Washington Basic Has Information On State Budget

The Washtington state budget from 2009 is very conservative according to the Washtington Basic Health website. In the years to come, the residents of Washington are bound to feel the affects of the sacrifices the state is making to stay within the responsible budget. Even the programs that were left in tact will feel the affects of the budget shift.

Washington has been preparing itself for a modern society by doing things such as building a public transportation system to create thousands of jobs and come out stronger at the end of the recession. The Washington government also took steps to bring back their ferry system by building new vessels and keeping fares low.

The Health Care Authority continues to monitor and analyze the budget to find possible ways to save money. 2009 in Washington was about sacrifice and cutting back. They are focusing on making wise decisions when determining how to spend money on health care, construction and salaries. The primary goal is to build a solid foundation for the future residents of Washington.

State Farm Car Insurance Quote for iPhone

According to State Farm Insurance's website, there is a new application available for the iPhone called Pocket Agent. State Farm policyholders can download this free app to view their policy, mutual funds, and other financial information on the run.

Pocket Agent can also be used to file an insurance claim, finding a locksmith, towing services, rental cars, taxis, gas stations and hotels just by a push of a button. When filing a claim through this app, Claims Submissions will walk customers through the process. Customers are able to select policy information instead of manually typing it. You can also check your State Farm Bank account information through this application. This just shows State Farm's commitment to making policy information easily accessible for their customers.

If this type of benefit is something that interests you for your insurance needs, you can get a State Farm car insurance quote or apply for other services on their website.

More People Using Web for Auto Insurance

According to an article on money.cnn.com by Lavonne Kuykendall called "More Customers Buying Auto Insurance Online", more and more auto insurance companies are adapting to internet sales. Many insurance companies rely heavily on agents to sell their auto insurance, but as more people are logging on to the Internet to shop, those agents' roles are shifting.

Thomas J. Wilson is the chief executive of Allstate Corp, and he says that Allstate is aiming to have fewer agencies that are bigger and offer a more consistent customer experience. He states that about half of their new auto insurance policyholders originally make contact through their website. That's huge when considering leads are a core part of a successful business.

Other auto industries are heavily relying on the Internet such as car companies, repair shops and Departments of Insurance (DOI). You can find much information on DOI through the county, such as Illinois DOI which has a lot of valuable information online.

Healthy Indiana Plan Offering POWER Account

Health Indiana Plan offers many benefits, one of which is called a POWER account. This is an account valued at $1,100 per adult to pay for medical expenses. The State of Indiana makes contributions to the account and each participant, based on a sliding scale, receives the benefit. No one will pay more than 5% of their gross annual family income, and many will pay less.

This plan also offers a basic commercial benefits option once the yearly medical expenses go over the $1,100. Coverage for preventative services is available for up to $500/year at no additional cost for members. Once the $500 limit is reached, preventative care is covered, but the POWER account would be used when necessary.

As with most types of plans, co-pays are required for all emergency care, but that would be the only service that has a co-pay. And even in the case of an emergency the co-pay would be returned if it is determined the service was a true emergency. The Healthy Indiana Plan does not currently cover dental, vision, or maternity care.

State Farm Insurance Quote Lower from Safe Driving

State Farm has a press release on their website entitled "State Farm Offers Safe Driving Tips for the Holidays" which covers some basic steps for safety on the road.

According to the article, over 400 people died and 6400 were injured in car crashes during Thanksgiving in 2008. State Farm is looking to reduce this scary statistic. If you are a safer driver it may actually end up lowering your State Farm insurance quote. Some tips may seem obvious, but it's amazing how many people do not follow these guidelines. Always buckle your seat belt, avoid risky distractions such as texting while driving, get adequate amount of sleep before you hit the road and do not eat while you drive. These are all common causes of accidents.

State Farm car insurance quotes take into consideration your driving record and the less accidents and tickets you have on your record the better. It's also important to consider that when you are partaking in risk behavior on the road you are not only putting your life at risk, but the passengers and other people out on the road are at risk as well.

Washington Basic Required to Cut Enrollment

Washington Basic Health which is a state-sponsored program to help eligible Washington residents pay for health care using income from state subsidies, is feeling the wrath of the troubled economy.

