Auto Insurance Affected by Gas Prices

Rising gas prices may end up affecting auto insurance rates. According to the article "Will Rising Gas Prices Cause a Small-Car Book?" by Jonathan Welsh on The Wall Street Journal, people are looking to more fuel-efficient cars as gas prices creep up.

A similar trend happened in 2008 when demand increased so many for smaller cars and hybrids that used car prices were matching that of newer cars. Used car insurance and car insurance for smaller vehicles is typically cheaper so consumers who go this route are saving money on numerous fronts.

Americans in general associate smaller, more efficient cars with tougher economic times so overall car makers wait for higher gas prices or an economic downturn to push the sale of their smaller cars.

Kelley Blue Book, which keeps track of resale values and other industry data through a Market Intelligence survey, reports that economic struggles and the growing concern over gas prices pushes new and used-car owner to proactively change the type of car they are driving. In February, their survey showed that 81% of car shoppers were influenced by gas prices which shows the power of these prices in the market place.

Geisinger Health Plan Awards

Geisinger Health Plan is a well respected institution that has received a lot of recognition over the years. They work hard to ensure they are ranked well and are very focused on quality performance. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which is an independent agency dedicated to measuring the quality of America's health care, consistently rates Geisinger high on various reports.

Geisinger was rated number one in the country for beta-blocker treatment and scored in the top 10 for engagement of alcohol and other drug treatment according to their website. They also scored in the top 10 for children receiving immunizations, following up with mental illness, and counseling children about physical activity.

NCQA also rated Geisinger number one in the country for monitoring digoxin used for heart conditions as well as number one for monitoring diuretics used for heart conditions. They scored in the top 10 nationally for teens receiving annual well visits between the ages of 12 and 21 in 2009. They were also in the top 10 across the nation for giving proper pre-natal care during the first trimester.

These are just a few of the high rankings Geisinger has received over the past few years. Their focus and dedication to quality shows in these ranking reports. There is some tough competition out there to score in the top 10 so the fact that Geisinger ranks so well is very impressive and proves their motivation and drive towards superior quality. Individual health insurance is made easier with health plans such as Geisinger.

Wisconsin Auto Insurance Changes

Wisconsin recently passed a new bill which will lower coverage limits for Wisconsin auto insurance according to an article found in the Badger Herald by Andrew Averill. Coverage limits were previously raised in hopes that it would save money, but the Democrats had other ideas for lowering premiums.

As of now, Wisconsin law requires auto insurers to cover $50,000 for bodily injury, $100,000 for 2 or more people, and for property damage it's $15,000. The new bill changes the limits to $25,000, $50,000, and $10,000 respectively. This is a big difference and should have an impact on Wisconsin cities and perhaps other northern cities such as Seattle auto insurance will be influenced.

Jeff Fitzgerald, the assembly speaker in Wisconsin, saws the previous law ended up increase auto insurance rates for good drivers and even limited options for consumers. He believes the new law will help people shopping for auto insurance by giving them more choices in coverage plans. He sees this bill as the perfect combination of consumer choice and consumer responsibility. Hopefully it achieves that goal.

NFL Lockout: Going to Extremes for Health Insurance

The much talked about NFL Lockout is upon us and causing quite a stir when it comes to players and their health insurance benefits that could disappear tonight. Players have been encouraged to apply for COBRA, but with the hefty price tag that comes with COBRA, many players are opting out. And without any health insurance they are putting their financial situation at risk.

According to the article "Desperate Measures? Player's Wife Induces Labor Early as NFL Lockout Approaches" by Brad Cohen found on SportsGrid.com, an unnamed player's wife induced labor early deliberately to ensure the health care costs would be paid for by the NFL health insurance. This may seem extreme, but will simplify things for the family. Although COBRA is a very good option for players it is expensive. Channing Crowder, the linebacker for the Miami Dolphins says it's going to cost him about $1300 a month for COBRA health insurance. Many players may not be financially prepared for this type of monthly cost. Hopefully this NFL lockout will be resolved soon and it will be a short term situation.

Health Insurance for All Incomes and Ages

Health care reform intends to ensure everyone has some form of affordable health insurance, but until then companies are stuggling to find a way to ensure everyone. Charter Oak Health Plan is a unique example of a health insurer working for the people.

One of the big debates going on in Washington currently is whether or not health insurance is believed to be a privilege or a right. It's definitely a necessity and Charter Oak recognizes this for the people of Connecticut. Many residents, including small businesses, people in between jobs, recent graduates, and early retirees felt affordable health insurance was unattainable. Charter Oak Health Plan is hoping to change that through offering health insurance to all incomes and ages.

Since 2008, Charter Oak has been working hard to serve the people of Connecticut. Those who struggle to find affordable health insurance, or any health coverage at all can turn to Charter Oak for help. They offer coverage to many adults struggling with financial hardships and cannot afford to pay for non-group premiums on their own. This is refreshing in an economic environment leaving many Americans feeling stressed and lacking proper health care coverage.

Understanding a Used Car's History

It is critical in today's economic environment to ensure you are not getting scammed, and purchasing a car should be no different. Many consumers are looking to used cars for many reasons such as they are generally cheaper, used car insurance is often less expensive and with cars being made so well today, used cars can run great and for a long period of time. But there are sellers out there trying to sell lemons to do your homework.

Larry Gamache of CARFAX says there are millions of cars on the road today with open recalls that have not been attended to. According to the article "Learn A Used Car's History Before You Buy" by Stephanie Wilson on WUSA9.com, consumers should insist that a mechanical inspection be completed before purchasing a car. In addition, they should order a car report from a trusted company such as CARFAX and get information on the VIN number. If there is an open recall on a car, the manufacturer must repair it at no cost to you so it's definitely worth your time to ensure the car is safe.

Jack Gillis from Consumer Federation of America and the author of The Car Book, says the best way to find a deal on a used car and know for sure what it has been through is to buy it from a trusted friend. Since this isn't always an option following the few steps mentioned above will hopefully prevent you from buying a car that may be unsafe.

Individual Health Insurance for Genders

Health insurance companies have always used gender as a factor when determining rates for individual health insurance. This was justified by the statistical data gathered over years which showed women spent more on healthcare than men. California has recently passed a new state law which will forbid health insurance companies in the state from using gender as a factor for pricing according to the article "State Law Levels Premiums" on DailyBulletin.com.

This law may have a huge impact on the way health insurers are conducting business. Many experts believe that gender rating negatively affects women and causes them to pay more for health insurance over a lifetime. The new national health care reform bill passed in 2010 will also prohibit gender pricing, but this will not take effect until 2014, so California is ahead of the game and it's possible other states follow suit and implement this practice before it's law in 2014.

The new California law will affect over 1 million women in the state purchasing individual health insurance policies according to Beth McGovern who is the legislative director for the California Commission on the Status of Women. It is going to apply to new and existing policies. Although this is a fairer way of pricing, health insurance companies will have to reevaluate how to make up for the differences in health care costs between men and women.