Your Travel Insurance at this Holiday Season

With the holiday season fast approaching, we are happy to help you get the most out of your travel insurance. Many will be spending your holidays in other provinces or escaping the cold, travelling somewhere warm and sunny! No matter where you’re going, you'll need travel insurance to protect yourselves!

Here are our top 5 tips to help you this season:

1. Flexible deductible options
With such a range of deductible options to choose from, we can show your how you can customize your emergency travel medical coverage to work for you. In turn, you could save money by reducing some premiums as much as 75%!
 
2. Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption
From November to March, travel can be a challenge – winter storm season takes over, flights can be missed, delayed or cancelled… the list goes on! The fact is, unforeseen events could happen at any time, so making sure your are protected in case you need to cancel your trip or return home early is so important. Once you have chosen your emergency medical plan, your can always include additional coverage like Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption. 
 
3. Non-Medical Package
Our Non-Medical Package is a great addition to any emergency medical plan, thanks to its affordability and availability to travellers of all ages. Trips are expensive and travellers often pre-pay for non-refundable airline tickets, hotel rooms, prearranged tours and more. If you are forced to cancel your plans, return home early or the airline loses your luggage, what price will you pay? You could be out of pocket thousands-of-dollars. Not only does this package include Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption, it also covers you with Baggage Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment.
 
4. Annual plan 
Usually you aren’t aware of the difference between a Single Trip and Multi Trip Annual emergency medical plan. We can walk you through your options, and show you the value of an annual plan. We can offer you a shorter term annual plan, starting at 5 days, and add extensions for longer trips. This will offer your value and flexibility, no matter where they’re travelling! 
 
5. Visitor to Canada Insurance 
With the holiday season around the corner, we ask you if you have international visitors coming to visit. Canadian medical costs can be very expensive for visitors in emergency medical or dental situations, so it's important to help protect your friends and family with Visitor to Canada Insurance. Visitor to Canada plans offer various sum insured limits, so if you’re concerned with the cost, you can choose a lower sum insured to decrease the premium amount.
 
We help you understand just how important travel insurance is by using real-life scenarios. Here are claims examples suited to your ages to demonstrate that anything can happen on vacation, so it’s better to be covered just in case!

Bridges International Insurance Services

What Is an Insurance Loss Adjuster?

A Loss Adjuster is an external professional appointed by an Insurance company to assess your household claim. The Adjuster will normally attend your property, discuss the claim circumstances and inspect any damage. They will then report to Insurers and a decision is made on whether your claim is covered and also determine the financial payout.

Adjusters may be instructed to deal with the claim on a 'delegated authority' basis - this means they will make the claim decisions fully on behalf of the Insurer. Alternatively, usually on very large claims, they will act on a 'non delegated authority' basis whereby they will undertake the investigations and report back to the Insurance company who will then make the decisions and advise the Adjuster how to proceed.

Why are Loss Adjusters appointed?

An Adjuster may be appointed by an Insurer for a variety of reasons including:

The claim is over a set value (in some cases, as low as £500)

If the Insurer has concerns regarding policy coverage and requires an inspection

If there are concerns with the circumstances or any fraud related concerns to be investigated further

If the claim is of a high value or complex in nature requiring suitably skilled persons to handle

If an Adjuster has been appointed on your claim, it does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong and it may purely be to manage the claim.

Are Loss Adjusters really impartial?

Loss Adjusters are supposed to be independent and impartial and in theory supposed to be acting in fairness on behalf of you the Policyholder and the Insurer.

