Group Health Insurance and How it Affects You and Your Future

We are all feeling the weight of the economic crisis and along with this condition basic commodities as well as medical costs right now have gone to an insurmountable amount. You would be lucky enough if you are still employed in your company because for sure you are covered under your group health insurance. What is alarming is that if your company shuts down you would be left with no work and no insurance at all.

We all know how important it is to belong to a group health insurance. It is also one way of making sure that we can avail medical attention in case of emergencies. A lot of people are uninsured and do not belong to any group health insurance at all. Imagine how much one could spend on medical expenses if you are not covered. It will surely drain your money or your savings especially if the patient will need to undergo intensive medical procedures. We don’t want to be in this kind of scenario. Along with attending to the family’s essential needs come our responsibility to attend to their medical necessities. That is why as much as possible we have to make sure that this has already been taken care of. Times are tough right now and the best way to combat the situation is to prioritize your family’s basic needs without jeopardizing the quality of care that we can give for them. As much as possible we not only have to think of current expenses but also with those that may happen in the future.
The best way to take care of their health needs is to prepare and enroll them in your group health insurance for as long as you are working in your company. This saves money and efforts knowing how it is like now dealing with almost everything including medical services have gone up. It pays to be ready and prepared for these kinds of situations. Although a group health insurance is available to employees who are working for their companies, it would also be helpful to check how you can still get medical coverage and the options that a group health insurance provides.
Remember that sometimes, having a group health insurance doesn’t mean that you and your dependents are already covered with all the medical expenses and use of medical facilities. There may be some limitations bonded with your company and the insurance company’s contract in providing coverage especially for pre-existing medical conditions. You may want to check on this with your insurance company. It really pays to have work because this will entitle you to avail insurance through your company’s group health insurance policy. Moreover, you are aware of how much this can contribute in saving up money intended for future needs. We can only imagine that although we and our dependents don’t seek medical attention often we can’t predict when we need it most. Preparedness is still the key ingredient in avoiding possible problems and hardships in the future.

Maternity Insurance–Be assured with a Safe & Worry-Free Pregnancy

Do you find yourself going to the doctor more often when you are pregnant? You go to the doctor for appointments while you’re pregnant, and that means visits every now and then for the duration of your pregnancy. Then, you go again at the time when you have to give birth; not to mention, you also have to go for your post-pregnancy checkups. All of this will equate to you having to worry about monetary coverage. When you are pregnant, you deserve to be safe and be worry-free.

But since you are pregnant, there will be a lot of things that will need your attention and more matters to attend to. And one of them is: Paying the bills for all the doctor visits that will be taking. Regular insurance plans will not likely cover all of those bills and you may find yourself having to pay those bills out from your own wallet. This is where maternity insurance comes in.

In this situation, a health insurance with maternity coverage is beneficial for you. Having maternity insurance helps you lessen your worries by assuring you that you are covered just in case something unpredictably wrong happens. Maternity health insurance also ensures you of sufficient maternity coverage that can help you to cover the bills of the doctor visits that you took when you were pregnant. Health insurance companies are aware of the fact that you need to be guaranteed with a safe & healthy pregnancy. That’s why they offer maternity health insurance to assure you that you are provided with sufficient maternity coverage.

To obtain pregnancy insurance coverage, you just have to contact your health insurance company. However, not all companies offer insurance for pregnancy. Thus, beforehand, when you know you’re pregnant, you will have to make sure what benefits they can offer you and ask whether these include maternity insurance. If they do not offer you a good insurance for pregnancy, you may have to look up for other insurance companies that will provide you with a good plan. Pick out the best one for you, one that will enable you to save money in the long run and will help you with providing the best care for your pregnancy and your future child.

Some companies may only allow you benefits such as health visits and prescriptions regarding your pregnancy, but make sure that the coverage stops after you have given birth. Avoid companies that may trick you by keeping the insurance going even when you have stopped using the plan anymore. So, make sure about the terms and conditions of these maternity health insurance benefits.

With these in mind, you are assured of a safe pregnancy and providing your child adequate care while your child grows as the months pass by without you having to worry about maternity expenses anymore. This is a vital experience and the most important time of your life and thus, do not hesitate to ask about maternity insurance ¬– it’s the way for a safe & worry-free pregnancy.

