Tag: compare insurance

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Health Insurance

What’s the difference between health insurance and medical insurance?

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When you’re looking for insurance that looks after you physical and mental wellbeing and welfare, you need to be aware of the acute difference between medical insurance and health insurance. These types of insurance aren’t interchangeable, but their respective terms are often used interchangeably, so it’s a good idea to know exactly what each insurance type entails to enable you to find the right coverage from the top health insurance companies.

Medical insurance

Medical insurance is strictly applicable to being hospitalised and any treatments undertaken in a hospital. This means that any aftercare is not accommodated for, leaving it up to you to cover any additional expenses or ongoing treatment outside hospital grounds. It’s a much less flexible option than health insurance, although far better than having no insurance at all.

Health insurance

Health insurance is far more comprehensive, covering your health in totality, from appointments at the GP to aftercare, such as rehabilitation if you’ve had an accident where you’ve been severely injured and any prescription medication. Health insurance is therefore a better choice if you have ongoing health problems, as you don’t have to consider a longer-term financial impact for a pre-existing condition or severe accident or illness.

How do I know which choice is right for me?

Health insurance and medical insurance work for different people, based on factors including:

– Age: health insurance is better for those over 50, who are naturally more susceptible to unexpected illness.
– General health: if you have a history of medical conditions, then it’s wise to get health insurance.
– Financial security: if you’re fortunate to be in a position where your finances are secure, then medical insurance is adequate to cover the basics.

It’s important to note that health insurance also covers the areas that medical insurance policies offer, though it’s worth checking with your provider to ensure that all hospital treatment is covered before you commit to a policy.

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For medical insurance and health insurance in UAE, get in touch with CompareInsurance today to find the policies and insurers that suit your health needs.

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Car Insurance Health Insurance Travel Insurance

2 things you should avoid doing when buying insurance

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When buying insurance, from covering your car to covering yourself abroad, it’s very important that we take the time to truly look into what we are purchasing. Many of us get into the habit of just trying to get it over and done with, especially when getting insurance is something we absolutely have to do.

However, insurance isn’t just something that we buy for peace of mind or because we have to. No, it’s something that we, unfortunately, might have to make a claim on and it’s vital that we choose correctly should that unwanted circumstance arrive.

So here are two things we should avoid doing when buying insurance:

1. Always going for the cheapest option

While this is very tempting, it can seriously backfire when making a claim. Many insurance companies offer similar cover at a fraction of the price to others and when this is the case, it’s only natural to go for the cheaper choice.

However, sometimes policies are much cheaper for a reason and it’s usually because they have a lot less to offer you. While going for the cheapest option may feel great when paying, if you do need to make a claim the chances are it’s going to cost you much more if you opted for a policy with a lot less cover.

2. Sticking to the same provider

Top 10 cheapest car insurance companies often give incentives to customers so that they renew any type of insurance cover with them rather than a competitor. This, coupled with the ease of renewing rather than switching, means that many of us choose to stay with the same provider when we could be much better off elsewhere.

From better cover to slightly cheaper rates, another company could offer you everything you’ve previously had and more. While it may be a hassle to set yourself up with a completely new company, this shouldn’t outweigh the potential benefits of doing so.

Buying insurance isn’t the most exciting thing in the world but in many cases, it is necessary and it’s because of this that we should take the time to really look into what it is we are buying. Avoiding the top two points can be a great start.

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Travel Insurance

Fun activities that your travel insurance can cover

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Are you an adventurer? Whether you’re into diving, trekking, or mountain biking, there are plenty of places all over the world that will have trails, dives and tracks that will suit your needs. If your ideal holiday includes some of these activities, read on for more inspiration!

Remember that all of these activities are often classed as ‘extreme’ on family travel insurance policies, so make sure your travel insurance covers them for a worry-free trip.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving is a popular past-time all over the world. We have some great spots in the UAE for diving, but other amazing locations include Australia (the Great Barrier Reef and the Ningaloo Reef), Indonesia, and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Many people love diving when they are on holiday – it’s something out of the ordinary, and it’s a great chance to try a new skill. Make sure that your insurance policy covers scuba diving before you take to the water, however, and read the small print. You may find that you are only covered for dives up to a certain depth, or with other conditions.

