Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Online blackjack playing culture

Some games are known for their spirit of union and excitement of acting as a team and it's quite common in team sports such as football, baseball and basketball. However, some individual games are known for the same level of adrenaline rush and for many it will be a real surprise to learn that some online casino players describe their excitement just like football players would do.

One of the games that is known for its excitement and exquisite tension that makes the player as involved as with a physical sport is of course blackjack. And no big surprise that some many online casino players choose this particular game when entering numerous online casino sites all over the world.

The cultures of online and real world blackjack playing are quite different despite the fact that it's pretty much the same game being played. The main difference is of course that when playing online you're playing alone, usually in the comfort of your home without the typical distractions and tension you get in brick-and-mortar casinos. Of course, there's a downside to it - you don't get the thrill and excitement that make blackjack games so exciting.

People who play blackjack form close communities because they are very passionate about the game, And taking the fact that it's all in all a gambling game where the stakes can go sky high and earn the winners a fortune, sometimes the communication between blackjack players can seem to be a bit esoteric to those who are not in the game.

That's what online blackjack is famous for - there are numerous specialized forums that form communities of players all over the world. The Internet lets many players communicate regardless of their location, and when there are many people sharing the same passion for such thing as playing blackjack online you can definitely say that there's a real culture behind it.

Just with any other game-specific forums and communities you can get lost and confused the first time you enter such an online community. They are quite often based around online casinos where you can play blackjack anytime, and discuss the game after you had your fun at the online table. Of course, some forums are more open to newbies than the others and with some communities you will find it hard to communicate with other players if they haven't seen you in the casino.

Still, without a doubt, the Internet has revolutionized the culture of blackjack, turning it into a global phenomenon rather than a local community-based game, revolving around clubs and real casinos. Regardless of your location, you can play blackjack online, take part in tournaments with large prizes, win real money and discuss the strategies and experience with other players who enjoy playing blackjack just like you do. And you don't need to pack your bags and go to a city where playing blackjack is legal. All you need is a good Internet connection and plenty of time to enjoy this exciting game.

Top blackjack myths unveiled

A large number of players who prefer online casinos to brick-and-mortar gambling houses often lose their money because of believing in various myths and rumors that spread around the web. If you don't want to make part of that number you have to be cautious about the most common myths blackjack players tell about when playing online.

Myth #1: Card counting is not required

Those of you who have spent a bit of time at the table know that card counting is the most basic winning strategy, and the myth tells that you don't need it to win at the game.

Fact #1:

It's almost impossible to beat the dealer if you don't know what cards are remaining in the deck. That's why players use card counting in order to raise the odds of winning against the house. If you have read about a strategy that doesn't tell you to count cards then it's definitely not a strategy that will help you win in the long run. Card counting isn't as complicated as some players think it is, there are ways you can easily count cards and raise your chances of winning, and that's definitely what you want in the end, right?

Myth #2: In order to win you need only the basic strategy

You don't need any complicated strategies in order to win, you just need to learn the basic strategy that is available even at online casino sites and you will win for sure.

Fact #2:

Most players who use only the basic strategy lose nearly all of the time. That's because in most cases the basic strategy is given directly at the online casino's site and there's no sense for the casino to post such things other than increasing their in-house odds and fooling players. There are numerous books on blackjack winning strategies that are based around the very same basic strategy and not that many players can say that these tips have helped them. In order to win you will need something more effective in raising your odds at online blackjack than the basic strategy.

Myth #3: Get as close to 21 as you can in order to win

This is probably the most common myth among those who have only started to play blackjack and are new to the game. This is a popular misconception because blackjack is also sometimes called as the game of 21. And assuming that's the main goal of the game, new players believe that it's crucial to get close to 21.

Fact #3:

The main goal of the game is not getting close to 21. In order to win at blackjack you have to beat the dealer's hand, have a larger count with the cards you have than the house has. No matter if it will be 13 against 9, you will still win if it's your count that's larger. Many rookies make the common mistake and try to get as close to 21, taking more cards and busting their chances by going beyond 21. Leave the number behind and focus on the dealer's hands - that will give you much greater chances of winning.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Blackjack tournaments: online vs real world

The popularity of blackjack tournaments is constantly increasing and it's no big surprise that many online casinos offer more tournaments with larger prizes on a regular basis. And by "regular basis" we mean the possibility to take part in an online tournament virtually at any time of the day. However, you have to understand that there are substantial differences between online and land based tournaments, and knowing these differences is very important for any blackjack player

A large part of players get involved into tournaments because of the adrenaline rash and the intensity of playing with other participants head to head. Those who regularly take part in such tournaments say that it's a real pleasure to sit with other players at the same table, watching them make their bets, following their expressions and feeling the real excitement of a challenge that is just not the same when you play one on one with a dealer. Tournaments represent a real challenge and test of skills for any player, especially when it comes to the elimination rounds. The way the people interact and get involved in the drama is something that can be as valuable as the prize itself. No wonder that there are so many blackjack tournament games even on the TV these days.

Of course, these feelings are a bit hard to experience when it comes to playing blackjack online. Web-based tournaments just can't bring the excitement of a real life tournament because it's just you and your computer, no one else. Of course, you can play a tournament with players all over the world instantly by joining any big online casino tournament but that can be hardly compared to seeing a real living person next to you. Still, it's a matter of personal choice and preference, because some players are in for the excitement and emotions, while others are in just for the playing experience and the prize.

What makes online blackjack a really interesting feature is that it lets players all over the world put their skills to the test and win real money in a tournament against other players. There's no need to enroll in special events or even leave your home - everything you need to play a game is within your reach and it's only you and your skills that really matter. For those, who don't excited by the thrill of a real tournament or those who aren't just confident in their abilities this is probably the best way to enjoy real professional poker.

One can say that it all depends on how introvert or extrovert a person is. If you're seeking attention and love seeing another person near you get nervous when you hit blackjack, then you will definitely find online tournaments boring and lacking the real excitement of the game. But if you jut want to win and don't care about who's sitting next to you and don't want to be distracted from your strategy then playing online seems like a perfect choice for you. Of course, the best way is to try both things and define what works best for you.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Health Insurance Quotes and Financial Planning

The great temptation whenever you start shopping around is to assume you can afford to buy whatever you are looking for. It comes from those long-lost days when credit card companies would write you every month with good news about your borrowing limits. You were tempted into more debt, but it meant never really having to worry about whether you could afford to buy. The additional money would simply be added on to your overall debts.

Now the credit crunch has settled in as your permanent house guest, it's a good idea to start doing a real set of accounts to keep track of your family's spending. Why bother, you ask? The number of foreclosed property up and down your streets, the number of business shuttered on Main Street, should give you a clue. People who hope for the best when trying to live beyond their means usually come unstuck. Now's the time to count the dollars and cents. When you are employed, you know exactly how much money you have coming in every month. When you are self-employed, your income is likely to go up and down, making it more difficult to budget. The best you can do is average the monthly income over the last twelve months. Now let's list the main headings.

Go through all your check stubs and bank statements. Make a list of all the regular payments on utilities, mortgage, insurance premiums, credit and store cards, and so on. If there are regular payments you could cut, make a separate list. For example, everyone has to eat, but do you really want to eat out once a week? It's often surprising to see how much you could save if you cut down on discretionary payments and leave only the necessary payments. These are lifestyle choices. When the times were good, you could afford all these "luxuries". Now times are hard, you have decisions to make. When you have finished, you should have a number showing how much you can afford to spend on a health plan and leave a little over in case of emergencies. Never plan to spend more than you earn and hope you can juggle the numbers every month. Live within your means. Now pause for a moment. Are you going to accept a policy with a deductible? Can you estimate how much the co-payments might be if you have to get treatment. The deductible must be available as a cash sum to cover the claim. Co-payments must be made out of your pocket as you go along. What can you afford out of your budget? Do you have savings or a margin unused on your credit cards to fill in the gap?

Now get the health insurance quotes through this site. Look not just at the monthly amount you pay, but at how much you have to pay before the plan starts to pay out. If the health insurance quotes are unclear, get on the telephone and talk to a human being for clarification. Do not accept a plan unless you know you can afford to pay the deductible and co-payments on visits with your doctor, needed drugs, and so on. Even more important, check whether there is an upper limit on the amount the plan will pay out in a year. If there is a limit, do you want to take the risk? If you have an existing condition, how long must you wait before cover kicks in? Can you afford treatment while you wait? These are hard questions but, to protect yourself, you should ask them.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Homeowners insurance - why purchasing it?

