Sunday, December 2, 2007

Best Home Owner Insurance Quote

Making a purchase as big and important as a home owner insurance policy should be taken seriously. Undoubtedly, you want to purchase your policy from the best company, as well as get the best home owner insurance quote.How can you do that?When it comes to home owner insurance quotes, what sets the insurance companies apart?Home owner insurance companies are set apart in many ways. Look at the rating of the home owner insurance companies in question, as well as whether or not they are licensed to do business in your state. Home owner insurance companies also differ in the level of coverage they offer and the kinds of coverage you can add on to your home owner insurance policy.While you’re shopping for the best home owner insurance quote, find the company’s rating. This will let you know how financially stable the insurance company is. Talk to family members, friends, and neighbors about the home owner insurance companies with which they do business. Unless they are employees of the company, they’ll be more than willing to dish the dirt – both good and bad.What really makes the best home owner insurance quote?The best home owner insurance quote varies from person to person. You want to get a quote for a home owner insurance policy that offers the exact coverage you want at a rate that will not completely drain your bank account. Therefore, you need to check out several different home owner insurance companies. Ask about coverage, price, additional coverage, and discounts.Where can I find everything I need to know about home owner insurance in my state?Your state’s department of insurance has all the information you need to know about home owner insurance coverage in your state. The insurance department will also be able to provide you with a list of home owner insurance companies and agents licensed to do business in your state

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Six Surefire Ways Of Saving On Home Insurance

Home insurance has become a necessity in today's society especially for homeowners. In fact, most mortgage lenders make it a condition of lending you money to purchase real estate. There are many home insurance companies offering competitive rates for all types of homes regardless of where you live. Getting homeowners insurance need not be a painful and expensive process. There are many things you can do to reduce on your insurance costs. Here are seven tips you can apply in order to secure the cheapest rates available.#1. Shop around - Initially most people use their mortgage provider for home insurance. Although, home insurance may be a requirement set out by your lender, there is nothing preventing you from getting a better quote elsewhere. Shop around and compare both premium and level cover to find the most suitable. It is important to read the small print as the cheapest option may not necessarily be the best. There is nothing worse than a policy that does not deliver when you need it. Shopping around and comparing prices can potentially save you a lot.#2. Multiple policies - We have different insurance needs including coverage for our cars, motorcycles, life, health and many more. There are many homeowners insurance companies who offer other insurance coverage as well. For instance, a company such as Geico USAA offers auto insurance and business insurance as well. It more than likely that you will get a discount on your home insurance if you take out all these other policies with them as well. These discounts can be obtained if you negotiate and put your case across. Most reasonable insurance companies would not like to loose a customer to the competition.#3. Home Security - The more secure your home is, the less insurance you pay. So it is wise to have approved alarms, extra secure locks on doors and windows installed. Extra security measures that can be added include security cameras and joining neighbourhood watch schemes can significantly lower your premiums. It is important to point out these changes to your insurers so they are taken into consideration.#4. Review Your Home Contents - Periodic re-evaluation helps especially if you purchase valuable goods from time to time. Regularly reviewing your possesions against your policy helps to determine if you are still covered in case of emergency. In addition, you do not want to pay for cover you do not need. If you do not have the possessions you were initially covered for, then contact your insurance for a review and a discount.#5. Voluntary Increase Your Deductibles - Increasing the level of excess on your insurance policy may reduce your premiums. Most, if not all insurance policies come with a level of excess that everyone pays if a claim is made. Some insurers will reduce the amount you pay if you voluntarily increase this level.#6. Understand Your Policy - Obtaining an insurance coverage is a legally-binding contract. Unfortunately most of these "contracts" come with a lot of legal-speak. It is important to understand exactly what your policy covers before you sign on the dotted line. Understanding your policy will ensure that any future claims you make will be backed by well-educated knowledge of what your policy covers or not and you can argue your case if the insurance company is dragging their feet.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

