Insurance

Any business wishes to minimise its risks and landlords are no exception to this. For landlords, there is always the possibility that their building will suffer damage – perhaps even rendering it uninhabitable for a period. To avoid this being a major financial blow, good building insurance for landlord is often seen as being critically important.

Building insurance for landlord can be a complicated subject and specialist advice from an expert provider of landlord insurance may be required. That’s because there are a number of factors that the landlord needs to consider. These include whether the building is used for commercial or residential letting (or both)? Does it stand empty for periods of time? Is it in use or under renovations/restoration?

It is then necessary to consider what the risks are. Property can be damaged in natural or man-made accidents. Sadly, tenants and other third parties can also maliciously damage a rented property and today it is also necessary to think about the risks of terrorism.

All of these factors can affect the type of policy required and the cost. At the same time as thinking about building insurance for landlord, it may also be advisable to consider what exactly is ‘the building’. There can sometimes be grey areas between what is the building, a fixture/fitting and the landlord’s personal property/goods. It may therefore be sensible to consider a policy that covers both.

Over the last 10 years we have seen a huge increase in the demand for our landlords insurance products. In the mid to late nineties people became increasing disenchanted with pensions and looked at buy to let property as an alternative. Since 1998 we have gone from having only one landlord insurance policy to have in what we believe to be the largest panel of landlords insurance companies in the UK. The insurers that we deal with our household names such as AXA, Royal Sun Alliance & Zurich.

Many landlords surveys have shown that the majority of landlords have had tenants who have left without paying rent and more importantly may have vandalised the property. A specialist landlords insurance policy will certainly cover malicious damage by tenant and you are also to obtain legal or rent guarantee insurance to recover unpaid rent or policy excesses. Landlord buildings insurance is essential for your business.

These same surveys have also pointed out that as many as 30% of landlords have admitted to using their home insurance rather than a specialist buy to let policy. Our thoughts on this is that it that it can be very detrimental to you to not disclose that the property is let. Non disclosure is regarded as very serious by insurers and can result in cancelled policies, unpaid claims and also problems obtaining further insurance.

Finding affordable health insurance is possible, there are many companies that will help you to find health insurance that will meet your requirements and stay within your budget. The fact is that many people simply do not know where to look for health insurance. Connecting with a company that is capable of hunting down health insurance providers can take the hassle out of buying health insurance. For individuals who do not want to use a company to locate affordable health insurance there is the Internet. Thousands of people in the United States simply go without health insurance because they think they cannot find affordable health insurance. This would explain why there are many individuals in the United States who choose to go without health insurance. Those who do not have health insurance will be less likely to visit a doctor. This means that a lot of times illness and other ailments are not diagnosed until they have developed. There are numerous different things that will determine what your monthly health insurance will be. Your health insurance rates will change depending upon the kind of policy you have. For example, do you only need health insurance for yourself, or your entire family? The answer will have an impact on any quotes you receive. Are you young, or are you in your senior years? Most health insurance companies adjust your premium based upon your age. Are you self-employed, or are you receiving health insurance through your work? This will also affect the cost of your health insurance. You never know when an accident might happen and you need a trip to hospital for stitches or a broken bone. These bills will add up quickly but if you have health insurance, you can get the help you need without the worry of receiving a huge bill. If you can’t afford to pay off your medical bills, your credit rating could even suffer. If you have health insurance, you can prevent these problems from ever happening and your credit will be protected for your financial future and your health. Another way you can make sure that your insurance rates are lowered is to increase the amount of your health insurance deductible. High deductibles equal lower monthly premiums. Anyone that has existing health problems which require extensive medical treatment may find it necessary to have a higher monthly premium. Simply by researching health insurance options online and spending just a couple of hours searching may well save you money every month. Get a variety of quotes from insurance companies which meet your health and budget needs and you will find affordable health insurance. You may also find that purchasing health insurance online can save you money.

Let's face it. Launching and running a business takes capital, motivation and yes, even physical stamina to handle the stress and demands of a new or growing venture. And it's risky. In fact, one out of every five businesses fails within the first five years of opening.
Handling inventory, scheduling time, purchasing supplies, handling payroll -- there are a myriad of procedures every home or small business entrepreneur needs to know, but one of the most critical and often neglected is buying proper insurance coverage.

Taking a Business Inventory
What would happen if a fire or other disaster destroyed your property, making it impossible for you to get back to business right away? Would you remember what property had been destroyed? One way is by taking a complete inventory of all your personal business property, determining its value, and deciding what's worth insuring. Having an up-to-date business inventory will help you get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your business' income tax return and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance.
Start by making a list of personal business property, describing each item and noting where you bought it and its make and model. Clip to your list any sales receipts, purchase contracts, and appraisals you have.

What Is the Right Coverage for You?
Then there's the question of what types of coverages you'll need. Aside from personal business property, there is liability insurance, business income, insurance for the building, boiler and machinery, human failure, employee protection and management protection, among others. The type of coverage you need depends on a number of factors including what kind of business you operate.
How to Keep Costs Down
Start your search for a policy with trade associations or business groups. In many cases, these organizations are able to provide reduced insurance rates based on the volume of business they can offer the insurance company. They've also negotiated coverage specific to your type of business, which can save you significant time in determining what you should cover. Also make sure that you are working with an agent that understands your type of business.

