Sickness
Spring Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Home
March 24, 2011 | Author admin
A home is one of life’s most important investments. Keeping it properly maintained can help reduce the risk of a loss and help ensure the safety and well being of friends and family. Just in time for spring, Paul Fisher Insurance Services and Travelers, a leading provider of auto and homeowners insurance, offer these maintenance tips to prepare your home for warmer weather and to keep it safe year-round:
• Inspect your smoke detectors. Make sure that there is one on each floor of your home. Test them and change the batteries at least every six months, when you change your clocks.
• Check the light bulbs in all your fixtures to be sure that they are the correct wattage as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Replace lamps that use high-producing bulbs (such as halogen) with those that use fluorescent bulbs and operate at much cooler temperatures.
• Check your electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets, fuse boxes, extension cords or any other power service.
• Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible that is filled and ready for operation.
• Have your air conditioning system inspected by a professional as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Check for damage to your roof, and clean gutters and downspouts to keep debris from accumulating.
• Check your water heater for leaks and corrosion, and keep surrounding area clear.
• Clean and/or replace your furnace filter.
• Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the dryer. Remove all lint, dust, and pieces of material or cloth.
• Inspect washing machine hoses and replace hoses that show signs of wear or leakage with stronger reinforced hoses. Turn off the water when not in use to prevent water damage if a hose breaks.
• In your yard, remove all dead trees and keep healthy trees and bushes trimmed and away from utility wires. Do not attempt to remove tree limbs from power lines yourself. Instead, call your power company to request assistance.
• Safely store oil and gas for lawn equipment and tools in a vented, secured area.
• Repair driveway and walkways that are cracked, broken or uneven to provide a level walking surface.
Established in 1983, Paul Fisher Insurance Services is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including Auto, Home, Life, Equipment Leasing, Business Owners Insurance, Wedding Protection, Special Occasion Protection, and much more!
For information and quotes on insurance coverage, please visit
Paul Fisher Insurance Services at 3967 William Penn Highway Suite 3, Murrysville, PA 15668 or call (724)519-7503.
About Travelers
Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve agents and policyholders is to deliver insurance that evolves to stay in-synch with life and business as they change. For more information on being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com.
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage in both the personal and commercial settings, including automobile, homeowners, construction, small business, oil and gas, ocean marine, surety and management liability, global technology and public sector services. Travelers is a Fortune 100 company, with 2007 revenues of $26 billion and total assets of $115 billion. The company has approximately 33,000 employees.
Posted in After Car Accident, ATV Insurance, Auto Insurance, Boat Insurance, Cancer, Car Insurance Claims, Claim, Critical Illness, Definition of Disability, Disability Pay, Disability Statistics, General Info, Had an Accident, Homeowners Insurance Claims, Homeowners Insurance Deductible, Hurt at work, Income Life Insurance, Injured, Insurance Claims, Insurance Premium, Liability Insurance Claims, Life Insurance, Life Insurance Claims, Make a claim, Mortgage Insurance, Motorcycle Insurance, Office Insurance, Property Casualty Insurance, Property Damage Claims, Property Insurance Definition, Sickness, Teens and Auto Insurance, Third Party Claim, Umbrella Policy, Vehicle Insurance, Wedding Insurance, Worker's Benefits, Workman's Compensation | 
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Health Insurance and Survivors of Cancer
December 17, 2010 | Author admin
If you have a history of cancer you’ll find it hard to be enrolled in any kind of medical care policy. However this is also a difficult time for them to look for a decent job. Employers are of course wary about hiring applicants with cancer because this will drive up their medical expense.
Low-cost health insurance can also be a hassle. The cancer survivor is usually hit with very high premiums, the obvious exclusion because of a pre-existing condition, and the uncertainty that the health insurance provider really does not want to insure the individual.
The unfortunate catch-22 situation that a cancer survivor is placed makes them wonder what the point is of having health insurance of any kind. Often they are categorized under the high risk pool. This is the reason why their premiums are high. You will need to pay a medical policy even though you won’t have coverage for eighteen months because you used to have cancer.
