Tips for Applying For Health Insurance

Health Insurance – 10 Things You Ought to Know!

Recently, I learned just how challenging enrolling for private medical insurance can be in the  United States. I was going off my group medical insurance and needed private coverage. Through the assistance of my insurance broker, I completed the initial online enrollment form in less than an hour.

That was the easy part.

A week after completing the enrollment form, I got a follow up call to my enrollment form from the “medical department” of the company. I was told this was to verify some of the information on my enrollment form.

And here’s where things got a bit rough.

The woman who interviewed me wanted VERY detailed information on medical claims. Since the specific details she wanted were in my doctor’s medical records, not at home, I was unprepared for her questions. I made every effort to be helpful, but the call rapidly became an unfriendly interrogation.

For almost an hour, I was asked the same questions over and over until I felt like shouting, “Asked and answered!” For most of them I simply replied “I don’t know.” Eventually I asked her to contact my physicians. When she finally did, they checked my records and answered her questions.

By the time I hung up the phone, I felt like I’d gone three rounds with Mike Tyson. I was both frustrated that I couldn’t answer her questions and emotionally exhausted. She treated me like a criminal instead of a person seeking private medical insurance. It wasn’t a good experience!

Because of what happened to me, I did some research. It helped me to compile the following list of ten things I believe anyone enrolling for private medical insurance in the United States should know. I hope this list will help you or someone you know to avoid what happened to me.

Before You Apply For Private Health Insuarnce

1. Do not let your policy expire prior to seeking new coverage. If your policy is being canceled you can go on the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). This act ensures continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated.
2. Talk to your physicians about your medical records before you apply. For private insurance, companies can review your medical history as far back as ten years. Therefore, ensure your records are up-to-date and talk with your physician(s) about any health issues that might be red flagged.
3. Buy copies of your medical records. You can also request a copy of your medical records under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). For more information on HIPAA, go to http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs8-med.htm
4. Obtain out what your state’s policies are in relation to private medical insurance. Each state may have certain exceptions or variations regarding coverage. Most will publish this information online. Visit your state’s governmental Web site and search for “private medical insurance ” or “health insurance policies.”
5. Check to see if you have a file with the Medical Information Bureau (MIB). The MIB is a central database of medical information shared by major insurance companies. If the MIB has a file on you, a free copy can be obtained once a year by calling (866) 692-6901, or by visiting the company’s Web site at http://www.mib.com/html/request_your_record.html.%20
6. Consult with a eligible independent insurance broker. An insurance broker will know the private insurance regulations for your state and can help you through the enrollment form process.
7. Buy a copy of your enrollment form and REVIEW it before you send it in. Some companies may refuse a claim or terminate the policy solely because the information in the enrollment form is inaccurate. If you leave something out accidentally, it could cause problems. Read over your enrollment form carefully to be sure you have answered all the questions accurately.
   If You Get A Follow Up Call…
8. Answer only the questions asked. Do not volunteer any additional information. Be courteous and remember the interviewer isn’t your friend or your medical doctor. In these kinds of interviews you have NO privacy protection. In addition, the interview will most likely be recorded so think before you respond.
9. If you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest about it. I recommend you get comfortable with saying, “I don’t have that information, please contact my doctor.” When asked specific questions about medical procedures don’t guess, refer them to your doctor(s) and your medical records.
10. Be honest and stick to the facts regarding your medical history. The business you are enrolling to may have access to your MIB file, and already know certain aspects of your medical history. If you are caught lying, you can be denied. Most enrollment forms ask if you have ever been denied medical insurance, and a denial can be an immediate “red flag” on any future enrollment forms.

I hope you find these suggestions helpful. Just remember that when enrolling for private medical insurance in the  United States, the best policy is to adopt the Boy Scout motto of “BE PREPARED!”

Tagged: Health Insurance , Health Insurance Tips , Insurance

5 Must-Do Tips for Small Business Success in 2013

Small business owners are a hard working bunch. It seems that the only time they come up for air is, well, never.

And that's a problem, says small business expert Bill McBean. The serial entrepreneur -- and author of the book Facts of Business Life: What Every Successful Business Owner Knows That You Don't  -- has experienced firsthand what it's like to be consumed by the day-to-day pressures of running a company.

He cautions that a relentless focus on closing that next deal, keeping the books in the black and constantly putting out fires can be harmful to a business in the long term. While drive and ambition are admirable qualities, there are times when it's OK to take a step back and take stock.

As it happens, the perfect opportunity to do that rolls around each year -- right about now, in fact. McBean offers some end-of-yeartips for sma

Press Pause

Yes, you have the time. And no, it doesn't mean that you have to hit the brakes on your business.

Even in sports -- as competitive a field as it gets -- teams get downtime, explained McBean. "The problem with businesses, we really don't have that break," he added. One of the most crucial aspects of improving profitability or getting a business back on course is taking the time to evaluate it.

Make the time and take it seriously, because there are some weighty issues that you may have to confront in the tips that follow.

5 Small Business Tips to Help You Succeed in 2013

ll business owners that want to better their chances of success in the New Year.

1. Hold a Post-Mortem

Embarking on an unvarnished analysis of how your business navigated the past year is a must. McBean recommends asking yourself questions like: Did you have a successful year? Where did your business shine? What's holding it back?

While the answers to those questions are important, the real point of this exercise is to arrive at the moment when entrepreneurs start "looking at themselves in the mirror."

It's the key to effective leadership, said McBean. With a brutally honest assessment of your business in hand, it falls squarely on the shoulders of the small business owner to guide the implementation of any improvements that need to happen.

