Unitrin Direct is dedicated to simplifying auto insurance with the right balance of competitive rates, stability and service. As a subsidiary of Unitrin, Inc. (NYSE:UTR), in Chicago, Unitrin Direct is part of a Unitrin family of companies that has six million policyholders and $9 billion in assets.

Get a FREE Car Insurance Quote from Unitrin Direct!

Obtaining individual insurance quotes by calling insurance companies could be a time consuming and frustrating experience. The good news is that you can do this in less than two minutes by filling out just one intuitive easy & quick online questioner.

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If you’re searching for quick, easy, affordable insurance quotes, your search is over! With one simple application, InsureMe will get you insurance quotes from top-notch insurance companies. All you need to do is compare coverage and pick which policy is the best for you!

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You may have heard about the recent merger of 21st and AIG Auto Insurance, and you may be asking what it means to you as a policyholder. Rest asured, you will continue to receive the same great products and services that you are used to receiving from 21st Century Insurance.

Get a FREE Car Insurance Quote from 21st Century Insurance!

Electric Insurance Company is a national writer of personal insurance, specializing in car insurance, home insurance, umbrella coverage and more. They were established in 1966 to serve the needs of General Electric employees but now also offer their insurance products to the general public.

Get a FREE Car Insurance Quote from Electric Insurance!

Obtaining individual insurance quotes by calling insurance companies could be a time consuming and frustrating experience. The good news is that you can do this in less than two minutes by filling out just one intuitive easy & quick online questioner.

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If you’re searching for quick, easy, affordable insurance quotes, your search is over! With one simple application, InsureMe will get you insurance quotes from top-notch insurance companies. All you need to do is compare coverage and pick which policy is the best for you!

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Electric Insurance Company is a national writer of personal insurance, specializing in car insurance, home insurance, umbrella coverage and more. They were established in 1966 to serve the needs of General Electric employees but now also offer their insurance products to the general public.

Get a FREE Home Insurance Quote from Electric Insurance!

Term life insurance is perhaps the most important investment you can make for your family’s future because nobody can help them if anything happens to you. With HSBC Term Life Insurance coverage, they can get up to $500,000 to pay for outstanding loans, college tuition, funeral expenses and more.

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]]> http://www.american-national-insurance.com/life-insurance-quote-providers/feed/ 0 http://www.american-national-insurance.com/health-insurance-quote-providers/ http://www.american-national-insurance.com/health-insurance-quote-providers/#comments Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:00:46 +0000 admin http://www.american-family-insurance.us/?p=18 The number of uninsured Americans reached 47 million in 2006, and it continues to rise. For many of the uninsured, the lack of health insurance has dire consequences. The uninsured face medical debt, often go without necessary care, and even die prematurely.

In 2002, the Institute of Medicine released a groundbreaking report, Care without Coverage: Too Little, Too Late, which estimated that 18,000 adults nationwide died in 2000 because they did not have health insurance. Subsequently, The Urban Institute estimated that 22,000 adults died in 2006 because they did not have health insurance. To find out what this means for people across the nation, Families USA has generated the first-ever state-level estimates of the number of deaths due to lack of health insurance.

On this page, we listed some of the most popular places to get FREE health insurance quotes to see if you can get insured or if you can get better or more economical coverage than what you have now.

eHealthInsurance Services Inc., the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses. eHealthInsurance presents complex health insurance information in an objective, user-friendly format, enabling the research, analysis, comparison and purchase of health insurance products that best meet consumers’ needs.

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If you’re searching for quick, easy, affordable insurance quotes, your search is over! With one simple application, InsureMe will get you insurance quotes from top-notch insurance companies. All you need to do is compare coverage and pick which policy is the best for you!

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Obtaining individual insurance quotes by calling insurance companies could be a time consuming and frustrating experience. The good news is that you can do this in less than two minutes by filling out just one intuitive easy & quick online questioner.

Get FREE Health Insurance Quotes from 2insure4less!

