Posts Tagged ‘insurance’
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Insurance Professional Sales Tips – Do Worthless Insurance Purchases Bother You?
Author: Donald Yerkebr
Source: ezinearticles.combr
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Insurance Professional sales tips rarely reveal the split personality of many insurance sellers. The agent may sell prospects worthless insurance purchases initially while closely reviewing all insurance later. See how these sales practices are so unprofessional, yet how frequently they are used.Beneath the clean cut skin of an insurance sales agent is often a diamond-eyed, double talking boneless reptile with one goal.. That goal is to always make a money-making sale, needed or not. A word of caution though, a stack of bills to pay, can transform an honest agent into a very slippery snake. What else makes this agent make sales in a manner that no insurance professional would normally do?
The sales tips the agent were originally taught is the cause of evil devious doings. The agent eyes converge on commission spotlights. Instead, the agent must focus the center of attention towards what is right for the prospect. Nevertheless, most agents do not experience a guilt trip if they have someone purchase a rather useless insurance policy. If a prospect needs a major medical plan, should sales of accident only coverage or cancer insurance be offered? What if the prospect says the major medical coverage is not affordable? Then should the agent walk away with no sale, or convince the prospect that cancer insurance or accident only coverage might at least be a partial solution, thereby making the sale?
Tomorrow, the day after the say, is always a time of reckoning for the agent. Either the manager will give out a tongue lash for not making a sale, or give a pat on the back for at least selling something. My sales tips indicate some unprofessional truth. Even when an agent finally becomes a professional, they still revert to making any kind of sale on their first visit. Few are truly professional enough to walk straight away, knowing that making the wrong sale is easy on the wallet and hard on the conscience.
If an insurance agent lasts long enough to review his present clients insurance, suddenly wings of an angel start to sprout. Here is where the policy review session reveals all. The insured brings out all life and health insurance in effect bought from any agent. Immediately an experienced agent can spot if there is a huge unfilled gap in insurance coverage. Also uncovered are any worthless insurance purchases made by the client. Here again $$ cloud the agents eyes. Two paths are available, but which should be taken?
The easy path is the least challenging, and has the largest change of success, however it is not professional. The insurance agent has to simply crumble up the unnecessary policies bought, and tell the client it was good the coverage was not used. Then these premiums are used to pay for some added coverage that the client needs. Same payments and better coverage can sound like a winner.
A true winner (professional) agent bets on personal quality and skills, with the determination to do a better job. He or she risks it all by telling the policyholder that all the coverage owned may be outdated. Purchasing proper life insurance, major medical, and disability income might mean a 50% increase in yearly premiums. Dropping less critical coverage might lower the amount of increase. Does the client want the best possible coverage for the least money, or does the client want every agent that comes along to write another insurance policy?
These are Insurance Professional Sales Tips that require ethics that many money hungry agents will never acquire.
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pWell published author, Don Yerke likes to concentrate on what you dont know or what no one else dares to print. Tell it like it is./ppWatch for his new paperback book debuting on Amazon this summer. It is loaded with great insurance marketing, brokerage, sales, and recruiting information./ppCome and get your FREE Think and Grow Rich Ebook by Napoleon Hill instantly./ppThe website address is a target=_new href=http://www.agentsinsurancemarketing.com rel=nofollowhttp://www.agentsinsurancemarketing.com/a/pbr
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Pet Insurance Have You Got It?
Author: G Davidsonbr
Source: articledashboard.combr
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Pet InsuranceAnyone who has a family pet will understand when i say our cat and dog are
an extension to our family, much loved and well pampered! and thats why we have pet insurance.What is pet insurance?
Pet Insurance will cover the unexpected costs, incurred for treatment to your
pets outside of their normal well being. If your pet meets with an accident and you dont have pet insurance, things can get very costly. Very simply, a cat requiring treatment after being hit by a car could possibly cost over ฃ2000 to nurse back to health. An x-ray and MRI scan could cost a ฃ1000 alone! Pet insurance is invaluable.What does pet insurance pay for?
Routine visits to the vets for things like injections, wormers and flea
treatments are not covered by pet insurance nor are things like neutering.
Anything considered to be routine is excluded from pet insurance. However,
should your dog break its leg whilst running down the hill to fetch the stick –
you would be covered – basically, accidents are covered routine and preventative treatment costs are not.
