Weapons Training Requirements

Presently four states in the United States allow residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit, so training classes are not required. These states are Alaska, Vermont, Arizona, and Wyoming. Even among states that do require permits, training is not always required. Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Washington require residents to have a permit to carry a concealed weapon but they have no training or safety certification requirements.

For states that do require demonstrated proficiency with a firearm, the courses developed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), which combine classroom and live-fire instruction, meet most state weapons training requirements. It is even possible to enroll in training courses that are valid for concealed weapons permits in as many as 37 states.

These intensive courses which combine practical and classroom instruction usually cover firearm basics such as firearm mechanics and terminology, cleaning/maintenance, relevant legislative and liability issues, carry methods, and safety. They also cover home defense, self defense, methods for managing confrontations, and gun handling techniques. The practical portion of the course normally emphasizes learning to shoot safely and accurately.

Although some states require students to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency, others do not. Florida, for example, only requires that a single shot be fired as proof of handgun handling proficiency.

Regardless of where you live, participating in a quality concealed weapons training program will teach you how to safely carry and discharge your firearm. It is well worth the investment of time and money to become proficient.

As with a regular homeowners policy, there are certain things you should know when selecting a natural disaster policy. You should know what your policy covers, what it excludes, and how much coverage your policy provides. Here are some general guidelines to help you with selecting a policy to protect your home from natural catastrophe.

What Does Natural Disaster Insurance Cover?

Natural disaster coverage compensates for damages resulting from specified disasters. Which disasters are covered are laid out in individual policies.

In general, a disaster insurance plan should cover such costs as:

• Additional living expenses while you are rebuilding
• Repair of walls and insulation
• Asbestos removal
• Mold removal
• Carpeting
• Painting
• Loss of power

Whether these costs are covered in the instance of a given disaster depends on what type of disasters are covered by a specific policy.

A third of homeowners mistakenly believe that a standard homeowners policy includes flood insurance. In fact, a standard policy does not. Specific flood insurance policies are required for flood coverage.

Floods pose a special problem for insurance companies because risk is much higher in certain areas than others, making it impossible for companies to evenly spread risk as they do with other insurance programs. Paying all the residents of one area for a major flood disaster could easily bankrupt an insurance company.

To address this, private companies and agents work in partnership with the U.S. government through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to provide coverage to residents in high-risk communities. Participating providers offer services at a set rate that does not vary from one company or agent to another.

Federal flood insurance programs provide for a maximum of $350,000 in combined building and personal property damage claims. It is possible to purchase additional protection from providers such as Lloyd’s of London for a high premium.

Hurricane insurance fills gaps left by standard homeowners insurance and flood insurance. A standard home insurance policy covers wind and fire damage from hurricanes, but not flood damage. Flood insurance covers flood damage. In addition to coverage from these policies, homeowners may purchase additional hurricane-specific coverage. This usually carries a set deductible of about 3 to 5 percent of hurricane damage costs.

Tornado insurance, hail insurance, lightning insurance, and wildfire insurance are typically covered under standard homeowner insurance policies, and do not need to be purchased separately. However, you should check to make sure of the scope and amount of your coverage.

Earthquake insurance presents issues similar to flood insurance. An earthquake hitting one area can result in sudden mass insurance claims, which could be devastating to an insurance company in a location such as California. To address this, Californian lawmakers have negotiated with insurance companies to allow policies with high deductibles and limited damage claims, mitigating the loss an insurance company would face from earthquake claims. Compensation is calculated based on comparing the amount of damage caused by a quake to the total value of a building. Rates are lower for wood homes, which survive earthquakes better than brick homes.

Policy Exclusions

Hurricane insurance does not normally include flood insurance.

For tornado, lightning, and wildfire damage, the amount covered by a standard homeowners policy may fall short of what’s needed to rebuild your home. You can often purchase guaranteed replacement cost coverage that will cover whatever it takes to rebuild your home. You can also purchase a guard against inflation. Selecting a higher deductible and other options can further enhance your protection.

To protect insurance companies from the risk of homeowners suddenly purchasing natural disaster insurance after a catastrophe is already on the way, flood and hurricane insurance policies normally do not go into effect until 30 days after the date of purchase.

If you have a home business, your homeowners and natural disaster policies may not necessarily cover your business. You may need extra insurance for your business property, equipment, and inventory.

Disaster insurance policies protecting your home may not necessarily protect other structures on your property, such as decks, unattached garages, pools, and fences. Check to see whether your policy covers these structures.

Depending on the wording of your policy, contents of your home may require separate personal property protection or contents insurance. Valuable items like jewelry may require special high-value items insurance.