Obtaining individual insurance quotes by calling insurance companies could be a time consuming and frustrating experience. The good news is that you can do this in less than two minutes by filling out just one intuitive easy & quick online questioner.

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If you’re searching for quick, easy, affordable insurance quotes, your search is over! With one simple application, InsureMe will get you insurance quotes from top-notch insurance companies. All you need to do is compare coverage and pick which policy is the best for you!

Get FREE Car Insurance Quotes from InsureMe! 

Dealing with health insurance and how it covers your medical bills can be a complicated and stressful issue. You may have an Indemnity or Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan that pays medical bills after they are incurred. Or you may be covered under one of the many varieties of Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans that “pre-authorize” certain treatments and disallow others. Either way, problems can arise in how the claims are handled, and unless caught early, they can grow into major financial and legal dilemmas.

It’s tempting to ignore the whole medical payment process and assume that the insurance company and the doctors are handling everything satisfactorily. However, a rude awakening will usually occur when you receive a large bill for charges the insurance “denied or disallowed” or your HMO doctor finally admits that some of the treatments she recommended were not approved by the “HMO Committee.”

Whether it is claims payments or treatment authorizations, most billing and precertification communication between a doctor and the insurance company is in codes, and one misplaced digit can make a substantial difference in the medical care paid for or allowed. It is important to catch those small errors early, and you, as the claimant, are the best person to do it.

You do not have to become an insurance expert to be able to oversee just how your insurance company is processing the medical bills you are incurring. At the least, you can get minor errors corrected quickly; at worst, you have built a solid file that will save the attorney or benefits counselor you hire a lot of billable time. It will take some time and effort on your to understand how the process works and how you can affect it, but it will be well worth it.

The first step is, of course, “Know Your Coverage.” Easy advice to give, but this is often the biggest problem in overseeing your coverage. Insurance contracts are scary; they’re hard to read; they don’t make a lot of sense if you’re not a lawyer. You don’t need to memorize your plan or know every single provision to understand how it works.

Get a copy of your coverage. It may be an insurance policy, a booklet of coverage, a Summary Plan Description, or a chapter in an employee benefits manual. The health plan description will cover twenty to thirty pages or more.

Don’t try to sit down and read it all the way through. That would put anyone to sleep. But, look through it. Note the different parts. There will be parts that describe the benefits. There will be sections that tell when you become covered and when your coverage ends and what may be available after it ends. Don’t try to memorize every provision of your plan so much as just get familiar with where things are so you can refer to them as you deal with the insurance company.

Things you should try to find are:

The Schedule of Benefits – This is often at the front of the plan. It’s the part that tells what the insurance company pays and what you pay. It lists the deductibles, the insurance percentages they pay, the co-pays you are expected to pay at each doctor’s visit, etc.

Covered Benefits – Often separate from the schedule of benefits, this will be a listing of what is covered. In some plans this will be a fairly long list; others will give a short list of a broad range of benefits covered.

Exclusions and Limitations – This lists the things that the plan will not cover like experimental treatment, or cosmetic surgery. It also lists the things that it will cover but puts special limits on, such as mental health, or convalescent home care, or treatment for conditions that existed when your coverage started. You may want to paperclip this section, as you may need to refer to it more frequently.

Claims Procedures – This will be a couple of pages that talks about filing claims. The important section here is the part that tells you how to appeal denials. You may want to read that through, as there are usually some important time limits and other information there.

Mark it up. This is the rulebook that the insurance company must play by so don’t hesitate to use paperclips, tabs, highlighting and underlining to make it easier for you to use.

The policy alone may not be that helpful, but you will find it valuable as you work with the insurance company and your medical provider when there are claims questions since it must contain the basis of their denials or cutbacks.

How you watch the medical claims depends on what type of plan you are under. If you have coverage through an Indemnity Plan or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan, the insurance company will process the claims and pay their portion after you have received the treatment.