Back in February 2009, Basic Health took the necessary steps to decrease enrollment by only enrolling one new applicant for every 2 applicants that left the plan. The decline in the economy has prompted Basic Health to reduce overall enrollment by 43% for the '09-'11 budget. In '07-'09 Basic Health covered about 107,000 residents and by January 1st of 2010 the enrollment must be within the new budget.

This has created a lengthy waiting list for the plan, but there are numerous groups that are allowed to bypass the waiting list because of their need. Some examples of these groups are Foster parents, personal care workers, and Tribal sponsored accounts. Plans such iCan benefits also provides access to valuable benefits to improve the health of their members.

Ohio DOI Bringing Value to the Buckeye State

The Ohio Department of Insurance offers many valuable services for the residents of Ohio. The Ohio DOI has the important function of licensing insurance agents and brokers to ensure practices are consistent. They provide the exams and monitor the important continuing education since insurance laws are constantly changing.

The Ohio DOI has a unique online system the enables quick and simplified testing, fingerprinting, background checks and licensing distribution. Agents can also keep track of their mandatory credits needed in education.

Another very important function of the Ohio DOI is making information easily available to consumers. They offer an online toolkit specifically designed for those who are looking for health insurance or life insurance because of job loss or loss of benefits. There are numerous programs available to these consumers to help ease the financial burden associated with such events. The Ohio DOI brings much value, and it's important to ensure you are educated on their responsibilities.

State Farm Car Insurance Quotes Affected By Deer Accidents

According to the article "Deer-vehicle collisions rise in Pennsylvania" by Bob Frye on Pittsburghlive.com, Pennsylvania has always been a state with a high rate of deer accidents. According to State Farm Insurance, West Virginia and Michigan are the only two other states with a higher rate of accidents with deer. They rated a driver's chance of hitting deer 97 to 1 in PA.

The average property-damage cost of a deer accident across the country is up 2.5% from a year ago according to State Farm. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says there are about 1.5 million deer accidents a year in the US. They cause about 150 deaths, and $1.1 billion in property damages.

Driving history affects your State Farm car insurance quotes so it's important to ensure you are not doing anything to distract you from keeping your eyes on the road. Texting, eating, and talking on the phone while driving are all dangerous distractions that may cause an accident with a deer. But sometimes they jump right in front of you and there isn't much you can do.

Healthy Indiana Plan Useful Information

Affordable health insurance in this day and age can be extremely challenging for some, especially if your employer does not offer a plan and you are in the poor population. If you live in Indiana though there is a great opportunity for you. It's called the Healthy Indiana Plan and it's available to lower income Indiana residents.

The state approved this plan back in January of 2008 by the Federal government through a waiver to reallocate Medicaid funds. To qualify for the plan, individuals must have been uninsured for more than 6 months, be ineligible for Medicare or Medicaid and be between the ages of 19-64. You must also be a US Citizen.

The plan has excellent coverage and will meet most applicants' needs. Some benefits include prescription coverage, physician services, hospital visits, home health care, hospice, family planning, disease management, mental health services and substance abuse help. Currently, dental, vision, and maternity care is not offered. Based on your income, there may be a monthly premium, but it ends up being only about 2-5% of one's income. See if the Healthy Indiana Plan is right for you.

Washington Basic History

Washington Basic was created back in 1987 and started out as a pilot program to provide access to affordable health insurance for Washington residents with lower incomes. The establishment was made permanent in 1993.

Washington Basic is a state sponsored program which assists Washington residents who are eligible for the program through subsidies from the state. Everyone does participate financially. It is considered a health insurance program rather than an entitlement. They have a partnership with the private sector of health insurance and they use a market based, non regulatory approach which makes it a unique program. All of the health plans offer the same basic benefits, but the monthly rates, providers and smaller details of the plan may vary from policy to policy.

They type of coverage you will receive will depend on many factors including the size of your household, the plan you choose, your age as well as your income level. It's important to ensure you choose a plan that best suits the needs of you and your family.

Auto Insurance Being Dropped As The Economy Struggles

As unemployment increases and the state of the economy continues, more people are expected to drop their auto insurance coverage to save money. This is found in the article “More Motorists Expected To Drive Without an Auto Insurance Policy” by John Pirro on live-pr.com.

