A short review on how to choose a good health insurance plan and to avoid scams. It has never been so easy to find a good health insurance plan nowadays because of the progress of internet technology. But it is also easy for scams and fraud to spread over online. One should be careful when choosing a health insurance plan using online search tools. Tips on how to find a good health insurance plan and to avoid scams are provided.
1. Find out and organize your health needs before choosing your health insurance plan. What are your basic requirement such as doctor office visit, emergency, operation, generic or brand medicine, annual limit, maximum out of pocket limit etc. Then put them in order in terms of their importance to you.
2. Determine your budget range for premium payment, deductible, office visit, medicine etc. for your health insurance plan. Usually the higher the premium payment, the better the health insurance benefits. This article helps only if you have limited budget or want to save money. It is difficult to have a precise number for your budget at this phase. But one should at least have an rough estimate for health insurance plan budget.
3. Go online to get quotes for your health insurance plan. Quotes are free and you just need to type in your personal information to get them. There are many tools that claim to help you to find good health insurance plans for you. Just use good tools to get quotas because not all health insurance website provide good reliable insurance plans. Recommendation for reliable good tools is give in resources part of the article. Be careful at this step because some health plans are scams. Read detail in warnings part of the article.
4. Compare quotes and optimize your choice in terms your needs. You can list your quotes in the order of your most concerns such as deductible, premium payment etc. and choose the best health insurance plan that fits your needs. Check carefully that the health insurance plan covers all your basic needs.
5. Apply for the health insurance plan and wait for approval. Usually it will take a few days to 2 weeks to get approved. Some insurance company might call to ask some additional questions. But the process should be simple and easy.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
How to Buy Cheap Auto Parts Online
You can save a lot of money if you buy auto parts online to fix your car or do maintenance. I used to spent about $800 to replace my Mercedes break pads. Now it only costs me $260 to do the same work if I bring my own online purchased break pads to the mechanics shop. A 60% saving! The shop only charges me labor fee for the work. It is quite straight forward and no hiding fee. The key is to find and buy cheap and quality auto parts online and bring it to mechanics who will do the repair work. There are tons of auto parts providers online now and it is not difficult to find them. The difficulty is how to find a good auto parts provider which provide good quality auto parts on time with good services.
1. Find out your auto information like make, year, model etc.
2. Go online to find a good and reliable auto parts provider and input your auto information to get quotes. Select the auto parts you need. Check carefully the maker, price, shipping and return policy etc. You can find a good and reliable auto parts provider by reference if you don't have personal experience. I recommend PartsGeek and Auto Part Warehouse, which I use for my car repair myself and many other people do according to some online shopping statistics.
3. Find atleast another online auto provider and do the same as previous step. Compare the maker, price, service etc to determine which auto part to buy.
4. Put your order online and wait. The part usually takes about a week to arrive.
1. Find out your auto information like make, year, model etc.
2. Go online to find a good and reliable auto parts provider and input your auto information to get quotes. Select the auto parts you need. Check carefully the maker, price, shipping and return policy etc. You can find a good and reliable auto parts provider by reference if you don't have personal experience. I recommend PartsGeek and Auto Part Warehouse, which I use for my car repair myself and many other people do according to some online shopping statistics.
3. Find atleast another online auto provider and do the same as previous step. Compare the maker, price, service etc to determine which auto part to buy.
4. Put your order online and wait. The part usually takes about a week to arrive.
How to Save Big Money to Buy a New Car Using Free Online Tools
A car is an expensive item for most people. The sale price could vary from tens to thousands of dollars from buyer to buyer even on the same car. How to spend less and save money on car purchase? It all depends on how much information one has on the car and how good one use the information to bargain with car dealers. Now it is much easier for buyers to get car information online using free tools to negotiate with car dealers because of the progress of internet technology. That make it possible to buy a car with a much lower price and save money. Following are some directions on how to use free online tools to collect car information for saving money with a car purchase.
1. Find the car model you like. Use free online tools like Edmunds to find the specs for a car such as horsepower, sizes, fuel, mileage, transmission etc. Make sure all specs meet your needs. Read reviews on this car also to get an overview of the car performance. These information are very important and helpful to buy a car. One can use these information to compare and to decide which car to buy in term of car performance.
2. Find out and jot down the car MSRP and invoice which will be used to compare and bargain. Also find prices with options even if you are not going to buy an upgraded car. This is important because a car dealer might not have a car you want exactly. Make sure all these prices are acceptable and in line with your budget even they are not sale prices. Now you should have an idea which car to buy and what their performance and invoice prices are.