How can you tell that you really need home insurance? Well, if you're not planning any illegal things like insurance scam (which is definitely not a good idea, especially these days), it will be really hard to predict any situation when you will actually need some insurance coverage for protecting your house. Until, of course something bad happens and you will need the money to pay for the damage. However, there's a range of circumstances that make an insurance policy for your house a really welcome if not necessary addition to your paperwork portfolio.

The following are the most typical events that will make having home insurance a necessity unless you have a lot of money and can rebuild your home from scratch without worrying about finances.

Fire

Fire is definitely one of the most hazardous of perils that can happen to a house. It has the potential to completely destroy an entire building within minutes and there's a very little chance that any of your personal belongings will survive it. Fire is very hard to control and it can happen any time, with most cases of fire being reported when the home owner is actually away. It can be a spark from a malfunctioning home appliance or a cigarette butt that lights up a pile of dry leaves that you've left in your front yard. And the moment you arrive home you find nothing but a pile of ashes instead of all of your belongings. A standard homeowners insurance policy provides protection against any forms of fire.

Flood

Living in an area with no large bodies of water nearby doesn't mean that you don't have the risk of having flood damage in your house. Things like heavy showers, bad water pipes and even a broken washing machine can flood your house and damage a large part of your belongings beyond repair and restore. Sometimes, the damage from flood can be much worse that that caused by fire. Standard homeowners insurance policies do not carry coverage against flood damage and you will have to purchase such a policy as a weaver to your current one or buy it separately.

Earthquake

Earthquakes are certainly the hardest to predict and hardest to protect against of all natural disasters. An earthquake can destroy an entire town or city within just a few minutes, turning even the most durable of constructions into a pile of dust. And the best thing you can do during an earthquake is to stay away from your house that can collapse over you. Standard insurance policies include coverage against earthquakes, too. However, in order to make sure you will also be paid for the lost belongings you should have an inventory of all the items (especially valuables and electronics) with detailed information on every piece that can further be used for reimbursing the cost of all the lost belongings.

There are other circumstances that can also be a threat to your house and you want to have coverage against them. Having tornado insurance in an area where they are common is definitely a must. However, keep in mind that no one is imposing you to have home insurance, It's a decision choice that can save you a lot of money and time in case something bad happens to your house.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Home insurance: How to save money the right way?

You can request almost anything you want and get it right when you want it. We live in the world of possibilities. This world allows us to choose and take advantage of what is out there for us. If you are willing to pay the full price, you will so that; if you search for the ways to economize - you will find it without a doubt. The most important thing is to concentrate on your ideas and don't let them slip away easily without giving you a good expected result.

If you care about the place you call home and you know for sure you need to insure it, there is nothing else you have to get but insurance. If you don't feel like you can afford to pay the required sum, don't get upset too early - you can find a reasonable price. The reasons for discounts offered by insurance company can be various. They can range from the type of building materials used to build your house to the number of kilometers from your house to the closest fire station.

We don't want you to have too much trouble with your attempts to save, so we will give away certain secrets on how to cut your insurance budget.

The most common advice you will get from anyone is to shop around before making up your mind. This step is important for those who believe that variety of choice helps to achieve good results in searches. There are plenty of insurance companies that are willing to offer special rates and good prices. You don't owe them anything when you get quotes from them. It is a necessary step for you in order to compare and evaluate the right decision.

You will have to raise your deductible if you want to have a good offer on your home. The deductible is the amounts of money you will have invest in a loss before the insurance term actually begins. Usually deductibles start at 250 dollars.

If you have your car insured or you own a health insurance plan, it makes sense to try the same company, especially if you are satisfied with their services. Not only will this provide you with some guarantees but will also give you a discount.

You need to take into consideration lots of factors when you are to get your home insured. The construction and geographical location matter a lot. If your house has new electrical, heating and plumbing systems the better it will be for you as you can save some dollars on your premiums.

Lots of companies will check your credit first. This will be like their first impression of you. The information they will receive will be crucial and decisive as it will come to your home insurance policy.

If you are a non-smoker or no member of your family are addicted to tobacco, you can also take advantage of some reduced premiums.

The rest totally depends on the company you will go for. Those are peculiarities that no one is able to inform you about right now. For more information on local insurance companies find home insurance quotes and compare the given rates. Cheap home insurance is within your reach; just don't be lazy to get it! The rest, as they say, will be a history of your insurance plan.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Health insurance – health comes first

When you thought your health troubles were costing you much, they got even more expensive for fix. It is almost unreal to come to any health specialist and see him getting interested in cutting your payments. This is your task and you have to make sure your wallet is not crying tears after a visit to any health care provider. Here are some points to consider:

We spend too much money on our health when we realize that the situation got out of control. But we don't really want to think that it is possible to prevent the disease instead of curing it. We need to keep the healthy lifestyle if we want to stay healthy all the time without any need for the health care medication. Healthy food, exercise and no smoking habits will keep your payments down giving you a chance to economize on unnecessary things. We know it is always easier to say than to do but this is the only way to save yourself from unwanted extra costs that you can do without.

Every health situation and case is totally unique. You can't predict the health care plan you may need in the future. If you are a member of a big family or you have little children that you want to be a part of the plan too, you have to do some research to find the best possible option for yourself and your beloved people. There are different plans to choose from but they usually require consideration and time. You need to sort out what is the most important thing for you in a plan, how much you are willing to pay, what is the most important for you - deductibles, co-pays or other features. Can you afford to pay a little bit more for those or not? The truth is that it is very important to choose the right plan as it can save you lots of cash.

Before you sign up for any plan, you have to understand how it works and what good it will do for you. What you have to learn is to take care of the advantages that are given to you. Take advantage of possible discounts and ask for alternative medication if you feel like you are being prescribed the most expensive one that you cannot afford.

We will tell you a secret that might be useful for you in the future. Generic drugs are usually cheaper. They will help you save some money. Keep this in mind.

If you are looking for a way to cut your expenses on your health insurance plan, then we advise you to join your partner's insurance plan. This is considered to be a cheap insurance plan as you share the bills. This will give you an opportunity to lower your payments and still be a part of the insurance program.

There are days when different medical institutions give people a chance to benefit from free tests and examinations. Stay current with what clinics and hospitals have to offer and maybe you will have a possibility to walk away without making any payments.

If this information was not enough for you, feel free to read health insurance quotes and feedback on health care plans. And remember to think before you take any action. This is how the biggest mistakes are avoided.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Life insurance quotes and life settlements

In all the insurance markets, there is one underlying truth. The insurance companies are for profit and they will always act in their own best interests and not yours. For planning purposes, you should always assume there are better ways of doing things than the ways suggested by your own insurer. Let us take the question of the cash value in permanent life policies. All these policies have a value. If you approach your insurer and ask how this value can be realized during your lifetime, two answers are given. The first is the option to surrender the policy. This is an early termination of the policy. Thus, the insurer is no longer obliged to pay the sums estimated or guaranteed at the end of your life, but pays you a proportion of those benefits based on the amount you have paid in. The second option is a loan. This can either be a loan of some or all of the cash value, or it can be a free-standing loan with the cash value account used as collateral. Obviously, loans come with interest obligations attached. Borrowing your own cash value attracts a lower rate. Free-standing loans have higher rates. What, if anything, is wrong with these options?

The insurer will calculate the surrender value by counting how much you have paid in premium instalments, deducting any commission, management fees or expenses, and adding a sum of interest. You therefore receive more than you paid in but significantly less than would be paid out if you kept the policy in being. As to the loans, unless you repay the loans in a timely fashion, the interest eats away at the remaining value of the policy. It is not unusual for people who take a loan to find all the value in their policy wiped out by the interest. Obviously, this defeats the purpose in keeping the policy in being because your dependents will get little or nothing when you have gone.

An increasingly popular way of realizing the value of a permanent policy is the life settlement market. Here third parties buy your policy, pay the premiums and collect when you have gone. This gives you significantly more than the surrender value. However, before you go through this transaction, you should do due diligence. At present, the life settlement market in the US is unregulated and there are many brokers who have proved less than honest. Until there is a training and licensing requirement for brokers, always get the advice of a professional on where to sell your policy - it is good to have an advisor to sue if something goes wrong. You should also be required to prove there is no undue influence forcing you to sell. Sometimes relatives prefer not to wait until you pass on before collecting on your insurance policy. You need some protection. As a more general issue, you should never invest in a securitized fund based on life settlements. Like subprime mortgages, this is a recipe for financial disaster. So, when you are checking through the life insurance quotes to decide which policy to buy, permanent life policies with a "good" cash value may be attractive both because of the benefits payable when you pass on, and if you need emergency cash in the years to come. But if you decide all your family needs is a modest fixed sum, get life insurance quotes for term insurance and forget all these problems.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Cheap auto insurance and Prop. 17 in California

Somewhere in the dim and distant past of learning English, an idiom surfaced referring to gift horses and their mouths. The translation is that, when someone gives you a gift, it's ungracious of you to publicly examine it too carefully. Yet, in the case of Prop. 17 which appears on the ballot in California, we should perhaps open the horse's mouth and examine it's teeth. It may prove to be an old Trojan horse and a gift we should reject.