That takes leadership, and one of the traits of a good leader is to know how things truly stand with your business.

2. Perform a Top-to-Bottom Walk-Through

Now is the time to put your systems and procedures under the microscope. Have they kept up with the times? Are they efficient? Are any employees gumming up the works?

Small business owners often fall into a pattern and stick with inefficient business processes or, even worse, bad employees. This walk-through and the improvements that it elicits are a chance for you to reassert your leadership and exert your authority. As McBean so bluntly put it, "if you're not controlling your procedures and processes, you don't really 'own' your business."

Don't let outmoded ways of doing business or poorly performing workers determine your business' outlook in the New Year.

3. Get a Look from the Outside

McBean recommends meeting with your accountant, attorney and other key advisors. Sure, they provide vital services like keeping your finances straight and your business on the right side of the law, but the real reason for a friendly chat over lunch is to get a broader and fresh perspective on market forces that impact your business.

Becoming an expert in your field can oftentimes narrow your view. Recounting his time selling cars, it was easy to view his business through a single lens, said McBean. "All I really knew was my car market," he lamented.

It dawned on him that there were other professionals whose insights on the economy could help him move more cars off his lot.

"I talked to my banker, I wanted him to tell me what else is going on in my market," he said. Sure enough, his banker's knowledge of how money was moving in the local economy helped McBean better tailor his practices for his market.

Likewise, a sit-down with your accountant can help you map out money-saving tax strategies. A chat with your attorney can give you a glimpse at the legal landscape before you embark on a new venture or pursue new ventures.

4. Thank Your Best Customers

It turns out that Thanksgiving's not quite over. Take this opportunity to determine who your best customers are and reach out to them. Sounds simple, but how will you identify your best customers?

Each business "has a different definition of what best means," said McBean. This exercise "forces you to define what best is," he added. You may find that it's not the customers who spent the most but the ones that sent more business your way.

McBean added "at end of the day, you have to keep your customers." Letting them know that you appreciate their business is one way to accomplish just that.

5. Shake the Blues

With all the talk of economic uncertainty and a bleak small business outlooks, entrepreneurs risk turning these negative sentiments into a self-fulfilling prophesy.

"Don't listen to the doom and gloom," advised McBean. Sure, the business climate may be rocky, but small business owners should always be on the lookout for opportunities. "And definitely protect your business," he added.

7 Tips & Tricks For Trading Forex

7 forex bloggers have gotten together to put some of their best tips in one article, on trading forex. We will be working together on a series of articles that we believe will provide helpful and interesting information for any reader that is interested in trading forex. Please leave comments below so we can adjust the series based on some of the feedback we receive here.

Ideas on trading forex

The first article is a compilation of forex tips that have been added from the experience of these writers. Each author has contributed with an important tip that they believe will help you in your trading. So without further ado, here goes;

Yohay – Forex Crunch

Don’t risk too much of your account all at once. The acute mistake that beginners make is that they use a very high leverage and burn out their account before they learn to be profitable. In some cases, forex brokers try to teach their clients about money management, but not everybody listens.

So, the new trader listens and makes careful moves, but after a few successful trades, he becomes greedy for more profit, and enlarges his positions, totally neglecting the caution required. So, money management isn’t only for your first steps, it’s critical with all positions.

Simit Patel – Informed Trades
For those just starting out with trading forex

, I would recommend the following:
• Understanding your own personal psychology is extremely important. Are you comfortable with active trading? Or are you more comfortable with investing/trading infrequently?
• Know yourself first, and then you can begin to craft an approach that caters to you.
• Risk management is more important than finding the right strategy.
• I would recommend understanding both fundamental and technical analysis. If you are a short-term trader, technical analysis is more important, whereas fundamental analysis is useful for shaping a long-term view. Most of the information available about fundamental analysis is useless, in my opinion. In terms of fundamentals, I recommend understanding the following: how money is created; the historical role of gold in an international monetary system; the role of the world reserve currency; the role of the IMF, World Bank, G20, and their stated goals.

Lastly, remember that most traders lose. This means you should proceed with caution, and that you should be comfortable with being a contrarian. If the crowd is losing, you want to be the on the other side of the trade.

Casey Stubbs – Winners Edge Trading

There are so many areas that are important to be successful in trading so it is hard to say that one is more important than another. In order to be successful you must combine a many things together. That is why my tip is to have a solid trading plan.

My tip here is to be balanced in your trading and don’t leave anything out so you have no weak spots. Have a solid plan for risk management, a solid strategy and trade management all planned out within each traders plan. Make sure you review it often and find out what areas you are executing well and what areas you need help in.

Mike – FxMadness

Most beginners could be overwhelmed with choices offered by the Forex brokers these days. On the most popular trading platforms, 40 or more currency pairs are the norm, with some providing as many as 100. Which ones to focus on and trade?

Aspiring traders should probably focus on the so-called “majors”, meaning US Dollar pairings with the other major currencies. These are EUR-USD, USD-CHF, USD-JPY, GBP-USD and AUD-USD. They offer the best liquidity, the tightest possible spreads and are most active. All analysts follow and comment on them, so there is more than enough easily available information about these pairs.

When starting trading, it might be even better to follow just one of the majors. This way one can learn faster the specific characteristics of the chosen pair. The best prospects are the EUR-USD, USD-CHF and GBP-USD. On top of the attributes mentioned above, they are also regarded as the best “charting” currency pairs. This means that their charts are very well suited for all aspects of technical analysis, possibly offering the easiest learning curve.

