After a failed attempt to pass a universal health plan early this year, California is now looking to rein in the notoriously consumer-unfriendly market for California individual health insurance.

States face a Catch 22 when it comes to health policies that people buy on their own. Require plans to provide certain benefits or bar them from rejecting individuals for health insurance coverage, and the result will be that the insurance gets more expensive. Give insurers lots of latitude about who and what to cover, and cheaper plans are available — but often not for the older and sicker patients who need coverage most.

So California is trying a balancing act. A proposal being considered in the legislature would require insurers to cover physician services, hospital care and preventive services, and would set a maximum amount patients would have to pay each year toward their bills, the Los Angeles Times reports. State regulators would sort policies into categories based on the health care benefits they offer and establish minimum benefits for each category, presumably making them easier to compare.

But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to limit it to categorizing plans and not order insurers to offer specific benefits. Daniel Zingale, the governor’s senior advisor on health, told the Times that although “we need to make the insurance market more user-friendly,” too many benefit requirements could lead to price changes for people who already have coverage.

Sen. Darrell Steinberg, the bill’s Democratic author, told the Times he was “always willing to consider compromise” but that he also would like “the bill to be meaningful to consumers.” Other ideas being negotiated include limiting limit insurer profits on individual insurance plans and restricting insurers’ ability to cancel policies retroactively.

Early this morning, the California Legislature approved a budget proposal for fiscal year 2008-2009 that avoided some cuts to health care and other programs, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Democrats widely opposed the proposed cuts (Zapler, San Jose Mercury News, 9/16).  The proposal does not eliminate dental services for adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries or impose new restrictions on Medi-Cal services for undocumented immigrants. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program.

Beyond those already introduced by Senate Democrats, the budget agreement does not include cuts to California health care, human services or education programs, according to information Ventura County officials received from the California State Association of Counties (Biasotti, Ventura County Star, 9/16).
Healthy Families, Medi-Cal

The budget retains a provision to increase monthly premiums for Healthy Families, California’s version of the State Children’s health insurance Program (Los Angeles Times, 9/16).

The proposal would restore most of the 10% cut in Medi-Cal payments to health care providers beginning in March 2009 (Lin, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 9/16). California’s Medicaid reimbursement rates will remain the lowest in the U.S. even after the cuts are restored, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The majority of states require that motorists are financially responsible for expenses which may arise from the result of traffic accidents; while every states law differs, more and more are requiring that vehicle operators have the ability to prove that they have compensation in place following a collision. Although some states mandate that motorists have coverage to pay for personal injury (commonly referred to as No Fault states) and other states will require coverage for injuries caused to others (Bodily Injury Protection), the fact of the matter is that proof of auto insurance will need to be provided under many different circumstances.

Financial responsibility laws are taken very seriously and are intended to make sure that if a person is injured in an accident they will receive some sort of compensation whether it is from their own carrier or the insurer of another party; these laws are also in place to help keep uninsured motorists from utilizing the roadways illegally. The necessity to show proof of insurance is pretty similar across the nation; motorists will likely be required to provide documentation when requested by law enforcement, when renewing or registering an automobile or following a traffic collision. Certain states have also taken it a step further; in California, beginning in 2006, insurers licensed to issue policies became required by law to electronically notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of private-use vehicle information; if an insurer notifies the department of a cancellation in coverage an automobile’s registration may be suspended.

The cost of car insurance is a very important issue for many consumers these days and locating the cheapest premiums seems to be a common goal for motorists; although a person should never pay more than they have to for automobile policies, choosing the wrong company for coverage can turn into a bad experience when a claim is filed or even dealing with customer service representatives. Insurers provide a very important product that is extremely valuable in the event of a traffic accident and policyholders should not have a problem getting what they have paid for.

One of the important factors that make up the best rated auto insurance companies is financial stability; this is often overlooked or ignored by drivers in order to obtain the lowest priced policy. Choosing to sacrifice quality for price can end up being the wrong choice if a motorist becomes insured with a company that is not financially sound. Obtaining coverage with a carrier who may not be in good financial shape can result in delayed claims and unnecessary grief, especially when compensation for a claim is needed in a timely manner; fortunately, consumers can protect themselves from being covered by a company who may not be able to fulfill their end of the deal.

Privacy is an important issue to many individuals and they are a bit hesitant with furnishing certain details about themselves when they surf and shop on the Internet and even when shopping offline. Insurers have quickly adapted to the fact the World Wide Web is becoming the preferred destination for a consumer who wishes to find the lowest rates and are willing to provide auto insurance quotations on their websites with no need to provide items such as driver’s license and social security. The ability to compare rates of multiple carriers without providing such info can offer a safer and more comfortable shopping environment.

