Category Archives: Credit Card Debt Consolidation
Worry Grows Over Insurers
(See Correction & Amplification below.)While consumers have been fretting about the safety of their policies at large, publicly traded insurers, some smaller, less-watched companies have been running into trouble too.Insurers of all sizes are being slammed by investment losses. Some also are being dragged down by higher-than-expected claims in areas like long-term-care insurance. Regulators have … Continue reading
How to Value Stocks? Ignore Economic News
The stock market jumped 6% last week on growing hopes of an imminent economic recovery. It has risen 39% from the March lows on similar hopes. Of course, it had previously fallen nearly 60% on fears of a slump.All these moves have one thing in common: Millions of investors have acted on the belief that … Continue reading
AIG’s Rivals Blame Bailout for Tilting Game
The federal bailout of insurance giant American International Group Inc., designed to help stabilize financial markets, is roiling another corner of the corporate world.AIG’s competitors claim the insurer’s federal lifeline is unfairly tilting the commercial-insurance playing field. And they’re pressing federal officials to crack down. In a meeting March 4 at the St. Regis Hotel … Continue reading
Keeping Kids Insured
As Washington wrestles with health-care reform, states have been busy passing their own laws to allow many young adults to remain longer on a parent’s health insurance.In June, New York’s governor signed one of the most recent measures — a law allowing families to keep children up to age 29 on their employer-provided insurance, even … Continue reading
Insurers Raise Premiums on Term Life
If you’ve been in the habit of shopping around for a new term-life insurance policy every few years, you may want to reconsider that strategy: After years of falling premiums, many insurers are raising prices on term policies.Premium increases averaging about 5% to 15% started in January and are sweeping through the industry. One reason … Continue reading
A Cancer Patient Works the System
James Mannett rarely thought about medical bills or insurance during 41 years of near-perfect health. Then he got cancer and became an expert. 3:08 Cancer Survivor James Mannett talks about his struggle with his insurance company when seeking coverage for his cancer treatments and medications. Now an industry expert, he shares the lessons he’s … Continue reading
Don’t Overlap on Insurance
Travel insurance can have its benefits, but often it overlaps with protection you’re getting elsewhere.Trip insurance consists of various plans that give travelers protection if they get sick or hurt on vacation, lose luggage or suddenly have to cancel a trip.Before signing up, however, see if your health-insurance plan covers an illness or accident at … Continue reading
Getting CEO Help on Insurance Claims
Consumers at their wits’ end over a health-coverage problem sometimes try reaching out to the company’s chief executive. In a surprising number of cases, it works.Billy Rogers of Dallas says he struggled for months last year to get Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield to process bills of around $1,350 from doctor visits. The holdup … Continue reading
How to Buy Disability Insurance
Disability-insurance benefits from the workplace and the government are getting harder to come by—and that’s putting more pressure on consumers to purchase their own coverage in case a medical condition keeps them from working. But disability insurance can be confusing. Policies may include conditions that make it tough for people filing claims to actually qualify … Continue reading