Adjusters should act independently and impartially however, strictly adhering to this can be difficult, especially when the Insurer has provided the Loss Adjuster with permission to deal with the claim on a delegated authority basis. In this scenario, Insurers expect the Loss Adjuster to strictly comply with the policy wording and ensure a Policyholder is not overpaid - if this is breached, the Insurer will frequently look to the Adjuster to repay any claims overspend which in simple terms can affect the Loss Adjusters profit margin. In view of this, Loss Adjusters dealing with a claim on a delegated basis will generally be inflexible with your claim which may lead to you not being treated fairly due to the strict application of the policy terms

Loss Adjuster fee's are paid by the Insurance company and many argue that this in itself compromises the impartiality of the Loss Adjuster as they are required to keep the insurance company happy by ensuring that they do not overspend on claims.

Types of Loss Adjuster

There are different types of Loss Adjusters with varying levels of skills, experience and qualifications.

Many senior and experienced / qualified loss adjusters will normally not deal with household claims (unless they are of a substantial size eg: £100,000+) as they will be utilised for more specialist claims.

Many of the Adjusters who deal with general household claims will be less experienced and the majority will not be qualified or chartered - this can mean that they may not always make the correct decisions which can be of benefit or detriment to you depending on the decision they have made!

Many household adjusters will work within a pressurised environment which can frequently become extremely busy (especially during weather events such as storms or floods). In real terms, this can result in service issues to Claimants and you may find that you experience delays or struggle to get speaking with them or receive a timely response from them.

Be aware, even during periods where workloads are normal, if you have an adjuster who is unorganised, laidback or not fully competent at his job you may find that this occurs in any case. This is a crucial reason as to why you should keep a log of your claims activity including actions and dates / times because if you suffer due to such service issues, you will be in a position to make a complaint and can use this information to demonstrate the level of problems you have experienced - if your complaint is valid, this will normally be prioritised for resolution and you may even be entitled to some financial compensation.

Finding the Right Insurance Quotes

Thanks to the internet, finding the right insurance for your needs is easier than ever. You can compare insurance quotes from several insurance providers without even leaving the comfort of your home.

Finding the Right Insurance Quotes

Insurance of all types are important, but you have to make sure that you buy insurance that works for your particular situation. If you have insurance that does not cover your issues, then you are wasting money. You first need to determine the types of coverage that are your must haves. For instance, if you are shopping for health insurance and you have a condition that has you taking prescription medication, you need an insurance plan that gives heavy discounts on prescriptions. Having health insurance that does not cover prescriptions, can leave you with heavy expenses at the pharmacist's register.

You have to make sure that the insurance companies that you are researching, have coverage in your state. Depending on which form insurance that you seek, the area in which you reside can have an effect on your online insurance quotes. If you live in an an area that is prone to flooding, your home owner's insurance is likely to be more expensive than home owner's insurance for a house in an area that is deemed less of a flood risk.

You may want to look into the long term customer incentives that an insurance provider has when you compare insurance quotes. Does the company reward customer loyalty with discounts? If you are shopping for car insurance, are the insurance providers that have caught your eye the type to give you a discount for being a safe driver? Does the insurer have a good roadside assistance plan? If you find yourself on the road a good deal, you may want to have one.

While gathering online insurance quotes is a great way to find the right insurance plan for your needs, you may want to enlist the help of an independent insurance agent. An independent agent can gather information from several insurance companies. A skilled agent may be able to show you some deals that you were not able to run across on your own. If you have a big budget that is set aside for insurance, then you can simply focus on the type of coverage that you need. If your coffers are not as full, then you have to heavily weigh cost with coverage.

If you have ever been in a position to need assistance of some sort, but not had the funds to cover it, then you know why insurance is a must. It is similar to having a savings account for emergency issues, but tends to cover beyond what you have put into it. You cannot just go with the same insurance that your family has always used, if it does not cover your needs. You have to take control of your situation. Get active and get free insurance quotes. If you need more assistance, contact an independent insurance agent. Make sure that you but the best insurance coverage for all of your needs. Do not leave yourself or your family unprotected. You can find the right insurance for your unique situation.

