The Internet is littered with ads claiming that a low auto insurance quote is just a click away. But before you shop around to compare auto insurance quotes, it pays to do a little homework. Here’s what you need to know.
Shop for coverage
You may think you’re shopping for an auto insurance quote, but what you’re really doing is looking for coverage. So before you pick up the phone or fill out a form on the Internet, research car insurance and figure out how much coverage you really need.
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Young male drivers pay 79 per cent more for their car insurance than young females, research shows. Because statistics show that young male drivers make a higher number of expensive claims than female drivers, car insurance premiums are as much as 79 per cent higher than their female counterparts, moneysupermarket.com has found. Car insurance premiums for this demographic are all pushed up by the higher risk they pose, and young male drivers who get a speeding conviction pay a further 12 per cent for their car insurance. Read more…
Retiree Health Insurance: The Issue
Older Americans are paying significantly more toward the cost of their healthcare insurance than younger workers and they are also paying higher deductibles under employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Companies are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the rising cost of providing coverage and staying profitable, which means they have had to make changes to the terms of the coverage they offer.
According to HealthCare.gov, fewer employers are offering health care coverage to retirees. Since 1988, the number of large companies that offer retiree health benefits has dropped from 66 percent to 29 percent.
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If you have a van, you need van insurance. It sounds pretty simple, but if you fail to do your homework and follow a few safety measures, you may wind up paying too much to insure your vehicle.
Vans have seen many improvements over the years, and newer models sport enhanced comfort, reliability, efficiency and safety. However, their large size and unique shape can cause stability issues and obstruct the views of other drivers. This can mean more collisions and higher van insurance rates.
Ways to ensure low van insurance premiums
Fewer accidents equal lower van insurance premiums.
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Dear Dr. Don,
How do I find out past interest rates between 1977 and the present? Or how do I find out the value of an insurance policy that was not cashed in after a death in 1977? I have looked up the Federal Reserve rates for these times up to 2000 — after 2000, they are not recorded.
– Rose Arrears
Dear Rose,
The Federal Reserve statistical release H.15 Selected Interest Rates is the best source for historical interest rates. It’s especially convenient because you can download the information, too.
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Householders could see their home insurance premiums rise, or find themselves uninsured, as a result of proposed cuts to Government spending on flood prevention. AA Insurance has warned that the spending cuts laid out in the Government’s latest Comprehensive Spending Review could leave millions of homes uninsured, and others could end up paying more for their home insurance. The AA is urging the Government not to cut spending on flood defences, such as ensuring storm drains are kept clear and are improved to remove surface water, which can protect flood-prone areas of the UK, because some households could find themselves uninsurable and therefore ineligible for mortgages. Read more…