South Florida Home Owner Insurance Quote

Hurricanes in south Florida can end lives, and survivors usually find their homes severely damaged, if not destroyed. It is crucial to have home owner insurance in south Florida.Since south Florida is such a high-risk part of the state to insure, you should take certain steps to help protect your home against hurricanes before you start shopping for your home owner insurance quote. Pay close attention to these five areas of your home.Your GarageAccording to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, 80 percent of damage done to your home by hurricanes starts with your garage. Garage doors are normally lightweight, which makes it easy for high hurricane winds to whip right through them. You can economically reinforce your garage door with steel, or opt to purchase a heavier, sturdier garage door.Your RoofAs with garages, you can cheaply reinforce your roof my adding extra glue to the shingles – think high-quality flooring bonding agent – and you can also spend a bit more money by replacing your current roof with a newer, more wind-resistant one.Your WindowsWhen it comes to your windows, you’re either going to want to replace them with windows made to withhold the beating flying debris will give them, or you may want to install a thick set of storm shutters. The latter costs less, but the path you choose should depend on how at risk your area is for hurricanes.Your LandscapeDon’t keep trees close to your windows and doors. Uproot them and find them a new home across the yard if you have to. If you insist on leaving them be, make sure they are healthy – strong trunks and limbs – so they won’t break as easily in hurricane winds.Your PossessionsYour outdoor possessions, that is. Patio furniture, children’s playhouses, your Saint Bernard’s gigantic food bowl – bring these things inside to prevent them from flying into your, or someone else’s, windows.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Instant Texas Home Owner Insurance Quote

Scenario: You’re in the market for a new home in Texas. You’ve visited the new home countless times. You even have the color for the new carpet picked out and ordered! The only thing you haven’t done yet is sign your name on the dotted like finalizing the deal.Actually, there’s one more thing you haven’t done – gotten your instant Texas home owner insurance quote.Getting a home owner insurance quote for your new Texas home before the home is actually yours is wise during the process of buying a new home. Firstly, you want to know what kind of premiums you are looking at by insuring your new home – especially if you have used a lender to purchase the home. Secondly, having your home professionally inspected to help determine how high or low your Texas home owner insurance quote will be also helps you figure out what kinds of repairs and replacements need to be made to the home.You can conduct a simple home inspection yourself, too.•Make sure there is no dangerous debris on the property you’re purchasing.•Make sure your refrigerator, stove, and built-in microwave work (if they were included with the home), as well as the exhaust and garbage disposal.•Make sure all water facets work properly, that there are no leaks under the sinks, and that all toilets flush properly.•Make sure all light fixtures, and switches, work properly.•Open and close each window and door.•Check for cracks or weak areas in the floors, walls, and ceiling.•Check the cooling and heating systems separately.Your home inspector will undoubtedly perform these same checks, so if you find something suspicious, let him know. He will also inspect your attic, basement, and garage, as well your home’s exterior.These factors and more will affect your instant Texas home owner insurance quote, so make repairs as soon as possible.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Louisiana Home Owner Insurance Quote

Given the still recent attack of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it caused for so many Louisiana home owners, you need to get a Louisiana home owner insurance quote now if you have not already gotten one.Flood insurance must be purchased from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With that in mind, it is important to realize that there are safety precautions you can take to better protect your home against the storms, high winds, and flooding associated with hurricanes as well as general “bad weather” that often hits southern states like Louisiana.Consider the following repairs and upgrades before you head out to get your Louisiana home owner insurance quote:• Replace or repair your roof with sturdy materials. High winds will rip a poorly installed roof, or a roof made of weak material, right off your home.• Install windows made of durable materials. Not only does this help keep your windows from being blown into your home, but it also helps keep other debris from being blown into the open space your windows leave behind. Some Louisiana home owner insurance companies recommend installing storm shutters – ask your insurance company about these.• All doors made of glass, such as patio doors or deck doors, should meet the safety standards set forth by the home owner insurance company.• There should never be any debris lying around in the yard. This debris could be swept up and blown into your home or your neighbor’s home.• Remove any trees and bushes that are too close to your home for your comfort.Your insurance agent will have more suggestions for safeguarding your home against the dangerous weather sometimes experienced by Louisiana residents. A home owner insurance policy in Louisiana does not have to be expensive; ask about these safeguarding tips when you shop for your Louisiana home owner insurance quote.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Pet Insurance For Pampered Pets

