Lower your Income Protection Quote by quitting smoking

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What is income protection?
Income Protection is a type of policy that covers you should you become ill and unable to work due to ill health. It is a type of health insurance cover.

Does smoking affect my income protection policy?

Yes, smokers tend to pay more for income protection compared to their non-smoking counterparts. This means that in the UK, there are approximately 10 million individuals (ASH, 2014) who are paying more for their premiums simply because of their choice to smoke.

Why do smokers have to pay more?

As expected, heath is a major factor that is taken into consideration when taking out a life insurance policy. It is a sobering reality but smoking is associated with many health-related problems. Recent statistics by ASH (April, 2014) show that every year, over 100,000 smokers in the UK die from smoking related causes, accounting for over one-third of respiratory deaths, over one-quarter of cancer deaths, and about one-seventh of cardiovascular disease deaths. For this reason, insurance companies view smokers as high-risk clients who are more likely to claim on their income protection policy and this risk equates to higher premiums for these smokers.

How much will smoking raise your online income protection quote?

Smokers’ premiums will vary depending on the insurance company, lifestyle variables, age and health but on average the cost is often up to 50% more when compared to non-smokers.

For example:

Case study: A 29 year old, administration male worker earning £22,000 who smokes. £1,000 monthly instalment of income protection with a 13 week deferral period = £13.60 per month.

Case study: A 29 year old, administration male worker earning £22,000 who does not smoke. £1,000 monthly instalment of income protection with a 13 week deferral period = £10.08 per month.

How do income protection insurers define smokers?

Most insurance companies define a smoker as someone who has used a tobacco product in the past 12 months. Usually they do not differentiate between different types of products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes or chewing tobacco. The same applies to user-habit. Irrespective of whether you are an occasional smoker or a pack-a-day smoker, the insurance companies view the health risks as significant for all smokers. Individuals are urged to respond to the insurer’s questions honestly and accurately because, if one is discovered to have been deliberately deceptive, (validated through medical records and medical examinations) the life insurance claim may be denied.

Are you classed as a smoker if you use e-Cigarettes?

In recent years, electronic cigarettes have experienced a surge of popularity with approximately 2.1 million adults in Great Britain currently using them (ASH, 2014). Although e-Cigarettes do not contain any tobacco, they do contain Nicotine. According to the Association of British Insurers there is “a lack of medical evidence as to any long-term health benefits” regarding e-Cigarettes and added that “an insurer is increasingly likely to ask if the proposer is using nicotine products, as opposed to what is the weekly tobacco consumption”. Therefore to qualify as a non-smoker, individuals should be tobacco and nicotine free for over 12 months, including e-Cigarettes, nicotine patches and gum.

Quit smoking to save money

The benefits of quitting smoking are plentiful. Not only does it increase health and fitness, it can also improve one’s bank balance. Not only will ex-smokers benefit from having more spare change from no longer paying for cigarettes, it can help decrease insurance premiums too.

Quit smoking? What should you do next?

If you have been smoke and nicotine free for a minimum of 12 months contact your insurer and you are likely to qualify for lower insurance premiums. However it may be advisable to compare premiums with other companies to see if there are any cheaper alternatives available on the market.

Why you should consider online income protection quotes

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Ever considered income protection insurance? If the answer’s no then you wouldn’t be in the minority – when compared to life insurance, few people understand the value of income protection. In fact, statistics on how UK households plan to cope with financial hardship show that, whilst 36% of UK households have life insurance, only 8% have income protection insurance. Financial hardship could entail the loss of a loved one and primary contributor to the household income. Whilst this can have a dramatic and lasting effect on both you and your finances, statistics show that you are 3 times more likely to be ill for 6 months or more than to die during your working life. Therefore it seems we really should be giving income protection insurance a little more thought.
Out of employment

If you suffered an illness or injury that prevented you from doing your job, are you prepared to lose your salary? The change in circumstances can have a profound effect on household life, especially if you’re tasked with managing the finances of a whole family. Employers are only legally obliged to provide you Statutory Sick Pay of £87.55 a week for up to 28 weeks; to put this into perspective, that’s just over £350 a month, a sum many people would struggle to get by on. If out of employment then the benefits you’d receive from the government would be unlikely to cover your mortgage or rent.

