.
how much it would cost restoring homes destroyed by natural disaster;
Do you want to pay more for insurance and receive full compensation, or prefer to save on payments, but have only a partial reimbursement of losses;
what types of disasters are most likely in your area;
The amount by which you can insure your property can be any part of its real value. The amount of compensation in this case can be determined on the basis of two different factors: the cost of compensation (relacement cost) or the actual cost of damaged property (actual cash value). The difference between them is the easiest way to understand a specific example.
Suppose, as a result of flooding in your home and significantly undermining the foundation sank, and for the repair you have to pay $ 3,000. If compensation is calculated by the first method (replacemenr cost) payment amount will be just $ 3,000, covering the full cost of repairs. But when the second case in the calculation of depreciation can be accepted damaged part of your property. If your home is designed for 30 years, 15 of which have already passed, its real value is two times less, ie, the cost base (and, accordingly, the amount of compensation) shall be determined in 1500 dollars.
That's the real price of movable property determines the cost of compensation in the contract on his insurance. As a general rule, insurance companies are determined, and the maximum amount of compensation payable for loss of a certain type of personal property.
For example, in New York in case of theft of the insured jewelry and watches will not be paid more than $ 500. Now we're only talking about complex insurance contracts of movable and immovable property. Nobody bothers to conclude a separate contract of insurance if you have expensive jewelry.
Take into account the following practical tips:
in the event of damage to the insured home or property is not in a hurry to make repairs before your insurance company will make an appropriate inspection and assess the damage;
in case of damage or theft of your property immediately inform the insurance company;
Always have a list of valuable items at home with their price and purchase date so you can accurately determine the amount of damages.
Keep in mind that if the insurance company is not sure that your payments do not cover the level of potential risk, it will usually be within a certain period from the date of signing the agreement to terminate it.
In various states in the U.S. these terms are different in New York, for example, a period of 60 days. After this period the insurance company will be much harder to terminate the contract with you. This is possible only if:
Your property has undergone a physical change as a result of which it was deductible (uninsurable);
you have committed willful or negligent actions that increase the risk of loss of insured property;
you do not make payments under the contract;
found intentional overstatement or reckless actions that increase the risk of loss of insured property;
You were convicted of actions aimed at the risk of loss of insured property.
In conclusion, the companies offering the lowest prices at the conclusion of an insurance contract can not always offer you the proper quality and range of services and do not differ a good reputation. Do not forget about it, do not try to buy the cheap.