The article also states that many experts see a correlation between unemployment rates and the number of people driving without auto insurance protection. According to a study from the Insurance Research Council, about one in every six drivers will be driving without auto insurance by 2010. The more people who drive without protection, the more expensive auto insurance policies will become for the insured.

The consequences for driving uninsured are getting stricter. For example, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will suspend a driver’s vehicle registration if they are caught without proof of auto insurance. Many of these people driving around without insurance believe they can't afford the month to month cost of carrying protection. Unfortunately, getting caught without insurance or getting get an accident uninsured can end up costing you a lot more money.

Florida DOI Here To Help

According to the article "Florida Department of Insurance: Business Units" on economywatch.com, the Florida Department of Insurance (DOI) is committed to residents of the state of Florida to offer high quality insurance services. They offer user friendly guides for consumers which can be found online to assist residents in finding their insurance needs.

Florida DOI maintains a thorough database of all insurance companies in the state. The database also includes company profiles for more detail. Through the Florida DOI's online resources policies can be compared online which is extremely useful if you are looking for the best deal.

Another important function of the Florida DOI is to respond to customer grievances. If you find yourself being treated unfairly by your insurance company you can file a complaint with Florida DOI and they will do their best to protect consumers from insurance fraud. They research companies to ensure there is no unlawful conduct. Efficient working of the Florida DOI not only ensures the protection of consumers, but it also allows the insurance industry to thrive. California DOI and Colorado DOI have similar responsibilities.

iCan Benefits Information

There is an unique company in the health insurance industry called iCan Benefits which has thousands of existing customers. Their mission is to bring access to affordable health care to all Americans. They believe that America needs better access to health care, financial assistance, and lifestyle improvement benefits.

ICan knows everything about health insurance. They will walk you through the process of finding the best health insurance policy. Once its found, they will stay with you and manage the policy, answering any questions you may have.

ICan benefits has a partnership with the Health Care Credit Union Association (HCCUA), which is a not for profit organization established in 1985. Their goal is to provide access to valuable benefits to better the health of their members and their families.

Washington Basic Information

Washington Basic Health is a health insurance option providing low cost health care to qualifying Washington residents. Residents must meet income requirements and not be eligible for free or purchased Medicare. They cannot be institutionalized at the time of enrollment and also cannot be attending school full time in the US on a student visa.

Currently, there is a waiting list for Washington Basic. There are certain criteria which allow a resident to bypass the waiting list. This includes foster parents, personal care workers, HCTC, Tribal sponsored accounts and Washington National Guard or Reserves who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Noble Eagle.

Also exempt from the waiting list is BH Plus and Maternity applicants who are ineligible for DSHS programs and former BH members dis enrolled because of Medicaid who have since lost that coverage and notified Washington Basic Health within 30 days.

Healthy Indiana Plan Reopens to Adults Without Children

According to the article "Healthy Indiana Plan to reopen to childless adults" by Ken Kusmer on usatoday.com, Indiana desires to enroll more childless adults in its state funded medical savings account. They will be reopening enrollment for them in the future.

When the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) was approved by the federal government, they originally put a limit of 34,000 childless adults for enrollment according to consultant Seema Verma. HIP has shown that it is very popular with this group of individuals and the Family and Social Services Administration closed the program to this group back in March.

Thousands more childless adults are currently on the waiting list to be enrolled in the program. FSSA has yet to decide exactly when they will be opening up more enrollment to these people, but it's coming according to a state consultant. HIP offers up to $500 a year in free preventative health care and a medical savings account worth $1100 per year. When costs go over this amount they have benefits of $300,000 a year.

Auto Insurance Suspicious Fraud

The article “NICB: Suspicious insurance claims up” by Susan R. Miller found on bizjournals.com says the number of questionable insurance claims increased to 41,619 in the first half of 2009, up from 36,743, in the first half of 2008.

NICB member auto insurance companies send these suspicious claims to the Des Plaines, IL based bureau for investigation and further research based on certain criteria of possible fraudulent activity. The report doesn't look into how many of these referrals actually end up being fraud. It also doesn't consider causal factors. It is looking at raw data only.