Save Money While You Entertain And Educate Your Kids

Kids love learning new things. Things that are “boring” are purely what society or sometimes more appropriately the entertainment industry tells them is boring. Most children have a desire to learn and there are many fun, informative and inexpensive activities that will keep them enthralled for hours.

Museums are a great place to learn about history in a very visual and sometimes interactive way. Yes, there are some dusty old museums that might not be of much interest to kids, but many are well maintained and even aimed at children such as the Natural History museums and others like it.

Aquariums are another excellent place to take your kids to learn about marine life and have a great time yourself. Many children are so taken with and experience a magic in these outings that stays with them throughout their lives. Many go on to make a career within these subjects, purely as such an impression was made. Children are not children for long so it is important to take advantage of this special and magical part of life.

These days, with the accessibility of information on the internet, many people forget that libraries still exist. Nothing can replace going into a library (especially for children) and having every type of book at your disposal. The quietness and serenity of a library is a good environment for children to learn how to behave in public. For younger children , libraries usually offer facilities such as toys and visual activities.

Letting you child attend art and craft classes is great for bringing out the creative side in them, not that children need much cajoling in this area. However, with the right materials and facilities they can really stretch their imagination and who knows, maybe there is an artist or sculptor in the family. With a bit of research you can find classes within community centres and colleges tariff free or a very low cost to help you save money.

Country fairs and morning fairs are a great place to bring your kids for free informative entertainment and the refreshments are usually very cheap. Emphasis are often on educational topics such as wildlife or cookery and can be interactive giving your child the chance to experience and learn about new subjects.

You can make up your own games and entertainment including quizzes with the use of an encyclopaedia. Allow your kids an allocated time to learn one particular subject, then write some questions on that topic. Make the quiz more exciting with a prize for the winner.

Education can be fun and children have the ability to take in information like a sponge, this is a perfect time in their lives to be learning and learning. There really is a whole host of ideas for opportunities to give your children educational and fun activities that will save money on expensive trips and that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

How Can You Save Energy And Save Money With A Hybrid?

With the current state of shrinking oil stores, many people are looking to find ways in which to cut costs and glean more mileage out of every last drop of gas in the tank. The oil supplies that we do have will not last forever and it is crucial that we find ways to increase efficiency in the use of gas and find alternative resources for fuel.

Not so long ago it was the pretty standard to have a big car with a big tank and an even bigger appetite for gas. Now, however, those cars are frowned on due to both the low mileage per gallon and emissions on the environment.

One way to really save energy and save money is investing in a hybrid car. This type of vehicle is run on both gas and electricity and provides the benefits of both types of fuel including efficient fuel use and power.

Many people are turning to this new type of car including those with high profiles in the entertainment industry. Only a few years ago, this would have been unheard of, however, people are beginning to realise the implications on the economy, environment and lifestyle of ignoring the depletion in fuel.

Most probably do not realise that the hybrid concept dates back to the 1800’s so it is hardly in it’s infancy. Some of the most prestigious car manufacturers such as Lexus, Ford and Honda have produced hybrid cars and it would appear that the market is growing.

Other features of the hybrid car also contribute to energy efficiency. The engine will automatically shut down when the car comes to a halt or when coasting and the car utilizes a system known as regenerative braking which confines the energy which would otherwise be lost in braking.
The hybrid is designed so that there is no energy lost due to “drag” with it’s aerodynamic structure and well-designed tyres..

Now that there are many hybrid cars being manufactured of all shapes and sizes, it is possible to get a size of your choosing, however just as with pure gas-run cars, the larger the hybrid the lower efficiency. That being said the larger hybrid still beats the standard vehicle by miles on efficiency.

In pure electric mode the hybrid can reach around 40 mph, after this the combustion engines is activated giving additional power.

In terms of saving money on gas, the hybrid, if allowing you an estimated additional10 miles per gallon with a mileage of around 15000 miles per year and $4 per gallon, you will be saving in excess of a thousand dollars. That is the lower end of the scale, some hybrid cars can be even more economic and when factoring in the possibly of tax savings, the overall saving will increase still.

Saving money and saving on gas is paramount in this day and age. The hybrid car takes care of both of these and a nice car to boot.

5 Fabulous Money Saving Ideas For Unusual Gifts

Giving and receiving gifts is part of our culture and makes us feel loved and cherished. Regardless of how much the gift cost when a bit of thought is applied, the gift becomes even more special. When money is tight and you need to save money rather than spend why not try making your gift from scratch?