You should also check your auto insurance policy to make sure your car is covered for natural disasters. Comprehensive auto insurance policies cover natural disaster damage.

How Much Coverage Do I Get?

Your amount of coverage is normally based on what it would cost to replace your home. This also determines the amount of your premium payments.

To determine the replacement cost of your home, you should go by current market value rather than the original cost of your home. You can get an estimate from a source such as local builder. Make sure the builder takes into account any special materials your home includes and any improvements you have made.

You should also estimate the replacement cost of your property by taking a home inventory of your possessions and estimating their value. Use photos with pictures of family members in them to document your possessions.

Pay outs are normally distributed to the policyholder until a home is rebuilt or until a set period of time has elapsed.

Worthy Catastrophe Recovery Resources

Home Insurance: Protecting Your Most Valuable Property
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
Preparing for the worst: How hurricane insurance works
How to Get Tornado Insurance
Does house insurance include hail damage?
Lighting Damage and Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy
Wildfire Insurance and Home Protection
California Earthquake Authority
Filing a Natural Disaster Insurance Claim

Surgery insurance

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Each of these types of surgery has its own coverage specifics. Below we will consider each in turn, starting with vision insurance and going on to insurance for dental surgery, plastic surgery, and weight loss surgery.

Eye Surgery and Vision Insurance

Eye surgery, also called ocular surgery or orogolomistician surgery, encompasses a wide range of procedures, from cataract and glaucoma surgery to cornea transplants to operations on the eyelids, tear ducts, and eye muscles. When eye insurance is under discussion, the type of eye surgery people often have in mind is refractive surgery, which is surgery done for the purpose of correcting vision without the need for corrective lenses. Common surgical procedures in this category include laser eye surgery procedures such as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Standard health insurance policies cover medical treatment for eye injuries or diseases. Separate vision insurance policies supplement this by covering services and products related to improving vision, such as routine eye exams and the purchase of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Vision insurance policies often offer discounts on refractive surgery.

Vision insurance policies often come packaged as a value-added benefit with other health insurance policies in the indemnity, PPO, or HMO categories. Group vision insurance policies can be obtained through employers, other groups, and government health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Individual vision insurance policies are also available.

Vision insurance is usually packaged in the form of either a vision benefits package or a discount vision plan. A vision benefits package charges an annual premium or membership fee and a co-pay in exchange for free eye care services and eyewear within set dollar limits. A discount vision plan charges an annual premium or membership fee in exchange for discounted rates on eye services and eyewear. Both types of vision insurance usually include an out-of-pocket deductible you must pay before insurance benefits become applicable.

Dental Surgery and Dental Insurance

Oral surgery is divided into two categories: medical and dental. The medical form involves operations to address problems with facial bones and soft and hard tissues of the face and oral cavity. The dental form involves the teeth.

Many general medical insurance policies cover all forms of oral surgery considered medically necessary. Some dental insurance policies may also cover oral surgery. Policies normally exclude cosmetic dental procedures that are primarily for the purpose of improving appearance, including plastic, reconstructive, or cosmetic surgery and facings on molar crowns and pontics. Policies for coverage of dental extractions may vary depending on whether the beneficiary is a child or adult.

Insurance companies recommend getting a pre-treatment estimate before submitting to any oral surgery procedure. The estimate will help determine whether the procedure falls under medical or dental coverage and whether it is considered medically necessary or cosmetic.

Plastic Surgery Insurance

Plastic surgery comes in reconstructive and cosmetic varieties. Reconstructive plastic surgery corrects functional impairment caused by bone breaks, burns, diseases, and birth defects. Cosmetic plastic surgery is for purposes of improving appearance.

Most health insurance policies will cover the cost of certain procedures that are considered reconstructive. Most policies will not cover cosmetic procedures.

For insurance purposes, some procedures can fall into either the reconstructive or cosmetic category or both depending on the circumstances. For example, breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or breast reduction for purposes of relieving chronic pain can be covered as a reconstructive procedure, whereas breast implants for the sake of altering appearance might not be covered. The correction of a deviated septum can be both reconstructive for the sake of improving breathing and cosmetic for the purpose of enhancing appearance, in which case a policy may provide partial coverage for the reconstructive portion of the surgery.

The best way to be sure if a plastic surgery procedure is covered is to discuss it beforehand with your surgeon and insurance company. Some policies may require pre-certification, deductibles, and co-pays that are specific to certain procedures.

Weight Loss Surgery Insurance

Weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery reduces the size of the stomach by implanting a gastric band (lap band), rerouting the internal organs into a pouch (gastric bypass surgery), or removing part of the stomach.