Suspicious auto insurance claims were up by 21% in the first half of 2009. Auto glass fraud is the number one type of suspicious auto insurance fraud. Suspicious car theft claims were 6,852, up about 10% from 6,216 in the first part of 2008.

State Farm Car Insurance Quotes: Student Discount

According to the article "Premium Opportunities" by Aleksandra Todorova on the Wall Street Journal's website, car insurance rates possibly double or more when a teenager is added onto their parents' policy. When the teen heads to college they can expect some relief.

Many companies offer "good student" discounts. As an example, State Farm car insurance quotes can be cheaper if the student has good grades. Depending on the student's gender and whether or not they are an occasional driver will impact how much of a discount. It can range from 9% to 35% off the premium.

State Farm Insurance's research shows that it can often be cheaper to keep a student on the parent's car insurance policy. For an example, in Indianapolis, it would cost about $400 more a year for a student to have their own policy.

Parents usually get a bigger savings for their sons who go off to college than daughters because rates for males are higher to begin with according to Robert Hunter, director of insurance at Consumer Federation of America.

Ohio DOI Offers New Online Service

According to the article "Ohio DOI Unveils New Online Service for Ohio Agents" on insurancejournal.com, the Ohio Department of Insurance (DOI) announced that it will be providing a new online service that will help about 81,000 licensed Ohio insurance agents to keep track of their continuing education credit through the Internet.

Ohio resident insurance agents are able to log onto the Ohio DOI website to find their continuing education status, and find information about approved courses and other licensing opportunities and requirements.

Insurance companies can see the status of agents if they subscribe to the service as well. It's available 24 hours a day and the service makes it extremely convenient for agents to verify their information and keep track of their status and goals.

State Farm Insurance Keeping Us Healthy

State Farm Insurance, which carries different forms of insurance, including auto insurance and health insurance, is giving the nation a weight loss challenge. The challenge is to lose 50 million pounds collectively according to the article “Insurance agency challenges Americans to lose weight” on wqow.com.

State Farm Insurance agent Bob Johnson points out that the healthier you are the less likely you are to see a doctor which will eventually affect your insurance rates. Living a healthy lifestyle leads to a longer, higher quality life in addition to health insurance savings.

Registration can be completed online and participants are able to track their progress and obtain tips on how to start a healthier life. State Farm Insurance is offering a health kit which includes a pedometer and an information pamphlet. You can also obtain a State Farm insurance quote online.

Auto Insurance Requirement for CARS Program

State Farm auto insurance is reminding everyone that the Federal Government’s Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS program or “Cash for Clunkers”) requires participants carry auto insurance for their trade-in according to the article by Tony Potts on Coos Valley News' website.

Last week the US Senate agreed to extend the CARS program until Labor Day offering a great opportunity for many auto owners to receive the tax benefit. By trading in an older, less fuel efficient car for a new one, you will receive a tax credit. Keep in mind though that there are requirements, one of which includes having auto insurance. Trade-ins must be registered and insured for the full year before you decide to trade it in.

This is a reminder of how important it is for all cars to be covered by auto insurance. Uninsured drivers are a risk to everyone on the road, and it is the law in most states. Get a State Farm insurance quote if you are not yet insured.

Auto Insurance and Clunkers for Cash

Many individuals are thinking about trading in their older cars for new, more fuel efficient cars to earn some extra money through the government’s tax benefit called CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System). Unfortunately, higher auto insurance rates may minimize the benefits of trading in an older car according to an article on insurance.com.

Buying a fuel efficient car is of course beneficial for our environment, but new cars often have higher auto insurance costs because they are pricier to fix and replace. You could end up offsetting the tax savings from the CARS program. One good thing is that fuel efficient cars do cut gas costs weekly right away so there are savings there, but auto insurance rates can cost you more money over time so shopping around is crucial. According to a study from women-drivers.com, only about 22% of drivers shopped for auto insurance before making a purchase of a policy. Auto insurance rates are currently relatively low, so shopping around is a good idea.

The CARS program is still a great initiative towards cleaning up our environment, but it may not benefit everyone. It's always important to do your homework when trading in or buying a new auto.