As the years pass by, without really noticing it, we can fall into a rut of giving (and getting) roughly the same gifts. This is largely due to knowing what each other likes and trying to avoid disappointment, however, the element of surprise is one of the best parts of receiving a gift. Why not save money and produce a fabulously unique gift for your loved one?

Following are some easy to follow, money saving ideas for a truly unique and unusual gift.

The gifts you give do not necessarily have to be a physical item, you can give a gift in the form of a service or activity. You can craft a hand-made IOU card in the form of a certificate, stating that you will perform a service such as cooking a meal, cleaning the house or any other skill that would be appreciated. If you are a musician, you could provide musical entertainment for an evening.

You can take a simple household item such as a message corkboard and spruce it up. Cover the board with bright material and decorate with beads, shells or anything that takes your fancy to produce a lovely handcrafted gift. The fact that this item is completely unique and can’t be purchased anywhere makes it that bit more special.

A new craze where you can buy your loved one a piece of land on the moon or a star is taking hold. This wacky present includes the deed to the piece of land giving direction and the exact location with a certificate provided. What makes this even more interesting is, if you look in of the bigger newspapers you will find companies dealing in real estate (extraterrestrial). This gift will bring a smile and is sure to be something they did not anticipate.

You can do a little work on photoshop or any other image software such as “picnic” and fashion your loved one’s photo on a gift such as a T-shirt, a piece of crockery or a mouse pad. When you know the person well, you can give a suitable gift that will strike a chord.

When money is tight and you are trying to save money, the best ways to save money on gifts are thoughtful and sometimes humorous gifts. Try having a look in the joke shop. You can buy a few items cheaply and put them together to create a fun basket of goodies, through in a few candies and streamers. The receiver of the gift will appreciate the time spent on them and know that they were important enough to put the work in. Any thoughts of cost will go out the window.

You really do not need to worry about spending a fortune on a quality present, let your imagination run and create a special and unique gift, saving money on a gift does not have to mean a lesser value gift. You can even put a little brand (made by you), these gifts will be kept forever and treasured.

Group Health Insurance-What are the Benefits?

The risks in obtaining a group health insurance may not be the same as getting an individual medical coverage. Chances are it would actually be easier to apply and belong to one because the purpose itself is not merely based on a single person’s application for insurance but a group health insurance where the main purpose is providing coverage for a group of working people other than the reason of obtaining personal insurance.

This is regardless of age and other factors which hinder one to obtain coverage. The disadvantage though in belonging to a group health insurance coverage is that it cannot be converted to an individual insurance so therefore, if you don’t belong anymore to the employer who provided you with this insurance, then automatically you already lose the medical coverage.

If you are in the US and you leave your corporate job for a certain reason, then under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, (COBRA) you are still covered under the group health insurance for as long as your employer has a total number of 20 or more employees and provided that you have not left the company for gross negligence and incompetency. This can still entitle you to up to 18 months of coverage that may be helpful in such a time that you would be able to find a new job or get a new insurance policy.

Another thing that is better with a group health insurance is that for as long as you are still working in your employer’s company then generally you are entitled for renewal of your coverage, unlike for individual insurance it will become the prerogative of the insurance company to decide if they will still renew your insurance since they will consider your records with them as well as your medical history while still covered under their policies.

There are indeed a lot of benefits when you are insured under a group health insurance because you don’t need to apply for it yourself and it is also one way of saving a lot of money especially that medical emergencies can arise at anytime. What is also good is that not only you can avail of these benefits but also your direct dependents without having to spend too much for their medical needs. You can also save a lot of effort in weighing options since this is already handled by the employer. What you need to know though is the coverage that the group health insurance has so you would know how this would affect you and your dependents should there be issues concerning this in the future.

Although you are not hands-on in availing the group health insurance, it would still be better for you to know what insurance you have and how it will work by the time you would need to use it already. To have an in depth information, it is also advisable for you to consult your company’s department who is responsible in handling your queries or you may also get in touch with the insurance company itself.