Most pet owners like to spoil their animals a little, whether by giving them tasty treats to eat in addition to the food they need to keep them in good health, or by providing them with expensive toys to keep boredom at bay. The amount of money spent on our pets collectively is incredible, even when you exclude essential costs such as veterinary fees and the like.However much we might pamper our pets, most of us won't go so far as many animal lovers in Japan, where aging pets can have personal fitness trainers, sessions at a spa, massage, aromatherapy and acupuncture, providing a regimen for healthy life that not many of us humans even benefit from!Although pampering your pet is normally harmless, there are a couple of problems to look out for. The first is that recent studies show that the more pampered a pet is, the less intelligent it's likely to be. Doted-on pets tend to lose their natural problem solving abilities and can't cope with difficulties - in short, they become a bit spoilt. This is rarely a real problem except in the most advanced cases, where a pet can all but take over it's owner's life!A much more serious concern is that pampered pets will tend to be overweight, which can risk serious or even life-threatening illnesses and conditions. Help is at hand here too for the elite of pampered pets - there are an increasing number of specialist animal slimming clinics where pet owners can get both dietary advice and exercise plans tailored to their own animal to keep them in top condition.Whether or not weight is an issue, veterinary fees can mount up for even the most pampered pet, especially in later life. As our pets are better and better cared for, their life expectancy levels are increasing. Unfortunately, this can also expose them to a greater risk of conditions and illnesses that only tend to appear in later years.Many pet lovers choose to guard against this by taking out a pet insurance policy early on in their pet's life. While this may seem like an unneccessary expense while your pet is young, healthy, and full of vigor, you might find it a small price to pay as your beloved pet gets a little more elderly.The reason you should consider taking out a policy while your pet is still young is that almost all policies will exclude pre-existing conditions from claims. By taking out a policy on a healthy pet you're ensuring that you'll be able to make a claim for any illness that might develop in the future.Many people don't give any thought to insuring their pet, but with veterinary fees rising rapidly, it can now cost thousands of dollars to treat a moderate or serious condition. If you're pampering your pet in all other areas of it's life, it makes sense to think about how you'll be able to afford the best treatment possible when your faithful companion really needs it!

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Nevada Home Owner Insurance Quote

Auto, health, life, long term, and supplemental insurance policies – now you are telling me I need home owner insurance, too?Well, yes, we are. Purchasing a home owner insurance policy is an important and responsible move. A Nevada home owner insurance policy will protect your home and its contents, as well as provide liability coverage in the event someone becomes injured on your property.Plus, if you have, or are considering, purchasing a new Nevada home with the financial help of a lender, your lender will undoubtedly require you to purchase a home owner insurance policy until you have paid off your lender loan.The first step to getting an insurance policy is shopping around for a Nevada home owner insurance quote – but what can you expect when it comes to your policy quote?• The construction of your home. Brick homes are usually cheaper to cover with home owner insurance.• The age of your home. It is more difficult for you to insure a very old home than it is for you to insure a relatively new home. Sometimes home owner insurance companies will offer limited insurance coverage to old homes. This is an incentive for you to update important elements of your home. Forget the new carpet – concentrate on your plumbing, electrical, windows, roof, and safety devices.• Your home’s location in relation to fire departments and police departments.• The amount of coverage you want, and the amount of the deductible you are willing to pay. The higher your deductible, the lower your premiums may be.• Any discounts you may be eligible for, such as multi-line policy discounts and discounts for improving the safety of your home.Be prepared to address these factors when you set out for your Nevada home owner insurance quote. Each one may make you or break you as far as the price of your home owner insurance policy is concerned.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Affordable Health Insurance With An Hmo

Health maintenance organizations, also referred to as HMOs, are one of the most popular forms of obtaining affordable health insurance. However, before you purchase affordable health insurance with an HMO, there are a few questions you should ask yourself and the HMO.1. What kinds of medical care are, and are not, covered? This is the most important information to find out before purchasing any kind of health insurance plan. There’s no point in purchasing a health insurance plan that doesn’t provide the coverage you need. That’s a waste of money and time.2. What is the monthly premium? Herein starts the balancing act. Your decision of what’s affordable and what’s not may depend on the co-payment for which you’re responsible.3. How much co-pay will I be responsible for? Co-payments with HMOs generally range from $5 to $35, and depend on the particular medical service you’re receiving.4. Who are my choices for a primary care physician? HMOs require you to choose a primary care physician from a list of doctors in the HMO network. This is the doctor that you will see for regular check ups and any health care service that doesn’t require a specialist. If you need to see a specialist, your primary care physician will refer you. There may be a few doctors in the network you are familiar with, or there may be no doctors in the network you feel comfortable seeing. If you’re aware of the doctors in the HMO network, you can make a better choice regarding whether or not you choose that HMO.5. What happens if I see an out-of-network doctor without the approved referral of my primary care physician? If you see an out-of-network doctor without the approved referral of your primary care physician, you may be responsible for the entire payment, or your HMO may allow you to backtrack and obtain a referral from your primary care physician.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Very Cheap Female Car Insurance