3. Get free quotes online. Use free online tools like Yahoo Auto to get multiple car quotes for comparison. What you need to do is to type in an effective address. Quotes from car dealers near that address will be sent to you through email shortly. Compare these quotes with your previously recorded MSRP and invoice prices. These quotes should be above invoice price but below MSRP and should be close to sales price. You can change the address to get different quotes for a different area because car prices in different areas are different from each other. Compare quotes and locations to choose a car dealer. Sometimes one can drive a little longer to a car dealer to save more money.
4. Find car financing online if you want to do car financing. You can get free car financing quotes online and use it as a reference to low your financing rate even if you are going to use the car dealer's financing.
5. Go to the car dealer to negotiate further if you are not satisfied with your online quotes. Now it is much easier for you to bargain because you already have a lot of information on the car. You don't have to play games with the dealer as they expect. You can directly ask for a price which you think is good for you instead of thinking their offers as usual. Please notice that the price you ask should be above the invoice price because the dealer has to pay some transport and processing fees. It can't be too much below online quotes either because the dealer could refuse it if the profit is too small. But sometimes you can still get a lower price if you save the dealer's time by doing the business quickly and friendly.
6. Now you can close the deal. Don't buy extended warranty at this time because you will probably spend more if you buy it in a hurry. There are still a lot of chance to buy extended warranty online yourself later.
1. Find the car model you like. Use free online tools like Edmunds to find the specs for a car such as horsepower, sizes, fuel, mileage, transmission etc. Make sure all specs meet your needs. Read reviews on this car also to get an overview of the car performance. These information are very important and helpful to buy a car. One can use these information to compare and to decide which car to buy in term of car performance.
2. Find out and jot down the car MSRP and invoice which will be used to compare and bargain. Also find prices with options even if you are not going to buy an upgraded car. This is important because a car dealer might not have a car you want exactly. Make sure all these prices are acceptable and in line with your budget even they are not sale prices. Now you should have an idea which car to buy and what their performance and invoice prices are.
3. Get free quotes online. Use free online tools like Yahoo Auto to get multiple car quotes for comparison. What you need to do is to type in an effective address. Quotes from car dealers near that address will be sent to you through email shortly. Compare these quotes with your previously recorded MSRP and invoice prices. These quotes should be above invoice price but below MSRP and should be close to sales price. You can change the address to get different quotes for a different area because car prices in different areas are different from each other. Compare quotes and locations to choose a car dealer. Sometimes one can drive a little longer to a car dealer to save more money.
4. Find car financing online if you want to do car financing. You can get free car financing quotes online and use it as a reference to low your financing rate even if you are going to use the car dealer's financing.
5. Go to the car dealer to negotiate further if you are not satisfied with your online quotes. Now it is much easier for you to bargain because you already have a lot of information on the car. You don't have to play games with the dealer as they expect. You can directly ask for a price which you think is good for you instead of thinking their offers as usual. Please notice that the price you ask should be above the invoice price because the dealer has to pay some transport and processing fees. It can't be too much below online quotes either because the dealer could refuse it if the profit is too small. But sometimes you can still get a lower price if you save the dealer's time by doing the business quickly and friendly.
6. Now you can close the deal. Don't buy extended warranty at this time because you will probably spend more if you buy it in a hurry. There are still a lot of chance to buy extended warranty online yourself later.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Safe Cookware Selection
A safe cookware is a cookware that doesn't produce any toxic substance during cooking. The manufacturing material and coating of a cookware determine if a cookware is safe. The interior surface material of a cookware which could be a coating layer or cookware base material is vital to the safety because it contacts with food directly.
Teflon coated nonstick cookwares are not safe because they release toxic fumes when heated above certain temperature. There are many concerns about teflon nonstick cookwares. Many lawsuits have been filed over the nonstick surface both as a cookware and in its manufacturing. New York Times, Alina Tugend, October 14, 2006 DuPont acknowledges that when their non stick surface is heated beyond a certain level, it can kill birds and create a sickness in humans they call Polymer Fume Fever. It produces symptoms resembling a cold.
Pure aluminum surfaced cookwares are not safe cookwares too. Colic, rickets, gastrointestinal problems, interference with the metabolism of calcium, extreme nervousness, anemia, headaches, decreased liver and kidney function, memory loss, speech problems, softening of the bones, and aching muscles can all be caused by aluminum toxicity.