Most insurance providers will cover certain types of weight loss surgery if the policyholder meets certain requirements that make the procedure deemed medically necessary. A body mass index of 40 or more usually qualifies, or a body mass index of 30 or more with an underlying health condition that can be complicated by obesity, such as diabetes.

Some policies only provide partial coverage. Medicare will only cover certain procedures in full if the patient first enrolls in a six-month managed weight loss course under their doctor’s supervision. Consult your insurance provider for the specifics of your coverage.

Worthy Surgery Insurance Resources

Consumer Guide to Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance Coverage: Finding a Plan to Keep Your Smile
Will Insurance Cover the Cost of My Plastic Surgery?
Weight Loss Surgery Insurance

Pet insurance

Like other types of insurance plans, pet insurance plans vary in scope of coverage and methods of reimbursement. Some policies exclusively provide reimbursement for veterinary care, while others offer additional benefits, such as mitigating costs of taking care of a sick pet. Reimbursement can be paid out according to different methods. Different types of policies exclude different conditions from coverage. Here is some basic background information to help you compare pet insurance plans and select a plan that best meets your needs.

What Is Pet Insurance?

While it’s natural to think of pet insurance on analogy with human health insurance, legally pet insurance is actually a form of property insurance. Its primary purpose is to help pay veterinary costs in the event that your pet becomes ill or is injured. Some policies also pay out in the event of pet death, loss, or theft, and may provide other protections and benefits.

What Pet Insurance Covers

Pet insurance covers veterinary costs by enabling the owner to file a claim for reimbursement. Reimbursement is usually paid by one of two methods. Some policies use a benefit schedule to set predetermined limits on how much may be reimbursed. Others pay a percentage of veterinary costs after reaching a deductible. Usually the pet owner must pay the veterinarian and then submit a claim for reimbursement. For very costly treatments, some vets will let the owner delay payment until the claim has gone through.

Beyond covering costs of veterinary treatment, policies offering routine care coverage or comprehensive coverage extend coverage to include preventive care such as vaccinations, routine checkups, dental treatment, and bloodwork. Some policies cover prescription drugs. Alternative treatment such as physiotherapy, acupuncture, and reiki is covered by some plans.

Some policies provide benefits for costs supplementary to veterinary care. These can include covering housing and travel-related costs for owners who must remain with sick pets or cancel travel plans to be with their pets. The cost of printing posters or paying rewards to retrieve a lost pet may also be covered by some plans.

Some dog insurance policies provide liability protection in the event a dog causes a traffic accident and the owner must pay for damages.

Pet Insurance Exclusions

Pet insurance typically includes some notable exclusions. To avoid exorbitant fees, most companies will only cover what their benefit schedules consider usual and customary charges.

Other exclusions act as a safeguard against high-risk policies and fraudulent applications. Most policies limit coverage for pets with pre-existing conditions. There is also typically a waiting period of up to two weeks between the time a policy is bought and the time a claim can be filed, to screen for pre-existing conditions that were contracted before coverage began but did not become visible until after the policy was purchased.

Some insurance providers won’t insure pets older than 9. Premiums are more expensive for older animals.

Types of Pet Insurance

There are two main types of pet insurance: non-lifetime coverage and lifetime coverage.

Non-lifetime coverage is updated annually if the owner has submitted a claim. It covers most conditions a pet may suffer during the course of the year, but if the owner files a claim for a specific condition, that condition will be excluded upon renewal the following year. If the pet requires additional treatment, the owner will have to pay for it.

Lifetime coverage covers a pet throughout their lifetime, without excluding conditions on a year-to-year basis. However, lifetime policies may have excluding limits on a “per condition” or “per year” or “per condition, per year” basis. The exact wording of your policy can affect whether your pet will be covered in the event of a condition requiring ongoing treatment, so read the fine print.

Recommended Resources

You, Your Pet and Pet Health Insurance: Ways to Save Money on Vet Bills
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Find out now about the importance of Pet Health Insurance and if it is right for you and your pet. With the cost of Vet services on the rise you could save not only a lot of money but maybe even your pets life.

Your Guide to Understanding Pet Health Insurance
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Describes how pet health insurance works and the important factors that pet owners should consider before purchasing insurance for their pets. It has examples of how insurance companies reimburse pet owners for claims that are filed. The book gives detailed information of each company’s policies that sells insurance in the United States. It supplies tables that can help guide pet owners to choose the right company and then the right policy for their pet. There is also a bonus section giving pet owners two books for the price of one. The Wise Pet Owner, helps pet owners learn how to avoid unnecessary trips to the veterinarian and therefore save thousands of dollars. The advice given can literally save a pet’s life and help insure that pet owners enjoy many happy years together with their beloved pets.