Most plans specialize in managed preventive care instead of catastrophic benefits that a lot of people will need some time in their lives. This puts the survivors in high-risk pools that will give them a problem of paying the costly premiums.
Most patients will try their best to pay their premiums but it will come to a point when they can no longer pay. This leads them to hold on to whatever they have so they could keep paying their premiums and keep their policy.
The opportunity to find a different carrier with an offering of a lower cost health insurance policy is very slim. For some individuals, they feel that getting an individual paying policy is less adequate than going through an employer-sponsored insurance.
The new health insurance provider may require and elimination of the rider for the cancer treatment you so desperately needed simply because they can. Sad to say, there are insurance providers who will not give you coverage until five years after. But it defeats the purpose of applying for health insurance. Because of financial challenge, some patients just turn to their state government for health coverage,
A Health Insurance Guide for Cancer Patients
December 17, 2010 | Author admin
Even though you have already recovered from cancer, you still have to face another problem – finding an affordable medical insurance. The common health insurance policy is set up to cover necessary medical expenses and non-medical expenses. Your non-medical costs cover your loss income when you lose your employment.
Other familiar features include the in-home health care, ambulatory transportation and when it becomes necessary, childcare expenses for those individuals who still have young children residing in the home. Included under medical costs are co-pays, medical tests, extended hospital stay and other medical emergencies.
Cancer survivors need to consider a few important facts before they begin to proceed with caution.
1. Cancer diagnosed before the application of the health insurance policy
2. Cancer that began before the application of the health insurance policy even if the individual was not aware
3.Cancer related illnesses such as common infections, pneumonia, and diabetes
4.Outpatient treatment coverage just in case the cancer occurs again
Individuals who are susceptible to cancer needs a complete medical coverage compared to those who are not susceptible to it. I know this is not easy to decipher but it helps for you to trace your family medical history.
Most health insurance providers will cover hospitalization for up to ninety days in an annual cycle, though the majority of patients remain in the hospital for about twelve to fourteen days at a time. It’s already difficult as it is if you have been diagnosed with cancer. The last thing you would want to worry about is looking for a goodhealth care .
Patients who recovered from cancer who are lucky enough to go back to their jobs will more easily be able to keep their health insurance. If you get your plan through a group insurance, then it will be better for you since it will mean getting lower premium rates.
It is vital for cancer survivors to know that having a health insurance is extremely important for their care because anytime cancer might come back. Even a temporary long-term health insurance policy is far better than no health insurance policy. Catastrophic health insurance is another option for the cancer survivor.
An Overview of Cancer Insurance
December 17, 2010 | Author admin
A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming enough before you even start to consider the financial ramifications. Cancer insurance policies were created fairly recently in response to rising cancer rates. These policies are designed specifically to help curtail the expenses related to cancer care.
What is Cancer Insurance?
Cancer insurance is a supplemental insurance policy, meaning it does not take the place of an entire health insurance policy. It is used to cover the costs of cancer treatment that are not included as part of a standard policy. Cancer insurance can be a great help to cancer patients, allowing them to focus on their recovery rather than worry about mounting medical bills. However, it is not available to everyone.
Cancer Insurance Eligibility
To qualify for a cancer insurance plan, you must be totally free of any pre-existing cancerous conditions. This is all the more incentive to plan for the future by purchasing a cancer insurance plan before it is needed. In most cases, you will also not be eligible for coverage if you have been successfully treated for cancer in the past.
Cancer Insurance Coverage
Although plans vary from policy to policy, most cancer insurance plans allow for coverage of medical and non-medical expenses. The medical expenses include such things as hospital stays, medications, and cancer-specific treatments. The non-medical coverage extends to other costs that have been accrued as a direct result of a cancer diagnosis. This includes things like the loss of an income, the costs of home childcare, and special dietary needs. Loss of income coverage can be especially helpful when a cancer patient is unable to work due to their illness. Non-medical can also cover things like transportation, such as the ambulance or helicopters used to bring patients to the hospital.