Trading as a machine.

Often in times of pressure, we succumb to our greed or even fear and make a wrong decision.

Closing a position prematurely in fear of an unexpected sentiment change without concrete justification or letting a winning position turn into a losing one due to the desire to just let it run a little while longer, these are examples of what happens when we let our emotions interfere with out trading strategies. This is where forex robots beat us when it comes to trading. Having said so, the forex robots lack something that we humans clearly have. That is the ability to adapt to differing market situations.

Hence it is critical that we devise a trading plan, set the appropriate risk and reward conditions and seek to execute it without the inference of excessive emotions. Together with our humans’ ability to adapt appropriately, this combination is a possible winner.

Liviu – InnerFX

Do your best to avoid being biased by having a favorite currency like you are having a favorite sports team.

The market moves in cycles, up and down, depending on many events and reasons. A currency pair is not a game between your favorite team and a rival -
so be prepared to buy or sell any of them when you see a trend change.

TradeProfits

Money management seems to the hot topic these days and I definitely think that this is one of the key aspects to successful trading. A solid money management approach is key to long term profitability, and yet something which very often is undervalued as this obviously is less interesting that pretty much anything else related to trading. So a lot of traders underestimate the importance, but at the other extreme, we have traders who, in my opinion give MM too much importance. Authors have written entire books on this subject and when traders lose money, “guru´s” blame it on lack of MM. Basically; Money management is important but fairly simple! Find something which suits your strategy and stick to it. Don’t make this more magical than it actually is. Keep leverage low, and don’t overtrade – Sure there is more to it than that, but this will give you a head start, and then when you got a great strategy in place, go into the details about MM.

Foreign Exchange report based on economic and fundamental analysis

We offer a free weekly Foreign Exchange report based on economic and fundamental analysis of the major and exotic currency markets and a commentary on political and economic developments.

The report is designed for the experienced trader and the Private Investor and provides clear entry and exit levels and profit targets.

Please complete your details opposite to receive our free weekly FX report.

Important Information

This report has been issued by CSS Partners LLP ("CSS Partners"). CSS Partners is an appointed representative of Charles Street Securities Europe LLP ("CSS") which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK.

This report was prepared by Andrew Dovey who is employed as an analyst at CSS Partners and as such conforms with the FSA definition of independent investment research. As such it is subject to FSA rules covering personal account transactions by research analysts ahead of distribution of research documents, conflicts of interest management and non-participation in other ancillary investment banking activities. These research recommendations have not been influenced by any form of inducement and the document has not been reviewed prior to publication except insofar as to comply with FSA rules governing the preparation of independent research.

The report is provided solely for your information and may not be reproduced or redistributed, in whole or in part to any other person without specific consent of CSS Partners. The report does not constitute a personal recommendation for any recipient as the risk profile and investment objectives of recipients are not known to us.

In the preparation of this report, CSS Partners has had access to publicly available information and other sources believed to be reliable. Whilst reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the facts stated herein are accurate and that the recommendations, forecasts, opinions and expectations contained herein are fair and reasonable, neither the author, nor CSS Partners, nor CSS has verified the public information upon which this is based. None of the author, CSS Partners, CSS or any of their respective directors, officers or employees (the "Parties") makes any representation or warranty, express or implied as to soundness of the recommendation, the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Investors must make their own investment decision and not rely on this report. The Parties shall not be liable for any loss, costs, liability, expenses (together "losses") suffered by you following your utilising any of the services we provide other than losses arising directly as a result of fraud or wilful default on our part or as a result of any liability that may not be excluded under the UK regulatory system. In no event shall we be liable for special, indirect or consequential damages of any kind, even though we may have been informed about the possibility of such loss. You shall indemnify us and our officers and employees on demand and keep all such persons indemnified against all losses which may be incurred directly or indirectly by reason of or in consequence of providing this service save to the extent that such losses arise directly as a result of our, fraud or wilful default.

Any opinions, forecasts or estimates herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this report. There can be no assurance that future results or events will be consistent with any such opinions, forecasts or estimates. This information is subject to change without notice. It may be incomplete or condensed and it may not contain all material information concerning the Company. This document does not constitute or form part of and should not be construed as any offer for sale or purchase of (or solicitation of or invitation to make any offer to buy or sell) any securities nor shall it or any part of it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever.

Risk Factors

There is no certainty that the recommendations will be successful or that they will make money for investors.

There is no certainty that execution prices can be achieved, either in opening or in closing a position.

There is considerable risk operating in equity, futures, options, foreign exchange, CFD and spread betting markets and investors need to be able to sustain a total loss of capital along with unlimited liability. Potential investors are recommended to consult a financial adviser before entering into such positions.

Regulatory disclosures

In accordance with the Conduct of Business Rules COBS12.4.7R (i) in the preparation of the report the analyst used price and volume charts provided by independent data suppliers and applied technical analysis tools of investment and trading evaluation in arriving at his recommendations, ii) all recommendations made by the analyst are followed up in subsequent reports until the closure of a position, iii) there is no certainty that any recommendation will be successful or that technical analysis should be used exclusively to arrive at investment decisions.

In accordance with section 12.4 of the FSA's New Conduct of Business Rules, CSS Partners makes the following disclosures: CSS, CSS Partners and their respective officers, directors, shareholders and /or partners may have an investments in the currencies reviewed in this report. They will not have access to this report until it is published, except those responsible for compliance issues concerning this report.

