Suicide and Life Insurance

It might not be discussed much during the negotiation of a life insurance policy, but suicide can lead to difficulty between an insurance company and the beneficiary of an insurance payout. In fact the subject of suicide is not mentioned in the conditions of most policies.

But the subject of suicide is constantly brought up in online insurance forums, because this grey area in life insurance is confusing.

Most policies are voided if the policy holder suicides within a fixed time of the policy being written. In most cases this timeframe is one or two years. An insurer would not expect anyone considering suicide to wait two years after taking out a life insurance policy.

There is very little information on the relationship between suicide and life insurance. One study that does open up this area of research is The Trouble with Suicide: Mental Health, Suicide and the Northern Ireland Conflict by Mike Tomlinson. In this study Tomlinson mentions the relationship between suicide and insurance and he states that people with insurance are less likely to commit suicide.

It was found that the suicide rate of the insured was only about a third of the overall rate in the population, probably because the insured earn more and because of insurance screening which results in the insured having better mental health than the population at large – Mike Tomlinson This study, although making assumptions about suicide and life insurance, does bring up the point that a screening process does reduce the risk to the insurer. Another point is brought up in this study about suicide records. Because life insurance can be voided if suicide is the reason for death, a number of suicide cases may not be recorded as such. About 4000 people commit suicide each year in the UK, and this figure does not include the 30 to 50 per cent that most experts agree go unreported. The statistics show that young males are in a higher risk group, but most people who commit suicide have some form of psychiatric illness. Life insurance companies can sometime request psychiatric evaluation of a new policy holder.

About the Author

Simon Harvey is a freelance writer who lives in UK. Rita has worked in the health industry for more than 15 years. Get more information regarding illness and life insurance void life insurance policies.

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Why hire an Accident Lawyer?

Many years ago, Allstate Insurance hired a team of consultants to help in redesigning their claims handling process. Their conclusion: Get the lawyers out of the claims process. Their studies found that by doing this, they could settle claims for substantially less money.

Even in small cases under $15,000.00, those persons represented by lawyers received substantially more in settlement, even after paying their attorney, than people who were not represented by a lawyer.


In larger cases, the difference was even more striking as the studies found that lawyers are able to get their clients exponentially more money as the claims value increases. Still want to handle your claim yourself?

Hiring an attorney early in your case will ensure that your rights and interests are protected. An attorney will usually charge a fee that is a set percentage of your eventual settlement or judgment amount. If you retain the attorney sooner rather than later, the attorney will have more time to ensure that your case is developed to its maximum potential value. The result - MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET.

If you have already determined that you should probably hire an attorney, these are the reasons you should hire that attorney NOW rather than weeks or months down the road:

1. An experienced attorney will be able to determine what evidence you will need to prove your case to the adjustor or at trial and how such evidence can be recorded and preserved in the meantime.

2. An attorney will help coordinate all available medical insurance coverage to make sure that you get prompt and thorough medical care.

3. An attorney can help you get medical care when you do not have any health or med-pay insurance.

4. An attorney will help you document all of your losses to make sure that you can recover for as much of your damages as possible.

5. An attorney will deal with the insurance companies on your behalf.

HOW MUCH WILL A LAWYER CHARGE?

Most accident attorneys will work on your case on a "contingency" basis. This means that you will not have to pay your attorney for any work on the case until, and unless, that attorney secures a settlement or judgment on your behalf. If your attorney does not recover any money on your behalf, you do not pay your attorney for his time. Please note that most attorneys will require you to pay for necessary expenses they incurred in preparing your case regardless of whether or not your case is successful.

Any attorney that you consider hiring is required to advise you of alternate types of fee arrangements (such as an hourly fee or flat fee) and give you the option of selecting one of these alternate types. However, these types require you to pay for your attorney's time and work up front, regardless of whether or not they recover any money on your behalf. Consequently, most accident cases are handled on a contingent basis.

Important Tip: You will be paying your attorney the same amount whether he works on the case two months or two years. Why not give that attorney as much time as possible to make sure that your case value is maximized?

WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK WHEN HIRING A LAWYER? By asking the following questions when first meeting with a lawyer, you will quickly gain an understanding of the ability of that lawyer to adequately protect your interests:

1. How many years experience do you have in representing accident victims? A qualified attorney will have several years experience in representing accident victims. Make sure that your case will not simply be passed on to other, less-experienced attorneys.