Why be suspicious? Because the force behind Prop. 17 is not a consumer advocate, it's the Mercury General Corp. Yes, friends, we're supposed to believe that an insurance company wants voters in California to pressure lawmakers so that the insurance industry can give millions of dollars in discounts to policyholders. There's another of those idioms that comes to mind at this point. It's something about pigs suddenly sprouting wings and taking to the air in the joy of flight. Indeed, so committed is Mercury to Pro. 17 that it's paying millions of dollars in TV ads to persuade everyone to vote for it. Bless its little cotton socks. It's trying so hard to do right by Californians.

So just what does Prop. 17 say? Well, it's one of these deceptively simple suggestions. As the law stands, Prop. 103 says insurers can only offer continuous or persistent (sometimes called "loyalty") discounts to their own customers. The idea is straightforward. Instead of trying to poach customers from each other by offering discounts, insurers should try to attract new business by offering low rates. This has the advantage that insurers are competing equally on premium rates for both established and new drivers. If passed, Prop. 17 would allow insurers to match the current persistent discount based on the number of claims-free years. This would lure established customers from competing companies. At first sight, this looks like a good deal for any experienced driver who wants to switch insurers. But the price is paid by the inexperienced new drivers. If persistent discounts are to be paid for, the premium rates for new drivers must increase. Indeed, the premium rates could be increased for anyone who does not have a continuous history of insurance coverage.

California is often a litmus test for the insurance industry. It voted to outlaw the use of zip codes as a key factor in setting premium rates. The idea of portable continuous or persistent discounts is going to be equally controversial. In one sense, it should not matter. If companies were genuinely competing with each other to offer cheap auto insurance, every driver would celebrate and pick the best deal. But the reality is that auto insurance companies soft pedal the competition. There's more than enough business to go around. All the companies want to make a good profit without trying too hard. Yes, Prop. 17 will work to the advantage of the established driver with a continuous record of no claims, but everyone else could face significant premium increases. Hopefully, the voters will see this gift horse for what it is and leave it in the field. As an aside, the British market has always allowed drivers to move between insurers with their accumulated discounts, but the British market has real competition and, generally, premium rates are lower "over there".

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Slots in New Hampshire are becoming a battleground

One of the more exciting features of the latest recession has been the collapse of tax revenue flowing into the coffers of the individual US states. Sales are down so there's less tax take there. Property values have crashed through the floor so, where tax is a percentage of valuation, the tax take has fallen - with so many properties foreclosed and families unemployed, payment of the tax has been difficult to enforce. People have been earning less and businesses have made less profit so, again, less income tax. Put everything together and many states are effectively bankrupt, their bonds reduced to junk status by the credit rating agencies. Yet there is no political will to really grasp the nettle of tax increases. If the electorate want the same level of services from the state, they have to pay for them. If they genuinely will not pay, they must be prepared to accept real cuts in the quality of the services. Perhaps this recession will finally break through the stubborn refusal to pay a larger percentage of income as tax. While we wait for this revolution, individual states are playing around the margins to save a few dollars here, and raise a few dollars there. Their theory is that federal government will not allow them to fail. Like AIG, many of the states are "too big". So bail-out money will save them from having to make the hard decisions.

This has not prevented some states from getting creative. In New Hampshire, Governor John Lynch has a new policy. To help bridge the gap between solvency and insolvency, he's proposing to legalize online gambling. The detail of the plan is to be announced soon, but it's already controversial. Ignoring the problems created by the federal law clamp-down on the transfer of funds for gambling purposes, the Governor has been caught in a classic flip-flop. Not so long ago, the lawmakers who represent the real-world casino interests proposed a bill to licence some 17,000 slots and table games. The recession was not yet in its full glory and the hole in the budget was not today's gaping chasm. The Governor decided to veto the bill.

He gave two reasons. The first a simple calculation that there were already a significant number of machines in the state and licensing more was unlikely to produce a real increase in revenue. It would only share out the same money among more machines. But it's the second reason that has landed him in trouble. He said the bill would lead to an increase in gambling. Whether he was concerned at the rising level of addiction, the risk of more young people being tempted into gambling or he had some moral objections is not clear. The bill died. The new proposal to legalize online gambling is likely to make gambling more accessible. If people have to travel to specific locations, their behavior can be more closely monitored and controlled. The age of players can be verified. Operators can stop someone when they have obviously lost too much. Allowing gambling from PCs, lap and palm top machines, and Blackberrys is opening the flood gates. Playing online slots, people can burn through a lot of money very quickly without anyone to stop them. The Governor can't have it both ways. If proliferating gambling is a bad thing, legalizing online gambling is a bad thing. While he decides how to answer, we can all have fun playing slots wherever we find them.

Auto insurance quotes for commercial vehicles

Having car insurance is mandatory in the vast majority of states, regardless whether it's a personal or commercial auto you are driving. There are numerous enterprises that have their own vehicles used for commercial purposes as well as for personal use of their senior staff. Smaller home based businesses are also using commercial vehicles to a great extent and this segment of the market is currently on the rise.

Regardless of the size of the enterprise, it is mandatory to carry the necessary amount of auto insurance coverage in order to assure that any damages the commercial auto has caused will be paid for no matter what. Of course, liability coverage is a must and the policy should carry the state specified minimum amount of bodily injury and property damage liability as indicated in minimum state requirements. Of course, one can assume that if the vehicle is owned by the enterprise it's the enterprise that will pay for the damage due to the accident. However, not all companies can assume such financial responsibility, especially if speaking about smaller home based businesses, and there's no other way to gain the necessary financial support other than purchasing commercial auto insurance.

Quite many business owners purchase the necessary liability coverage above minimum limits and choose to include other types of coverage such as comprehensive and collision as well. Some business owners even include underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage to their commercial policies too, taking the fact that there are so many drivers with no insurance coverage on their cars out there on the road.

When looking for auto insurance quotes on commercial autos insurance companies usually employ the same mechanisms of calculation as for individual car insurance. The most weight in the final rates will have such factors as the amount and type of coverage to be included into the policy, the location of the business (traffic, theft rates and repair costs), as well as the actual driving record of the employee (or employees) who will be driving the commercial vehicle.

Having commercial auto insurance is of course very beneficial for the business owner. Having a vehicle stolen or damaged in a car accident can cause a serious drop in income for a period of time, especially if it's a small business. Having your commercial auto covered by car insurance will assure that the repair will take a short time and you won't have to pay for restoring the auto in order to get it back on track.

Still, as with individual insurance, it always pays to shop around and get as many auto insurance quotes for your commercial vehicles as you can. There are many companies that offer substantial discounts for numerous vehicles under a single commercial insurance policy. Try getting the best offer for the lowest amount of money, however keep in mind that you shouldn't sacrifice the needed type and amount of coverage otherwise there's no real point in insuring your commercial vehicles.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Casino online games lose out to the real world

In many ways, the US has the best and the worst system of federal and state governments in the world. Arguably it has the qualities of being the best because, even though it's a two-horse race, there's enough of a difference between the political intentions of the successful candidates to make life interesting. But it's one of the worst because of the level of corruption in the lawmaking following elections. Money speaks loud behind the scenes with different lobbying groups pressuring the elected representatives to deliver on the promises they made to get the campaign funds. For these purposes, it makes no difference which party you look at. All the individuals at every level in the political system depend on "donations" to get elected. When it comes to the world of gambling, the politics get particularly complicated.

For individual states, the revenue derived from the different forms of licensed gambling helps avoid complete financial meltdown. Yes, there's a recession, but this has only slowed the flow of money into gambling. Unlike other sources of tax revenue, the gamblers of America are helping balance budgets. But there are different interested parties. In one corner stand the real world casino operators who want the least possible regulation on their activities. Their group is not united because the casinos on Indian land have advantages and, some say, represent unfair competition. We should not forget the other sites who can get licences to run slots. In another corner stand the racing interests. They are long-standing political players and also want the maximum freedom to run their own betting operations with the least interference from states. This blurs into another group that runs betting operations on other sporting events. While a more distant group runs online casinos.

