US Insurance Questions and Answers http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/?action=getCategory&data=0 en-us US Insurance Net Questions and Answers RSS Generator Is The General a good insurance company? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00590 General auto insurance is an independent insurance broker. They have offices in all 50 states, and sell a range of top-name insurance products, including Prudential, Farmers, and State Farm. The benefit of general insurance for the policy holder is that independent agencies compare quote between many different companies rather than only offering quotes from a single one.

Financial Rating
General auto insurance is not a true insurance company, and is therefore not rated by companies such as Standard & Poor's or the A.M. Best company. The company does not require large holdings or assets, and is not available as a stock or mutual fund. Policyholders are actually purchasing from national companies, not from General insurance. The company merely acts as a service, it does not underwrite policies at all at this time.

Customer Satisfaction
General customers are provided with quotes from leading insurance underwriters. Because they are a brokerage, the main obligation of General insurance is to the customer, not to a company. Because of this, the company enjoys a much higher customer service rating than many insurance companies.

The General Reviews

Company Availability
General auto insurance is sold through franchise outlets nationwide. Once you have purchased a policy from General, customer service is passed to the underwriting insurer, not to general auto insurance. The company represents some of the biggest and best known insurance companies in the country. Before buying a policy, make sure that you understand which company you are going to be dealing with, and how to contact them in the event of a problem.

The Bottom Line
General Auto Insurance is not the same as a traditional insurance company. They are not limited by the policy offerings of one company, providing, instead, insurance quotes and advice for consumers on other companies. If you are shopping for the best coverage at the lowest price, General auto insurance may be able to assist you in finding the right insurance company to help you.

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]]> How can I find cheap car insurance in Missouri? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00793 No matter where you live, the way to find the cheapest auto insurance companies will remain the same. You have to start by comparing rates and looking at Missouri car insurance guidelines, and then investigate the best options to make sure they are in a position to be there when you need them. You can increase the savings in other ways, but doing a little homework is going to be the ultimate way to get what you need at a price you can afford.

One way to look for low cost auto insurance rates is to check with organization and commercial memberships you are already a member of. AAA and AARP are good places to start, but companies like Sam's Club and Costco also offer auto insurance to their members at group rates. Because group offerings spread the cost of coverage out over the entire group, they often have much lower rates than you might find elsewhere.

Compare rates by getting free online auto insurance quotes. After you fill out the form, you will be provided with a quote for insurance and free comparisons between other leading competitors. Make sure that you fill the form out as completely as possible, though, because there are a lot of auto insurance discounts available for qualified applicants, such as savings based on safety equipment, your personal demographics and obvious sources like your credit score and previous driving history.

Keep in mind that the best price may not mean the best coverage. After you have narrowed your choices down to only a few possible choices, check with a financial watchdog like the A.M. Best Company and reading insurance reviews to find out how the choices compare in both current and long-term financial outlook. Companies that are not well-rated are more likely to be bought out of go out of business, so limit your final choice to a company that has a strong financial outlook.

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]]> Can you explain the different types of life insurance? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00300 Term life insurance is the least expensive type of life insurance, but it does not have the flexibility you can get with other life insurance policies. When you take out a term life insurance policy, it is effective for a given period of time, such as 20 years, and must be renewed or forfeited after that time, called term, has expired. Term life policies are often used to make sure a specific purpose is accomplished, such as paying off the home mortgage when you die. 

Whole life insurance is also called permanent insurance, and does not expire the way a term policy does. Most types of whole life insurance allow the policyholder to borrow against money paid into the policy, decide how the premiums paid will be invested, or take other participatory actions regarding the account. In many ways, a whole life insurance policy can be thought of as a type of tax deferred savings account. A whole life insurance policy has a cash value that is at least equal to the money you have invested in the policy, less administrative costs.

A Variable Whole Life insurance is similar to a whole life insurance policy, except that there is no guaranteed cash value if the policy is terminated while the insured still lives. The value of this type of policy is closely tied to the market  funds it is invested in, and may be more than you expect or dramatically less.

A Universal Life insurance policy is similar to a Whole Life policy, with the exception of less policyholder participation in how the premiums are invested in money market funds. It still allows the policy to act as a tax-deferred savings account, and can be borrowed against the same as Whole Life.

A Variable Universal Life insurance policy is similar to a Universal Life insurance policy in how ti works. The major difference for this type of policy is that the value of the policy is not set from the beginning, but increases over time as you invest more money into it through your premium payments.

