Liability Insurance – Must-Know Facts About Coverage and Policies

Liability Insurance – Must-Know Facts About Coverage and Policies

Liability insurance includes different coverage types to help protect you and your business if someone files a lawsuit against the organization. Professional liability coverage insurance is a policy that protects insured individuals against financial liabilities resulting from property damage or injury to a person. The insurance offers you coverage for any debt or legal cost you are found guilty of in certain situations during the policy period. Read on to know more about liability insurance:

What does a liability insurance policy cover?

The policy can provide coverage for the following.

Lawsuits against the insured person

Settlement and investigation expenses

Fees of the investigating officer or lawyer hired to sue the third parties

Medical expenses due to an accident on the insured individual’s premises

Medical expenses due to the insured individual’s promotional advertisements, products, or official operations

Damage to third parties while visiting the insured individual’s office

What is not covered?

A professional liability insurance cost does not cover the following expenses.

Intentional damages and willful misconduct

Loss in the market and goodwill

Damage or losses because of natural calamities like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, storms, typhoons, etc.

Libel and slander.

Expenses for defamation, wrongful eviction, and false arrest

Infringement of trademark, copyright, patent, trade name, etc.

Penalties and fines

Transportation of dangerous materials and substances

Loss or damage due to acts of God, nuclear war, etc.

Liability insurance plans

A professional liability insurance policy is available for all customers and varies depending on their requirements and line of work.

We have curated a list of the common forms of liability insurance plans below.

Public Liability Insurance: It protects a business if any third-party liability arises because of property damage or injury. Any law-affected public liability or exposure can destroy a business organization’s promising future. Most companies procure insurance to avoid unnecessary risks.

Product Liability Insurance: It covers financial and legal liabilities because of bodily injury, accidental death, or illness due to a third party or third-party property damage. Most insurance companies provide it as a standalone policy or as a part of general liability insurance.

Employer Liability Insurance: This insurance offers coverages to employers for liabilities they may incur if an employee gets injured during the employment period because of the job. The insurance covers multiple negligence lawsuits against employers that include occupational diseases or work-related injuries.

Third-Party Liability Insurance: This type of insurance covers damages caused by the insurer to another individual or business. Here, the insured individual is the first party, the insurance company is the second party, and the injured or affected individual or company is the third party who makes the claims.

How to decide the premium amount?

The premium amount that the insured individual must pay gets worked out depending on the base rate of the insurance company and its requirements. The risk severity of the specific company and its products is another significant factor that helps to decide the premium amount. So, the higher the risk, the higher the premium amount. Additional factors for the premium amount decision include the company’s approach, the risk size, claim history, etc.

Insurance companies also consider the following factors when deciding the premium amount.

Number of previous claims

The company’s approach toward the risk

The company’s business record

How to raise a claim?

You can follow these steps to raise a claim under professional liability insurance coverage:

Analyze the policy documents to know the benefits of permission to your claim and how it can get filed.

Inform the insurance provider via email or a call. You can also visit a nearby branch to initiate your claim.

Report at the nearest police station or concerned authorities if there is a case of death or theft. The insurance company requires the report to add to the claim form and other documents.

Take the insurance supervisor to examine the incident site or the damage caused to create a report and decide the compensation.

Seek help from the insurer to update your claim status. You can also check the status online to know about further proceedings.

NSO liability insurance and its significance

Physicians must always carry insurance to protect themselves, irrespective of their experience or dedication to work. There is a risk that a patient or the family members may file a malpractice complaint against the physicians and their teams. Not only physicians but patients can file malpractice claims against anyone who provides medical care of any kind.

So, physicians, physician assistants, and nurses must know the significance of having insurance coverage. Therefore, they must get NSO liability insurance which is the best way to protect themselves against medical malpractice claims. Such claims may result in the loss of personal assets or professional licenses.

So, medical practitioners must get NSO liability insurance for the following reasons:
To pay for damage claims

To cover defense fees for trials

To protect personal assets

To protect the professional license

Moreover, the NSO liability coverage includes the following benefits.

Professional liability coverage

Trial defense expenses

License protection against disciplinary charges

Cost coverage for information privacy

Sexual misconduct claim coverage

Assault coverage

Portable coverage from one employer to another

To sum it up, an organization is vulnerable to multiple risks in today’s dynamic business environment. Several parties may make different claims against a business organization – from customers and employees to clients and stakeholders. Such claim trials can cause catastrophic losses to business organizations, restrict cash flows, and disturb daily functioning activities.

The solution here is to adopt an insurance policy that offers coverage for individuals and business organizations from risks of getting held or sued for injury, malpractice, and negligence. The insured individual or business gets protected from legal costs and payouts for which the policyholder is deemed responsible. You can find multiple professional insurance coverage policies to protect your business from liability claims.

