Four Common Types of Insurance Cover and How to Save on Them

The four most common types of insurance cover are life insurance, health insurance, car insurance and home insurance, though not in that particular order.

Life insurance is taken against the risk of death, which we are all at, by virtue of being alive. The idea behind taking life insurance cover is to ensure that one's dependants don't suffer financial distress in the event of their (the policyholder's) death. So in the event of death - once a person with life insurance has been certified as having died - it falls upon the life insurance provider with whom they had taken the cover to pay the policyholders survivors (who might include spouses, children and other dependants) money from the policy - whose amount is typically agreed upon at the policy-signing time. This is paid either in lump-sum or in smaller but regular amounts over a longer period of time.

Health insurance on the other hand is taken against the risk of 'sickness' which like the risk of death, is one which we are all exposed to (of course in varying degrees), by virtue of our being alive. So the way health insurance works is that the policyholder pays sums of money called premiums to the insurance provider, under the agreement that should the policyholder fall sick, the insurance provider would foot their medical bill, typically up to a pre-agreed level and at certain agreed health facilities to prevent fraud.

Car insurance is typically taken against the risk of 'road accident,' though other risks like car theft might also be covered in some cases. The agreement here is that the car owner continues to pay certain sums of money called premiums to the insurance provider, under the understanding that should the car be involved in a road accident (or get stolen, in the relevant types of cover), the car insurance provider would take up liability for loss the accident (or theft) causes, typically to a given pre-agreed extent; or upon the assessment of the loss by the assessors attached to the insurance provider.

Home insurance, on the other hand, covers against a variety of risks - from theft to fire - with an agreement where the policyholder pays the insurance provider certain sums of money called premiums on a regular basis, and with the understanding that in event of the home that is so insured suffering from the events against which it is insured, the insurance provider would take up financial liability for the loss incurred - typically up to a given level.

Now the common factor that is seen is all these types of insurance cover is 'risk.' What the insurance providers typically do, then, is to charge those of their customers who have 'higher risk profiles' higher amounts of money in terms of premiums, with those of their customers who are said to be at lower risk being charged lower amounts of money in terms of premiums. Herein, then, lies the way for one to reduce their insurance costs: by reducing their risk profile. By adopting healthier living habits, for instance, one gets a way to reduce their health and life insurance costs, whereas by installing various safety features in their home or car, one would stand a chance to lower their home and car insurance costs, respectively, by significant margins.

SimplicityClaims.co.uk - Specialists for settling mis sold payment protection and claiming unfair credit card charges

Reduce Your Risk and Lower Your Insurance Premiums

If you have always felt that the amount of money that insurance providers charge you for their service is unfair, then you might find some albeit little consolation in the fact that you are not alone in feeling that way. Most insurance policyholders, as it turns out, feel that the amounts of money they pay to their insurance providers is perhaps unfairly on the higher side, and wish there was a way through which they could reduce their insurance premiums; of course without compromising on the level of coverage the policy offers.

Luckily, there is a way through which you can lower your insurance premiums: namely by reducing your risk profile.

To understand how lowering one's risk profile can help in reducing one's insurance premium rates, we would first have to take cognizance of the very basic fact that insurance is meant to provide a hedge against risk, that is, a safety tool taken by the policyholders to ensure their continued financial well being in the event of their suffering whatever risk it is that they are taking up insurance against. This, therefore, means that the insurance providers are basically in the business of providing risk management services. And for any particular risk that they provide cover against, insurance providers are likely to meet people who need the risk management service they offer at 'greater levels' or to greater extents than others. So the way the insurance providers price their service is such that those of their customers who need 'more' risk management are commensurately charged more the risk protection that the insurer offers them, with those who need relatively 'lower levels' of risk protection - that is, those who are at less risk of suffering from whatever event it is that they are taking insurance against, being charged commensurately lower 'fees' for the service, in terms of insurance premiums.

To judge who is at a higher risk of suffering the different events they offering an hedge against (and who is therefore more in need of the risk protection services they offer), insurance providers typically use profiling methods - where they try to find correlations between the incidence of the various unfortunate events they offer 'protection' against and certain conditions in people, and then using that information in working out their pricing structures.