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A typical pet insurance policy will cover:Treatment for your pet if it suffers illness, injury or disease
The purchase price if your pet dies due to accidental injury
An element of third party liability cover, usually applicable to dogs only, for injury to third parties or damage to their property.Why do pets need insurance?
Each year 1 in 3 cats and dogs fall ill or are injured – thats more than 4.5
million cats and dogs. There is no animal NHS and the average emergency visit to the vet will set you back around ฃ300.So if your pet was to have an accident or need emergency medical treatment it could end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds. Take a look below at some of the most common reasons for going to see a vet: Some of the main reasons for making an unexpected trip to the vet include:
1. Cuts/lacerations2. Lameness
3. Road traffic accident
4. A growth
5. Abscess
6. Bites
7. Foreign body (swallowed)
8. Pyrexia/anorexia of unknown origin
9. Gastro-enteritis
10. Ear infection
Pet insurance would cover all of these common conditions. And it doesnt have to be expensive either. Pet cover is becoming increasingly essential as the cost of vets bills continues to rise. Technological advancements in veterinary medicine have meant that vets are able to provide more comprehensive treatments and this has caused bills to rise steadily. Yet insurance itself can start from just a few pounds a month, enabling you to avoid most of these unexpected costs, whenever they arise.
So what types of pet insurance policies are available?
As with all insurance, there are a number of variations. You can opt to
purchase additional cover or cover for specific things not covered by the
outlines below.Level one – Commonly referred to as a cover for life policy, this is where
companies offer a fixed amount of cover for vet fees each year and then
reinstate this amount each year when the policy is renewed. A cat with
arthritis, for example, would be covered for this condition during its lifetime,
and the owner would pay an excess each year. This type of cover can be expensive but is suitable for long term, ongoing conditions.Level two – The second type of insurance policy involves a maximum limit on
the amount paid out for each condition, so, you can claim for as long as it
takes to reach this limit. This is generally less expensive than level one and
is also suitable for long term conditions.Level three – This type of cover has a maximum monetary limit per condition
and a maximum time limit that a condition can be claimed for (normally 12 months from its onset). Once the maximum monetary or time limit has been reached the condition will no longer be covered. This is commonly referred to as a 12 month policy.Take care when considering which pet insurance is right for you and dont go
away thinking it will never happen to me – because it could and a pet with out
insurance can be very costly. Many companies will offer an additional discount for multiple pets so get them insured. Info source online-insurance-broker.com/pbr
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Does Cheap Travel Insurance Mean Skimping On The Quality Of Coverages?
Author: Greath Owenbr
Source: articledashboard.combr
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Several agencies are able to offer cheap travel insurance cover to people in different age groups and with different medical conditions. This ability to offer low cost travel insurance rests on the fact that they source policies from several different and reputed insurance companies. They are thus able to find the best bargains, suited to different situations and needs.Cheap travel insurance does not mean skimping on the quality of cover. UK and EU residents would typically be covered for emergency medical (including dental pain relief), repatriation, personal liability, legal, trip cancellation and loss or damage of personal belongings. Covering pre-existing medical conditions and hijack/kidnap would, of course, cost a little more.
A realistic meaning of cheap travel insurance is that the prices would be competitive compared to policies with similar cover. The actual insurance costs would be dependent on factors such as the insured persons age, trip duration and destination.
bRange of Travel Insurance Policies/b
Travel insurance is primarily meant to cover expenses of emergency medical treatment while you are abroad. The medical condition could be such that treatment cannot wait till you return back home.
Typically, the cover would extend to other travel risks such as loss of baggage, damage to belongings and trip cancellation or interruption.
Good agencies would offer policies to cover a range of needs. Cover should be available for different ages – from newborns to over 100. Cheap travel policies would typically have certain age cut-offs. Travellers below age 65 would find it easier to find low cost policies. If you have no pre-existing medical condition, you might find lower cost policies up to your 75th birthday.
After that, travel insurance would begin to cost more. Pre-existing medical conditions also lead to higher costs, and persons with such conditions might not get insurance cover beyond age 85.
