You insure your car, your home, your health and your life; don’t leave your pet out of the equation. Pet companions are as much a part of the family as anybody, and they need the care and protection of a good insurance policy to cover them for illnesses and accidents. Your budget might need it, too. Failure to buy adequate insurance may result in unexpected and unaffordable veterinary bills, so it’s not too early to shop for the most suitable product for your requirements. Trupanion is one of many companies specializing in pet protection, and it offers a simple insurance…

AirCover is a form of travel insurance offered by Airbnb, providing coverage for guests and hosts in the event of a booking gone awry. It’s included automatically at no extra charge when a booking is made; you don’t need to select this option when checking out or creating a listing. If a serious situation arises and neither party is able to resolve it, you can escalate the issue to customer service and Airbnb can offer a solution — for example, a refund for a guest who feels unsafe.However, guests who are forced to take a refund may face issues with…

When did you first hear about life insurance? Was it because you knew one or both of your parents owned a policy? Or, was it when you got a new job and found out a small policy is part of your work benefits? For me, it was when I started my job at Haven Life. These scenarios are common ways most people learn about or interact with life insurance for the first time. But this brief interaction with life insurance often doesn’t provide enough clarity for people to understand the value of (and need for) life insurance in certain situations.…

It’s always important for people to compare plans during Medicare open enrollment from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, but it’s even more critical this year. There are changes coming to Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, and you should make sure you understand how your plan will cover you — or not — in 2025. “People think they don’t need to review their plans every year, and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” says Kari Vogt, a certified financial planner and licensed insurance agent in Columbia, Missouri. “You might not change your plan every year,…

It’s easy to pass on insurance, especially when you’re young. Insurance premiums can feel like money going nowhere. It’s especially hard to fit them into the budget when you already have a mountain of debt to pay off, your salary is modest or low, and you’re healthy. Insurance can also be confusing. What types of insurance should you get? How much coverage? How do you choose from all the options? Furthermore, who can you turn to for help? Insurance agents can seem just about as trustworthy as used car salesmen. Let me tell you a secret: choosing insurance for yourself…

Universal Property3.0NerdWallet rating NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.Offers plenty of ways to save on your policy, but draws many consumer complaints.Coverage optionsRatings are based on the number of coverage options a company offers in comparison to other insurers.About averageDiscountsRatings are based on the number of discounts a company offers in comparison to other insurers.Great set of discountsNAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts…

Are you a fan of Europe’s “The Final Countdown”? Well, if you’ve ever been ashamed of playing ‘80s stadium rock over and over and over, I’ve got good news: you’re encouraged to play it now, because it’s the final countdown to health insurance coverage. What do I mean? Well, you might know that right now is Open Enrollment for Obamacare. It’s the only time, barring Special Enrollment Periods, that you can buy health insurance coverage for 2017. Open Enrollment runs through January 31, 2017, but if you want coverage to start on January 1, you have to apply by December…

People with Medicare Part D have a new way to pay out-of-pocket costs such as copays, coinsurance and deductibles for prescription drugs starting in 2025: the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. The plan works similar to a “buy now, pay later” option for covered prescription drugs. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan allows Medicare beneficiaries to spread out-of-pocket costs for covered prescription drugs over the course of the remaining calendar year. It might be a compelling option, especially for Part D beneficiaries who incur significant out-of-pocket costs early in the year.Who’s eligible for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan?The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan…

Your credit score influences your ability to secure financial products. A higher credit score could mean a more affordable mortgage or a better rate on a credit card. A lower score can affect your employment eligibility or cause a landlord to turn away your rental inquiry. Your credit score has a way of sneaking into other areas of life where you might not expect it to matter, and since the mid-1990s, your car insurance premium is one of them. Credit Score and Car Insurance Auto insurance companies see a statistical correlation between creditworthiness and the frequency of auto insurance claims.…

A clogged toilet that backs up all over your bathroom. A sump pump breakdown that leaves your basement full of water. These scenarios can turn into a huge headache — and your insurance policy likely won’t pay for the damage. That’s why you might want to consider buying water backup coverage.Get home insurance quotes in minutesAnswer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.What is water backup coverage?Water backup coverage is an optional type of insurance you can add to a homeowners, condo or renters policy. Because standard home insurance generally won’t cover water…