According to statistics, female drivers on average do things a bit differently than male drivers, such as:• Drive safer cars• Drive less expensive cars• Drive cars modest in appearance• Receive fewer traffic citations• File fewer car insurance claimsThese are the reasons females tend to get cheap car insurance. This is not to say all females drive safer cars than males, or that all males receive more traffic citations than females. These are just statistics; however, they are statistics many car insurance companies take into consideration when offering a car insurance policy to a potential customer. Therefore, females usually get cheap car insurance policies, while males tend to pay more for their policies.All hope of getting cheap car insurance for males is not lost. Males simply need to take these statistics into consideration and make any necessary changes by,• Purchasing a safer car, you are less likely to injure yourself, your passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians in the event of an accident.• Purchasing a less expensive car, you are less likely to pay expensive repair costs.• Purchasing a car modest in appearance, your car is less likely to be stolen or burglarized.• Paying closer attention to your driving habits and the rules of the roads, you are less likely to get as many traffic citations, and less likely to be in any accidents that would involve filing an insurance claim.According to statistics, these may not be normal car shopping and driving behaviors for male drivers, so if you are a male driver who has made these changes, or already follows these kinds of car shopping and driving behaviors, make sure to let your car insurance company know. You could be missing out on cheap car insurance simply you have added to your car.Remember, just because you aren’t a female does not mean you can’t get cheap car insurance.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Term Life Insurance Quotes Online

Getting a term life insurance quote online is as quick as the click of a mouse. You can avoid feeling pressured by any salesman because you control the whole process.With so many insurance companies online, you can log onto the various sites and check out the rates for the term life insurance quote you want and compare the prices. But the easiest way to do it with one click, is to find an independent term life insurance broker such as ourselves. With only one click you will receive a term life insurance quote online from all the companies quoting on your life.What Do I Need To Supply For A Term Life Insurance Quote Online?When a term life insurance carrier is deciding whether they will issue a policy and how much to charge you, there are certain factors that go into their consideration:1. Age2. Occupation3. medical history4. smoker or non smokerThe carrier looks to see what factors affect your health. Are you a smoker? Did your parents die young? Do any of your relatives suffer from a heart disease or cancer? Or has some blood relative suffered a stroke?Younger people will be charged lower premiums because of the unlikely event of their death. Obviously the risk increases as you age.Your occupation generally does not have a bearing on your term life rate, but it certainly will if you also apply for disability insurance. Again your medical history is important no matter what your age. If you have health problems or your parents died early, you can expect to be rated or asked to supply medical reports.Smoking is a health hazzard and, when buying even cheap term life insurance, you'll find it also a financial hazard. Expect to pay up to twice what a non smoker would pay.Will I Have To Take A Medical Exam For Life Insurance?The term life insurance carrier will examine your medical history to see any evidence of past injuries, diseases, or operations. Generally the higher the amount and greater the age, the greater the demand for a thorough medical. This levels the risk taken, no matter what type of insurance you buy but that included will not be in the term life insurance.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Smoker Term Life Insurance

