Lisa Nichols 's Blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Planning a business trip overseas? Then you'll want to take a look at the international travel checklist for business travelers before you go. In addition, an Overseas Travel Planning Tips guide helps busy road warriors remember last minute to-do's and honey-do's before embarking on a trip.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Over time, traveling for business can begin to seem like an endless grind. Make the most of your time out of town by making monotonous business trips more fun and interesting.

The time you take to indulge yourself and to forget about work for a little while can help ready you for an upcoming presentation or proposal. Exploring antique shops, scouting out the local small-craft airport or going shopping in a historic district are just a few ideas that can help take the edge off, making you more relaxed and often, better prepared, for that grueling all-day meeting that you have in the morning.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I am madly testing a huge stack of gadgets and managed to get a couple of new articles out that highlight executive corporate gift ideas and business client gifts for the holiday season. I also posted another article that provides tips for shipping, mailing and traveling with corporate gifts during the holidays this year.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The PR rep for the Zagat’s 2009 U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas survey kindly sent me the survey results for release today. The survey highlights favorite hotel booking ideas from frequent travelers and travel professionals, economic forecasts for business travel (hint: they aren't on the rise) and general trends in business travel.

This is the first day that survey results could be shared online. I'll continue to post information from the survey in upcoming blogs and articles.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The Marriott is offering a great deal for holiday travel to New York City. The hotel chain is providing discounted rates for long-term stay at their Chelsea Times Square South or the Executive Plaza at Rockefeller Center apartments. The rate is $179 a night and in addition to Marriott rewards program points earned for staying, visitors over the holidays will also receive 25,000 Marriot Rewards program points.

The details: Check in must occur before January 31, 2009 and guests need to use the corporate/promotional code NYP to get the bonus points and the discounted rate.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

British Airways is making holiday business travel easier by now offering mobile check-in to business travelers. The mobile check-in service is available in 11 languages. No downloadables, just the capability to view the British Airways timetable in real time, choose a seat on the plane and check in for flights.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The new business travel squidoo lens is still under construction, but available for viewing.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

During November, AAA members and non-members have a chance to win $5,000 in the Catch the Discounts sweepstakes. You also have the opportunity to instantly win $5,000 worth of gift cards on the AAA website. Anyone can enter the sweepstakes and win money online at the AAA website.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Two new articles provide busy business travelers with ideas they can use for buying corporate gifts this holiday season. Executive Corporate Gift Ideas to Use this Year provides tips shipping and mailing executive presents to make sure they arrive on time. The article also delves into buying corporate gifts for visiting clients, traveling with corporate gifts, unique executive corporate gift ideas and popular business gifts to give clients this year. In addition, Executive Corporate Gifts provides business travelers with ideas for client gifts including Franklin organizers, Bluetooth PDAs and Palm products.

Related blog posts: Gift Idea, Bric's Luggage Tops for Women

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The "Business Travel Tips for Women" article gives tips for where to stay on a visit to Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. People who aren't from the Midwest are always amazed when I explain the close proximity of Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati. "You could walk to downtown Cincinnati from your place? And you lived in Kentucky?"

I think they picture me rolling around bluegrass country all Richard Farnsworth-style, on a tractor. But in truth, when I lived in Covington , Kentucky, I was just a mile or so from downtown Cincinnati. "Business travel tips" suggests staying at one of the many beautiful Northern Kentucky B&B's when you're visiting Cincinnati, Ohio. The article also includes information about rush hour (which lasts for hours and hours) and the weather.

Related blog posts: Businesswomen's Travel Tips, Bric's Luggage Tops for Women

Posted by Lisa Nichols

• The research showed that more than half of the corporate travel managers surveyed are “encouraging less air travel.”
• In addition, most of the survey respondents (more than 75%) stated that they feel the low fares advertised by airlines are buried beneath costly fees.
• Instead of encouraging air travel, corporate business management associates are recommending Webinars and Internet meetings for business.

Related blog posts: Business Travel Tips Weekly Round-Up, Continental Airlines Charging for 1st Checked Bag, Virgin America Launches New Entourage Class

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Freelance Writing Gigs has been doing a craigslist ad of the day series for a while, and I think I might be addicted. The best of craigslist posts for freelance writers range from the "vague ad" to the "we flatter ourselves" ad and they keep getting funnier. In this recent craigslist ad of the day, someone posted an ad looking for a sexy blonde to help him with his um, duties.

Freelance Writing Gigs is a go-to source for freelance writers and provides job listings and advice to folks seeing freelance work.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

More ideas from my recent trip to the San Juan Islands include an unexpected spot for corporate retreat locations. Behind the smiles and handshakes, the ugly truth at many companies is that a lot of emotional turmoil is lurking, wafting and in some cases, almost reaching boiling point. Finding the perfect corporate retreat location is the first step to reinstating harmony in your company. Offsite meetings in Washington and executive retreats on Orcas Island can help companies get their employees back on the right track.

No one has to commit to being best friends during an executive retreat, but providing a positive outlet for the jealousy, pettiness and anger that's under the surface in many companies can help associates to respect each other and to get along... At least while they are in the office.

Related blog posts: Business Travelers Love El Gaucho Steakhouse, Businesswomen's Travel Tips

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A new article is the first in the series I'll be writing about a recent trip to Seattle, Washington and to the San Juan Islands. Read the review of the Inn at El Gaucho's restaurant and find out if the famed steakhouse made the "cut."

Stay tuned for more updates!

Related blog posts: Idyllic Offsite Meeting Locations in Washington, Bric's Luggage Tops for Women

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Business Travel Tips in the News:

• Throughout the month of September, passengers who travel on AirTran Airways will get double AirTrain A+ Rewards when they fly out of Atlanta.
• Marriott Rewards, following the swath cut by companies like TripAdvisor, has set up a customer-driven website for personal and business travel tips. The Marriott Rewards Insiders online community lets frequent flyers log on to chat about travel. The online community allows users to post questions and answers about personal and business travel and to share ideas for places to go. The website has been in Beta since March but the press releases have been flying out of Marriott this week so everything should be glitch-free by now.
• Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Rent A Car have partnered with Emirates Skywards to bring a bonus miles opportunity to members. Both car rental companies will offer 1,000 miles for 3+ day rentals between now and the end of the year. The promotional code EK1K can be used online to get the bonus miles, which are in addition to the regular Skyward miles frequent Emirates passengers receive for using Thrifty or Dollar rental car companies.
• Cambria Suites is offering hotel guests triple airline and Amtrak Rewards for qualified stays now until the end of the year. Qualified airline partners include American Airlines, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, US Airways and United. Hotel guests have to present their frequent flyer information upon check-in to receive the bonus miles.
• Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. instituted a “no blackout” policy for members. The policy is critical for the hotel chain’s frequent guest program to remain competitive. With the spiraling number of frequent flier and frequent guest programs out there, customer service, brand loyalty and perks aplenty are what will keep hotel guests coming back.
• Business travelers with airline rewards cards should be able to use their cards with one or more of the bonus opportunities above to earn even more free travel.

Related blog posts: Small Businesses Hit Hardest by Economic Downturn, Continental Airlines Charging for 1st Checked Bag

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Continental Airlines has thrown their cap in with American, United and US Airways by charging passengers $15 for a first checked bag. Elite frequent fliers, first and business coach passengers won't have to pay the fee. In addition, passengers who purchased full-fare coach seats won't pay a fee for a first checked bag.

The change is effective immediately for flights in the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. The first bag checked fee will also apply to Continental Airlines’ passengers to Canada and the Virgin Islands beginning October 7th.

Get discount business travel tips to make your next trip less expensive.

Related blog posts: Business Travel Tips Weekly Round-Up, Small Businesses Hit Hardest by Economic Downturn

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I’m the new Feature Writer for Business Travel. I’ve been toiling for a couple of years in the Business & Finance section of Suite101 and I just made the move from Insurance to Business Travel this week.

I spent many years travelling almost non-stop for business. It was exhausting. And it was kind of a trial by fire, since there was no one to tell me what to expect when I walked onto that first airplane.

I’ve had some funny moments as a business traveler.

I once arrived so late for a flight that the signs that announced boarding information were already down. Since the flight included heads of several departments that were all counting on me to be there, the relief was evident when I strolled on board with the door whistling shut behind me. Once I was traveling on business and I overslept and missed the beginning of a seminar. Some joker had set the clock in my hotel room to his time zone and I never thought to see if it was the correct time. Since the fellow leading the seminar lost his voice the night before and had wanted me to take over, everyone was waiting for me when I walked in an hour late.

And there have been many other times when business travel has proved funny- or heartwarming. I’ve been lucky to meet people all over the country and to hear their personal stories and the experience has changed me. It’s made me a better writer.

I’ve already started writing articles in the Business Travel section of Suite101.com. I source my own topics and I have at least one article due every week, so I welcome suggestions and press releases for new story ideas.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A new article outlines some of the best features of the airline credit cards offered by five major U.S. airlines. In general, the more a rewards credit card is used, the bigger the benefit there is for the cardholder. In addition, scooping up exclusive package deals offered by airlines to cardholders only and taking advantage of every opportunity to earn extra miles can help corporate airline rewards cardholders save money on business travel.

Am I 100% pro-airline credit cards, no questions asked? No. I also wrote a counterpoint to the benefits of corporate airlines rewards cards in another article, so you can compare the two points of view and decide for yourself if you want to get a rewards card or if you want to stick with a low interest or zero percent interest credit card.

If you have some big expenses coming up for your business, there are some definite benefits to be had by charging them to your business miles credit card. You can charge everything, reap the rewards, and then hopefully pay off your balance before the interest rate kicks in. But alongside the benefits of these credit cards, there are downfalls too. It’s important to have all the facts before you choose, so you can make the best decision for your business needs.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Posted by Lisa Nichols

For years, my mom has made her Cioppino seafood soup recipe on Christmas Eve. The fish soup, long a family favorite, is a true catch of the day recipe; my mom makes it a little bit differently every year. It takes time to get everything together to make Cioppino, but it's surprisingly easy to put together. Sauté some onions and garlic, add in tomato sauce, wine and spices and just before you serve, toss in the seafood. It's really that easy.

And this Cioppino recipe is so good. It's perfect for a cold evening and has always left my friends suitably impressed with my culinary achievements. The bouillabaisse recipe makes the whole house smell wonderful while it's cooking and by the time it's served, it's quickly devoured.

I know you're thinking, ok, so this is a change, but that's the great thing about writing for Suite101: We're encouraged to write about what we love and never discouraged from posting articles on other areas of the magazine's website. So yes, I'll keep writing the business articles, but I'll also post a few more of mom's incredible recipes in coming weeks.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

According to a new report, Americans without health insurance for 2008 spend $30 billion on healthcare coverage. In Covering The Uninsured In 2008: Current Costs,

Sources Of Payment, And Incremental Costs, a study released by Jack Hadley of the George Mason University and John Holahan of the Urban Institute, the report states that the U.S. government finances close to 75% of uninsured healthcare expenses. Americans without healthcare coverage receive about $56 billion in free care.

Learn more about ways for uninsured Americans to pay for prenatal healthcare and getting medical debt help to help pay for healthcare costs.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I have a great deal of respect for Bric’s luggage, some of which is in my own closet, so I couldn’t resist writing a review of some of their new lines of travel gear. The Bric’s Business Luggage Review gives an overview of price points, sizing and styles for several of the latest models from the famed Italian luggage designer. The Bric’s luggage people were kind enough to provide a photo for the article that shows one of their yummiest new roller bags. Their luggage is always fashionable but more importantly, it wears well and stands up to the toughest of baggage handlers.

The article fits well with something that’s been on my mind a lot lately, women’s business travel tips. Companies don’t provide employees with a handbook about business travel (though they probably should), so I’m improvising and providing tips you can use when you go out of town. I’ll keep adding to the “handbook” of business travel tips for women and alerting you on the blog when there’s something new to add to the list of ideas.

Meanwhile, if you have a topic about insurance or business travel that you’d like to see in the magazine, please drop me a note. I’m always looking for new ideas, and I love to hear from readers.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I’ve been scooting around lately, posting some articles in other areas of our online magazine. One article, Women’s Business Travel Tips, might be of interest to some of you. I used to travel a good deal for business, and the first time out, I found myself scrambling around my hotel room with, quite literally, nothing to wear an hour before a meeting (Imagine a bag filled with mismatched t-shirts, a skirt with a Diet Coke stain and shoes that don’t go with anything). I quickly learned what to pack for most three-day business trips and I’ve shared my ideas in Women’s Business Travel Tips.

If you have an idea for something you’d like to read about in the insurance area or in the general business area of Suite101, please drop me a note or leave a comment on one of the articles. Like all freelance writers with multiple commitments, I’m always looking for new ideas.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

In this week’s Kiplinger Letter, the popular business and economic news round-up explores the people behind the 47 million uninsured Americans. Of people in the U.S. without insurance, the breakdown looks like this:

9.2 million of uninsured Americans have household incomes of at least $75,000. According to Kiplinger, some people do not have health problems and don't want coverage. Other people who are uninsured in our country can't get insurance because of preexisting conditions.

7.5 million of uninsured people in the U.S. are between the ages of 19-24 and have no access to healthcare, can’t afford healthcare or don't believe that they need healthcare because they are in good health.

70% of the uninsured are in families with one or more full-time employees. 10% of the uninsured have one or more part-time employee in the family. The rest of the family members are retired or unemployed.

8.4 million of uninsured Americans are eligible for some kind of government program, but are not aware that they are eligible, don’t know how to sign up for a government program or cannot access the documents they need to sign up for the program.

10.2 million of uninsured people in the U.S. are not citizens. 80% of this group are legal residents. Many people in this group have low-income jobs and either cannot afford or do not have access to health insurance.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A new article gives tips on 10 ways to improve Web traffic from Joy Gugeler, the formidable editor-in-chief of Suite101. The article appeared in MastheadOnline, a headline news website about the magazine industry in Canada. Aaron Leaf culled tips from a presentation done by Joy Gugeler at the Magazines West conference in Vancouver, B.C. last week. The presentation highlighted best practices for magazines to use to improve search engine results.

Gugeler’s Tips for Improving Web Traffic Include:

1. Keep articles brief, between 400-600 words.
2. Use keywords in article titles to improve search engine results.
3. Paragraphs shouldn’t be longer than 75 words.
4. Improve Web traffic by writing leads for online magazine articles that are RSS feed-friendly.
5. Use bold subheads and include keywords to get the attention of website visitors.
6. Use bulleted or numbered lists to improve Web traffic and to make magazine articles easier on the eyes.
7. Focus on 1-2 keywords or keyphrases in each article.
8. Improve search engine results by using your top 6-10 keywords or keyphrases in your Meta tags.
9. Link to other, related articles through keywords.
10. Use color photos with proper attribution to jazz up your articles.

So how am I doing?