As an example of the conflict of interests, let's go to Massachusetts where there's a new bill in the state House to establish two new real world casinos. As always, the declared intention is to generate more revenue for the state. To maintain a monopoly for the land-based casino operations, the bill proposes to criminalize all online gambling. It will be an offense for any resident of Massachusetts to place or accept a wager placed by a telecommunication device, no matter where they may be located. You will realize, of course, this includes all telephone betting and would hit the racing and sports betting operations. Not surprisingly, this has stirred up an intense lobbying exercise.

Real world operations are preferred because they are easier to police and monitor when it comes to collecting the tax or levy. Once operations disappear down telephone lines or into the internet, they can be based anywhere. This seriously complicates the collection of any tax. States like to keep their worlds simple. They want the maximum revenue from licensed gambling with the lowest possible cost for collection. Just crossing state lines makes collection more difficult. If casino games are offered from outside US territory, tax cannot be collected. That's one of the reasons why the federal government clamped down on the use of credit cards and other easy payment methods. It forced more operations onshore where they could be taxed. Whether you agree with this approach to balancing the budgets is irrelevant. Casino games are seen as the easy way to raise money without upsetting the electorate. Imagine a world without gambling and hear the roar of anger if states announced an increase in sales tax.

Get cheap home insurance despite the premium hikes

As with every group of businesses, there's an association for the insurance industry. It's called the Insurance Information Institute. When individual insurers fear adverse publicity, the III usually gets the job of making general announcements. That way, the news comes out with less damage to the member companies. So, for example, when there was flooding because of the melting snow and then the torrential rains, it was left to the III to warn people that the majority of policies do not cover damage caused when sewers back up. That's not the most reassuring of news. Making equally bad reading was a report that premium rates for property insurance were likely to rise by an average of 3% this year. This reflects both the aforementioned bad weather and the rise in the costs of repairs. You might not have noticed it yet, but builders have been steadily increasing their charges. The price of gas has been rising, labor costs are up, replacement materials are more expensive - it's all bad news even though there's supposed to be a recession.

So why might you have a heart attack when your renewal notice hits the mailbox? Although the politicians may not have accepted the reality of climate change, the insurance industry is watching the statistics and reassessing weather risks state-by-state. There's been tornadoes and major storms across the southern states. Their premiums will be rising faster. The other common reason flows from the insistence that you all shop around for your next policy. In the days of habit, you picked an insurer and bundled your auto and home policies. This earned you a discount and everyone was happy. As more people use internet search engines to find the cheapest auto insurance, they are breaking the bundle and the rate for the remaining home policy goes up sharply. You should always look at all your policies together and not deal with separate policies.

How to keep premium rate increases to a minimum? First remember CLUE. The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange is another insurance industry body that stores information about every claim you make. If you propose changing insurers, the first thing new companies check before giving you a quote is whether you have recently made a claim. If so, you will be quoted a higher premium. The moral of this story is not to claim unless you are looking at a really big loss. Then there's the recession and its effect on your credit score. Most insurers include the score in their formula to decide whether you are a responsible person. The assumption is that people with good credit records will also take care of their homes. Before you start shopping around, do whatever you can to improve your score. For useful advice, try www.myfico.com and www.whatsmyscore.org.

In other words, no matter how great the temptation to track down cheap homeowners insurance using the internet, think carefully about bundles, the claims you have made, and your credit score. These are factors under your control and, unlike blindly increasing your deductible which is you deciding to insure yourself, will produce long-term savings on your homeowners insurance quotes. Remember, it's better to get quality homeowners insurance at an affordable price than cut-price insurance that fails to cover you when your sewers dump their contents in your kitchen.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Health insurance – health comes first

When you thought your health troubles were costing you much, they got even more expensive for fix. It is almost unreal to come to any health specialist and see him getting interested in cutting your payments. This is your task and you have to make sure your wallet is not crying tears after a visit to any health care provider. Here are some points to consider:

We spend too much money on our health when we realize that the situation got out of control. But we don't really want to think that it is possible to prevent the disease instead of curing it. We need to keep the healthy lifestyle if we want to stay healthy all the time without any need for the health care medication. Healthy food, exercise and no smoking habits will keep your payments down giving you a chance to economize on unnecessary things. We know it is always easier to say than to do but this is the only way to save yourself from unwanted extra costs that you can do without.

Every health situation and case is totally unique. You can't predict the health care plan you may need in the future. If you are a member of a big family or you have little children that you want to be a part of the plan too, you have to do some research to find the best possible option for yourself and your beloved people. There are different plans to choose from but they usually require consideration and time. You need to sort out what is the most important thing for you in a plan, how much you are willing to pay, what is the most important for you - deductibles, co-pays or other features. Can you afford to pay a little bit more for those or not? The truth is that it is very important to choose the right plan as it can save you lots of cash.

Before you sign up for any plan, you have to understand how it works and what good it will do for you. What you have to learn is to take care of the advantages that are given to you. Take advantage of possible discounts and ask for alternative medication if you feel like you are being prescribed the most expensive one that you cannot afford.

We will tell you a secret that might be useful for you in the future. Generic drugs are usually cheaper. They will help you save some money. Keep this in mind.

If you are looking for a way to cut your expenses on your health insurance plan, then we advise you to join your partner's insurance plan. This is considered to be a cheap insurance plan as you share the bills. This will give you an opportunity to lower your payments and still be a part of the insurance program.

There are days when different medical institutions give people a chance to benefit from free tests and examinations. Stay current with what clinics and hospitals have to offer and maybe you will have a possibility to walk away without making any payments.

If this information was not enough for you, feel free to read health insurance quotes and feedback on health care plans. And remember to think before you take any action. This is how the biggest mistakes are avoided.

Cheap homeowers insurance and fire coverage

It's a sad fact of life but, when it comes to the causes of accidental damage around the home, one of the most common is fire. There are two main reasons. The first stems from the materials used to build your dream home. The sad reality is there's a heck of a lot of wood in most modern buildings. It starts with wooden floors and ends with wooden frames to support a pitched roof. Why is there so much stuff that will burn? It comes down to one simple fact. Large parts of North America are covered with trees and this makes it a cheap building material. Not only is it quick and easy to use, but it also allows for considerable flexibility in the shape of the resulting construction. Better still, just as it's cheap to put up your home, it's equally cheap to clear the site and put up another one should something go seriously wrong. Add in the fact that most furniture and fittings are made out of wood or have a wooden frame, and you have the recipe for a first-class fire.

The second problem is the number of chances you have for starting a fire. Many people rely on gas for cooking which brings the equivalent of explosives into the building. If there's a leak, a single spark can produce a fireball. Should you be cooking using oil, a single moment of carelessness can set the kitchen on fire. Then you come to the electrical wiring. How long ago did you have the wiring installed? The statistics show an increasing risk of fire through a short circuit as your home ages. Finally, there are all those other accidents around the home, in your garage or yard where something catches alight. We didn't get to external sources like a lightning strike, a neighbor whose private fire spreads to your home, or the passing psychopath who thinks it would be fun to watch your home burn.

So, when you come to insurance, there will be many questions asked about what building materials have been used. Then come the slightly less obvious questions. Did you know, for example, that most insurers hike your premiums if you live more than five miles from the nearest firestation. Then we come to all those romantic towns and country homes that rely on volunteer firefighters. Insurers rate the risks based on the time it takes for a rig to get to a fire within a five mile radius of the station. The rating is good if the volunteers live on site. This gets them in the rig within a minute or so of the alarm being raised. But if the volunteers have to travel to the firestation, this delays the response and increases the risk your home is ash before they arrive.

So before you buy a "new" home, always ask about how far the property is from the local firestation and confirm a professional team of firefighters who live in the station. That way, when you ask for homeowners insurance quotes, you avoid a heart attack when you see the premium rates. Remember, home insurance is all about the degree of risk and, when it comes to fire, the risks can be high. Look for homes close to rescue services and with as little wood in the construction as possible.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Casino games offered on Chatroulette

One of the fascinating things about the internet is the speed with which some new sites take off. One minute, you have this tiresome start-up calling itself Facebook, the next everyone has an account. In this context, the rise (and rise) of Chatroulette is all the more exciting. We've all been chatting and skyping for so long we can't remember. Webcams have been standard pieces of kit, turning up to allow machine-to-machine video conferencing and to show all kinds of interesting activities when they are planted in unexpected places. So adding in the gambling element completes the picture (as it were). At one level, you could describe the site as your chance to meet new people, except these people could be doing absolutely anything when random chance connects you. In a conventional world, everyone participating would sit calmly in front of their PCs, wearing all their clothes and a welcoming smile. Unfortunately, the randomness and anonymity of the system encourages people to slide towards pornography or voyeurism depending on your inclinations. A remarkable number of people seem prepared to get naked and show off their genitals, or dress up as animals or apparently conduct weird social experiments by giving viewers curious instructions. It's the more sane people who hit the news. Ben Folds has been singing us songs, and a new celebrity is running a primitive gambling scam.

