In these days of high technology, buying private insurance is one of the best ways to protect possessions and finances. From the computer equipment and flat screen TVs in our homes to the cell phones and stereo systems in our cars, the majority of our possessions are digital—and expensive to replace. That's what makes insurance so valuable: it offers security and privacy when the unexpected happens. That means we can file insurance claims directly with our insurance company; get items repaired, replaced or restored as needed, and go on without worry.Ensuring we protect ourselves and our loved ones—as well as our homes, automobiles and all the things we work so hard for—is as easy as going online to a site like InsureMe and requesting free insurance quotes. Once we provide our personal information and find an agent in our area who offers the protection we're looking for, getting the right insurance policy is quick and easy.But the technologies we enjoy every day also carry with them some amount of risk. And when times get tough, some people capitalize on that, resorting to actions they might not otherwise take. For instance, a hacker might tap into unsecured computer connections and steal private banking or insurance quote information. Someone in need of credit might pilfer through the trash and steal blank credit card applications, then take out credit online in someone else's name.As honest consumers, what can we do to protect ourselves? How can we take action against crimes that violate our sense of security, privacy and confidentiality, yet still exercise the freedom we enjoy in this information age?The first step is to know and understand our rights. Then, armed with the law and supported by the insurance policies that protect us, we can sidestep unpleasant situations like those above—and their long-lasting effects. To that end, we've provided the information below about insurance and privacy. We recommend reading it over, making sure you understand the use and disclosure of personal information as it applies to insurance, and asking your agent about anything that's unclear.Protecting your privacy is important-and it's up to you.Health InsuranceDue to rising costs, health insurance has become a medical necessity these days. When seeking health insurance quotes, having tests and providing your doctor or local medical facility with private, personal information, a federal law known as The Privacy Rule sets rules and limitations on who can look at and receive health information. Providers for health insurance quotes request as little information as possible for accuracy; but your privacy rights under The Privacy Rule protect the information you do provide in the process of requesting health insurance quotes.According to The Privacy Rule for insurance, you have the right to:
Ask to see and get a copy of your health records
Make corrections to any information in your health file
Receive a notice about how your health information is used and shared
Decide whether or not to give permission to share medical information for certain purposes
Get a report on when and why your health information is shared
File complaints with your health insurance quote provider or the U.S. government
Those who must follow this law, including health care providers, companies that provide health insurance quotes and government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, must protect any information they retain about you in their computer system. They must put safeguards in place to keep others from accessing the information and protect all details you provide during medical visits or on health insurance quote applications. In addition, your health care provider may not give that information to your employer, use or share it with others for advertising purposes, or share private notes made during or following medical visits.Car InsuranceCar insurance quotes vary based on a number of factors, including age, gender and home address. But once an auto insurance policy is in place, most insurers only scour that information once a year, when it's time for policy renewal. Recently, however, some insurance companies that provide cheap car insurance quotes have also begun offering discounts based on new electronic gadgets installed in cars that record driving behavior. This removes the anonymity most of us enjoy while driving and puts it in the hands of our auto insurers—who can then tell how many miles we've driven, what time of the day we tend to drive, how abruptly we stop and start, and other such private information. Called "pay as you drive," programs like these use the information gathered to set car insurance quotes for participants. The safer the driving, the lower the auto insurance quote—and the greater the discount. Those who sign up usually get an automatic five to 10 percent just for participating, with the promise of further incentives to accompany safe driving.Disclosing such private information to be used for setting car insurance quotes and rates is offensive to some. But the program is completely optional (and only available in some states). So if you're squeamish about letting your insurer invade your privacy while driving, it might be best to avoid these types of insurance plans.Home InsuranceInsuring your home and its contents is wise in case of disaster. If you own a home and set out to get discount home insurance quotes, you'll most likely find you need a list of everything you own, a description of each item and even identifying pictures to give to the insurance company if you need to file a claim. Creating what's called a home inventory makes these records available to your insurance company—yet helps maintain privacy within your home. Once you've made your inventory list and tucked it away, no one but your insurance company need know what your home contains. It's only in the event of loss that you'll reveal your inventory and offer it to your insurer so any affected items can be fixed or replaced. To document your possessions for safekeeping, go through your home room by room and make a list, recording items one by one. Remember that size, price and quality may all affect home insurance quotes, so be sure to make detailed product descriptions about each item. Since valuable pieces like art, antiques, jewelry and collectibles can be devastating to lose, have them appraised and list their values separately. Take photos of everything, and then copy your list to your computer. Save another copy elsewhere, in a secure place, in case you're ever forced to leave your home. By keeping meticulous records, you'll maintain your privacy, yet garner the lowest home insurance quotes available. Owning certain breeds of dogs can also affect homeowner's insurance quotes. So if you own a Doberman, Rottweiler, Pit Bull, Chow or German Sheppard, you'd best reveal that fact to your insurer right up front. Though we realize your privacy is important, failing to disclose such information that can affect your homeowner's policy could result in later claim denial. Life InsuranceUnfortunately, when it comes to the final disposition of your worldly goods following death, privacy can be difficult to maintain. Though the vast majority of people disperse their assets through a private will, wills must pass through probate court—which then becomes a matter of public record. Life insurance policies, however, are private contracts which don't need to be mentioned in wills—and don't usually require court proceedings. As a result, they may be used to pass along assets to loved ones with the utmost confidentiality and privacy intact.Requesting life insurance quotes is the first step to getting a private policy. When setting up a plan in privacy, your agent will then ask you what you can afford to pay in premiums and who you'd like named beneficiary—all information that can remain secure until your death. If you want to avoid probate for privacy reasons, get free life insurance quotes first. Then make use of estate-planning tools like joint tenancy, beneficiary designations, gifting and living trusts to accomplish your objectives. Your insurance agent can explain each of these options to you and help you find affordable life insurance quotes that leave you and your loved ones with maximum resources.Long Term Care InsuranceIf you value your independence, privacy and dignity, long term care insurance can help you maintain all three. Designed to ease the burden of the cost of medical care as you age, long term care insurance quotes place you in a better position to make private, positive choices-while you still can.Just one year in a nursing facility can wipe out any savings you might have. On the other hand, though long term care insurance can be expensive, it helps preserve finances over the long term and saves family members from having to make public arrangements you can make in privacy yourself. Privacy and security become paramount as we age. With the benefits of long term care insurance, you can avoid compromising independence, security or peace of mind. And with the right long term care insurance quotes, whether you maintain your health long term or not, you'll have the care you need with dignity—no matter how long you live.
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