Health Insurance for Mexico Tourists Free of Charge

The story “Mexico Unveils New Travel Health Insurance Scheme to Win Back Tourists” by Karen Elowitt on petergreenberg.com explains the news that Mexico has made a bold move towards bringing back tourists. The Swine Flu has left an unwanted stigma on the country and its economy is at risk. Mexico will be setting up a new health insurance plan which will be available for tourists in the case of injury or illness with no charge.

The health insurance plan is called the “Tourist Assistance Card” which can be accessed by contacting a free phone number which connects tourists to a multi-lingual call center. There may be deductibles that apply and patients will need to get treatment from authorized hospitals part of the plan.

This health insurance is being offered by a private company named MAPFRE and can be used for any type of emergency from sprained ankles to the flu. They also will have additional assistance to those who have lost their travel documents or passports, or even if they just need advice on travel plans. It's unknown whether or not this health insurance offer will lure enough tourists back to Mexico and save the economy, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Auto Insurance Companies and Repair Shops

The article “Shops debate the place of insurers in the repair process” by Brian Albright on SearchAutoParts.com talks about how car designs have become more complex and expensive which is causing more and more auto insurance companies to get involved in the auto repair process.

Issues sometimes arise between repairers and insurers as the insurance companies pressure shops to cut costs. The repair shops see this as meddling as they deal with their own financial pressures. Most repair shops prefer that the insurance company give a check and stay out of the repair process, but customers find a lot value in the insurance companies taking over. In addition, insurance companies want to keep the repair shop's prices down as much as possible to save themselves money.

Not all insurance companies are getting in the way of the repair shop's agenda. State Farm auto insurance is generally seen as cooperative according to the article. Recently, they have participated in programs striving for efficiencies in the repair business. While some repair shops see this as intrusive, others see it as a positive force. Gene Regan, general manager at Causeway Collision Center in Manahawkin, NJ believes it is a productive initiative for State Farm to get involved. He sees the program bringing the repair shops and insurance companies together to learn from each other and develop better business practices. This will ultimately benefit the mutual customers who both parties look to please.

Health Insurance for College Athletes

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) started to require universities to ensure their athletes had health insurance coverage before competing in sporting events about four years ago. The mistake that was made was that the Association did not set clear standards for the insurance coverage leaving the athletes and their parents to decide for themselves what they should get. This is according to the article “College Athletes Stuck With the Bill After Injuries” by Kristina Peterson, NYtimes.com.

Some universities accept much of the responsibility for medical claims made by their athletes but others assume no responsibility according to a review of school public documents. Many university representatives say they clearly inform their students about the limits of various health insurance plans, but students and their families are still left frustrated and confused since many have had to take on large and unexpected medical bills due to lack of proper coverage.

Often times athletes have health insurance through their parents but the coverage does not always include injuries due to college varsity sports. This is where it gets complicated. Additional coverage is needed but the students are unsure where to shop and often do not get the proper coverage which can leave them with mountains of debt. One solution being discussed is to require universities to offer quality health insurance coverage to all of their athletes, but this most likely will put too much of a burden on colleges financially. If schools are going to suffer financially from this type of requirement the NCAA is unlikely to require a mandate anytime soon.

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Rates Are Down

According to the article “Car insurance rates fall 8%, state says” by Todd Wallack in the Boston Globe, Massachusetts auto insurance rates are down since Massachusetts stopped setting their own rates in 2008. This information is from a study completed by the Division of Insurance.

The state study shows that auto insurance rates are down 8.2% from April 2008 to April 2009. The rates fell 5.2% from 2006 to 2007. In April of 2008 Massachusetts began allowing auto insurers to set their own rates which was to create controlled competition. Before this change, rates in Massachusetts were highly regulated.

Jason Lefferts is a spokesperson for the insurance division, and he said the study also found that during the last year the number of uninsured cars in Massachusetts dropped and that less people were considered high-risk drivers. Since the change in regulation, nine companies have become part of the Massachusetts auto insurance market.

Employer Sponsored Health Insurance - What Does The Future Hold?

The article “Who Gets Employer-Based Health Insurance” by Catherine Rampell in the NYTimes Economix, has some great information on the issue of the health insurance debate going on in Washington, DC. They are trying to decide what to do with employer-based health insurance. The US is one of the only countries where losing your job translates to losing your health insurance. That is why individual health insurance is often a better choice. That is also a reason the government is looking towards revamping the health care system.