Choosing a Cancer Insurance Plan
Because policies can differ greatly, it is always important that you take the time to fully understand and compare each cancer insurance plan before you make a decision. One quick way to get the most efficient pricing on a plan is to compare it to your health plan. This can help you discover any overlap in coverage between the two policies and allow you to make the most cost-efficient choice. After all, you don’t want to pay for any kinds of coverage in your cancer insurance plan that you are already paying for in your health plan.
Disease-specific insurance policies are currently a topic of considerable debate. While some argue that the general benefits of cancer insurance could be met by a traditional health insurance plan, others have found cancer insurance to be an invaluable complement to their health plan. While this can change from person to person and plan to plan, there are a few things you can think about to help you decide if you should purchase a cancer insurance plan. Does your family have a significant history of cancer? Does your career or lifestyle put you in a higher risk group for cancer? Is your current health plan equipped to handle any medical and non-medical costs that could arise if you were diagnosed with cancer? Answering “yes” to any of these questions is a good indication that you should look into a cancer insurance policy.
For people at a low-to-average risk for cancer, it might be a more financially sound move to update their current health insurance plan with coverage aimed at cancer-related costs. This could cost less than the addition of a whole new disease-specific policy. However, it’s important to realize that this could mean giving up the non-medical expenses offered by a cancer-specific policy, including loss of income.
Finally, keep in mind that cancer insurance is not a replacement for a standard health insurance plan. It is meant as a supplement and not designed to stand on its own. A solid cancer insurance policy will work with your health plan to make sure all your bases are covered in the event you’re diagnosed with cancer. Everything should be covered, such as chemotherapy, experimental treatments, transportation to and from the hospital, loss of income, child care, medication, and more. With three out of seven Americans contracting cancer in their lifetimes, this might be the right time to give yourself the peace of mind that comes from full coverage.For consumers looking for insurance online and where to get the best insurance quote possible, look no further than 2insure4less.com. Whether it is auto insurance, home insurance, health insurance, life insurance, cancer insurance, disability insurance, business insurance or burial insurance, 2insure4less has helped countless consumers find insurance online.
Insurance Tips For New Home Owners
December 13, 2010 | Author admin
If you have just bought your very first home, you are probably unaware of how your purchase has affected your insurance profile and that you need to review your existing insurance cover. In fact, even upgrading from a small, cheap house to a larger family home will impact on your insurance. Most people think that adding some form of homeowners insurance is all that is needed when purchasing a new home. While the addition of a homeowner’s policy is by far the biggest change, your other insurance policies will most likely need to be reviewed too. The following are some of the more prominent policies you may need to revise.
Homeowner’s insurance
If you successfully applied for a home loan, your bank will have required that you take out a homeowner’s insurance policy. The questions that you need to ask yourself are did I get sufficient cover and did I shop around for the best deals?
When analyzing your coverage needs, your assessment needs to be based not only on what is required by your bank, but also on the actual value of the property. Banks often pressurize you to take whatever insurance policy they put in front of you. Except for a few conniving banks, taking the bank’s own cover is not mandatory. This means that you have the option of shopping around for better insurance.
Car insurance
If you just bought a house, your marital status may have changed. If this is the case, then congratulations! You may be eligible for a lower premium as marital status affects your risk profile. Married couples are considered a lower insurance risk by insurance companies. You may also want to cover both your and your spouse’s cars under one policy. This should work out much cheaper than having two separate vehicle insurance policies. You may even want to go one step further and combine your vehicle and homeowner’s policy to get even cheaper premiums. Lastly, it is essential that you update your car insurance policy as your change of address will also affect your policy. This is essential because should you need to claim due to theft from your new home and you have not updated your policy, your claim might be turned down.
Disability and life insurance
If you were to become disabled or unable to work due to an accident or disease, your mortgage will still need to be paid. Disability cover will pay you a monthly benefit if this happens which could very well save you from financial ruin until you are able to work again. Similarly, life insurance will help pay off your debts and perhaps even the mortgage on your home should you pass away. If you are the breadwinner in your family, this type of cover is essential.
Purchasing a new home can be a very exciting experience, but it is important that you remember to review all your insurance policies to make sure that you and your loved ones are adequately covered. If you are unsure of where to start contact your insurance broker and without a doubt, shop around for the best insurance deals!
