Loan Insurance - Worth The Extra Cost

There are many factors, out of your control that can make you unable to repay your loans. You might become sick or get involved in an accident that takes you out of work for an extended period of time. Maybe your employer has to cut back and make wage decreases or lay-offs. If you are working for your self then maybe business is not going well and you are not earning as much as you had hoped. It could even be that your expenses have risen or interest rates have risen and this has made it difficult to make repayments.

Many of us worry about these possible outcomes. Some of us, especially if we have borrowed a lot and are already close to our repayment capacity may be losing sleep over it. People who are elderly and close to retirement, or those with young children also may worry a lot about such issues.

Loan Insurance

It is for this reason that insurers offer loan insurance. Loan insurance is a policy that protects against the possibility that you will not be able to make your repayments. You will usually be offered it every time you take on credit. You should know that you are not obliged to take loan insurance and you cannot be denied credit for not taking it. If you do wish to take it out, you should shop around and not take it from the first insurer you come across. Rates vary widely and it certainly pays to shop around.

If you have loan insurance you can rest a little easier knowing that if certain events outside of your control occur you loans will be repaid by the insurance company. Events included would be illness, accident or job loss not of your fault, among others. You should also be aware of the conditions and exclusions however before you agree to such insurance. It is a fact that many people pay for loan insurance without much prospect of ever benefiting from it; often without even knowing they have it. This is because lenders are anxious to add it to your account as a way of increasing revenues.

Be Aware

Some policies will require for example that you accept the first job you are offered after losing your job. This can be very impractical for a person who may have had a very good job and now is offered a much lower paying one. They know that if they continue their search they will find a better job but their insurance wants them to take up the first one.

Always be aware of what you are paying for with insurance. Be aware of the exclusions and if you don’t want the insurance, don’t buy it. If it has been added to your account without your permission, call your creditor and have it cancelled immediately.

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the loan information sites http://www.selectloans.co.uk/ and also http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk. At the Personal Loan Store you can find all the different loan types explained.

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Long Term Care Policy - Planning for Your Old Age

The term ‘Senior Citizen’ spells a perfect combination of ultimate wisdom and experience! However, sometimes it also resounds with silent pain, suffering and worry that become their only companions in life. They have enjoyed life’s most cherished moments, as well as witnessed its darkest side. They have experienced the harsh realities of life, often suffering from the indignities of uncaring relatives. Using long-term policies created specially for them can allay the challenges senior citizens face in their silver years.

Types:

There are various long-term care policies catering to the physical ailments that afflict old age. Often, severe medical conditions require specially trained nurses and doctors twenty-four hours a day. Long-term care envelopes regular care required by a person ailing with an acute illness or disability. The degree of care generally includes bathing, dressing and many other specific services.

Main Concern:

The main concern of most families is to provide their aging parents with the best available long-term care, without resulting in a major monetary burden for the rest of the family. Usually, most families wonder when to time the long-term care for their aged relatives; whether it is required at all, or would the care given by family members themselves be enough.

Major Disagreement:

One of the greatest arguments against buying a long-term care policy is that people feel that the money paid as premium would be wasted if there were no need for the benefit. It is akin to people hesitating about getting their car insured, for there is no guarantee of the car being damaged in an accident. Of course, it boils down to priorities; just as one insures a car to take care of unforeseen circumstances, long-term care insurance provides future security by taking care of an aging loved one.

Reasons:

Though it is not possible to predict if there would ever be a need for hospitals, home-care services, or assistance in living, still, you could opt for a long-term care insurance policy for reasons such as:

- Restoration of personal freedom
- Easing the burden on care-takers
- To save assets for the rest of the family
- To access the virtual helping hand at a time of acute crisis.

Eligibility:

A senior citizen would be eligible for funds provided they meet the following criteria:

- If he or she is unable to perform at least two to three, out of five or six, regular activities that are necessary for daily life, which includes bathing, dressing, toiletry, moving about, feeding oneself, and the like.

- All tax-qualified policies state that a qualified doctor must declare the applicant severely ill.

- The illness should have signs of lasting for at least for ninety days.

Though long-term insurance policies are an expensive buy, yet their significance is important for senior citizens. As one ages, there is a growing fear of being hindered by illness and disability, the costs involved, and being a burden on one’s family. A long-term care insurance policy goes a long way in easing these fears, helping senior citizens face their silver years confidently.

Joseph Kenny writes for UK Loan Store and more information on different loan types available on site.
Visit Today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/

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Payment Protection Insurance Is It Just A Scam

Payment protection insurance (PPI) has taken a bashing recently. PPI is a type of insurance designed to protect repayments on financial products if borrowers find that they are in financial difficulty.

PPI has been examined by the Financial Services Authority, criticised by Which? and is now under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading. Most of these organisations are concerned about protecting consumers’ rights. They are worried about:

  • whether consumers are sufficiently well informed at point of sale to make decisions about whether to have PPI

  • the wide variation in the cost of PPI policies
  • the huge profits made by lenders offering PPI because of the relatively few claims made by borrowers
  • and the lack of PPI providers who are not linked to banks or other lenders.

    Given these concerns, it’s a good time to find out more about whether PPI is really the right choice for borrowers.

    Why Have PPI?

    It’s difficult for borrowers to know how their financial circumstances are going to change. When they are taking out a mortgage, loan, credit card, store card or other financial product, the sales person often offers PPI. The reasons why it might be a good idea are:

  • if someone becomes unemployed or is made redundant

  • if a long term illness prevents someone from working
  • if someone is injured and is unable to work

    All of these circumstances mean that borrowers might not be able to meet the repayments on the mortgage, loan, credit card or store card. This could result in arrears, defaults, County Court Judgements (CCJs) and, depending on the type of loan product, the loss of their home. Payment protection insurance is designed to make sure that repayments are met, avoiding this sticky financial situation.

    Inside PPI

    PPI is available to most people aged 18 to 65 who are employed for at least 16 hours a week or have been self-employed for a long period. Once borrowers have signed up for the insurance, they have to wait a certain period before making a claim. This is usually 60 to 120 days. Once they do make a claim and have it accepted, their payments can be covered for a period of 12 months or more, depending on the policy.

    One key thing that borrowers should be aware of is that the sellers of some financial products add the cost of the PPI policy to the credit being offered. This means that borrowers can end up paying interest on the insurance policy. This is one of the many reasons that PPI selling has been criticised. Borrowers should also look into the cost of the insurance, as this varies widely.

    Beyond PPI

    Many borrowers do not realise that they do not have to take out PPI at the time of buying a financial product and the people who are selling PPI often do not make this clear. There are some stand alone PPI providers who may provide a better choice. Borrowers who repay loans from earnings should also consider an income protection policy, which will protect most of their income rather than individual financial products.

    Joe Kenny writes for CardGuide.co.uk, offering the latest information on credit cards, more ireading on credit card payment protection insurance.
    Visit today: http://www.cardguide.co.uk

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