With these plans you will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) every time they process a charge. Review each EOB carefully. Was everything “allowed” in full even if only a percentage was paid. If not, call and ask for an explanation. There will usually be a toll-free number on the EOB. Take notes as to whom you talk to and what they say. Don’t be bashful about asking for more clarification. Follow the appeal procedures to challenge their decision, if you disagree. Ask for your doctor’s help with supporting your appeal.

For Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans, most of the claims work is done between your doctor and the HMO and consists of authorizing treatment before it is given, not paying the bill after. Learn about your medical condition. Know what alternatives to treatment are available.

Then you need to spend some time with your doctor (or your doctor’s insurance clerk) to understand when and what has to be pre-authorized by the HMO. How successful are they in obtaining approvals? How often are they denied? Can you be notified of denials and participate in appeals?

Health insurance is not maintenance free. It can’t be just “turned on and forgotten.” Just as you must take an active role in your health care and treatment as a patient, you must also stay alert and active as an insured with how your medical care is authorized and paid for.

Jacques Chambers, CLU, spent twenty-five years in the health and life insurance industry. He received his Chartered Life Underwriter in 1976. Since 1990, Jacques and his company, Chambers Benefits Consulting, have worked with people dealing with disabilities, educating them about their rights and advocating on their behalf. In addition to regularly writing on benefits and disability Mr. Chambers maintains a private practice where he provides individual counseling on benefits issues. He can be reached at 1-888-739-2595 or at jacques@helpwithbenefits.com. His website is: http://www.helpwithbenefits.com

The information presented in this Site is for general informational purposes, and should not be taken as legal advice. If you have a specific legal issue or problem, we recommends that you consult with an attorney.

 What is Long–term Care?

Long–term care refers to a wide range of medical, personal and social services. You may need this type of care if you have a prolonged illness or disability. This care may include help with daily activities, as well as home health care, adult daycare, nursing home care or care in a group living facility. Long–term care insurance is one way to pay for long–term care. It is designed to cover all or some of the services provided by long–term care.

When will benefits be available?

Long–term care policies have an elimination period, which is the number of days you must need nursing home care or home health care before your policy pays benefits. A shorter elimination period will mean you pay a higher premium. Elimination periods may range from 0 to 180 days. In addition, a long–term care policy does not guarantee coverage unless you satisfy certain requirements. For example, most policies require that you be unable to perform a given number of daily living activities, such as dressing, bathing and eating without assistance. Also, most policies have a benefit trigger for cognitive impairment. For example: as a policyholder you can only qualify for these benefits if you are unable to pass a test assessing your mental functioning.

How much in benefits will the policy pay?

The benefit amount usually is a daily benefit ranging from $50 to $250 per day. You may choose a benefit period that is a specific number of days, months or years. A maximum benefit period may range from one year to the remainder of your lifetime. It is important to ask the person selling the policy if the benefit amounts will increase with inflation and if that coverage increases your premium.

Are there exclusions?

Every policy has an exclusion section. Some states do not allow certain exclusions. Many long–term care policies exclude coverage for the following: 

• Mental and nervous disorders or diseases (except organic brain disorders)
• Alcoholism and drug addiction
• Illnesses caused by an act of war
• Treatment already paid for by the government
• Attempted suicide or self inflicted injury

Considerations before buying long–term care insurance

Whether you should buy long–term care insurance depends on your age and life expectancy, gender, family situation, health status, income and assets.

Age and Life Expectancy: The longer you live, the more likely it is that you will need long–term care. The younger you are when you buy the insurance, the lower your premiums will be.
Gender: Women are more likely to need long–term care because they have longer life expectancies and often outlive their husbands.
Family Situation: If you have a spouse or adult children, you may be more likely to receive care at home from family members. If family care is not available and you cannot care for yourself, paid care outside the home may be the only alternative. Different policies may cover different types of long–term care. It is important to buy a policy that will cover the type of care you expect to need and will be available in your area.
Health Status: If chronic or debilitating health conditions run in your family, you could be at greater risk than another person of the same age and gender.
Income and Assets: You may choose to buy a long–term care policy to protect assets you have accumulated. On the other hand, a long–term care policy is not a good choice if you have few assets or a limited income. Some experts recommend you spend no more than five percent of your income on a long–term care policy.