2. Will I work with you directly or mainly with paralegals and legal assistants? Frequent involvement directly with your attorney will help ensure that your case is prepared as thoroughly as possible.

3. How do you keep yourself informed of the latest developments in this area of the law? Skilled accident lawyers spend many days each year at seminars learning new developments in this area of law.

4. What professional groups are you a member of? There are several professional organizations that allow attorneys to learn from other lawyers and stay better informed of recent changes in the law. Look for membership in a State Bar Association and state trial lawyers association.

5. Do you also represent insurance companies? Many qualified accident lawyers also function as "Insurance Defense" lawyers and represent at-fault drivers or their insurance companies from time to time. This may mean that your prospective attorney may have a "conflict of interest" and be legally precluded from representing you in a case that involves an insurance company with which that attorney has an ongoing business relationship.

6. Will I have to pay for your services even if you do not recover a settlement or judgment for me? If you retain your attorney on a contingent basis, you will not, in most states, be responsible for paying your attorney's fees if they are not successful in securing a settlement or judgment on your behalf.

7. Am I liable for any costs associated with investigating and preparing my case? Under many states laws, if your attorney intends to hold you responsible for the costs necessary to investigate and prepare your case, they must advise you in writing of this fact before signing you up as a client.

8. How much will associated costs be for my case? A typical auto accident case will require expenses for such costs as copies of the accident report, copies of your medical records as well as any fees charges by expert witnesses that may be necessary to present your case. These costs can vary greatly from case to case but even a simple case can cost several hundred dollars to prepare.

9. Are there any difficult issues in my case? An experienced attorney should be able to quickly identify any problem issues and be willing to discuss these issues with you.

10. How many other cases will you handle at any given time? The more cases an attorney has, the less time and personal attention those cases will likely receive.

Caution: Many of the accident lawyers that you see advertising on television or in multi-page phone book ads handle HUNDREDS of cases at any given time. While this type of practice may be financially rewarding for the attorney, it prevents the attorney from working personally on their clients' cases and can compromise their ability to effectively represent their interests.

You may also want to research any attorney with your State Bar Association. These resources will allow you to discover whether your prospective attorney has ever faced any disciplinary actions or had complaints filed against them by previous clients.

Caution: Not all attorneys focus on representing accident victims. Unlike some states, Colorado does not grant special designations to those attorneys who limit their practices to this area of law.

About the Author

For more information please visit: website: http://www.DenversAccidentLawyer.com blog: http://www.DenverAccidentInformation.com

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Medical Solutions: The Tummy Tuck

Removing fat from localized areas of the body has become a growing trend in weight loss surgery. Furthermore, helping to streamline one's appearance and tightening loose skin is an oft heard goal from those seeking the care and expertise of a plastic surgeon.

If seeking a tummy tuck, there are a few surgical procedures performed by trained and experienced plastic surgeons that involve tightening and flattening the skin of the abdominal area. The procedure is often requested by women who are looking to slim up their waist line, flatten their waists, and to tighten skin that has loosened over time for various reasons.

Skin can loosen after child birth, due to weight gain and then loss, and just from gravity's pull. Keeping a healthy lifestyle and diet can help to prevent weight gain which is one reason that skin begins to sag. A tummy tuck primarily involves tightening and flattening. For those who wish to lose abdominal fat prior to the procedure, the procedure can be done in conjunction with liposuction. With the two procedures combined, patients can remove excess fatty deposits and then have skin tightened and slim down their appearance.

There are benefits and risks with all surgical procedures of course and it is important to find an experienced and trusted plastic surgeon who can discuss the treatment with you and who can answer questions associated with the procedure. There are a number of procedures which help patients to lose weight and if liposuction is not a viable options, surgeons can recommend other weight loss procedures that can help to minimize body fat. It is always best to research natural ways to lose weight, meaning a healthy diet and exercise. Implementing healthy lifestyle practices is best to do anyway since no surgical procedure can offer a permanent freedom from weight issues. A tummy tuck is not only associated with weight loss, but can be caused by a number of issues. Finding out what technique your plastic surgeon uses is a great idea to make sure that it best suits your goals. Also, having realistic expectations is a great idea because surgery is usually a last resort when the patient has found that other methods have not delivered the desired results. Furthermore, the #1 best way to maintain a positive self image is to maintain a healthy life, both physically and psychologically. So keeping that in mind can enhance your decision to undergo a tummy tuck or not.