Chance can now connect you to a live dealer offering roulette and blackjack. If you are inclined to play, our mystery croupier gives you his PayPal address and, with a deposit made, the game of your choice begins. You can play for as long as you like. If luck is not with you, topping up the PayPal account is quick and easy. But something that should be not unexpected happens if you tire of this amateurish show and ask for your winnings. The croupier reaches for the "Next" button and disappears from your screen. OK, so let's take two steps back. You were prepared to part with your money to a complete stranger. Well, now's your chance to learn all about the PayPal contract. You have a record of the payment(s) made so, in theory, you can get your money back. Although you will look a fool, you could also report this sad episode to your local law enforcement agencies. They would be delighted to spend time tracking down this guy. But there's a much more interesting question to ask.

The majority of jurisdictions around the world regulate gambling. Online casinos must have a licence. So, Chatroulette is allowing someone to run casino games without a licence. In many jurisdictions, this could make Andrey Ternovskiy, Chatroulette's owner, liable to one or more criminal offenses. If our mystery croupier's activities are small scale and PayPal is able to recover most of the money paid into his various accounts, it's unlikely any country will take action against Chatroulette or its owner. But if the volume of pornography rises, the police might get increasingly interested in trying to shut the site down (or block it) which would also take down these unofficial casino games and the scammer behind them. There does come a point when, for better or worse, governments step in and take down some of the fun sites. Politicians and moral guardians never seem to have a sense of humor about anything.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Should lawmakers ban smoking in casinos

This site is not Libertarian but we know what we like about gambling and the experience of going into casinos. While we can all approve of regulations to keep gambling reasonably honest and fair, there comes a point when enough is enough with the lawmaking. Let's take the issue of smoking as an example. Most of us probably believe the science linking tobacco with fatal diseases. Whether you smoke or draw in the smoke second-hand, the risks of cancer and heart disease are even admitted by the tobacco industry. So, on New Year, we all repeat our resolution not to start or to quit. It's all down to us - a personal decision. If we do decide to smoke, this is a "victimless crime". No-one is forcing us to do this and it should not be for the law to get involved in making any part of smoking a crime. There are no laws criminalising overeating even though the obese die younger, or threatening to put alcoholics in jail because they are damaging their livers. People own their own bodies and should be allowed to do what they want with it.

So what do we make of all these laws banning or restricting smoking in public places? There are no federal laws. It all comes down to the lawmakers in each state. Some have fairly comprehensive laws restricting smoking in the workplace. Others go on to include some bars and restaurants. But, so far, most states have avoided any kind of restrictions on the operation of casinos. The consensus view has been to avoid anything that might reduce the revenue from gambling operations. As the recession has taken hold and the tax-take from conventional businesses has fallen, maintaining the flow on money into the state coffers has become even more important. So far, the need for money has outweighed the health concerns. After all, no-one forces people to go to a casino. If you are not a smoker and want to avoid passive smoking, do not go to a casino.

Based on the experience in Atlantic City which went through a two-week ban on smoking, casino operators estimate their gross revenues would drop by more than one-third. Where would these gamblers go to play slots? There are two obvious alternatives. The Tribal casinos stand outside state laws on smoking, and people can always stay home to gamble online. There are no laws to restrict what people do in the privacy of their own homes. We could also get into a kind of bidding war where some states with high costs on the healthcare front may clamp down on smoking only to find their own citizens drive into neighboring states to play there. That's a double whammy because the lawmaking states lose tax revenue and still have the health costs of treating their citizens who fall ill because of their smoking. There should be federal legislation to replace this current patchwork of different laws. Health is a national priority. Washington should decide the limits on what people should do in public places. As it is, drinking and smoking goes with casino games just like turkey goes with Thanksgiving. Breaking the link is going to make one set of lawmakers really unpopular. Shall we bet on whether federal laws are introduced?

Monday, May 24, 2010

How will live dealing affect online casinos?

Whichever time you look at, there has always been gambling. For example, there is evidence of keno, dice and mahjong being played in Ancient China from 2,000 B.C. onward. Different forms of gaming were also a popular pastime in the other major ancient civilizations of India, Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome. Despite attempts to ban or control gambling because of its addictive nature, it has persisted until today. Sometimes it went underground, while other governments allowed commercialisation. Throughout, gambling has been seen as a social activity. The rich would gather in each others palaces and mansions to play or attend exclusive clubs. The poor would flock to "dens of iniquity" which were often run by criminal gangs tied into the worlds of prostitution and street drugs. This history is one long transfer of wealth from one individual to another. Before regulation, it was usually the criminal gangs that became rich. After regulation, those in positions of power took their commissions while governments subsidized the taxpayers through levies and taxes. But there was one constant thread. Whether you were an aristocrat lounging in a casino in an exclusive spa town in Europe or panning for gold in the 1840's and 50's, the majority of games depended on live dealing or the supervision of the betting by an employee of the House. In the more modern clubs and casinos, the dealers and croupiers have often been beautiful women, dressed attractively. In their own right, they were part of the attraction of the "place". The men would come, leaving their wives at home, to lose their money while ogling the girls.

Then along came the internet. There is nothing wrong with the quality of the graphics, animation and soundtrack. In most cases, they represent a brave attempt to create an experience similar to a real-world casino. But players can never suspend disbelief. They continue to sit at home or nursing their laptops in a hotspot with their attention fixed on a small screen. Nothing can replace the smell, noise and crush of people in a casino. Except, as the technology has matured and bandwidth improved, online casinos have begun to introduce live dealers for a range of your favorite casino games. This has two advantages. Many people prefer to avoid the random number generators that drive the software versions of the games. RGNs are too perfect. They feel it is better to gamble where human beings shuffle the packs or spin the wheels because human beings make mistakes and are inefficient. Secondly, animations only go so far. Even though it is a small screen, a live video feed of a sexy lady dealing blackjack or running a roulette table brings in the business.

Live dealing has been increasingly common on sites serving Europe but the first online casinos in the US are now recruiting live dealers and launching their own service. You can only go so far to compete on animation and welcome bonuses. Web cameras are cheap and not much of a studio is required to create interactive play between dealer and you sitting at home. With your favorite casino games now coming to you live, the pressure will be on the majority of the other casinos to innovate ad improve the interface and user experience. As bandwidth improves, your gaming experience will improve.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Can you afford small business insurance?

It is totally true that it is not easy to find an insurance that would suit your business criteria when your business is small. It is not easy but you can surely find what you want if you know how to search. Let's imagine you run a small company and you need to get health insurance for everyone. It may take several weeks until you start getting it all together. Here is some good advice on how you can obtain health insurance for your business.

It may seem like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but your prayers will be heard once you sort everything out for yourself. Remember that you do not only search for a good price but you also want to receive good quality for the services you are craving for.

Here are four major points to consider:

First of all, you have to do some real research. It we do not mean 20 minutes of Google, we mean comparing offers, finding new companies and thinking about their suggestions. With the help of Internet you can save time on driving around town looking for companies, meeting people. It doesn't have to bother you with anything. Sit back, relax and write down everything you have to write in order to figure out the best possible option for yourself. The offer may look attractive and tempting, but don't let your first impression ruin your life. Find out more about the company, so that you don't have any doubts. Of course, you can trust your decision to somebody else, but please keep in mind that it is only your responsibility to choose the right thing, as nobody will be interested in this more than you should be.

Internet is always a good way of searching but please do not pay attention to scams. They are very appealing and bright, but they are a mistake. Once you fall for them, you will see what we mean. The most important thing to know is that is something sounds like almost a lit, it probably is that. Use your common sense and make sure you don't get trapped.

Small business insurance deals change a lot. If you think you have the best offer for today, it doesn't mean it will always stay that way. You have to do some research from time to time and check on various deals and what other companies have to offer. Don't think of it as of something bad. You have your right to stay focused on your interests and assure yourself you are a part of the best deal out there. But don't change insurance companies and deals too often. This may draw the ire of your employees, especially when they have to change their doctors every second week.

Health insurance is very important to employees even if it is delivered through small business insurance. People understand they are cared about and thought about when they are covered. If the plan is good, employees are grateful, they appreciate what you do for them and the reward doesn't keep waiting for itself for too long. This is a rope that has you and your employees on different ends of it. You must advice your employees; show them that they are a part of your decision as well. Keep them informed about anything you are about to do especially if you are to change something in the plan. But at the same time it is important that they realize what you do for them as good insurance plans for small business companies usually costs quite a lot. It is your time to be a real team in this matter. Take your chance and show people they deserve what you are willing to do for them. This is the only way any prosperous business survives.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Home insurance for your mobile home

Those who own a mobile home often ask if there's a type of insurance that is something between home and car insurance and is suitable for covering their property. The answer is positive, as there is a special type of insurance products designed to cover mobile homes, and they are relatively inexpensive, with premiums of about $250 per year. And if you really want to make sure that your mobile home will be paid for if it gets damaged, it's not a big price to pay for certainty and some peace of mind.