Do you qualify for Medicaid?

As an older adult, you may qualify for Medicaid, which pays almost half of the nation’s long–term care bills. To qualify for Medicaid, your monthly income must be less than the federal poverty level, and your assets cannot exceed certain limits. Medicaid will cover you only in Medicaid-approved nursing homes that offer the level of care you need. Under certain circumstances, Medicaid will pay for home health care.

Some states have long–term care insurance programs designed to help people with the financial impact of spending down to meet Medicaid eligibility standards. Under these “partnership” programs, when you buy a federally qualified partnership policy, you will receive partial protection against the normal Medicaid requirement to spend down your assets to become eligible. Check with your state insurance department or a counseling program to see if these policies are available in your state.

Key points to remember

• Long–term care insurance policies cover a wide range of medical, personal and social services.
• Understand what must happen for a policy to begin paying benefits.
• Understand the elimination period.
• Understand the daily benefits provided.
• Understand your coverage and exclusions.
• Match your need for long–term care with your need to protect assets and your ability to pay premiums.
• Understand how much your premium will be and how often it must be paid.
• Your premium may increase after your purchase.

The Web site for the National Clearinghouse for Long–term Care Information features a number of resources to help individuals start the planning process, including interactive tools such as a savings calculator, contact information for a range of programs and services, and real-life examples of how individuals have planned successfully for long–term care.

The Clearinghouse was authorized by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which mandates that they provide the following: objective information to help consumers decide whether to purchase long–term care insurance or to pursue other private market alternatives that pay for long–term care; information about states with long–term care insurance partnerships under the Medicaid program; and information about the availability and limitations of coverage for long–term care under the Medicaid program. 

For more information, contact the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The information presented in this Site is for general informational purposes, and should not be taken as legal advice. If you have a specific legal issue or problem, we recommends that you consult with an attorney.

Corporate medicine is intent on shackling health care expenses by doctors and other medical profes-sionals against the interests of patients. For the patient denied treatment, this is an adversarial system.

How can patients or their allies help themselves in a system that is set up not to help them get treatment?

Your tactics must be those of negotiation. Everything is negotiableÅwith the HMO, the HMO doctor, and the HMO hospital. In a negotiation, establishing what is reasonable is the goal. What should a reasonable person have to do in order to document his or her need for treatment? What should a reasonable cooperation have to provide and how long should it take? Is the company reasonably living up to the letter and spirit of state law? Reasonableness always includes a reasonable timetable. When will a decision be made to approve care? Who is the decision-maker? How long will it take to schedule the procedure? What is the longest it will take before this doctor sees me? These are the types of standards someone negotiating with their HMO or HMO doctor must require.

HMOs have time on their side. They will delay as a tactic of denial. Because most patients cannot sue HMOs for a denial or delay of treatment and receive damages if they prevail, the company has an incentive to stonewall. A seriously ill patient may not have the energy for a struggle and others close to them must take on that role. So what can a patient or their allies do?

There are some general rules one can follow in dealing with HMOs, but there are no panaceas, simply precautionary measures.

Write everything down. Bring a notepad and pen and take notes on what your doctor tells you. It will help keep track of your care, catch any errors, and provide a record should there be a question of inappropriate treatment.

If you are denied care, ask for it in writing. You will need a record of the denial if you want to dispute it. Leave a “paper trail”. If it becomes apparent that you are not getting cooperation, memorialize in written correspondence all conversations.

Find out the timelines. Most states have regulations establishing the timeframe within which a treatment or coverage decision must be made. Contact the appropriate regulatory body in your state and find out what those timelines are. Then make sure that everyone you deal with at the medical group or HMO knows that you know those timelines and then, make sure that they stick to them. In addition, non-government groups that accredit HMOs may have more stringent timeline requirements. Find out if your HMO is a member of organizations such as the National Committee for Quality Assurance (www.ncqa.org), American Accreditation of HealthCare Commission/URAC (www.urac.org), and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (www.jcaho.org). Know that organization’s timeline requirements for the health plan’s decision-making process.