So, what are you waiting for? Refer to this guide while choosing an insurance policy, and choose a suitable liability insurance policy if you want optimum protection for yourself, your family, and your business.

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Top 4 Car Insurance Companies for Seniors

Car insurance is mandatory for all drivers, and while senior citizens may not get behind the wheel as often as they used to, auto insurance for them too is a mandate. Insurance companies offer special discounts, tailored policies, and perks for senior drivers who might not want to use their car often. Mature drivers can compare and choose best priced car insurance plans from insurance companies that offer them. Best car insurance for seniors  These four companies offer the best combination of affordable premiums, senior-specific discounts, and exclusive policies to save money on car insurance. Nationwide® Nationwide® car insurance rates are 21% lower than the national average for drivers over 60. For a cheaper premium, the insurance company pays for all liabilities related to bodily injury, personal injury, property damage, uninsured/underinsured motorist protection, treatments, and comprehensive collision coverage. Nationwide® also ensures quality customer service, a grievance-free claims handling process, and ranks among the top vendors for customer loyalty. One of the company's key highlights is the SmartMiles program beneficial for senior drivers with limited mileage after retirement. The yearly car insurance premiums are calculated based on the total number of miles driven with SmartMiles. This policy, available in 40 states, is suitable for seniors who commute less than 12,000 miles per year and can still afford to pay for car insurance after retirement. Overall, the estimated savings with Nationwide® can go upwards of $400 each year, given seniors meet all the driving criteria specified by the company. GEICO Due to competitively lower rates, GEICO ranks among the popular picks in best car insurance for seniors. Drivers between the ages of 65 and 85 can benefit exclusively from additional discounts. One of the key highlights of the policy is the guaranteed renewal program. Policyholders aged 50 and above qualify for the renewal program and may avail of the Prime Time contract features. For this contract, the company specifies that policyholders cannot have any operators/drivers below 25 for the insured vehicle. They should not have been involved in violations or accidents in the three years prior to application with GEICO. But this contract is currently available in only 30 states. Policies also cover accident forgiveness and feature innovative usage-based insurance for good drivers with a clean driving record. GEICO offers exclusive discounts for careful driving habits, retired government & military personnel, and owners with multiple vehicles using the same policy. State Farm® State Farm® is a more lenient option for commuters who may not have a clean driving record. Key highlights of the insurance include a usage-based policy and decent rates for drivers with DUI (driving under the influence) violations. Senior drivers with prior speeding records or driving offenses can also benefit from better rates for insurance premiums. Policyholders earn exclusive discounts and rewards with the company’s patented Drive Safe & Save™ program. Download the app and let the company actively monitor driving and overall performance. Those who match the criteria can save up to 30% on auto insurance rates for the year. Senior drivers with good credit enjoy excellent policy renewal scores and pay 22%-24% less insurance premiums than the national average. State Farm® operates in all 50 states, making it one of the best car insurance for seniors. Allstate® Seniors can save a lot on the best-priced car insurance policies with Allstate®. The company is the fourth largest auto insurance provider in the business. Allstate® also ranks among the best for customer service and claims handling processes. One of the key highlights is the pay-per-mile insurance policy that allows seniors to get affordable rates as per the number of miles driven in a year. The Drivewise® program monitors daily driving habits and provides the insurance company with on-time updates. Also, seniors with the best driving score and a good driving record can avail of low premiums. Allstate® offers addons, including accident forgiveness that prevents a premium increase and features loan or lease gap insurance. It also has an exclusive app that lets all policyholders review their profile, make payments, and monitor insurance status on the go. How to choose from the best car insurance for seniors Since most insurance companies offer various senior discounts and special deals to lower the premium rates, it can be challenging to make a choice. So here we've listed a few things you can consider to make the right choice and get competitive rates. Update driver status online After retirement, seniors should update their status from regular commuters to driving only for leisure. Insurance companies offer unique low-mileage plans or pay-per-mile policies for seniors who drive a limited number of miles in any given year. This detail can be updated while requesting quotes online. Learn defensive driving Some states, by mandate, require seniors to learn defensive driving. Drivers over the age of 50 can benefit from lowered premium rates and enjoy exclusive discounts on the quotes for qualifying for this eligibility criterion. Seniors can consider courses offered by AAA and AARP and spend no more than $20 for the short refresher course. Maintain a proper driving record The number of traffic violations and even accidents determines how much of an insurance risk seniors pose. Having a clean record with minimal infractions increases the chances of getting affordable premiums. Those who have multiple priors should alternatively consider applying to insurance companies that offer policies for average drivers. Compare multiple insurance companies Seniors must compare premium rates and check available discounts across top insurance providers in the country. It may so happen that a company may offer reasonable rates but no special discounts for seniors. Understand that insurance quotes are subject to changes deemed fit and necessary by the insurance provider. Please check and read all contract terms before giving any consent.