Critical illnesses

Yet the fact remains, less than 10% of households have income protection insurance in place. Considering the recent findings announced by Cancer Research UK that 1 in 2 people will develop cancer at some point in their life, the figures just don’t add up. A critical illness can have drastic effects on your lifestyle, making protection all the more important.

Peace of mind

Being unable to carry out your job or even simple day-to-day tasks can be frustrating, and if you’re unable to provide for your household then this can bring only greater stress to family life. Buying income protection insurance offers some stability, and whilst it can’t reduce the emotional impact of a situation like this, it will at least provide some peace of mind for whatever’s ahead.

Online income protection quotes

When you consider how easy it is to buy insurance online then it makes it even harder to believe that so many people don’t have protection in place. The internet makes retrieving and comparing online income protection quotes simple and hassle-free, and with the range of prices before you then you’ll be well-placed to find an affordable option. It’s important to do a little research to find the best deal for you, and discount brokers can be a good option for many customers.

Discount brokers

Discount brokers are much like your typical broker, offering a great range of insurance products from a reliable panel of providers. However, where they’re different is in the way they charge you – typical brokers will take commission on your policy, meaning they’ll be taking that little bit of your hard-earned cash every month. This can amount to hundreds of pounds when considering the length of typical income protection policies, but discount brokers charge just a small one-off fee for setting up your insurance, often as little as £20. They then rebate you all commission to ensure you get the cheapest deal possible.

Take Best Price Financial Services for example: their online income protection quotes are some of the most competitive around. What’s more, they come from some of the best insurance providers – the ones that you can trust to provide great cover at an affordable price and, most crucially, pay out when you need it. They offer quotes from providers such as Aviva, Zurich and Friends Life. The latter of these three paid out an average of £860 a month per claim in 2013, and accepted 85% of all claims received. 10% of claims were not accepted due to inaccuracies in the medical definition given by the insured person at the start of the policy, foregrounding the importance to reveal any existing health issues – honesty is the best policy. Being honest when filling in your form will mean you can be sure that your claim will be accepted when it matters.

Take time to gather income protection quotes, to compare prices and to take note of the individual features offered by each option. Your cover will vary between providers, and it’s important to be sure that you’re happy with everything on offer. Taking out the policy is quick – fill in a form, or submit your details by post, and you’ll feel that weight lifted from your shoulders. There are few better feelings than knowing that your finances, and family, are safeguarded, and with online income protection quotes just a click away, it couldn’t be easier. Visit Best Price FS to find out more and gather quotes today.

Pre-Planning for Your Monument Stone and Memorial

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A monument stone stands as an enduring reminder of your life. The time will come when your family will be faced with saying goodbye, and you can ease that difficult time by making plans in advance for your memorial and other final arrangements. Pre-purchasing or financing your monument stone and other components of burial or cremation serves to ease both the emotional and financial burdens that families face upon the death of their loved one. Unfortunately, this is a difficult process for most people to undertake. Following are some practical ideas to help you get started.
Make Your Wishes Clear

Written requests are important because they provide a clear indication of your wishes. Experts also suggest that you discuss your plans with those closest to you, so they are aware of your decisions in advance. This is also a great time to discuss their preferences. Many couples plan their services together to alleviate the stress for each other. Pre-planning can also help alleviate financial strain as well as ease the stress of planning a service when someone is already grieving. If you haven’t already done so, this may be something you want to discuss with your own parents or other relatives who you may depend on you to carry out their wishes.

Making Important Final Selections

In addition to choosing a casket, memorial site and type of services you prefer, consider the type of monument you might like to have. A monument, also known as grave marker or headstone, provides an important physical presence and point of comfort for loved ones. Monuments vary widely in style and price, and selecting the right one for you is not an easy process. By pre-selecting your own monument, you can add a personal touch that allows your unique personality to shine through, giving your family a way to celebrate your life and time together.

Consider whether you prefer simple or ornate. You can choose from plain, flat markers all the way up to elaborate statues in a variety of natural stone materials. You can add a favorite quote or create your own comforting words for those who will visit your final resting place. You can choose pictures or adorn the marker with symbols to represent those aspects of your life you most want to commemorate.

