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Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Property and casualty insurance protects against major financial loss that could be avoided without a minimal cash outlay.

  • Property insurance covers the risk of loss to property and its consequences. For example fire insurance can cover the risk of fire damage to your residence as well as the cost of living arrnagements.
  • Casualty insurance protects against liability to third persons.

Basic property and casualty policies that are generally recommended include:

  • Homeowners Insurance that covers both loss to your physical residence and liability to third persons who come to your residence. (Homeowners insurance for renters is sometimes called "Renters Insurance.")
  • Automobile insurance which covers both liability to third persons as well as damage to your vehicle.
  • Flood Insurance and Earthquake insurance if your dwelling is in an area which is prone to either flooding and/or earthquake.
  • Excess liability insurance (also known as "Umbrella Insurance") is designed to increase the limits of your basic liability policy. An excess liability policy does so without broadening the coverage of specified underlying insurance coverage. Umbrella policies are not only increase the limits, they also expand the personal coverage beyond policies such as the typical homeowners policies. They are generally considered to be worth the minimal premiums if your assets are near the liability limits of your homeowners, personal liability and/or auto liability policies.

If you travel, travel insurance covers risks that may be increased because of your health condition. (For more information, see: Travel Insurance Post Diagnosis.

If you have a pet, consider pet insurance now that expensive life-saving treatments are available for your pet.

There are insurance coverages for many other types of risks to consider. The key is to balance the risk those events may occur to you. the coverage and the premium and other costs (such as deductibles). Keep in mind that premiums become lower as the size of the deductible (the amount you pay before the insurance company pays) increases.

If you purchase insurance through a broker, choose your broker carefully and maximize your relationship with him or her. 

For more information, see:

NOTE: 

  • Make your life easier in the event of a loss by creating an inventory of your personal property. It's well worth the time and effort. You may find there are items you no longer use that you can sell or give to charity. (A charitable deduction can reduce your taxes).
  • Although it is not covered on our site, if you own a business or are self employed, you also need property and casualty insurance for your business.  

How To Choose And Maximize Use Of A Broker To Purchase Insurance

Insurance brokers use their knowledge and experience to assess a client's risk profile and find appropriate policies from different insurers who are authorized to write insurance in the state in which you live. Brokers search for the most comprehensive cover at the most competitive price.

Brokers are free to you. They are paid by the insurance company in the form of a commission of the premium. While this may set up a conflict of interest, legally a broker is supposed to work in your interest only.

To choose an insurance broker that is best for you:

Step 1. Determine your needs.
Step 2. Decide what criteria are important to you.
Step 3: Talk with your friends, business colleagues, attorney and/or an accountant to get their recommendations.
Step 4. Meet with several licensed, experienced candidates.

If you are looking for a broker to help obtain health insurance for you, see: How To Choose And Work With A Health Insurance Broker.

How To Create An Inventory Of Your Personal Property

An inventory list should include: 

  • A description of the general items (e.g., sofas, chairs).
  • Description of specific valuable items
  • Date of purchase (approximate if you do not have the exact date).
  • Whether the item was purchased new or used.
  • Purchase price.
  • An approximation of what the item would cost to replace today.
  • Serial Numbers, if any.
  • Which assets are used for business.

It helps to also have a videotape or photos of the items, as well as the purchase receipts (or at least as many as you can find). (For tips about videotaping, click here.)

Keep inventory information in your safe deposit box or a locked fireproof file, preferably away from the insured premises.

From now on, keep copies of all purchase receipts in the same safe place. 

It is wise to review your assets each year when your coverage is renewed to update asset values, add new assets to your list and subtract any assets that have been disposed of since the beginning of the last policy period. The insurance company won't refund premiums for property you insured but no longer own.

We help you create an inventory list by including an interactive chart you can securely store on our site.

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More Information

My Household Inventory

If You Have A Problem With An Insurance Company

If you have a problem with an insurance company that you cannot resolve amicably with the company, you can complain to the State Insurance Department. Insurance companies are regulated by state insurance departments. A phone call from the state insurance department is taken seriously by all insurers.

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