According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation report on health-care benefits, not all companies have the benefit of health insurance for its employees. Smaller companies often cannot afford to offer any kind of health insurance benefit. Companies that do offer health insurance usually do not cover the full cost. The remaining cost comes out of the employee's paycheck. A small number of companies do offer to pay for the full cost of the health insurance policy.

Many Americans are extremely comfortable with employer-based health insurance and do not want to see it go away. This leads Congress to consider a health care plan that still includes the employee-based health insurance concept.

Auto Insurance and Cell Phones

Studies have shown that driving while texting can be as dangerous as driving under the influence. Because of this many states have passed legislation to make certain types of cell phone usage against the law. In some cases, using a cell while driving can cause you to obtain a "careless driving" violation which may impact your auto insurance rates.

In the past decade six states have passed a ban on cell phone use while driving. These states include Connecticut, California, New York, New Jersey, Washington and Utah. The District of Columbia has also passed this. There are six states who have authorized cities to ban cell phone use including Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Mexico, Michigan, Massachusetts and Illinois.

To learn more on this topic you can read the full article http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx.

Health Insurance Reform - What Do Doctors Think

Lindsey Tanner wrote an article entitled “Doctors signal they’ll work with Obama” published in the Associated Press discussing Obama's meeting with the American Medical Association (AMA).

The AMA is a group of doctors representing the nation. Traditionally, the AMA is conservative and have fought previous administrations' health care reform attempts. There was speculation that they were going to create an obstacle for Obama and his health insurance plan. But after Obama spoke to the doctors at their annual meeting in Chicago, the AMA signaled that they won't close the door on his health insurance proposal. Specifically, they are not against the part where public health insurance will compete with private insurers.

Obama's trip to Chicago for this meeting shows how much the President values the AMA's support. They would have liked a stronger endorsement, but this is a small battle in the large fight ahead for the Obama administration.

Auto Insurance Prices Drop in May

More and more Americans are trying to save money so it comes as good news that auto insurance rates dropped in May according to an article on IFAWebnews. The average rate was as low as $1871 in May, 2009. It got as high as $1950 in Sept, 2008.

It's a good time for lower auto insurance rates because industry experts say new auto sales will be increasing, potentially by 9%, in June over May. Dealers are trying to get 2009 cars off the lots to make room for the 2010 cars coming in. As buyers purchase new cars they will need to update their auto insurance policies and many will shop around. Because of the economy slump new car sales have been down. A pick up in car sales will have an impact on auto insurance. Having a new car may change your insurance rate so it's important to get a quote from numerous auto insurance companies to ensure you are getting the best deal.

Health Care Spending Needs to be Lowered

A report was released today by President Obama's economic team stating that the growth in health care spending needs to be decreased from 6% to 4.5% to show huge benefits for the economy. Some of these benefits would include creating up to 500,000 new jobs and increasing the average family income by $2600 over the next 10 years. Cutting these health insurance costs and covering the 46 million people who are currently not insured would increase economic stability by about $100 billion per year.

This goal is incredibly aggressive and barely seems possible. Obama's economic advisers realize that decreasing spending by 1.5% will be very challenging, but if the goal can be attained it could mean a huge benefit for companies, families and the US economy, which is definitely needed. Health care spending right now accounts for 18% of gross domestic product and could be up to 34% by 2040 if reform does not take place. Obama also met with industry leaders recently who are pledging to find $2 trillion in health savings over 10 years. It is definitely a priority on Obama's agenda and he thinks reform is a must.

Oxford Health Insurance Quick Reference Guide for Swine Flu

With the US recently declaring a public health emergency in response to swine flu, Oxford Health Insurance, owned by UnitedHealthcare, put out a quick reference guide to better understand how to safeguard yourself and people around you.

This has come at a valuable time since many are confused about how to protect themselves from swine flu, and also do not understand the ramifications of the disease spreading. View the quick reference guide and if you have any other questions contact Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.

Donegal Insurance Released Its 2009 First Quarter Earnings

On April 24, 2009 Donegal Insurance stated their 2009 first quarter earnings. The first quarter net income was $169,804 (.01 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis). The Company was expecting a lower net income for the First Quarter citing severe winter weather as well as an unusually high number of fire loss claims. Both of these factors adversely affected their net income 1st quarter, 2009.