If what we are looking at is car insurance, for instance, the insurance providers will tend to look at things like the relationship between a driver's age and incidence of road accidents, the relationship between a driver's road usage record and the incidence of road accidents and the relationship between each particular car model and incidence of road accidents. Under this system, drivers in age groups, or with car models and car usage records that have been more closely associated with higher incidence of road accidents are charged more for their car insurance premiums than the 'safer' drivers.

Consequently then, the key way to reduce your car insurance premiums is by making an effort to understand the factors that your car insurance provider takes into consideration in their risk profiling, and then working on the same factors (as they apply to you), so that you can meet the 'low risk' profile. Once you manage to do so successfully, your insurance provider will naturally feel obliged to charge you lower car insurance premiums - on account of your now 'lower' risk profile, and this way, you can save considerable sums of money you would otherwise have spend on insurance.

Let SimplicityClaims.co.uk handle the whole business to reclaim credit card charges and to claim payment protection insurance.

The Main Reason As to Why You Are Being Overcharged on Insurance

Do you feel that you are being overcharged for insurance - whether it is life insurance, health insurance, car insurance, home insurance or any combination of them? Have you always noted, perhaps with some resentment, that almost all people you talked to seemed to be charged considerably lower amounts of insurance premiums, even for the same type of insurance cover, taken from the same insurance provider? Here, then, we attempt to unearth the main reason as to why you could be charged significantly higher insurance premiums, and what you can do about it.

Before we can be in a position to understand what the main reason for significantly higher insurance premiums, we first have to appreciate the fact that insurance (whatever type of cover it happens to be) is supposed to provide some sort of financial protection in the event of the risk against which it is taken coming to pass. In the case of car insurance, for instance, the cover is supposed to provide a financial hedge against liability for the damage that one's car could cause in the event of a car accident, whereas for life insurance, the cover is supposed to provide a financial hedge to one's dependants against the financial deprivation they would be subject to in the event of the policyholder, who is more often than not the family's breadwinner, meeting their death.

Since insurance is supposed to provide a hedge against risk, it follows that one's risk profile is the main consideration that insurance provider factor in deciding what they should charge as insurance policy. A person who, from the look of their profile, seems more likely to suffer from whatever risk they are taking insurance against is therefore typically charged more for it than a person who, from the look of their profile, seems to be less likely to suffer from whatever event it is that they are taking insurance against.

From all this, then, it follows that if you appear to be a person who is at a higher risk of suffering from whatever events you are taking insurance against, then the insurance providers are more likely to consistently charge you higher amounts of money, in terms of insurance premiums, than people who seem less likely to suffer from whatever risks are in question. This arrangement is the source of the major discrepancies noted in insurance premiums from person to person, even for the same type of insurance, and from the same insurance company.

Therefore what you can do about all this is to change your perceived 'risk profile' for the different risk types that you take insurance against. If you are taking insurance against the risk of death or sickness (that is, life and health insurance respectively), and you improve your health statistics - which are the main factors used to gauge risk in both instances (by for instance losing weight and stopping smoking) - then chances are that you would see your health and life insurance premiums falling down commensurately. Measure that increase home and car safety (like installation of fire fighting equipment and security gating features in the case of home insurance and the installation of anti-lock brakes and airbags in the case of car insurance), are on the other hand the factors that can help pull your home and car insurance premiums down, respectively.

Learn all about Mis sold payment protection and unfair credit card charges at Simplicityclaims.co.uk

Be Prepared When Negotiating Insurance Settlement, Says Simi Valley Car Accident Lawyer

If you ask a Simi Valley car accident lawyer about negotiating a just and equitable settlement after a car accident, you'll be surprised how cases like these are ultimately settled. If you think, you'll never get into a car accident, you may also be surprised by how many accidents occur, just in Simi Valley.

Annual Car Accident Tragedies are Alarming

The California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reported that in 2006, nine people died and 462 were injured in Simi Valley car crashes. A total of 20 pedestrians were injured in car collisions. Two bicyclists were killed and 26 were injured in crashes. And 13 motorcyclists were injured. Drunk drivers caused four fatalities and 51 injuries. In 2007, nine car collisions ended in as many deaths.