Flood insurance provides compensation for physical property damages due to flooding. To be a little precise it provides insurance for damage caused due to overflowing water bodies. in most countries there is the concept of flood hazard zones and in most developed countries there is a mandatory requirement to get Flood Insurance for property in the flood hazard zones. In USA the home owner insurance policies typically exclude flood coverage and require separate purchase of this policy. This is both good and bad as it reduces the cost for folks who are in zones which has a very low probability for flooding. One of the interesting myth floating around is rain coupled with high winds that seep into property or through open windows is considered for flood insurance program. It is not and irrespective of where you live it is just common sense to protect your property from rain water.
Flood insurance is required on all properties located in Special Flood Hazard Zones. If you do not live in a Special Flood Hazard Area, you are not required to purchase flood insurance when you buy your home. Flood insurance compensates against loss by flood damage. Although flood insurance is inexpensive, most people neglect to purchase it. The insurance covers damage to a building; including the foundation, pilings or other support systems for elevated buildings. It is a necessity for those who live in flood prone areas, especially those who live in high hazard flood areas. The only guaranteed flood insurance coverage available for your home is Federal Flood Insurance purchased through your insurance agent or company. Flood insurance is not available to residents of communities that do not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The coverage is available separately from your homeowner’s policy through a program developed by private industry and the federal government. The federal government determines whether an area is prone to flooding and considered to be in a flood plain. Flood certifications will indicate whether the property lies within an area so designated.

The most obvious coverage offered by a homeowner's policy is damage to the building

and its contents. If you were to have an accidental fire, for instance, your homeowner's

policy would cover the cost of rebuilding your home and replacing its contents. Fires,

tornadoes, wind damage, and lightning damage are common types of disasters that are

covered by most policies.

Homeowner's insurance also covers damage to people on your property. For example, if

you were having a garage sale at your home and someone were to break his leg at your

sale, your homeowner's insurance policy would cover the medical treatment to that

individual if you were legally liable for the injury. If you have pets at home, any injuries they

cause by biting or attacking someone would be covered under homeowner's insurance.

There are some types of disasters that most homeowner's insurance policies do not

cover. Flood damage, earthquake damage, and damage due to improper maintenance of

the property are almost never covered under a homeowner's policy. However, if you live in

a flood plane or place where earthquakes are common, you can, and should, purchase and

additional coverage option to protect you from these disasters.

Additionally, if you have a particularly valuable item in your home that you want to make

sure is covered adequately, you may need to buy additional coverage for this item. For

instance, if you have a painting that has been in your family for several generations, you

will likely want to purchase such a policy. While the painting would be covered in your

regular policy, the additional policy will ensure that you are paid what the painting is truly

worth, as it can be difficult to determine value of these types of items after a disaster has

occurred.

At ihi Bupa, we offer you the best suited health insurance plan so you and your family can feel confident no matter where you live, travel or work.

Worldwide Health Options

Worldwide Health Options is our groundbreaking new insurance plan that lets you create the cover that suits you best. You enjoy all the benefits of being an ihi Bupa customer, but with the freedom to create a new plan that is tailored to you.

Start with our core cover, Worldwide Medical Insurance, and then choose the options you wish to add. Find out more about the various options here and get a free quote today.
Health advice and support

You can use ihi Bupa before, during and after a course of illness or injury. We have a permanent staff of medical consultants, and highly qualified experts who are never more than a click or a call away.

Our medical centre team have compiled an exhaustive list of medical factsheets, which offers advice on care and treatment. You can also find a range of lifestyle tips in our health guide, where you can calculate your BMI and find out more about healthy living.

Emergency service and health advice
One of the advantages of being a customer with ihi Bupa is our in-house medical centre. Our professional health experts are ready to assist you 24 hours a day and several of our own medical consultants are always on duty.

The medical centre offers you assistance in case of illness and emergency - including arrangement of medical evacuations. We will also help find you the right place of treatment and take care of all the practical matters if you have to go to hospital.

Our medical consultants will ensure that immediate and correct treatment is arranged. The team is carefully put together and includes medical consultants specialising in cancer, musculoskeletal diseases, cardiac diseases, wound healing plus tropical and aeromedicine.

We are often in contact with nurses and doctors at the hospitals before, during and after the course of treatment. We get many questions regarding hospitalisations and evacuations which can be answered immediately due to the experience and knowledge of our nurses and customer consultants.
Health advice from our medical team

Our experts have compiled a series of factsheets and lifestyle advice on a wide range of health conditions. Have a look at our Health Guide to find our more about exercise and diet, and browse our A-Z list of medical factsheets to find detailed information about conditions, medicines and treatments.

What is Universal Life Insurance?

Universal Life Insurance is a flexible-premium, adjustable benefit life

insurance policy that accumulates account value. The flexibility of

this policy allows you to change the amount of insurance as your needs

for insurance change. Some changes require underwriting approval.

