Having worked in the insurance industry as a paralegal, claims manager and consultant, I have picked up a thing or two about how this strange world works. Today I'm opening a window into that world for you. Some of what you'll learn is good, some of it bad, and all of it useful to know.

Comprehensive could be cheaper than third party, fire and theft

Certain insurers are more expensive than others so it might not surprise you that some provider charge more for third party, fire and theft (TPFT) than others do for comprehensive cover.

What's astounding, though, is that sometimes the same insurer will charge the same person and vehicle less for a comprehensive policy than a third party, fire and theft policy.

This happens when insurers analyse their statistics and notice that the people driving third party cost them more in claims.

One reasons for this is that younger drivers tend to choose third-party policies as they are supposed to be cheaper; and young motorists are more likely to have accidents and make claims. This is partly because of the way they drive, and partly because the older vehicles they tend to own are more susceptible to the mechanical failures which cause accidents.

If you're looking for a TPFT policy, always look at comprehensive prices too. It might save you money.

Bad news about your no-claims bonuses

When you get a protected no-claims bonus and you have an accident, your premium is still likely to rise.

What happens is, you have a £200 policy with a 65 per cent no claims bonus. Without the bonus, your policy would be £570. You then have an accident. Next year, you've still got your 65 per cent bonus because it was protected. However, the insurer now sees you as higher risk, and has increased your pre-discount premium of £570 to £685. When you deduct the 65 per cent bonus, your policy now costs you £240 - an increase of £40.

Be careful how you fill in forms

Sometimes you ask for and pay for a protected bonus when you're not entitled to protection. Typically you'll lose your protection if you've had two claims in three years. Then, after the next claim, your bonus starts being reduced.

The problem is that not all insurers are smart enough to put your two claims in three years together when you request protection. Hence they, or your broker, process the insurance with an additional charge for protection that you can't actually use.

Thankfully, this problem should be largely or totally eliminated when you compare online due to automated system that is used.

Small print to watch out for

Some policies are more comprehensive than others. There's no such thing as a standard policy, so keep an eye out for the bits that are important to you. While you should always read the small print, here's a list of some of the more significant elements that can vary:

* Courtesy cars are no longer standard on all comprehensive policies and sometimes you're limited to just 14 days' free usage. You may not get a courtesy car if your vehicle is written off.
* Windscreen cover is also no longer standard and the policy excess and terms for it vary considerably; for example, you might just be covered for two incidents per year.
* Legal expenses and breakdown cover is not always standard, nor is European cover for breakdown.
* You're not always free to choose your own repairer.
* You might not even be automatically comprehensively covered to drive in the EU. (You do, on the other hand, get what's called Road Traffic Act cover, but that's even less than third-party only cover.) Alternatively, your comprehensive cover in Europe may be limited to just 30 days. And bear in mind that most insurers require you to notify them before driving abroad.

When it comes to putting on a show, you want everything to be perfect. Lights, cameras, production values, sound, and everything in between. It all has to be as close to perfect as possible, and you want to make sure all your bases are covered in case something does go wrong. And who knows what could go wrong? Weather issues, auto accidents with the main acts, legal issues, and even scheduling conflicts can put even the best planned events on the skids. That's why insurance was invented, right? So how do you make sure you're getting the best insurance you need for your event?

Regardless of the size of your event, from a small dance recital for friends and family all the way through the multi-million dollar stages used by top end rock and rap performers at concert events, there is an insurance package available to take care of whatever could happen. But you need to make sure you're getting the package you need at the right price, otherwise you may not be covered or you could pay far too much for what you need. There are several things to be aware of when it comes to getting event insurance, and all of them can affect the price.

First, have a good understanding of how many people will be attending the event. Insurance companies will want to know the number of people as close to the actual number as possible, this way they can be assured you're getting the best coverage for your audience as possible.

Next, what kind of event is it? A performance event may require theater insurance whereas a one-time gathering like weddings and bar mitzvahs would need a special event insurance quote. While you may not think something as small and intimate as a wedding is supposed to be would need insurance, having the entire event covered not only ensures your guests are covered in case of a fall or other accident, but you're covered in case something happens like food poisoning from the catered food. And speaking of performers, having your events completely insured means they're covered too. Regardless of the venue, or the performance, all the participants and their equipment will be protected in case there is an accident or incident.

Granted, we all hope that nothing occurs, but as someone once said, "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst". Having your event protected with event insurance makes sure that even if the worst happens; it's not a disaster that can't be rectified. Make sure you've got the insurance your event needs today!