Posted by Lisa Nichols

In a smart marketing move, American Modern Insurance Group has combined a company-wide effort to move policyholders to EFT and paperless billing with, what else, a green initiative. According to a press release, TREE2, American Modern’s tree conservation and restoration program, will plant thousands of longleaf pine trees destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

For every American Modern customer that signs up for EFT, the insurance company will plant a tree along the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast. Customers already on EFT will automatically get a tree planted in their honor as part of the TREE2 project. Many companies have partnered with eco-friendly initiatives in their effort to get customers and employees to go green, but American Modern stands out as the one insurance carrier that’s focusing on areas torn apart by storms.

A quick call to the insurance company netted this information:

“We're in the business of helping people put their lives back together after disaster strikes," said Joe David, vice president of marketing at American Modern. ”The TREE2 project seemed like a natural extension of our mission by helping storm-ravaged communities give Mother Nature a hand in restoring the many trees that a major storm destroys. Also, as part of the Munich Re Group, we are fully committed to actions that help minimize the impact of carbon emissions on our environment. Replacing lost trees is one great way to achieve that goal."

The program will benefit parks, public properties and schools. Learn more about American Modern Insurance Group’s TREE2 program online.

Send your insurance tips and news to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Consumer Reports recently introduced a new tool for comparing hospitals online. The tool lets website members review hospitals for information about price and quality of care. According to a Consumer Reports blog about the healthcare area of the website, they will soon introduce an online rating tool that measures physicians’ care.

A friend of mine in the healthcare industry told me she found a website that lists exactly how much doctors get paid by various pharmaceutical companies. Physicians get kickbacks for providing patients with meds from various companies. My friend found doctors that she knew who were making well over $100,000 annually from certain drug companies.

It’s not an illegal practice. In fact, it’s practically a tradition, and most likely something that many physicians factor into their total salary. Professional athletes wear logos, doctors provide samples and prescriptions for certain drugs… It’s just part of the marketing wheel.

Still, I can’t wait to read the Consumer Reports criteria for judging doctors. It promises to be interesting, if not out and out controversial.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A new children’s dental care office opens today in San Jose, California. The Children’s Dental Center makes visiting the dentist a little less stressful for kids with TV screens, a movie theater and video games. The center provides services for children of families who may otherwise have trouble paying for dental care.

The Children’s Dental Center is part of The Health Trust, which provides sliding scale fees for uninsured children. In addition, the children’s dental care office will provide “oral health scholarships” to kids who cannot afford to pay for visits to the dentist. Appointments for the Children's Dental Center at 1153 S. King Rd., San Jose, California, can be made by calling 1-408-240-0250.

Learn more about paying for dental care and getting medical debt help.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Internship opportunities in the insurance industry are widespread and offer college students a way to flex their career muscles. Even if you never thought you’d work for an insurance company or agency, there are a number of reasons why you should search internship opportunities in this industry:

In a world where paper trails reign supreme, you’ll learn a lot about accountability in a paid intern job at an insurance company. Participating in meetings and helping the people you work with prepare for presentations gives you the building blocks that you’ll need for any job.

When you search internship opportunities in insurance, you’ll find openings in claims, marketing, underwriting, new products and more. Depending upon the company needs and your skill sets, you might find yourself writing articles for company newsletters, the company intranet or the company website in a paid intern job. You may also have the opportunity to help choose stock photography for collateral materials or to provide input into the graphic design elements of a brochure.

In addition to working in highly specialized departments in a paid intern job at an insurance company or agency, you might get the opportunity to work in the call center. Jump on it. Learning how to help people with questions ranging from billing dates to claims status is a great way to prepare yourself for dealing with the different personality types you’ll encounter when you enter the workforce full time.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A review of the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan brought up some lively discussion in our family. My brother-in-law and I were discussing the new SUV when he said, “Please don’t buy a brand-new car, Lisa. They depreciate the minute you drive one off the lot.” Well, I already knew that. In fact, they say a new car depreciates by at least 20% as soon as it’s purchased. But that’s not the main reason I wouldn’t buy the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, or any new SUV, the first year it’s on the market.

New cars are notorious for still having some bugs. Kinks that need to be worked out. However, according to the last J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Survey conducted in June 2007, auto manufacturers have cut way down on the kinks. The survey found that the typical problems experienced with design quality and quality of production at 90 days of ownership have improved at a rate of 6% each year. And in the last 20 years, the industry has seen an improvement rate of more than 120%, according to survey results.

Still, I’m loathe to buy the 2009 Vokswagen Tiguan or any new SUV during its first year. There have been significant improvements, yes, but the process for rolling out a new car is not yet perfected. And there is still that little matter of depreciation.

Before you buy any new SUV, check with your insurance agent to learn more about the costs of car insurance for the car or truck you want to buy. And, check out our tips for how to save money on car insurance to see if you whittle down your premium.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

As hurricane season approaches, homeowners’ insurance companies will start sending out press releases with tips on how to stay safe during the windy season. When I worked as the PR and Marketing Communications Manager for a P&C insurance company, these kinds of releases were standard operating procedure. They’re a good way for insurance companies to reach out and provide helpful tips to customers and to encourage prospective customers to get online homeowners insurance quotes.

Hanover Insurance Group is one of the first homeowners’ insurance companies to throw their hats in, with a press release sent last week outlining personal and property safety tips to use during a hurricane.

Hurricane Safety Tips from the Homeowners Insurance Company Include:

• Check your homeowner’s policy to see if flood water damage insurance coverage is included. It probably isn’t, so the discussion to have with your agent is a. where can you buy it and b. how much will flood insurance cost.
• Understand your responsibilities during a hurricane, including checking functionality of sump pumps and installing shutters. Decide if you need to add some safety improvements like sliding doors or a hurricane-proof roof.
• Secure your home in any way possible. The homeowner’s insurance company recommends doing any necessary home improvements now to prevent problems during a natural disaster.
• Create an emergency kit with everything you’d need in case of a major storm. An evacuation plan for you and your family can also make surviving a hurricane easier.
• A home inventory, using photos and video, can make the flood water damage insurance claims process easier after a hurricane.

Get more hurricane safety tips online before you get homeowners insurance quotes. And, find some helpful tips about buying flood water damage insurance online.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

This week the GMAC auto insurance company released survey results from the 2008 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. The auto insurance company polled 5524 licensed drivers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. I already reported on some of the major findings in an earlier blog. Some additional findings from the auto insurance company survey that you might find interesting:

Auto Insurance Company Finds American Drivers Lacking Knowledge

According to the survey results released by the auto insurance company, an “alarming” number of American drivers lack knowledge about driving laws. The drivers were tested on questions from standard DMV driving tests. Results include:

• The auto insurance company found that the lowest average test scores were in the Northeast.
• 84% of driver safety survey respondents couldn’t identify the action to take when approaching a yellow traffic light.
• 73% of drivers surveyed by the auto insurance company didn’t know the proper safe following distance to use while driving behind another car.
• Overall, the national average test score improved, up to 78.1% from 77.1% last year.

Learn more about the best ways to save money before you get auto insurance quotes online. Increasing deductibles, claiming car insurance discounts and comparing auto insurance quotes online before you buy insurance can help save you money on insurance this year.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

This week the GMAC car insurance company released survey results from the 2008 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. The results tell a disturbing tale about licensed drivers in the U.S. The car insurance company polled more than 5500 licensed drivers from 50 states and the District of Columbia. The questions on the survey came from state DMV exams.

Car Insurance Company Finds Unsafe Drivers in America

The results from the GMAC car insurance company 2008 National Drivers Test found that 16.4% of American drivers wouldn’t pass a written driver’s exam if they took the test today. Kansas drivers passed the test with flying colors, with an average score of 84%. New Jersey drivers included in the car insurance company’s survey fared poorly, with an average test score of 69.9%.

Learn more about the best ways to save money before you get car insurance quotes online. Auto insurance discounts, increasing deductibles and comparing car insurance quotes online before you buy can all result in a significant savings.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

If you’re thinking about buying a condo, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Ask all of the questions you can before you make an offer. That way, you know exactly what you’re getting into before you buy the condo:

Get HOA Fees, Rules and Insurance Details Before You Buy a Condo

Find out exactly what the HOA (homeowner’s association) fees are before you buy a condo. These vary widely depending upon a number of factors, so you need to know the exact figure before you buy. If someone is telling you that they don’t know how much the HOA fees will be, tread carefully- or just walk away.

When you’re buying a condo and you’re a pet owner, make sure that you fully understand condo rules relating to pets. Many condos have rules about the number of pets that you can own, and additional rules relating to pets in common areas around the grounds of the condo.

Find out how much homeowners insurance will be before you buy a condo. In addition, find out what kind of insurance the HOA has for the condos. Condo insurance provided by the homeowner’s association will not cover your personal belongings. But the insurance should cover a couple of things related to living in a shared space that won’t be covered by your insurance.

Get information on insurance for landlords and insuring vacation timeshare units online.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Florida residents can once again begin buying car insurance from Allstate Corporation in Florida, say news reports. The company had been suspended from selling car insurance since the beginning of the year for non-compliance. Allstate had been shut down for not complying with multiple requests from regulators to share information about how the Florida insurance company calculates homeowners’ insurance rates.

The Florida Insurance Commissioner removed the Allstate ban when the insurance company began complying with requests to provide information to the state department of insurance. The company also included documents that confirmed that everything requested was included.

I did some freelance work writing optimized website pages a while ago for a company that specializes in forensic accounting consulting services. I’d never heard of forensic accounting, but the concept makes sense and could apply to any company under investigation, including insurance carriers. Investigating insurance carriers falls upon regulatory agencies, and knowing what to look for is really part and parcel of the regulators’ jobs.

Forensic investigations might bring to mind shows like CSI or Patricia Cornwell’s books, but it really just means following the paper trail to make the court discovery process or any investigation more relevant. I’ve written a number of articles here about interesting insurance career paths and hot insurance jobs but I think that now I’m going to have to find out who attorneys work with when they need to get forensic insurance information, too.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

In a new poll, many Americans claim that they or someone in their household got married in order to get healthcare coverage. The poll, released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that 7% of people surveyed said they or someone in their home decided to tie the knot to get health insurance.

Paying for Health Insurance a Struggle for Many

Paying for health insurance is a major struggle for many individuals and families right now. So the idea of getting married to save money on healthcare is really not so farfetched. According to Business Week, health insurance premiums have gone through the roof in the last eight years (Mozes, Alan. “Health Insurance Premiums Skyrocket” Business Week, April 2008.) Business Week reports that paying for health insurance through an employer-sponsored healthcare plan jumped by 30% from 2001-2005, while salaries increased by only 3%.

Buying Healthcare Coverage a Challenge

Going back to the Kaiser Family Foundation poll, the results found that buying healthcare coverage is becoming an even bigger concern in America. Of people surveyed, three in 10 said that they or their families struggle to pay for health insurance. 37% surveyed said that they report having some sort of financial trouble related to paying for medical bills, including medical bills going to collections, trouble with paying other bills and bankruptcy.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Travelers insurance company is increasing the amount of hull insurance it provides to commercial airplane companies to $50 million, according to reports. Travelers used to cap aviation insurance at $20 million for physical damage to airplane hulls. The insurance company is doing an all-around expansion of its aviation business, so updates were definitely in order.

Larger Airplanes Eligible for Coverage under New Aviation Insurance Policy

According to the company website, the changes to the aviation insurance policy will allow Travelers to insure larger airplanes, including aircraft that offers international service. Planes eligible for coverage under the new policy include the Bombardier Global Express, the Falcon 7X and the Gulfstream 450/500/550. In addition to the increase in hull coverage, Travelers also offers up to $300 million in aircraft liability insurance.

Travelers Expands Additional Airplane Insurance Coverages

Travelers insurance company has been expanding airplane insurance coverages for some time now. The company started offering worker’s compensation insurance for airlines in March of 2008. The worker’s compensation insurance policy covers pilots, ground crew and various members of airline administration. In December of 2007, Travelers introduced a flexible airplane insurance policy for airline fleets, providing coverage for pleasure and business use. And in May of 2007, Travelers also rolled out an insurance policy designed to meet the needs of its corporate airplane customers.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

This week, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled against a homeowner impacted by Katrina and in favor of a homeowners insurance company that writes in Louisiana. Joseph Scher, who had won his case in two lower courts, finally lost his battle against Lafayette Insurance Company. Scher had claimed that the homeowners’ insurance company was responsible for flood damage repairs to his New Orleans home.

Flood Damage Repairs Not Covered by Homeowners Insurance Policy

Scher didn’t have flood insurance to pay for damages and repairs to his home. Flood insurance doesn’t come with the homeowner’s insurance policy and has to be purchased separately. But the homeowner claimed that the flood damages in need of repair were caused by construction workers working on the New Orleans levee and not by Katrina. Scher claimed that since the flood wasn't caused by a natural disaster, the insurance company should pay. The court disagreed, stating that the definition of flood doesn’t change depending upon the cause and that the insurance company wasn’t responsible for the loss. Ouch.

Prepare for Natural Disasters with Emergency Kits and Safety Plans

Prepare for natural disasters this year by creating an emergency kit. And get safety plans for tornados and hurricanes to keep your home safe this year:

• Tornado safety tips help keep your family safe during twister season.
• Hurricane safety tips help protect your home and your personal belongings.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

San Francisco, California restaurants are charging customers for something new: a surcharge that helps the restaurants pay for employees’ healthcare. According to the Contra Costa Times, one California restaurant menu reads "A 3.5 percent service charge will be added to all checks for the San Francisco affordable healthcare legislation."

San Francisco Universal Healthcare Provisions Hit Small Businesses Hard

The surcharges started being added to the menu after a new law went into effect in January that requires all businesses with more than 20 employees to spend a minimum amount on health insurance. It’s the first time that such a large city has started a universal healthcare plan, and it has made some business owners irate. Restaurants especially have small margins for profit, so the extra expense has proved costly since it started in January.

San Francisco Restaurants Try to Pay for Universal Healthcare

Other restaurants charge similar surcharges to patrons or charge diners a flat fee in addition to their meals. Some citizens worry that the increased prices will put a dent in tourism. The Contra Costa article claims other restaurants with fewer employees are refusing to expand, to avoid paying for healthcare. The rest of California- and the U.S.- continue to watch San Francisco’s progress providing universal healthcare to all citizens. Meanwhile, the city restaurants’ trade group has filed suit to stop the program.

Learn more about insurance for restaurants.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

There are a number of tips you can use to make money and save money when you own or manage a hotel. Reviewing your insurance coverage, raising rates, finding new ways to make money and assessing your property taxes can all save your hotel, motel, spa or resort money in the long run.

Review Insurance for Hotels and Motels to Save Money

A new article, Insurance for Hotels and Motels, walks you through some of the must-haves for insurance when you manage or own a hotel. Insurance for hotels, motels, resorts, ranches and spas is easy to understand and navigate with some helpful tips. The article includes information about hotel insurance discounts and coverages to help you find the right policy for your resort, at the best price.

