How Did Insurance Start

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The word insurance refers to any contract where a person pays another person or business to insure the safety, but to be more precise, pay for the replacement of any such personal property if said property is lost, destroyed, or damaged in some other way other then the neglect or purposeful destruction of the owner of said property.  There is insurance for just about anything, insurance is generally divided into four areas; vehicle, property, health, and life insurance.

Insurance has been around since society began.  The earliest form of insurance was the old protection rackets that organized crime families still use even today.  Criminals or rulers of a country would ‘guarantee’ that a business or home would not be damaged or destroyed by criminal activities for a weekly cut of said earnings of the business.  This form of blackmail and extortion quickly led to merchants and shopkeepers living in their businesses.  So that when the criminals came they would be greeted by sword and spear.  These actions, taken by these early businessmen, led to the old saying, “The greatest protection comes by the sword.” 

About 2-3 millennia ago, the first contract was formed that displayed what we know now as property insurance. If any carrier or transporter was attempting to carry goods from one point to another, they would guarantee the property, or cargo. They guaranteed it from the shipper and receivers side. This made transporters more confident in their deliveries and they took more chances which increased the trading and transporting of goods. They often etched these contracts in stone or papyrus after they decided verbal agreements did not hold up well in most cases.

Later on, people would hire guards. In today’s times, it would be the equivalent of a security guard. These guards, which were often times retired soldiers, would follow a transportation of goods or wherever they were needed. It was very hard work, but it paid well. Many retired soldiers took this form of work up as a way of living.

Now in the modern age, insurance is a necessity for a normal life in every nation on Earth.  Insurance now covers Life, property, wellbeing, and even accountability from lawsuits.  The insurance business is now a multi-billion dollar industry.  The first known insurance business was started after the Great London Fire in 1666. The fire destroyed 13,200 houses. After this tragedy, Nicholas Barbon opened an office to insure buildings. In 1680, he established England’s first fire insurance company, “The Fire Office,” to insure brick and frame homes.

The first insurance company in the United States was founded in Charleston, South Carolina in 1732.  The company insured against fire damage and Benjamin Franklin assisted in popularizing the concept of insurance in the country at the time.  In 1752, Benjamin Franklin founded the Philadelphia Contributorship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. Franklin’s company was the first to make contributions toward fire deterrence. His company also tried to warn against certain fire hazards, but it refused to cover structures that were at considerable risk of fire, such as wooden houses or warehouses.

As you can see, insurance has come a very long way and it continues to be part of our everyday lives. With the cost of living and property we own; it is true for the general public that you can’t live without insurance. In many areas, insurance is required on some items.

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How Did Insurance Begin

The word insurance refers to any agreement where a person pays another person or business to indemnify the safety, but to be more precise, pay for the replacement of any such personal property if said possession is lost, destroyed, or damaged in some other way other then the neglect or willful destruction of the property by said owner.  There is insurance for just about anything, insurance is generally divided into four areas; vehicle, property, health, and life insurance.

The earliest form of insurance can be seen when kings and criminals ruled the kingdom. In this day in age, it was more a form of blackmail rather than a security. Nonetheless, it was security and business owners, as well as home owners relied heavily on it. It was the ruler’s word that the businesses would be protected from being damaged by criminals and the like if they supplied then with a portion of the profits of the business. Knowing the rulers, these were no small cuts. The business owners did pay it and had soldiers at their business residences for protection. This is why it would not be uncommon to find the businesses owner actually move into where they work. They wanted the ultimate form of protection.

About 2-3 millennia ago, the first contract was formed that displayed what we know now as property insurance. If any carrier or transporter was attempting to carry goods from one point to another, they would guarantee the property, or cargo. They guaranteed it from the shipper and receivers side. This made transporters more confident in their deliveries and they took more chances which increased the trading and transporting of goods. They often etched these contracts in stone or papyrus after they decided verbal agreements did not hold up well in most cases.

Later on, people would hire guards. In today’s times, it would be the equivalent of a security guard. These guards, which were often times retired soldiers, would follow a transportation of goods or wherever they were needed. It was very hard work, but it paid well. Many retired soldiers took this form of work up as a way of living.

The absolute first known insurance company was started in France in the year 1666. This was started after a great fire that destroyed 13,200 homes and left France devastated in many ways. With this, they developed a Fire Office that insured homes that were made of brick and wood. 