Rock climbing

Some destinations are epic for rock climbing. Think the Scottish Highlands, Krabi in Southern Thailand, or Yosemite National Park in California. It’s a really fun activity that can help you see more of the natural landscape of the place that you are holidaying in. However, rock climbing is often an add on to your travel insurance, due to its hazardous nature, so make sure that you’re covered before strapping on the ropes!

Skydiving

Skydiving is on many people’s bucket list. Some of the best places in the world to skydive include Byron Bay in Australia and diving over The Palm islands right here in the UAE!

Tandem skydives are the most common type, and while these are a popular holiday activity, they aren’t actually covered on many insurance policies. Make sure that you check before you take to the sky – while skydiving is very safe, accidents have happened and it is always better to be sure.

If you are planning on doing any potentially hazardous activities on your holiday, make sure that you check your travel insurance policy first. Then you can relax and enjoy!

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Travel Insurance

Surprising things that travel insurance DOES cover

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If you’re going on a trip, purchasing travel insurance is an absolute must. Single trip travel insurance helps you go away with peace of mind, knowing that any issues that come up won’t leave you out of pocket. Most people buy travel insurance to help them in case of any medical concerns, or if their trip gets cancelled. But there are some surprising things that are included in travel insurance policies.

Note: This is not the case for all policies, so do read the information carefully before purchasing your insurance.

Illness of a travel companion

If you’ve booked a trip with somebody and they are taken ill and can no longer go on holiday, you can likely get your money back. After all, if you’ve booked a romantic trip for two in the Maldives, you aren’t going to want to go on your own while your partner is ill, right? Most insurance policies will offer a full refund for the whole party even if only one is sick.

Losing a job

If you lose your job, don’t fret – you might not have to spend big bucks on an expensive holiday. Some travel insurance providers cover redundancies in their policies, as well as if you are required to work and can no longer take holiday time. Check with your provider, and confirm if you think that there may be any risk of you losing your job.

Pet medical expenses

If you are travelling with your pet, you might not need to fork out for expensive pet-only insurance. Some insurance packages have add ons just for pets. This will cover costs like pet illness when away, as well as pet return if something happens to you while you are abroad.

Renting a car

If you’ve ever rented a car abroad, you’ll know that they often try to upsell you to their car insurance. Often, this is very costly – and you might not need it. Travel insurance often covers damage to rental cars up to a certain amount.

If you think you might require assistance in any of these forms, give your travel insurance policy a thorough read and see if it will cover you – if it doesn’t, get in contact with your provider to enquire about upgrading.

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Car Insurance Health Insurance Travel Insurance

What do you need to know before using an insurance comparison website?

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It doesn’t matter what kind of insurance package you’re looking for, whether it’s medical and health insurance, travel insurance, or car insurance – one of the best ways to find a great deal is by using an insurance comparison website.

There are two vital pieces of information you need to know, however, before you get started.

1. What kind of cover do you want?

This is an important question that it’s essential to answer before you begin searching for policies. Insurance policies are now so broad in their spectrum, with insurers offering bespoke levels of cover for every individual client. This means it can be difficult to simply find a “one size fits all” policy. Ultimately this benefits you, however, as it means you’re only ever going to be paying for the insurance cover that you actually need, and you won’t have aspects to your policy you’ll never use.

To get the benefit of this, you need to know exactly what sort of cover you require. If you’re searching for business car insurance, for example, you need to have a rough idea of how many miles you think you’ll drive, the amount of excess you’re willing to pay, and any additions to the policy you’ll want to add, such as breakdown cover or contents insurance.

2. How much can you afford to pay?

The other vital piece of information you need is what your budget looks like. Comparison websites work by giving you a broad range of quotes to choose from, so you will see both the cheaper and more expensive end of the insurance spectrum. You shouldn’t always just choose the cheapest cover, however, as this can be a false economy. That means it’s important you have a good idea of exactly what you can comfortably afford to spend, in order to make sure you’re able to find the best deal for your circumstances and obtain the best private health insurance.