Posted in Auto Insurance, Boat Insurance, Car Insurance Claims, Definition of Disability, Disability Pay, Disability Statistics, General Info, Homeowners Insurance Claims, Homeowners Insurance Deductible, Income Life Insurance, Injured, Insurance Claims, Insurance Premium, Liability Insurance Claims, Life Insurance, Life Insurance Claims, Make a claim, Mortgage Insurance, Motorcycle Insurance, Property Casualty Insurance, Property Damage Claims, Property Insurance Definition, Sickness, Teens and Auto Insurance, Third Party Claim, Umbrella Policy, Vehicle Insurance | 1 Comment »
How Disability Income Insurance Policies Define Disability
December 13, 2010 | Author admin
When was the last time you read the fine print of an insurance policy? The fine print tells you some important information–how the policy defines disability, what your benefits will be, what exclusions apply, and more. The disability definition used in the policy determines how you qualify for disability benefits.
To be considered disabled under most policies, you must be unable to earn income. However, many policies narrow down this definition quite a bit. They may specify that you must try working in another occupation if you can’t do your own job, or they may pay benefits if you can do some but not all of the duties of your own occupation. Other policies aren’t concerned with occupation at all; they consider you to be disabled when, because of illness or injury, you earn less than you did before.
Own occupation coverage
Although the terminology used to define disability varies from policy to policy, an own occupation policy generally defines disability as the inability to perform the material and substantial duties of one’s own occupation. This definition of disability is liberal, because even if you can work in another occupation, you still receive disability benefits. Own occupation coverage is often more expensive and may be available only to individuals who have a clean medical history and work in a relatively risk-free occupation.
Any occupation coverage
An any occupation policy defines disability as the inability to perform the duties of any occupation. This definition of disability is strict. To receive benefits according to this definition, you have to be unable to work in any occupation, not just your own. Generally, however, the wording is modified to take into consideration your earning level, education, training, and experience.
Split definition coverage
Many disability policies incorporate both an own occupation definition of disability and an any occupation definition. You purchase a policy that provides own occupation coverage for a limited period of time. After this period ends (usually two years), you must meet the any occupation definition of disability to continue receiving benefits. This is sometimes known as short-term own occupation coverage.
Presumptive total disability coverage
No matter how your insurance company defines total disability, most companies automatically consider certain catastrophic ailments to be totally disabling. If you are disabled by one of these ailments, you don’t have to meet the conditions normally required in order to be considered totally disabled. Not only do you receive immediate benefits, but you also continue to receive benefits even if you are able to return to work. These ailments (which may be caused by injury or illness) are the loss of sight in both eyes, hearing in both ears, speech, the use of both hands, the use of both feet, and the use of one hand and one foot.
Residual disability coverage
Disability policies can pay benefits in the event that you cannot work at all (total disability), can work some time but not all the time (residual disability), or both. Residual disability or income replacement policies pay benefits according to the amount of income you have lost due to disability. These policies pay benefits even if you are not totally disabled and can work part-time. Your benefit will be based on the percentage of income you earn working part-time in relation to what you used to earn working full-time. In some policies, to qualify for residual disability coverage, you must first qualify for a period of total disability. This is the least desirable method.
You can purchase a total disability policy with residual coverage as a rider, or an income replacement policy (as residual coverage is known when that is the only way benefits are paid) as a stand-alone policy. The income replacement policy will generally cost less than the total disability policy with the residual rider.
Partial disability coverage
Partial disability coverage is usually offered as a rider to a total disability policy, although it may be included in base coverage. It is similar to, but not the same as, residual disability coverage. Both types of coverage pay benefits if you can perform some but not all of the duties of your occupation. However, unlike residual disability, a partial disability definition does not consider loss of income. Rather, you are paid an amount equal to 50 percent (occasionally less) of the benefit that you would earn if you were totally disabled. In addition, the benefit period is much shorter than that for residual disability (a few months or a year at most).
Does your policy cover illness, injuries, or both?
Most policies offer coverage for both injuries and illnesses. Some policies, however, offer accident-only protection and don’t cover illnesses. Also, because work-related disabilities are covered by workers’ compensation, most policies will reduce their benefits by any amount of benefits paid by workers’ compensation, as well as any benefits received from Social Security and other government programs.