Hotel Management Money Making and Money Saving Tips

HotelInteractive.com has several tips that hotel managers and owners can use to save money or make more money from their business. Tips include increasing rates during the peak season- even by small amounts- to help off-set costs and reduce motel debts. Another tip hotel and resort managers can use to save money includes reviewing property taxes to ensure the business is assessed properly.

Find New Ways for Your Hotel to Make Money

Generating new ways to make money can also add to your hotel’s bottom line. My folks travel often and they find the best deal on parking at an airport hotel. Offering guests an opportunity to park in your motel’s secure parking lot and take advantage of the shuttle to the airport for a small fee is a way to make money that can quickly add to your hotel’s profits.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Yup, you read the headline correctly: not only is it bass fishing season, it’s also time to sign up for a very competitive, very fun fantasy league- that follows bass fishing.

Fantasy Bass Fishing League Basics

The fantasy bass fishing league, sponsored by Bassmaster.com, offers bass fishing fans a way to check their knowledge of bass fishing pros and the places where they fish against other bass fishing enthusiasts. Prizes include, you guessed it, a fishing trip for two to Mexico’s Lake El Salto. By joining the fantasy bass fishing league, you’ll receive insider tips and scouting reports from expert anglers.

Fantasy Bass Fishing League Eligibility and Fees

To be eligible to win, you have to register on the website before August 10, 2008. If I understand the rules correctly, you can register for the fantasy bass fishing league for free, but have to pay Bass Insider membership fees to be eligible to win the trip to Mexico. A one-year membership costs $59.95 and includes a 30 day free trial.

Get information about bass boat insurance to keep your boat and your gear protected in and out of water this season. And, learn more about the fantasy bass fishing league online. The website explains that choosing people for your league is “part art, part science.”

And let us know how you do.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Surprise, surprise, the Honda Accord has been named the best certified pre-owned car by Forbes. Pre-owned cars are used cars that have been examined by the manufacturer and been deemed worthy of a new warranty. In other words, they aren’t lemons: they’re the cream of the crop, and they will cost you more than the average used car.

Buying Used Cars vs. Buying Certified Pre-Owned Cars

Buying used cars instead of new has long been considered the best choice for many. It’s a great way to save money and to get more car for the money you have available to spend. A certified pre-owned vehicle lets car dealerships and manufacturers get in on the used car market. In the past, buying a used car at a dealership didn’t seem like much of a deal; they seemed a lot more expensive than cars for sale by individuals. Adding a “pre-owned certification” gives buyers who are nervous about buying a used car some assurances that the car is still considered valuable by the manufacturer.

Before You Buy a Used Car

Before buying a used car, it’s a good idea to get a vehicle history report. And, you can check on prices for auto insurance for any vehicle make and model with your insurance agent before you buy. Your insurance agent can also help you save money with new auto insurance discounts.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I love taking weekend road trips. In fact, I always do all of the driving. Some weekend road trips I want to take in the near future offer fun for the whole family.

Weekend Road Trips to Take with Family

Go Camping in the mountains in North Carolina. There's an exit sign in the middle of nowhere way up high that advertises camping. I'd like to see what it looks like.

Try Pheasant hunting in South Dakota. My friend's dad takes this road trip every year. I don't want to kill any pheasants. I just want to see the route and maybe see a couple of the birds. If the timing was right I would hit Sturgis too. I have been to the area many times but never during the biker rally.

One of my other brothers is working on visiting all of the ballparks. I like that idea, too. Taking road trips to watch the many talented farm teams in towns like Omaha would also be great family fun.

Visit Darwin, Minnesota to see the world's largest ball of twine. Silly, but I got this in my head a while ago and now I want to go. Just to say I did.

Compare Auto Insurance before You Take Family Weekend Road Trips

Before you travel, compare auto insurance to make sure you have the coverages you need at competitive rates. Learn more about auto insurance, classic car insurance and RV insurance before you travel. Then, go online and compare rates to see if you can save some money with a new policy- the resulting savings just might pay for at least one of your family’s road trips this year.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Some of the best road trips to take offer spooky fun and wild midnight tours. Some ideas to consider for your family’s road trip this year:

The Best Road Trips Offer Your Family a Spooky Good Time

Visit Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween. My brother did this road trip one year and it sounds amazing. Wind your way through the town's stocks and gallows and then do the "Witch’s tour," where you’ll see crazy things like a door gouged with nail scratches. From a "witch" that was trapped beneath the door. Psychics and Tarot card readers and the rest of those folk also arrive en masse in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween.

Take a driving trip down south to visit beautiful Savannah, Georgia. I was less than an hour away from here recently and on many other occasions, but I never seem to make it off of Hilton Head Island to go to Georgia. My friends visited Savannah, Georgia on their honeymoon and did the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil tour that actually starts, appropriately enough, at midnight. It goes through the Mercer house from the book and into the old Bonaventure cemetery, too.

Update and Compare Car Insurance before You Take Road Trips

Before you go on a road trip, you need to make sure that your car insurance is in order. Whether you’ll be kings of the road in an RV, plan to take an economical approach with a compact car or you want to toodle around in an antique auto, you need to make sure that you’re protected on your road trip. Learn more about updating and comparing RV insurance, auto insurance coverages or your classic car insurance before you take your driving trip this year.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Workplace wellness can help reduce employee obesity problems. Companies that implement health management programs get their money back and then some. According to the Wellness Councils of America, companies can get a return of $24 on every dollar spent on a workplace wellness program. And a new study about American employees’ obesity problems indicates the timing couldn’t be better to begin a health management program at your company.

New Study Points to Workplace Wellness Benefits

Companies can benefit from a workplace wellness program. According to a new report, 65% of American employees are overweight or obese. Kronos Optimal Health Company analyzed the results of almost 10,000 American employee health screenings and found that 65% of women and 77% of men who are 40 or older are obese or overweight.

Encourage employees to spend their lunch hours and breaks getting fit as part of your workplace wellness program. Offering low-fat vending machine snacks and cafeteria meals and providing health management programs to help employees get healthy can benefit companies in a number of ways. In addition to saving money on healthcare costs when employees are in good physical shape, a workplace wellness program may also result in reduced absenteeism- to the tune of 30% annually, according to a 2005 survey by The Art of Health Promotion.

Get tips for starting a low cost or free workplace wellness program at your company now.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Share your ideas for insurance articles and the insurance blog. I started writing about insurance for Suite101, the interactive online magazine, in June 2006. Since that time, I’ve written dozens of insurance articles. To date, some of the topics covered in the insurance section of the online magazine have included:

Save Money on Insurance: Insurance articles include getting medical debt help, homeowner’s insurance discounts and saving money on auto insurance.

Before You Buy Insurance Guides: RV insurance, mobile home insurance and finding unemployed medical coverage.

Insurance articles about SEO tools for companies and agencies provide tips for starting a business blog, online reputation management and business website development.

Jobs in Insurance: Posts on the insurance blog include information about RN case management jobs, product development careers and underwriter jobs.

Insurance company and agency marketing and PR tips and tricks include: creating customer loyalty, using competitive intelligence and identifying marketing goals and objectives.

Business insurance articles focus on free workplace wellness ideas, group health plans and internet liability insurance.

So tell me, what would you like to see on the insurance blog? What insurance articles would you like to read? I’m open to suggestions and always love reading your ideas. Frequently, emails from readers of this online magazine turn into insurance articles and fodder for the insurance blog.

If you have questions about your insurance coverages, please contact your insurance company or insurance agent for more details.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Kroger is one of the newest grocery store chains to allow customers to compare insurance rates with information provided at the check-out stand. The nation’s largest chain of traditional supermarkets started offering low cost insurance quotes and personal financial products in the last quarter of 2007. Comparing insurance rates at the grocery store has been picked up by a number of retailers, including Wal-Mart.

Strategic Partnerships Put Low Cost Insurance Quotes in Front of Customers

Strategic partnerships have been at the crux of insurance companies’ efforts to remain profitable in recent years. With incredible amounts of competition in the form of websites that let customers compare insurance rates, insurance companies had to look for other avenues to get in front of customers. Partnering with well-known, trusted entities like supermarkets has become the savior of insurance companies. The companies need to make sure that they’re still seen as a viable way for customers to get low cost insurance quotes.

Compare Insurance Rates from Trusted Companies

Customers want to compare insurance rates from companies they trust before they buy. When an insurance company looks to broker a strategic alliance, they look for partnerships that will benefit them by association. Big-name insurance providers like Amica look for specialty insurance providers that will give them the expertise for specialty claims that they don’t have. Smaller, less well-known insurance companies benefit from an association with a national supermarket chain by association. It’s a brand that rubs off on another brand, and it’s at the heart of the strategic alliance partnership.

Learn more about getting low cost insurance quotes on auto insurance, homeowners insurance and health insurance.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Save money on car insurance, learn about discounts for homeowners insurance and get medical debt help. High premiums for insurance make it unaffordable for many people. Learning how you can save money on insurance can help take away the sting of high-cost premiums.

• You can save money on car insurance just by conducting an annual review with your insurance agent. Make sure that you don’t have too much coverage that you don’t need. Ask about additional discounts to save money on car insurance.
• Discounts for homeowners insurance can come from unexpected places, like an improved credit score. If you have issues in your credit history, you can work to correct them and might find an added bonus at your insurance company. Insurance carriers often provide customers with discounts for homeowners insurance when they have a good credit score.
• Get medical debt help to assist you with unpaid medical bills. Your unpaid bills drag down your credit score and can affect your ability to get the best loan rates. You might be surprised to learn that you can offer to settle your medical debt and improve your credit score with just one phone call.
• Generic prescription drugs can also save you money on your healthcare expenses. Most insurance companies offer a healthy discount for customers who request generic prescription drugs.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The need for specialty coverages like high net worth insurance and luxury vacations trip insurance continue to increase. A new book highlights a new breed of customers with all-new needs for specialty insurance coverages.

Middle Class Millionaires Aren’t Afraid to Spend Money

With the release of the new book The Middle Class Millionaire, authors Russ Alan Prince and Lewis Schiff explore the new concept of the suburban millionaire. The book defines these people as having a net worth of less than $10 million. Over 8 million people in the U.S. fall into the middle class millionaire group. One characteristic that defines the group is their frequent spending for items that are important to them. From electronic gadgets to technological wizardry, these everyday millionaires aren’t afraid to shell out for items that they consider essentials.

High Net Worth Insurance Protects Middle Class Millionaires

High net worth insurance provides millionaires with peace of mind. The insurance industry, often accused of being slow to catch on to new trends, haven’t been slouches when it comes to addressing the needs of middle class millionaires. High net worth insurance provides coverage for millionaires’ unique needs, including excess liability, high value homes and expensive collections. Luxury vacations trip insurance can help recoup expenses when a costly trip is delayed or cancelled.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

You can reduce your company’s online risks by monitoring employees’ email. Risks that occur through email including downloading harmful viruses and malware, releasing proprietary information and making statements that leave the company liable.

Does Your Employees’ Email Put Your Company at Risk?

Lawsuits or security breakdowns could occur from your employees’ email activities. According to a recent survey done by Harris Interactive, almost 70% of American employees who use email have sent or received emails that could put their company at risk. The employees admitted that they had sent or received passwords and login details, videos, jokes and a number of other items through email that could put their employers at risk.

Implementing Employee Email Monitoring Protects Companies

Monitoring employee emails can help reduce the risk of online liability or security breaches. Despite the number of employees who regularly engage in email activity that could place a company at risk, very few U.S. employees polled felt that they had done anything wrong. 92% of employees in the email survey stated that they had never sent or received email that could pose a threat to their employer. That’s a big company security disconnect. Monitoring employee emails can help mitigate company risks. It’s critical that email monitoring practices are clearly stated in company email policies. The policies, which outline appropriate email usage and include information about email monitoring practices, should be distributed to all new and current employees anytime they are updated.

Traditional business liability doesn’t protect your company from online threats. Learn more about internet liability insurance for your company.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Google Webmaster tools continue to expand, much to the delight of small business owners and marketing managers. With a Web hosting company and some website marketing, you can easily build a website that brings in new insurance agency and company prospects. Web site search engine optimization efforts improve when you work to improve the look and feel of your small business website.

Google Gadgets Make Websites Sticky

The latest Google Webmaster tools include Google Gadgets. Google Gadgets are widgets you can place on your small business website to make it more sticky. The widgets include local gas prices, local weather, a calendar, horoscopes and more. You want to strike a balance between website stickiness (where visitors stay on the website for longer periods of time) and messiness, where the website is too junky and turns visitors away.

Experiment with Free Tools to Market Your Small Business Website

Web hosting companies offer a number of tools, tips and tricks to help you with small business website marketing. When you build your website, think of it as an ever-changing living being, and not as static pages full of information. You want people to know that they’ve found your insurance agency or company, but you also want them to know that the information they have found is current. Use the free tools from Google and your Web hosting company to market your small business website effectively, so you can improve search engine optimization results.

Learn more about available Google Tools, creating a small business website for your insurance company or agency and creative ways to use search engine optimization tools.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A weekly round-up of health insurance in the news:

Kids Get to Keep Parents Health Insurance

The Wall Street Journal reports that Florida’s governor promises to back legislation that will allow kids to stay on their parents’ insurance policies until they are 30. 17 states have passed laws that allow kids stay on their parents’ insurance policies until they are in 20’s in the last two years. More than 13 million people between 19 and 29 don’t have health insurance.

Americans Hide DNA Test Results to Get Best Prices on Health Insurance

A growing number of people aren’t getting DNA tests that could tell them a lot about their predispositions towards certain medical conditions because they’re worried they won’t be able to get affordable healthcare coverage, says the New York Times. In other cases, people get the DNA tests but pay for the expensive exams on their own, so they won’t be reported to their healthcare insurance companies.

Health Net Sued for Allegedly Denying Too Many Claims

Health Net is being sued for allegedly promising to provide coverage for medical expenses but then cancelling insurance policies of insureds who needed expensive medical treatment. The lawsuit claims the company had goals and bonus payments for employees who saved Health Net the most money through denying claims.

Fat Tax Levied on Obese Insureds in the UK

Insurance companies in the UK are levying a “fat tax” on overweight insureds. Insurance premiums for customers who are “seriously overweight” could be 50% higher than their skinnier counterparts, according to reports. The increased cost for health insurance will apply to people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A weekly round-up of homeowners insurance in the news:

State Farm Stops Writing Homeowners Insurance in Florida

State Farm Florida Insurance Company will stop writing new homeowners insurance policies in Florida. Most Florida homeowners with State Farm Insurance (more than 1 million) will not be affected by the change, according to reports. However, about 50,000 coastal homeowners in Florida will be dropped by State Farm. According to Florida’s state Office of Insurance Regulation, the homeowners’ insurance company decided to pull out because of the risk of hurricane in the state.