Accept the Settlement or Negotiate?

Should you suffer a car accident, Simi Valley car accident lawyers will tell you that you'll undoubtedly be contacted by an insurance adjuster who will make you an offer. The adjuster will have two goals in mind: to settle with you as quickly as possible, and to settle for as little as possible. Depending on your circumstances and patience, you can either accept the settlement or negotiate. If you want to increase the settlement amount, you'll have to negotiate--a custom and practice the insurance industry is both familiar with and quite skilled at. Simi Valley car collision lawyers know that insurance adjusters expect you to reject their first offer, which places the burden on you to argue your case for a higher amount.

Five Questions to Ask Before Negotiating a Higher Settlement

In attempting to raise the settlement amount on your claim, you'll need to answer five key questions. What is the strength (the evidence) of your claim? What are similar claims generally resolved for? What is your settlement goal? What is your settlement bottom line? And what are your alternatives if you don't settle? Answering these questions may not be easy, which is why you may need help.

A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You With Answers

If you are injured in a car collision, some Simi Valley car crash lawyers offer free, no pressure, consultations to answer many questions you may have about negotiating a higher settlement.

Since 1978, Bisnar | Chase lawyers have represented over six thousand people in car, motorcycle, truck, pedestrian and other personal injury cases. The law firm has an "AV" rating, the highest level of professional excellence, by Martindale-Hubble. John Bisnar, who is the author of this article, and his partner Brian Chase each have a "10" Avvo rating, the highest possible. John was named a "Community Hero" by the United Way, while Brian was named a "Trial Lawyer of the Year" in 2004 and one of the 2007 Top 100 Trial Lawyers. You should settle for nothing less than the finest legal representation available. For more information on a Simi Valley car accident lawyer, get "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your California Personal Injury Claim" at http://www.BestAttorneyBooks.com or call 1-800-561-4887.

Copyright 2009 Bisnar Chase LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Important Information About Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is beneficial to the user in case a car accident results in injuries or death to another person. In that case the insurance company would cover a percentage of the damages done to the person. The compensation for damages done to property is less significant. Liability insurance is compulsory and it gives more complete services than car insurance. Some of the services offered are: travel assistance, legal support and driver's insurance.

In Spain driving insurance is compulsory and required by law. This has been done to avoid further problems when car accidents happen. For instance, liability insurance would cover a third party in case of an accident. Auto Insurance is highly important because even if the responsible for the accident claims bankruptcy, the third party involved will be compensated by the insurance company.

Auto insurance covers the driver of the vehicle from the damages that may be caused to third party drivers and their property. This type of insurance covers the liability of the driver and the vehicle owner. This means that any person who drives will be covered even if it someone else is driving the vehicle. But if the driver is younger than 25 years and has a driver's license that expired two years ago the insurance company may reduce the compensation if an incident occurs.

Some countries, like Spain, require liability insurance by law. This means that in order to drive your car you need to have it. This insurance guarantees that the insured will pay, through the insurance company, for the damage done to a third party.

Advantages: the insurance company pays for property and personal damage with the compensation limits set by law.

Nevertheless, liability insurance does not cover what happens to the car of the insured in the accident.

Who buys only Auto insurance? Those who have an impeccable driving record and are convinced they have little chance of an accident. Generally, they look for insurance that is not very expensive and that covers third parties in case of accident. If you buy a new vehicle, this insurance will not be enough because liability insurance does not give protection for the damages caused to your own car.

Liability insurance will not give coverage if the insured was involved in an accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or if the car was stolen.

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How to Go About Making a PPI Claim?

One gets Payment Protection Insurance, also known as PPI alongside loans and credit cards and the purpose of this is to cover the payments in case the person fails to do so because of loss of job or some kind of illness. While PPI is very useful, there is also a fact that in many cases in which the PPI is wrongly sold and this is something that makes the PPI somewhat controversial.

In many cases, the cover is sold without the buyer knowing the various conditions. This happens when the salesperson does not disclose the necessary information to the customer.

Nowadays there are many claims that are being made for PPI by people to whom the policy was wrongly sold. However, there is an issue that many of the cases of PPI claims are being rejected. The main reason for this is that the banks and other responsible firms are trying to keep control over the compensation costs that they commit. This is something that is making these firms reject the claims when they are made.