A Quick Insight Into Semi Insurance

Semi insurance is a form of risk management where two parties make an agreement to share each other's risk. The purpose of getting something insured is that it transfers the risk of loss to another body in return for compensation. It enables you to avoid damage brought about by uncertain losses. It revolves around a promise that the company will hedge your risk if you face any financial or personal loss. It is a legal contract between two parties and is known as an insurance policy. The policy lists down all the conditions and possibilities of when this compensation will be made and how it will be made. In all transactions, insurance policy serves the purpose of a rule book.

Mostly there are two parties involved in this procedure. An insurance carrier, also known as an insurer, is the person or company that provides insurance. This party charges a premium to the person purchasing the insurance. The premium is the amount of money charged by the carrier. The person who pays the premium in order to purchase the policy is known as a policyholder or the insured. In this way, the risk of loss is transferred from one party to another through a legal format. The company gets a payment to sell that insurance contract and the policyholder gets an assurance that his or her losses will be taken care of in the future. The contract works for both the parties in a positive way.

Semi insurance allows the carrier to only pay half of the losses adhered by the policyholder. In many cases, such insurance is cheaper than usual but as it requires the insured to bear his losses too, it can become very expensive for him or her. Companies are usually at an advantage in such kinds of insurance, as it allows them only to bear half of the total losses. The burden of the rest of the losses is on the policyholder. The company does not care about those losses, as they are not part of the semi insurance contract.

Insurance companies are providing a large variety of insurance to the consumers. There is life insurance, vehicle, health, casualty, burial, property and gap insurance. All these insurances are sold through different marketing means and have different procedures, rules and policies linked to them. Risk management is made extremely easy for individuals through these different insurance plans. Companies allow the policyholder to pick and choose an insurance policy according to their required needs. It makes life easier for the policyholder by being able to choose a flexible insurance policy. Semi insurance is offered by many different companies in order to satisfy individuals' different needs about insurance plans and to allow them to pick a plan for which they only have to bear half of the losses.

5 Tips to Increase Referrals

There are different types of leads that an Insurance agent can get. I want to categorize them and then begin a discussion on referrals;

1) Cold leads - these leads are to people who have expressed no prior interest in your product and the agent has no prior knowledge that they will have an interest.

2) Warm leads - these leads are to people who may have an interest in your product but more importantly they have a relationship either with the agent or someone the agent knows.

3) Hot leads - these people have expressed an interest in the agent's products and will meet with him to discuss purchasing the product. these are the best leads to have.

Referrals come when someone we have done business with tells someone they know about our products. When we contact them the fact that there is a mutual connection between us allows the agent to give a presentation and possibly make a sale.

Referrals can make our lives so much easier. Not only are they more likely to be warm leads which are met with less resistance for new customers but they are much cheaper to come by than the leads you have to purchase. An agent who does most of his business by referrals will find that his cost to do business will be a lot less than an agent that has to rely on leads.

Here are 5 tips on how to increase your referral business;

A) Always ask for a referral - In every situation, whether you sell your product or not, always ask for a referral. Find out if people know someone who can benefit from what you have to offer.

B) Keep good records of all people you do business with and those you want to do business with - following up on all your contacts will help you to remember to ask for referrals. If a person doesn't become a client they can still be a good referral base.

C) Thank those who give you referrals at least once a year- Remember days that are important to people (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) and they will remember you.

D) If a referral doesn't purchase a policy from you today, stay in touch; he may tomorrow - never take no to mean never. It just means not now.

E) Commit to building a source for new referrals - referrals are great and the longer you stay in this business, the easier they will make sales for you.

Looking for a Specialist

Speaking to contractors directly is by far the best way of finding out the ideology and needs of a modern limited company. From discussing the profession with many a sole-trader, it has become clear that good quality and cost effective accountancy is a must, and finding business support that meets the needs of a contractor is paramount in running a successful company.