Travellers might need cover for single trip, annual multi-trips, long stay and even one-way trips. Cheap travel insurance becomes more difficult for travellers planning to engage in winter sports and hazardous adventures. Cover for vehicle breakdowns during motoring trips cruises with greater cancellation possibilities and costs might also cost a little more.
Then comes group travel, cover after you have left your country, policies for people of non-UK residential status and pregnant persons.
A good agency would not only be able to offer cover for all the different situations but also find the cheapest travel insurance for each.
bOnline Purchase Lowers Costs/b
These days, agencies offer you the option to purchase insurance online. Servicing you online lowers their costs and they would be willing to share the cost savings with you. However, online purchase option might not be available to over aged persons.
You could buy insurance online if you are aged under 65. A quote can usually be obtained within minutes based only on your age.
Online filling of forms providing personal details can also facilitate actual issue of the policy.
Purchasing online makes it more likely that you get cheaper travel insurance.
bRead the Terms and Conditions/b
Agencies that seek out insurance bargains and bring these to you would not be policy issuers. The actual issuers would be different insurance companies. You should carefully read the terms and conditions and make sure that the policy provides the kind of insurance cover that you need.
You have a limited time, up to a typical maximum of 14 days, to cancel the policy and ask for a refund. You would have even less time if you start the trip earlier.
Hence, make it a point to go through the policy document and check that you have got what you wanted. Seek competent help if you cant do it yourself.
bDont Travel Without Travel Insurance/b
With cheap travel insurance available, it is no more worth the risk to travel without travel insurance. Just make sure that you get the best value for money, with lowest possible rates for the particular kinds of insurance cover that you want./pbr
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When I Dont Have Medical Insurance – What Do I Do?
Author: Linda Mecklerbr
Source: articleage.combr
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Disaster can strike when you do not have medical insurance for yourself or your family.
Do you think people do not have medical insurance because they dont want it?— or think its frivolous? —What happens when you— Lose Your Job—Get Sick— Or Relocate—.
When you need to make a decision on spending money on medical insurance or food for your family—food wins hands down—. If you are a full time employee and you lose your job—generally you lose your medical coverage also.
This is the time to ask your past employer what is my options for continuing my medical insurance. Cobra can be purchased for a higher premium and for a short time only. It is a stop gap measure only until you next full – time employment.
When people work part time they dont qualify for medical insurance through their employment. Your employer isnt dumb. PART TIME EMPLOYMENT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES MEANS NO MEDICAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS OF THEIR POCKETS. This means you still do not have medical insurance for yourself and your family.
LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS:
You might qualify for Medi-cal or County Medical Services (CMS.)
These are the only two government funded agencies that can help you. You are screened by income and the amount of money you have in the bank.— If you as an adult do not qualify for these agencies,—your children might.
CHILDREN:
Children have an easier time qualifying for government assisted programs. There are several programs available for children depending on their special needs.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY:
If you qualify for one of these agencies do not think that filling out one form is all you do. You have to show up for your scheduled appointment and bring the proper paper work with you. —Otherwise, your claim will be denied—.
Medical Insurance is obtained by full – employment or by purchasing it yourself through a private insurance company which is fine for the people that can afford the huge premiums.
INSURANCE COMPANIES:
When you apply for Medical Insurance you may be denied because of a pre-existing condition. This simply means, you have medical problems already and the Medical Insurance Company will not cover you for these problems.
ALTERNATIVE: DISCOUNT CARDS
Discount cards are available through private insurance companies. Let me explain. You still pay a monthly fee but not as much as your typical medical insurance monthly premium. When you go to a doctor or pharmacy you get a cash discount. The only catch is,—you have to pay for your doctors visit at the time of the visit—.
You have to be careful when applying for this discount card, just like everything else it could rip you off. So do your homework. These are becoming very popular.
URGENT CARE:
These are medical facilities that take care of minor problems. Anything serious would be referred to a hospital emergency room.
You will have to pay for your medical visit at the time of service.
211 PHONE NUMBER
There is a new source of vital information at our finger tips, by calling 211. If this new number is established in your area, one phone call can hook you up to massive information. The people that answer this phone number gives out important everyday useful information.
Example: What is the phone number to Med-cal? I do not have any medical insurance and my child is sick, what do I do? Where can I go to get help for my child? Is there any free clinics available?
These people have all that information and more at their fingertips.