Comparison websites such as OnlineAutoInsurance.com also take a visitor’s privacy very serious and offer the ability for consumers to obtain multiple quotes from a number of reputable insurers which may eliminate the need to enter basic info into each website of individual companies. Being able to obtain insurance quotes without personal information gives consumers the freedom to shop around on a regular basis without feeling uncomfortable; periodically comparing rates is a very effective method of ensuring that the most competitive price is being paid for coverage.

A common thread is emerging in the right wing response to healthcare reform. Its opponents aren’t claiming that public healthcare will be bad. Rather, they are terrified that the new system will be so good that no citizen would buy expensive private insurance–or vote for politicians who wanted to take public insurance away.

The Obama team is sending clear signals that healthcare reform is a core economic issue, and the health insurance industry is becoming increasingly anxious by the future administration’s determination to bring healthcare costs under control. Some Americans are seeing their healthcare premiums rising at four times the rate of inflation, if they have insurance at all. Healthcare reform is a pocketbook issue for all of us, according to the Obama team.

In tough economic times it might be tempting to postpone healthcare reforms, but Obama is adamant that delay would be a false economy.

In the American Prospect, Joanne Kenen and Sarah Axeen support claims about the high cost of doing nothing:

A recent report by the New America Foundation’s health-policy program estimates that the cost of doing nothing about health care, including poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured, is well above $200 billion a year and rising. That’s enough to cover the uninsured and still have some left over for other public-health needs.

If healthcare costs continue to rise at their current rates, it will cost $24,000/yr to insure a family of four by 2016, an 84% increase from today. At these rates, half of American households would have to spend at least 45% percent of their income to be insured.

In the Nation, Willa Thompson describes how a bicycle crash made her appreciate the connection between healthcare and politics. Thompson was 21 years old when she suffered major injuries after a collision with a truck. Luckily, she was covered by her parents’ medical insurance until she turned 22. She later realized that if she had been just a few months older when the accident happened, she wouldn’t have been able to pay for her medical care.

We all agree that something needs to be done. Let’s briefly review the options that have been proposed so far. Obama wants to provide healthcare for all by requiring private insurance companies to cover everyone and creating a public health insurance plan to compete with private insurers. The second part of his plan is the public option that Republican opponents are so scared of.

Click here for your free California health care quote now!

Motorists have a lot to choose from and some important decisions to make when looking to insure their vehicles, themselves and their assets and in some cases it can become a bit confusing. There are many options that are available and offered by insurance providers and while choosing which types of protection can be beneficial in the event of a loss, consumers must also take their budget into consideration; so the most important issue a motorist faces when purchasing an automobile policy is getting properly insured at an affordable rate.

Most states make auto insurance coverage mandatory, but in many cases the mandated minimums may just not be enough. Of course, the first step to obtaining the right protection from perils is to satisfy the law, but consumers must determine whether or not the legal requirements will adequately cover losses resulting from an accident.

States generally require liability, whether for bodily injury, physical damage or both and in some states the required limits are high, but in others they are significantly low, especially when compared to the cost of medical care and the value of certain automobiles. Making the right choice in options when purchasing vehicle policies can be crucial and being covered more adequately can be worth paying a little extra.

Choosing the Right Insurance Coverage – Particular states only require motorists to purchase liability policies which only cover the losses caused by the policyholder to another party and at very low limits. For example, according to the California Department of Insurance, motorists are only required to carry a liability policy with minimum limits of $15,000 for bodily injury to one person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident and $5,000 for property damage.

Anybody who knows what a weekend in a hospital costs is well aware that $15,000 will probably not cover the costs; purchasing higher limits can protect policyholders from being held liable and/or sued for any amount that exceeds the policy limits. States such as Florida require motorists to maintain Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in the amount of $10,000 which covers the injuries of the insured regardless of who is at fault for causing the traffic accident; just as mentioned, this amount can easily be exhausted which can lead to the policyholder left with big medical bills that may only be recovered through litigation.

Higher limits can be purchased and may be worthwhile following a serious injury. This type of coverage is voluntary in many states and could be beneficial, especially to those who do not have a healthcare plan. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage is not made mandatory in many states and some states will require insurance providers to offer this protection, but give consumers the right to waive it. Unfortunately, many motorists do choose to waive it in order to save a few dollars on their premiums, but this is a valuable option on a policy.