Benjamin Franklin was the first person to adopt a fire insurance company in the United States of America during 1752. In his plan, the insurance company only insured houses and the like that were not warehouses or made of wood. What they did do different is educate people about fire hazards and ways to take preventative steps. 

As you can see, insurance has come a very long way and it continues to be part of our everyday lives. With the cost of living and property we own; it is true for the general public that you can’t live without insurance. In many areas, insurance is required on some items.

Technorati Tags: car insurance, disability insurance, finance, household insurance, insurance, life insurance, money, personal finance

How to have a good insurance?

The insurance industry has recently shown a lot of growth as compared to other industries. Few years back nobody bothered about insurance that much as they are concerned today. In today’s scenario one can insure anything but sometimes the difficulty comes in choosing the right company and deciding what to insure. This article will help you in understanding the basic of insurance, what to ask for and how to lower the premium. In short it will help you to decide better.

Today, the scenario is a very much different as there is insurance available for almost anything. This industry is not just well-known it has expanded to a great extent and there is a lot of diversity in services offered. However, along with so many different services comes the problem of choice. Looking at so many insurance products, the average consumer does tend to become confused on what’s best. Read this article to understand not just the basic of insurance, but also find out which insurance type serves you best, points that you must ask your insurance broker about the insurance type you want to opt and finally how to reduce insurance premiums. 

In the recent years, with the risk of losing property and money has increased many folds, due to various reasons such as, growing frequencies of natural calamities, road traffic accidents, etc. All this has led people to become more aware of the need for insurance, so as to preserve their health and wealth. Insurance provide a sort of peace of mind and satisfaction  as there is no fear of future losses. The cost of insurance is different in different countries. Insurance in South Africa is very expensive as compared to the income of the people there. 

Here average people need to pay aroundR900 to R1000 per month for the household insurance and car insurance is more expensive.  The remedy here is to choose the best and right insurance companies for your car and household needs.

The first thing you need to be aware of is that you have to avoid the middle-men in the insurance deal. This gets you access directly to the company and as a result you can avoid a whole lot of confusion on the insurance process and you also spend lesser money in getting insurance. You can ask the companies representative or any employee assigned to you about all plans and get the necessary information on your own. This really benefits you as you know the right information and this saves you a whole lot of unnecessary expenses.

Secondly, choose an insurance company who will give you simplified paperwork. This way the whole process can be completed quicker and you will finish the job of signing up for insurance as soon as possible. Companies that require heavy paper work can be quite confusing and difficult to deal with.

You should ask your insurance broker or agent about processing charges and other hidden charges, to avoid future trouble.  It is required to understand each and every condition and for that you should go through the insurance plan very cafully.The final point certainly is choose the right insurance company and also the right broker for your needs. Some insurance companies, at time offer some discounts that may be helpful for the right customer.

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Long and Short Term Disability Insurance

Having an accident or protracting an illness can be a problem, especially when it prevents you from attending work.  A short term disability insurance policy has been designed to ensure you still receive an income until you are able to return to full employment. With the stress and frustration caused by a temporary or permanent disability, disability insurance can help you not only weather the financial difficulties you may encounter during your incapacitation but also to take some of the emotional strain away the financial difficulties it is certain to create. Statistics show that someone is more likely to have an extended period from work, owing to accident or injury, and need disability insurance, than they are to die before they reach 65 years old. Unfortunately, this fact is often overlooked when life insurance coverage is being arranged. If you are aged 40 for example, there is a higher chance that you will be disabled, and thus unable to work for a period of 90 days or more, than of you dying before the age of 65.

Owing to the probability of it being used, single person disability insurance is more expensive than life cover and it is important that the most competitive rates are sought. Premiums for disability insurance are based on many characteristics like age, occupation, health and the calculations of potential lost income. Many people find that they can reduce their monthly disability insurance premiums buy delaying when the first payment would be made to them if they were to make a claim on their disability insurance plan. Another option to lower the monthly premiums is put a limit on how long the payments are to be made before they stop although if you your period of incapacitation lasts longer than this, it will mean that you will have to find an alternative source of income.

Whatever your situation though, economical insurance medical coverage usually covers only a specific percentage of your original salary. Reduced period disability insurance is also known as short term disability and although it may only last a few months, the benefits can be greater to the claimant. However, if someone takes out total disability insurance which would provide a reduced financial income for a longer period, they will probably have to show proof that they could no longer perform tasks they could before the incapacitation. In any event if a person suffers an injury and are unable to return to work, either temporarily or permanently, they will receive weekly or monthly disability checks.