Sickness is usually defined in disability policies as illness or disease that manifests itself while the policy is in force. This definition covers mental as well as physical illness, but most policies limit payments for mental illness and drug- or alcohol-related disabilities to two years of benefits. Some policies have exclusions for disabilities caused by pregnancy, war, and self-inflicted injuries as well as other exclusions. All of the exclusions will be detailed in the policy.
via How Disability Income Insurance Policies Define Disability.
Tips to ensure your claim is processed in a timely manor
November 29, 2010 | Author admin
There are a couple of key factors that will help process your claim within a timely manor:
1. Be sure to fill out all of your personal information on each claim form. Sometimes the company will ask for the information several times on each page, it is necessary for you to complete the information each time. It seems redundant, but it is necessary.
2. Make sure to give your physician the claim forms to fill out. You can provide your physician with our fax number (724)519-7484 and ask them to complete it and fax it directly to our office. You do not have to wait for them to fax the information. You can send us your completed portion as soon as it is finished.
3. Make sure to give your employer the claim forms to fill out. You can provide your physician with our fax number (724)519-7484 and ask them to complete it and fax it directly to our office. You do not have to wait for them to fax the information. You can send us your completed portion as soon as it is finished.
4. We will also need a copy of your Operative Report faxed to our office.
5. We will need ANY copies of itemized statements, chiropractor visits, or any doctors visits.
6. Claims should be filed within 14 days of the accident or sickness. The sooner we receive your completed paperwork, the sooner the claim is filed and processed.
7. You can check on the status of your claim 24 hours a day by visiting the Insurer’s direct website or by contacting our office.
Posted in After Car Accident, Auto Insurance, Cancer, Car Insurance Claims, Claim, Critical Illness, General Info, Had an Accident, Homeowners Insurance Claims, Hurt at work, Income Life Insurance, Injured, Insurance Claims, Liability Insurance Claims, Life Insurance, Life Insurance Claims, Make a claim, Property Casualty Insurance, Property Damage Claims, Sickness, Umbrella Policy, Worker's Benefits, Workman's Compensation | No Comments »
Life and Critical Illness Insurance – never withhold information as it will invalidate a claim.
November 29, 2010 | Author admin
Withholding information is the single most common cause of a life or critical illness insurance claim being rejected by the insurer. We have a true story to tell you that will effectively highlight this issue, but to preserve the identity of the policyholder, we have changed the name and a few other details.
Mrs C had surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes from her groin; while recovering from the operation, she fell ill with a secondary infection. At this difficult time, she received some extra bad news. Her claim under her critical illness insurance policy had been rejected, and she could not expect to receive the $200,000 payout. To understand why her claim was rejected, we need to look at the background to these events.
In June 2001, Mrs C discovered a patch of flaky skin on her back, and she went to the doctor thinking it was eczema. Her GP wasn’t sure and referred her to a specialist dermatologist for an expert opinion. However, Mrs C cancelled the appointment with the dermatologist because the flaky skin cleared up before the date of the appointment. Mrs C thought no more about it, especially as the GP did not communicate any particular urgency to her about the matter.
In August 2001, nine weeks after the GP appointment, Mrs C received a routine sales visit from her life insurance company, Standard Life. The sales representative reviewed her situation due to the fact she now had a young family, and recommended she purchase a $200,000 Critical Illness policy. Mrs C signed up to the new policy without hesitation.
The sales representative went through the application form with Mrs C, filling in the answers for her as they progressed through the questions. When asked to provide details of incidences when she had been referred to a specialist for tests or treatments, Mrs C asked the sales representative what Standard Life meant by that. Mrs C alleges that the representative stated that only referrals relating to serious conditions needed to be mentioned. Since Mrs C’s referral related to what she thought was eczema, she didn’t believe it to be a serious condition, so she did not mention it and it did not go on the form. They completed the form together and Mrs C signed the form believing that she had provided all the information that Standard Life had asked for.
Several days later Mrs C’s application was successful and she was issued with a Critical Illness Insurance policy for $200,000.