Finally smokers are getting a break when the time comes for them to buy some term life insurance. Or indeed, any type of life insurance such as whole or universal life insurance. A leading insurance company, Equitable Life of Canada, has introduced an incentive program for smokers to quit smoking. The incentive program works in 2 ways: firstly you start your non-smoking life and secondly, you get a financial credit for the extra term life insurance premium you paid as a smokerHow Does This Smoker Term Life Insurance Plan Work?As a smoker you need to buy some term life insurance, but smoker term life insurance to protect your family is not cheap; lets assume the premium is around $100 monthly. You buy this smoker life insurance but a few months down the road you decide to quit. You stay off the cigarettes for 12 months and then do a blood/ urine test acceptable to the company, which proves that you really have stopped. At that point, Equitable Life will credit you the difference between what you paid as a smoker and what you would have paid as a non-smoker.So Does This Make The Smoker Term Life Insurance Worthwhile? Let's assume your new policy is $60 a month, which saves you $40 a month going forward. But with this plan Equitable Life will also credit you $40 a month or $480 against the premiums you have already paid. That means you get the equivalent 8 months of premium credited to you for your new non-smoker term life insurance plan!Will This Smoker Term Life Insurance Plan Work For Everyone? Not if you don’t give up smoking it won’t. But now those who want to quit have 2 good reasons, saving their health and saving their money!Can I Smoke At All With This Smoker Term Life Insurance Plan?Yes, you can. With the most liberal description of smoking in the marketplace, you are able to smoke 1 cigar a week and still qualify for the non-smoking rates.If you need life insurance and you smoke, find out what more is involved with this smoker term life insurance.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Affordable Health Care With A Major Medical Insurance Plan

When people are unable to obtain an affordable, employer-sponsored group health insurance plan, they usually figure an individual health insurance plan is their only other option, short of state-sponsored health care. Purchasing an individual health insurance plan is indeed an option, but if you can’t afford it at this time in your life you may want to consider finding affordable health care with a major medical plan.When comparing individual health insurance plans and major medical plans, you’ll probably find that major medical plans are generally more expensive. But you’re not looking for more expensive! You’re looking for affordable health care! Rest assured, you can find affordable health care with a major medical insurance plan. While you may spend more on monthly premiums when you purchase a major medical insurance plan, you will save money when it comes to major medical costs – think major surgeries, extended hospital stays, etc. These kinds of health care coverage are much more expensive than, say, a regular check-up. These kinds of health care coverage are also the kinds that will financially break you if you don’t have coverage, or enough coverage, in the event they occur. A regular individual health insurance plan will not cover the same high dollar amount of major medical care that a major medical insurance plan will cover. This is the point at which those higher monthly premiums begin to make sense.Having health insurance is important. Health care is expensive, and the cost is steadily rising. If you don’t have employer-sponsored group health coverage, and aren’t eligible for a state-sponsored health plan, you must purchase some sort of health insurance. While regular individual health insurance plans are generally less expensive as far as monthly premiums are concerned, major medical insurance plans cover a greater portion of the more expensive medical treatments and procedures. Take these factors into consideration when shopping for the most affordable health insurance plan for you.

Monday, April 16, 2007

How To Get Affordable, Low Cost Health Insurance

There are several ways you can obtain affordable, low cost health insurance. If you’re employed, your employer may offer a group health insurance plan for employees. Married individuals can usually opt to be covered under their spouses’ health insurance – their children can be covered, too. If you belong to a club or organization, you may be able to take advantage of group medical benefits offered by the club or organization. Of course, you may be able to afford an individual health insurance plan.However, if none of these apply to you, and purchasing an individual health insurance plan isn’t a financial option, perhaps it’s time to contact your state’s department of insurance. Most state’s in America offer some sort of medical benefits package to residents who can’t otherwise afford an affordable, low cost health insurance plan. Or, perhaps you can afford to purchase an individual health insurance plan, but are continually denied coverage due to a pre-existing health condition. Some states also offer health insurance plans for individuals in this situation, too.Each state sets forth its own criteria for state-sponsored health care coverage eligibility. You may need to meet certain financial requirements, i.e., not make enough money to be considered able to purchase your own health insurance plan. You may need to have a certain number of individuals in your household, or you may need to have a certain number of dependents. If you’re looking into a state-sponsored health care program because you haven’t had success finding an independent health insurance plan due to a pre-existing health condition, you may need to show proof of a certain number of attempts before your state considers you eligible.Remember, regardless of whether you’re eligible for affordable, low cost health insurance from your state’s health care program, your child or children may be eligible. Always find out your state’s criteria for children eligibility, and make sure your children have adequate health coverage.