Since a tummy tuck can involve benefits and risks, all scenarios ought to be thoroughly discussed. Patients benefit from understanding the entire procedure, including how long it will take and what their recovery time will be. Satisfaction certainly goes up when patients know what to expect and have a clear understanding of what the procedure can reasonably do for them. It is thus best to get a handle on the procedure and what your goals are and how you plan to make sure that you maintain the investment. Since cosmetic procedures such as this are not covered by health insurance providers, it is a good idea to implement a sturdy commitment to greater health to maintain the look that the surgery provides. This is all part of the process and part of a satisfactory experience.

About the Author

More information on a tummy tuck, stomach stapling and a cosmetic surgeon in your area is just a click away.

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The Real Reason for the Health Insurance Mess

Why does health insurance cost so much in America? Obviously there are a variety of factors contributing to the ever escalating cost of insuring the average American. The first and foremost is the nature of the system. Health insurance companies, like all business entities, consider the bottom line first. Corporations are, above all, responsible to earn profits for their stockholders. If they can increase profits by raising prices, then they are obligated to do so. This is the nature of our system of capitalism.

While most Americans enjoy and appreciate our capitalist system, many believe that some things do not belong in that game. The most advanced countries have eliminated health-care from their list of entrepreneurial avenues. And whether or not you concur, or disagree, there is no doubt that profit is a contributing factor to the rising cost of health care.

The lack of uniformity is another contributor. Every state has its own set of rules. Every state has its own licensing regulations. In addition rates vary by the area in which you live and the geographic areas in which you wish to be covered.

The absence of preventative medical treatment is also a factor. Consider how many serious ailments might have been averted had they been discovered in the earliest phases. An increased availability of less expensive diagnostic and preventative treatments, could greatly reduce health care costs in America.

The continuously rising costs of health care in itself has led to the increase of health insurance premiums. New treatments, new discoveries, new tools and new regulations have all caused our basic health care ticket to rise dramatically, forcing insurers to increase rates accordingly.

Fraud, litigation, a degrading environment, improper diet, lifestyle choices, and stress are all factors leading to an increase in health care conditions and the rising costs.

We seem to be in an endless circle. The more effective and expensive a treatment, the more people will default on their payments, forcing an increase in the costs for those who are able to pay. As the costs of treatment increases, so does the cost to the insurer and thus the insurance premium. As insurance premiums increase, fewer people are able to afford coverage, resulting in more people defaulting on their medical payments, again leading to further increases in treatment and coverage, and so on and so on and so on.

While it's easy to exclusively blame the insurance carriers, it would be wrong, for they're just playing their part in the game. They're no worse than the officers of any successful corporation. No worse than the oil companies. It's the nature of the business, not the individual, that has them profiting from suffering. The agents, the general agents, the carriers, the re-insurers are all just doing their part, keeping the ball rolling. If the ball seems to be flat, don't blame those keeping it in play, repair the hole, or get a new ball.

About the Author

Jeff Wild is an independent health insurance agent and a representative of some of the highest rated insurers in the United States. His Web Site, Simple Health Coverage was created to educate, inform and connect you, the consumers with the best carriers, policies agents and choices in your geographic area.

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Being prepared is not so difficult, here are some tips

Considering health plans at a young age isn't easy especially when you're healthy but that does not mean you will not require protection at some point; which makes preparing for this by arranging a critical illness insurance policy all the more important. Providing financial peace of mind for your family by taking out protection for a mere few dollars each week, does not seem as important to most of us as having that luxury cup of coffee every day during lunch.

Insurance providers, acting on the statistical information they receive from research institutes now offer this type of protection to every one of their customers.


These studies make for somber reading when you consider around one in five men will contract one of these conditions before they reach retirement age. For women, this figure is slightly lower with only one in six being affected by before retirement.

Of course, most people do not actually feel they require critical illness insurance and would explain why they are so reluctant to start a plan. This type of policy is designed to protect those around you who you love but the primary reason why people organize critical illness cover is to ensure mortgage repayments do not lapse.