Some states have different requirements for the kind of auto insurance you're required to have. It is a good idea to become familiar with the requirements for your state. However, at a minimum, you need liability coverage for both damage to property and bodily injuries in the event of an accident or collision. The purpose of this coverage is to pay for claims and legal costs of anyone who may be injured as a result of being in an accident with you. Some states may require more of you, including that you cover yourself against uninsured motorists as well.

The car you drive may lower or raise your car insurance rates. Sporty, high-performance, expensive luxury cars cost much more to insure than other kinds of cars. There are several reasons for this. Sporty cars are more likely to be in accidents, so anyone who owns one is at a higher risk of costing the insurance company money. They also typically require a lot of money to repair in the event of a crash. Lastly, thieves are more likely to target the higher-priced vehicles such as these. A car that is well-made, sturdy, safe, and not high on the list of cars that thieves covet, can save you money on your premiums.

Auto insurance companies take your credit history into account when assessing your rates. It is believed that people with good credit scores have lower risks of accidents. They use this information to determine whether you are a high-risk, medium-risk, or low-risk driver. If you are looking for auto insurance, it is a good idea to make sure your credit history is up-to-date and accurate.

Insurance companies offer discounts if you attempt to keep your car safe. If you have a good driving record, you should be able to count on cheaper insurance. You should also be able to get a discount if you install safety features in your car. Paying the entire premium at the beginning of the billing period will also save you money in monthly service fees.

Finding a health insurance policy that will provide you with great coverage and get from an affordable can be a difficult task, particularly within the difficult state of the economy that we are in. Still, your health is certainly your most valuable asset and as such it will be important for you to get health insurance quotes that you can compare so that you are able to locate the right policy that you need.

When you look to the different policies you might consider that price is the most important factors to you to consider, particularly if you are in a difficult financial position. However, the level of coverage that you get on the policy should always be the overriding priority that you have, and you always need to know that the cheapest plans may not cover you in the best possible way.

As such, you have to to really consider how much money you are willing to put into a policy and how much coverage you might require before you even start looking for quotes.

When you look to make your decision as to how much you are able to spend you have to not only consider the costs of the insurance that you get, but also the potential cost of not getting the right level of coverage. If you simply remember that spending a day at the hospital can cost you roughly $5000, and this is without any specialist care or procedure been done, you will realise that the amount to have to pay for health insurance will be negligible compared to the amount you might have to pay out in the event of some sort of accident.

Certainly if you feel that you are not in a position to be able to afford health insurance, you need to ask yourself whether you can afford not to get it. Certainly insurance is something that can be very costly, but this does not necessarily have to be the case if you are willing to put in some effort in order to gather numerous quotes and talk to numerous companies.

The more quotes you are able to gather the more likely you will find a relevant policy that will be affordable. This is extremely important and will help you to gain protection against all sorts of medical conditions or other accidents that you might get yourself into.

Certainly, health insurance is extremely important, and you should always end to get yourself covered in any way you can.

The health care debate is taking place on a daily basis among our elected officials in an attempt to bring about affordable health insurance for everyone. Although we are tempted to ignore this subject until such time as a definite decision has been made, we are not actually able to do this right now. Many people are currently in the open enrollment period for their current health insurance policies and must make decisions regarding the type of policy they want to purchase for next year.

Nowadays, many employees are seeing their companies pass on the ever increasing cost of health care policies to them. Having to accommodate this on going assault of the family budget seems to never stop. The open enrollment allows time for you to evaluate what you can afford and what your actually need and will most likely use. Too much of an increase will likely force you to decide on a less expensive policy and cutting out some of the things you don't or have never used before. However, choosing the best policy for you might actually increase your premium, increase your deductible and raise your co-pay amount.

As we age our health needs change. As our family sphere changes, our health needs change. Certain events can change our quality of life. Choosing the best health insurance policy for our different timely needs is just plain smart. Many people pay very little attention to choosing a health insurance policy and it very seldom changes to suit their life situation changes. Paying close attention when choosing your policy will give you better protection when needed and will save your hard earned money.

Being knowledgeable about what your health insurance policy contains is your responsible. Attending free seminars, discussing unclear legal wording, meanings and phases with your Human Resources Department representative as well as comparing different health insurance plans the company is offering is some good places to start making yourself more knowledgeable about what you have and what you need for your health insurance.

Your own employer can cover you for less, even if children or other variables are involved. It usually changes the numbers, but still might be the most affordable way to go. Knowing what you are responsible for, such as any or all out of pocket expenses and the percentage being paid by your employer will help you better determine what is right for you. Getting the facts will help you with this major decision.