This is what makes it important that one should fully understand the circumstances, in which a claim can be made. If a claim is made otherwise, there is a considerable chance that the claim might be rejected. Hence, it is important to make sure always before making the claim that the grounds, on which it is being made, are valid.

There are many firms that having solicitors who can represent the case on your behalf. It is recommended to use a solicitor for making the claim instead of doing it by oneself, because the process may get complicated and then an inexperienced person cannot handle the situation ideally, which is very important if you want your claim to be fulfilled.

When you make the claim, you should be clear and confident about the grounds, on which your case is going to be based. Finding a solicitor is important as this increases your chances of getting compensation if your claim is valid. The time that is taken to give the compensation varies from one company to another, also depending upon the nature of the case.

The usual time that is taken by firms to respond to a claim varies from eight to twelve weeks. However, this period is not standard and is subject to changes depending upon the situation and circumstances. When it comes to the cost of the claim, there are services available on the no win no fee basis and the firm charges you only if you win the case and get the compensation. This means that you have nothing to lose when it comes to making the claim, as you don't have to pay anything if the solicitor does not succeed.

Using a firm to represent you when making the claim also has the great advantage that you don't have to go to court and it is the firm and its solicitors who would be representing your case, hence saving you the ordeal.

Simon P Jennings is a financial consultant. Take his advise before making Unenforceable Credit Agreement now.

Types of Moving Insurance

Moving your household goods from one place to another always involves a certain amount of risk. Therefore, one should always buy a proper insurance policy during relocation. An overview of various types of insurance coverage is given here for general understanding.

Full Replacement Value Coverage: This insurance coverage protects your household goods for their full replacement value. Full replacement value means the amount which is the exact cost needed to purchase a replacement for the damaged item regardless of the damaged item's age. Sometimes a deductible is applied here. However, any money can be deducted only if it is stated in the contract signed with the moving company. Most of the policies require the entire load be covered and not just specific items.

Standard Coverage: Moving companies are abide by law to provide a minimum amount of free coverage. It is the amount that the client receives per unit of measurement ( pound/kg as mentioned in the contract) of damaged goods. It is the bare minimum coverage and doesn't pay much if something is significantly damaged.

Storage Extension Coverage: If a client's belongings have to be kept in storage, there arises the need to purchase extra insurance. However, if someone already has a moving insurance, this can generally be extended. it is termed as storage extension coverage.

Transit Insurance: This type of insurance covers the household belongings while they are in transit- on the way from the old location to the new destination.

Total Loss: It is a restricted insurance for the household goods based on complete loss of belongings.

One should always check the details of the insurance policy. Purchasing insurance is not enough, one should always know how to file a moving insurance claim to be able to recover from damage, if one happens during the moving process.

Deepa Roy recommends reading more about moving insurance at http://www.moversandpackers.net/insurance.html, the comprehensive directory of movers and packers companies and also a great resource for those moving into their new homes. It contains useful tips and information about the whole relocation process making it easier for everyone to relocate and settle down comfortably at their new destination.

Insurance Versus Warranty - What's the Difference?

When you are planning ways to protect the value of your assets, insurance is always something to consider. When you insure something, you are buying protection against the possible sudden loss of the value represented in whatever you are insuring. Each insurance "policy" is a contract between the insurance company and the person buying the insurance policy. There are four major areas for insurance of this type: Health, Home, Auto (and other vehicles such as boats), and Life insurance (such as term and whole-life).

There are two other types of contracts that customers get confused with the contracts listed above. The first of these is the life insurance contract that is primarily sold as a financial investment tool. While these still contain some form of life insurance, they are generally designed as a means of producing a guaranteed income stream later in life, or for reducing the impact of taxes when transferring estate wealth when the insured person dies. These are not the simple life insurance policies you get with term insurance. And they are more complicated than whole-life policies. Because of the use of this type of insurance contract in investment planning, it is not like the concept of insurance for day-to-day protection of the value of an asset like your house.

The other type of contract is more like a product warranty, yet it is sometimes called insurance. Examples of this type contract include appliance warranties, or extended car warranties.