It’s always best to choose a policy you’re confident you can consistently afford, rather than one that’s too cheap to provide you appropriate cover, or too expensive to mean you’re not always going to be able to pay your premiums.

With this important information settled, you can find your perfect insurance quote at Compare Insurance today.

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Categories
Car Insurance Travel Insurance

Driving in the desert: what you need to know

If you are driving in the UAE, and have an off-road vehicle, you may, at some point, want to drive in the desert. Here’s what you need to know if you are planning to drive in the desert.

Make sure that you are covered

A lot of general travel insurance doesn’t cover off-road insurance, although if your car is an off-road vehicle (and it should be if you’re considering driving in the desert!), you may find that it is an easy add-on.

However, some off-road cover has restrictions, considering the cars’ general capabilities and things like its age, the miles that it has travelled, etc. If the car has been previously damaged, it may not be applicable for automobile insurance.

Basically, have a thorough read of your car insurance policy, and if you don’t understand anything, contact your insurance provider and get them to go through it with you.

Make sure that your car is in good shape

Your car insurance provider may require a recent service in order to insure it. This is because they want to be sure that it won’t break down in the desert. Even if they don’t, it’s definitely a good idea to get your car serviced before heading out – you don’t want to break down either, do you?

Stock up on essentials

When driving in the desert, you’ll need to make sure that you have enough petrol, water and food to help you out of any emergencies. You may drive long stretches with no petrol stations, so make sure that you have plenty of fuel to keep going. If your car breaks down, you’ll be thankful for the food and water! Also, try to make sure that your phone has the best coverage possible, or opt for a satellite phone for emergencies.

Learn basic repairs

Being able to inflate and deflate your tires, check your water and oil levels, and perform other basic repairs could be a game-changer if you get stuck anywhere. Before heading out in the desert, make sure that you have an idea of how to sort out small things in your car.

Driving in the desert is great fun, but it’s not without its risks. Follow all of the advice above for a hassle-free trip!

Categories
Health Insurance

What to know about claiming on health insurance

If you’ve had an accident or illness abroad, you will want to claim on your health insurance. But when is the right time to do so? Some companies only refund, whereas others will pay upfront. And, if you have only had to pay a minimal amount, your insurance company may not pay at all! Here are some tips on how to know when to claim on your insurance.

Read your policy carefully

It’s important to know exactly what your policy includes when you buy it. If you read it carefully, it will tell you a lot of important things. These include:

Your excess – this is the amount that you must contribute up to. If you pay less than your excess, then your insurance will not cover it. You can generally reduce or even eliminate the excess by paying for a more comprehensive insurance package.

Whether the insurance pays upfront – for some things, you might be able to just give your insurance details. In other cases, you may have to pay and then the insurance will compensate you. Don’t worry – for very expensive things, you can normally just give your insurance details.

Speak to the admin staff when you arrive at hospital

If you are able to, contact the payment staff when you first get to the hospital. This is when you should make them aware that you have insurance and work out whether you will be paying upfront or if the insurance will pay them directly. Use this as an opportunity to find out roughly how much the total bill will be too – medical care can be very expensive in some countries and this will avoid any nasty surprises!

Make sure that you don’t leave without paying or signing

In some hospitals, it can be easy to walk out without paying. Make sure that you do make a payment or sign a form stating that your insurance will pay, otherwise you could be given a hefty fine.

If you know exactly what your mediclaim insurance policy entails, you should have a good idea of how much and when they will pay.

Categories
Car Insurance

A key way to lower your car insurance quote during the Covid pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has hit every part of the world and cases continue to grow. 2021 is no doubt going to present similar challenges as 2020, which means for many people, their driving habits have considerably changed. For a large portion of workers, their commute now involves moving to a different room in their home, rather than to their office.

How can this save you money on your car insurance?

Thinking about your mileage

A key component of your car insurance quote is the mileage that you do. It stands to reason that the more miles you travel, the greater your risk of being involved in an accident, which in turn makes your quote higher.

But what if you’re not doing all those miles? For many people during periods of lockdown, the mileage they have covered has fallen dramatically, but they still continue to pay their insurance premiums. The fact is, however, that you can change your mileage estimate any time, and your insurance provider should be able to recalculate this for you.