The research analyst responsible for the content of this research report certifies that: the views expressed and attributed to the research analyst or analysis in the research report accurately reflect his personal assessment about the subject securities and issuers and/or other subject matter as a appropriate and no part of his compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views contained in this research report. On a general basis, the efficacy of recommendations is a factor in the performance appraisals of analysts.

The analyst is not involved in any other activity of CSS Partners or CSS that is inconsistent with his objectivity in preparing the reports. His research information is confidential, the only persons privy to this data bar the analyst are senior management. The research recommendations will be updated, but neither CSS nor CSS Partners accept any responsibility for any delay or interruption of service in the submission of reports or updates to reports.

Your attention is also directed to the terms of our client agreement with you that covers the provision of this service. To the extent that there is any conflict between the above and the client agreement, the provisions of the above disclaimer will take priority.

Three Tips for Car Dealerships to Survive the Recession

Recessions hit businesses hard, period--even necessities become harder and harder to sell in times of economic uncertainties. Naturally, industries built on big ticket items, such as cars and houses, 

Recessions hit businesses hard, period--even necessities become harder and harder to sell in times of economic uncertainties. Naturally, industries built on big ticket items, such as cars and houses, become particularly affected by the unpleasant climate.

Looking at the car business today, there are no sure-fire answers or guaranteed quick fixes to overcome the obstacles car dealerships are facing. But, there are tried and true principles of strategy and management that, if applied and applied well, will surely benefit the business.

Tip #1 for Car Dealerships to Survive the Recession: Price it Right

While trying to survive the recession, it's tempting to drastically cut prices to get customers onto the lot and into the dealership. Lowering prices can obviously be an effective tool, but cutting prices can't fix everything. And sometimes, it makes matters worse. It's hard to know how to mentally adjust your business' supply and demand curves in a recession, and if you predict wrong, you could wind up selling for too low and losing out on profits. The dealerships that have the lowest prices in town usually have to leave town.

Really think about what prices are right for your current pieces of merchandise-not too high, not too low, but just right. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can price at someone else's lowest today because business will automatically pick up tomorrow. If you have drastically different operating costs, supply chain costs, and other logistics fees, you can't afford to-as a struggling business-arbitrarily adopt someone else's pricing structure and reasonably expect everything will work itself out. To keep away from the casualties of the recession, give the topic of pricing in your business a great deal of thought.Tip #2 for Car Dealerships to Survive the Recession: Differentiate Yourself in the Market

Pricing is one way of differentiating yourself in the car market, but if you don't have the best cost structure among your competitors, you can't win on pricing. And because really lowering prices changes consumers' expectations in the long-run, it's a dangerous tool and should be used with caution.

In order to effectively differentiate yourself in the market, you have to understand what it is that would better serve consumers. Do the other dealerships close too early, not giving customers the experience they're looking for? If the answer's yes, it sounds like you might have a great opportunity to stand out and reach an untapped portion of the market. If staying open later isn't an option, or isn't a real benefit to consumers in your area, look for another way to differentiate yourself from your competitors. What aren't they doing that matters to buyers? Find the answer to that question, resolve the problem, and reap the benefits.

Tip #3 for Car Dealerships to Survive the Recession: Keep Customer Service at its Best

When thinking about the challenges that face car dealerships, I asked my mom her thoughts on the topic--she having, with my dad, a combined total of almost thirty years of experience working in the car business. Her one piece of advice is the reminder that customers who are just looking today might be in the position to buy tomorrow--treat them right.

It's easy to dismiss non-customers, the ones who can't buy and seem to just be wasting your time and loitering on the lot. Always, but especially in times of a recession, the customer is king. And that includes people who visit the dealership that can't necessarily buy a car today. They need to be treated and served just as well as anyone. After all, they might be what are keeping you in business tomorrow.

Travel insurance buying tips

Travel insurance buying tips

• shop around to find a good price and the right product rather than opting to travel without cover
• cheaper policies will usually have less cover – for some the price seems most important, but is it worth the initial saving?
• consider annual multi-trip insurance if you make several trips a year – you’ll save time and money
• if travelling within the European Economic Area you will need an EHIC as well as travel insurance. More information and to apply for your free EHIC,

Holiday cancellation and abandonment

A good insurance policy will cover you for cancelling or cutting a trip short under certain circumstances. Check carefully to see exactly what you’re covered for:

• accident
• illness
• family bereavement
• pregnancy (unknown when you buy the policy)
• jury service or witness summons
• home emergency: fire, storm or flood, burglary
• redundancy
• strikes
• bad weather – affects the departure of flights and ships

Ensure your policy:

• will refund the full cost of your holiday
• pays out if you need to cancel or cut short a trip because you fall ill for example
• covers pre-paid expenses such as excursions
• covers extra costs incurred to get home

Types of foreign travel insurance

Personal liability insurance

If you accidentally cause an injury to someone or damage their property they may sue you. Good travel insurance will cover you for personal liability.

Personal accident cover – disability and death

Travel insurance can cover a personal accident payment made for permanent disability or death.

Cover for stolen, lost or damaged possessions

Limits for single items such as cameras and jewellery can vary from as little as £250 up to £1000 or more. Check these limits are adequate and realistic. You should report a loss to the Police within 24 hours. Proof of notification will be required when you make your claim.

All insurance policies say that you must take care of your belongings at all times. If you don’t, the policy may not pay out.

Take as much care of your property as if it were uninsured.

Lost baggage on flights

Do not rely on compensation from an airline if it loses your luggage. By law, airlines only have to pay a specified minimum value per kilo of lost luggage. This is unlikely to cover the full value of your things.