Other key points to consider when looking into disability insurance are if there are restrictions on pre-existing medical conditions, whether your occupation will increase the cost of premiums, how long the payments are made and whether you will have to pay tax on the benefit. Remember that every disability insurance policy is different and they will not all provide exactly the same benefits, including how much they will pay as a percentage of your income. To give you an example: some disability insurance plans pay out as much as seventy percent of your monthly income in benefit whereas others can pay as low as forty percent so you need to do your research to avoid being paid less than you can afford to survive on. More than any other factor, it is this one that you need to be sure of as once you have taken out the plan and found it necessary to make a claim, it will be too late for you to change it.

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California State Disability Insurance

If you live and work in the state of California, you may be eligible for partial wage replacement when you qualify for state disability insurance. This is a state mandated program that is funded through employee payroll deductions. State disability insurance is very affordable and will be able to provide you with short term benefits if you are an eligible worker.

Two Types Of State Disability Insurance in California

In California there are two different types of state disability insurance known as disability insurance and paid family leave. The disability insurance provides short term benefits to workers who have suffered a loss of wages due to a non-work related illness or injury. You can also get short term state disability insurance for pregnancy or childbirth, so that while you are bringing a new life into this world, you will be able to keep up with your normal monthly expenses.

Paid family leave is another state disability insurance option. With this option you are able to get short term insurance for a loss of wages due to a variety of family related hardships. These instances include an ill child, spouse, parent or domestic partner and also the time needed to bond to with a new minor child. The state of California makes it easy to take care of yourself and your family without having to worry about loss of wages due to these beautiful and sometimes tragic family situations.

Why You Need Disability Insurance

Disability income insurance is important for those who want extra protection past the short term coverage that your employer may or may not provide. State disability insurance in California is easy to apply for and you will be able to get coverage very quickly. This will come in handy if you happen to have an accident outside of work, or your family is looking to get a new addition.

Other states also have similar types of state disability insurance, so if you live anywhere in the United States you can check on the availability of state disability insurance for you and your loved ones.

Disability insurance is an important thing to have, and hopefully you will never have to use it. But it is a good way to protect yourself against any injuries or accidents that you may suffer when you are not at work. And because of the way that short term insurance works through your company, it is important to have additional coverage outside of that.

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How Much Disability Insurance Will You Need?

There are a lot of questions when it comes to disability insurance, but you will need to know what type of disability insurance will cover your needs when you cannot work.

The Factors And Costs Of Disability Insurance

The recommendation for disability coverage for an average person is a policy that will replace at least 60 to 70 percent of your total taxable earnings. And if you want to purchase disability insurance with your dollars after taxes, you will be able to get tax-free benefits. But, if you are getting disability insurance through your employer, your plan will probably be subject to taxes. This all depends on how you want to pay for your insurance plan.

The concern that many people have is whether they should get long term disability insurance on top of their existing disability insurance plan. The answer depends upon the risk that you have for becoming disabled. If you work at a dangerous job that can easily kill or harm you during the course of the day, you will probably want this extra coverage.

Small business owners also have to choose what type of disability insurance that they need because they need to have something set in place that will help them out when they are no longer able to run or to protect the business if the owner becomes disabled. Overhead expense policies are something that a small business owner should look into if they want to help protect their business in case of a situation where they become disabled.

How To Determine The Amount Of Coverage That You Need

The best way to determine how much of a benefit that you would need if you had to use your disability insurance is to ask yourself how much monthly income would you need to cover your living expenses. And if you are disabled, you will want to make sure that you take into consideration whether these expenses will fluctuate due to your injury. You will also need to consider the high medical costs, lower work expenses and any expenses that you will need in order to retrain for a new job. And if you are unable to work again at all, you will have to look for another way to get disability payments beside the short term policy that is offered by your employer. All of these factors will determine how much coverage that you will need from your disability insurance.

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Commercial Insurance Needs For Business

Business owners all know that starting up a business takes many things; one of these is commercial insurance.  Business start-ups usually have a hard time trying to determine the amount or type of commercial insurance their business needs.  Commercial business insurance can give you needed protection against theft, property damages, liability, business interruption, injuries at the business, and other items.  Failing to secure enough commercial insurance causes business failure.

Different Types Of Insurance

There are three most common types of commercial insurance for business.  These are property, liabililty and workers’ compensation insurance. 

