Step Up Your Insurance Knowledge
(ARA) - According to the Consumer Federation of America, most people will shop around for insurance at one time or another. Sometimes it's because they're readying for a major purchase like a house or car. More often though, it's because they think they're paying too much for the policies they already have.
Want to find out if there's a better deal or better coverage out there? You could simply pick up the phone, call your agent and ask him or her to pull together some quotes. Or, you could do what more and more people are doing every day -- search for the best rates yourself online.
"The Internet has really streamlined the insurance shopping process for a lot of people, thanks to the many advantages it offers," says Tim McTavish, CEO of Insureme.com, a free service that helps people save time, effort and money by shopping their insurance rates online. "We want to help consumers become better educated and informed when considering their insurance options. Going online gives them the opportunity to examine each policy and quote carefully, then make the best, most informed decision possible."
What advantages does the Internet offer that you can't get anywhere else? According to McTavish:
* The ability to get the right coverage fast so you're covered when you need to be;
* The ability to gather multiple quotes so you can make side-by-side comparisons;
* The ability to find an agent who specializes in coverage such as pre-existing health conditions or a bad driving record;
* The choice of whether to speak with an agent or simply converse by email. Some people appreciate the personal touch. Others prefer a more impersonal approach; and
* The power to choose. You can wait for agents to contact you -- or you can take matters into your own hands and contact them now. Either way, the choice is yours.
When comparing rates online, leading insurers offer four basic types of insurance: homeowner's, which offers protection for your home and its contents in the event of a natural disaster, accident or break-in; auto, which includes comprehensive, collision and personal injury protection for you and your vehicle in the event of an accident or act of nature; health which offers assistance paying your medical and prescription bills; and life, which provides your family money in the unfortunate event you die unexpectedly.
So once you get your quotes, how do you know if you're getting a good deal? Insurance rates are all over the map. You could very well be paying hundreds of dollars more than your neighbor for exactly the same coverage.
To make sure you're on a level playing field, ask the agent you're dealing with if all the discounts you're eligible for have been applied to your quotes. Among the more popular discounts: multi-policy, good driver, anti-theft and auto-home combinations. To help you ask the right questions about discounts and other issues and decide which policy is right for you, InsureMe offers an informational guidebook for each type of insurance, provided when you request your insurance quotes. That way, you can get the answers you need and make sure you're taking advantage of every possible cost-saver.
If, like most people, you have health insurance coverage through your employer, you are likely paying more than you need to. Switching over to an individual policy can not only save you money, but may get you better coverage too -- a little-known fact for most consumers.
Regardless what type of policy you need, maximum coverage and maximum savings are definitely available online. So step up your insurance knowledge, compare quotes and save money at insureme.com. You'll be glad you did.
Copyright © 2007, ARAnet, inc.
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