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS:
When you need medical care the Emergency Room is where most people head. When you get to the Emergency Room you can wait hours to be examined by a doctor. When you are finally examined, the doctor may request lab tests, x-rays etc. These tests can escalate into hundreds even thousands of dollars. What about emergency surgery? What about being a patient in the hospital a few days or longer? The medical bills will start pouring in!
The hospital billing office will ask you these questions:
(l) Can you make monthly payments?
(2) Can you refinance your home?
(3) Can you borrow money from your family or friend?
—You Can Always Negotiate Your Final Bill.—
This amount must be accepted by the facility. You can save yourself thousands of dollars, providing you have the money handy or use a charge card.
When you cant pay your medical bill—What is the next step?
Your account is sent to a Collection Agency.
MEDICATIONS:
Medicine is sky high. When you dont have Medical Insurance you have to pay the full amount or go without your medicine.
This is not a simple problem. We are talking millions of people in this situation. —There has to be a solution—.
The Medical Insurance Companies do not want to change. The Pharmaceutical Companies do not want to change.
—We the individuals must take the first step to change the way medicine is obtained for everybody in this country not just a few! We as individuals need to write our Congressmen to wake up our local, state representatives and federal representatives.
We Need Change In Our Medical Insurance Program. WE WANT MEDICAL CARE FOR EVERYBODY. NOT JUST A FEW.
If you have medical insurance and still have to pay check out my article listed below:
Horrifying! Medical Bills! When You Have Medical Insurance/Fight Back.
Please feel free to read all my other articles. I love to hear from you. Just leave a comment on this article.
Copyright 2005 Linda Meckler
Linda has had first hand experience working in the field mentioned above. She has worked in Medical Insurance Billing for many years. Now her love is writing. Her first published book is Ghost Kids Trilogy, three complete books in one book. The first of its kind adventure childrens book. Love, Family Values, and Charity burst off the pages. For children ages 8-14 to adult. Book (1) Ghost Kids: Two real children and two Ghost Kids team up with two Ghost Kids. They want to be reunited with their parents. Book (2) Blue Vase Mystery: Uncle Charlie the villain of the book wants out of the Blue Vase. In return he will tell the real children where the Pirates Treasure is hidden. Book (3) Pirates Treasure-the hunt: Take the exciting trip hunting for Pirates Treasure. order at http://www.amazon.com or http://www.buybooksontheweb.com an order of 5 books = 40% discount. With an order of 20 books no shipping and handling. My email is lmecky@tns.net.br
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Travel Insurance rates
Author: Joseph Kenny
Source: articleage.comProbably the biggest factors when calculating travel insurance premiums is the length of the cover required. If you are taking a two-week vacation, there is a much lower risk than if you are making a yearlong voyage around the world. That said, there are many annual travel insurance policies that cover all the trips you make in a single year and if you make more than a couple of separate trips, annual protection may work out cheaper. Often family protection policies are not too much more expensive than a single person’s policy so if you get the whole family insured together you are also likely to save.
Another big factor is where you are travelling. While some countries represent more health risks, as they are more dangerous, it is also a fact that poorer countries often have far lower medical costs so insurance tends to be highest for travellers in North America and Europe, with the US specifically recognised as having high health care costs. If you plan special high-risk activities such as skiing or mountain climbing you will either need separate insurance for this occasion, or to have the activity specifically added to your policy, as there is a good chance it will be excluded.
Insurance premiums are calculated according to several risk factors. These are the factors identified by the insurance company as most likely to have an impact on the insured against risk occurring. Insurance is a significant cost associated with the item insured and should not be rushed into. It is always a good idea to shop around for the best price available. Insurance premiums will vary considerably from insurer to insurer so do your homework.
Look up the various insurance companies you are interested in and ask them for a quote. They can usually give you a rough estimate fairly quickly and even more exact quotes should also be possible if you provide more details and wait. You should also look up insurers online and get instant quotes from their website. This is a very fast and effective way of shopping around. You will get a good idea of what prices to expect. You can also experiment with the quotation websites to see what effect it makes to your premium price if you select different options. With all insurance policies you will have a number of options that affect the price of the policy. Therefore you should think about these options and if there are risks that you do not wish to cover then let the insurer know as your premium should become cheaper.