Whilst over the last few years the amount of insurance policies arranged online has increased dramatically, not every type of policy was available but coverage for critical illness has now been added. Unfortunately, being a relatively new facility, there are new problems that occur as more companies start offering services over the Internet for the first time. This is because many insurance providers who offer this type of coverage wish to have the applicant take a medical examination by an independent physician to ensure there is nothing untoward right from the start. If you have to make a claim on your critical illness insurance policy, the last thing you want is insensitivity or apparent non co-operation from your insurer.

One group of high risk people are those that smoke, in fact they usually ask each applicant if they have smoked within the previous year and if the answer is 'yes', they will be rated higher. Insurance companies place smoking at the top of their list but other areas of your life can affect how much you pay for your premium like your age, physical health, activities you may participate in and the type of work you do.

Whilst critical illness insurance will not cure a person, the financial help it provides to a person who has a terminal illness cannot be dismissed. No person can guarantee that they will always be there for their family but insurance plans are one way to ease the burden if you are diagnosed with a critical medical condition.


About the Author

Francisco Segura owns and operates http://www.alcoholismadvise.com/alcoholism-disease.html Alcoholism Disease

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Before You Hire, Should You Lease?

Before you hire that accountant or marketing manager, should you lease them instead? Increasingly, businesses are choosing from consultant-style agencies rather than hiring full-time workers. It can be a wise choice for small businesses in particular. Here's how to decide if Employee Leasing is right for you:



First, you must determine the hours of work you will actually need that employee. Too many companies, in the pride of being a company, do not realize that their employees are under challenged and would be more productive with a shortened schedule. Quite often, the employees feign busywork, aware of the expectation to appear busy. But many positions simply do not require much time. The only reason they are full-time positions is tradition has made them so. Ignore that expectation, and ask yourself, do I really need this position to be full-time?

If the answer is yes, look again. Imagine yourself in the position for which you are hiring. Would you be busy every day, for 8 hours? Or would your work come in seasonal loads, at times high, other times a mere trickle. Also ask what your emotional motive may be in hiring another person. Sometimes small business owners are lonely, and just want more people around. Could this be the case? If so, is there another way you can satisfy that social need?

Perhaps part of you balks at the idea of leasing an employee. You want to provide your employees with full-time, steady work and health insurance--the whole bit. If this is you, consider that employee leasing may be doing the employee a favor. They are getting experience at your company, without danger of losing their job. It is better to lease an employee than to hire them full-time and lay them off six months later when you realize you don't need them much, or can't afford them. Employee Leasing can be win-win for all parties.

A fear of some employers is releasing private company information. They feel concerned that the leased employee will leave with sensitive business information. However, you can easily control the information to which each employee has access. Just make the sensitive information off-limits, with computer passwords.

The benefits of employee leasing can be great. You are leasing professionals, not college kids from a temp agency. Professional leasing agencies do the background screening for you, the reference checks, and the interviews. So you save a lot of time at the beginning. Also, job training is minimal: The leased employee is already a professional in her field.

Which jobs are best for employee leasing? Accountants are a favorite. Financial management is quite similar from job to job, and easily interchangeable. But really, employee leasing can extend to positions that you may have never imagined. A short-term marketing manager could give your company's image a boost, or help prepare for a special event. Another idea is leasing a personal assistant for a busy period. A theater with a season of September-June may be best off leasing the majority of employees, rescaling to a minimal staff during summer months. You know your business best: What periods call for additional help? Can you do without that help at other times?

For cutting costs, in addition to employee leasing, consider how technology might help. Certified Payroll systems are becoming a popular opportunity to increase efficiency. Think creatively. You have many options for making your company more efficient.

About the Author

About the Author:Amy Brevard is a Freelance Writer working with Innuity. For more information about Certified Payroll or Employee Leasing visit HCS.

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Why Travel Insurance is a Must

Travel insurance is necessary for your vacation packages and without it all your travel dreams cannot come true. Travel insurance is essential for a traveler as it covers your medical and financial expenses and losses incurred on your domestic or international travel. It’s usually arranged at the time of booking the trip and covers the exact duration of the trip.


Many travel agents offer insurance, as part of their travel packages but it will be worth for you if you arrange it on your own through an online source. You can search for a good insurance policy and choose between single and multi trip insurances. If you plan to travel once in a year, then travel insurance of single trip policy will be suitable. But if you have plans to travel frequently then you can consider taking multi trip insurance policy. Continuous insurance can be bought from travel agents, travel suppliers like tour operators, cruise lines and companies offering travel insurance.