Donegal Insurance is an insurance company with subsidiaries that provide personal & commercial property and casualty lines of insurance in 18 states in the US.

Keeping Teen Drivers Safe

Car crashes are the #1 killer of our nation's teens. Through education teens can learn how to be safer and prevent devastating accidents.

It's crucial to talk about road safety with your teen as well as establish rules and consequences you can agree on. Discuss when, where, how and with whom your teen is allowed to drive. Limit the number of passengers in the car and enforce a curfew. Insist that all passengers wear seat belts and encourage your teen to call for a ride home if any alcohol or drugs are involved.

Ensure your teen understands the enormous responsibility that comes with having their license. With the proper information and rules, lives may be saved. When it has been determined that your teen is a safe driver and you have to add them to your auto insurance policy, be sure to shop around for the best price.

Auto Insurance Company's Study Finds Under 30s Using iPods While Driving, Increasing Risk

A press release from the Australian auto insurance company NRMA Insurance about a recent research study finds that nearly half of all drivers under 30 use mp3 players, such as iPods, while driving.

The insurer claims that searching for songs or adjusting playlists can make the devices more distracting than a CD player or radio. NRMA recommends creating playlists beforehand, so you're focused on the road instead of on choosing tracks. 

Worst of all, 17% actually wear headphones when they're driving! Doing so makes it extremely likely that they won't hear traffic signals or even emergency sirens. Being distracted for as little as one second can result in a car accident causing bodily injury, death, and/or skyrocketing auto insurance premiums.

Although the research was done in Australia, I would expect these statistics to be similar in the United States and other similar cultures, given the general risk-taking of many young drivers worldwide.

Affordable Health Care Resources for Uninsured

The Orlando Sentinel recently highlighted community health care clinics, which provide health care services to the uninsured. Otherwise, many of these individuals would either go to the emergency room for minor ailments or go without treatment entirely.

Most clinics either treat all comers for free, or charge fees on a sliding scale depending on the patient's income. The clinics are run either by private groups or by state or county governments. They tend to serve a role similar to a family doctor, handling minor illnesses or primary care. Care that requires a specialist (e.g. mental health treatment, vision and dental care) , however, is far harder to come by for the uninsured. And people with chronic, life-threatening conditions such as cancer are in an even worse state, because there is only so much the clinic can do.

Clinics often serve a limited number of patients per day and have long waiting lists for care. If at all possible, finding basic coverage with low health insurance rates is ideal. However, free health clinics are a good resource in the mean time.

MassMutual Offers Free Life Insurance in Vermont

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has expanded its free LifeBridge program to Vermont residents. It offers $50,000 in life insurance that would be paid into a fund for the education of a person's children if the covered individual passes away.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be a parent or legal guardian
• Earn under $40,000 per year
• Between the ages of 19 to 42

The life insurance money can be used for a variety of educational expenses, including college tuition, tutoring, pre-school fees, or other related expenses. Signups took place at local YMCA locations.

A total of 10,000 LifeBridge policies have been written throughout the country over the past seven years, and just six have been paid out. Therefore, it doesn't cost MassMutual a lot of money but gives them good press.

Many Working to Save Massachusetts Auto Insurance Appeal Board

Massachusetts' Insurance Commissioner wants to eliminate the state's independent auto insurance appeal board, citing cost and a move towards a more competitive insurance market. This proposal doesn't sit well with many consumers, legislators, and even insurers, according to an article in The Republican. If the board is eliminated, policyholders will instead have to appeal their claims to the insurance companies themselves; consumer groups fear that is unfair and will create bias towards finding the motorist at fault in order to avoid paying accident claims.

However, the insurance commissioner claims that the change will actually benefit consumers, because they will no longer have to pay a fee to appeal and will have state oversight of insurance companies; not to mention the opportunity to shop around for auto insurance quotes from multiple insurers.

On average, the board of appeal has found in favor of the consumer about half of the time, saving drivers thousands of dollars in premium surcharges. The surcharges can appear on their records for up to 6 years!