Mortgage Insurance Payments May Be Tax Deductible

Homeowners with mortgage insurance may enjoy a tax deduction this year, according to reports. Low-income and moderate income homeowners who purchased mortgage insurance, in lieu of making a 20% down payment on a new home purchase, are eligible for the tax deduction. Homeowners with mortgage insurance, who pay on average up to $100 a month for the coverage, will be eligible to save about $300 on their federal taxes for 2007.

Allstate Reaches Agreement with Louisiana Insurance Commissioner

Allstate has reached an agreement with the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner. The homeowners’ insurance company will pay fines and expenses related to cancelling almost 5,000 homeowners’ insurance policies in the wake of Katrina. Allstate will also reinstate homeowners insurance policies cancelled after the hurricane. In many cases, the homeowners’ insurance company will be forced to offer the Louisiana insureds wind and hail coverage.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A weekly round-up of auto insurance in the news:

Michigan Auto Insurance Companies Can’t Deny Coverage

The Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) in Michigan has decreed that auto insurance companies cannot deny coverage to insureds who don’t get their vehicles inspected immediately following an accident. According to the release from OFIS, millions of Michigan residents with auto insurance will benefit from the change, meant to protect people who have been hospitalized or otherwise detained from immediately reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

Farmers Offers Auto Insurance Discounts to Customers with ESC

Farmers Group, Inc. has reported that it will begin offering an auto insurance policy discount to customers who own vehicles with electronic stability control (ESC). Beginning this month, new and future policyholders who have ESC will receive a 5% auto insurance discount. ESC take anti-lock brakes a step (or stop) further, with additional sensors to keep cars and trucks under control.

Insurance May Be Denied in UK if Proper Safety Precautions Ignored

Following a bump in recent car thefts where the keys were left in the ignition, police in Arran are telling auto insurance customers that they may not have coverage if they leave their keys in the car or leave their vehicles unlocked. A local Sergeant explained that very few locked vehicles are stolen, and vehicles should be equipped with the basic equipment- locks- to prevent auto theft.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A weekly round-up of the insurance industry in the news:

Property and Casualty Industry Continues to Decline

Although Property and Casualty insurance companies reported profits through 2007, insurance companies expect profits to decline this year. Reports indicate that while price wars have continued to offer ways for people to save money on insurance they have also decreased the money going into insurance company coffers. Insurance companies’ positions are further weakened by the economic downturn.

Aetna, Cigna, Liberty Mutual, Travelers and Bupa Plan to Expand in India

Aetna, Cigna, Travelers and UK-based insurance company Bupa all have plans to expand in India, say reports. Aetna, Cigna and Bupa are rumored to be planning new health insurance companies as part of joint ventures with Indian companies. Liberty Mutual and Travelers are also exploring Property and Casualty partnerships in India, with Travelers rumored to announce a partnership with Indian-based L&T this year.

USAA Insurance Once Again Tops BusinessWeek’s Customer Service “Champs”

USAA insurance, well known for their excellent service, has once again been named the best of BusinessWeek’s “Customer Service Champs.” The magazine reviews customer service standards and how companies use of technology to determine rankings. USAA provides insurance to military members and their families.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

There are a number of ways to save money on your high value home and contents insurance. High net worth insurance provides coverages for people with extensive business holdings, large homes, expensive collections and large personal staffs. High value home insurance and related coverages can be costly, but there are a number of ways you can save money on these types of insurance policies.

High Net Worth Insurance Policy Deductible Discounts

Increasing the deductible on a high net worth insurance policy is a sure-fire way to save money. High value home insurance policies often have deductibles as high as $100,000. The higher your deductible, the less expensive the high net worth insurance policy becomes.

More Discounts for High Value Home Insurance

Renewal credits are another way to get discounts on high value home and contents insurance. Companies that offer this discount usually take a percentage off the top of the high net worth insurance policy when the policy renews. Making changes to improve the security and safety of a high value home and its contents can result in more insurance discounts. Reviewing the insurance policy annually with an agent can also net additional policy discounts.

High value home and contents insurance may cost more, but the agents who offer these policies promise excellent service. Companies who offer high net worth insurance promise “concierge” level claims service, “priority” claims processing and a whole lot of extra personal attention.

Learn more about high value home insurance.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Insurance company websites can improve search engine results when they start a business blog. I was recently telling a friend about some new gigs I have ghostwriting business blogs and he told me that he could see why so many companies are using blogs- they’re great PR. They are great PR, I told him. And they’re also a powerful way to improve an insurance company’s search engine results.

Use a Business Blog Wisely

Create a business blog to talk about your company. Ideally, you want to make it engaging, interesting and it should contain information that your site visitors didn’t have before they visited the blog. Good writing won’t hurt your business blog. And content that’s been optimized to improve search engine results will greatly improve search engine rankings and site visitor numbers.

Building a Blog Business Plan that Focuses on Content Strategy

If I wanted to start a business blog for my insurance company, I’d talk to the marketing and PR team to find out what products and services they’ve been showcasing in marketing materials. Product, Underwriting, Customer Service and Sales- all areas of the company, really- will also be able to provide input into the content strategy and blog business plan. Whatever you decide, make sure that you keep your business blog timely and updated. You’ll need a dedicated content strategy in order for search engines to take notice, at least for a while.

And as I mention in the Starting a Business Blog article, sometimes, it’s just easier and more cost-effective to outsource your blog content to an experienced SEO writer. That way, you can jumpstart your business blog right away, rather than spending costly time training your (already overworked) copywriters to write optimized content.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Get help with developing a profitable website for your insurance company or agency. Back in the day, just throwing up any old static content was enough to get you in the game. Today, we know a lot more about using the Web to improve search engine results. Your insurance agency or company website needs to be brought up to snuff in order to compete.

Develop a Commanding Website for Your Small Business

Develop a small business website that commands the attention of search engines. You can improve search engine results for your website by using professional business website consulting to improve rankings. Professional website consultants work closely with your business to create a plan of action for your small business.

Internet Sales Leads Conversions

Use your small business website to convert internet sales leads into customers. You need more than “just” high rankings for your insurance agency or company website. You need your website to direct targeted prospects that are ready to buy to your company. Internet sales leads only matter when they’re the right customers for your business, and optimized content can help bring these people in your internet doors.

Learn more about developing your small business website, how to protect your insurance agency or company with internet liability insurance and using Google tools to help build your website.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences creating a top-ranking business website and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Paying for prenatal healthcare and medical debts can be hard if you’re uninsured. Almost 46 million are without health insurance in the U.S. For uninsured pregnant women, the risks for problems are elevated if they decide to skip out on costly doctor’s office visits to try to reduce prenatal healthcare-related medical debts.

Faith-Based Healthcare Plans a “Blessing,” say Customers

The Christian Care Ministry Medi-Share is one of several faith-based healthcare plan providers that help customers pay for their medical debts. The program works by allowing customers who need to pay for prenatal healthcare, or general medical expenses, to share in their medical costs. The principle of a medical sharing program is based on the Bible’s definition of sharing one another’s needs.

Faith-Based Healthcare and Medical Sharing Programs Draw Criticism

The Christian Care Medi-Share program and its faith-based healthcare plan counterparts have drawn criticism from regulatory agencies that claim medical sharing programs are health insurance and should be regulated like health insurance plans. The faith-based healthcare plan for uninsured people has also come under fire for discrimination allegations. The Medi-Share healthcare plan only provides coverage for Christians. The faith-based healthcare plan doesn’t provide coverage for abortions, treatment for drug addiction or support for “any other unbiblical lifestyles.”

Stipulations of Christian Medical Sharing Programs

The Medi-Share healthcare plan doesn’t guarantee that medical bills will be paid. And the website doesn’t specify, but expectant mothers in need of ways to pay for prenatal healthcare presumably have to fall under their definition of living a faith-based lifestyle to qualify. Members who participate in Christian medical sharing programs say the healthcare plan saves them money and helps support their religious beliefs by helping others, too.

Learn more about paying for prenatal healthcare and resolving medical debts without health insurance.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A Medford, New York’s condo association recently changed a ruling that banned religious statues in common areas. The condo board had voted to ban religious statues last year. After residents complained, and condo owners were polled, the board decided to reverse their earlier ruling.

There are strict- and strange- condo rules and regulations that get residents hacked off in almost every condo community. When you live in a condo, and you have a presiding board, not everyone will be pleased with every condo rule. And willful disregard of condo rules and regulations may result in hefty fines- as much as $100 a day or even more, depending upon the community. Some common condo rules and condo complaints include:

• No dogs, but cats are allowed. That’s a common condo rule. Dog lovers protest, saying their canines are clean. Cat owners at a dog-free Seattle condo complex even get together for “kitty socials.”
• In many areas, trucks aren’t allowed to park in condo parking lots and no one is allowed to back in to a parking spot in many condo developments.
• Late-night, last-minute laundry is a no-no. Many condos don’t let you do laundry after 10 p.m. or so.
• Kid-friendly condos? They’re hard to find. Many condo associations have a number of rules that keep kids off the grass, off of their roller skates and more.

Before you buy a condo, make sure to learn more about all of the CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions or rules) and the HOA fees. And, ask what type of insurance policy the association has to protect the building or buildings.

Learn more about the costs and coverages of a condo insurance policy before you buy.

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Retired players including Mike Ditka, Steve Largent, Ickey Woods and other members of the Gridiron Greats held a press conference this week to protest the lack of sports health insurance coverage for retired players. The Gridiron Greats is a non-profit that helps raise awareness about the high costs of healthcare for retired competitors. Jerry Kramer, who founded Gridiron Greats, has targeted disability, pension and need as the three primary concerns of ex-players. Out of 10,000 alumni, only 300 former players receive disability.

When it comes to pensions, inevitably, the discrepancy between players who played football decades ago vs. players who retire today is resurfacing. Without continued sports health insurance, it’s been tough for some retired players to stay on top of their injury-related expenses. And in addition to physical injury, some players have battled depression after leaving their teams.

Members of the Gridiron Greats are calling for flat pensions, to help level the playing field for retired players who don’t have health insurance. And Kyle Turley’s Gridiron Guardian Sunday plan, a spinoff initiative, encourages players to donate one game check this season to help retired players pay for medical expenses.

The National Football League Players Association and the NFL set up a $7 million dollar fund to help retired football players pay for joint replacement injuries in 2007. The plan also promises to speed up disability awards for retired players.In the meantime, the Gridiron Greats are holding an auction with one-of-a-kind memorabilia from players to help raise money for retired players’ health benefits.

Get more information about professional sports insurance and check out the Football section of Suite101 for the latest news about the Super Bowl.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences with sports insurance and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

While researching co-ownership and multiple landlords building and contents insurance, it quickly became clear that this was a growing concern, with widespread misunderstandings. If you co-own property with other people, including vacation homes or rental income properties, it’s critical that you have adequate insurance- for you.

All too often, co-owners and landlords don’t have enough- or any- building and contents insurance even though an insurance policy is present. Here’s why: Insurance is a contract between the named insured and the insurance company. It’s as simple as that. Only the people listed on the policy have insurance coverage, no matter how many people have an interest in the property.

If you are not a named insured on a building and contents insurance policy for a property where you are a landlord or a co-owner, you do not have coverage in case of a loss. And, if there is only one named insured on the policy, but there are several owners, that named insured will most likely only receive recompense for their interest in the property and the items inside (as applicable). Take heed: Insurance companies are not particularly given to accepting “we didn’t know we needed a policy” as a reason for not being insured after a fire, a theft, or any other type of disastrous event.

If you co-own a property with other parties, talk to your insurance agent about buying landlords’ building insurance to protect yourself in case of a loss.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences buying co-owner or landlords' contents insurance and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

In the long list of interesting and various well-paying jobs in the insurance industry, legal nurse consultants recently caught my eye. Legal nurse consultants work with insurance companies consulting for court cases. It makes perfect sense, really. In the same way that the insurance industry relies on RN case managers to help them understand health claims, legal nurse consultants provide the insight, knowledge and wisdom insurance companies need to research and prepare for court cases.

If you’re an RN and you’re thinking about a career change, a job as a legal nurse consultant might be right for you. This RN job opportunity, like many in the insurance industry, offers a lot of autonomy, a good salary and solid benefits. You can also approach this nursing career as a freelancer. It affords you the opportunity to put your RN job skills to use in a new and exciting way.

To find out more about the job qualifications, search job boards at health insurance companies for careers as a legal nurse consultant, look at nursing job boards for freelance RN careers or check out the Legal Nurse Consultant Jobs article for more information. Or if your interest is now piqued, check out the article on RN case management jobs for more information on that lucrative nursing career.

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Posted by Lisa Nichols

A number of health insurance companies are introducing new prescription drug insurance plans that can help people with chronic conditions pay for their meds. The thinking is that a more affordable prescription drug plan will result in more people taking their medication on a regular basis; thus reducing the need for costly medical expenses in the future. It’s about time, right?

Michigan’s Blue Care Network, which resides under the Blue Cross/Blue Shield umbrella, has seen more than a 20% increase in asthma drugs prescriptions since they reduced the prescription drug plan’s co-pay for the medicine to $10. In addition to more people filling their prescriptions, Blue Care Network’s studies of asthma-related hospital visits for members also went down in the first year that they launched the new prescription drug insurance plan. Blue Care Network is looking into reducing co-pays in the plan for cardiovascular and diabetes-related prescription drugs in 2008.

The Cleveland Clinic employee prescription drug plan hopes to see similar results- the company reduced co-pays for costly cholesterol drugs in 2006. Their program slashed costs for drugs like Lipitor from $100 for a three-month supply to $8. 40% of members who use the drugs have joined the prescription drug insurance plan, which requires that members visit a Cleveland Clinic pharmacy to fill prescriptions. The Cleveland Clinic doesn't expect to see benefits for at least a decade, but feels justified in ensuring they'll have healthier employees. Sounds like they're on the right track for improving workplace wellness.

Learn about other ways you can save on prescription drug insurance plans.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences with prescription drug plans and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I’ve had a few emails lately asking me about how to find reputable public adjusters:

“Dear Lisa,

I am currently living in Afghanistan. I’d like to file an insurance claim for additional living expenses we had as a result of the fire in San Diego, where my house is located.

Reading about "content specialists and personal property specialists" on your Website, I wonder if you could advise what the initial steps should be on how to find a reliable person to help us with our claim. We have all the receipts in connection with the loss and we’re ready to turn them over to the insurance company.

Your professional assistance will be highly appreciated.”

And here’s another email about public adjusters, this time from an attorney:

“I represent 50 plus families who lost all of their contents in a major fire. I am looking for a content specialist to consult with to determine the value of these losses. Do you know how I might find one in our area who might be able to help?”