You should also try to make sure you do not double insure. It is a principle of insurance that you cannot benefit from the insured event’s occurrence. So you cannot get paid twice even if you have two insurance policies. So if a risk is already covered by one policy, again let your insurer know so they can remove it from their calculation.
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Buy Travel Insurance: Travel Safe
Author: Adam Jaylin
Source: articledashboard.comWhile planning a holiday we are more preoccupied making budget for airline tickets, lodging and sightseeing. We are so much worried about maintaining our budgets that, we often neglect our own protection. Like life and medical insurances, travel insurances also has a great part to play in our lives.
Travel insurance covers various risks involved while travelling. Any travel insurance not only gives self protection, but also helps to save money. Travel insurance pays when you fall sick or get injured while on holiday, lose your luggage or are delayed at the airport. It also covers various expenditures associated with aeromedical evacuation during travel and cancellation of holiday, in certain situations.
Therefore, it is always better to have a good travel insurance that offers various coverages which are beneficial for the travellers. There are a number of insurance brokers, agents and institutions that offer various types of travel insurance policies. But before buying a travel insurance one should be aware of the terms and conditions of each insurance policy, the coverages given and other benefits. After proper analysis and evaluation one should go for a travel insurance that can provide maximum benefit.
However, most travel insurances cover the costs of changing or cancelling travels, and the cost of any medical and dental care and emergency assistance during the period of travelling. As regard to medical care and emergency assistance, most of us are not aware that the personal medical insurance may not cover medical expenditure everywhere in the world and also the medical expenses are very high in most of the places. Again, in some in home medical insurances the medical treatment is covered, but related costs like transportation etc. are not covered. And in case of cruise goers even though the ships have on-board doctors, their services are not free. That is why it is always beneficial to go for travel insurance before going for a trip.
Again, who knows if you have to fly back home winding up the trip at an early date or cancel it due to terrorism or other related issues. This again will be quite expensive. So to avoid such circumstances, one should opt for a travel insurance policy that also includes cancellation, terrorism and emergency coverages.
Whatever may be the returns a careful selection and comparison of various travel insurance policies can help out to find the best travel insurance.
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Travel Insurance – Insurers Discriminate Against Those Who Battle Cancer
Author: Michael Challiner -
Source: articledashboard.comDealing with the ugly disease cancer is one of the most distressing things anyone can face in their lifetime. First the person has to come to terms with the fact that they have the life threatening illness, then they undergo a long and grueling process of chemotherapy which takes its toll not just on themselves but on their entire family. And then, once their chemotherapy treatment is over, there is always the chance that the cancer will again resurface.
So you can imagine how soul destroying it can be for those who, having battled the illness for some time, want to go on an overseas trip as a way to put their difficult experience behind them only to find that they are discriminated against when it comes to any travel insurance policy. You have a situation where some people who have had cancer are paying more for their travel insurance than for the cost of their flight. Many just take a gamble and travel without any cover because they cannot get insurance at all.
A survey by the charity ‘Cancerbackup’ has revealed that nine in ten people who have cancer struggle to get travel insurance. Seven in ten find the attempts to get the insurance distressing. Inclusive in these results are the people who have suffered from cancer in the past and are now free of the disease.
The results also show that seven in ten people were fit to travel, yet were quoted with significantly high premiums or else flatly refuse the travel insurance all together. So, as a result of the insurer’s reluctance to offer a reasonable policy to cancer sufferers, one in 20 in the survey chose to simply travel anyway and one in ten decided to cancel their trip all together because travel insurance was not available to them.
Says a spokesperson for a well-known Cancer Support Charity: “The insurance industry needs to recognise that not all cancers are the same and treat people accordingly.”
The charity predicts that because at least one million people have been given the bad news that they have the disease at some stage in their lifetime, the problem with travel insurance is one that is likely to get worse.The Association of British Insurers (ABI) will tell you that travel insurance is available for those who have had or currently suffer from cancer. But the problem is that this unavailable from the mainstream companies offering the cheap deals.
Some specialist insurers will offer policies, but at a cost. For example, one company charges a 48-year-old woman who had breast cancer five years ago ?248.70 for a 17-day worldwide policy. For someone without any health concerns the cost of the insurance is as little as ?20.