Quoting individuals directly, it becomes clear just how important it is to trust an accountant, and be confident in their services. "I like the idea of knowing that the fees are fixed, giving me the confidence in a constant premium. It also feels important knowing what service I will get in return for those fees. A personal level of service is also a must, I like being treated as an individual company rather than just being treated as one of the herd."

It is unsurprising that limited company contractors wish to be considered as a legitimate business, after all, their working practises dictate that they must be a business in their own account, thus they should be treated like one when it matters.

Professionals who operate outside of the PAYE system are often looked upon as 'glorified employees' by those who misunderstand their position, or part of a 'tax evasive workforce' to those ignorant of sole-traders. Because of this, service providers such as banks, accountants and mortgage providers are often reluctant to invest or place trust in these individuals, reinforcing the importance of a good quality provider.

Speaking to others concerning contractor accountancy, a trend emerges of a need for specialist knowledge of the contracting industry, and of course that personal ever present, personal touch. "I want an accountant who covers everything: Tax, VAT, payroll, Companies House / HMRC correspondence / returns, advice on expenses etc. Having everything under one roof is a very attractive prospect, and is something I look for when choosing an accountant."

Having a 'specialist' contractor accountant is a term used quite lightly throughout the market, with bookkeepers and service providers claiming to be experts in the contracting field when in fact they may not be. As for things to look for when choosing a contractor accountant, tax, status and IR35 specialties are a must, as anyone claiming to be a contractor specific advisor should be well versed in all HMRC working guidelines.

As contractors really are businesses, having service providers that cater to their specific needs is very important in maintaining an effective company. From speaking to professionals directly, you can see a direct pattern emerging as to what makes a 'good contractor account', and it is important to understand this before making that choice yourself. Many service providers force the point that they are perfect for you, but contractors should beware that so called 'specialists' are not always as dedicated and knowledgeable as they claim. When choosing support for your business, always remember that training and knowledge of the contractor industry is far more important than false promises.

What Does My Health Insurance Cover?

Health insurance is a topic that is not only very polarizing, but is also scary because of the ever-changing environment and policies that are employed. Most people are not sure what is covered, at what rate, at any given office, until an event happens that needs attention. Barb recently found out that despite all the preparation and research that a person can put into understanding their exact situation, things can still go awry.

Barb and her husband Bill recently planned a vacation to Africa. In order to travel to this foreign land, they attended a travel clinic seminar, that they paid for out of their own pocket because they knew ahead of time that their health insurance did not cover such a visit, in order to acquire the best and most accurate information about the kind of immunizations, medications, and potential health risks that they would need to consider. The physician at the clinic was fantastic and spent quite a bit of time explaining what was at risk in their specific areas of travel, the different types of shots they should have and when they should have them before traveling, and the types of medication they should bring with them for daily use. Barb wrote everything down and called her member services number when she returned home to find out which medications and vaccinations would be covered when she and Bill went to her family physicians office. It turned out, she was told, all the necessary shots would be covered except one, which was not offered at any of her network clinics since it was only needed for travel. Barb and Bill went back to the travel clinic to obtain, and pay for, that particular shot.

The next step was when Barb made a joint appointment for her and Bill to go to their family clinic and obtain the rest of the vaccinations. Since these were all to be covered by their health insurance, the two of them saw no reason to pay for them out of their own pocket at the travel clinic. A couple months after the visit to the family health clinic, they received a statement in the mail staying that Bill owed 136 dollars for his appointment. Barb owed nothing. This made no sense, and so the phone calls began to clarify the bill. Four months later, the bill is still outstanding because Barb has spoken to multiple representatives from the member services department of her health insurance who have repeatedly stated that the services rendered are covered in full and after the bill is re-filed, there will be no charge. However the people at the family clinic have re-filed several times now, and the bill is continually returned that only Bill owes money for the visit.

It is truly confusing to try to figure out how two people at the same appointment, with the same insurance, the same services rendered, and the same preparation could have different amounts due. Health insurance is very tough to figure out!

What Does My Health Insurance Cover?