Two years down the line, Mrs C was diagnosed with skin cancer. She had to undergo major surgery to try and remove the cancer. Mrs C made a claim on her critical illness insurance policy believing that she had a valid claim.
Mrs C’s claim was rejected, Standard Life cited reckless non-disclosure as the cause the insurer’s way of saying that Mrs C purposely withheld information about her referral to a dermatologist.
How did this happen?
It is clear by now that Mrs C should have mentioned the fact that she had been referred to a dermatologist – so why didn’t she?
Two events brought about this unfortunate situation:
1. When Mrs C asked what kind of referrals needed to go on the form, the Standard Life sales representative told her that she only needed to mention serious conditions. This was completely wrong the application form question stated all occasions her GP had referred her for tests or treatments. The key words here are ALL OCCASIONS. ALL means ALL and there is no flexibility for an applicant to consider if the referral is worth mentioning or not. The sales representative provided Mrs C with the wrong advice.
2. Mrs C was not made aware by the GP that the flaky skin was potentially a serious matter. The GP later admitted that this was the case. If Mrs C did not realize that the referral was a potentially serious matter, then surely she cannot be said to have been withholding information when completing the application form. Remember, the sales representative told her that only serious conditions need to be mentioned.
It is our opinion that Mrs C should not be held accountable for what was a genuine mistake. The Standard Life representative provided incorrect advice at a crucial moment, and Mrs C followed it. We think that Standard Life should take these events into account, and validate the claim.
How to avoid the same happening to you
When you are filling out a life or critical illness insurance application form, read each question very carefully and provide an accurate and full answer. Do not consider withholding any information, because if you fail to disclose something that later comes to light, you will be held accountable as withholding that information on purpose. You may think that withholding that information could result in lower premiums, but it’s not a risk worth taking.
We’ve got our fingers crossed that Standard Life will relent and pay out on Mrs C’s policy. She was unfortunate in receiving poor advice, and did not willfully mislead the insurer.
However, people that do withhold information on purpose can expect everything they get on making a claim nothing .
NB : 5% of critical illness claims are rejected by Standard due to non-disclosure. They’re not the highest: Friends Provident rejects 15% of claims for the same reason, and Legal & General rejects 16%. The insurance industry is addressing this situation at the moment by improving the way they obtain the information from applicants, any by providing clear information about the penalties for non-disclosure.
via Life and Critical Illness Insurance – never withhold information as it will invalidate a claim..
Posted in Cancer, Claim, Critical Illness, Insurance Claims, Life Insurance, Life Insurance Claims, Sickness | No Comments »
The Use Of Critical Illness Insurance
November 29, 2010 | Author admin
Critical illness insurance made its first apparition in South Africa in 1983 and was known as dread disease insurance. Before 1983, policies having the name cancer policy may have been sold in the USA providing cover for certain types of cancer. These cancer policies may be considered as the foundation of critical illness insurance. Gradually, critical illness insurance went worldwide and nowadays plays an important role in markets such as UK, Canada, East Asia, Israel, etc.
Critical illness insurance may award a tax free lump sum if the insured person is diagnosed with one of the critical illness conditions defined by the policy. Almost all critical illness policies offer cover for cancer, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and coronary artery bypass surgery. While some insurance companies may cover only seven or eight critical illness conditions, others may offer cover for up to 35 diseases. Critical illness insurance may help someone cope with the financial imbalance especially after diagnosis of a life threatening illness. The financial support may as a matter of fact help to manage a changed lifestyle.
Critical illness insurance was called dread disease insurance long ago in South Africa. The term being too strong and unsuitable for many markets as well as marketing purposes, made many companies refrain from applying its usage. However, critical illness insurance may be preferably referred as crisis cover, trauma cover or living insurance. The rules which stipulate that critical illness cover must cover only severe conditions may no longer apply. It may also be used as a means for financial security against numerous critical illness conditions. Insurers therefore tend to provide a wider choice of critical illnesses covered under their critical illness plans. By doing so, they hope to target a wider audience and also to compete effectively in the insurance market.