As with all life insurance, the main purpose for buying a Universal

Life insurance policy is the death protection provided to your loved

ones at your death.

Universal Life is a form of permanent life insurance. It can provide affordable guaranteed protection and flexibility.

A Universal Life insurance policy provides flexibility that allows you to change, within limits, the death benefit and the timing and amount of your premium. You can build your policy's cash value, or pay a lower premium and focus more on guaranteed protection.

MetLife's Guarantee Advantage Universal Life can be right for you if you want:

• Protection that can last a lifetime
• The flexibility to choose between two policy designs:
  • Protection plus cash accumulation, or
  • Focus on affordable guaranteed protection
• An option for a lifetime of guaranteed monthly income for your beneficiaries

Some things to consider about Universal Life:

• Cash value growth is based on periodically-declared fixed interest rates. Should rates fall, cash accumulation could suffer, and higher premiums may be needed
• Changing your policy's premium or death benefit can affect your policy's performance and guarantees, possibly requiring higher premiums later.

Your MetLife representative can help you determine whether Guarantee Advantage Universal Life makes sense for you and your family.

A whole life insurance quote is for your whole life, as opposed to term

life insurance, which is for a specific term, such as twenty or thirty

years. That is the primary benefit of whole life insurance: a payout is

guaranteed. You will not have to worry about becoming uninsurable later

in life, and unable to obtain life insurance of any kind.

This benefit of a guaranteed payout comes with a price: your premium

may be several times higher than the premium for a level term life

insurance policy of the same face amount. This is because a portion of

your whole life insurance premium goes to fund a tax-deferred cash

value account. And of course, you are buying the life insurance for a

longer time period: your whole life.

If you decide to cancel your whole life policy, you are entitled to

receive the cash value. Additionally, you may borrow against the cash

value at a reasonable interest rate. When you die, funds will be

deducted from the insurance proceeds to pay the amount of any loans and

interest, if you have not paid them off.

Which brings us to an interesting point. Whole life insurance policies

are actually issued with a termination date built in. This date is

usually on your 100th birthday. So, if you aren't dead by 100, the

policy is terminated and you are given the cash value. The cash value

on the termination date will be the face amount of the policy.

So, a whole life insurance policy is guaranteed to pay your beneficiary

the face amount if you die, or to pay you the face amount if you live

to age 100! Sounds like a good deal, huh? Well, it may be, but there is

a "lost opportunity" cost associated with tieing up your money (annual

premium payments) in a whole life insurance policy. You should consult

with your financial advisor.

Generally speaking, most financial advisors recommend to avoid this

"lost opportunity" cost by purchasing low cost term life insurance and

investing the difference in other investment vehicles. These

investments should be expected to provide a return higher than the

accumulation of cash value in a whole life insurance policy. Recently

however, CNBC got a different answer when they posed this question to

two financial heavyweights: Is whole life insurance a good investment?

It is often the case that a provider needs life insurance the most just

when he or she can afford it the least: when he or she has dependents

to support, provide for college, weddings, and so on. Then he or she

needs to build a nest egg for retirement. The goal is to have enough

invested by retirement that neither the provider nor the spouse needs

the life insurance proceeds to maintain lifestyle. Thus the saying,

"Buy term and invest the difference."

Whole life insurance is often useful in estate planning. It is one

vehicle used by financial planners to protect assets for the next

generation. So, if this is something that you may have to worry about,

you should consult with a financial advisor.

Term Life insurance features temporary, cost-effective coverage with the opportunity to change should your needs change.

Term Life insurance provides a cost-effective solution for your temporary life insurance needs and gives you the flexibility to change your policy should your temporary needs turn into permanent goals.

Term Life is right for you if you want:

• An affordable way to get maximum coverage
• To cover specific financial responsibilities like a mortgage or college expenses
• To supplement your Permanent Life Insurance during periods when coverage needs are higher, such as family-building, mortgage-paying years

Some things to consider about Term Life:

• There is no cash value accumulation
• Continuing your coverage after the initial level premium-paying term expires can be very expensive

Your MetLife representative can help you determine whether term life makes sense for you and your family.

Term Life is right for you if you want:

• An affordable way to get maximum coverage
• To cover specific financial responsibilities like a mortgage or college expenses
• To supplement your Permanent Life Insurance during periods when coverage needs are higher, such as family-building, mortgage-paying years

Some things to consider about Term Life:

• There is no cash value accumulation
• Continuing your coverage after the initial level premium-paying term expires can be very expensive

Your MetLife representative can help you determine whether term life makes sense for you and your family.

Term life insurance provides death protection for a stated time period,

or term.

Term life insurance is perhaps the simplest form of life insurance. It

was developed to provide temporary life insurance protection on a

limited budget. Since term insurance can be purchased in large amounts

for a relatively small initial premium, it is well suited for short-

range goals such as life insurance coverage to pay off a loan, or

providing extra life insurance protection during the child-raising

years.

Do you know what it takes to protect you, your family, car and home? Unsure about what type of life insurance to buy, or how much disability income insurance you need? Learn the ins-and-outs of these and other insurance products that may be available to you.