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]]> How does having a pool affect homeowner's insurance? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00142 Owning a pool may increase the property value, but it also creates a whole new realm of risks for insurance companies. The simple answer to your question is that yes, having a pool will affect your insurance rates. But there are a number of factors that will determine how much that increase will be, and some actions you can take to keep the increases as low as possible. Talk to your insurance company about their procedures regarding pools, and ask about any discounts you may be able to qualify for, such as installing a fence to prevent uninvited exposure to the pool.

For example, if you have an above ground pool that sits within 50 feet of your home, it may pose a threat of water damage. If the pool were to split or rupture, the sudden flow of water could damage drywall, furniture, carpeting and other household items as well as creating an increased risk for fire. This risk is minimized with an in-ground pool, and can be eliminated by mocking the above ground pool farther away from the home and down slope from the home itself.

One factor that you can correct yourself is to install a fence around the pool. Fencing is now required in many locales, and is intended to prevent accidental drownings of children and pets which accidentally fall into the water. By installing a pool, you will still face an increase in your insurance premiums, but they will be much lower than if no fence is installed at all. Even if you have not planned on putting up a fence around the pool, check your local ordinances to make sure that one is not required.

How does having a pool affect homeowner's insurance? Find out on US Insurance Net

]]> Does homeowners insurance cover theft or robbery from your person while away from the home? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00124 The answer to this is going to depend on your insurance company, and exactly how your policy is worded. In many cases, you will be covered for theft or robbery while away from home, although limitations will generally put a cap on the amount you can recover. In general, you will be covered under the personal property portion of the policy, but it is best to check with your insurance company to find out exactly how your policy is defined.

Another item that should be taken into consideration is your deductible. Since you must cover this portion of the claim before the insurance company is obligated to make a settlement on lost or stolen items, it is not always cost-effective to file a claim. For instance, if you are robbed of a total value of $450 and have a deductible of $500, your insurance isn't going to make a settlement and you would be better off to avoid filing the claim, since it will be placed in your insurance record even if there is no settlement paid.

If you are traveling, it might be a wise idea to pick up a travel insurance policy. This type of personal insurance will protect you against more types of incidents than your homeowner's policy can do, and may even cover your auto insurance requirements while using a rental vehicle in an unfamiliar region.

Does homeowners insurance cover theft or robbery from your person while away from the home? Find out on US Insurance Net

]]> What are some of the insurance company factors that affect the price of insurance? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00205 Most types of insurance policy have key factors involved, but each type of policy will have factors that directly relate to that policy. For example, the age of the insured person is important for health insurance and automobile insurance, but the health insurance provider won't need to know the make and model of your car. In general, all insurance coverage will need to know your age, marital status, and where you live. These factors affect the basic risk level of the policy for all coverages. All insurance applications will need to know your credit score as well.

For car insurance, the company also needs to know the make and model of the car, along with the vehicle's VIN number. Along with your credit score, the company will need to know your driving history, and for that they will need your driver license number. Other factors will include how far you drive your car annually, the distance from your home to work, and even what your work hours are. Basically, the more the insurance company knows about your expected driving habits, the better they can anticipate potential risks.

Your health is important in most cases, but it is less important for car insurance than, say, health or life coverage, for obvious reasons. Home insurance will not generally ask many health-related questions, as the policyholder is not an insured interest on the policy, but life insurance companies may even go as far as to ask you to take a physical examination, especially if you are over the age of 55.

For home coverage, as with auto insurance, the location is important, although for different reasons. For the home, the risk increases if the home is in an area prone to natural disasters or experiencing severe economic turmoil. Locations that have a history or even occasional floods may not offer any direct flood insurance, for example, requiring you to seek a special, more expensive insurer.

What are some of the insurance company factors that affect the price of insurance? Find out on US Insurance Net

]]> How long can I stay on my parents' insurance? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00266 In most states, you can stay on your parents insurance until you reach the age of 25, but this could be as low as 21 in some cases. In order to qualify, you must reside at the same address as your parents or attend a full time educational facility in another state. According to research, your risk goes down by the age of 25, making it more affordable for you to have your own coverage. Many young people have already moved out on their own long before they turn 25, and that means they had to get their own policy sooner.

If you are a student in college, you can be covered on your parents' insurance policy even if you do not live at home. If you graduate or quit college, you will either have to return to your parents home or secure your own insurance coverage. Also, if you maintain a grade average above 3.0, you will be eligible for a discount on your insurance rates and that can save money on the whole policy.