Monday, March 19, 2007

How To Get Affordable Arizona Group Health Insurance

When you’re looking for affordable Arizona group health insurance, you need to choose a group health insurance plan that either already offers the perfect combination of health coverage you need, or allows you to choose the combination of health coverage options you need. The most affordable Arizona group health insurance policy for you is going to be the one that offers exactly the amount of health coverage you need, at the price you can afford. In Arizona, there are nine basic kinds of group health insurance coverage: major medical expense, accident-only coverage, specified disease or specified accident, disability income protection, long term care, and Medicare supplement, as well as health maintenance organizations (HMO), preferred provider organizations (PPO), and point-of-service (POS).When you purchase affordable Arizona group health insurance that provides coverage for major medical expenses, you’re getting just that – coverage for those medical procedures that are considered “major,” such as surgeries. Similarly, accident-only coverage provides coverage for health-related accidents, as well as those that relate in death, loss of a limb or limbs, and loss of your eyesight, while coverage for specified diseases and specified accidents only provide coverage for those diseases and accidents listed in your group health insurance policy. Disability income protection makes sure you get a percentage of your paycheck should you become disabled and unable to work for a specific period of time. Long term care coverage and Medicare supplement usually aren’t offered with employer-sponsored Arizona group health insurance packages, but can be purchased additionally from the health insurance company or another private health insurance company.HMO, PPO, and POS aren’t the specific coverage you get with your Arizona group health insurance policy; rather, they are the ways in which you will get that coverage. HMO and PPO both cover doctors within a network – PPO usually allows you to see a doctor out-of-network at a higher deductible – and POS is a mix of HMO and PPO.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Life Insurance Protection For 2007

Every year check your finances to make sure your money is invested properly and that you have adequate life insurance. We've all read the articles and brochures but, with the changing nature of the product and an individual's changing needs, it is always worthwhile to make sure your life insurance is working for you. Life insurance plays a big part in a person's financial picture. The same thinking applies to your investments. Do You Have Life Insurance At Work?A common work benefit is group life insurance, which includes mostly, health and disability life insurance. It's a great benefit compared to the cost ratio as many persons are involved. One consideration however is that the policy is not portable. If you change jobs the policy doesn't go with you and if your health condition changes, it may prove difficult to get the same coverage.Personal Life Insurance PoliciesAs mentioned, one of the significant advantages to a life insurance policy which you own, is the portability. You are paying premiums for something you own. You can select the policy type, its term and the beneficiaries to suit your own needs. Life Insurance Policy OptionsLife insurance is for anyone whose death will leave behind financial obligations that their savings are insufficient to cover. Since this is essential and not everyone is in the same situation, there are different life insurance policies to choose from. Term life, whole life or term to 100 policies are available, depending on your needs with the premiums remaining steady through those periods. Life Insurance - How Much Do You Need?Another financial consideration for you in 2007 to calculate, is how much life insurance you need? This would depend on your current debt load, any anticipated earnings gap if a spouse should die and day to day expenses. Factor in inflation, as you will need more money to enjoy the same level of comfort you have today. Once a year check your finances to make sure you are paying for the correct life insurance policy for you and your family. Consult an independent broker to make sure you keep up to date with the proper life insurance.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

How To Figure Health Insurance: The Married Way

Experts say that it is very important for a two-income family to pay attention to details when deciding on medical insurance coverage. The reasons are as follows: 1. Pay attention because there are more options than ever before. 2. Certain companies penalize those who are married, and are fortunate enough to have double coverage. (Meaning; if a husband and wife work for separate companies and one of them tries to cover the other in insurance, the company they work for will charge them a higher premium).It used to be that if both spouses covered each other with their companies’ insurance, then the couple would have 100% coverage. However, in the past few years, 100% coverage is almost laughable because it would never happen. A national study showed that 6% of employers charge higher premiums for spouses, which equals out to an additional $178 a month.Large companies ask their employees, in any given year, to choose from HMOs (Health Maintenance Organization), PPOs (Point of Provider Organization), and HSAs (Health Savings Account), wherein coverage varies. In order for families to make a smart decision when that time comes, a spread sheet should be made so that they can compare the various options. The first step would be to compare premiums that would cover the whole family. The next step, to calculate the results if one spouse covers the family under the company plan, and the other spouse gets individual coverage. Then, consider the deductibles. Imagine how much money you would be out-of-pocket before the insurance even kicks in? Also, consider the scope of coverage (e.g. the availability of doctors and services). Finally, map out real expenses by using your most recent medical bills. You might also want to prepare yourself for a “worse case scenario” by considering a high-deductible plan. There is a website that can help you calculate, “paycheckcity.com,” the costs of insurance on an after-tax basis.