A bill is currently pending in the state legislature to save the appeal board. As of now it will remain open for several months to deal with its backlog, but no new appeals may be filed after April 1st.

Lost Your Health Insurance? Tips to Deal With It

The Columbus Dispatch has some tips for people who have been laid off and are currently uninsured. These suggestions can save you money on your health care:

• If your health insurance hasn't yet ran out, get any necessary tests done before it does.
• Ask your doctor to prescribe drugs with a generic equavilent, and request them from your pharmacist. Some stores sell some generics for just $4!
• Buy a prescription drug card that gives you discounts on medications.
• Get coverage through a high-deductible health insurance plan, which will protect you in a catastrophe with lower premiums than typical health insurance.
• Find out if the pharmaceutical company/ies that makes your medication(s) has a free drug program, such as PPaRX, for lower income individuals.
• Negotiate with your doctors for lower rates and/or an affordable payment plan for services. Many doctors are surprisingly open to that.
• See if your doctors can give you some free samples of prescription medication, given to them by the drug companies.

Remember to check out health insurance rates in order to become reinsured as soon as possible. Some plans could be more affordable than you think.

16% Of Drivers Will Be Uninsured in 2009, Predicts Insurance Research Council

In Newsday, Tom Incantalupo reported that the Insurance Research Council, and industry group, is predicting an increase in uninsured drivers for 2010. Their projection is that 16.1% of all drivers in the United States will be driving around without auto insurance, an increase from 13.8% in 2007.

The IRC blames this state of events on the economy, because consumers are trying to cut back on expenses. With the unemployment rate rising at a similar clip, it’s somewhat understandable that keeping up with your auto insurance premiums may fall to the wayside. Still, it’s a bad idea to let your policy lapse. For one, when you eventually buy insurance again, your premiums could see a sharp increase. Not only do uninsured drivers risk fines and other legal punishment in most states; they also cause the rates of insured drivers to go up when they’re involved in a crash, Tom says.

Life Insurance Companies Can Refuse To Write Policies For HIV-Positive

In the Spokesman-Review, there was a recent article by Kevin Graman confirming that life insurance companies are allowed to deny coverage to people who have HIV. Insurance regulators in Washington state ruled that Farmer's denial of coverage was not discriminatory. In 2006, a HIV-positive individual was denied coverage from a subsidiary of Farmer's Group, Farmer's New World Life. He then filed a discrimination lawsuit against them with the Insurance Commission. While insurers are legally permitted to deny someone coverage if they are considered too risky to insure according to sound actuarial data, human rights activists believe that Farmers routinely declines to write policies for this group because of outdated statistics.

Kevin writes that ever since anti-retrovirals have dramatically increased the life expectancy of the HIV-positive, it is considered by many to be a risk that could be insured. A Swiss study found that patients with HIV but without hepatitis C have short-term mortality rates similar to successfully treated cancer patients. Cancer patients whom have completed treatment are able to buy life insurance policies.

Obama Plans to Approve Children’s Health Insurance Funding Increase

President Barack Obama is doing an awful lot in his first 100 days: he is soon expected to sign into law a bill presented by the U.S. House soon after he takes office that will increase spending on government funded children's health insurance plans. The SCHIP bill was ratified by Democrats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but was vetoed by former President George W. Bush last year.

The bill would essentially add 4 million children to the existing roll of 7 million who are already receiving government subsidized health insurance. The bill proposes that increased taxes on tobacco will cover the $32 billion it will cost to expand the health coverage. Some Republicans believe this is an unfair burden on smokers.

Under the proposed bill, states are now given the option of eliminating the 5 year waiting period on providing government funded health insurance coverage to legal immigrants as well as pregnant immigrants.

Mercury Insurance Buys CA's Auto Insurance Specialists

According to the Insurance Journal, Mercury General has added insurance firm Auto Insurance Specialists to its portfolio. This gives Mercury a large presence in the California auto insurance market through the Auto Insurance Specialists, Aon Recreation Insurance, and PoliSeek brand names. In 2007, AIS wrote about $400 million worth of direct premiums.

The deal was brokered by Aon Corp. Mercury paid $120 million in cash immediately, with the possibility of an additional $34.7 million over the next two years. This deal will further expand the reach of Mercury's auto insurance subsidiaries.