Low Cost Life Insurance-Tips on How to Budget Your Life Insurance at Low Cost

Like everyone else, of course, we would all like to have low cost life insurance. Though this might be difficult given with lots of choices to choose from, here are some helpful tips that might help you see you through the budget:

a) The purpose of life insurance is to be guaranteed the amount sufficient enough to be able to substitute your current income in case you die before you are able to save up enough financially for your dependents. If you have a family, children or someone depending on you, being the bread winner, then life insurance assures that you can still provide for them even at that time of your death.
If you are middle aged and you have dependants at home, for college tuition, or a mortgage and bills to cover… if so you were to die at an unexpected time, then instead of your family being financially panicked, you can at least be able to provide them with financial aid with your life insurance. Term life insurance is less expensive than a whole life insurance for middle aged individuals. However, if you are single with no dependents, then you probably don’t need life insurance.

b) Life insurance should be a separate matter from investments. When shopping for life insurance, one way to evaluate term life insurance is to determine the cost per $1000 of coverage. To do that, divide the annual premium as offered by the amount of coverage that you need. Let’s say, you need $700,000 for coverage, and the annual life insurance rate premium offers you $3700, so you can calculate it like this per $1000 coverage: ($3700 ÷ $700,000) = $5.28. With this, you can now compare life insurance rates among life insurance companies. Protect your family first before you save up for sufficient assets.

c) Why should you choose term life insurance? There are two types of life insurance you can choose from – the term life insurance and the whole life insurance. To explain, Term life insurance insures you for a certain number of years (example 10, 20 or 30), and pays a death benefit. Whole life insurance may provide you with interests and dividends. Therefore, we can say that term life insurance is less expensive since there are no dividends or interest involved. One tip would be for the bread winner to buy the right amount of term life insurance he needs in order to protect his family during his critical period while allowing to invest on the savings he had to be financially secure later.

d) Another way of getting a low cost life insurance is to keep your physical condition at a point where it is eligible for a less expensive life insurance policy. For example, years ago you have high blood pressure, and you applied for life insurance, and because of that, the life insurance company charges you with a higher life insurance rate due to your physical condition. But after a few years, you took care of your health, and thus your blood pressure decreased. You could opt for a change in your life insurance policy with a lower life insurance rate.

e) To aid you with finding a low cost life insurance, you can ask help from a financial advisor or do the homework yourself by browsing through the Internet. There are over 1000 life insurance companies and their life insurance rates and life insurance quotes vary by hundreds of dollars given the same amount of coverage and benefits. Compare and read through all their terms.

With these tips in mind, you will be able to enjoy a low cost life insurance within your budget needs while protecting your family before something unexpected happens that might endanger the financial stability of your family.

Dental Insurance: Just another Added Cost?

Dental health is one of the most disregarded health issues in most countries. And because most health insurance does not cover dental care, even insurance buyers usually take the separate dental insurance plan for granted, labeling it as just an additional hole to the pocket. But in spite of the overlooked importance of dental health, one must know that most of many systemic disease manifest first as an oral problem. This means, visiting your dentist regularly could help one diagnose a possible serious health problem before it strikes. Aside from that, untreated periodontal diseases are also one of the main causes of complicated health problems such as endocarditis and oral cancer. Dental health is always one of the main drivers for confidence and self-esteem and therefore will affect the way of living of most people. Some surveys revealed that people with more confidence in themselves tend to get jobs first and have healthier social lives.

So to those who are reading this, maybe you should give dental health more credit that you should. How? Simple, by going out of your way physically and financially to unsure yourself that you are getting dental health services as often as possible.

The best and most cost effective way of getting these services would be to get yourself a dental insurance plan. There are several kinds of dental insurance plans that you can choose from, depending on a case to case basis. For the employed, along with the standard health insurance, most companies offer a dental insurance plan as an option. What so good about this is that a company-supported dental insurance plan will most likely turn out to be very cheap since this will be partially paid by the company. For the personal dental insurance plan, one can also choose a type that allows you to select a dentist from the insurance provider’s list of accredited oral physicians or the insurance company will designate a specific dentist for you. There is also another type of dental health insurance that allows you to pick any dentist of your choice, but this kind of insurance is very rare and much more expensive.

Plans that have higher rates will naturally have greater variety of dental services available. But the most common services that cover a standard dental insurance will be the following:

• Regular dentist check-ups
• Dental cleaning
• X-rays
• Tooth extractions and fillings
• Dentures and other oral surgeries

But either way, compared to the standard rates of dentists and dental services available in the market, getting a dental insurance plan is always the most cost-effective way to go. So seize this great opportunity and purchase a dental insurance the soonest time that you can. And once you do, always take advantage of the benefits of the plan. Remember, preventive dental measures are always better than having to cure a serious dental problem that could have been avoided in the past – if you had just given more importance to you oral health at the time.