In most states, there is a Department of Insurance that registers and regulates companies and their agents who are permitted to sell insurance in the state. This department is usually a part of the state's office that regulates businesses involved with financial matters. The purpose of the department is to make certain the residents of the state are being treated fairly when buying insurance, or making a damage claim. Before a company is authorized to sell insurance in a state, it must show that it is following accepted procedures for the industry and has the capacity to pay on claims presented to it.

The state watches over these insurance companies, but so does the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC has a great deal to say about the general practices of insurance companies -What type of policies they can sell. -What insurance company can merge with what other companies. -What evidence an insurance company can include when evaluating risk. -And so on.

If an insurance company fails to live up to the expectations of the state, or the FTC, there can be legal action brought against the company by the government. To the customer, this is good news. Still, we hear horror stories about having claims denied for reasons that weren't exactly clear when the contract was signed. One of the best examples of this is the claim for damages during hurricane Katrina. Insurance companies claimed the damage was caused by flooding and the policy didn't include flood insurance. Home owners claimed the damage was caused by wind, which led to the problems with flooding.

The government does get involved in protecting the interests of the customer. They also attempt to provide a fair environment for the insurance companies. There are probably still claims cases for damage caused by Katrina that are in the civil-court process.

The types of insurance I am talking about here all pertain to the retail market. There are other types of insurance for businesses to cover the value of inventory, workers' health, construction liability, etc. This business is also regulated by the state and federal governments.

Earlier, I mentioned the product warranty. This is also a contract for protection. Customers used to feel satisfied with the manufacturer's warranty that was included with the purchase of the item. But now we are seeing third parties who want to sell us warranties that continue after the manufacturer warranty ends. For example, you buy a major brand TV from Sears and they attempt to sell you an extended warranty from a company that is neither the company who manufactured the TV nor Sears. The business of these service contracts is not regulated by the state and federal governments like the business of insurance is.

The product warranty is a form of insurance if you look at what it offers you. You pay a known fee for a contract to take care of servicing your product if it breaks during a certain time period. This protects you from potential high-cost repairs needed if the item fails to perform as intended. They don't usually compensate you for accidental damage. More correctly, these contracts are called service contracts.

Companies who sell these contracts can specify what is included and what is not included in their warranty. They can cover the item for certain types of use and not others. They can set time limits on when certain types of failure are covered. Basically, the coverage and the pricing are designed with a preference for earning the company money rather than providing you with protection. Furthermore, no one but the issuing company is assuring the customer that there is a strong company standing behind the validity of the service contract. These are the important differences between a service contract and a regulated insurance contract.

When you hear someone selling an automobile service contract claiming to protect you from an outrageously high cost for replacing the transmission in your car, ask yourself how likely that repair is to be needed and if the cost estimate is correct. Ask if the contract is insuring you against something that the car manufacturer is already covering (Do you drive a Hyundai or Kia? Check out the warranty they already offer you.) Service contracts cost the buyer more than the costs of likely repairs. That's how the companies make money. That might be okay if all you wanted was to avoid a catastrophic expense. But most of these contracts won't cover many of the repairs you are assuming they will cover. And they are not an insurance product.

Copyright 2009, James W. Stone, all rights reserved worldwide

James W. Stone has been involved in new product development and marketing for most of his working career. He has degrees in Mechanical Engineering (BSME, Kentucky, 1976) and Business (MBA, Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management, 1985).

Jim's current interests focus on the psychology and sociology that influence our daily decisions when we spend money.

Read more of Jim's articles at http://www.jameswstone.com

What is a Subrogation Demand Audit?

If you have found this article, then you are most likely employed in the claims adjustment industry, and you probably already know what a subrogation demand audit is. But, keeping with the title of the article, let me explain anyway.

First of all we have to loosely define subrogation, so. . .It is the "stepping into another's shoes" scenario that comes about when one party pays (due to legal or contractual obligation) for another parties wrongdoing. A simple example can be seen in auto insurance. For example, let's say you are in an auto accident and forced to file a claim under your own policy of insurance because the person that caused the accident (tortfeasor) either refuses to provide insurance information or simply doesn't have insurance. In this scenario, your own insurance company has to pay for the wrongdoing of the tortfeasor and by virtue of their payment to you, they step into your shoes and inherit the right to sue the person that caused the claim. Whew! Did you catch all of that?