This type of insurance coverage makes part of general liability insurance coverage. Claims filed under this type of insurance usually deal with medical costs, lost income, trauma and sometimes property damage. Typical mobile home policies have the same aspects of coverage as ordinary home protection, including the actual replacement and repair costs of the house, injuries sustained by other people (besides you and your family members) on your property, living expenses if you have to dwell in another location due to repair, and the items contained in your home. The main difference here is that the same coverage applies while your house is on the move, too. And as with any other type of insurance, the rates vary significantly from one company to another.

Home insurance whether it's a mobile home or a typical house is first and foremost used to protect your property from such hazards as fire, storm, and theft, acts of vandalism, natural calamities, explosions and technological calamities. The items contained within your home will also be covered, including furniture, equipment and valuables such as jewelry (to an extent).

And just like with ordinary houses homeowners insurance quotes for mobile homes can vary significantly from one provider to another. The Insurance Information Institute strongly suggests having at least three quotes from different providers before buying a policy. However, the more quotes you have the higher are the chances that you will find a suitable policy for a low price. This is especially useful if you are new to the whole insurance market and don't know where to start.

Still, mobile home coverage has certain peculiarities that set it apart from the usual home insurance you would purchase for your house. The main feature is that you can benefit from free continental travel coverage, which protects your mobile home financially regardless of where your home is located in the country at the moment.

However, the hidden catch with mobile home coverage is that in most cases it is based on actual cash value of your home, which puts a strong emphasis on depreciation that lowers the replacement cost of your mobile home with each year passing. Still, the policy will cover all the equipment and special features that were initially installed in your mobile home. Read your policy careful before signing it in order to learn which particular items and situations are covered and which are not.

Most mobile home owners neglect the importance of insurance for their homes, believing that it's not mandatory and taking account the rare use of it. But even if you do not use it quite often and it stays near your house most of the time it doesn't mean that nothing can happen to your property, and losing something costly due to own negligence is not the smartest thing to do.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Life insurance types – term policies

The selection of insurance products and offers you can choose from on the market is overwhelming. And choosing a policy to insure your life with can be tricky, requiring you to both evaluate your insurance needs and spend some time on comparing the offers you get from different providers. It's not just a possibility you can think of while buying insurance, it's a firm requirement that the product you want to buy meets your exact personal needs and can be adjusted to your budget, not the other way.

In contrast with continuous policies term insurance policies are designed to provide coverage only for a certain period of time, specified in the policy. A term policy will provide the benefits specified in it only if the insured person dies within the specified period. Besides, term policies do not have cash value accumulation potentials. So in case you are alive and well and your policy term expires, you won't receive any money. Another important aspect of term policies is that the premiums can't be fixed and it is likely that they will increase with the time passing. In order to make sure your rates are constant, choose a guaranteed level premium term policy that guarantees a fixed premium over the entire duration of the policy.

Advantages of term policies

Term policies are known to have the highest value for money you pay and the lowest price among other types of life insurance. That is why they are most beneficial for those families that have limited budget they have to fall into. These are some advantages you get with term policies:

Affordability

Term policies have the lowest premiums for the largest death benefits obtainable.

Simplicity

Term policies are the least complex insurance product for insuring your life on the market.

Competitiveness

Due to the simplicity of this product, there is a fierce competition between numerous providers offer term policies, which in turn allows effective comparison shopping when looking for a policy.

Flexibility

Term policies have the possibilities of "renewal" and "conversion". Renewal means that when the policy term expires you can prolong its duration, without buying a new policy. Conversion means that when the term of the policy expires you can convert your term policy into a permanent one, without buying a separate policy.

Waiver of premium

With term policies you also get an additional feature referred to as "waiver of premium". It allows you to halt premium payments for a stipulated period of time in case you are unable due to circumstances listed in the policy. Still, it is an optional feature that has its price.

Different time options

Term policies being a cheap life insurance options provide coverage for a period of time you feel appropriate. You can insure your life for a term of anything between one to thirty years, gaining death benefits if something happens to you during this term. It's a good way to plan your finances well ahead, making sure that such crucial things as mortgage or business loan will be paid out no matter what.

Different rates

There are many companies out there on the market that offer term insurance policies. Get life insurance quotes from them and you will probably get very attractive rates by shopping around.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Auto insurance quotes are lower for good drivers

Many words have been said about the importance of the car in our life. It has become like an accessory that you just can't imagine yourself without especially in our modern world. We drive here and there and we can't think of anything that would turn our life into a complete nightmare more than the absence of the car. But having enough money and being able to pay for car services together with an urge to drive is not enough to become a good driver. There are many details that should be taken into consideration by those who want to become professional skillful drivers. You have probably heard about quotes on car insurance sites. And you probably wonder what those things are, how they work and what good are they to us. Let us explain the deal with auto insurance quotes to you. Let's imagine you logged on to some insurance site. There should be a variety of deals available to anyone on car insurance. There are different plans, different policies. How do you know which one to get and will the chosen one be suitable for you? This is the major question. Costs and rates may vary from one company to another. Some companies are willing to compete and offer better prices. But price is a secondary thing. The important part is getting the right insurance. You have to be a precise as you possibly can be while giving information about your car to the company. If you are not a newcomer to automobiles, you surely know that good driving record, credit history; location of vehicle, safety features on a vehicle as well other details lead to discounts. There are also some things that can increase the payment - those things are tickets, accidents, low credit score, high mileage on the road, gaps in coverage and so on. The insurer has a full right to set high rates on premiums if you have all of those in your history check.

If you are well experienced driver and your financial situation is more or less stable, you surely will be able to find a good quote. So what is necessary for the driver to do while being on the road? A good driver will always keep his eyes on the road while driving. It is also not permitted to use mobile phones or any other equipment while driving. If you are a considerate driver, you won't eat or drink on the road as well. Posted speed limits are there to indicate the allowed driving speed - please always remember this. The road is not the right place to show what you are about. Don't try to show any dangerous stunts - don't be irresponsible. Stop at red signs that are placed to indicate danger and prevent you from any accidents that may happen. Your bills and all checks need to be paid on time. There should be no gaps in your coverage. You may think they are not a problem now, but later on they may be a big deal. Driving less that people normally do will benefit the rate payments and having more than one car will give you a possibility to enjoy some discount available to multi-car owners. The rest can be found on any insurance company's sites. Don't forget to get your auto insurance quotes now!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Frequently asked questions on cheap car insurance buying

Starting with excessive rates to buying a separate policy for your teen driver, dealing with auto coverage is often confusing, complicated and it also involves a lot of money to be spent. Still, you can't go around it, as it a legal requirement in most states and a helpful tool to give you a peace of mind when dealing with traffic accidents. Sure, it may seem like a dirty job and you don't want to waste your time on it. But what if there's an easier way to get your auto insured without all the hassle you fear of dealing with? If you are interested, read the frequently asked questions below as answered by insurance experts, who know how to get the right policy no matter what's your situation.

Q: Am I obliged to carry insurance coverage when driving my car?

A: Nearly all states have it as a legal requirement for drivers to carry liability auto coverage as a guarantee that the damages you deliver in a car accidents are paid for. Each state has a minimum amount of liability coverage that a driver must carry with his policy. And even the states that don't have vehicle insurance as a legal requirement oblige the driver to show proof that he has enough financial resources to pay for the caused damage. Any other types of insurance coverage, outside liability coverage are purely optional and can be purchased with respect to your personal insurance needs.

Q: Is insurance required before buying a new vehicle?

A: If that's your first vehicle, you will be required to have insurance coverage before even taking it from the dealer. Moreover, if you're using an auto loan to finance the purchase, you may be required to buy additional types of coverage besides liability. If you already have a car and are changing it to a new one or buying an additional vehicle, you have 14-30 days to report the changes to your insurance company.

Q: How can I get cheap car insurance?

A: Compare insurance quotes in order to see what other providers are offering, and if it turns out that you're overpaying - switch the provider. If your current rates are quite competitive, compared to other companies, see if you're taking advantage of all the discounts you can opt for.

When looking for a new car, always make sure that the make and model you are interested in provides cheap car insurance options. Some cars are a lot cheaper to insure than the others, ask your insurance agent to learn what cars are the most cost-effective from the insurance perspective.