Appeal treatment denial to regulators. Find the appropriate state agency and their rules for filing a complaint. Medicare and Medicaid recipients can take a complaint to the federal Health Care Financing Administration. Don’t rely on governmental agencies as your savior; many are ineffective. Patients must be persistent. HMOs don’t like too many documented complaints, so include a carbon copy to state regulators and politicians of any contested correspondence.

Complain to the accrediting organization. HMOs rely on their accreditation by non-governmental organizations (NCQA, URAC, and JCAHO) in marketing to employers and unions. In addition to copying your documentation to the state regulators, send a copy to any accrediting organization where your HMO is a member.

Find allies in the medical profession. When medical experts advocate care HMOs find it harder to deny treatment. Insist on second or third opinions from a qualified professional. If your HMO won’t pay for a second opinion, pay out of your own pocket. It could save your life.

Ask how your doctor is paid. Under new rules, Medicare recipients are entitled to see a summary of their physician’s contract with their HMO, which would give details of any incentive to withhold treatment. Many states also provide that this information must be given to plan members if requested. Ask for it. File a complaint with your state’s medical board if you believe that your doctor is withholding treatment for his of her pecuniary gain.

Never take “no” for an answer. Always ask if there are treatment options available for you other than those that the HMO recommends. If you have a problem, take it up the ladder — fast. If you get health care through your work, enlist the help of your employer’s personnel department.

Never stay in the hospital by yourself. Have a spouse, loved one or friend present at all times when you are in the hospital, even if that means they sleep in a chair. Having an advocate present to monitor what is happening around you, to make sure you get the treatment that you need, is essential. If something goes wrong, he or she can act quickly to secure assistance.

Don’t be intimidated by someone else’s uniform, occupation, credentials and stature. You’re paying the bills, not only as a consumer, but also as a taxpayer that helps fund the medical system. Write or call everyone you can think of in the HMO; contact your elected representatives for help; write the newspapers; whenever possible, enlist your doctor as an advocate for you; involve your employer if you get your health care through work. Don’t let the bureaucrats slow you down.

Always maintain a reasonable, professional and calm demeanor both in person and in writing. If you lose control, make threats of violence or use foul language, you will simply be dismissed as a “crank”, a “flake”, or a “weirdo” and you will not accomplish your goal.

Get the medical care you need. You must always remember that your health care is your most important priority. Do whatever you have to do to get the medical care you need — mortgage your house, get loans from friends and relatives, try to make deals with doctors and hospitals, get community help with fundraisers. Get the care and worry about the money later.

Get a lawyer if you need one. Lawsuits are no fun. Most who have gone through the process say they underestimated how hard it would be, especially to relieve medical trauma. There is the possibility that you can have a legitimate case but will be unable to prove it in court, or laws won by the insurance industry may limit your right to even go to court. Nevertheless, legal options are often your only leverage against profit-driven managed care.

If possible, never give up the right to go to court. Avoid signing arbitration agreements that force you into HMO-controlled private justice systems. Cross out arbitration clauses and initial it. If your employer has signed your right away, lobby to change that provision of the contract. Some insurers require you to file complicated internal complaints before going to court. Follow these instructions exactly, but don’t delay consulting a lawyer in the meantime.If you do not want to be denied care, remember that the fight begins with an understanding of the system and its foibles. Be an aware consumer.

Jamie Court is a Consumer Health Care Advocate with the Foundation For Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. For additional information, you may want to read his recent book on the topic Making A Killing: HMOs and the Threat to Your Health (Common Courage Press, 1999), and you can find it on the Internet at www.makingakilling.org

The information presented in this Site is for general informational purposes, and should not be taken as legal advice. If you have a specific legal issue or problem, we recommends that you consult with an attorney.