The beauty of pre-planning is you can also discuss with your family what they most cherish about you and incorporate this information when planning your monument. Think of this as a treasured gift that you can leave for your family, and a way to take comfort that you will be remembered for what you hold dear.

Remember to Verify Important Details

When planning your monument, keep in mind the rules of the cemetery where the monument will be placed. Many sites have strict regulations regarding size, placement, type, installation and construction. These rules may also vary depending on the type of plot you purchase. Burial sites for caskets and cremation urns can have different foundations, which may affect your monument’s specifications. Ask these specific questions when selecting your location, and verify them again before you plan and purchase a monument.

When you do purchase the monument, it is also important to ask about price guarantees and payment arrangements. Ensure that you obtain all of this information in writing and that someone close to you, a trusted family member or lawyer, is fully aware of these details and the location of the documents.

Although it’s not always easy to contemplate your final resting place or arrangements, doing so can be a tremendous relief to your family, both financially and emotionally. It can be liberating to choose your own memorial and to relieve your family of this burden, allowing you to enjoy the time you have now. To get started on this process, contact a monument company in your area. Most are happy to provide information free of charge to help you pre-plan your monument stone.

How a Driver Network Can Help you Collaborate and Grow your Business

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It’s no secret that the driving industry can be a tough one. Couriers face tight margins, shrinking profits, changing regulations and much more. And all this is on top of the hurdles faced by every small business – things like brand recognition, competitiveness, reliability and so on.
Given all these pressures, carriers need all the help they can get. One solution is to consider signing up to a driver network to take your business to the next stage. Read on for more on how freight platforms can help you.

Creating Availability

Courier businesses, like all businesses, need to be extremely receptive to demand. In fact, the pressure on the transport industry is even higher than in most other sectors. If a client wants something moved, they usually want it moved now, and they’ll prioritise whoever can get that done. This can be especially difficult for smaller and newer players, who likely lack the huge fleets the big companies can command.

Enter the driver network. If all your vehicles are in use, or if the job is too far for them to reach, posting it on a platform can help ensure you get it done. And don’t just take our word for it: Dode Fraser of Inverness-based Pronto Despatch benefited massively from exchanges. ‘It is not a lack of ambition, ability or professionalism that holds back smaller players’, he says. ‘Rather, it is scale.’

In short, the problem for those entering the sector isn’t effort or skill: it’s an inability to meet demand. Using a driver network lets you take on the jobs you may need to get a foot in the door.

Growing and Spreading

Courier platforms aren’t just for new businesses, however. Many transport companies build a good reputation locally but never expand outside of a few nearby towns. The reason for this is simple: it costs more and takes longer to get vehicles further away. This means that small couriers often ‘top out’ and cease growing far earlier than they should.

Luckily, a driver network can help out. With access to a large ‘virtual fleet’ spread far and wide, your business won’t have to turn down work. Instead, you can post the job, get a carrier there and start building a name in a new locale.

Staying Stable

So, you’ve used your freight platform to find customers, meet demand and build a reputation far and wide. Maybe you’re even networking with other carriers, spreading the word about your services all over the country. Then, something bad or unexpected happens. A massive change in prices, for instance, or a crash in demand for a major client’s product. What do you do?

This sort of situation is a nightmare for any small business, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. A driver network can help a lot, though, by providing you with flexibility. Issues are often localised to a certain place, sector or product. With access to drivers around the country, your business is more diverse and more stable.

Making the Best Use of What You Have

An empty car is always a problem in the transport industry. You’re still paying for the fuel and the time, but you get no profit from the journey. In the long term, these costs add up, and can seriously harm your business.

At this point in the article, you’re probably not surprised to hear that a driver network can offer you a solution. With access to an exchange, couriers can look for deliveries anywhere and everywhere, turning their journey home into a money maker!

Every driver or courier business should consider using online networking platforms. Most exchanges are easy to find with a simple online search, and using them is intuitive and simple. Now go out and grow your business!

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world’s largest neutral trading hub for same day jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their online driver network, Courier Exchange provides services for matching loads and with available drivers. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.