If a motorist is struck by a driver who is uninsured, does not have coverage or if victim of a hit and run then this protection will kick in and compensate the policyholder which can give good peace of mind following an accident. Although paying as little as possible is tempting when purchasing a policy, choosing less protection can end up being far more costly.

Finding the Best Insurance Policy — The first step to finding ideal policies is to determine the amount of coverage that is needed; although some motorists may be in need of some pretty extensive amounts of protection, opting not to purchase an adequate amount can end up being a lot more costly in the long run.

For example, if an individual owns a luxury vehicle and decides not to purchase comprehensive and collision, the cost to repair or replace it can be extremely expensive and in some cases the premium to insure it would have been a fraction of what would be needed to cover the loss out of pocket. On the other hand, some pay for this type of coverage on vehicles with a low value which would not be beneficial and may not end up with any compensation after a loss; therefore it is extremely important to understand the coverage needed.

Once the necessary coverage is determined, it is time to shop around to see which company can offer the protection at the most affordable rate. When comparison shopping it is vital to make sure that the same amount of protection is being compared with each company; failure to do so would lead to an ineffective comparison and quotes would be based on different products which would be inconclusive. In addition, never jump on the cheapest rate without looking into the insurer who is offering it; of course it is great to find the best deal, but it is worthwhile to make sure the carrier is reputable and licensed.

Hold on to a few of the most attractive rates and check with the state; for example, the California Department of Insurance will let an inquiring resident know whether or not a company is licensed in the state and if they are in good standing. The best policies come down to much more than price, by understanding what coverage is needed, shopping around and making an insurer is reliable, consumers can get properly insured.

The average consumer has one goal in mind when it comes to purchasing any product and that is to obtain the “best” product at an ideal price. Although the same applies when individuals shop for car insurance, what one person may consider superior may differ from the other. Some may be looking for a policy that comes at the cheapest rate and are content when they find it, others are willing to pay a little extra to be insured by a household name and particular motorists may have a large amount of assets which would make the better coverage for them one that will protect those assets following a traffic accident.

Whatever the case may be, a person should make sure that they are getting the most out of their money and have adequate protection at the same time. Many individuals make the mistake of thinking that the more they spend in premiums the better protected they are or that the cheapest rate means that they have found a great deal; in many cases this is not necessarily true and motorists are either overpaying for policies or under-insured with a cheap policy. Most industry professional agree that the best auto insurance is made up of competitive pricing, offers the necessary amount of coverage and is provided by a reputable carrier; all of these areas can be covered if motorists take the time to evaluate their needs and find an affordable company that can offer the product needed.

Floridians could benefit from comparing the rates on various auto insurance options that are offered by insurers. By completing a comparison of more extensive protection, motorists may be able to find that being more adequately covered may be affordable and can be very beneficial in the event of a loss.

One such option is to consider purchasing limits above what the state requires, especially if the motorist does not have a health care plan; obtaining personal injury protection at a higher limit can help pay for medical costs for injuries sustained in a traffic accident and considering the cost for medical care, the $10,000 minimum can be used up following a serious injury. The same principal applies to property damage liability; it may only be a small difference in premium to raise these limits, but could be well worth it following a loss.

According to the Florida Department of Financial Services the state does not require motorists to carry Bodily Injury Liability, but Florida’s Financial Responsibility law does require individuals to be financially responsible for bodily injuries in the amounts of $10,000 per person and a maximum of $20,000 per accident.

The state suggests if a driver or vehicle owner does not have this amount in cash reserves, motorists may want to considering adding this coverage to a policy. It could take a long time for premiums to add up these amounts and it would be a lot better of a situation if the insurer were to pay out these amounts rather than the motorist; this will also pay for legal representation if an individual is sued.

Additional optional coverage residents may want to consider are such items as Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist which covers policyholders if they are struck by a driver who does not have adequate insurance, Comprehensive and Collision which pays for physical damage sustained by the insured vehicle, Towing which will cover the cost of a tow if the covered automobile becomes inoperable and Rental Reimbursement to pay for the expenses of a rental car if a policyholder’s vehicle will be in a repair facility or has been stolen. Floridians have many options to choose from and purchasing the policy to cover risks is a good way to protect assets; it is always a good idea to obtain quotes on additional protection to determine what can fit in a budget. Shopping around is free and it may lead to finding more extensive polices at an affordable rate.

