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Even if you already have car insurance, it doesn’t hurt to shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Just because you’ve been with an insurance company for a long time doesn’t always mean you’re paying the lowest car insurance rates possible. You could be stuck with an overpriced policy and not even know it. If you’re currently in the market for auto insurance, here are some things to consider as you choose your new policy:

Understand your current policy The first thing to do when choosing auto insurance is to understand the policy you presently have. Look at how

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Millions of men approaching retirement could be left thousands of pounds worse off if a European court rules on 1 March that insurance companies can no longer use gender to calculate annuity rates and insurance premiums.

Young women drivers will also be hit hard if “gender discrimination” is ruled illegal. An Association of British Insurers research paper claims some under-25s may face motor insurance increases of between 50% and 60% almost overnight – which could translate into an extra £500-£1,000 a year.

Many in the UK insurance industry believe it is likely the European court of justice (ECJ) will ban insurers from taking a person’s sex into account when setting premiums. Such a ru

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If you have booked a holiday to Egypt or another Middle Eastern country, then what are your travel rights? Is your travel insurance valid?

What has the foreign office said about travel to the region?

The foreign office has advised against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez. However, this advice does not currently extend to resorts in the Red Sea such as Sharm el-Sheikh, where hundreds of British holidaymakers tend to go. The FCO says these areas are “a very considerable distance from the affected areas and these resorts remain unaffected”.

I’m already in Egypt on holiday, what should I do?

Anyone who is already in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor or Suez should speak to their tour operator or airline regarding their arrangements. Many

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House-swapping as an alternative to the traditional family holiday looks set to take off this year, according to new research from Lloyds TSB Insurance.

A recent study suggests that 1.6 million Britons have arranged a house swap in 2011, twice the number estimated for 2010.

However, Lloyd’s suggests that proper planning is needed, particularly in the area of potential damage to property or possessions by the incomers.

Almost two-thirds of house-swappers questioned had run the risk of invalidating their home insurance policy by failing to tell their insurer about the exchange. <

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Understanding how to buy health insurance

There’s no one-size-fits-all health insurance plan. Your needs should dictate your coverage. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself when shopping for health insurance:

• Do you want it to cover the cost of an office visit every time someone in the family needs care?
• Do you just want a safety net to protect you in case of something catastrophic?
• How much money do you typically spend on health care in a year?

If you usually don’t spend much on health care, you might be best served by a high-deductible plan with a health savings account, or HSA, for out-of-pocket costs.

A plan that offers special features, such as a flexible spending account, or FSA, or health savings account may be enticing.

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The home insurance sector has grown rapidly since 2004, with 73 per cent more providers in the market today, meaning more choice for consumers.

According to a report from Defaqto, an independent financial research company, the home insurance industry is going through a challenging period for insurers, which are struggling against an influx of new competitors, but one of opportunity for customers.

A “number of challenges and a period of transition” are currently facing the home insurance industry, says Defaqto, following a 73 per cent rise in the number of providers in the last six years, driven by comparison websites and major retail brands like supermarkets entering the market.

While this change has created “unprecedented choice for consumers”, the greater competition is creating a difficult climate for insurers, says Defaqto.

For consumers, this change has seen providers target their individual needs, rather than offering a ‘one size fits all’ approach to home insurance, but on the downside, there is also greater focus on price, with more consumers using cost as the primary motive when comparing home insurance deals, rather than cover and benefits.

Commenting on the challenge facing insurers in the coming years as they adjust to changes in the home insurance market, Mike Powell, insight analyst for general insurance at Defaqto, said: “We believe there are long-term implications for insurers, who may need to consider how they restrict premiums while simultaneously lowering the cost of acquiring and retaining new customers.”

While more insurers means more competition for consumers, Mr Powell suggests that it is not all good news for customers, as the race to offer the cheapest premiums could have a detrimental effect on the quality of cover.

“Our comprehensive analysis of the home insurance market is focused on helping insurers understand the key trends in the sector, and consumers’ priorities when purchasing products,” he said. Read more…