A spokesperson for a large broker said, “The exta costs can be worth it because when someone is feeling low, a holiday can be just what they need. They sympathise with people being refused travel insurance outright. Being refused insurance can have a terrible impact on their morale”.
The ABI says it will talk to Cancerbackup about the issue of travel insurance and whether those who have had cancer are treated unfairly. And they want to make sure that the results of the Cancerbackup survey do not put people off taking out travel insurance full stop.
Websites which offer more information include the Cancerbackup website (www.cancerbackup.org.uk) and Cancer Research website (www.cancerresearchuk.org/).
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Disability & Quality of Life; Book Review "Thanks"
Author: Carolyn Magura
Source: downloadI’m sure that I’ve said it before, but, if not, I’ll say it here. I am firmly convinced taht your attitude is a very key component both to your quality of life, and, to your ability to – in balance – effectively manage your Chronic Illness!
And, with this in mind, my advice is to develop hobbies. Within your hobbies, remember to share with others, especially the “guides” within your hobbies, your thanks for their input. For example: perhaps you decide that you want to become a great cook, and use Martha Stewart as a model. After you dook something, using one of her recipies and receive rave reviews from your “eaters”, write Martha a thank you email or letter! It’ll make both of you feel so much better.
For me, I love reading. And, when I finish a book that I really love, I go to the Author’s website and let him/her know, and thank them. Most even write back! I even got an autographed “drink coaster” from one, and am going to be a “reader reviewer” of one of my favorite author’s upcoming book, while it is in draft.
I’ve copied below the thank-you email that I just sent to an author so that you can see what one looks like. Hope you too enjoy a hobby and thank those who inspire you.
Dear Mr. Katzenbach:
Not sure why I just found you, but am soooo glad that I did! The Madman’s Tale is the third book of yours that I have read, and just finished it. (Started with State of Mind, followed by The Analyst). Loved State of Mind; liked the technical structure of The Analyst, but thought it was too sad – he was soooo isolated – but REALLY LOVED THE MADMAN’S TALE!!
I am a voracious reader (I’ve been “managing” Multiple Sclerosis for over 45 years, and now find myself on full time Disability) particularly of books of intrigue. I find, however, that increasingly I need novels that keep me invested within the book. If the story is too predictable, it just doesn’t “hook me”.
You, sir, have a marvelous mastery of phraseology; your lyrical prose paints pictures so accurately that I found myself in the Hospital along with Lucy, Peter and Francis!! I have obtained, and will read next, Hart’s War – the book, and not the movie. I want to view my OWN mental movie through your words!
Couldn’t help but document, and share back with you, some of my favorite phrases from The Madman’s Tale. These specific phrases were so eloquent; they so accurately depicted an emption, or a feeling, or, in the case of Francis, so clearly defined, in my humble opinion, (IMHO) SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE “HUMAN”, that I couldn’t help but let you know just how your words affected me! Your prose kept me reading EVERY WORD, and not just skimming to catch the thread of the story, hurrying to “who done it”!
Many authors can describe events, action, places and things, and some can capture the superficial quality of the characters. What I find unique about you, Mr. K., is your ability to capture the essence of each character’s “ghestalt”; raison d’etre (sp?); unique personality; and, how each both taps into the collective humanity, yet stands uniquely apart from it.
1) pg 168: “When I think back, I can see so many little things that should have meant something….I was young, and I didn’t understand that crime is like all the mechanical parts of a transmission. Bolts and nuts, screws and pins, all meshing together to create a self-contained momentum that travels forward, controlled by forces that are a little like the wind; invisible, yet leaving signs in a piece of scrap paper that suddenly takes flight and dashes down the sidewalk, or a tree branch being tugged frist one way, then the next, or merely the distant dark storm clouds scudding across an ominous sky.”
2) pg 200: “We are all defined by the dark, I thought. Anyone can portray anything in the daylight. But it is only at night, after the world had closed in, that our true selves come out.”
3) pgs 218 & 219: “Sometime later that day, or maybe after the next, but certainly at some point during the steady procession of mad folks being escorted into Lucy Jones’s office, it occurred to me that I had never really been a part of something before…..As a child, not being able to join in is a terrible thing. Maybe the worst…..In all those years, I was never once invited to a birthday party. Never asked to a sleepover. Not once shoved into the back of a station wagon for an off-the-cuff trip to Friendly’s for an ice-cream sundae. I never got a phone call at night to gossip about school or sports or who had kissed whom after the seventh grade dance…..My life was unique because of the absence of all those little things that make up everyone else’s normalcy.”