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Home insurance

Exactly what coverage your home insurance provides depends on the specifics of your policy. This introduction will walk you through different types of coverage that are available, what types of coverage are typically excluded, what kinds of plans are available to help you protect your home, and the basics of home insurance costs, including what discounts you may be eligible for.

What Is Home Insurance?

Home insurance is also known as home owners insurance (HOI), house insurance, or hazard insurance. It may cover a dwelling and its contents, and certain personal property outside the dwelling. It protects the property against hazards such as fire, explosions, windstorms, lightning, theft, and liability.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Home insurance coverage extends to a number of different areas. Exactly what areas are covered varies from one policy to another.

Structural coverage covers damage to a home from causes such as fire, wind, and theft. It is sometimes divided into dwelling coverage for the main home and other dwellings coverage for detached structures such as detached garages.

Personal property protection or contents insurance provides repayment for damage or loss of personal possessions located in a home, and sometimes in a garage or garden. It is sometimes sold with home insurance and sometimes sold separately to renters. Full replacement value coverage for personal property and high-value items insurance like jewelry may be offered separately.

Living expenses reimbursement or loss of use coverage provides additional living expenses to assist in the event that a covered loss prevents a homeowner and their family from living in their home. It helps pay for expenses such as temporary housing and food.

Personal liability protection protects a homeowner and their family from liability for accidentally causing injury to others or for damaging someone else’s property.

Medical payments (MedPay) coverage or guest medical coverage helps pay for medical expenses of visitors injured in your home when there is no lawsuit.

What Does Home Insurance Exclude?

Home insurance requires that at least one of the beneficiaries named in the policy occupies the home. Different types of property insurance are available for non-occupied homes.

Earthquake damage and flood damage are usually not included in basic home insurance and must be purchased separately.

Claims must be documented to be covered. You may need documentation such as a professional assessment your home’s value, photos of your possessions, and medical bills.

High-value items such as jewelry, furs, and collectibles may have coverage limits unless you buy special riders to fully cover them.

What Kinds of Home Insurance Plans Are Available?

Home insurance specialists currently use eight standardized homeowners insurance forms, designated HO1 through HO8. The first five are for standard homes, with HO3 being most widely used. HO4 is for renters, and HO5 adds “premier” features to HO3. HO6 is for condominiums, HO7 is for mobile homes, and HO8 is for older houses.

HO1, called Basic Form Homeowner Policy, covers a home against 11 listed perils: fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, vandalism or malicious mischief, theft, damage from vehicles and aircraft, explosion riot or civil commotion, glass breakage, smoke, volcanic eruption, and personal liability. It excludes earthquake and flood damage and requires that contents be explicitly listed to be included.

HO2, called Broad Form Homeowner Policy, includes the 11 perils covered by HO1 plus 6 additional perils, for a total of 17.

HO3, called Special Form Homeowner Policy, provides all risk coverage. It covers all types of perils except a list of excluded items, such as earthquakes and floods. It is the standard form of comprehensive coverage for single-family homes.

What Does Home Insurance Cost?

The cost of a home insurance plan is usually based on what it would cost to replace your home. You should obtain this information from a source such as a local builder before seeking home insurance quotes. If your home includes features made of any special materials, like a stone fireplace, make sure the builder is aware that you want these included in the estimate. Otherwise your estimate may be based on the cost of less expensive materials.

Likewise, you should take a home inventory to itemize your property possessions and estimate their value, especially for valuable items like jewelry.

A cheaper plan is not necessarily better. Read the fine print and consider higher-priced coverage. A basic homeowners policy may not completely replace your home. You can buy guaranteed replacement cost coverage that will pay whatever it costs to rebuild your home. You can also buy a guard against inflation. Choosing a higher deductible is also a good idea. There are a number of other options you can select to enhance the quality of your coverage.

You may be eligible for discounts if you’re insuring a new home or you’ve taken precautionary measures to protect your home, such as renovating your home’s structure and mechanical systems, using fire resistant materials, or installing protective devices like smoke detectors and burglar alarms. You may also qualify for discounts if you’re retired or if you’re combining your home and auto insurance. Check your discount eligibility when selecting a policy.

You can compare home insurance quotes online by using a resource such as InsWeb.

Worthy Home Insurance Resources

CNNMoney on Home Insurance
What does a standard home insurance policy cover?
Allstate overview of Homeowners Insurance
Home Insurance Quotes