Another way to get cheap car insurance, although a bit risky one, is to increase your deductibles. By raising the amount of out-of-pocket expenses you can afford before the policy kicks in you get lower premiums. And if you're driving an older vehicle that has a low market value, you may want to drop collision and comprehensive coverage as it takes depreciation of the car value into account.

You can also adjust the amounts of coverage your policy carries, although experts do not recommend decreasing them to the level of state minimums as it is usually not enough to pay for a serious accident.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Car insurance friendly vehicles to buy

How many times have you thought about dropping insurance coverage on your vehicle altogether after receiving the payable premium? We know how it feels. Insurance rates are constantly on the rise and if you have a costly car to insure it may be a heavy burden for your family budget. But do not despair, there are better solutions than dropping insurance services. Moreover, driving without an insurance policy is illegal in the majority of states and you can face a substantial fine for not having coverage on your vehicle. Not to mention that it will be quite expensive for you to cover the costs if an accident takes place and you don't have any insurance.

You have probably read many articles with tips on how to reduce insurance costs in an effective way. While they all offer helpful solutions to different extent, most of them do not mention the most important element of vehicle coverage - the car itself. The auto you drive pays a very important role when it comes to determining the premiums you will pay for insuring it. People often drive insurance-costly cars and don't even realize why their rates are so high.

In order to change this situation here are some tips you can use when buying a new or used car with respect to auto insurance costs. They should be a guide for those who are looking for really cheap car insurance and want to minimize their costs in an effective manner.

First of all, forget about sports and muscle cars. In many cases such cars are cheaper than mid-class sedans and are very hot looking. But the faster and more powerful the car is, the greater is the risk that it will end up in a car accident. Sports cars provoke aggressive driving style and that's definitely a cause for concern in insurance companies. That's why in most cases sports cars are costlier to insure than other types of vehicles.

Luxury or rare cars should also be out of your list. Of course, if you can afford a Bentley then you probably don't need cheap auto insurance tips at all. Still, if you are cost-conscious and want to spend less on coverage then you should think about other car types. Luxury, classic and rare cars usually have high repair costs and are more likely to be stolen than ordinary vehicles. And this will eventually push your insurance costs too high to be convenient.

Small cars. Wait, what? Small cars are usually quite cheap and don't have high repair costs, right? Yes, of course. But you also have to understand that the safety of passengers is another factor that strongly influences car insurance quotes the car will receive. And here the basic laws of physics are very important. Smaller cars tend to be totaled or damaged badly with severe injuries to the people inside far more often than bigger cars.

Big SUVs. Now you are really confused, right? SUVs are large and quite safe for the people driving it, what's the problem? The problem is that SUV's have high damage costs they usually deliver during the accident. Other cars and the infrastructure tend to be damaged worse than with smaller cars and it is your insurance company who's paying for the repair.

So what should I buy?

The best type of vehicle for having reasonable insurance rates is mid-sized family sedan. These cars usually have competitive repair costs, low theft rates and perform well during crash tests. So if insurance costs are more important for you than your image this is the perfect option to go with.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Health insurance must now deliver coverage in a reformed system

To encourage the Democrats to vote through his healthcare reform bill, Obama framed the moment as one of morality. He argued everyone should have a right to basic health care. This was the chance for politicians to stand up for what was right, even though they might lose their elected jobs as a result. Yet, if you look at the numbers, this law is not going to deliver universal coverage. In socialized countries, everyone has a right to care. What is now branded as Obamacare will only add about 32 million people to the insurance market.

That was said about 10% of the US population. This makes for an interesting possible result. A small percentage of the population gets access to care and the costs for everyone else go up. It is that fear driving a general loss of support for the law. Whether it will turn out that way is anyone's guess. It is incredibly difficult to predict the future with any certainty. All that can be said with any certainty is that the majority of the Democrats feel good about themselves for voting the bill into law. They walked the walk along the moral high ground while the GOP was the party of "No" that wanted to sacrifice people's health for their own political advantage.

It is a tragedy for all thinking people the means of passing the law was framed in such black and white terms. If the two sides in a debate can never agree on anything because the other side is immoral scum, it gets very difficult to enact good laws. No one has a monopoly on good ideas. Indeed, the federal law bears a striking resemblance to the law in Massachusetts. When Mitt Romney pushed it through, conservatives hailed the reforms even though it imposed a mandate on Americans to buy insurance. Now Romney is leading the charge accusing Obama of an unconstitutional abuse of power. This is modern Communism he asserts, quietly forgetting his own law. When both sides are committed to disagreeing, truth is sacrificed and hypocrisy rules. So where does this leave us with the insurance companies?

Unlike the healthcare systems in other countries (such as european countries), the private insurance industry remains the key player. Americans will primarily look to the private sector for coverage. If businesses and private individuals cannot afford the premiums, the state will offer some financial support. This is wonderful news for the insurers. Millions of new people to insure with the government picking up a lot of the bill. This is a licence to print money unless the government acts to reduce the costs of treatment. If the government controls the prices of medications and forces hospitals to deliver only the forms of treatment shown to be cost-effective, this will remove the pressure on the health insurance industry to keep increasing the premium rates. Some rates will inevitably rise in the short term. But, as costs level out, they can be spread out across of wider range of people, many of whom will be healthy. This will take time and the Democrats may lose out in the midterm elections. Nevertheless, with President Obama in the White House, there will be no repeal of this law. The longer it is in force, the more difficult the GOP will find it to repeal as and when they return to power. Until things do stabilize, get the maximum number of health insurance quotes to find the most affordable policy for you and your family.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Car insurance quotes for seniors

Statistics are a wonderful thing when they tell you what you want to hear. So, it's great to know some makes and models of car now go further on less gas. It's bad news to hear young men have the highest accident rates because that means they pay the highest premiums. It's good news to discover drivers in the age range of 55 through 74 have the lowest accident rates. Once drivers pass 75, their eyesight and reflexes are failing. Even though they may drive more slowly and take great care, their accident rate rises fast but never quite reaches the young male rate. So, in theory, reaching the magic age of 55 should see your premiums falling (or not rising when all the younger drivers get a premium increase). But life is never completely fair. Most of the time, you have to push to get your rights. That's why it always pays you to get multiple quotes and, even more importantly, check the detail of what discounts are on offer for the older driver.

Let's start with a simple rule. If you have retired and now drive less, you should be paying less. Look for the monthly/annual mileage options and check the one that applies to you. Looking slightly wider, some insurers offer even bigger discounts if you are prepared to offer proof of low mileage. The majority just ask you to call in every month to check your odometer. But there are new deals coming online if you are prepared to allow technology in the vehicle. There are black boxes that monitor how far you drive and where you drive. The discounts are significant if you avoid peak times during the day and do not drive later at night when the accident rates are higher. For those who live outside city centers, driving in areas where the accident rates are lower is rewarded.

Then there are the discounts for those who go back to school. The AARP offers driver safety courses around the country. You can find the course nearest to you by using this address: http://www.aarp.org/VMISLocator/searchDspLocations.do. Anyone is entitled to attend but the insurance discounts usually only kick in for those aged 55 or more. Note that, in thirty-six states, going through one of these classroom courses gives an entitlement to a premium reduction. Twelve states require insurers to discount the premiums for drivers going through a safety course online. It is up to you to contact your insurance company to find out what the rules are on driver improvement or safety courses for your state. This is particularly important if you do not live in a state where the discount is mandatory.

But there is going to come a time when there are warning signs of possible danger. If you have some "close calls" or misjudge parking or driving in tight situations and scrape or dent the paint work, it may be time to drive less. This gets more obvious if other drivers start honking at you. Car insurance is all about balancing risks and costs. If you are finding it difficult to see the road signs or react more slowly when you need to brake, difficult decisions are looming. As you age, the car insurance quotes will slowly show premium increases to reflect the growing risk. At some point, you will feel the cost is too much and let the young ones in your family drive you around. Staying independent is only a good thing if you stay alive.

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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Health insurance and allergies

This year, the weather has been unfortunate. Indeed, those who take an interest in predicting such things suggest 2010 may be the worst year on record for seasonal allergies. It is all down to the late snow. The increased level of water that fell and was held in the ground will boost the early release of tree pollens. When added to the usual grass pollens, this will threaten a far wider range of people. Research results from the first ten years of this century show the number of people suffering from seasonal allergies rising quite steadily, with many now suffering from environmental allergies all year round. About 60% of those with allergies report it difficult to control symptoms with over-the-counter drugs, with some 20% forced to take time off from work. The majority of those with access to health plans report improvement. This is not simply a question of accessing a different range of drugs.