Moreover, critical illness insurance may be useful to people who have social insurance that does not pay big to cater for a serious illness. A critical illness can imply high costs for treatment purposes. As a matter of fact, critical illness cover may be mostly wanted in countries where the state social security systems are inadequate. Even if a good health security system exists many people may still want critical illness insurance. The reason may be because everyone wants to get the best medical care and treatments. Thus, critical illness insurance payout will allow them to do that either in a renowned clinic or overseas.
Furthermore, the additional benefits in the form of critical illness insurance may not necessarily mean paying for medical charges. The aftermath of a critical illness may sometimes be considerable. The house or living environment may have to be altered to accommodate the life a disabled person. A car can also become an important factor as a mean for facilitating mobility needs. Also, after enduring a critical illness, in most of the cases a person becomes unable to attend work. Critical illness insurance payout can once more stabilize financial pressure by settling debts or mortgage.
Critical illness insurance policy may be presented in a professional manner to the client providing him with every information that he needs. By doing so, a much friendly approach may be created while confidence over the product may arise. This may therefore lead to many critical illness cover sales.
Types of Life Insurance Riders
November 29, 2010 | Author admin
Insurance riders provide benefits over and above those given by a basic insurance policy. Riders are not free and come at an additional cost, but the cost is relatively less compared to that involved in taking a separate insurance policy to cover the same requirements. Some of the very essential and well known riders include accidental death rider and critical illness rider. Beside these, other important riders (their importance varies from person to person) depending upon one’s age, stage of life and future goals, include accidental death, disability or dismemberment rider, level term rider, waiver of premium rider, guaranteed insurability rider and family income benefit rider.
Accidental Death Rider: The rider provides extra benefits equal to the minimum sum assured while taking the base policy. It is applicable only if the insured dies during the policy term due to accident. Since in most cases the rider benefit promises a sum same as the underlying policy assured amount, it is also called Double Indemnity Rider.
Critical Illness Rider: Also known as Accelerated Death benefit, this rider allows an insured who is diagnosed with terminal illness and may require long term medical care or who requires confinement to medical home permanently; to withdraw part or whole amount of death benefit from the basic insurance policy. The basic insurance policy reduces by the amount withdrawn under rider. The rider helps the insured and his family meet immediate financial needs of medical treatment and loss of regular income generated by the insured. The rider generally specifies the amount available to insured in such cases and can be withdrawn by him during term of policy.
Accidental Death, Disability or Dismemberment Rider: The accidental death rider can be sometimes extended to include any permanent or long term disability lasting at least for 6 months or loss of limbs or sight due to accident.
Level Term Rider: With this rider you can attach a fixed amount of term insurance to your basic permanent life insurance policy for a certain period. The amount of benefit assured can be multiple times the basic death benefit from the original policy.
Waiver of Premium Rider: This rider helps the insured to continue with his insurance policy even if he/ she are unable to pay regular premiums due to long term or permanent disability. By default a life insurance policy can expire if the premium is not regularly paid. In case if the insured suffers from a disability that prevents him from earning a regular source of income, the insurance policy premiums become difficult to bear. This rider allows the insured to take waiver from premium payments until the disability lasts or for the entire policy period in case of permanent disability. The terms of proving disability and its valid duration vary from company to company and across different policies.
Guaranteed Insurability Rider: Also known as Renewal provision, this rider allows you to buy extra insurance at certain periods during the specified term of rider. Without letting your existing policy elapse, you can purchase additional insurance or convert basic term insurance without proving insurability or having to undergo fresh medical examination. The rider is most beneficial to those who may experience major medical illnesses or loss of health due to advancing age, as there is no need for fresh underwriting. It also allows to add more insurance with changing life circumstances like marriage or arrival of newborn.
Family Income Benefit Rider: This rider provides a cushion in case of sudden death of the insured during policy term. While taking the rider, the insured needs to select the time frame for which he wants his family to continue receiving benefits. According to their comfort level, the beneficiaries will have the option of receiving regular monthly income or taking the entire benefit as lump sum after the death of the policy taker. As the insured grows old the duration of rider decreases. This rider is most beneficial to families with single bread winner.