I sent both readers to the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA). The NAPIA is a professional association of public adjusters who work with policyholders to help them analyze damages and to get information together to file a claim. They work for the policyholder only, and they don’t have to answer to insurance companies. You can use their website to search for property specialists nationwide.

Learn more about content specialists and how they can help you with your claim.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences finding a property specialist and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Last year I was more than a little surprised to get whomped with several unpaid medical bills. It was my first experience having major medical expenses with self employed medical insurance, and it came as quite a shock.

The "Getting Medical Debt Help" article talks about an array of options that you can use to help you with your hospital debt. This sprang from my own experiences, and what I learned about not having adequate health insurance coverages.

I was completely surprised when the hospital sent me a one-time offer that would allow me to wipe about my medical debt at a considerable discount. Later, I was even more surprised to find out that I could have offered to settle my unpaid medical bills in the beginning for less than what was due, and avoided a lot of headaches.

If your health insurance coverages are lacking, or you don’t have health insurance at all, you do have some options to take care of your unpaid medical bills. Find out more about hospital debt help programs and other alternatives to pay off your debt in the article.

And please, let me know about your experiences with unpaid medical bills. How did you handle it? Did you settle with the hospital? Charge your unpaid medical bills to a credit card? Or did you default, and now have unpaid medical debt on your credit report? Share your story so others can learn from your experience. Your tips and ideas for getting help with medical debt are appreciated.

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Posted by Lisa Nichols

Reports of botched plastic surgery obtained through a medical tourism trip are on the rise again. Though many have adopted one of the newest methods of getting cheap plastic surgery, not everyone is happy with their results.

When I first wrote about medical tourism in Plastic Surgery Insurance Coverage, as an alternative to the high cost of plastic surgery, I warned of the risks. The rules remain the same: When it comes to plastic surgery- or any type of medical procedure- cost shouldn’t be your number one concern. The quality of the facilities and the experience and education of the physician are much more important.

When I wrote the article, I quoted some costs for plastic surgery. These were from the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons), and based on national averages. Charles Downey, the editor at cosmeticsurgery.com, sent me an email pointing out that costs for many of the procedures are less expensive if you go down south, to South Carolina, for example. His research found a 20% difference in costs for cosmetic surgery between NY and SC! I would add that costs are probably also cheaper in the Midwest.

Let us know if you have less expensive prices for plastic surgery in your area. Tell us the city, state and the cost for the cosmetic surgery procedure. Your input can help someone else decide where to go!

Talk back with a writer; tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences saving money on plastic surgery and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I recently penned an article about ways to save money on your homeowner’s insurance policy. It’s an article that I needed to write. I’m as bad anyone when it comes to reviewing my insurance coverage to make sure I’m saving money. But now that I’m going to move, I’ve got to step up my game and start looking for some new insurance policies.

There are a number of ways to get homeowners insurance policy discounts. If you upgrade your roof, you might be eligible for a significant discount on your homeowners insurance. If you have an older home, you can look at upgrading your wiring, heating and plumbing to save money on insurance. Anything you can do to make your home safer might result in a discount on your homeowner’s insurance policy.

Before you do any major upgrades to your home for an insurance benefit, contact your homeowner's insurance company or your insurance agent to make sure it will give you a discount. I used to listen in to customer service calls at a large P & C insurance company to provide input for customer retention practices. People called in all the time after they’d spent a bundle, only to find that new carpet, or some other expensive, cosmetic upgrade, wouldn’t result in a discount on their homeowners insurance.

Learn more about getting homeowners insurance discounts.

Talk back with a writer; tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences saving money on insurance and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Get tips to save money on your auto insurance before you buy coverage for your vehicle. If you haven't compared auto insurance policy premiums online for a while, there' s no time like the present. One tip I've always used to save money on car insurance is to call my insurance agent before I buy a new car. Your insurance agent can quickly give you a quote for insurance for the car you might buy, so you can factor in the cost into the price of driving the car. It's a quick and easy way to find out if the car you want is right for you. You can also get quotes for auto insurance online before you buy the car.

Part of the insurance cost rests with you, your driving history and your credit score, and part of the cost for auto insurance lies within the type of car you drive. After finding out how much your insurance policy will cost, you might decide to go with another type of car or truck.

Learn more about how to save money on auto insurance this year.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences buying car insurance online and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

If you're considering a career in insurance, a position as a claims adjuster might be right for you. Ray Jones, the recently appointed Sacramento, California fire chief, says his past experiences working as a claims adjuster helped prepare him for his new job. Jones told reporters that understanding how people are feeling after a loss, as well as the critical thinking skills required, made him ready for the challenges of his new career.

Whether you want a career as a claims adjuster, or are just looking for a stepping stone to other types of careers, working in claims can be a very rewarding experience. The need for claims adjusters continues, and the competition for these plum jobs is fierce. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, people from all walks of life apply for claims adjuster careers, including ex-military personnel and law enforcement retirees. Add into the mix a fresh crop of December college graduates and experienced claims adjusters, and this can be a tough field to crack.

If you've been trying and haven't had any luck, consider working in another area of an insurance company first. You can learn more about the products and services offered, so you'll be better qualified to apply for a career as a claims adjuster in the future.

Learn more about working in a claims adjuster job online now.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences applying for claims adjuster jobs and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

In the news this week is yet another story about someone who didn't have renter's insurance and lost everything. A Killeen, Texas woman's apartment was ravaged by fire just before the holidays and her personal property was destroyed. Unfortunately, she didn't have renter's insurance, so she didn't get reiumbursed for the items she lost. What you should know about the renter's insurance policy:

• When you buy a renter's insurance policy online, you can compare insurance premiums from several insurance carriers to find the best deal. The cost for renter's insurance policies quoted online is usually just over $100 annually.
• Renter's insurance is not provided by your landlord. If something happens to the building where you rent, your landlord would only be covered for the structure, not for tenants' belongings.
• Renter's insurance is often required by apartment complexes. You'll have to bring a copy of your renter's insurance policy when you sign the lease for the apartment.

Learn more about the renter's insurance policy before you shop online for coverage.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences buying renter's insurance online and submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Each week, the insurance blog receives a host of questions from readers. From the reader’s questions file:

Dear Lisa,

Where can I find timeshare insurance? My resort doesn’t offer it but I’d really like to get insurance coverage for my timeshare. Do you know where I can find it?

Sincerely,

In Need of Timeshare Insurance

Dear In Need,

I’ve received a couple of emails on this since I wrote the Insuring Vacation Timeshare Units article. I was surprised to hear that a lot of resorts don’t offer this specialty insurance to their customers. I looked online and only found two companies that sell timeshare insurance direct to consumers. Vacation Guard offers timeshares insurance and so does CSA. CSA’s website looks like they only sell to resorts, but I called CSA and they said they DO sell direct to consumers. Here’s the number: 1-866-321-2001.

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

Best,

Lisa Nichols

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Posted by Lisa Nichols

Your credit score has a big impact on your homeowners and auto insurance. The way that insurance companies use credit reports is proprietary. While they won't reveal their exact methodologies, you can use your credit score to see how your insurance might be impacted by your credit history.

The range of credit scores in Insurance and Your Credit Score reflect industry standards used by lenders and creditors for determining credit risk. If you have a spotty credit history, including late payments, too much credit or if you're over your credit limits, you may have to pay a higher premium for insurance. You might also be denied insurance coverage, or only get a scaled-down insurance policy, if you have poor credit, with items like collections or judgments on your credit report.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get from readers is, "Why does my insurance cost so much?" It's hard for me to answer that question. Rates vary by state, company, policy type and item insured. They also can increase if you have problems with your credit score.

If you are turned down for insurance due to your credit history, by law you can order a free copy of your credit report. The insurance company won't tell you what they found on your credit report. But chances are if that's the reason for being denied insurance, you're already aware of problems with your credit score.

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Posted by Lisa Nichols

Ever since I wrote the article on RN case management jobs, I've been inundated with emails from qualified nurses and health care providers. They all ask me the same question: How can I find out about RN case manager careers in my area? Here's a typical reader email that I recently received:

Dear Lisa,

I have been a RN for 13 years. I recently heard about RN case managers for insurance companies. My knowledge of this type of nursing is limited but I am very interested in finding out more about these positions. I didn't know if you could assist me with these findings or not.

Thanks,

Nurse in Search of a New Career

Dear Nurse in Search:

If you look at the ads posted next to the article on RN case management, they usually link through to specialty job boards for nurses interested in case management. The websites have information about what experience, licenses and other qualifications the hiring companies are looking for.

You sound like you have plenty of experience and the move could be a good one for you. I hope this information helps. Good luck, and let me know how it works out!

Best,

Lisa Nichols

Suite101 Insurance

Submit news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

When you buy homeowner's insurance, find out what the additional premium is to add replacement cost coverage to your home and personal property inside the home. The standard homeowner's insurance policy is an actual cash value (ACV) policy that doesn't include replacement cost.

If you have a loss, even if it's covered by insurance, you'll lose money when the insurance company appraises the loss. The insurance company will depreciate the value of your home and personal belongings, using their own depreciation calculators to determine settlement amounts. Intrigued? Then learn more about the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost insurance.

Talk back with the writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences buying an actual cash value insurance policy and submit news, tips and stories ideas for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

If you have plans to marry at Christmas, consider buying wedding insurance. The price for a holiday wedding can be especially costly. Wedding planners, venues for the wedding, caterers and associated vendors are all booked up with Christmas wedding plans, so it's especially critical to make sure you're protected with a wedding insurance policy.

Save money on your Christmas wedding plans with a couple of ideas that merge the holiday with your big day:

• Use holiday foods, like Christmas cookies and cranberry sauce, to accent your wedding meal.
• Churches and wedding venues may already have decorations that will incorporate the holiday into your Christmas wedding plans, which can be a real money-saver.
• Consider a simple white gown with a faux fur shrug- you'll be seasonal without looking frugal.

Learn more about buying wedding insurance to help protect your Christmas wedding plans.

Talk back with the writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experience buying wedding insurance and submit news, tips and stories ideas for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Before you buy homeowner's insurance, understand the basics of what you'll get. Homeowner's insurance doesn't include coverage for flood, a fact which surprises many homeowners. Especially since, according to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), homes with a 30 year mortgage have a 26% chance of being damaged by a flood. That's compared to only a 9% chance of being damaged by a fire.

Flood insurance covers more than just damage done by rising flood waters. A home can also receive significant damage from melting snow or torrential rains. You can purchase flood insurance for your home up to $250,000 and for your personal belongings up to $100,000. If you rent instead of owning a home, you can cover the items in your place for up to $100,000. Consider purchasing flood insurance at the same time you purchase homeowner's or renter's insurance. And learn more about what's covered by homeowner's insurance before you buy.

Talk back with the article author- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences buying homeowners and flood insurance and submit news, tips and stories ideas for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Regular readers know that I welcome your questions, comments and suggestions for articles in the insurance area of Suite101. This week, I received a question from someone thinking about switching insurance industry career paths, but with a twist:

Dear Lisa,

I am uniquely qualified to be an underwriter because of my years of education and my experience. However, I filed for bankruptcy several years ago. Can I still find a job in insurance with this black mark on my credit history?

Sincerely,

Are my Chances Bankrupt?

Dear Chances,

I think it depends a lot on the hiring company and their need for an underwriter, too. It’s something that employers review, but using credit reports as part of a background check is still new; a lot of companies won’t even factor this into hiring decisions.

I would say be very upfront and honest; if anything, someone with the background you describe is overqualified for a position as an underwriter. I think that would be harder for HR to get over than the bankruptcy. They’d worry that someone with that much education might want to move on, and quickly. Note that technically a bankruptcy can't be held against someone when they are searching for a job. Realistically, hiring managers and HR associates are the ones with the decision-making power.

Testing the waters with a headhunter or recruiters might be a good way to start.

Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

Best,

Lisa Nichols

Suite101 Insurance

Learn more about underwriter jobs in insurance or brush up on some of the many other hot careers in insurance right now, including IT jobs, creative career paths, RN case management, customer service, claims and insurance agents.

Submit news, tips and stories ideas for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Design disaster recovery plans that really work for your small business. After Katrina, even insurance companies and agencies realized that their business continuity plan wouldn't work in the face of a real emergency.

In addition to natural disasters, there are many other potential emergencies to include in your disaster recovery plans. I once flew to Oregon to conduct an online training seminar, only to find that the local phone company had gone on strike- effectively shutting down training- and the company- for several days. Other small businesses have found themselves shut down for days-or weeks- during a flu epidemic. Identifying potential emergencies for your business continuity plan is just one step in the process. Get helpful tips for designing your disaster recovery plan and be prepared in case the worst should happen.

Talk back with the article author- tell Lisa Nichols about the business continuity planning tips that worked for your small business and submit news and stories ideas for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The popularity of buying pet insurance is on the rise- and for good reason. In the old days, owning an animal was a lot like adding to staff at work. You might buy an animal for companionship, or for protection, but it was still just an animal and certainly not eligible for insurance.

Today, we think of our dogs, cats, birds and other pets as members of the family. Buying pet insurance is a sure-fire way to keep expenses down for the furry fellow, who needs his or her vaccinations and medical treatments just like everyone else in the house.

Learn more before you buy pet insurance and decide if this insurance is right for your family.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences with buying pet insurance and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Workplace health and wellness programs are a boon to companies large and small. In the old days, an employee's drug or alcohol addiction would probably mean getting fired due to a morals clause.

In today's world, workplace wellness programs can help stop an addiction before it starts through education. Corporate wellness programs also offer help to people who are already struggling with an addiction. Though the employee might lose their job, it probably won't be for breaking a morals clause. If the employee can show progress through a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, the employer will often try to keep them on staff, but may have to replace them due to workplace absence.

Health and wellness programs in the workplace have helped a lot of people overcome addictions and generally contributed to healthier lifestyles- and happier employees.

Learn more about starting a workplace health and wellness program.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols your favorite tips for keeping employees engaged in your corporate wellness program and submit your news and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

If you're renting for the first time, you may have just heard about Renter's insurance for the first time, too. Read a Suite101 reader's question and dilemma regarding renter's insurance:

"Lisa,

I am about to move into an apartment and the landlord is telling me that I have to have renter's insurance. In fact, it's in the lease! Do I have to have to buy renter's insurance?

Thanks for your advice!

Sincerely,

Trying to Keep Costs Down"

Renter's insurance, or apartment insurance, is often a requirement for renting, especially at apartment complexes. Before you start getting steamed about the additional costs, consider what renter's insurance can do for you.

If you have a covered loss, your landlord most likely won't be responsible for damages. You need renter's insurance to protect your belongings in your apartment. And, you'll be surprised to learn that renter's insurance usually costs less than $200 annually, payable in installments. Not a bad deal, considering the added protection for your valuables!

