Insurance World Information

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.

Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:

* Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car
* Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for   bodily injury or property damage.
* Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and   funeral expenses.

An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you’re financing a car, your lender may also have requirements.

Most auto policies are for six months to a year. Your insurance company should notify you by mail when it’s time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.

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The University of New Hampshire will require all full-time students to have health insurance next year, the college announced yesterday. School officials said doing so will make sure students can access care beyond the basic services provided by the university.

As many as 1,800 UNH students are uninsured, said Cindy McGahey, the director of finance and administration at UNH Health Services. A survey conducted last spring confirmed what college health workers long suspected: that those students often don’t visit specialists or undergo needed tests, because they can’t pay for them, she said.

"We know cases where students have to choose between continuing school and paying a medical bill," McGahey said. "Even though students think they’re young and healthy, you never know when you’re going to get into a car accident or have appendicitis."

For students without coverage, the university will offer its own health insurance package next year for about $115 a month. The plan, provided by a subsidiary of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, will cover students for 12 months regardless of whether they’re at school, home or studying abroad, the university said.

Loans will be available for students who can’t afford the $1,380-per-year premium, said Susan Allen, the director of UNH’s financial aid office. Allen didn’t have any estimates as to how many students might need financial help.
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By Insure.com

You’ve got your passport, the tickets are booked, and your luggage is packed. In short, you’re all set to take a whirlwind trip around the globe — or are you?
Have you thought about what would happen if you were to get hurt or fall ill on your international tour, or if a terrorist attack interrupted your itinerary?

Perhaps the most important reason to purchase a travel insurance policy for your overseas trip is the medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation insurance that comes with most travel insurance policies.

"International travelers, even in these unpredictable times, simply do not have appropriate insurance protection," says Zain Jeewanjee, Founder and CEO of Go One Global, an insurer specializing in travel insurance and medical insurance for Americans on extended stays overseas. The following 5 tips are key to making intelligent travel insurance choices before you even think of boarding that plane.
1. You’re taking a serious risk traveling without travel health and accident insurance
Employer-sponsored health insurance programs rarely cover medical care received in a foreign country, and many private health insurance plans (whether provided through employers or purchased individually) limit overseas coverage to emergencies — and it can be your responsibility to prove the emergency. Do you know the difference between "emergency" and "urgent care" under your health insurance plan? Regardless you would need to pay for the expenses out of pocket, and file for reimbursement when you return.

The best idea is to check with your health insurer to see what is covered before you go overseas. If you’re concerned that your health insurance might not be enough on your trip, you’ll want to find a travel medical insurance policy to fill in the gaps.

Also remember that, in some parts of the world, your health insurance might not be accepted as a guarantee of payment, which is required by some hospitals before they’ll treat you. So while your insurance might reimburse you after the trip, you could be stuck first paying out of pocket for your medical care. Most travel insurance policies, however, will provide these guarantees and even offer the option to pay from the very first dollar in medical expenses you incur.

Along with health and accident insurance, many travel insurers provide a 24-hour assistance telephone line to help international travelers find their way to the local pharmacy, get a replacement set of glasses, and find an English-speaking doctor or reputable hospital.

2. Medical evacuation coverage is essential
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A standard homeowners insurance policy includes four essential types of coverage. They include:
   1. Coverage for the structure of your home.
   2. Coverage for your personal belongings.
   3. Liability protection.
   4. Additional living expenses in the event you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of        a fire or other insured disaster.

1. The structure of your house
This part of your policy pays to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged or destroyed by fire, hurricane, hail, lightning or other disaster listed in your policy. It will not pay for damage caused by a flood, earthquake or routine wear and tear. When purchasing coverage for the structure of your home, it is important to buy enough to rebuild your home.

Most standard policies also cover structures that are detached from your home such as a garage, tool shed or gazebo. Generally, these structures are covered for about 10% of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home. If you need more coverage, talk to your insurance agent about purchasing more insurance.
    
2. Your personal belongings
Your furniture, clothes, sports equipment and other personal items are covered if they are stolen or destroyed by fire, hurricane or other insured disaster. Most companies provide coverage for 50% to 70% of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home. So if you have $100,000 worth of insurance on the structure of your home, you would have between $50,000 to $70,000 worth of coverage for your belongings. The best way to determine if this is enough coverage is to conduct a home inventory.
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