New York database will reveal secret health insurance charges

Change is in the air for health insurance at the national level, but one state is not letting debate slow reform. In a monumental move, New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced in late October the formation of a new not-for-profit company, FAIR Health, Inc., to provide independent data to guide “usual, customary, and reasonable” (UCR) rates for out-of-network health charges. Read on…

Protecting yourself from uninsured drivers

Dust swirls, pain sears your neck, and your ears ring. Someone ran a red light, and you have been in a major collision. While your health and safety–and that of your passengers–is undoubtedly your main concern, your second thought may be: “I hope that driver has good car insurance!” Read on…

Squeeze the most from your health insurance

Many people don’t fully understand their health insurance benefits, according to a new survey from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). And this lack of understanding often leads people to pay more out of pocket for health care than they have to. Read on…

Evacuated? Don’t sleep on a cot

As Hurricane Ida bears down on the Gulf Coast, it brings to mind the images of the streams of cars on the highways trying to leave evacuated areas.

One thing that evacuees often don’t realize is that their home insurance can help them out in this situation: When there’s a mandatory evacuation, the “additional living expenses” coverage within your home insurance policy kicks in to pay for a hotel room. Read on…

Life insurance tip: Send in payment with application

If you’re shopping for life insurance, here’s a good tip: Enclose a check for your premium payment with your application. Your life insurance coverage will then be in force from the day your application is received. Read on…

What’s dangerous in everyday life?

It appears to be a no-brainer. A shark is definitely deadlier than a bee, right? Read on…

Home insurance claims for swine flu? Not so fast

An article last week in National Underwriter, an insurance trade publication, warned that home insurance companies should expect to be hit by a wave of liability claims from policyholders being sued over the swine flu. Read on…

Attention germophobes!

My former publisher is an unabashed mysophobe. This is someone who has a pathological fear of being contaminated by germs. He would come into work and immediately break out the Lysol wipes and clean everything on his desk and in his cubicle — every single day. Read on…

Long-term care insurance benefits worth less every day

If I gave you $50 to pay for dinner out, you could probably stay within that budget. But if I gave you $50 to save to pay for dinner in 20 years, you might not be too happy. What will dinner out cost in 20 years? Will your $50 even cover entrees at that time?

And so it goes with long-term care (LTC) insurance. Read on…

Americans will continue to cut spending

A new survey out from Allstate Insurance Co. and National Journal (called the “Heartland Monitor Poll”) reveals that 80 percent of Americans expect to cut their spending in order to make ends meet or to provide a cushion of financial stability for the future.

When you’re looking to cut spending, your insurance bills may seem like an obvious choice at first. Read on…