Valuable Money Saving Tips For Family Entertainment

Many popular places of entertainment for kids these days is notoriously expensive. Establishments which focus on fun for kids seem to be just as, if not more costly than adult entertainment. During the school breaks can be a particularly difficult time for family outings when money is in short supply, however there are plenty of ways to keep your family amused and save money.

You may feel the pinch all year round and not just at holidays. In this case it may be a good idea to invest in a yearly pass for kids entertainment establishments with lots of outlets to peruse. Doing this can significantly save money in the long run even though you have to pay up initially.

This can be said for all types of leisure places such as water parks, bowling alleys (which are particularly costly) and other multiplex organizations.

When planning an outing, it is beneficial to think holistically. How long is your chosen activity going to take – will it account for the full day. Outings such as a visit to the zoo can be great for encompassing a whole day out. Ok, there is a admission fee but that will more than pay for itself with the facilities provided and you can also take advantage of seasonal passes here. Always take a packed lunch/picnic, there is no point in forking out for meals out when your kids will be perfectly happy to eat a picnic outdoors.

Museums are always a great money saving option. There are many museums which are great for an education but fun such as, natural history or railway museums that will be of interest to the kids. Museums are completely free of charge allowing you to give the family an additional treat such as an ice-cream or hotdog for later.

Other completely free options are standard play parks. It is amazing how much fun kids will have on the basic facilities provided. Children have an amazing sense of imagination, it doesn’t always have to be served on a silver platter.

Everyone loves a day out to the beach (providing you live in agreeable climates). A trip to the beach is a fun, energizing and sometimes an educational day out for everyone. Again it is totally free allowing for some extra treats and it is possible to bring you own picnic.

Fortunately, there are still many, many ways to entertain the family for free. Yes, there will be times when a day out requires money to be spent, but with a little research and pre-planning you can intersperse these with free days out to help you save your money for a rainy day. Taking advantage of seasonal and annual passes is a fantastic way to have days out with your kids on tap and no need to shell out each and every time.

Learn How To Save Money On Gas Using 5 Easy Steps

Gone are the days when you could go for a leisurely drive to nowhere in particular just for the fun of it. In the past you might have been happy to be branded the boy/girl racer and proud of it too. However, with the depletion of gas and the knock-on effect of the increasing prices, it is now almost a necessity to find methods to save on gas.

Driving is not going to go away, most of us rely on it to get to work, school, the weekly shop among others, so it is time to develop new strategies to make the most out of our tank of fuel.

You may be surprised to find that it is quite simple to make a few changes to your driving to really rack up the benefits. Making an effort to apply one of the following steps to your driving per day will see you saving more money on gas than you thought was possible.

1. One of the first important factors to think about is slowing down. This does not have to mean to a snails pace but just slightly under the speed limit. The most cost-effective speed for most cars is 55 mph, giving you the most value for money. This may take some discipline, but it can be done. Some highways allow up to 80 mph but unless there is an emergency there is really no need for such a speed. The focus is on how to save money, not how to get to your destination a few minutes quicker.

2. Alongside driving at an efficient speed, try to develop a calm demeanour. This can be quite difficult, I think we have all experienced road rage. However, try to drive as if you have precious cargo on board that must be kept pristine. You will find that not only do you save money on gas but become a safer driver into the bargain.

3. Try to drive at a consistence pace, rather than jerky movements, moving and cutting around other traffic. Cutting mileage by only 5% can make an overall saving of around $100 dollars per year. Better in your pocket.

4. Think about unnecessary weight in you vehicle. Do you have a luggage rack, a trunk full of unneeded items? If you get rid of the additional weight, again, you will be saving money on gas with less weight to pull and a reduction on air drag.

5) It is no longer a requirement for you car to warm up on ignition. These days, cars are engineered to warm up almost instantly and time left with the car in idle is simply a waste of gas.

*(6) An additional tip to avoid gas waste is to fill your tank at a cool time of the day as the volume of gas increases with higher temperatures and may leak out. These tips for saving money on gas can be implemented everyday and you will soon be reaping the benefits of a more cost-effective drive.

« Previous Page — Next Page »