4) pg 269: “But that wasn’t the real terrain of each housing unit. The contours and topography were really defined by all the variety of madnesses contained within.” (Note: this one REALLY resonated with me, as I was a Human Resources Executive for over 30 years before I went on Disability. Whenever I walked into a room, I took deliberate “stock” of the temperature of the room; of the currents and eddies swirling around; of who was bouncing off of whom, etc. I’ve just never seen it articulated as you have done!)
5) page 326: IMHO, this is the depiction that separates someone like Francis who may be “crazy”, yet is still humane, from a sociopath! I loved how you phrased it!! “All my life, all I wanted was to be normal. Even tortured, like Peter and Lucy were, but normal. Able to modestly function in the outside world, enjoy the simplest of things…..But I couldn’t, because I knew, right in that moment, that I would forever be doomed to be closer in spirit and action to the man I hated and the man that scared me. The Angel was giving in and luxuriating in all the murderous evil thoughts that lurked within me. He was a fun house mirror version of myself. I had the same rage. The same desire. The same evil. I had just concealed it, shunted it away, thrown it into the deepest hole within me that I could find and cover it up with every mad thought, like boulders and dirt, so that it was buried where I hoped it could never burst forth.”
In these few words, you clearly articulated the essence of “free will”. AND, IMHO, just why God gave us humans free will. He wants us to control our baser, evil urges, and do what is “right” through choice, not through coersion.
You have succeeded in depicting the essence of being “acceptable”; of being acknowledged as a human being, with “rights” to exist. And, after all, that’s what all humans live their existence for; simply to be acknowledged as existing.
Well, I’ve taken up too much of your time. If you want to use my words as a review of your book anywhere, please feel free to do so.
Also, if you ever need to a reader to read an ARC of your new book(s), I’d be delighted to do so.
THANKS, again, for many enjoyable hours! I’ll probably be writing you again after I finish Hart’s War!
About DisabilityKey.com
The Disability Key Website ( http://www.disabilitykey.com ) is designed to assist each person in his/her own unique quest to navigate through the difficult and often conflicting and misleading information about coping with a disability.
Carolyn Magura, noted disability expert, has written an e-Book documenting the process that allowed her to:
a) continue to work and receive her “full salary” while on Long Term Disability; and
b) become the first person in her State to qualify for Social Security Disability the FIRST TIME, in UNDER 30 DAYS.
To download Carolyn’s e-book, click on the following link: http://www.disabilitykey.com/products.htm -
Enriching African Volunteer Programmes
Author: Andrew Bond
Source: articledashboard.comIf you have a period of free time, a gap year or a sabbatical from work coming up, then you might want to consider spending your time engaged in something rewarding and enjoyable. Consider undertaking a trip that will allow others to benefit from your skills and experience. One way to do this is to spend a year working as a volunteer in Africa, with everywhere from orphanages to healthcare institutions in need of your help.
There are plenty of organisations that recruit volunteers for placements in Africa. To a large extent, where you go and what you end up doing may come down to which organisation you choose to help facilitate your endeavour.
If you have specific skills such as experience of advanced farming techniques or irrigation projects, make sure the organisation arranging your placement is well aware of this so that your skills can be put to good use. A developed skill is not a high priority however and those with plenty of enthusiasm, common sense and a willingness to work hard, irrespective of the work’s nature, are equally appreciated.
While you should not expect payment from the organisation that you are placed by, you will be rewarded for your efforts in different ways. You should be able to rely on some basic support within the infrastructure of your organisation during your period of volunteering. Make sure you are aware of what level of help and assistance you can expect and be sure to enquire about basics such as food, lodgings and medical care. Make sure your organisation is well prepared to deal with emergency repatriation if necessary and find out to what extent you’d be legally represented if you were to find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
As a continent hosting predominantly developing countries, Africa lacks many of the modern developments that developed countries enjoy, and for volunteers who are not acclimatised to the climatic, environmental and social conditions, Africa can present some hazards.