Legal expenses cover

Taking out legal expenses cover will help you to pursue compensation or damages following personal injury while you’re abroad – very important in countries without a legal aid system.

Financial protection for holidays

If your travel provider goes bankrupt when you’re abroad on holiday you need to know you won’t get stranded without a refund. Fortunately there are several associations that exist to help protect and support you – we’ve explained how below.

Book your foreign holiday through a reputable travel company

Good travel agents and tour operators will give you security through: * an Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) * membership with an approved body such as ABTA; the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT); the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO); Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH); or the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) * a suitable insurance policy * a protection scheme or trust fund for any payments you make in advance

Many of the travel arrangements provided by these kinds of companies are protected in case of the financial failure of the travel company. You should, however, always ask your travel company if financial protection applies to your travel arrangements. If it doesn’t, the company may be able to offer suitable insurance to cover you.

If you have booked a ‘package’ holiday (usually a combination of transport and accommodation) in the UK then you will be protected by the Package Travel Regulations, which give consumers special protection where things go wrong or circumstances change in the period after the booking has been made.

Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing

ATOL is a consumer protection scheme for air holidays and flight, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

How ATOL protects you

The scheme protects you from losing money or being stranded abroad when a travel firm goes out of business.

All travel firms that sell air holidays and flights in the UK must hold an ATOL, which is only issued after a firm has met the CAA’s criteria. Licensed travel firms must also contribute to a financial protection fund managed by the Air Travel Trust (ATT). In the event of an ATOL travel firm’s failure, the CAA uses the fund to ensure people abroad are able to finish their holidays and fly home, while those unable to travel are able to receive a refund. ATOL is the only scheme for flights and air holidays sold by travel firms in the UK.

How you can get ATOL protection

When you make a holiday booking, make sure the travel firm has a licence; firms are required to display their ATOL licence number on websites and in brochures, and when you book, the ATOL holder or their agent must give you an ATOL Certificate confirming you are ATOL protected immediately when you pay any money (even a deposit) for an air holiday or flight. This should include the name of the licensed firm you’ve booked with, their ATOL number and details of what’s protected. You should take these documents with you when you travel.

You will not be protected by ATOL if you:

• just buy a scheduled flight and receive an airline ticket or other airline confirmation within 24 hours of payment
• you book direct and pay an airline direct

What your travel insurance policy should cover

• medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad

• 24-hour emergency service and assistance

• personal liability cover in case you’re sued for causing injury or damaging property

• lost and stolen possessions cover

• cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover

• extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as jet skiing

The policy should cover the whole time that you’re away. Multi-trip policies may specify a maximum number of days’ travel.
Your policy may also have

• personal accident cover

• legal expenses cover

• financial protection if your airline goes bankrupt before or during your trip

Many insurers will extend cover if you ask them. If not, shop around for a specialist policy.

• most policies will not cover drink or drug-related incidents

• 60% of travel insurance policies now cover terrorism. Where possible, ensure that your policy does not exclude terrorism

• you must take reasonable care of your possessions or your policy will not cover you

• shop around to find a good price and the right product rather than opting to travel without cover

• cheaper policies will usually have less cover – for some the price seems most important, but is it worth the initial saving?

• consider annual multi-trip insurance if you make several trips a year – you’ll save time and money

• if travelling within the European Economic Area you will need an EHIC as well as travel insurance. More information and to apply for your free EHIC,

A good insurance policy will cover you for cancelling or cutting a trip short under certain circumstances. Check carefully to see exactly what you’re covered for:

• accident

• illness

• family bereavement

• pregnancy (unknown when you buy the policy)

• jury service or witness summons

• home emergency: fire, storm or flood, burglary

• redundancy

• strikes

• bad weather – affects the departure of flights and ships

Ensure your policy:

• will refund the full cost of your holiday

• pays out if you need to cancel or cut short a trip because you fall ill for example

• covers pre-paid expenses such as excursions

• covers extra costs incurred to get home

Personal liability insurance
If you accidentally cause an injury to someone or damage their property they may sue you. Good travel insurance will cover you for personal liability.
Personal accident cover – disability and death
Travel insurance can cover a personal accident payment made for permanent disability or death.
Cover for stolen, lost or damaged possessions
Limits for single items such as cameras and jewellery can vary from as little as £250 up to £1000 or more. Check these limits are adequate and realistic. You should report a loss to the Police within 24 hours. Proof of notification will be required when you make your claim.
All insurance policies say that you must take care of your belongings at all times. If you don’t, the policy may not pay out.
Take as much care of your property as if it were uninsured.
Lost baggage on flights
Do not rely on compensation from an airline if it loses your luggage. By law, airlines only have to pay a specified minimum value per kilo of lost luggage. This is unlikely to cover the full value of your things.
Legal expenses cover
Taking out legal expenses cover will help you to pursue compensation or damages following personal injury while you’re abroad – very important in countries without a legal aid system.
If your travel provider goes bankrupt when you’re abroad on holiday you need to know you won’t get stranded without a refund. Fortunately there are several associations that exist to help protect and support you – we’ve explained how below.
Book your foreign holiday through a reputable travel company
Good travel agents and tour operators will give you security through: * an Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) * membership with an approved body such as ABTA; the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT); the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO); Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH); or the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) * a suitable insurance policy * a protection scheme or trust fund for any payments you make in advance
Many of the travel arrangements provided by these kinds of companies are protected in case of the financial failure of the travel company. You should, however, always ask your travel company if financial protection applies to your travel arrangements. If it doesn’t, the company may be able to offer suitable insurance to cover you.
If you have booked a ‘package’ holiday (usually a combination of transport and accommodation) in the UK then you will be protected by the Package Travel Regulations, which give consumers special protection where things go wrong or circumstances change in the period after the booking has been made.
ATOL is a consumer protection scheme for air holidays and flight, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
How ATOL protects you
The scheme protects you from losing money or being stranded abroad when a travel firm goes out of business.
All travel firms that sell air holidays and flights in the UK must hold an ATOL, which is only issued after a firm has met the CAA’s criteria. Licensed travel firms must also contribute to a financial protection fund managed by the Air Travel Trust (ATT). In the event of an ATOL travel firm’s failure, the CAA uses the fund to ensure people abroad are able to finish their holidays and fly home, while those unable to travel are able to receive a refund. ATOL is the only scheme for flights and air holidays sold by travel firms in the UK.
How you can get ATOL protection
When you make a holiday booking, make sure the travel firm has a licence; firms are required to display their ATOL licence number on websites and in brochures, and when you book, the ATOL holder or their agent must give you an ATOL Certificate confirming you are ATOL protected immediately when you pay any money (even a deposit) for an air holiday or flight. This should include the name of the licensed firm you’ve booked with, their ATOL number and details of what’s protected. You should take these documents with you when you travel.
You will not be protected by ATOL if you:

• just buy a scheduled flight and receive an airline ticket or other airline confirmation within 24 hours of payment

• you book direct and pay an airline direct

Common travel insurance policy exclusions
Travel insurance buying tips
Holiday cancellation and abandonment
Types of foreign travel insurance
Financial protection for holidays
Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing

50 ways to save money....

British credit card holders now owe an average of £2,200 on their plastic and with retailers reporting a slump in sales not seen for two decades, it is clear that shoppers are reining in their spending. In short, it's payback time.

To clear a debt of £2,200 on a card that attracts an interest rate of around 15% will take more than two years assuming a monthly repayment of £100.

There are, however, plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear the debt many times over in less than a year.

The frugal life: We've come up with 50 nifty tips to help you save money 

Here are This is Money's top 50 money-saving tips.

1. Change your attitude to your mortgage
The most expensive item you are ever likely to buy is your home. If you're not in the privileged position to pay cash, make sure the loan you use to finance it is the best available. For example, if you are paying your lender's full standard variable rate (SVR) you are probably paying hundreds of pounds a year more than you need to.

There are thousands of deals to choose from and while it is vital to check the small print for hidden catches, this is a relatively easy way to save a lot of money. Remember: loyalty to your bank benefits your bank, not you. Even better, if you can afford to make overpayments on your mortgage, you'll clear your debt several years early and make massive savings. For example, if you borrow £100,000 at 6% over 25 years, you'll pay it back at £643 a month. The total charge for credit will be £93,000. But if you can overpay by £100 a month you'll clear the loan in less than 19 years, giving you 6 years of mortgage-free living and saving a staggering £25,000 in interest.
Saving: £1,000s

2. Clear your credit card debt

One of the golden rules of financial planning is to clear your most expensive debts first, in other words your credit cards. OK, credit cards offer a convenient way to pay for goods and services but if you can't clear the balance every month, consider a low-cost loan as an alternative. Do the sums: a credit card debt (APR 15%) of £2,200 over three years will cost £545 in interest. A loan at 6% will cost £209. A saving of £336.
Saving: £100s

3. Cut the cost of your fuel bills 

As the global demand for power threatens to outstrip supply, prices are rising. But that doesn't mean you need to be ripped off. The domestic market for fuel is a competitive one and you can change supplier with a few clicks of the mouse. Your new supplier will take care of the formalities - you just pay less every month.
Saving: £100

4. Consider installing a water meter

We take our tap water for granted. And why not? The companies behind the supply exist to make a profit, we pay them to supply water and have every right to expect it to flow from our taps. But if it doesn't rain, supply runs dry and the price goes up. So you may want to consider the possibility of installing a meter. If you have a big home with few occupants you may be surprised to learn you could halve your annual bill.
Saving: £100s5. Cut your home phone bills 

BT may seem to behave like a monopoly but it most definitely is not one. If you must use your phone there are scores of cheaper alternatives from cable companies that package your telephone, television and even broadband internet access to low-cost dial-up services that give you access to cheaper calls using your existing BT line.
Saving: £100

6. Consider a pay-as-you go mobile

Ask yourself this: is your mobile phone absolutely necessary? If the answer is yes, then ask yourself whether you really need all those minutes and texts that come as part of your package. If you hand over £50 a month to your mobile phone company, that's £600 a year - or around £1,000 of your gross salary. But you can buy a pay-as-you-go phone for as little as £30 and only pay for the odd call as and when you need to.
Saving: £100s7. Make a shopping list

Food shopping forms a significant part of our monthly outgoings and the supermarket is where the bulk of the money is spent. Tesco takes £1 in every £8 spent by UK shoppers. But be warned, stores spend a small fortune studying ways of making us part with more of our money than we would otherwise intend to. Have you ever wondered why your favourite song is playing in the background as you navigate the aisles? Have you even noticed the background music? Possibly not, but you will have noticed at the checkout that the bill is often more than expected. To circumvent this, simply make a shopping list. Dig out the cookery books, plan a few meals and only buy what you need.
Saving: £10 a week = £520 a year8. When was the last time you went to the market? 

