Posts Tagged ‘Insurance Companies’

Variable Annuities – The 7% Guarantee – Too Good to Be True?



Variable annuities are inherently one of the most confusing of all the annuities in the market place. There is no doubt about that in my mind. They have many pitfalls and risks and if you don’t understand them, you are likely to get involved with an annuity that has high fees and horrible performance as well.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are people who have held their variable annuities throughout the good market years and have done quite well. I would venture to safely guess that they would have done better outside the same variable annuity. And it’s a pretty safe guess. Also, there have been people who have invested money in a variable only to die with market losses and to have their families become whole by benefiting from the death benefit. IT’S NOT ALL BAD. But it’s mostly far from good. I can comfortably say that variable annuities do have some benefits, however, there are only a very few specific times where they fit in a client’s portfolio.

So with that said, let me talk briefly about the living benefit…the 7% guarantee. Everyone who calls asks me is it too good to be true. IF YOU HAVE TO ASK IT PROBABLY IS. Think about it, when the market interest rates are 3% and 4%, do you think the insurance companies just want to be nice and offer you a 7% return on your money? Do you honestly thing they can afford to offer you a rate of return that is that much higher than the market? The answer is NOT A CHANCE. They don’t get to be the big bad insurance companies by giving away money. And they don’t get to be that profitable by not being prudent about giving away money.

There are strings attached to this benefit. You must understand what the risks are and fully be aware of what the insurance company is doing to give you this ’7% guaranteed return.’

And just be aware, things aren’t always as they seem. In particular, when you get an offer for one of these 7% guarantees, read the fine print. See it is what you have to do in order to be given your 7% guarantee at the end of 10 years. You’ll be surprised at what you have to do in order to get the guarantee. And you’ll also be surprised at how long it takes to get your ‘guaranteed’ money. And in the end, you’re going to find out that it is not what it seems.

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Dental Insurance For Implants Is A Fairly New Coverage



Implants have been around for years, but until recently, insurance companies have considered them cosmetic in nature and did not have dental insurance for implants coverage. Many people had to find alternative means for teeth replacement or pay for the expense out of their own pocket.

Dental implants are now considered an alternative to replacing all the teeth in the mouth with a bridge or false teeth. If you have dental insurance for implant coverage, then you might find this procedure a better way to replace a few teeth rather than the traditional ways. Although the insurance coverage you have today, might caver implants, you will still some out of pocket expenses due to some things required are not covered.

o What Is a Dental Implant- a dental implant is where a stainless steel screw is implanted in the gum and the tooth is then attached. It can be done for one or more teeth that need replacing.

Dental Insurance For Implants Is Better Than Dentures Or Bridges

Because the implants stay in your mouth as a regular tooth would, more people are looking at this procedure as an option, rather than dentures, which need to be taken out and cleaned. Dentures can also affect your taste and in some cases, what you eat. Most insurance that cover implants do not cover the fixture, but it does cover the tooth.

Many dental insurance for implants plans work with the dentist who provides this service to lower the cost of implants and help people who need teeth, therefore, more people can afford this option instead of the traditional options. In coming years, insurance companies should see the greater need for implants and start to pay more towards the cost. This will allow more people to utilize this type of dental work and eliminate a full mouth of dentures or even bridges.

Once dental insurance for implants pays more for the teeth implants, people as well as dentists will see a growing number of dental care patients selecting this method rather than the other options. The premium for this type of insurance coverage may be higher than the regular dental insurance, but worth the cost if you prefer the dental implants to traditional options. Always check to see what the insurance covers and does not cover before starting any procedures. Dentists will give you an estimate for consideration.

Colorado Auto Insurance Laws and Car Insurance Requirements



Colorado auto insurance laws have been enforced over the years to ensure the safety of all road users in the state. State law stipulates that all drivers are required to have the minimum insurance on any vehicle they operate and provide proof of insurance at specific times. Failure to comply can result in a range of penalties including a fine, license suspension and community service.

Because of the utmost importance attached to road safety, Colorado auto insurance requirements necessitate proof of insurance before you can register your car. If you are unable to provide proof, not only will you be prevented from registering your car, you will also be subject to the same penalties that you would face for failure to provide proof at the site of an accident or during a routine traffic stop.

Colorado insurance laws require all drivers to carry the minimum coverage. In Colorado, this includes $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury or death of more than one person and at least $15,000 property damage maximum for one accident. This is the minimum required but the state also recommends that drivers increase their liability coverage, including “med pay” coverage. This covers the medical expenses of anybody involved in an accident no matter who was deemed at fault.

