Traditionally many people have relied on Medicare benefits or private pay options; however, as costs have risen benefits have remained somewhat flat. LTC insurance helps to fill the gap left between the costs of care and the benefits that don’t quite cover. Having this coverage will certainly help keep your loved ones from feeling a definite strain on their finances as they help provide for your care.

The following is a guide on steps to follow when choosing your Long Term Care policy. Follow it and you will find yourself in much better shape as you get older and begin to require a greater level of care.

Knowing Your Coverage Needs

Knowing how much and what type of Long Term Care insurance to choose is as much about knowing your personal health as it is about anything else. Sit down with an insurance professional in Charlotte NC or in your home area. Here at The Hoffman Agency we like to get a good feel for your personal history, both health and financial, before making a recommendation as to what sort of coverage you might require.

Choosing the Right Insurance Carrier

Selecting the right Long Term Care provider will again depend on your needs. While you must consider the premium you wish to pay, it is also highly important to consider the types of coverage being offered. An independent insurance company such as The Hoffman Agency will be able to help you examine several different companies without having a ton of legwork. This will help ensure that you have the best selection possible.

Understanding the LTC Policy

Once you have selected your Long Term Care policy, it is important to make sure you understand what it says. The following steps can help you to make sure that you know just what your policy means:

• Read the entire LTC policy thoroughly
• Ask your insurance provider if you need help understanding phrasing or terminology
• Make sure you have an appropriate amount of time to review the policy before being required to sign
• Keep a copy of all transactions and/or receipts to or from the insurance agent
• Try to document all written or vocal statements made by you and the insurance agent

Utilizing Your Long Term Care Insurance Policy

Using your insurance should be made as simple as possible. Make sure that family members have access to a copy of your policy so that they will be able to easily contact the insurance provider. The provider will then be able to walk them through the necessary steps to be able to get your benefits started.

While no one likes to think about needing care in their advanced years it is a reality we must all face. By investing in a decent Long Term Care insurance policy, providing this care can be made a great deal easier.

Give The Hoffman Agency a call or use our contact form here on the site today if you would like to speak with one of our insurance professionals about how you can get the coverage you need.

The following list has been designed so that you will have the tips and tools that you need to help stay safe and keep from having to submit an auto claim.

Preparing for Winter Weather Before It Arrives

• One step that should always be taken before the weather turns bad involves having a mechanic perform a multi-point check to ensure that your battery is functioning properly and that all your fluids (oil, transmission, windshield washer, antifreeze, and brake) are at their proper levels. Your brakes should also be checked for wear as should your exhaust. It also certainly pays to ensure that your heating system is up to par.
• Keep your tank as full as possible. This will help you keep from running out in the event that you end up stuck in a jam.
• Snow tires, snow chains, all weather radials or such should be installed as soon as the law in your area allows.
• Keep an emergency kit on hand in your vehicle. It should include a small camp shovel, booster cables, tool kit, blankets, towrope, flashlight, extra batteries, flares, and a first aid kit. If you live in an area that gets a great deal of snow, then you should also consider carrying a set of dry clothes and waterproof matches for melting snow into drinking water.

Winter Driving

• By backing into your driveway you can make it much easier and safer to pull out onto the street especially if there is ice present.
• Give yourself a decent turn radius when rounding curves. By turning too tightly you run the risk of going into a spin.
• Anti-lock brakes can be engaged by slamming on them once you start a skid. If you do not have anti-lock brakes though pumping them will help to give you a greater deal of control.
• While jogging can be great for your health, it can be downright deadly when done in the ice and snow. Keep an eye out for joggers during winter weather. There will always be those die hard individuals who will head out no matter what the weather.

If you must travel during severe weather make sure you follow these tips as well:

Never travel alone. Having someone with you can make all the difference if you happen to get stuck. Also, let someone know when you plan to arrive as well as your chosen travel route.