The effect should take place from the beginning of the next month if you pay your insurance premiums in monthly instalments, or you may be entitled to a partial refund if you have paid your premium upfront.

Saving money with a new policy

If your car insurance policy is due to run out soon, you could also save additional money by choosing a different car insurance provider altogether. You stand to save considerably, as car insurance providers are keen to win new clients in these challenging times by offering attractive introductory offers. So if your car insurance is coming to an end in the next few months, don’t automatically renew it – instead, see if you could stand to make savings on a brand new policy.

Driving without insurance is dangerous and finding that new policy is easy. all you need is a specialist comparison website, like Compare Insurance. You simply add your details and in seconds you can get a number of quotes from a range of insurance providers. Remember to take into account your lower annual mileage – you can always raise it later if you start driving regularly again.

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Car Insurance

Factoring car insurance costs into your new car budget

If you’re thinking about buying a new car, it’s always an exciting time. Everyone has a budget when they’re looking for a new vehicle, but it’s important that you budget properly to ensure you get a car you can comfortably afford. Comprehensive car insurance is a non-negotiable expense when it comes to owning a car, so you need to factor this in before you buy.

Understanding car insurance costs

Many different factors can figure into the car insurance costs you’ll incur. For example, if you’re choosing a rare and powerful car, it will cost much more to insure than a mass-produced hatchback with a small engine. Similarly, if you’re buying a car that has a reputation for being popular among car thieves, or you drive a high number of miles a year, the costs grow. Similarly, if you’re planning on buying a car that is already modified, or you plan to modify it yourself, that too will affect your insurance costs.

How do you accurately budget insurance costs?

It’s important that you consider how much of your budget you can afford to spend on car insurance. It’s worth investigating what insurance bracket your car is in – every car is put into an insurance category, so a higher category means higher insurance costs.

As a ballpark figure, for cars costing in excess of 300,000 AED, the insurance is roughly 2.75% of the car’s value, rising to 3% for cars between 100,000 and 300,000 AED, and 3.25% for cars under 100,000 AED. These figures are only averages, however. For many, car insurance is the second-highest ongoing cost associated with running a car, second only to the cost of fuel.

Getting car insurance quotes the easy way

When you need to insure your new vehicle, consider using a specialist insurance comparison website like Compare Insurance. All you need to do is put in your details, the details of the car you want to buy, and some information about your driving habits, and you’ll get a broad range of quotes in seconds. This will help you find the most affordable quote for your budget.

Categories
Car Insurance

Should you insure your car before you buy it?

Car insurance is, of course, essential before you can drive your vehicle. But if you’re thinking about buying a new car, when is the best time actually sort out your car insurance? In certain circumstances, it actually makes the most sense to get a car insurance policy in place before you have even bought the car. This can help save you time, and get you on the road faster.

When should you insure before you buy?

Obviously, if you’re not sure what car you’re going to buy or you’re just going to look at a car, it’s worth making sure it’s what you want and expect before arranging motor vehicle insurance. But, there are instances where you know a vehicle is the one you want before you have even left to see it. In these instances, you can actually arrange insurance on that vehicle before you have bought it.

Why would you do that? The main reason is to make the process of getting the vehicle home faster. Once you have bought the car, it means you can just get in it and drive straight home, rather than having to spend time arranging insurance. Some dealers might offer you driveaway insurance, but these can be expensive options for the comparatively minimal coverage they offer. And of course, you will still have to insure yourself when you get home anyway because most driveaway insurance policies only last for 24 hours.

How can you find the best quote?

To get the best quote, you should consider using an online comparison tool. You can put the details of your proposed vehicle and the nature of the policy you require into a specialist tool, such as Compare Insurance, and in a matter of moments be presented with a variety of different quotes. These quotes all come from major and specialist insurance companies, suiting a range of budgets.

If you’re thinking about buying a new car, and you know the exact car you want to buy, make sure you’re able to drive it straight home after purchasing it. Visit Compare Insurance today to see what kind of car insurance deals you can find.