The only way to make sure that a motorists is not paying more than they should for automobile coverage is to shop around and do so diligently. There are numerous companies in AZ and each is likely to charge a particular motorist a different amount based on the various factors used to rate applicants.

The more auto insurance companies a consumer finds, the better chance they will have locating the carrier that can offer the cheapest premium; check local newspapers for advertisements, look in the phone book and surf the Internet to contact numerous providers and get as many quotes as possible to ensure a that large amount of rates are found to compare from. It is also a good idea to ask friends and relatives for referrals as well since they can describe their personal experience with the carrier; sometimes a quality insurer is as important as a low price.

When comparing different companies, there are a few important details to keep in mind in order to make a comparison effective. As motorists obtain quotes from various carriers it is vital that the quotations received from each is based on the same level of protection; comparing rates for the minimum requirements from one company and higher limits from another may lead an individual into believing that the one company offering less protection is cheaper when in fact the other would be based on the same coverage. One other important issue to remember is discounts; according to the Arizona Consumer Guide to Automobile Insurance residents should look for the following discounts:

Good Driver
Multiple Vehicles
Anti-theft Devices
Safety Features
Good Student
Driver Education
Low Mileage
Motorists should be aware that more discounts may be offered and some companies will reduce different percentages for a discount than another. In addition, be sure to inquire about any discounts, they may not always be offered or the insurer may not be aware of certain aftermarket features an automobile may have such as an alarm or Lo-Jack.

The required coverage in the Wolverine State is quite extensive and is intended to  adequately cover motorists in the event of a traffic accident. Michigan’s no-fault policies are broken down into into three basic parts; Personal Injury Protection (PIP), Property Protection (PPI) and Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Insurance (BI/PD).

Personal injury protection pays for all necessary medical costs for a policyholder caused in a traffic accident. This protection will also pay up to 85% of the income the insured would have earned if they had not been injured for up to three years at a maximum of $4878 per month and if the insured is killed in the accident the family will receive the income for the three years. The $4878 limit went into effect on 10/1/09 and is revised annually. Policyholders may also be entitled to $20 a day for services such as housekeeping and yard work.

The second part, property protection, pays up to $1 million for damage the policyholder causes to another party’s property such as buildings, fences and another person’s properly parked vehicle, but not for vehicles involved in moving collisions. Lastly is bodily injury and property damage liability which pays for injuries and damages caused by the policyholder in which they are found legally responsible; motorists must carry minimum liability limits of $20,000 for bodily injury per person, $40,000 for bodily injury per accident and $10,000 for property damage in another state.

Although the cost of insuring a vehicle in MI can be expensive, policies come with a wide range of protection and are quite complex. Residents should read the state publication titled, Brief Explanation of Michigan No-Fault Insurance to help better understand their rights and coverage requirements.

Currently, the state requires drivers to carry policies with minimum limits of liability in the amount of $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident and $15,000 for property damage; this is often abbreviated as 25/50/15. Higher limits may be purchased for an addition premium to further protect assets in the event that expenses arising from an accident that exceeds these amounts.

The majority of individuals who choose to comply with the financial responsibility law do so by purchasing an auto insurance policy from a carrier licensed to do business in the Lone Star State; Texans should be aware that they are a wide variety of insurers to choose from and should shop smart and diligently in order to find affordable coverage to help make it easier to keep policies in effect.

Since the price of automobile coverage can get a bit costly, there are some helpful tips that can consumers can use as they shop for a policy to assist in locating the most inexpensive rates. One tip that motorists will hear over and again from government consumer guides and industry professionals is to comparison shop; comparing as many quotes as possible is the most effective tool an individual has to finding the best deal on vehicle coverage.

In addition, ask about any discount that might be available; some companies offer discounts that others may not and some insurers will offer a higher percentage off premiums for certain discounts than their competitors. It is also a very good idea to get help from the state; the website of the Texas Department of Insurance provides very helpful shopping tips and is a reliable and trustworthy source of information.

US stock-index futures climbed on Thursday after a government release showed that initial claims fell 10,000 to 453,000 in the latest week.[More…] (source: iStock Analysis) – Share on Twitter – Share on Facebook – RSS and RSS Feed on Feedzilla.com

The Lone Star state mandates that all motorists are able to pay for any injuries and/or damages that may cause as a result of a traffic collision; this law is enforced by the majority of the United States and is known as the Financial Responsibility Law.

The main goal behind this law is to help ensure that compensation is in place for individual who have been involved in a traffic collision; it is also intended to help protect residents from uninsured motorists by adapting strict penalties for those who are caught operating an automobile without the proper coverage.