Property Insurance

This type of commercial business insurance covers losses due to damage of real property.  Examples of this would be fire, flood, and machinery destruction.There are different forms of this type of commercial insurance for business.
Mechanical breakdown coverage – often labeled “equipment breakdown coverage”, this type will usually cover losses from the accidental breakdown of boilers, machinery, and other equipment.  This coverage is good for computers.
Debris removal coverage – this type of coverage deals with removal of debris after a disaster such as fire, flood or windstorm.  This is the insurance that allows you to remove the remains of the old structure before building the new.
Builder’s risk insurance – this is what covers the building while being constructed.  In case of a building collapsing during construction this insurance kicks in.
Glass insurance – this is most used by retail business and covers the glass windows of the building.

Inland marine insurance – this is the insurance which covers property which is in transit or other persons property while on your premises.
Business interruption insurance – this is what covers lost income and expenses which result from property damages or loss.  This is the insurance that covers salaries, taxes, rent and net profit for the time the business is closed.
Tenant’s insurance – most often used in conjunction with commercial leases which covers the damages to improvements you have made to the rental space.
Fidelity bonds – this insurance is used to cover losses from a bonded employee’s theft of property or money.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is commercial business insurance covering injuries that you cause to third parties.  If you are sued for personal injuries or property damage, the costs of the legal actions and work would be covered by this insurance.  More specialized liability insurance is listed below.

Errors and Omissions – this insurance covers accidental mistakes or failures which cause injury to third parties.  An example would be someone failing to file proper forms or applications completely or not on time.
Malpractice insurance – this type of insurance is most commonly used by doctors, attorneys, accountants, architects and other professionals.  It is used when a third party suffers injuries from someone whose conduct falls below the professional standard of their field.
Automobile insurance – this covers all of the vehicles which are owned and used by your business.
Directors’ and Officer’s Insurance – this insurance is most used by corporations and nonprofits to cover the cost of legal action taken against their directors or officers.

Workers Compensation Insurance

This type of commercial business insurance is also listed as commercial disability insurance.  This is the insurance which is used to cover employee injuries on the job.  Workers Compensation is usually required by state law for any business with employees.

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Long or Short Term Disability Insurance Can Help

Having an accident or protracting an illness can be a problem, especially when it prevents you from attending work. Long or disability insurance has been designed to ensure you still receive an income until you are able to return to full employment. With the stress and frustration caused by a temporary or permanent disability, disability insurance can help you not only weather the financial difficulties you may encounter during your incapacitation but also to take some of the emotional strain away the financial difficulties it is certain to create. Statistics show that someone is more likely to have an extended period from work, owing to accident or injury, and need disability insurance, than they are to die before they reach 65 years old. Unfortunately, this fact is often overlooked when life insurance coverage is being arranged. If you are aged 40 for example, there is a higher chance that you will be disabled, and thus unable to work for a period of 90 days or more, than of you dying before the age of 65.

Owing to the probability of it being used, individual disability insurance is more expensive than life cover and it is important that the most competitive rates are sought. The calculations used for disability insurance take into account a persons age, the type of work they do and their health in addition to the potential value of lost income, if they make a claim. There are a few ways of reducing the cost of your disability insurance with the main one being selecting a longer period of time or waiting period following an accident or illness before the disability insurance payments commence. Some people find that by setting the plan to pay for only a set period of time, they can dramatically reduce the premiums they have to pay as it eases the potential burden to the insurance company but can be a problem if the time out of work lasts longer than the plan provides for.

Whatever your situation though, common disability insurance usually covers only a specific percentage of your original salary. Reduced period disability insurance is also known as short term disability and although it may only last a few months, the benefits can be greater to the claimant. However, if someone takes out total disability insurance which would provide a reduced financial income for a longer period, they will probably have to show proof that they could no longer perform tasks they could before the incapacitation. In any event if a person suffers an injury and are unable to return to work, either temporarily or permanently, they will receive weekly or monthly disability checks.

There are many issues to consider when exploring disability insurance which may affect the premiums and they include, in no particular order; your current occupation, whether the income is taxable, how long the benefits will be paid for and if there are any medical restrictions. Also, remember that not all disability insurance policies will cover you with the same percentage of your original salary. The percentages vary and disability insurance payouts can be anywhere from 40% to 70%, so don’t neglect this important detail. This one fact amongst all of them should be the most important one to check on in detail because once you are incapacitated it is too late.

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