Okay, so whether you did or didn't follow the whole scenario is beside the point. Let's just assume you get it, and so at this point if we use the above scenario, your insurance company could present a claim to "Mr. Accident Causer's" insurance company (if he had insurance). When you company makes this type of claim, it is called a subrogation demand.

So now the company receiving the demand could possibly use a subrogation demand audit. The audit is just that, an audit of the demand made by your company. Normally, an experienced adjuster or attorney will review the claim documentation and weed out any overpayment or cost difference based on administrative, statutory, or precedent based rules or laws. The auditor will search out the seemingly petty details that relate to claims cost and return a report to the claims office that received the subrogation demand. The result of a thorough subrogation demand audit is normally a substantial savings for the company receiving the demand. Differences in contractual obligations and civil obligations can make a big difference, and such things as parts availability or the failure of a company to utilize sound economic claims handling can also make a substantial difference in the amount demanded and the amount actually owed.

Now you know what a subrogation demand audit is. Sometimes it's just in the petty details!

Justin Petty - All Lines Adjuster, Public Adjuster, Author and CEO

Whether you are an individual or a company, Petty Details, LLC can help you with your claim. Whether you just need to bounce some questions off of someone in the industry, or if you need full fledged representation or detailed services, I pride myself on answering my phone and handling business with a personal touch. I do not miss the petty details because many times the smallest details are the least petty!

Visit my website at http://www.pettydetailsllc.com and send me an e-mail or give me a ring. You will be surprised at my down to earth approach to business. My personal cell phone number and business number are one in the same. . it is 214-414-7985.

Overview of PPI Misselling

Payment Protection Insurance is commonly referred to as PPI. It is an insurance policy which most of the lenders make use of when roping in new clients who want to get a credit card or a loan.

Many of the borrowers are not aware of the legalities involved in buying a policy. PPI policies are too costly and it would sum up to a huge amount and the lender for sure stands to make atleast 90% of the profit. The borrower gets to know about the policy only in the end and then curses himself for having gone in for such a policy which does not suit him at all.

Just to give an example; a businessman can never get to claim amount on the policy, though many a times he is totally unaware of the legal issues. Many lenders have blatantly misled borrowers and taken them for a roller coaster ride. They have taken undue advantage of the fact that these borrowers would never come back to claim the amount legally due to them. Some genuine lenders have been truthful and repaid the money back. The lenders have become cautious about their dealings since they are aware that their procedures are under severe scrutiny and it is high time they mend their ways.

The Ministry of Law and Justice has appointed many legal advisors to guide borrowers on the legalities of borrowing money. They advice consumers on staying alert about lenders who mislead consumers and sell PPI products. If you have been victim to such injustice, you need to immediately file a claim against the vendor and get in touch with a legal advisor. Many claim companies charge the borrower their fees, only after the borrower has been able to recover his due from the lender.

The payment is usually 30% of the recovered amount and these charges are justifiable as he has spent his time and efforts. These legal advisors also know the system very well and since they are well knowledgeable on the legalities, it is easier for them to get back your money.

It has been estimated that lenders are making close to 900% from PPI. They are earning about ? 1200 from something whose actual cost is only ?20. Many consumers have been lured and made to believe that if they do not purchase the PPI; their loan application would get rejected. In this manner, lenders and financial service companies have played a dirty trick with the consumers and instead of making their situation better, it has actually become worse.

Many consumers who have suffered the brunt are now trying out ways to get compensation from those lenders and other financial service associations who have duped them. The legal advisors appointed look into their case and help them get back their money. The most commonly adopted method is to claim the amount by taking the services of a solicitor. If you do not win the case, you do not pay his fees. The legal expert offers the borrower with a comprehensive approach and educates him of the legalities of the case, litigation techniques and also a clear-cut understanding of his rights as per Consumer Credit Act.

To know more about PPI misselling and PPI Claims visit http://www.simplicityclaims.co.uk/.

