As Homy As Home

There is no secret that auto insurance prices are on the rise and have been that way for a good many years.  There is something that makes us all cringe in response to paying for something that we may very well never use and at great expense to us.  So we are all in search of the cheap auto insurance.  This can be a game that takes a good long time to play but in the end it should be well worth it.  Of course this is not something that will happen over night and there is several matters that go into the whole thing.  Auto insurance is tricky business and the companies not only want to protect you, but also their bottom line in the end.  So if you are in search of the cheap auto insurance then you should follow a few general rules.

The best way to get cheap auto insurance is to be a good driver.  That is really a common fact that many people over look these days.  Insurance companies reward those drivers that have had no accidents, and no tickets.  Of course this may be easier said than done to be honest considering even accidents that are not your fault look bad on your record.  The tickets thing is what really matters most.  Just one ticket for speeding can raise your auto insurance rates by over thirty percent a year.  So you can see that it is best to obey the traffic laws at all costs no matter what.  This will give you the very best cheap auto insurance with most companies.

There is the matter of shopping around for cheap auto insurance as well.  The one mistake that people often make is to think that the company they have been with since they were young is giving them the best rate.  This is the farthest thing from the truth in all actuality.  You will find that with the vast array of auto insurance companies that sprinkle the country side that the prices will vary greatly.  Many times you can save hundreds of dollars in premiums by going with another company.

Finally, cheap auto insurance is given to those that have easily insurable cars.  This is no secret, but you should have a car that has a good safety rating with the insurance companies in order to maintain the best rates on the insurance.  The auto insurance companies do not like those little sports cars that move at top speeds as they can be the ingredient for disaster and much expense.

Many dual income couples, include their children on each group health insurance plan to maximize benfits. However, without some sort of system in place to help the health insurance companies coordinate benefits, it’s possible that either you or your doctor would be reimbursed for more than 100 percent of the actual cost of your claim.

To prevent this, health insurance companies typically designate one parent’s health insurance plan as the primary plan and the other as the secondary plan. (That’s why the patient questionnaire at your doctor’s office asks for information on primary and secondary coverage.) The primary plan is responsible for paying covered expenses up to the limits of the policy. If any unpaid costs are left over, the secondary coverage kicks in.

THE DATE OF BIRTH DETERMINES WHICH HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDES COVERAGE

The birthday rule is often used to determine which plan is primary and which is secondary. Under this rule, the plan of the parent whose birthday occurs first in the calendar year is designated as primary. The date of birth is the determining factor not the year so it doesn’t matter which spouse is older.

Like most rules, the birthday rule has exceptions:

- If both parents share the same birthday, the parent who has been covered by his or her plan longest provides the primary coverage for the children.

- If one spouse is currently employed and has health insurance through a current employer, and the other spouse has coverage through a former employer, the plan belonging to the curently employed spouse would be primary.

- In the event of divorce or seperation, the plan of the parent with custody generally provides primary coverage. If the custodial parent remarries, the new new spouse’s coverage becomes secondary. And finally, the non custodial parent’s health insurance plan would provide a third layer of insurance protection. This order of payment can be altered by a court issued divorce decree or by agreement, but the health insurance companies must be notified.

THESE ARE JUST HEALTH INSURANCE RULES NOT THE LAW

Keep in mind that these practices are common among health insurance companies, but they are not governed by law. Practices may vary from one insurer to another. Read your policy carefully to make sure you understand how your insurance company handles dual coverage. If the policy coverage is unclear, ask for help from your employers benefit specialist or your insurer’s customer service department.