There is no doubt that teflon-coated nonstick cookware provides a great convenience for cooking and cleaning. But safety is always the first concern. More and more people are seeking substitute for a good and safe cookware. How to find a cookware that work as good as a teflon nonstick cookware and is safe as well? Following are some recommended safe cookwares in Teflon-free Safe Cookware Store:
Safe cookware selection: Teflon-free titanium cookware
Pros: teflon-free, scratch resistant, long lasting, healthy, light weight, easy cleaning
Cons: not many products
The best choice is obviously teflon-free nonstick cookware. A teflon-free nonstick cookware keeps the advantages of a teflon coated cookware. It also overcomes the disadvantages of a teflon coated cookwar. Is there such a good and safe cookware existing? The answer is yes. But only one kind of such cookware available on market. That is titanium cookware.
Titanium cookwares has many advantages due to titanium meatl properties. They are healthier, lighter, lasts longer, heats quickly, easy to clean. But don't be confused with nonstick titanium cookwares or titanium reinforced cookwares. Here titanium cookware means pure titanium material without any coating while nonstick titanium or titanium reinforced cookwares have coatings made of material similar to Teflon. There is an easy way to tell the difference. Titanium cookwares have a silver metal color while others in dark colors. Please read Are Titanium Nonstick Cookwares or Titanium Reinforced Cookwares Teflon Free? about nonstick titanium or titanium reinforced cookwares.
Safe cookware selection: All clad stainless steel cookwaress
Pros: teflon-free, non-toxic, good heat conduction, low price
Cons: not nonstick
All clad stailess steel cookwares eliminates toxic teflon coating and aluminum surface. Instead it use safe materials like chromium, nickel and steel as interior surface layer, which makes all clad cookware a safe and healthy cookware.
Safe cookware selection: Cast iron cookwares
Pros: nonstick, teflon-free, uniform heat distribution, long lasting
Cons: need careful seasoning
Cast iron is used for cookwares because it has excellent heat retention and diffusion properties and can be produced and formed with a relatively low level of technology. Seasoning is used to protect bare cast iron from rust and to create a non-stick surface. Only a proper seasoned cast iron cookware is a safe cookware.
Safe cookware selection: Copper cookwares
Pros: excellent heat conductivity and distribution, teflon free, long lasting
Cons: not nonstick, need special care
Copper cookwares are classically used by chefs because of their quick heat conduction. Copper is a safe material for cookware. Copper cookware usually is coated with a thin layer of tin to prevent the copper from reacting with acidic foods. That makes copper cookware a safer cookware.
For safe cookware products, plwase go to Safe Cookware Store. For more helpful tips, please visit my website:
Teflon-free Safe Cookwares
Teflon coated nonstick cookwares are not safe because they release toxic fumes when heated above certain temperature. There are many concerns about teflon nonstick cookwares. Many lawsuits have been filed over the nonstick surface both as a cookware and in its manufacturing. New York Times, Alina Tugend, October 14, 2006 DuPont acknowledges that when their non stick surface is heated beyond a certain level, it can kill birds and create a sickness in humans they call Polymer Fume Fever. It produces symptoms resembling a cold.
Pure aluminum surfaced cookwares are not safe cookwares too. Colic, rickets, gastrointestinal problems, interference with the metabolism of calcium, extreme nervousness, anemia, headaches, decreased liver and kidney function, memory loss, speech problems, softening of the bones, and aching muscles can all be caused by aluminum toxicity.
There is no doubt that teflon-coated nonstick cookware provides a great convenience for cooking and cleaning. But safety is always the first concern. More and more people are seeking substitute for a good and safe cookware. How to find a cookware that work as good as a teflon nonstick cookware and is safe as well? Following are some recommended safe cookwares in Teflon-free Safe Cookware Store:
Safe cookware selection: Teflon-free titanium cookware
Pros: teflon-free, scratch resistant, long lasting, healthy, light weight, easy cleaning
Cons: not many products
The best choice is obviously teflon-free nonstick cookware. A teflon-free nonstick cookware keeps the advantages of a teflon coated cookware. It also overcomes the disadvantages of a teflon coated cookwar. Is there such a good and safe cookware existing? The answer is yes. But only one kind of such cookware available on market. That is titanium cookware.
Titanium cookwares has many advantages due to titanium meatl properties. They are healthier, lighter, lasts longer, heats quickly, easy to clean. But don't be confused with nonstick titanium cookwares or titanium reinforced cookwares. Here titanium cookware means pure titanium material without any coating while nonstick titanium or titanium reinforced cookwares have coatings made of material similar to Teflon. There is an easy way to tell the difference. Titanium cookwares have a silver metal color while others in dark colors. Please read Are Titanium Nonstick Cookwares or Titanium Reinforced Cookwares Teflon Free? about nonstick titanium or titanium reinforced cookwares.