If you get stuck make sure you stay in the vehicle until help arrives. Run the engine and heater as little as possible. Make sure that you get out and clear your exhaust pipe of snow. This will allow your car to properly ventilate so that carbon monoxide will not build up in the cabin since doing so could end up poisoning you and your passengers.

With winter here, there are many steps that can be taken to help protect and weatherize your home which can help reduce the likelihood of an expensive homeowners claim. The following is a list of tips to help you get started down the right path.

• Homes that rely on heating fuel should ensure an adequate supply remains on hand. In the event of a heavy snow, carriers may not be available for days afterward. By keeping a proper supply your family can stay warm and toasty during the wait.
• If you haven’t already done so, replace or clean your furnace filter. While it is best to do so before the need for the furnace arises, it is better late than never. It is also advisable to have your heating system serviced by a professional before the winter months hit.
• The heat in your home should never be set lower than 55 degrees. Any lower and it can be difficult, and expensive, to get the heat back up to a tolerable and safe level.
• If there are rooms that are not in use, close them off while also making sure that there is sufficient heat to prevent frozen pipes.
• All pipes that run through areas that are not heated should be well insulated. This includes those that run through the attic or crawlspace of your home.
• A tip for any time of the year – always check your hoses on your washing machine making sure to replace them when any sign of wear or leakage appears. Also, clean out the exhaust duct and the space underneath your clothes dryer so that lint will not have a chance to build up which could lead to a fire.
• Check your gutters and roof drains clear of debris which could clog them. Doing so will better allow run-off to flow from the roof and help prevent rotting eaves and fascia.
• Make sure to check all outdoor fixtures and outlets for loose connections and/or frayed wires. Also, never overload a circuit by using too many plugs on one outlet or by overuse of extension cords.

By following each of these home maintenance tips you will be better prepared for the winter weather to come. This can make a world of difference in whether or not you will be facing an expensive homeowners claim this season.

Listed below are four instances in which an inferior insurance policy can be a severe hindrance or can even lead to financial ruin.

Unexpected Death

While no one likes to think that they will simply pass away with no notice, it does happen every day. In this case, if you don’t have a decent life insurance policy in place your family could be the ones to suffer the fallout.

Also, keep in mind that life insurance rates can be a great deal cheaper if you opt in at an earlier age. The older you get, the more expensive it can be.

Lawsuit Due to Injury Sustained on Your Property

A homeowner’s policy can sometimes seem expensive, but by cutting corners and selecting minimum coverage you could be placing yourself in a tight spot. In the event that someone gets hurt while on your property you could be open to a lawsuit. This even applies if they are on your property without your permission.

While the rule of thumb may be the more property you have, the more liability you should carry, it is important to speak with a trained insurance specialist who can help advise you on an appropriate level of coverage.

Hit by an Uninsured Motorist

The law in most all states says that drivers must be covered by a certain level of auto insurance. This does not mean that everyone carries such coverage. By leaving off on uninsured motorist coverage you can be placing yourself in the position of responsibility by having to cover your own damages.

When you compare the average yearly cost of uninsured motorist coverage with the amount you may have to pay in the event of such an accident, the need for such becomes quite clear. Another type of coverage, underinsured motorist, can also come in handy when faced with someone who has purchased too little insurance.

Car Rental Following an Accident

Many of us today do not have a spare vehicle that we can drive in the event that our main one is damaged in an accident. This means that you may be faced with having to rent a car until your own can be repaired or replaced. While some auto insurance policies may cover reimbursement for a rental, not all will do so. This is usually offered as an option which people tend to pass up.

Take a few moments and figure up the amount you would pay out of pocket for a rental in the event of an accident. Suffice to say that you would be much better off opting for the additional rental car coverage especially if repairs will take any length of time.

While there are more than just these four instances, these alone should make you stop and think before deciding to opt for the cheapest possible policy or before turning down options that could help save a great deal more in the long run.

How Much Is Enough?

Protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your assets can depend on many things. How many dependents do you have? Do you have a mortgage? Does your spouse work? Each of these must be considered when selecting an appropriate amount of coverage. While there are many online calculators that can help, sitting down with a trained agent can make a serious difference in making the right choices.

Shopping Around

Just as with anything else, if you want to find the best possible policy to fit your needs, then it is important to look at several different carriers. An independent insurance professional can help accomplish this much more easily as they typically deal with many different companies and can help you find the right policy without near the footwork on your part.

Another benefit to working with an independent insurance professional is that they can help you navigate the many different levels of coverage offered by each carrier. Knowing that you are covered by a company that is both reputable and that offers a high level of customer service is certainly worth its weight as well.

Know Before You Buy

Keep in mind that an insurance policy is for all intents and purposes a legal contract. As such, it will typically involve quite a bit of technical language that may be difficult to understand. Make sure that you read it carefully and know what you are signing before doing so. Usually, a policy will tell you many things including:

• Individuals or Assets Being Covered
• Coverage Limitations and/or Exclusions
• Coverage Periods
• Amount of Coverage
• Amount of Premium
• Required Method for Reporting a Claim

Again, make sure to ask your independent insurance professional to clear up any questions you may have concerning any of these points.

Periodic Evaluation of Needs

Life brings changes. With these changes come changes in your insurance needs as well. As such, it is important to step back and review your insurance coverage to ensure that you still have the proper level necessary. Some of the various times you might want to re-evaluate your insurance coverage may include:

• Following Marriage or Divorce
• When Renting an Apartment or Buying a Home
• Beginning a Family
• Sending a Dependent to College
• Purchasing a New Vehicle
• Selling or Buying a Business
• Taking on Care of an Elderly Parent
• Retirement

No matter which of these life events is taking place, by evaluating your existing insurance coverage and assessing for any further coverage needs, you will be putting yourself in a much safer financial position in the event of any unfortunate circumstances.

• Various sources of income not including your salary/earnings
• Your marriage status and your spouse’s earning capacity
• How many financial dependents you may have
• Whether you can expect death benefits Social Security and/or from life insurance plan sponsored by your employer
• If you will need to provide coverage for any special circumstances including estate planning, an education fund, mortgage repayment, etc.

Always speak to your insurance advisor who can help determine a more precise calculation on the amount of life insurance you might need.

• “How much do I need?” and
• “What type of policy should I purchase?”

These two questions actually involve two separate types of decisions – an insurance decision and a financial decision.

You should always strive to answer the “insurance” question first. An example of this may be the case in which you need such a large amount of coverage that you will need to select term life so that you can take advantage of the lower premium.

The financial decision will cover factors such as your tax bracket, whether you need short or long term coverage, and rates of return.

Credit life insurance almost always more spendy than term life insurance. Also, if you already have sufficient coverage through your regular policy, it is usually not advised because of its relatively high cost. ]]> http://www.thehoffmanagency.biz/life-insurance-faqs/feed/ 0 http://www.thehoffmanagency.biz/auto-insurance-faqs/ http://www.thehoffmanagency.biz/auto-insurance-faqs/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:40:16 +0000 Tim Hoffman http://sitedevelopment.makeaffiliatemoney.net/?p=111 Q: What type of auto insurance coverage should I purchase? A: Your agent can help you to know various things you must consider when deciding on the right auto insurance policy. Some of these include:

• Selecting the right provider.
• Knowing the correct amount of liability coverage that will offer you proper protection.
• Choose any additional coverage you may need or desire.
• Helping to keep you informed on other factors such as claim response and customer service.

The first is to always seek out competitive pricing. This is where working with a company like The Hoffman Agency, LLC, is of great benefit. We are able to work with different carriers and help find you the rates you are looking for while also insuring that you have the best coverage possible. Another way that you might get a lower overall rate would involve raising your deductible. Typically the higher your deductible, the lower your rate. Keep in mind though that if you have a claim you will be responsible for paying the deductible. ]]> http://www.thehoffmanagency.biz/auto-insurance-faqs/feed/ 0