Why do you need Insurance?
There are many reasons to purchase insurance.
Perhaps the most important is to help protect the financial well-being of those who depend on you today.
At some point everyone suffers from an insured event. Whether a personal possession is lost or damaged, you are a victim of a criminal act or subject to a vehicle accident, it is at these times when your choice of insurance broker and insurer becomes crucial.
There are a lot of insurance companies competing for your online business. Just because there are a lot of online insurance companies, does not mean everyone is buying online.
If you are shopping for insurance you generally have three choices:
Online insurance
Local exclusive insurance agent
Local nonexclusive insurance agent
Online Insurance
Advantages to buying insurance online would include buying it on your time and eliminating pushy insurance salesmen. Also, you always have customer service for questions, which is what most people use after signing up with an agent anyway. The disadvantages of buying insurance online are that there is usually no discount for buying online versus using an insurance agent and you loose that "personal touch" of service.
Local Exclusive Insurance Agent
A local exclusive agent only sells insurance for one company. Advantages of an exclusive insurance agent is that more extensive training is required by the company to be an insurance agent, and you can usually get online service. On the other hand, exclusive insurance agents only sell for their insurance company, so there is only one price tier.
Local Nonexclusive Agent
A nonexclusive agent deals with a variety of companies to tailor the best insurance policy for you. This can be advantageous if you have special circumstances that make it hard for you to acquire insurance elsewhere. The disadvantage can be a higher price tag and a company you are not familiar with. If you choose a nonexclusive insurance agent it is best to check the insurance company's ratings.
Auto Insurance - If you own a car, auto insurance is not just an option—it is a legal requirement. If you are involved in an accident or have your car stolen, owning the right kind of auto insurance can help to ease a difficult situation.
Home Insurance - Homeowners insurance provides coverage in the event of damage to your property, as well as liability for injuries and damage you cause to other people.
Health Insurance - The rising cost of medical care and the resulting pressure on health insurance premiums makes health insurance top priority if you want to have your health expenses covered at a reasonable cost. The current health insurance system is quite complex and constantly changing.
Life Insurance - If you have dependents or other people with whom you share your life, life insurance can play a vital and valuable role at virtually every stage of your life.
Long-term Care Insurance - Because of old age, mental or physical illness, or injury, some people find themselves in need of help with eating, bathing, dressing, and other physical activities. Long-term care insurance can help pay for such care in the future, in the event you are faced with the need for such assistance.
Disability Insurance - Disability insurance pays an insured person an income when that person is unable to work because of an accident or illness.
Travel Insurance - Specialty travel insurance gives travelers coverage for unforeseen problems, from a canceled flight to a serious illness, or in rare cases, even an act of terrorism or the financial default of a travel supplier.
Business Insurance - The success of a business, whether it's a tiny enterprise run out of a basement or a large corporation, is largely dependent on hard work and ingenuity. One disaster can wipe out all your profits and even destroy your business. The key to making sure that all the effort and money you have invested in a business doesn't disappear when a disaster strikes is to protect it with the appropriate business insurance.