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An Overview of 401(k) Plans

Saving for retirement is one of the most crucial aspects of financial planning. If you work for the private sector, you cannot expect a paid pension. Meanwhile, the cost of living and expenses will continue to increase, so a good retirement portfolio will ensure do not have to compromise on your lifestyle once you retire. Among numerous ways to achieve saving goals, experts often recommend opting for 401(k) plans. What is a 401(k) plan? The US Internal Revenue Code outlines federal statutory tax law that all legal residents of the country must follow in a fiscal year. Its subsection 401(k) focuses on tax benefit retirement savings plans that employers provide for all employees in the organization. This is a part of the employee benefits that an organization offers. A 401(k) is a fixed contribution-based investment plan that can be withdrawn only after retirement, allowing employees to set aside a secure financial portfolio for the future. Over time, the amount is directly deducted from the employee’s salary with an equal contribution made by the employer for creating the retirement portfolio. The best part is that these investments reduce your taxable income for the year, allowing you to save more. So, you get a unique retirement portfolio that is sponsored by your employer with matching contributions based on the deduction from your salary. Types of plans You can invest in either a traditional plan or a Roth 401(k) portfolio. Traditional investments are only taxable when you withdraw after officially retiring from service. Alternatively, any withdrawals made from a Roth portfolio are exempt from tax liabilities in the future as you do not get the tax saving benefit during employment. Picking the right plan Traditional plans, in comparison with Roth, offer a wonderful opportunity to lower the burden of current year tax liabilities as all contributions to this portfolio are exempt during employment. The former is a breakup tax saving scheme suitable for lower tax slabs deducted upfront each year, while the latter is a lumpsum tax benefit claimed only upon retirement. Both plans have their pros and cons and offer benefits that are suitable for different people depending on their income-earning capacity and tax rate applicable. Employees with a lower income expectation post-retirement will not incur a higher tax liability. So, to double their in-hand spending power, experts advise taking a traditional retirement savings plan so that the tax benefit claimed every year increases their purchasing power. Employees with a higher taxable income will benefit from Roth retirement plans for two simple reasons. First, Roth contributions are deducted from the after-tax income. This means you have already paid any tax owed for the year, so there is no tax on the contribution. Second, any withdrawals made on the Roth plans following retirement will also not be taxable after the age of 59½. So, it is a better choice for high-income earners who may incur other tax liabilities upon late retirement. As tax rates and laws change periodically, experts cannot recommend one plan over the other. Reasons for investing in a 401(k) plan Any type of investment helps secure your financial future. But the following reasons explain why such contribution-based retirement portfolios make for a better option: Helps lower your taxable income as all contributions are pre-tax You enjoy the flexibility to invest more or less depending on your financial standing The earlier you start, the more you save in taxes and build a bigger retirement portfolio You can easily transfer your portfolio from one organization to the other Easy payroll deductions that help you save for the future Contribution limits As of 2022, employers under the age of 50 can contribute up to $20,500 every year. This means your tax liability for the year is also reduced by the same amount. However, employees over 50 can contribute up to $27,000 every year. Similarly, employers who match these contributions should not exceed the annual limit set by the Internal Revenue Code. Also, the total amount, including both employee-employer contributions, should not exceed $61,000 for those under the age of 50 and $67,500 for those over the age of 50. The biggest employee benefit of investing in employer-sponsored retirement plans is that your pre-tax contributions will continue to be tax-deferred till the date of the withdrawal. This means there will be no income tax applicable on the gains as long as the money remains under 401(k) protection. Options after switching jobs If you are already receiving 401(k) tax benefits but plan to switch organizations, the ideal move is to transfer your current account to the new employer. This will enable you to receive all the existing benefits. It is also possible to leave your account with the current employer if they are willing to maintain it indefinitely. However, no further contributions can be made to the account once you quit the organization. Also, this is not a smart move for retirement portfolios with large investments. Alternatively, you can explore the following options: Roll your 401(k) into IRA: This is a straightforward way to avoid being taxed immediately upon withdrawal. The IRS allows 401(k) investments to be moved into Individual Retirement Arrangements or IRAs after withdrawal to let individuals maintain the tax-free advantage. Banks, mutual fund companies, and brokerage firms offer various investment choices that can align with your current employer’s benefits. But the funds should be moved into a new investment category within 60 days after withdrawal; otherwise, the IRS will levy penalties and taxes for missing the deadline. Withdrawing all retirement savings: The minute you withdraw your investment, all amounts will become taxable as per law. An additional early distribution tax may also be levied on top of that for employees under the age of 59½. This applies to traditional plans. With Roth IRA plans, it is possible to withdraw the investment amounts tax-free, but only if you have held the account for at least five years.

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