When you get in an accident, what should you do? The first steps are easy: move your car to the side of the road, make sure everyone is okay, call 911, take pictures of the vehicles, exchange information with the other party and call your insurance company. But what do you do when the insurance company calls you?

Dealing with your insurance company

Many times, the first person who will call you is a claims adjuster. This person works for your insurance company. It may be a “staff adjuster” employed by your insurance company, or it may be an “independent” adjuster. (An independent adjuster works for a private company, but has been hired by the insurance company.) They are going to ask you a series of questions, generally in this order:

1. Where is your car located
2. Is your car damaged?
3. What happened in the accident?
4. Was anyone hurt?

They want to know where your car is located to make sure that it is not accruing storage charges from a tow shop. If it is, they will ask you to call the tow shop and authorize the vehicle to be released. Most insurance companies will then move your car to one of their preferred body shops. If your car is at a tow yard, you should release it to your insurance company. Let them move it. This is not a battle to fight.

They then want to know if your car was damaged, and generally where the damage is located. You do not need to speak in auto terms — just tell them “driver’s side,” “passenger’s side,” “front,” “back,” etc… If the car is seriously damaged, let them know. If the damage is minor, let them know that as well.

When they ask you what happened in the accident, they may ask you for a recorded statement. You are NOT required to allow them to record your statement. Your policy requires that you cooperate with your insurance company but there is nothing in most policies that requires you to give a recorded statement. Answer their questions but do not give them a recorded statement at this time. Tell them what you know, and if you are still shaken, tell them that you want a day or two to settle down, and then talk to them.

You should let them know if anyone was hurt. You may have medical payments (med pay) coverage that will pay any bills you incur for injuries you sustain. They also need to know if anyone else was hurt. Tell them what you know, and if you are not sure if you are hurt, tell them that as well.

Repairing Your Car

The insurance company is going to recommend one of their preferred shops. They have arrangements with shops that will do some of the work (such as photographing your car) for the insurance company. You are not required to go to one of their shops. You can go to any shop you choose. There are some very good shops that are preferred vendors for some insurance companies. There are also some very bad shops. You should never go to a shop unless you can get a personal recommendation from a friend, reliable contact or family member. When you determine where you want the car fixed, tell the insurance company and the adjuster will reach an agreed price with the shop. This is the price that the insurance company agrees to pay, and the shop agrees to accept. You should not be charged anything other than your deductible.

The parts your car was manufactured with are known as Original Equipment (from) Manufacturer, or “OEM”. The insurance company may write an estimate using pricing for aftermarket (sometimes called “crash” or “non-OEM”) parts. There has been a lot of debate as to whether these parts are as good or reliable as original equipment manufacturer parts. If your selected body shop agrees and in most cases, non-OEM parts will be fine, but if they recommend OEM parts or if you have a high end vehicle you should demand that your insurer cover the cost of repairs with OEM parts only. Support for your position can come from the basic principles that insurance is designed to put you back as close as possible to the same position you were in before a loss and “like kind and quality” has traditionally been the standard for replacement.

The insurance company may also want to put on used parts. These are parts that can be bought at an auto recycler from another car that was damaged. These parts are usually OEM parts and are a good replacement if your car is damaged. If your choice is between good condition used parts from an auto recycler or non-OEM parts, choose the former.

You may also be entitled to a rental vehicle. (For tips on properly insuring a rental car read UP’s tips from our Fall 2005 newsletter) Your policy will pay a maximum, usually $20 or $25 per day for the rental vehicle. You will be responsible for all extra charges. Call around and find the best deal for a rental car. You do not have to go with the insurer’s recommended rental car company.

Resolving Your Injury Claim

If you are injured in an accident, you are entitled to recover the reasonable value of your medical bills, your lost wages and a reasonable value for your pain and suffering. Despite what you may read on the internet, there is no formula for calculating this amount. Each case has its own value. Determining what your case is worth takes experience, and you probably want to consult with an attorney.

If you decide to go it alone, remember that you have two years from the date of the accident to either settle your case or file a lawsuit. The adjuster cannot extend this time for you — even if they agree to extend it. You must settle or file a lawsuit, period.