Medical science has been advancing rapidly and there is a clear understanding of the biology of allergies. The first step is a series of skin tests to discover exactly which elements in the environment you are sensitive to. The basic test covers about twenty of the pollens, molds, animals, insects and foods most commonly causing an allergic reaction. The results can be extremely helpful if you discover you not only have a major allergy to house dust but also a low-intensity problem with dogs. Changing your lifestyle can lead to a major improvement in your health even though it may mean losing your pet. An allergist can advise on strategies to remove carpets, fit different types of sheets and pillow cases on beds, regularly vacuum sofas, and so on. It may be necessary to keep windows closed at certain times, e.g. when it is damp and mold spores may be released and, if you have air-conditioning, fit a HEPA filter.

As it stands, discovering you have allergies is almost inevitably revealing a pre-existing condition, so you need to look carefully at the wording of your current health plan to see what coverage is available. If you are looking for your first health insurance coverage and know you have allergies, you must disclose the fact. Failure to do so gives your insurer the right to cancel the policy when the omission is discovered. Even when allergies are included, the extent to which the plan will pay out on the counseling and advice often necessary to make effective changes to your lifestyle can vary dramatically from one insurer to another. Some are genuinely supportive. Other have high co-payments on even the standard antihistamines. This places the burden very much on you to explore what can be built into the coverage. In this, there is one worrying statistic. The number of children who are developing more severe anaphylactic shock to different elements in the environment is rising. This means preventative as well as treatment care will be necessary.

If your allergies are serious enough to threaten your quality of life and restrict your ability to earn a living, adequate health insurance is a necessity. You are paying out on premiums to keep you functional, whether only through the season or the whole year. This is good value-for-money cover so long as the medical advice you receive does work. If in doubt, always get a referral to an experienced allergist. It may cost you a little more, but it is worth the extra money.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Business insurance F.A.Q.

Business insurance can be quite hard to understand for those who have never dealt with it, or those who are making their first steps into their own business. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions concerning business coverage and answers to them:

Should I disclose all the details about my business when getting it insured?

The insurance company should be fully aware of your business's operations, assets and property in order to provide you with the right type and amount of coverage that would be reasonable for your enterprise. In most cases when the insurance company is misinformed about the activities and belongings of the business any insurance policy is canceled (sometimes with a substantial fine).

Do I have to show my wages?

This information is required by the insurance provider in order to calculate the possible liability to others as well as the size of your enterprise.

Is landlord insurance required if my business uses lent property?

This entirely depends on your contract with the landlord. Some landlords will have all their property and buildings ensured with their own policy and this means that you do not need to insure it separately with your business policy. Other landlords won't provide any coverage, so you'll have to insure the property for yourself. Also, make sure to analyze the loan contract in order to define which circumstances are covered and which aren't.

Is public liability insurance a must?

Of course, you can go off without it but in our litigious age when a lawsuit on business can be filed any day it will be not quite bright from the business owner's part. Public liability will cover your court fees and payouts awarded if you are found guilty, and taking the fact that only lawyer expenses can account thousands and tens of thousands of dollars, this type of business insurance is particularly useful.


My business is small and only my family members work for it. Do I need employer's liability insurance?


The Employers Liability Act of 1969 makes an exception on family members for employer's liability insurance. However, if you operate as a limited company then you should cover all the employees, no matter how are you related to them.


My stock is limited, can I only cover liabilities?


Yes, it is possible, however business insurance is usually employed for other aspects as well, such as loss of profits, damage to immovables, equipment, public liability and much more. So make sure to get adequate insurance for all activities you business is involved.


I'm a product seller. In case a customer is injured by the product I sold that was defect, does my business insurance pay for that?


In most cases public liability insurance includes product liability coverage to various extents.


Does public liability insurance cover me in cases of errors and omissions of my business?


Public liability will only cover injuries or damage resulted from a defunct product. If you need a greater extent of this specific coverage or are providing services then it is recommended that you purchase errors and omissions insurance and add it to your business insurance policy. This type of insurance will be very useful for businesses that are involved in production of goods.

Insuring your life after cancer diagnosis

It is estimated that over 1.4 million of patients are diagnosed with different types of cancer in the US each year, resulting in 560,000 deaths. But in case you manage to survive this risky condition without reclusion you will still have another big problem on your hands - insuring your life.

Insuring own life can be quite troublesome for cancer patients, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's impossible. The likelihood of getting a good policy depends on a set of factors such as type of cancer, stage it was treated at and even the treatment plan itself. And there's a direct relation between the rates you will have to pay and how it is likely for your cancer to be cured. For example, most insurance companies don't regard skin cancer as a serious illness and having a history of it may even not influence your premiums at all.

Those patients who were diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer at treatable stages can still cover their lives, falling under "standard" rating if everything is ok. However, those with leukemia or colon cancer will be classified as "substandard" or "high substandard" (which means higher rates), or even get a denial of services. Patients with metastasized forms of cancer will almost always get a denial. This also applies to those who are still undergoing cancer treatment, regardless of type and stage.

How to get cheap life insurance if you have survived cancer?

In case you have survived cancer, you have more reasons to purchase life insurance. And here are a few tips on how to make it both easier and more feasible for you:


  • Compile all of your medical records, reports and even prescription labels, especially if they have to do with cancer. Your insurance provider should have all the information on your condition, and will request it sooner all later. Helping your insurer with all the records means that your application process will be faster and you will be regarded as of a less risk. Insurance companies are very suspicious when clients do not wish to provide all the information and will usually charge more for their services. So don't make such a mistake and cooperate for better life insurance rates.

  • Cooperate with your doctor even if it is a routine check-up after the treatment. Your insurance provider will most likely wait for the results of the check up before signing you up. So the earlier you pay your doctor a visit the better.

  • Get your quotes from various providers and the more the better. Insurance companies have various methods of calculating their risks and if one company classifies you as a very high risk, another one can view you as standard. Use this to your advantage and shop around.

  • If you can get group insurance options from any organization you make part of it will be the best option for you. Group insurance always has better rates and more preferential approach from providers.

  • Think about getting a "graded" policy (providing limited benefits) in case full death benefits are not allowed. Graded policy has special periods. If the insured person dies during such a period due to cancer condition then the policy will pay only a part of the death benefit. If the person dies after the period due to another condition, the policy will pay its entire face value.

Get car insurance quotes including gap insurance

The world of insurance is full of traps for the unwary. When you set off to buy your first policy, whether it's for your vehicle, home, health or life, never assume you know anything. Always do some basic research to find out exactly what different types of cover are on offer, what they cost and whether they represent good value for money. Yes, it's a real pain to go back to school but, if you walk blindly into a "standard" policy without reading it first, the odds are you will regret it later when it comes to making a claim. Unfortunately, insurance companies are for-profit and that means they want your money and the smallest possible risk of having to give you any of it back again. Protect yourself by getting the best value-for-money coverage you can.

As an example, let's think about gap insurance. When most people are buying a new vehicle, they need finance. The cheapest deal is a bank overdraft, but they are hard to find these days. This forces you into a commercial loan. Read any loan agreement and there's always a clause requiring you to buy comprehensive and collision coverage. Obviously, your shiny new vehicle is collateral for the loan. If you default, the lender will repossess and sell it to pay off a part of your debt. Should you damage it, the lender wants it repaired so it still has some resale value. Everything is alright unless you total the vehicle.

The reason for the total loss does not matter. It can be a collision or theft. The key question is when it happens. As an example, assume you borrow $25,000 at commercial interest rates and buy a new vehicle with that cash. Ask anyone in the motor trade and they will tell you the same truth. A new vehicle loses about 30% of its value in the first year. The conventional comprehensive or collision policy pays out the current cash value of the vehicle. If your state has sales tax on a vehicle, you lose that amount from cash sale value the moment you drive it off the lot. Seconds later, you total the vehicle. You still owe the lender $25,000 plus interest but there is a gap between that liability and the amount you will receive from the insurer. Go six months and you will do well to collect $20,000. Six to twelve months will see your pay-out reduced to $18,000. In other words, the gap widens fast.

Do not buy gap insurance from your dealer. This is always too expensive. Get car insurance quotes including gap insurance and you should find it adds no more than $30 or so to the premium. This $30 could save you several thousand dollars if you total your vehicle in the first three years of ownership. Obviously, you do not need gap insurance if you paid cash for the vehicle or there's a significant equity in it. But if you lease or borrow a significant amount to buy a vehicle that depreciates fast, it really important is to get car insurance quotes with gap insurance included. Similarly, driving a high mileage increases the rate of depreciation and the risk of an accident involving total loss. It may never be needed but, if you are unlucky in losing your vehicle, that small premium increase just saved your finances from meltdown.