If you are not in school and do not live in your parents' home, you should get your own insurance policy. You may be able to get away with staying on their insurance for a while, but if you are involved in an accident and there is a conflict between your resident address and the address of the insurance, you may find out that the insurance company considers it a breach of contract and denies the claim. If you live and park your car at a different address, you should have insurance that lists that location.

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]]> How long does it take to get money from a home insurance claim? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00267 Depending on the type, and conditions surrounding the claim, you could receive an initial claim payment within 48 hours of the claim being filed. If there are problems related to the claim, the process could take much longer, and may even require legal consultations.

If your claim is related to damage that was caused by a fallen tree limb or vandalism, there is a good chance that the insurance adjuster will be willing to write you a check for the estimated damages on the spot. In some circumstances, such as including a loss-of-use reimbursement, the final settlement may not be made until after the situation has been cleared and the claim can be considered closed. 

If the claim is in regards to burglary or injury, settlement may be withheld until a fair estimate of the total costs has been determined. Where burglary or theft is concerned, you still have the possibility of getting your merchandise back if the case is handled quickly enough and reliable clues are available at the scene. Insurance companies may delay payment of all but essential costs in that case until a reasonable time has passed without the property's return. The length of the delay will vary according to many parameters, including the company you have insurance with.

In a claim that is under investigation or subject to dispute, an initial partial settlement may be paid, but the final amount will be held until the case has been investigated and satisfactory results returned. In the case of stolen property, your claim may be disputed if you are not able to show proof of ownership. The best way to do this is to maintain a record of receipts and to keep your home inventory up to date using video recordings of all of your important property.

How long does it take to get money from a home insurance claim? Find out on US Insurance Net

]]> Does homeowners insurance pay off your mortgage if the house is lost? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00115 In most cases, homeowners insurance will pay to rebuild the home and replace the insured property lost along with it. However, unless your policy specifies property replacement, the insurance company is only obligated to payout the amount of the policy, which may be significantly lower than the value of your home. It is up to you to make sure that you are purchasing a policy with ample monetary value. You will still have the same mortgage as before the incident, but will have a new home, which could very conceivably make your mortgage look a lot better than the old home did.

Bear in mind that your mortgage covers the home, any other buildings on the property, and the land itself. While most homeowners policies cover the home and other buildings, they do not provide any sort of coverage for the actual land. Because of that, even if your full home value were paid out, there would still be an amount left owing on the mortgage, and you would be without a home because your insurance paid off a portion of the mortgage instead doing what you bought it for: protecting you and your family from hardship.

There are policies available that cover the mortgage on the home. If you fail to carry homeowners insurance, your mortgage company can take on this type of coverage to your mortgage payments, and some companies include a diminishing policy of this sort as part of the original mortgage, protecting their investments. For you, the problem with type of coverage is that pays off your mortgage, but offers you nothing to compensate for the loss of your home, your possessions, or the money you must spend for temporary housing and other necessities. Combining this coverage with regular homeowners insurance is your safest route, but some insurance companies will not allow this type of double coverage, and most homeowners prefer to have a single insurance payment.

Does homeowners insurance pay off your mortgage if the house is lost? Find out on US Insurance Net

]]> What are insurance riders? http://www.usinsurancenet.com/answers/article/AA-00214 An insurance rider is also called an option. Riders allow you to modify the basic insurance account to make it better fit your particular needs. Riders are available for most types of insurance, including health, homeowners, and automobile insurance. In each case, the riders change the base policy, "riding over" the default contract. A rider can add something to the policy, or it can be used to exclude events or conditions from being covered at all. By selecting riders that apply to you, the policy is customized to give each individual the best possible coverage.

In car insurance, a rider might be purchased to cover after-market changes to the vehicle. GAP insurance is a type of car insurance rider that will pay off the balance owed on a vehicle when the amount is greater than the car's insured value. Other popular car insurance riders include roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and multi-vehicle insurance policies.

Health insurance riders generally add coverage against a particular event or condition that is not generally included in the plan, or it could be the exact opposite. A health insurance rider might qualify the insured person by excluding a particular pre-existing condition, or reducing the amount of coverage available for, as an example, cosmetic surgery or rehabilitative services.

For homeowners, rider might include regional disaster insurance, such as hurricane insurance in Florida. Rider may also be used to add a vacation home to the main insurance policy, or to increase the insured amount of personal property in the residence. Some homeowner's policies do not include ATV's or recreational water vehicles that are parked or used on the property, but riders are available to extend your liability protection.

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