We all have bad weeks, a tire could blow out, you could lock your keys in the car or your car battery could die. If you have added an emergency roadside assistance extension to your insurance policy, you probably feel like your problems are over. But there are some important things you need to know first.
Adding emergency roadside assistance onto your insurance policy does seem like an inexpensive way to protect yourself against an unexpected breakdown or other embarrassing problem. Many insurance companies, including Allstate, State Farm, Geico and Progressive, offer customers an add-on to their motor vehicle insurance policy for substantially less than the cost of independent auto club services. Basic assistance added onto a policy can be as cheap as $6 to $20 for an annual policy, compared to $45 to $100 for an annual membership of an independent service.
But, maybe you didn't know that motor vehicle insurance companies keep track of your roadside assistance claims, in some cases you may find your premium will go up if you make one too many calls for assistance. Insurers take a whole range of factors into account when giving you a quote for motor vehicle insurance and how many and what kind of roadside assistance claims you've made is one of them.
Many motor vehicle insurance companies consider roadside assistance claims to be one of the predictors of risk. Most insurance companies advise that a policy holder's premium will not be affected unless there are numerous claims together with several other risky factors. The chance that one or two claims would have an impact on a customer's premium is probably very low.
In some cases, all claims made under the add-on roadside assistance coverage are reported as a towing and labor claim. These claims are reported to a national database maintained by ChoicePoint, a company that provides insurance companies with claims information to help them process applications. Car insurance companies use this information to confirm your application for insurance to make sure you have been straightforward about your accident and towing claims history.
ChoicePoint doesn't include claims data from auto club services such as AAA or Allstate Motor Club and has advised insurance companies not to submit any claims made under auto club type services. However many insurance companies, still report all claims made from their roadside services as towing claims, including jumpstarts, tire changes and gas delivery.
Insurers won't reject your application for insurance due to towing and labor claims, however these claims, especially if there are a lot of them, may affect your premium.
Some insurance companies don't use roadside assistance as a pricing variable, so it is worth shopping around and asking.
Motor clubs, such as AAA and Allstate Motor Club, may be a little more expensive, but can be less of a headache in the long run as any claims you make will be kept confidential. These clubs also provide a wider range of services than just basic towing and breakdown assistance, including discounts on accommodation and other travel related services.
Investing in an affordable critical illness insurance policy is among one of the ways to plan for the future of our loved ones. Most of us plan to live till the old age, but the reality is different as not all people see there golden years. Taking this into consideration, we try to ensure that those close to us are financially strong to carry on with life should any mishap happen.
It is important to take some facts into account when it comes to critical illness insurance. For example, it is important to take into consideration the number of people who are financially dependent on you and also the needs that may arise in the future. If you have small children, you would probably want to ensure that your critical illness insurance policy allows for funds to meet the education of the children in case of your death.
It is also wise to see how the critical illness insurance policy fits in your overall financial picture. In case you already have sufficient money for latter needs like college tuitions and other living expenses that will greatly change the amount of insurance you need to purchase.
Taxes are often overlooked when we plan for the well being for our dear ones. Depending on the laws of the country, your family members could find themselves with a huge tax bill as they become the owner of your asset. A critical illness insurance policy can be very helpful and cover those applicable taxes.
In fact it is almost easy to get affordable critical illness insurance regardless of the circumstances and your age. You have a wide choice to do from universal life to different types of critical illness insurance. It is obvious that it's best to purchase at a young age. However a person beyond the age of forty can still find some attractive and affordable term life insurance policies.
Do check with agents in your town and your state insurance department when looking for cheap critical illness insurance policies. Many state bodies will have valuable information about insurance companies that are licensed and they also have info about the ratings of these insurance companies. This will help you to choose only the trusted insurance companies on the market and get an idea which company will help you more in the coming years than just selling you an insurance policy.
Nowadays, the web or internet is a great place to get valuable ideas about critical illness insurance. Online resources on the net will get you in touch with other people who already have purchased insurance. Get the feedbacks of these people before signing any policy with an agent. Based on your needs, you can find websites that give you a comparison showing different companies to consider.
It's a good idea to take a critical illness insurance policy. Understanding the needs of your dear ones, taking into account your financial situation and your family goals, you can easily come across the most affordable critical illness insurance that is right for you.
Both Jon Provencher & Billy Leverton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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