Safe cookware selection: All clad stainless steel cookwaress
Pros: teflon-free, non-toxic, good heat conduction, low price
Cons: not nonstick
All clad stailess steel cookwares eliminates toxic teflon coating and aluminum surface. Instead it use safe materials like chromium, nickel and steel as interior surface layer, which makes all clad cookware a safe and healthy cookware.
Safe cookware selection: Cast iron cookwares
Pros: nonstick, teflon-free, uniform heat distribution, long lasting
Cons: need careful seasoning
Cast iron is used for cookwares because it has excellent heat retention and diffusion properties and can be produced and formed with a relatively low level of technology. Seasoning is used to protect bare cast iron from rust and to create a non-stick surface. Only a proper seasoned cast iron cookware is a safe cookware.
Safe cookware selection: Copper cookwares
Pros: excellent heat conductivity and distribution, teflon free, long lasting
Cons: not nonstick, need special care
Copper cookwares are classically used by chefs because of their quick heat conduction. Copper is a safe material for cookware. Copper cookware usually is coated with a thin layer of tin to prevent the copper from reacting with acidic foods. That makes copper cookware a safer cookware.
For safe cookware products, plwase go to Safe Cookware Store. For more helpful tips, please visit my website:
Teflon-free Safe Cookwares
Monday, November 9, 2009
Is Discount Dental Plan Good?
There are many websites that sell discount dental plans. A discount dental plan is not a dental insurance. Members of a discount dental plan don't have to pay premium. But they have to pay member fees. Members will get great discount in return if they show their member cars at discount dental plan providers. It is said that members can save a lot of money while they still get good services without buying a dental insurance. There are a lot of other advantages according to some online promoters. Following is a comparison between discount dental plan and traditional dental insurance:
DISCOUNT DENTAL PLAN Characteristics Include:
No limits – plan members have discounts on most dental care services all the time.
Quick activation - activate within a few days
Less paperwork – members just need to show their discount dental plan card at a participating dentist office
No health restrictions
Select plans include discounts on dental specialties, including cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics
Available directly to individuals, families, businesses and groups
DENTAL INSURANCE Characteristics Include:
Limitations, deductibles and annual maximums
Waiting periods for major dental procedures
Tedious and time-consuming written claims process
Limitations/exclusions on pre-existing conditions
Certain dental specialties, such as cosmetic dentistry, are rarely covered
Consumers pay expensive monthly premiums for defined coverage
Typically inaccessible to individuals and families unless provided by their employer
Looks like there are a lot of benefits from discount dental plan. But the key question is: Does the money worth it? My personal experience and my common sense tell me no. My family used to buy some similar discount health plan. It was not expensive, only a few hundred dollars a year. But it doesn't save our money at all. Some doctors or dentists usually give some discount to one who does't have a insurance. And they couldn't give additional discount any more even if you are a member of a discount dental plan. The money for a doctor visit varies a lot depending on doctors. Some doctor visits cost much less money than others even one doesn't have any discount dental plan membership. So it doesn't make sense to buy a discount dental or health plan to save money for me. If one really wants to save money, try to find a good doctor or try to find a good insurance plan at eHealthinsurance. You don't need a agent. It is easy and quick. I use it myself and it is good.
DISCOUNT DENTAL PLAN Characteristics Include:
No limits – plan members have discounts on most dental care services all the time.
Quick activation - activate within a few days
Less paperwork – members just need to show their discount dental plan card at a participating dentist office
No health restrictions
Select plans include discounts on dental specialties, including cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics
Available directly to individuals, families, businesses and groups
DENTAL INSURANCE Characteristics Include:
Limitations, deductibles and annual maximums
Waiting periods for major dental procedures
Tedious and time-consuming written claims process
Limitations/exclusions on pre-existing conditions
Certain dental specialties, such as cosmetic dentistry, are rarely covered
Consumers pay expensive monthly premiums for defined coverage
Typically inaccessible to individuals and families unless provided by their employer
Looks like there are a lot of benefits from discount dental plan. But the key question is: Does the money worth it? My personal experience and my common sense tell me no. My family used to buy some similar discount health plan. It was not expensive, only a few hundred dollars a year. But it doesn't save our money at all. Some doctors or dentists usually give some discount to one who does't have a insurance. And they couldn't give additional discount any more even if you are a member of a discount dental plan. The money for a doctor visit varies a lot depending on doctors. Some doctor visits cost much less money than others even one doesn't have any discount dental plan membership. So it doesn't make sense to buy a discount dental or health plan to save money for me. If one really wants to save money, try to find a good doctor or try to find a good insurance plan at eHealthinsurance. You don't need a agent. It is easy and quick. I use it myself and it is good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)