Although “med pay” coverage is not required, insurance companies are required to offer drivers this option. Since Colorado changed its status from a “no fault” state in 2003, it is prudent to be covered for any eventuality. This is especially true in light of the fact that it can take a long time to establish blame in most accident cases. Often, litigation can take a number of years to conclude.

Colorado auto insurance requirements stipulate that all drivers must provide proof of insurance coverage at the time they register their car, whenever they are pulled over for a traffic stop or at the scene of any accident. Disclosing false information on an auto insurance form is against the law and can leave drivers open to perjury charges.

First time offenders who fail to produce proof of auto insurance will be fined $500 and have 4 points attached to their driving record. This in turn can cause their insurance premiums to rise. A second offense carries a $1,000 fine and a 4 month suspension of your driver’s license. A third or subsequent offense also results in a $1,000 fine along with an eight month suspension of your license and a compulsory period of 40 hours of community service.

Colorado auto insurance laws may seem harsh but this is a reflection of the extent to which the state is committed towards enforcing road safety. Having proper insurance coverage can help to mitigate expenses and to ensure that everyone involved in any accident receives proper care. This is in the best interest of all Colorado residents and explains why the laws are so comprehensive and rigorously enforced.

Road safety has a direct bearing on everyone, so make sure you adhere to the local laws when you take to the roads in Colorado. A valid insurance policy will give you peace of mind behind the wheel, knowing that no matter what happens you won’t be leaving anything to chance.

Vision Insurance – Dental and Vision 4U



When comparison shopping for vision insurance, you are probably doing so because your current health insurance plan does not have a vision option. In many cases, the dental option is also lacking and you can save valuable time and money by shopping for both in one convenient place.

Dental and Vision 4U is an online resource for finding dental and vision insurance coverage for both families and for individuals. It is simple and straight forward. You can follow them on Facebook and on Twitter or just visit their site and enter your zip code to find those companies that offer protection in your area.

For example, I entered my zip code and was provided a list of both types of plans. The list is in an easy to understand format that displays the company’s logo and specifies if they are just a vision plan, just a dental plan or both. Each company’s block has a ‘compare’ button and you can choose up to 3 in order to compare their plans side by side. Each plan also tells you what you would pay for the most common services, what the plan maximum is, what the deductible may or may not be and what the office co-pay is, if that is applicable. Each company listed also has a “Review This Plan” button, a “Locate a Provider” button and a “Buy Now” button.

This website is easy to navigate and will give you the information that you need for your zip code or for any zip code that you enter. You can even ‘update’ the zip once you get to the page that has the insurance companies listed. This comes in handy if you are relocating or if you have a college student attending school in an area outside of your regular health care coverage. Since vision and dental are not usually considered an emergency, coverage would normally require your son or daughter travel back home in order to have a tooth filled or to have an eye exam. It might be that purchasing an additional policy would negate the travel need and still provide exceptional coverage with a local eye doctor or dentist.

Personally, I would take this one step further. You can easily search the web for the company and find customer reviews. You can also do your research at the BBB (Better Business Bureau) online in order to find complaints, if any. Also, it is possible that Dental and Vision 4U is being paid a broker fee of sorts and you may be able to get a better rate through the company directly, either with a phone call or through the individual website.

Regardless, Dental and Vision 4U is a great resource for locating both dental and vision insurance options within a specific geographic location.

Car Insurance – Female Drivers



One of the issues that we cannot avoid is that of car insurance. Female drivers are being targeted as potential clients by many insurance companies. If you are a female driver then make sure you cash in on your gender. This may sound unfair to men but this attitude is based on hard facts. It has been documented that female drivers have less road accidents and they also get fewer tickets for bad driving. It is also known that women drivers are much less likely to speed.

As you can see there are more than enough reasons to reward women drivers. They are without any doubt a lower risk to insurance companies than male drivers are. It is for this important reason that women drivers are offered lower insurance premiums. Many females are not aware of just how much in demand they are as clients. Make every effort to shop around and let it be known that you are shopping around for the lowest insurance premium.

An easy way to find the best premiums is to use a website that gives you access to a number of insurance companies. This is going to save you a great deal of time. You can simply look at the various estimates provided and see which are the lowest. It may be a good idea to also look at what the same company is offering a male driver. If you do, you will be able to see exactly how much you are saving. It will also confirm whether or not a specific insurance company is really willing to reward female drivers as implied.

There is no way you can drive without car insurance. Female drivers are thought to spend less time driving. However, they spend a lot of time ferrying the kids around from activity to activity. Perhaps it is this responsibility that makes female drivers a lot more cautious when they drive.