Some adjusters will tell you that their computer gave them a value. Do not listen to them. Their software, generally Colossus, cannot figure out what a case is worth. It determines value based on what they input. Since you do not know what they input, you cannot trust the outcome. Therefore, you should not accept this amount.

Other adjusters will “drop draft” you. This means that they send you a check, usually for $500, and a release. They ask you to sign it, deposit the check, and mail the release back to them. Do not accept this. Adjusters do not drop draft you for the full value of your case. They only drop draft when they are trying to settle a case for less than it is worth. If you receive a check in the mail from the insurance company, that should be a sign that you need legal representation.

Conclusion

When you are in an auto accident, the insurance adjuster may try different tactics with you. Most of these tactics have the same goal — saving the insurance company money. The insurance adjuster is not your friend, although the good ones will make you think they are. While these tips do not cover every circumstance, they will give you enough of a start to make the adjuster know that you have an idea of how the system works. That alone will help you with your claim.

This article was written at UP’s request by Elk Grove, CA. attorney and C.P.C.U. society member Jonathan G. Stein. Jonathan worked for many years in the insurance industry before “switching sides.” He now represents policyholders in claim dispute. His website and articles are recommended reading.

The information presented in this Site is for general informational purposes, and should not be taken as legal advice. If you have a specific legal issue or problem, we recommends that you consult with an attorney.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Earlier this week, we told you how to cut your fees. Now, how to save more money on your insurance. Here are some insurance policies you should think twice about.

1: Skip the cancer insurance

This kind of insurance is meant to supplement health insurance for cancer-care costs. But generally you’re better off putting your money toward comprehensive health policies.

Premiums range from $200 to $3,000 a year for cancer insurance, according to Consumer Reports. And some policies only pay for hospital care. This is a big deal considering that cancer care treatment is given on an outpatient basis…including radiation and chemotherapy.

Some policies have waiting periods of a month – and if you’re diagnosed with cancer within that time, you may not be covered. Other policies stop paying benefits after a fixed period of two or three years. And sometimes you won’t even be able to get this insurance if you smoke.

2: Say “no” to Mortgage Life insurance

This kind of insurance policy will repay your mortgage in the event of your death, disability or some incapacitating disease. But the cost of this policy can be three to five times as much as comparable term-life insurance, according to Consumer Reports.

Plus, the value of this insurance actually declines as you pay down your mortgage. If you’re worried about burdening your heirs with mortgage payments, you’d be better off buying straight life insurance.

3: Forget ID theft insurance

This kind of insurance is sold by banks, credit-card issuers, and specialty insurers. It covers the cost of repairing your credit and sometimes attorney’s fees. Policies can cost between $25 and $50 for up to $25,000 in coverage.

But remember getting this insurance isn’t going to fix your credit or give you back the thousands of dollars stripped from your bank accounts.

In fact, a recent study found that most ID theft victims lost about $750 – but incurred no out of pocket costs. The ID Theft Resource Center even noted that they’ve never heard of a claim being paid out. And don’t forget, you have some consumer protections in place already.

You’re only liable for $50 for unauthorized credit card purchases. The bottom line is that you’ll be much better off keeping an eye on your credit reports.

4: Be wary of Annuity Fees

Buying an annuity may seem like the next best thing to mom’s apple pie. After all, you’re putting away as much tax-deferred money as you can and getting a monthly check for life. And since annuities are marketed heavily, it’s no doubt, you’ll get a rosy picture of these investment vehicles. But you’ll really want to keep an eye on those fees and withdrawal penalties.

On average, you’ll pay about 2 percent to 2.35 percent in basic fees for a variable annuity, compared with 1.40 percent for the average mutual fund. And don’t forget, you’ll have to pay the taxman sooner or later. And remember, annuities are not guaranteed by the government. Make sure you check the credit worthiness of the insurance company, says Dave Evans of Independent Agents and Brokers of America.

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