Learn more about what's covered by the policy before you buy renter's insurance.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experience buying renter's insurance and submit your tips, news and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I’ve written a number of articles recently on marketing your insurance agency- marketing campaign tips, insurance agency PR ideas and developing your agency’s marketing plan. This week, we’re looking at SEO (search engine optimization) reputation management tools for your insurance agency or company. If you- or your company- is getting blasted in online forums and consumer-oriented websites, you need to start doing damage control immediately.

I often work with clients to improve and protect their online reputation with reputation management ideas. I’ve learned a lot over the last couple of years about what really works- and what doesn’t work at all.

Tips to Keep in Mind When You Address Online Reputation Management Issues

1. A lot of the reputation management projects I’ve worked on have clearly started with a disgruntled employee. So take a close look at your staff before you begin any kind of reputation management program.
2. Blogging is a great reputation management tool. But before you start a blog, make sure that you can commit the time to create regular posts. I do a lot of blogging for clients and I can tell you, the effort never ends. Content is king, and it’s also the key to successful SEO blogging efforts.
3. The principles of reputation management, moving negative search engine results to later pages in Google, really work. Think about your own internet search activities. How often do you go beyond first page results in your searches? How often do you go beyond page two? Am I right?

Get helpful SEO reputation management ideas for your insurance company or insurance agency and start fighting negative publicity today.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences using online reputation management tools and submit your tips, news and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Before you buy online insurance, make sure you understand secure website shopping. Unfortunately, there are a lot of spammy websites on the internet. But there are plenty of safe, secure websites where you can shop for and buy insurance, too.

Safety Tips for Buying Online Insurance

• Make sure the website where you are shopping is secure; secure websites have a lock symbol, indicating your information will be safe;
• Third party seals from organizations like the Better Business Bureau indicate the website is safe;
• A physical address isn't a requirement for any website, but knowing there is a physical location helps ensure site security. Look in the "about us" or "contact us" sections of the website for company location address;
• Buy insurance online from websites that have a privacy policy that won't give away or sell your information to other companies;
• Review online forums and message boards for customer feedback on the website's security before you shop for insurance online;
• Secure shopping websites have https in the web address- the "s" stands for secure.

Learn more about buying online insurance and decide if Web insurance is right for you.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences buying insurance online and submit your tips, news and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Before you buy auto insurance, learn more about why you need certain coverages. Over 40 million people in the U.S. die in car accidents every year. Most car crashes are caused by negligent drivers, including talking on cell phones, sleepy drivers, and, of course, rubbernecking- slowing down your car to have a look at something.

The three main coverages in the auto insurance policy are liability, collision, comprehensive and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage:

• Auto liability insurance provides coverage if you accidentally hurt someone else or their car or property as the result of an auto accident.
• Collision coverage pays for damage to your car if you are in a covered auto accident.
• Comprehensive coverage provides insurance coverage for damages other than collision.
• Uninsured or Underinsured motorist coverage provides you with protection if you are in an auto accident with an uninsured or unisured party.

Get more specifics on the auto insurance policy before you buy.

Talk back with the article author- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences buying auto insurance and submit your tips, news and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Protect your home and family with easy to follow fire safety tips.

Some Fast Facts about House Fire Safety:

• Cooking, unattended cigarettes, candles and faulty appliances are among the leading causes of house fires.
• The heat from a house fire can exceed 1100 degrees Fahrenheit in just over three minutes.
• Fumes produced by fires can make you weak, and less likely to respond quickly, especially when you are sleeping.
• Your house can become engulfed in smoke from a fire within four minutes, inhibiting your abiity to see.
• More than 60% of people who die in house fires were asleep when the fire started.

Get ideas to keep your home and family safe in the event of a house fire with the fire safety tips article.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your favorite fire safety tipsand submit your tips, news and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Almost 11 million plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2006– that’s an increase of 7 percent from 2005, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Which of the top 5 plastic surgery procedures from 2006 (from the ASPS) might be covered by your health insurance?

1. Breast Augmentation (329,000). If you have shoulder grooving (caused by bra strap gouging), neck or shoulder pain, this plastic surgery might be covered by your health insurance.
2. Nose Reshaping (307,000). If you have trouble breathing, your insurance may cover plastic surgery.
3. Liposuction (303,000). There is limited medcal insurance coverage available for lipo. If you have a condition like lipoma (benign fatty tumors beneath the skin), you may have some insurance coverage for liposuction.
4. Eyelid surgery (233,000). If your eyelids droop and impair your vision, you may have some insurance coverage for eyelid surgery.
5. Tummy tuck (146,000). If you have a hernia that will be corrected with a tummy tuck, or had surgery for weight loss, you may have medical insurance coverage for this plastic surgery. Tip: If your health insurance company didn’t cover the weight loss surgery, they probably won’t cover the tummy tuck, either.

Contact your health insurance company to find out if you have coverage before you have any major medical procedure. Definitely. Do. Not. Wait. Until after you have plastic surgery to find out if the surgery is covered by your health insurance.

Cosmetic surgery prices are on the rise. Learn more about the average costs for plastic surgery and alternatives like financing that can make plastic surgery more affordable.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences with health insurance coverage and plastic surgery and submit your tips, news and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Can you afford to be without motorcycle insurance? In 2006, 4,798 people died in motorcycle accidents, more than any year since 1981. In fact, motorcycle accidents have increased every year from 1997 to 2006.

Learn more about what's covered by the motorcycle insurance policy. This helpful article provides information on available discounts to decrease the cost of your insurance policy and gives information about states laws that pertain to bikers, too.

Talk back with a writer- share your stories about buying motorcycle insurance with Lisa Nichols and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Can you afford to be out on your boat without proper watercraft insurance? The average boating accident costs a minimum of $5000 for uninsured boaters. And many boating accidents cost boaters a lot more. According to the Coast Guard, boating-related deaths, accidents and injuries increased for the second year in 2006. There were more than 700 boating deaths in 2006, over 3400 injuries and almost $44 million dollars in property damage related to baoting accidents.

Most states require that you carry watercraft liability insurance on your boat. But boater's liability insurance won't cover the many other problems that can arise once you’re on the water.

Ease the cost of boater's insurance with discounts offered by major insurance companies:*

• Boater's education course completed;
• Boats less than 10 years old;
• Mature operators;
• Married operators;
• Increased deductibles;
• Protective devices like alarms and fire extingushers;
• Boats with less than 250 horsepower .

*Available discounts and eligibility for discounts vary by insurance company and insured.

Learn more about the watercraft insurance policy before you buy.

Talk back with the writer, Lisa Nichols, and tell her about your experiences boating with- or without- buying watercraft insurance this year and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Start a workplace wellness program to help battle common health problems and disease.

According to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American obesity rates have risen dramatically in the last 20 years. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, stroke, heart disease and premature death.

Taking steps to lose weight and to live a more active lifestyle can help reduce the risk of obesity. But not everyone knows where to begin with a weight loss program. And, we get so caught up in our work week we often don’t have time to look after ourselves. Eating a well balanced diet and participating in physical activity when you’re trying to juggle the demands of home and work can seem impossible.

Starting an employee health and wellness program can help your employees get back on track. And, workplace wellness programs have a number of other, proven benefits. Decreased employee absenteeism, reduced health insurance costs and an overall boost in employee performance are just a few of the ways you can save money when you institute an employee health and wellness program. And, you might be surprised to find out how much companies are saving when they begin a workplace wellness program. Learn more about starting an employee health and wellness program at your company today.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences with employee health and wellness programs and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

More than 1.5 million personal watercraft are registered in the U.S. Personal watercraft, like Jet Skis and Waverunners, are small motorized recrational water vehicles with plenty of power. Personal watercraft are not usually covered by homeowners insurance. If there is coverage for your personal watercraft under your homeowners or auto insurance policy, the coverage is usually limited.

Depending upon where you live, you may not be required to carry any additional insurance on your personal watercraft. But if you learn more about what's covered by the personal watercraft insurance policy, you might just find that these inexpensive insurance policies are worth every penny.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences buying personal watercraft insurance and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Tornado safety tips can save lives. Tornado season officially ends in July for everyone except the midwestern and northern U.S. states. This weekend, tornados struck areas in North Dakota, Michigan and Ohio. As survivors try to put a price on damages, and tens of thousands of people are still without power, it's time to take stock, and get some tornado safety precautions you can use right now.

Get helpful tornado safety tips and help protect your family and home in the event of a tornado.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences with tornado safety precautions and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I recently wrote about RN Case Manager jobs, and in a follow-up blog about this hot healthcare career, suggested that interested applicants should look to for health insurance companies, medical insurance companies and HMOs for job openings. Andrew Glover sent me a note that promises even more career opportunities for RNs interested in case management careers:

"Lisa,

I just came across your article and weblog on opportunities for nurses to get into case management positions with health insurance companies. There is also a need for these professionals in the property/casualty insurance industry.

Most property/casualty insurers either contract with or keep a staff of nurses or even doctors to review medical records. Let's face it, the average claim adjuster usually doesn't have their degree of medical knowledge. As a former liability adjuster, I can attest to the value of having a competent medical person who was available to help me interpret the reams of medical reports I had to read when evaluating claims."

Makes sense! I did a quick check online and found that most major property and casualty insurance companies are hiring qualified nurses for case management jobs. So I'll modify my earlier post now and say if you're interested in a career in RN case management, look at insurance companies- any kind of insurance company- to see if they have a place for you.

Talk back with a writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences working in RN Case Management and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

On your next trip to the grocery store, you can shop for the usual chicken, salsa, and Kleenex- and insurance? Yup, it’s true. NBC, a front runner in grocery store digital signage for years, has inked a deal that allows them to re-sell their advertising space on digital signs to their clients, too. One of the first customers? Progressive Insurance.

The Supermarket Checkout TV network has digital signage at more than 1000 U.S. grocery stores. Almost 50 million shoppers at Costco, Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart view the ads every month. While some might see digital signage advertising as too much information, savvy advertisers know that the TV ads really hit home.

Get ideas for marketing your insurance agency. Insurance Agency Marketing and PR, Insurance Agency PR Ideas, Insurance Agents Marketing Plan, Insurance Agents Marketing Tips and Agency Marketing Campaign Tips, go through the basics of planning and implementing your marketing and public relations plan.

Share your favorite marketing and PR tips with Lisa Nichols and submit your news and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Agency Marketing Campaign Tips wraps up your public relations and advertising campaign strategy plans with a look at the getting, planning, establishing checkpoints and evaluating marketing campaign results.

Focus groups are becoming a popular way to determine your marketing impact on customers, prospective customers and your community. Focus groups gather together a group of people and present them with ideas, images, products and services and then record the group’s impressions. The most important aspect of focus groups for the insurance agency is to get that all-important bird’s eye view of something new or untested. You might be surprised to hear what a focus group has to say about your product, service and advertising offerings. It’s often a real eye-opener, and can help you modify and clarify information before you roll it out into the public domain.

This is the last article in the series of articles on insurance agency marketing and PR planning- for now. The articles in this series include Insurance Agency Marketing and PR, Insurance Agency PR Ideas, Insurance Agents Marketing Plan and Insurance Agents Marketing Tips.

Share your favorite marketing strategy tips with Lisa Nichols and submit your news and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The RN Case Management jobs article sparked a spate of emails with questions about this fast-growing insurance career path. I'll share some of these reader emails with you in upcoming blogs. Here's one from this week:

Dear Lisa,

I saw your article on RN’s going into insurance case management...it really sparked my interest… I was wondering if you had any input or advice for getting my foot in the door. I don’t really even know where to start... with a local insurance office in my area?? I have been a nurse for about 14 years but I’ve never done any work like this. All/any info would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Interested in RN Case Manager Jobs

Dear Interested in RN Case Manager Jobs:

Good for you!

There are a lot of open positions for qualified nurses in case management, so it’s a great time to be thinking about a change. Look for health insurance companies, medical insurance companies, HMOs and the like for case management jobs. You might also look at the links on case manager article page for the insurance careers websites. You can also find case management jobs for registered nurses on online job boards.

The woman I mentioned in my article was an RN for several years before she made the switch to case management. She didn’t have your years of experience before she took the job. Look for jobs at health insurance companies online, and then apply for the ones looking for experienced nurses. Ask to speak to other nurses who work for the insurance companies, to see how they like working in case management; I think that gives the best insight into working for a new company.

Good luck, and please keep me posted on what happens with your career!

Best,

Lisa Nichols

Submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I’m constantly espousing the benefits of creating a simple PR and marketing calendar to clients. Taking the time to outline your insurance agency’s marketing tactics gives you a solid starting point for your campaign. It’s also a reminder to everyone in the agency about upcoming promotions, and clearly shows responsibility and ownership for every PR and marketing objective.

Avoid delays later on by getting input into your insurance agency’s PR and marketing calendar before it’s finalized. Poll your employees in the office and in the field, to get ideas on which marketing tactics to use. Getting agreement on projects ahead of time helps ensure a smooth transition into a successful marketing campaign.

In addition to getting input for your insurance agency’s PR and marketing campaign, include ample time to have collateral materials created and printed. Share your agency’s marketing calendar with the advertising agency or in-house staff responsible for creating brochures, direct mail and email blasts ahead of time. That way they can start planning for your projects and you can avoid delays later.

And, make sure your insurance agency stays on top of copy, design, print and mail deadlines for your marketing campaign:

1. Create brochure mock-ups by September 28th;
2. Get in-house approvals on brochures by October 1st;
3. Print brochures on October 3rd;
4. Mail brochures to prospects on October 8th.

Keep your insurance agency’s marketing and PR calendar flexible and update it as needed to support your marketing campaign. Make sure all interested parties receive updates when you revise the calendar. Get more ideas for your marketing and PR calendar: Insurance Agency Marketing and PR, Insurance Agency PR Ideas and Insurance Agents Marketing Plan.

Talk back with the article author- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences using PR and marketing calendars and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The second article in the “Marketing Your Insurance Agency” series focuses on inexpensive PR ideas. Establishing a stand-alone PR plan is the first step to getting engaged in the public relations process. Commit the time and energy necessary to work on your public image, and you won’t be disappointed.

Powerful PR Ideas for Your Insurance Agency Generate Customer Loyalty

One of the PR ideas in this article focuses on partnering with a nonprofit organization. Plan to partner your insurance agency with a non-profit and you’ll get more than “just” free PR for your agency; you’ll also reap many customer loyalty rewards. Your community involvement plan speaks volumes about how long your insurance agency plans to stay in the area, your commitment to the community and your loyalty to your customers, too.

Get New Leads for Your Insurance Agency with Creative PR Ideas

There’s an added bonus to working with nonprofits- finding an all-new customer base. Offer to throw a benefit or to host an auction for your favorite nonprofit, and you’ll more than likely receive full access to their membership database. No, you can’t spam them with unwanted emails, but you can find like-minded individuals dedicated to a worthy cause- and a whole new crop of loyal customers. And since you’re co-sponsoring the event, you’ll have every reason to make sure everyone on the guest list knows about you and your insurance agency.