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, there are approximately 4 million registered vehicles that are potentially uninsured. To help keep uninsured motorists off of the roadways the state has developed a system called TexasSure, the “financial responsibility verification program” which allow designated departments to electronically confirm whether or not a vehicle has a valid Texas car insurance policy; for example, a law enforcement officer will be able to verify policy status electronically on a routine traffic stop or at the scene of an accident.

As of spring of 2010, the owner of any automobile without coverage will be sent a notification from TexasSure which will contain vehicle registration information and details on how to comply with the state’s requirements.

In all likelihood, if a person resides in the state of Michigan the chances are that their rates for automobile coverage are among the highest in the nation; as a matter of fact, residents in the city of Detroit pay extremely high premiums to insure their vehicles and in some cases it can be somewhat unaffordable to own an automobile. There is one major reason why premiums in MI are so high and it is because the state has the most comprehensive no-fault car insurance system in the country; this in turn requires motorists to purchase high levels of coverage which translates into increased rates.

Although many disagree with how expensive Michigan auto insurance can be, it does provide a lot of protection for residents and policyholders and is worth paying for if intending on operating a vehicle. It is against the law for any vehicle owner to operate or allow someone else to operate the automobile without having at least the basic no-fault coverage.

Failure to comply can end in a fine ranging from $200 to $500, or the owner can be put in jail for up to one year or both; if an accident occurs, the vehicle owner can be held liable and sued for damages; in addition, a license can be suspended for 30 days or until valid proof of coverage is provided to the courts.

The cost of automobile coverage in the Sunshine State can become a bit expensive, especially in areas with dense populations such as Miami and many individuals may find it difficult to keep coverage in effect as a result of the cost or opt for the minimum car insurance requirements. Although the price of a premium can be considerably high, consumers should be aware that choosing to purchase the minimum required protection may come with the risk of incurring uncovered costs arising from a traffic accident.

Currently the state only requires motorist to maintain a policy consisting of $10,000 for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 for property damage liability; while this may seem like a sufficient amount of coverage, in many cases it may not be. For example, for individuals who reside or frequent an area such as South Beach then they are well aware of the number of high end vehicles that are on the roadways; causing a traffic accident with an exotic automobile can very easily exceed $10,000 for repairs and the policyholder can be held responsible for any remaining costs for the repair. Motorists should compare Florida auto insurance rates based on different levels of coverage to see if they can afford to be better protected.

Motorists in the Grand Canyon State may have a lot in common with a lot of Americans and may be wondering, “Why do I need auto insurance”. First in foremost, it is illegal to operate an automobile within the state without having a vehicle covered to compensate for bodily injury or property damage that an automobile owner may cause while operating their car. This is known as financial responsibility and can be satisfied in a few different ways.

In order to register a vehicle in AZ an automobile owner must show proof of financial responsibility with either a certificate of insurance, a bond, certificate of deposit or cash in the amount of $40,000 or purchase an Arizona car insurance policy. This typically answers the reason why a person may need automobile insurance if they wish to operate a motor vehicle; the other methods of compliance are unrealistic to many due to the cost and the majority of Arizonians prefer to obtain an automobile policy from a licensed insurer. Individuals who wish to obtain policies must have minimum liability limits of $15,000 for bodily injury for one person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident and $10,000 for property damage.

Already scrambling for highway funding, state departments of transportation and road contractors now are stymied by a nationwide shortage of pavement-marking paint.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is issuing an especially dire forecast for tropical storm activity in the Atlantic and Caribbean basins this hurricane season.

ISG Jackson has commenced work on a GBP2.8 million project with Orbit South and its development partner Orbit Homes, to build a new general needs rented development in Ramsgate, Kent. Occupying the site of the former Ellington Girls School, which has been demolished as part of th …handyman insurance

Last week, two years after its first occupants moved in, the owners of the 55-story office tower at New York City’s One Bryant Park celebrated the building’s official opening with a reception in the lobby.

Icopal has extended its range of damp proof membranes (DPMs) with the launch of two new variants. The Monarflex 1200 Gauge and Monarflex 2000 Gauge DPMs are loose laid with ground-supported or suspended slabs in residential, education, healthcare, commercial and industrial projec …handyman insurance

When Terex made a strategic decision to sell off non-core product lines, Indy Equipment saw an opportunity. Indy Equipment has purchased the power buggy product line from Terex and has resumed manufacturing in its Independence, Ohio facility. New units will be marketed under Indy …handyman insurance