One way to beat the supermarkets - that is, to eat healthily for less - is to use your local market stall. Lower overheads should mean lower prices. At the time of writing, cherries were on sale in Asda for £2.99 for 400g, the equivalent at the local market was going for just over £1.
Saving: £100+

9. Consider own-brand goods
You can buy a tin of Asda own-brand baked beans for 14p and a loaf bread at Asda, Tesco or Sainsbury's for 19p. Enough said.
Saving: £100 10. Don't buy designer labels

Celebrities are given expensive clothes to wear. You're not. At the end of the day, and let's face it you may only wear the outfit once, can you justify paying hundreds of pounds over the odds because a top designer has had his or her name sewn on the label? And can you honestly say you can tell the difference at a distance between a £600 designer bag and a £9.99 one from the market? Think about it.
Saving: £100s
Link: Prada - note the total lack of prices11. Sell your clutter on eBay

Take this quick test: You're at home. Open a cupboard. Look inside. If it's full of clothes you haven't worn, or 'good ideas a the time' you haven't used, for, let's say, three years - you don't need them. So why not sell them to someone else who does? Ebay, the online auction house, has opened individual sellers to a world of buyers. And you can flog anything for the cost of a small commission. Tip: you may want to buy a few items first to build up your rating as a respectable eBayer before you start selling.
Income: Will depend on what's in your cupboard12. Use your talent to earn extra cash

Let's face it, if you're not a pop star by the time you reach your 20s you're never going to be. But you may be able to use your talent as a guitarist to teach other wannabes the rudiments of the 12-bar blues.
Income: It's not unreasonable to charge £20 an hour

13. Do DIY
We're a nation of obsessive DIYers and for around £100 you can take a course at your local adult education college to improve the skills needed to tackle most household repairs. If the college runs plumbing courses you could soon be on track to wiping out costly call-out charges and extra insurance policies once and for all.
Saving: £100+

14. Shop around for the cheapest household insurance
Unless you drive - car insurance is mandatory - you don't need insurance. But it's strongly advisable. Can you afford to foot the bill if your house burns down? Probably not. Similarly, can you afford to pay over the odds for the same policy available elsewhere because you can't be bothered to shop around? Possibly, but it's not advisable. The internet has made finding cheaper insurance easy and you can compare hundreds of policies in minutes.
Saving: £100s15. Don't automatically renew annual travel insurance

If your annual holiday insurance policy is about to expire and you don't have a holiday booked, DON'T renew the policy. You're handing your money over to cover an eventuality that won't happen. You wouldn't have car insurance if you didn't own a car. Simply restart the cover again the next time you book a trip.
Saving: £50

16. Choose cheaper breakdown insurance

The breakdown sector is dominated by big names such as the AA and RAC. But being towed home if your car breaks down is just another form of insurance like any other and there are scores of cheaper alternatives.
Saving: Up to £100 a year 17. Are you paying too much for your life insurance? 

We're living longer. As a result the cost of insuring the unthinkable is getting cheaper all the time. If you were sold a policy when you took out or mortgage you may have been under too much stress to shop around. You could be missing a trick.
Saving: £100 18. Book early 

Low-cost airlines have created a market in holidays for people prepared to fly to any destination provided it's cheap. You can benefit from this too. Just remember, only a few seats on each flight are sold at bargain-basement prices and once they're sold, the prices rise. So book early.
Saving: £100

19. Book your own 'package' holiday online
The popularity of High Street travel agents is waning as more and more people warm to the benefits of researching and putting together their own holidays on the internet. If your holiday consists of flights, accommodation, transfers and possibly car hire, then take this test. Order a brochure from a leading holiday company and work out the price of your holiday including all the complicated supplements. Now go online and, starting with the flights, try to put the same package together.
Saving: £100+20. Learn to say 'no'

It's easy to capitulate to the demands of a screaming child in a packed Woolworths on a Saturday afternoon. But don't do it. Similarly, how often does a 'swift half' after work turn into a £40 drinking session? Saying 'no' a few times a year will do wonders for your bank account.
Saving: £100

23. Don't pay full price for theatre or theme park tickets 
If you are prepared to tolerate the unwieldy website and hit-and-miss customer service, lastminute.com regularly boasts some amazing deals for London's theatres and the nation's theme parks. At the time of writing you can see top West End show The Producers plus a two-course meal for less than £20 a head, a saving of £60 per person, and tickets for Chessington World of Adventures cost from £12, a saving of nearly £50 for a day out for a family of four.
Saving: £100s
Link: www.lastminute.com

24. Beat the ticket touts
Ticket touts earn their living by getting hold of tickets that are 'otherwise unavailable'. Well, here's the news: they are available to everyone when they first go on sale. You just need to know when they go on sale. Simply sign up to for the free ticket alert newsletters from the main agents to ensure that you're first in the queue.
Saving: £100s25. Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses

Trying to keep up appearances is little more than a costly illness. Remember, you cannot judge someone by what they have because you don't know how they got it. Chances are they're in more debt than you are.
Saving: £1,000s26. Trade down your car

So, you bought an American sports utility vehicle (SUV) that nets 15 miles to the gallon on a whim. Obviously we're all very impressed - especially by the personalised number plate. But can you honestly justify the ongoing expense? If not, get rid of it. Then visit a car supermarket, where you can choose from thousands of cars at knock-down prices. If you're a true money saver, consider an ex-rental model which you can pick up for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
Saving: £1,000s27. Ask yourself: do I really need this? 

