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When to get long-term-care insurance
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It's not alarmist to think that you'll need long-term care in your lifetime. Among Americans who reach their 65th birthday, 45% will have to pay for some kind of long-term-care services, according to the actuarial firm Milliman.
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Private nurses for common folks
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You may think of private nurses as a luxury for the ultra-rich, like a butler or personal chauffeur. But hiring in-house medical care has become an increasingly viable option for regular folks too.
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5 things to know about permanent life insurance
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1. It's more coverage than most people need
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The cost of long-term care
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Some insurance decisions are easy. Take life insurance. You know you need it to replace the income your spouse and kids would lose if you died. Insurers don't have much leeway to dispute claims for death benefits because "deceased" is a pretty definite condition.
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Health costs race past inflation
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Health insurance premiums in 2007 rose 6.1 percent, the lowest growth rate in eight years but still well above inflation and worker earnings, according to the latest annual survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
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Teetering on the edge of insurance
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Small business owners Gordon and Babette Brennan used to pay as much as $800 a month for health insurance. But the Jupiter, Fla. couple felt like they received little in return: Claims for ordinary pediatrician visits for their son Ryan were denied. Procedures like blood tests weren't covered. Co-pays were $40 a pop.
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If a storm hits, are you covered?
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The floods and rain in the Midwest continue to cause severe problems there. We spoke with one family whose home was destroyed by a mudslide.
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Bad credit? Insurers will make you pay
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By now you know that you need to keep tabs on your credit history to make a good impression on lenders, landlords and employers. But did you know that your home and auto insurers are also looking?
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Correct medical billing snafus
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Consumers have to be vigilant when it comes to unraveling billing mistakes.
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The wrong (and right) way to get income for life
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You've no doubt seen those AXA Equitable commercials in which an 800-pound gorilla advises a couple nearing retirement to consider annuities as a way to guarantee income for the rest of their lives.
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Tornados: Are you covered?
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The devastation in Florida could happen anywhere. Here's what you need to know about your homeowners' insurance.
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Save on your insurance costs
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Earlier this week, we told you how to cut your fees. Now, how to save more money on your insurance.
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Medicare in 2007: What you need to know
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When Medicare began offering Part D prescription drug coverage for the first time this year, seniors had six months to sort through the chaos - and it was chaos - to pick a plan.
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How to buy long-term care insurance
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It's no surprise that healthcare costs are soaring. The cost of a nursing home today is about $71,000 annually, or about $200 a day. The cost for assisted living is about $32,000 a year or $88 dollars a day.
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Thinking twice about variable universal life
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QUESTION: I'm single, in my 30s and I'm already maxing out my 401(k) and IRA account. My financial planner is recommending I purchase a variable universal life policy, the rationale being that I have exhausted all of my other tax-advantaged investment opportunities. I trust my adviser, but I don't understand whether a variable universal life policy is really a good deal. What do you think? George K., Hartford, Conn.
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What I learned when my tree fell down
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I consider myself financially savvy, so when my husband told me that our beautiful, 200-year-old red oak had fallen during a rainstorm while I was away, I was sad but not worried.
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Home insurance you need
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Getting the enough insurance coverage for your home is the only way to protect your most valuable asset. In today's tips we're going to tell you what you need to know BEFORE a storm strikes.
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Get the right amount of life insurance
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QUESTION: My husband and I own our home, plus we have two rental homes and two investment homes that are now for sale. My husband recently cashed out his whole life policy and ended up with around $6,000. Given the assets we own and the fact that we have a $250,000 line of credit, my husband feels we don't need life insurance any longer, so he also wants to terminate my policy. I think we still ought to have term life insurance, however, as we have seven children, three of which are still at home. Who do you think is right, me or my husband? - Cindy, Tempe, Arizona
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Growing number of working uninsured
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It's not just the unemployed going without health insurance. Faced with soaring premiums in company-provided plans, millions of employed Americans are opting out.
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Prepare for any disaster
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Buying insurance is the kind of unpleasant financial task you'd like to do once and then forget about. Don't. A lot may have changed since you last bought home or life coverage.
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