A multi trip insurance policy is commonly referred as annual insurance travel policy and can save big money in the long run. While arranging for insurance policies for travel, be clear with what the insurance coverage is provided along with the inclusions and exclusions. Always remember to look at other things also if you look for a compromise between your travel insurance coverage and the premium to be paid. Never assume that a policy with cheap premium will not offer good insurance coverage. This may work in reverse also. A policy taken at a higher price need not cover all aspects of insurance coverage required by you.

As a traveler you face lot of problems and risks while traveling like loss of property and money, trip cancellation, natural calamities, accidents, occasionally death and terrorist attacks. You cannot prevent these risks or stop your travel plan but you can reduce the risk involved by taking travel insurance policies.

The concept of travel insurance is very simple. You pay a travel insurance premium to the company and they in turn covers for your loss of valuables, accidents and unforeseen things.

The premium you pay for travel insurance covers risks faced on travel like:

There are lots of possibilities for trip cancellation due to unavoidable circumstances and last minute cancellation will fetch you very less amount as refund. Your travel insurance covers such losses and provides the cancellation cost but the reason for cancellation must be part of the agreement you have signed with the company.

If you lose your baggage then the insurance company pays for the baggage cost but again based on the rules of your insurance contract. A travel insurance policy sometimes covers your medical expenses if incurred while traveling. But if you have got health insurance separately then you don’t have to spend again for health insurance during travel.

Generally travel insurance covers other things like accidental death, medical evacuation etc. An important golden rule of all insurance policies is to go through the agreement carefully because most of the time you apply for insurance policies during emergencies. Travel insurance is offered with various options for different types of travelers like student, business, adventure, international and leisure travelers. Travel insurance is also offered for participating in sports involving high risk and traveling to certain countries which have a high risk.

About the Author

Lesley Lyon is an expert in tourism related topics. He contributes articles to http://www.mytoursguide.com, http://www.bestdealsononline.com and http://www.holidayassistance.com

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Does Your Dog need Dog Insurance?

Dogs are great pets, always pleased to see their owners with this showing by the wag of their tails; they do not complain and are a way to de-stress form everyday life. Many owners find walking their dog one of the most relaxing things they can do and will enjoy the exercise as much as their companion will. Whatever the weather, your dog would follow you without even a whine but never as for anything other than you love in return.



Considering all these facets of a pet it is our duty to ensure that we try and show our pet some of the care and concern that they feel for us and dog insurance can be one of the best ways to show that we care. These policies provided by various pet insurance companies cover a wide range of services starting from accidents, serious illnesses and even routine health care for the pets. Dog insurance plans enable owners of dogs to look after their pets with the knowledge that if anything untoward happens to them they will not have to be concerned about medical fees.

While the huge advancements in pet health have lead to procedures being carried out now that just weren't available a few short years ago, they come at a price which health plans can help offset. It is even now possible for certain pets to have transplants and even the likes of hip replacements which not so long ago were not even thought about. Dogs too are prone to certain specific diseases like enlargement of heart, epilepsy, hip dysplasia which can be even be genetic.

Some of these conditions start after a certain age, often when the dog has become a valued and loved member of the family. So by providing a comprehensive dog insurance policy for your dog you can offset any financial worries that medical treatment may cause and still give your pet the best health care. Even on a regular basis a dog requires close attention to his health in terms of the best foods, nutrients and hygiene; regular check ups can include expensive vaccinations, maintenance procedures such as ear and teeth cleaning, de-worming, getting rid of unwanted mites and ticks and even minor infections.

The purpose of the insurance policy for your dog is to ensure all these regular checks are taken care of without the need for any financial concern meaning you can continue to enjoy their company for a very long time. If such care is taken it will ensure a happy and loving association between the dog and his owner. If you are not sure where to start in your search for a good plan then ask some of your neighbors who have dogs and see if they can advise you on a dog insurance plan that will cover everything discussed here.

About the Author

Brandon is a caring and loving dog owner who currently runs a site dedicated to dogs and house pets at www.thepetcarecenter.com. click here to get the information you need to determine if you dog needs insurance today.

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