Imagine the scenario. It's lunchtime and you've got an hour to kill. You find yourself in a department store and there's a sale on. You pick up a beautifully packaged selection of barbecue tools and associated garden paraphernalia. And it's half price. Now, stop! Ask yourself: Do I really need this? Exactly. Now, put it down and walk away.
Saving: £10028. Walk/cycle to the station/work

It maybe a bit of hippie notion to many people but it's free.
Saving: £10029. Get off the station before your usual stop and walk

We may be creatures of habit but isn't it worth tinkering with the routine if it's costing more than £50 a month in unnecessary fares?
Saving: £10030. Cut down your drinking

A few beers after work a few nights a week is a financially debilitating state of affairs. Set limits and stick to them.
Saving: £100s31. Pack up smoking

Never mind the health implications, the guilt and the smell, your 20-a-day habit is costing you nearly £2,000 a year. Pack it in.
Saving: Nearly £2,00032. Cancel your gym membership

If you pay your £40 a month by direct debit and you use the gym three times a week, great. If not, cancel your membership immediately. You'll soon save enough to buy your own bike and, if you're so inclined, a rowing machine. Consider running home from work three times a week. It's free.
Saving: £100s33. Use your library

The local library is a mecca for the money saver. You'll never need to buy another cookbook, guidebook or lifestyle manual again and if you can bear to wait a few weeks in the queue for the latest blockbuster, you never need to buy books again. CDs and videos are great value too.
Saving: £10034. The three-for-two trick

Now, there's a lot to be said for buy-one-get-one-free deals, especially if they pass the 'Do I really need this?' test. Then there's three-for-twos; a particularly cynical way of stores to entice shoppers to buy an extra item they would not otherwise buy. The 'offer' is always priced into the deal so do your sums and shop around.
Saving: It's a principle at stake here35. Buy clothes and presents in the sales

So you need a new suit and the one you like comes in at a cool £300. Wait! The chances are that you can pick it up in the sale - and there's always a sale just around the corner - for £150. The same applies for birthday and Christmas presents. Buy in bulk in the sales and you not only save money, but you enjoy stress-free pre-Christmases and no last-minute birthday worries.
Saving: £100s

37. The Christmas lottery
Instead of trying to buy a present for every relative in your family, consider getting together beforehand and picking one name from the hat. You then buy one thoughtful gift for that one person rather than attempting to please everyone at considerable cost. Everyone gets a present, everyone saves money.
Saving: £100

38. The National Lottery - it won't be you!
The odds of winning the Lotto jackpot are stacked 14m to 1 against each ticket. Some highly organised syndicates buy 14,000 tickets a week, which reduces the odds to 1,000 to 1 - but that's no guarantee of a win. For the rest of us, the difference to the odds between buying, say, 10 tickets and one is so insignificant that you should limit yourself to the one and save the extra money in a Cash mini Isa.
Saving: £10039. Use your Isa allowances

If you're not already aware, you can save up to £3,000 a year in a tax-free savings account called an Isa (for the more financially savvy there's also a stocks and shares Isa). It means you don't pay any tax on the interest accrued so, if you have spare cash in your current account, this is the difference between earning next to no interest and up to £150 a year.
Saving: £100+]

40. Claim your benefits and tax credits

There was once a certain stigma in Britain attached to claiming benefits. Well, not any more. The Government has put benefits at the heart of the family budget and it's your money so make sure you're claiming it. That includes Child Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and other employee-related tax benefits.
Saving: £100s41. How saving £50 a month now can save you £120 next year

Do you pay your insurance premiums by monthly instalments? If you do, then consider this: you are probably being charged a premium of between 15% and 20% for the privilege. In other words, if your home and car insurance bill for the year is £600, you're paying up to £120 a year in interest by paying monthly. If you are in a position this year to save up for next year's premiums in advance, you can save money by paying the whole lot in one go.
Saving: £100+42. Do you need all those TV channels?

Britain is switching to digital-only television and time is running out for you to choose your new digital TV provider. The choice is already bewildering and with telephone-based services now being launched it's going to get more complicated. Packages range from full the monty, including every sports and movie channel costing around £50 a month, down to Freeview, which is free. Choose wisely.
Saving: £100+

43. Bin the ready meals 
If TV chefs such as Ainsley Harriott can knock up a meal from a bag of random groceries including an aubergine and a packet of sultanas - so can you. Ready meals may be convenient, but preparing your own food saves money. A visit to your library will reveal scores of books dedicated to cooking proper meals in minutes.
Saving: £100+

44. Take up a money-saving hobby
Hobbies not only open your mind to new experiences but they also take up your time - important if you would otherwise spend it in the pub drinking away your hard-earned money. If a painting takes 20 hours to complete, and you normally get through a pint an hour. That's a saving of a least 40 quid a picture. Think about it. Get painting. Go fishing.
Saving: £100+

45. Avoid the payment protection racket
Banks and other lenders are selling expensive insurance policies to cover loan repayments to people who don't need it. Don't be a victim of the hard-sell.
Saving: £100

46. Avoid extended warranties 
Electrical goods are more reliable than ever. If your new radio won't last three years perhaps it's not worth buying in the first place. Think about it: how many times has your fridge broken down in the last five years? And do you really need the hassle of claiming for repairs to a £15 toaster?
Saving: £10047. Shop online

The internet is gradually taking over. Online grocery shopping is getting better all the time and there are plenty of comparison websites to help find the best prices for bigger items. Give it a try, unless of course you like fighting your way through supermarket crowds.
Saving: Your sanity48. The Citizen's Advice Bureau is your friend

If your debts are out of control please seek help immediately from your local CAB - their advisers can help you work out a sensible strategy to get you back on your feet.
Saving: It could save your life49. Have I missed any money-saving ideas?