Use creative ideas to cut costs for your nonprofit event. Get local merchants and caterers to donate prizes and foods for the evening. Find additional sponsors who can provide you with a venue. By sponsoring an event that gives back to your community, you’ll help those in need, find new customers and enhance your image in the community.

Submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Registered nurses have more job opportunities today than ever before, due in no small part to the insurance industry. RN case management jobs have become a popular, and lucrative, alternative to traditional bedside nursing careers.

I have friends who made the move from registered nursing to RN case management and trust me, they've never been happier. Sometimes, nurses feel like they are second class citizens in hospitals. It's an unspoken caste system, with doctors, anesthesiologists and administration in the top jobs. Registered nurses are left to take care of many important duties for much less pay and less recognition. Work in an RN case management job for an insurance company, and you'll find independence, autonomy and plenty of recognition- and respect.

American hospitals are struggling to find qualified nurses to meet the growing needs of patients. According to Lorna Maxsom, chief nursing officer at Arrowhead Hospital in Glendale, Arizona, working in a hospital has become less preferable to other options, including working for insurance companies. And 43% of hospitals surveyed in the Albany, NY area stated that competition was a major reason why it’s so hard to find and recruit nurses.

In the old days, a job as a registered nurse was the only option available to men and women with a nursing degree. Today, the options are unlimited, with insurance companies at the forefront. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average annual earnings of RNs employed full-time in March 2000 was $46,782, at least $10-20,000 less than RN case managers.

This week’s highlighted insurance career is RN case management jobs. Find out why more and more nurses are making the move to insurance.

Submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Beginning this week, I'm publishing a series of articles on how to effectively market your insurance agency. Advertising, public relations and marketing are a major part of any agency business plan, yet they’re often last on our list of priorities.

There are a number of tips and tricks you can use to have a successful marketing campaign at your insurance agency:

• Start by identifying your insurance agency’s PR and marketing campaign objectives. What do you hope to accomplish with your marketing plan? Who will your promotions target? This can be formal, where you create a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats exercise), or just a simple executive summary.
• Set down marketing and PR campaign goals for your insurance agency on paper. This can be somewhat daunting the first time around. But you have to have something concrete so that you can measure advertising plan goals after the promotion has ended.
• Identify the strategic marketing messages you want your customers, employees, business partners and prospects to receive. Then, and only then, can you start planning what types of communications to use to effectively market your insurance agency’s products and services.

Developing marketing and PR plans and calendars for clients is a favorite pastime of mine. There’s a wonderful sense of accomplishment from helping a business get organized!

Just remember, don’t get overwhelmed by your insurance agency's marketing plan. You control what image, brand and message that you put out into the public arena. Let’s kick off your marketing plan with the first article in the series, Insurance Agency Marketing & PR.

Tell Lisa Nichols, the article author, about your experiences with strategic marketing messages that really worked for you and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Growing up in Eugene, Oregon, I had early and frequent exposure to alternative medicines and therapies. As an adult, I continued to take vitamins and to be concerned about what I ingested and living a healthy lifestyle. But I never really understood the impact of health and wellness on my life until a few years ago.

Feeling sluggish, and dragging through my workday afternoons, working out and staying in shape was a daily struggle. Then something amazing happened. A very astute doctor said, “I think you might have food allergies.” I found out that I'm allergic to gluten, a mysterious mix of flour and water that permeated every boxed food in my pantry and almost every item in my freezer.

My “cure?” I had to eliminate the food allergen from my diet. Learn to respect and enjoy organic foods. The end result? I have more energy now. More pep. And I’ve seen a lot of other benefits too. The changes in my life have been amazing, and made me an organic food lover- and a believer.

In addition to doing yoga and eating organic foods, I’ve also started exploring alternative medical therapies in recent years, too. Massage therapy, visiting a reputable and trusted chiropractor every couple of months and taking herbal supplements have also helped my ongoing health and wellness. I no longer take antibiotics, and I haven’t been sick in years.

And I’m not the only one- Grocery stores that take a whole foods approach to eating; offering natural and organic foods and products are sprouting up everywhere in response to customer demand. Traditional grocery stores now offer organic and natural food and products aisles. Hospitals are changing their mindsets too, offering wellness clinics and midwifery services onsite.

Submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Over the years, I hosted a number of visiting student interns at the insurance company where I worked, and spoke to groups of kids through Junior Achievement and Insuring the Children about possible career paths in insurance. The kids were always surprised to learn (and I was delighted to tell them) that there are a number of creative career paths in the insurance industry.

I was the Marketing Communications & Public Relations Manager for a billion dollar Property & Casualty insurance company for several years. My workday consisted of everything from writing articles and columns for the company newsletter to writing copy for advertisements and brochures. The Marcom department included graphic designers, copywriters, Web designers and branding personnel too.

You might think that jobs in insurance are limited to insurance agents, underwriters, customer service and insurance claims jobs.That’s just not true- insurance companies need graphic artists and copywriters to get their messages out to their employees, clients and customers just like everyone else.

A lot of insurance companies are still evolving and moving to an in-house staff of copywriters and graphic designers. I was lucky enough to get in on the ground floor, lo those many years ago, when I started my job with the all-new Marketing Communications department. The daily bonus of working in my job was the many changes, including focusing on internal communications, external communications, customer retention and public relations, to name just a few of my job responsibilities.

If you’re new to a creative career, or a copywriter or graphic artist looking for a career change, consider working for an insurance company. It’s a rewarding and fulfilling job that’s always changing and offers many new challenges and responsibilities, if you’re ready to work hard.

Submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The series of articles I've been writing on insurance jobs has been very well received by readers. So far I've written about customer service jobs, careers in claims, insurance agent jobs and underwriter jobs. And I have several more articles about the best careers in insurance underway. In the meantime, I wanted to share some questions from readers with you. So read on, and I hope these questions help you in your search to find the best insurance job for you:

Reader Question: How do I know if this insurance company is a good place to work?

Answer: I usually look on the Web for details about best places to work, ask friends and former coworkers and check out the company website, too. But your best bet is to talk to other people at the company. Specifically, ask to talk to some other people who you would work closely with if you took the job.

Questions to ask insurance company employees might include:

• How do they like working for their manager, in that department and for the company?
• How well does management manage expectations, e.g. are job expectations realistic?
• Is there any flexibility in the job schedule?

Most insurance companies are still fairly conservative in nature; some require suits and ties for the men and hosiery and dressy clothes for the women. This often rolls over into the job, as certain business practices must be followed- and the policy never changes. But insurance companies are becoming more flexible and offer a host of fun, exciting and interesting jobs; they're a viable career option no matter what you like to do. Good luck in your job search and I'll have more insurance industry job information- and more questions from readers- posted here soon.

Submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I've heard that Monster gets more hits on a Monday than on any other day of the week. For many people, returning to work on Monday is not an enjoyable event. Find a job to love when you get a career in insurance. Recent articles in this series include information about insurance underwriter jobs and insurance agent jobs. The latest article, posted today, focuses on insurance claims careers. Friends who have claims adjuster jobs say there's a lot to love about a career in claims insurance.

The Benefits of an Insurance Adjuster Job Include:

• There's a lot of freedom in insurance adjuster jobs. Claims adjuster jobs often mean field work or work outside of the office, and you set up reasonable times to meet with customers in a way that works with your schedule.
• There's a lot of autonomy in insurance adjuster jobs. Yes, you have to follow the guidelines set down in the insurance policy, but claims adjusters also have the ability to work closely with customers to determine the amount of pay-out based on the circumstances of the loss. It's one of the most appealing aspects of the position.
• The best insurance claims jobs hire from a variety of backgrounds. While a college degree is typically required, exceptions are sometimes made for people who show aptitude in auto body work or in auto repair or repairs for watercraft, personal watercraft, motorcycles; whatever the items insured by the insurance company.

Submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I worked in the insurance industry for more than 10 years. Like every job, there were things I liked and things that I didn't like about my work.

But overall, there was a lot to like about the insurance career path:

• I was given a lot of opportunity for advancement with my insurance jobs. I had opportunities to advance in a wide range of areas, from corporate training to marketing.
• Insurance careers are based upon lifelong learning and continuing education. If you want to advance, switch departments or just continue to increase your educational base, insurance companies reward your efforts.
• There's a wide range of opportunity in multiple business areas when you have a career in insurance. The more you learn about underwriting, the more seductive this insurance career path becomes. If you like the idea of working on commission, you might consider a career as an insurance agent. The opportunities are endless, and on the job experience, coupled with your education and desire to succeed, means you can move around and enjoy a wide variety of opportunities.

In addition, insurance careers include all of the general, corporate jobs that are needed to keep a successful business running: Human Resources, Sales, Accounting, Legal and IT are just a few of the insurance jobs available. Insurance companies are always hiring, so the job market is wide open. Jobs are available for a wide variety of skill sets, abilities and on the job experiences. If you're looking for a new career, consider jobs in insurance- you might just find the right job for you.

Share your experiences working in the insurance industry with the writer, Lisa Nichols or submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Senate Bill 152, banning most Kentucky government entities from offering health insurance to employee partners, passed the senate last week.The bill prevents same sex couples from sharing health insurance benefits and blocks health benefits to the unadopted grandchildren, siblings and parents of employees, even if the employee has custody of the relative. Senate Bill 152 includes universities, local schools and most public agencies.

Last year the University of Louisville voted to provide employee benefits to unmarried couples. University of Louisville President James Ramsey argued against the bill, protesting that other schools offer same sex benefits. Without partner insurance, explains Ramsey, U of L can’t compete with other schools in hiring talented and diverse researchers and professors.

Though the argument for the bill seems to imply too much liability exposure, University of Louisville has had only eight employees enroll partners in the employee benefit plan since the beginning of the year."The intent of the bill is to protect marriage and protect the family structure," McGaha, R-Russell Springs, told reporters.

Talk back to the writer: email Lisa Nichols with your thoughts on domestic partner insurance and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The new George Washington coins are cranking out of the US mint and numismatists (coin collectors) are hustling to scoop them up for their coin collections. New dollar coins featuring John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison will be rolling out later this year.

Fast Facts about Coin Collections:

• More than 30 million people have a coin collection.
• Dollar coins last a lot longer than paper dollar bills, making them a favorite of bank tellers.
• I've heard that dollar coins are cheaper to make, too, costing only .25 cents on the dollar to produce.

If you have a coin collection, do you have insurance in case of a loss? The typical limit for a coin collection under a standard homeowners insurance policy ranges from only $500 to $2000 So even if you have $50,000 in personal belongings insurance, you'll can only receive the stated limit on your homeonwers insurance policy for a coin collection insurance claim.

There are options, including purchasing a personal property schedule (also called a personal property floater or personal property rider), that properly insures your precious collection of coins for it's true value in case of a loss.Have you bought the new George Washington $1 coin? Are you skilled numismatist? Or do you collect Presidential memorabilia? Or do you just like money?

Share the wealth.

Contact the writer, Lisa Nichols, to share your experiences with homeowners insurance and collections and to submit your news, ideas and tips for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

St. Paul Travelers bought back their red umbrella logo from Citigroup in an effort to re-build their brand. I didn't realize it ever went away- and according to this article, neither did anyone else.Trying to upgrade a brand with new logos, upgraded fonts and the like is one of the biggest mistakes companies make today. People don't like change. Unless your logo was bad to begin with, stick with it for optimum customer recognition. If anything, an old-fashoned logo makes people nostalgic- and that's never a bad move when you're trying to get their business.

Contact the author, Lisa Nichols, to submit your insurance and advertising news and tips for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I have an unbreakable habit. Because I work in search engine optimization, I will often "view source" when I look at a website, to see if the site is optimized. A quick note on SEO (search engine optimization): SEO includes writing optimized title tags for websites, which you can see when you left-click on a website and then click on View Source. The source shows you the words used to optimize the website. People who enter those keywords in Google should see that website.

Discount health plans are required to state that they are not health insurance. They aren't allowed to imply they are insurance in advertising. But when I looked at several discount health plan websites to see how they used SEO, I found they used insurance-related keywords:

1. The first site I reviewed clearly states "this is not insurance." View source on this discount health plan website and you'll find the word insurance used 27 times on their home page. Keywords included discount health insurance, medical insurance, dental insurance and travel insurance.
2. The second website I reviewed also stated that they "are not health insurance policies." View source on this website to see the word insurance used a whopping 41 times on just the homepage. Keywords included: health insurance quotes, affordable medical insurance and getting health insurance.
3. The third discount health plan website I reviewed was less spammy with their keyword usage, but made good use of SEO. The source for this site revealed that you can "save more" by using this instead of "insurance plans such as ppo, group, major medical or medicare."

If I didn't know about discount health plan scams, I could all too easily confuse these healthcare websites with legitimate insurance companies.

Submit your story ideas, news and tips to the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Senator Kim Hendren (R) tried- and failed- to get a motorcycle helmet bill passed through the Senate Transportation Committee this week. Only four states, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois and New Hampshire are 100% helmet law free, according to bikersrights.com. Of the other states, about half require a helmet and the other half have an age restriction or a motorcyle insurance requirement. Hendren is hard at work on another bill that would require cyclists to take motorcycle education course and maybe purchase health insurance before they can get their motorcycle license.

Should helmets be required? Contact the author, Lisa Nichols, and share your thoughts on the motorcycle helmet laws today or submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) surveyed almost 8,000 policyholders and petinsurance.com site visitors to find out where their pets bunk down. The results? 56% of respondents sleep with their pets!

Other snooze-worthy pet insurance survey findings include:

• 21% of survey respondents said their family pet snuggles down in a pet bed
• 18% said their pet sleeps in the bedroom but not in the bed
• 5% of respondents said their family pets sleep on the couch
• 1% said their pet sleeps outdoors

Are you part of the 56%? Or do you relegate your pup to the floor at night? Tell us where you stand (and where Fido) sleeps. Read more about pet insurance to decide if its right for your beloved family pet.

Contact the writer, Lisa Nichols, to talk about your experiences buying pet insurance and submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Lawrence and Elizabeth Tomlinson's Katrina insurance claim trial started today. The couple is suing Allstate Indemnity Company stating the company didn't start adjusting their Hurricane Katrina insurance claim until after they filed the lawsuit.

More Hurricane Katrina Insurance Claims Updates:

• Meanwhile, more than 350 federal lawsuits related to Katrina insurance claims are pending in Mississippi.
• The State Farm Katrina insurance ruling reported here last month has been reduced from a $2.5 million dollar award to $1 million.