Student Health Insurance Explained

Student medical cover is a kind of personal medical cover designed specifically for people studying at university or college. Usually, students will be over 18 or older and no longer covered by any medical insurance plan held by their parents. Cover can be low cost and restricted in the scope of terms, or more expensive and comprehensive.

IS STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE REALLY NEEDED?

Student medical cover is often considered as non essential because some universities, colleges and higher education establishments have their own medical clinics and facilities. However, this is not always the case, and in any event, the medical care provided may be insufficient and not appropriate for all students requirements.

There is also the idea which argues that since students are mostly young, they are less likely to be affected by the onset of illness and are therefore far less in need of medical cover. Although there is some merit, statistically, in the correlation between age and ill-health, youth does not provide an iron clad assurance against falling ill. In any event, not all students are young.

A further dynamic making the case for student medical cover is student lifestyle. This is not to say that all students indulge to excess but a combination of late nights, work pressure, parties, excessive drinking, takeaway food, promiscuity and the use of recreational drugs can all take a deep toll on the physical and mental health of students. Bodies exposed to this way of life can become host to numerous diseases and viruses, ultimately leading to acute medical conditions.

Should the worst come to pass through extreme living or not, a student medical insurance plan can provide the essential procedure quickly rather than having to rely on the NHS in the UK, or any state provided medical treatment abroad.

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE FOR FORIEGN STUDENTS IN THE UK

Overseas students studying at a UK university or college for courses lasting 6 months or more are automatically entitled to subsidized health and medical treatment on the NHS. However, there are charges for things like prescription drugs, eye and dental care.

Students studying a course which lasts for less than 6 months are still entitled to subsidized NHS care, but only if they are from an EEC member state, or from a country that has a joint medical treatment agreement with the UK. In both these cases. Student medical cover is needed if one does not wish to rely on the overstretched resources of the NHS. In this instance, student health cover will provide many things not provided by the NHS, along with a host of other advantages for your peace of mind.

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR UK STUDENTS STUDYING OVERSEAS

Particularly in the case of UK students studying abroad, student healthcare cover can be crucial where state medical treatment is insufficient or prohibitively expensive.

Student medical cover is mostly necessary when students are planning to study abroad. If a student is provided for on his or her parents medical insurance plan, it may not be the case that the cover will extend to overseas study. It is therefore worth checking any plan to see if such cover is built-in. If not, see if arrangements can be made for the expansion of cover. Otherwise, a separate student medical plan can provide the needed level of cover whilst studying abroad.

Aside from covering against ill-health, international student medical cover very often covers other travel associated conditions.

There are usually advantages to purchasing separate student medical cover. Primarily, a student will have access to fast, superior level treatment and can choose his or her own specialists and doctors without being restricted to the doctors that a college may provide as a part its medical treatment policy, if indeed it has one.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT STUDENT HEALTH PLAN

As with any medical scheme, student medical insurance is really no different when it comes to selecting the appropriate policy at the appropriate price from the appropriate company for your exact medical needs. The internet has made the selection process relatively quick and straightforward. Cost comparison websites provide almost instant comparisons of the various student medical plans on offer in the market.

Lots of providers that specialize in providing student medical cover provide discounts on prescription drugs, eye care, dental and other health services.

It is well worth investiing the time to explore the numerous types of policies, options and rates to get the finest possible student cover at a price which is reasonable. If you do not have the time or the inclination to do your inquiries online, then employing the expertise of an insurance adviser to search the marketplace is always a different option.

Before filling out an application form for any scheme, you initially need to think about exactly what your particular needs are and what options you would prefer cover to include.

Getting yourself covered with an appropriate policy is very often never first on the catalog of a students priorities. You may be under the apprehension that you are already provided for on a parents plan, or be subscribing to the "it will not happen to me" ethos. You may indeed be covered, and it may never happen to you. Then again, you might not be covered and it may well happen to you.

The safest policy is financial protection against the risk of injury and illness. Student medical insurance will provide comfort and peace of mind to both you and your parents.

The author, Jeff Hunt, writes for a health and medical insurance site, providing student medical insurance information, instant online quotes and resources on student medical plans and related matters. For more details visit:
http://www.buyinghealthinsurance.co.uk/Student-Health-Insurance.html