Askinz finance website brings you comprehensive articles and resources you may find useful to manage your personal finance, debt, insurance and other topics ranging from how to maximise return on your savings to how to get out of sticky financial situation by finding affordable loans even if your credit history is now very good. We have articles about Payday loans, bad credit loans, debt consolidation and other forms of loans available to people with adverse credit history.
Pet Insurance and Your Pet’s Wellbeing
May 18th, 2012 
admin 
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance is cover for your animals. Whether you own a dog, cat, horse or any other animal, health bills can be expensive. There is no NHS equivalent for animals so if your favorite pet becomes ill or injured it will be up to you to pay for its care, unless you have pet insurance. Pet insurance is a product that will enable you to provide better care for your pets without breaking the bank. There are a number of different policies available and choosing the right one will depend on many factors.
In order to find the right level of cover you must first understand what cover is available. The main difference between pet insurance policies is the amount or level of cover that is offered. The three most common levels of cover are:
Limited Cover – These policies are designed to provide you with assistance with the cost of veterinary treatment for accidents and short term illness. Limited cover policies normally limit the duration of cover to 12 months and limit the amount of payout for every condition. Limited cover is typically the least expensive of all pet insurance products and will give you an affordable way to protect your pet.
Capped Cover – These policies specify a maximum amount of cover for every diagnosed condition. Capped cover policies are a bit more expensive than limited cover but will often provide you with better protection and will include many long term illnesses like asthma and eczema. You should note that once the maximum cover amount has been reached, these policies will no longer payout for the specific condition.
Lifelong Cover – These policies provide the most protection and are often the most expensive of all pet insurance policies. They give you comprehensive protection however and will fully protect against the cost of long term illnesses as well as short term and accidents. There will normally be a claimable amount specified for each condition but this amount is often reset every year so your pet is covered for life.
The actual cost of pet cover will depend on many factors including the age of your pet, its breed and where you live. Premiums are typically a bit higher in the South because veterinary fees are higher in this area. Your pet’s health will also be a determining factor in your insurance cost. A healthy pet is going to bring a lower premium. You can often bring down your policy premium by increasing the excess that you pay when a claim is filed. If you have a healthy pet then this is a good option however you should pay strict attention to the policy specifics when choosing this method of lowering your premium.
There are many things to consider when choosing pet insurance. If you take your time to compare different policies and determine the level of cover that you need, you can make your decision much easier. Also take time to compare different insurance companies and choose the one that offers the best cover at the best rate.
Travel Insurance, Is It Important?
May 15th, 2012 admin 
Travel Insurance
If you are planning a holiday abroad, travel insurance should certainly be on your list of things to consider. Many make their travel arrangements without ever thinking about adding this cover. There are a number of possible cover types available and choosing the right one can be a difficult decision. You should first understand that travel insurance is not a requirement, no matter where you are planning your holiday. It is however recommended for many reasons.
Travel insurance will protect you in many ways. If your flight is delayed for instance, this cover will compensate you. If your baggage is lost or stolen while you are on holiday or if you become ill or injured, travel insurance can be very beneficial. Note that the amount of cover and the incidents that are covered will vary by insurer so it is important to pay attention to the policy that you choose. Comprehensive cover typically protects you for medical treatment, theft, cancellations, emergency repatriation, public liability and loss of baggage.
There are many different types of cover available and policies will vary depending on the cover that you need. These policies can be chosen depending on the length of your holiday, your age, the activities that you will be taking part in and who you are traveling with. Single trip insurance is the most common type and typically covers you for just one trip. You can purchase single trip cover for yourself or your entire family. This cover is purchased before your trip and is only valid for that one trip.
Annual multi-trip travel cover is a good choice if you travel abroad frequently. If you plan to travel more than two times in one year, this can be a bit less expensive than single trip cover. The total number of trips that you are covered for will depend on our policy but most insurers allow limitless trips under the same policy. Annual policies last for twelve months from the time of purchase but be sure that you read your terms carefully. There may be a limit on how long you can spend abroad on each trip.
Worldwide travel cover is a good option if you are planning to travel outside of Europe. If you wish to visit Australia or America or another country outside of Europe you will need to purchase worldwide cover. You can also purchase family travel cover that will protect your family for a cheaper price if you are traveling abroad together. Family cover may be a bit more expensive depending on where you are traveling but most policies offer free cover for children under 18.
Group travel cover is another viable option if you are taking holiday with a large group. If for instance you are planning a trip for a stag or hen weekend then you can purchase a policy that will cover everyone in your group. Most policies will require you to depart from the same country of origin and may include an additional fee for activities that you may partake in on your holiday. This is another reason to really read through the policy before you purchase it.
Taking a holiday is an exciting time. You should not let your excitement turn to anxiety over unexpected delays, illnesses or other incidents. Take the time to learn more about travel insurance cover and ensure that you choose the right policy for your next trip.
How Important Is Home Content Insurance?
May 10th, 2012 admin 
Home content insurance
If you own your home and have house insurance, your contents or belongings will be covered under your policy. This means that in case of fire or other damage to your home, you will be reimbursed for those contents as part of your homeowner’s claim. If you rent however, you need cover for those belongings. Your landlord’s policy on the building will not cover the contents in your home that belong to you. This makes it important to have a good home content policy to cover your belongings in the event that something happens to your home.
Choosing the best home content cover for your needs may seem difficult. You need to weigh many factors when selecting the right cover amount. When you choose the right policy, your belongings will be protected from loss and you will receive compensation quickly should a catastrophe strike. Keep in mind these things when choosing a home content cover package:
Valuate your contents properly – This is extremely important when choosing home content insurance. The insurance agent will ask you to provide an estimate of what your belongings are worth. You will need to list out all of your assets and provide each with a reasonable value. Of course you will not need to place a value on every single fork or knife that you own, but make sure that you are getting a good overall estimate of what they are worth and what it would cost to replace those items if you need to do so.
Understand Your Cover Limits – No matter what specific home contents policy you choose that policy is not going to cove ever single item or every loss scenario. You want to be certain to read your policy details before you sign the policy. Know what is covered in every loss and what specific items are covered.
Discounts May Not Be Worth It – There is such a thing as “You get what you pay for.” This is especially true when dealing with insurance cover. Make sure that the discount policy you purchase is not going to cost you in the long run. You may want to avoid discounts that seem too good to be true. They probably are too good to be true.
Choose Separate Cover for Collections – If you are an avid sports fan and you have a collection of sports memorabilia or any other vintage or antique belongings, be sure that you purchase separate cover for these collections. You will want to have your collection appraised and then choose cover that will replace these items at the appraisal value. Your regular home contents insurance may not cover antiques and other collectibles for what they are actually worth.
You will likely find many policy types, cover amounts and premium costs when shopping for home contents insurance. Take your time and ensure that you get the right policy for your specific needs. Shop around and be sure that you fully understand what is included in your policy and what you may need to purchase extra cover for.
Resources
May 10th, 2012 admin 
Resources
Askinz Resources Page
Welcome to Askinz Portal resources page. You will find information and link to websites related to any of the financial produces and services we blog about. If you run a website you think out readers may find useful, please use the contact form to inform us and we will consider adding your site to this page.
Financial Services Ombudsman. – Independent services for settling financial dispute.