Contact the writer, Lisa Nichols to share your insurance tips and submit your news, industry gossip and story ideas for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Home office deductions are high on the list for a lot of us during tax season. But do you have proper home office insurance for your home-based business?Our expert guest writer Patricia H. Stadnick of Amica Mutual Insurance Company, discusses the ins and outs of professional liability insurance and homeowners insurance for your home-based business.

Talk back with Lisa Nichols, the writer for this section of Suite101.com, and tell her about your experiences buying home office insurance or submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

When I was younger, I often found myself in traffic court (through no fault of my own, I assure you). I was often surprised at the lengths people would go in order to prove their innocence when involved in a weird auto accident. I saw everything from simple drawings to complicated graphs in these strange car accident cases.

One weird auto accident claim happened when a man jumped a stop sign and hit a concrete barrier in front of someone’s home. His claim was that he couldn’t have jumped the stop sign, because his standard shift car could not go over 3 miles an hour after coming to a complete stop, or it would stall. I listened to him argue for over an hour with the judge, who did not want to go to the parking lot with the man to see a demonstration.

If you’re involved in a strange car accident, or a garden-variety car accident, do you know what’s covered by your auto insurance? Check out my latest auto insurance coverage article to see if you’re "up to speed."

Talk back with the writer- email Lisa Nichols and tell us about your experiences with a weird auto insurance claim and submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Hurricane Katrina insurance claimants finally have something to smile about. In a shocking ruling, State Farm got hit with $2.5 million judgment for punitive damages on top of the almost quarter million dollar insurance payout they have to make to Norman and Genevieve Broussard of Biloxi, Mississippi. The Broussards sued State Farm after having their original Katrina insurance claim denied.

Watch for timely updates about weather-related insurance lawsuits in upcoming posts on the insurance blog as they happen.

Talk back with the writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experience fighting a denied insurance claim and submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

In order to answer some of your most frequently asked questions about insurance, I’ve started posting quick insurance questions and answers about the insurance policy, types of insurance, insurance claims and insurance coverage options on the insurance blog.

I’ll continue to write in-depth “before you buy insurance coverage” articles, too. But when you need a fast answer about public adjusters, replacement cost insurance, business interruption insurance and more, just look to the insurance blog for answers.

Submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The Suite101 insurance question of the week comes from Jane:

Under my homeowner HO3 insurance policy is there coverage on my personal dock that collapsed due to weight of heavy snow? Is the dock covered under the dwelling or other structure?

Jane,

Typically, freezing, thawing, pressure, or weight of water or ice to a fence, pavement, patio, swimming pool, or dock are excluded from Homeowner’s policies. Also, a dock often has to be added on to a Homeowner’s policy with a special endorsement, or it might be insurable under a separate watercraft policy. Please check with your insurance company for specifics on your policy coverages.

Submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

This month, Insure.com contributed an article on parking lot fender benders, providing holiday shopping safety tips you can use to protect your car- and yourself-at the mall.

Some more safety tips holiday shoppers can use while out and about this month:

1. Don’t wear flashy, expensive jewelry when you’re out shopping- it draws unwanted attention to you.
2. Keep your cash and your credit cards in your pocket, not your handbag. A good rule of thumb is to consider what you wouldn’t mind losing, and leave those items in your handbag. If you have to carry a handbag, hold it front of you.
3. Move purchased items out to the trunk of your car as you buy them. You’ll draw less attention with fewer bags, have more mobility if something happens, and, you can look at the extra trips to the car as some unexpected exercise, an added benefit.
4. If you think you’re being followed, or an unmarked car signals you to pull over, drive to a police station, fire station or other well-lit area with pedestrian traffic.
5. Copy down the information from the front and back of your credit cards paper in a safe location. If something happens, you can quickly call and cancel your cards.

You have some off-premises coverage for personal property in your homeowner’s insurance policy. If the worst should happen, check out our tips for filing a claim, and try not to let the stress get to you- once you’ve filed the claim, let your insurance carrier handle it, so you can get on with enjoying your holiday season.

Talk back with the writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your tried and true holiday safety tipsand submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Buy travel insurance, say the experts, and ensure your Christmas gifts arrive safely. According to AAA, more than 8 million Americans will be flying somewhere for the Christmas holidays. And AAA estimates that another 60 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home. Gas prices are down for the first time in months, prompting more people to leave home for the holiday. Trip insurance, or travel insurance, protects you against many travel losses, including theft.

Trip insurance, available worldwide, can come in handy on any trip, but during the holidays, can provide an extra layer of protection. With Christmas travel comes the inevitable shuttling of presents to the site of the Christmas tree at your final destination, and the unfortunate possibility of baggage theft, too. In the UK, some 2.5 million Brits will be traveling outside the country, hauling an estimated 700 million pounds plus presents to loved ones.

Buy travel insurance for your Christmas trip to help protect your precious investments, and ensure that the presents you so carefully selected for your loved ones arrive safely under the tree. Trip insurance- it’s a small price to pay to ensure your presents’ protection and a happy holiday.

Talk back with the writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your experience buying travel insurance and submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Weird insurance claim #1: Terrence Dickson of Pennsylvania robbed a house and then accidentally locked himself in the homeowner’s garage, which had a broken garage door opener. Stuck for more than a week, he lived off of dog food and soda. Dickson filed- and won- a homeowner’s insurance claim against the homeowners for undue mental anguish. The pay-out? A hefty half million!

Weird insurance claim #2: Jerry Williams of Little Rock, Arkansas won more than $14K- plus medical expenses- on a dog bite insurance claim against his neighbors. Williams, who was hanging in the neighbor’s yard at the time the beagle attacked him, got chomped after continually firing a pellet gun at the dog.

Weird insurance claim #3: Amber Carson of Pennsylvania received a six figure insurance judgment after falling and cracking her tailbone as the result of a spilled drink. The kicker? The soda had spilled on the floor when Carson threw it at someone during an earlier altercation.

And finally, a bouncer avoidance claim from Kara Walton of Claymont, Delaware. Walton sued a night club after she fell through a window and broke some teeth, winning an insurance judgment of more than $12,000. At the time, Walton was sneaking into the club so she wouldn’t have to pay a cover charge.

Learn more about how to file a claim, including steps to take and what to expect.

Talk back with the author- tell Lisa Nichols about your wild or weird claim and submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A recent Florida office of insurance regulation greatly impacted a homeowner’s insurance claim denied by their insurance carrier. When a hurricane swept through Eugene and Debra Cox’s Florida home, they lost everything and needed insurance claim help. Initially told their flood insurance claim denied, their insurance claim lawyer proved otherwise in court.

A frequent complaint about insurance company hurricane claims rests in the insurance company’s belief that they don’t have to pay for flood damage caused by a hurricane if flood is excluded from the policy.In the Cox’s case, the court ruled in a different way, stating that their insurance claim denied by the insurance carrier was illegal, and that the company would pay for both windstorm and flood damage resulting from a hurricane.

If you feel like you were unfairly treated and had insurance claim denied or need insurance claim help, you have options- you can file a complaint about insurance company misconduct with your state department of insurance. You might also decide to find an insurance claim lawyer to represent you in court. Find out more about how to file an insurance claim

Talk back with writer Lisa Nichols- tell us what happened when your insurance claim was denied and submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Surveys conducted in the last 18 months by “Steps to a Healthier Pennsylvania-Luzerne County” shows companies “are just becoming aware,” of health and wellness the workplace, says registered nurse Midge Berfield. Programs like Steps to a Healthier U.S. have been set up to help Americans live longer, healthier lives, and employee health and wellness program coordinators are taking notice.

The Benefits of Starting an Employee Health and Wellness Program at Your Company:

• Companies have everything to gain by setting up a workplace health and wellness program. An employee health and wellness program is a great incentive to new hires, rounding out your other company benefits.
• Providing flu shots, blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, body/fat ratio assessments, smoking cessation programs and free mammograms to employees as part of a health and wellness in the workplace can help save on rising company health insurance costs.
• Health and wellness in the workplace promotes employee attendance, say the experts. Reduced workplace accidents and a general improvement in overall employee health and wellness in the workplace helps prevent employee absenteeism.

Get some tips on how to start your company’s workplace health and wellness program today.

Talk back with the author- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences developing an employee health and wellness program and submit your news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

According to recent reports, theft is the #1 crime on college campuses today. There are a number of things your kids can be doing to protect their personal belongings, say campus security experts. The University of Miami recommends the following tips to keep your kids' belongings safe:

• Don't leave items like a wallet, backpack or laptop computer unattended in the cafeteria or library, even for "just a second."
• Keep dorm and apartment rooms locked when asleep, in the shower or away at class.
• Keep car doors securely locked, too.

Thieves prey on kids' gullibility, and make college campuses the perfect breeding ground for predators. Common-sense safety tips often get thrown by the wayside when your child has been up all night cramming for an exam or racing back and forth from work to school. A renter’s insurance policy also affords your college-age kids some protection. And, renter's insurance is often required (or at the least, “strongly suggested”) by landlords. Learn more about renter’s insurance, an inexpensive way to cover your college kids in case of a loss.

Talk back with the author- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences with kids at college and buying renter's insurance and submit your news, tips and story ideas to the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

According to the Daily News Online, an estimated half million people in the U.S. have turned to pet insurance. Customers who purchase pet insurance do so for a number of reasons. If you've ever had to pay out of pocket fees for hip replacement surgery for your Lab, you have an idea of why animal insurance might be a good idea.

A friend's Labrador retriever somehow got exposed to rat poison. It was touch and go while she was in the animal hospital. Thankfully, the kindly vet was able to save the dog. The bills reflected the myriad of blood tests, surgeries and medications that the dog needed to stay alive. When we discuss pet insurance, I think what we're really talking about is a paradigm shift in the way that we think about our animals. As parents work longer hours, surrendering their little ones to caregivers, the role a pet plays in a child's life is not something to bark at anymore.

In the old days, there would have been a quick and easy way to solve the problem with my friend's Lab. But the decision to euthanize not only never occurred to the dog owner, his own distress during the ordeal was as real as if a family member was in danger (possibly more real, he's not that close to his family).Pet insurance policies help mitigate the cost of veterinary care for your pets, providing coverage for annual exams, surgery, lab fees, even mitigating the cost to spay and neuter your pet (coverage varies by policy).Read on to learn more about pet insurance coverage and pet insurance basics.

Talk back with the author: tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences buying pet insurance coverage and submit news, tips and story ideas for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Selling your life insurance policy to a life settlement company can bring extra income today. A new trend in life insurance policies allows "life settlement" companies to settle up your life insurance policy sooner than later. Most life settlement companies require a minimum age of 60-65, and a current life insurance policy in force more than two years and with a minimum value of $50,000. A broker can rep your policy to life settlement companies on your behalf, so you can pick and choose from the offers that end up on the table.

Do you have life insurance in place for your employees? It's a benefit not to be overlooked. Check out top reasons for providing life insurance and disability coverage for your business, and then let me know if you've decided to take the plunge.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

Tell us about your experience selling your life insurance policy to a life settlement company and submit news items, story ideas and tips to the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) recently released new data projecting that couples retiring in 2006 will need approximately $295,000 to cover health care costs.

The $295 figure is based on an average life expectancy of 82 for men and 85 for women. If the couple lives to age 95, they'll need an additional $255K for a whopping total exceeding a half-million dollars. Just for healthcare.

While readying himself for retirement several years ago, a friend was stricken with prostrate cancer. "Don't retire," said his employer's award-winning human resources rep. "The out-of-pocket costs to treat cancer with Medicaid are horrendous. You can cut back on work while you receive treatment, and you'll benefit from reduced insurance costs." Wow. Now that's going the extra mile.

Before you buy health insurance for your employees, review some easy steps to select the best group health plan for your business.

Read how other Suite101 readers are saving for retirement or share your best retirement savings plan with us today.

Source: National Underwriter

Submit your ideas, tips and news for the insurance blog

Posted by Lisa Nichols

A central Florida couple's home, a total loss after a lightning-induced fire, may not be covered by homeowner's insurance. The family's insurance, covering a home worth $2M, and personal effects inside the home for another $2M, had recently lapsed, according to WKMG Local 6 news.

Paying on time and ahead of time (if you can swing it) is the only surefire way to have property insurance when you'll need it the most. If you're switching insurance carriers, price-shopping, or just feeling economically strapped, contact your insurance agent or carrier to find out what options you have available for uninterrupted homeowner's insurance coverage.

And, you'll read this over and over in my articles, review your homeowner's insurance policy to ensure you have the coverages and amounts of coverages you need. You may not understand every line of the homeowner's insurance policy. But you should have a strong grasp of the homeowner's insurance policy exclusions, inclusions and limits of insurance coverage. That way, there won't be any surprises if the worst happens to you.

Learn more about Suite101 readers best, worst and weirdest insurance claims.

Talk back with the author- tell Lisa Nichols about your experiences with homeowner's insurance coverage or submit your ideas, tips and news for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Reported losses from 2006 hurricanes may surpass Katrina's $38 billion 2005 reported losses, a Catastrophe Modeling Expert warns.Karen Clark, president and chief executive officer of Boston-based AIR Worldwide, predicted catastrophe losses "will double about every 10 years due to increases in the numbers and values of properties at risk."

A catastrophe resulting in losses exceeding $100 billion "is not hard to imagine," she said. Source: www.insurancenewsnet.com

A Disaster Recovery Plan takes time to prepare, but it's worth it in the long run. How prepared are you?

Share your best idea for a disaster recovery plan with other Suite101 readers.

Talk back with the writer- tell Lisa Nichols about your unique ideas for developing a disaster recovery plan or submit your ideas, tips and news for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

I had to go after insurance when I became self-employed. And let me tell ya, it wasn't an easy process. I completed an on-line request for quotes and I started receiving calls and e-mails from companies who don't even offer health insurance trying to sell me... something. These companies offer health coverage "plans" or medical "discounts," neither of which interested me. Big blue finally took pity on me and took me in. Thank goodness.

But it sticks in my craw. I mean, I worked for an insurance company for more than a decade. And, but for the grace, I might have been taken in by these fast-talking internet salespeople. What about the folks who have no insurance background at all?

Do you know the difference between ACV and RCV and how important that distinction is? Or could you use a little counseling? Internet options abound, but even the online-savvy craves that personal touch when it comes to buying insurance. Buy insurance online or in person- What's Right For You?

Stop by our discussions area to tell us whether you buy insurance online or in person.

Talk back with the author: tell Lisa about your experiences buying insurance on-line or just email her your ideas, tips and news for the insurance blog.

Posted by Lisa Nichols

Allstate Insurance Company recently announced it was dropping earthquake coverage from the menu, due to rising costs of catastrophic losses. Existing Allstate earthquake policies won't be renewed, and they're no longer writing new earthquake policies, either. With the exception of California, Business Owners' Policies (BOPs) don't include coverage for earthquake. Do you know what your BOP covers? Take some time to review your BOP and ensure that you have adequate protection for your business.