Local food, water, mosquitoes, the sun, viral contagions and so on, all have the capacity to cause at the very least, moderate discomfort, while presenting the possibility of severe illness in many cases. In light of this, it’s essential that all visitors have adequate travel insurance with comprehensive cover for medical treatment for the duration of their trip. Additionally, a good insurance policy will reimburse you in light of stolen, lost or damaged personal items or theft of money or personal belongings.
If you thought that travel insurance for an extended period was expensive, then take the time to visit travel-insurance-discounts.com, where you’ll discover that protecting yourself and your possessions is well within your means. Purchasing the relevant cover for the length of your volunteer placement will not only provide you with peace of mind, but it will also allow family and friends back home to rest easy in the knowledge that you have a safety net.
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Insurance Matters To A Home Office
Author: Jim Christian -
Source: articleage.comThe home office is fairly commonplace these days as more people choose to work from home, either telecommuting or starting their own businesses.
Several things need to be considered when setting up a home office, not the least being how to insure it. If you are working at home under a telecommuting arrangement with your employer, the risk will be borne either wholly or partially by them. You will need to clarify exactly who is responsible for what before entering into the arrangement.
If starting a business from home, you are responsible for ensuring that the insurance coverage is adequate. Some different types of insurance for the home-based business operator to consider are:
? Office equipment
? Inventory (if stock kept on the premises):
? Public Liability
? Professional Indemnity
? Workers’ Compensation
? Personal Accident/Income Protection
Many small or “micro” business operators may feel they need little, if any, additional insurance. Picture this?
Your home is struck by lightning during a major storm and all of your electrical equipment is “fried”. Your Home Contents Policy will cover replacement of household electrical appliances destroyed as a result of the lightning strike but does not cover equipment used in the operation of a business. Some companies do offer limited cover for home office equipment?yours doesn’t.
Do you ever consult with clients at your home office? If a client trips on one of your children’s toys and is injured, don’t expect to be indemnified by the public liability section of your household policy. Any liability arising out of your business activities will be borne by you.
Think about this for a minute. Medical expenses, loss of income due to incapacity, not to mention legal expenses if the matter goes to court plus any judgement that may be awarded. Without Public Liability insurance for your business, one claim is all it would take to ruin you financially.
If you keep inventory on the premises, remember that it is not covered under your household policy. A separate policy to insure your stock will be required.
Perhaps you don’t handle stock. Your product may be your expertise and talent such as a business consultant or financial advisor. What if your advice is proven to be wrong? A financial advisor whose clients lose a lot of money because of his advice may well sue him for that loss. Without Professional Indemnity insurance, another small business folds.
Another question to ask yourself is this: What effect would losing my home-based business income have on my current lifestyle? If the answer is anywhere from “hardly any” to “catastrophic”, some form of Income Protection or Personal Accident insurance is recommended.
Then there’s Workers’ Compensation. “Workers’ Compensation?” I hear you incredulously ask. “But I don’t employ anyone!”
Consider this ?
You’re a graphic designer and very, very busy. Demand for your services has grown so much that you occasionally subcontract out some of the work.
On one particular occasion, you contact another designer with whom you’ve worked before. He meets you at your favourite coffee “haunt” and you go over the job specifications with him. The meeting ends well and you look forward to receiving his part of the project in due time. He can’t wait to get started (or to receive your cheque).
On the way home from his meeting with you, the other designer is involved in a car accident and seriously injured. He will be unable to work for at least eight weeks and has no Personal Accident insurance.
His was the only vehicle involved so there’s no recourse there either. His only alternative to keep life in some kind of order is to claim Workers’ Compensation?from you. Since the accident occurred on his way home from his meeting with you – someone who has offered payment for a service provided – it would be difficult to successfully dispute his claim.
Regardless of what type of business is being operated from your home, it is imperative that the correct insurance type and level of cover is obtained. As is illustrated by the examples given, it only takes one incident, giving rise to one claim that can ruin, not only a business, but also lives.
And it is not just the business operators who suffer. The injured parties who are themselves unable to earn a living, through no fault of their own, also suffer – as do their families. Even if a judgement is awarded in favour of an injured party, the now bankrupt home-based business operator involved would have no means by which to pay it.
Bottom line? Talk to an insurance broker today!
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